Russian forces are nearing Kyiv, firing missiles into the capital, U.S. and Ukrainian officials say

published 25 February 2022

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers Thursday evening that Russian mechanized forces arriving from Belarus were about 20 miles from Kyiv, while another Russian element deployed from Russia was further away but also headed to Ukraine's capital. U.S. officials said Russia plans to encircle Kyiv, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian "enemy sabotage groups" have already arrived in Kyiv, and "according to our information, the enemy has identified me as the No. 1 target."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ABC News Thursday night that he is also "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin is intent on toppling Ukraine's government.

Reporters on the ground in Kyiv also heard at least three large explosions in the city Friday morning, and Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko said Russians had hit the city with "cruise or ballistic missiles." According to CNN, Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin attributed one of the explosions to a Ukrainian "anti-missile system shooting a (Russian) missile out of the sky," though CNN could not verify that claim.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.