The Ukrainian military is continuing to stand up to Russia’s invasion forces as overnight attacks failed to see them take the capital city of Kyiv.
According to reports and intelligence briefings shared by Brit politicians, it is believed Russia thought it would have made much more progress in Ukraine but has so far been thwarted in its efforts.
Russian troops tried to attack an army base located on a main avenue in Kyiv but the assault was repelled in the early hours of this morning.
Former world champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, who is the current Mayor of Kyiv, has spoken of tragedy today as he confirms 35 people, including two children, were injured after a missile strike hit residential building near Sikorsky Airport, reports news outlet Interfax.
Mayor Klitschko also added that the capital's metro is in shelter mode and will not be operating.
Britain’s Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has said that Ukrainian forces defending Kyiv have been putting up “incredible resistance”.
Mr Heappey said the situation was “very grave” but that the fighting in the capital was so far confined to “very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers”.
“The main armoured columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off. That is a testament to the incredible resistance the Ukrainian armoured forces have put up over the last 48 hours or so,” he told Sky News.
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“Clearly the Russian plan is to take Kyiv but the reality is that the Ukrainians are thwarting them thus far.
“It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule.
“I think that will be a great cause of concern for President Putin and rather points to the fact that there was a lot of hubris in the Russian plan and that he may be awfully advised.”
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US President Joe Biden has signed a memorandum to provide up to £448 million in “immediate military assistance” to Ukraine.
The US offered to evacuate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from Kyiv hours after the UK, US and the European Union announced plans to impose personal sanctions on Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in response to the Kremlin assault on Ukraine.
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However, Mr Zelensky refused to leave his country and this morning announced he had survived a night of Russian assaults on Kyiv and instructed people not to believe “fake news”.
“Good morning everybody. Do not believe fake news. I am here,” said Mr Zelensky in Ukrainian during a video posted to social media.
“We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our Country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them,” he added in the video, which appeared to be shot in a downtown area of Kyiv.
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Mr Zelenskiy said today was "a crucial moment" to decide on Ukraine's membership of the European Union, as Russia continued to invade its neighbour.
In a tweet, the Ukrainian President said he had discussed with European Council President Charles Michel "further effective assistance and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future."
While Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control, reports this morning say Russian forces have captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol on Saturday, according to Interfax.
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