Ukraine Withstands Russian Aggression on Day Two of Large-Scale War – Live Updates

• Russian missiles continue to strike Ukrainian cities, civilian infrastructure damaged
• the invaders approached Kyiv. Russian Forces managed to capture two Ukrainian military vehicles, but were neutralized by Ukrainian Army

Latest news:

23:50 Statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy

23:00 Few messages from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhny:

Read more: Despite Common Sense Putin Starts Full-Scale War Against Ukraine

- "The second day of the heroic defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion has ended. ... Our air-defense forces are demonstrating a high level of military skill, shooting down modern enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles in the sky. The hundreds of human lives were rescued!"

- "The enemy did not reach the previously set strategic goals. His strength weakens. We are getting stronger!"

- "The plan is simple: see, can - beat! If you can't - give us the knowledge of the enemy!"

22:16 Ukrainian Land Forces: Russian occupiers stopped near Konotop city (Northeastern Ukrain), demand food from locals, maraud local stores, try to buy fuel for their tanks.

21:54 Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov appealed to citizens of Russia, "especially to the wives, mothers girlfriends of Russian officers". He asked them to protest on the streets, demand the end of the war and keep their beloved away from battlefield:

"We know, that now Russia urgently takes to the army complete youngsters. That they want to deploy conscripts without basic military skills. That the contract servicemen are not told where they are going. And what is waiting for them... They are going to be killed from every window, in every Ukrainian city," said the Minister.

Defense Express memo: as a reminder, the day before a whole reconnaissance platoon of Russian forces surrendered. The commander said, they hadn't known, that they would have been deployed to fight in Ukraine.

21:10 Ukrainian Land Forces: Ukrainian Territorial Defense battalions received NLAW anti-tank missile systems.

Defense Express memo: Territorial Defense Forces are currently accepting all volunteers ready the defend their country, regardless of their age. Ukrainian authorities appeal to citizens to fights in every way possible.

20:27 All servicemen this year will receive a 30% salary increase. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov signed an urgent Telegram, which provides for raising the money supply of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from March 1, 2022. It is planned to establish a monthly bonus, increase the allowance for the peculiarities of military service.

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: since the beginning of the invasion Russian military lost 516 armored vehicles of various types, up to 80 tanks, 7 helicopters, 10 jets, up to 20 cruised missiles, over 100 automobile equipment, over 2800 servicemen. "Welcome to hell!" wrote the Commander.

19:15 Mykhailo Podoliak Adviser to the head of the Presidental Office of Ukraine: the key task for Russian forces is to corner Kyiv and the main cities of the east and south of Ukraine, said Podoliak. The official noted, that the Russian aggressor was using tactics including terroristic methods when residential areas were shelled. "To create chaos in the country, and on this background to create an interim administration" are Russia's plans, said the Adviser.

Also, he stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was still in Kyiv. Ukrainian television broadcasted a video featuring Zelenskyy among other senior officials in the streets of Kyiv:

"We are here. We are in Kyiv. We defend Ukraine," wrote the President.

Defense Express memo: the President has stayed in the capital despite Russian tanks already having entered the city. Ukrainian Forces still defend Kyiv and the defense line wasn't broken.

17:58 Government of Ukraine: Minister of Healthcare Viktor Lyashko held a speech. According to him, Russian forces shoot at ambulance brigades. Also, the Russian military used weapons against medical workers at a psychiatric hospitalю All those actions violate the Geneva Conventions. "All of it is unacceptable," he stressed. The minister urged the world's human rights organizations to condemn such violations by the Russian invaders and stop the aggression. Over 50 people got to the hospital last night, he noted.

16:26 Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Ukraine: "The bunkering vessel MILLENNIUM SPIRIT sailing under the Moldovan flag was damaged by the Russian ship in 12 miles on the way to the Pivdennyi Seaport. Details are being confirmed, there is no communication with the vessel," the Commander wrote on Facebook.

Interfax-Ukraine, citing the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine: in the seaport of Pivdenny (Odesa region, Southern Ukraine) the vessel NAMURA QUEEN (carries out seafaring activities under the flag of Panama) is on fire after being hit by a rocket.

"According to the dispatchers of the port of Pivdenny, at anchorage No. 358, a missile hit the stern of the NAMURA QUEEN vessel," the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported. According to the agency, the ship's rudder propeller group was damaged, and a fire started.

Ukrinform: The rocket was launched by Russian occupiers. P&O STAR tugboat arrived at the scene and is currently putting out the fire. The situation is under control.

