Ukraine: Reporter's Grenade Discovery Highlights Hidden Dangers Of Reporting From Warzones

A reporter nearly stumbled on a grenade during a live interview from Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

Ukraine is facing its fifth day of Russian president Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation'. While talks have kicked off between negotiators in Belarus, it comes amid rising tensions between Russia and NATO states, further casualties and at least 500,000 refugees fleeing the country.

Russian forces have yet to take control of the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv, although 'dozens' were reportedly killed in shelling on the latter city, as well as hundreds injured, according to Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to Kyiv's interior minister.

Reporting on fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops in Kyiv, CNN's Mathew Chance described a 'ferocious battle' on the outskirts of the city.

'[Ukraine] has been bolstered by the arrival of stinger missiles and anti-tank missiles from the United States and other countries in the west,' he said during his report.

'Just yesterday, Sweden announced that it was delivering 5,000 anti-tank missiles to this country to help Ukrainians defend against the Russian invasion. It is with the help of that weaponry that they have been able to really cause the Russians a significant amount of pain,' Chance continued.

Fighters of the battalion of territorial defense of the city of Kyiv (Alamy)

However, just as he started to deliver his report, Chance realised he was right beside a live grenade. 'Oh actually - I was crouching down right by a grenade. I didn't see that. Let's move away from that,' he said. The clip was shared to Twitter, where it's since racked up more than 100,000 views.

According to The Times, hundreds of mercenaries have been sent to Kyiv to kill President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prompting the Ukrainian government to issue a 36-hour curfew in the city to look for saboteurs.

The United Nations has estimated at least 102 civilians to have been killed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, according to chief Michelle Bachelet, with a further 104 injured, although the actual death toll could be 'considerably higher'.

Kyiv apartment block hit by missile (Alamy)

'Most of these civilians were killed by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and airstrikes. The real figures are, I fear, considerably higher,' she said, as per Sky News. Zelenskyy also announced that some prisoners with combat experience would be released to join the fight in Ukraine. 'The key is defence now... under conditions of hostilities, Ukrainians with real combat experience will be released. They have the ability to atone for their guilt in the hottest spots of the war.'

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information