Ukraine invasion: Zelenskyy rejects offer to leave Kyiv as casualties mount in battle for the city

This screen grab taken from a video made available on the Facebook account of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shows him speaking on February 25, 2022.
This screen grab taken from a video made available on the Facebook account of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shows him speaking on February 25, 2022. Copyright FACEBOOK / @VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY / AFP
By Alice TideyAlasdair Sandford, Michael Daventry with AP, AFP
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The Ukrainian president said civilians and military alike would protect the country's independence, while Kyiv's mayor said the city was entering a "defensive phase"

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The centre of Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands in the early hours of Saturday morning as intense fighting overnight appeared to stem the advance of Russia's military towards the city.

Explosions and gunfire were heard throughout the night around the Ukrainian city, with reports of hundreds of casulaties in the fighting.

The shelling sliced through at least one Kyiv apartment building and pummelled bridges and schools.

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused a U.S. offer to help him leave the city amid growing signs that Russia wanted to overthrow his government.

Meanwhile the U.S. joined other Western allies in imposing sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Follow all of Friday's developments in our live blog below:

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