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A Guernseyman who lives in Odessa in southern Ukraine told Express this weekend that the city is bracing itself for the arrival of Russian troops at any time.
The news agency Reuters, quoting an official from the Ukrainian President's office, reported that fighting was under way near Odessa, where Mr Wood has lived since last summer with his Ukrainian wife.
Speaking to Express over the weekend, Mr Wood said he and his wife "are ok", but added: "I have heard that the Russians are on their way from Mykolayiv to Odessa. This will give them enough troops to storm the city."
Mykolayiv is about 80 miles north-east of Odessa.
Pictured: Colin Wood and his wife live in Odessa on the Black Sea.
Mr Wood said that Odessa expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch air attacks on the city overnight on Friday/Saturday, but they did not materialise.
"The airborne assault...on Odessa by para[troops] didn't happen because the aircraft carrying them were shot down," he said.
"I have not had any reports from friends in the city centre that any attack is taking place now."
However, Mr Wood said he had had "just learnt that the main road into the city centre from here [Mr Wood's home] has been closed by the army".
Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, continues to face air attacks and there is fighting in the streets. Mr Wood has friends in Kyiv who he says are fighting back against the invading forces.
"My friends in Kyiv are on the streets throwing Molotov cocktails at Russian tanks. It is unbelievable."
Pictured: Colin Wood and his wife in times when their life in Ukraine was more peaceful.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has declined offers to leave Ukraine and instead has been on the streets of Kyiv encouraging his countrymen to resist the Russian offensive.
An American official was quoted as saying that President Zelensky said: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”
VIDEO: A defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vows to stay and fight the Russian invaders.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 26, 2022
"I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth," he declares pic.twitter.com/Sg6oF0KXyY
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