Current Humanitarian Situation In Ukraine 03 07 22

1,634 foreigners are kept as human shields by Kiev radicals, including, Chief of the National Centre for State Defence Control, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev reported on Monday.

in Kharkov – 257 citizens of Jordan (200), Egypt (40), Vietnam (15) and Indonesia (2);

in Sumy – 1,140 citizens of India (576), Tanzania (159), China (121), Ghana (100), Jordan (70), Egypt (60), Pakistan (16), Tunisia (15), Zambia (14 ), Kazakhstan (8) and Serbia (1);

in Mariupol – 88 citizens of Turkey (70) and Kazakhstan (18);

in Kherson – 15 Egyptian citizens;

in Odessa – 7 Indonesian citizens;

in Kiev – 20 citizens of the Republic of Togo (7), Great Britain (7) and the Republic of Benin (6);

in Chernigov – 21 citizens of Pakistan (12) and Indonesia (9).

Regarding the fate of these foreign citizens, we are working around the clock with the relevant diplomatic departments of these states.

In the Russian regions, temporary accommodation centres have been increased to 9 thousand places, all of them are ready for individual work with citizens arriving from Ukraine.

To date, more than 168,000 people have been evacuated from the zones of the special military operation, including 43,469 children.

19,256 personal vehicles have crossed the state border of the Russian Federation.

The federal executive authorities, together with the constituent entities of Russia, various public organizations, and patriotic movements, have already prepared more than 15,000 tons of humanitarian cargo.

The EMERCOM, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, Rosreestr and Rosrezerv, Tula, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions, as well as the Republic of Crimea were most actively involved in this important work.

882 tons of humanitarian cargo have already been delivered to Ukraine, 110 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 30 actions in Kiev and Chernigov regions, as well as in the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics over the past day, during which 325 tons of basic necessities were handed over to the civilian population of the liberated regions, medicine and food.

In addition, 50 tons of foods were delivered from the Syrian Arab Republic and 14 tons of basic necessities from Nagorno-Karabakh for subsequent transfer to the population of Kiev and Zaporozhye regions.

To date, 48 humanitarian actions have been planned and are currently being carried out in Kiev, Zaporozhye, Kharkov, Kherson and Chernigov regions, during which 341 tons of basic necessities, medicine and food will be distributed.

All necessary conditions have been created in the Russian Federation to welcome refugees.

At checkpoints and places of temporary accommodation, rest rooms are equipped, hot meals are provided, mobile medical stations are deployed, logistic is organized for departure to the regions of Russia, and delivery of foreign citizens to their homeland is provided.

Agreement On Humanitarian Corridors In Ukraine Frustrated Again 03 07 22

The Ukrainian side has not fulfilled a single condition for the creation of humanitarian corridors, Chief of the National Centre for State Defence Control, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev reported on Monday.

We observed by means of objective control, including unmanned aerial vehicles - not a single event for the preparation of humanitarian convoys was carried out, no one arrived at the open humanitarian corridors.

It is known that the nationalists, under the threat of physical violence, simply do not let civilians and foreign citizens out of these settlements.

From 10:00 a.m., on the contrary, we note intensive movement of armed people on the front line in all directions, artillery and mortar fire did not stop for a second. During these three hours alone, on all six humanitarian corridors declared by the Russian Armed Forces, 172 shellings from the armed forces of Ukraine and nationalists were recorded. In this case, we are talking about shelling areas directly located or adjacent to the alleged humanitarian corridors.

In Mariupol, any attempts by the civilian population and foreign citizens to move in the direction of the gathering places for humanitarian convoys were severely suppressed, up to the use of weapons to kill.

In addition, the mayor of Sumy, Alexander Lysenko with the commander of the national battalion, at 11:55 a.m.officially announced: “There will be no green corridors, not a single civilian will go to Russia, and those who try to do this will be shot.”

We know why the Kiev regime, by all available and inaccessible methods, in every possible way prevents the exit of civilians and foreigners to Russia, and in fact, they afraid that people will tell the truth about lawlessness and chaos, humiliation and suffering, as well as genocide organized by this inhuman regime.

Millions of Ukrainians, thousands of foreign citizens also found themselves in the information blockade. Nobody tells the truth to people. Even the notification of civilians and foreigners about the possibility of using safe humanitarian corridors towards Russia is not carried out, and the Ukrainian media broadcast false information that Russia does not provides these corridors.

At the same time, on the border of Ukraine in Kiev region, as well as in Sudzha, Kursk region, in Nekhoteevka, Belgorod region, in Novoazovsk city, Rostov region, four columns of comfortable large buses, with a total number of 367 seats, with a total capacity of up to 12.5 thousand passengers. These thousands of people could find themselves in a calm and safe environment today. Unfortunately, this did not happen due to the fault of the Ukrainian authorities.

We keep chronology of all the actions of the Ukrainian side, archiving the materials of objective control. We are doing this, in order to tell the Ukrainian people later who lied to them, who used them as a human shield.

We record in detail the positions, last names, first names of all representatives of the Kiev authorities who are interacting with us today on humanitarian issues at this difficult time for ordinary Ukrainians. We will tell about the actions and inaction, about the betrayal and lies of official and unofficial officials who are indifferent to the fate of their own people.

Kiev officials continue to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of allegedly failing to comply with the promised cease-fire and brazenly lie to representatives of foreign embassies in Kiev, Lvov and Odessa and other cities about the Russian side’s failure to fulfill the conditions for ensuring the security of humanitarian corridors. This is a blatant provocation, lies and deceit.

We continue to work with all interested parties and today, more than ever, we call on the UN, the OSCE, the International Committee of the Red Cross, all the power, all the potential of your organizations to force the representatives of Kiev authorities to fulfill the humanitarian obligations enshrined in the Geneva Convention.

Yesterday, numerous facts were recorded in Kharkov, Sumy and other cities, when militants of nationalist battalions shot civilians, accusing them of complicity with Russia.

In Mariupol, on the first floor of a school building located on Svobody Avenue, nationalists of the territorial defence battalions created a strong point, placing heavy weapons on the lower floors and placing groups of snipers on the roof. At the same time, the militants hide behind the backs of innocent citizens, forcibly holding the residents of the nearest houses in the school.

And the latest information looks quite cynical. Officials with whom we interacted during the preparation of today's humanitarian operation have just published an official message on the information resource that the exit of civilians was disrupted through the fault of the Russian Federation, allegedly due to inconsistency in the routes of humanitarian corridors.

Russian Defense Ministry's Report On Situation In Ukraine 03 07 22

In total, 2,396 military infrastructure facilities of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Monday.

The grouping of troops of Lugansk People's Republic, continuing offensive operations, took control of Smolyaninovo, Voevodovka, Kremennaya, Kudryashovka, Borovenki, Purdovka, Zamulovka. The advance was 6 kilometers.

The units of the armed forces of Donetsk People's Republic established control over Azov, Novotatarovka and Mirnoe.

Units of the People's Militia of Donetsk Republic conducted offensive operation in Mariupol.

