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

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Russia-Ukraine latest news: Zelenskiy says Putin’s plan ‘derailed’; captured Russian soldiers ‘don’t know why they are here’
Orban said Hungary will support all EU sanctions on Russia

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán has said it will support all EU sanctions against Russia and will not block any.

Speaking on the Ukraine-Hungary border, he said he supported peace efforts.

“Hungary made clear that we support all the sanctions, so we will block nothing, so what the prime ministers of the European Union are able to agree, we accept it and we support it,” he told reporters in English, according to Reuters.

Earlier on Saturday he said he agreed with Russia being blocked from the cross-border Swift payments system. Orbán has previously been considered Vladimir’s closest ally inside European Union member states’ leaders.

Poland’s prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said all sanctions should be up for discussion, ahead of a meeting with German chancellor Olaf Sholz.

“I came to Berlin to shake the conscience of Germany so that they would finally decide on truly harsh sanctions that will influence the Kremlin’s decisions,” Morawiecki said as fighting took place on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

“We need to shut down Nord Stream 1 and 2, we need to cut reliance on raw materials, cut off Russian financial institutions from capital markets, confiscate assets of oligarchs, close off SWIFT for Russia ... all options should be on the table.”

 

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Russia Is A Major Supplier Of Oil To The U.S.
Feb 21, 2022,05:47pm EST|103,642 views
Russia Is A Major Supplier Of Oil To the US
...
Russia is one of the world’s largest oil producers. According to the 2021 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, in 2020 Russia produced 10.1 million barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil and natural gas condensate. That was good for second place behind the U.S. at 11.3 million BPD. Saudi Arabia was third at 9.3 million BPD.

However, the U.S. also consumes far more oil (17.2 million BPD) than Russia (3.2 million BPD) or Saudi Arabia (3.5 million BPD). The net result is that the U.S. is a net importer of crude oil, while Russia and Saudi Arabia are major crude oil exporters.

 

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Russia Used Beatings and Tricks to Forcibly Send Rookie Troops to Ukraine, Rights Group Says
Russian soldiers from all across the country were deceived into heading to the Ukrainian border, and some were beaten if they resisted, according to the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, a Russian non-governmental organization that works to expose human rights violations within the military.

The group is reportedly preparing a complaint for the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office alleging that their sons only recently joined the military as conscripts and were told they were going to the border with Ukraine for drills. But their statuses were then abruptly changed to contract soldiers— a role for those with more combat and training experience—and they were suddenly thrust into war.

 

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Ukraine live updates: We are resisting, Ukraine says, as battles for key cities rage - BBC News
The latest: Russian forces focus on key cities

How much of Ukraine does Russia control?

View attachment 334816

It is the third day of fighting in Ukraine, with Russian forces attempting to take territory and major cities and Ukrainian forces resisting their advance.

Here's the latest:

• In the capital Kyiv, there were missile strikes and gun battles overnight but Ukrainians forces remain in control of the city
• The UK's defence ministry says Vladimir Putin's forces remain more than 30km (19 miles) away from Kyiv city centre
• Russian forces may now be regrouping after an initial failed attempt at infiltrating key government districts in Kyiv, Jack Watling, a military expert from the Rusi think-tank, tells the BBC
• In the eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, officials say troops have fought off a Russian attack. They've issued a shelling alert, warning citizens not to move around the city
• There have also been clashes near the southern city of Odesa, President Zelensky says
• Russia says it has captured the south-eastern city of Melitopol - but the UK has cast doubt on the claim
• Zelensky said western and central cities including Lviv had been targeted with missile strikes

 

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These companies have the most to lose from Russia's attack on Ukraine - CNN
USA Companies

ExxonMobil
The American oil giant has more than 1,000 employees in Russia, and has been in the country for over 25 years.
Its subsidiary, Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL), has a 30% stake in Sakhalin-1 — a vast oil and natural gas project located off Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. It has operated the project since 1995 on behalf of a consortium that includes Japanese and Indian partners, as well as two affiliates of Russia's largest oil company, Rosneft.

