As Russian troops marched into Ukraine on the morning of February 24 and air raid sirens rang out through Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on able-bodied and willing Ukrainians to take up arms against the invaders, assuring that all willing combatants would be provided weapons.

A day later, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has taken to social media to ask residents to make improvised incendiary petrol bombs, namely molotov cocktails, to help “neutralize” the Russian invaders.

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“Attention! In Obolon … We ask citizens to inform about the movement of equipment! Make Molotov cocktails, neutralize the occupier! Peaceful residents – be careful! Do not leave the house!,” read the tweet by the defense ministry.

The post came hours after Russian missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital city, marking the beginning of the second day of the onslaught. At the time of writing this, gunfire could be heard echoing through the streets of Kyiv, while Russian tanks were filmed entering the Ukrainian capital for the first time.

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A day earlier, President Zelensky had urged Ukrainians to fight the Russians, and had tweeted, “We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities…”

Since then deputies of the Ukrainian parliament have been armed by the interior ministry as Kyiv braces for the full brunt of a Russian assault.

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With Russian military might far surpassing that of Ukraine, President Zelensky has appealed to Western leaders to take immediate action against Moscow, and has said that the sanctions that have been announced thus far have not been effective in stopping the Russian advance.

Ukrainians, however, have shown remarkable resilience in face of the Russian invasion, and reports of heroism have been abound since military operations in the country began on Thursday morning.