U.S. warned Ukraine that Vladimir Putin’s forces are ready to invade Ukraine. With 80 percent of Russian troops already positioned around Ukraine in attacking positions, the U.S. is warning them.
U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of an ‘imminent’ attack by Vladimir Putin’s troops in the next 48 hours, just hours after Ukraine was hit by a ‘massive’ cyberattack targeting its government and banks.
U.S. intelligence chiefs are concerned that Kharkiv (Ukraine’s second largest city) is most at risk from a Russian invasion. It is located close to the Ukrainian/Russian border. A massive military convoy with more than 100 soldiers and trucks was heading towards the city last night.
In a major move, rebel leaders from eastern Ukraine asked Putin to provide military support in fighting off Ukrainian aggression. Many experts have suggested that the excuse for a large-scale invasion would be to make unfounded and baseless claims about Ukrainian military aggression against Moscow-backed separatists forces.
Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokesperson) said that rebel chiefs had written to Putin telling him about the deaths of civilians and the need to evacuate.
Meanwhile, the websites of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, and Cabinet of Ministers were all out of action Wednesday afternoon after a cyberattack. A number of government buildings received bomb threats. This was thought to have happened as part of Moscow’s psychological pressure campaign.
Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister, stated that banks were also targets in a “massive” distributed denial of services (DDoS), which attacks websites using computer networks until they crash. Analysts have indicated this attack would most likely lead to a Russian-sponsored attack.
This happened just hours after Ukraine was put on war footing. A state of emergency was declared, approved by Parliament, and 200,000 soldiers reservists were called up. Border zones were closed and three million Ukrainians asked to flee Russia. Kiev acknowledged for the first times that any attack can now be launched anywhere at any moment.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, promised to send more weapons for Ukraine in order to protect it from what the US warned would be an all out Russian attack. Johnson promised to impose tougher sanctions on Russia in the event that Putin escalates.
Vladimir Putin gave a fiery address to his troops earlier in the day to commemorate Defender of the Fatherland Day. He praised their battle readiness while pledging that he will defend Russian security interests, which he described as ‘non-negotiable. Russia also expelled its personnel from its Kiev embassies.
According to Ukraine’s security agencies, 45,000 body bags were ordered by the Russian border guards. This is the first indication of how Putin will risk his life to obtain what he desires.
Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary of Australia warned Putin that he is “hell-bent” on an invasion of Ukraine. A direct attack on Kiev’s capital was ‘highly probable’. Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, predicted that the attack would be a ‘likely’ within 24 hours.
In the meantime, Russia was subject to broad sanctions by the EU, including those targeting heads of the military forces, its defense minister and the head of the defence ministry. They also targeted all 351 lawmakers of Russia’s parliament as well prominent propagandists. The US and UK had announced on Tuesday their own measures against Russian oligarchs.
Russia retorted, saying that ‘there should not be any doubt’ that the new US sanctions will be met by a strong response which would be well-calibrated for the American side and sensitive for them – but warning it’s able to minimize the harm from American actions.
Biden announced last night a new wave of US sanctions. He warned that he will be ready to add more sanctions if Russia escalates. The President also announced the addition of NATO troops in Europe, including 800 soldiers for Italy, hundreds of Apache helicopters going to the Baltics, Poland, and the possible establishment of an alliance permanent base in eastern Europe.
You can also find other information here
- After being reported by Russian bots, Twitter accounts that were tracking Russia’s military buildup had been temporarily blocked.
- The frontline fighting between Ukrainian troops, pro-Russian rebels caused the deaths of one soldier from Ukraine and the injuries to six others. There were also shells that fell in nearby villages.
- Russia claimed that it foiled the terror attack on a church in occupied Crimea. Six Russian citizens were arrested by Russia, who said they belonged to a banned right-wing group.
- Ukrainian troops on the frontline of separatists claimed to have received texts warning them about a Russian attack, and asking them to leave their posts.
- Images from satellite and photographs on the ground revealed that Russia is still moving troops closer to Kiev’s borders. This includes newly arrived troops from Belarus.
