Russian troops surrounded Kyiv on three sides on Friday night as Ukrainians pledged to defend their capital city, amid fears the battle could involve intense gunfights in streets, heavy casualties and potentially far-reaching consequences that escalate the worst crisis Europe has seen for decades still further.
Loud explosions were heard across Kyiv as invading soldiers advanced through its outskirts, with Ukrainian fighters positioned in key defensive points across the city. Residents scurried, for a third successive night, to the safety of underground shelters, as air raid warnings echoed across the capital.
