After several countries that
originally expressed reluctance to exclude Russia from the SWIFT system of international
payment system have reversed their decision, preparations are now underway to
introduce this sanction at official level, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has
said. Ukrainian diplomats dedicate this victory to all defenders of Ukraine,
the Russian official said, quoted by the Kyiv Independent.
In a press statement issued on
Saturday, the British Ministry of Defense announced the arrival of the UK
forces in Eastern Europe to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. According to the
document, tanks and armored vehicles are being rolled into Estonia from
Germany, with an additional 1,000 troops expected to arrive in coming days.
Typhoon fighter jets are expected to take off from bases in Cyprus and the UK
to patrol NATO airspace over Romania and Poland alongside NATO allies with
Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft support, the Ministry adds. In an earlier
tweet, Belgium’s Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo announced his country will deploy
300 troops to Romania also as part of NATO’s efforts to consolidate its
presence on the Alliance’s eastern front.
Meanwhile, on the ground, local
reports have confirmed deployment of Kadyrov’s Chechen forces to Ukraine,
Reuters writes. In Kyiv, local authorities have extended the curfew until 8 AM
on February 28. The Mayor has asked citizens to strictly observe the curfew in
order to prevent the infiltration of Russian saboteurs into the city.