Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered an urgent address to the nation. He stated that he had decided to conduct a special military operation to protect Donbass. However, he clarified that Russia’s plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories: “Our goal is self-defense against the threats posed to us,” Vladimir Putin said.
Recall that on February 22, Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent states. The next day, his decision was approved by State Duma deputies and senators, and the Federation Council also allowed the use of Russian troops abroad.
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19:21 — The Russian FSB reports that 42 Ukrainian border guards crossed into Russia in the Bryansk region and Crimea.
19:00 - The Central Bank of the Russian Federation set the official exchange rates for tomorrow: the dollar - 86.93 rubles. Euro - 97.77. We talked about what is happening in Tomsk exchangers here.
18:51 — The FSB of the Russian Federation reports that Ukrainian border guards have left all units on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
18:37 - Peskov also added that Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate with the leadership of Ukraine on its neutral status and the refusal to deploy weapons if Kiev is ready to respond.
18:30 — Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov held a daily briefing. Answering journalists' questions, he said that "ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of the Nazis." Thus, he answered the question of journalists about how to understand the “denazification of Ukraine”, which Vladimir Putin spoke about in his address.
When asked to explain the “demilitarization” of Ukraine, which the Russian president also mentioned, the Kremlin spokesman said that it was about “neutralization of military potential.”
17:57 — Entrance to Kyiv is closed, exit is open, UNIAN writes.
17:29 — Explosion at Podil, UNIAN writes. Apparently, the missile attack was carried out on the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine:
17:34 — The North Atlantic Council strongly condemns Russia's military operation in Ukraine, TASS writes.
17:31 — NATO issued a statement calling Russia's actions "threatening Euro-Atlantic security," RIA Novosti reports.
17:29 — Roskomnadzor introduced censorship and threatened journalists with blocking and fines of up to five million rubles. The agency requires writing about Ukraine only with reference to "official Russian sources."
17:27 — Zelensky submitted a bill on general mobilization to the Verkhovna Rada, Novaya Gazeta reports.
17:22 — International flights in Russia will be operated through new air corridors until the opening of the former ones, the flight time will increase from 45 to 90 minutes, RIA Novosti writes.
17:21 — RIA Novosti reports: WTI oil is above $100 per barrel for the first time since July 30, 2014.
17:09 - The Bell: Representatives of large Russian business today were called to a meeting in the Kremlin, which will take place in a few hours.
17:07 — “Peaceful citizens of Ukraine are not threatened by the special operation of the Russian Federation, we are one people,” said State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.
17:04 — The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine announced that shelling took place in the Kiev region, as a result several buildings were destroyed. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko, in Podolsk (Odessa region) as a result of the bombing of a military unit, six people were killed, seven were injured, 19 were missing. In Mariupol (Donetsk region) a man was killed and two were wounded as a result of shelling.
As a result of the shelling of the city of Chuguev in the Kharkiv region, an underage boy was killed, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.
The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine called on all "who are ready and able to hold weapons in their hands" to join the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today weapons will be distributed to all veterans and volunteers.
The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, transferred hospitals and clinics to an enhanced mode of operation. Kindergartens and schools will be closed from today. Public transport in Kiev has become free.
17:02 — The LPR announced that their forces had crossed the line of contact near the Donets River and were already on the opposite bank, the SHOT telegram channel writes.
17.01 — More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, several dozen were wounded, according to the former speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG Oleksiy Arestovich. He also clarified that Putin was counting on much higher losses from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
16:57 — Boris Johnson called an emergency NATO summit, Pivovarov reports (Editorial).
16:45 - Austrian Airlines told RIA Novosti that it was suspending all flights to Ukraine, as well as to Chisinau.
16:43 — The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the employees of the people's militia of the DPR and LPR "went over to the counteroffensive." The Russian armed forces provide them with fire support.
16:44 - “I know that this information will not be shown on TV channels at all. You have a lot of things blocked in social networks, but it is impossible to block this evil, this desire to destroy the nation. It is impossible to block history,” Zelensky said, addressing the Russians.
16:32 — Ukraine breaks off diplomatic relations with Russia, Zelensky said.
