Defiant Ukrainians form human walls to block Russians - forcing invaders to kill or flee

2 March 2022, 11:20 | Updated: 2 March 2022, 16:17

Civilians form wall to stop Russian tanks in Starobilsk in Ukraine's Luhansk region

By Sophie Barnett

Defiant Ukrainians have been filmed forming human walls to block Russians from advancing.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Drone footage shows hundreds of people assembling on a road in Energodar, in the south-east of the country, which houses energy sites including one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world.

They parked fuel lorries to stop any attempt by invading forces to advance.

Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, Emine Dzheppar, tweeted the footage, saying: "The city in the Zaporozhye region has already prepared for the next "hot" meeting of the Russian occupiers. People blocked the entrance to the city. We are proud of the courage of the Ukrainian people!"

Locals in Starobilsk, in the Luhansk region, were seen bravely standing in front of descending Russian tanks in a desperate bid to block them, in videos shared on Twitter.

Some held yellow and blue Ukrainian flags as they blocked Russian soldiers, who fired into the air as they tried to advance.

It comes after advancing Russian forces fired warning shots to try to disperse a crowd of brave Ukrainian civilians in the city of Melitopol, who were refusing to let their tanks and armoured vehicles pass.

Locals in southeastern Ukraine could be heard shouting “invaders, killers!” at the occupying troops amid Moscow’s ongoing incursion into the country.

Read more: 'I'm not afraid of Putin': Defence Sec says Ukraine no-fly zone would lead to all-out war

Read more: Chechen assassins who plotted to kill President Zelenskyy 'eliminated', Ukraine says

The videos emerged as furious Ukrainian soldiers and citizens put up a fierce resistance against Vladimir Putin's army, picking up rifles and Molotov cocktails to defend their war-stricken country.

Russia's invasion entered its seventh day on Wednesday, with more blasts reported to have rocked Kyiv late on Tuesday evening.

The Kyiv Independent said that Russian bombs had hit Vyshneve - a city just outside of the capital - at around 11.30pm local time.

The blast came hours after two missile strikes were fired at Kyiv's TV Tower, killing five civilians.

Read more: Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv after city is blitzed by rocket attacks

Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said the attack was located near to a Holocaust memorial complex - calling it "evil and barbaric".

He wrote on Twitter: "Kyiv TV tower, which has just been hit by a Russian missile, is situated on the territory of Babyn Yar. On September 29-30, 1941, Nazis killed over 33 thousand Jews here. 80 years later, Russian Nazis strike this same land to exterminate Ukrainians. Evil and barbaric."

The blasts were heard in the areas of Borshchahivka and Dorohozhychi.

Smoke rises off Kyiv TV tower after attack by Russian forces

Thousands of people stuck in Kyiv have been attempting to flee the capital as Russia's siege escalates.

Train stations were packed out with desperate residents trying to make their escape on Tuesday after Moscow warned it would be targeting technology centres.

The Russian defence ministry told Kyiv residents that it was preparing to hit targets in the Ukrainian capital.

The statement read: "We urge Ukrainian citizens who are being used by nationalists to carry out provocations against Russia, as well as Kyiv residents residing near relay stations to leave their home."

Officials claimed the strikes are being carried out to "prevent information attacks against Russia".

The world has come out and showed its support for Ukraine since the invasion, with blue and yellow flags emerging in large protests in capitals, and the colours getting projected onto national landmarks.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Artist's impression of the new national biosecurity centre at Weybridge, Surrey

New centre to tackle 'risk of future pandemics' gets billion-pound investment

Screenings for cervical cancer save at least 2,000 lives each year in the UK

NHS to offer at-home cervical cancer screening test kits that 'could save 5,000 lives per year'

Zelensky visits 10 Downing Street for talks with Keir Starmer on Monday

Zelensky warns Putin could launch an attack on NATO 'within five years'

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt arriving at the F1 The Movie premiere in Leicester Square.

'Interview with the Vampire' co-stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise make 'surprise' public reunion after 24 years

The first Brits are arriving in the UK after being evacuated from Israel.

First Brits rescued from Israel touch down at Heathrow Airport as more to arrive in coming days

The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) said professionals are in distress

Stretched mental health services leaving psychiatrists ‘in emotional and ethical distress’

Jobs will be created at warehouses in locations including Hull and Northampton

Amazon’s new UK warehouses to hire thousands as Starmer hails ‘win’ for Britain

Iran has launched an attack on a US military base.

Trump claims Israel and Iran have agreed 'complete and total ceasefire' as Tehran warns there is 'no agreement' on peace

A Qatar Airways flight from Manchester was forced to divert earlier this evening

UK flight bound for Doha forced to turn back after Iran launches missiles at US air base in Qatar

Sir Keir Starmer will fly to the Hague today for crunch meetings against a backdrop of global volatility in the Middle East and Ukraine.

UK and NATO allies to include 'money spent on tackling small boats' to boost defence spending in bid to appease Trump

The

Thousands raised after family die in motorway crash - daughter, 8, is only survivor

Kate Shemirani, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and former nurse

Daughter of notorious conspiracy theorist died of cancer after 'falling for mother's theories', her brothers say

Emma Raducanu during a practice session during Eastbourne Open, where she is currently competing

Raducanu says Wimbledon 'did amazing job' after stalker tried to buy match tickets

Large fire engulfs the abandoned Hotspur Press mill building near Oxford Road in Central Manchester. Credit Milo Chandler/Alamy Live News

Major fire in Manchester city centre causes serious disruption

Notorious criminal John 'Goldfinger' Palmer was murdered at his home in Brentwood in Essex in 2015. His killer has never been found

Who killed John 'Goldfinger' Palmer? Police make fresh appeal 10 years after his death

An RAF flight has left Israel carrying 63 UK nationals and their dependents, as the UK government begins evacuating British citizens from the country amid ongoing attacks between Iran and Israel.

First RAF flight evacuates 63 Britons from Israel as Lammy confirms one UK national injured in Iran missile attacks