Daily information from 10 am of 27.02.2022 till 10 am of 28.02.2022 

І. Battlefield Information

The enemy continued hitting previously selected directions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv in the north and Kherson, Zaporizzhia, Mariupol in the south without major advance. The deliberate attacks against civilian objects intensified, as well as strikes, including from Belarus, at military and civilian airfields, military command points, air defence facilities, important critical infrastructure, settlements, and units in defence areas.

Ukrainian losses as of February 27: 352 people killed, incl. 14 children: more than 1684 people injured, incl. 116 children. Particularly in Kyiv, 9 civilians (including 1 child), 4 unknown individuals, 18 military and Territorial Defense fighters have been killed since the beginning of the Russian attack; 106 people were injured, 47 of them civilians, including 3 children. 16 children were killed since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

  Enemy losses from 24.02 to 28.02 as of 6.00: the loss of enemy personnel – about 5,300 people. Destroyed and damaged aircraft – 29 units, helicopters – 29 units, tanks – 191, Armored vehicles – 816, artillery – 74, one SAM BUK, MLRS BM-21 Grad – 21, 60 fuel tanks, 2 UAVs operational-tactical level, 5 drones, ships, boats – 2.

 Northern Ukraine (Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv oblasts) 

The land offensive and airstrikes from Belarus continued, including strikes with Iscander ballistic missiles on Zhytomyr, with heavy fighting in the northern outskirts of Kyiv, especially in the cities of Bucha, where a column of over 100 armored vehicles was liquidated in the city, Irpin, with the attempts to launch a pontoon crossing over the Irpin river, and Ivankiv. In the Kyiv direction, the enemy advanced to Makariv and continues to concentrate forces near Bucha, Kapitanivka, Bilohorodka. The enemy forces continued concentrating in Belarus, especially on Machulishchi and Baranovichi airfields, The Belarusian command has brought some of its units into combat readiness. In violation of international law, the occupier attacked residential buildings in Zhytomyr and Chernihiv. In the Siversky direction, the enemy is deterred at the Konotop-Poltava-Kyiv direction, the occupiers continued intense shelling of Chernihiv, inflicting much damage to civilian buildings. In the direction of Makariv-Kyiv a Russian column was moving with women and children on the vehicles’ board. Failing to capture Chernihiv, the enemy tries to circumvent it in the direction of Ivanivka and Kozelets. The defence aims to destroy the enemy’s military equipment and vehicles by air and artillery (e. g. a tank company near Pryluky , a BUK near Malyn, and two helicopters to the north of Kyiv). With Kyiv remaining the key goal of the enemy, the defence forces of Kyiv deploy a dense multilevel system for the defence of the capital. The situation in the capital remains relatively calm, a number of sabotage-reconnaissance groups have been liquidated.

Southern Ukraine (Odesa-Mykolaiv-Kherson-Zaporizzhya oblasts) 

The offensive towards Kherson and Mykolaiv continues, the Ukrainian army keeps defending these cities. In Mykolaiv, there was shelling at the Mykolaiv International Airport and an attempt to sneak some soldiers into the city in civilian trucks. Fighting and looting took place in Melitopol, which was captured by the Russian army, as well as in Berdiansk, where the Russian tanks entered and administrative buildings were occupied. In the occupied Henichesk district of the Kherson region, the Russian occupiers deployed MSTA-C artillery units in residential buildings. After the shelling of Sartana village, the evacuation to Mariupol from nearby villages was initiated. The fights around Mariupol have been intense. Kakhovka has been shelled. Groups of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation Armed Forces were withdrawn from naval bases with the task of striking the surface forces of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The enemy attempted a naval landing operation in the Black Sea area but failed.

Northeast (Kharkiv and Sumy regions)

Ukrainian military retain full control over Kharkiv, the city is being cleared from the remaining Russian forces, the enemy equipment is destroyed. The occupier continued shelling Kharkiv and Balakliia, the latter is cut from other cities and suffers from intense air attacks; two planes were shot over the city. Kharkiv, Balaklia, Okhtyrka and the region suffer from infrastructure damages due to continuous shelling. In Okhtyrka, the use of cluster bombs on a kindergarten was reported. “Grad” systems were spotted moving towards Sumy. Their positions were destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Chuhuiv remains under Ukraine’s control, Kupiansk is reported to be under Russian control.

East (area of Joint Forces operation)

The Ukrainian forces managed to regain the control over Volnovakha and level the frontline, but the city is essentially ruined and the fighting continues. In the Donetsk oblast, Mariupol and Volnovakha remain the hottest spots, Ukrainian bring huge losses to the enemy. In Luhansk Oblast major cities (Rubizhne, Lysychansk) are currently under Ukrainian control. It is impossible to evacuate people from the ruined Shchastya due to shelling. A column of Russian military vehicles was liquidated near Severodonetsk and were forced retreat from the city. A saboteur-reconnaissance group was stopped near Rubizhne.

Central Ukraine (Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky regions)

The enemy launched four shells at Cherkasy region, but no injuries resulted. The situation in central Ukraine is relatively calm and under control.

II. Key messages of political and military leadership

• Europeans are aware that our soldiers are fighting for our state, therefore, for the whole of Europe. For peace for all, for all countries of the EU. For the life of children. For equality. For democracy. We are asking the European Union to let Ukraine immediately join the EU using a new special procedure. We are thankful to our partners for being with us, but our aim is to be with all Europeans on an equal footing. I am sure that it is just. I am sure that we have deserved it. I am sure that it is possible (Volodymyr Zelenskyi, President of Ukraine).

• Russian occupiers have slowed down their advance but are still trying to progress on several directions in their offensive against Ukraine. Yet, all attempts by Russian occupiers to reach the goal of the military operation have failed. The enemy is demoralized and has huge losses. There are frequent cases of desertion and disobedience. The enemy has realised that propaganda and reality differ (Ministry of Defence).

• Ukraine insists on a full embargo for Russian oil and gas. Buying them now means paying for the murder of Ukrainian men, women and children. I welcome the first decisive steps by a number of European states in this regard and urge others to proceed resolutely and without delay (Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs).

III New international sanctions as of February 27-28:

Australia

• Targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against the Russian president and other permanent members of the Russian Security Council came into effect.

European Union

• Prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian registered or Russian-controlled aircraft in the EU airspace
• Ban on state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, as well as their subsidiaries in the EU, Belarus sanctions package (restrictive measure on most important sectors, export restrictions on dual-use goods, personal sanctions for the war accomplices,
• Ban on the transactions of Russia’s central bank and freezing of all its assets
• Targetting the assets of Russian oligarchs

United Kingdom

• The UK government has joined with the US and the EU to announce new sanctions against Russia’s central bank. It has banned British people and businesses from making transactions with the Russian central bank, its finance ministry and its wealth fund.

South Korea

• Ban on the exports of strategic items (electronics, semiconductors, computers, information and communications, sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, and marine and aerospace equipment)
• Joins other countries in blocking some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system,
• Aid to Ukraine.
• Release of more strategic oil reserves to stabilise the global energy market and consider resale of LNG to Europe, the ministry.

Singapore (announced)

• Financial measures and export controls on items that could be used as weapons against the people of Ukraine.
• Block on certain Russian banks and financial transactions connected to Russia.

State of New York (USA)

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order forbidding her state from doing business with Russia, including cancelling its investments there.

Prepared by the Analysis and Information Department of the Ukrainian Institute, sources: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Land Forces of Ukraine, State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Donetsk Regional State Administration, Luhansk Regional State Administration, Mayor W. Klitschko, President V. Zelenskyi and other official sources