Day 3 of Russia-Ukraine crisis 

As news of Russian soldiers pushing towards Ukraine’s capital surfaced, a series of explosions were heard near Kyiv on the Day 3 (26th February, 2022) of Russia-Ukraine war. There are some following events that happened on Day 3 of Russia-Ukraine War: 

Operation Ganga: Flight from Romania to Delhi  

On day 3, the Operation Ganga takes place as a flight from Romania, Bucharest, that is carrying trapped Indians back to New Delhi arrived on the Sunday morning, according to the Tata Group. As a result, 250 Indian nationals boarded the flight from Bucharest. On Sunday morning, arrived at IGIA about 3 a.m. The first evacuation flight from Ukraine, with 219 passengers, has arrived in Mumbai, Maharashtra. A second Air India plane departed from Delhi for Bucharest to evacuate stranded Indians in Ukraine.

Turkey demands to stop Russian military operations 

Through phone calls with Lavrov, Turkey urged to stop Russian military operations, reports Reuters. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu demanded for a stop to Russian military operations in Ukraine during a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Cavusoglu reaffirmed during the phone, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, that Ankara is ready to welcome Russian and Ukrainian leaders for peace talks. 

Russian Army has been ordered to boost Ukraine’s advance ‘from all directions.’ 

After Kyiv refused to undertake negotiations in Belarus, the Russian army given orders to expand its operation in Ukraine “from all directions,” according to a statement from Moscow’s defence ministry. Russian troops launched an attack on Kiev, with explosions and gunfire heard around the city as the invasion of a democratic country sparked concerns of a wider conflict in Europe and prompted international efforts to force Moscow to stop. With reports of hundreds of civilians killed or injured as a result of the fighting, including shelling that slashed through a Kyiv apartment building and battered bridges and schools, there were rising indications that Vladimir Putin’s Russia was attempting to destabilize Ukraine’s government. 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked with PM Narendra Modi 

The President of Ukraine informed the Prime Minister on the current war in Ukraine in great detail. The Prime Minister expressed his sincere sorrow over the loss of life and property as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s serious concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens in Ukraine, including students. He requested Ukrainian authorities’ assistance in expediting and safely evacuating Indian citizens. He underlined his appeal for an immediate end to violence and a return to dialogue, and he expressed India’s willingness to help with peace efforts in whatever way, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Mayor of Kyiv extends the curfew in Ukraine 

On the Day 3, The Mayor of Kyiv extended a curfew in the Ukrainian capital, which has been under intense Russian attack for the third day as Moscow’s forces continue their invasion of Ukraine. The curfew will last from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., according to Mayor Vitaly Klitschko on Telegram, and all people on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy’s sabotage and part of reconnaissance group. The previous curfew, which was put in place two days before, was from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

Protesters in Sydney and Tokyo  

Hundreds of people marched in Sydney on Saturday in rain, shouting “Ukraine will prevail” and demanding further action against Moscow, while protestors in Tokyo demanded Russia be ejected from the UN Security Council. 

Russia Fires Cruise Missiles at Military Targets in Ukraine 

The Russian military, according to the Associated Press, has unleashed a salvo of cruise missiles towards Ukrainian military targets. 

Meenakashi Lekhi om the Russia-Ukraine situation 

“India stands by its commitment to protecting its citizens. As Ukraine’s airspace is closed, we are using land routes and working with other countries to extricate our citizens. PM has been clear on this issue that the ministries have to be people-centric,” said MoS MEA Meenakashi Lekhi. 

Melitopol City Is Taken Over By Russian Forces 

According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, Russian armed forces have taken full control of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in the country’s south. The news agency ANI quoted Konashenkov as saying, “Units of the Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the city of Melitopol.” 

Progress of Russian force 

According to India Today, several buildings near Kyiv airport have reportedly been damaged as Russian troops push into Ukraine’s capital. Residents are being warned to seek refuge after street rioting breaks out in Kyiv: Street fighting erupted as Russian soldiers seized Ukraine’s capital, prompting city officials to advise citizens to seek shelter. 

Nato’s Response 

NATO activates response force for first time as Moscow stands at Kyiv’s Gates, As Moscow stood at Kyiv’s gates for the first time, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deployed a response force for the first time. The NATO Response Force, which has 40,000 troops, is designed to be available 365 days a year and respond within 2-3 days if a security crisis arises. On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg refused to identify where the response forces would be dispatched, saying the decision will be made by NATO’s top military commander. 

Swift will be blocked by the West for some Russian banks 

The US, EU, and its allies agreed to cut off a number of Russian banks from the primary international payment system, Swift, imposing new financial penalties on Russia, the most severe so far. Russia’s oil and gas exports are significantly reliant on the Swift system, and economists predict that the country’s economy would be severely harmed. Russia’s central bank’s assets will be frozen as well, limiting the Kremlin’s ability to access its foreign funds. As a result, it will no longer be able to use its currency to mitigate the impact of sanctions. According to a joint statement, the restrictions will “further isolate Russia from the international financial system.” Some Russian banks will be cut off from the Swift system by the West. 

198 civilians dead as a result of Russia-Ukraine crisis 

Russian soldiers have murdered 198 people, including three children, according to Ukraine’s health minister. Ukrainian official claimed that Russian soldiers have injured 1,115 others, including 33 children. 

Published By : Revathy G Sanal

Edited By : Subbuthai Padma