A man who said he was armed with weapons and explosives seized control of a bus in the western Ukrainian city of Lutsk and took about 20 people on board hostage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Facebook that “shots were heard, the bus was damaged”.

The man’s demands were unknown, police said in a statement. TV footage showed empty streets cordoned off by people in military uniform, police cars and an armoured personnel carrier. Photos published on social media showed a small bus parked in the middle of an empty street. Two windows of the bus were smashed and other windows were covered with curtains.

“Every effort is being made to resolve the situation without casualties. I keep the course of events under personal control”, - Zelenskiy said.