Russia's attack on Ukraine, day five. Timeline of events, February, 28

A large-scale rally was held in Tbilisi in support of Ukraine and against Russian aggression.

 

After a relatively calm day in Kyiv, a missile attack has been carried out in the suburbs of the capital, Brovary (7 km from the capital), presumably at a military radar communications center.

Address of the Mayor of Kyiv Klitschko to the citizens:

1. The situation in the capital is still difficult. Curfew will now last from 20:00 to 07:00.
2. Transport will not work from 19:00 to 08:00, shops, pharmacies will work from 08:00 to 19:00.
3. Since Tuesday, a ban on the sale of alcohol has been introduced.
4. Rising prices for food, medicine and essential goods will be regarded as looting.

Shelling continues in Kharkiv for the third day in a row . Three powerful explosions have gone off in the evening.

Military assistance to Ukraine

Ukraine turned to the EU with a request to provide military equipment, including air defense and missile defense systems, as well as guns, mortars and machine guns.

Finland has already announced that it will provide Ukraine with 2,500 machine guns, 150,000 assault rifle cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank rifles and 70,000 rations.

Croatia will also send €16.5 million worth of weapons, rifles and machine guns, as well as body armor, helmets and first aid equipment to Ukraine.

The NATO Military Committee has announced partial deployment of the rapid response force.

Energy sanctions against Russia

Shell will stop cooperation with Gazprom and will opt out of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Shell owns a 27.5% stake in the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas plant, 50% stake in Salym Petroleum Development and the Gydan Energy Enterprise. At the end of 2021, Shell’s non-current assets in these enterprises in Russia amounted to $3 billion, according to the company. “We expect that this decision will lead to their impairment of Shell’s assets in Russia. We are shocked at the loss of life in Ukraine as a result of a senseless act of military aggression that threatens European security”, said Shell CEO Ben van Beurden.l

EU countries have approved the speedy synchronization of the Ukrainian and European energy systems – the head of European diplomacy, said Josep Borrell.

Sports sanctions against Russia

FIFA and UEFA suspended the Russian national football teams and professional clubs from the competition.

The World Curling Federation has decided to remove Russian athletes from the world championships

The European Handball Federation suspended Russian and Belarusian clubs from participating in European tournaments.

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have ended. No concrete results have been achieved, however, an adviser to the head of Zelensky’s office said that “the parties identified a number of priority topics on which they outlined some decisions”б and confirmed that the main goal of the negotiations was to discuss a ceasefire on the territory of Ukraine. The Ukrainian side stated that the delegations would leave for their capitals for consultations before a new round.

The head of the Russian delegation, Medinsky, said that the next meeting of the delegations would take place at the Belarusian-Polish border in the coming days.

Russia’s position can be judged by the results of today’s telephone conversation between Putin and French President Macron.

The Elysee Palace reported that Macron called for the protection of the civilian population of Ukraine, as well as an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Putin stated the following:

1. A settlement with Ukraine is possible only if Russia’s legitimate security interests are taken into account unconditionally.
2. Ukraine must recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
3. The demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state must take place.
4. Ukraine must guarantee a neutral status.
5. Russian military does not threaten civilians or strike civilian targets in Ukraine.
6. The threat comes from Ukrainian nationalists who are using civilians as human shields and are shelling the cities of Donbass.

Kharkiv remains the hottest point, the bombing continues all day long, heavy battles are ongoing. To date, 7 people her been reported killed, 44 have been injured.

Zelensky has signed an application to join the European Union, the Verkhovna Rada reports.

Ukraine has officially confirmed that the servicemen from Zmeiny Island are alive and in captivity. No one was able to contact them, so they were considered dead. Earlier, Zelensky presented them to the awards of the Heroes of Ukraine posthumously.

NEW SANCTIONS

Ukraine demanded to exclude Russia from Interpol, Britain supports this, said the head of the British Ministry of Internal Affairs

Canada has banned its banks from any transactions with the Bank of Russia, blocks the assets of the NWF and transactions with them.

