Another explosion sounded nearby Kiev as Russian troops approached the Ukrainian capital on Saturday (13/3). The explosion has not yet been confirmed to be from Russian or Ukrainian soldiers.
Head of correspondence CNNClarissa Ward described relentless gunfire and heavy explosions in the distance for several minutes.
Fighting is said to be continuing on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital. The Kiev city government claims areas in the north to be the most dangerous, including the suburbs of Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel, as well as the Vyshorod district further north of Kyiv.
Fighting also escalated in Brovary, across the Dnieper River, east of Kyiv.
“The concern has become … that the goal is to completely encircle the city, starve the city, bombard the city and eventually try to overthrow (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) the Zelensky government,” Ward said.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko told CNN, the city currently only has one to two weeks of food and medical supplies.
Ukrainian troops are currently said to be building defenses along the main highway leading to Kiev. They also installed tank traps.
“This [Kyiv] is a heavily guarded city now. And even if Russian troops could besiege it, it would still be an almighty city. battle for them to get to the point,” Ward said.
(fby / mik)
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