Russo-Ukraine War - 26 February 2022
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There are some indication that there is low morale and willingness to fight in the Russian army, they are for instance forcing conscripts to sign contracts to fight instead of just doing noncombatant activity. Ukrainian forces have everything to lose and therefore will fight to the death if they have to — which Russia doesn't have to. The minister of defense of Ukraine asked Kyiv civilians to prepare Molotov cocktails to repulse the aggression.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its third day, with several major Ukrainian cities being hit by Russian missiles and shells as civilians took to underground shelter or fled their homes. The Ukrainian military said that its soldiers had repelled an attack on the capital, Kyiv, following reports of heavy fighting and bombing overnight. "Last night was difficult, but there are no Russian troops in the city," Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.
In a significant shift in Berlin’s policy regarding the war, the German government said 26 February 2022 it would supply 1,000 anti-tank and 500 Stinger antiaircraft missiles to bolster Ukraine’s defenses in the face of an unprovoked onslaught by Russian forces. Germany also said that it would allow the Netherlands to ship hundreds of German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. "The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin's invading army," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. The Dutch government told parliament it would rapidly ship 200 Stinger rockets and 50 Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapons with 400 rockets.
The Russian army was given orders to broaden its offensive in Ukraine “from all directions” after Kyiv refused to hold talks in Belarus, the defence ministry said. “After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, today all units were given orders to develop the advance from all directions in accordance with the operation’s plans,” Russian army spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the US said the bulk of Russian forces were 30km (19 miles) from the city’s center. The US military said half of Russia’s invasion force is already inside Ukraine but is being slowed by unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance, with President Zelenskyy claiming his troops have “derailed” the Russian masterplan.
Russia took further hits on the sporting and cultural front as Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic said they would not play World Cup soccer qualifiers against Russia next month and London's Royal Opera House canceled performances by the famed Bolshoi Ballet. The moves announced on February 26 follow decisions by Formula One to pull its race from Russia and European football’s Champions League to move its May 28 final to Paris from St. Petersburg because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
"In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against the Russian team," Poland's Football Association chief Cezary Kulesza wrote. Karl-Erik Nilsson, the Swedish federation’s chairman, said that “the illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football fixtures with Russia impossible.”
All Russian banks already subjected to Western sanctions will be excluded from SWIFT, with the possibility open for other Russian banks to be excluded as well, the German government announced. Prior to the decision made at a joint discussion of the Western leaders, the media reported that Germany had assessed its support for disconnecting Russia from the international payment system as possible under "certain conditions." The sanctions, agreed with the United States, France, Canada, Italy, Great Britain and the European Commission also include limiting the ability of Russia’s central bank to support the rouble. They will also end the “golden passports” for wealthy Russians and their families and will target individuals and institutions in Russia and elsewhere that supports the war against Ukraine
Western sanctions could be an “excellent reason for a final review” of Russia’s relations with the nations that have imposed the restrictions, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president, Dmitry Medvedev, said 26 February 2022. “Yes, and diplomatic relations, in principle, are not particularly needed. It's time to close the embassies with barn locks. And to continue contacts by examining each other only through binoculars and weapons’ optical systems,” Medvedev said. Commenting on the decision by the Council of Europe and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to suspend Russia’s membership, the former president said that while this is a “flagrant injustice,” it could still be considered as a good reason “to finally slam the door and forget about these meaningless almshouses forever.”
Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said 26 February 2022 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had left Kiev for Lvov; he added that Zelensky had already departed the Ukrainian capital as of yesterday. "Zelensky hastily left Kiev. He was not in the capital of Ukraine yesterday. Together with his entourage, he fled to the city of Lvov, where he and his assistants were equipped with a place to live," Volodin wrote in his Telegram channel. Volodin also noted that all the videos that Zelensky publishes on social networks were recorded in advance. According to him, information about Zelensky's departure to Lvov came from deputies of the Rada, Ukraine's legislature.
Zelenskyy released in the morning a self-shot video from central Kyiv saying, “I am here … this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this.” Zelenskyy appeared in a video filmed outside his office in Kyiv, pledging to fight as Russia’s invading forces stormed towards the capital. “We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth,” he declared in the clip, urging residents not to believe in “fakes” about the surrender of the Ukrainian army. “A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is under way,” he said. Looking tired but determined, he added: “Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this. This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!”
Ukrainians continued to seek the safety of neighboring countries amid the unprovoked attack by Russian forces, with the UN estimating that 120,000 have so far fled into Poland and elsewhere.
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