As of: February 28, 2024, 10:45 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger, Nail Akkoyun, Felix Durach, Christian Stör
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Ukrainian troops have to withdraw near Avdiivka.
A Russian fighter jet is shot down.
The news ticker about the Ukraine war.
US analysts
in
management report
: Russia is increasing the number of hits in Avdiivka
Heavy
fighting
near
Avdiivka
: Ukrainian troops have to retreat
“Ukrainian special services”
: Allegedly foiled poison gas attack
The information processed here comes from international media and news agencies, but also from the warring parties Russia and Ukraine and their allies.
In particular, the information on losses suffered by the armies involved in the Ukrainian war cannot be independently verified.
Update from February 28th, 9:57 a.m
.: “What Ukraine urgently needs at the moment is ammunition, ammunition, ammunition”: With these words, the SPD foreign expert Michael
Roth commented on the debate about possible NATO ground troops for Ukraine.
The dispute is “completely irrelevant,” he said today in the ARD “Morgenmagazin.”
In the “more than threatening” situation for Ukraine, Roth referred to the necessary means of air defense and armed drones.
During his visit to Kiev, he found “no minister, no general, no representative of civil society who said anything about ground troops or the use of foreign soldiers.”
Ukraine News: Lavrov spokeswoman confirms Kiev's “deplorable” situation at the front
Update from February 28th, 8:58 a.m
.: Maria Zakharova claims that the Ukrainians are in a “catastrophic” situation at the front.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously suggested sending NATO ground troops to Ukraine.
But that would be “no help,” said Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry under Sergei Lavrov, on the radio station
Sputnik
.
“The Kiev regime is in a deplorable situation at the front and nothing will help it,” Sakharov said, according to a report by Russian state news agency
Tass
.
The Ukrainian soldiers needed a “powerful” speech to give them new courage,
Tass
quoted them as saying.
Ukraine war: Russia increases the number of attacks in Avdiivka
Update from February 28th, 6:38 a.m
.: Russia is now increasing its military offensives in the Avdiivka region so that the Ukrainian soldiers do not find any respite.
In their situation analysis, the analysts at the US Institute for War Studies (ISW) write of a “relatively high pace” of attacks.
The reason is the Russians' fear that Ukraine could now build stronger defense lines.
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Russian soldiers fire a howitzer in the Avdiivka region (photo from February 22).
© Stanislav Krasilnikov/Imago
News about the Ukraine war: Russia gains ground near Avdiivka – with losses
Update from February 27th, 10:10 p.m.:
According to Ukraine, there were a total of 86 battles between Russian and Ukrainian troops over the course of Tuesday.
Russia also carried out four missile strikes, 52 air strikes and 94 multiple rocket launcher attacks.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported this on Facebook.
“During the day, the Defense Force Air Force hit 15 areas where enemy personnel are concentrated.
In addition, units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 2 Su-34 fighter-bombers and 4 reconnaissance drones,” the General Staff wrote.
Russian troops were able to be repelled in the Kupyansk and Donetsk regions, among other places.
Heavy fighting near Avdiivka: Ukraine has to retreat
Update from February 27th, 8:47 p.m.:
After Russia initially reported successes on the front, Ukraine has now also announced the withdrawal of its troops from the villages of Severne and Stepove east of the embattled city of Avdiivka.
“Our armed forces have withdrawn from the small villages of Severne and Stepove,” the
Guardian
quoted military spokesman Dmytro Lykhovy as saying.
“Heavy fighting took place around Severne last evening and during the night,” Lychowij continued.
Russia suffered significant losses in the fighting.
They will now retreat to terrain more suitable for defense.
Scholz further emphasizes: “There will be no German or NATO troops” in Ukraine
Update from February 27th, 7:16 p.m.:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once again ruled out the deployment of German soldiers in Ukraine.
“There will be no German or NATO troops on Ukrainian soil,” said the SPD politician on Tuesday in Emmendingen.
He said that in the so-called turning point speech shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression.
Germany will support Ukraine.
“But we will do everything we can – and this is what I stand for as Chancellor – to ensure that there is no escalation of this war, a war between Russia and NATO.” That is always the guiding principle of all decisions.
