In a militaristic address delivered shortly before 4 a.m. Central European Time, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "military action" in Ukraine. Shortly after, eyewitnesses in Ukraine reported the first explosions around major cities. ★Russia-Ukraine war enters in 10th day★
 |
| [Russia Ukraine War] |
"The whole Kiev region has been recaptured"
Ukrainian army have restored control of the whole territory around the capital, Kiev. According to a recent Facebook post by Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, Ganna Maliar. "The invader has freed the settlements of Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel and the whole Kiev area," Maliar stated.
Ceasefire ordered for Mariupol
According to the Ukrainian army, Russian troops continue their offensive with air support and the use of high-precision weapons. The Russian side is trying to encircle the capital Kyiv and the metropolis Kharkiv, it said on Saturday night.
The city of Mariupol, with a population of 440,000, was also under pressure. Mayor Wadym Boitschenko spoke on Telegram on Saturday night of a “blockade” and said he hoped for a humanitarian corridor out of the city.
In the east, Russian troops plan to create a land corridor from the separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk to the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia, and the defense of the city of Mariupul is also under pressure. But Ukrainian forces are fighting back and inflicting defeats on attackers.
The account cannot be independently verified, nor can Russian information. The Russian agency Tass reported that the Ukrainian army had shelled two settlements in the self-declared People's Republic of Luhansk three times within 24 hours. Details on possible victims or damage are not yet available.
Reliable information about the war is likely to become even more sparse. In response to a new media law in Russia, several international broadcasters and agencies are shutting down all or part of their work there, including CNN, the BBC and Canadian broadcaster CBC .
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed several laws on Friday evening, according to which "false information" about the Russian armed forces could be imprisoned. In the Ukrainian war zone, on the other hand, journalists are in danger. A television crew from British broadcaster Sky News came under fire near Kyiv on Friday.
Ceasefire for humanitarian corridor
The Russian Defense Ministry has ordered a ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine to allow civilians to be evacuated from the cities besieged by Russian forces. From 8:00 a.m. CET onwards, the guns will be silent and humanitarian corridors will be opened to civilians, the Defense Ministry said in Moscow on Saturday morning.
The port city of Mariupol, with half a million inhabitants, and the small town of Wolnowacha have been under military pressure from the advancing Russian army for days. The mayor of Mariupol, Wadym Boitschenko, had previously drawn attention to the dramatic situation for the people in his city in appeals to the public.
After days of attacks, Mariupol is now under a Russian blockade, said Boichenko. "At the moment we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and possible ways to free Mariupol from the blockade, " he told Telegram. The priority is a ceasefire "to get food and medicine into the city."
Putin said that Russia's operation in Ukraine is proceeding as planned
Russia's military operations in Ukraine are proceeding as planned, according to the Russian president, who saluted the country's servicemen as heroes.
"I want to state unequivocally that the special military operation is proceeding exactly as planned," Putin said as he opened a meeting with his security council.
"We are at war with neo-Nazis," Russian President Vladimir Putin declared, adding, "I will never abandon my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people."
Canada imposes taxes on Russia and Belarus in response to their "barbaric conflict."
In reaction to escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine, which have driven at least one million people to evacuate the country, Canada has stripped Russia and Belarus of their status as "most favoured nation" trading partners.
Moscow and Kyiv agree on "humanitarian corridors"
In a second round of talks, Russia and Ukraine agreed to establish humanitarian corridors in especially difficult-to-reach parts of Ukraine. That's what both sides' spokesmen said following the meeting. A third round of talks should begin soon.
At the same time, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak emphasised that the conference in the Belarusian-Polish border area did not provide the desired outcomes. Vladimir Medinsky, the chairman of the Russian team, hinted of a "potential temporary halt of hostilities" in the affected districts during the evacuation.
Biden fears that Russia wants to overthrow the Ukrainian government
For the time being, US President Joe Biden does not wish to remove Russia from the Swift international payment system. However, this step remains an option, as Biden emphasized in his speech at the White House on Thursday evening, in which he announced "tough" sanctions imposed by the G7 industrialized countries in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including the exclusion of major Russian banks from the US financial market. Furthermore, "more than half of Russia's high-tech imports should be prohibited." The Americans' specific possibilities presume that Russia intends to destabilize the Kiev administration as part of its campaign on Ukraine.
Russian military seizes control of Chernobyl:
According to Ukrainian reports, the Russian military has seized control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear reactor. After "bitter" battle, Russian military gained control of the territory around the nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak on Thursday evening. As a result, the accident reactor can no longer be considered safe; it is now "one of Europe's most dangerous hazards." The Chernobyl incident on April 26, 1986 is widely regarded as the worst nuclear disaster in history. Hundreds of thousands of people were forcefully relocated. Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union at the time.
Kiev under rocket fire since early morning
According to Ukrainian authorities, the Russian military has taken heavy fire on Kiev. "Terrible Russian rocket assaults on Kiev," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
Russia started missile assaults around 4:00 a.m. local time, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a televised statement, he stated that both civilian and military targets will be targeted. "We are the only ones protecting our state this morning. The world's most powerful armed forces are observing from afar, just as they did yesterday "Zelenskyy stated. However, the Russian forces' advance had been slowed in most locations. In Kiev, a home is on fire.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia's military has opened fire on Kiev. "Terrible Russian rocket attacks on Kiev," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia launched missile attacks about 4:00 a.m. local time. He declared in a televised announcement that both civilian and military targets will be attacked. "This morning, we are the only ones safeguarding our state. The world's most powerful military forces are watching from afar, as they did yesterday "According to Zelenskyy. The Russian soldiers' advance, however, had been delayed in most areas. A house in Kiev is on fire.
