Ukraine: explosions rock Kyiv as African peace mission visits

The delegation, including leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt, plans to meet President Zelensky

The African leaders are then expected to travel to St Petersburg on Saturday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuly, President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema attend a commemoration ceremony at a site of a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo: AP

Published: 7:22pm, 16 Jun 2023Updated: 7:23pm, 16 Jun 2023

At least two explosions rocked Kyiv on Friday and air raid sirens blared as African leaders began a peace mission, hoping to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.

The peace delegation, including leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt, said it was pressing on with plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Friday, before talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

A Reuters journalist in central Kyiv heard two explosions. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported explosions in the central Podil district. Another correspondent saw the smoke trail of two missiles in the sky above the capital. It was not clear if those missiles had been fired by Russia or Ukrainian air defences.

A television crew saw the leaders arriving in Kyiv in a convoy of cars and entering a hotel to use its air-raid shelter.

The all-clear was later issued for Kyiv, and the South African presidency tweeted that the mission was “proceeding well and as planned”.

Ukraine’s air force said it had downed six “Kinzhal” ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and two drones. City authorities said they had received no reports of deaths or serious damage so far, but police said there were an unspecified number of casualties.