New talks in the Ukraine war;
Zelensky in Saudi Arabia
Update from February 27th, 5:52 p.m.:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks.
Among other things, a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is planned, Zelenskyj announced on social networks on Tuesday.
The main topic is the peace plan initiated by Zelensky for his country.
In addition, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity is being discussed with the mediation of Riyadh.
It is also about economic cooperation and reconstruction in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, different views on the war caused tension at a summit meeting between the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
There are differences among the states of the so-called Visegrad Group in assessing the causes of the conflict and in the question of how it can be resolved, said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Tuesday in Prague.
“The Czech Republic and Poland also participate in military aid, and this is something that Hungary and Slovakia do not share with us,” stated the host.
Kiev welcomes talks on NATO aid: “Shows absolute awareness”
Update from February 27th, 4:35 p.m.:
Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoljak has welcomed the debate about sending NATO troops.
“This shows an absolute awareness of the risks that a militaristic, aggressive Russia poses to Europe,” Podolyak said in a written statement.
This was reported by the
Reuters
news agency .
In the current phase of the war, it is particularly important to send military equipment to Ukraine.
With a view to the debate, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would be inevitable if NATO actually sent ground troops to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg makes it clear: “No plans for NATO combat troops” in Ukraine
Update from February 27th, 3:52 p.m.:
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has denied possible plans to deploy NATO ground troops in Ukraine.
“NATO allies are supporting Ukraine in an unprecedented way,” he told the AP news agency.
“But there are no plans for NATO combat troops on site in Ukraine.” A NATO spokesman confirmed Stoltenberg’s statement on Tuesday at the dpa’s request.
With a view to sending NATO troops to Ukraine, Macron said on Monday that nothing should be ruled out in the current dynamic.
Ukrainian air defense shoots down another Russian fighter jet
Update from February 27th, 2:55 p.m.:
Ukrainian air defense has reported the shooting down of another Russian fighter jet.
After a Russian plane was taken down from the sky in the morning, the Ukrainian General Staff reported another shot down on Facebook.
At around 2 p.m. local time, the air defense shot down another Su-34.
Given the losses, the Russian leadership should consider stopping its attacks “at least for a while,” the post said.
In total, the General Staff states that they have shot down 342 aircraft since the beginning of the war.
The numbers cannot be independently verified.
Another advance on the front in the Ukraine war – Russia is probably conquering the next place
Update from February 27th, 2:41 p.m.:
The Russian armed forces have apparently achieved another success on the front in eastern Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow said the village of Severne near Avdiivka had been brought under control.
This would have given the Russian troops a positional advantage in the region.
Russia recently took over the city of Avdiivka.
On Monday (February 26), the Kremlin also reported an advance into the village of Lastochkyne.
NATO ground troops in Ukraine?
Scholz rejects Macron's proposal
Update from February 27th, 12:30 p.m.:
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has clearly rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's considerations about sending Western troops to Ukraine.
It will also apply to the future that “there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil that will be sent there by European states or NATO states,” said Scholz on Tuesday during a visit to Freiburg.
The evening before, at the end of a Ukraine conference in Paris, Macron said that sending Western troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out.
Kremlin responds to Macron: Sending troops to the Ukraine war “not in the interests” of Western countries
Update from February 27th, 11:35 a.m.:
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, sending troops to Ukraine would be “not in the interests” of Western countries.
“This is absolutely not in the interests of these countries, they must be aware of that,” Peskov told reporters on Tuesday in response to a statement by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The French head of state had previously stated that sending troops “could not be ruled out”.
The fact that the possibility is now being discussed is a “very important new element” in the conflict, Peskov added.
Kiev shoots down Russian Su-34s in Ukraine war
Update from February 27th, 11:00 a.m.:
A small success for the Ukrainian armed forces: As the Ukrainian military reported on Telegram, the troops destroyed a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber in the east of the country.
“Minus one!
Yesterday the Russian pilots managed to evade our missiles, but that doesn't always work.
That's why I advise the occupiers to meet with their families before every flight, just in case.
