A Chinese student has sent CGTN a series of videos he filmed in Ukraine's capital in the hours after Russian troops entered the country.

Han Yueken spotted stationary Ukrainian military vehicles. He also recorded Kyiv residents appearing to flee the city, with streams of people rushing to a central train station carrying luggage.

The mayor of Kyiv imposed a curfew on Thursday as many residents tried to escape to safer areas of the country, leading to major traffic jams.

Most shops had closed their shutters but Han spotted one open selling knives and guns.

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But people were defiant as Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion, declared a curfew from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m., saying transport would be halted overnight and subway stations used as round-the-clock shelters because of "conditions of military aggression."

Some residents chose to stay, and stood in long lines outside banks and shops hoping to draw money and stock up on supplies. But others packed bags and suitcases and looked for a way out of the city - by bus, car or plane.

Cover image: Umit Bektas/Reuters