*********************************
RT website is no longer working
The Anonymous hacking collective has declared a "cyber war" against Russian authorities.
Anonymous announced, "The Anonymous Collective is officially launching a cyber war against the Russian government."
They then stated that the Russia Today propaganda channel's website was no longer operational.
The "Chesno" public movement also stated that the RT website was offline.
Russian tanks near Kharkiv - both sides appear to be dead
Russia launched an air strike on Ukraine on Thursday night. According to Moscow, the only targets were military bases — although numerous Ukrainian sources mention civilian casualties. Attacks on military command centers have been reported in Kiev, which is also the capital.
"The military infrastructure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' air bases has been shut down," the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday morning, according to Russian news media. Currently, planes are avoiding Ukrainian airspace. Both sides report planes that have crashed.
Following the attack on the military airports, Ukrainian border guards reported a Russian tank invasion from Russia, Belarus, seized Crimea, and rebel territory.According to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of Russian military attacks. Other troops were hurt, and there were roughly 10 civilians among the dead. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military reported repelling an onslaught on the Luhansk area village of Shchastya and killing 50 "Russian invaders."
"The Ukrainian military forces are engaged in severe warfare," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aide Mykhailo Podoliak stated. "We have casualties," he added, without specifying how many. "Russian soldiers have been driven back in many areas." Ukrainian police hand out firearms to veterans of the Ukrainian army. According to Twitter reports, Russian tanks have already arrived in Kharkiv, Ukraine's easternmost city. According to Russia, insurgents have driven the Ukrainian army back three kilometers in the Donetsk area and a kilometer and a half in the Luhansk region.
******************************************************
NATO launches Eastern European defense plans
NATO initiates Eastern European defensive measures in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. As a result, the commander-in-chief of NATO's armed forces has considerable influence, including the ability to request and transfer troops. This was learned by the German news agency on Thursday from alliance circles.
Following Russia's invasion on Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) addressed a stern message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Putin inflicts pain and ruin on his close neighbors." "He is calling the peace order on our continent into question," Scholz remarked on Thursday afternoon.
In a phone call, he underlined Germany's complete support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Scholz, the G7 nations will now respond in a cohesive and unequivocal manner. On Thursday, he will fly to Brussels to meet with his most key allies.
***********************************************************
[08:32 GMT]
An activist in Russia's opposition has called for anti-war demonstrations.
An opposition activist in Russia has called for anti-war demonstrations in Russian towns later on Thursday.
"We'll be cleaning up this mess for years." Nobody, not even ourselves. But what about our children and grandchildren?" said Marina Litvinovich, a Moscow-based activist, on Facebook.[AL JAZEERA]
[08:06 GMT]
Russia says that air assaults that do not target Ukrainian cities pose no civilian threat: Report
According to the RIA Novosti news agency, Russia's defense ministry claims its air assaults on Ukraine are not targeting cities and pose no threat to people.
Earlier, Ukraine said that Russian shelling had killed at least eight people and injured nine more.[AL JAZEERA]
[08:00 GMT]
Subway stations in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, have been converted into makeshift shelters. According to witnesses in the city, the terminals are teeming with individuals carrying goods in groups.
The stations are packed, but not the trains, which continue to operate smoothly.
Ukrainians depart Kyiv: Photos of heavy traffic in the city emerged Thursday morning, with lengthy queues of automobiles leaving the city.
"While we hear those (air raid) sirens, you can image how terrified the inhabitants of this city are being jolted out of their beds by these thunderous explosions that have been taking place all around us," CNN's Matthew Chance said from Kyiv earlier today. (source: CNN)
Mariupol cash machine and gas station lines
[07:04 GMT]
Liz Cookman of Al Jazeera claims that there are long lines at cash machines and gas stations because people are worried about power and internet disruptions.
Despite the fact that air raid sirens were screaming across the city, crowded buses were still transporting people to work and school.(Source: AL JAZEERA)
Feb 24, 11: 23 am Central European Time
According to CNN, Ukraine's border guards report attacks on the border with Belarus.
A video shows a large column of tanks entering Ukraine at the Senkivka border crossing. The footage cannot be independently confirmed.
Approximately 30,000 Russian troops are now stationed in Belarus. It would be the shortest route to Kiev from Belarus.
Feb 24, 10:07 am
Ukraine's Foreign Minister claims early in the morning that Russia has begun a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Cities in Ukraine are under attack. Ukraine has declared war on Russia. The Ukrainian Civil Protection reported shelling in the Lviv area of the country's west. Lviv is located near the Polish border.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister claims early in the morning that Russia has begun a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Cities in Ukraine are under attack. Ukraine has declared war on Russia.
The Ukrainian Civil Protection reported shelling in the Lviv area of Ukraine's west. Lviv is located near the Polish border.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian soldiers, military command centers, and airfields in eastern Ukraine are under heavy Russian bombardment. According to the Ukrainian military, the air force is attempting to resist a Russian airstrike.
According to Ukrainian border soldiers, Belarus and Russia have attacked Ukraine's state boundary.
Russian troops assaulted border stations and patrols. There are also assaults from the Crimean peninsula, which has been annexed.