Kyiv in 'no danger' but prepared: Ukraine minister

Kyiv in 'no danger' but prepared: Ukraine minister
Kyiv in 'no danger' but prepared: Ukraine minister

Ukraine's interior minister said Thursday there was no imminent risk of Russians marching on Kyiv, more than 100 days after Russia invaded,  but the capital would not let its guard down.

"There is no danger of an attack on Kyiv today," Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky said.

"There is no concentration of troops near the Belarusian border, but we understand that any scenarios are possible tomorrow," he said, dressed in a black military sweater, a Ukrainian flag on its right sleeve.

The minister also said Russian air strikes could hit at any time.

"Any place in Ukraine can be a target for rocket fire, including Kyiv," he said.

Targets could even include "the government quarter" and "historic centre" of the capital, he added.

Russian forces had their sights set on Kyiv when they moved into Ukraine in late February, rapidly taking over control of several towns around the city.

But the invading forces withdrew from those suburbs a month later, leaving a trail of death in their wake, and have since focused on trying to gain ground in the east and south of the country.

Monastyrsky said Ukraine would continue to prosecute captured Russian soldiers for alleged war crimes.

"These crimes have no statute of limitations. Whenever these monsters are found, they will be held accountable," he said.