Radio România Internațional

Author: Vlad Palcu

Romanian civil society rallies to Ukrainian refugee relief effort

Romania has
responded to the war in Ukraine with an unprecedented mobilization of civil
society across all sectors, providing emergency assistance consisting in food,
water, legal counselling, medicine and other types of humanitarian aid to
refugees coming in Ukraine.

We spoke to a
number of NGOs that intervened either on the ground, at the Siret border
checkpoint in Suceava County, providing relief to the wave of refugees, but
also devising smart solutions jointly with local authorities.

Further information
about the actions of the NGOs that contributed to this programme can be found
below:

Code4Romania

https://code4.ro/en

https://code4.ro/ro/code-for-romania-war-task-force

https://dopomoha.ro/en

Fight for
Freedom Association

https://www.facebook.com/fightforfreedom.ro

https://www.fightforfreedom.ro/

Save the Children
Association

https://www.facebook.com/SalvatiCopiiiRomania

http://www.salvaticopiii.ro/

RadioRomaniaInternational · In the Spotlight – Romanian civil society rallies to Ukrainian refugee relief effort

3 March 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

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.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

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.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

The Russian state media TASS and
RIA Novosti cited the Russian Ministry of Defense denying reports of one its missiles
having hit a residential building Kyiv, claiming the building was struck by Ukrainian
anti-aircraft missiles. The information disseminated on social networks about
a Russian missile attack on a residential building on Lobanovsky Avenue in Kyiv
is not true, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Mayor of Kyiv has announced a
curfew will be in place between 5 PM and 8 AM. Anyone found outside between
these hours will be considered a member of sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

In the occupied region of
Donetsk, the Russian military is distributing gas masks to troops and local
militias, Ukraine’s Security Service claims. The agency says there is a risk of
provocation by blowing up industrial chemical tanks.

Meanwhile, Hungary decided to
rally the international effort to exclude Russia from the SWIFT system of international
payments, after originally opposing this decision.

In Romania, the Romanian Foreign
Ministry has announced it has shut down its embassy in Kyiv and has successfully
brought home all embassy staff.

The Government announced it has
shut down its air space to all Russian aircraft, a measure that has already implemented
in multiple EU states. At the end of a new meeting of the special task force
overseeing developments in Ukraine, the Romanian authorities also decided to
withdraw from the International Investment Bank (IIB), where the Russian
Federation is the main shareholder.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

The Russian state media TASS and
RIA Novosti cited the Russian Ministry of Defense denying reports of one its missiles
having hit a residential building Kyiv, claiming the building was struck by Ukrainian
anti-aircraft missiles. The information disseminated on social networks about
a Russian missile attack on a residential building on Lobanovsky Avenue in Kyiv
is not true, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Mayor of Kyiv has announced a
curfew will be in place between 5 PM and 8 AM. Anyone found outside between
these hours will be considered a member of sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

In the occupied region of
Donetsk, the Russian military is distributing gas masks to troops and local
militias, Ukraine’s Security Service claims. The agency says there is a risk of
provocation by blowing up industrial chemical tanks.

Meanwhile, Hungary decided to
rally the international effort to exclude Russia from the SWIFT system of international
payments, after originally opposing this decision.

In Romania, the Romanian Foreign
Ministry has announced it has shut down its embassy in Kyiv and has successfully
brought home all embassy staff.

The Government announced it has
shut down its air space to all Russian aircraft, a measure that has already implemented
in multiple EU states. At the end of a new meeting of the special task force
overseeing developments in Ukraine, the Romanian authorities also decided to
withdraw from the International Investment Bank (IIB), where the Russian
Federation is the main shareholder.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

According
to the Ukrainian military, quoted by the Kyiv Independent, Russia sustained
heavy losses since it launched the attack on Ukraine on February 24, some 3,500
troops and a sizable number of military equipment. The aforementioned sources
also claims Russia has begun redeploying reserve units in the areas bordering
Ukraine and continues to carry out airstrikes on airfields, military depots, as
well as civilian targets.

