As I stood in the darkness on a hotel roof in Kyiv at 5am, the sky was suddenly lit up by a massive, ominous orange glow and I heard and felt a booming explosion.
The blast – the sound of a Russian missile hitting its target – was too close for comfort.
Before 7am I counted 20 explosions as Russia targeted military establishments on the city’s outskirts.
It seemed scarcely believable that a full scale invasion could take place in Europe in 2022.
As Russia sent its forces into Ukraine, it is feared that more than 100 people, including 40 soldiers and one child, have been killed.
Tens of thousands of terrified families have fled the capital.
When the bombardment started this morning I was standing on a pavement on a deserted road in central Kyiv with an Italian TV reporter who I had never met before.
We had been woken minutes earlier by a faint rumbling noise in the distance and went out to investigate.
At first I couldn’t believe the bombing could be so close to Kyiv.
As I nervously climbed the stairs up to the roof of the hotel the bangs became louder.
This was when I felt the huge explosion and realised I was witnessing a powerful sustained attack.
Dawn broke an hour or so later and screeching air sirens started to wail – overpowering the gentle chimes of church bells marking the time.
The sirens sent terrified pedestrians running into the church for safety.
Some people were driving to work. Two women walked their dogs in the church square, as if unaware of Vladimir Putin’s attack. It was surreal.
But within hours the enormity of the assault had been fully realised across the city. As two fighter jets flew over the capital, there were long queues at cashpoints. Postman Peter Aliyev, 47, said: “I wanted to get some money out when I could. I have a young family and we will head out of Kyiv this morning to get to the countryside to stay with relatives.”
A young woman in tears joined the queue. The city was living on its nerves as it awaited the next attack.
It remained unclear last night how close Russian tanks are to the capital.
Airborne troops have reached a military airport just 25 miles away. And at least six helicopters were seen flying over Hostomel, a commuter town on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Apartment complexes in some cities were hit by missiles. One woman, a teacher, in Chuhuiv had blood pouring from a head wound.
The deep metro system in Kyiv at least gave families some safety.
Hundreds of children and dozens of pet cats and dogs were on the platforms of one station.
A student Andriy, 23, said: “We have always regarded Russia as our big brother. I didn’t expect this to happen. And this is just the start – we have no idea what will happen next. Ukraine will never be the same after this.”
People had packed up what they could and fled in their cars – hoping their homes and possessions will still be there when and if they return.
On a motorway heading out of Kyiv there was a traffic jam stretching miles.
Families got out and chatted nervously until the sirens went off again and they jumped back into their cars.
Some people walked down the side of the motorway wheeling suitcases and thumbing for a lift. At the main bus station, coaches were packed to the rafters as they drove off. Many shops were shut, and many of the ones that were open had run out of food.
In the city centre I saw a 15-strong convoy of army vehicles speeding towards government buildings.
Across the road dozens of men queued to join the military after receiving their conscription papers.
The mayor, ex-world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, imposed a curfew from 10pm today to 7am tomorrow.
He said the metro “will be available as shelters 24/7”, but added: “If you need to move around the city during the curfew... you must have identification documents.”
The streets of Kyiv were eerily quiet last night. Bars and cafes were shut as police cars patrolled the city centre.
Ukraine’s favourite sporting son, ex-Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, said on social media his country had gone through “many difficult times” and that its greatest asset is its “sincere and freedom-loving people”.
Those citizens are praying they will soon be free of tyrant Putin.
