A horrific video from the Ukrainian capital has shown the moment when what appears to be a Russian tank crushes a car with a civilian still inside.
Videos of the incident and the aftermath were posted on social media.
One of the videos, posted by Ukrainian journalist Alexander Khrebet, was recorded from some distance away on a rooftop in the Obolon district of Kyiv and showed the moment the tank crushed the car.
An armed #Russia's vehicle ran over a civilian car just on the streets of Obolon district in Kyiv.#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/JgbshmBEhN
— Alexander Khrebet/Олександр Хребет (@AlexKhrebet) February 25, 2022
In Ukraine, a Russian tank had driven over the civilian car. Terrifying footage. My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/hmIDNCUeus
— Franak Viačorka (@franakviacorka) February 25, 2022
Videos of the incident from other vantage points have also begun appearing (and being shared) on social media.
The senior advisor to human rights activist and Belarus politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Franak Viačorka, posted a short clip of the tank driving over the car. The video has been viewed over 900,000 times.
"In Ukraine, a Russian tank had driven over the civilian car. Terrifying footage. My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine.
Another video, that has begun circulating on social media, showed members of the public's attempts to rescue the civilian inside the vehicle. It is unclear whether the man inside was seriously injured.
The video of the rescue attempt has gone viral with over 500,000 views. People can be seen banging on the crushed car with a hammer and attempting to pull apart the broken vehicle.
The movement of tanks in Obolon has sparked fears that Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, could fall within hours. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Twitter page instructed civilians to make Molotov cocktails if necessary to "neutralize the occupier."
"We ask citizens to inform [us] about the movement of equipment. Make Molotov cocktails, neutralize the occupier. Peaceful residents, be careful. Do not leave the house," the Defence Ministry of Ukraine page tweeted, according to a Google translation.
The man whose car was rammed and crushed by alleged Russian strela has been rescued,
— Aleph א #IStandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 (@no_itsmyturn) February 25, 2022
Kyiv oblast#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/qqikd1Efel
❗️увага
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022
На Оболоні ворожа ДРГ.
Просимо громадян повідомляти про пересування техніки!
Виготовляти коктейлі «Молотова», знешкоджувати окупанта!
Мирним мешканцям - бути обережними! Не покидати оселі!
The UN human rights office said there had been at least 127 civilian casualties in Ukraine, with 25 people killed and 102 injured due to "shelling and airstrikes," although this was likely to be an underestimate.
The UN's Human Rights Twitter page has repeatedly warned of the conflict getting worse for civilians in Ukraine and insisted civilian casualties should be avoided at all costs.
#Ukraine: "The protection of the civilian population must be a priority. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas should – at all costs – be avoided." – UN Human Rights Chief @mbachelet: https://t.co/tOmP1tugQk#Russia pic.twitter.com/7kpTgZUF3p
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) February 24, 2022
Quoting UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet, a tweet on its Twitter page said: "The protection of the civilian population must be a priority. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas should, at all costs, be avoided."
Another tweet later read: "We are gravely concerned about developments on Thursday and overnight in Ukraine.
"[We] are receiving increasing reports of civilian casualties.
"We are also disturbed by arbitrary arrests in Russia of demonstrators protesting against war."
Updated with background information, additional quotes.
