Ukraine closes borders, creates IT army to attack Russia
According to CNN, two large explosions lit up the night sky in the southwest of the capital Kiev, one of which occurred about 20km from the city center.
The second explosion occurred southwest of Kiev at around 1 a.m. local time on February 27, in the direction of the city's second main airport. CNN added that both explosions are believed to have occurred around Vasylkiv, an area with a military airport and several oil storage tanks. According to officialsUkraine, this area was the scene of fierce fighting last night.
On February 26, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that all of its units in Ukraine had received orders to resume special military operations from all directions after a pause on February 25. The Russian Defense Ministry explained that the pause was made to prepare for possible negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, but the military operations were resumed after the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate.
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| A burnt out Ukrainian military vehicle in Kiev. |
Ukraine on the same day denied reports that it had refused to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia, but insisted that Kiev was not ready to accept Moscow’s conditions. Meanwhile, US and British defense officials said that Russia’s offensive had slowed down due to logistical difficulties and resistance from Ukrainian forces.
CNN quoted two senior US officials as saying that Russia's offensive is facing fiercer resistance than expected from the Ukrainian military as well as unexpected logistical difficulties. On the battlefield, Russia is suffering greater losses in personnel, weapons and aircraft than estimated.
Also related to the war, advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister Vadym Denysenko said that Russian soldiers are approaching the nuclear power plant in the city of Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine. Russia has taken control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, about 100km north of the capital Kiev.
Ukraine closes borders with Russia, Belarus
Speaking last night, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the country was closing its borders with Russia and Belarus. In a video message on Telegram, Mr. Shmyhal said that starting from February 28, only Ukrainian citizens will be allowed to enter Ukraine from Russia and Belarus.
In a separate development, Prime Minister Shmyhal accused Russia of committing war crimes after targeting Ukrainian civilians and said Moscow would face a “military tribunal”.
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| Ukrainian armed forces prepare for defense in Kiev. |
Russia removed from SWIFT system by the West
Western countries have agreed to exclude a number of banks from the SWIFT system that have been sanctioned by the international community and other organizations, a German government spokesman said. The sanctions are aimed at cutting off the financial institutions from international financial flows.
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) was founded in 1973 to replace the telegram and is now used by more than 11,000 financial institutions to send secure messages and payment orders. With no other globally accepted payment solution, SWIFT is considered a key system for global finance.
Ukraine calls on “IT army” for help
Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said on February 26 that Kiev is building an information technology (IT) army to continue the cyber war.
“We are building an IT army. We need digital talent,” Fedorov wrote on Twitter, posting a link encouraging hackers to launch cyberattacks on key Russian financial and energy institutions. Suggested targets include the gas giant Gazprom and major banks such as Sberbank and VTB.
