Journalist Pavlo Sheremet died in a blast in Kiev, Ukrainian and Russian media report.

The incident happened as Sheremet was driving a car owned by Elena Pritule, the head of Ukrainska pravda ("Ukrainian Truth"), one of the media outlets he worked for.

What caused the blast was not immediately clear, but subsequent reports attributed it to an explosive device installed in the vehicle.

Ukraine's President Poroshenko expressed his "shock" at the death of Sheremet and called for an investigation.

The renown journalist, born in Belarus but working in Ukraine and Russia, was heading to the building of Radio Vesti to host part of its morning broadcast.