Last news • War in Ukraine
Plus 1150 occupants, 69 artillery techniques and eight tanks: Basic Employees updates information on enemy losses
Over the previous day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eradicated 1150 Russian servicemen and destroyed a major quantity of kit. The occupiers' losses embody 8 tanks, 69 artillery techniques and 141 UAVs.
America abstained from signing a press release by members of the World Commerce Group (WTO) condemning Russian aggression on Feb. 26, breaking from its Western allies.
A complete of 45 members, together with Ukraine, agreed to the WTO assertion.
"The choice to not co-sponsor was made consistent with our place within the United Nations Safety Council and U.N. Common Meeting earlier this week", a U.S. official instructed Reuters after the choice.
The assertion, proposed throughout Ukraine’s Commerce Coverage Evaluate, emphasised members' issues surrounding the "penalties of (the struggle's) destruction for Ukraine and for international commerce," whereas explicitly naming Russia because the aggressor.
The transfer aligns with latest U.S. efforts to melt language on Russia in worldwide statements.
The WTO settlement comes simply days after the U.S. voted towards a decision on the UN Common Meeting on Feb. 24 condemning Russia's full-scale invasion, with 93 nations voting in favor and 18 towards.
The UN decision, drafted by Kyiv and supported by all EU states besides Hungary, reaffirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity. It explicitly named Russia because the aggressor.
On the identical day, the Common Meeting handed a separate U.S. decision marking the third anniversary of the invasion. That decision additionally acquired 93 votes in favor however averted immediately calling Russia the aggressor. Ukraine abstained from voting on the U.S. model.
The shift in U.S. language extends throughout worldwide establishments. The Monetary Occasions reported that the U.S. opposed referring to Russia because the aggressor in a G7 assertion commemorating the invasion's anniversary.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia whereas adopting more and more hostile rhetoric towards Kyiv.
He lately referred to as President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and falsely claimed Ukraine started the struggle — earlier than later conceding that "Russia attacked, however they shouldn’t have let him assault."
Regardless of the growing rift, Kyiv and Washington agreed to a mineral deal settlement, with Zelensky seemingly headed to Washington for a signing ceremony on Feb. 28.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent
98 fight engagements occurred within the frontline: enemy massively assaults within the Pokrovsk sector – Basic Employees
Over the day, 98 fight engagements occurred, the enemy launched 69 air and 4 missile strikes. Within the Pokrovsk sector, the enemy made 33 assault assaults, dropping 321 occupants and a big quantity of kit.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 26 formally dismissed Brigadier Common Andrii Hnatov as commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, after appointing him deputy chief of the Common Workers in January.
Hnatov has held the place since June 26, 2024, changing Yurii Sodol.
In late January, Zelensky introduced that Hnatov could be despatched to the Common Workers to function a deputy chief, saying, "his activity is a brand new degree of coaching of operational headquarters and a better high quality of interplay between the headquarters and the entrance."
"We mentioned these and another modifications with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky," add that "duties have been set in any respect ranges," the president stated on the time.
Whereas holding the place of Joint Forces commander, Hnatov additionally served because the commander of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group.
When asserting Hnatov could be moved to the Common Workers in January, Zelensky appointed Main Common Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine's Floor Forces, to guide the Khortytsia operational-strategic group.
Hnatov beforehand served because the deputy commander of the Southern Operational Command.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Italy says a simply peace is unattainable with out safety ensures for Ukraine
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated {that a} simply peace in Ukraine is feasible provided that NATO offers safety ensures. Meloni emphasised that that is the simplest method to stop a brand new Russian invasion.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Feb. 26 that Ukraine won’t be allowed to hitch NATO as a part of a future peace settlement with Russia and dominated out lifting sanctions on Moscow earlier than a deal is reached.
"You possibly can neglect about (NATO membership). That's in all probability the explanation the entire thing began," Trump stated throughout a White Home cupboard assembly when requested what concessions Ukraine ought to make in a settlement.
Trump has repeatedly blamed President Joe Biden for upsetting Russia's full-scale invasion by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations. Russian propaganda usually cites Ukraine's potential alliance membership as a justification for the battle.
Ukraine formally utilized to hitch NATO in September 2022. Whereas the alliance declared in 2024 that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible," no formal invitation has been prolonged.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has known as NATO membership the "least expensive" attainable safety assure for Ukraine.
Requested whether or not sanctions reduction for Russia can be a part of peace negotiations, Trump stated, "No. I need to see if we make a deal (to finish Russia's battle towards Ukraine) first."
Washington has imposed a number of rounds of sanctions on Russia because the begin of the full-scale invasion, focusing on banks, power exports, and dual-use items.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio beforehand indicated that sanctions reduction may very well be a part of negotiations however insisted the U.S. would keep restrictions a minimum of till an settlement is reached.
Trump's feedback come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to go to Washington on Feb. 28 to signal a minerals settlement with the U.S.
Air alert declared within the capital and a variety of areas
An air alert has been declared in Kyiv and a number of other areas because of the menace of enemy assault drones. Air protection methods are in place in Kyiv area, and individuals are urged to take shelter.
Ukraine focused key Russian navy and industrial websites in occupied Crimea and Krasnodar Krai, placing the Saky and Kacha navy airfields and the Tuapse oil refinery, Ukraine's Basic Workers reported on Feb. 26.
The operation, performed by Ukraine's Unmanned Programs Forces and navy intelligence company (HUR) in coordination with different models, aimed to degrade Russia's air operations and logistical capabilities.
Saky and Kacha airfields, situated in occupied Crimea, are utilized by Russia to manage airspace over the Black Sea and to launch strikes on Ukrainian territory.
The Tuapse oil refinery, with an annual processing capability of 12 million tons, is important in supplying gasoline to the Russian navy.
No less than 40 explosions have been reported close to the refinery, with claims of injury to infrastructure, in response to the Basic Workers.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t independently confirm these claims.
Russia's Protection Ministry claimed its air forces shot down 128 Ukrainian drones in a single day on Feb. 26. It reported downing 83 drones over Krasnodar Krai, 30 over occupied Crimea, and a number of other others over the Azov and Black Seas, in addition to in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts.
"Strikes on navy and strategic services concerned within the Russian armed aggression in opposition to Ukraine will proceed," the Basic Workers stated.
Kyiv has intensified strikes on Russian fossil gasoline infrastructure, aiming to disrupt income sources funding Moscow's battle effort.
Ukraine usually conducts deep strikes on navy and industrial targets in Russia, predominantly utilizing domestically developed drones.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Zelensky: Ukrainian Armed Forces are “nearly used to” Kursk area
President Zelensky listened to a report by Commander-in-Chief Syrsky on operations within the Kursk area of Russia. The Ukrainian army has been efficiently holding a buffer zone on the aggressor's territory for nearly seven months.
Russian airstrikes on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast killed at the least 5 civilians and injured 11 others on Feb. 26, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
In keeping with Ukraine's Nationwide Police, a 47-year-old girl and 4 males — aged 56, 57, and 75, with another but to be recognized — had been killed.
The injured embrace 5 ladies and 6 males, starting from 33 to 83 years outdated.
Filashkin mentioned Russian forces dropped three guided bombs on town and its outskirts. The assault broken or destroyed at the least 52 civilian websites, together with greater than 20 residential buildings.
Kostiantynivka, situated about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of the front-line metropolis of Chasiv Yar, had a prewar inhabitants of round 67,000.
Russian forces have commonly focused settlements in Donetsk Oblast with artillery and airstrikes, typically leading to civilian casualties.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova