Harrowing pictures of the devastated neighbourhood of Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv have emerged following a Russian bombing campaign.
Photos released by Reuters show extensive damage to apartment blocks in the town, just west of the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday.
Local authorities said a missile hit a residential building, and preliminary information indicated there were civilian casualties.
Ukrainian soldiers were filmed evacuating an estimated 400 women and children out of the wreckage and carrying them to safety.
One video, geolocated to Irpin, showed two unidentified fighter aircrafts flying low overhead, followed by an explosion on the ground.
The Kyiv Independent reported a Russian fighter jet had been shot down with wreckage of an aircraft being shown to a camera.
Other social media video showed extensive damage to buildings on another street in Irpin, with a military vehicle still smoking.
A bridge that connects Irpin to Kyiv was blown up by the Ukrainian forces to block invading Russian troops.
Irpin, a satellite city on the western outskirts of Kyiv, has suffered multiple Russian attacks since the beginning of the full-scale offensive.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 2, 2022
A bridge that connects the city to Kyiv was blown up by the Ukrainian forces to block Russian troops.
Video: Illia Ponomarenko pic.twitter.com/bFwVBwqK8E
One video from the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed Ukrainian soldiers moving among what appear to be the bodies of Russian soldiers. At least four bodies can be seen.
The area around Irpin has seen extensive clashes since the Russian invasion began last week.
Ukrainian officials put the civilian death toll at more than 2,000, including 21 children.
Russia has confirmed military casualties, saying nearly 500 of its troops have died, but Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says Putin’s forces have lost more like 9,000.
