On the night of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a war against Ukraine, calling it a “special military operation in the Donbass” in order to protect people who “are being subjected to genocide.” Putin’s genocide claims have previously been refuted by the EU and the UN. The West accused him of lying. Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Russia. The Council of Europe suspended Russia’s membership in the organization. Putin and Lavrov are included in the sanctions lists of the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom. DW is following developments on Sunday, February 27th (Moscow time).
Russia intends to consider any actions against the war in Ukraine “treason to the Motherland”
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Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia warned the Russians that the provision of any assistance to a foreign state during the war with Ukraine would be regarded as treason. This was reported to the TASS agency in the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office. “The provision of financial, logistical, consulting or other assistance to a foreign state, an international or foreign organization or their representatives in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation contains signs of a crime under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Treason”)”, – said the Prosecutor General’s Office. The department recalled that the punishment for this crime provides for imprisonment for up to 20 years.
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Ukraine officially sent lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. “We demand that Russia be held accountable for distorting the concept of genocide to justify aggression,” President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Instagram. Kyiv asks the court to immediately demand that the Russian Federation stop hostilities and schedule hearings next week.
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Ireland closes its airspace for all Russian aircraft in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. This was announced on Twitter by the head of the Irish Foreign Ministry, Simon Kovno. He also noted that Ireland will support a package of sanctions against Russia, which will be discussed on the evening of February 27 by the foreign ministers of the EU countries.
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The EU can use its funds to support Ukraine, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said. He intends to offer to support the Ukrainian army with the supply of weapons and fuel.
Olaf Scholz: A Turning Point in European History
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Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained the government’s decision to supply weapons to Ukraine. “There can be no other response to Putin’s aggression,” the head of government said at an emergency meeting of the Bundestag. He called the attack on Ukraine by Russia “a turning point in the history” of Europe. The actions of President Vladimir Putin are inhuman, contrary to international law and “cannot be justified by anything or anyone,” Scholz said.
Germany closes airspace to Russian airlines
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Aeroflot aircraft
In connection with the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, the Federal Republic of Germany from 17.00 Moscow time closes the airspace for aircraft of Russian airlines.
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Republic of Austria prepares close airspace for Russian aircraft because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. This was announced by the Minister for Climate Protection, Ecology, Energy, Transport, Innovation and Technology Leonore Gewessler.
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Born in the USSR, in Kyiv, American actress and model Milla Jovovich is shocked by the fact of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “My roots and my blood are both from Ukraine and from Russia,” she wrote on Instagram. “I shudder when I see this horror, the destroyed land, families fleeing…” According to her, he is heartbroken and speechless, trying comprehend the events of this week in his native Ukraine.
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The ruler of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, confirmed that rockets were fired from the territory of the country at positions in Ukraine. In an interview with journalists, he said that several deployed missile battalions were found on the Ukrainian side, 10-15 km from the border with Belarus, and explained this by saying that Ukraine was allegedly “preparing to strike at the territory of Belarus, where part of the Russian group remained after the exercises.”
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Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) to create a special Tribunal to consider the crimes of the Putin regime against Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other states. As Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk noted, the Rada also calls on the whole world to recognize the Russian Federation as a terrorist state, break off diplomatic relations with Russia and not recognize it as a member of the UN.
International Judo Federation suspends Putin as honorary chairman
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Logo of the International Judo Federation
International Judo Federation (IJF) suspended the powers of Vladimir Putin as honorary president and ambassador of the organization. The federation officially announced this on its website. Earlier, the International Ski Federation (FIS), the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) banned the Russian flag and anthem from their competitions due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. IBU and FIG sanctions will also affect Belarus.
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Russia sent to Belarus delegation for negotiations with Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said. According to him, she arrived in Gomel and is waiting for representatives of the Ukrainian side. In response, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready for negotiations, but not on the territory of a country that is participating in aggression. Previously, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny reported a downed cruise missilefired at Kiev by a Tu-22 aircraft from the airspace of Belarus.
Zelensky to Belarusians: How will you look your children in the eye?
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President of Ukraine Zelensky published a televised address to the citizens of Belarus. He stated that Ukrainian children are being killed from the territory of their country. “Alas, you are not on the same side with us in the war that is going on now. From your territory, the troops of the Russian Federation launch missiles at Ukraine. From your territory, our children are being killed, our houses are being destroyed, and they are trying to destroy everything that has been built over decades “, Zelensky stressed. Speaking at the February 27 referendum on changes to the constitution of Belarus, the president called on the citizens of the neighboring country to decide “who to be and how you will look into the eyes of your children, each other and neighbors.” “Be Belarus, not Russia,” Zelensky said.
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As a response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, Finland is preparing for airspace closure for Russian aircraft. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications of the country Timo Harakka. It is not yet known when the ban will take effect. Russian aircraft have already been banned from entering the airspace of Bulgaria, Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Estonia.
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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the formation of a new division – International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine. It will include foreign citizens who wish to take part in repelling Russia’s aggression. “All foreigners who want to join the resistance to the Russian occupiers and the protection of world security are invited by the leadership of Ukraine to come to our state and join the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces. A separate unit is being formed from foreigners – the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine,” the appeal published on the website says. heads of state on Sunday, February 27.
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More than 63 thousand people have already signed a petition posted on the Change.org website calling on deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation to initiate impeachment of Russian President Vladimir Putin “as guilty of treason and war crimes.” The author of the appeal accuses Putin of unmotivated aggression against Ukraine, as well as a deliberate attempt to harm the people of Russia. The president’s decision, the statement emphasizes, “makes Russia a rogue state.” The country may be forever cut off from the world economy, and its multi-million population is doomed to poverty and technological degradation, the appeal states.
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Website of the Russian state corporation for space activities “Roskosmos” subjected to a massive DDoS attack. The main page of the portal does not load, the links do not work.