The main clashes were in the west of the city - in Novoselovka, Moryakov and Osaviakhim, and in the east - in Naydenovka and Azov Ring.

Yesterday, at about 17:00 Moscow time, on Pobedy Avenue in Mariupol, DPR servicemen clashed with Ukrainian armed nationalists unit.

More than 150 civilians as a human shield were ahead of the militants who were hiding behind them.

Having discovered the personnel of the People's Militia, the Ukrainian nationalists opened fire on them from behind the backs of civilians. As a result of the firing by the Ukrainian Nazis, 4 civilians were killed and 5 wounded.

The personnel of the People'S Militia of DPR withdrawn released civilians through the Vinogradnoye district from Mariupol to the controlled territory. All of them received the necessary assistance.

The units of the Russian Armed Forces took control of Urozhaynoye, Novodonetskoye, Novomayorskoye, Dorozhnyanka, Zagornoye and Charivnoye.

Last night, assault aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and military air defence shot down 3 more Su-27s of the Ukrainian Air Force in Poltava region, 1 Su-25 in Gostomel region, 2 Mi-24 helicopters in Makarov region and 8 unmanned aerial vehicles, including Bayraktar TB-2.

Bomber and assault aircraft hit 3 Buk M1 anti-aircraft missile systems and 2 radar stations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In total, 2,396 military infrastructure facilities of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.

Among them: 82 command posts and communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 119 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 76 radar stations.

Destroyed: 827 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 84 multiple rocket launch systems, 304 field artillery and mortars, 603 units of special military vehicles, 78 unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Today, from 10:00 a.m. Moscow time, a cease-fire has been declared, and six humanitarian corridors were opened:

one from Kiev to Gomel;

two from Mariupol to Zaporozhye and Rostov-on-Don;

one from Kharkov to Belgorod;

two from Sumy to Belgorod and Poltava.

Detailed information about the humanitarian corridors was brought to the Ukrainian side in advance, as well as to the specialized structures of the UN, the OSCE and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

During the opening of humanitarian corridors, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will carry out objective control of evacuation with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Evidence Of US Financed Biological Program In Ukraine Revealed By Russian Defense Ministry

Evidence of a US-financed military biological program developed in Ukraine has been revealed during Russia’s special operation in that country, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday.

"In the course of the special military operation, evidence of the Kiev regime’s hasty measures to conceal any traces of the military biological program finance by the US Department of Defense in Ukraine has been revealed," he said.

According to the spokesman, information was received from employees of Ukrainian biolaboratories that especially hazardous pathogens: plague, anthrax, cholera, tularemia and other lethal diseases infecting agents had been urgently destroyed on February 24.

According to Konashenkov, following the beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, the Ukrainian health ministry issued an instruction to all biolaboratories to urgently destroy hazardous pathogens they had.

"Obviously, after the launch of the special military operations, Pentagon became afraid that secret biological experiments in Ukraine will be exposed. We will share the results of the analysis of the documents we have received in the near future. Some of them, in particular the Ukrainian health ministry’s instruction to destroy pathogens and certificates of completion from the Kharkov and Poltava biolaboratories we are publishing right now" he said. 

Russian MOD Warns Border Countries Against Providing Their Airfields To Ukraine's AF

Please note that the use of the airfield network of Romania and other border countries for basing Ukrainian military aviation with subsequent use against the Russian armed forces can be regarded as the involvement of these states in an armed conflict, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Sunday.

In addition, the general warned of an upcoming attack on Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises.

On March 6, the airfield of the Ukrainian Air Force in Vinnitsa was put out of action with long-range precision weapons. Fighter aircraft and air defense of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down three more Ukrainian Su-27 fighters and three unmanned aerial vehicles in the air.

In total, for yesterday and incomplete today, the Ukrainian Air Force lost 11 combat aircraft and 2 helicopters.

Almost all combat-ready aviation of the Kiev regime has been destroyed.

At the same time, we know for certain about Ukrainian combat aircraft that had previously flown to Romania and other border countries.

Please note that the use of the airfield network of these countries for basing Ukrainian military aviation with subsequent use against the Russian armed forces can be regarded as the involvement of these states in an armed conflict.

The armament and military equipment of Ukraine is being disabled by Russian long-range precision weapons.

The Kyiv regime of nationalists forces employees of enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine to restore damaged military equipment for subsequent deployment to the areas of hostilities. As part of the task of demilitarizing Ukraine, the Russian armed forces will inflict high-precision weapons on Ukrainian enterprises of the military-industrial complex.

In order to avoid a threat to the lives of employees of enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry, we warn in advance of planned strikes against such facilities.

We call on the personnel of the Ukrainian defense industry plants not to be led by the nationalist regime in Kiev and to leave the territories of their enterprises.

Lavrov 'Zelensky Is Trying To Provoke A Conflict Between NATO And Russia'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted the "strange" prospects for Russian-Ukrainian talks in light of President Zelensky's inappropriate statements aimed at drawing NATO into a conflict with Russia.

"It is difficult to comment on the prospects or further rounds of the negotiations. But Zelensky's constant embittered statements hardly inspire any optimism. He let out a stream of invective about the NATO meeting. He was a little rude to his handlers, accusing them of inaction. My question is, if he's so upset that NATO didn't stand up for him as he hoped, does that mean he's still relying on resolving the conflict by dragging NATO in rather than negotiating? He does not seem to hear the continued statements from Washington, Paris, Berlin and other capitals that NATO is not going to intervene in this conflict. And he is trying to provoke a conflict between NATO and Russia. Or maybe he woke up in this mood yesterday. So maybe it has changed today, I don’t know. His militaristic frenzy suggests he does not need any negotiations," he added.

Russian MOD Report On Situation In Ukraine 03 06 22

The grouping of troops of the Luhansk People's Republic, continuing offensive actions, took control of the settlements of Rubtsy, Karpovka, Makeyevka, Novolobovka, Lipovoe, Srednoye, Zelenaya Dolina, Zakablukhovka, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Sunday.

Units of the Armed Forces of the Donetsk People's Republic have established control over the settlements of Peredovoe, Karernoe and Ravnopol.

Units of the People's Militia of the Donetsk Republic are conducting successful offensive operations on the western and north-western outskirts of the city of Mariupol. The residential quarter of the Staryi Krym has been taken under control.

Units of the Russian Armed Forces during the offensive took control of the settlements of Priyutnoye, Zavitne-Bazhanne, Staromlynovka, Oktyabrskoye and Novomayskoye. The advance was 11 kilometers.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to deliver strikes at the military assets of Ukraine.

On the evening of March 5, a massive strike was carried out, as a result of which 61 military assests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit, including: 22 units of weapons and military equipment in an underground shelter, a brigade control point, 9 ammunition depots and logistics facilities and 3 radar posts.

The strike with long-range precision weapons was carried out on the morning of March 6 The airfield of the Air Force of Ukraine in Starokonstantinov was neutralized.

