
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, witnessed multiple explosions and what government officials called “horrific rocket strikes” early on Friday as Russian forces continued to press deeper into the country in an attempt to capture the city, home to nearly 3 million people.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p><a href="https://forbes.ua/news/putin-ogolosiv-pro-pochatok-viyskovoi-operatsii-na-donbasi-ta-proignoruvav-zvernennya-zelenskogo-golovni-novini-24022022-3843" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to</a>&nbsp;<em>Forbes Ukraine</em>, explosions were heard throughout Kyiv early on Friday morning.</p>



<p>Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/h_e6c92eba96f9436542099ad74eef40e7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">claimed</a>&nbsp;that one of the major explosions heard over the city—videos of which were&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1497043832168493067?s=20&amp;t=Mt30Qbyk8uFKyYcIkHgQ7w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circulating</a>&nbsp;on social media—was the result of a Ukrainian air defense system shooting down a Russian missile out of the sky.</p>



<p>Interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko in a separate statement said Kyiv had been hit by Russia “cruise or ballistic missiles,” on Friday and shared several photos of residential buildings on fire.</p>



<p>Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated these claims of “horrific Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv” in a <a href="https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1497058048430460934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tweet</a> and compared the situation to the 1941 invasion of the country by Nazi Germany.</p>



<p><strong>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732613.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54426" width="720" height="480" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732613.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732613-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732613-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure></div>



<p>A man walks his dog in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. The Ukrainian president said that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by the end of the first day. <strong>(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732743.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54427" width="700" height="467" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732743.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732743-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732743-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></figure></div>



<p>A member of the congregation bows their head to pray as Reverend Simon Ckuj delivers a service at St Andrew&#8217;s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Lidcombe on February 25, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Russia has launched a military invasion of Ukraine, despite facing financial sanctions and condemnation from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and several other nations. <strong>(Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372731108.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54424" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372731108.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372731108-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372731108-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<p> A burnt, damaged bedroom of an apartment is seen in a residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. The Ukrainian president said that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by the end of the first day. <strong>(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238746109.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54423" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238746109.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238746109-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238746109-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<p>Hundreds of residents from a residential building damaged by a missile gather in a bomb shelter in the basement of a school on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. The Ukrainian president said that at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by the end of the first day. <strong> (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54422" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1238745910.jpg 1616w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<p>Civilians are seen after a missile struck a residential building during Russiaâs military intervention in left bank Kyiv, Ukraine on February 25, 2022 (Photo by Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732824.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54428" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732824.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732824-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-1372732824-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<p> Ukranians gather in protest outside the Russian Consulate on February 25, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. Yesterday, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with Russian troops invading the country from the north, east and south, accompanied by air strikes and shelling. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said this week that his country, which is a NATO member, did not &#8220;recognize any step against Ukraine&#8217;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.&#8221; <strong>(Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)</strong></p>


UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT

Photos Show Devastating Impact Of Rocket Strikes And Shelling On Kyiv


<p><strong>On Wednesday, South Africa’s labour unions and federations united to send strong statements to the government against corruption, gender-based violence, job losses and unemployment, bemoaning the state of the economy. Most protesters at the march were not wearing masks but donned a common stance.</strong></p>


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United Stance


<p>As South Africa enters Alert Level 2 of the lockdown today, with the ban on alcohol and tobacco products lifted, the country’s restaurants, bars and taverns are hoping for a new lease of life. Liqour stores across the country witnessed snaking queues today. In this picture, taken in the morning, consumers wait in line outside Makro in the Crown Mines area, to buy alcohol in bulk. Some of them arrived in the early hours even before the shops opened.</p>


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The True Spirit Of Level 2


<p>Until March 27, when South Africa initiated its first phase of the nationwide lockdown, Mphepheto Street in the suburb of Dobsonville in Soweto, had been bustling with informal traders, street vendors, illegal gamblers, taxis and fast cars. With vehicular traffic now restricted only to those with special permits to operate essential services, the entire stretch has turned into a ghost town. Although some residents continue to abide by the regulations, a handful continue to ply their small businesses under the radar to sustain their families.</p>



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Mphepheto pic by Tlhabi

[PHOTO OF THE DAY] Shut Shops And Open Roads


<p>As South Africa grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic and faces its eleventh day of the three-week lockdown, big businesses and retail establishments remain shut as people work from home.</p>



<p>But in South Africa’s dense townships, where people live in close proximity to each other, self-isolation is an everyday challenge.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the urban township of Soweto, there are no confirmed reports of positive Covid-19 cases among residents, so the throngs on the streets and queues outside grocery stores have not all disappeared.</p>



<p>In this image, Mfaniseni Qwabe, a senior citizen who operates a small business selling sweets and snacks, sits outside his yard, to take in some fresh air, wearing a mask.</p>


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Surviving The Lockdown In Soweto


<p>South Africa’s 21-day lockdown period starts from midnight. On the
African continent, the country has surpassed Egypt with the highest number of
confirmed Covid-19 cases, with all nine provinces of the country hit. <strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>With only a few hours to total shutdown, street vendor, Teboho Tsimo, cashes in by selling facemasks, gloves and sanitizers in the Crown Mines area of Johannesburg. Like other small traders, Tsimo’s business will be severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>



<p>The lockdown was announced on March 23 by the country’s President
Cyril Ramaphosa who said a relief fund will be made available for small
businesses. But addressing the media the
following day, Minister of Small Business Development, <em>Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said any misuse by entrepreneurs
will be penalized by a 10% interest rate payment. </em><em></em></p>


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[PHOTO OF THE DAY] South Africa: 8 Hours To Lockdown


<p>South Africa’s 21-day lockdown period starts from March 26 until April 16. On the African continent, the country has surpassed Egypt with the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases – 709 as of today, and steadily climbing, with all nine provinces of the country hit. In his address to the nation on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa pleaded with the public to avoid panic shopping that would disrupt the food supply chain. But in anticipation of the national shutdown, South Africans pay no heed as they queue up at retail stores. In this picture, shoppers line up with trolleys outside a major store in Johannesburg, also risking the spread of the coronavirus. </p>


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[PHOTO OF THE DAY] South Africa: 33 Hours To Lockdown


<p>On February 28, Sandton, known as Africa’s richest square mile, witnessed a wave of red berets and angry faces, as members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took to the leafy streets lined with commercial buildings, to protest the power cuts crippling South Africa. The country has seen a spate of load-shedding in recent months due to the Eskom crisis. In this image, an EFF member lapses into a serene moment, looking up helplessly, amidst all the singing and chanting at Innesfree Park where the masses had gathered ahead of a march to the state power utility’s head offices in Sunninghill, singing struggle songs and disrupting traffic.</p>



<p><strong>Image by Motlabana Monnakgotla</strong> </p>



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Category: Photo Of The Day