UPDATE - Several explosions heard in Ukraine’s capital

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS; CHANGES IN DECK, BODY; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Talha Yavuz

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) – Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was rocked by several explosions early Friday, the second day of Russia’s military intervention in the country.

The series of blasts were heard at 4.20 am local time (0220GMT), followed by more explosions later.

Sirens were heard throughout, warning the public to seek shelter. While some civilians tried to leave the city, others took shelter in subway stations and basements.

Similar explosions were reported in the capital on Thursday, and in cities including Kharkov, Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Mykolaiv and Odessa – all under attack by Russian forces.

Russia’s long-feared military intervention in Ukraine was announced early Thursday by President Vladimir Putin, who said the operation’s aim is to protect people “subjected to genocide” by Kyiv and to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine. He called on the Ukrainian army to lay down its arms.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, more than 130 people including civilians were killed on the first day of the military intervention.