Over the past day, fighter aircraft and air defence of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down four Su-27 and one MiG-29 aircraft near Zhytomyr, Su-27 and Su-25 near Radomyshl, one Su-25 near Nizhyn, two Mi-8 helicopters near Kiev, six unmanned aerial vehicles, including Bayraktar TB-2.

Bomber and assault aircraft hit 3 Buk M1 anti-aircraft missile systems and 3 AFU radar stations.

Missile troops destroyed the S-300 anti-aircraft missile defence system.

In total, 2203 military assets of Ukraine were hit during the operation.

Among them: 76 control points and communication centers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 111 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 71 radar stations.

Destroyed: 69 aircraft on the ground and 24 aircraft in the air, 778 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 77 multiple rocket launchers, 279 field artillery and mortars, 553 units of special military vehicles, as well as 62 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Putin Debunks Myths Around Special Operation In Ukraine

The sanctions that are imposed on Russia are like a war. Thankfully, it has not got to that yet, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

"I think that our so-called partners understand what this can lead to and how much is at stake, despite their reckless statements, for example, like the statement made by the UK Foreign Secretary, when she blurted out that NATO could get involved in the conflict. And we immediately had to take a decision to put our deterrence forces on high alert," he added.

And now I will answer your question about volunteers, conscripts, martial law and the like. Under the law, martial law is declared by a Presidential executive order, which should be approved by the Federation Council, in case of foreign aggression, in particular, in the zones of hostilities. This is not the case now, and I hope it will not come to that. This is the first point.

Now, about the martial law. To reiterate, it is usually imposed in case of an external aggression, a military threat. I hope this will not happen, despite irresponsible statements by certain officials.

We have enough forces and means to address the tasks that we have set for ourselves with the use of the professional army.

By the way, speaking of the operation itself I know there are many speculations about it. Frankly, I have no time to get into that, but they report to me that there is much chitchat about what is going on. All analysts are seeing what is happening, so I will not reveal any secret to you. We could have acted in a variety of ways. We could simply (by the way, this answers your question, in part) help the republics of Donbass right on the line of contact, at the frontline, so to say, and simply reinforce them with our army. But in this case, the other side, I mean reckless support for nationalists and radicals coming from the West, would have provided endless support with the material resources, ammunition, equipment, and so on.

Therefore, our General Staff and the Defence Ministry took a different road. The first thing they did was destroy all the military infrastructure. Not completely but most of it: arms and ammunition depots, aircraft and air defence systems. Destroying air defence systems takes some time (you are civilians, yet you are connected with aviation) – they must be identified and then hit. This work has been practically finished. Hence the demand to impose a no-fly zone. However, doing so would have tremendous and disastrous consequences not only for Europe but also globally. I think those on the other side who are not completely at sea understand that.

That is why we chose that road, and it turned out to be absolutely correct. Our servicemen are working without haste and are doing everything to ensure the safety of civilians. Unfortunately, those bandits, neo-Nazis do not spare people. They shoot dead even their own service personnel who do not want to offer armed resistance. We know about such facts, too.

As for volunteers and those young people who come to military recruiting stations, we are grateful to them for this patriotic impulse and the desire to support the country and the Armed Forces. The very fact of their coming does matters, for sure. However, their assistance is not needed for now, and I believe it will not be needed.

I am turning to the cameras so that they will see and hear me say, “Thank you.”

Putin Talks About Reasons And Goals Of Special Operation In Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about all the reasons that led to the military special operation in Ukraine and what goals were set for the Russian Armed Forces. In addition, he explained what the de-Nazification and de-militarization of Ukraine meant and why this had to be done.

The fact of the matter is that after the anti-constitutional coup in Ukraine, which was, unfortunately, strongly supported by Western countries… Let us face it. They are not hiding the fact that they spent US$5 billion on it, handing out cookies on Maidan and so on. And then, instead of bringing the situation back on track, even if it spiralled out of control, even if it was what is known as an excessive act – there is such a legal concept, that is, they planned one thing, but did another. Anyway, they could and should have brought this situation back onto the political track. Moreover, right before the coup, three foreign ministers came to Kiev in 2014, signed an agreement with the incumbent authorities and acted as guarantors of these agreements to the effect that the situation would remain within the political track.

"Nothing of the kind. They carried out a coup d’état and supported the perpetrators. Then followed the well-known events related to Crimea and southeastern Ukraine, Donbass, whose residents refused to support the coup," Putin said.

Crimea made a decision, people came to the referendum and voted to once again become part of the Russian Federation.

"Naturally, we could not but support this, all the more so since they were threatened by nationalists and neo-Nazis. There is a great deal of evidence that they were right," he added.

Later on, or practically in parallel, events started in Donbass.

"What was the outcome? People who began to resist these developments were persecuted. The Kiev authorities started conducting military operations on that territory. They conducted two large-scale punitive operations with the use of heavy weapons and combat aircraft. They attacked Donetsk directly with tanks and bombed its squares from aircraft," Putin said.

"Now listen carefully. Maybe this will sound rough but the situation compels me to say such things. You see yourselves that stray dogs attack people in different regions. They injure and even kill people (this is a separate problem and the local authorities must deal with it). Then we see how these dogs are poisoned and shot dead. But, look, people in Donbass are not stray dogs. From 13,000 to 14,000 people have been killed over these years. Over 500 children were killed or mutilated," Putin stressed.

Putin Greets Female Aircrew Members Of Russian Airlines

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Aeroflot aviation training centre and met with female aircrew members of Russian airlines on Saturday.

Before the meeting, the President inspected flight and emergency rescue simulators at the training centre. They simulate a real-life mid-air environment. The President inspected a cockpit allowing pilots to more effectively control the MC-21 medium-haul narrow-body airliner. He also used a simulator to fly a Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner in the company of Aeroflot flight detachment commander Maria Kasyanik.

Vladimir Putin also visited the unique Water-Land centre, whose specialists train flight crews to deal with emergencies, including water landings, mid-air firefighting operations and evacuating passengers via inflatable ramps.

Humanitarian Situation In Ukraine 03 05 22

Unfortunately, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is rapidly deteriorating and continues to take on catastrophic proportions, Chief of the National Centre for State Defence Control, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev reported on on Saturday.

Taking into account the insistent requests of the Ukrainian side and exclusively for humanitarian purposes, today from 10 a.m. Moscow time, a silence regime has once again been declared for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha. At the same time, routes and all transport logistics of humanitarian corridors have been worked out in detail and agreed upon with the Ukrainian side. The Russian Armed Forces have ensured their safety.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kiev and Moscow have been notified in advance.

"Unfortunately, as of the current moment, we have reliable information that out of the declared 200 thousand refugees from Mariupol and 15 thousand from Volnovakha, no one has arrived at the open humanitarian corridors. It has been reliably established that the nationalists do not release civilians and foreign citizens from these settlements," Mizintsev stressed.

From 10 o'clock in the morning, with five unmanned aerial vehicles, three over Mariupol, two over Volnovakha, we conducted intensive monitoring of the situation in these settlements. According to the results of objective control, it was established that the formation of no humanitarian columns was carried out, but on the contrary, the silence regime was actively used for the intensive regrouping of AFU units and national battalions in defensive positions and throughout Mariupol, as well as the movement of weapons and military equipment to more advantageous positions.

