Ukraine’s air defense downs a Russian transporter carrying paratroopers.
A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 was shot close to the city of Vasylkiv south of Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s top general Valeriy Zaluzhniy. The aircraft could carry nearly 150 troops.
Olena Goncharova
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Russia blocks UN Security Council resolution condemning invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has used its veto power to block a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine. The vote was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions. China, which has declined to criticize Russia’s attack, was among the abstentions.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he's ready to broker a ceasefire.
Macron said he is positioning himself as the mediator between Russia and Ukraine for a potential ceasefire agreement. “I think it is my responsibility [...] to take such initiatives when they are requested by Ukraine, and then, while condemning, while sanctioning, while continuing to decide and act, to leave this path open so that the day when the conditions can be met, we can obtain a cessation of hostilities for the Ukrainian people."
NATO will hold an extraordinary virtual summit on Feb. 25, 16:00 Kyiv time to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
France will give Ukraine 300 million euros in aid and military equipment, Le Monde reports.
France will also accelerate its deployment of troops to Romania, and will send a military contingent to Estonia to take part in the protection of the Baltic sky.
Patreon deleted the page of Ukraine-based Come Back Alive charity.
“The page was deleted without any warnings... at a very difficult time for Ukraine. It is unknown where more than $250,000 went,” the charity's statement said. The foundation is primarily fundraising for Ukraine’s military, to aid soldiers and volunteers with supplies, including equipment, drones, personal body protection and specialized software.
13 border guards were killed defending Ukraine’s Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island) in the Black Sea.
The island, one of the country’s southernmost settlements, was eventually captured by the Russian forces, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said in a statement late on Feb 24. In his video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the border guards will be awarded the Hero of Ukraine award posthumously.
Poland and Baltic countries trigger consultations under NATO article 4.
A few of NATO member states, including Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have triggered NATO Article Four to launch consultations within the alliance over their security concerns. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represented a “threat to the whole of Europe,” the Estonian government said in a statement on Thursday. Ukraine shares a border with four NATO member states. Article 4 of the NATO treaty states that “the Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”
European Commission President says they will not let Putin tear down Europe's security architecture.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the European Union’s executive branch, said the bloc condemned Russia’s “barbaric” invasion of Ukraine and the “cynical arguments to justify it.” She added that E.U. leaders meeting on Feb. 24 will present fresh sanctions targeting “strategic sectors” of the Russian economy. She said E.U. sanctions will block “the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia. We will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition we will freeze Russian assets in the E.U. and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.”
Ukraine’s Interior Ministry says the villages of Horodyshche and Milove in Luhansk Oblast were captured by Russian forces.
The Ministry also reported that in western Ukrainian cities of Lviv, Lutsk and Chernivtsi the air raid sirens were wailing. Russia also appears to have hit airfields in Kherson and as far west as Ivano-Frankivsk, which is near the border with Poland.
Russian ruble plummets to record low against the dollar as Putin declares war on Ukraine.
Russia’s ruble plunged on Feb. 24 as the country’s military invaded Ukraine. The dollar was up more than 10% against the Russian currency, sending the ruble to its lowest level ever against the dollar. The ruble was trading at 89.8903 to the dollar at 8:40 a.m. in Moscow, with the greenback up 10.45% against it from the previous day.
Ukraine imposes nationwide martial law.
In a video address early on Feb. 24, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed nationwide martial law. Zelensky calls on Ukrainians to remain calm and stay home if possible. “Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards. There were blasts heard in many cities of Ukraine. We’re introducing martial law on the whole territory of our country. A minute ago I had a conversation with President Biden. The US have already started uniting international support. Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defense and security is working."
Ukrainian ambassador to the UN urges Russian chair to step down, calls on Security Council to 'stop the war.'
The U.N. Security Council emergency meeting ended with a harsh exchange between the Ukrainian ambassador to the UN and his Russian counterpart. The Ukrainian ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya called on Russia to relinquish its chair as president of the council and said, looking at the Russian ambassador: "There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador.” After a few minutes of silence in the council, the Russian ambassador said, “We aren’t being aggressive against the Ukrainian people, but against the juncture in power in Kyiv.” Then he declared the meeting adjourned.
