Bombardment sounds periodically heard in Kyiv, Ukraine

By Jeyhun Aliyev

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - The sounds of huge explosions were periodically heard early Saturday in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

Prior to the bombardment, a loud siren was also heard in the capital.

Due to the curfew in the city, central streets remain empty.

Unlike some areas in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine -- where authorities use a dim-out approach with off-street lights and traffic lights to not attract attention at night -- central streets in the capital remain illuminated.

Speaking late Friday on the second day of a large-scale military operation, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia will try to “storm” the capital Saturday, and he vowed to resist.

"I have to say absolutely frankly: this night will be harder than a day. Many cities of our state are under attack. Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, our boys, our girls in Donbas, cities of the south of Ukraine. Kyiv requires special attention. We cannot lose the capital," he said.

Appealing to the country's defenders on the frontlines, Zelenskyy said that "this night the enemy will use all the forces available to break our resistance."

"This night they will make an assault upon us. We all have to understand what we are going to face. This night we have to withstand. The fate of Ukraine is now being decided. Each civilian should be as careful as possible," he said.

"Everyone who has already joined the country's defense or can help defend, stop the enemy everywhere you can. Remove special signs that saboteurs leave on the roads and buildings. Burn the enemy’s equipment with anything you can. If even kindergartens are a permissible target for invaders, you must not leave them any chance," he said.