A similar situation was noted in Volnovakha. The operational pause is used only to improve the situation of the national battalions and build up forces and means.

"Today I have to address directly to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk, with whom we have worked intensively and interacted over the past day, while we have fulfilled all her wishes and requests. If the Kiev regime has dragged you into this special provocative operation to create more favorable conditions for the defending Nazis in these localities, then say so, you personally tell this to the Ukrainian people, who will give their political assessment of your actions," General stated.

The militants of the nationalist battalions continue to hold about five thousand foreigners hostage as a human shield, including:

in Kharkiv - up to 1.5 thousand students from India, up to 200 citizens of Jordan, 40 citizens of Egypt, 15 citizens of Vietnam; in Sumy - 576 citizens of India, 159 citizens of Tanzania, 121 citizens of China, 100 students from Ghana, 60 citizens of Egypt, 45 citizens of Jordan, 16 students from Pakistan, 15 citizens of Tunisia and 14 citizens of Zambia.

"To our proposals to open humanitarian corridors in Kharkiv and Sumy, the Ukrainian side has so far refused," General Mizintsev noted.

The situation is aggravated by the monstrous increase in crime provoked by the Ukrainian government, which indiscriminately armed residents of cities, radical elements, criminals released early by the same criminal authorities from places of detention.

Taking advantage of their impunity and actually becoming a parallel government, with the complete loss of civil law governance, bandits are rampaging in settlements, killing, robbing and raping. The country is overwhelmed by a wave of looting. The Ukrainian people are intimidated, the atrocities of the Nazis have become widespread.

In addition, cases of discrimination of human rights on racial grounds have become more frequent, namely, nationalist activists prevent the evacuation of foreigners, especially those with dark skin color, as well as citizens of India, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt.

Russian General, once again called on the collective West to stop the flow of politically motivated lies about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and the world community and the entire civilized world to actively engage in work to force the Kiev regime to comply with the rules of humane treatment of the civilian population.

Humanitarian Сorridors And Current Situation In Ukraine 03 05 22

On March 5, from 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian side declared a regime of silence and opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Saturday.

As it became known later, 17 people used the humanitarian corridor in Mariupol, so far no one has left Volnovakha.

Units of the Russian Armed Forces are conducting offensive operations on a broad front. Over the past day, the settlements of Preobrazhenka, Komsomolskoye, Zagornoye, Dorozhnyanka, Reshetilovskoye, Konstantinovka, Shevchenko, Chubarevka, Proletarskoye, Lyubimovka have been taken under control.

The servicemen of the Donetsk People's Republic continue to squeeze the encirclement ring around Mariupol.

The militants of the Azov and Aidar national battalions are firing at the people's militia units that have entered the city from positions equipped in schools, hospitals, maternity hospitals and kindergartens.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to deliver strikes at the military assets of Ukraine.

Over the past day, a strike of high-precision long-range weapons destroyed an ammunition depot on the territory of the military unit of Zhytomyr, where Javelin and NLOW anti-tank missile systems were stored.

In total, 2,037 military assets of Ukraine's were hit during the operation. Among them: 71 control points and communication centers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; 98 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 61 radar stations.

Destroyed: 66 aircraft on the ground and 16 aircraft in the air, 708 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 74 multiple rocket launchers, 261 field artillery and mortars, 505 units of special military vehicles, as well as 56 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Putin's Remarks At Flag Raising Ceremony On Marshal Rokossovsky Ferry

Russian President Vladimir Putin participates, via videoconference, in the ceremony to raise the national flag of the Russian Federation on the ferry Marshal Rokossovsky.on Friday.

The Marshal Rokossovsky is Russia’s first Arc4 ice-class dual-fuel ferry designed to carry railway cars with Russia’s standard gauge of 1,520 mm, as well as highway freighters and passenger cars. The first railway cars will be rolled onto the ferry on March 4, after which it will operate on the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line.

Using eco-friendly fuel on the ferry will reduce CO2 emissions by 20 to 30 percent compared to similar ships running on traditional heavy fuel, as well as achieve a more than 90 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and eliminate sulphur oxide and soot emissions altogether.

The flag-raising ceremony took place on the car and auto ferry complex at Ust-Luga, a seaport in the Leningrad Region.

Taking part in the ceremony, also by videoconference from Moscow, were Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev and Russian Railways CEO – Chairman of the Executive Board Oleg Belozerov, while Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko, General Director of Rosmorport Sergei Pylin and his deputy for fleet management Vasily Strugov, as well as the ferry’s captain Alexander Vangonen joined the event via videoconference from the Leningrad Region, and Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Anton Alikhanov participated from the Kaliningrad Region.

Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation Has Developed In Most Of Territory Of Ukraine

Currently, a catastrophic humanitarian situation has developed in most of the territory of Ukraine, which, unfortunately, is rapidly deteriorating. The most difficult situation in Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy, Chernigov and Mariupol, as well as in a number of other settlements. In these cities today there is practically a humanitarian catastrophe, Chief of the National Centre for State Defence Control, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev reported on Friday.

"Despite all our calls, the Ukrainian Nazis block thousands of Ukrainian citizens, as well as a large number of foreigners, and do not let them out for evacuation to safe places. The terrorists of the national battalions continue to use civilians and foreign citizens as 'human shield," he added.

Today there are more than 7.5 thousand foreigners forcibly held as hostages in various settlements of Ukraine, including: in Kharkov - 3,189 citizens of India, 2,700 citizens of Vietnam, 200 citizens of Jordan, 30 citizens of Egypt; in Sumy - 576 citizens of India, 121 citizens of China and 100 citizens of Ghana, as well as 60 citizens of Egypt and 45 citizens of Jordan.

"Firstly, the Kiev regime has almost completely lost the ability to manage the administrations of the regions and districts of the country.

Secondly, civil law administrations in cities and towns of Ukraine are deprived of the right to deal with the civilian population, they are not able to solve elementary issues of a social and domestic nature. Thirdly, in most cities and towns, national battalions of the so-called territorial defenсe are rampaging, and in fact they are Nazis and mercenaries who joined them, terrorists and bandits, including those of foreign origin." General stressed.

Russian Defense Ministry Warns Of Impending Provocation In Kharkov

Ukrainian nationalists are preparing a provocation with the participation of Western journalists in Kharkov, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

"According to confirmed data, on Zhilardi Street, Kievsky District, in the private sector, multiple launch rocket systems are placed between the houses. Nationalists forbid local residents, including children, to leave their homes," he said.

Now mounts are ready for shelling the units of the Russian armed forces located outside the city. "The purpose of the provocation is to cause the return fire of Russian artillery on the residential sector of Kharkov. All this is planned to be filmed on cameras with the subsequent transfer to Western journalists," Konashenkov stated.

According to the general, Russian armed forces provide assistance to residents of settlements liberated from nationalists.

