SOTT Focus:


Burka

SOTT Focus: Victoria Nuland Admits Ukraine Has 'Biological Research Facilities', Worried Russia May Seize Them

victoria nuland
Self-anointed "fact-checkers" in the U.S. corporate press have spent two weeks mocking as disinformation and a false conspiracy theory the claim that Ukraine has biological weapons labs, either alone or with U.S. support. They never presented any evidence for their ruling — how could they possibly know? and how could they prove the negative? — but nonetheless they invoked their characteristically authoritative, above-it-all tone of self-assurance and self-arrogated right to decree the truth, definitively labelling such claims false.

Claims that Ukraine currently maintains dangerous biological weapons labs came from Russia as well as China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry this month claimed: "The US has 336 labs in 30 countries under its control, including 26 in Ukraine alone." The Russian Foreign Ministry asserted that "Russia obtained documents proving that Ukrainian biological laboratories located near Russian borders worked on development of components of biological weapons." Such assertions deserve the same level of skepticism as U.S. denials: namely, none of it should be believed to be true or false absent evidence. Yet U.S. fact-checkers dutifully and reflexively sided with the U.S. Government to declare such claims "disinformation" and to mock them as QAnon conspiracy theories.

Unfortunately for this propaganda racket masquerading as neutral and high-minded fact-checking, the neocon official long in charge of U.S. policy in Ukraine testified on Monday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and strongly suggested that such claims are, at least in part, true. Yesterday afternoon, Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), hoping to debunk growing claims that there are chemical weapons labs in Ukraine, smugly asked Nuland: "Does Ukraine have chemical or biological weapons?"

Rubio undoubtedly expected a flat denial by Nuland, thus providing further "proof" that such speculation is dastardly Fake News emanating from the Kremlin, the CCP and QAnon. Instead, Nuland did something completely uncharacteristic for her, for neocons, and for senior U.S. foreign policy officials: for some reason, she told a version of the truth. Her answer visibly stunned Rubio, who — as soon as he realized the damage she was doing to the U.S. messaging campaign by telling the truth — interrupted her and demanded that she instead affirm that if a biological attack were to occur, everyone should be "100% sure" that it was Russia who did it. Grateful for the life raft, Nuland told Rubio he was right.

Comment: At last, the NeoCons' fabled WMDs have been found. In their own labs. Just over Russia's border with Ukraine. Which is brimming with Russia-hating Nazis.

Sounds like a match made in hell. And just cause for war.

Bulgarian investigative journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva has been warning about US military biolabs in Ukraine, Georgia and elsewhere for years: On this latest discovery of active US WMDs in Ukraine, she points out that it wasn't just Ukrainians who began purging documents on February 24th - the date Russia began bombing military sites in Ukraine...


The Russian MoD published an update on its research into the Pentagon's biological warfare program in Ukraine yesterday:


So there you have it. The US has been conducting gain-of-function biowarfare research in Ukraine, no doubt with a view to killing Russians.


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SOTT Focus: Objective:Health: Are mRNA Vaccines Incorporated into the Human Genome?

O:H header
A Swedish paper was published in the journal Current Issues of Molecular Biology on February 25 suggesting that there was evidence that the mRNA in Covid vaccines are capable of being incorporated into human DNA. If you remember, this is what many "experts" appearing in the corporate media since the release of the vaccines (including the CDC) assured was impossible, despite the fact that many legit scientists voiced the possibility as a serious concern.

The study authors claim that BNT162b2 (the Pfizer vaccine), is reverse transcribed inside human liver cells as quickly as six hours after injection.

While the study is receiving criticism and, as one would expect, there are many detractors, the study at least shows that the spike protein mRNA could possibly be reverse transcribed into the human genome. How likely that is to happen is apparently up for debate, yet all the assurances that this was "impossible" are clearly bunk.

Join us on this episode as we talk about this pervasive threat to our genome.


And check us out on Brighteon!