- Denis Pushilin is the leader of self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic and said that conscription in the area is increasing to combat ‘Ukrainian Threats’. He is certain of the support of ‘big Russia’
- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated Wednesday to the General Assembly that the world faces a moment “of peril” over Ukraine’s relationship with Russia
Vladimir Putin praised the battle readiness of his armies and boasted of developing hypersonic weapons as he called Russia’s security interests ‘non-negotiable’ in an address to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day today
Russian armored cars are loaded onto railway platforms in Rostov-on-Don, near the Russia-Ukraine border.
Putin recognised the independence of two parts of eastern Ukraine and gave permission for Russian troops from Russia to join peacekeeping missions. While rebels hold a portion of this territory (red), Putin recognizes a larger region (yellow), amid concerns that he may now attempt to take it. He is also rumored to be planning on attacking Kharkiv, Ukraine (green), after assembling troops nearby
Russia boasts up to 195,000 troops, backed by tanks and artillery. Bombers are also present in the area. As the US threatens a complete invasion of Ukraine, including the attack on Kiev, the US is warning of three possible sides.
An attack by Russia on Ukraine may begin in the Donbass area (top center), and could include attempts to expand rebel-held regions. These could occur in conjunction with, or before, a wider offensive on Ukraine’s entire territory (top centre). If the fighting spills over Ukraine’s borders it could bring in NATO forces stationed throughout Europe (bottom center).
Boris Johnson today promised more UK arms for Ukraine in order to defend it, and he also pledged harsher sanctions should Putin try to escalate the situation.
As Russia was placed on war footing, artillery and armoured vehicles from Russia can be seen in a Rostov-on-Don rail yard.
Russian troops are seen in their full pack marching through the mud at Rostov–on-Don’s railway yard. This is southern Russia near the frontline with Ukraine. There, armoured vehicles and other equipment were loaded onto trains.
Russian armored cars are seen at Rostov’s railway station, amid fears Putin might attack.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that diplomats would be evacuated from Russia soon. They claimed it was doing so to ‘protect them lives’. Workers were pictured exiting the Kiev building Wednesday.
Russia started evacuating diplomat staff from the Kiev Embassy, and the flag was raised over the building. Workers left the building along with their bags on Wednesday 23 February.
Boris Johnson gets briefed at the Ministry of Defence by Admiral Sir Tony Radakin (Chief of Defence Staff) about the Ukraine situation on Tuesday
According to a senior U.S. diplomat, Putin’s military has been warned that it is fully prepared to attack Ukraine. 80% of Russian troops are already positioned in the vicinity of Ukraine to strike positions located within three to thirty miles.
According to NBC News’ official, ‘they are ready to go right now’. He also stated that Russia had brought in ‘nearly 100%’ of the force we expected. [Putin]Would be required’ to invade Ukraine in full.
He is ready to do whatever it takes. “We’ve been saying that any day is possible, and today’s that day,” the U.S. defense official stated.
In the midst of an “imminent” Russian invasion, two convoys moving toward the city were without any identifiable insignia. A witness to Reuters said Wednesday that Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, was accessed via different routes from the Russian border.
The one convoy consisted of nine tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle and a tank, and the other contained trucks and fuel tankers.
Then, on Wednesday night, tThe Russian advanced unit’s crack soldiers were forbidden from using mobile phones, believed to indicate that they planned on invading Kyiv.
According to Informnapalm, the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps were ordered to switch off their mobile phones.
‘Attention! ….We were informed by ORDLO insiders that all the advanced units in the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps had been ordered to turn off their phones and walkie talkies at 20:40 Moscow time.
They were told that they could not go on air at this point and were required to turn off their mobile phones. According to the statement, Russians could scan all phones and space on the contact line in an attempt to identify target coordinates.
Dmytro Kuleba (Ukraine’s foreign Minister) tweeted that Wednesday night was the last shift at the Titan Chemical Plant in Annexed Crimea.
It was possible that it was preparation for another provocation from Russia which annexed Crimea last year.
He said that Moscow seems to not be limited in its attempts to create pretexts for more aggression.
