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

The State Special Communication Service of Ukraine: The air-raid alert in Vinnytsia.

Russian Member of State Duma (the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) Mikhail Matveyev from the Communist Party, who had voted on 15 February in favour of the appeal to President Putin to recognise the independence of the terrorist organizations Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, critisized Russian invasion in Ukraine. He said that he voted not for Kyiv to be bombed

Battle of Kyiv. State Special Communication Service of Ukraine wars of continuing severe fights in Kyiv. "The Armed Forces are pushing the Russian saboteurs back. People, who in the shelter, are asked not leave it now. If you are at home - do not stay at the windows. Believing in our Armed Force"

State Special Communication Service of Ukraine: The air-raid alert in Kharkiv.

Battle for Kyiv. City officials are asking residents not go out to the streets.

Minister of Defence of Poland: Convoy with ammunition is already in Ukraine. We support Ukrainians, we are in solidarity.

Konwój z amunicją, którą przekazujemy Ukrainie dotarł już do naszych sąsiadów. Wspieramy Ukraińców, jesteśmy solidarni i stanowczo sprzeciwiamy się rosyjskiej agresji. pic.twitter.com/Wx5zoXBnBe

— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) February 25, 2022

Advisor to minister of internal affairs Anton Herashchenko: The third night after Russian invasion in Kyiv. Unknown musician plays the trumpet Anthem of Ukraine! Putin, you can't break us!

The Head of the Mykolayiv State Administration Vitaliy Kim on situation on 04.20 AM: Air defence system protected the city and repulsed attack of Russia. Russian assault forces did not land in town Ochakiv on the Black Sea. Attempts to land Russians in the region are not currently underway. "Everything will be Ukraine!" said Kim.

Ukrainian popular singer of the group "Boombox" Andriy Khlyvnyuk is standing with a weapon in his hands. Many singers and famous people are now defending Ukraine from Russian invasion:

Battle of Kyiv. Find more videos here.

Ukrainian Air Defense Command: Russian SU-25 and helicopter were shot down by the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. The Ukrainian Air Force (Su-27) shot down a Russian IL-76 in the airspace. Fighting continues in town Vasylkiv near Kyiv.

General Oleg Mikats, the Commander of the Operational Command "East", in conversation with a journalist Yuri Butusov estimated the loss of Russian manpower in more than 3,000 people so far.

Russian billionaires have already lost $126 billion due to Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to Forbes.

BATTLE OF KYIV. The attack of the Russians on Peremohy Avenue (near the Beresteiska metro station) on one of the military units has been repulsed, the press service of the Land Forces of Ukraine reports.

The Armed Forces and the Territorial Defense are defending Kyiv. The enemy struck at the military unit on the Beresteiska metro station, according to advisor to minister of internal affairs Anton Gerashchenko.

Kyiv: іn the district Troieschyna and town Vasylkiv, fighting continues with invading force:

Translation of the post: The enemy is trying to attack heat and power station №6 near Troieschyna. The Armed Forces give battle. Resistance continues in Vasylkiv, where enemy troops are trying to land.

The US Treasury has added to the list of sanctioned Russian officials a "military bloc" - Russian Defense Minister Shoigu and Russian Chief of Staff Gerasimov.

The Simpsons with us! 

#TheSimpsons #Simpsons #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/aWvgTUGJKP

— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) February 26, 2022

Ukraine's ambassador to Israel told CNN that President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked Israeli Prime Minister Bennett to mediate negotiations with Russia.

"The president believes that Israel is the only democracy that has excellent relations with both Russia and Ukraine and that can be used to facilitate these negotiations," said Ambassador Yevhen Korniychuk.

Hungary has offered Ukraine and Russia mediation in peace talks. According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siyarto, they could take place in Budapest.

Heavy fighting is currently going in the town of Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region, where the occupiers are trying to land an airborne force. Air Forces Command of Ukraine informed:

"At 1:30 AM, February 26, a Su-27 fighter of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully attacked the military transport aircraft IL-76MD of the Russian occupation forces and destroyed the enemy!!! Heavy fighting is currently underway in the town of Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region, where the occupiers are trying to land an airborne force! Glory to Ukrainian pilots!"

Air Forces Command of Ukraine: At around midnight, a Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system shot down a Russian helicopter and attack aircraft Su-25 in the area of the Joint Forces Operation.

