Ukrainian officials confirmed that the army began the stage of defending the capital, Kiev, on the second day of the Russian invasion of their country, as clashes took place in the north of the capital, and the Russian forces announced the control of a strategic airfield and the landing of paratroopers in the region.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that its forces had taken control of the strategic Gostomel airport, located on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, from the northwest.
It added that it had dropped paratroopers in the area, and was able to isolate Kiev from the western side.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it had killed more than 200 members of the Ukrainian special units during their battles to seize Gostomel airport.
On the other hand, Ukrainian television said that columns of military vehicles were entering the capital to defend it.
Ukrainian military police in full combat gear running to defend the city as Russian troops close in on Kyiv.
pic.twitter.com/UDe9YIhWTN
— Ian Pannell (@IanPannell) February 25, 2022
The mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko said that the stage of defense of the Ukrainian capital has begun.
"There is shooting and explosions in some neighborhoods. The saboteurs have already entered Kiev. The enemy wants to bring the capital to its knees and destroy us," he told a news briefing.
Al-Jazeera correspondent in Kiev reported hearing explosions and gunfire from the city's air defenses.
Sam boosts defenses
An American official told Al-Jazeera that Russian forces continue to approach the Ukrainian capital from 3 axes, but indicated that their progress towards Kiev is not as fast as expected.
The official explained that what is happening is still within the first stage of the Russian invasion and that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not used most of his forces.
The US official added that Ukrainian forces are actively using SAMs against Russian warplanes.
Kyiv pic.twitter.com/HmZH6H9tI9
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) February 25, 2022
In the same context, the British Ministry of Defense said - in a statement on Twitter - that the Russian invasion is making limited progress today, and that Ukraine still controls major cities.
The Apollon region, northwest of the capital, is witnessing heavy artillery bombardment, as Russian forces are trying to impose their control over it.
A Ukrainian security source told Al Jazeera that fierce fighting had taken place in the area, and that the residents of Apollon had participated in confronting the advance of Russian armor.
The Ukrainian army had deployed its tanks in the area before the arrival of the Russian forces.
People are trying to escape #UkraineInvasion #railwaystation #stopputin pic.twitter.com/XdKDmcGqGl
— Eva Tats (@eva_tats) February 25, 2022
losses
For its part, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that the losses of Russian forces since the start of the invasion exceeded 1,000 people.
The ministry stated that the Ukrainian forces destroyed several ballistic missiles and at least two Russian planes.
"Russia has not suffered such a number of casualties in any of its armed conflicts," it added in a statement.
The ministry had previously stated on its Facebook page that a special squad of Russian forces was carrying out a sabotage operation in the capital, and that the ministry had asked civilians in the Apollon neighborhood to take up arms and report on "enemy movements, making Molotov cocktails and neutralizing the occupier."
On Friday, authorities in the capital advised Apollon residents to stay off the streets as "active hostilities" approached the area, and the city council said in a warning, "As hostilities approach, we ask residents of Apollon to avoid leaving" their homes.