Ukraine war: officials report that Kyiv was the target of its first airstrike in 52 days

 Ukraine war: officials report that Kyiv was the target of its first airstrike in 52 days

According to municipal authorities, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has been the target of the first Russian air strike in 52 days.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said in a message on the messaging app Telegram that "strong explosions were heard" early on Saturday morning.

According to Mr. Klitschko, preliminary data indicates that air defense systems were successful in intercepting the missiles.

Air raid shelters are the designated place of refuge for the residents.

According to news agency Reuters, there have been no first indications of injuries in the wake of the jet raid.

Separately, there were allegations of at least two missile assaults in Odesa, a seaside region located around 275 miles (442 kilometers) from Kyiv.

Oleg Kiper, the head of administration for the area, said that a 96-year-old lady was hospitalized along with three other wounded parties. It is believed that her condition is steady.

Officials from Ukraine said on Wednesday that a Russian missile had hit a civilian ship approaching Odesa, killing at least one person.

A port worker, three Filipino crew members, and a 43-year-old harbor pilot were hurt.

Foreign ministers from the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, together with EU delegates, acknowledged that Russia is ready for a protracted conflict in Ukraine at this week's G7 summit in Japan.

They emphasized that they will continue to provide Kyiv with military and economic assistance and said that the conflict between Israel and Gaza should not divert attention from their support for Ukraine.

Concerns about "Ukraine fatigue" among Western nations weakening Kyiv's capacity to fend off Russian troops are growing.

Speaking only to Katya Adler, the Europe Editor of the BBC, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it was his nation's "duty" to support Ukraine.

He warned that "you will have a new imperial power" in Europe if Russia were to win its war, one that might endanger not just Georgia and Kazakhstan but the whole continent.

"Because, definitely, it's colonization and imperialism that Russia is doing [in Ukraine]," he said.

Macron did, however, make the suggestion that "fair and good negotiations" with Moscow would be possible in the future.