15:26 Vitaliy Klitschko, head of the Kyiv City State Administration: "The situation is difficult and tense. Today, Russian army attacked Kyiv. After 4 AM missile strikes hit residential areas of Kyiv. A residential building was severely damaged because of the rocket shrapnel... Four residents were wounded. Also, a civilian – an elderly man – was hurt due to the Russian tank running into a private automobile. He is in the intensive care at the hospital in a serious condition," wrote the official on Facebook.

"The city has entered defense phase. Shots and explosions ar heard in some areas of the capital. Ukrainian servicemen are neutralizing Russin sabotage groups," said the head of Kyiv.

14:15 Ukrainian Air Force: the MiG-29 of Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed Russian the Su-35 aircraft fighter. Video provided by the Air Force of Ukraine:

14:01 Ministry of Internal Affairs: the ministry urged Ukrainians to report when and where they see special marks on the ground – these marks are used by the Russian Armed Forces as a destination point for landing groups. MIA created a chatbot with a geolocation option to collect the reports and urged citizens to spoil the marks whenever they see one – wipe off or cover with dirt.

13:42 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a speech. He condemned the "indecisiveness of politicians" in Europe with concrete steps to help Ukraine deter aggression and addressed Europeans to fight side by side with Ukrainian people – be it public demonstrations of solidarity to push their leaders to approve decisive steps, or literal participation in combat.

13:16 Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: 412 shellings recorded since the fighting started. 2 children were killed by Russian aggressors. Also, the heavy machinery of Russian Forces lifted a layer of radioactive dust in the Chornobyl zone. That caused an increase in radiation levels in the area.

11:09 Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine: Territorial Defense removed age restrictions on joining the forces. All procedures have been simplified. "Today Ukraine needs everyone," written in the statement.

6:18 State Border Guard Service of Ukraine: "At 4.25 enemy attacked border guard unit in Zaporizzia region by rockets. As a result of attack there are casualties."

The Pentagon: Russia has launched at least 160 short-range, medium-range and cruise missiles into Ukraine from land, sea and air, and more Russian troops have entered Ukraine. The missiles are aimed at military bases and airfields around Kharkiv and Kyiv – according to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

"Again, there is no way to verify how accurate they are or what casualties they are causing," said the official.

05:50 Russia already lost around 800 men, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reports. Enemy losses also include seven planes, six helicopters, 130 armored fighting vehicles, and over 30 tanks.

At least 10 russian occupiers taken captive by Ukrainian military

At least 10 russian occupiers taken captive by the Ukrainian military.

03:10 President Volodymyr Zelensky established commander-in-chief wartime headquarters. The President signed a decree on February 24 to form the military administration and approved its personnel as Russian forces continue to launch attacks on Ukraine.

02:10 13 border guards were killed defending Ukraine’s Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island) in the Black Sea. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the border guards will be awarded the Hero of Ukraine award posthumously.

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 also said thatUkrainian forces suffered losses on the first day of Russia’s attack – 137 Ukrainians were killed, 10 of the killed Ukrainie’s defenders were military officers, while 316 people were injured.

Background:

February, 24 – Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine, Reuters report. A number of cities of Ukraine suffered a missile attack. Missiles hit several military facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro cities. "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression," wrote Ukrainian MoF Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.

"Today, on 24 of February, at 5.00 AM the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched an intensive shelling of our units on east, delivered missile/bomb strikes on airfields in Boryspil, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Chuhuiv, Kramatorsk, Chornobaivka, as well as on military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook: "At the same time the aggressor started artillery shelling of the areas and settlements along the state border and administrative boundary with temporarily occupied territory of Crimea."

National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, imposed martial law across the country, the decision was approved by the Ukrainian government during an emergency session.

Earlier Putin recognized the Russia-backed regions of Eastern Ukraine as "independent" entities, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The executive order on the recognition of those illegal formations included a point on military cooperation and "peacekeeping" functions of the Russian Army in those regions. The next day Putin ordered his military to enter Donbas and asked the government for permission to use Russian Forces outside the country – and received it shortly after.

The first day was unsuccessful for the Russian Army: it suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment. Nevertheless, they managed to take control of some areas. Ukrainian Army continues to defend its country. The Presidental Office in Ukraine said, that the Ukrainian military has successfully ruined Russia's plan to invade the country on the first day.

Fightings in Hostomel, where a strategically significant Antonov Airport is situated, were one of the toughest. Over 30 Russian helicopters and other aircraft were engaged in the attack, but Ukrainian Army managed to regain control of the area.

Russian invaders tried to break to Chornobyl, where the nuclear reactor disaster once happened, and the collectors of dangerous radioactive waste are situated. They were able to take control of the area.

The whole reconnaissance platoon of the Russian 34th Motorized Rifle Brigade surrendered to Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Read more: Ukraine Under Russian Attack – Live Feed