Russia-Ukraine war LIVE: Explosions rock Crimea as Kyiv pushes Kursk attack

6 mins ago08:02 Ciaran McGrath

Away from Crimea, a lion with "psychological issues" is to travel 1,400 miles from Ukraine to an animal sanctuary in the UK as part of a project rescuing the big cat from the war-torn country.

African lioness Yuna suffered "shell shock", "psychological issues" and lost her sense of co-ordination, according to The Big Cat Sanctuary, a Kent-based charity behind the Big Cats in Crisis campaign raising funds to rescue the lions from Ukraine.

Yuna and African male lion Rori are the first of five lions to be rescued out of Ukraine after debris was blasted close to their enclosure in January as a result of Russia's invasion of the country.

The lioness was taken to the Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv, which is supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), on Wednesday before she makes a journey over four days and across six countries to receive treatment at the Big Cat Sanctuary.

Shellshocked lion Yuna is being brought to the UK (Image: PA)

12 mins ago07:56 Ciaran McGrath

Bratchuk, described as a spokesman for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army South, claimed its forces had struck a ferry facility at the port in Kerch and one Russian vessel in Chornomorske, Crimea.

Posting on Telegram, he said: "Night attack on Crimea, previously affected: Ferry crossing at the port of Kerch."

A vessel in the Black Sea had also been targeted, he added.

20 mins ago07:48 Ciaran McGrath

Residents in Sevastopol, Simferopol, and Kerch heard explosions at 3.30 am local time, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Multiple explosions were also reported in the community of Chernomorsk in Russia's neighbouring region Krasnodar Krai around 4.30 am local time.

The Kerch bridge was reportedly closed to traffic at about 2 am,, eventually reopening five hours later.

23 mins ago07:45 Ciaran McGrath

Huge traffic jams have been reported on the Kerch bridge, which connects Crimea and mainland Russia.

Pictures showed people getting out of their cars, with Crimea Wind suggested 2,000 vehicles were in effect stuck.

The bridge, which was built after Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, has been the target of Ukrainian attacks in the past.

Kerch Bridge: Plumes of smoke rise from bridge

29 mins ago07:39 Ciaran McGrath

A message posted on Telegram by the blogger Crimean Wind said: "In Kerch, a fire broke out on Proletarskaya Street, subscribers report

"It is not yet known whether this is related to the night explosions, but there is a seaport and a ship repair plant nearby.

"And the fire itself, approximately, in the area of ​​houses No. 6-12. And this is closer to the bus station, where, as we reported, shrapnel flew into the yard.”

44 mins ago07:24 Ciaran McGrath

Massive explosions have rocked Crimea overnight, which pictures showing fires erupting and a bridge between the occupied Ukrainian peninsula and mainland Russia currently suspended to traffic.

Posting on the Telegram app, blogger Crimean Wind said: "Vehicular traffic on the Crimean Bridge is temporarily suspended.”

The Krymskiy Veter channel reported explosions close to the city of Kerch and also claimed "smoke is rising" in the area of the ferry crossing.

Additionally, various Telegram channels reported explosions in Chornomorske and Kamianka, close to Simferopol, and air-raid warnings and shooting in Feodosiia.