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

The Security Service of Ukraine informs that the legendary pilot nicknamed The Phantom of Kyiv has downed 10 Russian aircraft already. “Although people call him the Phantom of Kyiv, he keeps us safe like a real angel,” the Security Service of Ukraine noted.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine tells how Ukrainians can help rescuers The number of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine's units involved in emergency response has now increased. Therefore, the need for equipment, gear and technical support has increased. Details for charity assistance to territorial bodies of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine can be checked here.

Kyiv State City Administration warns of threat of missile attack on Kyiv

The Ministry of health of Ukraine has called on the World Health Organization to end its cooperation with Russia. This was stated by the head of the Health Ministry, Viktor Lyashko. "Russia has launched terrorist actions against civilians and medical workers on the territory of Ukraine. Russian occupants, in violation of international law, are shelling hospitals, emergency vehicles, orphanages and civilians!" - he said. Lyashko said that every day doctors under fire fight for the lives of their patients, including children, every day they mentally beg so that an enemy shell does not fly into the operating room. Every day medical workers die while carrying out their professional duties - saving people's lives. (Health Ministry of Ukraine Facebook page)

Shchastia and Stanytsia Luhanska are on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, warns Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration. "Settlements have been occupied and almost destroyed, the Russian occupiers have almost razed them to the ground," he wrote. Private houses, blocks of flats, and infrastructure facilities were massively damaged by the occupiers' shelling. People are constantly in the shelters. According to Haidai, the authorities cannot evacuate the people or, at least, bring them water and bread. There are no communications and no possibility to restore them. "I appeal to international humanitarian organizations for help. The Red Cross of Ukraine, Russian troops must stop shelling and enable the legitimate Ukrainian authorities to provide assistance to the population and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe!" - wrote the head of the Regional State Administration.

Appeal by Ukrainian rescuers to Belarusian rescuers: "Say your word against this war! (Video from State Emergency Service of Ukraine Facebook page)

Ukrainians led by the mayor of Dniprorudne, Zaporizhzhia Region, are stopping the invaders’ tanks. The mayor, Ievhen Matvieiev, is a member of the Opposition Platform—For Life party. Ukrainians shout: “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!”

The Security Service of Ukraine has published appeals of captive Russian occupiers to their parents to take them out of Ukraine. "Mother, take me away from here! We are killing civilians here!" - one of them said.

"Why this 'realisation' came only when the occupiers passed through almost half of Ukraine and ended up in the Mykolaiv region is an open question. But the fact remains that the enemy is surrendering en masse to the Ukrainian security forces. They are actively working with all the captives and documenting their testimony so that everyone involved will be punished," the Security Service of Ukraine reported.

Over the course of two days, Ukraine mobilized 100,000 people, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Half of these are the Territorial Defence Forces reservists.

The Iskander missile fired at Ukraine from the territory of Belarus, as previously reported, has hit Zhytomyr airport. This was reported by an adviser to Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko. "Russian-Belarusian fascists are hitting Zhytomyr airport. Do you know what this means? That the Rivne and Zhytomyr regions should get ready to grill not only Russian, but also Belarusian occupiers in the coming days!" - he wrote.

A video of a Georgian bulk carrier driver who met a Russian ship at sea appeared on Facebook. The Russian team turned to the Georgians for help due to lack of fuel. But they were denied. The Georgian team repeated the words of Ukrainian border guards from Zmiiny Island.

Pavel Durov had decided not to consider shutting down Telegram channels during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“Many users have approached us with a request not to turn off Telegram channels for the duration of the conflict, because these are the only sources of information for them. In connection with this, we decided to put measures of this kind off the table. But I insist that people need to fact-check all the information they see on these channels during this difficult period and never trust it blindly,” Durov wrote.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu has declared that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a war and his country will begin acting according to the Montreux Convention.

