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, Ukraine’s capital. There is widespread concern about Russia’s plans to launch a major attack in the near future.
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. It is not known what were the victims of the explosions or whether any casualties have occurred.
NBC News works to confirm online camera footage purporting that it shows explosions striking the city.
Since the Russian invasion began a week ago more than 1,000,000 Ukrainians fled their country. However, many others stayed to face the Russians.
Many people in Kyiv are still there, even children. They live or seek shelter in basements, underground bunkers and subway stations when they hear the warning sirens.
The Dorohozhychi underground station, which was turned into a bomb shelter in Kyiv on March 2, 2022, is home to a girl and her cat.
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Russia stated that Kyiv residents would be permitted to leave the city and move 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.
The damage done by Russian rockets to a five-storey hotel in Vasylkiv (Kyiv Region), northern Ukraine is evident.
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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. firm Maxar Technologies captured the following satellite image 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 northern part of the convoy and include logistics and resupply trucks. Satellite image (c/2022 Maxar Technologies.
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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.”
According to him, there has not been any significant progress geopolitically in the 24 hours and 36 hours.
According to the U.S. defense officer, there are two reasons why the Russians were delayed: “One is that we think they are actually trying to regroup themselves, reassessing their progress and finding ways to make it up. They have had to deal with logistical and sustainment issues that we are not sure they 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 three days.”
Jack Watling (a Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London research fellow for land warfare, military sciences, stated that there are many logistical problems the convoy has to face.
He said that when you have so many vehicles, you must move fuel and food along the road.
According to him, “So, I believe the Russians want to put themselves in order, as it were and get out at the other side and prepare for their plans to go to Kyiv,” said he to BBC’s Today program.
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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On Thursday, Britain’s defence department declared that, in spite of heavy Russian bombardment and destruction, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Mariupol were still under Ukrainian control.
According to the Defense Ministry, some forces entered Kherson’s southern capital, however, “the current military situation is not clear.”
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.
It appears that a large number of cities has been enclosed at this stage. The longer the Russians hold off, the less troops they will need to encircle Kyiv. 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.
Already hundreds of thousands have fled Ukraine in search of safety.
Thursday will see Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner to Refugees. said in a statementPeople are fleeing violence every hour. Many have fled 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. Russia has been barred from competing in international sporting and cultural competitions. This country is becoming increasingly isolated.
But there is a need for the West and Europe to step up in Ukraine’s moment of crisis. CNBC heard from Dalia Grybauskaite (former Lithuanian President) that the West seems afraid of Russia.
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