"The Kremlin is losing the global media war over the invasion," wrote Russian political scientist Alexander Morozov, who lives in the Czech Republic. Hope that Russia will lose not only the media war. But we will know for sure soon. Our Air Defense Forces shot down an IL-76 with an enemy landing in the Vasilkyv area. This is revenge for Luhansk 2014.

Russia (as expected) has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution which condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained, while other permanent and temporary members of the Security Council voted in favor.

Ukrainian air defense shot down an IL-76 with an enemy landing force in the Vasilkyv area.

Already four European countries have closed their skies to Russian airlines: the Czech Republic has joined the United Kingdom, Poland and Bulgaria.

Report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 00:00. The Russians are on the offensive. The Ukrainians are holding them back. So far, the invaders have not achieved the previously set strategic goals. The enemy prematurely commits additional units and reserves to the battle because it does not have enough forces. The Russians are trying to cordon off Kyiv. The defenders of the city are firmly in position. The National Guard protects the Vyshhorod hydroelectric power station, airports, and other infrastructure. Checkpoints were set up on the roads in the city.

"The enemy is getting weaker every day and every battle! On the contrary, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are getting stronger every minute!"

Commander in chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces:

"The second day of Ukraine's heroic defense against the Russian invasion is over. I thank every soldier and everyone who defended the country! Our air defense forces are demonstrating true military prowess, destroying modern enemy planes and helicopters, shooting down cruise missiles in the sky. It is hundreds of saved lives! I am thankful to the Land Forces, Forces of Special Operations, Landing and Assault Troops, Air Force, Navy, State boarder Guard Service, National Guard, National Police, Security Service of Ukraine, intelligence service, Territory Defense Forces, SES for biting into our land and turning it into hell for the invader. The enemy did not achieve the previously set strategic goals. His strength is weakening. We are getting stronger every hour! The plan of actions is simple: if you see the enemy, and you can destroy - do it! If you can't - give us the location of the enemy! "

The Head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration Serhiy Borzov said: "Our pilots have just shot down a Russian Su-25 over Kalynivka".

Zelenskiy: This night will be harder than the day. A lot of cities are menaced, special attention is paid to Kyiv. We cannot lose the capital. Tonight Russians will throw all their forces and begin the assault. We have to hold out. Civilians - go to shelters when there is any danger. Defenders - burn the enemy vehicles by all means. The night will be difficult, but the morning will come.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy: "It was a hard, but courageous day!" Statement of the President of Ukraine summing up the second day of a full-scale war. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Twitter thanked citizens of Georgia who are protesting against the statement of the Georgian Prime-minister who is claiming that Georgia will not join sanctions against Russia. “Thank you everyone who is in Tbilisi and other cities showing their support to Ukraine and protesting against the war. Indeed, there are moments when the citizens – are not the government, but they do better than the government,” – he wrote.

Amazing Georgian nation which definitely knows that friends must be supported!

Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov addressed the CEO of Apple Inc. Tim Cook with an appeal to stop supplying Apple technologies and products to Russia. He also called on blocking AppStore for Russian citizens. "If you allow yourselves electing a murderer for a president, then you will have to enjoy Russia24 website", says the Minister.

Oleksiy Arestovych published an up-to-date map of hostilities throughout the territory of Ukraine, mainly with the zones controlled by the Russians. According to him, the current nature of the Russian invasion is aimed precisely at reaching a psychological effect: to oppress and suppress. Also, for this reason, the Russians launch active hostilities at night.

The Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration Serhiy Hamaliy: “Six explosions occured near the military airport of Starokostiantyniv city.”

One more prisoner of war. He was given a phone call to his mother in Russia. "Mom, I am imprisoned". "Something has to be done, Mom". "Everybody went, so I went, too". " I don't know where I am, I don't know this area". And other brilliant quotations.

The President's press-secretary Serhiy Nikiforov refuted claims that "Ukraine allegedly refused to negotiate."

"We agreed to the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation. Right now, the parties are agreeing on the place and time of the negotiations," he wrote on Facebook.

"Colleagues, I must refute the allegations that we have refused to negotiate. Ukraine has been and remains ready to speak on a ceasefire and peace. That is our constant position. We agreed to the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation. During these hours, the parties consult on the place and time of the negotiation process. The sooner negotiations begin, the better the chances of resuming normal life."

