EU leaders shocked after last conversation with Zelenski. "He may not be alive in the next 48 hours"
European leaders were shocked after the last video conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who addressed them as if he had said goodbye to them, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Friday.
"It was a very emotional discussion. President Zelensky, who was in a bunker, appeared and said, "I don't know if I'll ever see you again, because I'm on Russia's list of targets," Kiril Petkov said in a statement with journalists on the eve of the extraordinary EU summit, which takes place on Friday.
"You are shaking, because this man, who is asking for help and support, may not be alive for the next 48 hours. It shook us all, because it's one thing to see victims as statistics on TV and it's another to look into the eyes of someone for whom survival is a matter of hours, "Petkov said.
He went on to say that no EU member state was really prepared for Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine.
"No European leader expected such a massive attack. Russian tanks were expected to enter the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk, but no one expected such a massive attack, with so many casualties. One-third of the Ukrainian army has already been destroyed, "he said.
"Young people from both sides die because of a leader who sits at a long table and makes decisions"
"If it had been a partial invasion, we might have imposed easier measures. But in the current situation, there was no voice at the table calling for light measures ", Petkov detailed.
He says Russian troops sent to Ukraine did not know about the operation and thought it was an exercise.
"Young people from both sides are dying because of a leader who sits at a long table and makes decisions. These sanctions will not affect Putin, but we cannot stand idly by, "Petkov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the Ukrainian military to turn its weapons against its own government. He reiterated false allegations that the Ukrainian authorities were "drug addicts" and "neo-Nazis".
"I once again addressed the soldiers of the Ukrainian army. Do not allow neo-Nazis to use your children, your wives, your elders as living shields. Take power in your hands. We will get along much better with you than with this bunch of drug addicts and neo-Nazis who took action in Kiev and took the entire Ukrainian people hostage, "Putin said in a speech after the Security Council meeting.
"I want to appreciate the action of the Russian soldiers and officers at the highest level. They act with great courage, professionalism and heroism, fulfilling their military duty, and defending our people and our homeland, "he added.
Putin used the theme of "denazification" of Ukraine to justify invading the country.
The Russian Federation is attacking Ukraine on several fronts. Heavy fighting is raging between the Russians and Ukrainian forces after Putin sent his army to attack from three directions. Several major cities were attacked with missiles, including Kiev, Kharkov, Mariupol and Odessa.
The president of the country, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced a general mobilization. "We are defending our country on our own this morning," Zelensky said in a statement on public television. The West has announced new harsh sanctions on Russia, condemning the attack on Ukraine. In Russia, thousands of people have been arrested after taking to the streets of major cities to protest the invasion of Ukraine.
Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is ready to defend Kiev along with the military and civilians. Asked by CNN what his intentions are in the event of an attack, the former Ukrainian leader showed reporters his weapon, a Kalashnikov assault rifle.
He said he was ready to defend the city at any cost, even if he did not have the military equipment to fight.
"Putin is crazy to come here and kill us," Poroshenko added.
The former president said that many people come to enlist to defend the capital, even if the weapons they have are few.
"It's exciting and it's clear evidence that the people of Ukraine hate Putin," he said.
Asked how long they would last, Poroshenko replied: "Forever. Putin will never conquer Ukraine, no matter how many soldiers, missiles and nuclear weapons he has. We are a free people with a great European future. "
Russian police have arrested at least 389 people in anti-war protests in 39 cities on Thursday for violating a rally banned by Russian authorities.
Russia's main opponent, Aleksei Navalny, who has been jailed and charged with new charges, said on Thursday he was opposed to Moscow's war on Ukraine.
Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine - land, air and naval - at the dawn of Thursday, the largest state-run attack on another state in Europe since World War II.
Russian police have arrested at least 389 people in anti-war protests in 39 cities on Thursday for violating a rally banned by Russian authorities.
Dozens of protesters were arrested near Pushkin Square in the Russian capital and about 20 others in Russia's second city, chanting "No to war!"
Several Russian cities have been hit by protests from civilians dissatisfied with leader Putin's latest decisions on the situation in Ukraine. For example, one of the cities where large protests were organized is St. Petersburg, where citizens took to the streets to oppose the war with Ukraine. "No war," chanted the crowd, according to a Twitter post on the Nexta channel.
Extensive protests are also taking place in Novosibirsk, where residents are also marching in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian opposition activists called for anti-war protests in several cities across the country on Thursday. She emphasized that the current situation was "the agony of a dying man", but also that "unfortunately, Russia is in agony".
"We will clean up this mess for many years to come. Not even us, but our children and grandchildren, "Marina Litvinovici, an activist from Moscow, wrote on Facebook, writes Agerpres. According to RFI, she was arrested.
