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Residents flee Ukraine capital Kyiv after Russia invasion

Footage circulated online shows Ukrainians and foreign nationals at ATMs, airports, and train stations trying to flee the country.

• February 24, 2022
Attacks in Kyiv
Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022 (Aris Messinis / AFP)

Thousands of residents in Ukraine are trying to flee the country’s capital after Russia invaded Kyvis on Thursday morning.

Footage circulated online shows that Ukrainians and foreign nationals, including Nigerians, are currently at the ATMs, airports, and train stations trying to flee the country.

In the early hours of Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a full-scale military operation against Ukraine.

He warned Ukraine military to lay down their weapons and other countries to desist from meddling in the crisis.

Although President Putin assured Ukrainians that his country was only targeting military installations and not civilians, however, many residents are desperately leaving the country for safety after the attack on major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Kramtorsk.

In a national address to Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country will defend itself against any military attack.

He asked the residents to stay at home unless they are involved in critical work.

Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden has condemned the “unprovoked and unjustified attack” against Ukraine by Russian troops.

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