White House:

1. US sanctions against the Bank of Russia and the NWF deprive them of access to US or dollar-denominated assets.
2. The United States will develop a special license that will remove certain transactions related to the supply of energy carriers from anti-Russian sanctions.
3. The list of Russian banks to disconnect from SWIFT is still being worked out.
4. The United States has additional sanctions against Russia in reserve, ready to apply them in case of escalation
5. French President Macron demanded a complete inventory of the villas, yachts and luxury cars of Russians who fell under Russian sanctions.
6. This property is planned to be seized. “We will also identify Russians who have assets in France but are close to the Russian authorities. They will be added to the European sanctions list,” said French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

British Foreign Office statements:

1. London calls on Moscow to provide humanitarian access in Ukraine and corridors for refugees;
2. The first steps have been taken towards the complete disconnection of the Russian Federation from SWIFT;
3. The assets of VTB, Sovcombank, Vnesheconombank are frozen. Sanctions are being prepared against Sberbank;
4. Real estate and yachts of Russian oligarchs may soon be arrested;
5. The head of the Ministry of Transport asked the ports not to grant access to any ships flying the Russian flag;
6. UK citizens are advised not to travel to Russia.
7. The President of Switzerland said that the country will apply against Russia all the sanctions imposed by the European Union. Switzerland has also closed its airspace to all Russian aircraft. Exceptions will be made only for flights with humanitarian, medical and diplomatic purposes.
8. The IOC recommended that international sports federations and competition organizers not allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

PUTIN’S MIRROR SANCTIONS AGAINST THE WEST

Putin held a meeting on the economy, at which. He called the West an “empire of lies” for imposing sanctions against Russia and signed a decree on special economic measures in connection with the “unfriendly actions of the West.”

Russia closed its skies to 36 countries in response to Western sanctions. This is the entire European Union, as well as Albania, Anguilla, Britain, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Jersey, Canada, Norway.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that “Russia did not start hostilities. Russia is trying to end them. The hostilities came from the Kiyv regime, which systematically destroyed the inhabitants of Donbass for 8 years. During this war, more than 14,000 people and hundreds of children, were killed. This needed to end, as did the Kiev regime’s endless threats against Russia. And Russia will do it”.

VIDEO. This is how furious Ukrainians meet Russian military in captured Berdyansk:

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have begun on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. There will be no live broadcast of negotiations, but there’s a video of the beginning of the meeting:

“City of Kharkiv ( and its two residential areas) has just been massively shelled with Grad rocket launchers, dozens have been killed and hundreds were wounded”, said Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

There is a big fire in Chernihiv. As a result of the missile strike, the Epicenter hypermarket have been  burned down, and nearby houses have been damaged.

Russian oligarch Abramovich is ready to help as a mediator in a peaceful settlement of the “conflict” in Ukraine, writes The Guardian. It is reported that the Ukrainian side contacted Abramovich through producer Alexander Rodnyansky, a good friend of Zelensky. He confirmed this, the newspaper writes.

Boeing has closed the access of Russian air carriers to its technical support website, writes the specialized publication AEX. Earlier, the manufacturer of CFM engines, with which the most common Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft are equipped, also stopped the supply of spare parts. Now Russian airlines will have to figure to  out how to repair engines and replace parts in the event of a breakdown.

The international Anonymous group of hackers  hacked the websites of popular Russian publications Kommersant, Fontanka, Izvestia, RBC, Forbes and others. On the main page of the outlets, a red frame with the inscription: “5,300 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine in the last 4 days. This is more than in the first Chechen war” has appeared.

Western countries threaten Russia with exclusion from SWIFT – the international system of transferring banking information and making payments. JAMnews tried to find out how this will affect the economy and people of Azerbaijan.

In negotiations with Russia, Ukraine proceeds from the demand for an “immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops”, President Zelensky said. Neither he nor Putin is taking part in the negotiations that are now ongoing at  the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The Belta agency turned on the live broadcast.

UK MoD: Most Russian forces are still more than 30km north of Kyiv. Heavy fighting continues around Chernihiv and Kharkov, but both cities remain under Ukrainian control. Logistical setbacks and stubborn Ukrainian resistance continue to hold back Russia’s advance.

 

“We appeal to the European Union with a request to urgently admit Ukraine as its member under the new procedure”, President Zelensky said. “We are grateful to our partners for being with us. But our goal is to be with all Europeans and be on a par with them. I’m sure we deserve it. I’m sure it’s possible”.

Russia’s currency fell to a record low against the dollar today. The rouble lost more than 30% of its value and reached 109 per dollar. Prior to that, the ruble fell by 40% in a short period of time. As a result, the beginning of trading on the Russian stock market has been postponed. The reason for the fall is the crushing sanctions imposed by Western countries in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The US, the European Union, the UK and Canada have said they will exclude some Russian banks from SWIFT, the global financial messaging service, and “paralyze” the assets of the Russian Central Bank “so that it doesn’t fund Putin’s war”, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

VIDEO: Trumpeter sings national anthem during Kyiv bombing

Helicopters carrying members of the Ukrainian delegation have arrived at the place of negotiations with Russia.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry published a photo of the “platform for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine”.