Ms Truss defended the UK’s sanctions, which were criticised yesterday as not being severe enough. She said that “nothing” is possible if Putin decided to increase.
Truss stated to Sky that he and his team had made it clear to Russian authorities that they would not allow them access to British markets. “We will stop Russia from raising sovereign loans in the United Kingdom,” Truss stated.
Truss indicated that Russia would impose even tougher sanctions on the key oligarchs of Russia and on important Russian organisations, which will limit Russia’s access at financial markets in case there’s a complete invasion of Ukraine.
Separately, US Secretary Of State Antony Bliken said that he had cancelled a high-level summit scheduled for Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He stated that it was ‘not sensible’ to continue with peace negotiations while an invasion is underway.
Russia today began evacuating diplomatic staff from Ukraine, with the flag lowered over the embassy in Kiev.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that diplomats would be evacuated from Russia within a few days. This was to protect their safety.
Denis Golenko, spokesperson for the embassy answered AFP’s phone call today asking if evacuation had started.
Golenko stated that the evacuation was linked to Western embassies announcing evacuations of certain staff members, and that the ministry took the same decision.
Some Western embassies including Britain and the United States moved staff to Lviv, near the Polish border.
The Russians could invade Ukraine and they feared that the capital would be under siege.
Overnight, fighting escalated between the separatist forces of Ukraine and their men along the frontlines. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in battle and six were injured by shelling. In Muratovo, a house was also damaged.
Russian-backed Donetsk leader said today that while he would like to peacefully settle the region’s borders with Ukraine, but reserve the right to request help from ‘big Russia.
Denis Pushilin heads the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic which was acknowledged by Russia this Week.
He said that the long-running conflict was now in crisis and that the separatists have accelerated the mobilization of their forces. This has resulted in healthy, young men aged between 18 and 55 being called to battle.
We will win. We will win with people like these. He said that such a country with Russia is one we value and respect. We have no right not to win, nor to question our victory.
Russia, which has been gathering troops, tanks, support vehicles, and other equipment (pictured), along the Ukrainian border for several months, is thought to be now in possession of up to 190,000. These men are ready and waiting to invade Ukraine.
Russian armoured troop transports for the army are seen in an assembly area amid worries that they may soon move across the border to Ukraine. It is the latest sign of the most serious war in Europe since decades.
Russia alternately claims to have been staging training exercises along its borders, with the intention of withdrawing forces or reinforcing allies. All this has been denied by the West. (Image: A Russian soldier).
People held placards at a pro-Ukrainian protest outside of the Russian Embassy in London on Wednesday night.
As a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine’s people and flag, Wednesday sees the Brandenburg Gate lit up in yellow and blue colors by the Ukrainian National Flag.
On Tuesday, tensions between the West and East escalated as Putin was given authority to use force overseas by Russia’s lapdog parliament. This is a step that opens up for Putin to attack Ukraine.
He had just hours earlier given an address in which he claimed expansionist claims regarding rebel-held territories in Ukraine’s eastern region. Russia said that it has recognized the areas held currently by Ukrainian troops and declared them to be part of the separatists.
There are fears that he might be planning to seize control of the area under the auspices a “peacekeeping” mission. This could lead to a land grab of the territory, which would extend beyond the boundaries of the current region and reach the city of Kharkiv. Here is where many major Ukrainian military bases are.
Recent reports have shown that Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and other weapons were found hiding within civilian areas or the forest lines in some areas north of Kharkiv. This was just three miles away from the border.
Putin is backed up by millions of troops and tanks, artillery units and hundreds of fighter jets. There are also dozens of bombers that surround Ukraine from all sides. Up to 10,000 people have been reported to be in rebel-held Donetsk or Luhansk areas, which lie on the frontlines of Ukrainian forces.
The West has tried to unite in face of the invasion. More than twenty-six European Union member countries unanimously agreed to place their initial sanctions on Russian officials.
Germany announced that it would not certify the Nord Stream 2 Russian-made gas pipeline. It was a lucrative deal, long wanted by Moscow. However, the US has criticized the US for making Europe more dependent on Russian energy.
