- Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022 Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev's forces.
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A special military operation which Russia has been carrying out in Ukraine came in response to the plea of the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk to protect their citizens amidst increased attacks from the Kiev regime.
After Russia's operation "to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine" began, the United States and its allies ramped up their military support for Kiev. Recently, the US and several Western countries announced new military supplies to Ukraine, including battle tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery systems.
In April 2022, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev, noting that pumping Ukraine with weapons was not conducive to peace talks and would have a detrimental effect on the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian forces.
Check out Sputnik's live updates for more.
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03:49 GMT 27.02.2023
Zelensky Dismisses Commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces
The commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO), Eduard Moskalev, has been dismissed from the post.
A relevant decree was published on the website of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
No reasons were given for the dismissal.
Moskalev was promoted from JFO deputy commander to the head of the joint forces in March of last year.
03:48 GMT 27.02.2023
Civilians in Bakhmut Deprived of Medical Care - Adviser to DPR Head

The civilian population in the Kiev-controlled part of Bakhmut (Artemivsk) is unable to receive medical care, while Ukrainian soldiers get treatments, Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told Sputnik.
"While the Ukrainian military has the opportunity to receive medical care, there is practically no such opportunity for the civilian population in the city," Kimakovsky said.
Kimakovsky told Sputnik on Saturday night that Ukrainian troops had blown up a dam near Bakhmut, to slow down the Russian offensive and force civilians to leave the city. He suggested that the move could also mean that Ukrainians were preparing to abandon Bakhmut to the Russian forces and were getting "desperate."
03:46 GMT 27.02.2023
A dump track unloads grain in a granary in the village of Zghurivka, Ukraine, Aug. 9, 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 27.02.2023
Russia
Timing for Extending Grain Deal Not Discussed Yet, Source Says
02:32 GMT 27.02.2023
Wagner Group Fighters Already in Bakhmut’s Center - Adviser to DPR Head

Units of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) are fighting in the center of Bakhmut (Artemivsk) and all approaches to the city are controlled by Russian forces, Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), told Sputnik.
"Forward detachments of PMC Wagner are already fighting in the center of Artyomovsk," Kimakovsky said, clarifying that it is still premature to talk about the encirclement of the city.
According to the DPR head's adviser, Ukrainian troops are trying to deliver equipment to the city, but are suffering heavy losses.
"All roads are basically under our fire control. But for the time being, they can move their forces and equipment along one more route: Chasov Yar [Chasiv Yar] - Artyomovsk," Kimakovsky told Sputnik.

Last Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the village of Paraskoviivka located near the city of Bakhmut was brought under the complete control of the Russian armed forces.
Yan Gagin, an advisor to the acting head of DPR, said on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops were most likely going to surrender the city "soon enough."
Kimakovsky told Sputnik on Saturday night that Ukrainian troops had blown up a dam near Bakhmut, to slow down the Russian offensive and force civilians to leave the city. He suggested that the move could also mean that Ukrainians were preparing to abandon Bakhmut to the Russian forces and were getting "desperate."
00:37 GMT 27.02.2023
Volunteer Battalion Consisting of Former Ukrainian Prisoners Created in DPR - Commander

