Citizens flee

On the ground in Kyiv: Citizens flee as Russia bombs the city

Ukrainians fled burning buildings, helped neighbors and watched firefighters flight blazes caused by Russian missiles.

By POLITICO STAFF and EXCLUSIVE

Russia launched a multi-city attack on Ukraine early Thursday morning, sending missiles, tanks and troops into its neighbor to the west. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the “unjustified, deceitful and cynical invasion” as Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no sign of deescalation.

Putin called the invasion a “special military operation” for the “demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine.”

In Ukrainian cities, residents sought protection. Subway stations have become impromptu bomb shelters, and an air raid siren sounded in Kyiv early in the morning. A long line of cars were seen flowing out of the capital city.