Russian troops seen ‘massing’ near Kyiv sparking fears of fresh offensive as Ukrainians fortify ‘every street & home’

RUSSIA is feared to be planning another major assault on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, as troops have been pictured moving towards the city. Satellite images show Russian tanks and other vehicles heading towards Kyiv, while other aerial footage appears to reveal military equipment being stationed outside the city. ReutersRussian troops have been pictured heading towards Kyiv[/caption] GettyCivilians have dug trenches in Kyiv as the Russians approach[/caption] ReutersMilitary equipment is pictured being moved into position just miles from Kyiv[/caption] The images from Maxar, which has been monitoring the invasion since the start, were taken close to Antonov Airport, just miles from the capital. A large military convoy can be seen travelling along the main road. Images appear to show the infamous 40-mile “death convoy” of Russian vehicles stalled near Kyiv for almost two weeks has now “dispersed”, as rocket artillery is moved into firing positions for an assault on the city. The huge column was first seen on February 28 after grinding to a halt on the main highway leading south to Kyiv, after being hit by breakdowns, fuel shortages, and supply problems. Read more on Ukraine But fresh satellite images taken Thursday after a break in cloud cover show commanders on the move again, breaking up the column which had become vulnerable to Ukraine counterattacks. Rocket artillery and supply trucks were pictured taking up firing positions in fields outside Berestyanka, a small town 30 miles north of Kyiv, their tyre tracks visible in the countryside. It comes as Kyiv’s mayor, former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said that his city “has been turned into a fortress” ahead of another feared Russian onslaught. Around 2 million people, more than half of the city’s residents, are now believed to have evacuated. Most read in News MASS DESTRUCTION Live updates as Zelensky REJECTS Putin's forces claims on chemical weapons NO SHAME Russia accuses pregnant mum of FAKING bombing injuries in pic that shocked world BLADE SHOCK Moment driver threatens warden with bread knife for clamping his Mercedes SITTING DUCKS Column of Putin's tanks destroyed & 'ANOTHER top commander killed in ambush' IT'S YACHT MINE Cops swarm mystery £532million superyacht rumoured to be Putin's HAVEN'T GOT A VIEW Our stunning view has been BLOCKED after developers built a 2m fence Russian forces attacked from the west and east late on Wednesday and early on Thursday, as the encirclement of Kyiv appears to be underway. But a defiant Mayor Klitschko warned the Russians would not find their assault on the capital straightforward. “Every street, every house is being fortified, the territorial defence is joining,” he said in a televised interview on Thursday. “Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.” Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates Russian troops launched two major attacks over the past two days – one on the devastated western city of Irpin, and the other on the eastern district of Brovary. They have continued to face fierce resistance from Ukraine’s forces. Video shows the moment Russian tanks and armoured vehicles were bombarded in a fierce Ukrainian ambush and forced to turn back temporarily. Russian tank commander Colonel Andrei Zakharov was reportedly killed in the attack at Brovary, the latest of Putin’s top military brass to die in the invasion of Ukraine. Colonel Zakharov had been awarded the Order of Courage by Vladimir Putin in 2016. Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior ministry, said his country’s forces had successfully repelled a Russian attempt to cross the Irpin River in the town of Moshchun. Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund