Russian invasion of Ukraine: tanks and rocket attacks on the cities. Breaking news

An air alert has been declared in Cherkasy, Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi regions.

ATTENTION! An air raid siren has been activated in Kyiv!
We ask everyone to go to the shelter of civil protection urgently!
Hitting the city centre. Already four explosions.

A powerful explosion thundered in Kyiv.

The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded to:

Senior Lieutenant Bilokon Maksym. Posthumously. Participated in repelling an enemy attack during the defence of Chernihiv, destroyed the enemy's DRG and two enemy tanks.

Lieutenant Colonel Kapichun Olexander. Posthumously. Thankfully for his heroic actions, the enemy column was stopped, their equipment and enemy soldiers were destroyed.

Soldier Lukyanovych Olexander. Posthumously. During the battle, he neutralized up to three dozen pieces of enemy equipment. As a result of an airstrike, he was mortally wounded.

Junior Sergeant Nesolonyi Mykhailo. Posthumously. He died in close combat with enemy forces while evacuating people.

Soldier Nikonchuk Andrii. Posthumously. Defended the Kyiv hydroelectric power station from Russian air raids and missile attacks.

Lieutenant Sapyl Vitalii. Posthumously. Tank platoon leader. Neutralized three dozen pieces of enemy equipment. Killed during an airstrike.

Chief Sergeant Seniuk Oleksii. Posthumously. Defended Chernihiv, destroyed two enemy infantry fighting vehicles and captured the T-72 tank. Killed by an airstrike.

Lieutenant Ukrainets Vladyslav. Posthumously. He covered the departure of comrades-in-arms when the enemy attacked.

Major Choban Stepan. Posthumously. The Su-27 pilot, diverted enemy aircraft over Kropyvnytskyi.

Major Mikhalchuk Ihor. Head of a tank battalion. Destroyed numerous armored vehicles of the enemy.

Colonel Musiienko Serhii. Head of the Missile Forces and Artillery Unit. Inflicted crushing blows on the enemy in the Kharkiv direction.

Lieutenant Palchenko Ievhen. Tank platoon leader. Covered the exit of the brigade from the cordon.

Major Prokopenko Vladyslav. Head of a tank battalion. Brought the personnel and equipment out of the cordon without loss.

Lieutenant Colonel Fedosenko Pavlo. Head of the unit of the 92nd brigade. For the effective defence of Kharkiv.

Senior Lieutenant Chavalakh Dmytro. Heroic participation in defence of the Kherson region.

 Zelenskyi: Another 15 Ukrainian soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on the Rada TV channel that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia intends to declare martial law on March 4.

Zelenskyi: But Ukrainians beat the enemy even without weapons. I sincerely admire the heroic civilians of Konotop, Bashtanka, Enerhodar, Melitopol and other cities and villages of Ukraine, who do not let the occupiers in, blocking everything for them. Blocking the roads, people go out in front of enemy equipment. It is extremely dangerous, but how courageous!

Zelenskyi: Our military, our border guards, our territorial defence, even ordinary farmers take Russian soldiers prisoner every day. And they all say only one thing - they don't know what they're here for.

Even though there are dozens of times more of them than us, the enemy's morale is constantly deteriorating. More and more invaders are fleeing back to Russia. From us, from you, from everyone who extorts the enemy - with javelins, stugnas, cannons, tanks, planes, helicopters - everything that shoots.

Zelensky: We are the nation that has disrupted enemy plans in just a week. These plans have been developed for years. They are vile and mean, and they demonstrate a true hatred towards our state, our people, or any people that have a sense of freedom and a heart. But we've stopped it, and now we are winning.

New video from Volodymyr Zelensky:
"All the invaders should know that the Ukrainians will fight fiercely. They will remember it forever. They will know that we won't let them have what's ours."

The godmother of punk rock, legendary Patti Smith, performed the national anthem of Ukraine in English.

The Headquarters of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs:

On March 2nd, combat jets Su-24M and Su-25 have been supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and destroying enemy convoys in Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions. During the last day, Ukraine's anti-aircraft units have destroyed three enemy aircraft and two helicopters.

Maryna Fenina, a national member of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), died in shelling in Kharkiv on 1 March.

“Maryna was killed while getting supplies for her family in a city that has become a war zone. In Kharkiv and other cities and towns in Ukraine, missiles, shells and rockets are hitting residential buildings and town centers, killing and injuring innocent civilians – women, men and children alike,” the OSCE reported.

Vadim Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, addressed the citizens:

"Dear citizens of Mariupol! It was the most difficult and severe day since the beginning of this war. Today they intended to obliterate all of us. But our outstanding Armed Forces, National Guard of Ukraine, and Azov Battalion fought those who have been shooting our houses", he said.