16:31 — The Security Service of Ukraine is preparing and is already implementing provocations according to the well-known templates of the White Helmets, the Russian Defense Ministry reports. Intelligence data show that individual units and servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are massively leaving their positions, abandoning their weapons.
16:28 — Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting hard, the enemy is suffering losses, and there will be even more of them, UNIAN reports.
16:23 — Aeroflot announced that until March 2 it is suspending flights from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Anapa, Stavropol, Belgorod, Voronezh, Simferopol and back.
16:12 — Flights across Russia to the south bypass the Rostov zone through the airspace of Kazakhstan.
16:08 - Alexei Navalny during the court session stated that he was categorically against the war with Ukraine: “I believe that this war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and divert their attention from the problems that exist inside the country , from the degradation of the economy. This war will lead to a huge number of victims, ruined destinies and the continuation of this line towards the impoverishment of the citizens of Russia. This group, which has now seized power - the fact that they are literally starting wars for the sake of their palace in Gelendzhik and the Rublev dachas - this once again shows how right I was.
16:06 — President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that negotiations between Moscow and Kiev require the demilitarization of Ukraine, preventing its entry into NATO and ending the fighting in the Donbass. He also said that Kiev is losing, he should make concessions to the demands of Moscow, according to Pivovarov (Editor's Office).
16:00 — More than 100 municipal deputies from different cities of Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, Samara, Ryazan, Yoshkar-Ola and others) signed an open letter condemning the “special military operation” against Ukraine announced by Putin. This is reported by Novaya Gazeta.
16:00 - The President of Lithuania announced that he had signed a decree on the introduction of a state of emergency in the country due to the situation in Ukraine.
15:58 — The siren went off in the Polish town of Medica at the border crossing with Ukraine, Reuters reports.
15:57 — The FSB reports: around 9.40 am today, the Russian border checkpoint Tetkino in the Kursk region was shelled from Ukraine. There were no casualties. The firing point was suppressed by return fire from Russian border guards.
15:56 — President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said: “It is no secret to anyone that over the past night the situation along the perimeter of the western and southern borders of Belarus has changed dramatically. I am grateful to all of you: I know that none of you slept that night, we had to prepare in this situation, how to behave, what to say to our people. So I read: “At about 5 am, the state border of Ukraine in the area of Russia and Belarus was attacked by Russian troops, which are supported by Belarus.” Bastards extreme! Our troops do not take any part in this operation.
We release Syndicate-100 statement:
Today Russian President Vladimir Putin started a war with Ukraine. Pain, anger and shame are three words that reflect our attitude to what is happening. This adventure will bring grief to the families of thousands of people in Ukraine and Russia. This adventure is fraught with a big war, in which other states will also be involved. Since the Caribbean crisis, the world has never been so close to a global catastrophe.
We, journalists of independent Russian media, declare that we are against the massacre started by the Russian leadership. We promise that we will be honest about what is happening while we have this opportunity. We wish steadfastness and strength to the people of Ukraine who are resisting aggression and to all in Russia who are now trying to resist militaristic madness.
We also appeal to those who are trying to rationally explain the motives for starting the war, justifying its start by the need to protect themselves from NATO and the mythical "Ukrainian Nazism". War is no longer just an argument on television and in kitchens. She incarnated. Tanks in Kharkov. And in a real war, people always die. We hope that the funeral will not come to your house. But there can be no certainty in this.
No war.
15:43 — Anti-war pickets begin in Russia:
15:27 — The National Bank of Ukraine banned the withdrawal of foreign currency from accounts. Withdrawal of Ukrainian currency is limited to 100,000 hryvnia ($3,450) per day. Cashless payments are not limited.
15:26 - Points of strikes of Russian troops according to the BBC:
15:24 — Ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: the sixth plane of the Russian Armed Forces was destroyed in the Kramatorsk district of the Donetsk region.
15:23 — The Minister of Defense of Ukraine announced that the country is moving into full defense mode, writes Baza. Now, according to the minister, everyone can get weapons. To do this, you need to apply to special units with a passport.
15:11 — Russia does not need military support from China during the hostilities in Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
The Erdogan administration sees Russia's special operation as a "military intervention."
Over 70 ships are stuck in the Kerch Strait due to the suspension of navigation, according to RVNP.
