Russia launches large-scale attacks, huge explosions shake Ukrainian cities

Nga tập kích diện rộng, nổ lớn rung chuyển các thành phố Ukraine - 1 — Destroyed buildings in the city of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine (Photo: AP).

According to the Klimenko Time portal, explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kiev early this morning, May 3.

The military authorities of the Ukrainian capital said Russian air defense forces were attacking targets in the city.

Air strike warnings have been issued for Kiev and the area around the city.

Earlier, the Strana news portal reported that explosions were recorded in the Kharkov province, eastern Ukraine late on May 2.

Ukraine's civil defense agency has issued an airstrike alert in the Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy and Chernigov regions, as well as in the Kiev-controlled areas of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Zaporozhye Oblast.

"Explosions and gunfire were heard in the center of Zaporozhye, which is temporarily controlled by the government of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky. According to preliminary data, a Ukrainian air defense system is active, posing a great threat to civilians," said Vladimir Rogov, leader of the We Are Together With Russia movement.

Explosions rocked the Sumy and Kharkiv regions in northeastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian media. However, no airstrike warnings were issued in Kharkiv at the time of the explosions.

Explosions continued to be reported in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk in the early morning of May 3. An airstrike warning was issued in the area.

The explosions occurred in the context of Ukraine being said to be preparing for a large-scale counter-offensive to retake territories currently controlled by Russia. Some Western news agencies assessed that Ukraine's upcoming counter-offensive could decide the outcome of the conflict.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov admitted that Ukrainian forces were ready to counterattack, but needed "the support of God, the weather" and depended on the decisions of commanders.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on May 2 that Russian air defense forces shot down three Ukrainian fighter jets in one day.

"Air defense forces destroyed three aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. Two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters were shot down near the settlements of Ulyanovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (self-proclaimed) and Mirolyubovka in Kherson. In addition, a Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down near the settlement of Veletenskoye in the Kherson region," Konashenkov said.

According to Mr. Konashenkov, 290 Ukrainian servicemen and foreign mercenaries, 1 tank, 4 armored fighting vehicles, 6 motor vehicles and a D-20 howitzer were eliminated in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours.

Russian forces continue fighting west of the city of Bakhmut, the fiercest front in the current Ukrainian battlefield.

"In the Donetsk direction, the assault groups conducted clashes west of the city of Bakhmut. Over the past 24 hours, Russian aircraft carried out seven airstrikes in this area. The artillery of the strike group hit 74 targets," the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.

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