Fighting have intensified in Ukraine over Russian invasion. In fact, the battle has recorded many casualties and deaths with destructions of properties and military equipment from both sides.
Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
Ukraine’s highly-motivated; outgunned forces held their capital against the Russian invasion into a fourth day Sunday, as battles continued across the country, while a defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; urged citizens to defend their country against the invading forces. here’s what you need to know:
Civilian deaths:
Heavy gunfire in a western district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday evening killed a six-year-old boy and injured several other people; according to a local hospital. Separately, Ukraine’s state emergency service said a nine-story residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv was hit by “enemy artillery,” killing a woman.
On the ground:
Two large explosions lit up the night sky to the southwest of Kyiv early Sunday morning. They appear to have been around Vasylkiv; some 30 kilometers, or about 18 miles, south of Kyiv; a city with a large military airfield and multiple fuel tank.
Russian banks expelled from SWIFT:
The White House, European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada; backed the expulsion of certain Russian banks from SWIFT; the high-security network that connects thousands of financial institutions around the world; and pledged efforts to “collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin.”
Russian aircraft banned:
Germany has ordered the ban of Russian aircraft from entering the country’s airspace; according to German Minister of Transport Volker Wissing. It joins Estonia, Romania, Lithuania and Latvia in banning Russian airlines from their airspace.
Targeting civilian infrastructure:
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said he “most strongly” condemns Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Despite Russian denials, reports about apartment buildings and kindergartens being shelled; civilians being killed, and rockets being found in residential streets; have been trickling in since the beginning of the offensive.
Protests around the world:
Cities across the world have seen rallies in support of Ukraine this weekend; including in St Petersburg, Washington DC, Barcelona, New York, Brussels, Millan, Tbilisi and London.
Military aid to Ukraine:
Germany will deliver 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 stinger missiles to Ukraine; in a major policy shift after resisting Kyiv’s previous calls for defensive weaponry. The US authorized $350 million in new US military assistance to Ukraine; including “anti-armor and anti-aircraft systems, small arms and various caliber munitions,” a Biden administration official said.
Ukrainians defy Russia’s onslaught as battle enters into fourth day
Massive explosions lit up the night sky near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Sunday as Ukrainian forces continue to repel the Russian invasion attempts to gain control of the historic city, despite overwhelming odds.
Two large explosions appeared to have been around Vasylkiv – a small city with a large military airfield as well as multiple fuel tanks – some 30 kilometers, or about 18 miles, south of Kyiv.
Also read: Ukrainians wake up to sounds of bombings
The explosions come as Ukrainian forces engage in fierce fighting with Russian troops in multiple cities across the country, as ordinary Ukrainians and reservists join efforts to defend their homes and families against Russian acts of violence.
Accusations of war crimes: Concerns are now growing that Russia may look to deploy indiscriminate battlefield weaponry in civilian areas in a desperate attempt to crush Ukrainian resistance.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal accused Russia of war crimes; saying Russian forces shelled kindergartens, residential blocks as well as “buses with children.”
Though Russia has claimed it is not targeting civilian infrastructure, an increasing body of evidence on the ground proves otherwise.
Two vast explosions seen in Kyiv appear to be around Vasylkiv
The two vast explosions that lit up the night sky appear to have been around Vasylkiv, some 30 kilometers, or about 18 miles, south of Kyiv.
Vasylkiv has a large military airfield and multiple fuel tanks.
The area was the scene of heavy fighting Friday night, according to Ukrainian officials.
Massive explosions reported near Kyiv
Two large explosions lit up the night sky to the southwest of Kyiv early Sunday morning with one detonation that appeared to be approximately 20 kilometers, or about 12 miles, from the city center.
The second explosion rocked western Kyiv just before 1 a.m. local time.
The second blast also came from the south-western part of the city, in the direction of the city’s second major airport.
Oil tanks on fire at Vasylkiv Air Base
Owing to the ongoing tensions, there was a recorded fire outbreak at Vasylkiv Air Base; soutwest of Kyiv.
Vasylkiv has multiple fuel tanks.
The area was the scene of heavy fighting Friday night, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russian aircraft banned from German airspace
Germany has ordered the ban of Russian aircraft from entering the country’s airspace; according to German Minister of Transport Volker Wissing.
“German airline Lufthansa will also avoid Russian airspace immediately due to the war in Ukraine, a Lufthansa spokeswoman said. The airline said it will no longer operate services to Russian destinations for the next seven days.
With utmost concerns, “The safety of our passengers and crew has utmost priority for us at any time,” Lufthansa said.
Six-year-old boy killed in Kyiv clashes, several more Ukrainian civilians wounded
Heavy gunfire in a western district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday evening; killed a six-year-old boy and injured several other people, according to a local hospital.
Serhii Chernysuk, a doctor at Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt hospital, said the injured included two teenagers and three adults.
One civilian killed in Kharkiv as apartment building hit by artillery fire
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said a nine-story residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv; was hit by “enemy artillery” on Saturday night, killing one woman.
Also, the building was extensively damaged; about 80 people were rescued. most had been sheltering in basement.
