Kyiv awaits Russian invaders with petrol bombs and dark humour

Mykhaylo was one of several hundred men queueing up outside a military enlistment office in Kyiv’s central Lukianivska neighbourhood on Friday, looking for guns to fight invading Russian forces.

He was also looking for a recipient for a donation of 60 bottles that might be used to make petrol bombs: “To, you know, greet the Russians — a big cocktail party”, he said. “A buddy of mine is getting processed machine oil to serve to the Russians.”

As he was speaking, the waiting crowd scattered in panic as someone pointed to the sky at a surveillance drone hovering overhead that they feared could presage a Russian air attack. Someone in the heavily armed crowd fired an automatic weapon.

“Close the skies! Hashtag, ban Russia from Swift!” Mykhaylo said with a caustic smile, spelling out two slogans being shared on Ukrainian social media in the days since Russia’s invasion this week. “And also, remove Russia from the UN Security Council.”