Former President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, says he would be fighting on the streets of Ukraine if Russian soldiers try to seize it.

Mr Poroshenko, who served as president from 2014 to 2019, brandished a Kalashnikov during a live TV interview with CNN on Friday.

“Vladimir Putin is just simply mad, he is just simply crazy, he’s just simply evil, to come here to kill Ukrainians,” Mr Poroshenko said.

During the interview, Mr Poroshenko said Russia’s military actions would not prevent Ukraine from fulfilling its international political goals.

“I just want to declare Putin will not stop Ukraine in our movement to the European Union. That is exactly why we shall secure Ukraine today, to support Ukraine we will stand tomorrow.”

A member of Ukraine’s parliament, Kira Rudyk, took to Twitter brandishing an automatic weapon, making a stand against Russia’s invasion.

Ms Rudyk is the current leader of the political party Voice and since 2019 a member of the Ukrainian parliament

“I learn to use #Kalashnikov and prepare to bear arms. It sounds surreal as just a few days ago it would never come to my mind. Our #women will protect our soil the same way as our #men. Go #Ukraine! ,” Ms Rudik tweeted.

The invasion began on Thursday with a series of missile strikes on cities and military bases, and then quickly followed with a ground assault that saw Russian forces breach Ukraine’s territories from several areas in the east; from the southern region of Crimea, and from Belarus to the north.

Hours after the invasion began, Russian forces seized control of the now-decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant and its surrounding exclusion zone as well as the Antonov International airport near Kyiv.