On Saturday night, Ukraine is said to have been attacked from a Russian offensive across the country. Here are four key points from the night.
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As warned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday night: The Russians have attacked with full force Saturday night.
Here is the most important thing that has happened.
1. Hard fighting in Kyiv
Another dramatic night is over in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Residents spend the night in bomb shelters with occasional sounds of aircraft alarms, explosions and gunfire.
The fighting in Kyiv has been going on in several neighborhoods and at metro stations. Kyiv Independent reported at 03.40 local time more than 50 explosions and powerful firings with machine guns.
Among other things, the power station CHP-6 is said to have been attacked.
Early Saturday, the fighting flares up again in Kyiv. Residents are asked to seek refuge and stay away from windows.
The Ukrainian army says it repulsed a Russian attack on one of the capital’s main roads, Kyiv, on Saturday night.
Russia attacked one of the Ukrainian military units stationed on Peremohy Avenue in Kyiv. The attack was repulsed, the Ukrainian army writes on its official Facebook page.
Attacks across the country
Russia is attacking cities throughout Ukraine, according to Kyiv Independent journalist Oleksiy Sorokin. They come with tanks, ground forces and rockets.
The city of Melitipol in southern Ukraine is said to have been captured, Russian authorities report early Saturday. It writes Reuters, which quotes Russian Interfax. There have been tough fights there the last two days. Ukraine denies that the city has been taken.
On Saturday morning, the plane alarm went off in a number of cities across Ukraine.
Reuters reports matches in Mariupol, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odessa. They quote the president’s adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak. The Ukrainian defense also reports heavy fighting in the city of Vasykliv, about 30 km south of Kyiv.
Ukraine opposes
No new cities have been taken by Russia, according to Ukrainian authorities. This is in contrast to what Russia says about Melitopol early Saturday.
The toughest fights have been going on in Kyiv. Among other things, the Ukrainian air force is said to have shot down two Russian fighter jets. It reported the Kyiv Independent early Saturday night.
In addition, a Russian column with six military vehicles is said to have been destroyed by the Ukrainian defense.
Ukrainian authorities report at least 3,000 dead Russian soldiers. This is difficult to verify, and the Russian authorities have not released figures on military losses.
– We stop their troops with all available means. The Armed Forces and the civilian population have control of Kyiv.
This was stated by Oleksiy Danilov of the Security Council of Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian newspaper lb.ua.
4. The president refused to evacuate
The United States is ready to evacuate President Zelensky, writes The Washington Post.
He refused. Zelensky himself has said that the Russians have designated him as the number one target, with his family next on the list.
According to the president, the city’s fate is now being decided. He said this in a Facebook video early Saturday morning.
– We do not want to lay down our arms, we want to defend our country, the president says.
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