As a result of an air attack by Russian troops at Gostomel airport near Kyiv, the An-225 “Dream” was burned. This was announced by the State Communications Agency of Ukraine in its Telegram channel, UNIAN reports.
The ministry noted that such information was reported to Radio Svoboda by two informed sources in the Antonov enterprise and confirmed by the mayor of Bucha.
The largest aircraft in the world – AN-225 “Mriya” (“Dream” in Ukrainian) – was destroyed by Russia, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
“Russia may have destroyed our Dream, but they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We will prevail!” He wrote on Twitter.
Earlier today, President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed that the plane was destroyed on February 26 at Antonov Airport near Kyiv.
“Yesterday we lost, unfortunately, our “Dream”, but the old “Dream”. And now we are building a new one. Glory to Ukraine!”
“There is information that as a result of an air attack by Russian troops at Gostomel airport near Kyiv, one of the largest and most powerful aircraft in the world, a Ukrainian-made AN-225 Mriya, was burned,” the report said.
“Antonov An-225 Mriya” is the largest heavy cargo and the largest aircraft in the world ever built!
Antonov An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: Мрія) is a class 1 transport aircraft manufactured in the Ukrainian SSR in the late 1980s by the Antonov Aviation Science and Technology Complex and is currently the largest aircraft. in the world.
The maximum payload of the Mriya is 275 t, making it the heaviest aircraft ever built, and the six turbojet engines create a total thrust of 1377 kN, making it the most powerful aircraft on Earth.
For comparison: the maximum load of the An-124 “Ruslan” is 150 t and 152.4 t for the Airbus A380, version A380F
The tentative name of the An-225 in NATO is “Cossack”.
„Mriya“ was designed and constructed to transport the Soviet shuttle Buran, but was later abandoned due to lack of funds at the international airport in Gostomel.
After years of landing, the aircraft was completely reconstructed and re-launched its “first” flight in 2001. After that date, it was used by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines mainly to fulfill orders for the transport of oversized and heavy cargo.
The restoration of the An-255 aircraft will cost more than 3 billion dollars and will take a long time, Ukrinform writes.
This is the only aircraft of this type ever produced. It was built in the 80s. His first flight was on December 21, 1988.
„Mriya“ can carry up to 275 tons, making it the heaviest aircraft ever built.
The aircraft also has six turbojet engines, making it the most powerful aircraft in the world. The popularity of the An-225 is great due to its ability to land on difficult terrain. This makes it very famous in the regions of Siberia, where it lands on ice, and in Africa, where it lands on lawns. Mria’s flights are also included in the Guinness Book of World Records:
For a maximum speed of 815.09 kilometers per hour with a load of 155 tons on a closed section with a length of 2000 km;
For maximum flight altitude – 12,430 meters with a load of 155 tons;
For a maximum aircraft weight of 508, this when flying at an altitude of 2000 meters.
“Dream” can accommodate about 1,500 people. The idea was to turn it into a flying hotel with rooms and suites on the upper deck, and on the lower to have swimming pools and casinos.
The construction of the next generation An-255 was included in the Soviet space program, but it was never built.
The „Mriya“ aircraft was decommissioned in the spring of 1994. It remained at the Gostomel test site, a city near Kyiv, for more than seven years, during which parts for Ruslan aircraft were taken from it.
In the late 1990s, the company that owned „Mriya“, Antonov Airlines, received orders to transport heavy cargo. This is the reason why the world’s largest aircraft has been modernized. After years at the test site, in April 2001, „Mriya“ made its second “first” flight.
As the humanitarian situation in Ukraine worsens and neighbouring countries receive Ukrainians fleeing their country, the European Commission is working on all fronts to provide emergency assistance.
EU humanitarian aid
The Commission announces an additional €90 million for emergency aid programmes to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine, as part of an urgent aid appeal by the United Nations. The funding will help people inside Ukraine and in Moldova. This new EU humanitarian aid will provide food, water, health, shelter and help cover their basic needs.
