Russian troops are bearing down on Ukraine’s capital after the president grimly predicted that the conflict would soon intensify.
Ukraine’s army said on Saturday that it had repelled a Russian attack on one of Kyiv’s main avenues.
Amid reports of hundreds of casualties – including shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummelled bridges and schools – there also were growing signs that Russia may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, which the US says is Putin’s ultimate objective.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for a cease-fire and warned in a bleak statement that multiple cities were under attack. “This night they will storm,” he said.
The Kremlin accepted Kyiv’s offer to hold talks, but it appeared to be an effort to squeeze concessions out of Zelensky instead of a gesture towards a diplomatic solution.
The Russian military continued its advance, but it was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine is still under local control and how much Russian forces have seized.
Ukraine’s military reported shooting down an II-76 Russian transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles (40km) south of Kyiv.
Follow the latest updates below.
07:16 AM
Latvia sings for Ukraine
Latvian crowds have been seen singinh the Ukrainian national anthem in front of the Russian embassy in it’s capital Riga.
US and other Nato troops are currently stationed in the country
06:58 AM
‘Glory to Ukraine,’ announces defiant president
Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken to his people from the streets of Kyiv.
“A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is underway,” he said outside his office.
Wearing olive green military-style clothing and looking tired but determined, he declared: “Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this.
“This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!”
As the video hit social media platforms, the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens could still be heard around the capital, as the Russian military declared it had fired air- and sea-based cruise missiles at Ukrainian military targets.
06:50 AM
Reports of airport strike
There are reports that an area near Kyiv’s Zhulyany airport has been struck by a missile.
Мощный взрыв в Киеве. Предположительно ракета в районе аэропорта Жуляны. pic.twitter.com/b02LmKy1dW
— Андрей Пивоваров (@brewerov) February 26, 2022
06:44 AM
Defiant Zelensky vows ‘I’m still here’
After Ukrainian forces said they had repulsed a Russian attack on their capital on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky shot a selfie video (below) to vow to stay and fight on.
“I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth,” he declared, denouncing as disinformation claims that he had surrendered or fled.
06:38 AM
Power plant controlled by Ukrainian troops
Ukrainian troops are in control of the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant to the north of the Ukrainian capital, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry.
06:23 AM
Second Russian military transport plane shot down
A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, the Associated Press reports.
On Friday, Ukraine’s military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles south of Kyiv.
05:55 AM
Be careful when talking on WhatsApp, says Ukraine’s communications agency
Residents must be careful about what they say to each other over the WhatsApp messaging service as Russian forces could be listening, said Ukraine’s communications monitoring agency.
❗️ #WhatsApp is listened to by Russian forces, – CENTER FOR COUNTERING DISINFORMATION
at the @rnbo_gov_ua
☝️Don’t disseminate information about regarding the movement of troops and equipment of the Armed Forces;
☝️Don’t discuss with strangers your personal information.#Ukraine— SSSCIP Ukraine (@dsszzi) February 26, 2022
05:36 AM
Street fighting in Kyiv
Street fighting has broke out as Russian troops stormed towards Ukraine’s capital early on Saturday.
Police told residents to remain hiding if there were doing so already and to avoid going to their windows and balconies if they were at home, according to a journalist at Politico.
“Active fighting is taking place on the streets of our city. Please stay calm and be as careful as possible! If you are in hiding – do not leave it now. If you are at home – do not go to the windows, do not go to the balconies. Hide indoors, for example in the bathroom, and cover yourself with something that will prevent injury from bullet fragments. If you hear sirens (“Air Alarm” signal) – go to the nearest shelter immediately.”
Ukrainian police just released alert for Kyiv residents via Telegram: “Active fighting is taking place on the streets of our city. Please stay calm and be as careful as possible! If you are in hiding – do not leave it now. If you are at home – do not go to the windows … 1/2
— Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) February 26, 2022
05:06 AM
Biden to provide $600m in military aid to Ukraine
President Joe Biden has signed an order to provide up to $600 million in “immediate military assistance” to Ukraine.
He will pledge $250 million for overall assistance and $350 million for ‘defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training’.
04:52 AM
Tens of thousands of people throng Georgian capital to protest invasion
Incredible scenes from the Georgian capital Tbilisi as people gather to protest against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine
04:27 AM
‘Backbone’ internet provider suffering disruptions
Ukraine’s internet is experiencing major disruptions, according to a service provider, yet users in the country appear to still be able to access the internet.
NetBlocks, which tracks network disruptions and shutdowns, said Ukraine’s main internet provider Real-time data showed “a major disruption” to the Ukraine’s main provider GigaTrans, with intermittent connectivity.
04:05 AM
Boris Johnson’s message to Ukraine
To the people of Ukraine: Slava Ukraini.
To the people of Russia: I do not believe this war is in your name.
This crisis, this tragedy, can and must come to an end. Because the world needs a free and sovereign Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ijbAAb8G67
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 25, 2022
03:47 AM
‘Ukraine’s women will join its men to defend the country’
Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, says Ukraine’s women will protect the country in the same way as the men.
Ms Rudik posted a photo of herself holding a gun on Twitter late Friday, with the caption: “Our women will protect our soil the same way as our men. “
Speaking to CNN, she said it was surreal to find herself herself holding a gun, but had little choice in the face of Russia’s advances.
“It was super unusual and super crazy for myself to understand and realize that I’m holding a gun and I’m ready to bear arms, and I’m ready to go and shoot other human beings,” Ms Rudik CNN early Saturday.
“And the reason for that change was because Russian soldiers are coming to Kyiv and Russian soldiers are trying to take what is actually not theirs.”
03:12 AM
Budapest offered as a safe venue for negotiation
Hungary’s foreign minister has offered Budapest as a possible location for negotiations between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine as Russia’s invasion intensifies.
“Budapest can serve as a safe venue for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiation delegations,” Peter Szijjarto said in a video on Facebook late on Friday, adding that he had made the proposal to both Russia’s and Ukraine’s governments, neither of which dismissed it.
“I sincerely hope that an agreement can be reached within a few hours or days to start discussions; the sooner the talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war,” Szijjarto said.
03:05 AM
Russia vetoes resolution
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Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops.
Friday’s vote was 11-1, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. It showed significant but not total opposition to Russia’s invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbour.
The US and other supporters knew the resolution wouldn’t pass but argued it would highlight Russia’s international isolation.
03:03 AM
Ukraine ‘repulsed’ Russian attack on main Kyiv avenue
Ukraine’s army said on Saturday that it had repelled a Russian attack on one of the capital’s main avenues.
“[Russi] attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv. The attack was repulsed,” Ukraine’s army said on its verified Facebook page, without specifying where exactly the incident took place.
An AFP journalist said there were loud explosions heard in central Kyiv early on Saturday.
In a separate post, the army said “heavy fighting” was underway in the town of Vasylkiv south of Kyiv, adding that Russia was “trying to land paratroopers”.
The military also said it had shot down a Russian helicopter and SU-25 aircraft at around midnight on Saturday, and posted that an IL-76 military transport plane had been destroyed.
The statement did not say how many people were onboard.
02:54 AM
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