Because who knows whether they will be lucky this time or not,” wrote Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk.
The information cannot be independently verified.
Allegedly foiled poison gas attack in the Ukraine war
Update from February 27th, 10:05 a.m.:
Russia says it has thwarted a poison gas attack prepared by the Ukrainian special services in the partially Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine.
“An attempt by the Ukrainian special services to carry out an attack in the Zaporizhzhia region using an equivalent of the NATO-classified toxic military agent 'BZ' was foiled,” the Russian secret service FSB said on Tuesday.
The toxic substances seized during the operation “are used to produce chemical weapons of mass destruction and were developed in the USA,” it continues.
An investigation into an assassination attempt and the production of weapons of mass destruction was launched and three Ukrainian nationals were arrested.
Zaporizhia is one of four Ukrainian regions declared annexed by Russia in 2022, along with Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk.
However, the regions are not completely under Russian control.
Heavy Russian losses in the Ukraine War
Update from February 27th, 8:50 a.m.:
How high are the losses in the Ukraine war?
This question cannot be answered independently, even though Volodymyr Zelensky has given Ukraine's official loss figures for the first time.
He also gave information about Russia's losses, but the Kremlin immediately denied these.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff gives the following figures:
Soldiers:
411,550
Tanks:
6556
Armored fighting vehicles:
12,478
Artillery systems
: 10,009
Multiple rocket launchers:
1000
Air defense systems:
686
Aircraft:
340
Helicopters:
325
Drones
: 7729
Ships/Boats
: 25
Automotive equipment and tankers:
13,065
Macron does not rule out the use of Western ground troops in the Ukraine war
Update from February 27th, 5:45 a.m.:
In order to support Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron is no longer ruling out the use of ground troops by his country.
Nothing can be ruled out to prevent a Russian victory in Ukraine, Macron said after concluding a Ukraine aid conference in Paris on Monday evening.
At the meeting of over 20 heads of state and government there was no agreement on the use of ground troops, but nothing could be ruled out in the future course of the war.
“There is no consensus today about officially sending ground troops,” said Macron.
“But nothing can be ruled out in the dynamic.
We will do whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war." Many people who said "never, never" today are the same people who said two years ago, "never, never tanks, never, never airplanes, never, ever longer range missiles.”
Today the discussion is about becoming faster and stronger in the delivery of tanks and missiles.
“So anything is possible if it is helpful to achieve our goal,” the French president said.
Ukraine War: Three people killed in Russian border village
Update from February 26th, 10:36 p.m.:
There was apparently a drone attack on a vehicle in the Russian border village of Pochaewo.
Three people were killed and three other people were injured, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Telegram.
“The Ukrainian army attacked a car with a kamikaze drone on the outskirts of the village of Pochaevo in the Grayvoron district,” Gladkov wrote.
However, this information could not be independently verified.
Pochaevo is less than five kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The Russian border region of Belgorod has been repeatedly attacked by the Ukrainian military for some time.
While Moscow speaks of attacks on civilian targets, Kiev has always kept a low profile or denied the allegations.
In any case, Ukraine asserts that it would only attack targets on Russian territory that serve the Russian war machine - such as factories and arms depots.
Zelenskyj on grenade deliveries: “Unfortunately only 30 percent” arrived
Update from February 26th, 8:50 p.m.:
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has so far received less than a third of the million artillery shells promised by the EU.
“Of the one million shells that the European Union promised us, not 50 percent arrived, but unfortunately only 30 percent,” said Zelenskyj in Kiev on Monday.
The EU promised last year to deliver one million artillery shells to Kiev by the end of March.
However, in January, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had to admit that member states had only delivered 330,000 rounds of ammunition.
By the end of March there should be a total of around 500,000 shots.
“It all started in Crimea”: Zelensky wants to defeat Russia in Crimea
Update from February 26th, 7:45 p.m.:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj commemorated the occupation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia exactly ten years ago on Monday.
“It all started in Crimea - this Russian revanchism, this Russian war,” said Zelensky in his evening video address.
This day determined the fate of international security and international relations.
Russian special forces without national insignia on their uniforms, then also called “green men,” had begun occupying the peninsula and disarming Ukrainian units.