EU Civil Protection Mechanism
The Commission is also coordinating the delivery of material assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Ukraine, with offers from currently 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands – which includes 8 million essential medical care items and civil protection support. A first truck load from Slovenia arrived yesterday to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.
Moldova has activated the Mechanism to support Ukrainians arriving to their country. Already Austria, France and the Netherlands offered emergency support such as shelter items and medical assistance to Moldova.
The Commission is in constant contact with other neighbouring countries of Ukraine and stands ready to provide further assistance as requested.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “Civilians are paying the highest price of the illegal Russian military aggression on Ukraine. The war risks displacing millions of Ukrainians, leading to a sharp rise in humanitarian needs. Inside Ukraine, but also in neighbouring countries where Ukrainians seek safety. The EU stands in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people and our initial funding will allow our humanitarian partners to deliver urgently needed assistance. I urge the entire international donor community to also generously respond.”
Background
Following an invasion by Russia into Ukraine, the humanitarian needs are expected to be disastrous. The armed violence is causing widespread human suffering, civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructures, large-scale displacement and the exacerbation of the existing humanitarian needs stemming from years of conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EU has been supporting displaced and affected by the conflict people in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The EU has allocated more than €193 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2014 to help thousands of displaced people and residents in non-government and government controlled areas.
This daily synthetic product covers key events related to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The Russian military has likely recognized that its initial expectations that limited Russian attacks would cause the collapse of Ukrainian resistance have failed and is recalibrating accordingly. The Russian military is moving additional combat resources toward Ukraine and establishing more reliable and effective logistics arrangements to support what is likely a larger, harder, and more protracted conflict than it had originally prepared for. The tide of the war could change rapidly in Russia’s favor if the Russian military has correctly identified its failings and addresses them promptly, given the overwhelming advantage in net combat power Moscow that enjoys. Ukrainian morale and combat effectiveness remain extremely high, however, and Russian forces confront the challenge of likely intense urban warfare in the coming days.
Key Takeaways February 27
Russian President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear and strategic missile forces, described as “deterrence forces,” on their highest alert status in response to “aggressive statements in the West” on February 27.
Russian forces likely conducted an operational pause on the Kyiv axis on February 26-27 to deploy additional supplies and forces forward. Russian forces will likely resume offensive operations against Kyiv in the next 24 hours.
Russian forces largely conducted an operational pause on their current broad front of advance between Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Ukrainian forces continue to delay and inflict losses on the Russian advance but will likely not be able to halt further advances if the Kremlin commits additional reserves.
Russian forces entered the city of Kharkiv for the first time on February 27 but remain unlikely to take the city without the use of heavier firepower.
Russian forces have encircled Mariupol from the west and began initial assaults on the city. Russian forces have not made any major territorial gains from the east in Donbas after four days of fighting. Russian forces likely intend to pin Ukrainian forces in place on the line of contact to enable Russian forces breaking out of Crimea to isolate them.
Russian forces continued to advance north from Crimea towards Zaprozhia and, in conjunction with Russian advances on Mariupol, threaten to isolate Ukrainian forces on the line of contact in Donbas if they do not withdraw.
Russian forces failed to seize Kherson after Ukrainian counterattacks reclaimed it on February 26. An unknown concentration of Russian forces remains on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River and threatens Mikolayiv, however.
Russian successes in southern Ukraine are the most dangerous and threaten to unhinge Ukraine’s successful defenses and rearguard actions to the north and northeast.
The Belarusian government is setting information and legal conditions to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine and the imminent deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as of February 27.
US and allied sanctions against Russian banking will likely crush Russian foreign currency reserves, depleting the value of the ruble and risking Russian hyperinflation.
The European Union announced direct military aid to Ukraine for the first time in EU history on February 27.
Germany announced a dramatic reorientation of its foreign policy to mitigate the threat that Russia poses to Germany and its allies. Germany will prioritize military spending and energy independence despite short-term economic costs.
