As it happened: Kyiv warned of toxic fumes after strike on oil depot

1. Russian missiles hit an oil depot in Vasylkiv, its mayor said, prompting fears of toxic fumes
2. Air raid sirens in Kyiv sound shortly before midnight local time (2200g) warning of incoming missiles
3. A curfew is in place from Saturday evening until Monday morning
4. Kyiv's mayor says anyone seen in the streets will be considered a Russian "saboteur"
5. The US, EU, UK and other allies say they have agreed to remove some Russian banks from the Swift payments system
6. They also pledge to limit the sale of "golden passports" - citizenship - to wealthy Russians
7. Huge numbers of people are fleeing Ukraine, with a 27-hour-long queue of women and children on the Moldovan border
8. Germany also announces it is sending anti-tank missiles and other weapons to Ukraine - marking a major change in policy

BreakingWallace: Russia has lost 450 personnel

Speaking now on Radio 4, the UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says that the verified assessment of the UK intelligence services is that Russia has failed on day one to take any of its objectives.

"It failed because Ukrainians fought.

"It failed because of Putin's ego thinking they'd think he was a liberator, was dashed.

"It failed because of the lethal aid that allowed [Ukrainians] to take on Russian tanks and aircraft."

Wallace continued: "They've lost about 450 personnel, the Russian armed forces. They've failed with their elite Spetsnaz to take the airport just north of Kyiv."

BreakingUkraine army continuing to battle Russian forces outside Kyiv

The Ukrainian army says armed forces are engaged in fighting in the outskirts of the capital Kyiv in Dymer and Ivankiv, where a large number of Russian armoured vehicles have advanced.

A post on the official Facebook page of the Ukrainian armed forces said forces "continued to resist" Russian forces northwest of the capital.

The post added that troops had destroyed a bridge on the border of the Teteriv River to impede the further advancement of Russian forces.

It added that troops were still holding on to an airfield on the outskirts of the city - which could become a springboard for the Russian army into Kyiv if Russian troops were to seize it.

Watch: Huge explosion over Kyiv early Friday morning

Here's footage of one explosion over the Ukrainian capital this morning. Ukraine has said that the strikes began at 04:00 local time.

The BBC has confirmed that this blast occurred in the Poznyaky neighbourhood.

WATCH: Huge explosion seen in sky over Ukraine's capital Kyiv

Reports of gunfire in Kyiv

With Russian troops advancing on Kyiv, there are now multiple reports of gunfire being heard in the Ukrainian capital. This is what the BBC's Paul Adams heard:

The executive director of investigative journalism website Bellingcat, Christo Grozev, has also posted this:

Meanwhile Ukrainian journalist Nika Melkozerova has heard explosions:

Russia's plans to capture capital - report

Today will be the most difficult day, warns Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko, who says Russia is trying to break through to Kyiv with tank columns descending on the capital from the north-east and north-west.

And a source in Ukrainian counter-intelligence has told Ukrainska Pravda website details of Russia's plan to take control of the city to take control of the country. It's all unconfirmed but this is what they report Russia wants to do:

• Seize a major Kyiv airport and air traffic control to allow 10,000 troops to land, distracting the military with attacks on the border
• Sabotage Kyiv's electricity and communications to cause panic
• Provoke an exodus of refugees to prevent Ukrainian armed forces moving around
• Seize government buildings including cabinet and parliament and capture the state leadership, forcing them to sign an agreement on Russian terms
• Bring in pro-Russian leaders and split Ukraine into two parts, like East and West Germany

Again, this hasn't been corroborated.

Fleeing Kyiv: 'All my life is in this backpack'

Ukrainian journalist Mike Sapiton is among the thousands that are fleeing Kyiv at the moment, and he has been live tweeting his poignant escape from the capital.

His Friday began with him waking up in the early hours to the sound of what he said were ballistic missile explosions.

Mr Sapiton, who is the deputy editor-in-chief of Forbes Ukraine, then headed to a metro station. Many have gone underground to seek shelter from the explosions.

Hours later, Mr Sapiton was on his way out of what he called "my dear city, my Kyiv".

UK PM full of admiration for Ukraine's forces

We've more detail on the call between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The prime minister said the UK was willing Ukraine on and was "full of admiration" for the bravery of its forces.

The pair discussed sanctions on Russia and practical support for the Ukrainian government.

President Zelensky told the prime minister there had been heavy losses on the Ukrainian side - but heavy losses had been inflicted on Russia too.

President Zelensky also urged western leaders to encourage anti-war protests in Russia.

Mr Johnson promised to do "all he can". The PM told the Ukrainian leader: "Know this Volodymyr, we believe Putin will fail and this is now a key objective of the UK government".

