Big explosion in Kiev – VG

KYIV/OSLO (VG) It’s time for another night of tension in the Ukrainian capital, as residents are now being asked to seek shelter. Just before midnight, large explosions were reported.

A very large explosion lights up the night sky southwest of Kiev, reports CNN.

The explosion appears to be located 20 kilometers from the city center, according to CNN correspondent Tim Lister, who is in Kiev.

The plane alarm went off earlier tonight in the Ukrainian capital, as well as in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhya. People were asked to seek shelter in basements and shelters.

Also on Friday night, the invasion intensified during the night hours. Since Saturday night, heavy fighting has erupted in several places in and around the Ukrainian capital.

So far, so good killed 20 people And 71 wounded after the fighting in the Ukrainian capital.

Fighting also broke out in the southern cities of Mariupol, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odessa. According to the Ukrainian authorities, at least 198 Ukrainian civilians, including three children, have died so far as a result of the Russian invasion.

The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, said that Russian saboteurs are still operating in the city. Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also warned the Ukrainian people that the Russians could set their homes on fire and clear the way for the troops.

– They are the eyes of the enemy. If you see suspicious people wearing badges or they don’t have a good explanation as to why they are in a special place, arrest them or report to the Ukrainian forces.

Russia continues to attack

On Saturday morning, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that Ukraine still controls Kiev and important areas around the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko claims that there are no Russian soldiers inside the city center.

Russian army spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov claimed that the Russian army has since been ordered to continue its offensive in Ukraine, as a result of Kiev’s refusal to enter into talks in Belarus.

“After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, all forces were ordered today to expand the offensive from all sides in accordance with the plans of the operation,” he said in a statement.

But Ukraine denies its refusal to negotiate with Russia. To Sky News, an adviser from Ukraine’s presidential office said they wanted to take part in the negotiations, but would not accept the ultimatum.

However, Oleksiy Aristovich, Zelensky’s adviser, said Saturday evening that Russia’s attack on Kiev is not moving forward.

– We are attacking the enemy around Kiev. Reuters quoted Aristovich as saying that the enemy is not moving at the moment.

Ask people for help

He. She Ukrainian Defense Minister, On Saturday afternoon, Oleksiy Reznikov announced that Ukrainian forces have so far killed about 3,000 Russian soldiers. Meanwhile, more than 200 people were arrested, according to Reznikov.

– The enemy is trying to change tactics. The Russian Defense Minister wrote that Russian forces are shooting at residential areas, hospitals and educational institutions.

In the statement, Reznikov also came with an appeal to the Ukrainian people to inform the Ukrainian forces if they are watching suspicious persons.

In addition, residents are asked to seize the opportunity if Russian military convoys pass by.

Fuel tankers tracked. Stop them or burn them. Russian tanks will simply stop, our troops will secure them and use them against the enemy.

logistical challenges

However, Russia’s entry into Ukraine has slowed in the past 24 hours, possibly due to logistical problems and strong opposition from Ukrainians.

Friday night Reuters reported that Russian forces He had problems with fuel and equipment, and stopped near the northeastern city of Konotop after suffering heavy losses.

On Saturday afternoon, the British Ministry of Defense wrote that Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centers, while deploying forces to besiege and isolate Ukrainian cities.

– There may have been a small number of Russian sabotage groups already deployed in tonight’s clashes in Kiev.

The update indicates that the control of Kiev remains Russia’s main goal.

One A Pentagon source told the New York Times: More than 150,000 Russian soldiers ready to occupy Ukraine are already taking part in the fighting in the country.

“But frustration is growing among them at the lack of progress in the face of strong opposition, especially in the north of the country,” the Pentagon employee told the newspaper.

Sends supplies and weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter that Western partners will send weapons to help Kiev in the war against Russia.

Sky News Experience that the United Kingdom and the United States, along with 25 other countries, have agreed to provide Ukraine with weapons and other supplies. Among other things, you will Germany sends 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store will also reconsider whether Norway should send military equipment to the war-torn country.

– Weapons and equipment from our partners on their way to Ukraine. Zelensky wrote on Twitter that the anti-war coalition is working.

The President of Ukraine also urged Western countries to expel the Russians for the Swift payment system.

Late Saturday night hits President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that several countries including the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom, have agreed to exclude some Russian banks from the Swift network.

tough fights

The VG team in Kiev announced before 05.00 Norwegian time that they heard continuous gunfire in the center of the capital. Both are far and nearer to where they are.

Ukrainian Defense confirmed on Facebook Fierce fighting erupted on the streets of Kiev and in the city of Vasylkiv, 35 kilometers south of Kiev.

Mayor Vasylkiev on Saturday morning reported losses on the Ukrainian side, and about 200 were injured, according to CNN.

The Ukrainian defense also announced at exactly three o’clock in the morning that it had repelled a Russian attack on a major artery towards the center of Kiev from the north.

“During the night, the Russian occupiers did not capture a single city,” the defense wrote. Twitter.

Several attacks

According to the Kiev Independent newspaper, an apartment building near Kiev Giuliani International Airport, a few kilometers from the center of the capital, was hit by a missile on Saturday morning.

No deaths were reported in connection with the missile attack. Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko told the Interfax news agency that 35 people were injured, including two children.

In a video message on Saturday at 12.34, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had bombed residential areas with missiles, CNN . writes.

“The destruction of apartment buildings with missiles and artillery is the final argument for the world to be on our side and stop the Russian invasion,” the Ukrainian president said.

Russian forces also destroyed, on Saturday, a water dam in the Kherson region of Ukraine, according to the governor of the Crimea annexed by Russia, Sergei Aksionov.

Since 2014, the dam has sabotaged the water supply for the population of Crimea.

– hard night

A curfew was tightened in Kiev on Saturday. It has now been extended to apply from kl. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to Reuters.

Ukraine is ready if anything happens. I’m not afraid, I don’t want to leave my country,” Anastasia (20) told VG.

When VG interviewed her on Wednesday, she didn’t think the invasion was going to happen. But the next day, one of the world’s largest military powers chose to invade the country. That night she called it the worst of her life.

It was a rough night, the worst night of my life. I wrote in a letter to VG I will never forgive the Russian people.

My hometown is being bombed now. I will never feel safe as long as I know that Putin is alive. Evil must die.

Today, Saturday, Anastasia sends a new message to VG. You’ll only describe tonight’s matches in one word:

– Rude.