Russia invasion’s number one target, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, rallies resistance
Ukraine’s military – and citizens – are being emboldened by their president, a former comedian who continues to elude Putin.
Ukrainian forces and a homegrown army of reservists have repelled Russian attempts to capture the capital Kyiv.
After a night of fierce fighting, the Ukraine 40th Brigade repelled a significant Russian landing operation at an airfield south of Kyiv, downing a Russian military plane full of paratroopers.
In a Kyiv street, Russian advances were keep at bay by Ukrainian troops, aided by unpaid volunteers.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been hailed a hero in his country for remaining in Kyiv while the city was under attack. Despite a US government offer to help spirit him out of the country, Zelensky has remained defiant, despite knowing he is Russia’s number one target.
A former comedian whose switch to politics was initially considered a bit of a joke, Mr Zelensky has emerged from this most serious of crises as an inspiring, fiercely loyal leader.
After Ukrainian forces held firm in the face of a Russian attack on Kyiv yesterday (AEDT), Mr Zelensky recorded a fresh video outside his office to dispel rumours he had fled the capital.
“I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth,” he said.
“A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is underway.
“Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this. This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!”
Throughout the night, the third of the war, Russian forces attempted to destroy a power station at Troieschyna and to control the airport in Vasylkiv.
They successfully destroyed a government communications centre, the Ukraine intelligence office, SSSCI reported.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia has begun deploying reserve units on the Ukraine borders and continued to launch air strikes on airfields, on Ukrainian troops in the country’s east and in the region of Kyiv.
Air strikes were also reported in Sumy, Poltava and Maiupol, while from the Black Sea, the Russians launched naval cruise missiles.
Ukrainian authorities said the command of the Russian aviation was not in Russian territory but in Belarus, from where air attacks were emanating.
During the night, Poland delivered a convoy of ammunition to Ukraine.
“We support Ukraine, we stand in solidarity and we firmly oppose Russian aggression,” Poland’s defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak said:
Germany has also pledged to Ukraine 1000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” class surface-to-air missiles, reversing its longstanding policy of banning weapons exports to conflict zones.
The Ukrainian military said that it had destroyed 14 Russian planes, eight helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 armoured vehicles, 15 artillery pieces and one BUK system. It claims 3500 Russians have been killed with 200 taken prisoner.
Russia has not confirmed any losses.
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has been a longstanding critic of Putin, was leading its website with a graphic photograph of a dead Russian soldier in the snow next to a disabled tank.
A baby was born in Kyiv subway, now being used as a bomb shelter, overnight on Feb. 25.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 26, 2022
Amid ongoing air raids as part of Russia’s war against Ukraine, people all across the country have been taking shelter underground and in subway stations. pic.twitter.com/G0RalS98EL
In turn, Ukrainians rallied around a new mother who gave birth to a baby girl in a Kyiv subway overnight while seeking refuge from the Russian advances. The Kyiv Independent was running a poll as to what she should be named, with “Hope” popular. Another favourite is “Iryna”, in honour of Iryna Tsvila, of the National Guards Rapid Response Brigade, who was killed helping to defend Kyiv.
The poll, however, came too late. The baby’s parents had already called her Mia.
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