Ukraine Government: "Russia's Tank Advance on Capital Kyiv Imminent"

Expected Entry into Kyiv Outskirts on the 25th... "It Will Be the Toughest Day"

On the 24th (local time), the Ukrainian government forces are preparing to counterattack against the Russian military and pro-Russian rebels' assault in eastern Luhansk, where they are confronting pro-Russian insurgents. The Ukrainian government reported that on the day the Russian military launched a full-scale invasion, 57 of its citizens were killed and 169 were injured.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hye-young] On the 25th (local time), Ukrainian government officials judged that Russian troops' entry into the outskirts of their capital Kyiv was imminent and issued response guidelines involving the use of missiles and other means.

According to Reuters and others, Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, anticipated a Russian tank advance in the afternoon and said, "This will be the toughest day of this war." He stated that Kyiv defense forces have prepared anti-tank missiles provided by overseas allies.

Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, also warned of Russian troops entering the outskirts of Kyiv in the afternoon and said that despite being outnumbered, Ukrainian forces are holding their positions on four fronts.

Russia, which began its invasion of Ukraine the previous day, is rapidly tightening the encirclement around Kyiv from the east, south, and north sides of Ukraine.

Just before Deputy Minister Maliar's remarks were delivered, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at 4 a.m. local time (11 a.m. Korean time) that Russian forces had resumed missile attacks targeting Ukraine.

President Zelensky claimed that these attacks targeted not only military objectives but also civilian facilities, asserting that Russia's claim of not targeting civilians is false.

He also stated that Russian forces have been blocked from advancing in almost all directions.

As Russian missile supplies began early that morning, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, Reuters reported citing Ukrainian state media. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reported to the U.S. Congress that Russian armored units entering Ukraine via Belarus advanced to a point about 32 km from Kyiv early that morning.