February 24, 2022
4:34 pm
LIVE – Russian invasion of Ukraine
Catch up on the headlines from Russia and Ukraine with our Live reporting from Ukraine.
You can follow all the news as it comes in – Live reporting invasion from Ukraine.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has attracted an incredible amount of propaganda and fake news stories.
The people who are suffering are the Ukrainians who have been displaced, killed and captured. No-one disagrees with that.
But so many people are suggesting that their is an endgame that is involves Russian sanctions and isolation.
The cost of the war in Ukraine
Whilst Ukraine will be left in ruins and in need of a rebuild. The unfortunate cost of the war will leave the country with debt for the arms that have been supplied by the United States and being used as a proxy for the US.
Russia has a perspective which is monitored and blocked by major search engines.
Ukraine and specifically the President Zelensky is on a PR war. Rallying as many world leaders to join to condemn the Russian invasion.
Will Ukraine join NATO?
The questions everyone is still asking is Will Ukraine be able to join NATO and the EU.
And if that happens will Russia take this war to the next level.
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Follow WTX News for the latest news from the ground in Ukraine.
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Special Ukrainian operation targets more than 40 ‘enemy bombers’ deep inside Russia, source says
Cliff Notes
- Ukraine conducted a large-scale drone operation targeting over 40 Russian bomber aircraft at multiple bases, showcasing a significant breach of Russian national defences.
- The operation, dubbed “spider’s web,” involved innovative tactics including the remote launch of drones concealed in portable containers, emphasising the evolving nature of military technology.
- Sources indicate that the strike damaged critical assets of the Russian air force by inflicting over $2 billion in losses, highlighting vulnerabilities in Russia’s military infrastructure.
Special Ukrainian operation targets more than 40 ‘enemy bombers’ deep inside Russia, source says
Ukraine hit more than 40 Russian bomber aircraft at multiple bases across Russia, using drones smuggled into the country and launched remotely off the back of trucks, security sources said.
It is one of the most audacious Ukrainian special operations since the start of Vladimir Putin’s war more than three years ago – and is a huge breach of Russia’s national defences.
In a further humiliation for the Kremlin, Ukraine’s president revealed that the “office” where the secret Ukrainian mission was conducted inside Russia was located next to a facility run by the Russian security services, the FSB.
“In total, 117 drones were used in the operation,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message posted on social media.
“And the corresponding number of drone operators were working. Thirty four percent of the strategic cruise missile carriers at the airfields were hit.
“Our people were operating in different Russian regions – in three time zones. And our people were withdrawn from the territory of Russia on the eve of the operation, and now they are safe – those who helped us.”
The targeting of the bomber force will degrade the Russian military’s ability to launch missile strikes against Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Kyiv ceasefire plan calls for meeting with Putin
Videos shared with Sky News by Ukraine’s SBU Security Service purport to show a line of Russian strategic bombers with smoke billowing out of them.
“Enemy strategic bombers are massively burning in Russia – this is the result of a special SBU operation,” a security source said.
The operation – codenamed “spider’s web” – sounds more like a plot from a science fiction movie than reality, but it shows how new technology has transformed the battlefield.
It also reveals the vulnerability of large bases and expensive pieces of military equipment.
A security source said Ukrainian operatives smuggled first-person view (FPV) drones into Russia.
They then brought in a load of wooden, flat-pack, garden office-style containers.
These huts were constructed, with the drones hidden inside them, before being put on to the back of trucks and driven to locations from where the attacks were launched.
At the right moment, hatches on the roofs of the huts were opened remotely, and the drones were piloted onto their targets, according to the source.
The source said the mission took one and a half years to plan and was supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sources said the individuals who took part in this special operation have been back in Ukraine for a long time.
They claimed that anyone detained in Russia by the Russian authorities would be just for show.
Offering details of the actual attack, a second source said four bases were targeted. It was not possible independently to confirm the claim.
“Right now, the Security Service of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bombers in the rear of Russia,” the source said.
“The SBU drones are targeting aircraft that bomb Ukrainian cities every night. So far, more than 40 planes have been hit, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3.”
The Tu-95 and Tu-22 are both heavy bombers that can fire cruise missiles.
At least one of the videos shared with Sky News is purportedly of the Belaya airfield, more than 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Sources claimed to have inflicted more than $2bn (£1.4bn) worth of damage on the Russian air force.
“We are waiting for the details. And we hope that the number of hit aircraft will increase!” one source said.
The latest toll was 41 aircraft, according to Ukrainian sources.
The other Russian airbases targeted by Ukraine were: Diagilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo airfields.
