Officials in Kyiv are advising citizens that street fighting against Russian forces is taking place and urged them to take refuge.
Residents received warnings to stay in shelters, avoid walking near windows or balconies and take steps to prevent getting hurt by debris or gunfire, according to the warning issued Saturday.
As explosions resonated throughout the city early Saturday, Russian troops pushed toward Ukraine’s capital. The president exhorted the country to “stand firm” against the siege that might determine its future. “The fight is here,” he said, refusing American assistance to leave.
The conflict claimed hundreds of lives, including shelling that ripped through a Kyiv apartment building and battered bridges and schools. There were also rising indications that Russia was attempting to destabilize Ukraine’s government. The US officials have described Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal.
Putin’s assault was his most daring attempt yet to remake the world map and reassert Moscow’s Cold War-era clout. It sparked increased international efforts to stop the invasion, including sanctions on Putin directly.
The country faced explosions and gunfire and the destiny of Kyiv hung in the balance. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a cease-fire and warned that many cities were under attack in a gloomy statement.
“This night we have to stand firm,” he said. “The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.”
“The fight is here”
A senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation says Zelenskyy was advised by the US government to leave Kyiv. But he declined. The president, according to the person, said “the fight is here”. Also, he required anti-tank munitions but “not a ride.”
According to US defense sources, the Russian offensive has met with significant resistance. But it is moving at a slower pace than Moscow had anticipated, though this could change soon.
The Kremlin agreed to meet with Kyiv. But it appeared to be a ruse to extract concessions from the embattled Zelenskyy. (mrbonespumpkinpatch) It was not a move toward a diplomatic settlement.
The Russian troops pressed on, claiming the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine on Friday. In the haze of conflict, it was still unclear how much of Ukraine is still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian soldiers have taken.
The Ukrainian military claimed responsibility for shooting down a Russian transport plane transporting paratroopers near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Kyiv, according to a senior American intelligence officer. There was no way of knowing how many people were on board. Transport planes can transport up to 125 paratroopers.
According to two American sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation, a second Russian military cargo plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, some 50 miles (85 kilometers) south of Kyiv.
However, the Russian military has not remarked on either aircraft.
Veto
As the invasion resonated across the world’s economy and energy sources, the US and other global powers placed ever-tougher sanctions on Russia, threatening to strike ordinary people even harder. According to United Nations officials, millions of people could likewise evacuate Ukraine. Russia got sanctions by sports leagues. The popular Eurovision singing contest has also barred it from competing in the finals in Italy in May.
Russia likewise remained unfazed throughout. Thereby, vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that it halt fighting Ukraine and evacuate its soldiers immediately. Although the veto was likely, the US and its backers felt that the endeavor would underscore Moscow’s international isolation. With China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, Russia’s invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbor met with substantial but not unanimous criticism.
