Sky News journalists forced to take cover live on air as Ukrainian city ‘encircled’ by Russian troops
‘Thud thud thud. It’s like this drum beat of war,’ reporter says
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Your support makes all the difference.Sky News journalists were forced to take cover during a live broadcast as Ukraine’s second-largest city was bombarded by Russian forces.
Loud rumbles erupted as reporter Jon Sparks spoke to the camera in Kharkiv near the Russian border to sounds of what he described as the “drum beat of war”.
He sheltered near a wall before his crew decided to go inside amid the sustained bombardment.
“If a reminder was necessary that this city was in the process was in the process of being encircled by Russian troops, this serves as an excellent reminder of that,” he told the camera.
It comes after Russian troops launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, killing more than 100 people and attacking targets all around the country.
Sparks said there was a “long and loud barrage” of what he believed was incoming artillery fire right before the broadcast, before being interrupted by loud rumbling noises.
After looking over a now-deserted city from his hotel, he said: “It is still going on. Thud thud thud. It’s like this drum beat of war, reminding everybody the Russians are close and moving in.”
He said the loud blasts could be rocket fire and the crew would take cover inside. “This is a very intense bombardment,” the Sky reporter added.
On Friday morning, the mayor of of Kharkiv urged residents to head to subway stations, bomb shelters and basements.
Missile strikes and air raid alerts were reported in a number of cities in Ukraine on the second day of the invasion as Russian troops continued to press their offensive.
Explosions and gunfire were heard in Kyiv as the attack moved to the outskirts of the capital. Russian anks entered the city on Friday morning.
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air after the threat had loomed for weeks, with Ukranian police saying fighting took place almost everywhere in the country on Thursday. Explosions and gunfire were heard from Ukranian cities, including Kyiv.
The Russian military claims it has destroyed 118 Ukrainian military assets since the beginning of its assault.
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