BBC News was live when the Ukrainian capital was hit by Russian missiles

A BBC News reporter appears to have run for cover while delivering a segment in Kyiv as missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital.

Russian forces targeted Kyiv with missiles for the first time in weeks this morning (10 October), with explosions beginning to ring out shortly before 8:30am local time.

BBC News viewers were able to hear the events unfold in real time as the broadcaster streamed a live segment from a reporter in Kyiv, who cut himself off mid-sentence to turn around and look in the direction of the blasts.

See the events unfold below:

As the sound of explosions continued, the reporter moved from his chair and off camera, prompting the BBC to cut back to the London studio.

At least four explosions have been reported so far, with fire and rising smoke visible in the city following the blasts.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko shared images of the destruction on Twitter, claiming that one rocket had fallen 'right in the centre of the city', adding: "Cars are burning, and windows have been shattered in houses. There are dead."

Reports of deaths have also been made by the Financial Times' Ukrainian correspondent, Christopher Miller, who wrote: "The very center of Kyiv was hit, right beside Shevchenko Park. Closest strike to the heart of Kyiv and the government quarter yet, and the first against it in many weeks.

"The missile struck a major intersection during morning rush hour. State Emergency spox says dead + wounded."

Authorities have declared an air alert in the city and the surrounding region, and in a statement on Telegram Kyiv governor Oleksiy Kuleba wrote: "The air attack continues, I ask everyone to remain calm and stay in shelters. Air defence works in the region.

"There is information about downed objects. I emphasise that the air alert is still ongoing. Don’t ignore it and stay in cover. Do not photograph or film landing sites or damaged infrastructure. People’s lives depend on it. Let’s hold on."

Explosions have also been heard in other cities including Zhytomyr, Khmelnitsky, Dnipro, and Ternopil.

Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi shared a post on Telegram saying explosions had rung out in the city, and advising families that schools would be closed with lessons taking place remotely. Meanwhile, the governor of Mykolaiv, Vitaliy Kim, has said the region was experiencing a second wave of rocket launches.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed the Russians are 'trying to destroy' Ukraine and 'wipe [residents] off the face of the earth'.

"Destroy our people who are sleeping at home in Zaporizhzhia," he wrote on Telegram. "Kill people who go to work in Dnipro and Kyiv. The air alarm does not subside throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. Please do not leave shelters. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Let’s hold on and be strong."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information