Ukraine Claims 1,000 Russian Casualties As Conflict Enters 3rd Day: France, Netherlands Send Arms

As the Ukraine conflict continues for the third day, Ukraine continues to claim attacks on civilian centers in the capital Kiev and other cities like Kharkiv along with casualties inflicted on the Russian military, whereas Russia has communicated updates about the positions in Ukraine that its military has captured as part of what it says are “de-nazification” operations meant to protect the people of Donbass regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for de-escalation and dialogue, and called upon the Ukrainian army to “not become human shields for Nazis”.

Early Stirrings Of Peace Process As Military Operations Continue

As the military operations by Russia continues, the Kremlin has stated its willingness to send a delegtion in Minsk for de-escalation.

Two days ago, President Putin had stated that he is open to “direct and honest dialogue”. He made the statement on Defender of the Fatherland Day commemorating Russia’s armed forces: "Our country is always open to direct and honest dialogue, for the search for diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems"

Ukraine Gets Ammunition From France And Netherlands

The conflict is a developing situation on ground and the death toll of civilians is mainly being reported by Ukrainian authorities. Russian state media, on the other hand, has largely focused its coverage on the Ukrainian army offensive in separatist-controlled Donbass and the allegations of far-right elements in Ukrainian armed forces and rights abuses of its Russian-speaking people.

Ukrainian authorities have shared visuals of a high-rise apartment building in Kiev that was shelled by Russian forces overnight. The city’s mayor said that ther were 35 casualties including two children.

6A Lobonovsky Avenue High Rise Attacked By #Russian Shelling On 17th, 18th Floors Today, #Ukrainian Defense Ministry Claims#Ukraine #Russia #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineRussiaConflict pic.twitter.com/6ghrozH3sY

— GoNewsIndia (@GoNews_India) February 26, 2022

Similar claims were being made throughout the day, such as the one below by Kharkiv regional administration:

⚡️ 100 invaders and 100 units of armored vehicles were destroyed in the region of #Kharkiv, according to Oleg #Sinegubov, chairman of the regional state administration.

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 26, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video today morning denying rumours that he had fled the country or surrendered, saying that “we will not lay down our arms”.

Не вірте фейкам. pic.twitter.com/wiLqmCuz1p

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

France’s President Emanuel Macron has said that “this will be a long war”, and “we must be prepared”. He also confirmed that the country will supply ammunition to Ukraine for its defense. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that “partners” were sending weapons to Ukraine. The Netherlands has approved 200 Stinger surface-to-air missile systems for Ukraine.

The #Dutch government has approved the decision to send 200 Stinger surface-to-air missile systems to #Ukraine.

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 26, 2022

Russia’s defence ministry has claimed that 211 Ukrainian military structures had been damaged, while Ukriane claimed that it had killed 1,000 Russian troops, while Russia has not confirmed its troops’ death toll.

Ukraine has also claimed that it downed 80 tanks, 516 armoured combat vehicles, seven helicopters, 10 aircraft and 20 cruise missiles of the Russian military.

There were also conflicting reports on Russian capture of the southeast Ukrainian city of Melitopol as claimed by Russia. However, UK armed forces minister James Heappey said he “does not recognise reports that Ukraine’s southern coastal city of Melitopol has fallen to Russian forces”

Fresh Round Of Sanctions As Conflict Enters Day 3

Meanwhile, the European Union, the United States and its allies like U.K and Canada have announced sanctions on Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov which targets their foreign assets and travel. The broader scope of the EU sanctions aims to target 70% of the Russian banking system.

 

The EU has adopted sanctions against Russian president Vladimir Putin and foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov. It has also approved further individual and economic sanctions covering:

➡️ finance
➡️ energy
➡️ transport
➡️ technology
➡️visa policy

More ⬇️ #StandWithUkraine

— EU Council (@EUCouncil) February 25, 2022

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: "They are responsible for the deaths of innocent people in Ukraine, and for trampling on the international system. We, as Europeans, do not accept that."

Today, I authorized a new round of sanctions and limitations in response to Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine.

We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long-term impact on Russia – and to minimize the impact on the United States. pic.twitter.com/wM0kEBcZba

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2022

Today, government heads of Poland and Lithuania will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss sanctions on Russia. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will hold the meeting in Berlin. Polish government spokesperson Piotr Muller said: “The European Union must immediately adopt a package of ruthlessly harsh sanctions against Russia."