On Wednesday, Vice President Biden announced that he would sanction the Russian company who is building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This was a coordinated reaction by the U.S. and Germany to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden stated in a statement that he had directed his administration to impose sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, and its corporate executives. These are just a part of our first tranche of sanctions to counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. We will take additional steps, as I’ve made it clear, if Russia escalates.
Biden removed sanctions from Nord Stream 2 AG in 2012, as it was near completion, and received an agreement by Germany that Russia would take legal action against Russia if they used gas to attack Ukraine.
Also, the U.S. moved to isolate Russia from Western finance by sanctioning two Russian banks and preventing it from trading on American or European markets its sovereign debt.
Russia’s civilian leadership and the two Russian banks that are close to Russia’s military and Kremlin, which have assets of more than $80billion each, were affected by the administration’s actions.
This includes the freezing of all assets held by banks in US jurisdictions.
Russia has warned of a “strong response” to new sanctions.
“There ought to be no doubt that the sanctions will face a strong reaction, not necessarily balanced, but well-calibrated. And sensitive for America,” the Russian foreign ministry declared in a statement.
It was stated that Washington had placed a new set of sanctions to try and ‘change Russia’s course’.
“Russia has shown that it’s capable of minimising the impact even with the most severe sanctions,” said the statement. The statement stated that sanctions pressure could not affect our resolve to defend our interests.
The Russian-backed leader of the breakaway Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, said on Wednesday that he had accelerated a mobilisation of forces, in which healthy men between 18 and 55 have been called up to fight
An Ukrainian pilot boarded a fighter plane at an airbase in an unidentified area of Ukraine early Wednesday to take part in combat readiness drills in the face of Russian invasion fears.
An original Russian Su-34 fighter plane, flying from Ukraine, takes off from an unidentified airfield. This is amid concerns that Russia may be planning a large-scale invasion.
The tail fins from Ukrainian Su-34 fighter aircrafts were seen in an unspecified airfield somewhere in Ukraine. One takes to the sky during combat readiness checks before what might be a complete Russian invasion.
Ukrainian firefighters attempt to put out a blazing house in the village of Muratovo, close to the frontlines with pro-Moscow rebels in Luhansk, after it was shelled overnight
Ukraine said one soldier died and another six were injured in shelling by pro-Moscow rebels overnight, which also hit and destroyed a house in the village of Muratovo
Russian volunteers carry medical supplies to a warehouse in the city of Taganrog, close to the border of Ukraine, after Biden warned that blood is being moved to the frontlines in what is considered to be one of the final moves before an attack
An event is organized at Rostov-on Don’s Fallen Warriors Memorial, where Russian troops gather.
Biden did however hold back the most severe and broadest financial sanctions contemplated in the US. These included sanctions that would strengthen the hold Germany has on any start-up of Nord Stream 2; an export ban to deny Russia US high technology for its military and industries; and sweeping restrictions that could hamper Russia’s ability do business internationally.
Biden stated that he is moving more US troops to the Baltics. However, Biden described these deployments as defensive and said, “We don’t intend to fight Russia.”
The US is sending about 800 infantry troops and 40 attack aircraft to NATO’s eastern flank from other locations within Europe, according to a senior defense official. A contingent of F-35 fighter jets and AH-64 Apache attack drones will be also relocated.
Ukraine has asked Turkey to block the Black Sea strait to protect it from invasion.
On Tuesday, Russia’s top house, the Federation Council voted unanimously for Putin to exercise military force beyond the country. This effectively authorizes Russia to send a military presence to rebel areas, which has seen a eight-year-long conflict that claimed nearly 14,000 lives.
Putin set three conditions for ending the crisis which threatened to throw Europe into war.
Putin stated that the crisis can be solved if Kyiv recognises Russia’s sovereignty in Crimea. This is the Black Sea peninsula Moscow annexed back to Moscow in 2014.
Although the West decries Crimea’s annexation as an international violation, it previously rejected Ukraine being permanently excluded from NATO.
