Vladimir Putin
Putin said to be angry at stalled efforts to conquer Ukraine
Russian President Putin is said to be growing increasingly angry by his stalled efforts to conquer Ukraine, and has not issued a public address in days, Daily Mail reported. His fire and manpower vastly outnumber that of Ukraine, and it is widely believed that Russia will eventually conquer its neighbour. Ukraine landed a significant blow on Russia Saturday after it allegedly killed a large group of bloodthirsty Chechen special forces.
Russian forces continue advancing 'in all directions'
All units were ordered to mount an offensive in accordance with the operation plan, Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said during a briefing Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered a halt to military operations in light of expected negotiations with the Ukranian leadership, local media reported citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine not going as per plan due to Kremlin's 'overconfidence'
A dramatic video shows a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in the south of the country on the third day of fighting after Ukraine's army held control of Kiev and last night successfully repelled Russian advances on the capital. Kiev's Defence Ministry has so far put Russia's losses at around 2,800 troops, 80 tanks, 516 armoured vehicles, 10 airplanes and seven helicopters.
US provides $350mn worth of weapons to Ukraine
Blinken on Saturday said in a statement that US President Biden authorized him to decide on such a move, Xinhua news agency reported. As such, he has authorized the Department of Defense to carry out the presidential drawdown, which will help Ukraine cope with "the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing." The Secretary said the latest sum was on top of the $60 million and $200 million immediate military aid to Ukraine.
Russia continues to hit Ukraine targets
The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing. During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized.
Ukraine shoots down Russia's transport plane
Ukraine has shot down a Russian transport plane IL-76 near Vasylkiv town in Kiev region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement on Facebook, Xinhua news agency reported.
Russia restricts access to Facebook
"On February 25, the prosecutor general's office, in agreement with the foreign ministry, decided that the social network Facebook is involved in the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens," a statement of the Roskomnadzor website said, adding that starting from Friday, measures would be taken to "partially restrict access" to Facebook, The Guardian reported.
Prominent Russians go public with their opposition to war
More than 1,800 people were arrested at rallies as prominent Russians from the worlds of entertainment, business and journalism have risked their livelihoods in order to speak out. While the acts of dissent may not change Kremlin policy, they could point to significantly less public or elite support for the current military operation in Ukraine than the annexation of Crimea eight years ago, The Guardian reported.
Ukraine's senior defense official says Russian troops moving toward Kiev
"The Russian military seized two vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, changed into the uniform of the Ukrainian military and are moving at high speed towards the centre of Kiev," Ukraine's government-run news agency Ukrinform quoted Maliar's post on Facebook as saying.
Putin tells Ukrainian military to 'take power into their hands' and negotiate with Moscow
Ukraine's armed forces should "take power" in the country and negotiate peace with Moscow, Putin said during a Russian Security Council meeting on Friday, RT reported. He also accused the Kiev government and "neo-Nazis" of using civilians as "human shields" amid Russia's offensive in Ukraine.
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