Lavrov 'Thought Of Nuclear War Is Constantly Running Through Minds Of Western Politicians'

The thought of nuclear war is constantly running through the minds of Western politicians but not the minds of Russians, Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"I assure you that we will not let any provocations cause us to lose our balance. But if a real war is unleashed against us, this must be a concern for those who are hatching such plans," he added.

Russia have a military doctrine that describes the parameters and conditions for using nuclear weapons. There is no “escalation for the sake of de-escalation” there, though Western analysts claim otherwise.

According to Lavrov, talk of nuclear war has already begun.

"Look carefully at these statements and the characters who made them. First, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a propaganda frenzy, trying to curry favour with the most radical forces in the West, that nobody would ban the North Atlantic Alliance from doing whatever it wants, even if it suddenly decides to deploy nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe. To begin with, NATO cannot decide where to deploy nuclear weapons. It does not have them. The Americans do. Stoltenberg’s comment was very revealing," he noted.

Next, Vladimir Zelensky started saying that they would renege on their obligations as a non-nuclear state and acquire nuclear weapons.

"Do not forget to look at what was said by my colleague, Foreign Minister of France Jean-Yves le Drian. He loves to show off, you know. The rooster is a national symbol of France. They often get cocky.

During one of his chats with the world, he said Vladimir Putin must remember that France also has nuclear weapons," Minister continued.

Recalled Lavrov and the statements of his "favorite."

"The recently appointed UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss said she was prepared for conflict between NATO and Russia," he said.

Well, finally, how without the "leader of the free world"?

"Please note what US President Joseph Biden has said. When asked whether there was any alternative to the current “sanctions from hell” he said World War 3 was the only alternative to these sanctions. It is commonly understood that World War 3 means nuclear war," Lavrov noted.

Lavrov 'Why Should West Tell Us What Our Security Needs Are?'

Russia are being told “not to worry because Ukraine or any other country joining NATO will not pose a threat to Russia’s security.” Why should the West tell us what our security needs are? Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"Just like the Americans decided for Germany and Europe what was needed for European energy security. They decided that Nord Stream 2 was something that the EU did not need for its energy security, which would be ensured instead by supplies of liquefied natural gas from the United States at multiple times the cost," he added.

According to Lavrov, this is not just the situation in Ukraine, the efforts to demilitarise and de-Nazify it, to prevent the continuing manifestations of genocide on its territory, putting a stop to any violence and ensuring for the Ukrainians an opportunity to decide their destiny themselves; no, it is the world order that is at stake. This is for a reason that the West is avoiding, in any way it can, giving a response to our implicit, clear-cut proposals on the security system in Europe that rely on existing agreements.

Russia's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Inokhodets

The destruction of the command and observation post of Aidar battalion by crew of unmanned aerial vehicle Inokhodets of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic. The target was hit by guided aerial munition.

What Actually Happened At Zaporizhzhya NPP? Russian MOD Report 03 04 22

The purpose of the provocation of the Kiev regime at Zaporizhzhya NPP is an attempt to accuse Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

On February 28, the Russian Armed Forces took control of Energodar city, the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and adjacent territory. The military personnel of the Ukrainian National Guard who were guarding the power plant, even before the arrival of the Russian units, left the facility and disappeared in an unknown direction.

The station facilities and the adjacent territory were taken under guard by Russian military personnel.

Over the past five days, the personnel of Zaporizhzhya NPP continued the planned work on maintenance of facilities and control of the radioactive situation in usual mode.

However, last night, on the territory adjacent to the power plant, the Kiev nationalist regime attempted to implement a provocation.

On March 4, at about 2 a.m., while patrolling a protected area adjacent to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, a mobile patrol of Rosgvardiya was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group.

In order to provoke retaliatory fire at the building, heavy small arms fire was opened at the servicemen of the Rosgvardiya from the windows of several floors of the training complex located outside the power plant.

The firing points of the Ukrainian saboteurs in the building of the training complex were suppressed by the return fire of the Russian patrol from small arms. Leaving the building, a Ukrainian sabotage group set fire to the training building.

The fire brigades that arrived at the building put the fire out of the premises. At the time of the provocation, none of the full-time employees of the power plant was in the training building.

Currently, the staff of Zaporizhzhya NPP continues to work as usual, maintains the NPP facilities and monitors the radioactive situation. The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal.

Zelensky's prompt statements about the alleged threat to the nuclear power plant and his talks with Washington and London leave no doubt. The purpose of the provocation of the Kiev regime at a nuclear facility is an attempt to accuse Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination.

All this testifies to the criminal intent of the Kiev regime or the complete loss of control over the actions of Ukrainian Sabotage groups with the participation of foreign mercenaries by Zelensky.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike at the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

In total, 1,812 military facilities were hit during the operation, among them: 65 command posts and communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 56 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 59 radar stations.

Also, 49 aircraft on the ground and 13 aircraft in the air, 635 tanks and other armored vehicles, 67 MLRSs, 252 field artillery mounts and mortars, 442 units of special military vehicles, as well as 54 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed.

Results Of Second Round Of Talks Between Russia And Ukraine

Representatives of Russia and Ukraine at the second round of talks on Thursday agreed to jointly provide humanitarian corridors in places of the most fierce fighting. During the evacuation of residents in these areas, a temporary ceasefire is possible

As Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, told journalists, the parties managed to find mutual understanding on a number of issues.

Russia and Ukraine agreed on the possibility of opening humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of medicines and food to the places of the most fierce fighting.

Representatives of the military departments, according to Medinsky, also agreed on "a possible temporary cessation of hostilities in the sector of the humanitarian corridor for the period of the exit of the civilian population." Podolyak confirmed that the fire would stop only in these areas.

In the near future, the parties will organize special communication channels for organizing corridors and work out logistics procedures.

The parties discussed not only humanitarian problems, but also "the issue of a future political settlement of the conflict," Medinsky said. He did not disclose details.

The Ukrainian side, according to Podolyak, did not get the results that they expected, and the only solution concerned humanitarian corridors.

In the near future, the third meeting will take place, which may also take place on the territory of Belarus. As Podolyak specified, it will be organized at the beginning of next week.

According to the results of the third round, as Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, said, agreements can be reached that will need to be consolidated at the highest level and ratified in parliament. The deputy, however, made a reservation that in order to agree on the “political part”, not one, but several meetings may be needed.   

Putin''s Remarks On Special Military Operation in Ukraine 'I Am Proud Of Of Our Heroes'

Vladimir Putin held an operational meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council on a military special operation in Ukraine on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, Special Representative of the President for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

Historic Meeting Of LPR And Russian Trups In Novoaidar 'Next, Let's Work Together!'

On March 3, in the settlement of Novoaidar, the forward units of the units of the People's Militia of the LPR, advancing on the village from the south, and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, moving towards it from the north, met.

The historic meeting took place at the checkpoint at the entrance to the city, where representatives of the parties discussed the current situation and began coordinating further actions to liberate the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic.

During the capture of the settlement, Russian military personnel also seized military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including armored personnel carriers, combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicles and other equipment.