McDonald's
The burger chain has categorized Russia as a high-growth market and continued to open locations there throughout the last decade.

Mondelez
The Oreo maker and owner of Cadbury became the leading chocolate maker in Russia in 2018.

 

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Chechen leader, a close Putin ally, says his forces have deployed to Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia's Chechnya region and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Saturday that Chechen fighters had been deployed to Ukraine and urged Ukrainians to overthrow their government.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn Writing by Andrei Khalip and Olzhas Auyezov Editing by Andrew Osborn

 

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The ‘face of war’: Ukrainian mothers give birth in bomb shelters

Woman, 23, gives birth to daughter as she shelters from bombs in Kyiv | Daily Mail Online

Viktor Liashko, Ukraine’s Minister of Health, shared photos of two children born in a bomb shelter in Kherson, Ukraine. On Facebook, Liashko called the images the "face of war."

"Yesterday in Kherson, under the shelling, two boys were born ... Two new lives that already have War in their genetic code," he wrote.

Although he said the babies were born under "shelling and explosions," Liashko said that the healthy birth of the newborns births should serve as a symbol of Ukrainian resilience.

"Life goes on, we give birth to children and no one can defeat us!" he wrote.

 

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‘Next Time I’ll Try to Move the War Schedule to Talk to #MarioDraghi,’ Zelensky Says
Mr. Draghi told Italy’s Parliament earlier in the morning, during a speech about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that he had been scheduled to speak to Mr. Zelensky.

“This morning, he tried to reach me before I came here. We set up a phone appointment at 9:30 a.m., but then it wasn’t possible to have the call because President Zelensky was no longer available,” Mr. Draghi told lawmakers in a dramatic tone.

Mr. Zelensky wrote on Twitter: “Today at 10:30 a.m. at the entrances to Chernihiv, Hostomel and Melitopol there were heavy fighting. People died. Next time I’ll try to move the war schedule to talk to #MarioDraghi at a specific time. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to fight for its people.” Ukraine’s time zone is an hour ahead of Italy’s.

 

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Russia-Ukraine latest news: Kyiv increases pressure on Turkey to close straits to Russian warships – live | World news | The Guardian
Ukraine is increasing pressure on Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, after a tweet from President Volodymyr Zelensky was widely interpreted to mean that Turkey had agreed to the closure, reports Ruth Michaelson from Istanbul.

[...]

Turkey has so far made no public statements confirming that it has decided to close the straits to Russian warships, although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Zelenskiy by phone earlier today, stating that Ankara was attempting to push for an immediate ceasefire.

The Russian news agency Interfax said Russia had received no official notification from the Turkish side about the closure of the straits to Russian warships.

If Turkey chooses to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles to Russian warships, preventing them from accessing the Black Sea, it would be a significant move in terms of both cutting off long-term Russian support to their troops in Ukraine as well as a significant show of support to Ukraine.

[...]

 

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Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates: U.S. says it sees signs of Russian frustration amid fierce Ukrainian resistance (nbcnews.com)
Feb. 26, 2022, 11:37 AM EST rbbm.
''Ukrainian forces battled Saturday to keep hold of the capital city of Kyiv as the U.S. said it has indications the Russians are increasingly frustrated by their lack of progress in the northern regions amid the stiffest resistance to the unprovoked invasion yet.

''Here's what to know now:
Russian troops advanced toward Ukraine's capital early Saturday and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. Smoke and flames could be seen rising over Kyiv as dawn broke, though it was not immediately clear how far the soldiers had advanced.''

''Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has refused to leave the capital despite saying he believes he is the number one target of the Russian attack. Instead he has been posting videos from the streets, urging his people to join him in defiance.''

 

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This is the BBC Ukraine Correspondent, Olga, who was in the London studio just hours after this war started:

El momento en que una periodista ucraniana de la BBC reconoce su edificio en ruinas en Kiev

 

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India walks tightrope over calls for Russia's isolation | AP News
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s decision to abstain from voting on a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that Russia cease its invasion of Ukraine does not mean support for Moscow, experts said, but reflects New Delhi’s reliance on its Cold War ally for energy, weapons and support in conflicts with neighbors.

