Russian ballistic missiles strike Kyiv - reports

A series of explosions rang out in Kyiv shortly after midnight local time (10pm Wednesday Irish time), an AFP journalist said, after a Ukrainian air force alert reported the approach of several ballistic missiles.

There were a number of bright flashes in the sky over Ukraine's capital, followed by half a dozen detonations, they said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media that a warehouse was hit while "missile debris fell on non-residential buildings".

At the same time, Kharkiv, the main city in northeast Ukraine, was hit by combat drones, its mayor said.

Kyiv has been regularly targeted by Russian strikes using ballistic missiles since last month. The weapons are fast and more difficult to intercept.

During bombardments, missiles are fired in successive salvoes and blasts occur in quick succession.

The attack came a few hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to boost defence ties.

"We need to combine our strengths," Ms von der Leyen said in a speech at a ceremony to mark Ukraine's Statehood Day.

"This deal will bring together Ukrainian ingenuity and Europe's industrial scale," she said.

Kyiv is suffering from a shortage of PAC-3 missiles for its US-designed Patriot systems, which are essential for intercepting ballistic projectiles.

US President Donald Trump announced last week that he intended to authorise Ukraine to produce missiles for Patriot defence systems.

His Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Wednesday that production could begin by the end of this year, to strengthen the country's defences against Russian ballistic strikes.

New prime minister

The fresh strikes came after Mr Zelenskiy endorsed the head of the state energy company as Ukraine's new prime minister and lawmakers said he ⁠planned to replace his defence minister at a pivotal juncture in the war with Russia.

Some lawmakers and commentators expressed dismay at the departure of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, saying it would hurt Ukraine's war effort just as it was hitting Russia's oil industry and slowing the frontline advances of Moscow's forces.

Mr Zelenskiy pushed out Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko this week after just a year on the job. Parliament accepted her resignation on Tuesday and is expected to vote on her successor today.

Mr Zelenskiy has given little explanation for the move so far, apart from saying the aim is to refresh the leadership.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Mr Zelenskiy said the CEO of the state-owned energy company Naftogaz, Sergii Koretskyi, was the best candidate for prime minister, because Ukraine's priority was preparing for the upcoming winter.

"The priorities are clear - preparing for winter," Mr Zelenskiy said. "Therefore, following all the consultations, Sergii Koretskyi is surely the most prepared candidate for the post of prime minister of Ukraine."

Outgoing Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's removal, after just a year in office, triggered the resignation of the whole government.

Parliament names the ‌prime minister and is likely to accept Mr Zelenskiy's preferred candidate as ⁠prime minister as his Servant of the People party controls a majority.