Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 **Media Thread** NO DISCUSSION

[PommyMommy]

March 4 2022
Ukraine-Russia news live: Putin issues fresh warning; NATO's ominous prediction as battles rage; nuclear plant seized by Russia after fire | World News | Sky News

''13m ago11:45
Met Police's War Crimes team gathering evidence on alleged war crimes in Ukraine
The Met Police is helping to gather evidence to support an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the force has said.

Detectives are calling for anyone in the UK who may have direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine to come forward, particularly those who have witnessed or been the victim of alleged war crimes.

People can also send in direct messages, images or videos they have been sent by family members or friends in Ukraine.

Investigators will look at incidents from 21 November 2013 onwards.

However, they said they were not looking to receive videos or images that people have simply come across on social media. ''

''Ukraine-Russia news live: Putin issues fresh warning; NATO's ominous prediction as battles rage; nuclear plant seized by Russia after fire

Putin issues a new warning - and asks for "normalised" relations with world; NATO fears situation will worsen as Kyiv comes under attack and fighting rages; Europe's biggest nuclear power plant attacked by Russian troops in Ukraine.''

(2) CNN reporter identifies strange moment in new Putin speech - YouTube

 

[PommyMommy]

Unfriendly skies
How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is redrawing air routes

Airlines are bracing for potentially lengthy blockages of key east-west flight corridors after the European Union and Moscow issued tit-for-tat airspace bans. The United States and Canada have also taken similar action in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The unprecedented steps are aimed at pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two.

Russia has retaliated by banning airlines from dozens of countries including all 27 members of the European Union after EU ministers agreed to refuse entry to Russian airplanes including the private jets of the country's oligarchs.

Unfriendly skies

 

[PommyMommy]

Latest on Russia-Ukraine: Trudeau headed to Europe to meet allies on Ukraine; Russian convoy outside Kyiv still stalled
March 4 2022 rbbm.
''12:40 p.m. Brazil’s government said on Friday it will issue temporary humanitarian visas and residency permits for Ukrainian nationals and other individuals who have been affected or displaced by the conflict with Russia.''

''12:12 p.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Europe this weekend to meet with allies over their responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Trudeau will travel to London, Berlin and Latvia, where Canada is leading a multinational NATO battle group, and to Warsaw, Poland.''

''11:52 a.m. A Western official says a huge Russian military convoy advancing on Kyiv has made little progress for several days.
The official said the convoy, which has been estimated at up to 64 kilometers long, had become a huge traffic jam that included damaged or destroyed vehicles.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence, said the convoy had been attacked from the air by the Ukrainians, but that Ukraine’s ability to do so was limited.''

The official assessed that Ukrainian forces remain in control of much of the country’s territory but that Russia holds the cities of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdiansk in the south.''

''11:40 a.m. Spain’s Teatro Real, one of Europe’s major opera houses, said Friday it's canceling a set of upcoming performances by Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet over the war the country is waging on Ukraine.

The management of the Madrid-based opera house said the ballet's mid-May performances of Ludwig Minkus’ La Bayadere won’t go ahead “due to the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, which is causing a serious global crisis and a painful humanitarian emergency.”

''6:28 a.m.: Poland’s pharmaceutical authorities say customers are asking whether they should take iodine to protect against radiation, after a nuclear plant in neighbouring Ukraine was targeted by invading Russian troops.

Tomasz Leleno, spokesman for Poland’s Main Pharmaceutical Chamber, said Friday that pharmacists and doctors are advising against that, because iodine may cause more harm than good if used without consulting a doctor.''

 

[PommyMommy]

Severe worldwide wheat shortages

Analysis: Russia-Ukraine conflict highlights wheat supply vulnerability

 

[PommyMommy]

World 'narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night', says US envoy to UN

The world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe overnight when a fire broke out during a Russian seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the US ambassador to the United Nations said.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia’s actions were “reckless” and “dangerous”.

"By the grace of God, the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night. We all waited to exhale as we watched the horrific situation unfold in real time."

The attack overnight reflected a “dangerous new escalation” in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she said, warning that “imminent danger” persisted, citing Russian troops whom she said were 20 miles from Ukraine’s second-largest nuclear facility.

"Russia’s attack last night put Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at grave risk.

"It was incredibly reckless and dangerous. And it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe."

She demanded assurances from Moscow that such an assault will not happen again.

G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement saying Russia would face further “severe sanctions” for its invasion of Ukraine, Daniel Boffey writes.

"We will continue to impose further severe sanctions in response to Russian aggression, enabled by the Lukashenko regime in Belarus.

"We urge Russia to stop its attacks especially in the direct vicinity of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants."

Speaking in Brussels following a meeting of western foreign ministers, Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said they had been given an update via videolink by Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"They are shelling residential housing, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructures,"

Borrell told reporters:

"It looks like they want to destroy Ukraine."

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: ‘world narrowly averted nuclear catastrophe’ over Zaporizhzhia fire, says US envoy to UN – live

 

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️Ukraine joins NATO’s Cyber Defense Center as a contributing participant.

