This is the moment a huge fire engulfs an oil depot in Ukraine after being bombed by Russian invaders.

The State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine reported that the oil terminal in the city of Chernihiv in the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv Oblast was shelled by Russian forces, setting ablaze a huge tank with a capacity of 5,000 cubic metres of diesel.

SES said the site was hit at around 8.10am today (3rd March), sending black smoke high into the sky, visible throughout the under-siege city.

SES added: “Information on the victims and injured is still being clarified.”

Nine firefighting teams of 25 people were sent to the depot to extinguish the flames.

Regarding the defence of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Khariton Starsky, spokesperson for the National Guard’s Rapid Reaction Brigade, said: “According to preliminary information, our air defence shot down two Russian missiles over Kyiv during the night. Most likely, they tried to hit the area of the Ministry of Defence.”

The local authorities said the capital is relatively calm this morning, but fighting is taking place on the city’s outskirts.

As of 9am, fighting has been reported in the areas of Borodyanka, Kozarovychi and Ivankiv.

Starsky said Russian soldiers tried to capture Ivankiv, but were beaten back and images of burned enemy equipment were shared on social media, adding: “Ukrainian troops are pushing the enemy back towards Russia. It is no longer possible to say that it (Ivankiv) is occupied.”

In Kharkiv, the SES reported this morning: “The enemy is so afraid of ordinary Ukrainian peasants that they began to cynically destroy entire villages.

“As previously reported, 2.03.2022 at 22:57 an enemy air attack hit the village of Yakovlivka Merefyan in Kharkiv district. At least 30 private homes were destroyed by bombs.

“Seven people were injured, 10 people were rescued from the affected zone. Unfortunately, three of our compatriots were killed. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.”