A series of very large explosions rippled past cities and the surrounding countryside across Ukraine late Saturday evening going into early Sunday morning as the Russian military invasion forces carried out a massive air raid campaign with the intent of taking control of various key components across the country.
As reported by The Guardian:
Reports are filtering in that a gas pipeline is on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. In Vasylkiv, central Ukraine, an oil terminal has also reportedly been targeted, according to the National News Agency of Ukraine and later verified by CNN. Video of the fire at the oil storage area southwest of the air base’s main runway has circulated across social media this morning. Vasylkiv is about 30km, or 18 miles, south of Kyiv. It hosts a large military airfield and multiple fuel tanks.
Illia Ponomarenko, a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, says the population in the area has been advised to keep their windows shut against hazardous chemical fumes.
“The missile attack was carried out on the Vasilkovskaya oil depot of the KLO company,” stated an adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Anton Gerash. “Rescuers have already left for the scene of the tragedy. Most likely, there were no casualties. It will burn for a long time. The environmental damage will be colossal.”
“Russian missile strikes in Vasylkiv just south of Kyiv caused an enormous fire at an oil depot,” claimed one correspondent with BuzzFeed News, Christopher Miller. “Confirmed by city mayor and central government authorities who are advising people to close their windows because of toxic smoke.”
Russian missile strikes in Vasylkiv just south of Kyiv caused an enormous fire at an oil depot. Confirmed by city mayor and central government authorities who are advising people to close their windows because of toxic smoke. pic.twitter.com/dofjtSIenF
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 27, 2022
Кореспондент Радіо Свобода Мар'ян Кушнір @MaryanKushnir, який знаходиться неподалік місця вибуху, каже, що звук був дуже гучним pic.twitter.com/NykvpNQPdK
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) February 26, 2022
Момент вибуху на нафтобазі у Василькові pic.twitter.com/nNYheU9kIZ
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) February 26, 2022
The footage shows a gas pipeline on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack.
Video: State Special Communications Service of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/owuSoKqoFA
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 27, 2022
The Ukrainian government has also taken steps to import its people to take up arms, including the use of Molotov cocktails, to start fighting back against the massive Russian invasion forces.
“Anyone who wants to come over here and defend our country, please come, and we will give you arms,” claimed Zelensky to the media on Saturday. “Anybody defends will have been glorified.”
Zelensky also put forth the same offer earlier this past week, stating in a release, “We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.”
“We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands,” exclaimed Zalensky.
NATO confirmed the activation of a NATO Response Force on Friday, which officially readies multiple thousands of soldiers who are members of a multinational fighting force that consists of sea, air, land, and special operations forces.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary-General, also put forth warnings that Putin’s “objectives are not limited to Ukraine.”
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