Russia's Committee of Inquiry has issued a subsequent warning about the "negative legal consequences of these actions, which include criminal prosecution and even criminal liability", ie for participating in riots and rallies related to the tense security situation in the region.
"It should be remembered that having a criminal record has negative consequences and leaves a mark on the person's future," the Committee of Inquiry added.
In the actions against the war with Ukraine, 167 people are currently detained in 24 cities in Russia, informs Nexta. There are protests in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other major cities. Beatings were reported. There are hundreds of people, and the weather is not bad; people are leaving work right now. Protests could escalate.
Other sources show higher numbers. Russian police have arrested at least 389 people in anti-war protests in 39 cities on Thursday for violating a Russian-banned assembly ban, OVD-Info reports.
OVD-Info has documented the crackdown on protests in Russia in recent years.
A detained driver in Ekaterinburg was taken out of the car and put face down in the mud because he honked at the protesters.
On Thursday, the country's Committee of Inquiry issued a warning in a statement: "In connection with the spread of calls to participate in riots and rallies related to the tense situation in the field of foreign policy," the statement warned against the "negative legal consequences of these actions. include criminal prosecution and even criminal liability. "
"It should be remembered that having a criminal record has negative consequences and leaves a mark on the person's future," the Committee of Inquiry added.
Russia attacked Ukraine on land and in the air on Thursday. The European Union, the United States and NATO are threatening sanctions, but the Kremlin leader does not seem intimidated. In Moscow, the authorities are threatening all citizens who want to join the anti-war protests.
Moscow threatens Russians who want to join anti-war protests. A leader of the Russian opposition, who called for protests, was arrested when she left the house, according to an American journalist.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the Russian army arrived in the Kiev region, from Belarus, a few hours after Putin started the war. Russian attack helicopters have taken control of Gostomel Air Force Base on the outskirts of Kiev. An imminent attack on Kiev with Grad missiles aimed at military targets is coming, the Ukrainians have announced, reports AFP. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has announced that it does not want to occupy all of Ukraine.
At the same time, NATO is announcing the activation of defense plans, which allows military commanders the authority to deploy forces anywhere in the member countries, when needed, without waiting for the political decision.
The Russian Federation attacks Ukraine on several fronts, after the first day of the invasion the balance was a tragic one with dead and wounded. Heavy fighting is raging between the Russians and Ukrainian forces after Putin sent his army to attack from three directions. Several major cities were attacked with missiles, including Kiev, Kharkov, Mariupol and Odessa.
Heavy explosions were heard in Kiev on Friday morning, and Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian plane. Ukrainians in the capital and the second largest city, Kharkov, took refuge in the subway. The president of the country, Volodymyr Zelenski, announced a general mobilization. "We are defending our country on our own this morning," Zelenski said in a statement on public television. The West has announced new harsh sanctions on Russia, condemning the attack on Ukraine. In Russia, thousands of people have been arrested after taking to the streets of major cities to protest the invasion of Ukraine.
Main information of the day:
- The Russians entered several areas on the outskirts of the capital, Kiev.
- Civilians in Kiev receive Molotov cocktails.
- Ukraine accuses Russia of war crimes, and the EU wants to freeze Putin and Lavrov's accounts.
- Heavy fighting continues between Russians and Ukrainian forces in several regions. More than 2,800 Russian soldiers have been killed.
- A rocket hit a Moldovan ship in the Black Sea. Another hit a ship under the Panama flag, which caught fire.
- Putin calls on the Ukrainian military to turn its weapons around and fight for it.
- Bucharest had a format meeting before a NATO meeting.
- The Ukrainian army is being targeted by hackers in Belarus
- Russian artillery fires again on the city of Kharkov. Russian tanks are heading for Mariupol, while a Russian amphibious operation is taking place on the Sea of Azov.
- The Council of Europe has suspended Russia.
- USA: A quarter of Russian troops massed at the border are now in Ukraine.
- Russia is also threatening Finland and Sweden.
- The attack on Odessa began.
- NATO emergency meeting. The Allies decided to send more troops to Eastern Europe.
- Stoltenberg: The Kremlin's goals are not limited to Ukraine.
NATO is deploying a rapid reaction force for the first time
NATO is deploying elements of its rapid reaction force and will continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defense, North Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Friday night.
Putin and Lavrov have been put on the EU-UK sanctions list
UPDATE 25 FEBRUARY 20:20 The EU and Britain will freeze the assets of Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov after the invasion of Ukraine. The announcement of European sanctions was made by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Large-scale protests in Tbilisi, Georgia
UPDATE FEBRUARY 25 8:15 In Tbilisi, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The protests, however, took on an anti-government tone due to the lack of response from the authorities to the Russian invasion.
