Reporter ducks for cover as war breaks out and missiles explode live on air

“I told you we shouldn’t have done the live shot here,” said reporter Matthew Chance as bombs dropped around him live on air.

A CNN reporter broadcasting from Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv ducked for cover as bombs began falling live on air.

Senior international correspondent Matthew Chance crouched out of shot and put on a flack jacket before continuing to broadcast live to host Don Lemon and missiles fell around him.

CNN’s Matthew Chance in Kyiv, Ukraine, stops his live reporting to put on gear as he and the team hear loud explosions near the city. https://t.co/y7MglyEtcdpic.twitter.com/YShfN9OBQf

— CNN (@CNN) February 24, 2022

It came just minutes after Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, with Mr Chance pausing mid-sentence as the first missiles began to explode in the near distance.

“I tell you what, I just heard a big bang right here behind me,” Mr Chance said.

“I told you we shouldn’t have done the live shot here. There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv right now.”

“I can’t see where they’re taking place from this vantage point here on top of the roof of the hotel in central Kyiv. And I can’t explain what they are, but I heard four or five explosions a few moments ago.”

CNN reporter Matthew Chance ducked for cover as war breaks out live on air. Picture: Supplied.

Ukrainian authorities later confirmed that the explosions were Russian missiles launched minutes after Putin’s speech was broadcast.

Mr Chance suggested the explosions were “quite distant” from where he was broadcasting before the CNN anchor asked if it was safe.

“Yeah I think it’s relatively safe at the moment,” he replied before being cut off mid-sentence by an explosion noticeably closer.

“Oh, I’ve got a flack jacket right here let me just get it on,” he said ducking out of shot to put on the protective vest and helmet.

Originally published as Reporter ducks for cover as war breaks out and missiles explode live on air