The Ukrainian forces have captured “hundreds” of Russian soldiers near the capital, Kiev, said one of the country’s parliamentarians.
Sviatoslav Yurash made the remarks after a night attempt by Vladimir Putin’s forces to storm the city failed in the face of fierce resistance.
At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people have been injured so far, said the Ukrainian government.
Speaking to Sky News before going to the front, Yurash said that the Russian forces were between 1.8 and 2.5 miles from where he was located.
“The Russians do not have a good time here, to say the least,” he said.
“We have hundreds of prisoners of war, we are broadcasting videos showing Russians coming to Ukraine”.
Russia has intensified its efforts to take control of Ukraine after make one more progress slower than expected on Wednesday and Thursday, allegedly killing civilians in the process.
Ukraine claims it killed or captured 2,500 soldiers, destroyed 76 tanks and shot down seven fighter planes, while his troops launched a bloody resistance against the Russians.
Earlier on Friday, Russia was accused of bombing a kindergarten after images emerged showing a school in the eastern Ukrainian city of Okhtyrka “surrounded by bodies”.
The bodies of at least two adults were seen lying outside the “Sunshine” nursery in pools of blood, as people crouched down next to them.
Kiev’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Russia of war crimes and said his government was preparing a report that it would send to Russia. The Hague.
Elsewhere, a soldier blew himself up on a bridge to prevent the Russians from storming from Crimea.
The viral video clip showed a fearless man walking towards armored vehicles.
Fierce exchanges broke out five miles north of Kiev city center during the day as fighters clashed with Russians arriving in attack helicopters.
It was reported that Putin’s elite Spetsnaz troops, backed by undercover assassins and armored vehicles, were engaged in gunfights in the suburbs of Kiev, while the main Russian force awaited 30 miles to the north.
The head of UK defense intelligence, the Lieutenant General Sir Jim Hockenhull warned that Russia would continue its bombardment encirclement today.
“Russian forces continue to advance in two axes towards Kiev. Their goal is to surround the capital to ensure control of the population and change the regime”.
Western intelligence sources confirmed that the Russians were trying to surround Kiev, but were being pushed back.
A security source said: “The Ukrainians have done an excellent job of knocking down bridges to stop them.
“Russia has largely failed to meet its Day One objectives and the timing of its battle plan is running behind schedule. The conflict is Putin’s choice, now it is not a war of choice, but of necessity, so he has to win.
“I would resort to any means necessary. If we end up with significant urban fighting, I am concerned about how Russia would use indiscriminate force.”
In Russia, there have been violent reactions to the invasion, both from ordinary Russians and public figures.
More than 1,500 people have arrested in protests across the country, while the daughter of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was among those who appeared to criticize Putin’s actions.
Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said that there was “active fighting in the streets of our city” as the conflict escalated and later air raid sirens were heard in Kiev, sending soldiers and civilians seeking shelter.
Russian forces tried to force their way through the streets of the capital, during the night, a dramatic video showed a burning vehicle on Peremohy Avenue (Victory) of Kiev.
With the dawn over the city, the extent of the damage inflicted in Kiev was made clear by footage showing blocks of flats on fire.
Fighting appeared to be in full swing near the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv (Zhuliany) International Airport in Kiev with residential blocks hit by missiles and residents pulled from the rubble.
Soldiers were seen next to the charred remains in vehicles on city roads.
The Ukrainian government claims that Russian troops fought against its forces near the Beresteiska metro station, just five miles from Maidan (Independence Square) ), the central point of Kiev.
Russian troops also attacked a military base in the city, but were successfully repelled, Ukraine’s military said in a Facebook post on Saturday by the morning.
Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said: “We are detaining the horde the best As far as we can, the situation in Kiev is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our citizens”.
Separately, the Interfax Ukraine agency said that Russian soldiers were trying to capture a from Kyiv’s electricity generating stations.
Loud artillery blasts were heard near the city center, while a Kyiv Independent reporter claimed that a “fight” was taking place. extremely hard” near the Kiev Zoo.
The Washington Post correspondent in the city reported “dozens and dozens” of explosions in the city.
Google Maps shows that several main roads in and out of the city have been closed, including around Maidan Square, and the main thoroughfares leading to and from from city airports.
Clarissa Ward of CNN reports that all the fighting “is now happening within the city limits ”, and says he can hear “lots of explosions from lots of different directions”.
Residents have been urged to stay inside shelters, including underground stations and hotel bases.
Outside of Kiev, air raid sirens have been heard in several Ukrainian cities, including Lviv, Lutsk, Rivne, Uman and Vinnytsia.
Illia Ponomarenko, a reporter for The Kyiv Independent newspaper, reported shortly before 4 am Ukraine time that a second Ilyushin Il-76 Russian had been shot down.
Citing the State Agency for Ukrainian Special Communications said the fighter jet was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 48 miles southwest of Kiev city center.
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