Show links:


- Can the Vaccines Write the Spike Protein Into the Human Genome?
https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/can-vaccines-write-the-spike-protein?s=r

- Alden et al: Intracellular Reverse Transcription of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 In Vitro in Human Liver Cell Line; the criminal Pfizer and Moderna should have done the trials
https://www.drpaulalexander.com/blogs/news/alden-et-al-intracellular-reverse-transcription-of-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-mrna-vaccine-bnt162b2-in-vitro-in-human-liver-cell-line-the-criminal-pfizer-and-moderna-should-have-done-the-trials

- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine converts to DNA inside human liver cells, new study
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/coronavirus/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-converts-dna-inside-human-liver-cells-accordingDo the

- mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines Degrade Higher Human Functions?
https://hatchardreport.com/do-the-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-degrade-higher-human-functions/

For other health-related news and more, you can find us on:

♥Twitter: https://twitter.com/objecthealth
♥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/objecthealth/
♥Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channel/objectivehealth
♥LBRY: https://lbry.tv/@objectivehealth:f
♥Odysee: https://odysee.com/@objectivehealth:f

And you can check out all of our previous shows (pre YouTube) here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16H-nK-N0ANdsA5JFTT12_HU5nUYRVS9YcQh331dG2MI/edit?usp=sharing

Running Time: 00:34:07

Download: MP3 — 31.2 MB


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SOTT Focus: SOTT Earth Changes Summary - February 2022 - Extreme Weather, Planetary Upheaval, Meteor Fireballs

earth changes feb 2022
Heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice hit much of the Central, Eastern, and Southern U.S. this month. Hundreds of thousands suffered power outages, and 5,200 flights got canceled.

Brazil was hit by an unprecedented amount of rain during February, affecting millions. Mudslides and floods hit the city of Petropolis killing at least 152, flooding rivers in Rondônia displaced thousands, and roads turned into rivers in Umuarama.

A cold front brought heavy rain and strong winds to Haiti and Dominican Republic. Rain fell for 36 hours, and several rivers have broken their banks. Nearly 3,444 homes were affected, and 2,500 families were displaced.

Parts of Quito, Ecuador, were devastated by the heaviest rain in almost 20 years. 40 times more rain fell than predicted by the forecasts. The deluge triggered a landslide that destroyed houses, carried away dozens of vehicles, and claimed 24 lives.

At least 20 people died, and more than 55,000 others were displaced after Cyclone Batsirai slammed into the eastern coast of Madagascar. The widespread floods damaged the main road linking the north and south areas of the island, destroyed 8000 houses, and displaced 131,000 people.

Cyclone Batsirai killed at least ten people and displaced nearly 48,000 in Madagascar. Parts of the country were affected by heavy rains and strong winds that uprooted trees and destroyed houses. All this while the island was still reeling from a deadly tropical storm earlier this year.

Storm Eunice wreaked havoc across the UK with 122 miles per hour winds that uprooted trees, blown-off roofs, and knocked out power lines. It is now considered the strongest storm in the history of England.

Eunice caused four deaths in the Netherlands, two in the UK, two in Belgium, and one in Ireland.

Later this month, Storm Franklin caused heavy floods in the northern UK, triggering the evacuation of thousands of people.

In Argentina, wildfires out of control have scorched almost 800,000 hectares of the province of Corrientes, 9% of the province's area. The fires have acutely affected wildlife in the area.

A strong and shallow earthquake shook Indonesia's Sumatra island on Friday. The tremor damaged buildings, killed seven people and injured 85. More than 5,000 people fled their homes to temporary shelters.

All this and more in our SOTT Earth Changes Summary for February 2022:


Pirates

SOTT Focus: Zelensky is Not in Charge of Ukraine, Nazis Are - And They Believe They Are on a Mission From God to 'Derussify Ukraine in Holy War'

Zelensky neo nazi
Zelensky awards Right Sector commander Dmytro Kotsyubaylo the “Hero of Ukraine” award
While Western media deploys Volodymyr Zelensky's Jewish heritage to refute accusations of Nazi influence in Ukraine, the president has ceded to neo-Nazi forces and now depends on them as front-line fighters.

Back in October 2019, as the war in eastern Ukraine dragged on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Zolote, a town situated firmly in the "gray zone" of Donbas, where over 14,000 had been killed, mostly on the pro-Russian side. There, the president encountered the hardened veterans of extreme right paramilitary units keeping up the fight against separatists just a few miles away.

Elected on a platform of de-escalation of hostilities with Russia, Zelensky was determined to enforce the so-called Steinmeier Formula conceived by then-German Foreign Minister Walter Steinmeier, which called for elections in the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

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SOTT Focus: NewsReal: Crossing the Rubicon

graham putin assassination NewsReal
© Sott.net
Carthago Delenda Est - 'Carthage must be destroyed' - was how Cato the Elder signed off senatorial speeches during his push for war between Rome and Carthage. In our time, American senators are demanding similarly 'total solutions' for Russia as a country in response to Vladimir Putin 'crossing the Rubicon' and invading Ukraine.

Effectively 'de-platformed' from the entire communications network of the West, Russia - and Russians - are being subject to a form of collective punishment that its architects pray will result in Putin's assassination. In the meantime, the Russian government says that its military intervention in Ukraine is going as planned, and will be completed.

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We're going to find out soon enough! In this NewsReal, Joe and Niall disperse the fog of disinformation cloaked around Russia's war in Ukraine, explain why Rome-Caesar comparisons are more apt than people realize, demonstrate conclusively that Ukrainian state civilian and military institutions have been taken over by actual Nazis, and forecast the potential non-linear effects on global trends.

Correction: Since airing, it has come to our attention that the video of Red Cross crates full of US$ (01:43:45) allegedly 'found by Chechen forces in Ukraine' are in fact crates of US$ smuggled into Libya in 2011.
Running Time: 01:55:02

Download: MP3 — 79 MB


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SOTT Focus: MindMatters: The New Unclean: How Our Psychology Was Hijacked to Make Us See Each Other as the Enemy

needle points
Are the vaccine hesitant really deserving of being called irresponsible conspiracy-minded nationalists who are ignorant of science - or other denigrating and pejorative mainstream media characterizations? Is it possible that many who are wary of, or outright resistant to, getting the jab - actually have some very legitimate reasons for thinking and feeling in the ways that they do? Is there, in fact, a whole set of values and 'moral tastebuds' that a rather large part of the left-leaning population and political class are being dismissive of out of hand, and out of all proportion? And what facets of human psychology are at hand when others are seen as potential vectors of disease? In short, why are some vaccine hesitant, and why are others so keen to demonize them?

This week on MindMatters we look at an in-depth examination of these issues as they're explored in Norman Doidge's seminal essay "Needle Points". No stranger to the study of how people think, and why, Doidge, a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and author of The Brain That Changes Itself and The Brain's Way of Healing, examines the foundations of vaccine-hesitancy, and why, far from being "fringe" or "paranoid", they have a legitimacy that simply cannot, and shouldn't be, ignored by anyone taking a position on this highly contentious subject matter. He also discusses the "behavioral immune system" and what it can teach us about what is going on. Doidge so successfully outlines his needle points in his work that colleague Jordan Peterson encouraged him to produce a video narrating the text which may be watched here.

A PDF of the essay may be obtained here.


Running Time: 01:39:43

Download: MP3 — 137 MB



Cloud Lightning

SOTT Focus: Ukraine: The Country Where History Died

Oleh Tyahnybok
In light of the grotesquely one-sided Ukrainian war news on the MSM, it can be well and truly said that America circa February 2022 has become the land where history died.

From the sophomoric coverage of CNN and NBC, for instance, you would think that Ukraine's borders have been universally agreed upon by one and all for eons; that the government in Kiev has done absolutely nothing to provoke Russian suspicion and anger; and that Uncle Sam, NATO and the European Union have flitted around the neighborhoods on Russia's borders merely cheer-leading for democracy and selflessly passing out economic aid and cookies to the long-suffering Ukrainian peoples.

Well, no. Today's hot war eruption in Ukraine would absolutely not be happening save for the violent coup of February 2014 that overthrew Ukraine's democratically elected pro-Russian President; and which coup was funded, organized and choreographed by Washington-based neocons, busy-bodies and arms merchants who otherwise had no reason for even existing in the post-Soviet world.

