Energodar residents block entry to occupiers (Photo: Dmitry Orlov - Energodar Mayor via Telegram)
March 2 - the seventh day of a full-scale war with Russia. A second round of talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations is scheduled for today, probably on the border with Belarus.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters and CNN that Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful ceasefire talks can take place.
At the same time, the Center for Defense Strategies believes that Russia has begun to actively attack the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine in order to force the Ukrainian side to accept the maximum number of conditions of the Russian Federation in the second round of negotiations.
After the first round of talks on February 28, the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the occupying forces only intensified. According to the Ministry of Defense, from 19:07 to 19:51 on February 28, the Russian strategic missile bomber Tu-22m3, without crossing the state borderline, fired 16 missiles at residential areas of Kharkiv. And on March 1, at 8:01 a.m., the occupiers launched a new missile strike in the city center, the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building, and Freedom Square, killing ten people and injuring more than 35.
On the evening of March 1, the occupiers also fired a missile at the Kyiv TV tower. Five people were killed and five others were injured.
- Meanwhile, Russia is suffering increasing losses from Western sanctions. EU ambassadors have already approved the disconnection of seven Russian banks from SWIFT, Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of Gazprom's subsidiary, has filed for bankruptcy, and interest rates on consumer loans in Russia have risen severalfold.
- Enemy casualties exceeded 5.8 thousand people, more than 800 units of armored vehicles, more than 200 tanks, 30 aircraft and helicopters
- SES for the first time announced the total casualties among the civilian population of Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion - 2,000 civilians were killed (excluding fallen Ukrainian soldiers)
- The Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the National Security and Defense Council state the situation is tense, but note the decline in the enemy's morale: repeated surrender of groups of Russian soldiers and officers, as well as refusals to continue the offensive.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyi again addressed Ukrainians with words of support and also called on Jews around the world to "shout about the killing of civilians, about the murder of Ukrainians" - in particular, because of yesterday's attack on the Babyn Yar district in Kyiv
- The aggressor gathers forces around Kyiv, the city is preparing for defense On the night of March 2, the occupiers shelled the city of Bila Tserkva, fighting continued in the cities of Bucha and Gostomel, Kyiv region.
- On the morning of March 2, Kharkiv was again hit by missiles, the buildings of the Security Service of Ukraine, the regional department of the National Police and one of the buildings of the University named after Karazina. At least 112 people have been injured and 21 killed in the last 24 hours of the city's criminal shelling.
- The main strategic goals of the Russian occupiers remain Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol; fierce battles are also taking place near Kherson, Chernihiv is preparing for street battles.
- Today in the afternoon (probably in the evening) new talks between Ukraine and Russia are to take place. The fact that the negotiations are to take place was confirmed by the head of the Servants of the People faction in the Rada, David Arahamiya.
- In Konotop of Sumy region and Balakliia community of Kharkiv region refused to cooperate with the occupiers who went there.
- During the 14 hours of shelling of Mariupol, 42 people were injured, there are victims among children.
- Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to preliminary data, 21 children have been killed and 55 children injured
- Russian aircraft struck the Kharkiv TV tower on Pavlov Field.
- The European Union has stopped broadcasting propaganda channels Sputnik and RT