HOME / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

CNN's Matthew Chance pauses live reporting to don helmet, flak jacket as 'explosions'Kyiv

CNN reporter Matthew Chance was interrupted during live in Kyiv by 'explosions' moments after Vladimir Putin ordered 'special military operation' in Donbas

CNN reporter, Matthew Chance was interrupted during a live from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, by the sound of what he said seemed like 'explosions'. The incident happened at around 5 am local time, just moments later, the network reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a 'special military operation' in Donbas.

Donbas is a region in eastern Ukraine containing the breakaway areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. On Monday, February 21, Putin recognized the two as independent, which officials warned he would use as a pretext to launch an invasion for peacekeeping purposes. Reporter Don Lemon was first reporting, then he was followed by Chance when he was interrupted by startling sounds.

“Ooh, I tell you what, I just heard a big bang right here behind me,” he said, and then appeared to point to his cameraperson.

“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. I don’t know whether our viewers or whether you in the studio there could hear what I just heard.” Lemon replied that he heard them as well.

Chance continued, "But they’re quite distant from where I am now. But I can tell you that the United States has of course warned the Ukrainian authorities that it is possible that there could be strikes, air strikes, missile attacks, ground attacks as well on various places around the country including on the capital, Kyiv. Now, I don’t know whether that’s what we’re witnessing now. But it’s a remarkable coincidence that I’m hearing these explosions in Kyiv right now minutes after Vladimir Putin gave that speech."

“This is the first time we’ve heard anything,” he continued. “It’s been absolutely silent in this city throughout the course of tonight, and for the past several weeks we’ve not seen anything at all. In fact, I’ve never heard anything like this in Kyiv for the years that I’ve been coming here and reporting from here. This is the first time. Look, it’s gotta be more than just a coincidence.”

After saying, “I think it’s relatively safe” from where he was standing, Chance heard a louder explosion. “Oh, I got a flak jacket right here. Let me just get it on.”
Chance put on the jacket and a helmet and continued reporting. 

The incident is trending now on Twitter and people are reacting differently,  some users have expressed their concerns for the reporter and are wishing him well. But not all feel the same way, some users are asking about the usefulness of wearing a flak jacket and how it can protect anyone from explosions. Here are some of the reactions.

One user tweeted, "Please be safe Matthew!!!"

Another tweeted,"I feel so bad for Matthew. He looks so worried. And understandably so. Hopefully all of this is resolved peacefully and as quickly as possible".

A user tweeted, "Am I dumb or does wearing a flak jacket on the roof of a skyscraper to save you from artillery seem kinda pointless".

Another also wrote, "Wtf a jacket going to do tbh".