‘We will give you arms’: Zelensky asks people to defend Ukraine during speech
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is bracing for an overnight attack as the country continues to resist the Russian invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the Ukraine’s armed forces had “derailed” Vladimir Putin’s plans to capture the city.
Intense fighting in Kyiv saw an apartment building in the capital hit by a missile, and Ukraine’s health ministry said that three children were among the 198 people killed since the invasion began.
The EU, along with the US, announced on Saturday night that they will ban selected Russian banks from the Swift international payments system.
The group also committed to imposing restrictive measures on the Russian Central Bank.
The further measures come as Russian forces advanced on three Ukrainian cities on Saturday; Kyiv in the north, Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south.
The Kremlin’s website was down again on Saturday and a spokesperson said the site was being targeted by cyberattacks.
Summary
Here are today’s top headlines on the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
• Fighting continues across Ukraine, but the speed of Russia’s advance has slowed. This is likely due to logistical difficulties and “strong Ukrainian resistance”, the UK ministry of defence has said.
• Ukrainian president Zelensky has said his armed forces “successfully repelled enemy attacks”. But the Russian defence ministry announced that they would attack in “all directions”.
• Russia is leading an attack on three cities: Kyiv in the north, Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south. Officials in the West are anxious that Russia will turn to weapons capable of inflicting heavy casualties.
• 115,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine to Poland since the invasion began.
• More EU countries – including France, Italy and Hungary – have said they would back a ban on Russia using the Swift global payments network.
• Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is under curfew until Monday.
• Ukraine is piling pressure on Turkey to close the passage of Russian warships through the Black Sea.
• 27 nations have agreed to give more arms and military aid to Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 18:10
Russian soldiers in Ukraine become disoriented, US official says
In case you missed it…
Russian forces are reportedly become demoralised, disoriented and hungry on the third day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, writes Bevan Hurley.
A senior US official told ABC news that Russian soldiers had been overheard complaining about the strong Ukrainian resistance.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 22:50
US, EU, UK and Canada commit to remove Russian banks from Swift
The EU, along with the US and other Western allies, has vowed to kick selected Russian banks out of the Swift global payments system and introduce harsh new measures on the Russian central bank.
A joint statement, made by the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US, said that the group would “commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally.”
It continued: “Second, we commit to imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions.”
The leaders also committed to taking action on “golden passports” for wealthy Russians, and to launch a task force that will identify the assets of sanctioned individuals.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 22:37
Breaking – EU, along with US, plan to ban Russian banks from Swift
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the EU, along with the United States and other Western partners, plans to cut off a number of Russian banks from Swift interbank payments.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 22:21
Reports – Russian forces say ‘we don’t know who to shoot, they all look like us’
A senior US official has told ABC news they’ve heard a Russian soldier on a radio call saying: “We don’t know who to shoot – they all look like us.”
Some Russian forces are becoming disoriented, the American news outlet reported the official as saying.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:34
Reports that Kyiv could come under heavy fire very soon
Local media, The Kyiv Independent, have reported that a heavy Russian air raid is expected on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv very soon.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:33
10 Greek nationals killed in Ukraine – reports
The Prime minister of Greece has said that ten “innocent civilians of Greek origin” were killed on Saturday by Russian air strikes close to Mariupol in eastern Ukraine.
“Stop the bombing now!”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted.
He condemned the “unacceptable act of Russian attack on civilians”.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:21
Watch: Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko orders Putin to leave
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appealed for help from the world on Saturday and warned that Russian troops were a little more than 2 kilometres from the capital city.
Speaking to Sky news from Kyiv and flanked by troops, Mr Poroshenko ordered Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave.
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko orders Putin to leave: ‘This is our soil’
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:20
France to tighten sanctions and deliver more military equipment
Emmanuel Macron will strengthen France’s sanctions on Russia and will deliver additional military aid to Ukraine, French media has reported.
The President chaired a national security and defence council on Saturday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
It is also reported that France will take measures to combat propaganda from Russian influencers and media in Europe.
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:10
Pope expresses ‘deepest sorrow’ in phone call with Zelensky
Pope Francis has expressed his “deepest sorrow” about the “tragic events” in Ukraine on a phone call with president Volodymyr Zelensky , Ukraine’s embassy to the Vatican tweeted.
“Today Pope Francis had a telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky,” a statement said. “The Holy Father expressed his deepest sorrow for the tragic events that are taking place in our country.”
The president thanked the Pope for his prayers in a tweet on Saturday, writing: “The Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of his Holiness.”
Holly Bancroft26 February 2022 21:02
