The fighting in and around Kyiv intensified Saturday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to stay in the capital and "protect our country."
The big picture: At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed since Russia launched its invasion, according to Ukraine's health ministry.
- Ukrainian troops are resisting Russia's efforts to advance into Kyiv on Saturday, and loud explosions and fighting could be heard across the capital city.
- More than 50,000 Ukrainians have fled in less than 48 hours and "many more are moving towards" Ukraine's borders, the United Nations refugee agency said Friday.
In photos:
A smoke column rises after an attack in Kyiv on Feb. 26. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
A Kyiv market on Feb. 26, which has been left with empty shelves as Russian forces' bombardment of Ukraine impacts on food supplies. Photo: Talha Yavuz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A residential building in Kyiv on Feb. 26 following a rocket attack. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Volunteers work to make molotov cocktails in the basement of a Kyiv bomb shelter on Feb. 26. Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images
A damaged building in Kyiv on Feb. 26 that was hit by a recent shelling by Russian forces. Photo: Aytac Unal/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Firefighters work by a residential building hit by a missile strike in the morning of Feb. 26 in Kyiv. Photo: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A residential building is damaged from a missile strike in Kyiv on Feb. 26. Photo: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A Ukrainian soldier in an armored vehicle in Kyiv on Feb. 26. Photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images
Smoke is seen rising from buildings on Feb. 26. in Kyiv. Photo: Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Kyiv residents wait for an air raid to end in a bomb shelter on Feb. 26. Photo: Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images
A boy plays on a swing in front of a damaged residential block hit by a missile strike on Feb. 25.
Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more images
