KYIV, Feb 27: Machine gun fire and explosions rocked Ukraine's Capital Kyiv
overnight and the Russian troops blew up an oil terminal in Vasylkiv, 30 km
south of the city with missiles. Massive explosions were heard and flames leapt
up the night sky. Residential apartments were being destroyed by missiles and
people were hiding in bunkers in the Capital.
As the invading Russian forces were closing in on Ukraine's Capital on Sunday,
the President asked the citizens to take up arms and defend the country. The
Ukrainians were boldly holding out in Europe's largest land conflict since World
War II.
East of the Capital, fighting broke out on the streets of Kharkiv on Sunday
as Russia’s invading forces entered Ukraine's second largest city. A natural
gas pipeline close to the city was bombed. Residents were told to cover windows
with damp cloth or gauze.
Airstrikes on cities and military bases elsewhere around the country continued.
As new explosions shook the Capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko told residents
to remain in shelters and a total curfew was clamped in the city. Ukraine shot
down a second Russian transport plane IL-76 near Vasylkiv town near Kiev on
Saturday.
Fighting was going in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odessa and Mariupo. The President's
office said, "There is no chance that Mariupol will surrender or be captured."
But Russia claimed it has taken the town of Henichesk. Melitopol city was also
captured by the invaders. With control of Odesa, the Russians were planning
to block Ukraine's access to sea west to east.
Ukraine has said Russia has lost around 4,300 soldiers and 146 tanks since
the start of the invasion and 200 soldiers have been taken as prisoners.
France intercepted a Russia-bound cargo ship loaded with cars in the Channel
heading for Saint Petersburg while Russian warships shelled a Moldovan and a
Panamanian cargo ships at Odessa port in the Black Sea.
Reports said Putin has also ordered security agencies to get ready with the
nuclear arms for a war with the NATO, if needed.
Arms aid from Germany, France
Germany is sending anti-tank weapons and 'Stinger' missiles to Ukraine. France
said it will send fuel and defensive equipment to support Ukraine, the Élysée
Palace had said in a statement on Saturday after a meeting of the national defence
council.
The Czech Republic said it will donate machine guns, automatic and sniper rifles,
pistols and ammunition valued at 7.6 million euros ($8.6 million) to Ukraine.
The US will provide Ukraine with $350 million in additional military assistance,
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. "This package will include further lethal
defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other
threats it is now facing," Blinken said in a statement.
US President Joe Biden said American troops would not go to Ukraine but the
United States would defend its NATO allies if Russia threatened any of them.
Meanwhile, the West continued to impose sanctions on Russia, mainly blacklisting
its banks and banning technology exports and freezing assets. The United States
imposed sanctions on Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister
Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The European Union
and the UK have frozen assets Putin and Lavrov held in their territory. Canada
too joined the ranks.
In a new development, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine is establishing
a foreign "international" legion of volunteers abroad. "This will be the key
evidence of your support for our country," Zelenskiy said in a statement. "More
than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential
buildings. Urged india to give us political support in Security Council. To
stop aggressor together," Zelensky tweeted on Saturday. He said he "Spoke with
Indian Prime Minister."
Refugees flood border States
According to UN sources, fleeing Ukrainians taking refuge in neighbouring countries
exceeded 368,000 by Sunday. The UN said the refugees may reach 4 million soon.
Over 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland alone.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned, “I fear this will be
a long haul, this could be a number of years,” Sky News reported.
Ukraine had voted for independence when the Soviet Union disintegrated and
claims to have a thousand years' history of its own while Russia claims Ukraine
as its territory.
Putin said he had to eliminate what he called a serious security threat to
his country from its smaller neighbour, which he fears is joining the NATO.
Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson, who opened a new chapter in
space age last month by launching the first manned private flight
to the edge of space, flying in his own spaceplane, has
invited everyone to join his expedition of space travel and
experience the thrill of totally losing your weight (BMI = 0) and enjoy
the mind-blowing sight of the earth's curvatures from the orbit far above: 
Can we ask the vaccinator, "Do you pull back the plunger and
then push the vaccine? Do you Aspirate?" When the vaccination
for covid started there were reports of worrisome incidents of
adverse events post immunisation, the serious complaints being
non-specific blood clots. These related to viral vector vaccines of
human and non-human source: AstraZeneca and Janssen. How
did it happen. There are various views. But here is a suggestion
how simply it can be prevented. 
While the rationalists debunk the episode as a ploy to make up for
the losses in offerings during the corona lockdown, the believers
stick to their claim, they have seen it after all! The claim of
Shankaralinga temple resembles the miracle of Ganesha drinking
milk in Delhi way back in 1995. Although they belong to two
different branches of science. 
A pair of socks gifted to her by her niece displayed on her legs has done
the job for Gumball Poodle. The demand for 'Future is Female' is
skyrocketing indeed. What more could one ask for?