14:57 — Tomsk exchangers started selling dollars and euros above 100 rubles.
14:48 — The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that intelligence data show that units and servicemen of the Ukrainian army are massively leaving their positions, abandoning their weapons, the positions of Ukrainian army units that have laid down their arms are not being hit.
14:45 — Russian Railways will fix the cost of tickets and appoint additional trains from the southern cities of Russia amid the suspension of flights.
14:43 — The EU will impose sanctions against strategic sectors of the Russian economy, blocking access to key technologies and markets, the head of the European Commission said.
14:32 — Explosions of artillery shells are heard from Lugansk on the line of contact. Approximately 5-6 explosions are spread every minute, a TASS correspondent reports.
14:31 — President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a new address. He called on the people of the country not to panic and "do whatever is necessary to support the Armed Forces." Zelensky is going to make appeals to Ukrainians every hour, since, he stressed, at the moment when “a lot of fakes” are being spread, information from official sources is extremely important.
14:30 - The Ukrainian General Staff announced that "five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors" were shot down. The Russian Defense Ministry denies losses.
14:17 — Telegram channel “Before everyone. Well, almost" writes:
The media report problems with the operations of several banks in Ukraine, money cannot be withdrawn, payments do not go through.
The Ukrainian Su-27 crossed the border of Romania, it was intercepted by two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force of the NATO Air Command.
Rosmorrechflot confirmed the suspension of shipping in the Sea of Azov.
The Latvian airline Airbaltic has canceled flights to Ukraine until March 13.
14:15 — The situation at the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow is calm, a TASS correspondent reports.
14:14 — Ukraine says at least seven people have been killed in shelling and nine injured, RVNP reports.
14:08 — We don’t know if this is related, but the yellow level of terrorist danger has been introduced in the Omsk region, Omsk residents are asked not to move around the streets with large bags and avoid crowded places, writes Borus.
13:56 — The Bank of Russia announces that it will ensure the maintenance of financial stability and business continuity of financial institutions by using all the necessary tools.
13:53 — A column of tanks and armored personnel carriers is heading towards Mariupol, Reuters reports.
13:48 — Russia has temporarily suspended shipping in the Sea of Azov, a maritime source told TASS on Thursday.
13:48 - Explosions and shelling are taking place in 17 regions of Ukraine, writes RVNP with reference to the adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Gerashchenko.
13:44 — The Border Guard Service of Ukraine said that Russian military equipment is moving from Crimea, Novaya Gazeta writes.
13:42 — Volodymyr Zelensky says he has held talks with Biden, Johnson and other leaders. He stressed the need for an anti-Putin coalition, immediate sanctions and financial and military support for Ukraine.
13:39 - One person was killed, another was wounded after shelling in Brovary, Kiev region, writes RVNP with reference to an adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
13:34 — Advisor to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the LPR said that the city of Shchastya and the village of Luganskaya came under the control of the LPR.
13:32 — Sberbank said it was ready for any development of the situation and worked out scenarios to guarantee the protection of funds, assets and interests of clients. He also noted that now their funds and services are available to customers in full.
Recall that a few days ago, State Duma deputy from the Communist Party Nikolai Arefiev said that the government could seize the deposits of the population if the West blocks all funds located abroad. So he commented on the warning of economist Mikhail Khazin about the danger of confiscation of savings. Khazin said that the savings of Russians could be confiscated in a new economic crisis.
13:32 - TASS, citing Rosobrnadzor, writes that all children from Donbass arriving in Russia are being assisted in enrolling in educational institutions, they will also take the OGE and the Unified State Examination.
13:32 — The Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine report two Russian tanks destroyed in the Shchastya area, UNIAN reports.
13:28 — Japan strongly condemns Russia's military operation in Ukraine, considers it a forceful attempt to unilaterally change the situation, TASS reports citing the prime minister.
13:25 — Kindergartens and schools do not work in Kiev, hospitals have been transferred to an enhanced mode of operation, said the mayor of the city, Vitali Klitschko.
13:22 — Kazakhstani Air Astana cancels all flights to Kiev from February 24 until at least March 7, TASS reports.
13:20 — Nearly 200 flights are delayed and canceled at Moscow airports, writes RVNP.
