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Japan and Australia impose sanctions on Russia.

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Japan and Australia impose sanctions on Russia.

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https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-22-22/index.html

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Maureen Chowdhury, Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Jessie Yeung, Brad Lendon, Rob Picheta and Jeevan Ravindran, CNN

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February 22, 2022 Ukraine-Russia crisis news

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Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv are at their highest in years, with Russian President Vladimir Putin signing decrees recognizing two separatist pro-Moscow regions in Ukraine as independent, a provocative move as fears of an invasion mount. Follow here for the latest news updates.

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Vladimir Putin announces that a “special military operation” will begin in Ukraine.

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Vladimir Putin announces that a “special military operation” will begin in Ukraine.

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https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/2/23/22945781/russia-ukraine-putin-speech-transcript-february-22

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Why is Putin attacking Ukraine? He told us.

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In a recent speech, the Russian president laid out the nationalist ideas that animate him — and helped cause the Ukraine crisis.

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Russian Invasion of Ukraine starts

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/podcasts/the-daily/russian-invasion-ukraine-putin.html

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transcript

The Russian Invasion Begins

In the hours before the assault and during the attack itself, we heard from our correspondents in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Slovyansk, and in Moscow.

sabrina tavernise

This is Sabrina Tavernise. I'm in Kyiv, Ukraine, and it's about 11:20 at night. About an hour ago, we got information from some colleagues that there will likely be an attack tonight in Kyiv and in a number of other cities in Ukraine.

We're gathering all of our stuff together. I'm looking at an empty bag that I'm about to put a bunch of stuff in - a bunch of bottles of water, a little contraption that powers a computer off of a car battery, head lamp, a bunch of extra power supplies.

And the plan is to go into the bathrooms of this hotel. If there is a bombing, they are the furthest internal and away from the windows in the hotel, and there are big deep closets in front of them that are also protective.

Looking out the window at this beautiful city, it just started to rain, kind of misty. Really hard to imagine that there could be major damage in this city of millions of people.

I'm feeling nervous, and my adrenaline starts going, which means the way I focus and remember what I'm seeing and witness is to write down notes in my notebook with time stamps.

So here's the first one. It's 11:28 in Kyiv, and I'm putting all my gear into an empty bag.

[music]

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. The Russian assault on Ukraine has begun. Today: My colleagues in Kyiv, Slovyansk, and Moscow documented the hours leading up to the military operation and the attack itself. It's Thursday, February 24.

[THEME MUSIC]

anton troianovski

This is Anton Troianovski, Moscow bureau chief of The New York Times. It's 3:20 a.m. Moscow time, on Thursday, February 24th. We're all wondering, could this be it? Could this be the night?

About 3 and 1/2 hours ago, the Kremlin put out a statement saying that the Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine had asked the Kremlin for military help. But this feels like that type of moment that we've been waiting for a pretext for an invasion. And yeah, so it's such an unsettling feeling.

Walking through my neighborhood in central Moscow tonight, it looked totally normal. Everyone was just going about their business. The restaurants were full. And to think we could be on the verge of a horrific war is still I think not something that people can imagine. So for now, I'm staying up. All my colleagues in Ukraine are staying up, and we just have to wait.

[music]

sabrina tavernise

It's 1:51 a.m. in Kyiv, Ukraine. This country's president just gave a live address to his own nation and to the nation of Russia.

sabrina tavernise

In the beginning, he says that he called President Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Federation, and he said, quote, "The result was silence."

And then he said, "As a result, I want to address all of the citizens of Russia. I am speaking to you not as a president. I speak to you as a citizen of Ukraine. We are separated by more than 2,000 kilometers of mutual borders, along which 200,000 of your soldiers and 1,000 armored vehicles are standing. Your leadership has approved their step forward into the territory of another country. This step - this step could be the beginning of a big war on the European continent."

[music]

It was really a striking speech in which he essentially appealed to Russians to their sense of conscience, and told them that what they were getting on their televisions was a completely different version of the country he knew as Ukraine. He said -

sabrina tavernise

"You were told we are Nazis. But how can a people support Nazis that gave more than eight million lives for the victory over Nazism?"

sabrina tavernise

"You were told we hate Russian culture. How can one hate a culture, any culture? Neighbors always enrich each other culturally. However, that does not make them a single whole. It doesn't dissolve us into you. We are different, but that's not a reason to be enemies."

sabrina tavernise

"Note, I'm speaking to you now in the Russian language, but no one in Russia understands what I'm talking about."

[music]

sabrina tavernise

"Many of you have been in Ukraine. Many of you have relatives in Ukraine. Some studied in Ukrainian universities. You know Ukraine. Listen to yourselves. Listen to the voice of reason. The people of Ukraine want peace. The authorities in Ukraine want peace. They want it, and they are doing everything they can for it.

We don't need war. But if we are attacked, if someone attempts to take away our land, our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. We won't attack but defend ourselves. By attacking, you'll see our faces, not our backs. Our faces."

sabrina tavernise

"I know this speech of mine won't be shown on Russian TV. But the people of Russia need to see it. They need to know the truth. The truth is that this must be stopped before it is too late.

And if the leadership of Russia does not want to sit down at a table for peace with us, then maybe it will sit down at a table with you. Do Russians want war? I would very much like the answer to this question. But the answer depends only on you, the citizens of the Russian Federation."

anton troianovski

So an hour or two after the Kremlin made that announcement about the separatists, another remarkable thing happened, which is that President Zelensky of Ukraine released a speech, a video address, in the Russian language to Russians.

And it was really something to watch, really felt like a last ditch appeal for peace - Zelensky telling Russians that they are the only ones who can stop this horrific bout of violence from breaking out that Zelensky said could kill tens of thousands of people. But of course, the fact is they can't really influence it. They can't really influence anything in this country. It's a country run by President Putin.

[music]

sabrina tavernise

It's 3:28 a.m.

The hotel is quiet.

I'm going to open the window.

The rain stopped. The lights in the city are still on.

I'm going to get some sleep.

michael barbaro

We'll be right back.

[music]

[music]

anton troianovski

It's 6:20 a.m. in Moscow. Just a few minutes ago, Putin went on national television in the middle of the night to essentially all but declare war against Ukraine. He said he had ordered a special military operation to, quote, "demilitarize and de-nazify the country." He said he wanted to bring Ukrainian officials whom the Russians call neo-Nazis to justice.

It's something, obviously, I'm still processing. He called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms, and he threatened that any other countries who tried to interfere would face consequences, quote unquote, "unlike they've never seen before in their history."

[music]

sabrina tavernise

It's 5:09 a.m. I just heard an alert on my phone, and it sounds like it's started. There's a strange green light directly out of my window. I can see it on this horizon. I can't hear anything here in Kyiv.

I'm seeing my colleagues send little recordings -

sabrina tavernise

- saying it's begun.

sabrina tavernise

It looks like -

sabrina tavernise

- explosions.

sabrina tavernise

Kharkiv.

sabrina tavernise

I'm seeing other reports, several major cities.

sabrina tavernise

Oh my God. This is actually happening.

[music]

There's a very loud explosion just now, 5:37 a.m. The same spot over the horizon, it's glowing red.

I'm watching reports from other cities. Here's one from Mariupol by a journalist -

sabrina tavernise

It's a city on the southern coast, really close to Russia. There's just no way that Ukraine can fight this off. Russia's military is overwhelmingly stronger. It's just like they're coming in and attacking. And I'm just not sure how long Ukraine will be able to hold this off, if at all.

It's 7:07 a.m., and sirens are going off around Kyiv, what sounds like air raid sirens.

There's some smoke coming from the horizon.

There are reports of huge traffic snarls leaving the city going to Zhytomyr, headed West toward Poland.

Looks like buses are still running. There are growing signs that people are trying to leave the city.

[sounds of the city]

sabrina tavernise

My name is Sabrina. What's your name?

alex

Alex.

sabrina tavernise

Alex, nice to meet you, Alex. Where are you going today?

alex

Home.

sabrina tavernise

Where's home?

alex

Rivne region.

sabrina tavernise

Where is that in Ukraine?

alex

It's a western part of Ukraine.

sabrina tavernise

And you're waiting for a bus here?

alex

Yeah.

sabrina tavernise

Alex is sitting on a black bag and a very cloudy day.

[SOUNDS OF THE CITY]

A jet going overhead, it's very loud.

How are you feeling this morning, Alex?

alex

Horrible.

sabrina tavernise

Tell me about that.

alex

Our people, our military is now dying in Luhansk and Donetsk region, and that's horrible. Belarus, same thing. The tanks from Belarus started to attack us. So I don't know. I don't know what to do.

sabrina tavernise

How old are you, Alex?

alex

18.

sabrina tavernise

Will you come back to Kyiv, do you think, to help for -

alex

If it will be Russian, no.

sabrina tavernise

"If it will be Russian," meaning - oh, if Kyiv will be Russian, you won't come back, you mean?

alex

Yeah.

sabrina tavernise

Do you think that Kyiv will be Russian?

alex

Maybe by the evening, I think the half of Ukraine will be Russian.

sabrina tavernise

How are you feeling right now?

alex

I don't know what to say.

sabrina tavernise

I'm sorry, Alex.

alex

No words. Thank you.

sabrina tavernise

Good luck, Alex.

alex

Good luck to you.

[music]

michael barbaro

As of Thursday morning, the Ukrainian government said that more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers had died and that dozens had been wounded. Russia's defense ministry said it had disabled all of Ukraine's air defenses and air bases. But despite being severely outnumbered, Ukrainian forces continued to resist, telling the Times they had shot down six Russian fighter jets and a helicopter, and had held back Russian forces from two key cities.

Meanwhile, both the United Nations and the United States condemned Russia in the strongest possible terms. In a statement, President Biden said, quote, "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering." He added, "The world will hold Russia accountable."

We'll be right back.

Here's what else you need to know today. On Wednesday, Los Angeles County dropped the requirement that its 10 million residents wear masks indoors as long as they can show proof of vaccination. It was the latest major jurisdiction to lift Covid restrictions as infections plunge. The number of new cases in the U.S. has fallen 66% in the past two weeks.

And on Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service said it would purchase up to 148,000 gas-powered delivery trucks over the objections of the White House, which had encouraged it to invest in green technology.

The decision undercuts the climate goals of the Biden administration, which has pledged to transition the federal government's fleet of cars to electric vehicles. The Postal Service said it lacked the time and money to purchase tens of thousands of electric cars, a claim that the White House has disputed.

Today's episode was produced by Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Asthaa Chaturvedi and Sydney Harper. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Larissa Anderson, contains original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

[music]

That's it for The Daily. I'm Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

In the hours before the assault and during the attack itself, we heard from our correspondents in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Slovyansk, and in Moscow.

This episode contains strong language.
After months of escalating tensions, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia took to state television on Thursday to declare the start of a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

In the prelude to the invasion and as Russian troops launched their attacks, we spoke to our colleagues on the ground as they hunkered down to cover the fighting.

Image

Taking refuge in a metro station in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, after sirens sounded on Thursday. Credit... Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Transcripts of each episode are available by the next workday. You can find them at the top of the page. Here's how.

Sabrina Tavernise, Anton Troianovski and Michael Schwirtz contributed reporting.

The Daily is made by Lisa Tobin, Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Larissa Anderson, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Austin Mitchell, Dan Powell, Dave Shaw, Sydney Harper, Daniel Guillemette, Robert Jimison, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Kaitlin Roberts, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Anita Badejo, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Chelsea Daniel, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens and Rowan Niemisto.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Cliff Levy, Lauren Jackson, Julia Simon, Mahima Chablani, Sofia Milan, Desiree Ibekwe, Erica Futterman, Wendy Dorr, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli and Maddy Masiello.

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transcript In the hours before the assault and during the attack itself, we heard from our correspondents in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Slovyansk, and in Moscow. sabrina tavernise This is Sabrina Tavernise. I'm in Kyiv, Ukraine, and it's about 11:20 at night.

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Russia declares war on, and attacks Ukraine. 

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Russia declares war on, and attacks Ukraine. 

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https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-orders-military-operations-ukraine-demands-kyiv-forces-surrender-2022-02-24/

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KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides on Thursday after Moscow unleashed the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn televised address, explosions and gunfire were heard through the day in Ukraine's capital and elsewhere in the country, with at least 70 people reported killed.

The assault brought a calamitous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war over Russian demands for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe.

"This is a premeditated attack," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House as he unveiled harsh new sanctions, coordinated with allies, against Russian banks, oligarchs and state companies.

"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," he said.

In his address, Putin said he had ordered "a special military operation" to protect people, including Russian citizens, subjected to "genocide" in Ukraine - an accusation the West calls baseless propaganda.

"And for this we will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine," Putin said. read more

After nightfall, a picture was emerging of fierce fighting across multiple fronts. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy late on Thursday ordered a general mobilization, to be carried out within 90 days, "to ensure the defence of the state".

An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl former nuclear power plant, just 90 km (60 miles) north of Kyiv. The plant is along the shortest route from the Ukrainian capital to Belarus, where Moscow has staged troops.

There was also fighting at Hostomel airport, just outside Kyiv, where Russian paratroopers landed. A Ukrainian official later said the airfield had been recaptured, while a senior U.S. defence official said Russian forces were advancing closer to Kyiv.

Heavy exchanges of fire were also reported in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south.

The highway heading west out of Kyiv, home to 3 million people, was choked with traffic across five lanes as residents sought to escape, fearful of bombardments while stuck in their cars.

The U.N. refugee agency said an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians had fled their homes. Thousands were crossing into neighbouring countries, including Romania, Moldova, Poland and Hungary. read more

Some 57 people were killed and 169 were wounded on Thursday, Ukraine's health minister said, while the interior ministry said 13 border guards died when a Russian vessel shelled Ukraine's Zmiinyi Island, south of the Black Sea port of Odessa.

'NEW IRON CURTAIN'

The day began with missiles raining down on targets across Ukraine and reports of troops and armour pouring across the borders from Russia and Belarus to the north and east.

Zelenskiy called on Ukrainians to defend their country and said arms would be given to anyone prepared to fight.

"What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft. This is the sound of a new Iron Curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilised world," Zelenskiy said.

Putin, after referring earlier in his speech to Russia's powerful nuclear arsenal, warned: "Whoever tries to hinder us... should know that Russia's response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history."

Asked whether that threat was tantamount to threatening Russian use of nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said it was indeed understood as such, adding that Putin should also understand that NATO was a nuclear alliance.

Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to defend Ukraine, but Washington has reinforced its NATO allies in the region with extra troops and planes.

After consulting with the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations, Biden announced measures to impede Russia's ability to do business in the world's major currencies, along with sanctions against banks and state-owned enterprises.

Britain also targeted banks, as well as members of Putin's inner circle. European Union leaders said measures would include freezing Russian assets in the 27-nation bloc. read more

China remained out of step, however, rejecting the description of Russia's actions as an "invasion". read more

Russia is one of the world's biggest energy producers, and both it and Ukraine are among the top exporters of grain. War and sanctions will disrupt economies around the world already facing a crisis as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

European stocks dived to nine-month lows, but U.S. stocks ended higher after Biden's sanctions announcement. Brent oil earlier surged past $100/barrel for the first time since 2014.

'HANG THEM FROM BRIDGES'

Putin said he did not plan a military occupation, only to disarm Ukraine and purge it of nationalists, and his endgame remains unclear.

The senior U.S. defence official said Washington believed the invasion was intended to "decapitate" Zelenskiy's government. read more

But it is hard to see Ukrainians accepting leadership installed by Moscow.

"I think we must fight all those who invade our country so strongly," said one man stuck in traffic trying to leave Kyiv. "I would hang every single one of them from bridges."

A democratic nation of 44 million people, Ukraine is Europe's biggest country by area after Russia itself. It voted for independence at the fall of the Soviet Union and has recently stepped up efforts to join NATO and the European Union, aspirations that infuriate Moscow. read more

Putin, who denied for months that he was planning an invasion, has called Ukraine an artificial construct carved from Russia by its enemies - a characterisation Ukrainians see as an attempt to erase their more than 1,000-year-old history.

While many Ukrainians, particularly in the east, speak Russian as a native language, virtually all identify themselves as Ukrainian.

There was also some dissent in Russia. Police detained more than 1,600 taking part in anti-war rallies in 53 cities and authorities threatened to block media reports carrying "false information". read more

UKRAINIANS FLEE, SUPPORTERS PROTEST

In the southeastern port of Mariupol, near a frontline held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, local authorities said 26 people were wounded in shelling.

Civilians packed bags. "We are going into hiding," a woman said.

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said its forces had downed two Russian helicopters and seven other Russian aircraft and destroyed several Russian trucks, and a platoon from Russia's 74th Motor Rifles Brigade had surrendered. read more

Russia's defence ministry said it had destroyed 83 land-based Ukrainian targets and had achieved all its goals, according to Interfax news agency.

Protests against Russia's invasion were held in Europe and the United States. At a demonstration in New York's Time Square, Ivana Lotoshynski, who was born in Ukraine, urged solidarity with Ukrainians.

"People are losing their lives right now. Ukrainians are fighting against this regime from Russia and it's really devastating," she said. "Today I think everybody is Ukrainian."

Reporting by Natalia Zinets and Aleksandar Vasovic; Additional reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff, Alex Richardson and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Frank Jack Daniel and Rosalba O'Brien

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Aleksandar Vasovic

Thomson Reuters

Reports on the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Previously worked with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network as editor-trainer. While serving as a correspondent for the Associated Press covered the war in Kosovo in 1998-1999, the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia and Montenegro, insurgencies in North Macedonia and the Presevo Valley, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine. During the 1990s worked as an editor and correspondent at-large for Belgrade's Radio B92 covering wars in Croatia and Bosnia and peace processes between Israel and the Palestinian territories and in Northern Ireland. Awarded with APME Deadline Reporting Award in 2004 for the capture of Saddam.

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KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides on Thursday after Moscow unleashed the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

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President Biden has set sanctions on Russia as a response to the invasion of Ukraine. https://deadline.com/2022/02/joe-biden-russia-ukraine-1234958061/

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President Joe Biden, addressing the dire crisis in Ukraine, today said that he is imposing a series of new sanctions on Russia, the latest move in a geopolitical crisis over the widespread belief that Vladimir Putin is poised to launch a widespread move into the Eastern European country.

"This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine," Biden bluntly said, promising that "if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions." The speech by President Biden comes Tuesday as Russian President Putin officially called the 2014 Minsk Agreement dead and pulled his own diplomats out of Ukraine. (UPDATE, 2:19 PM PT: U.S Secretary of State Tony Blinken said in a press conference with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister that he has cancelled a planned February 24 meeting in Geneva with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov because of Russia's moves into Ukraine)

"Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors?" Biden added in his remarks of the ex-KGB agent, who clearly dreams of reuniting the former USSR geographically and geopolitically. "This is a flagrant violation of international law, and it demands a firm response from the international community," Biden declared as the NATO alliance moved both economically and in terms of getting hardware to support Ukraine.
More Stories On Russia-Ukraine Conflict
These new sanctions come a day after Putin announced the recognition of two separatist regions of Ukraine as independent republics, a move widely viewed as a prelude to an attack. Indeed, Putin approved the movement of troops into the eastern regions as a "peacekeeping" force, further escalating what may be a wider invasion.

Coming after a face-to-face meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister in the White House, Biden's brief speech from the East Room was delayed about an hour and 20 minutes from its originally scheduled start, perhaps underscoring the delicate task that the president faces in navigating the escalating crisis. Cable networks carried the speech live. Among broadcasters, ABC, NBC and Fox had special reports from the White House. CBS stayed with the UEFA Champions League pre match, at least on the West Coast.

The first "tranche" of sanctions, Biden said, would be on two Russian financial institutions, as well as Russian sovereign debt, which means that the country can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade debt on U.S. and European markets. He also said that sanctions would be imposed on Russian elites and their family members.

"Yesterday, the world heard clearly the full extent of Vladimir Putin's twisted rewrite of history," Biden said, referring to Putin's lengthy speech on Russian TV on Monday. Biden said that there was still time for diplomacy to avoid a "worst case scenario." In his sometimes rambling address, Putin also declared that the 2014 Minsk Agreement does "not exist" and pulled his diplomats out of Ukraine. The Russian leader also received approval from Russia's parliament to use military force outside of the country.

Other countries also have taken steps in response. Earlier on Tuesday, Germany halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia to western Europe. The UK implemented its own first round of sanctions against Russia and its leadership. Before Biden's speech, Japan announced they will hit Russia with sanctions like its fellow G7 members.

In the wake of Putin's speech, the White House on Monday had stopped short of calling Russia's movements an "invasion." But that changed on Tuesday morning, when deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, on CNN, called it "the beginning of an invasion."

Stocks stemmed losses as markets digested Biden's address. Indexes had turned pretty dour ahead of the speech and while it's not a bed of roses - the DJIA is down 387 points, or 1.1% - they are all off lows for the day.

While, U.S. financial markets were closed Monday for Presidents Day when Putin deployed troops into two breakaway pro-Moscow regions in eastern Ukraine, the economic impact of America and its allies' sanctions had a near immediate effect today.

The Nasdaq is currently off by 1.1%. The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 by 0.9% and 1.2%, respectively. Russia-Ukraine tensions have weighed on stocks in recent weeks and this isn't likely to be the last word. Today saw in a noteworthy spike in oil prices at a time of already high U.S. inflation and the market will remain jittery that retaliatory sanctions on Putin's regime could have widespread ripple effects on the global economy.

This afternoon, Biden sternly slapped sanctions on big state-owned Russian investment bank VEB, froze trading of Russia sovereign debt, blocked the country's ability to raise funds in the west and targeted the finances of Russian elites and their family members in an attempt to pressure the leader. He didn't say how many, or how broad the list of oligarchs is. He also didn't yet sanction Russia's commercial banks, which would have the biggest impact on the overall economy. He's saving that to tighten the squeeze in case of further moves by Putin.

Biden said he was going to do the best he could to make sure the pain hit the "Russian economy, not ours," mainly by trying to ensure stable energy prices. Gasoline prices are matter of political expediency for the President. "I want to blunt the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me," he said.

The red ink encompassed most of media. Two exceptions are shares of Tegna, the big broadcaster that agreed to be acquired this morning, up 6%, and Roku, up 10%, in a rebound after disappointment earnings smacked the stock late last week.

In the wait for the Biden speech to start, CNN went multiple times to correspondents in Ukraine and Moscow, as well as the White House. John Harwood assessed the impact of U.S. sanctions. "This is going to be a long slog, the results of which are going to sting the pocketbook of the American people," he said.

Biden said that his administration "is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump. As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home. We need to be honest about that. But as we do this, I am going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours."
- Jill Goldsmith contributed to this report.
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Joe Biden Announces New Sanctions On Russia In Response To Vladimir Putin's Start Of An "Invasion Of Ukraine"

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President Joe Biden, addressing the dire crisis in Ukraine, today said that he is imposing a series of new sanctions on Russia, the latest move in a geopolitical crisis over the widespread belief that Vladimir Putin is poised to launch a widespread move into the Eastern European country.

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1)Russia deploys 28 battalion tactical groups near Ukraine.
2)Russia deploys 12 nuclear-capable ballistic missile launchers near Ukraine’s border.
3)Ukraine reports five enemy attacks in past day.
4)satellite images show islander missile batteries near Ukraine’s boarder.
5) no Ukrainian army casualties, two invaders were killed, and two wounded.

Wikipedia.

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Russia starts occupying the north of the country on its way to Kiev, and bombing the main military locations in the country and the main cities.

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https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-26-22/index.html

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By Adrienne Vogt, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Jeevan Ravindran, Peter Wilkinson, Jessie Yeung, Brad Lendon, Steve George, Meg Wagner, Amir Vera and Helen Regan, CNN

Updated 12:33 a.m. ET, February 27, 2022

What we're covering here

Massive explosions lit up the night sky near the Ukranian capital Kyiv early Sunday as Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian attempts to gain control of the historic city, despite overwhelming odds.

More than 120,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia's assault began Thursday, a UN official told CNN, and there are queues at a number of border crossings. The country will be closing its borders with Russia and Belarus beginning Monday.

The White House, along with several EU nations, also announced they would expel certain Russian banks from SWIFT, the high-security network connecting thousands of financial institutions around the world.

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity. You can read updates at CNN Español here, and scroll through photos on the ground here.

23 hr 18 min ago
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

23 hr 34 min ago
Military aid from Lithuania arrives in Ukraine

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said in a tweet early Sunday that military aid from the Baltic country has arrived in Ukraine.

"Shipment of Lithuanian military aid has reached Ukraine. Lithuania will continue rendering support to our dear friend Ukraine!" the tweet read.

South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) said North Korea's missile launch on Sunday is "undesirable" while the world is trying to resolve Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to the Blue House.

Following North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile on Sunday morning local time, the NSC held an emergency meeting where they expressed "deep concern and severe regret" over the launch, which is North Korea's eighth missile test in 2022.

The members said North Korea should respond to offers from the international community for a dialogue and urged the North to "immediately stop actions contrary to peaceful resolution through diplomacy."

Some context: Analysts suggest the increased testing this year shows leader Kim Jong Un is both striving to meet domestic goals and show an increasingly turbulent world that Pyongyang remains a player in the struggle for power and influence.

"North Korea is not going to do anyone the favor of staying quiet while the world deals with Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul, said following Sunday's test.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin called for "decisive action" aimed to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

Youngkin announced an immediate review of the state's procurement of all goods and services involving Russian companies and called for an end to statewide sister-city partnerships with Russia, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday.

The governor directed the state's General Services Department to review all contracts to ascertain whether state tax dollars are being spent on goods and services from primarily Russian companies.

The governor also called on the mayors of Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister-city partnerships with Kaliningrad and Pskov, respectively, and urged the Virginia Retirement System and university endowments to immediately divest Russian holdings.

"The invasion of Ukraine by Soviet dictator Vladimir Putin cannot stand, and the people of the Commonwealth are ready to rally in opposition to this senseless attack on a sovereign nation and western ideals," Youngkin said.
"Today, we are acting to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they defend their country. And while these are important steps, it is incumbent upon President (Joe) Biden to take a stronger, more decisive leadership position to end this war."

Russia has launched a brutal and unprovoked military attack on Ukraine. Now, Ukraine's outgunned forces are fighting to hold onto the capital city Kyiv and the country's independence.

CNN follows how the invasion unfolded, from the first explosions near the capital in the early hours before dawn on Thursday, to residents facing a gut-wrenching decision of whether to flee their homes, and Ukrainians surveying the damage of alleged Russian airstrikes as they braced for intensifying conflict.
Read CNN's interactive:

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said a nine-story residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv was hit by "enemy artillery" on Saturday night, killing one woman.

The emergency service said the building was extensively damaged and about 80 people were rescued. Most had been sheltering in the basement.

Cities across the world have seen rallies in support of Ukraine this weekend as the invasion by Russian forces continues.

In the US, crowds gathered on Saturday in cities including Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York.

New York: Olga Ladygima, who is from Kyiv, told CNN at a rally in Times Square she hasn't slept for the last three nights, worrying about her loved ones who remain in Ukraine.

"I think that the whole world right now needs to unite," Ladygima said, adding: "Now is the time to say no and stop one person who keeps in fear the whole world."

Some Ukrainian supporters, like Merrick Brown, whose great-grandparents came to the US from Ukraine, think the international community should do more.

"I believe the US and NATO should provide military assistance to Ukraine," Brown, who also attended the Times Square rally, said. He described the demonstration as peaceful and "more pro-Ukraine than anti-Russia."

Atlanta: Dozens of people gathered downtown for a "Stand with Ukraine" rally. Some attendees wore blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, while others carried signs that read, "Pray for Ukraine."

