Tension in Ukraine The United States closes its embassy in Ukraine due to fears of an imminent Russian invasion
Ukraine Joe Biden: Vladimir Putin is "dumb enough" to invade Ukraine
The Ukrainian government on Saturday urged citizens
to remain calm and unified
, recalling that the country's armed forces are ready to repel any attack.
The media speak of the growing fear that Russia is preparing to invade its neighbor.
On February 11, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a major military operation against Ukraine could begin "at any time," even before the end of the Winter Olympics.
"I think there is too much talk out there about a full-scale Russian war, and people even give dates.
Our enemies' best friend is panic in our country
, and all this information only creates panic, it doesn't help us." said Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.
The call for calm came a day after the United States and other countries, including Britain, Australia and Japan, urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately
due to the growing danger of a large-scale offensive by Russian forces
.
Germany, Finland and Lithuania have also advised their citizens to leave Ukraine.
Other countries that have done so include Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and South Korea.
The US has ordered some US embassy staff to leave Ukraine.
Russia, which has accused Western nations of spreading lies, said on Saturday it had decided to "optimize" the number of its diplomatic staff in Ukraine, fearing "provocations" from Kiev or elsewhere.
Air raid drill in Kiev.
Ukraine is torn between
calling for calm and pointing out how Russia is increasingly encircling its borders
.
Moscow has announced it will block access to large portions of the Black Sea for what it alleges are "naval missile and artillery training exercises" from February 13-19.
More than 30 ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet have started training exercises near the Crimean peninsula as part of broader naval exercises, the RIA news agency reported.
Preparations in Kiev
In Kiev, the authorities are preparing for a war that few among the population want to believe.
"
We understand that Russia has one of the most powerful armies in the world
", but "any aggressor has to know: [invading Ukraine] will cost him dearly, we will not give up", cried the mayor of Kiev, Vitaly Kitchko.
The capital has 5,000 bomb shelters
.
Although, according to the AFP agency, many of them have been converted in recent years into beauty salons or striptease bars to generate extra income.
"We have thousands of reservists. Every day we receive a hundred calls from people who want to enlist in the territorial defense of Kiev," said the mayor,
who is a former world heavyweight boxing champion
.
"Nobody seems to panic, but there have been a lot of jokes like
I hope the attack happens before Valentine's Day so I don't have to buy a gift
," explains Olga, a resident of Kiev who has been collaborating with the training plan for months. citizens for emergency situations.
According to the City Council, 13,500 troops and 780 units of military equipment have been deployed in the city and have prepared the city to function in an emergency.
"
Fuel reserves have been created and electric generators have been installed
to operate uninterruptedly in an emergency situation," added the mayor of Kiev, who stressed that the capital's thermal power plant can operate for a period of up to 10 days.
blackout war
A potentially critical period to watch will be February 24-26.
This is the window in which Ukraine's electricity transmission system is scheduled to be completely disconnected from that of neighboring countries, including Russia,
to operate in isolated mode as part of mandatory tests before its full synchronization
with the European system .
in 2023.
A chain of cyberattacks could create difficulties for Ukraine at a time of peak demand due to low temperatures this winter.
Russia has denied that its buildup of more than 100,000 troops and military equipment in areas near the Ukrainian border is a prelude to a new invasion.
Kiev has asked Moscow to provide a proper explanation about the Russian military activity
near the border between the two countries within the next 48 hours: "We have officially activated the risk reduction mechanism in accordance with Chapter III of the Vienna Document "said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba.
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Ukraine
Russia
Europe The EU does not see "nothing new that increases the feeling of an imminent Russian attack" in Ukraine
Macroeconomics The tension in Ukraine sinks the European stock markets and gives the Ibex 35 a fall of 3.18%
CrisisRussia warns that if the West ignores its demands "it will feel the consequences on its neck"
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