Freelance journalist Kateryna Malofieieva, who is in the port city of Mariupol in south Eastern Ukraine, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that she anticipates some of the "heaviest fighting" to occur where she lives.
Malofieieva slept in her clothes the night before the conflict broke out and was woken to the sound of BM -21 "Grad" rockets firing.
She said large numbers of residents left Mariupol and that there was an eerie quiet in a playground and a pier where you would normally see people having a stroll, jogging and enjoying the sea breeze.
Ms Malofieieva has lived in the shadow of this Russian fear for more than eight years because of her location. Mariupol is just 10 kilometres from Donbas up to now controlled by pro Russian separatists.
She stressed at she didn't expect the whole of the Ukraine to be targeted.
"I cannot feed this in to my mind. Mariupol was quiet up until the last hours. There is some heavy explosions. This day according to my contacts in the Ukraine will be one of the toughest days.
"The coastline is one of the most sensitive areas right now. I anticipate one of the most heaviest fighting to happen in Mariupol. I have lived with this fear for eight years. I didn't expect the whole Ukraine to be targeted."
Ms Malofieieva added that residents of the city were in disbelief at what was occurring.
"I have news from my friends who are hiding in their basements. People don't have somewhere to go. There is uncertainty. They will be just hiding. Everyone will understand that the worst will still be happening."
Mariupol is seen as a strategically key location in Russia's attack on the country. The city in the Donetsk region is home to around 500,000 people.