Ukrainian Anton Kilpa, whose parents live in Kyiv, told CNN affiliate WGCL, learned the invasion had begun when a Canadian-Ukrainian friend called him earlier this week, just before bed, and told him to phone his parents immediately.

"It was hard to believe," Kilpa told WGCL. "It was (a) new reality."

Washington, DC: Another crowd demonstrated in front of the White House. One demonstrator, JP Wheeler, said he was "just a concerned citizen" with no personal ties to Ukraine. "No family or friends, just a human connection and a desire to support the Ukrainians and (their) struggle," Wheeler said.

A couple miles away, Eleanor Shiori Hughes, a graduate student at Georgetown University, left flowers on the steps of the Ukrainian embassy, where a sign read "Long Live Free Ukraine."
Read more here:

9:45 p.m. ET, February 26, 2022
Protests across the world show support for Ukraine

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to shock the world, people all over the planet are watching in horror and disbelief.

Rallies, vigils and prayer meetings are being held across the globe in support of Ukraine. Many of those attending have personal or family ties to the country. And they're asking world leaders to stop Russia's attack.

From Berlin to Buenos Aires, Moscow to Minneapolis, people are showing their anger at the Russian invasion and solidarity for the Ukrainian people.
See the protests in pictures here:

Heavy gunfire in a western district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday evening killed a six-year-old boy and injured several other people, according to a local hospital.

Serhii Chernysuk, a doctor at Kyiv's Okhmatdyt hospital, said the injured included two teenagers and three adults.

What we're covering here

Massive explosions lit up the night sky near the Ukranian capital Kyiv early Sunday as Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian attempts to gain control of the historic city, despite overwhelming odds.

More than 120,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia's assault began Thursday, a UN official told CNN, and there are queues at a number of border crossings. The country will be closing its borders with Russia and Belarus beginning Monday.

The White House, along with several EU nations, also announced they would expel certain Russian banks from SWIFT, the high-security network connecting thousands of financial institutions around the world.

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity. You can read updates at CNN Español here, and scroll through photos on the ground here.

23 hr 18 min ago
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

23 hr 34 min ago
Military aid from Lithuania arrives in Ukraine

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said in a tweet early Sunday that military aid from the Baltic country has arrived in Ukraine.

"Shipment of Lithuanian military aid has reached Ukraine. Lithuania will continue rendering support to our dear friend Ukraine!" the tweet read.

South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) said North Korea's missile launch on Sunday is "undesirable" while the world is trying to resolve Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to the Blue House.

Following North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile on Sunday morning local time, the NSC held an emergency meeting where they expressed "deep concern and severe regret" over the launch, which is North Korea's eighth missile test in 2022.

The members said North Korea should respond to offers from the international community for a dialogue and urged the North to "immediately stop actions contrary to peaceful resolution through diplomacy."

Some context: Analysts suggest the increased testing this year shows leader Kim Jong Un is both striving to meet domestic goals and show an increasingly turbulent world that Pyongyang remains a player in the struggle for power and influence.

"North Korea is not going to do anyone the favor of staying quiet while the world deals with Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul, said following Sunday's test.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin called for "decisive action" aimed to support Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

Youngkin announced an immediate review of the state's procurement of all goods and services involving Russian companies and called for an end to statewide sister-city partnerships with Russia, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday.

The governor directed the state's General Services Department to review all contracts to ascertain whether state tax dollars are being spent on goods and services from primarily Russian companies.

The governor also called on the mayors of Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister-city partnerships with Kaliningrad and Pskov, respectively, and urged the Virginia Retirement System and university endowments to immediately divest Russian holdings.

"The invasion of Ukraine by Soviet dictator Vladimir Putin cannot stand, and the people of the Commonwealth are ready to rally in opposition to this senseless attack on a sovereign nation and western ideals," Youngkin said.
"Today, we are acting to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they defend their country. And while these are important steps, it is incumbent upon President (Joe) Biden to take a stronger, more decisive leadership position to end this war."

Russia has launched a brutal and unprovoked military attack on Ukraine. Now, Ukraine's outgunned forces are fighting to hold onto the capital city Kyiv and the country's independence.

CNN follows how the invasion unfolded, from the first explosions near the capital in the early hours before dawn on Thursday, to residents facing a gut-wrenching decision of whether to flee their homes, and Ukrainians surveying the damage of alleged Russian airstrikes as they braced for intensifying conflict.
Read CNN's interactive:

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said a nine-story residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv was hit by "enemy artillery" on Saturday night, killing one woman.

The emergency service said the building was extensively damaged and about 80 people were rescued. Most had been sheltering in the basement.

Cities across the world have seen rallies in support of Ukraine this weekend as the invasion by Russian forces continues.

In the US, crowds gathered on Saturday in cities including Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York.

New York: Olga Ladygima, who is from Kyiv, told CNN at a rally in Times Square she hasn't slept for the last three nights, worrying about her loved ones who remain in Ukraine.

"I think that the whole world right now needs to unite," Ladygima said, adding: "Now is the time to say no and stop one person who keeps in fear the whole world."

Some Ukrainian supporters, like Merrick Brown, whose great-grandparents came to the US from Ukraine, think the international community should do more.

"I believe the US and NATO should provide military assistance to Ukraine," Brown, who also attended the Times Square rally, said. He described the demonstration as peaceful and "more pro-Ukraine than anti-Russia."

Atlanta: Dozens of people gathered downtown for a "Stand with Ukraine" rally. Some attendees wore blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, while others carried signs that read, "Pray for Ukraine."

Ukrainian Anton Kilpa, whose parents live in Kyiv, told CNN affiliate WGCL, learned the invasion had begun when a Canadian-Ukrainian friend called him earlier this week, just before bed, and told him to phone his parents immediately.

"It was hard to believe," Kilpa told WGCL. "It was (a) new reality."

Washington, DC: Another crowd demonstrated in front of the White House. One demonstrator, JP Wheeler, said he was "just a concerned citizen" with no personal ties to Ukraine. "No family or friends, just a human connection and a desire to support the Ukrainians and (their) struggle," Wheeler said.

A couple miles away, Eleanor Shiori Hughes, a graduate student at Georgetown University, left flowers on the steps of the Ukrainian embassy, where a sign read "Long Live Free Ukraine."
Read more here:

9:45 p.m. ET, February 26, 2022
Protests across the world show support for Ukraine

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to shock the world, people all over the planet are watching in horror and disbelief.

Rallies, vigils and prayer meetings are being held across the globe in support of Ukraine. Many of those attending have personal or family ties to the country. And they're asking world leaders to stop Russia's attack.

From Berlin to Buenos Aires, Moscow to Minneapolis, people are showing their anger at the Russian invasion and solidarity for the Ukrainian people.
See the protests in pictures here:

Heavy gunfire in a western district of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday evening killed a six-year-old boy and injured several other people, according to a local hospital.

Serhii Chernysuk, a doctor at Kyiv's Okhmatdyt hospital, said the injured included two teenagers and three adults.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
By Adrienne Vogt, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Jeevan Ravindran, Peter Wilkinson, Jessie Yeung, Brad Lendon, Steve George, Meg Wagner, Amir Vera and Helen Regan, CNN

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday. A battle is underway for control of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. The US has warned Russia is seeking to encircle the city, and a Ukrainian official said it has been hit by missiles. Follow here for live news updates from the ground in Ukraine.

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Around 368,000 Ukrainians have already fled the country to Poland, Hungary, Romania, etc.

https://www.npr.org/live-updates/russia-invades-ukraine-live-updates

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Governments, private businesses and global organizations took more measures to protest Russia's actions against Ukraine. The European Union is sending military aid to the besieged nation, and a British energy giant is cutting ties to a Russian oil company.

More of the weekend's developments:

Follow the latest news on the invasion below.

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Russia invades Ukraine live updates for Sunday, Feb. 27

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Governments, private businesses and global organizations took more measures to protest Russia's actions against Ukraine. The European Union is sending military aid to the besieged nation, and a British energy giant is cutting ties to a Russian oil company. More of the weekend's developments: Follow the latest news on the invasion below.

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Russia’s invasion on Ukraine has been slowed by forces from the U.S. and the EU. https://time.com/6151861/russia-invasion-slows-ukraine/

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Russian Invasion Slows in the Face of Fierce Ukrainian Resistance

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Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.

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Ukraine starts giving weapons to civilians, having a curfew and trying to stop adult males to leave the country.

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Putin puts Nuclear Deterrence Forces on “high alert”.

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Putin puts Nuclear Deterrence Forces on “high alert”.

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https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/27/ukraine-holds-on-to-kyiv-as-dawn-breaks-as-us-and-europe-impose-massive-new-sanctions.html

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Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert Sunday amid a growing global backlash against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite the escalation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said representatives for Ukraine and Russia have agreed to meet on the Ukraine-Belarus border "with no preconditions."

Meanwhile, the Russian advance into Ukraine continues. Russian military vehicles entered Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv with reports of fighting taking place and residents being warned to stay in shelters.

The capital of Kyiv remained under Ukrainian control, with a key official in Kyiv's city administration asserting that "the capital is completely controlled by the Ukrainian army and defense."

Here are links to additional CNBC coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

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Putin orders Russian nuclear deterrence forces on high alert; Ukraine and Russia delegations to meet

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Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert Sunday amid a growing global backlash against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite the escalation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said representatives for Ukraine and Russia have agreed to meet on the Ukraine-Belarus border "with no preconditions."

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Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

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Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

24 February

On or about 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow time, UTC+3) on 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced in a prerecorded television broadcast that he had ordered "a special military operation" in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missile strikes occurred at dozens of cities across the country,[3] including Ukraine's capital Kyiv.[4] The Ukrainian Border Service stated shortly thereafter that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were under attack.[5][6] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law at around 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3).

At 03:35 (UTC+2), Russian forces reportedly encircled the city of Konotop and put it under siege. Despite Russian attempts to capture Konotop, the city held out and Russian forces were repelled. Russian equipment was burning on the morning of 25 February.

Around 16:00 (UTC+2), Russian helicopter-borne troops captured Antonov Airport.[7] However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.[8]

Around 17:00 UTC (20:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat.[9]

At 22:00 (01:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces had captured Snake Island in the Black Sea following naval and air bombardment.[10]

17 civilians were confirmed killed, including 13 killed in Southern Ukraine,[11] three in Mariupol and one in Kharkiv.[12] At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were reported dead during the strikes.[13]

Russia reported that two civilian ships were bombed, resulting in the death of several people on board.[14]

In his second address on the war, United States president Joe Biden announced the total freezing of the assets of several Russian banks in the U.S. (including Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second largest, respectively). He did not levy sanctions against Putin himself, however, nor call for Russia to be decoupled from the global SWIFT banking exchange.[15] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces 137 dead and 316 wounded.[16]

25 February

By 01:24 (UTC+2), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days.[17][18] He announced that all Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 were banned from leaving the country.[19][18]

At 03:27 (UTC+2), a captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade[20] and a reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade[21] surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv.

At 05:14 (UTC+2), a Russian rocket strike hit a Ukrainian border post in the village of Prymors'kyi Posad, Pryazovske Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[22][23] Ukrainian casualties were reported.[23]

At 05:40 (UTC+2), Russian military equipment began moving through the Sumy Raion.[24] There was also fighting just outside of Okhtyrka that began at 07:30 (UTC+3).

At 06:25 (UTC+2), a gas pipeline in Starobilsk was cut off due to shelling from the Russian army.[25]

At 06:46 (UTC+2), Rivne International Airport in Rivne was struck by a Russian missile, causing minor damage.[26][27]

At 06:47 (UTC+2), a Ukrainian army unit detonated a bridge in Ivankiv near Kyiv, stopping the advance of a Russian tank column.[28][29][30] Additionally, groups of Russian soldiers were seen marching through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer, also in Kyiv Oblast.[citation needed ]

At 08:15 (UTC+2), the Russian army reached Kherson.[31][32][33]

At 08:34 (UTC+2), the Ukrainian army repelled an attack by the Russian army in Chernihiv and seized Russian equipment and documents.[34]

At 08:43 (UTC+2), the Russian army unblocked the North Crimean Canal, restoring water supply to Crimea, which had been lost in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.[31]

At 09:01 (UTC+2), a column of Russian soldiers was defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk and retreated.[35]

At 10:30 (UTC+2), Russian forces entered Melitopol. The city was shelled and street fighting ensued. Melitopol's leadership surrendered later in the day and the city came under Russian control.

At 14:25 (UTC+2), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had surrounded Chernihiv and were blockading the city.[36] Britain's Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces failed to capture Chernihiv and instead took another route to Kyiv.

Around Friday morning, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Russian forces had attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region. In a statement on Twitter, he stated that, "Today's Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute. Together with the General Prosecutor's Office we are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague."[37]

By mid-morning, Russian troops and armor reached the northern district of Kyiv, whereupon the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to make Molotov cocktails.[38] Numerous "wake-up explosion sounds" were reported.[39] The London Stock Exchange Group suspended the trading privileges of VTB Bank,[40] and the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency Tether became popular amongst Ukrainians,[41] currency trading having been suspended by the Central Bank of Ukraine upon Thursday's declaration of martial law.

A Ukrainian bombardment was launched against the Millerovo air base in Russia, which resulted in fires. According to Ukrainian officials, two Russian Air Force planes were destroyed.[42][43]

Later in the day, the NATO Response Force was activated for the first time as a defensive measure against the invasion.[44]

26 February

At 00:00 UTC, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv.[45] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv.[46] A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.[47] However, no evidence verifying either of the events was released.

Around 03:00, more than 48 explosions in 30 minutes were reported around Kyiv, as the Ukrainian military was reported to be fighting near the CHP-6 power station in the northern neighbourhood of Troieshchyna.[48] The BBC reported the attack may be an attempt to cut off electricity to the city. Heavy fighting was reported near the Kyiv Zoo and the Shuliavka neighbourhood. Early on 26 February, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on an army base located on Peremohy Avenue, a main road in Kyiv;[49] it also claimed to have repelled a Russian assault on the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea.[50]

27 February

Overnight, a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack,[51] while an oil depot in the village of Kriachky near Vasylkiv ignited after being hit by missiles.[52] Heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.[53] The Presidential Office claimed that the Zhuliany Airport was also bombed.[54] Russian-backed separatists in Luhansk province claimed an oil terminal in the town of Rovenky was hit by a Ukrainian missile.[55] Later, President Putin directed the Russian Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty."[56] Several Russian banks were removed from SWIFT,[57] and Turkey proclaimed that a state of war exists in the Black Sea, allowing it to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.[58]

28 February

Donetsk People's Republic suspended general mobilization, saying no additional troops are needed.[59]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Timeline of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

# data[].attributes.body
Russia invaded Ukraine at 10 pm. Earlier Ukraine’s government declared a state of emergency, calling up 36000 reserve troops.
Rocanews on Instagram

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What other nations will provide aid to Ukraine?

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What other nations will provide aid to Ukraine?

# data[].attributes.headline
What is the United States doing while Ukraine is busy fighting?

# data[].attributes.subject
What is the United States doing while Ukraine is busy fighting?

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081952588/russia-ukraine-harris-sanctions
Russia is amassing troops on the Ukraine border An invasion is imminent.

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As fears grow of a Russian invasion of his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is proposing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, that's why I proposed to meet," Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

"We are ready to sit down and speak. Pick the platform that you like," Zelenskyy said. "What is the point of us shooting and proposing diplomacy at the same time?"

The Kremlin does not yet appear to have responded to Zelenskyy's proposal as of Saturday evening ET.

"All we care about is peace," Zelenskyy said.

Vice President Harris vows swift and severe sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

Vice President Harris on Saturday met with Zelenskyy and assured him that the U.S. takes Russian threats against Ukraine seriously and that economic sanctions against Moscow would be "swift and severe" if Russia invades Ukraine.

"The United States takes seriously the importance of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and your sovereignty," Harris told Zelenskyy before their meeting. "If Russia further invades your country, as I mentioned earlier today, we will impose swift and severe economic sanctions."

Harris also emphasized that the U.S. prefers a diplomatic solution. Zelenskyy agreed and said, "The only thing we want is to have peace, bring peace back to our country."

Zelenskyy specifically mentioned support from the U.S. for Ukraine's army and said that the aid was not just going toward his country, but also that "we are protecting Europe." He said he was looking forward to speaking more with Harris about military support and economic sanctions on Russia.

In a speech at the conference earlier Saturday, Harris said Russia's actions "do not match their words" when it comes to solving the conflict diplomatically and said the U.S. and its allies remain ready to respond if Russia chooses to invade Ukraine.

"We will target Russia's financial institutions and key industries. And we will target those who are complicit and those who aid and abet this unprovoked invasion," Harris said.

"Make no mistake: The imposition of these sweeping and coordinated measures will inflict great damage on those who must be held accountable. And we will not stop with economic measures. We will further reinforce our NATO allies on the eastern flank," she said.

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Munich, Zelenskyy said his country was resilient and noted that the conflict with Russia has been going for many years.

"We're not panicking, we are not responding to any provocations," he said. "When our soldiers are being killed, we know we need to respond, but we understand who is killing us, what these military groups are."

In a statement following Harris' meeting with Zelenskyy, the White House said its national security team stood by its assertion that a Russian attack on Ukraine could happen at any time.

President Biden will hold a National Security Council meeting on Sunday about the situation in Ukraine, press secretary Jen Psaki said on Saturday.

In a drill, Russia launches ballistic and cruise missiles

Also on Saturday, Russia conducted a "strategic deterrence forces exercise," which involved launching ballistic and cruise missiles. Putin oversaw the exercises personally in the Kremlin's situation room, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The large-scale drills were announced on Friday.

The Kremlin says the exercise was to "check the readiness of command and control structures, combat launch crews, combat ship and strategic missile carrier crews" and to test the reliability of strategic nuclear and non-nuclear forces.

On the border, tensions remain high. On Saturday, The Associated Press and Reuters reported that top Ukrainian officials were fired at in a conflict zone in eastern Ukraine and had to flee to a bomb shelter. Davyd Arakhamia, a Ukrainian politician in Zelenskyy's party, was one of the officials present, as were foreign journalists. There were reportedly no injuries.

Overnight, one Ukrainian soldier was killed in the Donetsk region, marking the first casualty since January. He died of a shrapnel wound to the head.

And Russian-led forces have fired on a checkpoint in the Luhansk region, where a convoy of humanitarian aid from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees was moving from the temporarily uncontrolled territory, according to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhniy.

NPR's Franco Ordoñez and Monika Evstatieva contributed to this report.

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Ukraine President Zelenskyy proposes to meet with Putin as tensions with Russia grow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As fears grow of a Russian invasion of his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is proposing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, that's why I proposed to meet," Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

# data[].attributes.body
Missile strikes start on all of Ukraine including its capital

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

24 February

On or about 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow time, UTC+3) on 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced in a prerecorded television broadcast that he had ordered "a special military operation" in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missile strikes occurred at dozens of cities across the country,[3] including Ukraine's capital Kyiv.[4] The Ukrainian Border Service stated shortly thereafter that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were under attack.[5][6] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law at around 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3).

At 03:35 (UTC+2), Russian forces reportedly encircled the city of Konotop and put it under siege. Despite Russian attempts to capture Konotop, the city held out and Russian forces were repelled. Russian equipment was burning on the morning of 25 February.

Around 16:00 (UTC+2), Russian helicopter-borne troops captured Antonov Airport.[7] However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.[8]

Around 17:00 UTC (20:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat.[9]

At 22:00 (01:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces had captured Snake Island in the Black Sea following naval and air bombardment.[10]

17 civilians were confirmed killed, including 13 killed in Southern Ukraine,[11] three in Mariupol and one in Kharkiv.[12] At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were reported dead during the strikes.[13]

Russia reported that two civilian ships were bombed, resulting in the death of several people on board.[14]

In his second address on the war, United States president Joe Biden announced the total freezing of the assets of several Russian banks in the U.S. (including Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second largest, respectively). He did not levy sanctions against Putin himself, however, nor call for Russia to be decoupled from the global SWIFT banking exchange.[15] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces 137 dead and 316 wounded.[16]

25 February

By 01:24 (UTC+2), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days.[17][18] He announced that all Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 were banned from leaving the country.[19][18]

At 03:27 (UTC+2), a captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade[20] and a reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade[21] surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv.

At 05:14 (UTC+2), a Russian rocket strike hit a Ukrainian border post in the village of Prymors'kyi Posad, Pryazovske Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[22][23] Ukrainian casualties were reported.[23]

At 05:40 (UTC+2), Russian military equipment began moving through the Sumy Raion.[24] There was also fighting just outside of Okhtyrka that began at 07:30 (UTC+3).

At 06:25 (UTC+2), a gas pipeline in Starobilsk was cut off due to shelling from the Russian army.[25]

At 06:46 (UTC+2), Rivne International Airport in Rivne was struck by a Russian missile, causing minor damage.[26][27]

At 06:47 (UTC+2), a Ukrainian army unit detonated a bridge in Ivankiv near Kyiv, stopping the advance of a Russian tank column.[28][29][30] Additionally, groups of Russian soldiers were seen marching through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer, also in Kyiv Oblast.[citation needed ]

At 08:15 (UTC+2), the Russian army reached Kherson.[31][32][33]

At 08:34 (UTC+2), the Ukrainian army repelled an attack by the Russian army in Chernihiv and seized Russian equipment and documents.[34]

At 08:43 (UTC+2), the Russian army unblocked the North Crimean Canal, restoring water supply to Crimea, which had been lost in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.[31]

At 09:01 (UTC+2), a column of Russian soldiers was defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk and retreated.[35]

At 10:30 (UTC+2), Russian forces entered Melitopol. The city was shelled and street fighting ensued. Melitopol's leadership surrendered later in the day and the city came under Russian control.

At 14:25 (UTC+2), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had surrounded Chernihiv and were blockading the city.[36] Britain's Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces failed to capture Chernihiv and instead took another route to Kyiv.

Around Friday morning, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Russian forces had attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region. In a statement on Twitter, he stated that, "Today's Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute. Together with the General Prosecutor's Office we are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague."[37]

By mid-morning, Russian troops and armor reached the northern district of Kyiv, whereupon the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to make Molotov cocktails.[38] Numerous "wake-up explosion sounds" were reported.[39] The London Stock Exchange Group suspended the trading privileges of VTB Bank,[40] and the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency Tether became popular amongst Ukrainians,[41] currency trading having been suspended by the Central Bank of Ukraine upon Thursday's declaration of martial law.

A Ukrainian bombardment was launched against the Millerovo air base in Russia, which resulted in fires. According to Ukrainian officials, two Russian Air Force planes were destroyed.[42][43]

Later in the day, the NATO Response Force was activated for the first time as a defensive measure against the invasion.[44]

26 February

At 00:00 UTC, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv.[45] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv.[46] A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.[47] However, no evidence verifying either of the events was released.

Around 03:00, more than 48 explosions in 30 minutes were reported around Kyiv, as the Ukrainian military was reported to be fighting near the CHP-6 power station in the northern neighbourhood of Troieshchyna.[48] The BBC reported the attack may be an attempt to cut off electricity to the city. Heavy fighting was reported near the Kyiv Zoo and the Shuliavka neighbourhood. Early on 26 February, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on an army base located on Peremohy Avenue, a main road in Kyiv;[49] it also claimed to have repelled a Russian assault on the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea.[50]

27 February

Overnight, a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack,[51] while an oil depot in the village of Kriachky near Vasylkiv ignited after being hit by missiles.[52] Heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.[53] The Presidential Office claimed that the Zhuliany Airport was also bombed.[54] Russian-backed separatists in Luhansk province claimed an oil terminal in the town of Rovenky was hit by a Ukrainian missile.[55] Later, President Putin directed the Russian Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty."[56] Several Russian banks were removed from SWIFT,[57] and Turkey proclaimed that a state of war exists in the Black Sea, allowing it to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.[58]

28 February

Donetsk People's Republic suspended general mobilization, saying no additional troops are needed.[59]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Timeline of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

# data[].attributes.body
The US will move 20,000 soldiers to Europe in the upcoming months.

Euractiv.com

# data[].attributes.body
Russia invades Ukraine and middle strikes the country.
- source, the Wall Street journal

# data[].attributes.headline
Putin acknowledges the existence of a pro-Russian Ukraine region.

# data[].attributes.subject
Putin acknowledges the existence of a pro-Russian Ukraine region.

# data[].attributes.body
Source: Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.body
ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days. Also that every male 18-60 is banned from leaving.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

24 February

On or about 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow time, UTC+3) on 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced in a prerecorded television broadcast that he had ordered "a special military operation" in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missile strikes occurred at dozens of cities across the country,[3] including Ukraine's capital Kyiv.[4] The Ukrainian Border Service stated shortly thereafter that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were under attack.[5][6] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law at around 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3).

At 03:35 (UTC+2), Russian forces reportedly encircled the city of Konotop and put it under siege. Despite Russian attempts to capture Konotop, the city held out and Russian forces were repelled. Russian equipment was burning on the morning of 25 February.

Around 16:00 (UTC+2), Russian helicopter-borne troops captured Antonov Airport.[7] However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.[8]

Around 17:00 UTC (20:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat.[9]

At 22:00 (01:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces had captured Snake Island in the Black Sea following naval and air bombardment.[10]

17 civilians were confirmed killed, including 13 killed in Southern Ukraine,[11] three in Mariupol and one in Kharkiv.[12] At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were reported dead during the strikes.[13]

Russia reported that two civilian ships were bombed, resulting in the death of several people on board.[14]

In his second address on the war, United States president Joe Biden announced the total freezing of the assets of several Russian banks in the U.S. (including Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second largest, respectively). He did not levy sanctions against Putin himself, however, nor call for Russia to be decoupled from the global SWIFT banking exchange.[15] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces 137 dead and 316 wounded.[16]

25 February

By 01:24 (UTC+2), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days.[17][18] He announced that all Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 were banned from leaving the country.[19][18]

At 03:27 (UTC+2), a captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade[20] and a reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade[21] surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv.

At 05:14 (UTC+2), a Russian rocket strike hit a Ukrainian border post in the village of Prymors'kyi Posad, Pryazovske Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[22][23] Ukrainian casualties were reported.[23]

At 05:40 (UTC+2), Russian military equipment began moving through the Sumy Raion.[24] There was also fighting just outside of Okhtyrka that began at 07:30 (UTC+3).

At 06:25 (UTC+2), a gas pipeline in Starobilsk was cut off due to shelling from the Russian army.[25]

At 06:46 (UTC+2), Rivne International Airport in Rivne was struck by a Russian missile, causing minor damage.[26][27]

At 06:47 (UTC+2), a Ukrainian army unit detonated a bridge in Ivankiv near Kyiv, stopping the advance of a Russian tank column.[28][29][30] Additionally, groups of Russian soldiers were seen marching through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer, also in Kyiv Oblast.[citation needed ]

At 08:15 (UTC+2), the Russian army reached Kherson.[31][32][33]

At 08:34 (UTC+2), the Ukrainian army repelled an attack by the Russian army in Chernihiv and seized Russian equipment and documents.[34]

At 08:43 (UTC+2), the Russian army unblocked the North Crimean Canal, restoring water supply to Crimea, which had been lost in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.[31]

At 09:01 (UTC+2), a column of Russian soldiers was defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk and retreated.[35]

At 10:30 (UTC+2), Russian forces entered Melitopol. The city was shelled and street fighting ensued. Melitopol's leadership surrendered later in the day and the city came under Russian control.

At 14:25 (UTC+2), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had surrounded Chernihiv and were blockading the city.[36] Britain's Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces failed to capture Chernihiv and instead took another route to Kyiv.

Around Friday morning, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Russian forces had attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region. In a statement on Twitter, he stated that, "Today's Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute. Together with the General Prosecutor's Office we are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague."[37]

By mid-morning, Russian troops and armor reached the northern district of Kyiv, whereupon the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to make Molotov cocktails.[38] Numerous "wake-up explosion sounds" were reported.[39] The London Stock Exchange Group suspended the trading privileges of VTB Bank,[40] and the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency Tether became popular amongst Ukrainians,[41] currency trading having been suspended by the Central Bank of Ukraine upon Thursday's declaration of martial law.

A Ukrainian bombardment was launched against the Millerovo air base in Russia, which resulted in fires. According to Ukrainian officials, two Russian Air Force planes were destroyed.[42][43]

Later in the day, the NATO Response Force was activated for the first time as a defensive measure against the invasion.[44]

26 February

At 00:00 UTC, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv.[45] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv.[46] A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.[47] However, no evidence verifying either of the events was released.

Around 03:00, more than 48 explosions in 30 minutes were reported around Kyiv, as the Ukrainian military was reported to be fighting near the CHP-6 power station in the northern neighbourhood of Troieshchyna.[48] The BBC reported the attack may be an attempt to cut off electricity to the city. Heavy fighting was reported near the Kyiv Zoo and the Shuliavka neighbourhood. Early on 26 February, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on an army base located on Peremohy Avenue, a main road in Kyiv;[49] it also claimed to have repelled a Russian assault on the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea.[50]

27 February

Overnight, a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack,[51] while an oil depot in the village of Kriachky near Vasylkiv ignited after being hit by missiles.[52] Heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.[53] The Presidential Office claimed that the Zhuliany Airport was also bombed.[54] Russian-backed separatists in Luhansk province claimed an oil terminal in the town of Rovenky was hit by a Ukrainian missile.[55] Later, President Putin directed the Russian Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty."[56] Several Russian banks were removed from SWIFT,[57] and Turkey proclaimed that a state of war exists in the Black Sea, allowing it to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.[58]

28 February

Donetsk People's Republic suspended general mobilization, saying no additional troops are needed.[59]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Timeline of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

# data[].attributes.body
A barrage of missiles was fired upon the capital city Kiev, blowing a chunk out of one high rise apartment building which made numerous English headlines.

# data[].attributes.body
Russian forces start slowing invasion due to Ukraine’s increased fighting back (helped by bigger numbers of volunteers).

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/27/stiff-ukrainian-resistance-continues-to-hamper-russian-troops.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Stubborn Ukrainian resistance and logistic difficulties are hampering Russian attacks more than Moscow planners expected, and there's no indication the invading forces have managed to take any big Ukrainian cities, according to U.S. and U.K. officials.

"Russian forces are not making the progress they had planned. They are suffering from logistical challenges and strong Ukrainian resistance," the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said on its verified Twitter account.

"This is very dynamic and will change hour by hour."

U.S. Defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity

Ukrainian troops, assisted by volunteers, successfully repulsed an assault by Russian units on Kyiv in the early morning hours Saturday local time. Fighting has been reported in and around several Ukrainian cities.

The British report corroborates information shared with CNBC by a U.S. Department of Defense official on Friday.

"Russian forces are sustaining casualties and a number of Russian troops have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces," the U.K. ministry added.

That same U.S. Defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity on Saturday in Washington, said the Pentagon has no indication so far that the Russian military has taken control of any Ukrainian cities.

The situation in Ukraine is fluid, and individual military accounts are difficult or impossible to verify.

The official said that approximately half the Russian forces that Moscow had amassed along the borders before the invasion are now inside Ukraine. That's up from an estimate of one-third provided by the same official on Friday.

Russia is believed to have amassed 190,000 troops in the vicinity of Ukraine. The U.S. Defense official declined to elaborate on the rest of Russia's force posture, but said the Russians' "momentum continues to be slowed predominantly from a stiff Ukrainian resistance."

Ukraine's army has about 145,000-150,000 troops, according to a January report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

The heaviest fighting in Ukraine is currently around the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the U.S. official said, adding that the Russians are also meeting stiff resistance against the northern advance toward Kyiv.

"This is very dynamic and will change hour by hour," the official cautioned, adding that the estimate is a "snapshot in time."

A U.S. Defense Department official who spoke to CNBC on Saturday said the next tranche of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced earlier on Saturday, will include Javelin missiles.

The Javelin, manufactured by defense giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, is a portable, shoulder-fired missile designed to blow up tanks.

Separately, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised observers by saying his country will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 stinger missiles, marking a sharp reversal in Germany's arms-export policy.

Like Javelins, Stinger missiles can be carried by one person. They're designed to shoot down helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Stiff Ukrainian resistance' thwarts Russian advances, inflicts casualties

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Stubborn Ukrainian resistance and logistic difficulties are hampering Russian attacks more than Moscow planners expected, and there's no indication the invading forces have managed to take any big Ukrainian cities, according to U.S. and U.K. officials. "Russian forces are not making the progress they had planned.

# data[].attributes.body
On Thursday the US President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of an additional 7,000 troops to Germany from the US to support NATO allies in the crisis.
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-24-22-intl/index.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Adrienne Vogt, Melissa Macaya, Rob Picheta, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Ed Upright, Maureen Chowdhury and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 8:06 a.m. ET, February 25, 2022

What we covered

Blasts are being reported in Kyiv early Friday, with a Ukrainian official saying the country's capital has been hit by cruise or ballistic missiles. Russian forces are now about 20 miles from Kyiv, according to top US officials.

Russia's assault began Thursday with a series of missile attacks and the use of long-range artillery. It quickly spread across central and eastern Ukraine as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides.

US President Joe Biden announced new "strong" sanctions on Russia as he condemned President Vladimir Putin's invasion, calling him an "aggressor."

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity or read updates at CNN Español here. Scroll through photos on the ground here.

8:06 a.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke with allies in Europe by phone on Thursday, after Russia began an invasion of Ukraine.

Milley spoke with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. He also had a "combined meeting with the Bucharest 9 allies," - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - according to a readout of the calls.

"The leaders shared assessments of the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces into Ukraine," the readout said. "The Chairman addressed US reinforcement of NATO Allies through repositioning of forces in Europe to assure Allies and partners and deter Russia from conducting further provocations."

Earlier Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of an additional 7,000 troops to Germany from the US to support NATO allies amid the crisis.

Milley will "continue to conduct outreach" to partners and allies in the coming days, the readout said.

At least three more explosions reverberated across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at dawn on Friday. They appeared to be coming from the southwest of the city.

It's now just past 6:30 a.m. in Kyiv. Earlier this morning, CNN teams on the ground reported hearing large blasts in the city.

11:29 p.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Ukraine's foreign minister: Kyiv hasn't experienced anything like this since 1941 Nazi attack

In a tweet early Friday morning, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba decried the "horrific Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv."

"Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany," he wrote. "Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. (Sever) all ties. Kick Russia out of (everywhere.)

CNN teams in Kyiv reported hearing blasts early Friday morning.

Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin attributed an explosion Friday to a Ukrainian "anti-missile system shooting a (Russian) missile out of the sky." CNN has not been able to independently verify this.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry says its armed forces have inflicted some 800 casualties on Russian forces since the invasion began in the early hours of Thursday.

It was not immediately clear whether the ministry was referring solely to the number killed.

The ministry said more than 30 Russian tanks had been destroyed, as well as seven Russian aircraft and six helicopters.

CNN is not able to independently verify Ukraine's figures.

The European Union announced new sanctions on Russia early Friday that would target the country's financial, energy and transport sectors, visa policy, and include export controls and export financing bans.

The sanctions will have "maximum impact on the Russian economy and political elite," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. "We will hold the Kremlin accountable," she said.

She said the financial sanctions cut Russia's most important capital markets, and that they are now targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies. The sanctions will increase Russia's borrowing costs, raise inflation and "gradually erode Russia's industrial base," she said.

"We are also targeting Russian elites by curbing their deposits so that they cannot hide their money anymore in safe havens in Europe," she added.

An export ban will also hit Russia's oil sector, and ban the sale of all aircraft spare parts and equipment to Russian airlines, which Von der Leyen said would hit a key sector of Russia's economy and the country's connectivity. The sanctions also limit Russia's access to "crucial technology," she said.

Diplomats, related groups and businesspeople will no longer have privileged access to the EU, she added.

Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin has attributed an explosion early Friday over the capital, Kyiv, to a Ukrainian "anti-missile system shooting a (Russian) missile out of the sky."

CNN has not been able to independently verify this. Earlier Friday morning, CNN reporters on the ground in Kyiv reported hearing several loud blasts.

Separately, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, said Friday that Kyiv had been hit by "cruise or ballistic missiles."

Photos shared by Gerashchenko on Friday show a Kyiv residential building on fire, and firefighters responding on the scene as clouds of black smoke rise in the distance.

French President Emmanuel Macron is positioning himself as the mediator between Russia and Ukraine for a potential ceasefire agreement.

"I think it is my responsibility, first of all, to take such initiatives when they are requested by Ukraine, and then, while condemning, while sanctioning, while continuing to decide and act, to leave this path open so that the day when the conditions can be met, we can obtain a cessation of hostilities for the Ukrainian people," Macron said a joint news conference Friday in Brussels after an emergency European Union summit.

Macron was the first major Western leader to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russian military actions began. They spoke before the summit - but Macron admitted the phone call didn't achieve much, "since the Russian President has chosen war."

Macron also accused Putin of duplicity, saying he and other European leaders had been discussing "the details of the implementation of the Minsk agreements" with Putin just hours before the Russian President launched the operation, referring to the 2015 pact that established a shaky ceasefire in the region.

"So yes, there was duplicity. Yes, there was a deliberate, conscious choice by President Putin to launch the war when we could still negotiate peace," Macron said.

At the summit on Thursday, EU leaders signed off on a new round of sanctions, described by European Council President Charles Michel as "massive" and "painful" against Russia and Belarus.

US President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday the United States was "in consultation with India" on the issue of Ukraine and Russia.

The comments came in response to a question on whether India, a major US defense partner, was "fully in sync" with the United States, with Biden adding, "We haven't resolved that completely."

India has a historic friendship with Russia. At the same time, its strategic partnership with the US has grown at an unprecedented pace over the past two decades.

Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone conversation with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, stressing the importance of a "strong collective response" toward Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an official spokesperson said.

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today to discuss Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout of the call on Thursday.

Following the call, Blinken tweeted a similar statement, highlighting the "importance of a strong collective response to Russian aggression," adding "Russia's attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a clear violation of the rules-based international order."

In response, Jaishanker tweeted: "Appreciate the call from @SecBlinken. Discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and its implications."

What we covered

Blasts are being reported in Kyiv early Friday, with a Ukrainian official saying the country's capital has been hit by cruise or ballistic missiles. Russian forces are now about 20 miles from Kyiv, according to top US officials.

Russia's assault began Thursday with a series of missile attacks and the use of long-range artillery. It quickly spread across central and eastern Ukraine as Russian forces attacked the country from three sides.

US President Joe Biden announced new "strong" sanctions on Russia as he condemned President Vladimir Putin's invasion, calling him an "aggressor."

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity or read updates at CNN Español here. Scroll through photos on the ground here.

8:06 a.m. ET, February 25, 2022
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley spoke with allies in Europe by phone on Thursday, after Russia began an invasion of Ukraine.

Milley spoke with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. He also had a "combined meeting with the Bucharest 9 allies," - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - according to a readout of the calls.

"The leaders shared assessments of the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces into Ukraine," the readout said. "The Chairman addressed US reinforcement of NATO Allies through repositioning of forces in Europe to assure Allies and partners and deter Russia from conducting further provocations."

Earlier Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of an additional 7,000 troops to Germany from the US to support NATO allies amid the crisis.

Milley will "continue to conduct outreach" to partners and allies in the coming days, the readout said.

At least three more explosions reverberated across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at dawn on Friday. They appeared to be coming from the southwest of the city.

It's now just past 6:30 a.m. in Kyiv. Earlier this morning, CNN teams on the ground reported hearing large blasts in the city.

11:29 p.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Ukraine's foreign minister: Kyiv hasn't experienced anything like this since 1941 Nazi attack

In a tweet early Friday morning, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba decried the "horrific Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv."

"Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany," he wrote. "Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. (Sever) all ties. Kick Russia out of (everywhere.)

CNN teams in Kyiv reported hearing blasts early Friday morning.

Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin attributed an explosion Friday to a Ukrainian "anti-missile system shooting a (Russian) missile out of the sky." CNN has not been able to independently verify this.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry says its armed forces have inflicted some 800 casualties on Russian forces since the invasion began in the early hours of Thursday.

It was not immediately clear whether the ministry was referring solely to the number killed.

The ministry said more than 30 Russian tanks had been destroyed, as well as seven Russian aircraft and six helicopters.

CNN is not able to independently verify Ukraine's figures.

The European Union announced new sanctions on Russia early Friday that would target the country's financial, energy and transport sectors, visa policy, and include export controls and export financing bans.

The sanctions will have "maximum impact on the Russian economy and political elite," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. "We will hold the Kremlin accountable," she said.

She said the financial sanctions cut Russia's most important capital markets, and that they are now targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies. The sanctions will increase Russia's borrowing costs, raise inflation and "gradually erode Russia's industrial base," she said.

"We are also targeting Russian elites by curbing their deposits so that they cannot hide their money anymore in safe havens in Europe," she added.

An export ban will also hit Russia's oil sector, and ban the sale of all aircraft spare parts and equipment to Russian airlines, which Von der Leyen said would hit a key sector of Russia's economy and the country's connectivity. The sanctions also limit Russia's access to "crucial technology," she said.

Diplomats, related groups and businesspeople will no longer have privileged access to the EU, she added.

Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin has attributed an explosion early Friday over the capital, Kyiv, to a Ukrainian "anti-missile system shooting a (Russian) missile out of the sky."

CNN has not been able to independently verify this. Earlier Friday morning, CNN reporters on the ground in Kyiv reported hearing several loud blasts.

Separately, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, said Friday that Kyiv had been hit by "cruise or ballistic missiles."

Photos shared by Gerashchenko on Friday show a Kyiv residential building on fire, and firefighters responding on the scene as clouds of black smoke rise in the distance.

French President Emmanuel Macron is positioning himself as the mediator between Russia and Ukraine for a potential ceasefire agreement.

"I think it is my responsibility, first of all, to take such initiatives when they are requested by Ukraine, and then, while condemning, while sanctioning, while continuing to decide and act, to leave this path open so that the day when the conditions can be met, we can obtain a cessation of hostilities for the Ukrainian people," Macron said a joint news conference Friday in Brussels after an emergency European Union summit.

Macron was the first major Western leader to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russian military actions began. They spoke before the summit - but Macron admitted the phone call didn't achieve much, "since the Russian President has chosen war."

Macron also accused Putin of duplicity, saying he and other European leaders had been discussing "the details of the implementation of the Minsk agreements" with Putin just hours before the Russian President launched the operation, referring to the 2015 pact that established a shaky ceasefire in the region.

"So yes, there was duplicity. Yes, there was a deliberate, conscious choice by President Putin to launch the war when we could still negotiate peace," Macron said.

At the summit on Thursday, EU leaders signed off on a new round of sanctions, described by European Council President Charles Michel as "massive" and "painful" against Russia and Belarus.

US President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday the United States was "in consultation with India" on the issue of Ukraine and Russia.

The comments came in response to a question on whether India, a major US defense partner, was "fully in sync" with the United States, with Biden adding, "We haven't resolved that completely."

India has a historic friendship with Russia. At the same time, its strategic partnership with the US has grown at an unprecedented pace over the past two decades.

Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone conversation with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, stressing the importance of a "strong collective response" toward Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an official spokesperson said.

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today to discuss Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout of the call on Thursday.

Following the call, Blinken tweeted a similar statement, highlighting the "importance of a strong collective response to Russian aggression," adding "Russia's attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is a clear violation of the rules-based international order."

In response, Jaishanker tweeted: "Appreciate the call from @SecBlinken. Discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and its implications."

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By Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Adrienne Vogt, Melissa Macaya, Rob Picheta, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Ed Upright, Maureen Chowdhury and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

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By Aditi Sangal, Meg Wagner, Adrienne Vogt, Melissa Macaya, Rob Picheta, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Ed Upright, Maureen Chowdhury and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN Updated 8:06 a.m. ET, February 25, 2022 What we covered Blasts are being reported in Kyiv early Friday, with a Ukrainian official saying the country's capital has been hit by cruise or ballistic missiles.

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Gunfire and explosions occur in Kyiv. https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-25-22/index.html

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday. US President Joe Biden announced new “strong” sanctions on Russia and limitations on exports as he condemned Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Follow here for live news updates from the ground in Ukraine.

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In Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, Ukrainians have managed to repel many Russian attacks as the try to get control over the city
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-27-22/h_57f3abe0fe426cb7547fb565fae97f88

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By Helen Regan, Steve George, Rob Picheta, Jeevan Ravindran, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Maureen Chowdhury, Amir Vera and Emma Tucker, CNN

Updated 12:07 a.m. ET, February 28, 2022

What we covered here

Talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place Monday on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, President Zelensky's office said as Russian President Putin ordered his country's deterrence forces - including nuclear arms - be placed on high alert.

The US continues to see Russian forces face "stiff resistance" and their momentum slow in Ukraine's northern part, while forces are having a "little bit more success" in the south, a US defense official says.

The White House and several EU nations announced the expulsion of certain Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system Saturday evening.

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity. You can read updates at CNN Español here, and scroll through photos on the ground here.

Our live coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has moved here.

Canada says it plans to launch an investigation into an Aeroflot flight from Miami to Moscow that entered Canadian airspace Sunday - violating a ban on all Russian flights due to the ongoing invasion in Ukraine.

"We are aware that Aeroflot flight 111 violated the prohibition put in place earlier today on Russian flights using Canadian airspace. We are launching a review of the conduct of Aeroflot and the independent air navigation service provider, NAVCAN, leading up to this violation. We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action and other measures to prevent future violations," Transport Canada said Sunday on Twitter.

Canada's Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said earlier Sunday that the country's airspace was closed to all Russian aircraft operators. "We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine," he said in a tweet.

CNN has reached out to Transport Canada and Aeroflot for additional details.

Russia's unprovoked assault on Ukraine has faced universal condemnation from Western powers. But putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, is a line that the US and other Western allies have not been willing to cross.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN on Sunday that the Biden administration "has made clear" the US will not "put boots on the ground."
Here are some factors behind that decision:

It could touch off a global war: As President Joe Biden told NBC News earlier this month, "That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another." Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a national security and military analyst for CNN, said on Sunday that while the Russian invasion was devastating, "it is still a regional conflict," that could spiral into a multinational one if the US or NATO sent troops into the country.

What about troops in Europe? While the US has thousands of troops across Europe, they are not there to fight the Russians - rather, to defend and reassure NATO allies, Biden said on Thursday.

When could the US get involved? Ukraine borders the NATO member countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. If Russia threatened one of these countries, the US - along with France, Germany, the UK and the rest of the 30-member NATO alliance - would be required by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to respond.

Read the full analysis:

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Sunday, adding that Brazil would "adopt a neutral stance on Ukraine" and will not impose sanctions on Russia.

He also pointed out that Brazil is dependent on Russian fertilizer, and that action against Moscow "could bring serious harm to agriculture in Brazil." He added that he was in support of peace - "but we don't want to bring more problems to Brazil."

When questioned about a possible massacre in Ukraine, Bolsonaro said it was "an exaggeration to speak of massacre," and defended Russia's move to recognize the pro-Moscow separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent.

Bolsonaro met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit to Moscow on Feb. 16.

The Brazilian President's comments Sunday came after the United Nations Security Council voted by majority to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss Russia's invasion. Brazil voted in favor of holding the meeting while Russia voted against it. India, China and the UAE abstained.

US President Joe Biden will hold a call with US allies on Monday morning to discuss the situation in Ukraine and their coordinated response, according to the White House.

The call will take place at 11:15 a.m. E.T.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his G7 counterparts "underscored" the "unified response to Russia's invasion," in a call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a State Department readout.

Google will no longer allow Russian state media outlets to run ads, following a similar decision on Saturday by the tech giant's video subsidiary, YouTube.

"In response to the war in Ukraine, we are pausing Google monetization of Russian state-funded media across our platforms," Google said in a statement. "We're actively monitoring new developments and will take further steps if necessary."

The announcement marks the latest blow to Russia-linked media amid a wave of criticism directed at Big Tech platforms in the past week for allowing monetization to continue despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday, Meta, Facebook's parent, said it would suspend Russian state media's ability to run ads and monetize them on its platforms.

The stage is set for a meeting between Russia and Ukraine Monday on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River.

Is this a diplomatic breakthrough or a political sideshow while Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine?

Let's be clear what this isn't: The meeting is not a summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Instead, it's a meeting between delegations from both sides. Zelensky's office said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called the Ukrainian President Sunday and offered safety guarantees, saying Lukashenko had "taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on the Belarusian territory will remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, meeting and return."

But can Ukraine accept any guarantees from Lukashenko? This is the same leader whose authorities forced down a Ryanair flight over Belarusian airspace last year, alleging a "security alert," and arrested a young Belarusian dissident, prompting international outcry.

Monday's planned meeting follows a flurry of statements from the Kremlin, which claimed earlier the Ukrainian side had countered Russia's proposal to meet in Belarus with a proposal to meet in Warsaw and then dropped contact. Zelensky's office denied claims they refused to negotiate.

What the meeting might produce: Zelensky himself on Sunday set low expectations for the meeting, and it is tempting to guess that the meeting on the border will yield little. But it does offer Putin at least some potential room for an exit from the war in Ukraine, if his troops continue to encounter battlefield setbacks against Ukrainian forces.
Read the full analysis:

US first lady Jill Biden expressed concern for the mental health of those anxious about the conflict in Ukraine on Sunday.

"I imagine many of us are feeling the weight of what is happening in Ukraine over recent days," she said in a series of tweets. "Parents are sitting in front of the television with their children, explaining reports from thousands of miles away. Teachers are standing in front of classrooms, answering questions of 'why' and 'what is going to happen next?'"

She encouraged people to reach out for help, and added that she and US President Joe Biden were praying for "the brave and proud people of Ukraine."

"Our hearts are with our troops and our military families, including those who are stationed throughout Europe demonstrating solidarity with our Allies. We are profoundly grateful for your service," she wrote.

Google Maps has blocked two features in Ukraine that provide information to users in real time, the company confirmed to CNN on Sunday.

The disabled features include Google Maps' live traffic overlay - a feature some researchers have used to monitor the conflict from afar - as well as Live Busyness, a feature that displays how popular a location may be at a given time.

Google made the change in an effort to help keep Ukrainians safe and after consultations with local officials, the company said.

Traffic updates are still available in Ukraine while using Google Maps' navigation mode, Google said.

British leaders plan to introduce legislation in Parliament on Monday aimed at clamping down on money laundering and fraud following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The measure would strengthen law enforcement to go after corrupt oligarchs and create a so-called "Register of Overseas Entities," where foreigners who own property in the United Kingdom must be identified by name, according to a government statement.

"There is no place for dirty money in the UK," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in the statement. "We are going faster and harder to tear back the façade that those supporting Putin's campaign of destruction have been hiding behind for so long."

The government said the registry sets up a new standard for global transparency so "criminals cannot hide behind secretive chains of shell companies."

The registry will be retroactive for property bought up to 20 years ago in England and Wales and since 2014 in Scotland. The bill also includes a prison sentence of up to five years for anyone breaking the new rules.

Some context: Decades of loose regulation and courting of Russian investors mean that some allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin are now deeply integrated into UK society.

Wealthy Russians flocked to London over the past three decades after gaining entry to the UK via investor visa programs, according to a report published by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament in 2020. Light-touch regulation, lucrative investment opportunities and a legal system that can be used to settle disputes helped attract the oligarchs.

Many Russian oligarchs made their fortunes when state-owned companies were privatized in the chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In London, they found an army of lawyers and bankers who were willing to help them invest in UK companies and London property, according to analysts.

What we covered here

Talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place Monday on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, President Zelensky's office said as Russian President Putin ordered his country's deterrence forces - including nuclear arms - be placed on high alert.

The US continues to see Russian forces face "stiff resistance" and their momentum slow in Ukraine's northern part, while forces are having a "little bit more success" in the south, a US defense official says.

The White House and several EU nations announced the expulsion of certain Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system Saturday evening.

Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity. You can read updates at CNN Español here, and scroll through photos on the ground here.

Our live coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has moved here.

Canada says it plans to launch an investigation into an Aeroflot flight from Miami to Moscow that entered Canadian airspace Sunday - violating a ban on all Russian flights due to the ongoing invasion in Ukraine.

"We are aware that Aeroflot flight 111 violated the prohibition put in place earlier today on Russian flights using Canadian airspace. We are launching a review of the conduct of Aeroflot and the independent air navigation service provider, NAVCAN, leading up to this violation. We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action and other measures to prevent future violations," Transport Canada said Sunday on Twitter.

Canada's Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said earlier Sunday that the country's airspace was closed to all Russian aircraft operators. "We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine," he said in a tweet.

CNN has reached out to Transport Canada and Aeroflot for additional details.

Russia's unprovoked assault on Ukraine has faced universal condemnation from Western powers. But putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO, is a line that the US and other Western allies have not been willing to cross.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN on Sunday that the Biden administration "has made clear" the US will not "put boots on the ground."
Here are some factors behind that decision:

It could touch off a global war: As President Joe Biden told NBC News earlier this month, "That's a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another." Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a national security and military analyst for CNN, said on Sunday that while the Russian invasion was devastating, "it is still a regional conflict," that could spiral into a multinational one if the US or NATO sent troops into the country.

What about troops in Europe? While the US has thousands of troops across Europe, they are not there to fight the Russians - rather, to defend and reassure NATO allies, Biden said on Thursday.

When could the US get involved? Ukraine borders the NATO member countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. If Russia threatened one of these countries, the US - along with France, Germany, the UK and the rest of the 30-member NATO alliance - would be required by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to respond.

Read the full analysis:

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Sunday, adding that Brazil would "adopt a neutral stance on Ukraine" and will not impose sanctions on Russia.

He also pointed out that Brazil is dependent on Russian fertilizer, and that action against Moscow "could bring serious harm to agriculture in Brazil." He added that he was in support of peace - "but we don't want to bring more problems to Brazil."

When questioned about a possible massacre in Ukraine, Bolsonaro said it was "an exaggeration to speak of massacre," and defended Russia's move to recognize the pro-Moscow separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent.

Bolsonaro met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a visit to Moscow on Feb. 16.

The Brazilian President's comments Sunday came after the United Nations Security Council voted by majority to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss Russia's invasion. Brazil voted in favor of holding the meeting while Russia voted against it. India, China and the UAE abstained.

US President Joe Biden will hold a call with US allies on Monday morning to discuss the situation in Ukraine and their coordinated response, according to the White House.

The call will take place at 11:15 a.m. E.T.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his G7 counterparts "underscored" the "unified response to Russia's invasion," in a call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to a State Department readout.

Google will no longer allow Russian state media outlets to run ads, following a similar decision on Saturday by the tech giant's video subsidiary, YouTube.

"In response to the war in Ukraine, we are pausing Google monetization of Russian state-funded media across our platforms," Google said in a statement. "We're actively monitoring new developments and will take further steps if necessary."

The announcement marks the latest blow to Russia-linked media amid a wave of criticism directed at Big Tech platforms in the past week for allowing monetization to continue despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday, Meta, Facebook's parent, said it would suspend Russian state media's ability to run ads and monetize them on its platforms.

The stage is set for a meeting between Russia and Ukraine Monday on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River.

Is this a diplomatic breakthrough or a political sideshow while Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine?

Let's be clear what this isn't: The meeting is not a summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Instead, it's a meeting between delegations from both sides. Zelensky's office said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called the Ukrainian President Sunday and offered safety guarantees, saying Lukashenko had "taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on the Belarusian territory will remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, meeting and return."

But can Ukraine accept any guarantees from Lukashenko? This is the same leader whose authorities forced down a Ryanair flight over Belarusian airspace last year, alleging a "security alert," and arrested a young Belarusian dissident, prompting international outcry.

Monday's planned meeting follows a flurry of statements from the Kremlin, which claimed earlier the Ukrainian side had countered Russia's proposal to meet in Belarus with a proposal to meet in Warsaw and then dropped contact. Zelensky's office denied claims they refused to negotiate.

What the meeting might produce: Zelensky himself on Sunday set low expectations for the meeting, and it is tempting to guess that the meeting on the border will yield little. But it does offer Putin at least some potential room for an exit from the war in Ukraine, if his troops continue to encounter battlefield setbacks against Ukrainian forces.
Read the full analysis:

US first lady Jill Biden expressed concern for the mental health of those anxious about the conflict in Ukraine on Sunday.

"I imagine many of us are feeling the weight of what is happening in Ukraine over recent days," she said in a series of tweets. "Parents are sitting in front of the television with their children, explaining reports from thousands of miles away. Teachers are standing in front of classrooms, answering questions of 'why' and 'what is going to happen next?'"

She encouraged people to reach out for help, and added that she and US President Joe Biden were praying for "the brave and proud people of Ukraine."

"Our hearts are with our troops and our military families, including those who are stationed throughout Europe demonstrating solidarity with our Allies. We are profoundly grateful for your service," she wrote.

Google Maps has blocked two features in Ukraine that provide information to users in real time, the company confirmed to CNN on Sunday.

The disabled features include Google Maps' live traffic overlay - a feature some researchers have used to monitor the conflict from afar - as well as Live Busyness, a feature that displays how popular a location may be at a given time.

Google made the change in an effort to help keep Ukrainians safe and after consultations with local officials, the company said.

Traffic updates are still available in Ukraine while using Google Maps' navigation mode, Google said.

British leaders plan to introduce legislation in Parliament on Monday aimed at clamping down on money laundering and fraud following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The measure would strengthen law enforcement to go after corrupt oligarchs and create a so-called "Register of Overseas Entities," where foreigners who own property in the United Kingdom must be identified by name, according to a government statement.

"There is no place for dirty money in the UK," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in the statement. "We are going faster and harder to tear back the façade that those supporting Putin's campaign of destruction have been hiding behind for so long."

The government said the registry sets up a new standard for global transparency so "criminals cannot hide behind secretive chains of shell companies."

The registry will be retroactive for property bought up to 20 years ago in England and Wales and since 2014 in Scotland. The bill also includes a prison sentence of up to five years for anyone breaking the new rules.

Some context: Decades of loose regulation and courting of Russian investors mean that some allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin are now deeply integrated into UK society.

Wealthy Russians flocked to London over the past three decades after gaining entry to the UK via investor visa programs, according to a report published by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament in 2020. Light-touch regulation, lucrative investment opportunities and a legal system that can be used to settle disputes helped attract the oligarchs.

Many Russian oligarchs made their fortunes when state-owned companies were privatized in the chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In London, they found an army of lawyers and bankers who were willing to help them invest in UK companies and London property, according to analysts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
By Helen Regan, Steve George, Rob Picheta, Jeevan Ravindran, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Maureen Chowdhury, Amir Vera and Emma Tucker, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Helen Regan, Steve George, Rob Picheta, Jeevan Ravindran, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Maureen Chowdhury, Amir Vera and Emma Tucker, CNN Updated 12:07 a.m. ET, February 28, 2022 What we covered here Talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations will take place Monday on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, President Zelensky's office said as Russian President Putin ordered his country's deterrence forces - including nuclear arms - be placed on high alert.

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Heavy fighting was reported south of Kyiv.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

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Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

24 February

On or about 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow time, UTC+3) on 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced in a prerecorded television broadcast that he had ordered "a special military operation" in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missile strikes occurred at dozens of cities across the country,[3] including Ukraine's capital Kyiv.[4] The Ukrainian Border Service stated shortly thereafter that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were under attack.[5][6] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law at around 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3).

At 03:35 (UTC+2), Russian forces reportedly encircled the city of Konotop and put it under siege. Despite Russian attempts to capture Konotop, the city held out and Russian forces were repelled. Russian equipment was burning on the morning of 25 February.

Around 16:00 (UTC+2), Russian helicopter-borne troops captured Antonov Airport.[7] However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.[8]

Around 17:00 UTC (20:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat.[9]

At 22:00 (01:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces had captured Snake Island in the Black Sea following naval and air bombardment.[10]

17 civilians were confirmed killed, including 13 killed in Southern Ukraine,[11] three in Mariupol and one in Kharkiv.[12] At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were reported dead during the strikes.[13]

Russia reported that two civilian ships were bombed, resulting in the death of several people on board.[14]

In his second address on the war, United States president Joe Biden announced the total freezing of the assets of several Russian banks in the U.S. (including Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second largest, respectively). He did not levy sanctions against Putin himself, however, nor call for Russia to be decoupled from the global SWIFT banking exchange.[15] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces 137 dead and 316 wounded.[16]

25 February

By 01:24 (UTC+2), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days.[17][18] He announced that all Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 were banned from leaving the country.[19][18]

At 03:27 (UTC+2), a captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade[20] and a reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade[21] surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv.

At 05:14 (UTC+2), a Russian rocket strike hit a Ukrainian border post in the village of Prymors'kyi Posad, Pryazovske Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[22][23] Ukrainian casualties were reported.[23]

At 05:40 (UTC+2), Russian military equipment began moving through the Sumy Raion.[24] There was also fighting just outside of Okhtyrka that began at 07:30 (UTC+3).

At 06:25 (UTC+2), a gas pipeline in Starobilsk was cut off due to shelling from the Russian army.[25]

At 06:46 (UTC+2), Rivne International Airport in Rivne was struck by a Russian missile, causing minor damage.[26][27]

At 06:47 (UTC+2), a Ukrainian army unit detonated a bridge in Ivankiv near Kyiv, stopping the advance of a Russian tank column.[28][29][30] Additionally, groups of Russian soldiers were seen marching through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer, also in Kyiv Oblast.[citation needed ]

At 08:15 (UTC+2), the Russian army reached Kherson.[31][32][33]

At 08:34 (UTC+2), the Ukrainian army repelled an attack by the Russian army in Chernihiv and seized Russian equipment and documents.[34]

At 08:43 (UTC+2), the Russian army unblocked the North Crimean Canal, restoring water supply to Crimea, which had been lost in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.[31]

At 09:01 (UTC+2), a column of Russian soldiers was defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk and retreated.[35]

At 10:30 (UTC+2), Russian forces entered Melitopol. The city was shelled and street fighting ensued. Melitopol's leadership surrendered later in the day and the city came under Russian control.

At 14:25 (UTC+2), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had surrounded Chernihiv and were blockading the city.[36] Britain's Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces failed to capture Chernihiv and instead took another route to Kyiv.

Around Friday morning, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Russian forces had attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region. In a statement on Twitter, he stated that, "Today's Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute. Together with the General Prosecutor's Office we are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague."[37]

By mid-morning, Russian troops and armor reached the northern district of Kyiv, whereupon the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to make Molotov cocktails.[38] Numerous "wake-up explosion sounds" were reported.[39] The London Stock Exchange Group suspended the trading privileges of VTB Bank,[40] and the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency Tether became popular amongst Ukrainians,[41] currency trading having been suspended by the Central Bank of Ukraine upon Thursday's declaration of martial law.

A Ukrainian bombardment was launched against the Millerovo air base in Russia, which resulted in fires. According to Ukrainian officials, two Russian Air Force planes were destroyed.[42][43]

Later in the day, the NATO Response Force was activated for the first time as a defensive measure against the invasion.[44]

26 February

At 00:00 UTC, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv.[45] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv.[46] A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.[47] However, no evidence verifying either of the events was released.

Around 03:00, more than 48 explosions in 30 minutes were reported around Kyiv, as the Ukrainian military was reported to be fighting near the CHP-6 power station in the northern neighbourhood of Troieshchyna.[48] The BBC reported the attack may be an attempt to cut off electricity to the city. Heavy fighting was reported near the Kyiv Zoo and the Shuliavka neighbourhood. Early on 26 February, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on an army base located on Peremohy Avenue, a main road in Kyiv;[49] it also claimed to have repelled a Russian assault on the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea.[50]

27 February

Overnight, a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack,[51] while an oil depot in the village of Kriachky near Vasylkiv ignited after being hit by missiles.[52] Heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.[53] The Presidential Office claimed that the Zhuliany Airport was also bombed.[54] Russian-backed separatists in Luhansk province claimed an oil terminal in the town of Rovenky was hit by a Ukrainian missile.[55] Later, President Putin directed the Russian Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty."[56] Several Russian banks were removed from SWIFT,[57] and Turkey proclaimed that a state of war exists in the Black Sea, allowing it to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.[58]

28 February

Donetsk People's Republic suspended general mobilization, saying no additional troops are needed.[59]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Timeline of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/20/ukraines-zelenskyy-calls-on-putin-to-meet-as-tensions-soar-live
Russia continues military drills and Ukraine calls for a ceasefire

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Macron, Putin agree to work for Ukraine ceasefire

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Russia-Ukraine news from February 20: Macron and Putin agree on necessity of a diplomatic solution to ongoing crisis.

# data[].attributes.body
Invasion began early Thursday during the night, when thousands of Russian troops poured in from Russian-held Crimea and neighboring Belarus, along with coordinated missiles strikes.

# data[].attributes.headline
All Ukrainian men aged 18-60 were banned from leaving (source: Deutsche Well) and more Ukrainian cities were shelled (source: The Daily Telegraph)

# data[].attributes.subject
All Ukrainian men aged 18-60 were banned from leaving (source: Deutsche Well) and more Ukrainian cities were shelled (source: The Daily Telegraph)

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On this day Russia’s Sputnik vaccine arrived in Ukraine, and they started to put it into the doctors and soldiers.

Themoscowtimes.com

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a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

24 February

On or about 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow time, UTC+3) on 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced in a prerecorded television broadcast that he had ordered "a special military operation" in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missile strikes occurred at dozens of cities across the country,[3] including Ukraine's capital Kyiv.[4] The Ukrainian Border Service stated shortly thereafter that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were under attack.[5][6] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law at around 03:00 UTC (06:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3).

At 03:35 (UTC+2), Russian forces reportedly encircled the city of Konotop and put it under siege. Despite Russian attempts to capture Konotop, the city held out and Russian forces were repelled. Russian equipment was burning on the morning of 25 February.

Around 16:00 (UTC+2), Russian helicopter-borne troops captured Antonov Airport.[7] However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.[8]

Around 17:00 UTC (20:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat.[9]

At 22:00 (01:00 Moscow Time, UTC+3), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces had captured Snake Island in the Black Sea following naval and air bombardment.[10]

17 civilians were confirmed killed, including 13 killed in Southern Ukraine,[11] three in Mariupol and one in Kharkiv.[12] At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were reported dead during the strikes.[13]

Russia reported that two civilian ships were bombed, resulting in the death of several people on board.[14]

In his second address on the war, United States president Joe Biden announced the total freezing of the assets of several Russian banks in the U.S. (including Sberbank and VTB, the largest and second largest, respectively). He did not levy sanctions against Putin himself, however, nor call for Russia to be decoupled from the global SWIFT banking exchange.[15] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces 137 dead and 316 wounded.[16]

25 February

By 01:24 (UTC+2), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the full mobilization of the Ukrainian military for 90 days.[17][18] He announced that all Ukrainian males aged 18 to 60 were banned from leaving the country.[19][18]

At 03:27 (UTC+2), a captain and corporal from the Russian 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade[20] and a reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade[21] surrendered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Chernihiv.

At 05:14 (UTC+2), a Russian rocket strike hit a Ukrainian border post in the village of Prymors'kyi Posad, Pryazovske Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.[22][23] Ukrainian casualties were reported.[23]

At 05:40 (UTC+2), Russian military equipment began moving through the Sumy Raion.[24] There was also fighting just outside of Okhtyrka that began at 07:30 (UTC+3).

At 06:25 (UTC+2), a gas pipeline in Starobilsk was cut off due to shelling from the Russian army.[25]

At 06:46 (UTC+2), Rivne International Airport in Rivne was struck by a Russian missile, causing minor damage.[26][27]

At 06:47 (UTC+2), a Ukrainian army unit detonated a bridge in Ivankiv near Kyiv, stopping the advance of a Russian tank column.[28][29][30] Additionally, groups of Russian soldiers were seen marching through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer, also in Kyiv Oblast.[citation needed ]

At 08:15 (UTC+2), the Russian army reached Kherson.[31][32][33]

At 08:34 (UTC+2), the Ukrainian army repelled an attack by the Russian army in Chernihiv and seized Russian equipment and documents.[34]

At 08:43 (UTC+2), the Russian army unblocked the North Crimean Canal, restoring water supply to Crimea, which had been lost in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea.[31]

At 09:01 (UTC+2), a column of Russian soldiers was defeated by the Ukrainian army in Starobilsk and retreated.[35]

At 10:30 (UTC+2), Russian forces entered Melitopol. The city was shelled and street fighting ensued. Melitopol's leadership surrendered later in the day and the city came under Russian control.

At 14:25 (UTC+2), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had surrounded Chernihiv and were blockading the city.[36] Britain's Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces failed to capture Chernihiv and instead took another route to Kyiv.

Around Friday morning, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported that Russian forces had attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region. In a statement on Twitter, he stated that, "Today's Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute. Together with the General Prosecutor's Office we are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague."[37]

By mid-morning, Russian troops and armor reached the northern district of Kyiv, whereupon the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to make Molotov cocktails.[38] Numerous "wake-up explosion sounds" were reported.[39] The London Stock Exchange Group suspended the trading privileges of VTB Bank,[40] and the dollar-pegged cryptocurrency Tether became popular amongst Ukrainians,[41] currency trading having been suspended by the Central Bank of Ukraine upon Thursday's declaration of martial law.

A Ukrainian bombardment was launched against the Millerovo air base in Russia, which resulted in fires. According to Ukrainian officials, two Russian Air Force planes were destroyed.[42][43]

Later in the day, the NATO Response Force was activated for the first time as a defensive measure against the invasion.[44]

26 February

At 00:00 UTC, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv.[45] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv.[46] A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.[47] However, no evidence verifying either of the events was released.

Around 03:00, more than 48 explosions in 30 minutes were reported around Kyiv, as the Ukrainian military was reported to be fighting near the CHP-6 power station in the northern neighbourhood of Troieshchyna.[48] The BBC reported the attack may be an attempt to cut off electricity to the city. Heavy fighting was reported near the Kyiv Zoo and the Shuliavka neighbourhood. Early on 26 February, the Ukrainian military said it had repelled a Russian attack on an army base located on Peremohy Avenue, a main road in Kyiv;[49] it also claimed to have repelled a Russian assault on the city of Mykolaiv on the Black Sea.[50]

27 February

Overnight, a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was reported to have been blown up by a Russian attack,[51] while an oil depot in the village of Kriachky near Vasylkiv ignited after being hit by missiles.[52] Heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze.[53] The Presidential Office claimed that the Zhuliany Airport was also bombed.[54] Russian-backed separatists in Luhansk province claimed an oil terminal in the town of Rovenky was hit by a Ukrainian missile.[55] Later, President Putin directed the Russian Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty."[56] Several Russian banks were removed from SWIFT,[57] and Turkey proclaimed that a state of war exists in the Black Sea, allowing it to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union banned Russian aircraft from its airspace.[58]

28 February

Donetsk People's Republic suspended general mobilization, saying no additional troops are needed.[59]

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Timeline of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia

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Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. This leads to a first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries.

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Since the 24th, around 5250 Russian protesters were arrested due to protests against war in Ukraine.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/27/more-than-2000-arrested-at-anti-war-protests-in-russia

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More than 2,000 arrested at anti-war protests in Russia

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Rights watchdog says more than 5,000 demonstrators detained across the country since Putin launched the Ukraine war.

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Negotiations for a cease fire between the Ukrainian defense minister and Russian officials in the Bielorrusian border have begun after Ukraine has managed to repel some attacks in Kiev and Kharkiv https://www.wsj.com/articles/kyiv-and-moscow-hold-talks-as-ukrainian-troops-repel-russian-attacks-11646046458

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KYIV, Ukraine-A delegation led by Ukraine's defense minister arrived Monday for talks with Russian officials at the Ukrainian border with Belarus, as Ukrainian forces repelled a series of Russian attacks on the capital, Kyiv, and said they had cleared the city of Russian infiltrators.

The talks on the fifth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine come after Russian forces have struggled to make headway in most of the country, and failed so far to take any of Ukraine's major cities as they faced fierce resistance.

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Kyiv and Moscow Hold Talks as Ukrainian Troops Repel Russian Attacks

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KYIV, Ukraine-A delegation led by Ukraine's defense minister arrived Monday for talks with Russian officials at the Ukrainian border with Belarus, as Ukrainian forces repelled a series of Russian attacks on the capital, Kyiv, and said they had cleared the city of Russian infiltrators.

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Joe Biden asked to release up to $350 million to help the security and defense of the people in Ukraine.
https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-25-22/index.html

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday. US President Joe Biden announced new “strong” sanctions on Russia and limitations on exports as he condemned Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Follow here for live news updates from the ground in Ukraine.

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48 explosions in Kyiv happened in under 30 minutes, multiple alleged Russian attacks stopped by Ukrainian military 

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48 explosions in Kyiv happened in under 30 minutes, multiple alleged Russian attacks stopped by Ukrainian military 

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source: The Washington post

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Several Russian services are banned, including European Union banning its aircrafts and Russian banks being removed by SWIFT 

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Several Russian services are banned, including European Union banning its aircrafts and Russian banks being removed by SWIFT 

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source: The Guardian

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Russia launched broad attacks on Ukraine earlier Thursday, NATO members to be deployed in Eastern Europe and send weapons to other aid to the government in Kyiv.

Thewashingtonpost.com

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/21/us-warns-of-possible-targeted-killings-by-russia-live-news

Russia is condemned for claiming the separatist regions

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Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Russia of plotting 'false flag' operations to fake Ukrainian attacks in order to serve as a pretext for an all-out assault on its neighbour [File: Serhiy Takhmazov/Reuters]

President Vladimir Putin says Russia will decide whether or not to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine later on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russian military says it has prevented a "diversionary reconnaissance" group from breaching the border from Ukraine.

Five troops were killed in the incident, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday, which allegedly took place in Russia's southwestern Rostov region at about 03:00 GMT.

Kyiv dismissed the allegation as "fake news".

The exchange came hours after the Kremlin dashed hopes that top-level diplomacy aimed at easing the Ukraine crisis would be imminent, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden had appeared to agree - in principle - to talks.

Here are all the latest updates:

France's Macron calls national security meeting on Russia-Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency national security meeting to address developments linked to the crisis in Ukraine, the Elysee Palace has said.

Macron earlier on Monday spoke to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, the Elysee said in a statement. He also spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU leaders to coordinate Europe's reaction to the latest developments.

Putin to deliver video address to nation

Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a video address to the nation on television later in the evening, the Rossiya-24 state television channel said.

It did not say exactly when it would happen, but that it would be soon.

Putin said earlier that Russia would decide whether or not to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine later on Monday.

Russian foreign minister says Minsk agreements are only way to solve Ukrainian conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock that the Minsk agreements are the only way for long-term regulation of the Ukrainian internal crisis, Russia's foreign ministry said.

Lavrov, who spoke to Baerbock by phone, said Germany should put pressure on the Ukrainian leadership to prompt it to adopt a more constructive position amid the unfolding crisis in eastern Ukraine, the ministry added.

Ukraine says everyone must focus on de-escalation efforts

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that after Russian statements on possible recognition of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, everyone has to focus on de-escalation efforts.

"Everyone realizes consequences. A lot of emotions out there, but it's exactly now that we all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts. No other way," Kuleba tweeted.

Kuleba said he would discuss de-escalation efforts with US Secretary of State on Tuesday during a trip to Washington.

Russia recognising breakaway Ukraine regions would be 'deplorable' -US

It would be "deplorable" if Russia recognised two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists as independent, the US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe said.

"If carried out, this would again result in the upending of the rules based international order, under the threat of force. This, dear colleagues, is deplorable, and ... condemnable. And should be (condemned), by all of us," Michael Carpenter said in a statement to a meeting of OSCE participating states.

Biden meets national security team on Russia, Ukraine, official says

US President Joe Biden is meeting his national security team about Russia and Ukraine, a White House official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the White House official made the comments after a Reuters eyewitness saw Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive at the White House on the US Presidents Day federal holiday.

UK says unilateral sanctions against Russia would play into Putin's narrative

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace has warned that imposing sanctions on Russia unilaterally would play into President Putin's narrative.

Asked by a lawmaker whether it was now time to start imposing sanctions, Wallace said: "If we were to unilaterally deliver them now, and America wasn't, and the European Union wasn't, I think there is a danger that President Putin would play into a divide and rule narrative."

Putin says Russia is considering recognising, not annexing Ukraine's breakaway regions

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia was considering recognising the independence of two breakaway Ukrainian regions, but not annexing them and formally adding them to its own territory.

He made the comments during a long televised meeting of Russia's security council during which all the participants said they backed recognising the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.

Strong cause to believe Putin still committed to Ukraine invasion: UK's Wallace

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace has said that there is strong cause to believe that President Putin is still committed to an invasion of Ukraine.

Wallace said there had been a continued increase in troop numbers near the border as well as a "proliferation" of so-called false flag events.

"We've seen over the last few weeks, the Russian playbook being implemented in a way that gives a strong cause for concern that President Putin is still committed to an invasion," Wallace told parliament, urging Putin to rule out an invasion and recommit to a diplomatic process.

Residents of breakaway regions did not recognise 2014 'coup': Putin

Putin has said that the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk didn't recognize the 2014 protests in Ukraine that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanykovych.

The protests are known in Ukraine as "the revolution of dignity," but Putin has for years called them a "coup."

"The coup was anti-constitutional and bloody," he said in televised remarks. "Kyiv authorities conducted two military, punishing operations in these regions," he said.

He said the ongoing tensions in the region are a "third escalation" masterminded by Kyiv and its Western partners.

Russian invasion 'storm' gathering on Ukraine border: Western officials

Three Western officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters news agency that Russian troops were now "poised" for an invasion of Ukraine while previously posturing for an invasion.

They said they did not know whether or not President Putin had yet ordered an invasion, but raised concerns about an increase in false provocations in Russian-backed rebel regions in Ukraine.

"Our concern about what we are seeing on the ground has only risen," said one of the Western officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Our overall picture, I have to say, is a very dark one with storm clouds gathering on Ukraine's borders."

A second official said Russian forces continued to build up, including S-400s, aircraft and armoured vehicles being deployed into forward locations. Russia now has 110 battalion tactical groups in the area of operations, the official said.

"This is a move from being postured for military operations to being poised for military operations," the official said.

Russia's Shoigu says Ukraine has built up serious forces near breakaway regions

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine had built up serious forces near breakaway regions in the east of the country and may be preparing to try and take them back by force, something Kyiv has repeatedly denied.

Shoigu accused Ukraine of stepping up shelling of the breakaway regions. Earlier on Monday, Kyiv denied responsibility after Russia said a shell fired from Ukrainian territory had completely destroyed a border guard post in Russia's Rostov region.

Ukraine's chief diplomat dismisses 'diversionary reconnaissance' claims

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has dismissed Russia's accusations of a border breach by Ukrainian forces.

"I categorically refute Russia's disinformation. Ukraine did not attack Donetsk, Luhansk; didn't send saboteurs or APCs across the border; didn't shoot Russia's territory or checkpoint at the border; didn't organise diversions and doesn't plan such actions," he wrote on Twitter.

"I demand that Russia stops its fake [news] factory," he added.

Why don't Ukrainians believe Biden's ominous warnings of war?

And why has trust in Western powers declined? Find out here.

Putin says recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions needs to be considered

Putin has told Russia's Security Council it is necessary to consider an appeal from the leaders of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine for Moscow to recognise them as independent.

The Russian leader also warned that tensions with the West over Ukraine posed a looming threat to Moscow.

"The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very big threat to us," he said, adding that Moscow's priority was "not confrontation, but security".

Rebel republics ask Putin to recognise their independence

The leaders of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, have asked Putin to recognise them as independent.

Should Russia take that step, it could pave the way for Moscow to openly send military forces into both regions, using the argument that it is intervening as an ally to protect them against Ukraine.

Putin's plan for Ukraine invasion 'has begun', UK PM's spokesman says

The United Kingdom's government has seen intelligence that suggests Putin has put into motion a plan for invading Ukraine, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman says.

"The intelligence we are seeing suggests that Russia intends to launch an invasion and that President Putin's plan has already begun," the spokesman told reporters.

"We're seeing seen elements of the Russian playbook that we would expect to see in certain situations, starting to play out in real time."

Ukrainian official denies Russian reports of Rostov incident

Ukraine has firmly denied Moscow's claims that Russian forces killed five Ukrainian "saboteurs" who allegedly crossed the border to stage an attack.

"Not a single one of our soldiers has crossed the border with the Russian Federation, and not a single one has been killed today," Anton Gerashchenko, an official at Ukraine's interior ministry, told reporters.

Russia's Rostov allegations, Kyiv's counter-claims mark a 'major escalation'

Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, says the alleged incident in Rostov marks a "significant" development in the crisis.

"The information we are getting about this alleged incident is coming from the Russian military itself and not the separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine," she said.

"This means the Russians are accusing the Ukrainian military of having armoured personnel carriers on Russian soil, which the Ukrainian military has denied as 'fake news' ... [and] so this is going to be seen as a major escalation."

Russia says it prevented border breach from Ukraine, Kyiv calls it fake news

Russia's military has said that troops and border guards prevented a "diversionary reconnaissance" group from breaching the country's border from Ukrainian territory and that five people had been killed, according to reports by Russian news agencies.

Ukraine rejected the report, calling it fake news, and said no Ukrainian forces were present in the region where the incident was alleged to have taken place.

Interfax cited the Russian military as saying that Ukrainian armed vehicles had been destroyed.

Biden asked Macron to offer summit to Russian leader: French official

Biden had asked French President Emmanuel Macron to make Putin the offer of a summit, an official from the French presidency says.

"We're slowly changing the course of things. We're creating a diplomatic perspective the Kremlin accepts," Reuters quoted the French presidential adviser as saying.

"He is a facilitator," added the French presidential adviser, commenting on Macron's role.

Lithuanian foreign minister demands additional EU sanctions on Belarus

Lithuania's foreign minister has called on the European Union to impose additional sanctions on Belarus for hosting Russian troops, suggesting such measures could target oil and potash exports.

"We have to be very specific about the cost for the current build-up for Belarus," Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters in Brussels, where EU foreign ministers were meeting over the Ukraine crisis.

He added the bloc could also close loopholes in the existing sanctions it has already targeted Minsk with.

Ukraine denounces Russian shelling claim as 'fake news'

Kyiv has dismissed a claim from Moscow that Ukrainian forces had shelled and destroyed a Russian border post, denouncing it as "fake news" designed to inflame tensions.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) had earlier alleged that a projectile fired from Ukraine had destroyed a border facility used by its guards.

Germany's Scholz to hold telephone talks with Putin

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will speak with Putin by telephone later today in a further effort to ease tensions, a spokesman for Germany's government says.

Steffen Hebestreit said the planned call "this afternoon" had been "closely coordinated" with Macron, who spoke to Putin on Sunday.

He said the talks were part of "joint diplomatic efforts" by the West to "prevent a catastrophe" in Ukraine.

'No one can resolve our issue without us'

Ukraine's top security official has said his country welcomes the possibility of a summit between Biden and Putin but also warned that nothing can be solved without Kyiv's involvement.

"No one can resolve our issue without us," Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told a news briefing. "Everything should happen with our participation."

Moscow claims Ukrainian shell has destroyed a border facility

Moscow says a shell fired from Ukraine has destroyed a border facility used by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

The security service said in a statement that the "unidentified projectile" had flattened the facility located about 150 metres (164 yards) from Russia's border with Ukraine, in the country's southwestern Rostov region.

The statement added that no one had been injured in the incident and that Russian military engineers had arrived at the scene. Video released by the FSB showed a small, apparently one-room building with its roof and walls caved in and a Russian flag leaning against strewn debris.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claim.

Satellite images show new military movements by Russia

As diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions around Ukrainian continue, satellite images show new field deployments of armoured equipment and troops from Russian garrisons.

Read more here.

Ukraine-Russia crisis: What is the Minsk agreement?

Macron has pointed to the 2015 Minsk Agreement between Kyiv and Moscow as the blueprint for a breakthrough in the Ukraine crisis.

The Minsk II deal, named after the Belarusian capital where it was settled, was aimed at ending the war in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv has battled Russian-backed separatists since they seized a swath of territory in the region in early 2014.

But the agreement, which came on the back of Minsk I, an earlier failed attempt at a ceasefire pact, was never fully implemented. Years on, there has been no full political settlement and the deadly fighting in Donbas continues.

Click here to read more.

Ukraine's military reports many ceasefire violations

Ukraine's military says there have been 80 ceasefire violations by Russian-backed forces in conflict-hit eastern Ukraine within the past 24 hours.

The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in a statement that one soldier had been injured during an instance of shelling on Sunday which was in violation of the Minsk agreement.

"The occupation forces continue to cowardly shell positions of Ukrainian defenders from behind the civilian settlements, hiding behind civilians as behind a human shield," JFO spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk said.

The JFO added there had been 94 instances of shelling on civilian settlements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the previous five days, injuring two people as well as damaging 44 homes and four schools.

Russia says 60,000 'refugees' have crossed from rebel-held eastern Ukraine: Report

Russia's emergencies ministry has said more than 60,000 "refugees" from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine have crossed into Russia following evacuation orders issued by the territories' separatist authorities last week, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.

Separatists allege one 'serviceman' killed

Moscow-backed separatists in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have alleged in a statement released to Russian news agencies that a local "serviceman" has been killed during an attack on the breakaway region by Ukrainian forces.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claim, which comes after multiple warnings by top Western officials that Russia could attempt to manufacture a "pretext" for invading Ukraine.

Firm agreement on Biden-Putin meet 'a long way away'

Al Jazeera's Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, says Putin and Biden are "a long way away" from reaching a firm agreement on holding discussions.

"It is going to be up to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his meeting with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, on Thursday whether or not Putin and the US president will meet," she said.

"I think the Russians are going to be very clear that in order for that meeting [between Putin and Biden] to take place, the US president has to be willing to discuss Russia's security concerns - that NATO does not expand any further eastwards and that there is no military equipment in NATO countries around Russia."

No firm plans yet for Putin-Biden talks, Kremlin says

The Kremlin has said Putin and Biden could set up a call or meeting any time but there were no concrete plans yet for a summit.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that although tensions were growing, diplomatic contacts were active.

But he dismissed reports that Russia had drawn up a list of Ukrainians to capture or kill after any invasion were an "absolute lie". He also described as "highly unusual" a US embassy warning to Americans in Russia that they should prepare plans to leave the country if necessary.

The security alert cited media sources as saying there had been threats of attacks against shopping centres, railway and metro stations and other public places, including in Moscow, St Petersburg and areas near the Russia-Ukraine border.

DPR separatists claim they are in a shoot-out with Ukrainian 'sabotage' group

Pro-Russian separatists have claimed they are engaged in a shoot-out with a Ukrainian "sabotage" group that entered the DPR earlier today.

The breakaway territory's state security ministry alleged in a statement that the Ukrainians blew up an artillery and ammunition storage.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the rebels' claims, which come after multiple warnings by top Western officials that Russia could attempt to manufacture a "pretext" for invading Ukraine.

Kyiv says it hopes Biden and Putin meet will materialise

Ukraine hopes the proposed summit between Biden and Putin can be implemented and that Kyiv can join the meeting, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov says.

"I have hopes that this initiative, thanks to President Macron and supported by President Biden ... will be implemented," Reznikov told a news briefing.

France sees 'diplomatic hope' to resolve Ukraine crisis

France's foreign minister says Paris sees a chance to resolve the Ukraine crisis after Biden and Putin accepted, in principle, to hold a summit.

"There is a diplomatic hope that was revived by the president" with the summit proposal, Clement Beaune told LCI TV, referring to Macron.

"If there is still a chance to avoid war, to avoid a confrontation and build a political and diplomatic solution, then we need to take it," he added.

'Don't play with human lives,' German minister tells Moscow

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has accused Russia of playing an "irresponsible" game with the civilian population of eastern Ukraine and urged it to return to the negotiating table.

Sporadic shelling across the line dividing Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east has intensified since Thursday.

"I urgently call on the Russian government, on the Russian president: don't play with human lives," Baerbock told reporters after arriving in Brussels.

"What we have seen over the last 72 hours in terms of attacks, violent disputes is really concerning," she added. "The responsibility lies with the Russian government which is why I call urgently on the Russian government: come back to the negotiating table. It is in your hands."

Russian troops to return when 'objective need' arises, says Belarus

Russian armed forces will return to their permanent bases when an "objective need" to do so arises, the Belarusian defence ministry has said, a day after announcing joint military drills with Russia would be extended.

The ministry said the troop withdrawal would depend to a large extent on a pullback of NATO forces from near the borders of Belarus and Russia.

Who are the Russia-backed separatists?

Since fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014, separatist rebels of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics have been accused of being proxies for Russian interests, if not simply Russian soldiers in disguise.

But who exactly are the rebels in the statelets known as the DPR and LPR, home to 2.3 million and 1.5 million people respectively?

Read more here.

EU supports further talks between US and Russia on Ukraine

The EU supports the latest attempt to arrange further talks between Washington and Moscow to find a diplomatic solution, the bloc's foreign policy chief says.

"Summit meetings, at the level of leaders, at the level of ministers, whatever format, whatever way of talking and sitting at the table and trying to avoid a war, is badly needed," Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels.

"We will support anything that can make diplomatic conversations the best way, the only way to look for a solution to the crisis," he added.

Russia has lists of Ukrainians 'to be killed or sent to camps'

The US has warned the UN it has "credible information" that Russia has lists of Ukrainians "to be killed or sent to camps" in the event of an invasion, according to a letter sent to the UN rights chief.

The letter, which came as Washington warned of an imminent invasion by Russian troops massed near the Ukrainian border, said the US is "deeply concerned" and warned of a potential "human rights catastrophe".

Biden agrees to Ukraine summit

Macron says Biden and Putin have agreed to a summit over Ukraine, offering a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades.

Macron's office said in a statement the French president had pitched to both leaders a summit on "security and strategic stability in Europe".

A White House statement said Biden had accepted the meeting "in principle" but only "if an invasion hasn't happened".

'Confidence-building measures' in place to reassure Putin

PJ Crowley, former US assistant secretary of state, has said the West is working hard to simultaneously prevent a Russian invasion as well as to put something on the table that will deter Putin from sending his troops across the border.

"I think it is useful for Western leaders to continue to try to say: 'If not this then what else could we help you with?' to try to convince [Putin] that what's happening in Ukraine and western Ukraine does not pose a threat to Russia," Crowley told Al Jazeera.

"There have been constructive discussions about resurrecting treaties that have elapsed and other confidence-building measures, [and] transparency in terms of operations on NATO territory," he added.

"At the end of the day, this is a crisis that Putin has created. He has assembled a formidable military force surrounding Ukraine and it will be his decision as to whether he carries out the invasion or not."

Ukrainian crisis tops EU meet agenda

The Russian threat against Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda in a gathering of EU foreign ministers later today in Brussels.

The bloc has warned it will impose sweeping sanctions on Moscow should it launch an attack, echoing threats made by the US and former member state, the United Kingdom.

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Putin mulls recognising Ukraine breakaway regions

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President Vladimir Putin says Russia will decide whether or not to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine later on Monday. Meanwhile, Russian military says it has prevented a "diversionary reconnaissance" group from breaching the border from Ukraine.

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Germany claims that it’s sending military aid for Ukraine and will modify how Russia is involved in their banking systems as punishment for the invasion. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/russia-ukraine-live-updates-n1289976

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Ukraine holds Kyiv, Germany says it’s sending military aid

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Germany also said it was considering a “targeted” approach to disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT banking system as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine.

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Russia’s military activity has escalated in Eastern Ukraine. Bigger threats and a larger invasion looming.

Newyorker.com

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/22/un-meets-after-russia-sends-troops-to-eastern-ukraine-liveblog
Invasion of Ukraine begins us santions hurt Russia fiscally

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells the nation that Ukraine is "not afraid of anyone or anything" [AP]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his countrymen "are not afraid" after Russia moved to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and hours later said it would deploy troops there to "maintain peace".

An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took place on the deepening Ukraine crisis as the United States said the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin was an "unprovoked violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Western countries have repeatedly warned Moscow not to officially recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.

Russia has been massing its forces around Ukraine's borders for weeks, raising concern among the US and other Western governments that it might be planning to invade the country. Moscow has insisted it has no plans to do so.

Here are all the latest updates:

OSCE voices 'deep regret' over Moscow's move

The special representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe's chairman-in-office in Ukraine says Putin's decision to recognise Ukraine's breakaway republics is a source of "deep regret".

"This decision ... can be seen contradicting the Minsk agreements in different ways, including the aim of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions being part of Ukraine with a special status," Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen said in a statement, citing agreements aimed at ending the war in eastern Ukraine.

"As [with] all [other] OSCE participating States, Russia has [a] commitment to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others, including Ukraine," he added. "It is of crucial importance that today's decision will not lead to new military action and bloodshed."

UK says Putin has 'chosen confrontation over dialogue'

Putin's actions towards Ukraine show he has chosen confrontation with the West over dialogue, the United Kingdom's health minister says.

"We've always preferred dialogue and still continue to do so but it's clear from President Putin's actions that he has chosen confrontation over dialogue," Sajid Javid told the BBC.

He also warned the current situation was as grave as the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when a confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

"I do think it's as serious a situation as that," Javid said.

NATO, EU cannot allow violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, Spanish minister says

NATO and European Union member states cannot allow Russia's violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity to go unchecked, Spain's defence minister says.

"Russia must know the firmness of EU and NATO is absolute and total," Margarita Robles said in an interview to radio station COPE. "We cannot allow a violation of international law nor the attack to Ukraine's territorial integrity, which is what has happened, without a doubt."

Spain and its partners would still give a chance to diplomacy, she added.

Amnesty calls on all parties to respect human rights law

Amnesty International's Secretary-General says the protection of civilians in Ukraine is an "absolute priority".

"While the potential for full-blown conflict is now a devastating reality, every effort must be made to minimise civilian suffering and prioritise humanity in this crisis. It is a legal obligation of all parties to do so," Agnès Callamard said in a statement.

She also urged all parties to ensure the protection of civilian lives and refrain from indiscriminate attacks or the use of prohibited weapons.

"We also call on all parties to allow and facilitate access of humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to civilians affected by hostilities," Callamard said.

Damascus to recognise breakaway republics: Report

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will recognise the independence of the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, a Russian lawmaker in charge of ties with Damascus has told a Russian news agency.

"I spoke about the situation in Donbass with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad," Dmitry Sablin, who coordinates the ties between Russian and Syrian parliaments, told the RIA Novosti news agency.

"He said that Syria would be ready to recognize them the way it had recognized [breakaway Georgian regions of] South Ossetia and Abkhazia" after the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, he said.
Reporting by Al Jazeera's Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
Separatists say Ukrainian 'saboteurs' behind deadly blast

A Russian-backed separatist official in eastern Ukraine has accused Ukrainian "saboteurs" of detonating a mine on a road in a breakaway region that killed three civilians, Interfax news agency reports.

The separatist official did not provide evidence and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine, which has denied a spate of claims from Moscow and the rebel republics of other alleged incidents in recent days.

Greece says Russia move in eastern Ukraine violates international law

Russia's formal recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine violates international law, the Minsk agreements and the country's territorial integrity, Greece's foreign ministry says.

"Greece supports the respect of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all states and condemns any decision that violates fundamental principles of international law," the ministry said.

Greece would coordinate with its European Union and NATO partners on the response to Russia's decision, it said.

Iran's foreign ministry calls for dialogue to resolve crisis

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman says Tehran is closely watching developments in Ukraine and calls on all sides to refrain from any action that would increase tensions.

"Unfortunately, NATO interference and provocative moves led by the United States have made conditions in the region more complicated," Saeed Khatibzadeh said.

Khatibzadeh also urged all parties involved to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

Russia says too early to discuss borders of breakaway Ukrainian regions

Russia's foreign ministry has said that Moscow needed to first ratify its friendship treaties with the two breakaway Ukrainian regions before it could discuss matters like the exact borders of the territories, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.

Russia's parliament is expected to review friendship treaties with the territories on Tuesday.

'We are not afraid', says Ukraine's Zelenskyy

Zelensky has told a news conference that Ukraine is "not afraid of anything or anyone"

"We are on our own land," he said. "We owe nothing to anyone. And we will not give anything to anyone."

World reaction to Putin's move to recognise Ukraine rebel regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine has drawn condemnation.

Read more here.

Russia tells UN it won't allow 'bloodbath' in Ukraine's Donbas

Russia's ambassador to the UN says that eastern Ukraine has been on the brink of a new "Ukrainian military adventure" that Russia could not allow, and vowed it would not let a "new bloodbath" happen in the Donbas region.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, also warned Western powers to "think twice" and not worsen the situation in Ukraine.

China at UN urges all parties in Ukraine crisis to exercise restraint

China's Ambassador to the UN has called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that might fuel tensions.

In very brief remarks at an emergency meeting of the UNSC over Ukraine, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jun also said Beijing welcomed and encouraged every effort for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Kenya cites colonial past in condemnation of Russia moves

Kenya's ambassador at the UN, Martin Kimani, says his country and many other African nations had been "birthed" with the end of colonialism and had not been able to set their own borders.

But instead of pursuing states based on "ethnic, racial or religious homogeneity", which carried the risk of decades of "bloody wars", the countries "agreed that we would settle for the borders we inherited".

"Rather than form nations that looked ever backwards into history with a dangerous nostalgia, we chose to look forward to a greatness none of our many nations and peoples had ever known," he said.

Kenya makes strong statement opposing the undermining of the sovereignty & territorial integrity of #Ukraine during the emergency meeting of the #SecurityCouncil at 9pm on 21st February. See full statement delivered below 👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/3S36UNW7OE

- Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN 🇰🇪 🇺🇳 (@KenyaMissionUN) February 22, 2022

Blinken and China's Wang Yi discuss Ukraine

The US says Secretary of State Antony Blinken has had a call with China's foreign minister on "Russia's aggression against Ukraine" as well as North Korea.

"The Secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

He gave no other details.

What will Putin do next?

Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in the US and an expert in international affairs, says he is concerned about what turn the crisis will take next.

"The big question in my mind is whether Putin is going to say: 'Mission accomplished. I've protected my ethnic kin in Donbas', or is this the first move in what will likely be a Russian invasion of the rest of the country," Kupchan told Al Jazeera.

Noting that the Russian president's speech on Monday suggested that Russia and Ukraine were one and the same, Kupchan said he was worried about the prospect for further escalation.

"That sounded to me like an ideological foundation for going in, toppling the government and bringing Ukraine into a Russian sphere of influence," he said.

US: Russia 'tore Minsk agreement to shreds'

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, has said Russia's move to recognise the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel areas "tore the Minsk agreement to shreds".

She said Washington would be announcing retaliatory sanctions later today.

You can read more on the Minsk agreement here.

UN Security Council adjourns

The emergency meeting of the Security Council has been adjourned after about 90 minutes.

Ukraine's representative Sergiy Kyslytsya was the second last diplomat to speak and condemned Putin's "illegal and illegitimate" decision to recognise the rebel-held areas in Ukraine's east.

He equated Russia to a virus that was affecting the world and infecting even the UN.

"The UN is sick; that's a statement of fact," Kyslytsya said, echoing the Albanian representative's comments on previous Russian manoeuvres. "It's been hit by a virus spread by the Kremlin. Will it succumb to this virus? It's in the hands of the members. Who is next?"

Russia blames Ukraine, Western countries for escalation of crisis

Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia has just finished addressing the council.

He said some of the previous statements had been "highly emotional" and claimed Russia had been forced to act because of alleged Ukrainian intransigence over the rebel-held areas in Ukraine's east and its "bellicose rhetoric".

"We remain open to diplomacy, but allowing a bloodbath in the Donbas is not what we intend to do," Nebenzia said.

He ended his speech by blaming Western countries for contributing to the deterioration of the situation.

China delivers brief statement on Ukraine crisis

China's UN representative Zhang Jun has made a very brief statement to the UNSC.

Zhang said Beijing was playing "close attention" to developments in Ukraine and urged "all parties" to "exercise restraint and avoid any action that might fuel tensions".

Unlike the speakers before him, he did not condemn Moscow's decision to recognise the two separatist-held territories. Zhang said it was a "complex" situation.

US diplomats to spend night in Poland

The US State Department has announced its diplomats will spend the night in Poland for security reasons.

They had already been moved from Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, to the western city of Lviv.

"The fact that we are taking prudent precautions for the sake of the safety of U.S. government personnel and U.S. citizens, as we do regularly worldwide, in no way undermines our support for, or our commitment to, Ukraine," Blinken said in a statement. "Our commitment to Ukraine transcends any one location."

The State Department again urged all US citizens to leave Ukraine.

Who is at the Security Council meeting?

The UNSC has 15 members - five of them permanent - and each will address the emergency meeting on Ukraine.

China, France, Russia, the UK and the US are the five permanent members and have the power of veto.

The 10 non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. The current list of UNSC members is set out below, with the end of their term in brackets.

Albania (2023)

Brazil (2023)

Gabon (2023)

Ghana (2023)

India (2022)

Ireland (2022)

Kenya (2022)

Mexico (2022)

Norway (2022)

United Arab Emirates (2023)

UNSC member states express deep concern over Russia's moves

Representatives from Albania, France, India and Brazil have addressed the meeting.

All have expressed deep concern about the latest developments in Ukraine, stressing the need for de-escalation and diplomatic dialogue.

Albania's representative was particularly vehement in his condemnation, noting that Moscow had made similar moves in Georgia in 2008 and Crimea.

"Who will be next?" Ferit Hoxha asked. "Every UN state should be alarmed."

US says "no one can stand on the sidelines"

Thomas-Greenfield has just finished addressing the council.

The US ambassador to the UN urged the world body to come together and condemn Russia's move.

"No one can stand on the sidelines," she said, stressing Moscow's actions in Ukraine represent "an attack on every UN member state and the UN charter".

She earlier told the meeting that Putin was wanting a return to the past.

"Putin wants the world to travel back in time, to a time before the United Nations, to a time when empires ruled the world," she said. "It is not 1919, it is 2022."

UN Security Council meeting gets under way

The emergency meeting of the UNSC has now begun.

The council is chaired by Russia.

Zelenskyy calls for 'clear and effective' steps against Russia

Zelenskyy has accused Russia of wrecking peace talks and ruled out making any territorial concessions.

The Ukrainian president said in an address to the nation that Kyiv was expecting "clear and effective" steps from its allies in response to Moscow's moves.

'Key topic: sanctions': Ukraine's foreign minister

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says he has had another call with Blinken over the crisis.

"Key topic: sanctions," he wrote on Twitter, stressing that the imposition of "tough sanctions" was crucial after Russia's "illegal" declaration.

Taking into account the dynamics of the situation, I had another call with @SecBlinken ahead of our tomorrow's meeting in Washington, DC. Key topic: sanctions. I underscored the need to impose tough sanctions on Russia in response to its illegal actions.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 22, 2022

World capitals don't sleep now, regardless of their time zones. The scope & timeline of sanctions are being finalized. Ukraine insists: further Russian actions rely on how the world reacts. Russia must be in no doubt that the world talks the talk and walks the walk on sanctions.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 22, 2022

Biden signs 'executive order' on sanctions targeting rebel regions

US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to ban all new investment, trade and financing by US citizens to, from, or in the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics regions of Ukraine.

"The E.O. is designed to prevent Russia from profiting off of this blatant violation of international law. It is not directed at the people of Ukraine or the Ukrainian government and will allow humanitarian and other related activity to continue in these regions," Blinken said in a statement.

The secretary of state added Washington will work with Ukraine and its allies to take action in response to Putin's declaration of the eastern rebel regions as "independent".

Tanks seen on outskirts of Donetsk: Reuters

The Reuters news agency is reporting a witness seeing columns of military vehicles including tanks on the streets on the outskirts of Donetsk.

The Reuters reporter saw about five tanks in a column on the edge of the city and two more in another part of town.

The report says no insignia were visible, and that no tanks had been seen on the streets in previous days.

UN Security Council to meet after Russia move

The UNSC is due to meet in just over an hour's time over the Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine called for the meeting and was backed by the United States, as well as other countries. Russia holds the rotating presidency of the council this month.

Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, DC, says that there was some debate over the format of the meeting, with Russia wanting a closed-door session and other countries led by the US pushing for an open discussion.

UK to announce 'significant' Russia sanctions on Tuesday

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a "significant package of sanctions" in a few hours' time.

A spokesperson for Johnson's administration told Reuters that the sanctions will be agreed to at a meeting of the UK government's crisis response committee at 06:30 GMT and take immediate effect.

'Brazen': US calls for urgent UN Security Council meeting

The US' ambassador to the UN has slammed Russia's move to recognise Luhansk and Donetsk as a "brazen attempt to usurp Ukraine's sovereignty" and backed Kyiv's call for an urgent meeting of the UNSC.

"The Security Council must demand that Russia respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a UN Member State," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement.

"There can be no fence-sitters in this crisis," she warned.

We support Ukraine's call for an urgent meeting of the @UN Security Council. We must all stand with Ukraine in the face of Russia's brazen attempt to usurp Ukraine's sovereign territory. There can be no fence-sitters in this crisis. https://t.co/SI81WBLkmZ

- Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) February 21, 2022

Russia to weigh military cooperation deals with breakaway regions

Russia's lower house of parliament will consider draft laws to provide military cooperation and border protection to the breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine later today.

An agreement signed by Putin and published on Monday shows Russia also plans to build military bases in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera's continuing coverage of the Ukraine crisis.

Read all the updates from Monday, February 21 here.

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy says 'we're not afraid' after Russia moves

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his countrymen "are not afraid" after Russia moved to recognise the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and hours later said it would deploy troops there to "maintain peace".

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U.S., Europe Cut Some Russian Banks From SWIFT: Ukraine Update

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Western nations agreed to exclude some Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system, used for trillions of dollars worth of transactions between banks around the world, further isolating Russia’s economy and financial system.

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Why hasn’t United States send any troops to fight against Russia?

Is this conflict going to cause a Third World War?

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/23/ukraine-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-fears-of-invasion-liveblog
Cigians of Ukraine flee the country

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The UN refugee agency says an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes.

US President Joe Biden announces new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine invasion, says Putin "chose" war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launches sweeping Ukraine invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vows to defend his nation, declares martial law.

He calls on citizens to fight, says weapons will be issued to everyone who wants them.

Kyiv reports dozens of casualties, including more than 40 troops and up to 10 civilians.

Western powers condemn Moscow's move, prepare economic sanctions.

The live blog is now closed; thank you for joining us. Here are the updates for February 24:

Republican senator criticises Biden for not sanctioning Putin

Key Republican Senator Lindsey Graham slammed Biden for not targeting Putin personally with sanctions.

"The Biden Administration continues to misread the moment," Graham wrote in a series of tweets. "We should not be seeking permission from allies to go after Putin and his cronies. We should move ahead forcefully against Putin, a war criminal, and demand our allies join us!"

Blinken speaks with top diplomats of Turkey, Baltic states

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with the foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey, the State Department said on Thursday.

"Secretary Blinken strongly condemned Russia's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine and emphasized the importance of Allied unity for the strong, swift response to Russia's aggression," the department said in a statement describing the talks with the diplomats from the Baltic states.

In a separate statement on Blinken's call with Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu, the State Department said, "Blinken thanked Turkey for its strong and vocal support in defense of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

US House Speaker Pelosi: Response will be 'devastating for Russia'

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, said the response by the US and its allies to Putin's decision to invade Ukraine "will be severe, ongoing and devastating for Russia, economically, diplomatically, and strategically".

Pelosi lauded the sanctions announced by Biden earlier on Thursday and said Washington and its partners are "united with unprecedented strength".

"The United States Congress joins President Biden and all Americans in praying for the Ukrainian people," she said in a statement.

Russia's launch of a premeditated war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine is an attack on democracy and a violation of international law, global peace and security. Putin's unprovoked actions will cause devastating loss of life and a diminishing of Russia in the world order.

- Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 24, 2022

Russian forces have advanced closer to Kyiv: US defence official

Russian forces are making advances on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and Moscow has continued to flow forces into the country, a senior US defense official has said.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that so far Russia had fired more than 160 missiles at Ukrainian targets.

Russia wants to block Kyiv, create land corridor to Crimea and Transdniestria, Kyiv says

Ukraine's military has said that Russian forces aim to block Kyiv while creating a land corridor on the southern coast towards the annexed Crimea peninsula and the Transdniestria region of Moldova.

Ukrainian forces have battled Russian invaders on three sides after Moscow mounted an assault by land, sea and air.

100,000 Ukrainians believed to be displaced

The UN refugee agency has said an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes and that several thousand have crossed into neighbouring countries, mainly Romania and Moldova.

Ukraine foreign minister says US told him it plans to deliver defensive weapons

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that he has spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who told him about "plans to deliver new defensive weapons to help Ukraine defend itself".

Kuleba made the remarks on Twitter, but did not give details. He added, "We need the world to help us".

'The whole of Europe is in major danger': Former Zelenskyy adviser

Speaking to Al Jazeera on the nuclear issue, Igor Novikov, former advisor to Zelenskyy said: "We need help explaining the dangers to our friends in the West.

"I mean, Ukraine has 15 active nuclear reactors and nuclear waste in Chernobyl: one mortar miss, and everyone in Europe is facing a major nuclear catastrophe," Novikov said.

"I'd ask everyone to speak with your political representatives, your friends and peers. Everyone should understand that it's not only about Ukraine; the whole of Europe is in major danger."

EU agrees on new round of Russia sanctions

EU leaders have agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia's financial, energy and transport sectors and impose export controls, as well as blacklisting more Russians.

"The European Council today agrees on further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action," said a statement by the 27 national EU leaders meeting in Brussels.

"These sanctions cover the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods as well as export controls and export financing, visa policy, additional listings of Russian individuals and new listing criteria," the statement said.

Ukrainian forces recapture Hostomel Airfield

Ukrainian forces have recaptured Hostomel airfield, the adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office has said.

EU leaders agree to impose sanctions against Russia that will have 'massive and severe consequences'

EU leaders have agreed to impose sanctions against Russia that will have "massive and severe consequences".

Russian forces capture Zmiinyi Island in Black Sea

Ukraine national police has said Russian forces have captured Ukraine's Zmiinyi Island located in the northwestern Black Sea.

France says Putin needs to understand NATO has nuclear weapons

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said that Putin, when making threats about using nuclear weapons, needs to understand that NATO, too, is a nuclear alliance.

Asked whether Putin's threat of "such consequences that you have never encountered in your history" was tantamount to threatening to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, Le Drian said it was understood as such.

"Yes, I think that Vladimir Putin must also understand that the Atlantic alliance is a nuclear alliance. That is all I will say about this," Le Drian said on French television TF1.

US expelling Russian diplomat in tit-for-tat move: State Department

The US is expelling the No. 2 diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Washington in response to Russia's recent expulsion of the US deputy chief of mission in Moscow, a senior State Department spokesperson has said.

"The US believes that it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments.  However, we will not let actions like these go without a response," the spokesperson said.

Latvia's PM says Putin and his regime need to be isolated from the world

Putin is fighting democracy with his decision to invade Ukraine, and the EU must take sanctions that isolate him for the rest of the world, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins has said.

"We need to say very clearly to Putin that this is by no means acceptable and the general direction is to isolate ever more Putin and his regime from the rest of the world through the various sanctions", Karins told reporters before an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders.

"Putin is fighting against democracy... If he can attack Ukraine, theoretically it could be any other European country", he added.

FAA expands area in Eastern Europe, Russia where US airlines cannot operate

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said it is expanding the area in Eastern Europe and Russia where US airlines and US pilots cannot operate.

The US agency issued expanded notices barring operations that now cover the entire country of Ukraine, the entire country of Belarus and a western portion of Russia. Prior to the new restrictions, the FAA prohibited operations in an eastern region of Ukraine. The restrictions do not apply to military operations.

IAEA says Ukraine power plants running safely, no destruction at Chernobyl

Ukraine's operational nuclear power plants are running safely and securely and there has been no "destruction" at the remaining waste and other facilities at Chernobyl, the UN nuclear watchdog has said, citing Ukraine's nuclear regulator.

"Ukraine has informed the IAEA that 'unidentified armed forces' have taken control of all facilities of the State Specialized Enterprise Chornobyl NPP, located within the Exclusion Zone," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement.

"The counterpart added that there had been no casualties nor destruction at the industrial site."

Ukraine requested urgent debate at Human Rights Council, UN says

Ukraine has requested an urgent debate be held at the UN Human Rights Council on the situation stemming from the "Russian aggression", the United Nations has said.

"This is [a] response to the extremely grave deterioration in the human rights situation in Ukraine as a result of Russia's hostilities on Ukrainian territory," Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said in a letter sent to the president's forum, posted in a tweet by its mission to the UN in Geneva.

The EU said in a separate tweet that it supported the move.

The Council president will meet and discuss the request with the 47-member body for its consideration, a UN statement said. A simple majority is needed to hold an urgent debate during its main annual month-long session opening on Monday.

Biden hits Russia with tough export curbs, slashing its access to global tech

The Biden administration has announced sweeping export restrictions against Russia, hammering its access to global exports of everything from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts.

The controls, announced by the Commerce Department rely on a dramatic expansion of the so-called Foreign Direct Product rule, forcing companies making high and low tech items overseas with US tools to seek a license from the US before shipping to Russia.

The rules also instruct the Commerce Department to deny almost all of those license requests.

Iran's Raisi denounces NATO in call with Putin

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has said NATO expansion toward the east creates tensions in a call with Putin, calling it a "serious threat against the stability and security of independent countries in various regions".

Raisi also said he hopes "what is happening will end up to the benefit of nations and the region", according to his website.

Putin was quoted as saying the current situation is a "legitimate response to decades of violating security accords" and a Western effort to harm Russia.

Ukraine says 57 people killed on first day of Russian invasion

Ukraine's Health Minister Oleh Lyashko has said 57 people have been killed and 169 wounded.

Separately, the deputy defence minister reported heavy Russian shelling was still underway in the eastern Donetsk region.

US sanctions Belarus over support for Russia's invasion

The US' sanctions include 24 Belarusian individuals and entities over their support for Moscow's attack, the US Treasury Department has said.

The US sanctions target two state-owned banks - Belinvestbank and Bank Dabrabyt - as well as Belarus' defense and security industries and defense officials, Treasury said.

They target Aliaksandr Mikalaevich Zaitsau, a former Belarusian government official and a member of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's inner circle, the department said.

Military transport aircraft crashes in southern Russia: Interfax

A Russian AN-26 military transport aircraft has crashed in Russia's southern Voronezh region, killing its crew on board, Interfax news agency has quoted Russian military officials as saying.

The accident could have been caused by a technical failure and has not inflicted any damage on the ground, Interfax said, citing a press office of Russia's western military district.

New sanctions to isolate Russia from global economy: Correspondent

Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett speaking from Washington, DC said the new sanctions on Russia, which are being coordinated with European allies, would isolate the country from the global economy.

"This is going to - in the United States specifically - any assets that Russia currently holds in the United States, are now frozen," Halkett said.

In his speech from the White House, Halkett added, Biden signaled to the American public that the US is closely monitoring the situation in order to assess whether or not to send its own troops.

"The President was very carefully making the argument to Americans that right now, while there are no boots on the ground of American soldiers in Ukraine, should this conflict spill over into neighbouring NATO countries, that would change."

US to send 7,000 troops already on alert to Germany: US official

The US is sending 7,000 troops to Germany to help reassure NATO allies who are part of a larger contingent that had already been put on alert earlier this year, a senior US defense official has said.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the troops would be made up of an armored brigade combat team and would leave for Germany in the coming days.

Biden says Putin will be a pariah on the international stage

Biden has said that Putin would cost Russia dearly and leave him as a pariah on the international stage.

He also described it as a dangerous moment for Europe but said that freedom would prevail.

Biden says working to secure global energy supplies

The US is working closely with major oil-producing and consuming countries to secure global energy supplies and protect consumers, Biden has said.

Biden said the US was working actively with countries around the world to ensure collective releases from their strategic petroleum reserves, and Washington would release additional barrels of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve as conditions warranted.

US will 'defend every inch' of NATO nations but no troops to Ukraine: Biden

Biden has vowed to defend "every inch" of NATO territory, but reaffirmed that no American troops would be deployed.

"As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with a full force of American power," Biden said in an address to the nation.

The president added, however: "Our forces will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in Ukraine."

Biden announces sanctions on Russia's second largest bank

Biden has announced the imposition of sanctions on Russia's second largest bank, VTB Bank.

Read more here.

'[Putin] has much larger ambitions in Ukraine': Biden

"[Putin] has much larger ambitions in Ukraine. He wants to re-establish the former Soviet Union. That's what this is about," Biden has said.

"And I think that his ambitions are completely contrary to the place where the rest of the world has arrived."

Biden sending more US forces to Germany

Biden has said he is authorising the deployment of additional US forces to Germany.

Russia has 'complete air superiority' over Ukraine: Western intel official

Russia has "eliminated" Ukraine's air defences and now controls the skies over the country as it pursues its invasion, a senior Western intelligence official has said.

"Essentially the Russians now have complete air superiority over Ukraine," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Biden announces sanctions and export controls against Russia

Biden has announced severe new sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, including freezing assets of major banks and cutting off high-tech exports to the country.

"This is going to impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time," Biden said.

He said the steps imposed in coordination with Europe will block top Russian banks from the US financial system and "cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports".

'America stands up to bullies', Biden says

Biden has said "this cannot go on unanswered.

"If it did, the consequences for America would be much worse. America stands up to the bullies. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are," Biden said.

"Putin's actions betray his sinister vision for the future of our world, one where nations take what they want by force."

Biden says Russian attack on Ukraine unfolding largely as predicted

Russia's military attack on Ukraine is taking place as US officials had predicted, Biden has said, describing the invasion as "unprovoked".

"For weeks, we have been warning that this would happen, and now it's unfolding largely as we predicted," the president said in a statement at the White House.

He said the invasion marked a "flagrant violation of international law".

Biden says US will 'limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen'

Biden has said they will "limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and to be part of the global economy.

"Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate it will cut off more than half of Russians' high tech imports," Biden said.

"It will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernise the military, hurt their aerospace industry - including their space program - hurt their ability to build ships reducing their ability to compete economically. [It] will be a major hit to Putin's long term strategic ambitions."

Biden says Russian assault on Ukraine going as Washington predicted

Biden has said that Russia has made an unprovoked assault on Ukraine and it is going largely as the US predicted.

Biden vowed new sanctions after what he called a flagrant violation of international law and Russia's rejection of diplomacy.

Biden: Russia 'will bear the consequences' of new sanctions

Biden has said "Putin chose this war" in Ukraine, and he and Russia "will bear the consequences" of new sanctions.

He said Western sanctions will target four more major Russian banks.

Russia plans to 'decapitate' Ukraine's government, US defence official says

The United States believes Russia's invasion is designed to "decapitate" Ukraine's government and one of the three main axes of assault is directed at Kyiv, a senior defence official has said.

"The indications we've seen thus far, in just these first, not even 12 hours, are in keeping with our assessment earlier, that would be his goal: to decapitate this government," the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"What we're seeing are initial phases of a large-scale invasion," the official added, suggesting the other axes of the attack were a Russian advance south into the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and a push north out of Russian-controlled Crimea to the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

"We haven't seen a conventional move like this, nation state to nation state, since World War II, certainly nothing on this size and scope and scale ... It has every potential to be very bloody, very costly and very impactful on European security writ large."

Scholz condemns Putin, says Western powers will defend eastern NATO allies

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said Western powers will deploy all available resources to ensure that the conflict in Ukraine does not spread to other countries in Europe.

"Putin should not underestimate the determination of NATO to defend all its members. This applies expressly to our NATO partners in the Baltic States, Poland and Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia. No ifs or buts," Scholz said in a televised address to the nation.

He added that Putin alone bore the responsibility for the attack on Ukraine, but warned the Russian president he "would not win."

"With the attack on Ukraine, President Putin wants to turn back time. But there is no going back to the 19th century, when great powers ruled over the heads of smaller states," Scholz said.

Chernobyl power plant captured by Russian forces, Ukrainian official says

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been captured by Russian forces after a fierce battle for control of the now-defunct site, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office says.

"It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians," Mykhailo Podolyak said.

"This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today," he added.

India's Modi urges end to Ukraine violence in call with Putin

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an end to the violence in Ukraine during a phone conversation with Putin, the Indian government says in a statement.

"[The] Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," the statement said.

Russia says first day of Ukraine invasion 'successful'

A spokesman for Russia's defence ministry says the country's military has achieved the goals it set out for the first day of its invasion of Ukraine.

"All of the tasks assigned to the groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for the day were successfully completed," Igor Konashenkov said.

Russian police detain hundreds at anti-war protests, monitoring group says

Russian police have detained more than 650 people at anti-war protests held in cities throughout the country, protest monitoring group OVD-Info says.

The group said demonstrations had been staged in 40 different locations, including in the capital, Moscow.

G7 leaders promise to hit Russia with severe sanctions

The G7 group of industrialised nations has strongly condemned Russia's invasion and promised to hit Moscow with severe and coordinated economic sanctions.

"This crisis is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe," the G7 leaders said in a joint statement released by Germany.

They added Putin had re-introduced war to the European continent and said the Russian president had "put himself on the wrong side of history".

The G7 is comprised of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US.

Ukrainian ambassador to US says 'all Ukrainians' will fight invasion

Ukraine's ambassador to the US says all of the country's citizens will resist Russia's assault.

"Ukraine has activated our right to self-defence in accordance with international law," Oksana Markarova told reporters at a news conference a press conference at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington.

"The combat spirit of the Ukrainian military is high. We are fighting, we will be fighting - not only our brave and motivated military but all Ukrainians," she added.

Putin claims he had no choice but to order 'operation' against Ukraine

Putin has claimed he had no other option but to order what he described as a "special operation" against Ukraine, arguing all of Moscow's previous attempts to ensure its security concerns were addressed had come to nothing.

The Russian president made his remarks while addressing the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

Moscow had called for the US-led NATO military alliance to guarantee Ukraine would never be allowed to become a member and cease all military activity in Eastern Europe prior to launching an attack on its neighbour. Washington and NATO flatly rejected those demands.

Russian municipal deputies, journalists and scientists pen open letters opposing invasion

More than 180 municipal deputies from cities across Russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara and Volgograd, among others, have signed an open letter strongly condemning Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

"We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate," the regional officials' letter says, before warning that the incursion will have "catastrophic consequences".

"This is an unparalleled atrocity for which there is and cannot be justification," the letter adds. It also calls on Russians not to "be silent" over the attack, saying "only massive popular condemnation can stop the war".

In two other open letters, more than 240 journalists and 260 scientists also expressed their opposition to the Kremlin's move.

Red Cross fears 'massive casualty numbers' in Ukraine

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned Russia's invasion of Ukraine could unleash death and destruction on a scale that is "frightening to contemplate".

"I fear increased suffering, with the potential of massive casualty numbers and extensive destruction of civilian objects like water and electricity plants, as well as mass displacement, trauma, family separation, and missing persons," Peter Maurer said in a statement.

"The ICRC has seen many conflicts start and escalate in recent years, but too few of them end, and in each one it is the civilian populations that bear the consequences," he added.

Today @ICRC stands with the people of #Ukraine.

Legally, and in the name of humanity, they must be protected from the fighting.⁰
My three calls: pic.twitter.com/GbqO2BEMt0

- Peter Maurer (@PMaurerICRC) February 24, 2022

Ukraine says dozens killed within hours of Russian attack

Dozens of people have been killed during the first hours of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to local officials.

Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said that more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and dozens of others wounded within hours of Moscow launching its attack. He added that up to 10 civilians had also been killed.

Read more here.

'Dark and frightening night ahead for millions of Ukrainians'

Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from the city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, says Russian forces do appear to be specifically "trying to target military positions" with their attacks.

"The Ukrainians are responding - the barrage that they are being subjected to dictates that [they must]," he said.

Stratford added the atmosphere in Mariupol, but also in other parts of Ukraine, was becoming increasingly ominous as nightfall loomed.

"It is getting dark now and we have been told by the authorities here that they will be encouraging people not to use their lights, so it is going to be a very dark and a very frightening night ahead for millions of Ukrainians," he said.

Russian Twitter users rally behind 'notowar' hashtag

Russian-speaking social media users have been voicing their opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, using the hashtag #нетвойне, or #notowar.

It had become the top trending hashtag on Russian Twitter at about 06:00 GMT, shortly after Moscow launched its attack, and by 15:00 GMT had accumulated some 112,000 mentions.

Battle for Chernobyl rages

Ukrainian forces are battling Russian troops intent on capturing the former nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in northern Ukraine, Zelenskyy says.

Elsewhere, the regional administration in charge of Ukraine's southern Kherson region said some parts of the territory had been lost to invading forces.

Kyiv mayor imposes curfew on the capital

Kyiv's mayor has ordered a curfew in the Ukrainian capital in response to Russia's attack.

Vitali Klitschko's decision came after footage showed swaths of the city's residents attempting to flee by car, clogging its main exit points by road.

WHO raises alarm over potential humanitarian catastrophe

The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced alarm over an expected health emergency in Ukraine.

"Amid the conflict rapidly unfolding in Ukraine, the WHO Regional Office for Europe reiterates its deepest concern for the safety, health and wellbeing of all civilians impacted by the crisis in the country and possibly beyond," the office said in a statement, warning any further escalation could result in a humanitarian catastrophe.

The European arm of the world health body added it was working closely "with all UN partners in rapidly scaling up readiness to respond to the expected health emergency triggered by the conflict".

Eastern Ukraine's Kramatorsk 'eerily quiet'

Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, says the city is "eerily quiet".

"The streets are nearly empty and none of the businesses are open," Abdel-Hamid said, adding that the magnitude of Russia's attack had "sunk in" for local people.

"They are bracing themselves that something will happen here," she said.

'Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939', Kyiv says

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has accused Putin of "plunging Europe into its darkest time" since the beginning of the second world war in 1939 and urged Kyiv's allies to hit Russia with sanctions immediately.

"Any government hoping to sit this out is naïve. Don't repeat mistakes of the past," he tweeted. "Hit Russia with severe sanctions now. Help Ukraine with military and financial support. Together we can #StopRussianAggression."

Right now, Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939. Any government hoping to sit this out is naïve. Don't repeat mistakes of the past. Hit Russia with severe sanctions now. Help Ukraine with military and financial support. Together we can #StopRussianAggression.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

How is the Ukraine invasion being viewed in Russia?

Pro-government media outlets are echoing Putin's line, but criticism of Moscow's actions is growing, with prominent public figures voicing their discontent.

Read more here.

UK PM says Western powers will impose 'massive sanctions' on Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has branded Putin a "dictator" and warned Moscow will now face "massive" Western sanctions for invading Ukraine.

"We cannot and will not just look away," Johnson said in a televised address to the nation, delivered after he held talks by phone with Zelenskyy.

He added that Western powers will move to roll out a "massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy".

"And to that end, we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on Western politics," Johnson said.

WATCH: My address to the nation on the situation in Ukraine. https://t.co/bLDpcnNaDy

- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

Russia anti-war activist says she has been detained

A Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests says she has been detained by police.

"I was detained on my way out of the house," Marina Litvinovich, the Moscow-based activist, wrote on Telegram.

Litvinovich had earlier called on Russians to gather in protest in various cities throughout the country on Thursday evening.

Russia says it has destroyed 74 military facilities: Report

Russia's defence ministry says its forces have destroyed 74 above-ground military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on Thursday, including 11 aerodromes, according to a report by the country's RIA Novosti news agency.

Attacks taking place nationwide, Ukrainian police force says

Ukraine's national police force says attacks are taking place throughout the country.

The authorities said they had logged 203 incidents since the beginning of the day, when Moscow launched its incursion.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's defence minister said some Russian forces had been taken prisoner in instances of heavy fighting.

French president says invasion marks 'turning point in the history of Europe'

President Emmanuel Macron has said France will stand by Ukraine's side and warned that Russia's invasion will have durable and "deep" consequences for the continent of Europe.

"We will respond without weakness to this act of war, with calm, determination and unity," Macron said in an address to the French nation.

He added that the events were a "turning point in the history of Europe and our country" that would have "deep and lasting consequences for our lives".

Panic, fear and stoicism in Ukraine as Russia invades

Russia's invasion has triggered panic and fear among many Ukrainian civilians as they scramble to flee or face down the escalation in violence.

Many also remained stoic, however, even as missiles fell on multiple cities and Russian forces attacked from land and sea.

Read more here.

Ukraine's Klitschko pleads for international assistance

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv, has told Al Jazeera that the Russian invasion is "terrifying" and called on the world to help "stop the killing of Ukrainians".

Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother is mayor of Kyiv, has told Al Jazeera that the Russian invasion is "terrifying" and calls on the world to help "stop the killing of Ukrainians" ⤵️

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/3jAjwkU048 pic.twitter.com/kwbFWZJkFI

- Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 24, 2022

Russia can not be cut off behind an 'iron curtain', Kremlin spokesman says

The Kremlin says Russia can not be shut off behind an iron curtain and that it needs Ukraine to become a neutral country where offensive weapons were not deployed.

"It's simply impossible to cut off a country like Russia with an iron curtain," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked to assess the risk of Russia being diplomatically and economically isolated due to its actions in Ukraine.

Russian forces trying to penetrate Kyiv region, border officials say

Russian forces are trying to penetrate into Ukraine's Kyiv region and its Zhytomyr region on the Belarusian border, Ukrainian border officials say.

The officials said Russia was using Grad rocket systems as part of its assault, and claimed that Russian helicopters had attacked a military airport near Kyiv.

Ukrainian forces shot down three of the helicopters involved in the attack on the facility, the officials added.

UN's high commissioner for refugees urges countries to give fleeing Ukrainians safe haven

The UN's high commissioner for refugees has warned that the situation in Ukraine is quickly deteriorating and appealed to neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to people seeking a safe haven.

"We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety," Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

He added the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) had stepped up its operations and was working with Ukrainian authorities to provide greater humanitarian assistance.

Grandi said the agency was also working with other governments in the region and called on them "to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection".

It is a dark day for world peace. There are no winners in war, but countless lives will be torn apart.

People have started to flee their homes to seek safety.

UNHCR is stepping up operations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

Full statement below👇🏻 https://t.co/WtBGlJWj2b

- Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) February 24, 2022

NATO has no plans to send troops into Ukraine, Stoltenberg says

NATO has no troops inside Ukraine and has no plans to send any into the country, the organisation's secretary-general says.

"There are no NATO combat troops, no NATO troops at all inside Ukraine. We have made it clear that we don't have any plans and intention of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine," Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels.

"What we have made clear is that we have already increased and we are increasing the presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of the alliance on NATO territory," he added.

Ukraine is a partner of the Western defence alliance but not a full NATO member.

Navalny condemns Ukraine invasion

Putin's most prominent domestic critic, Alexey Navalny, has spoken out against Russia's invasion during a court hearing.

"The war with Ukraine has been unleashed to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and divert their attention away from the country's internal problems, from the degradation of its economy," he said. "I am against this war."

Navalny is currently serving a prison sentence for alleged parole violations that could be extended by more than a decade if he is convicted of fresh charges including fraud and contempt of court.

His allies have claimed that his latest trial - which opened last week - has been purposefully timed to coincide with the Ukraine crisis.

Russian regulator issues strict guidelines for reporting on eastern Ukraine

Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor has warned media outlets they must check the veracity of their reports about the situation in eastern Ukraine and only publish information from official Russian sources.

Roskomnadzor said the distribution of false information online would lead to immediate restrictions.

"We emphasise that it is namely Russian official information sources that hold and disseminate reliable and up-to-date information," Roskomnadzor said.

Erdogan slams Russia's attack as a 'heavy blow' to peace

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a "heavy blow" to regional peace and called for a resolution of the crisis through dialogue.

"We reject Russia's military operation," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "This step, which we view as against international law, is a heavy blow struck on regional peace, harmony and stability."

The Turkish leader added he had conveyed Ankara's support to Zelenskyy in a phone call between the pair.

Ukraine says Russia is carrying out 'full-scale attack'

Ukraine's foreign minister says Russia is carrying out a full-scale offensive from multiple directions and that Ukrainian forces are resisting the attack.

"No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions," Kuleba said on Twitter.

"Ukraine stands with both feet on the ground & continues to defend itself," he added.

Latest update.

No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions.

No, the Ukrainian defense has not collapsed. Ukrainian army took the fight. Ukraine stands with both feet on the ground & continues to defend itself.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

'Left no other option': Excerpts of Putin's speech declaring war

Al Jazeera has translated some of Putin's early morning address to the Russian nation, in which he announced Moscow was launching what he called a "special military operation" against Ukraine.

Read more here.

Iran says Ukraine crisis rooted in 'provocative moves' by NATO

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said Russia's decision to invade Ukraine is rooted in "provocative moves" by NATO.

However, he added Tehran did not "see resorting to war as a solution" and called in a post on Twitter for a "political and diplomatic solution" to the crisis.

Amirabdollahian also said he had held a phone call with officials at Iran's embassy in Kyiv to discuss how they might coordinate the evacuation of Iranian citizens from Ukraine.

Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement that Tehran is working to secure a flight to evacuate citizens and called on them to move away from "crisis points".

The #Ukraine crisis is rooted in NATO's provocations.

We don't believe that resorting to war is a solution.

Imperative to establish ceasefire & to find a political and democratic resolution.

- H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) February 24, 2022

After 'bridge to Europe' bid, Ukraine's China ties face test

Beijing's reluctance to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine indicates China will attempt to maintain its delicate balancing act over the crisis.

Read more here.

Zelenskyy holds phone conversation with Qatari emir

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received a phone call from Zelenskyy, who briefed him on the latest developments, his office has said in a statement.

Sheikh Tamim called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the criss through diplomatic means, the statement added. The Qatari emir also called for the protection of civilians

NATO moves to reinforce its eastern flank

NATO member states have agreed to bolster land, sea and air forces on the military alliance's eastern flank.

"We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the alliance, as well as additional maritime assets," NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks.

"We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies," the statement added.

Separatist leader says evacuation of residents to Russia suspended: Report

Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-backed leader of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine, says the evacuation of the territory's residents to Russia has been suspended, according to a report by the Interfax news agency.

Russia moved to recognise the DPR and another breakaway territory, the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), as independent prior to launching its invasion into Ukraine.

Mayor of Mariupol says three civilians killed

The mayor of Mariupol has claimed that three of the eastern Ukrainian city's civilians have been killed and six others injured amid Russia's invasion.

Vadym Boychenko told a news conference that Russian forces had attacked the city's airport and a village nearby.

"Don't panic. We are ready to fight for Mariupol and Ukraine," he said.

Zelenskyy adviser says 40 Ukrainians killed

An adviser to Ukraine's president says about 40 people have been killed so far amid Russia's invasion.

Oleksii Arestovich, Zelenskyy's aide, also said that several dozen people have been wounded. He did not specify whether the casualties included civilians.

Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the figures.

Putin ally says Ukraine's demilitarisation only way to prevent war in Europe

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, has said that the only way to prevent war in Europe is for Ukraine to be "demilitarised", RIA Novosti reports.

Volodin is a close ally of Putin.

No scope for diplomacy with Russia 'at this stage'

Al Jazeera's Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from Vienna, says Western leaders see no scope for "talking to the Russians at this stage".

"The only diplomacy going on is diplomatic meetings aimed at formulating a response to what Putin has done - that is what the centre of attention is going to be in the coming hours," he said.

Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia

Zelenskyy has broken off Kyiv's diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to Russia's invasion.

The Ukrainian president's move marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent countries after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

OSCE says monitoring mission in Ukraine implementing contingency plans

The secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says the security body's Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which has hundreds of observers in the east of the country, is adapting after Russia's military offensive.

"The mission's well-developed contingency plans are being put in action," Helga Schmid said in a speech to the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, without providing details.

"The safety and security of our personnel is our utmost priority," she added.

Russian invasion is a 'catastrophe' for Europe, UK PM says

The UK's prime minister has said Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a "catastrophe" for Europe and called for an urgent NATO meeting over the crisis.

"This is a catastrophe for our continent," Johnson said on Twitter, adding he would make a national address on the developments later on Thursday morning.

"I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible," he added.

This is a catastrophe for our continent.

I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible.

- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

Ukraine's president calls on citizens to fight

Zelenskyy has called on all Ukrainian citizens who are ready to defend the country from Russian forces to come forward, saying Kyiv will issue weapons to everyone who wants them.

The Ukrainian president also urged Russians to protest against Moscow's move.

Finland is ready to receive refugees from Ukraine, PM says

Finland is prepared to receive refugees from Ukraine, the country's prime minister has said.

"[Finland's] ministry of interior for its part is preparing to receive refugees from Ukraine," Sanna Marin told reporters.

Both Marin and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto have strongly condemned Russia's attack.

"Despite prior warnings this morning has come as a shock for all of us and our deepest feelings are with Ukrainian people," Niinisto said.

Russian attack causes panic in Kyiv as people flee

The sound of explosions on the edge of Ukraine's capital and air sirens set off by a full-scale Russian invasion of the country have prompted panic in the city, leading some of its residents to try and flee.

Read more here.

Lithuanian parliament to consider state of emergency declaration

The Lithuanian parliament will decide whether to declare a state of emergency later on Thursday following Russia's moves in Ukraine, President Gitanas Nauseda says.

The Baltic state, a former Soviet republic that is now part of NATO and the European Union, will also propose that further sanctions should be imposed on Belarus over its alleged role in the invasion.

What's next for global energy prices?

Russia's invasion of Ukraine spells higher energy prices worldwide amid fears of supply disruptions.

Read more here.

Sanctions not enough to stop Russia: Analyst

Fabrice Pothier, chief strategy officer at consultancy firm Rasmussen Global and a former director of policy planning at NATO, says Putin's decision to invade Ukraine is "not surprising".

"Putin ... wants to rebuild Russia's empire," Pothier told Al Jazeera.

"And while the US and EU sanctions packages sound impressive, and there is indeed a lot of unity and coordinated talks [among Kyiv's allies], the bottom line is that this is not enough to stop Putin from following his twisted vision," he added.

"NATO is not willing to put any soldiers on Ukrainian soil and Putin knows this very well and therefore he can go all the way forward to Kyiv."

Dozens of Russian forces killed, Ukraine says

Ukraine's military says about 50 Russian forces have been killed and six warplanes destroyed amid fighting in the country's east.

Watch the moment Putin announced Russia's Ukraine incursion

Here's the moment Russia's president announced Moscow's decision to invade Ukraine, a move he referred to as "a military operation" in the country's eastern Donbas region.

Watch the moment Russia's President Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine's Donbas region, warning other nations of consequences if they interfere ⤵️

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/e7XVFng5Gu pic.twitter.com/C1966pOHsX

- Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 24, 2022

Belarusian forces not taking part in invasion, Lukashenko claims

President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that Belarusian troops are not taking part in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by the country's Belta state news agency.

"Our troops are taking no part in this operation," Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Putin, was quoted as saying.

Ukraine's border guard service said earlier that Russian troops had attacked Ukraine from Belarus - where they had been staging joint large-scale military exercises with Belarusian forces - as well as from Russia itself with Belarusian support.

Ukraine asks Turkey to shut Black Sea waterways to Russian warships

Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, Kyiv's ambassador to Ankara says.

"We are calling for the air space, Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to be closed. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a news conference in the Turkish capital.

The request puts NATO member Turkey, which shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good relations with both countries, in a difficult position. Under a 1936 pact, Ankara has control over the straits and can limit warship passages during wartime or if threatened.

Russian opposition activist calls for anti-war protests

A Russian opposition activist has called for anti-war protests in Russian cities later on Thursday.

"We will be cleaning up this mess for years to come. Not even us. But our children and grandchildren," Litvinovich wrote on Facebook.

"All we see is the agony of a dying man. Alas, Russia is in agony."

Timeline: Putin attacks Ukraine - how it happened

Russia's attack on Ukraine started in the early hours of this morning.

Click here for a timeline documenting how the invasion began, and has developed since.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine: What we know so far

Al Jazeera has put together a 500-word explainer on the background to Russia's invasion and what has happened so far.

Click here to read it.

Russia claims air raids not targeting Ukraine's cities, pose no civilian threat: Report

Russia's defence ministry has claimed its air raids on Ukraine are not targeting the country's cities and pose no threat to civilians, RIA Novosti reports.

Ukraine said earlier that at least eight people had been killed and nine others wounded by Russian shelling.

EU to impose 'harshest sanctions ever' on Russia

The EU will slap the harshest package of sanctions ever implemented on Russia for attacking Ukraine, the bloc's foreign policy chief has said.

"The European Union will respond in the strongest possible ways ... [EU leaders] will adopt a stronger package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented," Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels.

These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War.

The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented.

President Putin needs to stop this senseless aggression.

We stand with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/mmDtfUOHvk

- Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 24, 2022

Russia suspends shipping in the Azov sea: Report

Russia has suspended the movement of commercial vessels in the Azov sea until further notice, Interfax has quoted the state agency for maritime and river transport as saying.

Ukraine and Russia both have ports on the Sea of Azov, including Ukraine's major port of Mariupol, while Russia controls the sea's mouth at the Kerch Strait.

Timeline: After months of tensions, Russia attacks Ukraine

For a timeline documenting the build-up to Russia's invasion, click here.

'Everybody was panicking'

Sara Cincurova, a freelance reporter, says she was on a train headed for Kramatorsk when news of Russia's invasion broke.

"Everybody was panicking ... there was an old man asking what was going on and the train attendant told him 'the war has just begun'," Cincurova told Al Jazeera.

"There was another passenger, an old lady whose son is in the army, who started crying. Other people were wishing each other good luck ... and there was a big discussion about whether we should all get off in the next village," she added.

"Some people decided to head east to meet with their families, but others got off."

'The war is a big disaster': Zelenskyy's address in full

As Russia prepared to attack Ukraine, the country's president made an emotional address to his nation.

Click here to read Zelenskyy's address in full.

Queues at cash machines, petrol stations in Mariupol

Al Jazeera's Liz Cookman is in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. She says there are large queues at cash machines and petrol stations as people fear electricity and internet outages.

But despite air raid sirens sounding throughout the city, packed buses were still carrying people to work and school.

Photos from Ukraine

Click here for images from Ukraine as Russia's attack unfolds.

Explosions rock eastern Ukraine's Kramatorsk

Al Jazeera's Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Kramatorsk, says several loud explosions rocked the city early this morning.

"I think ... what has been targeted is the military base that is just on the edge of the city," she said. "The Russians are trying to diminish the capability of the Ukrainian army as much as possible."

World reaction to Ukraine invasion

Russia's attack on Ukraine has been swiftly condemned by several nations.

Read more here.

Russia says it has taken out infrastructure at Ukraine air bases: Reports

Russia's defence ministry says it has attacked military infrastructure at Ukrainian air bases and degraded Ukraine's air defences, according to reports by Russian news agencies.

The ministry denied reports that one of its aircraft had been shot down over Ukraine. Ukraine's military said earlier that five Russian planes and one helicopter had been downed in the country's eastern Luhansk region.

Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the claims made by both sides.

Air raid sirens blaring throughout Kyiv

Al Jazeera Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kyiv, says air raid sirens have been blaring throughout the city.

"It would appear that military installations have been the target [of the attack] - there have been missiles attacks and the number of casualties and level of damage is unclear at the moment," Simmons said.

"But the whole sky was awash with red and orange when these missiles struck - some of which were apparently cruise missiles. And the main international airport did come under attack - it is not clear what the damage is there, but all air space is closed," he added.

Zelenskyy declares martial law, says Ukraine will 'win'

Ukraine's president has made a brief national address to declare martial law throughout the country.

"Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards. There were blasts heard in many cities of Ukraine. We're introducing martial law on the whole territory of our country," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

He added he had spoken with Biden, and that Washington was moving to unite "international support" for Kyiv.

"Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defence and security is working," Zelenskyy said. "No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine."

Ukraine says troops attacked from Russia and Belarus

Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia itself, with Belarusian support, at about 5 am local time (07:00 GMT), Ukraine's border guard service says.

The agency said an attack had also been launched from Crimea, which Russia annexed from Crimea in 2014.

Russian military 'tight-lipped' on Ukraine attack

Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, says the Russian military is being "very tight-lipped on what is happening on the ground with Ukraine".

"We are hearing reports of the Russian military going in from various sides of Ukraine - from the east, from the west and now allegedly from the north in Belarus," Jabbari said.

"It is clear now that this is not just a small military operation in the eastern region of Donbas as the president [Putin] had said," she added.

"Many residents in Moscow yesterday were commemorating their version of Remembrance day. They said they could not possibly fathom the idea of going to war with Ukraine. [They said] Ukraine is their neighbour, is part of their family, they are brother and sisters and there is really no justification for launching a full-scale attack on Ukraine."

Intensive shelling in Ukraine's east, minister says

Ukraine's defence minister has said that Ukrainian units, military control centres and airfields in the country's east are under intensive Russian shelling.

His update came as the military said that Ukraine's air force was trying to repel a Russian air attack.

Russia's move could 'change dynamics in Russia', analyst says

Chris Weafer, Macro-Advisory CEO, said that Russia's move could pose a risk for Putin's domestic consensus.

"What Putin has done is not just risky in terms of geopolitics and in terms of western reaction, but it is also in terms of domestic politics," Weafer said, pointing out that a growing active part of the population will not easily accept the consequences for them that will now come from Russia's invasion.

"We are already seeing a weak ruble at the early opening this morning that will have consequences in terms of inflation and lifestyle," he added, noting that sanctions could affect people's ability to use bank cards, to withdraw money from ATMs and to travel.

"All of these are potential consequences and if that happens there will be a domestic public reaction. Not immediately, but it will start to change dynamics in Russia."

Russia says targeting Ukraine military facilities with 'precision' weapons

The Russian defence ministry has said it is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons.

"Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons," the ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

EU chief promises to hold Kremlin 'accountable' for 'unjustified' Ukraine attack

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has denounced Russia's attack and promised to hold Moscow "accountable".

"We strongly condemn Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine. In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives," she wrote on Twitter.

"We will hold the Kremlin accountable."

We strongly condemn Russia´s unjustified attack on Ukraine.

In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives.

We will hold the Kremlin accountable.

- Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 24, 2022

Biden speaks with Ukraine's Zelenskyy, White House says

Biden spoke with Zelenskyy soon after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, the White House has said.

Biden "just spoke with Zelensky," a spokesman for his office said, adding that details would be issued later.

Moscow's UN envoy says Russia targeting 'junta in power in Kyiv'

Russia's ambassador to the UN has told an emergency UN Securtiy Council (UNSC) meeting that Moscow's military operation against Ukraine was targeting "the junta" in power in Kiyv.

"I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren't being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv," said Vassily Nebenzia.

UN chief urges Russia to cease military operations in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Russia to end the attack on Ukraine.

"President Putin, in the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia," the secretary-general said.

"In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century," he said, adding the conflict "must stop now".

Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says

Russia has launched a "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes, Ukraine's foreign minister says.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Kuleba tweeted. "This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022

Loud explosions heard in Kyiv: Al Jazeera correspondent

Al Jazeera's Simmons, reporting from Kyiv, says at least seven "loud explosions" have been heard in Ukraine's capital.

"It sounds like shell fire, but it could be air strikes," Simmons said.

"Boryspil international airport came under attack ... we're not sure whether it was shelled or whether it's an explosion," he added. "We've heard sirens as well, so there's definitely a full attack happening on the capital."

NATO chief condemns Russia 'attack'

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has condemned Russia's "reckless and unprovoked attack" on Ukraine.

He said the military alliances member states will meet to address Russia's latest move, adding: "We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time."

"NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend allies," he added.

Ukraine urges UN 'to do everything possible to stop the war'

Ukraine's UN envoy has urged the world body's Security Council to "stop the war".

"I would like to ask the ambassador of the Russian delegation to say on the record that this very moment your troops do not shell and bomb Ukrainian cities, that your troops do not move in the territory of Ukraine," Sergiy Kyslytsya said.

In response, Russia's UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said the attack was not a "war". He claimed Moscow had launched a "military operation in the Donbas".

Biden denounces 'unprovoked and unjustified' attack

The US president has denounced Moscow's "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine, pledging the world will "hold Russia accountable".

Biden said Russia alone is responsible for the "catastrophic loss of life and human suffering" to come, adding that he will address the nation on Thursday on 'consequences' for Russia.

Gunfire heard near Kyiv's main airport: Report

Gunfire was heard near the main airport of Boryspil in Kyiv soon after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine, Interfax has reported, citing local media.

Putin says Russia will conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine

Putin has said Russia will conduct a "military operation" in Donbas and called on Ukraine's military to lay down its arms.

"I have made the decision of a military operation," he said in a surprise statement on television shortly before 6 am local time in Moscow (03:00 GMT).

Putin claimed the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian "regime".

He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen."

US tells UN a 'full-scale' invasion of Ukraine is imminent

The US believes a "full-scale" further invasion of Ukraine by Russia is imminent, Washington's ambassador to the UN has warned, saying this is a "perilous" moment.

"Tonight we're seeing the Russians close airspace, move troops into Donbas, and move forces into combat-ready positions," Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

UN chief tells Putin: 'Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine'

Guterres has made a personal appeal to Putin to stop his troops from entering Ukraine at an emergency UNSC meeting.

"President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine, give peace a chance, too many people have already died."

Russia ally Cuba slams US over Ukraine crisis, urges diplomacy

Cuba, a close ally of Russia, has sharply criticised the US for imposing "the progressive expansion of NATO towards the borders of the Russian Federation" and called for a diplomatic solution to preserve international peace.

"The US government has been threatening Russia for weeks and manipulating the international community about the dangers of an 'imminent massive invasion' of Ukraine," a Cuban statement said. "It has supplied weapons and military technology, deployed troops to several countries in the region, applied unilateral and unjust sanctions, and threatened other reprisals."

The statement said "constructive and respectful dialogue" was necessary to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

Cyberattacks are about 'undermining confidence in government': Analyst

Cyberattacks are "about perception" and about "undermining confidence in the government," Patrick Howell O'Neill, cybersecurity senior editor for MIT Technology Review, has said.

"At a moment like this, that's pretty important," O'Neill told Al Jazeera.

"Right now, we haven't seen anything that would be dangerous to anyone's lives or anyone's physical wellbeing," he said, referring to reports of a fresh cyber attack against Ukraine.

"Historically, especially in Ukraine, the way that Russian intelligence hackers have behaved, the things that they've done, are unlike anything any other country has every carried out," O'Neill said.

Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia airports in Ukraine closed until Thursday morning

Airports at Dnipro, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine are closed to traffic until Thursday morning, according to notices issued by local authorities.

No reason was provided for the closures, which are due to end between 05:00 and 06:35 GMT, depending on the airport.

Airlines should stop flying over all of Ukraine's airspace - conflict zone monitor

Airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyberattack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia, a conflict zone monitor has said.

Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information for airlines after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, said it had increased its risk level to "do not fly".

"Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme," Safe Airspace said on its website. "This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation."

Russia partially shuts airspace near border with Ukraine

Russia has partially closed airspace in the Rostov flight information region to the east of its border with Ukraine "in order to provide safety" for civil aviation flights, according to a notice issued by authorities.

The notice lists specific route segments and altitudes to be avoided.

Blinken believes Russia will invade Ukraine before night is out

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told NBC News that he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night was over but still sees a chance to "avert a major aggression".

"Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine," Blinken told US broadcaster NBC, adding he could not be precise about time or place.

G7 leaders to hold virtual meeting on Thursday

The Group of Seven (G7) world leaders will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, the White House has said.

UNSC to meet Wednesday night on Ukraine, diplomats say

The UNSC will convene for its second emergency session in three days over the crisis, "due to military developments" on the ground, diplomatic sources have said.

The meeting, which was requested by Kyiv, is scheduled for 9:30 pm local time in New York (02:30 GMT Thursday), the sources said.

EU sanctions Russian defence minister, military chiefs

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu and military chiefs as part of a package of measures over the Kremlin's recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.

The 27-nation bloc slapped asset freezes and visa bans on high-ranking figures including the commanders of Russia's army, navy and air force, the Kremlin's chief of staff, the head of state-run television channel RT and the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, according to the EU's official journal.

France's Macron reiterates support for Ukraine's sovereignty

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity after a call with Zelenskyy, the Elysee Palace has said.

"[Macron] also praised the Ukrainian President's composure in the current situation," the French president's office said in a statement.

Support that the EU can provide to Ukraine will be on the agenda of the meeting of the European Council on Thursday, the Elysee Palace added.

Ukraine president says nearly 200,000 Russian troops on border

Zelenskyy says Russia has massed nearly 200,000 troops around Ukraine's borders.

On the Ukrainian border "nearly 200,000 soldiers are stationed, [as are] thousands of combat vehicles," he said, adding that a "major war in Europe" could be started by Moscow soon.

Zelenskyy says Russia has approved an offensive against Ukraine

Zelenskyy has said Russia has approved an offensive against Ukraine and accused Putin of not replying to his invitation to hold talks.

"I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence," he said.

"The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack that threaten our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back."

Zelenskyy made the remarks in a 10-minute address posted on Telegram during which he spoke in both Ukrainian and Russian.

Australia flags potential cyberattacks after Russia sanctions

Australia must prepare itself for likely cyberattacks from Russia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.

"Cyberattacks are a real threat, and they're a present threat and that is the most likely response from Russia in terms of what we've done," Morrison told Australian broadcaster Channel Nine when asked if he expected any retaliation from Russia over sanctions imposed on Moscow by Canberra.

He urged Australian businesses to bolster their cyber-defences. They may not get hit directly but there could be "collateral cyber-impacts" from computer viruses when deployed that can "take on a course of their own," Morrison said.

France urges citizens to leave Ukraine 'without delay'

France has become the latest Western nation to call on its citizens to leave Ukraine "without delay".

"In the context of serious tensions caused by the concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders" as well as Russia's recognition of two separatist regions and Ukraine's imposition of a state of emergency, "French citizens finding themselves in Ukraine should leave the country without delay," France's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine requests urgent UN Security Council meeting

Kuleba says he has demanded an urgent meeting of the UNSC regarding Russian-backed separatists' appeal to Russia for military assistance.

"Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation," the Ukrainian foreign minister tweeted.

Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation.

- Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 23, 2022

Images show new deployments in western Russia near Ukraine border

Satellite imagery showed a number of new deployments in western Russia, many of them within 16km (10 miles) of the border with Ukraine and less than 80km (50 miles) from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, a private US company has said.

The images showed field deployment, military convoys, artillery and armoured personnel carriers with support equipment and troops. The images released by Maxar Technologies, which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces for weeks, could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera.

Putin 'tightening the screws on Ukraine': Correspondent

Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from Moscow, says Putin is "continuing to tighten the screws on Ukraine".

"He [Putin] says the two states that they have now recognised [the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics] are being recognised on embassy levels and Russia says it is also evacuating its diplomatic staff from Ukraine to protect their lives," Smith said.

"Putin has also praised the battle-readiness of Russian troops," he added.

White House says it is in contact with Ukraine over cybersecurity

Biden's administration is in touch with Ukrainian authorities over their cybersecurity needs, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki says.

The websites of Ukraine's government, foreign ministry and state security service were down on Wednesday in what the government said was the start of another massive denial of service attack.

"We are in conversations with Ukraine regarding their cyber-related needs including as recently as today and we're going to move with urgency to assess the nature and extent of this, what steps need to be taken, and therefore a response," Psaki said.

Kremlin says Ukraine rebels have asked Russia for 'help' against Kyiv

The Kremlin has said the heads of east Ukraine's rebel republics have asked Putin for "help" to "repel aggression" from the Ukrainian army.

In a statement carried by Russian state news agencies, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the separatist republics have petitioned Moscow "for help in repelling the aggression of the armed forces in Ukraine".

White House says Putin is adapting, improvising after sanctions

Putin is improvising and having to adapt his Ukraine strategy following sanctions imposed by the West this week, Psaki has said.

Welcome to Al Jazeera's continuing coverage of the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Read all the updates from Tuesday, February 23, here.

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Latest Russia-Ukraine updates: Tens of thousands flee their homes

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The UN refugee agency says an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes. US President Joe Biden announces new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine invasion, says Putin "chose" war. Russian President Vladimir Putin launches sweeping Ukraine invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vows to defend his nation, declares martial law.

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Putin sends troops to the Donbas region of Ukraine, which he declared part of Russia earlier in the week. Country’s start giving sanctions.

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What we know now

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Russia's "invasion has begun," with reports of troops crossing the border from multiple directions, and explosions in multiple cities including the capital Kyiv.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced martial law across the country on Thursday, urging citizens to remain calm. Earlier, he said he had tried to call Putin on Wednesday but was unsuccessful.

9:58 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO member states Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have triggered NATO Article 4 to launch consultations within the alliance over Russia's attack on Ukraine.

"The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened," Article 4 of The North Atlantic Treaty says.

According to the NATO website, consultation under Article 4 can lead to collective action among the 30 member states.

The website says Article 4 has been invoked six times previously since the alliance formed in 1949, most recently by Turkey in February 2020 after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed by an attack by Syrian government forces in opposition-held areas of northern Syria.

Turkey has invoked Article 4 on four other occasions: once in 2015 to inform the alliance of its response to terrorist attacks in the country; twice in 2012 after a Turkish warplane was shot down in northern Syria and after Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian shelling; and in 2003 when it asked for alliance help to protect its population from any spillover from the war in neighboring Iraq.

On two of those occasions, NATO responded with military aid, sending Patriot missile batteries to protect against Syrian attacks in 2012 and sending aircraft and missile batteries to southeastern Turkey along the border with Iraq in 2003.

Poland invoked Article 4 in 2014 after previous Russian aggression in Ukraine, a meeting that resulted in further alliance efforts to stand together against any threats.

Article 4 is separate from Article 5, which is the alliance's declaration that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Before the crack of dawn, just before explosions began in cities across Ukraine, Russian state television unexpectedly broadcast an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two self-proclaimed "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk, in the breakaway Ukrainian region of Donbas, which he had officially recognized as independent less than two days before, had "turned to Russia with a request for help," he said. To answer that call he was launching a "special military operation." Its purpose: to "demilitarize" and "denazifiy" Ukraine.

Within minutes, Russian missiles began hitting targets in Ukraine. "Our actions are self-defense against threats," he told his fellow Russians, claiming Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukraine. "We do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone," he insisted.

Putin described the "special military operation" in limited terms, to protect people living in Donbas who, he claimed, had been subjected to "genocide," a charge that Ukraine has strenuously denied. But in the next breath, he lashed out more broadly: "NATO supports Ukrainian neo-Nazis ... our actions are self-defense against threats."

Then, in an extraordinary passage, he spoke directly to members of Ukraine's military, at that very moment in the crosshairs of the Russian military. Addressing them as "dear comrades," he told them they had taken an "oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that is robbing Ukraine and abuses those same people."

"Don't follow its criminal orders!" he demanded. "I urge you to lay down your weapons and go home."

As he has done so many times before, Putin claimed Russia had no choice but to defend itself. With a hard-edged tone in his voice, he seemed to threaten the US, Europe and NATO which, in just a few minutes, would witness his armed forces opening fire on Ukraine, something the Kremlin had consistently dismissed as western "hysterics."

"Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history.

"We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made."

Putin, who for years had criticized the West for ignoring his complaints about NATO's expansion toward Russia's borders, was finally striking back with fury. "I hope," he concluded his short address, "that I have been heard."
WATCH:

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "brutal" and "unprovoked," while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions.

"We denounce what are unilateral hostile actions in Ukraine. Russia is flagrantly breaching international law and the UN Charter. Russia has chosen war," Morrison said, speaking to reporters in a press conference Thursday.

"Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms," Morrison said.

Morrison said the new sanctions would target army commanders, deputy defense ministers and Russian mercenaries "responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression," as well as businesses that had been involved in the development and sale of military technology and weapons.

On Wednesday, Australia announced sanctions on eight members of Russia's Security Council.

Morrison said there will be "further waves of sanctions" and that he was discussing with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on taking action against more than 300 members of Russian parliament.

"We must ensure there is a cost for this violent, unacceptable and egregious behavior...there always must be a cost for such reprehensible violence."

"This is a chilling reminder of the world that we live in, and where the threats and aggression of bullies and those who seek to intimidate others to seek their own advantage ... is a reality," Morrison said.

Morrison said there were no plans for Australia to engage in military support for Ukraine and that their military support had not been requested from the government.

"We work closely with NATO and their member states. What we are doing is working with them in other ways," he said.

Russia's attack on Ukraine Thursday ranked among the "darkest hours for Europe" in nearly 80 years, according to the European Union's foreign policy chief.

"These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II," EU High Representative Josep Borrell told reporters.

Borrell promised "urgent assistance to Ukraine," as well as supporting evacuation efforts, including of EU staff.

EU sanctions: Speaking alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be "the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented."

Von der Leyen said she will present "massive and strategic" sanctions against Russia for approval later today.

European markets opened sharply lower on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In the opening minutes of trade the FTSE 100 fell 2.5%, the French CAC 40 dropped 4% and Germany's Dax was 4% lower.

Earlier, Asian markets and US stock futures plunged on Thursday as news of the military action emerged. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 3%. Korea's Kospi dropped 2.6%. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost nearly 2% after coming back from a holiday. China's Shanghai Composite moved 1.7% lower.

US stocks futures also tumbled: Dow futures were down as much as 780 points, or 2.4%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were down 2.3% and 3% respectively.

The broad losses followed a sharp decline on Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow closed down more than 464 points, or 1.4%, posting its fifth straight day of losses. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively.

3:13 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
French president calls for Russian military operations in Ukraine to end "immediately"

French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia must "immediately" end military operations in Ukraine.

"France strongly condemns Russia's decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately," he said in a tweet on Thursday. "France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war."

The French president spoke with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky early Thursday morning, with Zelensky asking for "multiple interventions" to support Ukraine, according to the Elysee Palace.

Zelensky also requested "unity in Europe," and Macron "assured him of France's support and solidarity," according to the Elysee.

Macron also spoke with Charles Michel, president of the European Council, Thursday morning.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to "weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize" following the "barbaric attack" by Moscow against Ukraine.

"We will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets," Von der Leyen told reporters on Thursday.

"We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments that are being used to justify it."

"Harshest" sanctions: Von der Leyen said she will present "massive and strategic" sanctions against Russia for approval later today.

"These sanctions are designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin's interests and their ability to finance war. And we know that millions of Russians do not want war," she said.

"We will not allow President [Vladimir] Putin to replace the rule of law, by the rule of force, and ruthlessness," she said, "Ukraine will prevail."

Speaking alongside Von der Leyen, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be "the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented."

3:08 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Leader of civil liberties organization: Russia's attack could cause a "refugee crisis"

Oleksandra Matviichuk, chair of the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, told CNN on Thursday she fears the Russian attack on Ukraine will cause a "refugee crisis."

"I am in Kyiv. And a lot of people stay in Kyiv and will fight for our country and for our city, and for our dignity," she said. "But people with children, people without parents, people who are scared (will) try to leave (the) city."

She added that she fears Russia's attack will also target journalists, civil activists, human rights defenders, and volunteers "who are ... resistant to the occupation."

When asked what could possibly prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back, Matviichuk responded, "Now, it all depends onto immediate reaction of the West."

"We, as Ukrainians, will win," she said. "I don't know how my personal story will end but I have no doubt Ukraine will stand. But we need time, and (the) West can provide this time, with their immediate reaction."

What we know now

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Russia's "invasion has begun," with reports of troops crossing the border from multiple directions, and explosions in multiple cities including the capital Kyiv.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced martial law across the country on Thursday, urging citizens to remain calm. Earlier, he said he had tried to call Putin on Wednesday but was unsuccessful.

9:58 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Our live coverage has moved. Head here for the latest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO member states Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have triggered NATO Article 4 to launch consultations within the alliance over Russia's attack on Ukraine.

"The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened," Article 4 of The North Atlantic Treaty says.

According to the NATO website, consultation under Article 4 can lead to collective action among the 30 member states.

The website says Article 4 has been invoked six times previously since the alliance formed in 1949, most recently by Turkey in February 2020 after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed by an attack by Syrian government forces in opposition-held areas of northern Syria.

Turkey has invoked Article 4 on four other occasions: once in 2015 to inform the alliance of its response to terrorist attacks in the country; twice in 2012 after a Turkish warplane was shot down in northern Syria and after Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian shelling; and in 2003 when it asked for alliance help to protect its population from any spillover from the war in neighboring Iraq.

