A convoy of Russian special forces comprised of Chechen fighters has been destroyed by Ukrainian troops.

A general in command of the forces was slain in the combat outside Kyiv, as Vladimir Putin was enraged with the invasion's poor pace..

Smoke billows from an oil depot in Vasylkiv, around 25m west of Kyiv, after a Russian missile attack
Smoke billows from an oil depot in Vasylkiv, around 25m west of Kyiv, after a Russian missile attackCredit: EPA
The sky above Kyiv glowed orange as loud bangs were heard
The sky above Kyiv glowed orange as loud bangs were heard
An explosion was also seen in the city of Kharkiv after a gas pipeline was blown up
An explosion was also seen in the city of Kharkiv after a gas pipeline was blown upCredit: East2West
Chechen General Magomed Tushaev was killed by Ukrainian forces
Chechen General Magomed Tushaev was killed by Ukrainian forcesCredit: KADYROV_95

Shells rained down across the country following the invasion in the early hours of Thursday - as the battle for the capital, Kyiv, stretched into a fourth day.

The city awoke to more air raid sirens after missile attacks that turned the sky orange during what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said was a "brutal" night.

In a major setback for Russian forces, the Chechen special forces column, including 56 tanks, was obliterated near Hostomel, north-east of the city, the Kyiv Independent reports.

The Russian province of Chechnya is led by the brutal Ramzan Kadyrov, 45, a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

The dead included General Magomed Tushaev, commander of the 141st Motorised Regiment of the Chechen National Guard, according to Ukraine's Interfax Agency.

The Chechen soldiers are known as "hunters" and each of them was reportedly given a pack of cards with senior Ukrainian officials that Moscow wants dead.

The special forces were pictured training in a Ukrainian forest as they took part in Islamic prayer rituals ahead of their deployment to the frontline.

As his forces encounter stiff resistance from Ukrainians defending their homeland, the Kremlin strongman must be "furious" about the lack of progress, a former Nato defence chief has said.

"Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days," tweeted Riho Terras, who is also the former commander of the Estonian armed forces.

He said Ukrainian intelligence believes the Russians don't have a "tactical plan" to deal with an enemy that is fighting back.

He has also rejected talks in Belarus which he said "could have been possible" if Russia had not attacked Ukraine from the country's territory.

Belarus special forces are believed to be preparing to join in the assault on Kiev, the Mirror reports.

Earlier terrified civilians were urged to take cover in subways and basements as darkness fell.

Missiles kit Kyiv's main airport, Boryspil International and an oil depot was also blown up at at Vasylkiv, around 25m west of Kyiv.

Residents have been warned the burning depot was emitting smoke and poisonous fumes and were told to keep their windows shut and to take cover.

Russian missiles also hit a nuclear waste disposal site on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has confirmed.

The strike has sparked fears that people could be exposed to radioactive material.

Vasylkiv mayor Natalia Balasynovych said the city had sustained heavy shelling - but vowed the Russians would not win.

nd Russia's central bank was frozen, and banned from the German SWIFT system, a global inter-bank communication system.

Ursula von der Leyen said the measures would "cripple Putin's ability to finance his war machine".

Chechnya's feared special forces the "hunters" pictured before heading to Ukraine
Chechnya's feared special forces the "hunters" pictured before heading to UkraineCredit: Reuters
The troops were reportedly tasked with killing senior Ukrainian officials
The troops were reportedly tasked with killing senior Ukrainian officialsCredit: Reuters
The sky glowed orange following the blasts
The sky glowed orange following the blastsCredit: Twitter/ Trey Yingst
A Ukrainian soldier stands in the charred remains of a battlefield
A Ukrainian soldier stands in the charred remains of a battlefieldCredit: EPA
A child refugee covers her face after crossing the border into Romania
A child refugee covers her face after crossing the border into RomaniaCredit: AP