Multiple journalists report hearing explosions in Kyiv

Journalists from CNN, CBS, ABC, and CNBC all reported hearing explosions in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv just after 5:00 a.m. local time Thursday morning.
"I just heard a big bang right here behind me," CNN correspondent Matthew Chance said. "I probably shouldn't have done the live shot here. There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv right now." He said he heard "four or five" explosions but could not see them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine early Thursday. He announced the operation after the two eastern Ukrainian separatist republics he recognized on Monday asked for Russian help in "repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Biden administration warned U.S. lawmakers earlier this month that if Russia invaded Ukraine, Kyiv could fall within 72 hours.
Kyiv is around 200 miles from the Russian border and less than 100 miles from Ukraine's border with Belarus, along which Russian troops have also been deployed.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Podcast Reviews: 'The Ex Files' and 'Titanic: Ship of Dreams'
Feature An ex-couple start a podcast and a deep dive into why the Titanic sank
-
Critics' choice: Restaurants that write their own rules
Feature A low-light dining experience, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and Hawaiian cuisine with a twist
-
Why is ABC's firing of Terry Moran roiling journalists?
Today's Big Question After the network dropped a longtime broadcaster for calling Donald Trump and Stephen Miller 'world-class' haters, some journalists are calling the move chilling
-
Are the UK and Russia already at war?
Today's Big Question Moscow has long been on a 'menacing' war footing with London, says leading UK defence adviser
-
Is UK's new defence plan transformational or too little, too late?
Today's Big Question Labour's 10-year strategy 'an exercise in tightly bounded ambition' already 'overshadowed by a row over money'
-
How will the MoD's new cyber command unit work?
Today's Big Question Defence secretary outlines plans to combat 'intensifying' threat of cyberattacks from hostile states such as Russia
-
What are the different types of nuclear weapons?
The Explainer Speculation mounts that post-war taboo on nuclear weapons could soon be shattered by use of 'battlefield' missiles
-
The secret lives of Russian saboteurs
Under The Radar Moscow is recruiting criminal agents to sow chaos and fear among its enemies
-
Ukraine-Russia: is peace deal possible after Easter truce?
Today's Big Question 'Decisive week' will tell if Putin's surprise move was cynical PR stunt or genuine step towards ending war
-
What's behind Russia's biggest conscription drive in years?
Today's Big Question Putin calls up 160,000 men, sending a threatening message to Ukraine and Baltic states
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington