Satellite images show Kyiv's international airport undamaged, with runways blocked by vehicles
From CNN's Paul P. Murphy
Satellite images showing blocked runways at Kyiv's Boryspil Airport on February 25. (Planet Labs PBC)
New satellite images show Boryspil Airport, Kyiv's international airport, appearing unscathed — but its runways have been blocked by vehicles.
The images, released by Planet Labs PBC, verify rumors of actions taken across Ukraine before the Russian invasion began. At the airport, runways and taxiways are blocked, allegedly in an effort to prevent Russian aircraft from landing and utilizing the airport.
Russia's broad offensive, beginning early Thursday, targeted military infrastructure across Ukraine as well as several airports and other key installations using missile attacks and long-range artillery. Kyiv's international airport was one of the chief targets.
11:02 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
See what parts of Ukraine Russian forces have occupied so far
From CNN's Renée Rigdon
Russian forces have taken control of portions of northern Ukraine outside the capital of Kyiv, including the Chernobyl exclusion zone, according to analysis from the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, DC.
They've also moved into the city of Kherson, north of the Crimean peninsula.
10:58 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Gunfire heard in Kyiv
From CNN's Tim Lister in Kyiv
Several bursts of gunfire were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, close to the city center around 5:45 a.m. local time Saturday (10:45 p.m. ET Friday).
It appeared to come from the southeast.
10:55 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Ukrainian TV broadcasts instructions for how to make Molotov cocktails
As Ukrainian leaders urge residents to stand their ground and resist Russia's invasion, one television channel broadcast instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails on Friday.
The TV segment showed a person creating the makeshift explosive, pouring colored liquid into a glass bottle, with a diagram on the side showing how to stopper the bottle with a cloth wick.
Earlier Friday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry tweeted that citizens should "make Molotov cocktails and take down the occupier," as Russian forces drew closer to the capital Kyiv.
10:54 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Mayor of town south of Kyiv speaks of heavy fighting in streets
From CNN's Tim Lister in Kyiv
The mayor of the town of Vasilkiv, about 35 kilometers (21.75 miles) south of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, said fierce fighting is now taking place in the middle of the town.
"It is completely occupied with fighting," said Mayor Natalia Balasynovich, speaking on the Ukrainian parliament channel early Saturday.
She added that there were losses on the Ukrainian side — "many wounded, unfortunately, they are in the 200s."
CNN has been unable to independently verify reports.
10:36 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
After explosions throughout the night, Kyiv sees a quiet lull
After a number of blasts Friday night and early Saturday in and around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the city has had a lull for the last 45 minutes. As of 5 a.m. local time, the city has been quiet with no explosions heard or seen by CNN reporters on the ground.
Earlier Saturday between 2 to 4 a.m., CNN teams reported hearing loud explosions to the west and south of the city, with the sky lit up with a series of flashes. Shortly after, videos from eyewitnesses showed explosions to the city's northwest.
10:27 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
US embassy in Ukraine warns Americans in the country to locate their nearest shelter
The United States embassy for Ukraine warned US citizens in a tweet on Saturday that “conditions may deteriorate without warning,” and advised Americans in the country to locate their nearest shelter.
“The security situation throughout Ukraine remains highly volatile, and conditions may deteriorate without warning. US citizens should remain vigilant and know the location of your closest shelter or protected space," said the tweet.
No evacuation assistance: On Friday, the White House said the US State Department had been in touch with Americans still in Ukraine — but the administration is standing by President Biden’s comments that he would not send troops in to help evacuate them.
10:02 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Ukrainian MP: When the Russians come, "that's when you get a gun and you learn how to shoot it"
Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine's parliament, had been going about daily life just a few days ago, holding meetings and discussing legislation even as the threat of a Russian invasion loomed.
"And then one day, you just know they're coming," said Rudik, speaking to CNN from the capital city Kyiv. "And then you have to do something. And that's when you get a gun and then you learn how to shoot it."
Rudik posted a photo of herself holding a gun on Twitter late Friday, captioned: "Our women will protect our soil the same way as our men." The post has since circulated widely online, with more than 91,000 likes on Twitter.
"It was super unusual and super crazy for myself to understand and realize that I'm holding a gun and I'm ready to bear arms, and I'm ready to go and shoot other human beings," Rudik said early Saturday. "And the reason for that change was because Russian soldiers are coming to Kyiv and Russian soldiers are trying to take what is actually not theirs."
She and her family are now hiding in a bomb shelter as heavy fighting intensifies, with explosions heard and seen in the city in the early hours of Saturday.
But, she added, "We are actually fighting them very, very hard ... (Putin) underestimated the readiness of our army, and he underestimated that on every step of the way of his soldiers, they were given really hard resistance."
"People are arming themselves. People are fighting them for every inch of our soil," she said. "We are not leaving because this is our city. This is our country."
10:02 p.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Satellite imagery shows queues of traffic as people flee Ukraine
From CNN’s Katie Polglase
A satellite image of cars stuck in traffic waiting to leave Ukraine into Romania on February 25. (Maxar Technologies)
New satellite imagery taken Friday afternoon shows queues of traffic as people attempt to leave Ukraine and cross into Romania.
Maxar Technologies says that a 6.5 kilometer (4.3 mile) long tailback of cars and trucks is visible in the images, which were taken near the Siret border crossing on the south-west side of Ukraine.
CNN reported earlier that Poland is seeing a large uptick in Ukrainian people crossing into the country as people flee the Russian invasion, according to Stanisław Żaryn, spokesman for the minister of special services coordinator’s office.
