Europe - Ukraine - Russia: Russia has ordered "peacekeeping forces" into far eastern Ukraine - February 21+ - not a political thread - new refugee crisis in the making? Foreign Minister says full assault in progress

[sharon sanders]

Not a political post. Warlike aggression is a threat to public health. Please keep all posts on this thread to the basic facts as they develop.

This situation is not clear and the facts are not established.



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Putin orders troops into eastern Ukraine on ‘peacekeeping duties’


Russian deployment follows decision to recognise territories in south-east will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation

Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to enter the Russian-controlled areas of southeast Ukraine following a decision to recognise the territories as independent states.

The decision to dispatch his troops to perform “peacekeeping duties” will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation of the region and likely trigger tough sanctions and a Ukrainian military response.

The deployment was revealed in the text of two treaty documents that Putin signed with the leaders of the separatist republics on Tuesday.


more....

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/21/ukraine-putin-decide-recognition-breakaway-states-today

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MOSCOW, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.

Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Kevin Liffey, Peter Graff, Frank Jack Daniel and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Grant McCool

more...

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/kremlin-says-no-concrete-plans-summit-with-biden-over-ukraine-2022-02-21/

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-t...ent-on-ukraine

WHO/Europe statement on Ukraine

Copenhagen, 22 February 2022

WHO, along with other United Nations agencies, joins the United Nations Secretary-General in expressing its deepest concern over the escalating crisis in eastern Ukraine.
The right to health is at the centre of humanitarian response. The WHO Country Office in Ukraine, together with the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine and in coordination with WHO/Europe, continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in providing health support to meet the needs of populations in affected areas.
The protection of health systems is paramount, particularly during these challenging times, to ensure timely delivery of essential health support and services, contain the spread of COVID-19, and maintain poliomyelitis (polio) prevention and response.
Ensuring the health and well-being of all people lies at the core of WHO’s mandate and commitments in all situations, including humanitarian crises and conflicts.

[Pathfinder]

Security Council holds emergency meeting on Ukraine: Major conflict must be ‘prevented at all costs’

21 February 2022
Peace and Security

With “great concern and sadness”, the UN political and peacebuilding chief opened an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday night about the “unfolding dangerous situation in and around Ukraine”.

Ukraine requested an urgent meeting of the Council following the announcement by President Vladimir Putin that Russia would officially recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent states.

“The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs,” Rosemary A. DiCarlo said, reminding Council members that Russia’s decision was “in violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and risks triggering regional and global repercussions.

“We also regret the order today to deploy Russian troops into Eastern Ukraine, reportedly on a ‘peacekeeping mission’”, she added, recalling that the developments followed the decision to order “a mass evacuation of civilian residents of Donetsk and Luhansk into the Russian Federation”.

Sweeping violations
Ms. DiCarlo also raised concern over escalating shelling across the contact line, which have reportedly lead to a number of casualties.

She cited the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in counting 3,231 ceasefire violations in the Donbas area from 18-20 February: 1,073 ceasefire violations, including 926 explosions in the Luhansk region; and 2,158 ceasefire violations, including 1,100 explosions, in Donetsk region.

“We remind all involved of their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and human rights law”, underscored the senior UN official.

Although the UN is not able to verify the numerous claims made by various actors, she expressed anxiety over reports of civilian casualties, the targeting of critical civilian infrastructure, and ongoing evacuations.

On the brink
Moreover, Ms. DiCarlo flagged possible implications that the latest developments will have on existing negotiation frameworks.

“Amid the current risks and uncertainty, it is even more important to pursue dialogue”, she said, underscoring that “negotiation is the only way” to address the differences.

Before the any further escalation, she called on all relevant actors to focus their efforts on an immediate cessation of hostilities.

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and actions and statements that may worsen the situation must be avoided”, she said.

The UN political chief explained that over the past few weeks, key actors have been engaged in “intense diplomatic efforts” to avert a new eruption of conflict in the heart of Europe.

‘Critical’ time ahead
Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the UN’s staunch commitment to Ukraine – a founding member of the United Nations – as it continues to pursue the democratic reform agenda 30 years after independence.

“During this difficult period, we are committed to stay and deliver and remain fully operational in Ukraine, including in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The safety and security of all our staff is of utmost concern to the Organization and must be respected by all parties”, she stated.

In closing, Ms. DiCarlo described as “critical”, the next hours and days, assuring the Council that the Secretary-General would continue to work towards a resolution to the current crisis.

Ukraine stands firm against Russia
UN Permanent Ambassador of Ukraine Sergei Kislitsa speaks to the emergency meeting of the Security Council on Ukraine, 21 February 2022.
Taking off his face mask to speak, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergei Kislitsa said Russia was a “virus” for instigating war and chaos for eight years: “The United Nations is sick. That’s a matter of fact. It’s been hit by the virus spread by Kremlin.”

