The Russian advance into Ukraine has temporarily slowed, probably because of logistical problems and strong resistance, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running but the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands, President Volodmyr Zelensky has said.
The MoD said Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them.
“The capture of Kyiv remains Russia’s primary military objective,” the ministry added.
Protests have taken place across the world with demonstrators calling on governments to do more to help Ukraine.
The mayor of Kyiv extended a curfew in the capital on Saturday.
Refugees fleeing the country continued to pour across its western borders on Saturday, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days, finding temporary sanctuary in sports halls and train stations.