13:16 — The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports shelling in the Lviv region.
13:15 — The Conflict Intelligence Team telegram channel writes: “We checked: the video was indeed filmed in Kharkiv, the tail of the rocket part of the Smerch MLRS rocket is visible. The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is an indiscriminate weapon. Attacking populated areas with such weapons is a war crime."
13:13 — Panic has begun in Kiev, writes the telegram channel “Earlier than anyone else. Well, almost” with reference to eyewitnesses, no one understands what is happening.
13:12 — Ukrainian media report that the Kiev metro has opened its doors to everyone, now they are allowed in for free. The stations are used as bomb shelters in case of a possible attack from the air.
13:05 — The Telegram channel Borus, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, writes that the air defense systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been suppressed, the military infrastructure of the air bases of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been disabled, and Ukrainian border guards do not offer any resistance to Russian units.
13:04 — Five planes and one helicopter of Russian troops have already been shot down in the Lugansk region, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The Russian Defense Ministry denies any losses.
13:02 — The LPR announced that it had launched an operation "to liberate the occupied territory." The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine announced the loss of control over the first two settlements - the villages of Melovoye and Gorodishche.
12:57 — The Border Service of Ukraine reports: at about five in the morning, Russian troops, with the support of Belarus, attacked the territory of Ukraine in the area where the borders of the three countries converge. RBC writes about it.
12:55 — Rosaviatsia: the work of 12 airports has been suspended until March 2:
The Moscow Exchange stopped trading amid a collapse in quotations.
Flights to Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Anapa, Krasnodar and Volgograd have been suspended.
12:47 — A checkpoint has been set up at the entrance to Kyiv from Vyshgorod, UNIAN writes. A selective check of documents, trunks and contents of cars is carried out.
12:46 — The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports the capture of two villages in the Luhansk region and the fire of an ammunition depot in the Kiev region. The news agency UNIAN writes about this.
12:43 — NATO convenes an emergency meeting on the situation in Ukraine.
11:36 a.m. — UN Secretary-General urges Russia to return troops to prevent "the worst war in Europe since the turn of the century" from happening. He called what is happening the saddest moment in his career as head of the organization, he also called on Russia's representative Vasily Nebenzya to step down as chairman of the UN Security Council.
11:20 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an emergency National Security and Defense Council and declared martial law throughout Ukraine, UNIAN writes.
11:18 — UkSATSE: Ukraine closes airspace.
11:13 am — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba tweeted: “Putin unleashed a war against Ukraine. Attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities continue. This is a war of conquest. Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is right now.”
10:57 — Ukrainian journalist Andrey Tsaplienko reports that Russian troops have crossed the border near Kharkov.
Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov writes that military facilities throughout the country were attacked. First of all, strikes are carried out against air defense units, air bases, and control systems.
10:55 — Germany called on Russia to immediately stop the military operation and withdraw troops from Ukraine, the UNIAN telegram channel reports.
10:47 — A CNN correspondent said, citing a source in the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, that the explosions near Kiev were rocket strikes.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian armed forces do not carry out any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine: “The military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian army are disabled with high-precision weapons. Nothing threatens the civilian population of Ukraine.”
10:31 — Kiev airport canceled all flights. Residents of the city are leaving en masse.
10:22 — UNIAN publishes a video from Kharkiv. The situation is similar in Mariupol.
10:07 — In social networks, the UNIAN telegram channel writes, reports began to appear about at least four explosions in Kramatorsk, a powerful explosion in Odessa and the beginning of powerful shelling in the Donbass. CNN also reports explosions in Kiev.
US President Joe Biden, in connection with the outbreak of the war in Donbass , said : “The prayers of the whole world today are with the people of Ukraine, who are suffering from an unprovoked and unjustified attack by the Russian army. President Putin has chosen a deliberate war that will bring catastrophic casualties and suffering. Only Russia is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will bring. The US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive manner. The world will call Russia to account.”
9:49 - Vladimir Putin: “I have decided to conduct a special military operation. Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. Our goal is self-defense against the threats posed to us.” He also stated that the responsibility "for possible bloodshed" would lie with the Ukrainian authorities.