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Ukrainian forces took to the streets of Kiev today with National Guard troops lined up in defensive positions along a highway shortly before the sound of gunfire and explosions. were fighting with Russian forces for control of the capital.
According to reports, there is already an exchange of fire between the two sides near government buildings in Kiev, while photos show Ukrainian soldiers taking up battle positions in the streets, waiting for the invasion of Russian forces.
Putin's men are now believed to be on the outskirts of the city, although their exact location and number are unclear.
Fighting broke out in Obolon, on the outskirts of the city, in the early hours of the morning, as the Ministry of Defense told residents to make Molotov cocktails to “repel the occupiers”. Rifles were also distributed to citizens as President Zelensky urged any European wishing to defend the country to travel to Ukraine and join the defense.
Trucks loaded with weapons are being distributed to civilians in Kiev for the city defense against Russian forces. pic.twitter.com/HWUjUS3qnR
– CaucasusWarReport (@Caucasuswar) February 25, 2022
Russian troops are believed to have arrived from northwest, after being repulsed by Chernobyl which was occupied late yesterday. More Russian troops and armor are advancing on the capital from Konotop to the east, bypassing the town of Chernihiv where they have encountered heavy Ukrainian resistance.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are besieging the Ukrainian capital from two points. As can be seen in the map published by the BBC, Russian forces attacked from two sides, from the north and from the northeast side of Kiev. Many Russian troops and armor were heading for the capital from Konotop, to the east, having bypassed the town of Chernigov where they met strong resistance from the Ukrainians.
At the same time, exchanges of fire and explosions continue to be heard in the suburb of Oblonsky, and more specifically in the Obolon district, while according to the Associated Press, fires are also heard near government buildings in the city. Kiev authorities have warned residents of Obolon, in the northwestern part of the Ukrainian capital, to stay away from the streets as “hostilities” approach. “As hostilities approach, residents of Obolon are urged not to go outside,” local officials said in a statement./p>
The capital of Ukraine is in a “defensive position”, according to the mayor of the city, as the Russian army is within breathing distance. “Kiev has entered a defensive phase,” said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Speaking to reporters, he said: “Shots and explosions are heard in some neighborhoods where saboteurs have already entered. “The enemy wants to bring the capital to its knees and destroy us.”
Russia claims to have captured an airport outside Kiev
The Russian military says it has cordoned off the western side of Kiev and occupied the strategic Hostomel airport outside the capital, Interfax news agency reported. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov also said more than 200 people had been killed by Ukrainian special forces. The Russian allegations have not been verified.
According to the Associated Press, the airport has a long runway that allows heavy transport aircraft to land, which means that Russia could transport troops directly to the outskirts of Kiev. Hostomel is just 7 km away. northwest of the city. Ukrainian military vehicles were reportedly entering Kiev to defend the capital, according to Reuters.
Watch live updates on all developments in Ukraine
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense pointed out on its Facebook page that this is a sabotage operation by Russian forces carried out by a military reconnaissance unit. In the same message, the ministry asked the residents of the suburb to take up arms. “We urge citizens to inform us of the enemy's movements, make Molotov cocktails, neutralize the enemy,” the message read.
that the Russian army captured two vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces, and then Russian soldiers dressed in Ukrainian uniforms and headed towards the center of Kiev from Obolon.
Videos released on social media are said to have been captured by Ukrainian soldiers after they “neutralized” one of the Russian saboteurs.
Beware, harsh images:
Ukrainian channels report:
& # 8220; Disguised Russian soldiers were killed by the Ukrainian army. & # 8221;
Obolon, Kyiv oblast # Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic. twitter.com/CSiiPhWxmT– Aleph א #IStandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 (@no_itsmyturn) February 25, 2022
Videos uploaded to social media by Obolon residents show a Russian military vehicle colliding with a civilian car. According to the latest information, the driver of the car was released and is safe.
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An armed # Russia & # 8216; s vehicle ran over a civilian car just on the streets of Obolon district in Kyiv. # Ukraine pic.twitter.com/JgbshmBEhN
– Alexander Khrebet/Олександр Хребет (@AlexKhrebet ) February 25, 2022
Battle chariot on Friday morning at Obolon:
Military equipment in residential areas of #Obolon. pic.twitter.com/LRMJnPSJHM
– NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 25, 2022
Strong explosions were heard in the northeastern city of Kharkiv. Ukraine, according to eyewitnesses. Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine.