BreakingUkraine president speaks to UK PM

Ukrainian President Zelensky has just tweeted saying he's held morning talks with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He called for stronger sanctions and more support, tweeting: "Ukraine needs the support of partners more than ever."

Ukrainians arrive in Poland after fleeing Russian assault

Adam Easton

Warsaw Correspondent

Getty Images

Many Ukrainians arriving in Poland are staying at the train station as hotels are fully booked

More than 1,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian assault have arrived by train in the Polish city of Przemysl, city officials said.

Poland has waived the requirement to quarantine or present a negative Covid-19 test for people arriving from Ukraine.

Many of them stayed overnight in the train station on camp beds as hotels are fully booked.

Poland has set up nine reception points for Ukrainians crossing the border where they can receive food, medical assistance, and information.

Meanwhile, the state news agency PAP is reporting that thousands of people are arriving on Friday at the Medyka border crossing in cars from across the country to collect people and relatives who are arriving from Ukraine.

Coffee is being given to the arrivals and the fire service is transporting some of them to a nearby reception centre.

Poland is home to a large Ukrainian community. Numbers vary but it is believed that between one and two million Ukrainians live in the country, although only half a million are registered with Polish social services.

Ukrainian MP: I'm staring at my AK-47 right now

We've heard an extraordinary interview just now on Radio 4's Today with Ukrainian MP Sviatoslav Yurash. When asked what his plan was if Ukraine's army fails to face off Russia's invasion, the MP responded that he was staring at his personal AK-47 rifle.

"This is a full-scale invasion intending to destroy the Ukrainian state and take it over," Yurash says, adding that all Ukrainians who want to help fight will be given the chance to do so.

"We are arming people who will be taking that fight to the Russians in every way. We are a nation of 40 million people and we are not going to just stand idly by as Russia does as it wants all across its borders. We will fight with everything we have and all the support the world can provide us."

WATCH: Air raid sirens sound across Kyiv on second day of invasion

WATCH: Air raid sirens sound across Kyiv on second day of invasion

Air-raid sirens wail across the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in footage filmed by BBC reporters. They sounded through the city all night and in the early hours of the morning, as Russian rockets hit civilian and military sites.

"Kyiv hasn't been a city waking up - because few have slept," says our correspondent Nick Beake.

We are not afraid of Russia, says Ukraine's leader

AFP

President Zelensky's address was delivered from Kyiv early Friday morning

A little earlier Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelesnky addressed the nation. Here's a recap of what he said:

• Zelensky said 137 Ukrainians have been killed in fighting so far, including civilians. Another 316 people have been wounded, he said
• Ukraine's president believes he is currently Russia's number one target. He says he has no intention of leaving Kyiv where he is in government quarters
• He also confirmed reports of multiple Russian missile strikes on Kyiv at 4am (local) this morning, saying the strikes targeted military and civilian areas
• He repeated his calls on the West to do more than just place economic sanctions on Russia

• In a warning directed at Moscow, Zelensky said Ukraine would not stop defending itself until Russia's attacks against it end.

Ukraine residents take shelter in underground metro stations

EPA

Ukraine residents took to underground metro stations to escape the first day of Russian military attacks on the country.

Photos showed hordes of residents and families - including elderly citizens and babies in strollers - spending the night in metro stations in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Many are swaddled in blankets and warm clothing, and surrounded by bags of personal possessions.

EPA

An overnight curfew was in place in Ukraine, and metro stations remained open to serve as bomb shelters.

Thousands of Ukrainians have left their homes to find safety in neighbouring countries - a figure the UN High Commissioner of Refugees estimates at more than 100,000.

Poland - which lies directly west of Ukraine - has also set up reception centres along its border in preparation for the influx of war refugees.

EPA

Fighting intensifies in Kyiv as Russian forces advance

BBC

Map of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities

If you're wondering where clashes are taking place between Ukrainian and Russian military forces, here is the latest:

• Fighting has seemingly intensified in the capital city of Kyiv as Russian forces advance, with reports of several explosions, gunfire, and missile strikes being heard in or around the city early on Friday

• A Ukrainian interior ministry official claimed that a Russian aircraft has been shot down over the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, although these reports are unconfirmed
• Fighting is also raging at an airfield on the outskirts of Kyiv, and it could become a springboard for the Russian army into Kyiv if its troops seize it
• Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister says Russian forces could enter the area just outside Kyiv later today
• Following clashes, Russian forces have seized control of the former Chernobyl nuclear complex in northernmost Ukraine, close to the Belarusian border and just 93 kilometres from Kyiv. The US says Ukrainian soldiers are being held hostage there
• Since the start of the invasion, Ukraine has been trying to fend off the Russian invasion from three separate fronts - the north, south and east of the country, where fighting has been among the fiercest

A sleepless night in Ukraine's capital

Nick Beake

BBC News, Kyiv

BBC

A tower block damaged overnight in Kyiv's Pozniake area

Overnight Russian aerial attacks hit the densely populated Pozniake area of Kyiv.

