RUSSIAN forces have reportedly reached the edge of Kyiv as civilians were urged to take up arms and make Molotov cocktails to fight back against Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian defence officials said "the enemy" were in the neighbourhood of Obolon – which is around five and a half miles north of the city centre.

The defence ministry urged people to take up arms, make Molotov cocktail fire bombs, and to use commercial drones in the defence of Kyiv.

Some 10,000 assault rifles have been handed out to residents and general mobilisation has been ordered in a bid to protect their homes.

Unconfirmed videos on social media showed gunfire being heard over the city and military vehicles of unknown affiliation moving through Obolon.

And there have been reports a car has been crushed by an armoured vehicle in the area.

Associated Press reporters also said there was gunfire heard in the government quarter in central Kyiv.

The attackers may have been Russian "saboteurs" or "sleeper cells" who are loyal to Putin and who have been lying in wait in Ukraine for the assault.

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Meanwhile, the bulk of the Russian invasion force is believed to be around 20 miles away as they roll south.

The troops took control of the Chernobyl disaster zone – the shortest route to Kyiv from Belarus – as they move in to try and "decapitate" the Ukraine government

Last night, a Russian jet was reportedly been shot down in a fireball over Kyiv as Vladimir Putin prepares to besiege the city of 2.9million people.

Ukrainians have been warned they now face their "hardest day" with an expected all out offensive by the Russians.

At least 137 Ukrainians are already dead across the country at the hands of Putin's forces after the assault began at 3.30am on Thursday.

It comes as:

• All eyes are on Kyiv with Putin's forces expected to launch an assault on the city of 2.9million people
• Defiant Ukrainian soldiers are using UK missiles to fight off Putin's invasion
• Kyiv's troops managed to recapture a key airport after a botched helicopter assault by the Russians
• Russia managed to capture Chernobyl power plant – sparking fears of a new nuclear disaster
• At least 1,500 people have been arrested in Russia for protesting against the war in Ukraine
• Thousands of Brits are fleeing as 1million people are on the move in mass exodus from Ukraine
• Western sanctions are targeting Russian money as Boris Johnson branded Putin as a "bloodstained aggressor"
• Tom Tugendhat MP, chair of the foreign affairs committee, wrote in The Sun thatPutin and his "band of thieves" must be punished

Kyiv faces an uncertain future as the country comes under attack from air, land and sea by Russia.

US intelligence now fears Putin could topple the Kyiv in just 96 hours as Russian forces move within just 20 miles after seizing nearby Chernobyl.

Ukrainian sources said they agreed the capital would be surrounded within the next four days – but claimed the government would not collapse.

Ukrainians remain defiant and have put up a staunch resistance to the Russian invaders.

However, they find themselves facing an uphill struggle as Putin brings his massive military to bear against his neighbour.

Russia is believed to have suffered heavy losses – with as many as 800 invaders being killed.

Attacks on Kyiv by cruise or ballistic missiles have just continued

World leaders have all condemned Russia's actions yesterday which saw Europe plunged into its biggest crisis since World War 2.

Heavy sanctions designed to strangle Putin's regime are now being levied against Russia.

But it's questioned whether this will be enough to stop Moscow.

Another day of bloodshed lies ahead for Ukraine – with all eyes now on the capital to see if Putin will be able to breakthrough.

It is believed Russia want to take control of the city and install a compliant puppet regime.

After another night of battles across the country, Ukraine's Interior Ministry claimed a Russian aircraft was shot down over Kyiv.

It reportedly crashed down into a residential building and set it on fire.

Ukrainian troops have also battled Russian tank units in Ivankiv, north of Kyiv, as they travel south.

Separate air raid sirens have been heard in the major Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Odessa, sparking fears of a major coordinated onslaught on a number of population centres.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the invasion as "horrific", comparing it to an assault by the Nazis.

"Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany," he said.

"Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Sever all ties. Kick Russia out of everywhere."

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson claims 83 pieces of Ukrainian ground military infrastructure have been destroyed.

It comes shortly after Ukrainian forces appeared to have secured a major victory with the successful recapture of Kyiv's Antonov airport, 20 miles northwest of the city.

US officials say they fear the city will fall in the next four days and the government of President Voldymyr Zelenskyy will be toppled within a week.

President Zelenskyy earlier announced 137 people had died in the first day of fierce fighting as he vowed to stay in his country until the bitter end.

"They're killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets," he said.

"It's foul and will never be forgiven."

He also accused the West of abandoning his country and leaving them to fight Vladimir Putin "alone".

"The enemy marked me as target No 1, and my family as target No 2… I am staying in Kyiv," he said.

Zelenskyy also urged protests against the war that have sprung up in Russia to continue, once again comparing Putin to the Nazis.

Earlier, Zelenskyy signed a new decree on general mobilisation, as Ukraine's border guard banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country under martial law.

This is like 1941. I want to tell all Russian citizens who are coming out to protest: we hear you, you heard us, you started to believe us," he said.

"Fight for us. Fight the war."

Troops already took control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, bringing a “new Iron Curtain” down on Europe, said Zelenskyy.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Putin plans to encircle Ukrainian troops in Kyiv to force them to surrender or “be destroyed”.

Blinken added that Ukraine’s leadership could fall within a week.

According to the Pentagon, Russia has fired “more than 160 missiles into Ukraine" – with more expected to fall.

US President Joe Biden is due to hold an emergency summit with other NATO member leaders at 9am Eastern (2pm GMT) to discuss the crisis.

World leaders have all condemned Russia's actions yesterday which saw Europe plunged into its biggest crisis since World War 2.

Heavy sanctions designed to strangle Putin's regime are now being levied against Russia.

But it's questioned whether this will be enough to stop Moscow.

Another day of bloodshed lies ahead for Ukraine – with all eyes now on the capital to see if Putin will be able to breakthrough.

It is believed Russia want to take control of the city and install a compliant Pro-Putin government dubbed the "People's Rada".

Troops and tanks surged across the border – many of them emblazoned with the now infamous “Z” symbol – sparking bloody firefights. 

Putin has some 200,000 soldiers ready to move in – encircling the north, south and east of Ukraine.

And the Kremlin has said the operation will last "as long as necessary" as the raging tyrant claims he wants to “denazify” and “demilitarise” his neighbour state. 

The West has pledged to stand with Ukraine – but there are fears we now all just one false move from what could become World War 3. 

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