On two of those occasions, NATO responded with military aid, sending Patriot missile batteries to protect against Syrian attacks in 2012 and sending aircraft and missile batteries to southeastern Turkey along the border with Iraq in 2003.

Poland invoked Article 4 in 2014 after previous Russian aggression in Ukraine, a meeting that resulted in further alliance efforts to stand together against any threats.

Article 4 is separate from Article 5, which is the alliance's declaration that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Before the crack of dawn, just before explosions began in cities across Ukraine, Russian state television unexpectedly broadcast an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two self-proclaimed "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk, in the breakaway Ukrainian region of Donbas, which he had officially recognized as independent less than two days before, had "turned to Russia with a request for help," he said. To answer that call he was launching a "special military operation." Its purpose: to "demilitarize" and "denazifiy" Ukraine.

Within minutes, Russian missiles began hitting targets in Ukraine. "Our actions are self-defense against threats," he told his fellow Russians, claiming Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukraine. "We do not plan to impose ourselves on anyone," he insisted.

Putin described the "special military operation" in limited terms, to protect people living in Donbas who, he claimed, had been subjected to "genocide," a charge that Ukraine has strenuously denied. But in the next breath, he lashed out more broadly: "NATO supports Ukrainian neo-Nazis ... our actions are self-defense against threats."

Then, in an extraordinary passage, he spoke directly to members of Ukraine's military, at that very moment in the crosshairs of the Russian military. Addressing them as "dear comrades," he told them they had taken an "oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-people junta that is robbing Ukraine and abuses those same people."

"Don't follow its criminal orders!" he demanded. "I urge you to lay down your weapons and go home."

As he has done so many times before, Putin claimed Russia had no choice but to defend itself. With a hard-edged tone in his voice, he seemed to threaten the US, Europe and NATO which, in just a few minutes, would witness his armed forces opening fire on Ukraine, something the Kremlin had consistently dismissed as western "hysterics."

"Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history.

"We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made."

Putin, who for years had criticized the West for ignoring his complaints about NATO's expansion toward Russia's borders, was finally striking back with fury. "I hope," he concluded his short address, "that I have been heard."
WATCH:

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "brutal" and "unprovoked," while announcing new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions.

"We denounce what are unilateral hostile actions in Ukraine. Russia is flagrantly breaching international law and the UN Charter. Russia has chosen war," Morrison said, speaking to reporters in a press conference Thursday.

"Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms," Morrison said.

Morrison said the new sanctions would target army commanders, deputy defense ministers and Russian mercenaries "responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression," as well as businesses that had been involved in the development and sale of military technology and weapons.

On Wednesday, Australia announced sanctions on eight members of Russia's Security Council.

Morrison said there will be "further waves of sanctions" and that he was discussing with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on taking action against more than 300 members of Russian parliament.

"We must ensure there is a cost for this violent, unacceptable and egregious behavior...there always must be a cost for such reprehensible violence."

"This is a chilling reminder of the world that we live in, and where the threats and aggression of bullies and those who seek to intimidate others to seek their own advantage ... is a reality," Morrison said.

Morrison said there were no plans for Australia to engage in military support for Ukraine and that their military support had not been requested from the government.

"We work closely with NATO and their member states. What we are doing is working with them in other ways," he said.

Russia's attack on Ukraine Thursday ranked among the "darkest hours for Europe" in nearly 80 years, according to the European Union's foreign policy chief.

"These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II," EU High Representative Josep Borrell told reporters.

Borrell promised "urgent assistance to Ukraine," as well as supporting evacuation efforts, including of EU staff.

EU sanctions: Speaking alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be "the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented."

Von der Leyen said she will present "massive and strategic" sanctions against Russia for approval later today.

European markets opened sharply lower on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine.

In the opening minutes of trade the FTSE 100 fell 2.5%, the French CAC 40 dropped 4% and Germany's Dax was 4% lower.

Earlier, Asian markets and US stock futures plunged on Thursday as news of the military action emerged. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 3%. Korea's Kospi dropped 2.6%. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost nearly 2% after coming back from a holiday. China's Shanghai Composite moved 1.7% lower.

US stocks futures also tumbled: Dow futures were down as much as 780 points, or 2.4%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were down 2.3% and 3% respectively.

The broad losses followed a sharp decline on Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow closed down more than 464 points, or 1.4%, posting its fifth straight day of losses. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively.

3:13 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
French president calls for Russian military operations in Ukraine to end "immediately"

French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia must "immediately" end military operations in Ukraine.

"France strongly condemns Russia's decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately," he said in a tweet on Thursday. "France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war."

The French president spoke with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky early Thursday morning, with Zelensky asking for "multiple interventions" to support Ukraine, according to the Elysee Palace.

Zelensky also requested "unity in Europe," and Macron "assured him of France's support and solidarity," according to the Elysee.

Macron also spoke with Charles Michel, president of the European Council, Thursday morning.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to "weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize" following the "barbaric attack" by Moscow against Ukraine.

"We will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets," Von der Leyen told reporters on Thursday.

"We condemn this barbaric attack and the cynical arguments that are being used to justify it."

"Harshest" sanctions: Von der Leyen said she will present "massive and strategic" sanctions against Russia for approval later today.

"These sanctions are designed to take a heavy toll on the Kremlin's interests and their ability to finance war. And we know that millions of Russians do not want war," she said.

"We will not allow President [Vladimir] Putin to replace the rule of law, by the rule of force, and ruthlessness," she said, "Ukraine will prevail."

Speaking alongside Von der Leyen, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be "the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented."

3:08 a.m. ET, February 24, 2022
Leader of civil liberties organization: Russia's attack could cause a "refugee crisis"

Oleksandra Matviichuk, chair of the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, told CNN on Thursday she fears the Russian attack on Ukraine will cause a "refugee crisis."

"I am in Kyiv. And a lot of people stay in Kyiv and will fight for our country and for our city, and for our dignity," she said. "But people with children, people without parents, people who are scared (will) try to leave (the) city."

She added that she fears Russia's attack will also target journalists, civil activists, human rights defenders, and volunteers "who are ... resistant to the occupation."

When asked what could possibly prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back, Matviichuk responded, "Now, it all depends onto immediate reaction of the West."

"We, as Ukrainians, will win," she said. "I don't know how my personal story will end but I have no doubt Ukraine will stand. But we need time, and (the) West can provide this time, with their immediate reaction."

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By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Rob Picheta, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Melissa Macaya and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

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What we know now Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine early Thursday. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Russia's "invasion has begun," with reports of troops crossing the border from multiple directions, and explosions in multiple cities including the capital Kyiv.

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Ukraine agrees to meet Russia at the Belarus border. Ukraine’s President doesn’t believe that there will be a breakthrough.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/ukraine-agrees-meet-russia-belarus-border/story?id=83144588

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not believe there will be a breakthrough.

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to meet for talks held at a location on Belarus' border in an attempt to end Moscow's invasion as Russian troops continue to attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to send a delegation to meet with Russian negotiators during a phone call Sunday with Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine's president's office announced

The two sides have agreed to meet on Monday at the Pripyat river on the border, north of Chernobyl, the spokesperson said, an area that is currently under Russian military control. The Russian delegation includes officials from Russia's foreign and defense ministries as well as the presidential administration.

The talks would be the first between the two sides since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on Thursday, but Zelenskyy in a televised address said he had little hope of a breakthrough.

"I will be honest, as always: I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try," Zelenskyy said. He added that if there was a "chance" to end war, he should take part in the talks.

Ukraine had earlier rejected a proposal from Russia to hold the talks in the southern Belarusian city of Gomel, on the grounds that Belarus is directly involved in Russia's attack, having hosted the Russian invasion force that is now moving south on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and letting Russia fire missiles from its territory.

The Kremlin has signaled it wants to hold talks where Zelenskyy will discuss "neutral status" for Ukraine, in effect hoping to negotiate Kyiv's terms of surrender. But Zelenskyy's administration has said while it wants talks to end the killing in Ukraine, it will not make concessions.

"We will not surrender, we will not capitulate, we will not give up a single inch of our territory," Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, said at a press conference.

While brokering the meeting, Zelenskyy said Lukashenko has promised that no missiles or aircraft would carry out strikes on Ukraine while the negotiations were underway. But in an unpromising sign for the talks, Ukrainian officials said Belarus had launched at least two Iskander ballistic missiles at Ukraine on Sunday after the agreement to meet was reached.

It was also Lukasheko who suggested that Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet at Belarus-Ukraine border, Zelenskyy said, adding that though he is not optimistic a resolution will be reached, he does not want there to be any doubt that he did not try to stop the war.

The diplomatic effort came as Russian troops continued to try to press their attack in Ukraine but faced a fierce defense from Ukrainian forces. In Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, in the country's northeast, Ukrainian defenders succeeded in beating back Russian units during street fighting.

The momentum of Russian forces in Ukraine appears to have been slowed by fuel and logistics shortages, as well as "stiff resistance," a U.S. senior defense official told ABC News on Sunday.

The official also credited the slowdown of the Russian invasion to resistance by Ukraine.
ABC News' Fidel Pavlenko and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

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Ukraine agrees to meet with Russia at Belarus border

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not believe there will be a breakthrough. Ukraine and Russia have agreed to meet for talks held at a location on Belarus' border in an attempt to end Moscow's invasion as Russian troops continue to attack.

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Russia continues to amass troops on Ukrainian border with Russia and Belarus.

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Russia claims 2 separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk, raising tensions significantly and accelerating war.

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Russia attacks Ukraine from multiple directions. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/24/world/russia-ukraine-putin

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Ukraine’s government said it faced “a full-scale attack from multiple directions.” World leaders condemned President Vladimir Putin’s actions.

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What is the specific reason that this conflict started?

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How powerful are sanctions placed on Russia and would they really deter Russia from invading further?

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Why does Russia have the power to overturn a U.N. security council resolution blaming Russia for attacking Ukraine?

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Are any countries siding with Russia on this issue?

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In Photos: Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 27, 2022

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In Photos: Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 27, 2022

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Russian troops continue to battle Ukrainian defense forces and citizen soldiers for control of Kyiv, the capital, and other cities Sunday, the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Russia launches misfiles at apartment building in Kiev

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MOSCOW - President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will hold an unscheduled meeting of his Security Council on Monday, the Kremlin said, declaring that "tensions are rising" as the warnings from the United States that his nation stands poised to attack Ukraine, swiftly and without provocation, grow more dire by the day.

Mr. Putin held a second call with President Emmanuel Macron of France at 1 a.m. Moscow time on Monday morning, after speaking with the French leader on Sunday, the Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters.

Mr. Macron proposed a summit between President Biden and Mr. Putin, the French presidency said, but Mr. Peskov did not confirm that preparations for such a meeting had begun.

"It's clear that tensions are rising," Mr. Peskov said. "It's too early to talk about concrete plans for organizing any summits."

At Monday's extraordinary meeting of the Security Council, Mr. Putin would deliver a speech, Mr. Peskov said. He did not specify what the speech would be about.

The meeting would come a day after the latest round of high-stakes diplomacy by Mr. Macron, which had appeared to give some new hope for a peaceful resolution over Ukraine as White House officials said Mr. Biden would be willing to consider direct talks with his Russian counterpart as long as Russia did not invade.

While not confirming plans for a summit, Mr. Peskov noted that Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov was planning to meet with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken this week, and that he may speak to his French counterpart as well.

White House officials said a possible summit between Mr. Biden and Mr. Putin would only be held after meetings between the top diplomats of the two countries, which are tentatively scheduled for later this week

One senior White House official said there were no plans for either the format or timing of a meeting between the two leaders. Another official called it all completely notional, and said that all evidence suggests Russia still intends to invade Ukraine in the coming days. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

In a statement from the White House, Jen Psaki, the press secretary, said that Mr. Biden had accepted the idea of talks with Mr. Putin "in principle" and said that the United States remains committed to pursuing diplomacy "until the moment an invasion begins."

"We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war," she wrote in the statement. "And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon."

Mr. Putin said last week that Ukrainian forces were carrying out a "genocide" of Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine, a false claim that Western officials see as an attempt to build a case for a military intervention. Russian state television aired unfounded claims that Ukraine was preparing an offensive against the Russian-backed separatist territories in the country's east, and showed residents fleeing to Russia, noting that "children are especially suffering."

"Everything is very serious," the state television host Dmitri Kiselyov said on his weekly news show Sunday evening. "Ukraine is literally being dragged into war with Russia."

WASHINGTON - The United States government has sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief in Geneva saying it has "credible information" that Russian forces have compiled a list of Ukrainian citizens to be killed or sent to detention camps in the aftermath of a Russian invasion and occupation of the country, according to a copy of the letter obtained Sunday by The New York Times.

The letter, which was addressed to Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, also said Russian forces planned to carry out widespread human rights violations, which in the past have included torturing and kidnapping civilians.

The likely targets would be people opposed to Russian actions, including dissidents from Russia and Belarus living in Ukraine, journalists, anti-corruption activists and members of ethnic and religious minorities and the L.G.B.T.Q. community.

"We also have credible information that Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations," said the letter, which was signed by Bathsheba Nell Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations office in Geneva.

Three U.S. officials confirmed the authenticity of the letter and its contents.

Foreign Policy first reported Friday on U.S. agencies having intelligence about a Russian "kill list," and the Washington Post first reported on the letter on Sunday.

The letter noted that U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had raised the human rights concerns to the United Nations Security Council when he addressed that body on Thursday. "In particular, he stated that the United States has information that indicates Russia will target specific groups of Ukrainians," the letter said.

In that session, Mr. Blinken told Russian officials they could prove their peaceful intentions to the world by not invading Ukraine and addressing their grievances through diplomacy instead. Mr. Blinken plans to meet Sergey V. Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, in Europe this Thursday, unless Russia invades Ukraine first.

President Biden and Mr. Blinken have said U.S. intelligence indicates Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has already decided to invade. In recent weeks, Mr. Putin has amassed as many as 190,000 troops around Ukraine. Russia-backed insurgents in the east have increased their artillery shelling of Ukrainian military forces in recent days.

Mr. Putin invaded parts of Ukraine in 2014 and annexed the country's Crimean Peninsula. Mr. Biden has promised to impose harsh economic sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin carries out another invasion.

Satellite imagery collected this weekend shows an apparent shift in Russia's military deployment around Ukraine. In contrast to the large-scale deployments visible in imagery over recent weeks, some smaller deployments are now visible. Several units or troops have been deployed outside bases or training grounds, with some positioned along tree lines, according to an analysis by Maxar Technologies, which released the imagery.

Russian units are also continuing to move closer to the border with Ukraine. Videos shared on social media in recent days showed military vehicles being moved. One video posted on TikTok captured a Russian military deployment less than five miles from the Ukrainian border.

Most of these locations are in the Belgorod area in western Russia, 25 miles from the border, which has recently seen an increase in military activity. In addition to the movement of vehicles, a new helicopter landing site was established over the last two weeks.

The Visual Investigations team at The Times, as well as outside researchers, have been tracking military activity in the region. However, the area has been cloudy for days, making it difficult to collect traditional satellite imagery. But there were few clouds around Belgorod on Sunday. New imagery revealed fresh tracks in the snow, leading analysts who pored over the images to focus on small deployment sites near the tree line.

The new findings come after U.S. intelligence officials claimed that 40 to 50 percent of the more than 150,000 Russian forces surrounding Ukraine have moved out of staging and into combat formation.

Experts who have been watching Russia's recent military movements have paid special attention to the Belgorod region. Rochan Consulting, which tracks Russian deployments, stated in its Feb. 19 newsletter that "if Russia decides to attack, the Belgorod-Valuyki line will be one of the major staging areas for operations against Ukraine."

The Maxar analysis noted that most of the combat units and equipment at Soloti, a military garrison outside the city of Valuyki, have left and that "extensive vehicle tracks and some convoys of armored equipment" have been seen in the area.

President Vladimir V. Putin's strategic choices on Ukraine over the next few weeks may make a huge difference in how the world reacts.

An invasion could take many forms: one enormous nationwide attack; a series of bites that dismantle the country, piece by piece; or a python-like squeeze. That last option is made all the easier with the news Sunday morning that Belarus is allowing Russian troops to remain indefinitely, where they can menace Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Mr. Putin might be betting that he can shatter Ukraine's economy and oust its government without having to immediately roll in tanks.

If he strikes to take the whole country in a single blow - the approach that senior American military and intelligence officials and many outside analysts now think is the most likely - it could provoke the largest, most violent battle for European territory since the Nazi surrender in 1945.

There is little question that the full package of sanctions and technology export cutoffs would be invoked almost immediately. International condemnation would follow, though Mr. Putin may be betting that it would not last long, and that the world would gradually get accustomed to a new, larger Russia reconstituting the sphere of influence that was once the hallmark of the old Soviet Union.

WASHINGTON - Just above the Reflecting Pool, on the steps leading to the Lincoln Memorial, hundreds of people gathered on Sunday to remember the approximately 14,000 Ukrainian lives lost since 2014 in the fighting with Russian-backed separatists in the country's east.

Among those in attendance was Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, and two former American diplomats - Marie Yovanovitch, the American ambassador who was recalled from Kyiv and fired by then-President Donald J. Trump in 2019, and William B. Taylor Jr., who served as acting ambassador to Ukraine after Ms. Yovanovitch's departure until January 2020.

A long string of speakers addressed the crowd at the "Stand With Ukraine" rally on a chilly afternoon, including a group of priests from Ukrainian Catholic, Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches who sang Panychida - a memorial prayer for those who have died in the conflict.

"A lot of us felt like we needed to do more and show Ukraine and show the world that people of the United States support Ukraine," said Maryna Baydyuk, president of United Help Ukraine, one of the groups that organized the rally.

Ms. Baydyuk, an assistant research professor of biology at Georgetown University who was born in Kyiv and came to the United States in 1997, said her group has been sending medical supplies to Ukraine for soldiers as well as for territorial defense units being formed from the civilian population and military veterans.

"We still hope that diplomacy will prevail and we can avert massive bloodshed in Ukraine. To be honest, at this point, most of us are quite scared that the invasion will happen," said Ms. Baydyuk, noting that her parents and sister in Kyiv have identified a bomb shelter that they can go to and have made plans to evacuate if necessary.

Ms. Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador, noted that the United States has increased its aid to her country and said she hopes a diplomatic solution can be found to restore Ukrainian territorial integrity.

"If you are talking about a country on the brink of being attacked, of course we need more," Ms. Markarova said in an interview. "But we are very grateful for the support we are getting now."

"We are now asking the U.S. and all of our partners for whatever defensive equipment and weapons they can provide us with," Ms. Markarova said. "We pray that we will never use it, but all of that will strengthen our offensive and defensive capabilities and will also deter Russia by essentially showing the cost of invasion will be too high for them."

Ms. Markarova said that Russia's territorial aims would threaten Poland and the Baltic States as well.

"It's a threat to anyone who has chosen to be democratic and free," she said of Russia. "So that's why it's so important for all the free world to stand together with us. Because it will not end with us, if they attack us."

Ms. Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador, echoed those concerns that the crisis posed a broader threat to European security.

"I think it's really important that the free world stands with Ukraine because this Russian aggression against Ukraine, the massing of troops and tanks at unprecedented levels, is not only violating Ukraine's security, it is a threat to European security and it's a threat to the international world order," Ms. Yavonovitch said in an interview.

Mr. Taylor, who served as acting ambassador following Ms. Yavonovitch's dismissal, said he was pleased that the Biden administration and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine have stayed united.

"I want to see them continue to stand strong," Mr. Taylor said of the American and Ukrainian governments. "Continue to send weapons, increase the flow of weapons and the sophistication of weapons to make Ukraine militarily stronger and then to convince President Putin not to invade and to go to the negotiating table."

Russian military exercises on Ukraine's border were extended indefinitely on Sunday, leaving the threat of an invasion hanging over a vastly outgunned Ukrainian military and a jittery civilian population after a weekend of shelling and evacuations that American and Ukrainian officials warned was an effort by Moscow to create a pretext for an invasion.

The defense minister of Belarus said the war games in the country, which borders Ukraine and where some 30,000 Russian forces were taking part in the drills, would continue because of heightened tensions in eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed separatists in the region have evacuated thousands of civilians ahead of what they said was an impending assault by Ukrainian forces.

With an estimated 190,000 Russian forces now massed on their nation's borders and in breakaway areas, Ukrainian officials dismissed any intention of mounting an attack in the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists have been locked in a military standoff for years.

After a weekend of scattered but intensifying artillery shelling, the bombardment of the Ukrainian Army in Donbas was at perhaps its highest peak in seven years, stretching along the entire front. American and Ukrainian officials warned that pro-Moscow separatist leaders have been reporting false events or staging incidents intended to provide Russia with an excuse to push deeper into Ukraine.

On Sunday evening, the Ukrainian military issued a statement saying the Russian-backed separatists in the Luhansk region had opened fire with heavy artillery on their own capital city "with the goal of blaming the Ukrainian military."

"In the absence of any aggressive action from the Ukrainian defenders, the occupiers themselves are blowing up infrastructure in the occupied territories and firing chaotically on towns," the statement said.

Russian news agencies reported artillery strikes in the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

On Saturday, separatist leaders released a video of a man they said was a Ukrainian spy involved in a plot masterminded by Kyiv to retake territory from the breakaway, self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Russia's state-owned Channel One on Saturday broadcast an interview with a man who said he had been tasked with blowing up the car of Donetsk's security chief, as part of a five-day plan to violently reclaim the city and its environs. The explosion was among the events that precipitated mass evacuations of people living in the separatist republics that began shortly thereafter.

Kyiv has repeatedly denied the allegations.

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Ukraine Live Updates: Putin Summons Russia's National Security Officials

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MOSCOW - President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will hold an unscheduled meeting of his Security Council on Monday, the Kremlin said, declaring that "tensions are rising" as the warnings from the United States that his nation stands poised to attack Ukraine, swiftly and without provocation, grow more dire by the day.

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How long will this last

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https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-feb-27/6461229.html
Russia agrees to meet with Ukraine

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For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST:

11:35 p.m.: Russians are largely unable to access Twitter and Facebook due to restrictions by a Russian government regulator. London-based internet monitor NetBlocks reported that users trying to access Facebook found it didn't load or was extremely slow. Both social media sites have barred ads from Russia in response to the conflict. Russian telecommunication regulator Roskomnadzor said it planned to "partially restrict" access to Facebook on Friday.

11:18 p.m.: Stock prices in Asian markets fell following the announcement of added sanctions against Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai were all down while the market in Sydney rose, the Associated Press reported. Japan was among the nations joining the U.S. and much of Europe in leveling sanctions against Russia including the rare move to suspend Russia from the SWIFT global payment system. The Russian ruble dropped 29% against the dollar on Monday morning.

8:55 p.m.: Russia's central bank has ordered professional stock market participants to suspend the execution of all orders by foreign legal entities and individuals to sell Russian securities from Monday morning, an internal document showed, according to a Reuters report. The document was published by ACI Russia, the national organization of Russian financial market specialists, Reuters added.

7:57 p.m.: Ukraine's Interior Ministry said on Sunday that 352 Ukrainian civilians had been killed during Russia's invasion, including 14 children, The Associated Press reported. An additional 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded, the ministry's statement said. It did not give information regarding casualties among Ukraine's armed forces, according to the AP report.

7:55 p.m.: Cultural organizations are seeking to distance and cut ties with performers who have voiced support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Metropolitan Opera in New York City made the announcement on Sunday, according to The New York Times. A Munich-based management company dropped Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, 68, who has ties to Putin, The Associated Press reported.

7:02 p.m.: VOA's Steve Herman tweets that Belarus has approved a new constitution that abandons its non-nuclear status.

5:48 p.m.: VOA's Celia Mendoza reported that about 200 supporters of Ukraine rallied outside the United Nations during the Security Council meeting on Sunday.

5:12 p.m.: Head of U.S. Agency for International Development Samantha Power visits the Ukraine-Poland border where she says some refugees are receiving their first hot meal in four days.

4:22 p.m.: VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer reports that Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, will preside over the Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly Monday, starting at 10 a.m. EST.

4 p.m.: The European Union plans to take the unprecedented step of funding weapons purchases for Ukraine, EU officials said on Feb. 27 as the bloc announced a raft of new sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

3:10 p.m.: U.S. State Department tells U.S. citizens in Russia to consider departing immediately.

2:44 p.m.: In responded to the invasion of Ukraine, FIFA on Sunday told Russia to play home matches at neutral venues and banned its national flag and anthem from matches, according to media reports. The governing body of world football said Russian teams would play as the "Football Union of Russia." It said it would continue discussions with other sports organizations and ultimate measures may include "potential exclusion from competitions."

1:31 p.m.: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki urged China to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "This is not a time to stand on the sidelines," she told MSNBC. China on Friday abstained from a Security Council vote that deplored the invasion. Russia vetoed the draft resolution

12:00 p.m.: Images of people fleeing Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

11:47 a.m.: The European Union's chief executive announced a series of measures against Russia, including closing EU airspace to Russian airlines and banning some pro-Kremlin media outlets.

11:24 a.m.: More demonsrations against the Russian invasion of Ukraine take place inside Russia

10:52 a.m.: The World Health Organization is warning of low supplies of medical oxygen in Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

10:12 a.m.: Senior U.S. Defense official says there is no indication Russia has taken over any city in Ukraine.

9:02 a.m. Ukraine says it has agreed to hold talks with Russia at the Belarus border. "We agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet with the Russian delegation without preconditions on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River," the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement.

8:42 a.m.: Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine amid Russia's invasion on the country.

8:15 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces on alert over tensions with the West over Ukraine. Putin on Sunday accused NATO members of making "aggressive statements."

7:36 a.m.: U.N. officials say the number of refugees from Ukraine who have crossed to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries is escalating and is now at 368,000.

7:32 a.m. Israel's prime minister says he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the recent developments in Ukraine.

6:34 a.m.: Ukraine lodges a complaint against Russia at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

5:49 a.m.: Ukrainian ambassador gets standing ovation in Berlin.

5:22 a.m.: The International Judo Federation has issued a statement about Russian President Vladimir Putin: "In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Mr. Vladimir Putin's status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation." Putin's a black belt.

5:15 a.m.: India has begun evacuating its citizens stranded in Ukraine.

5:10 a.m.: Fears are mounting that Russian forces will turn more to targeting critical civilian infrastructure and mount indiscriminate shelling as the defenders of Kyiv maintain their resistance and hold ground despite redoubled Kremlin efforts to subjugate Ukraine's capital. VOA's Jamie Dettmer reports from the ground in Ukraine.

4:16 a.m.: The Kremlin had said a Russian delegation was in Belarus for talks with Ukraine, ABC News reports. But Ukraine says different.

3:45 a.m.: China's decision to take a neutral stance on the invasion of Ukraine raises several questions. Did Beijing develop cold feet at the last moment, or did Russia go much further in its military aggression in Ukraine than China had expected? VOA's Saibal Dasgupta takes a look.

3:08 a.m.: Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs invites foreigners to help defend Ukraine.

2:11 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that Russian troops have entered Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, and there's fighting in the streets.

1:44 a.m.: Protesters rallying in support of Ukraine pray in Australia.

1:12 a.m.: A show of support outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.

12:41 a.m.: Oil tanks burn after a massive explosion near Kyiv. CNN has video.

12:05 a.m.: A BBC reporter talks to women making Molotov cocktails in a park in Ukraine.

12:01 a.m.: Protests continue in Australia.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST: 11:35 p.m.: Russians are largely unable to access Twitter and Facebook due to restrictions by a Russian government regulator....

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Will Kiev fall?
Will NATO intervene?