One of the many tower blocks in the neighbourhood caught alight and windows were blown out. Working in the smoke and debris, firefighters managed to put out the flames as explosions continued to rock the city.

At least eight people have been injured in Pozniake. One resident vowed, “Putin, we want to see you slaughtered like an animal.”

Elsewhere the night sky was illuminated by other blasts. Sirens were still sounding as the overnight curfew lifted at 7:00 am local time. Kyiv hasn't been a city waking up - because few have slept.

And the explosions keep coming.

The powerful images Ukrainians have been sharing overnight make a mockery of the Kremlin’s promise that civilians have nothing to fear by what it claims is a focussed operation solely targeting the Ukraine military.

A round up of all the latest developments

It's day two of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - the first major ground war in Europe in decades. If you're just joining us, here are the latest developments:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just delivered a national address where he confirmed multiple Russian strikes hit the capital Kyiv and other parts of the country early on Friday morning
• We’ve seen footage and images of explosions and damaged buildings in Kyiv, which is home to 2.8 million people. Residents woke to air-raid sirens and have been told to take shelter in bunkers
• Russia is intensifying its attack on the Ukrainian capital, after advances on Ukrainian cities in the east, north, and south. We’ve seen battles all over the country, with the fighting heaviest in the eastern breakaway regions and also in Kharkiv – the second-largest city
• Ukraine says at least 137 civilians and soldiers were killed yesterday - the first day of the invasion
• Among them were 13 Ukrainian guards who died defending a tiny territory – Snake Island - in the Black Sea. Audio of their final, defiant words to a Russian warship has gone viral
• One battle occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear site in the north, which fell to Russian forces. The US says Ukrainian soldiers are being held hostage there
• The EU, Australia, and Japan unveiled fresh sanctions on Friday targeting Russian banks, companies, and oligarchs. Western nations have also pledged aid and military supplies to Ukrainian forces
• French President Emmanuel Macron said he phoned Vladimir Putin asking him to end the attack, and the call was "frank, direct, quick"
• But Mr Zelensky questioned the power of Western sanctions in his speech this morning saying, “like yesterday, the world’s most powerful forces are watching from afar"

Ukrainian guards who refused to surrender Snake Island posthumously praised

Ukrayinska Pravda

One story of Ukrainian soldiers stirring emotions right now is the story of the Snake Island battle - where 13 Ukrainian guards on a tiny island in the Black Sea refused to surrender to a Russian warship. They held their ground and were killed in a bombardment.

Audio of the guards’ defiant final words has gone viral on Twitter, TikTok and other social media.

The Russian ship tells the Ukrainians: “I suggest you surrender your weapons and capitulate, otherwise I will open fire, do you copy?”

The Ukrainian guards can then be heard saying “this is it”, before they respond with: "Russian warship, go f--- yourself."

Ukrainian President Zelensky praised the guards' bravery, saying they would all be posthumously awarded war hero honours.

“On our island Zmiiny [Snake Island], defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically. But did not give up,” he said.

"All of them will be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously. Eternal memory to those who gave their lives for Ukraine."

Video shows Kyiv apartment block struck by Russian rocket

We reported earlier that at least one set of apartments in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was hit by a Russian strike in the early hours of Friday morning.

Here's verified video of one of the damaged buildings.

The Kyiv mayor earlier said that at least three people were injured as a result of rocket strikes.

Later, President Zelensky also confirmed that Russia had conducted multiple missile strikes on both military and civilian sites.

Ukraine conflict: Kyiv building hit by Russian rocket

We're defending our state alone: Ukraine president

Volodymyr Zelensky has made yet another plea to Western allies to help Ukraine and stop Russia's brutal assault.

"This morning we are defending our state alone. Like yesterday, the world's most powerful forces are watching from afar," Zelensky said in his address to the nation this morning.

"Was Russia convinced by yesterday's sanctions? We hear in our sky and see on our earth that this was not enough."

BreakingZelensky confirms pre-dawn missile strikes

UKRAINE PRESIDENT/FACEBOOK

Ukrainian President Zelensky delivering a national address on Friday morning

The Ukrainian leader has confirmed the multiple missile strikes reported pre-dawn today.

Zelensky said the strikes began at 4am on Friday local time.

He added that Russia's strikes had targeted both military and civilian sites. Russia has previously said it's not aiming strikes at civilians.

But as we reported earlier, the capital Kyiv has seen blasts this morning, including what appears to be a strike that hit a residential building.