February 26, 2022

Russia's losses as of Feb. 26: Ukrainian Defense Ministry

https://kyivindependent.com/national/russia-faces-heavy-losses-as-it-attacks-ukraine-on-all-fronts/

February 26, 2022

War Via TikTok: Russia's New Tool for Propaganda

NBCWashington
By David Klepper • Published 2 hours ago • Updated 2 hours ago

A Russian TikTok video has it all: a cat, puppies and a pulsing background beat. It's cute, watchable and hardly seems the stuff of state propaganda.

In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts pushing disinformation about its takeover of Crimea. Eight years later, experts say Russia is mounting a far more sophisticated effort as it invades Ukraine.

In the cat video, a husky puppy identified by a digitally inserted U.S. flag swipes at the tail of a tabby identified by a Russian flag. The cat responds with a ferocious jab that sends the hapless dog scurrying. The clip, which has been viewed 775,000 times in two weeks, is the work of an account named Funrussianprezident that boasts 310,000 followers. Almost all of its videos feature pro-Russian content.

“It could just be a patriotic Russian fighting the good fight as they see it, or it could easily be something directly affiliated with the state,” said Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation researcher and expert on Eastern Europe at the Wilson Center in Washington. “Russia has been perfecting these tactics.”

More at link

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/war-via-tiktok-russias-new-tool-for-propaganda/2984363/

February 26, 2022

ICC Prosecutor Is Monitoring Ukraine Invasion

NBCWashington
By Mike Corder

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor has put combatants and their commanders on notice that he is monitoring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But Prosecutor Karim Khan acknowledged that he cannot investigate the issue that is being most talked-about at this stage of the invasion — the crime of aggression.

Western leaders have widely condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to invade Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said the invasion “was always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary," while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “Vladimir Putin's war of aggression.”

While the global treaty that established the Hague-based court in 2002 has been updated to include the crime of aggression since 2018, Khan said he does not have jurisdiction over that because neither Ukraine nor Russia is among the court's 123 member states.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/icc-prosecutor-is-monitoring-ukraine-invasion/2984317/

February 26, 2022

'Hank the Tank': DNA evidence spares 500lb burglar bear

BBC News

California's burliest burglar is no longer the lone suspect in nearly 40 home break-ins across the Lake Tahoe region, wildlife officials have said.

Residents have made more than 150 calls since last summer about "Hank the Tank", a 500lb (227kg) black bear with a raging appetite for human food.

But DNA samples have now linked at least two other bears to the crime scenes.

That means officials will no longer seek to put down the wild animal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60532151



Obviously it's an organized bear gang. But how on earth did they get a DNA sample?

February 26, 2022

Kyiv high-rise apartment building hit by missile strike

CCTV image from BBC.com

Yahoo News

A high-rise apartment building near the airport in Kyiv was hit by a missile overnight as Russian troops stormed the city, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said Saturday morning.

The strike set the building on fire and left a massive hole and an evacuation was underway, the government said.

There was no immediate word on any potential fatalities or injuries.

https://news.yahoo.com/kyiv-high-rise-apartment-building-090404600.html



CCTV image from Peaknewsonline.com

February 26, 2022

Loser vs legend

February 26, 2022

Ghost of Kiev artwork

r/warinukraine
•Posted byu/tuxpenguino
4 hours ago
Ghost of Kiev **Artwork** (Share to your hearts content)

February 26, 2022

Kiev authorities ask residents to check roofs for target marks by Russian saboteurs

This is part of a larger story on Daily Beast that I thought was worth highlighting:

"Local residents in Kyiv took to social media to warn that Russian saboteurs appeared to have infiltrated parts of the city, with some spotted in the streets appearing to direct artillery fire at certain buildings.

Ukraine’s National Police issued an ominous warning to residents of the capital, suggesting Russian reconnaissance units were marking residential buildings to help direct aviation forces to their targets.

“The city authorities of Kyiv are appealing to residents of multi-story buildings with access to the roof to urgently check the roof for marks. If any marks are found, please put dirt over them or cover them with something. Such marks probably direct aviation [forces] to objects where strikes can be carried out.”

Main headline:
‘Combat in the Streets’ of Kyiv as Russian Saboteurs Sneak In

https://www.thedailybeast.com/combat-in-the-streets-of-kyiv-as-russian-saboteurs-sneak-in?ref=home

February 26, 2022

Slava Ukraini! Heroiam slava!

transl.?"Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!"

This is the Ukrainian national salute

CNN reports Zelensky posted a video on Facebook tonight in which he said,

“We are all here. Our military are here. Citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state and it will remain so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to our women defenders! Glory to Ukraine!"

February 25, 2022

NATO Response Force activated for first time ever in response to Russian invasion of Ukraine

Source: CNN

From CNN's Barbara Starr

For the first time ever, the NATO Response Force has been activated as a defensive measure in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters activated the multinational force consisting of land, air, sea and special operations forces from the allies that can deploy quickly in support of the NATO alliance.

The activation of the response troops does not mean that any US or NATO troops will go into Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance. US President Joe Biden has been clear that US troops are deploying to eastern Europe to help bolster NATO countries nervous about Russia's aggressive actions, and they will not be fighting in Ukraine.

Wolters called it a "historic moment" in his statement.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-25-22/index.html