Fighting Erupts Across All Fronts Amid Russia-Ukraine Negotiation Breakdown

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the third day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the 26th (local time), fighting continued across various parts of Ukraine.

According to AP News and others, on this day, missile attacks by Russia occurred in the center of the capital Kyiv, and sounds of intense urban warfare were heard throughout the city.

According to U.S. and U.K. intelligence agencies, a significant number of Russian troops were observed advancing to about 30 km from the center of Kyiv. Reports also emerged that some small Russian units had entered the city of Kyiv.

A senior U.S. Department of Defense official assessed that more than 50% of the Russian forces gathered around Ukraine had been deployed for the invasion.

In Kyiv, the nighttime curfew from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day was extended until the 28th, while civilian facilities such as bridges, schools, and residential areas suffered damage from bombings and missile attacks from the east, south, and north.

In Kyiv city, high-rise apartments near the airport were severely damaged by missile attacks, and many Kyiv citizens spent the night in basements, underground parking lots, and subway stations.

Checkpoints were set up at various points on highways leading to Kyiv, where Ukrainian soldiers in military uniforms and men in civilian clothes were seen guarding with guns.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health announced that since the invasion, 198 people have died and over 1,000 have been injured.

AP News reported that Russian forces appear to be strengthening their offensive on coastal areas, from Odesa on the Black Sea in the west to beyond the Azov Sea port city of Mariupol in the east, not only in Kyiv.

In the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists supported by Russian forces continue to advance in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, capturing cities previously controlled by government forces.

Interfax News, citing local sources, reported that Russian shelling in the area killed 19 civilians and injured 73 on this day.

Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, stated in the morning, "Russian forces have destroyed 821 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities, including 14 airfields, 19 command and communication centers, and 48 radar bases."

He explained that precision strikes were carried out on Ukrainian military infrastructure using air- and sea-launched cruise missiles. He also said that numerous Ukrainian combat aircraft, helicopters, tanks, multiple rocket launchers, and small vessels were destroyed.

However, there were observations that the Russian military's advance had slowed nationwide.

The British Ministry of Defense stated, "The pace of the Russian advance appears to have temporarily slowed, likely due to logistical difficulties and stiff Ukrainian resistance."

A U.S. Department of Defense official also said, "Ukrainian resistance has been successful, and Russia has failed to achieve decisive breakthroughs in the past 24 hours, particularly struggling in the northern region. Russian forces have encountered very determined resistance, resulting in a hesitant atmosphere."

The Ukrainian presidential office reported that Russian forces have not made meaningful progress and estimated that about 3,500 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded so far.

A presidential aide said, "We are striking the enemy near Kyiv. For now, the enemy is not moving."

Negotiation efforts, which once raised expectations, failed without any results. On this day, the Kremlin spokesperson announced, "With Ukraine refusing negotiations, the Russian military resumed its advance according to the operational plan this afternoon."

President Zelensky posted a video on social media early this morning, announcing that he remains in the capital Kyiv and pledging to continue the resistance.

In the video filmed in front of the presidential residence in central Kyiv, he said, "There is a flood of fake news claiming that overnight we abandoned weapons, called to surrender, or fled, but I am here. We will not lay down our arms and will defend our homeland."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.