UPDATE: 9:34 p.m.

Russia has unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities.

It looks to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance.

The US and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow.

Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.

As many as 150,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighbouring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says the numbers and the situation are changing by the minute.

Dragging suitcases and carrying children, tens of thousands of Ukrainians amassed the borders Saturday.

Some walked through the night while others fled by train, car or bus, forming kilometres-long lines at border crossings.

Crowds hit the streets in many Canadian cities to show solidarity with people in the besieged capital of Ukraine.

Demonstrators, many dressed in blue and yellow or bearing the flag of Ukraine, gathered in the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Mariya Miloshevych’s says her entire family, including parents, grandmothers, brother and sister are all in Ukraine, most of them just outside Kyiv.

She says they refused to leave instead taking cover in bomb shelters during the ongoing bombardment by the Russian military

UPDATE: 1:05 p.m.

Russian troops closed in on Kyiv and skirmishes flared on its outskirts Saturday as Ukraine’s leader vowed to continue battling an invasion that had the country’s people seeking safety underground.

The assault on the Ukrainian capital was clouded by a curfew put in place through Monday morning. Even as journalists were forced inside, the relative quiet of the night in Kyiv was sporadically broken by gunfire.

“We will fight for as long as needed to liberate our country,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised, as he continued to press for additional international help.

Fighting on the city’s outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of Russian forces were 30 kilometres from the city’s centre as of Saturday afternoon.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighbourhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south.

Ukraine’s health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others had been wounded during Europe’s largest land war since World War II. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties.

In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the southwestern outskirts near one of the city’s two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to talks with Russia in a video message Saturday, saying he welcomed an offer from the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan to organize diplomatic efforts, which so far have faltered. That came a day after Zelenskyy offered to negotiate a key Russian demand: abandoning ambitions of joining NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine after he spent weeks denying that’s what he intended, all the while building up a force of almost 200,000 troops along the countries’ borders. He claims the West has failed to take seriously Russia’s security concerns about NATO, the Western military alliance that Ukraine aspires to join. But he has also expressed scorn about Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state.

Putin has has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscow’s Cold War-era influence.

It was unclear in the fog of war how much territory Russian forces have seized. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said “the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.”

A senior U.S. defence official said Saturday that more than half of the Russian combat power that was massed along Ukraine’s borders had entered Ukraine, and that Russia has had to commit more fuel supply and other support units inside Ukraine than originally anticipated. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, did not provide further details.

Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv, and Ukraine said a Russian military convoy was destroyed near the city early Saturday. Footage showed soldiers inspecting burned-out vehicles after Ukraine’s 101st brigade reported destroying a column of two light vehicles, two trucks and a tank. The claim could not be verified.

Highways into Kyiv from the east were dotted with checkpoints manned by uniformed Ukrainian troops and young men in civilian clothes carrying automatic rifles. Low-flying planes patrolled the skies, though it was unclear if they were Russian or Ukrainian.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraine’s coastline, which stretches from near the Black Sea port of Odesa in the west to beyond the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east.

If the Russian troops succeed, Ukraine would be cut off from access to all of its sea ports, which are vital for its economy. In Mariupol, Ukrainian soldiers guarded bridges and blocked people from the shoreline amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea.

Fighting also raged in two territories in eastern Ukraine that are controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Authorities in the city of Donetsk said hot water supplies to the city of about 900,000 were suspended because of damage to the system by Ukrainian shelling.

The U.S. government urged Zelenskyy early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. Zelenskyy issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street early Saturday, saying he remained in the city.

“We aren’t going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country,” the Ukrainian president said. “Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it’s our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.”

The conflict has driven thousands of Ukrainians from their homes in search of safety. U.N. officials said more than 150,000 Ukrainians had left the country for Poland, Moldova and other neighbouring nations and estimated 4 million could flee if the fighting escalates.

Refugees arriving in the Hungarian border town of Zahony said men between the ages of 18 and 60 were not being allowed to leave Ukraine.

“My son was not allowed to come. My heart is so sore, I’m shaking,” said Vilma Sugar, 68.

Hungary and Poland both opened their borders to Ukrainians. At Poland’s Medyka crossing, some said they had walked for 35 kilometres to reach the border.

“They didn’t have food, no tea, they were standing in the middle of a field, on the road, kids were freezing,” said Iryna Wiklenko as she waited on the Polish side for her grandchildren and her daughter-in-law to make it across.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets. Many spent Friday night in basements, underground parking garages and subway stations, and prepared to do the same on Saturday.

Shelves wore thin at some Kyiv grocery stores and pharmacies, and some worried how long stockpiles of food and medicine might last.

The U.S. military announced $350 million in assistance to Ukraine on Saturday, including anti-tank weapons, body armour and small arms. Germany likewise said it would send missiles and anti-tank weapons to the country.

The U.S. and its allies have beefed up troops on NATO’s eastern flank but so far have ruled out deploying troops to fight Russia.

Instead, the U.S., the European Union and other countries have slapped wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of Russian businesses and individuals including Putin and his foreign minister.

Zelenskyy appealed for tougher sanctions.

Among the tough possibilities that remain to stanch the Kremlin’s access to hundreds of billions in cash: Sanctioning the Russian Central Bank and cutting Russia from the SWIFT international payment system.

A senior Russian official on Saturday shrugged off sanctions as a reflection of Western “political impotence.”

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, warned that Moscow could react to the sanctions by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties with nations in the West.

“There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations,” Medvedev said. “We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.”

UPDATE: 11:35 a.m.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he’s open for talks with Russia.

Zelenskyy said in a video message Saturday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev offered to help organize such talks. He added that “we can only welcome that.”

Zelenskyy also said he and Erdogan “agree that a ban on the passage of Russian warships into the Black Sea is very important today,” adding that “it has been done.” Turkey, however, hasn’t announced any ban for Russian warships to move through Turkish Straits following Erdogan’s talk with Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy also said the Ukrainian diplomats have succeeded in persuading the country’s European allies to cut Russia off SWIFT international payment system, saying it would cost Russia billions of dollars in what he said is a “concrete price for its treacherous invasion of Ukraine.”

The U.S. and the European Union officials said kicking Russia out of SWIFT is possible as part of a next round of sanctions, but no such move has been announced yet.

Zelenskyy said that “Ukrainians’ readiness to protect our state, our solidarity and courage have thwarted the scenario of occupation of our country.”

“The world has seen that Ukrainians are strong, Ukrainians are brave, Ukrainians stand on their land and will not surrender it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the German government said Saturday it will send weapons and other supplies directly to Ukraine and supports some restrictions of the SWIFT global banking system for Russia.

Germany’s chancellery announced it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine “as quickly as possible.”

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement. “In this situation, it is our duty to help Ukraine, to the best of our ability, to defend itself against Vladimir Putin’s invading army.”

In addition, the German economy and climate ministry said Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Germany had long stuck to a policy of not exporting deadly weapons to conflict zones, including Ukraine. As recently as Friday, government officials said they would abide by that policy.

The country has faced criticism from Ukrainian officials and other allies that it has not acted decisively enough to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion. Previously, Germany contributed 5,000 helmets to Ukraine’s defence.

In addition, Germany will send 14 armoured vehicles and up to 10,000 tons of fuel to Ukraine.

ORIGINAL: 8:45 a.m.

Russia continues to advance on several Ukrainian cities, but their progress has slowed, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

Russian’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, and attacks on several cities have continued through the week.

Sunday, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed “likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.”

Latest intelligence update on Ukraine pic.twitter.com/k3XadYzUoL

— Ministry of Defence ?? (@DefenceHQ) February 26, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv, and continues to urge his people to fight against the invading Russian forces.

Clashes occurred in Kyiv Friday night, and the capture of the capital city is believed to be Russian’s primary target. Zelenskyy has said “we cannot lose the capital” in a video Friday night.

Zelenskyy has refused American offers to help him evacuate the city, telling them “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Video online shows at least one residential building in Kyiv was struck by a missile Saturday morning and other non-military buildings have been destroyed across the country.

Videos and photos verified by The New York Times showed a residential building struck by a missile in southwestern Kyiv, about 1.5 miles from Sikorsky Memorial Airport, on Saturday morning. Videos showed rescue and evacuation efforts underway. https://t.co/1930FntITz pic.twitter.com/hHluNLHsIc

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 26, 2022

Former kindergarten in Chernihiv, a regional capital in northern Ukraine, after a Russian attack.

Photos: Pravda Gerashchenko/Telegram pic.twitter.com/Dn4z3Abou1

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 26, 2022

Russian army spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement Saturday that the Russian army has been given orders to broaden its offensive in Ukraine “from all directions.”

The United Nations says more than 150,000 Ukrainians have fled the country into neighbouring Poland, Hungry, Moldova and Romania.

– Nich Johansen

42/ Verified videos showed the aftermath of overnight fighting. Burned-out military vehicles were filmed near a Kyiv train station where fighting took place. Ukraine said paratroopers tried to land at Vasylkiv air base and were “destroyed.” By @heytherehaley & @tiefenthaeler pic.twitter.com/bZlpGU6Azg

— Evan Hill (@evanhill) February 26, 2022