Putin's Tough Phone Talks With Macron On Ukraine 03 03 22

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

The presidents continued their frank exchange of views on the situation regarding Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin commented in detail on President Macron’s Address to the Nation on the Ukraine War, which he delivered yesterday, disputing many of the points. Thus, Emmanuel Macron described Russia’s statements about fighting Nazism in Ukraine as “lies.” In this connection, the President of Russia provided a well-corroborated explanation regarding the neo-Nazis’ substantial role in the state policy of Kiev. He pointed out that during the special operation to defend Donbass, Russia intends to continue its uncompromising struggle against the militants of the nationalist armed units, who are committing military crimes, including by deploying military equipment in residential areas and using civilians as human shields.

The President of Russia noted that Emmanuel Macron had not mentioned in his address that the Ukrainian leadership had sabotaged the Minsk agreements for the past seven years, or that the Western countries, including France, had done absolutely nothing to make Kiev implement them.

Moreover, they had closed their eyes to years of genocide against peaceful civilians in Donbass, which led to numerous casualties and forced hundreds of thousands of people to seek asylum in Russia. Vladimir Putin put forth the details of Russia’s principled approach and terms in the context of talks with the representatives of Kiev. He reaffirmed that Russia’s priority goals were demilitarisation and a neutral status for Ukraine, so that it would never pose a threat to the Russian Federation.

It was emphasised that the goals of the special military operation would be attained in any case, and that any attempts to play for time by drawing out talks would only result in additional demands to Kiev being included in Russia’s negotiating stance.

Another point the President of Russia emphasised was that the Russian Armed Forces involved in the special operation, which is proceeding according to plan, are doing their utmost to save civilian lives. They are using precision weapons to destroy exclusively military infrastructure. The allegations about missile and bomb attacks on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities are untrue and are elements of the anti-Russia disinformation campaign.

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s readiness for cooperation with its foreign partners to address acute humanitarian problems. He urged the President of France to join the efforts to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign nationals from Ukraine. He mentioned, for example, the large group of Indian students in Kharkov, whom the Ukrainian security services have taken hostage. Emmanuel Macron promised to take the issue up with the Kiev leadership.

It was agreed to continue contacts at various levels on the issues raised during the conversation.

Russian MOD Warns Foreign Mercenaries Against Participating In Ukraine's Hostilities

At Thursday's briefing, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov emphasized that all mercenaries sent by the West to help the Kiev nationalist regime are not combatants under international humanitarian law and they are not entitled to prisoner of war status.

Please note that against the background of the encirclement and destruction of the main groups of Ukrainian nationalists by the Russian Armed Forces, Western countries have increased the dispatch of contract soldiers from private military companies to the areas of hostilities.

Foreign mercenaries who have arrived in Ukraine are committing sabotage and raids on Russian convoys of equipment and supplies, as well as aircraft covering them.

It is they who, evade getting into the frame of the phones of supposedly “local residents” in the propaganda videos distributed on social networks by the Ukrainian special services.

All attacks by foreign mercenaries are carried out using weapons supplied by the West to the Kiev regime. We are talking about anti-tank systems Javelin (USA), NLOW (Great Britain) and man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems Stinger, the use of which requires serious training.

The US military intelligence has launched a large-scale campaign to recruit PMC contractors to be sent to Ukraine. First of all, employees of the American PMCs Academi, Cubic and DynCorp are recruited. Great Britain, Denmark, Latvia, Poland and Croatia legally allowed their citizens to participate in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. The command of the French foreign legion plans to send military personnel - ethnic Ukrainians to help the Kiev regime.

According to Zelensky, about 16,000 foreign mercenaries are expected to arrive in Ukraine in addition to the existing ones in order to compensate for the crushing military failures of the Ukrainian armed forces. For them, a visa-free regime is officially introduced.

Last week alone, about 200 mercenaries from Croatia arrived through Poland and joined one of the nationalist battalions in southeastern Ukraine.

Today, the Defence Attache at the Croatian Embassy in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Defenсe Ministry.

The military attache was pointed out to the illegal activities of Croatian citizen Denis Sheler, who participated in the hostilities in the south-east of Ukraine in 2015, forming detachments of Croatian mercenaries to be sent to Ukraine.

We noticed that we are aware of the arrival in Ukraine of about 200 Croatian mercenaries. I want to emphasize that all mercenaries sent by the West to help the Kiev nationalist regime are not combatants under international humanitarian law.

They are not entitled to prisoner of war status.

The best thing that awaits foreign mercenaries upon arrest is criminal prosecution. We urge citizens of foreign countries planning to go to fight for the Kiуv nationalist regime to think twice before the trip.

Russian Defense Ministry's Report On Situation In Ukraine 03 03 22

In total, 1,612 military facilities were hit during the operation, among them: 62 command posts and communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 39 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 52 radar stations, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Thursday.

Also, 49 aircraft on the ground and 13 aircraft in the air, 606 tanks and other armored vehicles, 67 MLRSs, 227 field artillery mounts and mortars, 405 units of special military vehicles, as well as 53 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed.

The grouping of troops of Lugansk People's Republic, with the Russian Armed Forces fire support, continued offensive operation and reached the Krasny Lyman - Privolye - the northern outskirts of Severodonetsk.

The advance was 4 kilometers.

The units of the armed forces of Donetsk People's Republic narrowed the encirclement of Mariupol, and also took control of Vinogradnoye, Sartaka and Vodyanoye.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, continuing successful offensive operation, seized control of Chistopolye, Novopoltavka, Zhovtneve and formed up the front line with units of Donetsk People's Republic.

Balakleya city was liberated from the nationalist battalions.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking measures to ensure the safety of the civilian population of Ukraine.

In Borodyanka, where units of Ukrainian nationalists are located along with equipment in residential areas, civilians can safely leave the settlement through a specially organized corridor in Berestyanka direction.

Russian servicemen do not obstruct for the civilian population leave.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike at the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

As a result of a long-range high-precision strike, a reserve technological radio-television centre in Lysaya Gora area in Kiev, which was used by the Ukrainian security service for psychological operations against Russia, was disabled. 

There were no casualties or destruction of residential building.

Russian MOD Reports On Today's Situation In Ukraine

In total, 1,533 objects were hit during the operation, among them: 54 control points and communication centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 39 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 52 radar stations, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

In addition, 47 aircraft on the ground and 13 aircraft in the air, 484 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 63 multiple rocket launchers, 217 field artillery and mortars, 336 units of special military vehicles, 47 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed.

Among the nationalists and servicemen of the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, the losses are: more than 2,870 killed and about 3,700 wounded. Only according to confirmed data, the number of captured servicemen of the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine is 572 people.

Unfortunately, there are casualties among our comrades participating in a special military operation.

498 Russian servicemen were killed in the performance of military duty. All possible assistance is provided to the families of the victims.

1,597 of our comrades were injured.

I want to emphasize once again that neither conscripts nor cadets of educational institutions of the Ministry of Defence of Russia participate in a special operation.

