WAR

Fighting reaches Kyiv streets as Russia attacks

Ukraine is leaking in all directions

In Summary
  • Ukraine says fighting took place overnight on the streets of the capital Kyiv
  • The Ukrainian military says it repelled an assault by Russian forces on one of its bases in the city
  • It came hours after Ukrainian President Zelensky said Russian forces would try to storm the capital
  • Explosions are reported across some parts of Kyiv early on Saturday as Russian forces continue their assault
  • President Zelensky posted a video of himself on Saturday, defiantly declaring that they would not 'lay down arms'
A woman cleans her damaged house after artillery fire from an area of Donetsk under the control of Russian-backed rebels
A woman cleans her damaged house after artillery fire from an area of Donetsk under the control of Russian-backed rebels
Image: GETTY IMAGES

Russian assaults on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv have been met with fierce resistance, as the Ukrainian military says it fought off several attacks.

The military said in a Facebook post early on Saturday that an army unit managed to repel Russian forces near its base on a major city street.

In a new video, President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "We won't lay down our arms. We will defend our state."

The city government confirmed ongoing fighting and urged people to stay home.

According to a report by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, city officials put out a statement asking people to stay in shelters and to stay away from windows if they were at home.

But Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian news site Lb.ua that the army was "in control" of the situation.

"We are stopping the horde using all means available. The army servicemen and citizens are in control of Kyiv," said Mr Danilov.

In his self-shot video, Mr Zelensky could be seen walking around Kyiv's government district in an apparent effort to dispel rumours he had called on the army to surrender to Russian troops.

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