Key Events February 26, 5pm EST – February 27, 5pm EST
Military events:
The Russian military has likely recognized that its initial expectations that limited Russian attacks would cause the collapse of Ukrainian resistance have failed and is recalibrating accordingly. The Russian military is moving additional combat resources toward Ukraine and establishing more reliable and effective logistics arrangements to support what is likely a larger, harder, and more protracted conflict than it had originally prepared for. The tide of the war could change rapidly in Russia’s favor if the Russian military has correctly identified its failings and addresses them promptly, given the overwhelming advantage in net combat power Moscow that enjoys. Ukrainian morale and combat effectiveness remain extremely high, however, and Russian forces confront the challenge of likely intense urban warfare in the coming days.
Russian forces largely conducted an operational pause on February 26-27 but will likely resume offensive operations and begin using greater air and artillery support in the coming days. Russian airborne and special forces troops are engaged in urban warfare in northwestern Kyiv, but Russian mechanized forces are not yet in the capital. Russian forces conducted limited attacks on the direct approaches to Kyiv on both banks of the Dnipro River, but largely paused offensive operations in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces likely paused to recalibrate their – to date largely unsuccessful – approach to offensive operations in northern Ukraine and deploy additional reinforcements and air assets to the front lines.
Russian ground forces are advancing on four primary axes, discussed in turn below:
Kyiv Axis: Russian forces likely conducted an operational pause on the Kyiv axis on February 26-27 to deploy additional supplies and forces forward. Russian forces will likely resume offensive operations against Kyiv in the next 24 hours. Russian forces committed additional reserves to fighting west of Kyiv. Russian troops have not yet committed heavy armor and artillery forces to fighting in Kyiv and will likely need to do so to take the city. Ukrainian forces are unlikely to capitulate.
Northeast Axis: Russian forces largely conducted an operational pause on their current broad front of advance between Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Russian forces entered the city of Kharkiv for the first time on February 27 but remain unlikely to take the city without the use of heavier firepower. Ukrainian forces continue to delay and inflict losses on the Russian advance but will likely be unable to halt further advances if the Kremlin commits additional reserves. Russian forces in northeast Ukraine have been halted on a line roughly running down the P67 highway since roughly 11am local time on February 26.[1] Russian forces in northeast Ukraine continue to face morale and supply issues, likely due to poor planning and ad hoc command structures, as ISW previously forecasted.[2]
Donbas Axis: Russian forces have encircled Mariupol from the west and began initial assaults on the city. Russian forces have not made any major territorial gains from the east in Donbas after four days of fighting. Russian forces likely intend to pin Ukrainian forces in place on the line of contact to enable Russian forces breaking out of Crimea to isolate them. The Russians may be content to leave them there while concentrating on capturing Kyiv and imposing a new government on Ukraine. They may alternatively seek to encircle and destroy them or force them to surrender.
Crimea Axis: Russian forces continued to advance north towards Zaprozhia and threaten to isolate Ukrainian forces on the line of contact in Donbas if they do not withdraw. Russian forces failed to seize Kherson after Ukrainian counterattacks reclaimed it on February 26. An unknown concentration of Russian forces remains on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River and threatens Mikolayiv, however.