In
a new video message made public on Saturday, president Volodymyr Zelensky told
Ukrainians: We have withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks.
Fighting continues in different cities and regions of our country. Amidst
numerous false reports, the president assured the population the army has full
control over the capital Kyiv and key towns around it. President Zelensky also
referred to the series of international sanctions on Russia, saying that Ukraine
has rallied almost fully support of EU members to exclude Russia from SWIFT, a system
of international payments that could deal Russia a heavy blow should this country
be denied access to it. Later on Saturday, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called
on world leaders to continue to isolate Russia from the rest of the world by
expelling ambassadors, banning exports and introducing further economic
sanctions.

Cyprus,
Italy and Germany have changed their original opposition to cutting Russia from
SWIFT and have now rallied the international effort, Hungary being the only EU
country opposing this measure.

In
Romania, the authorities have confirmed that the Slovakian embassy has
evacuated all its personnel from Kyiv and will be relocated to Romania.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

According
to the Ukrainian military, quoted by the Kyiv Independent, Russia sustained
heavy losses since it launched the attack on Ukraine on February 24, some 3,500
troops and a sizable number of military equipment. The aforementioned sources
also claims Russia has begun redeploying reserve units in the areas bordering
Ukraine and continues to carry out airstrikes on airfields, military depots, as
well as civilian targets.

In
a new video message made public on Saturday, president Volodymyr Zelensky told
Ukrainians: We have withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks.
Fighting continues in different cities and regions of our country. Amidst
numerous false reports, the president assured the population the army has full
control over the capital Kyiv and key towns around it. President Zelensky also
referred to the series of international sanctions on Russia, saying that Ukraine
has rallied almost fully support of EU members to exclude Russia from SWIFT, a system
of international payments that could deal Russia a heavy blow should this country
be denied access to it. Later on Saturday, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called
on world leaders to continue to isolate Russia from the rest of the world by
expelling ambassadors, banning exports and introducing further economic
sanctions.

Cyprus,
Italy and Germany have changed their original opposition to cutting Russia from
SWIFT and have now rallied the international effort, Hungary being the only EU
country opposing this measure.

In
Romania, the authorities have confirmed that the Slovakian embassy has
evacuated all its personnel from Kyiv and will be relocated to Romania.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

Raid
sirens went off in Kyiv at noon on Saturday as the capital-city is bracing of a
possible new air assault. Local footage depicts people still taking up shelter in
the subway or in their bathrooms, after an apartment building was damaged on
Saturday. Shelling continued for most of the morning in both Kyiv and in the
Kherson outskirts, north of the Crimean Peninsula. Nearly 200 Ukrainian
civilians have been killed so far in fighting on Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s
Health Minister, Viktor Lyashko told the press.

Ukraine’s
president, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted saying it is a crucial moment to close
the long-standing discussion once and for all and decide on Ukraine’s
membership in the #EU. In the early hours of Saturday morning, the president took
to social media to disprove fake news circulating on the web regarding a
purported surrender of Kyiv.

I
am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country,
because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our
country, our children, and we will defend all of this, president Zelensky said
in a video.

Earlier
on Saturday, the British armed forces minister, James Heappey said Russia has
so far failed to capture any of its target at the end of the first two days of
military operations. Even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have
taken but we can’t see anything to substantiate that, are all still in
Ukrainian hands, minister Heappey told BBC radio.

In
Romania, the authorities are coordinating with civil society to accommodate and
provide assistance to refugees coming in from Ukraine. Over 20,000 people have reportedly
crossed into Romania since the beginning of the conflict.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

Raid
sirens went off in Kyiv at noon on Saturday as the capital-city is bracing of a
possible new air assault. Local footage depicts people still taking up shelter in
the subway or in their bathrooms, after an apartment building was damaged on
Saturday. Shelling continued for most of the morning in both Kyiv and in the
Kherson outskirts, north of the Crimean Peninsula. Nearly 200 Ukrainian
civilians have been killed so far in fighting on Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s
Health Minister, Viktor Lyashko told the press.

Ukraine’s
president, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted saying it is a crucial moment to close
the long-standing discussion once and for all and decide on Ukraine’s
membership in the #EU. In the early hours of Saturday morning, the president took
to social media to disprove fake news circulating on the web regarding a
purported surrender of Kyiv.

I
am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country,
because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our
country, our children, and we will defend all of this, president Zelensky said
in a video.