Norway ski body says Russians not welcome to compete there | AP News
GENEVA (AP) — Russian skiers are not welcome to compete in Norway because of “violations of international law and attacks on the Ukrainian people,” the Nordic country’s ski federation said Saturday.

China is Russia's best hope to blunt sanctions, but wary | AP News
BEIJING (AP) — China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to U.S. and European markets by doing too much.

Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited.

 

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Sorting fact, disinformation after Russian attack on Ukraine | AP News
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Associated Press journalists around Ukraine and beyond are documenting military activity during Russia’s invasion. With disinformation rife and social media amplifying military claims and counterclaims, determining exactly what is happening is difficult. Here’s a look at what could be confirmed Saturday.

DIRECTLY WITNESSED:

— Many checkpoints were seen on the drive into Kyiv from the east, manned by uniformed servicemen and police and sometimes backed up with men in civilian clothes, who appear to be in their late teens and are carrying automatic rifles.

— Low-flying planes that appeared to be Su-25 fighter jets have been spotted patrolling the skies over Kyiv, but it couldn’t be discerned if they were Russian or Ukrainian.

— Eerie quiet on the streets of Mariupol, an Azov Sea port city and industrial center that is seen as a key target for Russia to seize. Police are frequently patrolling the streets. Air or artillery strikes can be heard in the distance. Soldiers are guarding bridges and blocking people from the seashore area.

— Explosions heard from central Kyiv, about 800 meters (half a mile) from the president’s headquarters.

— A tall apartment building in Kyiv hit by shelling, with major damage, on the eastern side of the Dneiper River that cuts through the capital, 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of the government quarter.

— Shooting near a main thoroughfare leading into central Kyiv from the south.

— Ukrainian soldiers evacuating an unmarked military vehicle damaged by gunfire in Kyiv, in the Obolon district about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the government quarter.

— Ukrainian military establishing defensive positions at bridges around Kyiv. Armored personnel carriers driving through Kyiv streets. Ukrainian authorities have placed snowplows at some spots along Kyiv roads to force traffic to slow down.

— Russian missile launcher seen on the edge of the northeastern city of Kharkiv, shelling heard in the distance.

— A bridge destroyed at Ivankiv, some 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Kyiv.

 

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War via TikTok: Russia's new tool for propaganda machine | AP News
[...]

In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts pushing disinformation about its takeover of Crimea. Eight years later, experts say Russia is mounting a far more sophisticated effort as it invades Ukraine.

Armies of trolls and bots stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiment. State-controlled media outlets look to divide Western audiences. Clever TikTok videos serve up Russian nationalism with a side of humor.

The effort amounts to an emerging part of Russia’s war arsenal with the shaping of opinion through orchestrated disinformation fighting alongside actual troops and weapons.

[...]

Across the internet, there’s been a rapid uptick in suspicious accounts spreading anti-Ukrainian content, according to a report from Cyabra, an Israeli tech company that works to detect disinformation.

Cyabra’s analysts tracked thousands of Facebook and Twitter accounts that had recently posted about Ukraine. Researchers saw a sudden and dramatic increase in anti-Ukrainian content in the days immediately before the invasion. On Valentine’s Day, for instance, the number of anti-Ukrainian posts created by the sample of Twitter accounts jumped by 11,000% when compared with just days earlier. Analysts believe a significant portion of the accounts are inauthentic and controlled by groups linked to the Russian government.

“When you see an 11,000% increase, you know something is going on,” said Cyabra CEO Dan Brahmy. “No one can know who is doing this behind the scenes. We can only guess.”

[...]

 

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Berlin: Big Protest Against Russia’s War in Ukraine to Take Place on Sunday

Ukraine's capital survives the night, fierce fight continues
In a video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street, Zelenskyy said he remained in the city and that the Ukrainian military would not be putting down arms.

