Igor Zhdanov, the Minister of Youth and sports in Ukraine (2014-2019), a public and political figure, Maidan commandant during the Revolution of Dignity, member of the Maidan Council, candidate of political sciences, ATO volunteer, analyst of the NGO "Open Policy Foundation"

 

Informational defense of Ukraine provides a daily review of the military-political situation in Ukraine on March 1st, based on an analysis of open sources.

1. The situation on the fronts is stable, the initiative is gradually being transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Comparing to yesterday, February 28, the operational situation has not changed a lot. The enemy continued to regroup and tried to attack Kyiv defenses; however, all attempts by the Russian occupation forces failed. Similar attacks by the occupiers were observed near Chernihiv and Sumy, but they were also unsuccessful.

Columns of the occupier's equipment were destroyed. The enemy had significant personnel losses. Russian troops are demoralized and exhausted.

After fierce night battles (February 27-28) in Kharkiv, the enemy was forced to retreat outside the city’s borders and resorted to terrorist attacks by the MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) “Grad” on peaceful Kharkiv residents. Similar terrorist attacks with ballistic and cruise missiles occurred in Zhytomyr, Brovary, and Mariupol.

The Russian aggressor tried to develop an offensive invasion towards Mariupol, but did not achieve significant success.

In the Black Sea, due to hectic weather, a naval landing operation in the coming days is unlikely. Most of the Black Sea Fleet’s naval group is based in base points.

In all directions, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the support of artillery and UAVs “Bayraktar TV2” maintain certain boundaries.

The total losses of the enemy according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces are the following: deaths -  5,710 personnel; prisoners - 200; destroyed and damaged aircraft - 29 units, helicopters - 29 units, tanks - 198, BBM - 846, artillery systems - 77, air defense - 7, MLRS - 24, fuel tanks - 60, UAV operational and tactical level - 3 , boats - 2 units, motor vehicles - 305.

In contrast, the combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will increase significantly, as Ukraine will receive 70 MiG-29 (“Fulcrum”) and SU-25 (“Frogfoot”) combat aircraft from the European Union.

2. Russian occupation forces commit mass crimes against humanity by killing peaceful Ukrainian citizens.

The number of civilians killed since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine is growing each single day and now stands at 366 people, including 16 children and 45 wounded.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, since the beginning of the open invasion, Russia has launched 113 operational and tactical surface-to-sea and naval-based missiles Iskander and Caliber in peaceful towns and villages of Ukraine.

This bloody crime of the Putin’s regime is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and requires an investigation by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

On February 28, the Russian occupiers shelled Kharkiv from the Grad MLRS, killing 9 people and injuring 37, including three children. Only yesterday, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Brovary, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Vasylkiv, Kherson, and Mariupol were shelled with artillery and rockets. According to credible sources, the Russian aggressors used a so-called vacuum bomb banned by international conventions.

The enemy also hoists Ukrainian flags, and uses state symbols and uniforms of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the National Police to cover up and strike unexpectedly. There are cases when the aggressors hang a white flag on their vehicle, ostensibly to surrender. But after the enemy comes closer to the Ukrainian positions, it begins to open fire.

Such actions of the enemy are another vile violation of the norms of the international humanitarian law

Due to the fighting, 316 settlements and 332,000 Ukrainians were left without electricity, according to the Ministry of Energy. About 12,000 consumers did not have gas.

More than 360,000 people have fled their homes in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.

Russian occupying forces are committing numerous crimes against humanity, and, no doubt, Russian soldiers and their maniac dictator Putin, are facing an international tribunal in The Hague. Tribunal prosecutor Karim Khan has announced the start of an investigation regarding the situation in Ukraine.

3. The risk of Belarusian participation in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has increased.

In addition to missile strikes from its territory on Ukraine, Belarus is now systematically bringing its military units to the borders of Ukraine for a possible attack in the Volyn direction, according to the summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as published on February 28th.

Rocket fire is constantly coming from the neighboring republic and enemy aircraft are taking off attacking Ukraine.

4. Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia ended with an agreement to continue them.

The parties approached the negotiation process with completely different positions. The Ukrainian side insisted on an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Russia insisted on the recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, the neutrality of our state and its “demilitarization and denazification.” It is clear that these whims of Putin are unacceptable for Ukraine as a sovereign country. Following the talks, the delegations left for consultations in their capitals and agreed to hold their second round soon.

At the same time, Information Defense experts believe that these talks are unlikely to end with any agreement.

5 . Ukraine has taken a decisive step towards the European Union.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi yesterday signed a historic document an application for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. A Joint Statement was also signed together with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and the Prime-Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

Information Defense experts predict that the main efforts of Ukrainian diplomacy will be aimed at defining a special, short-term procedure for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. This idea was announced by Slovakia and supported by 7 other EU countries.

6. Russia’s international isolation is growing, the country is approaching financial collapse.

The United States has issued a new package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the Central Bank of Russia, the Russian Ministry of Finance and the Sovereign Investment Fund. The United States has prohibited U.S. citizens from conducting any transactions involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund, or the Treasury Department.

The Prime-Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida said that Japan would join Western sanctions against the Central Bank of Russia and limit operations with it. The British Transport Minister has asked all ports in the country not to grant access to any Russian vessels.

UEFA has canceled a sponsorship deal with Russia’s Gazprom, which costs about 40 million euros per season.

At the opening of trading on February 28, shares of the Russian government-controlled Sberbank fell by 73.04%. Due to the sharp fall in stock prices, they decided not to trade them. Apart from Sberbank’s shares, the shares of Lukoil and Gazprom are no longer traded on the Moscow Stock Exchange, and the capitalization of these companies has failed by more than 50% at the opening of trading.

On February 28, the European Central Bank warned of the possible bankruptcy of the ‘daughters’ of Russia’s Sberbank. The ECB estimates that Sberbank Europe AG and its subsidiaries in Croatia and Slovenia are going to be bankrupt or will be bankrupt soon.

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In short, the pace of hostilities is slowing, and Russian occupation forces are demoralized and exhausted. On the contrary, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have got a taste of their first victories and are ready for the heroic defense of Ukraine.

The international isolation of the aggressor is growing at pace, and Russia is gradually approaching financial collapse.