Zelenskyi also announced that Ukraine will pay its soldiers that took up arms UAH 100,000 monthly. “We do it not for them to thank us. We do it to let them know that their country is truly grateful to them. And we will continue until this war is over.” He also commented on the destruction of of the Mriya plane. “Sadly, we lost Mriya. But it was old Mriya. We will build a new one. Glory to Ukraine!” the President said.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has published a video message in which he reports about his conversation with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko today, his first in two years. "I explained to him in detail the impossibility of our collision. I don't want missiles, planes and helicopters to fly to Ukraine from Belarus. I don't want troops to go to Ukraine from Belarus. And he assured me that it will not happen,” the President said. Lukashenko, according to Zelenskyy, suggested that the Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet at the Pripyat River. Without any conditions, the president highlighted. "I'll say it directly, as always: I don't really believe in the result of these negotiations, but let them try. So that afterwards not a single citizen of Ukraine will have any doubt that I as president did not try to stop the war, when there was a chance, however small, but still," said Zelenskyy. 

Interior Minister's advisor Anton Herashchenko has published a video of the launch of the Iskander-M missile into the territory of Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. According to his information, the launch took place around 17:00 from the Mozyr district of the Homel Region. It was filmed in the Rivne Region.

Arestovich: Russian troops in the northwest of Kyiv have switched to a tactical retreat in order to get beyond the reach of Ukrainian artillery.

Pavel Durov: “We don’t want Telegram to be used as a tool to amplify conflicts and spread discord between nations. Should the situation escalate, we will have to consider a partial or full restriction of Telegram channels’ operation in the countries involved for the duration of the conflict.” Pavel Durov Telegram channels are increasingly often becoming a source of unverified information regarding the events in Ukraine. We physically cannot fact-check all the posts in channels. Therefore, I urge users from Russia and Ukraine to doubt any information distributed via Telegram now. We don’t want Telegram to be used as a tool to amplify conflicts and spread discord between nations. Should the situation escalate, we will have to consider a partial or full restriction of Telegram channels’ operation in the countries involved for the duration of the conflict.

The Ukrainian fencers at the World Cup in Egypt refused to take to the same track with the representatives of the aggressor country with the full support of the hall. 

The Appeal of Ukraine's Presidents Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko People of Ukraine:

"We appeal to all Ukrainians in the world. To those who fight with arms for each of our city, populated locality, for each street and for each house from the very beginning of the Russian aggression! To those who unite the whole world around our country by with the courage and love to Ukraine To those who support our Army. To those who stop Russian tanks with their bare hands and capture godless people. These days being full of herois and pain you have completely destroyed the myth of so called greatness of Russia. Together we will win! We will stand to the end! Russia will pay for its crimes! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!"

Kuleba: I thank the international community whose support we see now, and I urge people to keep pushing and demanding from their governments that Putin is stopped and Russian threat to peace eliminated. It is for this reason that we ask to assemble an international anti-war coalition. It is for this reason that pressure on the Kremlin needs to continue and increase. We insist that economic ties with Russia need to be not weakened but outright severed. We demand that Russia’s financial system is completely isolated from the global systems and an embargo is imposed on Russian gas and oil. We are not the only ones who need it. It needs to be done for the sake of peace in Europe.

Kuleba: I would like to address a number of European countries and politicians that declare support for sanctions against Russia, but are in fact trying to soften them to keep profiting off the trade with Russia. You are making money on the blood of Ukrainians and our children. And I do not mean it metaphorically. It is the reality of our lives now. Therefore, I call upon you to cease cheap politics and profiting off our deaths.

Kuleba: Putin's order to increase the readiness of strategic forces came shortly after the announcement of the negotiations. We regard this as a form of pressure on us. But this pressure will not work. We are not going to give up or bargain. And even if Putin decides to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, it will be a disaster for the whole world, but it still won't break us.

Kuleba: We will go to the negotiations to listen to what Russia wants to tell us. We want to hear what Russia wants to offer us and what steps it is ready to take. We will not surrender, we will not capitulate and we will not give up an inch of our territory. Bearing that in mind, why not negotiate.

Kuleba: Russia's invasion of Ukraine today is the result of years of Putin's policy of "appeasement" by the West. We welcome the fact that the situation has changed today. We regret that it came so late and led to such consequences. But the very change of approach, which we have been talking about for many years, we certainly support.

The global computer chip industry is beginning to phase out shipments to Russia due to US sanctions. 

