Fires, explosions reported in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv overnight on May 7 striking residential buildings in the capital, officials reported.

Fires have been reported at several residential buildings in the Dniprovskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Sviatoshynskyi neighborhoods of the capital.

First responders have been dispatched to the sites of attack. No information was immediately available as to the extent of the damage, or whether there were any casualties sustained.

Kyiv Independent journalists first reported explosions around 4:30 a.m. local time.

The attack on the Ukrainian capital comes ahead of the start of Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 7, with 29 world leaders expected to attend events in Moscow.

Russia stepped up its attacks against Ukrainian civilians in the past weeks, resulting in numerous casualties reported in Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.

On May 4, a Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured 11 people, including 2 children, and damaged a shopping mall.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire for Russia's Victory Day commemorations between May 7 and 9 — a proposal that President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected, calling it a a "theatrical performance," designed to ease Russia’s international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for Moscow.