Ukrainian soldiers prepare defences in trenches on Kyiv frontline as Russian column draws closer

Ukrainian soldiers prepare defences in trenches on Kyiv frontline as Russian column draws closer

When Russia invaded Ukraine a month ago, reservist Andriy rushed to join Ukraine's army and defend his hometown of Bucha on the frontline northwest of Kyiv.

Situated 25 kilometres from Ukraine's capital, Bucha has come under heavy bombardment since the start of the war.

There Andriy and his unit prepared their defences on Thursday by digging trenches and keeping watch, anti tank weapons and machine guns at the ready.

Ukraine's armed forces chief of staff said Russia was still trying to resume offensives to capture the cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mariupol and Kharkiv.

Andriy was sent to the frontline a day after joining up, leaving his wife and children hiding in the basement of their house in an area that was soon after taken over by Russian forces.

They since managed to escape through a humanitarian corridor, Andriy told Reuters.

The Russian invasion unleashed on February 24 has killed thousands of people, sent 3.6 million abroad, smashed cities and driven more than half of Ukraine's children from their homes, according to the United Nations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his "special operation" is aimed at destroying Ukraine's military capabilities and capturing what Russia regards as dangerous nationalists there.