Russia’s war on Ukraine: Where Putin's forces have hit so far

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine early Thursday, claiming his forces would be undertaking a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” its Western neighbor.

In the hours that followed, cities and villages across Ukraine were bombarded with shelling, explosions, air attacks and ground invasions. At least 57 people have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, Health Minister Oleh Lyashko announced Thursday. Approximately 169 people are also wounded.

A senior defense official informed the Washington Post on Thursday that Moscow launched more than 100 missiles at Ukraine from Belarus, the Black Sea and the motherland overnight. Nearly 10 airports were among the targets.

“We would describe what we are seeing as an initial phase, and it is likely we will see this unfold in multiple phases. How many? How long? We don’t know. But what we are seeing is initial phases of a large-scale invasion,” the official said, adding that it appears Russia is moving to take control of Kyiv and other cities.

As the West and Ukrainian forces await Russia’s next move, here is where Putin’s forces have hit so far:

Chernobyl

Russian forces seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on Thursday after brief but fierce fighting with Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian officials do not know the current condition of the power plant or if it remains safe, Myhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, told the Associated Press.

Lutsk

Explosions were reported overnight, with at least one injury, according to Ukraine’s State Emergencies Service (SES). A TV tower in the region was blown up and the local airfield was shelled.

Odessa

Explosions were reported Thursday morning that set warehouses on fire. At least six reportedly were killed and seven others wounded following bombing in the city of Podolsk. Nearly 20 were reported missing.

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Kyiv

Shelling and explosions were reported overnight and Thursday morning in several of the capital’s districts: Bila Tserkva, Vyshorod, Brovary, Fastiv, Obukhiv, Boryspil. Numerous fires have been reported as a result of the shelling. Multiple injuries have been reported and at least 10 people are believed to have been killed, according to BBC News. A Ukrainian military plane crashed in the Obukhiv district on Thursday with 14 people on board. The death toll is being determined. Residents have been urged to take shelter.

Roughly 10 miles northwest of the capital, Russian troops took control of the Antonov Airport, also known as the Hostomel Airport. Video footage showed several Russian helicopters as part of an air assault on the airport.

Chuguiv

Explosions from a missile strike were reported in the region Thursday, resulting in multiple casualties. Images taken in the aftermath of the attack showed several wounded residents, smoke rising out of buildings and people grieving those who died.

Kramatorsk

Due to shelling, the Bila Gora pumping station “de-energized,” cutting off partial water supply to 4,500 people in the region. The local airport was also hit by shelling.

Cherkasy

Several fires have been reported in the region at multiple warehouses and military depots.

Zhytomyr

A military warehouse in S. Ivnytsia was hit with shelling while a series of explosions went off at the military airfield in Ozerne on Thursday morning.

Dnipro

Russian missiles were reported in the area, as fires were reported at military depots in Kransopillya and Marhanets.

Luhansk

Shelling and explosions have been reported in the region since late last week, recently resulting in multiple fires in residential buildings. So far, the villages of Horodyshche and Milove have been captured.

Chernikiv

Three SES officers were injured following the shelling of the command and control post in Nizhyn.

Donetsk

Shelling has been reported on the outskirts of villages in the region including Zelenopillya, Kurdyumivka and Myronivskyi. Zelenopillya saw damage to power lines while the other two villages and the Bakhmut district were de-energized. A hospital in Veuhledar was the target of a Russian shell, killing at least four people and injuring 10 others – including six doctors.

Mariupol

Seven homes caught fire as a result of shelling, as Russian forces moved into the city with tanks and from the Black Sea

Ivano-Frankivsk

As explosions have been reported in the region, SES claimed a projectile hit a military unit.

Lviv

Missile strikes were reported in the region as residents sought shelter underground, according to CNN.

Kherson

Explosions were reported in the region, and video verified by the New York Times showed smoke rising from the Kherson International Airport. Russian media reported 13 casualties, including two children and nine servicemen.