Explosions hit Kyiv overnight amid uncertainty over Russian convoy
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Anastasia Vakulenko (left), comforts Natalya Chukonova while they look for shelter in a station of the subway in Kyiv.
Marcus Yam | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Overnight, explosions rocked Kyiv’s capital Ukraine amid uncertainty about whether Russia would launch an attack on the capital over the next few days.
A series of massive explosions was heard, filmed and captured in the City last night. One social media video shows a large fireball rising from the city’s skies. The targets and casualties of the blasts are unknown.
NBC News will verify online footage of cameras that purport to capture explosions in the city.
Over 1 million Ukrainians fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion started a week back, though many stayed behind to take up arms against the Russians.
Children and many of Kyiv’s residents remain in Kyiv, seeking refuge in underground bunkers, subway stations or basements when the sirens of an approaching strike alert them.
One girl sits in the Dorohozhychi metro station with her pet and dog. It was converted into a bomb shelter March 2, 2022 in Kyiv.
Getty Images News – Getty Images| Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russia said that Kyiv’s inhabitants will be permitted to flee the city to Vasylkiv to the southwest.
Major General Igor Konashenkov spoke on Wednesday for the Defense Ministry and stated that there will be no obstacles for civilians to leave Russia’s military personnel. according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Russia warns Kyivans to evacuate the city for the second time. Konashenkov, however, insists that the path towards Vasylkiv is “open and secure” despite recent reports about Russian missile strike on the town. This image depicts damage that Russian missile strike on Vasylkiv.
Five-storey Hostel in Vasylkiv Kyiv Region (northern Ukraine) shows damage from Russian rockets.
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The convoy
As many residents of Kyiv take shelter in underground stations and bunkers, the decision of whether to stay or go — and to risk possible harm and death in the process of leaving — has become acute this week, particularly as concerns grow that Russia could be poised to launch an all-out assault on the city.
Since satellite photos of a convoy of Russian military vehicles snaking slowly towards the capital were released at the beginning of this week, fear has grown.
U.S. company Maxar Technologies took the satellite image below on Monday. It appears to show a convoy of Russian armored tanks and trucks that stretched from Pybirsk, further north of Kyiv, to the Antonov airport (also known as the Hostomel airport — the site of fighting last week between Russian and Ukrainian forces) on the northwestern outskirts of the Ukrainian capital.
Maxar Technologies’ satellite images taken February 28 by Maxar Technologies show what appears to be a Russian convoy advancing upon Kyiv, Ukraine. According to the firm, these images depict the north side of the convoy and include logistics and resupply trucks. Satellite image (c- 2022 Maxar Technologies.
Maxar Technologies | Getty Images
According to reports, the convoy was held up while it traveled towards Kyiv due to fuel and food shortages.
John Kirby from the U.S. Defense Department stated that “we still assess the status of that convoy but, more generally speaking, the north push by Russia down towards South Kyiv remains stalled.”
He said, “From our best estimations have not made any appreciable advances geographically speaking over the past 24 to 36 hours.”
A U.S. defense official stated that there were two possible reasons behind the delays: “One, the Russians may be deliberately and actually regrouping and reviewing the progress they have made so far and how to compensate for it.” We believe the Russians have faced logistic and sustainment problems that were not anticipated.
Lastly, he said, Russian forces have experienced “resistance from the Ukrainians,” with indications — although the U.S. could not completely independently verify them — that “Ukrainians have in fact tried to slow down that convoy.”
Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the United States’ assessment of the convoy on Thursday, issuing an intelligence update in which it said “the main body of the large Russian column … remains over 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the centre of the city, having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion.”
According to the ministry, “the column made no discernible progress over the past three days.”
Jack Watling is a researcher fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. He said that the convoy faces many logistical difficulties.
He explained that many cars are too heavy to be moved along roads.
He said that he believed the Russians were trying to get their act together and get out of the way and ready for the next step in the process to Kyiv.
Dire situation
An entrance into a building after being shelled by Russian forces in Kharkiv’s Constitution Square on March 2, 2022.
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The British defense ministry stated that, despite Russian bombardment, cities like Kharkiv (Chernihiv) and Mariupol remained in Ukrainian control.
The Defense Ministry stated that some troops had entered Kherson in the south, but the military situation was still unclear.
RUSI’s Watling claimed that there’s a shift away from the “war on the Ukrainian military” to the “war against the mayors”. Several Ukrainian city officials provided detailed accounts, blow-by–blow, of Russian attacks in their cities.
The Russians won’t be able to surround Kyiv if they don’t hold on for long. “Essentially, a lot of cities are surrounded at the moment. And in addition, the longer that Kyiv can continue to attack and disrupt those Russian forces that are trying to surround the city … If it’s not encircled, then it can last for longer,” he told the BBC’s “Today” program.
Many thousands of Ukrainians fled to the west for safety. The U.N. expects more people to be displaced.
The U.N. High Commission for Refugees Filippo Grandei will be speaking on Thursday said in a statementPeople are fleeing violence every hour. Numerous people have been forced to flee the country. Millions more will likely flee Ukraine unless the conflict is resolved immediately.
The ruble has fallen as a result of massive Western sanctions against Russia’s economy, and on key Russian officials. It has been excluded from all international sports and cultural events, making it look increasingly isolated.
However, there are calls for more from the West in Ukraine’s time of greatest need. CNBC’s Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania’s ex-President, said that it seemed like Russia is fearful of the West on Thursday.
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