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Putin launches special military operation
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces his decision to launch a “special military operation” in Ukraine in a pre-dawn speech and the land, sea, and air invasion begins. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a brief and defiant national address to declare martial law and general mobilisation. -
Zelenskyy refuses a US offer to evacuate
The Ukraine President said: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”. Russia’s assault on Kyiv, the eastern city of Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the north stalls as Ukrainian defenders target supply vehicles with Javelin missiles. -
Ukraine applies to join the EU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday (28 February) submitted an official request to allow his country to gain ‘immediate’ membership under a special fast-track procedure as it defends itself from a Russian invasion. “We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession via a new special procedure,” Zelenskiy said, speaking on his Telegram channel as fighting with Russian troops continued across the country.