On March 18, 2014, the peninsula was finally integrated into Russian territory by the State Duma in Moscow.
This decision is still not internationally recognized today.
Zelensky emphasized that Crimea must return to Ukrainian sovereignty.
“It is right there, in Crimea, that Russian evil must suffer a decisive defeat,” he said.
The Ukrainian armed forces have already achieved important results in the Black Sea.
“We are working to achieve the necessary results in the skies and on the land of Crimea.”
Update from February 26th, 7:15 p.m.:
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has claimed that some EU and NATO countries are planning to send soldiers to Ukraine on the basis of bilateral contracts.
This was reported by the Slovak newspaper
SME
.
Details will be discussed at a meeting in Paris, said Fico.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was connected via video to the meeting that Fico is talking about, which was organized at short notice.
Russia takes initiative in war: Zelensky renews call for military aid
Update from February 26th, 6:15 p.m.:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted on quick approval of new military aid for his country, which is being attacked by Russia.
If there is no support, Ukraine will not be able to boast any new successes, Zelensky told the US broadcaster CNN in an interview recorded on Sunday.
If Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin manages to push back the Ukrainian army, it would also mean further human losses.
The aid package from Washington worth almost $60 billion has already passed the Senate, but is being blocked by Republicans in the House of Representatives.
According to CNN, Zelenskyj also criticized former US President Donald Trump.
The Republican cannot assess Putin and does not understand his goals, said Zelensky.
If he were to decide to support Russia instead of Ukraine if re-elected, that would be a decision “against the Americans.”
Trump doesn't understand that Putin will never stop, said the Ukrainian president.
“I have a better understanding.” The fact that Trump is siding with Putin is “unbelievable.”
Current situation in the Ukraine war: British Ministry of Defense on Putin's war tactics
Update from February 26th, 3:30 p.m.:
According to Britain's assessment, Russia will continue to use its energy reserves as a weapon.
The British Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal is to gain economic and political influence worldwide.
“By reducing gas flows to Europe, restricting pipeline exports and changing payment terms, Putin has sought to undermine international energy security.”
This shows a close connection between energy, security and political and military goals.
Since the beginning of the conflict with Ukraine, Russia has used energy as a weapon, it was said in London.
The Ministry of Defense refers to the seizure of oil rigs in the Black Sea in 2015 after the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the reduction of gas deliveries to Europe by the Russian state-owned company Gazprom in 2021. Since the beginning of the war, Russia has also been deliberately attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The use of energy as a weapon will probably remain a Russian means of coercion.
Russia celebrates new gains in the Ukraine war: Kiev's army withdraws from the village
Update from February 26th, 1:18 p.m
.: The Ukrainian army is withdrawing from Lastochkyne
(see previous update)
and wants to use it to organize defense.
Ukrainian military spokesman Dmytro Lykhovij said this on television.
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that Russian units had taken the town near Avdiivka and “further improved the situation along the front line.”
News about the Ukraine war: Russia records success at Avdiivka
Update from February 26th, 11:58 a.m.:
Russian forces have apparently taken the village of Lastochkyne northwest of Avdiivka.
This is reported by the Reuters news agency with reference to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Early on Monday morning, the Ukrainian army leadership had already announced that it would withdraw from the town.
The withdrawal should help to better prevent the advance of Russian troops to the west.
Ukraine war: Foreign Minister Kuleba demands Taurus deliveries from Germany
Update from February 26th, 10:18 a.m.:
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has once again emphatically asked Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles.
“The final decision lies with Germany, but I want everyone to know that we need this weapon,” Kuleba told
RND
.
The Ukrainian chief diplomat showed little understanding for any fears that Germany could be drawn into the war against Russia through the Taurus deliveries.
“I think since the first shipment of Leopard tanks, that fear has been allayed.
Since then, the argument of escalation has been off the table,” said the Foreign Minister.
Update from February 26th, 9:10 a.m.:
At least two people were killed in new attacks by Russia during the night in Ukraine.
“As a result of an airstrike, two people died - a couple who were at home,” the administration of the Sumy region in northern Ukraine said on Telegram.
