Breaking news and news from Russia's war in Ukraine on January 14: several powerful explosions are reported in Kyiv

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6 posts

2 mins ago

Video shows explosion in building apparently occupied by Russian troops in Soledar

Watch the massive explosion at a Russian-occupied building in Soledar 0:44

An explosion destroyed a building in the Ukrainian city of Soledar that appears to have been a refuge for Russian troops, according to a new video posted on social networks and geolocated by CNN.

13 mins ago

“Attack on the capital”: Ukrainian officials report several powerful explosions in Kyiv

By Denis Lapin, Julia Kesaieva, Josh Pennington

This photo shows a general view of Maidan Square and the skyline of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on January 4, 2023. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

Kyiv was rocked by several powerful explosions on Saturday morning, and officials in the Ukrainian capital reported a missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities.

“There is an attack in the capital,” the Kyiv City Military Administration said on Saturday.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said the attacks took place on the eastern bank of the city, where there are several electrical installations.

“Explosions in the Dniprovskii district.

All services are directed to the place.

Stay in the shelters!” Klitschko said on Telegram.

It added that debris from an incoming missile fell in a non-residential area on the west bank of the city (Holosiivskyi district) of the capital.

"There were no casualties," Klitschko said.

CNN could not immediately verify the exact locations of the explosions.

A thick fog covers much of the city.

The head of the Kyiv region's military administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, said explosions were heard around 6 a.m. local time on Saturday.

“A fire broke out at a critical infrastructure facility.

Response teams are on site.

So far, no casualties have been reported,” Kuleba wrote.

Two other Ukrainian cities also reported explosions in the early hours of Saturday.

30 mins ago

Head of southern Mykolaiv region says Russian missiles are flying overhead

By Denis Lapin

The governor of a region in southern Ukraine said several Russian missiles have flown overhead in the past few minutes.

"The air defense has opened an account," added Vitalii Kim, governor of the Mykolaiv region.

"We believe in the AFU. We are in the shelters."

Airstrike alerts are in effect for much of Ukraine, including the capital.

45 mins ago

A Ukrainian official says that Soledar is still controlled by Ukraine but that the "situation is difficult"

By Denis Lapin

Ukrainian soldiers in their positions on the front line near Soledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on January 11, 2023. (Credit: Photo/Libkos).

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk region's military administration, claimed that the Ukrainian army still controls the town of Soledar, although some Ukrainian units in the area have said they are only on the outskirts of the town.

Speaking on Ukrainian television, Kyrylenko said: "The enemy is suffering heavy losses, covering his path with the bodies of Wagner [his fighters] and regular army soldiers."

He added that "the situation is difficult but controlled. The military command is taking all the necessary measures to stabilize the situation."

Kyrylenko said seven civilians had been evacuated from the town on Friday, but 550 remained in the town, which has no power and few buildings remain intact.

Kyrylenko insisted that "the humanitarian situation in the city is under control. There is a supply of food and shelter for local residents."

Russia said on Friday that its forces had taken Soledar in eastern Ukraine after weeks of fierce fighting, in what would be Moscow's first notable victory in months, though Ukraine denied the claim.

Russian media said on Friday that dozens of Soledar residents had fled to Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk.

Soledar's capture would represent a symbolic, if not especially strategic, victory for Putin after a long series of military setbacks dating back to last summer.

But it does not suggest a significant capitulation of the Ukrainian forces, nor a substantial change in the general aspect of the war.

60 minutes ago

Why is Russia so interested in capturing the city of Soledar?

After weeks of heavy fighting, Russia's Defense Ministry has said its troops have taken the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar in what would be their first significant victory in months.

Ukraine disputes this claim, although a CNN crew saw Ukrainian troops in the area carrying out an apparent organized withdrawal.

Should Russia's takeover of Soledar be confirmed, it would mark Moscow's first victory in Donbas in months, which could offer President Vladimir Putin welcome news after a series of battlefield defeats since last summer.

The importance of Soledar in military terms is minimal.

However, its capture would allow Russian forces, and especially the Wagner mercenary group, to turn their attention to nearby Bakhmut, which has been a target since the summer.

Seizing Soledar would also represent a symbolic public relations victory for the man who runs the Wagner mercenary group, oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has frequently criticized the Russian Defense Ministry's handling of the "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine.

Read here everything you need to know about Soledar.

1 hour ago

The silence is over... Russians share views about the invasion of Ukraine and Putin's government

What do the Russians think about the invasion of Ukraine?

3:08

Russia's Defense Ministry this week announced a new realignment of commanders leading the war in Ukraine, as criticism mounted over their handling of the stalled military campaign.

But what is the feeling of the population in Russia?

CNN reporter Frederik Pleitgen interviewed several Muscovites and prepared the following report.

war in ukraine