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Explosions heard in Kiev as Russia advances on capital
Russian tanks entered the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, on Friday morning as the city was rocked by explosions and gunfire.
Local residents were urged to fight back with Molotov cocktails against the encroaching Russian forces, which appear to be moving through the suburb of Obolon - just over five miles north of the city centre and its parliamentary buildings.
A Ukrainian government adviser said on Friday he expected Russia to try to break into Kyiv during the day. Residents in the capital were urged to proceed to shelters due to an air raid alarm.
Ukraine’s army has also lifted age restrictions with commander Yuri Galushkin stressing: “Ukraine needs everything.”
“All procedures for joining TPO are simplified. Carry only your passport and identification code. There are no age restrictions.
“If you have problems on the ground, please refer to this official statement,” he said in a statement shared by Ukraine’s defence ministry.
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Key Points Explosions heard in Kyiv as Russia advances on capital ‘Today will be the hardest day’, says top Ukrainian official UK defence secretary says Russia ‘failed' on day one of invasion Over 135 Ukrainians, including soldiers killed, says president Boris Johnson imposes new sanctions on Russian oligarchs EU announces sanctions against Russian banks and energy sector Ukraine says Putin has launched a 'full-scale invasion’
Show latest update 1645792207 BREAKING: Zelensky says Biden ‘looked on from a distance’ as Russia invaded Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the US of standing by as Russia invaded Ukraine, appearing to hit out at President Joe Biden’s actions as he blasted sanctions as not being enough to get Russian troops out of the country.
Read more below on this developing story:
Zelensky says Biden ‘looked on from a distance’ as Russia invaded Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the US of standing by as Russia invaded Ukraine, appearing to hit out at President Joe Biden’s actions as he blasted sanctions as not being enough to get Russian troops out of the country.
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:30
1645792132 Watch: Moment BBC reporter sees pictures of her family home, partially destroyed overnight in Kyiv
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Moment BBC reporter sees pictures of her family home, partially destroyed overnight in Kyiv
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:28
1645791633 Turkey says it cannot block Russian warships from the Black Sea
Turkey cannot stop Russian warships accessing the Black Sea via its straits, as Ukraine has requested, due to a clause in an international pact that allows vessels to return to their home base, the Turkish foreign minister has said.
Ukraine has appealed to Turkey to block Russian warships from passing through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits which lead to the Black Sea, after Moscow on Thursday launched a full-blown assault on Ukraine from land, air and sea.
Russian forces landed at Ukraine’s Black and Azov Sea ports as part of the invasion.
Our reporter, Tuvan Gumrukcu, has the full report below:
Turkey says it cannot grant Ukraine’s request to block Russian ships from Black Sea Kyiv has asked Ankara to stop Russian warships passing through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:20
1645791591 BREAKING: Russia ready to negotiate with Ukraine at high level, Putin says after invasion
Russian president Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a call on Friday that Russia is willing to hold high-level talks with Ukraine, Chinese state television CCTV reported.
“The United States and Nato have long ignored Russia’s reasonable security concerns, repeatedly reneged on their commitments, and continued to advance military deployment eastward, challenging Russia’s strategic bottom line,” Putin told Xi.
More to follow on this breaking news story:
Russia ready to negotiate with Ukraine at high level, Putin says after invasion Russian president Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a call on Friday that Russia is willing to hold high-level talks with Ukraine, Chinese state television CCTV reported.
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:19
1645791333 Pope went to Russian embassy to express concern over war to Moscow envoy
Pope Francis went to the Russian embassy to the Holy See on Friday and relayed his concern over Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Moscow's ambassador, the Vatican said.
It was believed to be the first time a pope has gone to an embassy during a conflict. Usually ambassadors are convoked by the Secretariat of State.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope spent about 30 minutes at the embassy. Bruni would not comment on a report that the pope, 85, had offered the Vatican's mediation.
(AP)
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:15
1645791033 Russian soldiers dressed in Ukraine military uniforms attempt to enter Kyiv in captured vehicles
Russian soldiers dressed in Ukrainian military uniform led a convoy towards Kyiv in captured army vehicles, Kyiv’s deputy defence minister said.
Anna Maliar said Russian military seized Ukrainian army trucks, changed into Ukraine military uniform and were “moving at speed to the centre of Kyiv from the direction of Oboloni” and are “followed by a convoy of Russian military trucks”.
“They will surely be destroyed,” she added in a Facebook post on Friday morning.
Our reporter, Maryam Zakir-Hussain, has the full report below:
Russian soldiers dressed in Ukraine military uniforms move into Kyiv Soldiers ‘neutralised’ after entering Ukrainian capital, reports say
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:10
1645790995 BREAKING: Formula 1 cancel Russian Grand Prix in wake of Ukraine invasion
Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled in the wake of the invasion into Ukraine, it has been confirmed.
Follow more from this breaking story below:
Formula 1 cancel Russian Grand Prix in wake of Ukraine invasion Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled in the wake of the invasion into Ukraine, it has been confirmed.
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:09
1645790460 Russia is ready to negotiate with Ukraine at a high level
Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready to negotiate with Ukraine “at a high level.”
This comes as Russian troops advance into Kyiv and airstrikes continue on the capital
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:01
1645790433 Ukraine president Zelensky vows to stay in country and lead fight against Russia as he orders general mobilisation
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to stay put in Kyiv as missiles pounded the capital and Russian forces entered the city on Friday.
He also signed a decree on the general mobilisation of the population on Thursday, a day after the country started conscripting reservists aged 18-60 following a presidential decree.
While Mr Zelensky ruled out a general mobilisation earlier on Tuesday, the country’s defence ministry tweeted a statement on Friday, reversing the stance.
Our reporter, Namita Singh, has the full report below:
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 12:00
1645789833 Oleksandr Usyk calls for ‘no war’ after returning to Ukraine amid Russian invasion
Oleksandr Usyk has released an anti-war message on his social media after returning to his home country of Ukraine following its invasion by Russia.
Citizens in Kyiv were urged to take shelter on Friday as explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, and heavyweight boxing champion Usyk posted a video message to his Instagram followers along with the caption: “NO WAR.”
Prior to returning to Ukraine, Usyk was interviewed about his upcoming rematch with Anthony Joshua, whom the undefeated southpaw outpointed in September to win the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
Our combat sports correspondent, Alex Pattle, has the full story below:
Oleksandr Usyk calls for ‘no war’ after returning to Ukraine amid Russian invasion The heavyweight champion is preparing for a rematch with Anthony Joshua, whom he dethroned last year
Thomas Kingsley 25 February 2022 11:50
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