Guided aerial bombs were dropped during the attack.
The Dnipropetrovsk industrial region reported four injuries from drone fire.
Source:
Ukrainian General Staff
February 26.
The information about Russian losses comes from the Ukrainian army.
They cannot be independently verified.
Russia itself does not provide any information about its own losses in the Ukraine war.
Kiev reports shooting down of Russian drones and missiles in war in Ukraine
Update vom 26. Februar, 7.45 Uhr: Die russischen Streitkräfte haben nach ukrainischen Angaben in der Nacht 14 Angriffsdrohnen und zahlreiche Raketen auf Ziele in der Ukraine abgefeuert. Über den Regionen Charkiw und Dnipropetrowsk seien neun Drohnen sowie drei Lenkflugkörper abgefangen und zerstört worden, erklärte die ukrainische Luftwaffe auf Telegram. Unklar ist zunächst, was mit den Geschossen geschehen ist, die die Ukraine nicht abfangen konnte.
Update vom 26. Februar, 6.30 Uhr: Eine Serie von Explosionen hat am Abend die Vororte der ostukrainischen Großstadt Dnipro erschüttert. Nach Angaben der örtlichen Militärverwaltung soll die russische Armee die Region mit mehreren Raketen beschossen haben. Mindestens vier Menschen seien dabei verletzt und mehrere Häuser zerstört worden.
Kiew beklagt laut Selenskyj 31.000 Tote seit Beginn von Russlands Ukraine-Krieg
Erstmeldung vom 26. Februar: Kiew – Der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj hat zum ersten Mal seit Kriegsbeginn offizielle Verlustzahlen genannt. Demnach seien bisher 31.000 ukrainische Soldaten gefallen, berichtete Selenskyj in Kiew. Die Verluste des russischen Militärs bezifferte er dagegen mit 180.000 Toten und 500.000 Verwundeten. Bisher hatte keine der beiden Kriegsparteien offiziell eigene Opferzahlen genannt. Ob die von Selenskyj genannten Zahlen stimmen, lässt sich zunächst nicht unabhängig überprüfen. Sicher ist, dass zu Propagandazwecken auf beiden Seiten auch falsche Zahlen genannt werden.
In einer ersten Reaktion aus Moskau wurde Selenskyj jedenfalls der Lüge bezichtigt. „Dass Selenskyj lügt, erkennt jeder Ukrainer, allen voran die Soldaten“, zitierte die Staatsagentur Tass die Sprecherin des russischen Außenamtes, Maria Sacharowa. Die ukrainischen Behörden blieben bemüht, die wahren Verlustzahlen zu verbergen. Zu den genannten russischen Verlusten äußerte sie sich nicht.
Selenskyj deutet Verrat bei Gegenoffensive im Ukraine-Krieg an
In einem kurzen militärischen Rückblick auf das Vorjahr gestand Selenskyj den Misserfolg der Herbstoffensive seiner Streitkräfte ein. Diese war unter anderem an einer tief gestaffelten russischen Abwehr und tiefen Minenfeldern zerschellt. „Und ich kann es offen zugeben – unsere Gegenoffensive lag schon auf dem Tisch im Kreml, noch ehe sie begann“, deutete er Verrat an.
Daher wolle er auch nicht weiter über die nächsten Pläne der Ukraine reden. „Je weniger Leute davon wissen, desto schneller kommen der Erfolg und unerwartete Ergebnisse für die Russen.“ Allerdings hänge bei der Planung vieles von den Partnern der Ukraine ab. „Aber die Hauptsache ist, überhaupt einen Plan zu haben, sagte Selenskyj. „Und den Plan gibt es.“
Russland erschießt angeblich sieben Kriegsgefangene im Ukraine-Krieg
According to an official statement from Kiev, Russian troops are said to have shot seven Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The execution took place near the Russian-captured city of Bakhmut in the east of the country, Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets reported on Telegram.
He cited a video recording that showed Ukrainian soldiers “with their hands raised” as they surrendered.
“Such an execution is a war crime,” Lubinets continued.
The information from Kiev could not initially be independently verified.
(talk to agencies)