Protesters' anger escalated after Prime Minister Irakli Gharibasvhili promised that Georgia would not join Western sanctions against Russia, even as he visited a memorial to Georgian soldiers killed by the Soviet army in 1921.
Odessa, attacked again by the Russians
Russian forces have launched a new attack in southeastern Ukraine. The city of Odessa is under rocket attack. The city's anti-aircraft system opened fire. Witnesses say Ukrainians are preparing for a massive attack by Russian planes.
UN: More than 50,000 refugees left Ukraine in 48 hours
More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country in less than 48 hours, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
Most went to Poland and the Republic of Moldova, according to CNN. "Many are heading for the border. We truly thank the governments and people of the countries that keep their borders open and receive refugees, "he wrote on Twitter.
The UN agency is stepping up its operations in Ukraine and neighboring countries to help refugees.
Zelensky and leaders in Kiev, emotional message from the center of the besieged capital: We are here, we are defending Ukraine's independence
Volodymyr Zelensky came out of the bunker in which he is taking shelter, along with other administration leaders, to send a message from the streets of Kiev. "The party leader is here, the head of the president's office is here, the prime minister is here. We are all here to defend our independence, we are defending Ukraine ", said the President of Ukraine.
Zelensky's message comes in the context of heavy fighting between Russians and Ukrainians on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital. The forces of the Russian Federation have the mission to occupy Kiev in order to forcefully change the country's administration.
At least eight people have been killed and at least nine injured in Russian bombings, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister said.
Video footage indicates that Russian missiles have hit population centers in major Ukrainian cities, despite claims by the Russian military that they are aimed only at military infrastructure. An adviser to Ukraine's interior ministry says Russian bombings across Ukraine have left one dead and one injured. In Mariupol, seven residential buildings caught fire, and a shell hit Kramatorsk airfield.
Russia's attack on Thursday morning could lead to a huge influx of refugees from Ukraine, a country of 44 million people, so preparations are being made in several Central European states to receive them.
"Reception points for Ukrainian refugees will be set up in the next few hours," Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told Agerpres.
Eight such points will be set up as a first step near the border with Ukraine to provide food, medical care and information to potential refugees, he said.
A spokesman for the Polish government said his country's diplomatic missions in Ukraine would remain open as long as possible, but the foreign ministry urged all Poles to leave the country. Hungary has also stated that its embassy in Kiev will remain open. Instead, the Czech Republic has closed the embassy, but remains open in the consulate in Lviv, western Ukraine.
Hungary has said it will send troops to the border area with Ukraine - without saying how many there will be - for security and humanitarian purposes, but no troops were visible on Thursday morning.
Hungary must prepare to receive tens of thousands of refugees if necessary, but also for the possibility of soldiers involved in fighting to 'cross' the border, as happened during the war in Yugoslavia in 1999, it said on Wednesday evening. Defense Minister Tibor Benko.
Slovakian railways have suspended services to Ukraine, and the low-cost airline Wizz has stopped all flights to and from Ukraine. On Thursday morning, at the western borders of Ukraine, the traffic was found to have intensified slightly.
"We see a moderate increase in traffic at the border with Ukraine, we assume that it will intensify during the day," said an official from the Slovak Interior Ministry.
"Slovakia is ready to help, we could allow access to people who do not have all the necessary documents," he added.
For his part, Ukrainian Ambassador to Prague Perebyjnis Yevhen told a news conference that he could not "rule out some waves of refugees."
"But they will be in the western part of Ukraine rather than abroad," he said.
About 260,000 Ukrainians live in the Czech Republic, and tens of thousands work in Hungary, which has a large minority of about 140,000 people just beyond the common border.
In Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev said authorities were ready to evacuate more than 4,000 ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine by land and were ready to house other Ukrainian refugees. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said Bulgaria would prepare hotels and other tourist facilities for the purpose.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a "special operation" in Ukraine on Thursday morning, around 05:30 Moscow time. Soon, strong explosions began to resonate in several cities in Ukraine. A powerful explosion was reported near the barracks of a mechanized brigade in Odessa, two powerful explosions - in Kiev. Explosions were also reported in Kramatorsk, Nikolaev and Berdyansk.
Russia's Security Council voted on Monday (February 21st) to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin signed decrees for the independence of the two regions and sent Russian troops to parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. to ensure the maintenance of peace. The West condemned Russia's decision and said it would impose sanctions. Ukraine has called for the immediate convening of the UN Security Council.
A state of siege is introduced in Kiev and the Cherkasy region. In Kiev, it will be introduced from 22:00 to 07:00. During this period, public transport will not operate, but subway stations will be open 24 hours a day as shelters. People need to have documents with them. In the Cherkasy region, the siege will take effect between 22:00 and 6:00. During this time, traffic on the street and in other public places without special permits and certificates will be banned, which will be issued only to the employees of the enterprises, institutions and organizations that direct the activities of the region.
