Explosions and gunfire erupted in a northern district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday, an AFP reporter on the ground heard, as invading Russian forces closed in.
Pedestrians ran for safety and small arms fire was heard in the Obolon area, and larger blasts could be heard as far away as the city centre.
BREAKING
Clashes in northern district of Kyiv city
![](https://archive.kyivpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/000_323W77Q-800x520.jpg)
People carry their luggage through the empty Independence Square in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 25, 2022. - Ukraine's army said on February 25 it was fighting invading Russian forces north of the capital Kyiv, as Moscow pressed on with its advance on the pro-Western country for a second day. Russian forces reached the outskirts of Kyiv on Friday, with the government saying the city was hit by "horrific rocket strikes" in the early hours. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)