Earlier
on Saturday, the British armed forces minister, James Heappey said Russia has
so far failed to capture any of its target at the end of the first two days of
military operations. Even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have
taken but we can’t see anything to substantiate that, are all still in
Ukrainian hands, minister Heappey told BBC radio.

In
Romania, the authorities are coordinating with civil society to accommodate and
provide assistance to refugees coming in from Ukraine. Over 20,000 people have reportedly
crossed into Romania since the beginning of the conflict.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

The battle
for Kyiv was underway all night on Saturday on the third day of the Russian
invasion as the Russian military attacked the Ukrainian capital city from
multiple directions. Bursts of gunfire, multiple explosions and artillery rounds could be heard in and around Kyiv. The Russian troops have the capital
surrounded and are closing in. Heavy fighting was also reported in Melitopol,
in the southeast.

The
Ukrainian army claims it has successfully repelled attempts to enter the city
in the north and the west. According to Ukraine’s State Agency for Special Communications,
two IL-76 carriers transporting airborne paratroopers were shot down in Vasylkiv
and near Tserkva, some 80 km south Kyiv.

According
to the Kyiv Independent, president Volodymyr Zelensky is personally heading the
defenses of the capital. In a message on social media on Friday night, the president
called on Ukrainians to stand firm and fight for their country, and accused
Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure. According to the Washington Post,
the US government offered to evacuate president Zelensky to prevent him from being killed or captured, but the president refused.

At the UNSC
meeting Friday night, 50 countries issued a joint statement accusing Russia’s
abuse of power in blocking a UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
China, India and the UAE abstained. Meanwhile, sanctions continue to pile up,
the US and Canada announcing new sanctions on Russia late on Friday. The United
States will disburse an additional to $350 million in security assistance to
Ukraine, putting the total over the last year at over $1 billion, the White House
has announced. Previously, president Zelensky had called on the IMF for
emergency financial assistance.

In Romania,
the first NATO response troops have started to arrive. France will deploy 500
troops and staff to Romania after president Emmanuel Macron on Friday announce his
country will accelerate the deployment of troops to Romania in response to the
Russian invasion, AFP reports. NATO has decided to reinforce its presence to
send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania,
French army chief of staff Thierry Burkhard told RFI and France24.

Due to the
heavy flow of migrants coming in from Ukraine, significant delays are reported
in Siret northern crossing border. The authorities have issued a statement
advising immigrants to use alternative border crossings in order to prevent
further increase in waiting times.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

The battle
for Kyiv was underway all night on Saturday on the third day of the Russian
invasion as the Russian military attacked the Ukrainian capital city from
multiple directions. Bursts of gunfire, multiple explosions and artillery rounds could be heard in and around Kyiv. The Russian troops have the capital
surrounded and are closing in. Heavy fighting was also reported in Melitopol,
in the southeast.

The
Ukrainian army claims it has successfully repelled attempts to enter the city
in the north and the west. According to Ukraine’s State Agency for Special Communications,
two IL-76 carriers transporting airborne paratroopers were shot down in Vasylkiv
and near Tserkva, some 80 km south Kyiv.

According
to the Kyiv Independent, president Volodymyr Zelensky is personally heading the
defenses of the capital. In a message on social media on Friday night, the president
called on Ukrainians to stand firm and fight for their country, and accused
Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure. According to the Washington Post,
the US government offered to evacuate president Zelensky to prevent him from being killed or captured, but the president refused.

At the UNSC
meeting Friday night, 50 countries issued a joint statement accusing Russia’s
abuse of power in blocking a UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine.
China, India and the UAE abstained. Meanwhile, sanctions continue to pile up,
the US and Canada announcing new sanctions on Russia late on Friday. The United
States will disburse an additional to $350 million in security assistance to
Ukraine, putting the total over the last year at over $1 billion, the White House
has announced. Previously, president Zelensky had called on the IMF for
emergency financial assistance.

In Romania,
the first NATO response troops have started to arrive. France will deploy 500
troops and staff to Romania after president Emmanuel Macron on Friday announce his
country will accelerate the deployment of troops to Romania in response to the
Russian invasion, AFP reports. NATO has decided to reinforce its presence to
send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania,
French army chief of staff Thierry Burkhard told RFI and France24.

