Kyiv — CBS Information senior overseas correspondent Charlie D'Agata and his crew have grown accustomed to the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens after weeks in Ukraine's capital. However on Tuesday, they have been rattled awake round 5 a.m. as the bottom shook. The Russian navy machine once more turned its weapons on Kyiv in a single day, raining artillery down on residential neighborhoods.
Pre-dawn explosions thundered in and across the metropolis, with one strike on an house constructing killing no less than 4 individuals, based on Mayor Vitali Klitschko. It was one of many heaviest bombardments because the invasion started. Klitschko declared a curfew from Tuesday night time till Thursday morning.
He is estimated that greater than half of Kyiv's 3 million inhabitants have already fled to safer areas or left the nation altogether. The United Nations mentioned Tuesday that 3 million individuals have left Ukraine in search of shelter in neigboring nations — Europe's greatest refugee disaster because the second World Warfare.
Others have taken up semi-permanent residence deep contained in the Kyiv's subway system, some even sleeping in trains.
Within the wooded outskirts of the town, Ukrainian troopers have dug in. Ukraine's Protection Ministry launched video displaying off their presence, with anti-tank weapons and mortars. The video was reassurance for fellow Ukrainians, and a transparent warning for Russians. D'Agata and his crew have seen for themselves, nevertheless, that the protection buildup in and round Kyiv just isn't merely for present.
Each single street is barricaded and manned by troops, reserves, or volunteers.
Amongst them, 32-year-old Volodymyr, an economist who only a few years in the past was residing and dealing in Washington D.C.
"We're prepared for them," he informed CBS Information. "You recognize, in Ukraine, we inform who involves us, will die right here."
He mentioned the blood of invaders could be good for Ukraine's soil.
At an area auto restore store, D'Agata mentioned it was like "MacGyver" meets "Mad Max" as he met Oleg, who was busy modifying weapons ripped off ruined Russian armored autos to be used by Ukrainian fighters.
Oleg mentioned the work made him completely satisfied, as each weapon that is available in for him to work on is yet another barrel pointing at Russian forces, slightly than at Ukraine's individuals.
In an in a single day handle, President Volodymyr Zelensky made an enchantment on to Russian troopers:
"On behalf of the Ukrainian individuals, I provide you with an opportunity, an opportunity to outlive" he mentioned. "For those who give up to our forces, we'll deal with you the best way individuals are presupposed to be handled — as individuals, decently."
Regardless of days spent flattening suburbs like Irpin and Bucha with missiles and artillery — shelling that resumed in a single day — Russia's floor forces have but to advance to the capital. American officers imagine they're inside about 10 miles, however analysts say the method has been slowed by logistical shortcomings and fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Many in Kyiv concern the capital is now simply awaiting the identical destiny as different Ukrainian cities, nearer to Russian territory, like Mariupol.
The important thing port city has suffered from the total fury of Russian firepower for days. There was a glimmer of hope Monday as metropolis officers confirmed among the first civilian evacuations below a cease-fire agreed with Russia. However solely round 160 autos have been mentioned to have left, and there are an estimated 400,000 individuals trapped in Mariupol, the place meals, water, heating and electrical energy provides have been lower days in the past.
Russian forces unleashed new artillery strikes in Kharkiv, in the meantime, within the northeast, of their ongoing effort to seize Ukraine's second largest metropolis.
The tactic is evident, and it's acquainted from Russia's brutal marketing campaign alongside dictator Bashar Assad in Syria: The place Russian forces encounter resistance and may't, or will not, shortly transfer in and seize a metropolis, they encompass it, and destroy it from afar.
Throughout the nation, Ukraine's tenacious forces refuse to surrender floor. However its cities are more and more below siege, and its civilians are paying a heavy value.