“Ukraine could bring valuable first-hand knowledge,” said Jaak Tarien, Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence. https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1499813591792431108?s=20&t=EeBEONHiWC2GwByVNP7MKw

 

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Thousands of people living in the area near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine are unable to evacuate because of ongoing shelling by Russian forces, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations said.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of lying about its takeover of the country’s biggest nuclear power plant.

Russia’s defence ministry has blamed the overnight attack at the site of the Zaporizhzhia plant on Ukrainian saboteurs, calling it a “monstrous provocation”. Its account has directly contradicted Ukraine’s version of events.

Ukraine has said Russian forces attacked the plant in the early hours of Friday, setting an adjacent five-storey training facility on fire.

Russia-Ukraine war latest news: ‘world narrowly averted nuclear catastrophe’ over Zaporizhzhia fire, says US envoy to UN – live

 

[PommyMommy]

@cspan
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N.@SergiyKyslytsya
to the Russian ambassador: "Stop spreading the lies! And you know it very well what is going on there, if you are indeed in contact with your capital.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1499817303495647235

People possibly trapped in rubble of wrecked apartment block in Ukrainian town, emergency service says
"Rescuers do not have access to these people due to the constant shelling. We are ready to evacuate people as soon as there is an agreement on a 'green corridor,'" she said.
Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine

 

[PommyMommy]

Anonymous-linked group hacks Russian space research site, claims to leak mission files

Anonymous Offers Russian Soldiers Over $50K Worth of Bitcoin for Each Surrendered Tank (Report)

“We are creating an IT army. We need digital talents. All operational tasks will be given here: https://t.me/itarmyofurraine. There will be tasks for everyone. We continue to fight on the cyber front. The first task is on the channel for cyber specialist”
https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1497642156076511233

 

[PommyMommy]

”One more super important political victory! Ukraine becomes a member-contributor of the @NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence!”
https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1499792908655988741?cxt=HHwWisC40YjtqtApAAAA

CCDCOE :
“Ukraine’s presence in the Centre will enhance the exchange of cyber expertise, between Ukraine and CCDCOE member nations. Ukraine could bring valuable first-hand knowledge of several adversaries within the cyber domain to be used for research, exercises and training,” emphasized Col Jaak Tarien, Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

“Capability and knowledge comes from experience, and Ukraine definitely has valuable experience from previous cyber-attacks to provide significant value to the NATO CCDCOE. Estonia as a Host Nation of the CCDCOE has been a long-term partner for Ukraine in enhancing its cyber security capacity and cyber resilience and we welcome the decision of the members of CCDCOE agreeing to Ukraine’s membership,” commented Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet.”

2104-factsheet-cyber-defence-en.pdf (nato.int)
The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia is a NATO-accredited research and training facility dealing with cyber defence education, research and development. The Centre provides valuable expertise on cyber defence, and organises cyber exercises involving both NATO
Allies and partners.

Partnerships play a key role in effectively addressing cyber challenges. NATO engages with a wide range of partners – including international organisations, industry and academia.

 

[PommyMommy]

French Aircraft Carrier Now Supporting NATO
The French Navy (Marine Natiionale) aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its air wing has started supporting NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Black Sea region following a short logistical stop in Cyprus.
French Aircraft Carrier Now Supporting NATO - Naval News

The @French_CSG set sail again yesterday after a few days of port call in
Cyprus. #Clemenceau22 continues, but the mission evolves to adapt to the current geopolitical situation. The flexibility of the carrier vessel nuclear and her escort is once again a major asset.



https://twitter.com/MarineNationale/status/1499462610760130560?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1499462610760130560|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/03/french-aircraft-carrier-now-supporting-nato/

 

[PommyMommy]

Direct attacks on a massive Russian convoy outside Kyiv, coupled with a destroyed bridge in the convoy’s path, have stalled the Russian forces about 15 miles north of the city, a senior defense official said Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine retains a “significant majority” of its air combat power, as Russia remains unable to establish air supremacy.
Direct attacks and a destroyed bridge have slowed Russian convoy advance on Kyiv, US defense official says

Russia has completely blocked access to Facebook, the country’s media regulator said Friday as it accused the site of “discrimination” against state propaganda sites.

The move comes as Vladimir Putin’s government cracks down on dissent amid his brutal invasion of Ukraine. It also comes days after Facebook owner Meta blocked access to Russian state propaganda outlets RT and Sputnik in the European Union.

In response, Facebook said it would do everything it could to restore service in Russia.

“Soon, millions of people will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out,” said Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs for Facebook’s parent company, Meta.
Russia blocks Facebook for propaganda sites 'discrimination'

 

[PommyMommy]

“Cyber Partisans is a highly organized collective, which is part of a bigger coalition called Suprativ. Cyber Partisans’ members are all Belarusian, trying to overthrow Lukashenko’s regime. They’re fighting the oppression of people in Belarus, and now they’re trying to help Ukrainians. They’re not professional hackers, they all worked in the IT sector and only started their hacktivist work after the protests in 2020. I don't know where they reside right now, I hope they’re not in Belarus.”

