Russian troops have nearly reached the Ukraine capital city, with fighting raging outside of the city.
But the UK Defence Secretary says the invasion failed to achieve its targets on the first day and that the attacking forces had lost 450 men.
Kremlin soldiers are closing in on Kyiv on only day two of the Russian invasion.
In the early hours of this morning, the capital city was pummelled by missile strikes that left plumes of smoke rising above the city, and residential blocks and homes in ruin.
Air raid sirens sounded as many residents fled to underground bomb shelters for the night as missiles struck the city around 4am local time.
And now, as fighting has reached the outskirts of the city, it will increase worries that the capital of 2.8million people, known as the ‘mother of Russian cities’ will fall into Moscow’s hands.
However, despite Russia's advances, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he thought the invasion was failing to achieve its aims.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: "Our assessment as of this morning is that Russia has not taken any of its major objectives, in fact it is behind its hopeful timetable.
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“They’ve lost over 450 personnel and… one of the significant airports they were trying to capture with their elite Spetsnaz has failed to be taken, and in fact the Ukrainians have taken it back.”
The UK was not alone in that assessment, the Ukraine defence ministry echoed Wallace’s claims.
Outside the northern city of Chernihiv, Ukrainian troops halted the Russian march, and fighting continues outside the city according to the country’s Ministry of Defence.
The country’ Ministry of Defence said that it thought Russia had failed to achieve its day one objectives and had been met with “fierce resistance” across all fronts.
Speaking about the nighttime barrages, Ukrainian interior ministry advisor Anton Gerashchenko said: “Air defence of Kyiv shot down missiles fired by the invaders. We stand.”
He also claimed a Russian warplane was shot down by Ukrainian air defence forces and fell in the Darnytskyi district near a residential house.
The deputy head of Ukraine ’s defence ministry said there had been six major explosions.
The secretary of state also added that it was believed Russia intended to take the entire country, but there have been some questions raised how it intends to maintain this control.
He added: “I certainly think what Putin is doing is deeply irrational. I certainly think he has gone full tonto, that’s what I said the other day talking to some soldiers.
“But that’s no comfort to the people of Kyiv.”
Speaking to BBC Breakfast later on, he confirmed that no British troops would be sent in to fight.
He said: “No. We are not going to be sending British troops to fight directly with Russian troops.
“We’re going to hold the line in NATO. We’ve always supported Ukraine’s application to NATO over the last 15 years, not every country has wanted them to join.
“That would trigger a European war, because we are a NATO country.”
In the Black Sea, there were claims that 13 border guards had been killed in a Russian missile strike on strategic Snake Island, near the mouth of the Danube, after refusing to surrender to Putin’s forces.
An audio message was released of the warning: “I am a Russian combat ship. Lay down the arms, and give up - or else you will be bombed.
“I repeat: I am a Russian combat ship, give up your arms and surrender, or else you’ll be bombed.”
The defiant reply from the Ukrainian border guards said: “F*** off Russian combat ship.”
Seconds later the border guard base on the island was hit by a blitzkrieg,
according to Ukrainian interior ministry advisor Anton Gerashenko.
He said: “I heard two explosions. It was either cruise or ballistic missiles….
“Then the missile and artillery strike began. 13 Ukrainian border guards died.
“Perhaps the brave hero who told them to F off just like Zaporozhian Cossacks said to enemies of Ukraine in the past also died.
“Eternal glory to the Heroes! Shame and death to the Russian occupiers!”
