Explosions reported in Kyiv, but authorities deny Russian attack on capital

Editor’s note: The story was updated with comments by Kyiv authorities.
Explosions were reported in Kyiv on the morning of Sept. 26 almost immediately after an air raid alert went off in the city, but authorities later denied Russia had attacked the capital.
Ukraine’s Air Force said that the alert had been prompted by the launch of a Mig-31K aircraft, a carrier of Kinzhal ballistic missiles that Russia uses to attack Ukraine.
Three missiles were launched, according to a statement, but the Kyiv City Military Administration later said that Kyiv was not the target of the attack, and air defense systems were not activated.
“The enemy did not use missile weapons on the territory of Kyiv,” it said.
No damage or casualties have been reported in Kyiv at this time.
Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that sounds of explosions could have been caused by the Kinzhal missile “breaking the sound barrier while flying over Kyiv” or “another physical phenomenon.”
Explosions were also reported in the town of Starokostiantyniv in western Khmelnytskyi Oblast, which is the home of a Ukrainian air base.  
Overnight, more than 15 drones were spotted near Kyiv, with around 10 of them downed by air defenses, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.
No casualties were reported.