World News

Ukraine imposes curfew in Kyiv as Russian shelling continues

Russian shelling struck Kyiv on Tuesday killing at least two people, authorities said, as invading forces tightened their grip on the Ukrainian capital and the mayor announced a 35-hour curfew starting at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

Two large blasts echoed across the centre of the city just before dawn on Tuesday. Late on Monday, tracer bullets flashed across the night sky as Ukrainian forces apparently targeted an enemy drone.

“Today is a difficult and dangerous moment,” mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

“The capital is the heart of Ukraine, and it will be defended. Kyiv, which is currently the symbol and forward operating base of Europe’s freedom and security, will not be given up by us.”

Reuters witnesses saw a high-rise apartment block in flames after being struck by artillery. Firefighters tried to douse the blaze and rescue workers helped evacuate residents trapped inside using mobile ladders. A body lay on the ground in a bag.

Kyiv has been spared the worst of the fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, but the Russian military is slowly closing in on the city and the shelling has intensified.

“What is happening right now in Kharkiv, in Mariupol and other cities – it was understandable that sooner or later it would happen in Kyiv,” said local resident Igor Krupa.

Sitting on the ground outside the badly damaged building, he described how he had cocooned himself with furniture and metal weights before going to sleep.

“This actually saved me because all the windows went out and all the debris went into the apartment, and I remained unwounded. Just a couple of scratches.”

In another part of the city, residents cleared debris from their homes after shelling blew out windows, ruined balconies and left wreckage strewn across the ground.

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict and millions more displaced.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, calls its actions a “special military operation” to “denazify” the country, a claim that Ukraine and its allies reject as a pretext for an unjustified and illegal attack.

Idoko Dennis

Idoko Dennis is a creative videographer/drone pilot and sport writer. He heads the sport desk and deputizes the head of Idoma TV

Recent Posts

Probe panel: Ortom defeats Benue state govt at appeal court

The Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, on Thursday set aside the ruling of the Benue…

10 hours ago

Police take action over murder of lawyer Mark Ofikwu in Otukpo

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the tragic killing of prominent Otukpo-based lawyer and…

12 hours ago

BREAKING: Reps reject bill proposing six-year single tenure for president, governors

A bill proposing a six-year single term for the office of the president and state…

13 hours ago

BREAKING: Senate approves Tinubu’s ₦1.77 Trillion loan request to address 2024 Budget deficit

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s ₦1.77 trillion ($2.2b) loan request following a voice…

14 hours ago

Finland arrests Simon Ekpa, four others over terrorism financing

Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, and four others have been arrested in Finland for involvement…

14 hours ago

BREAKING: Biafra: Simon Ekpa arrested in Finland

Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, and four other persons have been arrested in Finland over…

14 hours ago