By Ben Kerrigan-
Heightened concerns over a 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles threatened Ukraine’s capital Tuesday, in its sixth day of the war.
After a first, five-hour session of talks between Ukraine and Russia yielded no stop in the fighting, both sides agreed to another meeting in coming days.
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The use of thermobaric weapons by Russia in the last 24 hours has increased the fear and panic among ordinary Ukrainians continue as the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine continues to undergo a sustained attack.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the US only yesterday said a vacuum bomb had been used during the invasion. Fire bombs which suck in oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion are extremely deadly and provides confirmation of the wicked intent of the Russian government . Footage from Ukraine has shown thermobaric rocket launchers on Russia’s TOS-1 vehicles.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States told journalists following a meeting at the White House, Oksana Markarova did not confirm where the bomb had been used but said the attack had occurred earlier that day, February 28.
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‘They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention,’ she said. ‘The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large, but Ukrainians will resist, we are defending our home, we do not have any other option. We will not get tired, we will not stop, we will not surrender.’
A CIA report into the impact of the weapons lists a host of catastrophic impacts, including the ‘obliteration’ of victims at the point of impact, as well as the possibility that those on the fringe of the explosion could inhale burning fuel and toxic fumes, or suffocate under the resulting pressure waves.
Intelligence sources have warned that Russia’s invasion on Ukraine is set to enter a new, more dangerous phase, which may likely see more indiscriminate attacks carried out on civilian areas as Russia grows increasingly frustrated with its failure to capture any major cities in the country.
In an update issued this morning, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said Russian forces have greatly increased their use of artillery north of Kyiv and in vicinities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv,’ adding that ‘the use of heavy artillery in densely populated areas greatly increases the risk of civilian casualties.’
The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and shattering the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around.
Russia promised on fight back against the EU’s support of Ukraine and issued what appeared to be a threat to the West against supplying weapons to the country.
Ukraine’s MoD says Russia has lost 5,300 soldiers, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanks
Russia’s MoD has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses, but refused to say how many
The UN has estimated the civilian toll at 102, including seven children.
Moscow stock exchange won’t open until at least 3pm in an attempt to head off all-out crash
Zelensky has allowed Ukrainian prisoners to be freed if they join defence forces to ‘repay their debt’
Ukraine president also announced creation of ‘international brigade’ for foreign volunteers wishing to join military, after ‘thousands’ applied.
In the meantime, Ukraine took a step towards closer ties to the West by applying to join the European Union — a largely symbolic move for now, but one that won’t sit well with Putin, who has long accused the United States of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscow’s orbit
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not sailed as smoothly as intended by Putin, as intense resistance from the Ukrainians has been problematic for the Russian army, many of whom have on occasions run out of food and fuel, and been captured by their weaker rival.
Cities including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson which have so-far put up fierce resistance, but Russia has escalated its attack to force them into submission. A long battle is expected, which could get far worse with each passing day.
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