Russian actors, singers, TV presenters and bloggers have sent messages of solidarity in the current war situation caused by the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine. They have called on the Kremlin authorities to stop hostilities in the country. Several Russian celebrities such as Ivan Urgant, Maxim Galkin and Ksenia Sobchak have spoken out on social media against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and called for an end to hostilities. They posted completely black images with the hashtag #NOWAR.
Belarus, a Russian ally that borders Ukraine to the north, allows tens of thousands of Russian soldiers to cross its border into Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian government.
Lukashenko recently said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had called him to inform him of his military operation against Ukraine. He said Belarus' own national forces were "not taking part in the operation".
An emergency summit of the European Union will soon take place to decide on new sanctions against Moscow.
Russia, which has started the war against Ukraine, has announced its readiness to begin negotiations with Kiev on Ukraine's neutral status (not to join NATO) and its refusal to introduce nuclear weapons into its territory. The announcement was made by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov.
Asked if Russia is now ready to talk to Ukraine's leadership on the issue, Peskov said, "If Ukraine's leadership is ready to talk about it."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Putin, but he did not answer the phone.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying announced in a press conference that his country will start importing wheat from Russia today, as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping agreed when they met before the Games. Olympic Games since the beginning of the month.
In addition, the Chinese official refused to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine on Thursday, saying instead that "respect for territorial sovereignty" was needed, but also that the US "fuels tensions and only the US can put out the flames." In fact, prior to this statement, the same spokesman stated: "Did the US think about the consequences when they put a country as big as Russia on the wall?"
Journalists in the international press point out that during the 90-minute conference, Chunying avoided answering 11 questions about the situation in Ukraine. In addition, journalists repeatedly insisted and asked if Beijing considered Russia's action an invasion, and the Chinese official finally replied, "Why are you obsessed with this question?"
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference that "peace on our continent has been shaken," and that "Russia is using force to try to rewrite history."
"I convened a virtual summit of NATO leaders tomorrow. This is the new normal for our security: peace cannot be taken for granted. Strategic competition is on the rise. We will deploy additional ground and air defense forces in eastern NATO, as well as naval forces. We have increased the level of training of our forces, in order to be able to face all the scenarios ", it is shown in the communiqué of the North Atlantic Alliance.
#StandwithUkraine
Anti-war protests in several cities around the world and Russia. In Russia, the authorities are threatening people
Actions in support of Ukraine are taking place all over the world. In Berlin, people took to the streets the Ukrainian flag and placards with the words: "Stop the Russian invasion!", "Stop the crime!". Such actions have also taken place in Barcelona, Paris, London, Sydney, Lithuania, Prague, Istanbul, Tokyo and other cities around the world.
Protests have been taking place in various countries around the world since the first hours since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine against the war and in support of Ukraine.
On Thursday, February 24, solidarity actions were held with Ukraine in Berlin, Hamburg, Barcelona, Paris, London, Sydney, Lithuania, Prague, Istanbul, Tokyo and other cities around the world.
A Belarusian and Russian citizen, musician Timothy Suladze, burned his Russian passport in front of the embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, Deutsche Welle reports.
Anti-war protests in several cities around the world
1.Georgia
Dozens of Russian citizens from cities such as Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg took to the streets to protest the war in Ukraine. Protesters chanted "No to war!" Russian activists on Navalny's team's Instagram channel announce dozens of arrests.
Russia later announced its readiness to begin negotiations with Kiev on Ukraine's neutral status (not to join NATO) and its refusal to introduce nuclear weapons into its territory. The announcement was made by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov.
Hundreds of Russian protesters gathered in the cities of Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Tyumen in anti-war demonstrations after President Vladimir Putin announced the start of an invasion of Ukraine this morning.
2.Germany
Russia's Committee of Inquiry has urged citizens to avoid participating in anti-war protests. Authorities warn that "in connection with the spread of calls to participate in riots and rallies related to the tense situation of foreign policy", there will be "negative legal consequences of their actions, which include prosecution and even criminal liability."
Similar events took place in Europe. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, waving Ukrainian flags and demanding stricter sanctions, along with broader actions by the British government in response to Russia's military action. Demonstrations are also taking place in Berlin, Madrid and Paris.
3.Russia
Hundreds of Russian protesters gathered in the cities of Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Tyumen in anti-war demonstrations after President Vladimir Putin announced the start of an invasion of Ukraine this morning.
Similar events took place in Europe. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, waving Ukrainian flags and demanding stricter sanctions, along with broader actions by the British government in response to Russia's military action. Demonstrations are also taking place in Berlin, Madrid and Paris.
4.France
5.Czech Republic
6.Germany
7.Ukraine
8.Canada
9.Germany
10.Poland
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