Russia has launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine after weeks of rising tensions, rhetoric and warning signs.
Russian troops are waging a war on Ukrainian forces and military bases throughout the country with the capital of Kyiv under heavy assault.
The attack has been met with condemnation, disgust and anger from the UK, US, and EU countries. New Zealand has also condemned the attack and implemented sanctions along with many others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have already been killed on the first day of fighting. He said Russia has attacked Ukraine as Nazi Germany did during World War II and has "embarked on a path of evil".
Photos from Ukraine show the horror with families huddled in underground stations with young children. Photos posted to Twitter show residents huddling on the stairs of a subway as they take cover from the attacks. One photo shows a woman holding a small child while staring off into the distance.
Another photo shows a young child trying to sleep in a subway while a caregiver fussed over them. In another, people can be seen huddling with pets in carriers.
Other photos show hundreds of people huddled in sleeping bags, trying to sleep on the floor of a subway.
People around the world are holding protests over the attacks. Even in Russia photos show large crowds of people gathered in Saint Petersburg and Moscow to protest the attack. Thousands of people can be seen crowding the streets.
Thousands of people in Lithuanian's capital city Vilnius can also be seen gathering in support of Ukraine.
And Ukrainian are banding together to protect themselves with images posted to social media showing people joining the defence forces.
New Zealand journalist in Kyiv Tom Mutch told AM on Friday he was woken by the sounds of missiles raining down.
Mutch said people in Kyiv are "walking around the streets carrying weapons" and are deeply concerned by the attacks.
"People are very, very concerned for their safety because we just don't know what Russia will use… people here are extremely worried that being said there is no immediate sense of panic. There's been no looting or rioting… or fighting or signs of disunity."
He said it's devastating to see the damage already done by Russia.