In Koriukivka, Chernihiv Region, unarmed civilians took to the streets and stopped Russian tanks

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's briefing:

The IT-Army of Ukraine reports that it has "closed" the official websites of the National Bank and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, as well as other official webpages. Radio Svoboda reporters confirm that the webpages cannot be opened (Current Time).

The Armed Forces of Ukraine control Volnovakha, but the occupying army is still blockading the city.

The Ukrainian delegation will go to negotiations with the Russian delegation on the border with Belarus. This was reported by the press service of the President's Office.

Foreign Ministry spokesman:

[Ukraine open to talks on ending Russian armed aggression. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry does not confirm that the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations will be led by Deputy Minister Mykola Tochitskyy, nor does he confirms that they will be held in Homel].

The General Staff regarding the situation on the front line as of 13:00. Russian invaders have been attacking civil and military infrastructure from the air. There were 5 air and 16 missile strikes from the beginning of the day. The Russian occupants accumulate their forces at the territory of Belarus (ten helicopters, two An-24s, and four Su-34s). The enemy has started the attack in the Kyiv direction. The city successfully resists. The invaders have been striking peaceful Kharkiv and Bakaleia. Kherson desperately defends itself. The Russian fleet has left the Black Sea bases to attack the Ukrainian Navy Forces. There was an attempt to land the Russian troops in Chernomorsk, but they were destroyed.

Kyiv Regional State Administration in a comment to LIGA.net Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing to engage the enemy in the Brovary District. An enemy column is expected from the direction of Basan and Bykiv. The bridge in this area has been blown up, and the invaders changed their route. The search for sabotage and reconnaissance groups is underway.

A Russian secret subversive group tried to organize a terrorist attack at River Stone apartment complex in Kyiv. The threat has been averted.

How to distinguish the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Russian aggressors

Klitschko said about the situation in the capital, "Kyiv is defending itself, there are no Russian troops in the city, our army continues to destroy saboteurs. Clashes and shootings took place at night, and several large sabotage groups were destroyed. Residential neighborhoods are under Russian fire. The situation in the city is under control. During the war have died 9 civilians, 4 unknown individuals, and 18 defenders. 106 people were injured, 46 of them civilians. Kyiv is setting up a humanitarian headquarters to help the citizens of Kyiv. More details will be accessible later".

Current Time special about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ievhen Moysiuk addresses Russian soldiers: “Consider why you are here and what you are fighting for. Hopefully, you have realized by now that nobody wants you here. We give you a chance to go back to your families with your lives and dignity. Put down your weapons and raise your hands. This is your ticket home. Go defend your country instead of destroying ours!”

Danylivka suburb in Kharkiv after the night shelling by the Russians.

Scholz: Despite sanctions, Putin will not change his course overnight. However, the Russian higher-ups will soon feel what a high price they will pay.

Zaluzhny: Ukrainian “Bayraktar” destroyed the Russian military machinery in the village of Chornobayivka in Kherson region.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the scale of sanctions imposed on Russia is “unprecedented,” but there are “no taboos” to extend them even further. At the same time, he thinks that “Putin won’t change his course in one day.” (Sky News).

The mayor of Dnipro, Boris Filatov, said that the regional Defence Council, chaired by Valentin Reznichenko, had decided to open gun shops so that all who wished could buy weapons and ammunition.

At the same time, security guards at such shops are being strengthened.

Arestovych on the frontline situation:

Only two military advances were attempted in the morning. 8-12 enemy combat vehicles tried to get into Kharkiv proper.

The group has partially been destroyed, Kharkiv holds. Another attack happened in the outskirts of Kyiv as the enemy tried to advance in the direction of Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin. Here, they were hit by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and locals burned some of the enemy’s armored assault vehicles with Molotov cocktails.

No advance to Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia, and Mariupol was seen. Russians are demoralized and take no offensive action. Their proposal to negotiate reflects their loss of initiative and inability to continue military operations. With the heavy losses they suffered and the resistance they are facing, one or two attempts to advance are all that is left for them.

The International Judo Federation terminated Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the federation “in light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine.”