UKRAINE WAR, LATEST 

  • Russia stated that it will not negotiate with Ukraine until the military operations are over
  • Zelensky had called for a meeting with Putin in order to stop the fighting
  • Putin stated that he was willing to send Zelensky and a team to negotiate with him – Belarus is supporting the invasion 
  • Russian President then called for Ukrainian military support to end the “regime” in Kyiv 
  • Israel was suggested as neutral ground in any negotiation 
  • China’s President Xi called Putin via phone and asked for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. 
  • Ukraine claims that Russia bombed 33 civil sites in Kyiv within the past 24 hours 
  • Overnight, two children died in the Kyiv Bombing. 
  • Ukraine prohibits men between 18 and 60 years old from leaving Ukraine in order to conscript them to the Armed Forces.
  • Zelensky allows anyone to join the Armed Forces, regardless of age. He also invites Europeans from other European countries to get involved in the fighting. 
  • Moscow announced that Russia will send paratroopers from Russia to Chernobyl, after it was captured on Thursday
  • While Ukraine claimed that radiation levels were ‘anomalous,’ there was concern about the safety of nuclear storage. Moscow however stated that readings are acceptable.
  • Russia claimed to have destroyed 118 Ukrainian Military Sites in just 30 hours of fighting 
  • Boris Johnson, PM of the UK, promised more assistance to Ukraine over the next few days
  • Johnson spoke with Zelensky by phone on Friday morning 

The Ukrainian armed forces engaged in a fierce fight for Kyiv Friday night. Video footage from social media shows explosions at a Metro station in central Kyiv and numerous reports suggest fierce fighting near an airbase.

In Kyiv, footage shared on social media showed a bombardment close to Beresteiska metro station, in the west of the city. 

On Friday, the Ukrainian government stated that two Russian military transport planes with paratroopers were shot down in Kyiv. 

The first IL-76 came down near Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said. 

Nexta said that the second IL-76, which was located 50 miles from the capital, was taken down in Bila Tserkva. 

It was not clear what happened to the passengers. The aircrafts – medium-range military transport aircraft, which first went into service in 1974 – can hold 150-225 fully-equipped soldiers, and is used to drop paratroopers into combat and resupply arms. 

Vasylkiv was the focus of heavy fighting at 3am Eastern (8pm Eastern).

Nexta, a local media network, reported that Russians ‘dressed in uniform of the Ukrainian national police’ attacked a checkpoint near Vasylkiv, shooting at Ukrainian soldiers.

“Immediately thereafter, a large group of Russian military personnel arrived in a pickup truck. According to the website, there is an ongoing heavy fighting. 

Not long after the troop carrier was shot down, Ukraine’s State Agency for Special Communications said that Ukraine’s air defense had downed a Russian close-support aircraft and a helicopter in Donbas. 

They claimed that a S-300 surface-to-air Missile System destroyed the Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft and an unspecified helicopter around midnight.

The Russian Air Force operates approximately 250 Su-25s from all versions, which are considered an integral part of Russian ground attack regiments. 

This news was announced shortly after Ukraine’s President warned that Russia intends to seize Kyiv overnight. He urged his countrymen not to succumb to the Russians’ expected assault as Western officials claim the city is surrounded.

Volodymyr Zilensky gave a stark warning Friday night to the nation, speaking from an obscure location in the capital.

In a social media video, he stated that Russia would try to break down our resistance. 

“Tonight we will be attacked by the enemy.” You must resist them.

Zelensky claimed that Chernihiv, Symy, Kharkiv, Donbas and the South could all be attacked.

“This night will prove very hard, extremely difficult.” He said that “The morning will come,” according to The Kyiv Independent.

The 44-year-old referenced the Russian shelling of a kindergarten in Ukraine that killed at least one child and injured more, saying: ‘What kind of war is that? These children were neo Nazis? Are they NATO soldiers or neo-Nazis? 

Vitali Klitschko is a former heavyweight world champion boxer and now mayor of Kyiv. He said that his city has a difficult night ahead. 

According to the British Ministry of Defence they think Kyiv (home to over 1.4 million people) is on verge of being destroyed by Russians from all sides. 

People sought refuge in the subway system of Kyiv on Friday night, leaving Kyiv’s streets empty. Numerous people had fled. There were many buses and trains that ran out of Kyiv, packed full of desperate escapees, and traffic jams on the streets. 

In Cherkasy, home to 270,000 people 120 miles south of Kyiv, video on social media showed people in a basement on Friday night, resolutely singing the national anthem as they awaited the onslaught. 

On Friday night in New York, Russia, as a permanent Member of the Security Council, vetoed a UN resolution that asked Moscow to cease its attacks on Ukraine and withdraw its soldiers. China, India, the UAE and others abstained.

Vladimir Putin, however, encouraged the troops of Ukraine to topple their government and to begin negotiations with Moscow. 

He stated, “It appears like it’ll be easier for me to come to terms avec you than with that gang drug addicts/neo-Nazis,” 

The temptation to attack the Ukrainian army was minimal, but Russia seemed to be somewhat stunned by their resistance to it and its ability to defend their homeland.

It was evident, however that Russia would quickly achieve its overwhelming military power.

Russia is the 4th largest country in terms of military strength, with 900,000. It has been a formidable opponent for more than 10 years, thanks to its reforms and acquisition efforts.

Ukraine is home to just 361,000 soldiers, but Zelensky has ordered a mobilization, and prohibited men 18 to 60 years old from leaving, as part of a multi-nation effort. 

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is seen addressing the nation on Friday night

Volodymyr Zelensky (the president of Ukraine) addresses the nation Friday night 

Photos posted to social media showed what they said were explosions in Kyiv on Friday night

Pictures posted on social media show what some claimed to be explosions at Kyiv’s Friday night.

Ukrainians sing their national anthem in a basement in Cherkasy, 120 miles south of Kyiv

Ukrainians sing their national anthem in a basement in Cherkasy, 120 miles south of Kyiv

Ukrainian soldiers are pictured forming up across a highway in Kyiv as they prepare to defend the city from Russian attackers, with gunfire and explosions heard in the centre of the capital

Ukrainian soldiers were pictured standing on Kyiv’s highway preparing to defend their city against Russian invaders. There was also gunfire and explosions in the middle of Kiev.

Soldiers tasked with defending Kyiv from advancing Russian troops take up positions underneath a highway into the city

A highway leads into Kyiv. Soldiers assigned with the task of defending Kyiv are positioned underneath it. 

The highly motivated Ukrainian infantry has modern weapons and protection gear including N-LAW anti-tank missiles and Javelin anti tank missiles from Britain and the US. 

As the Russian advance was slower than anticipated, fears arose Friday night that Putin might resort to thermobaric high-power weapons. This nicknamed the “father of all Bombs” by brave Ukrainians who resisted his efforts to seize control of Kyiv.

It is also possible that unorganized units could use indiscriminate bombardment as a terrorist weapon if they are behind schedule.

Vacuum bombs, also called thermobaric weapon or vacuum bombs, are powerful explosives that make use of the atmosphere to cause an explosion. These weapons are some of the strongest non-nuclear weapons that have ever been developed.  

One thermobaric explosive bomb that the U.S. dropped on Taliban in Afghanistan was 21,600 lbs and caused a more than 1,000 foot wide crater after it went off six feet above ground.

Both the U.S.A. and Soviet Union developed thermobaric weapons in the 1960s. Russia created the thermobaric weapons that were capable of producing an explosive equivalent to 39.9 tonnes in September 2007.

Each weapon in the U.S. cost more than $16million.

A Western official explained that “My fear would be that, if they fail to meet their timeline and objectives, they would use violence everywhere,” 

They don’t follow the same principles as Western forces regarding necessity, proportionality, rule of law and rule of laws.

The bomb generates a high-temperature explosion by using oxygen from surrounding air. This makes it much more dangerous than any conventional weapon.

While Russian special forces reached Kyiv’s suburbs, most of Russia’s heavy armour is still 30 miles from Kiev. 

Kyiv's streets were eerily empty on Friday evening as the city's residents braced themselves for the expected onslaught

Kyiv streets looked eerie as residents braced for an incoming storm on Friday night.

Kyiv's empty streets are pictured on Friday night

On Friday evening, Kyiv’s streets were empty

Kyiv's inhabitants take refuge in the subway on Friday night

Kyiv’s residents take refuge at the subway Friday night

A Ukrainian passenger train from Kyiv arrives at the Przemysl station in southeastern Poland on Friday. About 29,000 people crossed Poland's border with Ukraine over the past 24 hours

The Przemysl station, in the southeast of Poland, received a passenger train carrying Ukrainians from Kyiv on Friday. In the 24 hours since midnight, around 29,000 people have crossed Poland’s border with Ukraine.

Senior U.S. Defense Official said that Russia’s momentum seems to have been eroded by the Ukrainian fiery resistance.

“We believe that the Ukrainians are resisting more than expected,” the official stated, noting that Ukraine still retains control over its military command and control.

“They’re not moving as quickly on Kyiv that they thought they could.” However, they are trying to keep Kyiv moving. 

The official stated that Putin only mobilizated about one-third the 190,000.00 troops he stationed at Ukraine’s border.

Zelensky and his aides, including the defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov - behind Zelensky, with glasses - posted a video from Kyiv early on Friday morning, reassuring the people that he remained with them and had not fled, despite his life being in danger

Zelensky and his aides, including the defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov – behind Zelensky, with glasses – posted a video from Kyiv early on Friday morning, reassuring the people that he remained with them and had not fled, despite his life being in danger

Russian troops are now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet

Russian troops have been advancing from the east and north on Kyiv. US intelligence has indicated that the goal is to capture the airport and besiege the city. Then, paratroopers will attack the capital. It would aim to seize the government, force them into signing a peace agreement and hand over control to Russia.

Ukrainian soldiers look at their burnt-out army military vehicle in Kyiv on Friday

Ukrainian soldiers inspect their burned-out military vehicle from the army in Kyiv, Friday

Firemen extinguish a fire inside a residential building damaged by a missile on Friday in Kyiv

Firemen extinguish the flames in an apartment that was hit by a missile Friday night in Kyiv