“We aren’t going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country,” the Ukrainian president said. “Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it’s our land, our country, our children.”

 

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A Single Man In Ukraine Takes On A Russian Tank (rferl.org)
In an amateur video posted on social media, a man could be seen trying to climb onto a moving tank and then kneeling in front of it as local residents flocked around him, pleading with the driver to stop. The convoy of Russian tanks was passing through the town of Bakhmach in northern Ukraine on February 26, the third day of the Russian military invasion.

Lashing Out At West, Former Russian President Calls For ‘Nationalizing’ Foreign Assets, Ending Diplomacy (rferl.org)
In a long post on the Russian social-media site VK, Medvedev said “these incredible bans, of course, will not change anything” and claimed economic sanctions were imposed “out of political impotence.”

He called on Moscow to seize the assets of foreign individuals and companies in Russia and to consider “the nationalization of property belonging to entities registered in unfriendly jurisdictions,” including the United States and the European Union.

The United States and the European Union on February 24 announced the first wave of sanctions against Russia, including restrictions on exports to Russia and sanctions against several Russian banks and state companies. Further sanctions, including asset freezes targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and others in Russia’s ruling elite, are reportedly being finalized.

Medvedev said the sanctions could “become a good reason to finally reconsider all relations with the countries that impose them,” including discussion on “strategic stability.”

 

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Destroyed Russian Weapons, Smoldering Wreckage Litter Kyiv Streets (rferl.org)
Destroyed Russian military equipment and burnt-out vehicles were seen smoldering on the streets of Kyiv on February 26 as Russian forces continued their attack on the Ukrainian capital. Residents in a western district of the city said they heard huge explosions in the early hours of the morning that shattered windows of local shops and residential buildings.

Tsikhanouskaya Accuses Lukashenka Of 'Treason' Over Belarus's Role In Ukraine (rferl.org)
[...]

Although Lukashenka claims Belarusian troops have not joined in the conflict, Russia has used the territory of Belarus to launch deadly attacks on Ukraine this week, including the seizure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Russian troops, at least some of whom were already in Belarus for hastily called military exercises earlier this month, have been allowed transit through Belarus to neighboring Ukraine. Minsk has also made the country’s fueling stations, air defense and traffic control systems, available to Moscow.

Lukashenka also said on February 24 that Belarusian troops will join in the fighting “if it is necessary for Belarus and Russia.”

[...]

 

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Ukraine's president vows to stay and defend Kyiv as residents once again shelter underground | CBC News
Feb 26, 2022 Last Updated: 1 hour ago
"The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message, accusing Russia of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets. "We will win."

''Central Kyiv appeared quiet Saturday, and skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Britain's Defence Ministry said that the bulk of Russian forces were 30 kilometres from the middle of the city.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but civilians have been killed and injured during Europe's largest ground war since the Second World War.''

 

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Polish PM Chides Germany For Holding Back On Sanctions, 'Joke' Military Aid (rferl.org)
[...]

"There is no time today for the kind of unyielding egoism that we see in certain Western countries, including here in Germany unfortunately," Morawiecki told Polish reporters in Berlin ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on February 26.

"That is why I came here... to shake the conscience of Germany. So that they finally decide on sanctions that are actually crushing," he added, according to the Polish news agency PAP.

In particular, Morawiecki singled out Germany's failure to supply weapons to Ukraine, instead offering helmets.

"Five thousand helmets? That must be some kind of joke. There needs to be real help... weapons," he said.

[...]

 

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Photo gallery w/18 photos

As Russian Attacks On Ukraine Intensify, Thousands Flee And Thousands Fight Back (rferl.org)

Bodies of Russian servicemen, wearing Ukrainian uniforms, inside and beside a vehicle. They were shot during a skirmish in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on February 25.

A Ukrainian soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv on February 25.

Empty shelves in a Kyiv supermarket

A woman feeding a child as people fleeing Ukraine arrive in Slovakia on February 25.

An apartment building damaged by a missile strike in Kyiv on February 26.