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UKRAINE WAR BULLETIN - February 26, 2022 - 10 a.m. EST -- Part 1
Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
President of Ukraine
"We continue to work and I will now briefly explain what is happening in our country. We knew that this night would be difficult, because Russia was supposed to and did use all its reserves in order to cause maximum damage to as many cities as possible. So far, I can tell they have failed - the Armed Forces of Ukraine together with the National Police of Ukraine have complete control of the situation and the entire territory of Ukraine.
Briefly on the directions of attacks.
First, Southern direction. Southern direction. Heavy fights are taking place in the cities of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa. It is obvious why this is so. This area is considered to be a top priority for Russia. They wanted to gain a foothold there, but there is no sign of success. And there won’t be.
Second. Kyiv is the number one priority, as we understand it today because the key goal of the "special operation" declared by the Russian Federation is the demolition of Ukraine's political and military leadership. For this purpose, an attempt was made to bring the maximum amount of equipment and forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to Kyiv. For the moment we can say the following - both in the city of Kyiv and on the outskirts of Kyiv, the situation is under control. The situation in the city - there are separate activities of sabotage-reconnaissance groups. Representatives of the National Police are actively working against them and representatives of territorial defense groups' work is no less effective. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are actively working on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Mariupol direction. Fierce fighting is going on around the city of Mariupol, but there is no chance that Mariupol will side with the Russian Federation or be captured by the enemy armed forces. In addition, air alarm signals were constantly working throughout the night - because the Russian army uses artillery, including jet artillery, to strike directly at Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, I want to say the following. At 7 am on February 26, despite the number of reserves of the Russian Federation that were thrown into active actions, the armed forces of this country did not receive any tactical and operational advantage. This shows that Ukraine has not just survived, Ukraine is winning. We have active Armed Forces, National Police, and territorial self-defense groups - people know how to defend their country. The President of Ukraine works permanently and today, as well as yesterday and the day before yesterday, he will have a series of talks with representatives of our Western partners to form the most effective coalition against the Russian Federation. The Government is working effectively to address situational economic problems. The country is managed and controlled. This is important and we need to understand this, because there are so many different fakes designed to scare people, cause panic and make us disbelieve in the possibility of our victory”.
President V.Zelenskyy rejected the offer of his evacuation. He underlined: "I need ammunition, not transport".
President Zelenskyy’s morning address
We survived, the fighting continues in many cities and regions of our country. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our forces. In our streets in the skies of Kyiv, Vasylkiv, Vyzhhorod, in the fields a real battle for Kyiv continued.
The enemy used all capabilities against us - missiles, fighters, drones, artillery, armored vehicles, subversives, airlifted force. The occupants are hitting residential neighborhoods, including with jet artillery. They are trying to destroy energy facilities.
The people of Ukraine have already earned and have the right to become a member of the European Union, and this will be the key evidence of our country's support. I discussed this today with Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron.
The anti-war coalition is effective, weapons and equipment are coming to Ukraine. We already have almost full support from EU countries for disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision.
In each of our cities the occupiers receive a severe rebuff - Uman, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolayiv, Donbas, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv.
Every Ukrainian needs to remember one thing - if you can stop and destroy the occupants - do it.
All friends of Ukraine who want to join the defense - come, we will give you weapons. All the details of how to implement this will be announced in the nearest future.
Office of the President
Transcript of the press briefing of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the head of the President of Ukraine:
We had an understanding that the previous night would be difficult as the Russian Federation had to use and have used all of its resources and reserves to cause us maximum losses on large territories. This didn’t happen. The Armed Forces together with the National Police control the situation and the territory over our state in full.
South – serious fights are happening in Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa. This is a priority direction for Russia. They had an intention to take control over there but there are no signs they succeeded. They will not succeed.
Kyiv is a priority direction No1. The key aim of the “special operation” is a liquidation of the political and military authority of Ukraine. For achieving this there was an attempt to pull up to Kyiv the maximum amount of military ammunition and armed forces of Russia. Currently we can state that in and outside Kyiv city the situation is controlled. We notice actions of separate secret subversive groups in Kyiv against which the National police and the Territorial self-defense units representatives work effectively; while in its suburbs they are effectively supported by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
There are serious battles for Mariupol, but as of this moment there is no chance that Mariupol will surrender or will be seized by Russia.
Throughout the night in many cities, the air raid alarms were working as the Russian army is actively using the artillery, including reactive, and aviation to carry out the direct air strikes against the Ukrainian cities. Nonetheless, I would like to stress that as of 7 am 26 February, despite the amount of sources and reserves used for active operation by the Russian Federation, is no tactic or operational advantage was gained by its armed forces. It means that Ukraine not only persevered, but is winning in this battle. The Armed Forces, the National Police and the Territorial Self-Defence Units are working actively. Ukrainian people know how to protect their state. The President of Ukraine, as like yesterday and before, will have a large number of negotiations with representatives of our western allies to form a extremely effective coalition against the Russian Federation. The Government is working on management of separate economic issues. The State is manageable and controlled. This is important and we have to realise that a huge amount of fake news are circulating to frighten and cause panic among the people, and try to discourage from believing in the victory.
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Occupied Territories of Ukraine Ms. Iryna Vereshchuk has addressed the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist in resolving the humanitarian situation that arised due to a large number of the Russian occupants corpses. The ICRC was invited to Ukraine to record the number and ensure the delivery of remains to their homeland in Russia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Call with my French counterpart @JY_LeDrian. France supports banning Russia from SWIFT. I urged to immediately introduce the third package of EU sanctions to stop Russian invasion. France is also ready to supply weapons and military equipment to help Ukraine defend itself.
We did it. Cyprus confirmed it will not block the decision to ban Russia from SWIFT. Ukrainian diplomacy keeps working 24/7 to achieve important decisions and protect Ukraine from Russian invaders.
Operative information
The Russian occupier forces continue the offensive operation against Ukraine.
The enemy has begun redeploying reserve component on the areas bordering Ukraine and continues to carry out air strikes on airfields, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the eastern part of Ukraine and in the northern part of Kyiv region. Single air strikes were carried out in the districts of SUMY, POLTAVA, MARIUPOL. From the Black Sea, the enemy launched naval-based cruise missiles “Caliber” on Ukrainian territory.
The tactical aviation of the Russian Federation is controlled from the territory of Belarus and the temporary occupied territory of Crimea. There are battalion tactical units of the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District in the MOZYR area, which can be used to strike targets on the territory of Ukraine.
The temporary location of dozens of tank in the area of SHUMSKE and MLRS’s BM-21 "Grad" in the area of KOSIVSCHINA has been established. The enemy has repeatedly used field level aviation in the areas of YUZHNY and ODESSA for strikes at OZERNE airfield and civilian infrastructure facilities in the Kyiv region.
In the Slobozhansky direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine units stopped the enemy’s offensive and continue to conduct defensive battles in the Kharkov region. Street fighting is being continued in Okhtyrka.
In the coastal direction in the area of KOBLEVO, 28th Mechanized Brigade units have destroyed an enemy’s boat and up to 20 soldiers of the sabotage group.
An engineering unit of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has mined landing-accessible beach.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is repelling enemy air strikes, the Russian military transport plane IL-76MD with an assault-landing troops has been destroyed. Ukrainian Air Force is continuing to conduct systematic combat actions for inflicting casualties on the enemy and military equipment in Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kherson regions. The Joint Force units are conducting a defensive operation and holding positions along the entire line of demarcation.
The estimated losses of the enemy are: aircraft - 14 units, helicopters - 8 units, tanks - 102 units, armored vehicle - 536 units, howitzer - 15 units, SAM “BUK” - 1 unit.
