15:00
Briefing of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
In a video address, Zelenskyy said: “This is the beginning of the war against Europe. Against the unity of Europe. Against elementary human rights in Europe. Against all coexistence rules on the continent.”
“The cities of Ukraine undergo rocket bombing for the second day already. Tank columns and air strikes are as similar as something Europe has already seen a long time ago – during the Second World War and talked “never again” about it. But this is it! Again. Now. In 2022, 75 years after the Second World War completion. How are you going to protect yourself when you help us so slowly in Ukraine?”
“I’d like to point out what has already happened. And for this we are grateful. Sectoral sanctions. The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand introduced precisely sectoral sanctions against Russia. In particular, against all the largest banks. Against the largest Russian enterprises. Against Russia’s access to Western technologies. But Russian tanks are still shooting at residential buildings in our cities. Armored vehicles are still attacking, including civilians. Ordinary citizens of Ukraine. Europe has sufficient force to stop this aggression. What to expect from European states further?”
“Cancellation of visas for Russians? Cutting off Swift? Full isolation of Russia? Recalling ambassadors? Oil embargo? Closure of the sky? Today, all this should be on the table, because it is a threat to us, all of us, all of Europe. You can still stop aggression. We must act without delay.”
“Ordinary people can also do their part of the job, I’m sure, in every country of the world, in each country of Europe. Go out on the square of your cities and demand peace for Europe, peace for Ukraine, stop this war. Go out, go out on the squares and demand to stop the war. This is our right. This is your right.”
“While state institutions in Europe are in no hurry with really strong decisions, every European in the capital can already come to our embassy and offer assistance. Demand from your governments more financial, more military assistance to Ukraine. For this help is a help to you. For it is a help to Europe. You help yourself.”
“If you have a combat experience in Europe and do not want to look at the indecision of politicians, you can arrive in our state and protect Europe with us where it is now urgently required.”
“I want to address Russian Federation President once again. Battles take place all over the territory of Ukraine. Let’s sit at the negotiating table. To stop the death of people. And now I want to address the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Stand firmly. You are all we have. You are everything that protects our state.”
General Staff of the Armed Forces:
- Russia continues its march towards Kyic with high-precision, long-range weapons, tactical aircraft, and troops on the ground. Aircraft continue to come from Belarus and from the direction of the border.
- Strong forces have been noted in Polissia and Skadovsk
- More than 1,000 Russians have been killed.
- 80 tanks, 516 armoured combat vehicles, 10 aircraft, 7 helicopters have been destroyed
- In Kyiv, some 18,000 sub machine guns have been stationed to protect the city.
- Those over the age of 60 who are fit enough to fight are able to.
- A kindergarten and an orphanage have been targeted by Russian missiles and shells. Injuries but no deaths reported so far.
- Control has been lost of the Chernobyl zone of the country, home to more than 22000 spent fuel assemblies from the reactor, now in the hands of the Russians.
- Residents of Kyiv asked to stay at home or in shelters.
12 pm
Presidential spokesperson:
- Mykhailo Podoliak said that the next three days will be crucial for Ukraine, the region and the world. He added that the armed forces are fighting and will not surrender.
- In terms of banks, commercial banks are closed, national banks are open, but some are closed due to nearby fighting.
- All telecoms, energy, and water supplies are working normally.
Key roads are open but there is traffic in certain locations due to citizens fleeing. - All ports and airports are closed but most trains are on schedule
- There is a lack of fuel and gas in stations across the country.
Counsellor to the president:
- Oleksii Arestovych said that the main fighting is taking place north of Kyiv in Gostomel, Vorzel and Bucha.
- Meanwhile preparations to defend Kyiv are underway and all men of the city have been invited to fight.
- In Chernihiv fighting has stopped but Ukraining forces belive the Russians are regrouping. The same situation is reported in Sumy.
- In Kharkiv, defense continues and only individual fighting is taking place. Ukrainian forces have captured several Russians.
- The situation in Melitopol is different with the Russian army on one side of the city. The Ukrainian forces are preventing them from progressing to Mariupol.
- In Kherson, the Russian army has been unable to cross the Dnipro river because the Andriivsk bridge was destroyed.
