ISTANBUL 

Air raid alerts were activated across all regions of Ukraine early on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, due to possible Russian airstrikes.

Local authorities urged residets to take shelter until the alarms are deactivated.

No warnings were reported in the Crimea region, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

The sirens come a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a Christmas greeting statement to Western Rite Orthodox Christians.

Air raid alerts sound in Ukraine on a nearly daily basis due to missile and drone strikes targeting the country's civilian and energy infrastructure. Such strikes rose dramatically after an October explosion damaged Russia's key Kerch Bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.​​​​​​​