Fighting on the streets of Kyiv

Ukraine claims to have killed 3,500 Russian soldiers. | Reuters

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterLondon26/02/2022 08:00

The BBC reports heavy fighting and explosions across Kyiv overnight on Friday and that Ukrainian troops have been trying to push back Russian attacks. An army unit in Kyiv is said to have repelled Russian forces on a major city avenue. Otherwise, there are "heavy battles ongoing" in one part of the city, with "active combat" in some streets.

The Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, has said that the army is in "control" of the situation in Kyiv. "We are stopping the horde using all means available."

Missiles are also reported as being fired at Ukraine from the Black Sea.

UK says bulk of Russian forces 30 km from the centre of Kyiv

Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Ukraine's capital Kyiv were now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.

Britain, which earlier disputed Russian reports that Russian forces had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol, said the Ukrainian military was continuing to put up staunch resistance across the country.

"Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30 km from the centre of the city," the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.

"Russia has yet to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force. Russian casualties are likely to be heavy and greater than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin," it said.