Thousands of young civilians, from veterinary medical students to architects, have been drafted into Ukraine's army reserves and trained for war, as fears mount over a potential invasion by Russia.
Young men and women, some as young as 21, have been taking part in Kyiv Territorial Defence unit training over the weekend in a snow-covered forest in the capital, as they prepare for a possible conflict with Moscow.
Scores of civilians across the country have signed up to similar training programs to receive basic combat skills.
In the event of a potential invasion by Russia, these youngsters will be part of the country's civil resistance that will carry on the fight against Russian soldiers if the Ukrainian military is overwhelmed.
The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to its border with Ukraine, but tensions have ramped up in recent days after a surge in equipment and troop movements, among them military police, from the extreme east of Russia.
Amid fears that an invasion is imminent, the UK began withdrawing diplomats from its mission in Kiev today - following a similar US move at the weekend.
Young men and women, some as young as 21, have been taking part in Kyiv Territorial Defence unit training over the weekend in a snow-covered forest in the capital, as they prepare for a possible conflict with Moscow
Among the Ukrainian civilians who have been training with Ukrainian soldiers is 21-year-old Tatiana, a university veterinary medicine student (pictured)
Civilian participants in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit train on Saturday in a snow-covered forest in Kyiv
Mariana, 52, a marketing researcher who for the past two years has been a volunteer in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit, trains on Saturday in a forest in Kyiv
In the event of a potential invasion by Russia, these youngsters will be part of the country's civil resistance that will carry on the fight against Russian soldiers if the Ukrainian military is overwhelmed. Pictured: A group of young men observe the military training on Saturday
A civilian participant in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit waits to fend off a mock attack by Russian soldiers while training in Kyiv on Saturday
Among the Ukrainian civilians who have been training with Ukrainian soldiers is 21-year-old Tatiana, a university veterinary medicine student.
Tatiana, who is enrolled in a military reserve program, joined hundreds of other young Ukrainians in a Kyiv Territorial Defence Unit training exercise on Saturday in a snow-covered forest in Kyiv.
Among them was Anton, 32, a journalist, who was seen carrying a plastic gun during the exercise where they staged a mock Russian attack.
If Russia does invade Ukraine, a move that Putin has denied, they will be under direct command of the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine's army, which totals 215,000 soldiers, has been battling a Moscow-backed insurgency in two breakaway regions since 2014 in a long-simmering conflict that has claimed over 13,000 lives.
While Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the country has little chance to fend off a full Russian invasion, Russian occupation troops would likely face a deep-rooted, decentralised and prolonged insurgency.
'I believe that every person in this country should know what to do... if the enemy invades their country,' Daniil Larin, a 19-year-old university student who took part in a training exercise in Kyiv last month said.
Larin had joined about 50 Ukrainian civilians in December who drove from Kiev to an abandoned Soviet-era asphalt plant to train for how to defend their country in the event of a Russian invasion.
Mariana, 52, a marketing researcher who for the past two years has been a volunteer in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit, trains on Saturday in Kyiv
If Russia does invade Ukraine, a move that Putin has denied, the civilians will be under direct command of the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine's army, which totals 215,000 soldiers, has been battling a Moscow-backed insurgency in two breakaway regions since 2014 in a long-simmering conflict that has claimed over 13,000 lives. Pictured: Ukrainian civilians participate in training exercise on Saturday
Civilians form a line as they take part in a mock Russian invasion a forest in Kyiv on Saturday
Civilian participants in a Kyiv Territorial Defence unit, including university students also enrolled in a military reserve program, train on Saturday in Kyiv
While Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the country has little chance to fend off a full Russian invasion, Russian occupation troops would likely face a deep-rooted, decentralised and prolonged insurgency
Civilians, many of whom are youngsters, form a long line as they take part in a military exercise on Saturday
The Ukrainian reservists, who have ballooned to about 100,000 members, have been learning 'how to handle weapons, how to behave in a battle environment, how to defend cities,' Larin said.
Living with war Marta Yuzkiv, a 51-year-old doctor, believes that the Russian army is 'far superior' to Ukraine's and the risk of a full-scale invasion is 'high enough' to have joined the reserves.
'Only if everyone is ready to defend our land, then there will be a chance,' she said.
One battalion commander, Vadym Ozirny, said that after mobilising at a
