While the center of Kyiv has been relatively safe so far, the cities of Irpin and Bucha, located about twenty kilometers from the capital, have become the scene of violent clashes in recent hours.
It was pretty quiet in Kyiv at night, but fighting is raging around the capital. On the tenth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the sirens sounded for the first time around 00:30 local time, and the second time this Saturday morning around 7:00.
The city is still on alert, two explosions have already sounded. But nothing compares to the day before, when sirens sounded all morning. Then there were about fifteen explosions.
Bush and Irpen are targeted
For now, this Saturday, the bombing seems to be targeting the two towns of Bucha and Irpin, respectively, 25km northwest and 20km west of Kyiv. For several days they have been the scene of violent clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops. In Bucha, very significant damage was noted at the beginning of the week, in particular, destroyed roads.
At the moment, the center of Kyiv seems to have been preserved from the most brutal bombardments. Checkpoints and roadblocks are getting stronger every day as determined civilians relentlessly fill sandbags to protect important buildings. The Kyiv City Hall, for example, was bombarded.
More and more people are gathering at checkpoints, armed and ready to fight. Most of the civilians who are still in Kyiv decided to take up arms to defend the capital.
Extremely difficult living conditions
Over time, the living conditions of the remaining residents become more difficult. Many people have taken refuge in the subway from the bombings. Also, 800 patients were evacuated in the children’s hospital, but 200 remain untransferred, they are still in the second basement of the hospital.
Vladimir Putin assured that Russian troops did not bomb Kyiv and large Ukrainian cities, qualifying information about the destruction carried out by Moscow as a “gross propaganda fabrication”.
The Russian army, meanwhile, said that in the east, pro-Russian separatists took control of six settlements in the Donetsk region. Russian troops also say they have advanced south, capturing ten villages and towns. Like Mariupol, a strategic Ukrainian port on the Sea of Azov.
Jeremy Couple with Louis Augri