Due to the
heavy flow of migrants coming in from Ukraine, significant delays are reported
in Siret northern crossing border. The authorities have issued a statement
advising immigrants to use alternative border crossings in order to prevent
further increase in waiting times.

26 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

Russia’s president, Vladimir
Putin, has addressed a message directly to the Ukrainian army in an attempt to
negotiate a surrender directly, claiming the current regime is holding the
entire Ukrainian people hostage. Take power into your own hands, it will be easier
for us to reach agreement, the Russian president said. Previously, Kremlin spokesperson
Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to send a delegation to Minsk in order to
hold talks with Zelensky, who expressed readiness to sit down with Putin.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting is
reported between Russian and Ukrainian troops around the city of Chernihiv. The
latest footage published by CNN depicts the headquarters of the Security
Service on site ablaze. Authorities say the area is now completely cut off from
the rest of Ukraine, claiming over thirty Russian tanks were destroyed in the operation.

At the outset of NATO’s emergency
summit, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to cease all
military operations in Ukraine. The European Union has announced sanctions that
will target president Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov directly.

Fighting has intensified in Kyiv.
Defense forces are disrupted by false-flag operations conducted by Russian
saboteurs, posing as Ukrainian military.

25 February 2022
War in Ukraine – UPDATE

Russia’s president, Vladimir
Putin, has addressed a message directly to the Ukrainian army in an attempt to
negotiate a surrender directly, claiming the current regime is holding the
entire Ukrainian people hostage. Take power into your own hands, it will be easier
for us to reach agreement, the Russian president said. Previously, Kremlin spokesperson
Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to send a delegation to Minsk in order to
hold talks with Zelensky, who expressed readiness to sit down with Putin.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting is
reported between Russian and Ukrainian troops around the city of Chernihiv. The
latest footage published by CNN depicts the headquarters of the Security
Service on site ablaze. Authorities say the area is now completely cut off from
the rest of Ukraine, claiming over thirty Russian tanks were destroyed in the operation.

At the outset of NATO’s emergency
summit, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to cease all
military operations in Ukraine. The European Union has announced sanctions that
will target president Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov directly.

Fighting has intensified in Kyiv.
Defense forces are disrupted by false-flag operations conducted by Russian
saboteurs, posing as Ukrainian military.

25 February 2022
War in Ukraine

In the early
hours of Thursday morning, international organizations and individual countries issued their first reactions to Russia’s ongoing attack in Ukraine.

Romania’s
president, Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday, firmly condemned Russia’s military
aggression in Ukraine, labeling it a grave breach of international law, of
Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity. This will be met with the strongest
reaction by the international community inflicting massive consequences and the
most severe cost, president Iohannis tweeted.

NATO Secretary
General, Jens Stoltenberg, strongly condemned Russia’s reckless and unprovoked
attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. The NATO
official described the attack as a serious violation of international law threatening
Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action
immediately and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO
Allies will meet to address the consequences of Russia’s aggressive actions. We
stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it
takes to protect and defend all Allies, Secretary Stoltenberg said.

In turn, the US
Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, condemned Putin’s
order to start a military operation in Donbas, arguing at the exact time as we
are gathered in the council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war in
total disdain for the responsibility for this council. This is a grave
emergency, the US official added.

24 February 2022
BREAKING NEWS – Putin declares war on Ukraine

Russia’s
president, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday authorized a military operation in
Eastern Ukraine in order to protect the people, calling on the Ukrainian army
to lay down their weapons. President Putin insisted that Ukraine’s bid to join
NATO is unacceptable.

According to the
CNN, explosions were reported in the Borsypil area, close to the capital Kiev, minutes
within the announcement. Additional explosions were also reported in the cities
of Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Odessa and Kharkov, according to different sources. The
authorities have restricted air traffic in the regions around Kyiv, Dnipro,
Lviv, Odessa and Simferopol.

US president Joe
Biden has condemned Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine in
a statement early Thursday morning. President Putin has chosen a premeditated
war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia
alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and
the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and
decisive way, the US president said.

On Wednesday
night, during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Secretary
General Antonio Guterres had told Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop
attacking Ukraine and to give peace a chance.

24 February 2022