Russian troops in the face of resistance
In Ukraine, Russian troops are facing resistance. Fighting is raging between the two sides on the way to several cities. On Sunday, Russian forces stormed Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, but were repulsed by Ukrainian authorities. They also announced the liberation of the capital from the Russian army. Millions are fleeing Ukraine to escape the war.
In this situation, efforts are being made to isolate Russia economically from various countries. The United States and its Western allies have decided to ban some of its banks from Swift, the latest international financial transaction system. At the same time, they continue to send arms and ammunition to Ukraine. Yesterday, the European Union also announced that it would start supplying components. They are doing this for the first time in history.
However, Russia continues to attack as well as new threats. President Vladimir Putin has instructed the military to prepare a nuclear arsenal. In a meeting with top military officials yesterday, he said that the West had taken “unfriendly steps” towards Russia. They gave illegal bans. The United States has said that it is “unacceptable” for Putin’s move. And NATO chief Lanes Stoltenberg called it dangerous and irresponsible.
Russia’s four-day offensive has killed more than 210 Ukrainian civilians, the country’s government has said. Ukrainian authorities have claimed that 4,300 Russian soldiers were killed. However, Russia has not commented on the matter. They are facing stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces.
Unified resistance
Russia has announced plans to seize the southern Ukrainian cities of Kherson and Nova Kakhovka and the eastern town of Bardiansk. The previous day they had occupied the southeastern Malitopol area. After Russian forces entered Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, the two sides exchanged fire yesterday. Videos of the shootings also spread on social media.
However, regional governor Oleh Sinihubov demanded that Kharkiv resist Russian troops. “Everywhere you look today, the tide of protectionist sentiment is flowing. Armed forces, police, and border guards are working. The whole city is being liberated.
The Ukrainian army has instructed civilians to resist Russian forces. These include destroying signposts, blocking the road with trees, throwing homemade petrol bombs, destroying traffic junctions, and being high alert at night.
A video spread on social media shows ordinary citizens of Ukraine filling bags with sand to create roadblocks. In the video, one is heard saying, ‘I have never seen such unity before. Everyone is filling their bags with sand; everyone is doing their best. Lots of bags here. The glory of Ukraine. “
No more Russian troops in Kiev
Russian forces seized the Hostomail airfield, 15-20 kilometers from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on Thursday’s first day of the offensive. The next day, Friday, Russian troops were seen on the outskirts of Kyiv. In addition to launching missiles and shells at various installations, Russian troops continued to attack. But on Saturday night, Ukrainian troops stopped them, said President Volodymyr Zelensky. “We resisted,” he said in a video message yesterday. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko noted no more Russian troops in the city. The army, law enforcement, and border guards have continued to identify and disarm the saboteurs.
Witnesses said shots and explosions were heard in Kyiv overnight on Saturday. The bomber struck shortly after 9 a.m. when a siren sounded. A Russian missile strike has hit an oil depot in the Vasilkiv region southwest of Kyiv.
Try to isolate Russia.
The United States and its allies are working hard to isolate Russia from the world order. Russia’s airspace has been suspended in most European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Strict sanctions have been imposed on various Russian banks and institutions, including President Putin and his close associates. Swift has now taken steps to ban some of the country’s banks from conducting international financial transactions.
The Belgian-based international organization Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication or Swift is the primary mechanism for fast and secure global transactions. Swift is affiliated with 11,000 banks and financial institutions in more than 200 countries worldwide. Earlier, they excluded only Iran from Swift. As a result, the country’s foreign trade fell by 30 percent.
Various technology companies are also taking action against Russia. Google has blocked the way for Russian state-owned news outlets to make money from ads on RT and other channels’ websites, apps, and YouTube. Facebook has also taken the same step.
Anti-war protests are going on.
People are fleeing Ukraine to escape the war. As of yesterday, the number of refugees had exceeded 368,000, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to a ceasefire with a Russian delegation on the Belarusian border. He decided after a telephone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday.
Meanwhile, anti-war protests continue in the country. Anti-war protests erupted in 44 Russian cities, including Moscow, yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in anti-war demonstrations in the German capital, Berlin.