Moreover, by reviewing the voting patterns of the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election we can see exactly how Washington's blunderbuss intervention in support of the Maidan putsch put the kibosh on stable governance in Kiev and friendly relations with Ukraine's historic neighbor and suzerain, Russia. That's because while the 2010 election reflected the stark divisions of the Ukrainian electorate (see map below) it still produced a government that was reasonably acceptable to most of the electorate, and one which proceeded to work toward new arrangements with both Ukraine's EU neighbors to the west and Russia to the east.

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SOTT Focus: Objective:Health - New Excuses for Heart Attacks Defy Logic

O:H header
The corporate media has been awash in article after article highlighting a previously unknown reason for why people may suddenly drop dead of a heart attack. For some strange reason, none of these outlandlish causes were ever previously known and are only being brought to light now. What a strange coincidence!

Everything from cold weather or shoveling your driveway to post-pandemic stress disorder and climate change (you read that right) are now big risks for cardiovascular problems. Even going to bed too late is apparently going to make your heart crap out. And it's not just adults - now kids and teens are at risk of heart problems even though this was never an issue before.

Join us on the latest episode of Objective:Health as we do the selfless service of going through all the perfectly normal behaviors that now pose a serious heart risk so that when your friends and neighbors who seemed perfectly young and healthy start dropping off, you know that they were probably staying up too late and having too much sex. We try to work through this enigmatic puzzle of why everyone's hearts are now apparently so weak. What could it possibly be?

For a recap, checkout: https://www.sott.net/article/464768-MSM-Ignores-Elephant-in-The-Room-Gives-Ridiculous-Reasons-For-Major-Increase-in-Vaccine-Related-Health-Conditions


And check us out on Brighteon!

For other health-related news and more, you can find us on:

♥Twitter: https://twitter.com/objecthealth
♥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/objecthealth/
♥Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channel/objectivehealth
♥LBRY: https://lbry.tv/@objectivehealth:f
♥Odysee: https://odysee.com/@objectivehealth:f

And you can check out all of our previous shows (pre YouTube) here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16H-nK-N0ANdsA5JFTT12_HU5nUYRVS9YcQh331dG2MI/edit?usp=sharing

Running Time: 00:44:45

Download: MP3 — 41 MB


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SOTT Focus: NewsReal: The Truth About The Russia-Ukraine War

ukraine war russia newsreal
© Sott.net
Has he gone mad? Is he indeed 'literally Hitler'? Is the Russian military 'losing bigly' in Ukraine? Is he trying to conquer and assimilate all Ukraine?

Relying on provably false information, not least 'war fakes' being churned out by the minute by psy-ops brigades in Ukraine and elsewhere in 'NATOstan', and two decades of gross misrepresentation of Putin and Russia's actions on the world stage, the Western world is almost universally answering these questions in the affirmative.

On this NewsReal, Joe and Niall break through the wall-to-wall disinformation to bring you a realistic picture of what is happening in Ukraine, and why it is indeed a moment in time with truly historic consequences for the whole world.


Running Time: 01:43:49

Download: MP3 — 71.3 MB


Russian Flag

SOTT Focus: Russia Launches Massive Military Operation in Ukraine - Reports of Multiple Explosions, Attacks on Military Targets From Donbass to Kiev

russian airstrikes Ukraine
Holy Smokes!
Russia has taken out Ukraine's air defenses and airforce with a series of precision attacks, the country's Defense Ministry has said in a statement, after airports and runways across the country were rocked by explosions.

Officials also claimed on Thursday morning that Ukrainian border guards are not resisting advancing Russian troops, who have moved in after President Vladimir Putin signed an order to begin a "special operation" in the Donbass. At the same time, officials denied claims made by Kiev's defense chiefs that Russia had lost at least one military plane over the country during the offensive.

In an earlier statement, Moscow reported that it was carrying out strikes at elements of Ukraine's military infrastructure.

Russia launched the offensive against Ukraine on Thursday morning on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, who said the goal of the operation was to demilitarize and "de-Nazify" Ukraine.

The Russian leader claimed military action was necessary to stop Ukrainian attacks on the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, which Moscow recognized as sovereign states on Monday. He claimed Russia could come under attack by Ukrainian radicals, unless their influence in the country is diminished, and accused Western nations of arming Kiev against Russia.


