Russian Invasion of Ukraine From Feb. 24 to Feb. 27

Update: Air raid sirens resume in Kyiv, Ukraine - 6:55 a.m. GMT Feb. 27

Update: Twitter access restricted in Russia in the wake of Ukraine invasion - 19:16 GMT, February 26.

Update: Pope Frances expresses deep concern and heartbreak over Ukraine in a phone call with the Ukrainian president. 19:10GMT, February 26.

Update: Guterres tells Ukraine that UN determined to 'enhance' humanitarian aid. 19:03GMT, February 26. 

Update: Germany says it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons, 500 'Stinger' surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine. 18:19GMT, February 26.

Update: Road service employees are dismantling road signs across Ukraine in order to complicate navigation for the invading Russian troops. 17.34GMT, February 26. 

Update: Kremlin website goes down as Russian TV channels ‘hacked to play Ukrainian songs’. 17.04GMT, February 26.

Update: Russia's TASS: An anonymous person reported the presence of bombs at train stations, two airports and a shopping center in Moscow. 16.51GMT, February 26. 

Update: Russian army ordered to broaden Ukraine advance 'from all directions': ministry. 15.48GMT, 26 February.

Update: The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of prolonging the military conflict by refusing to negotiate as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the pro-Western country. 14.43GMT, February 26

Update: Turkey will block Russian warship access to Black Sea, says Zelenskiy, in blow to Putin. 14.18GMT, 26 February

Update: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down an offer from the United States of evacuation from the capital city Kyiv, the Ukraine embassy in Britain said Saturday on Twitter. 13.39 GMT, February 26.

Update: Zelensky says Ukraine has 'derailed' Russia's attack plan. 13.35 GMT, February 26.

Update: Ukraine President in his address to the nation says we have defend our country to defend Europe. He appeals to  “Anyone who wants to come over here and defend our country, please come, we will give you arms” 10.40 GMT Feb 26

Update: Kiev Mayor: 35 Injured including two children in fighting in the city during the night till 6 in the morning 8.05, GMT, Feb 26 

Update: Airport in the suburbs of Kiev on fire, 7.55, GMT, Feb 26 

Update: Russia bombs a hospital in Ukraine, four civilians killed, 10 wounded - Human Rights Watch, 7.50, GMT, Feb 26 

Update: Zelensky says Western Partners are starting to send weapons to Ukraine - 7.05 a.m.GMT Feb. 26 

Update: Japanese-owned cargo ship hit by a missile off the coast of Ukraine - 6:00 a.m. GMT Feb. 25

One injured after a cargo ship owned by a Japanese firm was struck by a missile off the coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea on Friday, according to the marine transportation firm in western Japan, Saturday.

Update: Ukraine shot down Russian drone in the Black Sea - 5:33 a.m. GMT Feb. 25

Ukrainian Interior Ministry announced that its border guards destroyed a drone for Russian forces in the Black Sea region.

Update: US signs memorandum for 'immediate military assistance to Ukraine' - 4:30 a.m. GMT Feb. 25

US President Biden signs memorandum for 'immediate military assistance to Ukraine', with $250 million for overall assistance and $350 million for 'defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training'.

Update: Facebook says it has been penalized by Russia after refusing to halt fact-checking (AFP) - 7:25 p.m. GMT Feb. 25

Facebook's parent company Meta said Friday that Russia will hit its services with restrictions after the social media giant refused authorities' order to stop fact-checkers and content warning labels on its platforms. "Ordinary Russians are using our apps to express themselves and organize for action," Meta's Nick Clegg said in a statement. "We want to continue to make their voices heard."

Update: Ukraine's President Zelensky talks to US President Biden. The two leaders discussed military aid and sanctions, 6.10 GTM Feb. 25 

Update: VIDEO: Ukrainians shelter inside #Kyiv's Zoloti Vorota metro station, Friday as Ukrainian forces fight off Russian invaders on the streets of the capital, 2.32 p.m. Feb. 25 

Update: The Kremlin suggests Putin is ready to send a delegation to Minsk, the capital of Belarus for talks with the Ukraine government 1.32 p.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Chechen paramilitary (Kadyrovites) mobilized, prepare to depart for #Ukraine, according news outlet Baza. 1.25 p.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Ukraine President #Zelensky taken to a bunker. 12.00 p.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Russian assault troops reported to have entered Ukraine's  Kiev, but they are at outskirts of the capital and not the cent . 12.00 p.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says Russia is willing and 'Ready to Talk' if the Ukraine army lay down their arms. 11.28 a.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Russian tanks runs over a Ukrainian in the capital of the capital Kiev. 11.22 a.m. Feb. 25 

Update: Russian Defence Ministry Source says its forces destroyed 18 tanks and armoured vehicles, 7 launchers and 41 vehicles in Ukraine military operations - 8.10 a.m. GMT Feb 25  

Update: Russia's paratroopers take control of Chernobyl power plant - 8:05 a.m. GMT Feb. 25

Update: 57 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 166 injured since the start of the Russian military invasion - Ukraine Ministry of Health - 7.55 a.m. GMT Feb 25

Update: People in the city of Kyiv can hear the explosions and fighting outside the capital - 7.45 a.m. GMT Feb.25 

Update: The Ukraine army states fighting Russian forces are outside the capital Kyiv - 7:21 a.m. GMT Feb. 25 

Update: Russian tanks move to within 20 miles of Kyiv as the capital suffers a night of bombardment - 6:15 a.m. GMT Feb. 25 

Update: Russian Invasion Kills 137, Wounds 316 in Ukraine - 6:00 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

The Russian invasion in Ukraine has killed approximately 137 people and wounded 316 others after a single day of fighting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a live statement on Friday Feb. 25. President Zelensky also said that he is staying in Ukraine's capital city Kyiv, his family and children are in Ukraine and that they were high priority targets for Russia.

