Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 announced the opening of a special military operation in Ukraine.

Field situation

Ukrainian forces have resisted fiercely, slowing down the Russian army’s advance, holding the capital Kiev and many other important cities, at least for now.

US officials say they believe Russia’s military campaign has been more difficult than the Kremlin imagined, although this could change as the Russian military adapts to the situation in Ukraine.

As negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations near the Belarusian border ended, several explosions were heard in Kiev.

Russian troops are slowly advancing into the Ukrainian capital, home to nearly 3 million people.

The car was destroyed after an attack in the city of Kharkov, in Ukraine on March 1.

How are Ukrainian people responding?

Many lines of people lined up outside supermarkets in Kiev on February 28, when people were allowed out of bomb shelters and homes for the first time since a curfew was announced on February 26.

Hundreds of thousands of people sought safety at night in Kiev’s metro systems and other shelters across the country, where parents tried to calm their children’s fears.

`Soldiers at the front have it much harder. It’s a shame to complain about the freezing cold floors, or the horribly dirty toilets and bathrooms,` said Irina, 74, while taking shelter at a train station.

Ukrainian officials said at least seven people died and dozens were injured in fighting in Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city, where videos circulating on social networks showed multiple apartment buildings being shelled.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said her office confirmed that 102 civilians, including 7 children, died and 304 were injured in the Russian attack since February 24.

Diplomatic opportunity

Ukrainian and Russian delegations met on February 28 near the Belarusian border.

Before the meeting, Zelensky’s office said Ukraine would ask Russia for an immediate ceasefire.

While Ukraine sent its defense minister and many other senior officials, the Russian delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, cultural advisor to President Vladimir Putin.

Western officials believe that the Russian President wants to overthrow the Ukrainian government and replace it with a pro-Moscow government, in order to regain Russia’s Cold War influence.

On the afternoon of February 28, French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr. Putin also had a 90-minute phone call.

Ukraine applied to join the European Union (EU)

President Zelensky has signed a request to join the EU, a move that will upset the Kremlin.

The President of Ukraine posted a photo of himself signing the application on social networks, while his office said the application was being sent to EU headquarters in Brussels.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (center) holds the application to join the EU after signing it on February 28.

What is the United Nations (UN) doing?

Two major UN bodies, including the 193-member General Assembly and the 15-member Security Council, held separate meetings on February 28 to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

The Security Council meeting began with news that the US expelled 12 Russian diplomats at the UN whom Washington accused of being spies.

Meanwhile, Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, said he plans to open an investigation `as quickly as possible` into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the country.

How many Ukrainians have left the country?

Filippo Grandi, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said more than 520,000 refugees have left Ukraine and this number is `growing exponentially every hour`.

On the morning of February 28, a UNHCR spokesman said that of the more than half a million people, 281,000 were in Poland, more than 84,500 in Hungary, about 36,400 in Moldva, more than 32,500 in Romania and about 30,000 in Slovakia.

Economic consequences

The Russian ruble fell about 30% against the USD on March 28, after Western countries decided to remove Russia from the SWIFT financial system and restrict Russia from using its large foreign currency reserves.

The US Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s central bank and state investment funds.

On February 28, the EU imposed sanctions on 26 Russians, including tycoons, senior officials and an energy insurance company, bringing the total number of people on the sanctions list to 680.

The Swiss President said the country will apply all EU sanctions targeting Russia, including freezing assets, almost depriving access to one of Russia’s favorite safe havens.

In Russia, many people have flocked to banks and ATMs to find ways to exchange rubles for USD or euros.

Economists and analysts say the sharp devaluation of the ruble means a reduction in the living standards of Russians.

Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Other sanctions

World football federation FIFA and European football agency (UEFA) on February 28 banned Russian clubs and national teams from competing in tournaments `until further notice`.

The politically charged sports punishment, not seen in decades, comes after the International Olympic Committee pushed dozens of sports governing bodies to exclude Russian athletes and coaches from the tournaments.

Removing Russia from an international sports arena could be a heavy psychological and financial blow to Moscow, while also damaging Russia’s image as a sporting power.