He went on to say that Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders have been and will remain unchangeable “regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation,” and added: “We are on our land. We owe nothing to anyone. And we will not give away anything to anyone. We are not afraid of anything or anyone.”

Russia to West: Do not make situation worse
Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia (left) of the Russian Federation chairs the emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
After “a number of very emotional statements, categorical assessments and far-reaching conclusions”, Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya said he would not react but instead concentrate on “how to avoid war.”

He informed the Member States that in accordance with agreements “signed today by Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics…the functions of maintaining peace in their territories will be carried out by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”.

Mr. Nebenzya also urged Western colleagues to “come to their senses, put aside their emotions and not make the situation worse”.

‘Swift and severe’ repercussions may lie ahead
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States addresses the emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called President Vladimir Putin’s move the basis for Russia to create "a pretext" to further invade Ukraine, the consequences of which would be felt far beyond that country's borders.

She said that Mr. Putin is “testing our resolve” and wants to “demonstrate that through force, he can make a farce of the UN”.

Ms. Thomas-Greenfield upheld that the US would take further measures to hold Russia accountable for this “clear violation of international law”, stressing that should Russia further invade Ukraine, the response will be “swift and severe.”

Russia's decision violates Ukraine’s territorial integrity

Secretary-General António Guterres is “greatly concerned” by the Russian Federation’s decision on the status of certain areas of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, his Spokesperson said.

In a statement issued by Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief calls for “the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015)”.

Moreover, Mr. Guterres considered Russia’s decision to be “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”.

Cease hostilities, immediately
Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country’s borders.

The Secretary-General is urging all relevant actors to focus their efforts on “ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine and prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues peacefully”.

Mr. Dujarric assured that in line with the relevant General Assembly resolutions, the UN remains fully supportive of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.

The UN chief was planning to make and official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in light of the deteriorating situation regarding Ukraine, he has cancelled the mission.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112412

[sharon sanders]

This is from a legacy media but they generally get the basic facts correct.


Russian Troops Pour Into Ukraine Breakaway Region; Germany Halts Nord Stream 2

Western nations to punish Russia for recognizing two Russian-controlled statelets in Ukraine as independent, as Kyiv considers cutting diplomatic ties with Moscow


By
Yaroslav Trofimov
in Kyiv, Ukraine,
Thomas Grove
in Novoluhanske, Ukraine, and
Andrew Restuccia
in Washington
Updated Feb. 22, 2022 12:02 pm ET


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged calm as Russian troops poured into Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region and Western nations announced measures to punish Moscow for recognizing two Russian-controlled statelets there as independent, signaling the potential rising economic price on Russia for further aggression.

Germany said it halted moves to open the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine in exporting natural gas to Europe.

more...

https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-halts-nord-stream-2-after-putin-orders-troops-to-ukrainian-breakaway-regions-11645529981

[sharon sanders]

Ukraine calls up reservists, declares emergency amid crisis with Russia: updates

Feb. 23, 2022

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/23/russia-ukraine-invasion-crisis-update/6906567001/

[sharon sanders]

Europe is not listed....yet....



THE 10 LARGEST REFUGEE CRISES TO FOLLOW IN 2022

December 18, 2021

https://www.concernusa.org/story/largest-refugee-crises/

[sharon sanders]

CNN teams in multiple Ukrainian cities hear blasts. Watch CNN

[sharon sanders]

Dmytro Kuleba

@DmytroKuleba
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.

[sharon sanders]

As usual - use at least two sources for your news. The entire world's media is covering this. I will not put links here. They are abundant.

[sharon sanders]

Jens Stoltenberg

@jensstoltenberg
I strongly condemn #Russia’s reckless attack on #Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. This is a grave breach of international law & a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. #NATO Allies will meet to address Russia’s renewed aggression.

nato.int
NATO Secretary General statement on Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine
I strongly condemn Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in...
10:51 PM · Feb 23, 2022·Twitter for iPhone

[Emily]

https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/202...ukraine-onlain
01:00, 24 February 2022
Situation in Kiev

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has put hospitals and polyclinics on a tight schedule. Kindergartens and schools will be closed from today. Travel in public transport in Kiev became free.

"Those who are not involved in the work of critical infrastructure, stay at home and be ready to proceed to the shelter at the first request," he said.

According to The Insider (the publication is listed by the Ministry of Justice as a foreign agent), there are many kilometers of traffic jams on the way out of Kiev.
https://novayagazeta.ru/static/records/126ccd660e9e401dae49c070b0f44e45.webp (Photo Фото: Ольга Мусафирова / «Новая»)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

00:55, 24 February 2022
Information from the Ukrainian side on casualties.

Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister, claims that one person was killed and another was wounded after shelling in Brovary, Kyiv region.


