Russian Troops Close in on Ukraine’s Capital

Russian troops moved deep into Ukraine on the second day of the invasion, almost reaching its capital Kyiv.

Two loud blasts were heard in central Kyiv early Friday that the besieged government described as "horrific rocket strikes."

"Horrific Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv. Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany. Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba posted on Twitter.

Al Jazeera reported that there are a number of places in the city where people can get a gun of their choice, particularly an AK47, to defend themselves. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants everyone to fight the Russian forces.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with officials from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics of eastern Ukraine later on Friday in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin signed decrees to recognize two breakaway regions – collectively known as Donbas -- as independent statelets on Monday, before ordering what he termed a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Donbas broke away from Ukrainian government control in early 2014 and the Russian-backed separatists in the region proclaimed themselves independent “people’s republics.”

After the Kremlin launched a large-scale invasion that killed 130 Ukrainians and wounded 316 others on the first day, Zelenskky said his country had been “left alone to defend” itself. "Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid," he added.

Ukraine claims its armed forces have killed over 800 Russian personnel, and destroyed over 30 Russian tanks and nearly a dozen aircraft and helicopters.

Estimated losses of the enemy as of 03:00 25.02.2022: Aircraft 7 units. Helicopters 6 units. Tanks - more than 30 units. BBM - 130 units. The loss of enemy personnel is approximately (to be specified) 800 people," according to Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar.