By invading Ukraine, Russia became the largest attack in any European country since World War II.
At least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed on the first day of the attack, Russian President Vladimir Zelensky said. In addition, 316 people were injured. Khabar Al-Jazeera.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky made it clear that Russian forces were advancing on Kiev and that he was staying with the fighting forces.
“Enemies consider me the number one target. My family is their second target. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by assassinating the head of state,” he said in a video message on Friday (February 25th).
The situation in Kiev is deteriorating, according to international media reports. “Russia’s rocket is hitting Kiev. The last time our capital witnessed such a horrific situation was in 1941, when the Nazi forces invaded Germany,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
He further wrote on Twitter, “Ukraine had defeated that hatred. Will defeat it again. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Tighten all ties. Get Russia out of here.”
The bomber struck shortly after noon in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. According to the BBC, a number of Russian missile strikes have been thwarted by Ukraine’s air defense system. They also shot down an enemy plane.