Kyiv under intense strike

Up in flames: Firemen preparing to extinguish a fire after an apartment in the Sviatoshynsky district in western Kyiv was hit by Russian strikes. — AFP

KYIV: Russia’s offensive in Ukraine edged closer to central Kyiv with a series of strikes hitting a residential neighbourhood as the leaders of three Nato member countries planned a visit to Ukraine’s embattled capital.

Shortly before dawn yesterday, large explosions thundered across Kyiv from what Ukrainian authorities said was artillery strikes.