The information spread by many Western and individual Russian media about the allegedly incalculable losses of the Russian grouping is purposeful disinformation.

Russian soldiers and officers show courage, bravery and heroism during a special military operation.

Putin's Order 'IT Companies In Russia To Be Exempt From Income Tax For Three Years'

President Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Measures to Ensure the Accelerated Development of the IT Industry in the Russian Federation.

In order to ensure faster development of the IT industry, the President instructed the Government of the Russian Federation to allocate funds from the federal budget in annual aid to support promising IT solutions.

The Government was also instructed to allocate funds to accredited organisations involved in the IT industry to improve the living conditions of their workers and raise their salaries; and to ensure that these organisations can be provided with concessional loans at an interest rate under 3 percent for maintaining operations and implementing new projects.

The Government is also to take measures to establish a profit tax rate of 0 percent for accredited organisations until December 31, 2024, and to simplify the hiring of foreign nationals by these organisations and obtaining residence permits for such foreign nationals.

Additionally, the accredited organisations will be eligible for tax concessions and incentives. They will be exempt from tax control, foreign exchange control and other forms of state and municipal control for up to three years. The Executive Order also provides for consolidating and stimulating procurement of critical domestic IT solutions and technologies for state and municipal purposes and specific legal entities, as well as simplifying such procurement.

According to the Executive Order, Russian citizens employed by the accredited organisations will be exempt from compulsory military service until the age of 27, as long as they continue to work for the said organisations.

The Government was instructed to make respective legislative amendments as necessary.

Putin's Executive Order On Additional Temporary Economic Measures To Ensure Russia’s Stability

President Vladimir Putin resolved to take additional temporary economic measures to ensure the financial stability of the Russian Federation.

In connection with the hostile actions undertaken by the United States of America, joined by other foreign states and international organisations, which imposed restrictive measures on citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian legal entities in contravention of international law, to ensure the national interests of the Russian Federation and maintain its financial stability, in keeping with Federal Law No. 281-FZ On Special Economic Measures and Coercive Measures, dated December 30, 2006; Federal Law No. 390-FZ On Security, dated December 28, 2010; and Federal Law No. 127-FZ On Measures Impacting (Counteracting) the Hostile Actions of the United States of America and Other Foreign States, dated June 4, 2018 the President has resolved to take additional temporary economic measures to ensure the financial stability of the Russian Federation.

In particular, a special procedure for transactions is to come into force on March 2 for foreign nationals who are connected to the states that are undertaking hostile actions towards the Russian Federation and its citizens. The new measures concern transactions to issue ruble credits and loans to these foreign nationals, as well as transactions that result in the transfer of ownership of securities and real estate.

It is further noted that such transactions can be implemented on the basis of permits issued by the government commission on monitoring foreign investment in the Russian Federation.

Furthermore, transactions to purchase securities can be conducted by these individuals during on-exchange trading on the basis of permits issued by the Central Bank by agreement with the Finance Ministry of the Russian Federation that stipulate certain conditions.

In addition, this Executive Order also concerns transactions by nationals of any other foreign state that concern shares or real estate purchased after February 22, 2022 from the nationals of states that are undertaking hostile actions against Russia.

The document also adjusts certain measures stipulated in the Presidential Executive Order No. 79 On Imposing Special Economic Measures in Connection with the Hostile Actions of the United States in League with Other Foreign States and International Organisations, dated February 28, 2022.

In addition, the document introduces a ban on the movement of foreign currency in cash exceeding the equivalent of $10,000 out of the Russian Federation.

Putin - Maduro Phone Talks

Russian Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro at the Venezuelan side’s initiative on Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin shared his assessments of the developments around Ukraine and stressed that the goal of the special military operation was to protect civilians in Donbass, to ensure Kiev’s recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics as well as Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, and to secure its neutral and nuclear-free status.

Nicolas Maduro expressed his strong support for Russia’s decisive actions, condemned the destabilising activity of the United States and NATO, and emphasised the importance of countering the campaign of lies and disinformation launched by Western countries.

The presidents also discussed topical issues of further promoting Russian-Venezuelan strategic partnership and the implementation of joint projects.

Russian Defense Ministry Reports On Current Events In Ukraine

The grouping of troops of Lugansk People's Republic, with fire support from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, continuing successful offensive operations, and took control over Starobelsk and Svatovo settlements. Since the beginning of the special military operation, the depth of advance has been 75 kilometers, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

The grouping of troops of Donetsk People's Republic, having expanded the offensive zone, took control over Kalinovka, Lebedinskoe, Pionerskoe, Karla Marx, Nikolaevka And Osipenko settlements.  Progress since the beginning of the operation amounted to 58 kilometers.

The units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation established control over Tokmak And Vasylievka settlements, where Ukrainian servicemen refused to resist and voluntarily laid down their arms. After they sign receipts refusing to participate in hostilities, the Ukrainian servicemen will return to their families.

The Russian Armed Forces took Kherson regional centre under full control.

Civil infrastructure, life support facilities for the population and urban transport operate on a daily basis.

The city does not experience shortages in food and essential goods. Negotiations are ongoing between the Russian command, the administration of the city and the region to address issues of maintaining the functioning of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and order and the safety of the population.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to strike at the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

In order to suppress information attacks against Russia, the technological facilities of the Security Service of Ukraine and the 72nd Main Centre for Psychological Operations were hit with high-precision weapons in Kiev city. The hardware broadcasting of the TV tower was disabled. As a result of the strike, the destruction of residential buildings was not allowed.

The forces of the operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a massive air strike on the military infrastructure of Ukraine. 67 objects were hit.

In total, since the beginning of the operation, the Armed Forces of the   Russian Federation have hit 1,502 objects of the military  infrastructure of Ukraine.

Among them: 51 command posts and communication centres of the Armed  Forces of Ukraine, 38 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile  systems, 51 radar stations.

47 aircraft on the ground and 11 aircraft in the air, 472 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 62 multiple rocket launch systems, 206 field artillery pieces and mortars, 336 units of special military vehicles, 46 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed.

Putin - Mohammed bin Zayed Phone Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The conversation focused on topical issues of Russia-UAE cooperation. The leaders praised the level of interaction they had reached, including in the political, trade and economic and other spheres. They noted the importance of constructive joint work at international organisations, above all the United Nations, and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further all-round development of bilateral relations of strategic partnership.

The implementation of OPEC Plus agreements was discussed. The parties stressed their intention to continue coordinated effort in the interests of maintaining global energy market stability.

The developments in Ukraine were reviewed. Vladimir Putin gave an exhaustive explanation of the reasons for the special military operation to protect Donbass as well as its goals and tasks. In his turn Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that Russia has the right to ensure its national security.

Sergey Lavrov's UNHRC Virtual Address

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivers remarks at the High-Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council’s 49th session, via videoconference on Tuesday.

The situation around the world is becoming increasingly complex. It is deteriorating right in front of our eyes. This is because the United States and its allies persist with their aggressive efforts to impose the so-called “rules-based order” on other members of the international community. How has this “order” affected human rights? Ukraine is a telling example in this regard.

