Explosions rock downtown Kyiv during U.N. chief's visit

The downtown of Ukraine capital city Kyiv was rattled Thursday evening by explosions during United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres' visit. 

Guterres traveled to Ukraine after his trip to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in late February invaded Ukraine.

The attacks in Kyiv occurred shortly after Guterres met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

"I want the Ukrainian people to know that the world sees you, hears you, and is in awe of your resilience and resolve," Guterres said during a press conference with Zelensky, according to the UN Spokesperson Twitter account.

Ukraine Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said Russia hit Kyiv with cruise missiles while Guterres and while Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov each were in the capital city.

"By this heinous act of barbarism Russia demonstrates once again its attitude towards Ukraine, Europe and the world," Kuleba tweeted.

Petkov said he met with Zelensky earlier in the day Thursday "to reconfirm Bulgaria’s strong support to Ukraine's European future."

Guterres pledged via Twitter that the U.N. would continue working "to expand humanitarian support & secure the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones."

He also said: "The sooner this war ends, the better – for the sake of Ukraine, Russia, and the world."