'Anonymous' hackers who declared a cyberwar against Russia yesterday, hacked the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation website. They opened the access to all the ministry staff members' private data, including names, telephone numbers, and e-mails. The database looks like this:

The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki: The United States is imposing sanctions on Vladimir Putin and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The European ‘Putin's friends’ are giving up one after another: the former French Prime Minister François Fillon announced that he is leaving the boards of directors of the Russian companies Sibur and Zarubezhneft, Le Figaro writes.

The Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai said: “Shchastia city was destroyed by 80% as a result of the shelling by the Russian invaders; the ‘new’ and ‘old’ bridges were blown up in Novoaidar".

Russian saboteurs organized a fake territorial defense subunit. They are unmasked. Be careful: enemy sabotage and intelligence groups are working throughout the city - National Guard of Ukraine.

Russians are surprised by the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and volunteers. Ukraine collects proofs of Russian war crimes to pass them to the international tribunals - Ukrainian ambassador in the U.S. Oksana Markarova.

David Lynch, director, creator of "Twin Peaks" and many classic movies, appealed to Putin from his YouTube-channel DAVID LYNCH THEATER. He said that everyone is responsible for their attitude towards their fellow men and that there is an inevitable law of nature: as you sow, so will you reap.

"Right now, mister Putin, you are sowing death and destruction. And it's all on you. The Ukrainians didn't attack your country: you went in there and attacked their country. And all this death and destruction is going to come back and get you", said Lynch.

"My advice to you is, ‘Save yourself.’ Save the Ukrainians, save this world. Start getting along with your neighbours. Start building friendships. We are a world family. There is no room for this kind of absurdity anymore. Get with it. Stop this attack."

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who usually supports the Kremlin’s course, has criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We consider it a serious mistake to violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said.

At the same time, Vučić said that Serbia would not impose sanctions against Russia (Der Spiegel).

Roman Tsymbaliuk calls a spade a spade, as he always does: tonight a lot of cities will become "Ukrainian Stalingrad" for Russians.

"Attention, Russian soldiers and officers! Each of you asks himself what is he doing in Ukraine! The correct answer will save your life. 

Tonight, a lot of cities will become Ukrainian Stalingrad. You will be destroyed.

The situation on sites:

Russians enter a lot of small towns but then combats begin and a Russian army's vehicle with a red cross sticks out like a sore thumb. This is the case in Nova Kakhovka. In Chernihiv oblast, Russian soldiers look dirty and hungry. They exchange diesel fuel for food.

Their morale is zero-level. The locals hate them, and they can already feel it. And each of them asks himself: what am I doing here?

Do not make a mistake when answering! Go back where you came from!"

One more Russian prisoner of war is repenting. This way we will have mass repentance soon. (Video: Security Service of Ukraine)

The Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov:

Dear Ukrainians! More than 40 hours of repulse to the Russian occupiers proved that we have the most powerful army in Europe and the fearless people. We already knew that. Now everyone saw it and began to realize it.

Every minute of our heroic struggle, our defenders are changing the attitude of people in the world to Ukraine. This increases support.

The Ukrainians are now fighting for the future they have long deserved, both for our own future and the future of the whole Europe.

We will definitely win! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Ukrainian Army!

Now I want to address the people of the Russian Federation. Especially to the wives, mothers, and girlfriends of the Russian soldiers and officers.

In a few days of the invasion of Ukraine, there will be killed as many Russian soldiers as they were killed in two Chechen wars. Thousands. Thousands. The ruler of Russia has become a murderer. The murderer of both Ukrainians and Russians.

We know that now very young boys are being urgently taken into the army all over Russia; that Russia is preparing to transfer its recruits without any combat skills; that contracted forces are not told where they are actually going and what awaits them.

Hide your loved ones if they are dear to you. Don't send them to certain death! They will be killed from every window in every Ukrainian city.

Take to the streets. Demand to stop the war. Demand to withdraw the Russian army from Ukraine. Do not be afraid! The truth is on your side. Now you can still change everything so as not to regret later.

When all the information about the Kremlin’s war crimes is revealed, your loved ones will be very grateful to you.

Air-raid alarm in Kyiv. It is recommended to descend to the shelters.