Update: Plane shot down, major fireball explosion in the sky over Kyiv - 4:48 a.m. GMT Feb. 25

Update: Big explosions are taking place in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The explosions are in different parts of the city. One reports puts the number of explosions at eight - 8:00 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: US President Joe Biden says that Russian President Vladimir Putin has far bigger ambitions than just Ukraine and that he wants to reestablish the former Soviet Union - 7:10 p.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Hostomel, a town in Ukraine, is the latest to fall to invading Russian forces. Hostomel is only 39 Kilometers away from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine - 7:05 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Russian troops seize control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after heavy fighting with Ukraine troops. Reports suggest the staff at the plant were taken hostage - 5:32 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Police detain anti-war protesters in Moscow. This is after Russia launched a major military offensive in Ukraine - 5:10 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: The Ukraine's capital Kyiv is expected to fall within days - 5:30 p.m. GMT Feb 24 

Update: Russia troops attacking CHERNOBYL could set off radiation cloud across Europe - 4:09 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: President Zelensky says Ukraine troops are fighting invading Russian troops for control of Chernobyl nuclear plant - 3:30 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: An official tells AFP that Ukraine fighting rages in Chernobyl near nuclear facility

Update: Turkish ship hit by a missile in the Black Sea near Odessa - 3:06 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Russia says it has destroyed 70 military targets in Ukraine - 2:16 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Ukraine airbase of Melitopol reported to be under fire by the Russian invasion force - 1:32 p.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: 5 out of 14 people on board An-26 transport aircraft of the Ukraine Air Force confirmed dead after the plane was shot down on the Obukhiv line in the Kyiv region - 12:43 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Ukraine Defense Ministry Intelligence Headquarters in Kyiv in flames after attack - 12:27 p.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Russian helicopter reportedly shot down and its pilot taken prisoner - 12:11 p.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Ukraine armored vehicles deployed in the streets of the capital with security forces in Kyiv on full alert - 12:02 p.m. GMT Feb. 24 

Update: Russian air assault reportedly taking place near Kyiv - 11:26 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: New deaths being reported throughout Ukraine - 11:13 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Moldova closes airspace over Ukraine invasion (AFP) - 10:27 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Moldova, which is located in northern Ukraine, announced closing its airspace in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while Belarus said it was shutting "part" of its airspace.

Update: New Blast Shakes Ukraine's Kyiv - 10:23 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

A blast was reported in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as smoke was seen rising in the sky.

Update: Iran FM Abdollahian: The Ukraine crisis is rooted in NATO provocation - 10:07 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Iran's Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian says the Ukraine crisis is rooted in NATO provocation. He states:  "Ukraine crisis [is] rooted in NATO's provocative actions. Iran does not support war" and "focusing on political and democratic solution is a necessity."

Update: EU Representative, 'These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War' - 9:57 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Ukraine announces cutting ties with Russia - 9:45 a.m. Feb. 24

The Ukrainian President Zelensky announced cutting diplomatic ties entirely with Russia following rising tension between the two countries.

Update: Ukraine said to have killed 'around 50 Russian occupiers' - 9:10 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Around 50 Russian forces were killed amid ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Ministry.

Update: Italy summons Russian envoy over Ukraine Invasion (AFP) - 9:07 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Italy has summoned the Russian ambassador Today following Moscow's ground attacks on Ukraine. The country's foreign ministry said that Russia's "extremely serious" attack on the former Soviet republic was "a clear and distinct violation of international law."

Update: Russian Missile reportedly hits airport in western Ukraine city Ivano-Frankivsk - 8:53 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Update: Seven people are known to have been killed in Russian attacks (Ukrainian police)- 8:24 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

The Ukrainian police said that the initial data shows the total deaths in Russian attacks jumped to 7 after an attack on a military unit in Podilsk, outside Odessa left 6 people killed and wounded 7 others. Furthermore, 19 people are also missing. Earlier, a person died in the city of Mariupol, the police added.

Update: Macron condemns Russia's decision to 'wage war on Ukraine' (AFP) - 8:24 a.m. GMT Feb. 24 

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday strongly condemned Russia's military action against Ukraine, vowing Paris would work with allies to end the war. "Russia must immediately put an end to its military operations," Macron wrote on Twitter, saying Russia had made the decision to "wage war" on Ukraine. "France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands by Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war," he added.

Update: Russian Troops Enter Ukraine From All Sides - 8:07 a.m. GMT Feb. 24

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine on Thursday. Following the statement military forces have kicked off a military assault against Ukraine, crossing its borders and bombing military targets near big cities.

• Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv, Ukraine.
• First death and injury were reported earlier amid continued Russian shelling on Ukraine.
• Ukrainian president announced a state of emergency and martial law.