One day after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation in Ukraine, air raid sirens sounded in Kiev.
An important target that Russia is targeting is the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located in a protection zone of nearly 2,600 km2, including the shortest route from the Ukraine – Belarus border to the capital Kiev.
Russian troops entered Ukraine.
At around 4:25 a.m., Ukraine’s ambassador to Austria Olexander Scherba said he heard `two loud explosions.`
Ukrainian officials later said a Russian plane was shot down and crashed into a building in Kiev, setting it on fire and injuring eight people.
In a post on Twitter, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kiev was attacked by rockets.
A senior US official said that both Russian mechanized infantry deployed from Belarus and Russian territory `are headed towards Kiev with the goal of besieging the city and possibly overthrowing the government`.
While many Kiev residents ran for shelter, AFP reporters recorded many explosions and gun battles in the Obolonsky district, north of the capital.
The building in Kiev was seriously damaged after being hit by a Russian raid on February 25.
The Russian army announced that it had taken control of the military airport in the town of Hostomel, 7 km northwest of the capital Kiev.
President Zelensky on February 25 signed a general mobilization order effective for 90 days, mobilizing all conscripts and reserve troops in all provinces of Ukraine, in order to `ensure defense capacity and support
Zelensky also called on Europeans `with combat experience` to help Ukraine protect the region.
`We have been left alone in the fight to protect the country. Who is ready to fight side by side with us? I don’t see anyone,` Zelensky said via video.
The National Guard of Ukraine deployed troops on a bridge in the center of the capital Kiev on February 25.
Regarding the reaction from the West, US President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia, including restrictions on transactions in USD, EUR, GBP and yen when participating in the global economy, and freezing of assets.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of 7,000 additional US troops to Europe.
The President of Ukraine said that their side had recorded 137 citizens and soldiers killed and 316 injured.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on February 25 that the condition for them to negotiate with Kiev is that `Ukraine’s armed forces respond to the call to lay down their arms.`
In a televised speech on February 25, Mr. Putin called on the Ukrainian army to take over power and depose the leadership, whom he criticized as `terrorists` and `neo-fascists`.
Russia says negotiations when Ukraine ‘lays down its arms’
Military vehicles believed to be Russian entered the Obolon area, north of Ukraine’s capital Kiev.
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