Comment: So it's 'pre-emptive war' - only here, it's justified. No 'sexed-up Downing Street dossiers' needed...


Comment: It's early morning in western Europe and we're seeing reports of explosions heard in Kiev, Kharkov, Mariupol, Slavyansk, Odessa, Vasilokovy, NovayaKakhovka, Borispol, etc. - right across Ukraine, from west to east, north to south...
ukraine map
These are the places in Ukraine where explosions have been reported so far.



As background to the timing of the launch of this massive military op, South Front writes: When it became apparent that Western sanctions that followed failed to meet the promised level; of "Sanctions from Hell" as promised, the UAF began bombarding the territories east of the LOC in increasing intensity. This military escalation intensified against the backdrop of contradictory statements by Russian Foreign Ministry officials which began at approximately noon on February 22. Russian President Vladimir Putin later delivered a statement unequivocally clarifying the official Russian position regarding the sovereign borders of the two republics and the nature of the new treaties.

The tempo of bombardment on the part of the UAF then intensified up until the late evening and early morning hours of February 23. By the afternoon of that same day, units of the UAF attempted to breakthrough the front in several locations with the assistance of preparatory artillery bombardment with some success. This occurred prior to Russian military units being able to advance to defensive positions. By the early evening, the Ukrainian forces that has attempted to entrench themselves were dislodged and forced to retreat, apparently with the assistance of advanced Russian military units. Following these events, Ukrainian president Zelensky addressed the nation and enacted the closure of a number of airports as described. There are unconfirmed reports that the entire Ukrainian navy and air force have been been effectively eliminated, and navy bases taken control of.

Russian troops have reportedly landed in Mariupol and Odessa. The U.S. and allies will impose "full-scale sanctions" tomorrow. IF they do de-list Russia from the SWIFT system of international payments, Russia will take that as a declaration of war by the US.



UPDATE 08:00 CET

Zelensky called a security council meeting (2 hours after the attacks started) to declare martial law. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian armed forces are using precision weapons to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure, air defense sites, military airfields and aircraft - not cities.


UPDATE 18:00 CET

The Russian MOD reports that its airstrikes targeted 74 Ukrainian military sites. There are lots of videos on social media showing fighter jets and attack helicopters as far inland as Kiev itself. Some Ukrainian military forces have opened fire, downing at least two choppers, but for the most part the Ukrainian military appears demoralized - it is downing weapons and providing little resistance.

UPDATE: Ukraine MPs want Zelensky to begin talks with Putin: A group of Ukrainian MPs have called on their president to start negotiations with Moscow. Any further escalation of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine might turn into a "real catastrophe" for all sides that would see "no winners," seven MPs said in an open letter to Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.

"Millions of our fellow citizens strive for a peaceful ... life," said the group, led by Vadim Novinsky - a Ukrainian billionaire and one of the co-leaders of the Opposition Bloc - an association of more than a dozen political parties. The MPs have said they "insist on [Zelensky] using all options" to protect human life and de-escalate the situation.

"We believe that a new compromise is still possible," the MPs have said, adding that a diplomatic option should still be explored even if it has "one chance in a hundred" to be successful. The MPs have not outlined any specific ideas for a potential agreement with Russia.

Novinsky is said to be close to Viktor Medvedchuk, another Ukrainian MP and one of the leaders of the Opposition Platform - For Life party. Medvedchuk is known for his anti-NATO views and for siding with Moscow when Crimea rejoined Russia back in 2014. UPDATE 05:00 CET (Feb. 25)

Russia's allies/friendly nations have commented on the attack: both Iran and China see the crisis as a response to NATO provocations. China called for restraint, and Iran for an immediate ceasefire. NATO member Turkey's Erdogan expressed regret, condemning the attack as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.

