RUSSIAN troops are blasting their way into Ukraine’s second largest city today after bloody fighting last night erupted on the streets.
Soliders in TIGR armoured vehicles were spotted in two suburbs of Kharkiv – where officials claimed a battle was raging.
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They launched a pincer move from the north entering the city from the 10 and 2 o’clock directions, officials said.
Troops here defeated a major tank assault in one of the first key defeats of Vladimir Putin’s evil onslaught which started before dawn on Thursday.
Local Governor Oleh Synyehubov confirmed Russian forces had breached the city limits as the explosions thundered over nearby homes.
Last night terrified toddlers cowered in subways as explosions from Smerch missiles and scores of multiple launch Grad rockets lit up the night sky.
The Sun met troops in both positions braced for the assault yesterday.
Cranes blocked roads with concrete tank traps.
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And Ukrainian tanks and troops were spotted in the move.
The assault followed warnings of air raids which left the city’s streets deserted.
Fierce Ukrainian resistance as stalled the Russian advance which launched on three fronts from north, south and east last week.
Footage on social media appeared to show Russian units creeping slowly – and unopposed – into the city.
Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Interior Ministry, said fights were ongoing in Alexeyevka and Hydropark neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile missiles kit Kyiv’s main airport, Boryspil International and an oil depot was also blown up at at Vasylkiv, around 25m west of Kyiv.
Residents have been warned the burning depot was emitting smoke and poisonous fumes and were told to keep their windows shut and to take cover.
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Russian missiles also hit a nuclear waste disposal site on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has confirmed.
The strike has sparked fears that people could be exposed to radioactive material.
Vasylkiv mayor Natalia Balasynovych said the city had sustained heavy shelling – but vowed the Russians would not win.
In a defiant rallying cry, she said: “The enemy wants to destroy everything around, but he will not succeed. Hold on!”
FIGHT FOR UKRAINE
It comes as freedom fighters from around the world were invited to join Ukraine’s army today.
Ukraine’s foreign minister issued an appeal for civvies to step in where western have failed.
He appealed to Ukraine’s supporters to take up arms against the Russian invaders, like the International Brigades who fought General Franco’s Nazi backed fascists in Spain on the eve of World War Two.
Dmytro Kuleba said: “Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.”
Anyone who wants to fight the Russians can report to Ukrainian embassies, he said.
“Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries.”
There were widespread fears that the Russian army would step up its efforts to seize Kyiv this weekend, targeting commercial businesses in a bid to destroy Ukrainians’ morale.
A city-wide curfew is being enforced in the capital while authorities hunt down “sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” Kyiv’s mayor said.
As midnight struck in the war-torn country, civilians and troops were urged to hunker down ahead of the “imminent” attack.
It marks the dawn of a fourth day of fighting as hero Ukranian troops and civilians scramble to beat off the Russian invaders.
MP Lesia Vasylenko tweeted: “In 30-60 mins Kyiv will be under attack never seen before. #Russia will hit us with all they have.”
It comes after a day of fighting during which Russian troops failed to capture the capital.
The official Ukraine death toll stands at 198, including three children.
And at least 17 of those were civilians, killed in a blast.
BOMB BLAST
The UK Ministry of Defence tweeted in an intelligence update that Russian troops appear to be waning, suffering from “logistical challenges” and a strong, Ukrainian resistance.
The MoD confirmed that Russian troops had been injured and captured by Ukrainian forces.
And sniveling Putin has reportedly banned some social media from the country, in a “probable” attempt to hide the horrific details of the Russian invasion from his own people.
It followed last night’s unsuccessful attempts by the crazed Russian President to capture Kyiv.
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The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said there was “active fighting on the streets of our city” as the conflict intensified and later air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv, sending soldiers and civilians scrambling for cover.
The Government has insisted the Russians are failing to advance with some 3,500 killed.
Priminsterial adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said: “We are striking the enemy around Kyiv.
“The enemy is not moving for now.”
Estonia’s former defense chief Riho Terras said: “Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days.
“The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered.”
And Ukrainian MP Sviatoslav Yurash said today “hundreds” of Russian troops had been captured near the capital.
Social media accounts from Ukraine officials suggested many of the soldiers were teens, and that they were “badly prepared”.
Speaking to Sky News before he went to the front, Mr Yurash said Russian forces were about 1.8 to 2.5 miles from where he was.
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“Russians don’t have a good time here, to say the least,” he said.
“We have hundreds of POWs, we are issuing videos, showing Russians coming to Ukraine.”
He said Ukrainians “don’t have a choice” when it comes to fighting Russia as Putin has “time and again tried to denounce the very idea of Ukraine”.
“Everything is at stake, I’m no soldier, I don’t have much experience with the gun.
“When you are fighting for your life you learn very quick. The reality is Ukraine doesn’t have a choice.
“Russia wants to destroy us and we will not let that happen. I was born in independent Ukraine and I will die in independent Ukraine.”
Speaking earlier this morning, President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had “successfully repelled” Russians from the capital overnight.
He said: “The fighting goes on in many cities of our state, but we know we are defending our country, our land, and our childrens’ future.”
And he called for anyone who had fled to return and fight for Ukraine, as all men aged between 18 and 60 are being conscripted.
President Zelenskyy also called for “friends” of Ukraine to come and help the fight.
Germany tonight backtracked on their decision not to send arms to the country, promising 1,000 anti tank-weapons and 500 Stinger missiles.
And President Zelenskyy also said that he would welcome peace talks between Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Today saw scores of emotional and exhausted refugees thankfully arriving at the Polish border, with residents still inside Ukraine taking to the streets and arming themselves.
Neighbours were seen crafting homemade Molatov cocktails, with their actions approved by the Ukrainian version of the MoD.
Meanwhile, queues of men and women signing up to fight were seen in towns and cities across the country.
Others queued to drop off supplies, medicine and food for the army.
The PM has also promised to crack down on Russian oligarchs funneling dirty money through the UK.
And Russia’s central bank was frozen, and banned from the German SWIFT system, a global inter-bank communication system.
Ursula von der Leyen said the measures would “cripple Putin’s ability to finance his war machine”.
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