Russia fired on Kiev on Friday

 

An explosion was heard in the Ukrainian capital early Friday. This is the second day that Russia has launched a full-scale offensive in neighboring Ukraine.

The New York Times reports that they have "verified" the video of the "burning debris" explosion in Kiev. The Times also reported that the video "apparently shows that missiles were being fired into the sky from at least two landfalls near Kiev before the explosion."

The siren was also heard in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The city is not too far from the Polish border. Many foreign embassies have been temporarily relocated to the city.

U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin said Thursday evening that Russian troops had entered from Belarus and reached within 32 kilometers of Kiev.

Russian troops took control of the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine on Thursday. "This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Anti-war protesters rallied across Russia, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, on Thursday. Authorities say at least 1,800 people have been arrested.

Just hours after the attack began, US President Joe Biden on Thursday imposed another round of sanctions on Russia.

The new sanctions target Russian banks, the ruling class and high-tech industries. The ban also includes export controls. Biden said the measures would "narrow the way for Russia's economy to obtain funding and technology for strategic sectors and reduce their industrial capacity for many years to come."

NATO allies, including Britain and the European Union, also imposed further sanctions on Thursday.

Neto allies are scheduled to meet on Friday. The alliance has activated defense plans for its member countries in the region.