Boychenko said that in Mariupol, critical infrastructure is damaged again: there is no electricity, water, or heat. The repair works will begin next morning.

The mayor thanked doctors, utility service workers, and the Ukrainian army.

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s 512-foot yacht has been seized by German authorities in the northern city of Hamburg.

UPDATE on explosion in Kyiv near railway station
According to Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Head of the Ministry of Interior, adviser to the Head of the Ministry of Interior, Ukraine's air defence forces shot down a Russian cruise missile meant for one of the control centres.
The wreckage of the downed missile fell nearby the railway station, damaging a heating main. However, the damage will be repaired by morning.
"If this missile had hit its target somewhere in the centre of Kyiv, the casualties and destruction would have been horrific," Gerashchenko mentioned.

The National Police reported that according to preliminary information, the explosion damaged the heating mains, the police department buildings, and the nearby commercial establishments.
One person was injured when a piece of wreckage hit him in a leg.
Utilities workers are repairing the heating main.

Captured Russian invaders gave a press conference and explained how they ended up in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak, the advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, supposes that Russian State Duma and the Federation Council may introduce martial law as soon as March 4th. "This will enable the state to ban any demonstrations, block the internet connection or impose financial and supply restrictions."

Two aircraft crashes happened in Romania tonight: first, a MIG 21 Lancer fighter went off the radar, and then an IAR-330 Puma helicopter that had been sent to find it. The crash site was soon identified. All the five helicopter crew members died. The search for the MIG fighter and its pilot continues.

38 countries referred information about the crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, British Foreign Minister Liz Truss reports.

Head of the Servant of the People parliamentary group David Arakhamiia, who participates in the talks with Russia, denies that they will take place in Białowieża Forest: ‘The talks are still in force, but the place is different. I will provide all the details later.’

Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the Coordinating Office for the Humanitarian and Social Affairs, which should help citizens affected by the war.

"Due to Russia's military invasion in some Ukrainian cities and villages, there is an extremely difficult humanitarian situation. Many people have lost their homes or been left without access to water, food, medicine and basic necessities,” the President's Office pointed out.

The Office will work in three directions:

· humanitarian aid from foreign governments and international organizations;

· assistance from large scale business to military administrations and communities;

· assistance from the authorities to military administrations and communities.

The Coordination Staff will be headed by Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. It also included the Deputy Chief of the Presidential Office for Social Policy and Healthcare, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, and one representative each from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Healthcare and the Ministry of Social Policy. 

A powerful blast was heard near Shevchenko Instrument-Making Plant in Kharkiv, Anton Herashchenko reports.

Territorial Defence Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
On March 1, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Territorial Defence Forces detachments engaged the Russian army near Kruty, Sumy Region. According to the locals, bodies of Russian soldiers and officers killed in action were collected across the environs and taken by two KAMAZ lorries in the direction of Sumy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyi held a conference call with city mayors, heads of regional state administrations, and heads of military administrations, Office of the President of Ukraine reports.
The current situation in the country was discussed, as well as defence preparations, construction of fortifications and checkpoints, availability of vehicles and weaponry, and more.

The Assumption Cathedral in Kharkiv was damaged by the shelling of the Russian invaders.  People were hiding there at the time, but fortunately no one was injured.

Special operations forces promise not to take Russian artillerymen as they shell peaceful Ukrainian towns: "You worms have become our number one target. 

Four Russian fighter jets violated Swedish airspace, the Swedish Armed Forces reported. The country's air force initiated the interception and documented the incident by conducting photos.

Two Su-27 Flankers and two Su-24 Fencers took part in the border violation. The incident was brief and occurred eastwards from the island of Gotland.

According to Ukrzaliznytsya, Russian launched a rocket attack on the Yuzhny (South) railway station. The shell struck near the Ibis hotel; the station building sustained no significant damage. Information for the victims is being updated. According to Anton Herashchenko, the heating main was damaged.

Full post by Anton Herashchenko:

The bastards want to freeze Kyiv! A rocket hit near the railway station and ruptured a major heating main. Part of Kyiv may be left without heating.

Russia has brought cluster munitions and vacuum bombs banned by the Geneva Convention into Ukraine, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has said.

"We have seen videos of Russian troops tipping extremely lethal weapons into Ukraine that have no place on the battlefield". 

Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov:

Dear Ukrainians!

160 hours of defence. Russia did not hold out and recognised the losses. This happened thanks to the heroism of our defenders. And also thanks to the fighters of the information front who broke the information blockade. It is time to step up the pressure on the enemy who has lost the initiative. It is time to move on to total resistance! Our army is successfully countering the frontal attacks of the Russian Godless people. Our special units - Joint Forces Operation), SSU special forces and the Main Directorate of Intelligence - are effectively wiping out the Russian troops on the march.