Russian Activity
Russian President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear and strategic missile forces, described as “deterrence forces, on their highest alert status in response to “aggressive statements in the West” on February 27.[3] Putin’s announcement followed a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov wherein Putin cited “illegitimate sanctions” and aggressive NATO statements against Russia as motivating factors for his decision.[4] White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused Putin of “manufacturing threats that don’t exist in order to justify further aggression.”[5] US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called the move “totally unacceptable” and accused Putin of using “whatever tools he can to intimidate Ukrainians and the world.”[6]
Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed on February 27 to negotiate “without preconditions” on Russia’s war against Ukraine in Gomel, Belarus, on February 28.[7] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Ukrainian and Russian delegations would meet on the condition that Belarus will ground all planes, helicopters, and missiles before the Ukrainian delegation’s arrival in Gomel.[8] Russian Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky stated the parties “can achieve a constructive result by the end of the day” while Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow does not plan to suspend Russia’s military operation during the negotiations.[9] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated Ukraine will “hear what Russia has to say” but will not “give up one inch of Ukrainian territory.”[10] Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs Head Leonid Slutsky emphasized on February 27 that Russia must find a “constructive approach” with the Ukrainian delegation in Belarus. Slutsky also threatened that Ukraine will bear responsibility of unspecified “further events” if negotiations fail.[11] US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda-Thomas Greenfield stated the US “will look forward“ to the negotiations’ outcome on February 27.[12]
Kremlin-sponsored media claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin has a “historic responsibility” to reunite Russia and Ukraine on February 26-27. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti published and retracted an essay on February 26 claiming “Ukraine has returned to Russia” and resolved the “national humiliation” that Russia suffered when Ukraine left the Soviet Union.[13] The essay claimed that Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus jointly operate in a new world order, where the Russian bloc challenges the West. RIA Novosti retracted the essay one minute after publishing, indicating it was likely prewritten ahead of an anticipated swift Russian victory and was published accidentally.[14] Russian television amplified the possibility of “NATO-Russia war” in reports about Putin putting nuclear and strategic missile forces on alert.[15] Prominent Russian Propagandist Dmitry Kiseyov said that thousands of Russian nuclear missiles can completely wipe out the US and NATO because “no one needs the world without Russia in it.”[16] Russian media is justifying the Kremlin’s failure to gain control over Ukraine by claiming that Ukrainian ”nationalists” are escalating aggression against the Russian Armed Forces and civilians, while Ukrainian military forces massively surrender.
Russian oligarchs openly called on the Kremlin to end Russia’s war in Ukraine for the first time on February 27 as Russian protests continued to grow despite intensifying crackdowns. Russian Alfa-Bank co-owner Mikhail Fridman and Russian industrialist Oleg Deripaska became the first two Russian oligarchs to openly call on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine on February 27.[17] Thousands of Russian citizens continued holding countrywide protests against Russia’s war in Ukraine, with Russian authorities detaining over 2,000 Russian protesters from 48 different demonstrations across Russia on February 27 alone.[18] The Kremlin will likely intensify crackdowns against anti-war protesters. Russia’s Prosecutor General threatened high treason charges against any Russians who provide “assistance to a foreign state” during the Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine on February 27.[19]
Belarusian Activity
The Belarusian government is setting information conditions to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine and the imminent deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as of February 27. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 27 that he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus if the United States or NATO deployed nuclear missiles to Poland and Lithuania.[20] Lukashenko‘s official press pool claimed Lukashenko and Putin agreed to deploy “weapons that neither the Poles nor the Lithuanians would want to fight” – likely implying nuclear weapons – to Belarus on February 27.[21] Lukashenko slandered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “little Napoleon” and implied current Russian operations in Ukraine is just the first phase of Russian aggression.[22] Lukashenko accused Ukrainians of planning terrorist attacks against Belarus and threatened a “special operation” in Ukraine but claimed there are no Belarusian soldiers, armor, or vehicles in Ukraine as of February 27.[23] Lukashenko said that Belarus will not betray Russia by “allowing attacks” by western states against Belarus.[24] Lukashenko admitted that Russian soldiers in Belarusian territory fired two or three rockets at Chernobyl around 23:00 on February 23, but claimed that he did not give the order to fire and that the strikes were a response to alleged Ukrainian provocations.[25] Lukashenko claimed that Belarusian troops along the southern border with Ukraine are protecting against Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group penetrations.[26] Meanwhile, a Belarusian Commander of the Brest Air Assault Brigade, Valery Sakhashchik, called on Belarusian servicemembers sitting in the woods near Ukrainian border to refuse to fight in Ukraine.[27] Sakhaschchik stated that Belarus will lose its dignity for generations to come fighting in a war against a country that has never harmed Belarusian sovereignty.