00:32, 24 February 2022
Martial law in Ukraine - what it means

Prohibition of amendments to the Constitution, elections, referendums.
Censorship is allowed.
Introduction of labor conscription for able-bodied persons is possible.
Political parties whose activities threaten the sovereignty of Ukraine could be banned.
Property could be seized for the needs of the defense.
Evacuation of the population from dangerous areas.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Emily]

https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2022/02/24/putin-obiavil-spetsoperatsiiu-v-ukraine-onlain

05:58, 24 February 2022
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine announced the first two lost settlements

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine announced the first two lost settlements - the villages of Melovoye and Gorodyshche in the Lugansk region.

Summary of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine: Khmelnytskyi region: fire of military depots as a result of shelling in the town of Starokonstantinov.

Dnipropetrovsk region: fires in the towns of Krasnopolye and Marganets, shelling of military warehouses.

Vinnitsa region: the city of Tulchin and the village of Bohan - fire in military units.

Lutsk region: a TV tower was blown up.

Kyiv region: fire in a military unit near the city.

05:58, 24 February 2022
Summary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that today, February 24, at 5:00, the Russian Armed Forces "began intensive shelling" of units in eastern Ukraine, and launched missile and bomb strikes on the airports of Borispol, Ozernoye, Kulbakine, Chuguev, Kramatorsk, Chornobaivtsi. Artillery shelling of Ukrainian territory and settlements along the state border was launched, the AFU claims.

The information about the landing of Russian troops in Odessa does not correspond to reality, the agency added.

06:04, 24 February 2022.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that five planes and a helicopter of the attacking side had been shot down in the combat zone. Before that, the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation Headquarters reported that it had shot down a Russian Su, the UNIAN news agency reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry claims that the Ukrainian border guards "do not offer any resistance to Russian units" and that "the air defense assets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been suppressed." The military infrastructure of the airbases of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been "eaten up", the Russian ministry said.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Emily]

This is what the Russian population is hearing:

https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2022/02/24/my-budem-stremitsia-k-demilitarizatsii-i-denatsifikatsii-ukrainy-putin-obiavil-o-nachale-spetsoperatsii-v-ukraine-news

"We will strive for demilitarization and denazification." Putin announces start of special operation in Ukraine

02:46, February 24, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin began an emergency address to the nation at around 5:30 am Moscow time amid the escalation in Donbass. The address is broadcast by Russia-24.

"In accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council <...> I have decided to conduct a special military operation <...> We will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. <...> Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukraine," Putin said.

He added that Russia intends to bring to justice those involved in "crimes" against civilians in Ukraine.

The president said that NATO had "crossed a red line" by expanding eastward, and that the militarization of Ukraine threatens Russia as a state.

He added that the Ukrainian authorities, in his opinion, "have seized power and are holding it through decorative electoral procedures."

"It was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare, this genocide of millions of people who hope only for Russia, only for you and me," Putin explained his motive for starting the military operation.

He also reiterated the theme of nationalism in Ukraine and said that radical Nazis "will go to war in Crimea, too. Putin stressed that Russia respects the sovereignty of post-Soviet countries and cited the deployment of CSTO troops to Kazakhstan as an example. At the same time, he said, Russia cannot exist when there are certain threats coming from Ukraine.

Putin turned to the topic of the fight against terrorism in the Caucasus and Syria. "The same thing is happening now.

You and I have simply been left with no other opportunity to defend Russia, our people, other than the one we will have to use today. Circumstances require us to act decisively and immediately," he said.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[sharon sanders]

A smaller explainer of why Russia would invade Ukraine. As usual, it is about $$$.


snip

"To understand the Kremlin’s motivations in regard to its smaller, and relatively impoverished, neighbor, the key fact to know is that Russia supplies 40% of Europe’s heating-fuel supplies—namely, natural gas.

To get it there, Russia relies mostly on two aging pipeline networks, one of which runs through Belarus and the other through Ukraine. For this, Russia pays Ukraine around $2 billion a year in transit fees.

Russia is a petrostate and relies on oil and natural-gas sales for about 60% of its export revenue and 40% of its total budget expenditures. Any crimp on Russia’s ability to access the European market is a threat to its economic security.

In the Kremlin’s view, a switch of allegiance by Kiev, or Kyiv by Ukrainian preference, to the West—be it an economic association agreement with the European Union like Ukraine was on the verge of signing in 2014, or even the hint of joining NATO—is close to an act of war."

https://www.marketwatch.com/articles/russia-ukraine-putin-51645634511?mod=mw_more_headlines

[sharon sanders]

i newspaper

@theipaper
·
3h
People flee Kyiv after Putin declares war and explosions are heard across Ukraine

inews.co.uk
People flee Kyiv after Putin declares war and explosions are heard across Ukraine
People are heading out of the city after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a military operation had begun in Ukraine