I appeal to the citizens who are in the territories temporarily occupied by the enemy. With your help our army will overcome and expel the kafirs more quickly. It is necessary to deprive the Russian troops of rear support.

Do not touch the tanks. Only if you really want to. Destroy the rear columns. They follow convoys of armoured vehicles. If the enemy is left without fuel, ammunition, food, engineering and repair support, they will become helpless. Hunters. Rangers. Foresters. You know every trail and every ravine at your edge. This is your hour. The enemy must feel that every step, uninvited across Ukrainian soil, could be his last.

The invader must have only one motivation - to flee our country as soon as possible.

Glory to Ukraine!".

Huge explosion in Kyiv!

Russians hit a civilian ship in the Olvia port, Mykolaiv. Banglar Samriddhi, a vessel under Bangladeshi flag, was damaged. Two towboats were sent to save the crew, Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said.

Full post by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine:
‼️ Civilian buildings are not the only target for the aggressor country in Ukraine.
Today, in the port of Olvia (Mykolaiv), a Russian missile hit a foreign vessel. The Ukrainian Sea Port Authority reported that damage was done to the Banglar Samriddhi diesel vessel (Bangladesh flag) that was laid off in the port of Olvia. The missile damaged its topside, and the ship caught fire.
Two towboats were sent to save the crew. The vessel entered the port on 23.02.2022 and awaited loading, unable to leave because of restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation’s Navy.

Captive Russian reconnaissance operatives ask to be taken home.

"A GRU operative captured in Mykolaiv Region: ‘I’d like to ask my mother to get me out of here.’

ALL CAPTIVES NEED TO BE ABLE TO CALL HOME WITHOUT LIMITATIONS!

TOP UP OUR HEROIC WARRIORS’ ACCOUNTS SO THAT CAPTIVE INVADERS COULD CALL THEIR FAMILIES IN RUSSIA!

IT IS IMPORTANT!"

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: captive Russian soldiers will be returned to their mothers if their mothers are willing to come to Kyiv to get them.

What do you need to do to get your captive son?

1. To clarify if your son was captured or killed in action, go to Telegram channel Gruz 200: https://t.me/gruz_200_rus or call Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Return from Ukraine Alive hotline on

+38 (089) 420 1860

+38 (089) 420 1861

+38 (089) 420 1862

Or write an email to [email protected]

2. Having got the confirmation that their son was captured, Russian soldiers’ mothers will need to get to Kyiv. After the invasion of Putin’s fascist army and the shutdown of airspace, it can be done as follows:

- Travel to Kaliningrad or Minsk.

- From there, get to the Polish border by bus or taxi.

- Then traverse the Polish territory to get to a border crossing to Ukraine.

- There, you will be met and accompanied to Kyiv, where we will give you your son back.

Unlike Putinist fascists, Ukrainians are not fighting mothers and their captive children. See you in Kyiv!

Ukrainians are warned that the enemy is preparing a so-called deepfake with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in which he allegedly talks about Ukraine's surrender. In reality, it is expected to be a fake video created through machine learning algorithms. Its purpose is to disorient, sow panic, despair, and induce our troops to surrender.

"Imagine seeing Volodymyr Zelenskyy on TV making a statement about surrender. You see him, you hear him - therefore it is true. But it is not! This is a deepfake technology. It won't be a real video, but one created through machine learning algorithms. Videos made with the help of such technology are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Know that it is a fake! Its purpose is to disorient, to sow panic, to dissuade citizens, and to induce our troops to surrender. Be assured - Ukraine will not capitulate! What Russia is able to do is to come up with a fake victory, shut down the internet and all contact with the rest of the world".

Rescuers of Buchany district together with volunteers evacuated over two hundred residents from Borodyanka today. People were trapped under the rubble for more than two days and were in basements and cellars, the State Emergency Service has reported.

Although the enemy does not stop shelling Volnovakha, about 200 civilians have been evacuated from there, the Donetsk city state administration has reported.

"#stoprussia

About two hundred people were evacuated from Volnovakha. The Russians do not stop shelling Volnovakha, but we, together with the police, still get people out of there. This time, we managed to get about 200 people out of the Russian hell, among them women, children, and the elderly. All of them are already safe.

Volnovakha and the surrounding area has been exterminated by Russian troops for the fifth day now. Not only do the occupiers ignore a humanitarian "green corridor" demand for the evacuation, but they also shoot those who try to leave on their own!

Today we picked up Volnovakha residents from the town and neighbouring villages where they had found temporary shelter. Seventeen Volnovakha children have been evacuated from two villages alone. Some do not speak from the shock they have gone through.

Among those rescued there are many wounded.

