Ukraine Says Killed "Around 50 Russian Occupiers": 5 Latest Facts

New Delhi: 

Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation. Local media reported explosions in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Gunfire was also heard near the capital's main airport.

Here are the 5 latest developments of Russia's invasion of Ukraine:

1. Ukraine says it has killed 'around 50 Russian occupiers'. The announcement came hours after Russia's ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions.
2. Ukraine's border guard today said that three servicemen was killed in a shelling attack along the Crimean border, the first officially confirmed military deaths of the Russian invasion.
3. The Russian defence ministry said it has destroyed air bases, air defences in Ukraine with precision weapons.
4. Ukraine claims that it has downed five Russian planes and a helicopter in the east of the country. "According to the Joint Forces Command, today, February 24, in the area of the Joint Forces operation, five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down," the army general staff said.
5. Anton Gerashchenko, Ukraine's deputy interior minister, said that Russia has fired missiles on military headquarters, airports, military warehouses near Kyiv, Kharkov and Dnieper.

Russian military in areas near the Ukrainian border, amid fears that Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

New Delhi : Satellite images show new deployment of the Russian military in areas near the Ukrainian border, amid fears that Russia is about to invade Ukraine. Yesterday, the Russian parliament voted to allow President Vladimir Putin to use the army outside the country to support separatists in Ukraine.

The pictures, collected by Maxar over the past 24 hours, show deployment and movement of additional logistics and supplies in southern Belarus and at multiple sites in western Russia near the Ukrainian border.

The new activity includes more than 100 vehicles and dozens of troop tents at a small airfield near Mozyr in southern Belarus. The airfield is located less than 40 kilometers from the Ukraine border.

Here are the latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:

New Delhi: 

Efforts to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine were dealt a serious blow when Russia recognised the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. In response, the US announced financial sanctions against the rebel territories.

Here are the latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed mutual aid and friendship agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin today. "I believe it is necessary to take a long-overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," he said.
2. The West had repeatedly warned Russia against recognising Ukraine's rebels. But Russia's latest decrees effectively bury a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict.
3. The United States has announced financial sanctions against rebel territories freshly recognised by Russia in eastern Ukraine. "I have signed an Executive Order to deny Russia the chance to profit from its blatant violations of international law. We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps," President Joe Biden said while signing the executive order.
4. French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned Russia's move and urged the European Union to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow.
5. The Russian forces are stationed just a few kilometres away from the Ukrainian border, along with fighter jets, tanks, helicopters and heavy weaponry. All this points to Russia's intention of starting a full-scale war in the region, the West has claimed.
6. Russia claims the build-up of forces has always been for military exercises and that it poses no threat to Ukraine or any other nation.
7. The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting today at the request of Ukraine, the US, 5 European nations and Mexico.
8. UN chief Antonio Guterres said that they were greatly concerned by Russia's decision on the status of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. "We remain fully supportive of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within internationally recognized borders," he posted on Twitter.
9. Tensions spiked in recent days after an outbreak of heavy shellfire on Ukraine's eastern frontline with the separatists and a series of reported incidents on the border with Russia.
10. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace efforts and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation today.