How Hacktivists Are Fighting Russia With Their Keyboards

 

[PommyMommy]

Ukraine war: 'My city's being shelled, but mum won’t believe me' - BBC News
''Oleksandra and her four rescue dogs have been sheltering in the bathroom of her flat in Kharkiv since the shelling began.

"When I heard the first explosions, I ran out of the house to get my dogs from their enclosures outside. People were panicking, abandoning their cars. I was so scared," she says.

The 25-year-old has been speaking regularly to her mother, who lives in Moscow. But in these conversations, and even after sending videos from her heavily bombarded hometown, Oleksandra is unable to convince her mother about the danger she is in.

"I didn't want to scare my parents, but I started telling them directly that civilians and children are dying," she says.

"But even though they worry about me, they still say it probably happens only by accident, that the Russian army would never target civilians. That it's Ukrainians who're killing their own people."

''Oleksandra says her mother just repeats the narratives of what she hears on Russian state TV channels.

"It really scared me when my mum exactly quoted Russian TV. They are just brainwashing people. And people trust them," says Oleksandra.

"My parents understand that some military action is happening here. But they say: 'Russians came to liberate you. They won't ruin anything, they won't touch you. They're only targeting military bases'."

 

[PommyMommy]

Washington's Newest Worry: The Dangers of Cornering Putin

WASHINGTON — Senior White House officials designing the strategy to confront Russia have begun quietly debating a new concern: that the avalanche of sanctions directed at Moscow, which has gained speed faster than they imagined, is cornering President Vladimir Putin and may prompt him to lash out, perhaps expanding the conflict beyond Ukraine.

Washington's Newest Worry: The Dangers of Cornering Putin

 

[PommyMommy]

Who are Russia's oligarchs and why are they important?
March 4 2022

''According to Merriam-Webster's definition, an oligarch is "a member or supporter of an oligarchy," which is a government where a small group exercises control over political decisions, "especially for corrupt and selfish purposes."

In the case of Russia's elite, the term oligarch can relate to those powerful few who used personal connections after the collapse of the Soviet Union to take over previously state-owned industries, thereby profiting from Russia's new capitalism.

With this in mind, a Russian oligarch either has direct or perceived power in Russia's state of affairs, despite not necessarily being elected to government positions by Russia's electorate.''

 

[PommyMommy]

YouTube and Twitter may now be blocked
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1499837776656678915?s=20&t=Q_WA6krIdpjqNda33QWAFw

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1499831979369549828?s=20&t=JP-IVCE8OEQaxEvd-JAD9w

Russia blocks access to Facebook and Twitter
Russia has completely blocked access to Facebook in retaliation for the platform placing restrictions on state-owned media.

It was later reported that it had also blocked Twitter. The Russian state communications regulator said access had been restricted, according to the state-owned Ria news agency.

 

[PommyMommy]

“The Pentagon has established a new hotline with Russia's ministry of defense to prevent "miscalculation, military incidents and escalation" in the region as Russia's invasion of Ukraine advances

The "deconfliction" hotline would be an open phone line based at the European Command's headquarters and would fall under Air Force General Tod Wolters, who leads all U.S. forces on the continent.

"In our initial test of it, (the Russians) answered the phone," the official said.

Russian troops were still about 25 km (16 miles) away from Kyiv's city center, largely unchanged over the past few days.”

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...ajority-of-its-military-aircraft-u-s-official

Putin may have taken his family to a Siberian secret bunker
Putin Underground City: Putin has built ‘Secret City’ in the mysterious mountains, nuclear bomb also neutralized, hid ‘Girlfriend’? – PressWire18

Oversight of Putins family
Here is a look at Putin's family, who are reportedly hiding in a secret Siberian underground bunker

 

[PommyMommy]

March 4 2022
BBC suspends reporting from inside Russia in face of 'fake' news law, blocking of Western websites | CBC News
''The BBC has said it is temporarily suspending the work of all its journalists and support staff within Russia after the upper house of parliament approved a draft law on Friday that would impose a jail term of up to 15 years for people who intentionally spread "fake" information about Russia's armed forces.

Its Russian news service will continue to operate from outside the country while the broadcaster assess the implications of the proposed law, which is expected to take effect once Russian President Vladimir Putin signs it, as he is widely expected to do.

"The safety of our staff is paramount, and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs," the BBC director-general Tim Davie said in a tweet.

"We remain committed to making accurate, independent information available to audiences around the world, including the millions of Russians who use our news services. Our journalists in Ukraine and around the world will continue to report on the invasion of Ukraine."

 

[PommyMommy]

'War is getting rougher, because Russia has run out of precision munitions'

The word says it all. While Russia figured out exactly what and where to bomb in the first days of the war, it is now increasingly the inner cities that have to pay the price. This is worrying, says De Wijk. "With the precision ammunition, the damage is limited. Now it's getting rougher."

'New line from Belarus'
So, rougher, but not faster. Because according to De Wijk, there is still not too much progress in the Russian case. Meanwhile, the first major city has been conquered: Kherson, in the south. "But the long column above Kiev is progressing slowly, from Belarus a new line has now been opened that should tackle the city from the west. Kiev is therefore very slowly being surrounded."

'Oorlog wordt ruiger, want Rusland is door precisiemunitie heen'