HORRIBLE images show bloodied Ukrainians being dragged from a burning apartment building in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian capital has been shelled by Vladimir Putin’s forces ahead of a much-anticipated assault.

Putin’s troops are closing in on the city, believed to be just 15 miles away, as terrified Ukrainians flee their homes.

Fighting has continued on the outskirts of Kyiv, and several of its suburbs have been shelled overnight.

According to authorities, a Russian fire also struck a nine-story apartment building in the city’s northern district, killing two more people.

Firefighters worked tirelessly to save survivors, carrying an injured woman on a stretcher away from the still-burning building.

In one image, a firefighter is seen holding the head of an injured elderly man, while another shows a woman climbing down a ladder.

Meanwhile, two more people were killed and seven others were injured when an aircraft factory near Kyiv was attacked.

One died in the Antonov factory, while another died when bombs exploded nearby apartment buildings, setting them on fire.

Officials said a town councillor from Brovary, east of Kyiv, was killed in fighting.

Last week, Russian forces were ambushed as they attempted to advance on the capital, with drone footage showing tanks burning on the road after being obliterated by Ukrainian forces.

Shells were also fired on the Kyiv suburbs of Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel, which have seen some of the bloodiest fighting in Russia’s stalled takeover of the capital.

Russia is now attempting to attack Kyiv from two directions in an attempt to encircle the city.

Ukraine’s armed forces revealed that Putin’s forces are expected to arrive from the northeastern and northwestern borders in preparation for a potentially large and bloody battle.

They have already taken control of parts of the northwestern suburbs, establishing checkpoints with vehicles and infantry.

Civilians have fled to Kiev as a result of clashes with Putin’s troops, who have been accused of shooting down fleeing women and children.

Russia has been accused of killing seven people, including a child, who attempted to flee the conflict zone over the weekend.

According to Ukraine’s intelligence service, Russian troops opened fire on a convoy of civilian evacuees from the village of Peremoha in the Kyiv region.

“After the attack, the occupiers forced the remnants of the column to turn back to Peremoha and are not letting them out of the village,” they said in a statement.

“Russians opened fire on a column of women and children attempting to flee the village of Peremoha in the Kyiv region along an agreed-upon ‘green’ corridor.” Seven people were killed, including a child.”

It comes after at least 35 people were killed in a Russian airstrike near the Polish border on a base where foreign instructors were assisting Ukrainians.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian forces fired more than 30 cruise missiles at the Yavoriv military base near Lviv, injuring 134 people.

Kyiv also warned Vladimir Putin that he could begin “provoking” Nato members.