5th & 6th Day of Russia Ukraine War 1 March updates & strategic issues

Ukrainian forces claimed they have killed a Chechen general near Kyiv, besides destruction of 56 Chechen tanks.

● Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded in rocket strikes on Kharkiv. Vast plumes of smoke reported in various areas of Kharkiv.

● Blasts are continuing in Kyiv. A residential building in Kyiv and Zhulyany airport were struck with missiles. A 65 kilometer kong convoy is advancing toward Kyiv.

● Russia has announced to hit Kyiv's special forces and communication facilities with high-precision arms. Russian Defence authorities have urged civilians to evacuate to avoid collateral damage.

● Ukraine Armed forces Minister James Heappey says there are only "isolated pockets" of Russian troops in Kyiv which is a testament to Ukrainian resistance. The Minister also said that Putin's aim beyond Ukraine was "fracturing NATO."

● Heavy fighting was reported from cities of Sumy, Poltava, Myklaiv, Mariupol, Kherson and Odessa.

● Russian troops that launched offensive from southern coastal areas have linked up with separatist republics north of Black Sea.

● According to Russia Today (RT), Luhansk militia secures 62 kilometers of area. Donetsk forces advance about 30 kilometers.

● RT showed videos of Ukrainian shelling in Donetsk. Civilians were shown hiding in a school basement.

● In another video, RT showed Ukrainian soldiers laying down arms in Crimea.

● Russian troops reached at the outskirts of southern Ukrainian city Kherson.

● More than 70 Ukrainian troops were killed in Okhtyrka due to Russian shelling. At least 10 Ukrainian dead in Kharkiv.