Thank you to everyone who is trying their best to save the people of Volnovakha.

They are the local police, emergency workers, Armed Forces of Ukraine, soldiers, medical personnel and the leadership of the local military administration.

We are fighting back the enemy not only in a military sphere but also in a humanitarian one! We will stand up to it!"

Bulgaria has ordered two Russian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia said today. The Russians are accused of spying, writes The Sofia Globe.

Ukrainian fighters have captured 22 Russian tank crew members.

"Twenty-two tank crew members are taken in captivity.

Mothers are asked to prevent their children being involved into the war.

ALL THE CAPTIVES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CALL HOME UNRESTRICTEDLY!

THEY SHOULD TELL THEIR RELATIVES IN RUSSIA WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE!

WE NEED TO TOP UP THE ACCOUNTS OF OUR HEROIC WARRIORS, SO THAT THEY COULD CALL THEIR FAMILIES IN RUSSIA!

THIS IS IMPORTANT!"

Case in point: the outcome of the UN General Assembly vote for a resolution condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation will participate in the second round of talks with the Russian Federation in Białowieża Forest, the Office of the President of Ukraine told LIGA.net.

Boris Lvin, the Russian World Bank advisor, has become the first Russian official to resign in protest of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Lvin has worked at the World Bank for over 24 years. ‘Given the present events, I cannot associate myself with my government and therefore have to resign from my position’, he said.

The equipment of "one of the world's strongest armies". Security Service reveals what the Russians came to take over Ukraine with.

"Look at how the fighters of the Russian Federation who call themselves "one of the strongest armies in the world" are equipped... And have you seen Russia's most up-to-date military literature?

In the war against Ukraine they let them go at once with textbooks, so as not to forget anything.

Here are the military supplies of the Russian invaders, who were on their way to capture Kyiv. Sound on!

Glory to the Ukrainian heroes who defeated the column of enemy equipment of the Russian Armed Forces.

We will win!

Glory to Ukraine!

#Putin for the Hague

#Stop the Invaders

#stoprussia"

A captive Russian from Buryatia says that their leadership has no plan, and their supply logistics are poor. Also, he was given a chance to talk to his family.

"A captive Buryat “liberator” from the Russian army advises his battle brothers to resign from the army. According to him, the Russian army’s command has no plan whatsoever, and soldiers are sent to die as cannon fodder against the superior Ukrainian army. He is totally right about that. Russians are better off resigning from the army, unless they want to be fried by Ukrainian artillery and aircraft".

THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST PUTIN. 141 countries are demanding that Russia end its invasion of Ukraine. The UN General Assembly today adopted the decision by an absolute majority. 141 countries voted for the resolution, five countries voted against it and 35 countries abstained. Only Lukashenko, Kim and Assad stood by Russia. The resolution demands that Russia "immediately, fully and unconditionally remove all of its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally acknowledged borders". That is, to return Crimea and Donbas to Ukraine.

"Operational information on 18.00, 02.03.2022 regarding the #russian_invasion.

The seventh day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian invasion continues.

In Volyn, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have created a reliable defense system. The nature of the enemy's actions, which is demonstrating along the Ukrainian border, is constantly being monitored.

In the coastal direction, Ukrainian defenders continue to conduct a defensive operation, successfully deterring the overwhelming forces of the enemy. Our divisions neutralized the landing party which tried to land near the city of Mykolayiv.

Cases of surrender of groups of russian soldiers and officers, as well as refusals to continue the offensive, continue.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repels attacks from the air. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the enemy has fired more than 180 missiles. In addition to military facilities, civilian infrastructure and residential areas were severely damaged.

Russian occupying forces violate the norms of international humanitarian law by looting and killing local people, including children. The morale of the occupying army is extremely low.

During the current day, up to thirty fighter jets violated the airspace of Ukraine, mostly from the Republic of Belarus, and bombed the civilian population.

Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated Makariv, Kyiv oblast, and positioned themselves in the city.

Certain forces and means are defending the city of Kyiv, continue to conduct systematic hostilities and hold certain areas.

The enemy is demoralized and continues to suffer losses in personnel and military equipment!

Glory to Ukraine!!!"

A morning rocket attack in central Kharkiv killed four people. The number of injured is 15. The rescue operation is underway. A tank school, an Air Force university, and a police administration building were hit by a rocket. Investigators opened a case under paragraph 2 of Article 438 (violation of laws and customs of war) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.

The Defence Ministry showed broken enemy equipment, location of which was provided by ordinary Ukrainians on a special chat-bot: t.me/stop_russian_war_bot

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published captured documentation of Russian invaders, revealing that the plan for a full-on invasion was approved back on 18 January, and the operation to capture Ukraine was to take 15 days from 20 February to 6 March.