Russian forces 'advance' 3 miles closer to Kyiv after on-ground movement for 24 hours: US

After being stalled for days, Russian forces have w inched as close as 3 miles to capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, in past 24 hours, a US Defence Ministry informed. As of w, Russian military is stationed about 15 km from city center. Two parallel Russian troops have simultaneously vanced from rast to push into capital, however, some invers emanating from rrn town of Sumy, reportedly turned around towards rast, ABC News reported.

New satellite ims obtained on Wednesday and Thursday also displayed huge Russian military lines massed near Kyiv stretching more than 40 miles (around 60 km) have w been "dispersed and redeployed," NEXTA reported. satellite ims rthwest of Kyiv also revealed that some of elements of convoy have "repositioned" into forests and tree lined areas near Lubyanka, Ukraine, according to Maxar Techlogies. Meanwhile, reports of vancement from rthwestern side of Kyiv near Hostomel Airport (also kwn as Antov) have emerged. In dition, heavy fighting continued in strategic port city of Mariupol, which was encircled by Russian troops but t conquered.

New satellite ims show massive Russian military column

[Satellite ims of rthwest of Kyiv show Russian military convoy "largely dispersed and redeployed". Im: MAXAR Techlogies.]

[Explosions occured during shelling in a residential district in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 10, 2022. Im: AP]

city of Chernihiv has remained isolated but Russian military has t moved ahe, as per reports. However, heavy shelling was reported from Chernihiv with Ukrainian forces fighting back. Meanwhile, Cherbyl nuclear power plant has remained in a blackout since Wednesda and Ukraine has warned that it could le to "nuclear discharge." While UN-backed global nuclear watchdog, IAEA, has downplayed risks, Kyiv National Emergency Service ncy flagged that if power is t restored to plant's cooling systems, it could create "rioactive clouds" to blow over Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe.

Russian forces continued to encircle 'key cities': UK

Owing to strong Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces are "committing an increased number of ir deployed forces to encircle key cities" in Ukraine. "This will reduce number of forces available to continue ir vance and will furr slow Russian progress," UK Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. Photographs that surfaced on Wednesday also showed armoured units maneuvering and surrounding town close to Antov airport. Separately, re have also been reports of internet outs in Russian-occupied city of Kherson, where US estimated that Russia has rained more than 775 missiles since invasion began on February 24.