Ukraine reportedly battling Russian troops on the outskirts of Kyiv | DW News

Russian forces would enter areas outside Kyiv on Friday, a top Ukrainian defense official has said. Ukraine’s president called on the international community to help his country. Explosions were heard in Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, which lies close to Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia, on Friday with the mayor telling residents to seek shelter from Russian missiles in subway stations, basements and bomb shelters, Reuters news agency reported. Air raid sirens were set off in cities across the country as reports emerged of rockets landing in residential areas. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Russia wanted to “liberate Ukrainians from oppression,“ adding that the invading force is not planning to occupy Ukraine, Reuters reported. The aim of the invasion, according to Lavrov, is to demilitarize Ukraine. He went on to say that Russia wants the Ukrainian people to be independent and determine their own destiny. Lavrov added that Moscow