Explosions Rock Kyiv Outskirts as Ukraine Faces Russian Onslaught
Blazing Attacks South of Kyiv
The early hours of Sunday were lit up by huge explosions near Kyiv, as Russia ramped up its assault on Ukraine’s capital. Flames erupted from an oil depot close to Zhuliany airport, around 25 miles south of Kyiv, sending a toxic plume into the sky. Locals in Vasylkiv were warned to stay indoors and close windows amid fears of hazardous fumes.
Despite fears of a missile blitz on Kyiv itself, the city avoided devastating airstrikes last night. However, sounds of explosions near the oil depot and other areas kept residents braced for more.
Russian Troops Advance into Key Cities
- Nova Kakhovka in the south has fallen under Russian control, confirmed by the city’s mayor.
- Russian forces have pushed into Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, where a gas pipeline explosion rattled residential districts. Emergency services report at least one woman killed and dozens evacuated from a damaged nine-story building.
- Further north, Okhtyrka mourns at least six civilian deaths as hostilities escalate.
West Strikes Back with Sanctions and Arms
The EU, US, and allies are hitting Moscow where it hurts. Several Russian banks face being cut off from the international Swift payment system. Plus, Russia’s central bank assets are frozen in a heavy blow to the Kremlin’s finances.
In a shock move, Germany has joined other nations in arming Ukraine with lethal weapons, marking a significant policy reversal in support of Kyiv’s defence.
The battle for Ukraine intensifies as Moscow’s forces dig in, but the West is stepping up aid and sanctions in a fight for the future of Europe.
