The residents of Kyiv lived through yet another terrifying night as Russian forces entered the city limits.

While the previous two nights were marked by the sounds of sporadic explosions coming from further away, Friday night was different.

There were bursts of small arms fire, orange lines of fire going up into the sky. Gunfire could be heard near the city center. At dawn, a fire broke in western Kyiv after an apartment building was struck by missile or rocket 

The city remained dark with curtains drawn and lights off, an attempt to become invisible to the enemy. 

As the sun rose, Ukrainian Interior Ministry issued a warning to the people of Kyiv, saying active fighting was taking place on the streets of the capital city, although there was no sign of conflict yet in the city center.

Residents were told to stay indoors and away from the windows, an advice they followed diligently. There was not a soul in the streets around the city center as morning arrived, in contrast to the bustling streets just a few days ago. Many had spent the night in subway stations and underground garages, seeking safe havens from any potential explosions. 

As Russian troops close in on the city, the opportunities to escape the violence are getting fewer and far between. On Friday night, the Ukrainian Railway Company put out several special evacuation trains to the west, saying women, children and those with limited mobility would be given priority.

The passengers were told not to be alarmed if the lights go off. “The less the train looks like a garland, the safer the journey,” the company said.