Russia-Ukraine war news live updates: Blasts heard in Kyiv

The mayor of Kyiv is reporting multiple explosions in the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday, the first such time in weeks during Russia's ongoing war against the country. Vitali Klitschko wrote in a post on Telegram that there were explosions in a central district of the capital that is home to many government agencies and buildings. He said municipal teams were in place and more details were expected.

Explosions were heard in the early hours of Wednesday in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, two Reuters witnesses said. There was no immediate official confirmation of the blasts, The emergency services' maps showed the capital and the region surrounding it have been under air raid siren alerts for about 20 minutes before the blasts.

Just weeks after Russians retreated from the southern Ukrainian city, authorities are working to hunt down collaborators who aided Moscow during the occupation of Kherson. The two men held at gunpoint came from an island on the Dnipro River in the proverbial grey zone separating the Ukrainian-controlled western bank from the Russian-occupied east.

"Hands in the air! Documents out!" shouted Ukrainian policemen as they levelled their guns at two suspected collaborators moments after they docked their boat near the city of Kherson.

Ukraine's Economy Minister Yulia Svyridenko said a free programme for people to exchange LED bulbs will be introduced soon, ultimately helping to reduce power consumption by 7-10% at peak times. "One hand, we are increasing energy production and distribution," Svyridenko said in a statement. "And on the other hand, we are implementing energy efficiency measures that can help us survive the winter and reduce energy consumption."

LED bulbs use on average 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. "I hope that other partners will follow us," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the conference. She added that energy savings from a full deployment of 50 million LED bulbs to Ukrainian homes would amount to one gigawatt of electricity, equivalent to the annual production of a nuclear power plant.

While Kyiv's allies pledged more than $1 billion in aid on Tuesday, they also promised energy-efficient LED bulbs to ease power shortfalls and help Ukraine get through freezing winter months as Russia pounds the country's infrastructure. They made the pledge at a global meeting, hosted by France, to discuss what could be offered between now and March to maintain water, food, energy, health and transport during Ukraine's typically frigid winter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his dissolution on Tuesday of a Kyiv court as evidence Ukraine can fight to end a history of corruption and Russia's invasion at the same time. "This story has drawn to a close," he said as he announced he had signed a law liquidating the Kyiv District Administrative Court, which Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities had compared to a criminal organization and whose chairman was hit with U.S. sanctions Dec. 9. "But the story of reforms continues – it continues, even in the time of such a war," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

The United States is finalising plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, three US officials told Reuters on Tuesday. Ukraine has asked its Western partners for air defenses, including US-made Patriot systems, to protect it from heavy Russian missile bombardment including against its energy infrastructure.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday announced a further NZ$3 million ($1.94 million) in humanitarian support for Ukraine as the conflict enters the winter months. Ardern was speaking after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy became just the second foreign leader to ever address the New Zealand parliament.

The United States on Tuesday unsealed a 16-count indictment charging five Russian nationals and two US nationals with conspiracy related to a global procurement and money-laundering scheme on behalf of the Russian government. Among those indicted is a suspected Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, a Justice Department statement said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the environmental harm from Russia's war will affect millions of people for years and urged New Zealand to take leadership in diplomacy to address the damage.

The US is poised to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine, finally agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian attacks, US officials said Tuesday.