Newspaper headlines: Ukrainians fight as 'world shuns pariah Putin'

The focus of Sunday's papers is on the Ukrainian resistance to Russia's advance on Kyiv.

The Sunday Express has a picture of two Ukrainian soldiers keeping watch from an armoured vehicle, with the headline: "Lionhearts."

The Sunday Mirror has the same picture. Its headline reflects the defiant words of President Volodymyr Zelensky: "The fight is here."

It says Ukraine has refused to buckle under Vladimir Putin's onslaught.

The Sunday People shows Ukrainian troops surveying the mangled wreckage of what appears to be a Russian convoy vehicle and describes them as "freedom fighters".

It is, the Sun on Sunday says, a "fight to the death".

The Observer says that having held off Russian forces for two nights, morale in Kyiv remains high among Ukrainians of all ages and from all walks of life, as many queued to take up arms.

The Sunday Telegraph gives an account of what it calls Ukraine's rag-tag people's defence force - grabbing whatever weapons they can in a desperate attempt to stop the Russians.

It says some are young men in tracksuits, some are grizzled old Soviet-era grandfathers in shabby tweed jackets and others are bearded Kyiv hipsters more used to having man-bags slung across their shoulders than weapons.

It is, the paper adds, Ukraine's Dad's Army, which includes a number of mothers.

There is widespread admiration for President Zelensky's conduct - and interest in his background as a comedian.

The Observer considers what it calls Mr Zelensky's unlikely rise from TV comedian to war hero - and says he has already earned his place in history as the leader of a nation under fire, fighting for his survival.

The Sunday Express says that in a time when our political leaders are often portrayed as clowns, it is strange that a former comedian has proven himself to be the most inspirational of them all.

The Sunday Telegraph notes that as a comedian, Mr Zelensky helped Ukrainians laugh their many troubles away, but when he formed his political party that won a shock election victory in 2019, many still refused to take him seriously. They do now, the paper adds.

Finally, the Mail on Sunday devotes its front page to launching an appeal to help Ukrainian refugees.

It says harrowing images of mothers and children wrenched from their menfolk and forced to scatter to neighbouring countries have touched Britain's heart.

"Mail's SOS for the innocent victims of war" is the headline.

Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox