February 26, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Adrienne Vogt, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Jeevan Ravindran, Peter Wilkinson, Jessie Yeung, Brad Lendon, Steve George, Meg Wagner, Amir Vera and Helen Regan, CNN

Updated 10:27 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022
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8:04 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Japanese-owned cargo ship hit by a missile off Ukrainian coast

From CNN’s Lizzy Yee and Emi Jozuka

A Japanese-owned cargo ship was hit by a missile off the coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea on Friday, lightly injuring one crew member, an official from a Japanese marine transportation firm said Saturday. 

The official added that there were 20 crew members on board.

According to a statement released on the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Facebook page on Saturday, preliminary reports indicate the missile was fired by Russian forces and hit the stern of "Namura Queen" cargo ship on Friday. 

“The tugboat 'P&O STAR' has come to the rescue. The situation is under control,” the post said. It added that the ship was sailing under the Panamanian flag, and heading to Pivdennyy port. 

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday that the "Namura Queen" crew are all safe. According to a website that tracks ships' positions, the vessel is currently en route to Istanbul, Turkey.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also reported that a different ship was shelled by a Russian warship on Friday. The vessel, "Millenial Spirit," was sailing under the Moldovan flag, and carried 600 tons of fuel oil and diesel onboard when it was struck. Two crew members were seriously injured as a result, according to the ministry. 

7:55 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

If you're just waking up on Saturday, here's what you need to know

Ukrainian service members collect unexploded shells after fighting with advancing Russian troops in Kyiv, early Saturday morning on February 26.
Ukrainian service members collect unexploded shells after fighting with advancing Russian troops in Kyiv, early Saturday morning on February 26. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images)

The streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv became a battle zone on Saturday, but President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens in a video message that the country had "withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks," with Kyiv still under Ukrainian control.

If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know:

  • Presidential appeal: Zelensky also appealed to Ukrainians to resist the invasion, and called for those living abroad to return and defend the country. He also welcomed volunteers from abroad, saying, "we will give you weapons."
  • Fighting on the streets: Early Saturday, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry warned active fighting was taking place and urged residents to stay calm, hide indoors, take cover and head to the nearest shelter if they hear air raid sirens. The mayor of Kyiv has imposed an overnight curfew from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., until February 28.
  • Apartment building struck: A residential building was hit by a missile or rocket early Saturday as many in the city slept, with images and video showing extensive damage to apartments, with outer walls torn away completely. The cause of the strike and extent of casualties is not yet known.
  • Ukrainians flee: More than 120,000 Ukrainians have already left while 850,000 are internally displaced, according to the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees. She said up to 4 million Ukrainians could flee if the situation continued to deteriorate, and that there were queues at a number of border crossings,
  • International step-up: The US offered to evacuate President Zelensky from Kyiv, but he refused saying, "I need ammunition, not a ride." He also called on Hungary and Germany to support blocking Russia from the international payments system SWIFT, a strong sanction he said was now supported by most EU states.
  • Strategic link shelled: The sound of shelling impacts hit around the city of Kherson, Ukraine, north of the Crimean peninsula, on Saturday morning. The bridge connecting Russian-held areas to Ukraine was later blanketed in smoke, through which a CNN team saw apparent armored vehicles moving toward Ukraine.
8:36 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Sanctions against us "will change nothing," says former Russian president

From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio in Moscow

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks at a meeting in Moscow, on February 22.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks at a meeting in Moscow, on February 22. (Yekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik/Government Pool Photo/AP)

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has lashed out at Western sanctions imposed on Russia -- of which he is also a target -- saying they are a sign of “political impotence.”

I believe it is obvious to intelligent people: sanctions are a myth, a threat, a figure of speech. I am fundamentally indifferent to these widely publicized restrictions of rights abroad,” Medvedev said in a post on Russian social network VK on Saturday.

“The reason for the sanctions is this. It is political impotence arising from inability to change Russia’s course. Also, a hope to make up for the shameful decisions like the cowardly flight from Afghanistan.”

Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, added: “These amazing prohibitions will change nothing, of course. Even the ignorant people at the State Department know this.”

The ex-president went on to compare the incursion into Ukraine, with Russia’s military operation in Georgia in 2008. 

“[The military operation] will be conducted in full, until all the objectives the president of Russia has set out are achieved, no more and no less. As it was in a similar situation in 2008,” he said. 

He argued that this move by Western nations would further increase the support the Russian government currently has. 

Well done to our US and EU partners – nothing consolidates the authorities, the ruling elites and, largely, the citizens of our country more than their love for Europeans and Americans,” he said. 

Medvedev also threatened to nationalize assets that foreign companies held inside Russia, and said sanctions gave Russia a “good reason” to review its diplomatic relations with the countries who are imposing them. 

“Diplomatic relations are not that necessary, either,” he wrote. “Time to put a padlock on embassies and confine contacts to gazing at one another through binoculars and rifle scopes.”

Russia's invasion has been followed by sweeping sanctions by Western nations, designed to damage Russia's economy and turn President Vladimir Putin into an international "pariah."

7:38 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Officials are trying to stabilize Kyiv residential block struck by missile or rocket overnight

Medics gather near a residential apartment block which was struck by a missile or rocket fire in Kyiv, on February 26.
Medics gather near a residential apartment block which was struck by a missile or rocket fire in Kyiv, on February 26. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images)

A tall residential building in Kyiv was struck by a missile or rocket fire on Saturday morning. Images from the scene showed a large impact some 10 floors up.

CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward has visited the scene, which is quite near to one of the capital’s airports. Smoke could still be seen billowing from the building with the streets and air below littered with debris.

“There are ambulance workers on the scene. And what they're doing now is trying to take some scaffolding up there to try to prevent the 22nd and 23rd floors from collapsing,” Ward reports, adding that miraculously no one was actually killed in the incident.

“We're hearing from Ukrainian authorities that six people were wounded,” she adds. “They're being treated in various hospitals.”

It was unclear who bears responsibility for the damage at this point, Ward reported.

“Ukrainian authorities saying that this was the work of a Russian missile. And the Russians are saying ... that they believe this was actually a Ukrainian missile defense system that somehow went awry and ended up hitting this apartment building.”

She continued: “Now, whoever was responsible, and however this happened, the reality is this is the sort of thing that does happen when you have a war playing out in a major metropolis like Kyiv.

“This is a city of nearly 2.9 million people and we're in a pretty central area here. This isn't on the far outskirts of town. You can just imagine how terrifying it was for the people who were sleeping, or just waking up, having their breakfast with their families on a Saturday morning, already terrified about the situation, only to find their building hit in this attack.”

7:24 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Bulk of Russian forces just 18 miles from Kyiv, according to UK intelligence

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London

The bulk of Russian forces are now only 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) from the center of Kyiv, the British Ministry of Defence said Saturday.

It also warned Russia that casualties are “likely to be heavy and greater than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin.”

According to the latest intelligence update from the ministry, "Russia has yet to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force."

It said that "Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to put up staunch resistance across the country." 

Defiant president: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens the capital Kyiv was still under their control and "fighting continues," in his latest video message on Saturday.

Earlier, explosions in Ukraine were heard as the country's Interior Ministry warned of "active fighting" in the capital.

7:13 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Poland refuses to play Russia in next month's 2022 World Cup qualifier over Ukraine

From CNN's Lindsay Isaac

Robert Lewandowski (L) and his Poland team mates pictured during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Poland and Andorra on March 28, 2021 in Warsaw, Poland.
Robert Lewandowski (L) and his Poland team mates pictured during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Poland and Andorra on March 28, 2021 in Warsaw, Poland. (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)

Poland has refused to play in next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifier against Russia over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the President of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesza said on Saturday.  

“No more words, time to act! Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia,” he wrote on Twitter

Polish forward Robert Lewandowski backed up the decision, tweeting: “It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”

Separately, in a statement, the Polish Football team said: “We, the players of the Polish national team, together with the Polish Football Association, decided that as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we do not intend to play in the play-off match against Russia  It is not an easy decision, but there are more important things in life than football. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian nation and our friend from the national team, Tomasz Kedziora, who is still in Kiev with his family.”

The statement signed off with hashtags: #SolidarnizUkraina (in solidarity with Ukraine) and #NoWar Please.

7:01 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Kyiv mayor orders curfew starting Saturday evening

From CNN's Tim Lister in Kyiv

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, is imposing a curfew from Saturday evening that will run from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. "for more effective defense of the capital and the security of its inhabitants."

The curfew will continue until the morning of February 28.

"All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered as members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

"Please treat the situation with understanding and do not go outside."

6:43 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Israeli embassy staff in Lviv to move to Polish side of border

From CNN's Hadas Gold in Jerusalem

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid holds a press conference at the Foreign Ministry on February 24 in Jerusalem, Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid holds a press conference at the Foreign Ministry on February 24 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Israeli Government Press Office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has instructed staff at the Israeli embassy in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to move to the Polish side of the border.

The embassy staff will cross the border into Ukraine every day to continue their diplomatic work and help Israeli citizens leave Ukraine, according to Lapid on Saturday.

The decision was made after assessing various aspects including the situation on the ground, the security of the emissaries of the State of Israel and the continuation of service to Israeli citizens.

Earlier this week Israeli diplomats had relocated from Kyiv to Lviv.

6:35 a.m. ET, February 26, 2022

Ukraine has withstood and repelled attacks, Zelensky says

From CNN's Tim Lister in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a video message to the people of Ukraine on February 26.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a video message to the people of Ukraine on February 26. (President of Ukraine)

In his latest video message on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians: "We have withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks. Fighting continues in different cities and regions of our country."

Zelensky said the capital Kyiv and key towns around it were still under the control of the army.  

We have ruined their plans. they have no advantage over us."

He said Russia had hit residential areas using rockets, adding: "The destruction by missiles and artillery of residential buildings is the ultimate argument for the world to be by our side in stopping the occupiers’ invasion."

Zelensky said Ukraine now had "almost full support of the members of the EU to exclude Russia from SWIFT" -- the international payments system that has been at the heart of a debate about sanctions against Russia. "I hope that Germany and Hungary will have enough courage to support this decision," he said.

He also said Ukraine has earned its membership in the European Union. "Now the decisive moment has come to end the many years of discussions" about Ukraine joining the bloc.

He again appealed to Ukrainians to resist the Russian invasion. 

Each Ukrainian should keep one thing in mind: if you can stop and destroy the occupiers -- do it. Everyone who can come back to Ukraine -- come back to defend Ukraine."

He also appealed to volunteers from abroad. "All the friends who want to join us -- please come, we will give you weapons."

Switching to Russian, Zelensky then spoke again directly to Russians.

He thanked Dmitry Muratov, the head of independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and others in Russia for their anti-war activism, and said: "Russians are being sent to die in the thousands and to kill."