The battle for Kyiv was underway xe2x80x94 with explosions and gunfire reported in the Ukrainian capital xe2x80x94 as Russian forces forged on with an aggressive overnight offensive Friday into Saturday.

Ukrainian officials warned Kyiv residents to shelter in place as street fighting continued in the city into the morning. The alert advised people to remain in shelters and stay away from windows and balconies to avoid being struck by debris or gunfire.

Hundreds of casualties have already been reported in the wake of the assault. Russian shells demolished apartment buildings in Kyiv and schools and bridges were also destroyed.

According to Health Minister Viktor Lyashko, 198 Ukrainians have been killed in Russiaxe2x80x99s attacks. Three victims were identified as children. Over 1,000 people were wounded as of Saturday morning.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukrainexe2x80x99s National Security and Defense Council, said at around 7 a.m. Saturday that Kyiv was still under the countryxe2x80x99s control.

xe2x80x9cWe are stopping the horde as best as we can, the situation in Kyiv is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our citizens,xe2x80x9d he said, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Artillery and gunshots echoed through the cityxe2x80x99s streets Friday night and Saturday morning as Russian troops stormed from the south, east and north.

In the face of the violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declined an offer from the US to be evacuated from Kyiv, instead choosing to remain behind with his countrymen and fight.xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cThe fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,xe2x80x9d Zelensky said, The Associated Press reported, citing a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation.

Late Friday, Zelensky addressed his countrymen in a video, telling them to brace for an overnight assault and urging unity and strength.

xe2x80x9cThe fate of Ukraine is being decided right now,xe2x80x9d Zelensky said. xe2x80x9cThis night will be very difficult, and the enemy will use all available forces to break the resistance of Ukrainians.xe2x80x9d

xe2x80x9cWe canxe2x80x99t lose the capital,xe2x80x9d he added, emphatically.

Zelensky posted another video from Kyiv on Saturday morning, vowing to defend his country.

xe2x80x9cTherexe2x80x99s a lot of fake information online that I call on our army to lay down arms, and that therexe2x80x99s evacuation,xe2x80x9d he said. xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x99m here. We wonxe2x80x99t lay down our arms. We will defend our state.xe2x80x9d

The Ukrainian military put up a fierce defense against the invading forces overnight, slowing down Russiaxe2x80x99s procession towards Kyiv, according to US defense officials.

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Get the latest updates in the Russia-Ukraine conflict with the Postxe2x80x99s live coverage.

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However, it still remains to be seen how much of the country is under Ukrainian or Russian control. The Russian military claimed control ofxc2xa0the southern Ukraine city of Melitopol.

The Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on one of Kievxe2x80x99s main streets, Victory Avenue.xc2xa0

Dozens of blasts and heavy machine-gun fire were heard in the western area of Shuliavka, including xe2x80x9cextremely hard combatxe2x80x9d around the Kyiv Zoo, according to the Kyiv Independent.xc2xa0Video showed cars on fire and explosions in Shuliavka.

Artillery fire was also reported at the Beresteiska metro station, where the Ukrainexe2x80x99s 101st brigade destroyed a column of Russian forces, including two trucks loaded with tanks and another tank, the local outlet reported.

Heavy fighting was also reported near an electric power station in the Troieshchyna neighborhood, in the northeastern part of the city. It was the second time in 24 hours that Russians have attempted to shut off power from the station, the report said.

The Ukrainian military said it shot down two Russian Il-76 heavy transport planes xe2x80x93 which can carry over 150 paratroopers.

One was shot down near Vasylkiv, roughly 25 miles south of the Ukrainian capital where intense fighting took place. The second plane was shot down hours later nearxc2xa0Bila Tserkva, about 50 miles south of Ukraine, according to military officials.xc2xa0Russia has not commented on either incident.

Ukrainexe2x80x99s Defense Ministry said Saturday morning that since the invasion began, 3,500 Russians have been killed and 200 others taken prisoner.

The total number of deaths was unclear after the second day of Russiaxe2x80x99s invasion. Ukraine reported 137 deaths after the first day of fighting and claimed to have killed hundreds of Russians. Russia has not acknowledged any casualties so far.

The United Nations reported 25 civilian deaths so far as a result of shelling and airstrikes and 100,000 people are believed to have left their homes in Ukraine. The number of those fleeing could rise to as many as 4 million if fighting escalates further, according to the UN.

With Post wires