Belarus adopted a new constitution on February 27, likely granting Russia more direct military control over Belarus.[28] Russian and Belarusian media reporting on the referendum was abnormally sparse on February 27. Belarusian citizens protested against Russia’s war in Ukraine at multiple referendum polling places across Belarus on February 27.[29] Official Belarusian sources have not confirmed whether the constitution adopted on February 27 is the same one that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed on December 27, 2021.[30] The December 27 proposed constitution advanced the Kremlin’s campaign to deepen Russian control over Belarus by removing the constitution’s clause about Belarus being a “neutral” state and a nuclear-weapons-free zone. Lukashenko offered to host Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus in November 2021 and repeated similar offers on February 27, 2022. The Kremlin may have leveraged its military pressure in Belarus to extract an even more Kremlin-preferable constitution that cements Kremlin control over Belarus’ government.
Ukrainian Activity
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine is creating a volunteer-based International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine to capitalize on the success of civilian forces in slowing the advance of Russian troops and organize international volunteers on February 27.[31] The New York Times reported that “due to strong resistance of the civilian population, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the National Police, [Russian] attempts to take control of large cities were unsuccessful.”[32] The Washington Post reported that civilian defense forces apprehended and detained a Russian armored vehicle in Sumy.[33] The New York Times reported that civilians in Dnipro worked to provide a military hospital with water and clothes and manufactured Molotov cocktails and firebombs to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
US Activity
US and allied sanctions against Russian banking will likely crush Russian foreign currency reserves, depleting the value of the ruble and risking Russian hyperinflation.
The United States, Canada, and European allies removed select Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial network and agreed to additional measures that could significantly increase economic pressure on Russia on February 26. Those measures included freezing Russian Central Bank assets that could otherwise be used to mitigate the effect of sanctions on Russia’s economy.[34]
Russian citizens are searching for hard currency, particularly dollars, in anticipation of hyperinflation caused by US and allied sanctions. The Financial Times reported that many Russian banks in Moscow ran out of cash on February 27, the first day after the United States and its allies announced sanctions against Russia’s Central Bank.[35]
Japan announced it will join Western states in limiting Russian access to SWIFT on February 27.[36] The United States commended Japan’s decision and emphasized the unity of the G7 states in sanctioning Russia.[37]
The European Commission announced on February 27 that it will ban Belarusian exports to the EU due to Belarusian participation in and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sanctioned products include mineral fuels, tobacco, wood and timber, cement, iron and steel.[38]
The US Treasury Department is in the early stages of considering sanctions against Russian cryptocurrency usage. Sanctions against Russian holders of cryptocurrencies would be unprecedented and difficult for the United States to enforce, but could limit Russia’s ability to monetize its energy production capabilities to mitigate US and allied sanctions.[39]
The US Ambassador to the United Nations told CNN that sanctions on Russia’s energy sector are not off the table but that the United States will work to limit the impact of its sanctions on the US economy.[40]
Norway announced on February 27 that it would divest its sovereign wealth fund from any Russian assets.[41]
British Petroleum (BP) announced on February 27 that it would divest itself from its $14 billion stake in the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. The UK government likely pressured BP to divorce itself from Rosneft; BP’s 19.75% stake in Rosneft made up more than half of BP’s oil reserves.[42]
NATO and EU Activity
