Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Explosions reported in Kyiv, but authorities deny Russian attack on capital

by Kateryna Denisova September 26, 2024 10:33 AM  (Updated: ) 2 min read
Traffic across the Paton Bridge to the left-bank neighborhoods of the city on July 5, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Valentyna Polishchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Editor's note: The story was updated with comments by Kyiv authorities.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv on the morning of Sept. 26 almost immediately after an air raid alert went off in the city, but authorities later denied Russia had attacked the capital.

Ukraine's Air Force said that the alert had been prompted by the launch of a Mig-31K aircraft, a carrier of Kinzhal ballistic missiles that Russia uses to attack Ukraine.

Three missiles were launched, according to a statement, but the Kyiv City Military Administration later said that Kyiv was not the target of the attack, and air defense systems were not activated.

"The enemy did not use missile weapons on the territory of Kyiv," it said.

No damage or casualties have been reported in Kyiv at this time.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that sounds of explosions could have been caused by the Kinzhal missile "breaking the sound barrier while flying over Kyiv" or "another physical phenomenon."

Explosions were also reported in the town of Starokostiantyniv in western Khmelnytskyi Oblast, which is the home of a Ukrainian air base.  

Overnight, more than 15 drones were spotted near Kyiv, with around 10 of them downed by air defenses, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.

No casualties were reported.

Around 10 Russian drones downed over Kyiv, debris causes fire
Editor’s note: Kyiv authorities initially reported a child was injured and hospitalized during the overnight Russian attack, but later retracted this information. Debris from intercepted Russian drones damaged a gas pipe in a residential building in Kyiv during an overnight attack on Sept. 26, city…
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.