Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko introduces a 5pm to 8am curfew for two days amid fears of "saboteurs" entering the city as his brother, fellow former boxing champ Vladimir issues a desperate plea to Western nations.
Look back at how events unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
- Prominent Ukrainians plead for more help
- France seizes Russian ship linked to former spy chief
- Ukraine says Russian military transport plane shot down
- Almost 200 Ukrainians killed and more than 1,000 injured, government says
- New curfew announced in Kyiv
- First responder says six civilians injured in Kyiv apartment building
- No casualties reported after missile strike on apartment building
- Western sanctions target Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarchs over Ukraine invasion
- Ukraine President says defence force will not lay down weapons
- Ukraine military commander says areas near Sumy, Poltava and Mariupol hit by air strikes
- Kyiv officials say fighting is in the streets
- Ukraine says it repelled Russian attack on Kyiv military base
- 'This night they will launch an assault': Ukraine President gives video address
- Just joining us? Here's a recap of the situation in Ukraine
- BREAKING: Russia vetoes Security Council resolution to denounce invasion
- Australia announces additional sanctions on Russian oligarchs
- Kyiv falling to Russia a real possibility, says White House
- BREAKING: US announces sanctions against Putin and Russia's Foreign Minister
- Russia offers Minsk talks but US says bombings must stop if Putin is serious about diplomacy
- Australians in Kyiv describe 'very long night'
- Ukraine reports increased radiation levels detected from Chernobyl power plant
Live updates
By James Maasdorp
For any Australians who need consular assistance:
Australians in need of consular assistance should call the Australian Government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia (if you're calling on someone's behalf) or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia.
By Paul Johnson
Closing off the blog
It's goodnight from me and a big thanks for joining us throughout the day and night.
Click here to join a new blog to keep you updated on the Ukraine situation, with my colleague Dan Smith taking over.
Stay safe, Australia.
By Paul Johnson
Speaking of the UK...
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge issued a statement in support of Ukraine.
Members of the Royal family rarely issue statements such as this, and try to remain neutral, which may be taken as an indication of just how serious Russia's actions are.
William's younger brother Harry and his wife Meghan, who have stepped down from royal duties to move to Los Angeles, said on their website on Thursday that they also stood with the Ukrainian people "against this breach of international and humanitarian law".
During a trip to Canada in 2014, William's father and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles caused a diplomatic row when his private remarks that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "doing just about the same as Hitler" became public.
With Reuters
By Paul Johnson
Protests continue outside the Russian embassy in London
The UK has endured a rocky recent history with Russia so perhaps it's no surprise to see many Brits out in force to protest.
Warning: Strong language
Many have written on the outer walls of the Russian embassy grounds.
Others are waving Ukrainian flags.
And some Russians are defying Putin..
By Paul Johnson
Ukrainian reports of schools being shelled in Mariupol
The city of Mariupol, a key port on the Sea of Azov in southeast Ukraine, remained under relentless shelling on Saturday, its mayor Vadim Boychenko said in a televised address.
"They are shelling schools, apartment blocks," Mr Boychenko said.
Moscow says it is taking care not to hit civilian sites, however an apartment tower near Kyiv was hit earlier in the daym, with 2 deaths confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.
There were also multiple clips posted to social media showing damage to civilian areas of Ukraine.
By Paul Johnson
Prominent Ukrainians plead for more help
One of the major criticisms in the defence of the Ukraine is that Western nations are not doing enough and now prominent Ukrainians are making their voices heard.
Aside from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and his brother Vladimir, both former boxing champions have issued their pleas as has former president Petro Poroshenko.
Mr Poroshenko was in power before Mr Zelenskyy, and said this war was not simply about Ukraine.
"We should understand that this war is not about Ukraine," he said.
"This war is about you, our dear partners, about the West, about the free world.
"Because everybody knows nobody knows where tomorrow will appear Putin. And that's why your assistance, your effective contradiction to the Putin's aggression is vital for us, Ukraine."
Mr Poroshenko then refuted Russia's claims they had suffered no casualties and said in fact they were in the thousands as he called for more help.
"A significant number of the Russian tanks who were destroyed during the last 72 hours is because of your assistance. Please increase your assistance, please."
Mr Poroshenko then showed a weapon he had on him as he vowed to help defend Ukraine.
His comments followed those made by Vladimir Klitschko, as Kyiv entered a curfew.
The former world boxing heavyweight champion appealed to the world on Saturday to stop the conflict in his native Ukraine and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
"I'm addressing the entire world to stop this war that Russia has started," Vladimir said in a video posted online.
"There's no time to wait because it's going to lead into a humanitarian catastrophe.
"You need to act now to stop Russian aggression with anything you can have now. In an hour, or by tomorrow it's going to be too late."
By Paul Johnson
Norway won't allow Russian skiers to compete
Russian skiers are not welcome to compete in Norway because of “violations of international law and attacks on the Ukrainian people,” the Nordic country's ski federation said Saturday.
