Unverified reports claimed that fighting had reached the heart and soul of Kyiv. Online videos showed what residents claimed were Russian tanks moving through their city. Gunfire and sirens could be heard in the capital.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, warned Friday that Russia would try to “destroy” his resistance overnight.
According to Reuters, he stated that “all of us should understand the consequences for us tonight.” “We must not give up. Ukraine’s fate is now being determined.”
Officials from Ukraine claim they are fighting on multiple fronts against a “full scale invasion.” President Joe Biden accused Putin of choosing to wage a premeditated war that would cause a devastating loss of life and suffering.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov backed Putin’s claim that the invasion was necessary in order to “demilitarize Ukraine’s Western-backed government,” which the Kremlin calls a “Nazi Cell.” Lavrov stated that Ukraine would be “liberated from this burden” and the Ukrainians will be able to choose their own future.
However, CBS News’ Haley Ott reports on how Ukrainians are trying to protect their military forces in order to stop Russia from dictating the future.
Ott claimed that people rushed into a temporary recruitment center in Kyiv Friday morning and declared they were willing to die for their city. A commander stated that thousands of people had reported to duty, but very few of them were military veterans. The commander stated that guns were being distributed to all who showed up and that they were running out quickly.