The situation on March 1, 2022, at noon Poland time.
Ukraine (Source: visualcapitalist.com, via Facebook)
Yesterday (February 28), delegations of both countries met on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border to discuss peace talks. Of course, no agreement was reached.
The Blitzkrieg has failed, the losses in equipment and people are very large (it is estimated that Russia has already lost 5,300 soldiers killed), but there are still fights for the largest cities of Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Herson. Kharkiv is encircled. Today, street fights are taking place there. Civilian facilities including hospitals are under attack. Russian troops are trying to encircle Kiev. The Russian convoy is 64 km long. Inhabitants of the attacked cities greet the invaders with Molotov cocktails. According to official reports, Russia used a forbidden weapon — cluster bombs.
Ukrainians are morally supported by the wonderful attitude of President Volodymyr Zelensky. He became a real leader and a national hero.
Ukraine has officially applied for membership of the European Union, and the West imposes economic sanctions [against Russia].
Refugees from Ukraine cry when they enter Poland (Source: Reuters, via Bankier.pl)
Long lines accumulate at the border crossings with Poland. On the Ukrainian side, the check-in of refugees has been streamlined. As of today, it is estimated that Poland has already accepted about 350 thousand refugees, and depending on the situation, there may be even 3-4 million of them. Poles are very active and very kind to refugees. On Sunday, in all churches in Poland, there were prayers for peace in Ukraine, as well as fundraising as well as collection of everything that may be useful to refugees. Hotels and retreats provide places to stay. Private persons also receive and support the newcomers from Ukraine.
Refugees from Ukraine are admitted into Poland (Source: Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji, www.gov.pl portal)
In Poland, so far, there is no panic, neither in shops nor at ATMs, but one can sense the tense situation and unspoken questions: How will the events evolve? Can Putin reach for nuclear weapons?
Translated from Polish by Andrew Woźniewicz.