In Kyiv the situation is calm, grocery stores and transport have started working. At night there were only a few local clashes and battles with sabotage and reconnaissance groups. But during this night the city was more prepared for defense, the mayor’s office of the capital has stated. Czech hedgehogs and other fortifications are installed on the streets. The subway does not work, it operates as a bomb shelter. The curfew is still in effect. In the center of the city there are posters with the inscriptions “Russian soldier, go to hell …”:

The issue of the possible admission of Ukraine to the European Union will be the subject of discussion, the head of the European Council reports.

Russian Ministry of Defense: since the beginning of the operation, the armed forces of the Russian Federation have destroyed 1,114 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine; Russian aviation has gained air supremacy over the entire territory of Ukraine; the cities of Berdyansk and Energodar were taken under control, the territory around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is fully controlled. The message about the nuclear power plant was denied by the Ukrainian authorities.

🔘 “The Kremlin pulled over 400 Russian mercenaries from the Wagner PMC group to Kyiv. Their main task is to kill President Zelensky”, The Times writes .

Australian financial sanctions and a travel ban on Putin and other Russian officials have come into effect.

This was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He also listed the politicians Putin has become one of:

“It is extremely rare that a head of state is appointed, and this reflects the depth of our concern. President Putin joins a very small group that includes Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Bashar al-Assad of Syria”.

Australia has imposed sanctions on more than 350 Russian and 13 Belarusian individuals and legal entities.

Here is what the situation at Russian airports is like  after Europe closed its skies for Russian aircraft.

The meeting of the delegations of Russia and Ukraine on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, not far from the Pripyat River, should begin at any moment. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said yesterday that he did not have high expectations for this meeting. There has been speculation in the international expert community that the meeting could give Putin some potential space to end the war, as his army failed to pull off the planned blitzkrieg and continues to face setbacks on the battlefield against Ukrainian forces.

It’s already the third day of fighting in Kharkiv. There are shelling of the airport and residential areas, Ukrainian air defense is constantly working:

A rocket hit a residential building in the center of Chernihiv, the lower floors caught fire twice, the number of victims is unknown.

The day before, Aleksey Arestovich, adviser to the President of Ukraine, said that an attack on Nikolaev and Odessa was being prepared: “11 transport ships of the Russian Federation, each with a capacity of one battalion, are heading to Odessa, there will be an attempt to land troops”.

Ukrainian President Zelensky, in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Johnson, said the next 24 hours would be critical for Ukraine, Reuters reported. Johnson said the UK and its allies would do everything possible to ensure that defensive aid reaches Ukraine.

The General Staff of Ukraine: in four days, the Russian army lost 4,500 people, 27 units of destroyed and damaged aircraft, helicopters – 26 units, tanks – about 150, SAS – more than 700 units, guns – about 50, one SAM BUK, MLRS BM-21 Grad – 4, 60 fuel tanks, 2 operational-tactical UAVs level, ships, boats – 2. Russia has not released any data on losses. Experts recall that 5,000 soldiers died in the two years of the first Chechen war, and 15,000 in all 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine cited data on civilian casualties: 352 people, including 14 children, were killed in the four days of the war.

The European Union has banned Russian aircraft from landing, taking off or flying over its territory. The Russian authorities promise to take Russian tourists to Europe via Istanbul, Dubai and Cairo.

The European Union has banned any operations related to the management of reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Russia.

Australia has imposed sanctions against Putin, Lavrov, Defense Minister Shoigu, Prime Minister Mishustin and Interior Minister Kolokoltsev. Australia also supported the statement of the USA, Canada, Great Britain and other countries on disconnecting some Russian banks from SWIFT and freezing the Central Bank’s assets.

The UK will introduce a bill to parliament today to stop money laundering and fraud. All foreigners who own property in the United Kingdom will need to be identified by name.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that his country does not condemn Russia because of the war in Ukraine, and in making decisions and statements regarding Moscow, he will be guided by practical considerations, taking into account the partnership of the two countries.

Google will no longer allow Russian state media to advertise. The day before, a similar decision was made by its subsidiary YouTube.

The issue of the German newspaper Bild came out with an appeal to the Russians in Russian and a call to protest. “On the streets of your cities, you defend the freedom of the whole world. Vladimir Putin threatens many countries with nuclear weapons. He illegally invaded the territory of your brotherly people in Ukraine. […] We know that you are threatened with beatings and prison. Your outstanding courage is priceless. We do not want to quarrel with you! […] Citizens of Russia do not deserve sanctions, poverty, suffering. You should be able to live peacefully and happily in your beautiful country… just like Ukrainians in theirs, and people in the West. Be brave! Show your president what you think of his war”.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, day 4. Follow the timeline of February 27 events here.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, day 3. Follow the timeline of February 26 events here.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, day 2. Follow the timeline of February 25 events here.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, day one. Follow the timeline of February 24 events here.