According to the British "Daily Star" reported on February 25, Russian helicopter gunships fired missiles at the military airport in Gostomer on the outskirts of Kiev, and defenders near Chernobyl warned of a possible disaster. Sources from Ukraine said defenders shot down several Russian planes.
On the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Command, it was written: "On February 24, five aircraft and an attack helicopter were shot down near the joint forces. The joint forces gave the Russian military a powerful blow back." Two other Russian helicopter gunships were reportedly shot down over the Ukrainian capital.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr zelensky declared martial law across the country. At the same time, Russian troops began to cross the border and attack targets around the capital Kiev. Explosions were heard in many ukrainian cities. The latest reports suggest russian troops are about to enter the capital Kiev, but the British government says there is intelligence that Ukrainian troops are taking control of key cities.
Ukrainian border officials say Russian troops are trying to invade the Zhytomyr region on the Border between Kiev and Belarus, and that Russia is using heavy artillery, mortars and Grad rocket systems.
Meanwhile, forces near Chernobyl warned that Russian intruder fire could hit the sealed nuclear reactor there, spreading deadly radioactive deposits across Europe. Videos and photos on social media show thousands of Ukrainians trying to flee the capital as Russian troops advance, and the main roads are packed with refugees fleeing the war zone.
Some experts predict that with the end of the first day of fighting, the fight may soon be over if Russian troops are able to capture the Ukrainian capital. As the first wave of invaders drew closer and closer to the capital, Kiev, President Zelensky spoke this morning in which he provocatively declared that he would spare no effort in fighting Russia. He shared photos taken from his office window, which showed smoke billowing over the capital. He said earlier that any Ukrainian who wanted a weapon could get it.