Russia's Attack on Ukraine Information Update as of 4 March 2022

FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2022
(Sources: TASR, SITA, AFP, AP, DPA, ČTK, ČT24, GUARDIAN, CNN, BBC, REUTERS, UNIAN)

UKRAINE:

A fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in the southeast of Ukraine, after being shelled by Russian forces. The reactors have been unaffected.
Speaking about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Ukrainian President V. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of resorting to nuclear terrorism and wanting to repeat the Chernobyl disaster.
While Russian troops have taken control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, employees continue working and monitoring the status of reactors after the fire caused by Russian shelling.
Mariupol remains under Ukrainian control, though it has been encircled by Russian forces, the UK Ministry of Defence has said in an update.
According to The Times, Ukrainian President V. Zelenskyy has survived at least three assassination attempts. The Wagner group, mercenaries of the Kremlin and Chechen special forces - all these have tried to remove the Ukrainian President from power.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to hold a third round of talks soon. Although Ukraine has not achieved the results it was expecting, the two sides have reached an agreement on joint efforts to secure humanitarian corridors in order to evacuate civilians.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the West on Thursday to increase military aid to Ukraine, saying Russia would advance on the rest of Europe otherwise. He also called for direct talks with Russian leader V. Putin.

WORLD:

British Prime Minister B. Johnson accused V. Putin of endangering all of Europe after Russian forces shelled the nuclear power plant.
Russians posting fake news about the Russian armed forces, discrediting them, or calling for sanctions against Russia will face sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Russian MPs have backed the bill unanimously. The bill has passed through Russia's State Duma in three readings.
In a televised address, Russian President V. Putin stated that Russians and Ukrainians constitute “one nation” and claimed that Russia is fighting neo-Nazis and that people are being used as “human shields”.
Yesterday, Georgia and Moldova officially applied for fast-track EU membership.
Russian President V. Putin spoke with French President E. Macron by phone yesterday. He said that Russia is planning to achieve its goals in Ukraine by military or diplomatic means.
EU Interior Ministers have activated the EU Temporary Protection Directive to provide temporary protection to refugees fleeing Ukraine.
The Czech Government has approved sending CZK17m worth of arms, munitions and other military materiel to Ukraine. As part of NATO's attempts to strengthen its eastern flank, the Czech Republic will send 400 soldiers to Slovakia.

SLOVAKIA:

The European Union stands with us, it will help Slovakia to cope financially and materially with the influx of Ukrainians fleeing the war, Slovak President Z. Čaputová said after meeting President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Bratislava.
The SVK Government has approved Allied air movements across SVK airspace yesterday.
The Slovak Republic will gift military materiel to Ukraine.
Over 90,000 people have crossed into Slovakia from Ukraine since the launch of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, only a small part of them remain in Slovakia, while most of them continue their journey to their relatives or acquaintances living in other European countries.
Over 11,000 people entering Slovakia from Ukraine have been registered over the past 24 hours. There are currently no queues at the Ubľa, Vyšné Nemecké, Veľké Slemence border crossings, Slovak Police has said.