Ordinary Ukrainian civilians have stepped up to fight Russian troops threatening Kyiv as the country's capital has turned into a battleground, with gunfire and explosions heard across the city on successive nights.

APTOPIX Ukraine Invasion

Newlyweds Yarina Arieva and Svyatoslav Fursinb pose for a picture with the ranks of the city territorial defense battalion.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

More than 150,000 Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia invaded it three days ago, but many of them are taking up arms to stop Russia.

Ukrainian officials said Friday that they had given 18,000 guns to volunteers and handed out instructions to make Molotov cocktails, after President Zelensky urged civilians to support the military.

The New York Times reported that volunteers with little or no military experience were given instructions on how to stop Russian troops, including opening fire at tires on military vehicles and setting fire to a forest.

Instructions on how to make Molotov cocktails were posted by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

APTOPIX Ukraine Invasion

A volunteer stands guard behind a pile of tires at a checkpoint.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russia Attacks Ukraine

The basement of a bomb shelter has volunteers working to make molotov cocktails.

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UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT

A Ukrainian volunteer is holding an AK-47 rifle.

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APTOPIX Ukraine Invasion

Two cars burn outside a military facility.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ukraine's Capital Besieged By Russia On Third Day Of Conflict

A couple embraces on Maidan Square in Kiev on Saturday after a night of violence in the city.

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Ukraine Invasion

A man with a gun looks out of a shelter.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russia Attacks Ukraine

A man and his dog are walking by a building that was hit by a missile.

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Russia Starts Large-Scale Attack On Ukraine

The territorial defense battalion set up a machine gun.

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Russia Attacks Ukraine

Civilian volunteers check their guns at a territorial defense registration office.

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Russia Attacks Ukraine

A stuffed animal and a notebook are in the debris of an apartment that was hit by a missile.

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