Russian troops enter Kyiv outskirts: report

Russian troops on Friday reached the outskirts of Kyiv as Ukrainian forces fought back against Russia’s military offensive, The New York Times reports.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that Russian troops had invaded the Obolon district, which is a suburb of the capital city, according to the Times. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukrainians during a televised public address that the capital of nearly 3 million people would be Russia’s “target number one.”

The city was bombarded early Friday as missile strikes hit numerous targets and a rocket struck a residential building in Russia’s second day of movement toward Kyiv in its military offensive, the Times notes.

People were urged to stay indoors as Russian troops grew near and entered Kyiv’s outskirts and the Ukrainian defense ministry encouraged residents to make Molotov cocktails to defend against the invasion, the Times reports. 

On Thursday, Zelensky declared martial law in Ukraine and pressed for any able-bodied Ukrainian to enlist in defending the country. All men aged 18-60 are prohibited from exiting Ukraine under martial law, the Times reports. 

Many Ukrainian men, however, are attempting to flee the capital area to relatively safer areas in the nation’s west, the Times noted.

“The first days are the most difficult, because right now the enemy will feel it has the advantage, or will be broken physically and morally,” said Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar Friday, according to the Times. “It is important that everyone is strong in spirit. This is our land. We will not hand it over.”