War in Ukraine – UPDATE

Reports of explosions and gunfire in Kyiv, UN countries condemns Russia's veto, 500 NATO troops to arrive from France

Vlad Palcu, 26.02.2022, 07:37

The battle
for Kyiv was underway all night on Saturday on the third day of the Russian
invasion as the Russian military attacked the Ukrainian capital city from
multiple directions. Bursts of gunfire, multiple explosions and artillery rounds could be heard in and around Kyiv. The Russian troops have the capital
surrounded and are closing in. Heavy fighting was also reported in Melitopol,
in the southeast.

The
Ukrainian army claims it has successfully repelled attempts to enter the city
in the north and the west. According to Ukraine’s State Agency for Special Communications,
two IL-76 carriers transporting airborne paratroopers were shot down in Vasylkiv
and near Tserkva, some 80 km south Kyiv.

According
to the Kyiv Independent, president Volodymyr Zelensky is personally heading the
defenses of the capital. In a message on social media on Friday night, the president
called on Ukrainians to stand firm and fight for their country, and accused
Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure. According to the Washington Post,
the US government offered to evacuate president Zelensky to prevent him from being killed or captured, but the president refused.

At the UNSC
meeting Friday night, 50 countries issued a joint statement accusing Russia’s
abuse of power in blocking a UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
China, India and the UAE abstained. Meanwhile, sanctions continue to pile up,
the US and Canada announcing new sanctions on Russia late on Friday. The United
States will disburse an additional to $350 million in security assistance to
Ukraine, putting the total over the last year at over $1 billion, the White House
has announced. Previously, president Zelensky had called on the IMF for
emergency financial assistance.

In Romania,
the first NATO response troops have started to arrive. France will deploy 500
troops and staff to Romania after president Emmanuel Macron on Friday announce his
country will accelerate the deployment of troops to Romania in response to the
Russian invasion, AFP reports. NATO has decided to reinforce its presence to
send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania,
French army chief of staff Thierry Burkhard told RFI and France24.

Due to the
heavy flow of migrants coming in from Ukraine, significant delays are reported
in Siret northern crossing border. The authorities have issued a statement
advising immigrants to use alternative border crossings in order to prevent
further increase in waiting times.