BREAKING: Russia Puts Russian Nuclear Deterrent Forces On Alert

Update #14: ⚡️The situation in Kyiv is under Ukrainian control, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. 

“All Russian efforts to occupy it have failed,” their statement reads.

Update #13: Missiles have hit a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the UN nuclear watchdog says, but there are no reports of a release of radiation. A day earlier, a similar disposal site in Kharkiv was damaged amid Russia's invasion.

Update #12: Blasts heard in Kyiv and Kharkiv early on Monday morning, Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection reported.

BREAKING, Update #11: Belarus preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine in support of Russia's invasion as early as Monday, U.S. official says.

Update #10: ⚡️The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces says Russia suffers significant losses. 

As of 6 p.m., Feb. 27: estimated loss of personnel – about 4,500 people, tanks – about 150, armored vehicles – over 700, fuel tanks – 60, Buk system – 1, Grad systems – 4, helicopters – 26.

Update #9: European Union member countries will supply Ukraine with jet fighters, EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said Sunday

Update #8: Klitschko's spokesperson denies that Kyiv is 'encircled.' 

In an interview with AP, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that ‘Kyiv was encircled’ but ready to fight. 

His spokesperson said that he misspoke, and that such information is “a lie and a manipulation.”

Update #7: Belarus missile ruins historical building in Chernihiv.

According to the UNIAN news agency, it was an Iskander ballistic missile system that was fired from Belarus and hit the 1939 building in central Chernihiv, a regional capital 150 kilometers north of Kyiv.

Ukraine's president says. It was nice to learn that in addition to yesterday's agreements, Belgium is sending us another 3,000 machine guns and 200 anti-tank grenade launchers. Thank you 

@alexanderdecroo for your leadership.

EU's Ursula von der Leyen says. Just spoke to President 

@ZelenskyyUa who leads the determined resistance to the Russian invasion.

I explained to him the strong and immediate measures we are taking to support Ukraine’s defense, its economy & the refugees, as well as the new sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

Update #6: Kyiv is "encircled" by Russian troops and exit routes out of the city are blocked, Mayor Vitali Klitschko told AP

Update #5: Ukrainian foreign minister: “We need weapons to fight to defend our country. We specifically need anti-tank, anti-air, anti-missile weapons.”

Kyiv is under more explosions.

Update #4: The European Union’s chief executive says the 27-nation bloc will close its

airspace to Russian airlines, fund supplies of weapons to Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets in response to Russia’s invasion.

Update #3: FM @DmytroKuleba: “We are determined to fight back fiercely as long as it is needed to defend our land and our people. We are determined to defeat Russia the same way as we defeated the previous monster in Europe 80 years ago. And I am sure that we shall by prevail.”

Ursula von der Leyen says: President @ZelenskyyUa's leadership, his bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people are an inspiration to us all.

We welcome with open arms those who have to flee from Putin’s bombs.

We support our Eastern Member States in hosting and taking care of these refugees.

Ukraine's Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Zaluzhny: for the past two days,

we have successfully mobilized 100K servicemen, half of them for the Territorial Defence Forces.

Update #2: Zelensky confirmed The Dream AN-225 was destroyed by a Russian airstrike yesterday during their attack on Hostomel airport near Kyiv.

Update #1: What is happening now in Ukraine is a real people’s war. We will not fall. We will not stop or get tired. We are determined to fight back fiercely as long as it is needed to defend our land and our people, says Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleb.

BREAKING: Ukraine - According to the AP; Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces on alert, raising the threat that tensions with the West over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to the use of nuclear weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces on alert, raising the threat that tensions with the West over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to the use of nuclear weapons.

Also, Ukraine agrees to peace talks with Russia.

Lukashenko has taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, talks and return, Zelensky's office wrote.