The European Union announced it will directly provide military aid to Ukraine for the first time in EU history on February 27. Australia, Spain, Romania, Poland, and Denmark also announced additional military aid to Ukraine on February 27.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will ban all Russian aircraft from EU airspace, finance weapons donations to Ukraine, expand sanctions on Belarus, and ban Russian state-funded broadcasters Russia Today and Sputnik on February 27.[43] Von der Leyen’s announcement marks the first time the EU will finance the purchase and delivery of military equipment to a country under attack. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell stated EU members will provide Ukraine with fighter jets.[44] Some European countries which operate older jet fighters used by Ukraine are reportedly considering providing them directly to Ukraine.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia will work with NATO to help supply lethal weapons to Ukraine.[45]
The Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that Australia is providing Ukraine with unspecified “military assistance” on February 27.[46]
Spain sent military equipment, including personal protective gear, to Ukraine on February 27.[47]
The Romanian government announced on February 27 that it will send ammunition and military equipment to Ukraine and expressed Romania’s readiness to receive wounded Ukrainian soldiers.[48]
Polish National Defense Deputy Minister Marcin Ociepa announced that a convoy carrying unspecified ammunition arrived in Ukraine on February 27.[49]
The Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that the Ukrainian Air Forces received a “large batch” of air-to-air missiles from an unspecified western country on February 27.[50]
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a war on February 27, thereby allowing Turkey to block certain warships involved in conflict from the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits under the 1936 Montreux Convention.[51] Banning warships from the straits would inhibit Russian access to the Black Sea. Ukraine asked Turkey to deny passage to Russian vessels on February 24.[52] The closure is symbolically important for Turkey‘s relationship with Ukraine but is unlikely to limit Russian naval capabilities in the Black Sea, as much of Russia’s naval capabilites are already concentrated in the region.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Denmark will donate 2,700 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine on February 27.[53]
US Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated the Biden administration will ask Congress for $6.4 billion dollars in economic and military aid for Ukraine.[54]
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen stated Finland is considering directly sending weapons to Ukraine on February 27. Finland does not historically export weapons to war zones.[55]
The European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom have banned all Russian-owned, registered, and controlled aircraft from their airspace as of February 27.[56] Russia may ban all EU-based airlines from its airspace in coming days, further harming its domestic economy and currency supplies in coming months.
Many EU states, including the UK, Norway, Iceland, and North Macedonia announced flight restrictions prior to the comprehensive EU announcement.[57]
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with counter-restrictions against participating countries’ airlines on February 24 and 25.[58]
Other International Organization Activity
N/A
Individual Western Allies’ Activity
Germany is reorienting its foreign policy to prioritize defense spending, European security interests, and energy independence despite potentially high economic costs to Germany. German politicians expressed broad political support for this fundamental reorientation of German foreign policy, which will prioritize mitigating the threat Russia poses to Germany and its allies.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Germany would immediately invest $113 billion into its military on February 27.[59] This new investment fund is equivalent to almost 200% of current annual German military spending. Scholz called the construction of new ships tanks, aircraft, and armed drones a top priority for Germany. Scholz stated the new military equipment will be built in Europe in partnership with other European countries, particularly France.[60]
Scholz pledged to increase Germany‘s contribution to reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank in Lithuania, Slovakia and Romania.[61] Scholz stated Germany has increased its number of troops deployed in Lithuania and expanded an air policing mission in Romania. Scholz stated he plans to set up a new task force in Slovakia and use the German navy to assist with policing in the Mediterranean and the Baltics. He stated that the German Airforce is prepared to defend the airspace of Eastern European countries that border Russia.
Scholz pledged to raise annual Germany military spending to over 2% of GDP.[62] This additional military spending is separate from the $113 billion investment fund.