Biden warns that the world will hold Russia accountable as Putin declared war on Ukraine.
“The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," reads the statement. "Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. confirms Russia's readiness on the border.
As Russia has decided to carry out what it calls a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., confirmed reports that Russia has closed airspace near Donbas, and moved troops into combat positions. "We call on Russia to return to your borders," she says, adding "How many Russian lives Putin will sacrifice for his ambitions?"
The U.N. Security Council meets over Ukraine.
While opening the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres directly addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin. "President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance."
US State Department warns of Russian false flags.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price reiterated late on Feb. 23 the US warnings about potential Russian false flags that Moscow could use to justify an invasion. “Beware of the following Kremlin disinformation campaigns seeking to justify military action - no evidence supports any of these false claims," Price tweeted.
Australia closes its embassy in Ukraine.
Australia has temporarily closed its embassy operations in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv “due to the increased risk,” Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said on Feb. 22. The move followed the temporary suspension of Australia's embassy in Kyiv a week earlier.
Ukraine's ambassador to UN says his country's borders will remain 'unchangeable.'
Sergiy Kyslytsya slammed Russia's decision to recognize the independence of the Kremlin-backed separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Kyslytsya also said that "the U.N. is sick." "It’s been hit by a virus spread by the Kremlin. Will it succumb to this virus? It’s in the hands of the members. Russia copy pasted word by word the decree for Georgia, the copying machine in Kremlin works very well. Who is next from the United Nations?" he said, holding up a copy of Russia’s document that recognized Georgia’s "breakaway" Abkhazia region in 2008.
Several nations condemn Russia at UN Security Council meeting.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres sharply criticized Russia's actions to send troops to eastern Ukraine during the council meeting. “The decision of the Russian Federation [is] a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” Guterres said. France’s U.N. ambassador Nicolas de Rivière said “Russia is choosing the path of confrontation,” while Britain’s ambassador, Barbara Woodward, added that “Russia has brought us to the brink. We urge Russia to step back.”
UN Security Council meets over Ukraine.
The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting late on Feb. 21 at Ukraine’s request after Russia sent troops to eastern Ukraine. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield rebuffed what Russian President Vladimir Putin called a "peacekeeping operation" in Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. "This is nonsense, we know who they are," Thomas-Greenfield said.
Ukrainian bakery in Toronto vandalized with anti-Ukrainian graffiti
A bakery in Toronto was vandalized with anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian graffiti overnight on Feb. 8 while tensions remain high on Ukraine's border with Russia. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) released a statement later that day in regards to hate speech that was spray-painted overnight at Future Bakery, owned by Borys Wrzesnewskyj,
Canada’s Ukrainian communities rally in support of Ukraine
Members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress rallied across Canada on Feb. 6 with the support of its partner organizations to call attention to Ukraine's fight against the potential for a further Russian invasion.
Canadian military veteran wants his country to act on Ukraine
Edmonton, CANADA — When Andriy Tovstiuk joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2016, he knew exactly why he was doing it: to get on Operation UNIFIER in his ancestral home, Ukraine. Three years later, his goal was realized when he was deployed to Ukraine as a linguist working at three Non-Commissioned
Olena Goncharova: Ukraine is not 'the Ukraine' and why it matters now
As my home country of Ukraine once again finds itself caught in the glare of the international media spotlight during its tense standoff with Russia, something catches my eye lately: The seeming inability by some respected news outlets to correctly name Ukraine. Specifically, the addition of that pesky definite article:
Olena Goncharova: Canada must stand on guard for Ukraine
This opinion was originally published at New Canadian Media. It's been updated to include latest developments. Canada’s Federal government took a good step by deploying 60 more personnel to join 200 troops already on the ground, which came as part of a $340 million Canadian (US$268 million) commitment
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