Two large explosions lit up the night sky southwest of Keiv Sunday (27/2/2022) morning with one explosion that appeared to be about 20 kilometers from the city center.
The explosion came after Ukrainian armed forces attempted to defend the capital, with fighting continuing across the country for a third day on Saturday (26/2/2022).
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens to defend the country.
An earlier explosion also lit up the skyline on Saturday (26/2/2022) night in the strategic maritime city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, as heavy gunfire echoed around its outskirts.
The sound of small arms fire and the impact of multiple rockets was seen in the evening after a day of rising tension in the city.
Unconfirmed reports say Russian paratroopers landed in the northern area of the city.
Meanwhile a bridge was raised for the first time in years, in an attempt to cut off the main link between the north and south of the city - which lies on the inlet from the Black Sea.
Also read: Chechen Troops Apparently Also Deployed In Attacking Ukraine
Russia's war of aggression is moving into the streets of several Ukrainian cities, but the outnumbered Ukrainian military continues to hold off the invading forces in various locations.
Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops had been ordered to continue their offensive operations "in all directions",
The Prime Minister of Ukraine announced the country closed its borders with Russia and Belarus from Monday (28/2/2022), and only Ukrainian nationals can cross into Ukraine from the two countries.
A senior US defense official warned Saturday that more than half of Russian President Vladimir Putin's combined forces "are now inside Ukraine."
Heavy fighting is ongoing in the northern city of Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border, while "resistance is waning in the south," a US official said.
Also read: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Diplomacy Efforts Failed?
In Vasilkiv, a town about 35 kilometers south of Keiv, the mayor said early Saturday (26/2/2022) that heavy fighting was taking place in the center of the city.
Vasilkiv Mayor Natalia Balasynovich said there were losses on the Ukrainian side with "many injured, unfortunately, they are in their 200s," she told the Ukrainian parliament channel Saturday (26/2/2022).
Dua ledakan besar menerangi langit malam di barat daya Keiv Minggu (27/2/2022) pagi dengan satu ledakan yang tampaknya berjarak sekitar 20 kilometer dari pusat kota.
Ledakan itu terjadi setelah pasukan bersenjata Ukraina berusaha mempertahankan ibu kota, dengan pertempuran berlanjut di seluruh negeri untuk hari ketiga pada Sabtu (26/2/2022).
Sementara itu, Presiden Ukraina Volodymyr Zelensky mengatakan kepada warga untuk membela negara.
Sebuah ledakan sebelumnya juga menerangi kaki langit pada Sabtu (26/2/2022) malam di kota maritim strategis Mykolaiv di Ukraina selatan, saat baku tembak berat bergema di sekitar pinggirannya.
Suara tembakan senjata ringan dan dampak dari terjangan beberapa roket terlihat pada malam setelah hari ketegangan meningkat di kota.
Laporan yang belum dikonfirmasi mengatakan penerjun payung Rusia mendarat di wilayah utara kota.
Sementara sebuah jembatan dinaikkan untuk pertama kalinya dalam beberapa tahun, sebagai upaya untuk memutus hubungan utama antara utara dan selatan kota - yang terletak di jalan masuk dari Laut Hitam.
Baca juga: Pasukan Chechnya Rupanya Turut Diterjunkan Menyerang Ukraina
Perang agresi Rusia bergerak ke jalan-jalan di beberapa kota Ukraina, namun militer Ukraina yang kalah jumlah terus menahan pasukan invasi di berbagai lokasi.
Kementerian Pertahanan Rusia mengatakan pasukannya telah diperintahkan untuk melanjutkan operasi ofensif mereka "ke segala arah",
Perdana Menteri Ukraina mengumumkan negara itu menutup perbatasannya dengan Rusia dan Belarusia mulai Senin (28/2/2022), dan hanya warga negara Ukraina yang dapat menyeberang ke Ukraina dari kedua negara itu.
Seorang pejabat senior pertahanan AS pada Sabtu (26/2/2022) memperingatkan bahwa lebih dari setengah kekuatan gabungan Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin "sekarang berada di dalam Ukraina."
Pertempuran sengit sedang berlangsung di kota utara Kharkiv, yang dekat dengan perbatasan Rusia, sementara "perlawanan berkurang di selatan," kata seorang pejabat AS.
Baca juga: Invasi Rusia ke Ukraina: Gagalnya Upaya Diplomasi?
Di Vasilkiv, sebuah kota sekitar 35 kilometer selatan Keiv, Wali Kota mengatakan Sabtu (26/2/2022) pagi bahwa pertempuran sengit terjadi di tengah kota.
Wali Kota Vasilkiv Natalia Balasynovich mengatakan ada kerugian di pihak Ukraina dengan "banyak yang terluka, sayangnya, mereka berusia 200-an," katanya kepada saluran parlemen Ukraina Sabtu (26/2/2022).