A volunteer clears the rubble of a residential building which was heavily damaged by a missile attack in Kiev, Ukraine, Jan 3, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

KIEV - Explosions were heard in several cities across Ukraine on Monday morning as Russia launched missile attacks against the country, local authorities and media outlets said.

Explosions shook the central Ukrainian cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, as well as the eastern city of Kharkiv and the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, reported the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to preliminary reports, Russia attacked Ukraine with eleven Tu-95 bombers and four MiG-31 fighters

The air defense in the western Khmelnytsky region was also activated, the regional administration said on Telegram.

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According to preliminary reports, Russia attacked Ukraine with eleven Tu-95 bombers and four MiG-31 fighters.

Air raid alerts were issued for the entire country of Ukraine starting at approximately 6 am local time (0400 GMT), media outlets reported, citing Ukraine's military officials as saying.