Russian army ordered to broaden Ukraine advance ‘from all directions’

International

oi-Deepika S

Moscow,
Feb
27:
Russia
has
ordered
its
troops
to
advance
in
Ukraine
“from
all
directions”
as
the
Ukrainian
capital
after
Kyiv
refused
to
hold
talks
in
Belarus.

“After
the
Ukrainian
side
rejected
the
negotiation
process,
today
all
units
were
given
orders
to
develop
the
advance
from
all
directions
in
accordance
with
the
operation’s
plans,”
Russian
army
spokesman
Igor
Konashenkov
was
quoted
saying
by
AFP.

The
Kremlin
said
Friday
that
Putin
was
ready
to
send
a
delegation
to
Belarus
for
talks
with
Ukraine
but
Ukraine
wanted
talks
in
Warsaw
instead.

After
a
barrage
of
airstrikes
on
cities
and
military
bases
around
the
country,
Russian
forces
were
closing
in
on
Ukraine’s
capital
of
Kyiv
on
Saturday.

Britain
and
the
U.S.
said
the
bulk
of
Russian
forces
were
19
miles
(30
kilometers)
from
the
center
of
the
city.

With
growing
signs
that
Russia
aims
to
overthrow
him
and
his
government,
Ukranian
President
Volodymyr
Zelenskyy
called
on
Ukrainians
to
“stand
firm.”

Kyiv
Mayor
Vitali
Klitschko
extended
the
city’s
curfew
from
5
p.m.
Saturday
until
8
a.m.
Monday
to
keep
people
indoors
on
Sunday.
He
said
“all
civilians
on
the
street
during
the
curfew
will
be
considered
members
of
the
enemy’s
sabotage
and
reconnaissance
groups.”

International
allies
put
Russia
under
increasing
pressure
and
pledged
additional
aid
to
help
Ukraine
in
the
coming
days.

Kyiv
officials
are
warning
residents
that
street
fighting
is
underway
against
Russian
forces,
who
were
trying
to
advance
on
the
city
from
several
directions.
They
advised
residents
to
remain
in
shelters
and
avoid
going
near
windows.

Russian
Defense
Ministry
spokesman
Maj.
Gen.
Igor
Konashenkov
claimed
Saturday
that
since
the
start
of
Russia’s
attack,
its
military
had
hit
821
Ukrainian
military
facilities,
87
tanks
and
other
targets.

Konashenkov
claimed
the
Russian
military
has
taken
full
control
of
the
southern
city
of
Melitopol,
35
kilometers
(22
miles)
inland
from
the
Azov
Sea
coast,
and
said
Russia-backed
separatists
have
made
significant
gains
in
the
eastern
region
of
Donbas.

with
PTI
inputs