Inside the battle for Kyiv
In the early hours before dawn on Thursday, explosions began to echo near the capital, announcing a full–scale assault on Ukraine that has escalated in the days since.
Photo handout from Ukrainian President’s Office
As the sun rose in Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded across the city while residents reckoned with their new reality.
Photo by Ethan Swope/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Remnants of the morning’s attack were scattered around and near Kyiv.
Photo by Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
The people of Kyiv and across Ukraine weighed the impossible decision of whether to stay or to flee, away from the escalating violence — and away from their homes.
Photo by Timothy Fadek/Redux for CNN
A constant stream of vehicles moved west out of the city, toward distant towns or border crossings and away from Russian forces.
Photo by Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
One young Kyiv couple accelerated their wedding plans in the face of the Russian attacks, marrying at St. Michael’s cathedral on Thursday. “We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that,” said the bride, Yaryna Arieva.
Photo by Christian Streib/CNN
Those who stayed in Kyiv sought safety in bomb shelters, subway stations and parking garages, gathering supplies and making plans with family and neighbors.
Photo by Emilio Morenatti/AP
The uneasy quiet in the city was interrupted early Friday morning, when the CNN team on the ground reported hearing two large blasts in central Kyiv and a third loud explosion in the distance. A Ukrainian government adviser said the capital had been targeted with missile fire.
Photo handout from Ukraine State Emergency Service/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
When daylight broke, those remaining in Kyiv surveyed the damage of the alleged Russian airstrikes during the night and braced for intensifying conflict.
Photo by Timothy Fadek/Redux for CNN
More and more residents made the difficult decision to evacuate the city after Friday’s early morning attacks.
Photo by Paul Ursachi/AP
Ukrainian National Guard forces prepared for further Russian incursions in central Kyiv on Friday.
Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters
And as Kyiv steeled itself, people around the world rallied in support of Ukrainians and against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, with protests in major cities across the globe.
Photo by Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images
Early Saturday, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry warned that active fighting was taking place and urged residents to stay calm, hide indoors, take cover and head to the nearest shelter if they hear air raid sirens. Smoke and flames could be seen around the capital.
Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters
A residential building was hit by a missile or rocket in western Kyiv early Saturday as many in the city slept, with images and video showing extensive damage, the outer walls torn away completely. The cause of the strike and extent of casualties is not yet known.
Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Territorial Defense Forces readied themselves Saturday to defend Kyiv against Russian invasion. These forces include some military professionals and veterans, and many newly enlisted civilian volunteers.
Photo by Mikhail Palinchak/AP
The streets emptied on Saturday evening after the mayor of Kyiv imposed an overnight curfew from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. local time, but the calm was short lived.
Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Large explosions lit up the night sky to the southwest of Kyiv early Sunday morning with detonations that appeared to be near Vasylkiv, approximately 30 kilometers south of the city.
Ukraine’s outgunned forces have held the capital of Kyiv for a third day as battles continued and a defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens to defend their country.
Screenshot from CNN live feed
