Fierce fire and black smoke rose from an office building in the village of Chaiky, Kiev region, Ukraine, March 3.

Russia and Ukraine have experienced their ninth day of fighting.

Fierce fire and black smoke rose from an office building in the village of Chaiky, Kiev region, Ukraine, March 3.

Russia and Ukraine have experienced their ninth day of fighting.

An apartment complex damaged by recent shelling in the city of Chernihiv, northern Ukraine.

Chernihiv province’s emergency situation agency said on March 4 that 22 people were killed after a Russian airstrike.

An apartment complex damaged by recent shelling in the city of Chernihiv, northern Ukraine.

Chernihiv province’s emergency situation agency said on March 4 that 22 people were killed after a Russian airstrike.

Firefighters put out a fire at a warehouse in the village of Chaiky, Kiev region, which caught fire after being hit by artillery shells.

Ukraine’s Emergency Situations Service said that last week’s Russian attacks killed more than 2,000 civilians, but this number has not been independently verified.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that 498 Russian soldiers were killed and 1,597 soldiers were injured, and 2,800 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.

Firefighters put out a fire at a warehouse in the village of Chaiky, Kiev region, which caught fire after being hit by artillery shells.

Ukraine’s Emergency Situations Service said that last week’s Russian attacks killed more than 2,000 civilians, but this number has not been independently verified.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that 498 Russian soldiers were killed and 1,597 soldiers were injured, and 2,800 Ukrainian soldiers were killed.

An apartment building in the settlement of Borodyanka, Kiev region, appeared to be cut in half after shelling on March 3.

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations held a second round of negotiations in Belarus, agreeing to set up a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians, but failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.

An apartment building in the settlement of Borodyanka, Kiev region, appeared to be cut in half after shelling on March 3.

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations held a second round of negotiations in Belarus, agreeing to set up a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians, but failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Russian military vehicles destroyed on the street in the settlement of Borodyanka, Kiev region.

Speaking at a meeting with the Security Council on March 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the families of Russian soldiers killed while on duty in Ukraine will receive compensation of more than 7 million rubles (nearly 65,000 USD).

Russian military vehicles destroyed on the street in the settlement of Borodyanka, Kiev region.

Speaking at a meeting with the Security Council on March 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the families of Russian soldiers killed while on duty in Ukraine will receive compensation of more than 7 million rubles (nearly 65,000 USD).

Firefighters put out a fire at a burning building after an airstrike in Kiev, Ukraine, March 3.

More than 10 explosions and many sirens were heard in the center of the capital Kiev on the morning of April 4, a sign that the Russian military is increasing the pace of air strikes.

Russian forces have not launched any major attacks on Kiev, but the city and neighboring town of Borodyanka have been continuously shelled for several days.

Firefighters put out a fire at a burning building after an airstrike in Kiev, Ukraine, March 3.

More than 10 explosions and many sirens were heard in the center of the capital Kiev on the morning of April 4, a sign that the Russian military is increasing the pace of air strikes.

Russian forces have not launched any major attacks on Kiev, but the city and neighboring town of Borodyanka have been continuously shelled for several days.

Firefighters walk past a house damaged by recent shelling in the village of Hatne, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine.

Firefighters walk past a house damaged by recent shelling in the village of Hatne, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine.

People stand on a bullet crater in front of the ruins of a residential area destroyed by shelling in the city of Zhytomyr, west of Kiev, March 2.

People stand on a bullet crater in front of the ruins of a residential area destroyed by shelling in the city of Zhytomyr, west of Kiev, March 2.

The area near Kharkov National University was devastated after being hit by shelling on March 2.

On March 3, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a resolution calling on the United Nations to deploy peacekeeping forces to the country to `protect civilians`.

The area near Kharkov National University was devastated after being hit by shelling on March 2.

On March 3, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a resolution calling on the United Nations to deploy peacekeeping forces to the country to `protect civilians`.

Photo: AP, Reuters.