Macron called Putin to urge an end to the military operations, the two agreeing to stay in contact. It was reportedly the first call between Putin and a Western leader since the attacks. Zelensky, who has ordered a mass mobilization for Ukraine, has expressed a willingness to negotiate with Russia, even a neutral status for Ukraine, provided there are security guarantees. He accused the West of leaving Ukraine to face Russia alone (a fair appraisal of Washington and NATO's priorities). "I asked them - are you with us?" Zelensky said. "They answered that they are with us, but they don't want to take us into the alliance. I've asked 27 leaders of Europe, if Ukraine will be in NATO, I've asked them directly — all are afraid and did not respond"

"We were left by ourselves. Who is ready to go to war for us? Honestly, I don't see anybody. Who is ready to give Ukraine guarantees of NATO membership? Honestly, everybody is afraid," the Ukrainian president added. Russia, for its part, is willing to discuss Ukraine's surrender. Anonymous has announced an all-out cyberwar against Russia, with reports that several government websites experienced outages (as well as RT).

After the barrage of missile attacks last night and small unit battles today, the Russian air force is now engaging in strikes on additional targets in Ukraine. Explosions were reported in the government district in Kiev. A Russian cruise missile (first reported as an aircraft - CNN reports it was a Ukrainian Su-27 downed by a Russian missile) was reportedly downed over the city, landing in a residential area.

UPDATE 18:55 CET: RT reports Ukraine reneging on the offer of negotiations: Ukraine had agreed to negotiate with Russia, picking the Polish capital of Warsaw as the site for talks, then "ghosted" Moscow as it began deploying rocket artillery inside civilian neighborhoods of major cities, the Kremlin claimed on Friday.

"The Ukrainian side said it had reconsidered the idea of holding talks in Minsk, chose Warsaw instead, and then disappeared," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday evening.

Peskov pointed out that the sudden pause came as "nationalist elements" began deploying multiple rocket launcher systems in residential areas of major Ukrainian cities, which Russia warned could lead to civilian casualties that Moscow has been trying to avoid.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that it had prepared a delegation for peace talks with Kiev, which President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko agreed to host in Minsk. Dialogue depended on the "responsible behavior of Kiev," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cautioned.

Moving the talks to Warsaw would present a problem, as Poland announced on Friday it would close its airspace to all Russian flights.

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian military to take control and not allow the nationalists in Kiev to use their families as human shields. Most likely Zelensky really did want to bring and end to the hostilities, but then was read his marching orders from his NATo/US handlers.

UPDATE 05:50 CET (Feb. 26): After Lavrov stating at a presser that the time for negotiations with Zelensky on security guarantees are over, Zelensky has reportedly agreed once more to talks with the Kremlin. His spokesman said Kiev has been in touch with Moscow about a venue and date for ceasefire negotiations. The Ukrainians have reportedly requested Tel Aviv to act as mediator, as they have good relations with both nations. An unconfirmed social media post claims that Russian demands include the following: disbanding all nationalist and neo-Nazi formations, recognition as Crimea as Russian territory, DPR and LPR as independent republics, neutral status and perpetual refusal of NATO aspirations, Russian as official second language, and complete demilitarization.

Soft authoritarian leader Justin Trudeau has sanctioned Putin and Lavrov, accusing Russia of waging a "war on freedom" (seriously). The German spy chief was evacuated from Ukraine to Poland. The U.S. offered to evacuate Zelensky, who refused. Moscow vetoed a UN proposal on Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.

As for the state of the war, there are reports of gunfire and explosions on the streets of Kiev. While there were reports of gunfire before Russians entered the city (and seem to have been the result of infighting after the government/military handed out arms to civilians), there are also reports that Russian special forces have entered the city. (Update - Feb. 26 - there's still no confirmation that Russians have entered Kiev, so these seem to all be the result of infighting, looting, etc., or cases of mistaking armed civilians for "Russian saboteurs".)

UPDATE 20:00 CET (Feb. 27): After much back and forth and mutual refusals, it looks like Kiev and the Kremlin have finally agreed to ceasefire talks, to be held on the border of Ukraine and Belarus, in Gomel. (Zelensky had also reportedly welcomed offers from Azerbaijan and Turkey to mediate talks.) However, as with all these reports, the proof will be in the pudding. (Zelensky's advisor is already saying that Gomel was never approved as the negotiation site.) Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba has said that Ukraine will not "surrender, we will not capitulate, we will not give up a single inch of our territory." The fact is, Ukraine is most likely being pressured not to negotiate, and the Russians have an interest in staving off talks for the time being, to avoid stranding their troops prior to achieving their military objectives. On which, reports today suggest that Kiev is now surrounded.

