{"id":28957,"date":"2022-02-24T12:21:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T12:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/02\/24\/nato-agrees-to-beef-up-eastern-flank-over-ukraine-attack\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:23:10","slug":"nato-agrees-to-beef-up-eastern-flank-over-ukraine-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2022\/02\/24\/nato-agrees-to-beef-up-eastern-flank-over-ukraine-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Germany to send anti-tank weapons to Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest details about Russia\u2019s attack on Ukraine:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BERLIN \u2014 In a significant shift, the German government confirmed Saturday that it had approved the shipment of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine and supports some restrictions of the SWIFT global banking system for Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The German economy and climate ministry said in a Saturday evening statement that Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order,\u201d German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in the statement. \u201cIn this situation, it is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend itself against Vladimir Putin\u2019s invading army.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany had long stuck to a policy of not exporting deadly weapons to conflict zones, including Ukraine. As recently as Friday, government officials said they would abide by that policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country has faced criticism from Ukrainian officials and other allies that it has not acted decisively enough to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion. Previously, Germany contributed 5,000 helmets to Ukraine\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Germany said it will send 14 armored vehicles and up to 10,000 tons of fuel to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter Russia\u2019s shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself,\u201d Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. \u201cThe federal government is therefore supporting Ukraine in providing urgently needed material.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baltic airspace to shut down airspace to Russian flights<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

HELSINKI \u2014 The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have decided to close their airspace to Russian airlines, transport officials in the three countries say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legal formulation for the measure is underway and it wasn\u2019t immediately clear when precisely the ban would take effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuanian Transport Marius Skuodis told media outlets that the goal of the Baltic countries is to issue the ban at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted on Saturday that Western nations should isolate Russia both economically and politically after its invasion on Ukraine, saying \u201cthere is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latvian Transport Minister Talis Linkaits told local news agency LETA that the country\u2019s decision to close its airspace to Russian airlines will be made in coordination with Estonia, Lithuania and the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roughly 75,000 Russian troops have now entered Ukraine; the push toward Kyiv continues<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

KYIV, Ukraine \u2014 Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on Ukraine\u2019s capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts. Ukraine\u2019s leader, meanwhile, claimed the country\u2019s forces had repulsed the Russian assault and vowed to keep up the struggle as he appealed for more outside help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing,\u201d President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message in which he accused Russia of hitting infrastructure<\/a> and civilian targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Kyiv appeared quiet on Saturday<\/a>, though sporadic gunfire could be heard. And fighting on the city\u2019s outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the center of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior U.S. defense official said the United States estimates that more than 50 percent of Russian combat power arrayed along Ukraine\u2019s borders has entered Ukraine. That is up from a U.S. estimate Friday that one-third of the Russian force had been committed to the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, would not say how many Russian troops that amounts to inside Ukraine, but the U.S. had estimated the total Russian force arrayed near Ukraine at more than 150,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official said advancing Russian forces were roughly 30 kilometers outside Kyiv as of Saturday, and that an unspecified number of Russian military \u201creconnaissance elements\u201d had entered the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility as two cars burn, in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. (AP Photo\/Emilio Morenatti)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Britain\u2019s Defense Ministry said Saturday that \u201cthe speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRussian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko extended an overnight curfew to run from 5 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. on Monday. He said \u201call civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy\u2019s sabotage and reconnaissance groups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine<\/a> is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others had been wounded during Europe\u2019s largest land war since World War II. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/atype-video-jwplayer>
Images from the Russian invasion of Ukraine show military equipment moving into the country and the aftermath of strikes on a Ukrainian facility.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

More than 100,000 flee Ukraine as Russians press attack on Kyiv<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Russian troops pressed toward Ukraine\u2019s capital Saturday after a night of explosions and street fighting sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter underground. The country\u2019s leader refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting he would stay. \u201cThe fight is here,\u201d President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not immediately clear how far Russian troops had advanced. Ukrainian officials reported some success in fending off assaults, but fighting persisted near the capital. Skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but civilians have been killed and injured during Europe\u2019s largest ground war since World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the city\u2019s southwestern outskirts near one of Kyiv\u2019s two passenger airports, Mayor Vitali Klitchsko said, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mayor extended a 10 p.m.-7 a.m. curfew he imposed two days to run from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. as of Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\t