Meanwhile, Russian planes taking off from Belarus targeted Lviv to the west, near the Polish border. The nationwide strikes have prompted Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko to warn fugitives hoping to return to the capital to stay away from the city. He said: “I urge you to stay away from it and stay in safer places. The air defense forces are doing everything they can to protect us, but the enemy is insidious and ruthless. “Kyiv was and remains the target of the attacker. We do not rule out further strikes in the capital. We can not forbid, we can only suggest. “If you have the opportunity to stay a little longer in cities where it is safer, do it.” Many, however, were not intimidated by the recent rise in violence. Anna Hlukhova, a 24-year-old diplomat at the Foreign Ministry, said she would not allow the war to disrupt Holy Week. “During the war it is good to come to church, because it is easier to accept challenges with God,” Ms Hlukhova said outside St Michael. “This violence from Russia and everything that is happening in Ukraine is so difficult to accept without a strong belief in our faith.” Ms Hlukhova, who was holding a bouquet of narcissus, admitted that while people were returning to Kyiv in rows – at a rate of several thousand a day – it was estimated to be even quieter than usual in many parts of the city.