⚡️Shooting in the Minsk Massif in Kiev. In the area of metro stations Obolonь zlshny zlpy artillery. pic.twitter.com/DnBo9EZBgH
– Андрей Пивоваров (@brewerov) February 25, 2022
View live images from το Κίεβο:
Ukrainian authorities have issued an alert for airstrikes in Kiev following Russian missile strikes earlier today, Ukrainian television reported, urging citizens to go to the nearest shelter.
An air-raid alert has been declared in Kyiv, and residents are asked to immediately move to shelter. This is like for the third time alert already pic.twitter.com/zwLzF68jlp
– Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) February 25, 2022
Air raid sirens have sounded several times today, with people taking to the subway to βρει καταφύγιο.
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An air-raid alert has been declared in Kyiv, and residents are asked to immediately move to shelter. This is like for the third time alert already pic.twitter.com/zwLzF68jlp
– Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) February 25, 2022
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The post of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the sabotage operation in Oblonsky:
❗️увага
На Оболоні ворожа ДРГ. Occupy!
Peaceful mess & # 8211; booti unrestrained! Не покидати оселі!– Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have announced that they are currently fighting Russian armored units in two cities, Dimer and Ivankiv, 45 and 80 kilometers north of Kiev, respectively.
“Ukraine's air force units are fighting around the cities of Dimer and Ivankiv, where a large number of enemy armor has arrived,” the Ukrainian army said on its Facebook page. According to this post, the advance “of the superior forces of the army stopped in the river Teterov. The river bridge was destroyed. “
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Киевское метро сейчас. Станция «Оболонь».
Video: UNIAN pic.twitter.com/eoD5wNkceJ
– Новая Газета (@novaya_gazeta) February 25, 2022
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A photo uploaded by Mr. Klitschko shows firefighters at work in front of a building that has been damaged and emits smoke:
⚡️ За попередніми даними, троє Previous -rutovalny services. pic.twitter.com/Cu0Wn4Tp6J
– Віталій Кличко (@Vitaliy_Klychko) February 25, 2022
The Ukrainian armed forces shot down in the early morning hours today a “Russian plane” in Kiev, which crashed into a nine-storey apartment building causing a fire, said for his part Anton Gerastshenko, the Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister. It is not clear if it was a fighter or remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or whether it referred to the missiles the military was talking about.
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⚡️ За попередніми даними, троє Previous -А.
Швидкі везуть людей у лікарні. pic.twitter.com/Cu0Wn4Tp6J– Віталій Кличко (@Vitaliy_Klychko) February 25, 2022
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< p>The advance of Russian forces makes many fear that Kiev will be attacked soon and that attacks on strategic and government facilities in the capital will multiply.
As a result from the Russian Air Attack on Kiev, a 9-storey residential building has been severely damaged by Russian missile fire. Reports of numerous civilians killed and wounded. pic.twitter.com/KhKVHWrueu
– CaucasusWarReport (@Caucasuswar) February 25, 2022
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba spoke of “horrific blows” in Kiev from Russia, which resembled those of Nazi Germany. “The last time our capital had experienced such a thing was in 1941, when it was attacked by Nazi Germany. “Ukraine has defeated that evil and it will defeat that,” he said. He called for sanctions against Russia and President Vladimir Putin and for all countries to sever ties with Moscow and “kick the Russians everywhere.” “Stop Putin. “Isolate Russia,” he said. calls on Putin to negotiate”I want to appeal again to the President of the Russian Federation: Let us sit at the negotiating table to stop the death of people,” the Ukrainian president said in a video message to the Telegram.
Mikhail Pontoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, told Reuters that Ukraine wanted peace and was ready for talks with Russia, including the adoption of a NATO-neutral regime.
“If talks are possible, they should take place. “If they say in Moscow that they want talks, and for the neutral regime, we are not afraid of that,” he said in a text message. “We can talk about that too.”
“Our readiness for dialogue is part of our ongoing pursuit of peace.”
Traffic on Ukraine's road network is normal, although all ports and the country's airspace are closed, Pontoliak said today, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik.
“The main roads and the main highways are operating normally. Of course, there is congestion in some of them in one direction or another, because there is also, unfortunately, a sense of panic… As for the ports, all ports are closed. “As far as air traffic is concerned, the airspace is closed,” Pontoliak said in a statement.
According to him, Ukraine's railway network is generally operating normally.
“Of course, commercial banks are closed, but the state-owned banking sector is working. “Banks are closing their branches only in areas where military clashes are raging,” Pontoliak said.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has indicated he is ready to discuss a neutral status for his country, and added that Moscow is ready to hold talks as soon as .
Source: protothema.gr
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