Russia attacks Kiev with rockets and fears, hours after prisoner exchange began

Ukraine's capital, Kiev, came under a large-scale attack with fears and Russian missiles on Saturday night, just hours after Russia and Ukraine launched a major exchange of prisoners.

At least eight people were injured in the attacks, which caused fires and left litter scattered throughout the city, town mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a post in the telegram.

Klitschko said two residents had sought hospital treatment and that air defence units were in effect, Reuters reported, adding that fragments of a threat hit the last floor of an apartment building broadcast Periscope.

Strong explosions and sirens could be heard throughout the capital in video distributed by Reuters news agency. Some fires could also be seen.

Timur Tkachenko, head of Kiev's military administration, said a fire had erupted on two floors of an apartment building in the Dniprovskyi district.

Officials also reported a fire in Obolon in the northern suburbs of the city and debris fallen into a shopping centre in the same area.

The attack came after Russia and Ukraine completed the first phase of what is expected to be the largest exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the war.

The exchange began Friday and will continue on Saturday and Sunday, with Kiev and Moscow expected to exchange 2,000 people from each side.