It is the policy of the Washington-led “collective West” which is to blame for the fact that the Kiev regime has been at war with its own people since 2014. It has been at war with everyone who does not agree with the neo-Nazi “Maidan values,” with the criminal policy of the Ukrainian authorities, which have been systematically violating human rights and the rights of ethnic minorities, as well as the commitments Kiev has within the UN and the OSCE, and even the Constitution of their own country.

Lies about the Second World War are being shamelessly inculcated. Hitler's local henchmen are proclaimed heroes, and actual anti-fascist heroes are forgotten. Monuments to those who defeated Nazism are being demolished. War criminals who fought in the ranks of the Third Reich are being glorified. The most recent step came in the form of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine sending a draft law about Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS Agreement on Perpetuating the Memory of the Courage and Heroism of the Peoples in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War to the Verkhovna Rada on February 23. And so it was utterly blasphemous for Vladimir Zelensky to declare, on the very same day, that he honours the memory of his grandfather who fought in the Red Army to liberate the Soviet Union and Europe from Nazism.

The former authorities headed by President Poroshenko, with the support of Washington, effected a church schism and created what is now known as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Laws have been adopted against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. Its churches are being seized, and millions of its parishioners and clergy are being persecuted. What is this other than a violation of religious freedom?

The West began to turn a blind eye to what was happening back in February 2014, when the radicals carried out an unconstitutional coup and tore up the agreement, backed by EU guarantees, with the then President of Ukraine. The putschists who came to power declared their intention of seeking alliance with the West and immediately launched an offensive against the Russian language, resolved to expel everything that is Russian from Crimea, and sent gunmen there. The eastern regions of Ukraine that opposed the coup were accused of terrorism, although they had not attacked anyone. On the contrary, punitive battalions were used against them; their cities were bombed from the air and fired at from artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. They destroyed civilian sites, schools, and hospitals. They killed civilians. An inhuman economic, transport and food blockade was imposed on Donbass. The Kiev regime got away with all of that. International organisations, at best, were limited to impotently calling on “both sides.”

The United States and its allies, which are directly responsible for numerous violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and are guilty of crimes that killed hundreds of thousands of people in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, once again apply double standards. The current Kiev regime is a vivid example of the fact that when you are a loyal vassal of the hegemon and participate with particular zeal in serving his policy of containing Russia, you can do anything you like. You can trample upon human rights and freedoms, kill people, and cultivate neo-Nazi traditions and practices. In exchange for your absolute fealty and obedience, the “civilised” West will turn a blind eye to everything. Moreover, the other day, the European Union, in a fit of Russophobic frenzy, decided to supply lethal weapons to Kiev. For us, the life of every Russian and Ukrainian, every resident of Donetsk and Lugansk, is as valuable as the life of a European or an American.

"The West’s arrogant philosophy based on a sense of its own superiority, exceptionalism, and licence must come to an end," Lavrov stressed.

Lavrov 'It's High Time That US Nuclear Weapons Were Returned Home'

It is high time that US nuclear weapons were returned home and the related infrastructure in Europe, totally dismantled, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a video address to the Disarmament Conference.

"We find it unacceptable that US nuclear weapons remain on the territory of a number of European countries in circumvention of fundamental provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The faulty practice of joint nuclear missions involving non-nuclear NATO countries still persists. Scenarios for using nuclear weapons against Russia are simulated within their framework," he added.

Lavrov Says Russia To Seek Legally Binding Security Guarantees From NATO

Russia believes that obtaining legally binding security guarantees from NATO members is of paramount importance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a video address to the Disarmament Conference.

"[Our] Western "colleagues" have not yet shown any willingness to provide Russia with long-term legally binding security guarantees. For us, achieving these objectives is of fundamental importance," Lavrov emphasized.

The minister stressed that the issue here is refusing NATO’s expansion any further, and abandoning the "Bucharest formula" (2008 Bucharest Summit) that sees Ukraine and Georgia becoming members of the US-led military bloc. "Western countries should refrain from establishing military facilities on the territory of former USSR states that are not members of the alliance, including the use of their infrastructure for conducting any military activity. It is necessary to return NATO’s military capabilities, including strike [capabilities], and NATO infrastructure to the state of 1997, when the NATO-Russia Founding Act was adopted," Lavrov concluded.

Russian MOD 'Exit Of Armed Forces Of Ukraine To Sea Of Azov Is Completely Blocked'

The exit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the Sea of Azov is completely blocked, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported on Tuesday.

On March 1, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a strike with long-range air and sea-based high-precision weapons. Two airfields and three air defence radar posts were hit.  The strikes excluded the defeat of civilian infrastructure and residential buildings.

In total, since the beginning of the operation, the Armed Forces of the  Russian Federation have hit 1,325 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.

Of these: 43 command posts and a communication centres of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

395 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 59 multiple rocket launch systems, 179 field artillery and mortars, 286 units of special military  vehicles were destroyed.

The grouping of troops of Lugansk People's Republic, with fire support from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, advanced from the beginning of the operation to a depth of up to 61 kilometers and blocked Svatovo village.  Novoborovoe, Barykino, Klimovka, Bulgakovka, Golubovka settlements were taken under control.

The troops of Donetsk People's Republic conducted successful offensive operations, taking control of Ivanovka, Talakovka, Starodubovka, Berestovoe and Belotserkovka settlements. The depth of the group's advance over the past day was 19 kilometers.

Advance detachments of the People's Militia of the DPR reached the administrative border of the Donetsk region and joined the military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which took control of the regions of Ukraine along the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The exit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the Sea of Azov is completely blocked.

Lavrov 'Zelensky's Team Must Prove Ability To Negotiate So As Not To Repeat Story Of Minsk-2'

Moscow hopes that the Ukrainian side will finally see the necessity of an independent approach and the ability to negotiate at the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday in a video address to the United Nations Human Rights Council session.

"As you know, talks between Russia representatives and Kiev’s delegation have begun at [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky’s request. I hope the Ukrainian side will see the seriousness of the situation and its responsibility, will understand that it should demonstrate an independent approach and its ability to negotiate in order to avoid the recurrence of the situation with the Minsk agreements," he said.

The Russian-Ukrainian talks were held on Monday. The talks lasted for five hours. The Russian delegation was led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who said earlier that the Russian delegation was ready to speak with the Ukrainian side as long as it may take to reach agreements. He also said that the delegations had preliminarily agreed to hold the next round of talks in Belarus.

Shoigu 'Russia’s Main Task In Ukraine Is To Protect Itself From West'

The main task of the special operation in Ukraine is to protect Russia from the Western military threat, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"The main task is to protect Russia from the military threat, being created by the Western countries, which try to use the Ukrainian people against our country," Shoigu said in a distance conference on Tuesday.

He stressed that the Russian forces were not occupying the Ukrainian territory and that every measure was being taken to save the lives and maintain the security of local civilians.

"Let me stress that all strikes are targeted against military facilities and exclusively smart weapons are being used," he added.