- Air strikes have continued including at Bila Tserka airport and Vasylkiv city.
- Ukrainian authorities note that a huge amount of disinformation is being spread on the internet and this wil increase.
General Staff of the Armed Forces:
- Reports of an increase in Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and housing continues, including with units from Belarus.
- Russian IL-76s with paratroopers landed at the Belarusian Gomel airfield.
- Russia continues to shell the Donestsk and Luhansk region, but they are yet to take the area.
- The city of Konotop has been lost to Russian forces.
- In the region of Kharkov and Valuykiv, units of the Defense Forces continue to conduct defensive battles, stop Russian troops, and gain a foothold along the defined frontier.
- During an operation to blow up the Genichesky road bride in Crimean Isthmus, to stop Russians from advancing, engineer Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Shakun volunteered to lay the mines. He completed his task but did not have time to leave. He told his team he would proceed blowing up the bridge and an explosion was heard shortly after. Authorities announced he would receive a state award posthumously for his bravery.
- On the Chernihiv route and directly on the approach to Chernihiv, the Ukrainian military managed to hold the defense and repel the breakthrough of Russian troops.
- Enemy vehicles were forced to retreat from Chernihiv in the direction of Sedniv and from Horodnya to Semenivka. Enemy trophies in the form of equipment and documents with personal data of Russians were seized.
Minister of Internal Affairs:
- Two children were killed in Russian shelling as attacks continue on military facilities.
- At least 33 civilian targets have been shelled.
Prosecutor General’s Office:
- Kyiv prosecutors have been working at the site of a misile attack that caused an apartment fire in Darnitsa causing civilian casualties.
- In Vinnitsa, a drone hit the control building of the Kalynikva military airfield injuring two soldiers and one civilian. Investigations are underway.
- Prosecutors are working hard to record and collect evidence of Russian aggression.
- In Kharkiv, according to police, at least seven civilians have been killed including a 14-year-old child and a woman.
- Russian soldiers have been detained in Shchastia, Chernihiv.
Kyiv City Administration:
- In Obolon, citizens have been told to stay in their homes unless alarms signallthey move to a shelter.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday (24 February), fighting continued across the country throughout the day and night. As dawn broke in the capital of Kyiv, attacks intensified and were defended by the Ukrainian airforce.
According to a press release provided to Exit by the Ukrainian Embassy in Tirana, these are the key events as of 7am CET.
2am
- The Ukrainian navy continues to fight in the southwestern part of the Black Sea. Bases at the ports of Odessa, Yuzhny, Ochakiv, and the Black Sea are beinig defended.
- Other forces were then deployed to defend the capital from approaching enemy forces.
- The Air Force repelled several enemy air strikes and conducts constant reconnaissance and strikes in Nova Zburivka, Kupyansk, Nova Kakhovka, and Gostomel airfield.
- Estimated Russian losses: 30, armoured combat vehicles: up to 130, aircraft: 7, helicopters: 6.
4am
- Deputy Minister of Defence Hanna Malyar announces that Kyiv is under attack from missile strikes.
- Russia attacks border guard unit in Zaporizzia with rockets. Casualties reported.
6 am
- Russian air strikes take place in the city of Kropvnytsky.
- Significant presence of Russian helicopters in the Odessa region.
- Airborne Ukrainian troops are engaged with a large number of Russian armoured vehicles 43km outside of Kyiv. Bridge across the Teteriv River destroyed and enemy progress halted.
- Gostomel airfield being held by Ukrainian forces despite Russian attempts to take it.
- Defensive battles being fought in Seveersky, Peremoha, and Hlukhiv. Russian advancement stopped.
7am
- The situation in the Donetsk area remains under control but Russian troops continue to fire on cities, civilians, and armed forces.
- Russia tried to enter Shchastya, Stanytsia Luhanska, Lobachevo and Belovodsk, but were stopped.
- Emergency services have been busy attending to damages caused by Russian attack. In Kyiv, two Russian missiles hit a multi-storey residential house. 20 were rescued, 8 were injured and 150 were evacuated.
- Another fire took pace in a private house due to falling fragments of a Russian plane. Casualties reported but not confirmed.
- In Luansk, Russian shelling killed on person and six were rescued.
