The world has been humbled as it witnesses the courage of ordinary Ukrainians who have vowed to fight to the death to defend their homeland.
As the conflict rages, footage has emerged from across the ravaged country showing how unarmed civilians have climbed on top of armoured vehicles and barricaded routes into their towns and cities to halt the advance of Russian convoys.
Others have hurled Molotov cocktails at vehicles as they resist occupation – while some bravely confront Kremlin troops unarmed.
Here, we give the stories behind some of the astonishing images of the everyday men and women battling Vladimir Putin ’s forces.
Bila Tserkva, near Kyiv
Just 50 miles from Kyiv, Ukrainians from all walks of life have been keeping their spirits up by making Molotov cocktails.
They began after officials issued advice to civilians on how to launch the petrol bombs at enemy tanks to help repel their advance.
And across the nation, people are now flocking to help manufacture them en masse.
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One video shows Bila Tserkva locals laughing as they go about their work in woodland. An elderly woman grins at the camera while the man filming her says: “Look at this ‘smoothie’.”
He then adds defiantly: “You will burn, occupants, and if not we will help you for sure with that. Glory to Ukraine!”
Bucha, near Kyiv
The city of Bucha, also in the wider Kyiv region, has suffered a relentless onslaught over the past week.
One video shows roads strewn with rubble after fighting intensified, bringing the town to the brink of destruction.
Smoke billows through the streets as one man surveys the wreckage and he tells the Russian forces: “Guys, that is what is left near my house. I will find a way to repay you.”
On Thursday, Ukrainian forces claimed to have liberated Bucha, raising the country’s flag above its town hall and saying: “Glory to Ukraine and its soldiers.”
But locals have been playing their part too.
Footage from last week shows Russian heavy military equipment engulfed in flames after a resident reportedly launched a Molotov cocktail at it.
Kupiansk, Kharkiv
Kupiasnk, near Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv, is no stranger to the brutality of occupation.
During the Second World War, German forces arrived in July 1942 and stayed until the Soviet army liberated the population seven months later.
But on February 27, it was Russian forces that took over as part of Putin’s bloody invasion.
The town’s mayor, Hennadiy Matsehora, surrendered in exchange for peace. Ukraine has now indicted him for treason. Yet fearless locals refuse to submit to Kremlin aggression.
Footage shows unarmed students waving Ukraine’s flag in a square. And when an armoured car approaches, they crowd around it, forcing it to slow down.
One young man climbs on top and tries to break the windscreen with his foot.
The car speeds up and he is thrown from the roof – but as it rolls out of sight, another man launches a stick at it.
Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia
Enerhodar became a flashpoint this week when Russian forces attacked its nuclear power plant – Europe’s largest.
They seized control by shelling it but thankfully a disaster which would have dwarfed Chernobyl was averted as no radioactive material was released.
Ukraine remains in control of operations but fears of a disaster remain.
Yet residents are doing everything they can to stop Russian forces advancing.
Barricades made of tyres, planks of wood and metal spikes have sprung up.
In some cases, their efforts have worked as footage shows a military column having to reverse.
Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya
Russian forces arrived in Melitopol on February 25 – a day after the invasion began.
Days of fighting ensued, with reports an emergency rescue unit was shelled.
On March 1, mayor Ivan Fedorov said the city was occupied. But furious residents took to the streets to halt the Russian advance.
A video shows a soldier pointing his gun at them as they chant: “Occupants!” Seconds later, he fires a warning shot and a man yells: “You’re fascists! Would you shoot civilians?”
When the Russian column tries to advance, people throw themselves in front of it.
And as it finally breaks through the crowd, the locals cry: “Murderers! Murderers!”
Nedryhailiv, Sumy
In the town of Nedryhailiv – home to 5,000 – a resident was filmed lobbing a Molotov at a Russian armoured vehicle as an onlooker shouts: “Good job!”
And an unarmed man tells Russian troops: “Glory to Ukraine.”
When told to stop shooting his video, he says: “Why? The Ukrainian constitution allows for filming.”
Odesa
Putin is desperate to seize the port city of Odesa, as it could open up a corridor to Kyiv from the south.
Its strategic location on the Black Sea coast means it plays a vital role in the Ukrainian economy – so losing it would be a hammer blow.
Naval and ground forces are said to be en route and last week, locals were preparing to greet them with Molotovs and makeshift weapons.
Koriukivka, Chernihiv
In March 1943, 6,700 of Koriukivka’s residents were massacred by Nazi soldiers in just two days.
A week later, some elderly residents returned, thinking the SS troops had gone. But the troops came back and burned them alive.
Now, its people face a different aggressor – yet they refuse to yield to the Russian forces.
Footage from last week shows a brave woman marching up to a convoy of enemy tanks and confronting the soldiers, despite being completely unarmed.
Trying to reason with them and appeal to their consciences, she tells them: “I understand, you are soldiers. You cannot just give up. But you can say, ‘Our heavy equipment has broken down.’ You don’t want to discuss anything with us, even though we ask you.”