Russian nuclear forces have been placed on special alert:
The decision applies to various weapons, both nuclear and conventional, that can be used for defense and offense alike. According to Moscow's military definition, they are designed to "to deter aggression against Russia and its allies, as well as to defeat the aggressor, including in a war with the use of nuclear weapons."

"Western countries are not only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic area. I'm speaking about the illegitimate sanctions that everyone is well aware of," Putin insisted. "However, the top officials of the leading NATO countries also make aggressive statements against our country as well."
UPDATE 04:00 CET (Feb. 28): News from the front is sparse today. However, the EU is posturing, claiming they will send fighter jets to the Ukraine. Believe it when it happens. Kiev's mayor, Klitschko, who announced the Russian encirclement of Kiev, is now calling his own statement (at least, his statement as recorded by the AP) "Russian disinformation." The Russian military has claimed a "small number" of their soldiers have been killed or captured by Ukrainian forces:
"Since the launch of the operation, [Russian military] has destroyed 254 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 31 aircraft on the ground, 46 multiple launch rocket systems, 103 pieces of artillery and mortars, 164 pieces of special military vehicles," Konashenkov stated. "Russian soldiers are showing courage and heroism as they carry out combat missions of the special military operation. Unfortunately, there are killed and wounded among our comrades."

The official did not specify the number of casualties among Russian troops, stating only that they are "many times less than the number of eliminated nationalists," as well as casualties suffered by Ukraine's regular military forces.

A small number of Russian servicemen have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian troops, Konashenkov admitted, condemning the treatment they've received at the hands of the opposing force.

"We know how the Ukrainian Nazis treat the few captured Russian servicemen," he said. "And we see that the abuse and torture are the same as those of the German Nazis and their henchmen in the Great Patriotic War."

The Russian military has been closely monitoring footage purportedly showing the abuse of the country's soldiers at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists, the official warned, promising to bring those involved in such behavior to justice.

"This applies to the leaders of the Kiev regime and their minions, who directly call for abuse of Russian military personnel in violation of the convention on the treatment of prisoners of war," Konashenkov said. "All of you will be found and will inevitably face severe retribution."

Any Ukrainian soldiers who ended up captured by Russian troops, however, are - and will be - treated "decently," the official stressed. "All who laid down their arms and ceased resistance will be returned to their families," Konashenkov added.
UPDATE 00:30 CET (Feb. 29): Brazil will remain neutral and not take sides in the conflict. Finland will debate joining NATO, further inflaming tensions in the region. Zelensky says Ukraine "deserves" emergency EU accession, immediately. He signed a formal membership bid Monday. Surely that wasn't part of the first round of negotiations with Russia that wound up today - unless they're trying to create conditions for meaningless concessions at future rounds. The EU doesn't sound very receptive. (As for the negotiations, while details haven't been released, apparently things were decided, and the parties went back to their respective capitals to discuss the results.) UN envoy Nabenzia reiterated that Russia does not plan on occupying Ukraine.

As for the fighting itself, here's the neo-Nazi Azov battalion dipping their bullets in pig fat so that the Russian Muslims they hope to kill in battle don't go to heaven. In addition to Chernobyl, the Russians took control of another key nuclear plant in Zaporozhskaya, thus forestalling the possibility of nuclear sabotage.

Zelensky has authorized the release of all prison convicts with combat experience to fight on the frontlines. That includes hardened criminals. Not the most intelligent move, and certainly not the move of a leader who is 'winning'. Similarly, after the idiotic decision to hand out military rifles to random people on the streets of Kiev (a move which led to looting, infighting, and probable gang warfare on the streets), Kiev has issued "harsh warnings" against looting. Geniuses. Law enforcement has authorization to shoot on the spot. Kiev is also suspending entry requirements for foreign mercenaries. (Zelensky obviously hasn't read his Machiavelli.)

For further updates, see here.