Putin was asked if he had sent Russian troops to Ukraine, and if so how far. It’s difficult to anticipate a pattern of actions, he said. However it depends on the actual situation on the ground.
Initial sanctions were announced by the EU against the 351 Russian legislators who voted to recognize the separatist areas in Ukraine. They also targeted 27 Russian officials from the banking and defense sectors. These sanctions were also intended to prevent Moscow from accessing EU capital and financial market.
As tensions rose and an even larger conflict was becoming more probable, the White House used the phrase “invasion” to describe Russian operations in the Donbas.
Joe Biden, the US President, stated that it is absurd to believe Putin made such elaborate military preparations. He had 190,000. Russian soldiers at the border, and moved blood supplies to these areas. This was in addition to his intention to invade Ukraine.
Satellite imagery from Tuesday shows several new deployments of troops and equipment have been established in rural areas southwest of Belgorod, less than 20 kilometers to the northwest of the border with Ukraine
Satellite imagery provided by Maxar Technologies shows a close up of field hospital and troop deployment in western Belgorod, Russia, less than 20 kilometers to the northwest of the border with Ukraine
Maxar Technologies’ satellite imagery shows close-up of the assembled vehicles at Bokov Airportfield, near Mazyr in Belarus on Tuesday
Maxar Technologies provides satellite imagery showing armor and vehicles in a Belgorod railyard, Russia.
Satellite imagery taken Tuesday night shows the new troop and equipment deployments in remote areas of Belgorod. The area lies close to Ukraine’s border.
Jon Finer, chief deputy national security adviser on CNN, stated, “We believe this is the beginning of an invasion, Russia’s latest invasion into Ukraine.” “An invasion means an invasion and this is exactly what’s happening.”
On Monday, after Putin claimed he was sending in troops to the region, the White House issued some limited sanctions. Senior Biden Administration official briefed reporters on the new sanctions. He noted that Russia had been occupying these areas since 2014 and that “Russian troops moving in Donbas wouldn’t be an original step.”
Moscow is a country that has long been threatened by Western leaders. Putin acknowledged Monday the independency of Donetsk-Luhansk separatist areas.
The Kremlin added to the tension by stating that the Kremlin recognizes the Ukrainian forces in large portions of these two areas, which includes Mariupol (a major Azov sea port).
However, he said that rebels must eventually reach an agreement with Ukraine.
The world quickly condemned the incident. Washington saw both sides of Congress vowing continued US support to Ukraine while some called for more harsh sanctions against Russia. The White House was pursuing its strategy, and Senators considered a sanction package.
Volodymyr Zeleskyy, Ukrainian President, stated that he was open to the idea of cutting diplomatic ties with Russia. Kyiv then recalls its Ambassador in Moscow.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that if Putin presses further into Ukraine, the West will follow his lead. He stated that if Russia uses force again against Ukraine, sanctions will become even more severe and the price of war would be higher.
Boris Johnson (British Prime Minister) stated that the U.K. will impose sanctions against five Russian banks as well as three rich individuals. Boris Johnson warned that a large-scale attack would result in ‘further severe sanctions’
Zelenskyy claimed he called some of the country’s military reservists, but that there wasn’t a need for full-scale military mobilization.
Zelenskyy stated in a speech to the nation that the decree was only applicable to individuals assigned to operational reserve. This reserve is usually activated during hostilities and lasts ‘a specific period of time’. However, he did not clarify what this means.
There is not a need to fully mobilize today. He stated that we need to add staff quickly to the Ukrainian army, and other military formations. Oleksii Dalov, head of National Security and Defense Council said that Ukraine could call up to 2.5million people earlier in the year.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian security council, takes part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow’s Alexander Garden to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day
Russian supporters of President Putin’s party march through Moscow waving flags for newly-recognised republics east of Ukraine. They could act as triggers for war
Fears that rebel-held Donetsk areas could be invaded by regular Russian forces will lead to conscription of Donetsk men into the military.
Polish parliament members wave Ukrainian flags to show their support for Ukraine as the country faces an invasion by Russia.