Street combat erupted in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, as Russian soldiers marched on the city, prompting Ukrainian officials to advise citizens to seek cover.
When the sun rose over Kyiv on Saturday, it was unclear how far the forces had progressed. Officials in Ukraine said they were successful in repelling attacks, but combat continued near the capital. Small Russian battalions were probing Ukrainian defences to create a route for the main forces, according to skirmishes reported on the outskirts of the metropolis of roughly three million inhabitants.Saturday was the third day of President Vladimir Putin’s huge land, sea, and air assault, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and is Russia’s largest military deployment since World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned down an American invitation to flee the country, insisting on remaining in Kyiv. On Saturday, he added, “The struggle is here.” Zelenskyy reaffirmed the country’s military’s ability to repel the Russian invasion, dismissing accusations that the Ukrainian military will lay down arms.
Ukrainian forces, including military police, national guards, and volunteers, have so far blocked Russian soldiers from entering Kyiv, according to Vitali Klitschko, the city’s mayor.
“At the moment, subversive organisations are operating in Kyiv; there have been a number of skirmishes and firefights,” he stated. “As of 6 a.m., 35 persons, including two children, had been injured.” I urge everyone to remain calm and seek refuge in shelters. The adversary will launch an aerial assault.” Russian strikes had wreaked havoc on bridges, schools, and residential complexes, prompting the street brawls.
According to an adviser to the interior minister, a missile that struck a residential building in Kyiv on Saturday did not kill anyone. Russia was also lying about not shelling civilian facilities, according to Anton Herashchenko.
On Saturday, the mayor of Kyiv extended a curfew in the Ukrainian capital, which has been under intense Russian shelling for the third day as Russia’s military advance their invasion of Ukraine. The majority of Russian soldiers engaging in the assault on Kyiv are currently 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre, according to the British military ministry. The southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol was overrun by Russian soldiers, according to Russia’s defence ministry, as Moscow conducted synchronised missile and artillery strikes on numerous cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s spokesperson Sergii Nykyforov stated on social media that Ukraine and Russia will discuss in the coming hours on a time and location for talks, presenting the first ray of hope for diplomacy since the invasion began. The Kremlin had previously offered to meet in Minsk, Belarus, when Ukraine indicated interest in discussing declaring itself a neutral nation, but Ukraine had suggested Warsaw as the location. According to Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, this caused a “pause” in communications.
