Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
The Russian military has been ordered to attack the Ukrainian territory “from all directions” after authorities in the former Soviet state refused negotiations with Moscow over a ceasefire agreement, with official reports saying Russian troops had entered Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said late on Saturday that the attacks in and around the Ukrainian capital of Kiev came after a brief respite in anticipation of ceasefire talks between the two warring sides in Belarus.
“After the refusal of the Ukrainian side to negotiate, all units were ordered today to develop an offensive from all directions according to the plan of the operation,” Konashenkov said in a video released by the Ministry.
The senior official said pro-Russia forces in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass, with fire support of the Russian military, advanced to a depth of up to 46 kilometers on the outskirts of Kiev, having captured the settlements of Shchastia, Muratovo, Starognatovka, Oktyabrskaya, and Pavlopol.
Konashenkov accused Ukrainian authorities of deploying rocket and artillery units in residential areas in cities across the country and appealed to the Ukrainian citizens to demand the immediate removal of all heavy weaponry from their homes.
“The nationalistic regime in Kiev massively and uncontrollably distributes automatic small arms, grenade launchers and ammunition to residents of Ukrainian settlements,” Konashenkov said.
“Our intelligence data continues to track the deployment of rocket and artillery units by Ukrainian nationalists in residential areas not only in Kiev but also in other Ukrainian cities. The leadership of Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it does not hide behind the civilian population and does not put heavy firepower in cities. Such an outright lie can lead to serious consequences,” he added.
Zelensky: Troops ‘successfully’ repelling Russian attacks
Local media also reported occasional blasts and gunfire in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday night, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky saying in a video message from the streets of Kiev posted on his social media that, “We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. The fighting goes on.”
Following the Russian military advance from all directions, residents from other cities of Ukraine were seen gathering at a train station in the western city of Lviv to seek shelter as thousands of people, many foreigners, tried to leave the country.
Lviv is considered to be safer than the second largest city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine as no Russian tanks have appeared there, with the military conflict between Moscow and Kiev entering 4th day.
