Explosions rock Kyiv as Moscow says it downed five drones

Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv on Thursday local time, Ukrainian outlet Suspilne News reported. The outlet gave no further details on what caused the blasts or whether anyone was hurt.

In Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses downed five drones heading for the capital. He did not mention any damage or injuries.

The exchange came a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky said there would be no ceasefire, because Russia rejected Kyiv's proposals to halt hostilities. He spoke following trilateral talks between US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi, and said his country expects results by the end of the year, with progress hinging on tomorrow's US-Russia talks. Zelensky also said "there is a window of opportunity."

The Abu Dhabi negotiations were described as "tense" and "emotional" at points, Axios reported Wednesday, citing sources. Those sources said Washington asked Moscow for a new proposal addressing Europe's future security, and wants steps from Russia to ease tensions with the rest of the continent. One source said the US is allegedly looking to pressure Russia into letting European representatives join the Ukraine talks.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 85 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions during the day. The interceptions spanned western regions including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov, plus Oryol, Kirov and Omsk, along with Perm Krai, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Udmurt Republic and the Black Sea. No injuries or damage were reported.

The same ministry said it struck a cargo vessel in the Black Sea southwest of Odesa, describing it as a dry cargo ship carrying weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It framed the strike as part of ongoing drone attacks on seagoing vessels hauling military and dual-use cargo.