A volunteer battalion named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky and consisting of former Ukrainian prisoners has been created in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), one of the battalion's commanders told Sputnik.
"I am now responsible for the newly created combat unit named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky. This story started at a time when the Ukrainian government no longer needed its people, and with all this going on, when the Ukrainian government was supposed to protect its people, it simply abandoned them. And looking at all this, I had the opportunity, and my comrades who will be with me in this unit, to pay tribute," Andrei Tishchenko said.
He added that his unit now has about 70 people, of which 95% are former Ukrainian soldiers with combat experience.
"The formation of the battalion is at the stage of obtaining Russian citizenship, obtaining passports, signing a contract and leaving for a camp for further training, retraining and formation," Tishchenko told Sputnik.
23:06 GMT 26.02.2023
Air Raid Warning Issued in Kiev
Air raid sirens went off overnight in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, as well as the Kiev region, according to air raid data from the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Air raid warnings were also in effect in the Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, the ministry’s online map showed.
Later in the night, air raid alerts were issued in the regions of Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian media reported late on Friday night that explosions were heard in the Kiev region of Ukraine, as well as the Kharkiv region and the Ukraine-controlled Zaporizhzhia.
Earlier this month, the head of Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said that direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure caused by Russian strikes may amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, with economic losses ranging in billions.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in November of last year that about 50% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure had been damaged as a result of the precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure that Russia started carrying out on October 10, 2022 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge).
19:05 GMT 26.02.2023
Ukraine's Zelensky Touts New Sanctions Against Russians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he had signed three decrees designating Russians related to sports and military contractors for sanctions.
"I signed three decrees that will implement decisions of the Security and Defense Committee," Zelensky said in a video posted on social media.
He said Russian nationals who "help run mercenary organizations in Russia" were featured on the list, but no publications have been released.
17:35 GMT 26.02.2023
Sullivan Says China Would Pay Price for Helping Russia in Ukraine
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that it was up to China whether to assist Russia in Ukraine but that a decision to provide military aid would come at a price.
"Beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds, whether it provides military assistance, but if it goes down that road, it will come at real costs to China," Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" show.
This comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken threatened China on Monday with "real consequences," should it send military supplies to Russia, an idea that has never been voiced in Beijing.
17:24 GMT 26.02.2023
Russian Ambassador Says Canada's Trudeau Distrusts Own Statement on Crimea
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement on Crimea is a product of poor propaganda that even he himself obviously does not believe in, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik on Sunday.
In the statement, released earlier on Sunday, Trudeau called Crimea's accession to Russia through a referendum "illegal" and said Canada continued to recognize the peninsula as part of Ukraine.
"First, the propaganda-makers hired by the Canadian cabinet are no good. Second, it is obvious that Prime Minister Trudeau does not believe the things he says. Third, today is Sunday, a day off, so nobody is going to pay any attention to this statement," Stepanov said.
14:28 GMT 26.02.2023
German Defense Ministry Says China Should Follow Up on Ukraine Peace Initiative by Actions
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Sunday welcomed China's peace initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine but stressed that the plan must be followed by actions, referring to recent media reports of alleged Chinese plans to supply Russia with weapons.
"At the end, it is not us, but the Russians and Ukraine, who will negotiate. And it is not up to the Chinese to decide that, either. I welcome the Chinese proposal, and as an initiative too, but it must be followed by deeds," Pistorius said on air of Germany's Deutschlandfunk radio.
The minister linked his proposal of assessing China's initiative by actions, not words, to reports alleging that Beijing planed to supply Russia with military drones.
14:27 GMT 26.02.2023
White House on Possibility of Supplying Ukraine With F-16 Fighter Jets in the Future: Right Now Biden Excludes Such a Need
US President Joe Biden is currently ruling out granting Ukraine its request for F-16 fighter jets, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday.
"F-16 is a question for a later time and that is why President Biden said that for now he is not moving forward with those," Sullivan told CNN, commenting on the possibility of providing jets to Kiev in the future.
On Friday, Biden said the possibility of the US providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets was off the table "for now."
13:52 GMT 26.02.2023
A man waves Russian flags as he attends a demonstration supporting a so called 'Manifesto for Peace' in Berlin - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
German MP Says Western Governments Lie to People About True Purpose of Ukraine Conflict
13:49 GMT 26.02.2023
The More West Supplies Arms to Ukraine, The Further Russia Will Move Threat From Border - Shoigu
11:45 GMT 26.02.2023
Russia’s MoD Briefing on Progress of Special Military Operation in Ukraine
In the LPR and the Kharkov region, Russian troops destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles and two cars.
In the DPR and the Lugansk People's Republic, up to 130 Ukrainian soldiers, three armored combat vehicles, two vehicles, an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery mount and a D-20 howitzer were destroyed.
More than 100 Ukrainian troops, three armored combat vehicles, four pickup trucks, a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed in the DPR. Also, the ammunition depot of the 68th Jaeger Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the US-made counter-battery radar AN / TPQ-37 were destroyed.
In the Donetsk People's Republic and the Zaporozhye region, Russian troops destroyed more than 75 Ukrainian troops, one tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored combat vehicle and two pickup trucks. The ammunition depot of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade was also destroyed.
In the Kherson region, up to 70 Ukrainian soldiers, six vehicles and three D-30 howitzers were destroyed.
The communication center of the 110th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed near the settlement of Avdeevka in the DPR. Also, in the area of the settlement of Staroraiskoe of the Donetsk People's Republic, the repair and restoration base for weapons and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed.
A Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down by air defense in the Kharkov region. In addition, seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed during the day.
11:39 GMT 26.02.2023
Germans Protest Against Arms Deliveries to Ukraine
08:44 GMT 26.02.2023
Putin Calls NATO Indirect Partner in Kiev's Crimes Against People of Donbass
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers speech to Federal Assembly, 21 February, 2023 - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2023
World
Putin Says Russia Has to Return to Discussing the Nuclear Potential of the UK and France
08:40 GMT 26.02.2023
Musk Agrees Ukraine Saw Coup d'Etat in 2014
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on March 14, 2019, Hawthorne, California and the Twitter logo outside their headquarters in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 2022.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2023
World
Musk Says Ukraine 'Indeed' Witnessed Coup d'Etat in 2014
08:40 GMT 26.02.2023
Zelensky Becomes More Picky in His Weapons Demands from Washington
Volodymyr Zelensky - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Zelensky Reportedly Plans to Send His Weapons Wishlist to Washington
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