Norway’s call directly contradicts International Ski Federation (FIS) policy announced late Friday and comes days after the winter sport power topped the Beijing Olympics medal table with a record 16 golds. The final men's medal awarded in Beijing saw Russian and Norwegian cross-country skiers share the podium in the Bird's Nest stadium.
The Norwegian plea was also made days before Kvitfjell and Oslo host World Cup races in Alpine and cross-country skiing next weekend and while the country co-hosts the junior world championships in Nordic ski disciplines.
“The Norwegian Ski Federation’s message to Russia and Russian athletes is crystal clear; We do not want your participation!” it said in a statement.
By Paul Johnson
US sending more 'lethal, defensive assistance'
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that pursuant to the approval of President Joe Biden the US will provide up to $US350 million immediate support for Ukraine’s defence during the Russian invasion.
This spending brings the total security assistance the United States has committed to Ukraine over the past year to more than $1 billion.
The package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armoured, airborne, and other threats it is now facing from Russia.
By Paul Johnson
Ukraine residents making Molotov cocktails: BBC
A fascinating video from the BBC shows local women who are looking to do their part to repel a Russian invasion making Molotov cocktails as a group.
The women are shown to be sitting outside in the nation's east and have been united in their cause to do something to help Ukrainians battle the Russian invasion.
"You can see people bringing cheese graters to grate polytyrene to make these Molotov cocktails," says BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford.
By Paul Johnson
France seizes Russian ship linked to former spy chief
France seized a car cargo ship in the English Channel that Washington says was linked to the son of a former Russian spy chief, in one of the first visible displays of the West enforcing sanctions on Moscow over its Ukraine invasion.
The 'Baltic Leader' was headed to St. Petersburg but was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture told Reuters.
The vessel was "strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions," she said.
The US Treasury Department has issued blocking sanctions against the vessel because, according to Treasury, it was owned by a subsidiary of Russian lender Promsvyazbank, one of the Russian entities hit by US and EU sanctions.
The bank's CEO, Pyotr Fradkov, is the son of Mikhail Fradkov, a former head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, who also served as prime minister under Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Pyotr Fradkov was himself included in the latest round of US sanctions.
Promsvyazbank, in a comment sent to Reuters, said its subsidiary no longer owns the Baltic Leader, and that it was bought by a different entity before the sanctions were imposed.
The French economy ministry, in a statement, said the ship's owner was Promsvyazbank subsidiary PZB Lizing, and that the ship was intercepted in enforcement of EU sanctions on the lender and its subsidiaries.
By Paul Johnson
The British Ministry of Defence releases its latest findings
By Paul Johnson
More Ukrainians taking up arms
Thousands of Ukrainian men are responding to calls to fight against Russian invaders by signing up at recruitment centres.
Men aged between 18 and 60 are being asked to join Ukrainian forces to repel the Russians.
Ukrainian opposition MP, Ina Sofson said even her father has joined the long queues at the recruitment centre in the capital Kyiv.
By Kelsie Iorio
US to send more weapons to Ukraine
Joe Biden says he's instructed the US State Department to release up to an additional $350 million worth of weapons from US stocks to Ukraine.
In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine's defense.
Blinken said in a statement that this third authorisation for weapons shipments to Ukraine was "unprecedented".
By Kelsie Iorio
Wladimir Klitschko calls for mobilisation to stop war
The brother of the Mayor of Kyiv has posted a video message "adressing the entire world" to help stop the war.
Both the Klitschko brothers are former champion boxers, and the younger of the two, Wladimir, has called on people to "act now to stop Russian aggression".
"In an hour, or by tomorrow, it's going to be too late," he says.
By Kelsie Iorio
'This must be a joke': Polish PM calls on Germany to give more help to Ukraine
Poland's prime minister has urged Germany to put aside "selfishness" and "egoism" and offer substantive support to the people of Ukraine.
"Nothing is going to stop Putin if we are not decisive enough," Mateusz Morawiecki said ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Berlin.
"This is a very historic moment… we have no time to lose."
Morawiecki says the aid Germany has offered so far, which has consisted of military helmets and not weapons, is a far cry from what’s necessary to help Ukraine defend itself.
"What kind of help was delivered to Ukraine? Five thousand helmets? This must be a joke," Morawiecki said.
Morawiecki also says sanctions on Russia need to be "crushing", calling for the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT global financial system.
Reporting by AP
By Kelsie Iorio
Quiet in Kyiv
Some parts in the centre of Kyiv are eerily empty as residents scramble to escape.
Journalist Natalie Vikhrov took this video near the main hub of Kyiv, which would normally be teeming with people.
Now it's almost deserted as Kyiv authorities warn citizens not to leave their houses.
By Kelsie Iorio
Latest from the ground in Lviv
Our correspondent Isabella Higgins is near Lviv station and it looks like total chaos.
By Kelsie Iorio
Zelenskyy thanks Erdoğan for support
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has tweeted, thanking the Turkish President for the country's support of Ukraine.
"The ban on the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for Ukraine are extremely important today," Zelenskyy said.
The Turkish government hasn't publicly confirmed the ban at this stage.