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to begin ‘immediately’ says Donald Trump after Vladimir Putin call
Cliff Notes – Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to begin ‘immediately’ says Donald Trump after Vladimir Putin call
- Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations following a two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin, though details on how this differs from ongoing talks in Turkey remain unclear.
- The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, indicated that Russia may propose difficult conditions for a ceasefire, suggesting that Moscow may be reluctant to engage in a genuine peace process.
- Discussions about potential neutral venues for higher-level negotiations are underway, with the Vatican and Turkey being considered as possible locations, amid ongoing Russian military offensives in Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to begin ‘immediately,’ says Donald Trump after Vladimir Putin call
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks will begin “immediately,” Donald Trump said after a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin.
The US president spoke to his Russian counterpart on Monday as part of a bid to push the two countries towards agreeing a truce in the war.
In a Truth Social post, published shortly after the call, Mr Trump said Russia and Ukraine “will immediately start negotiations towards a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war”.
It is unclear how this differs from negotiations that already began in Turkey on Friday.
Ukraine war latest updates
Mr Trump continued: “Russia wants to do large-scale trade with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is unlimited.”
Ukraine “can be a great beneficiary on trade, in the process of rebuilding its country,” he said.
The Vatican “has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations”, Mr Trump added. He signed off his post with: “Let the process begin!”
Mr Putin found the call “informative, frank and very useful”, Russian news agency RIA reported.
“A ceasefire in the situation in Ukraine for a certain period of time is possible if appropriate agreements are reached,” the Russian leader reportedly said.
A Russia-Ukraine ceasefire is the one deal Trump can’t seem to seal
For the war that Donald Trump said he’d solve in a day, read the war he couldn’t solve at all.
By posting on Truth Social that an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be negotiated between the two parties, the US president puts distance between himself and the deal he couldn’t seal.
The United States appears to be taking a step back from its stewardship of negotiations, as it leaves both sides to it.
The broker broken? For Trump, certainly, this has been a most intractable negotiation that he has never looked like closing.
He mentions “ceasefire” in his social media post only as a discussion for Russia and Ukraine, not as the call he made for an unconditional cessation of hostilities.
There’s no mention of the frustrations he once threatened at intensive Russian bombing, or of the sanctions he once threatened against Moscow.
Far from it, he speaks of “largescale TRADE with the United States when this bloodbath is over”.
He adds that Ukraine can be a trade beneficiary from the country’s rebuilding.
In Kyiv and allied European capitals, they were looking for strong-armed support from Washington.
European leaders had called Trump the day before he spoke to Putin to discuss sanctions and to reinforce their need for US support in steering the Russian leader towards serious engagement.
They will be making further calls to the White House to clarify where they stand now, for fear they stand alone.
Ukraine was never a pet project of Donald Trump.
In his ambitions to reshape the world order, restored relations with Russia has always been a prize as he eyes China as adversary-in-chief.
In the bigger picture, Ukraine has always been a small feature. It shows.
Discussions are ‘positive,’ says Zelenskyy
The US president spoke separately with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy and various European leaders.
At a briefing after the day’s calls had taken place, Ukraine’s leader said he told Mr Trump that Russia “might propose some particularly difficult conditions” for a ceasefire – which could be “a sign that it is the Russian side that is unwilling to end the war”.
“I think we are still discussing the very possibility of strong and severe sanctions [on Russia],” he continued. “I don’t yet have an answer to that question.”
Kyiv is considering the possibility of a meeting between “high level” teams from Ukraine, the US, Russia and some European countries, Mr Zelenskyy said, describing the talks on Monday as “positive”.
He continued: “Such a meeting could take place in Turkey, the Vatican, or Switzerland. We are currently considering these three venues, as all three countries – all three venues – are neutral.”
Mr Trump commented further on his call with Mr Putin during an appearance in the White House gardens later on Monday.
“It’s a terrible situation going on over there… hopefully we do something,” he said. “We’re trying to get that whole thing wrapped up. What a shame that it started in the first place.”
The Trump-Putin call came as Russia has continued to target Ukraine with attacks.
Moscow on Monday claimed its forces have taken two villages in Ukraine, according to state news agency RIA.
Russia recently began pushing into the Sumy region after claiming it had ousted Kyiv’s forces from Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region.
RIA cited the defence ministry as saying Novoolenivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, and Marine, in Sumy, have now been taken by Russian forces.
Sources
Zelensky says US should not distance itself from talks, as Russia says no timeline agreed – BBC
After Putin call, Trump says Russia, Ukraine will start ceasefire talk – Al Jazeera
Trump says Russia, Ukraine agree to immediate ceasefire talks, Kremlin offers no timeframe – Reuters
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awesome – Thank you