An February 24, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. In the north, east and south of the country, numerous targets were attacked within a few hours. The capital Kyiv was also attacked from the air and with rockets. NATO observers expect that Russia could increasingly attack civilian targets in the coming days. Ukrainian observers report numerous civilian casualties. Russia, on the other hand, claims to only attack military installations. The United Nations speaks of more than 100 so far, Ukraine reported 2,000 dead civilians on Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing.
This article is updated daily. You can also find up-to-date information in the Ukraine live blog of the FAZ
March 2, 2022
Large majority for UN resolution condemning Russian attack
With a historically large majority, the world community condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine. 141 countries voted on Wednesday at the emergency session of the UN General Assembly in New York for a resolution calling for the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the neighboring country – far more than in previous conflicts of a similar nature. 35 countries abstained and only 5 opposed the draft text . The three-day emergency session was only the eleventh meeting of its kind at the UN in more than 70 years.
Last week, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on the Ukraine war. However, no state alone can prevent a decision in the General Assembly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said after the vote, “Today’s resolution reflects a key truth: the world wants an end to the enormous human suffering in Ukraine.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the “contrast between right and wrong” is still there never been so clear.
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March 2, 2022
Attacks on Kharkiv and Mariupol
Cities continue to be attacked in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces are conducting three main operations there, according to the Institute for the Study of War: one to capture Kharkiv, one to capture the city of Mariupol and secure the land bridge to Crimea, and one to secure Cherson. According to the institute, the latter should enable a westward advance in the direction of Mykolaiv and Odessa.
The operation against Mariupol recently made the biggest gains. Russian troops on Tuesday claimed to have surrounded Mariupol and have reportedly entered the southern city of Kherson. There were explosions in a residential complex. However, Ukrainian forces retained control of the city on Tuesday. According to observers, the Russian armed forces received supplies and reinforcements that could enable a much faster approach in the next 24 to 72 hours.
Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, remains in Ukrainian hands, but Russian forces have targeted civilian facilities. An administration building in the city center and a hospital were destroyed on Tuesday. There were several dead and injured, according to the city’s mayor. University buildings were also attacked. Russian troops are also apparently moving towards the city of Zaporizhia. Fighting with the Ukrainian army is taking place about 40 kilometers away. The Enerhodar nuclear power plant was still controlled by the Ukrainian military on Tuesday but is currently surrounded by Russian troops.
March 2, 2022
A million Ukrainians on the run
More than a million Ukrainians have fled their homeland since the Russian invasion, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported on Wednesday. More than half of them crossed the border into Poland, others fled to Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia. As the refugee agency reported a few days earlier, at least 48,000 people had fled to Russia. A large part of them from the so-called “People’s Republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk. You can find the numbers for each country on our map.
However, not everyone can leave Ukraine: the government has declared martial law, according to which men between the ages of 18 and 60 are no longer allowed to leave the country. In addition, non-Ukrainian citizens are said to be stuck in the country. The Indian government tried to get about 15,000 Indian students out of the country earlier in the week. According to media reports, numerous students from African countries were also stuck in Ukrainian cities. According to a report by Deutsche Welle, some of them had difficulties leaving Ukraine.
According to the United Nations, it is preparing for up to four million refugees from Ukraine in the coming days and weeks.
March 1, 2022
Russian military convoy in front of Kyiv
There is a 64-kilometer military convoy in front of Kyiv, which is estimated to be able to bring about 15,000 Russian armed forces towards Kyiv. An attack from military targets was announced in Russian media. Russian attacks have been going on for days. An oil depot in Vasylkiv was hit on Sunday, and the capital’s most important radio and television tower on Tuesday. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it wanted to destroy sources of information attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said five people were killed in the attack.