Germany plans to build two Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) ports in Brunsbuttel and Wilhelmshaven, northern Germany, and to create a strategic natural gas reserve, limiting long-term German reliance on Russian energy imports. Scholz stated that Germany’s energy policy must consider not only the economy and climate, but also security concerns.[63]
Scholz’ shift secured broad non-partisan support among German politicians. Social Democratic Party (SPD) Parliamentary bloc Chairman Rolf Mutzenich and CDU leader Friedrich Merz expressed support for increased defense spending.[64] Finance Minister and German Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) member Christian Lidner called increased military spending “an investment in [Germany’s] freedom.”[65]
Other International Activity
Ukrainian refugee flows increased on February 27 as several international states sent humanitarian aid shipments. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced that 368,000 Ukrainians fled Ukraine as of February 27.[66] Approximately 300,000 have sought refuge in EU member states.[67]
European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson warned EU members to expect millions of Ukrainian refugees on February 27.[68]
Likely Russian cyber actors attacked a Ukrainian border control station with data-wiping software on February 25, slowing Ukrainian refugee flows into Romania. The Ukrainian government’s cyber service expects similar attacks in the future, which will exacerbate backlogs at border stations already struggling to process refugees leaving Ukraine.[69]
The US Agency for International Development and the US Department of State announced additional humanitarian assistance for Ukraine totaling $54 million on February 27.[70]
The World Health Organization warned of looming medical oxygen supply shortages in Ukraine on February 27.[71]
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan will extend $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine.[72]
Spain dispatched a cargo plane carrying medical equipment to Ukraine on February 26.[73]
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israeli will send 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine on February 27.[74]
Romanian Government Spokesperson Dan Kerbunaru announced that Romania will supply fuel and medical equipment exceeding $3.3 million to Ukraine on February 27.[75]Hungary, Poland, and Austria are running daily evacuation trains to and from Chop, Ukraine as of February 27. [76]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine filed a complaint against Russia to the International Court of Justice for manipulating the term “genocide” to justify its aggression against Ukraine on February 27. Zelensky requested the court to immediately order Russia to halt its invasion and said that he expected trials to start next week.[77]
The American Civil War killed hundreds of thousands of people and was one of the first indicators of what modern technological advances could do for the military and military action. However, it also allows for the development of medical equipment and a variety of innovations that serve the civilian part of society – including the creation of the modern candy industry.
The nature of the Civil War is such that the United States is essentially divided into two; North and South. A large part of the national industry is located in the North and it is supported by the Union Army. Meanwhile, the South owns the agricultural part and is supported by the Confederate Army.
The Confederate army suffers badly from poor logistics, which means it is difficult to feed its troops. Although the South has managed to produce food, it has become increasingly difficult to transport as equipment has been destroyed, and the lack of large-scale industrial facilities has made it increasingly difficult to replace it.
On the other hand, the Union Army is well fed and supplied, which is largely due to the extremely efficient work of the Maintenance Department. In fact, they were so well stocked that the soldiers could even enjoy sweet candy after a long day in battle.
Necco
In 1847, more than a decade before the start of the Civil War, the English immigrant Oliver Chase invented the first American candy machine. With the creation of this machine comes the creation of Necco Wafer (pictured) – small disc-shaped cakes.
Chase’s sweets proved popular, and he and his brother Silas Edwin teamed up to form Chase and Company.
Already well-sold, the candies gained a huge boost in popularity when they became part of shipments for soldiers in the Union Army after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. They are ideal food for the army because they are small, easy to transport. , tough and does not degrade like other foods. And the fact that they have a sweet taste would certainly give the troops a little psychological boost during battle.
Union troops also receive jelly beans and Jordan almonds. Jordan almonds are much older than even Necco candies, potentially dating back to the 15th century.
The widespread consumption of these candies means that many soldiers return home as loyal customers.
However, it was not until 1900 that the candies received their current name. Chase and Company merged with Forbes, Hayward & Company and Wright & Moody in 1901 to form the New England Confectionary Company, or Necco for short.
By 1912, their main product became known as Necco Wafers. Necco also sells other types of sweets, but wafers remain the most popular. The following year, Donald Macmillan took them with him on his Arctic expeditions, where he shared them with Eskimo children.
In 1930, two tons of some wafers went on an expedition to the South Pole, as their long-lasting qualities are useful in severe conditions. World War II will serve as another powerful driver in the consumption of candy, as they re-enter the battle with troops. The US government actually commissioned Necco to produce them for soldiers fighting around the world – bringing Necco Wafers to thousands of people outside the United States.
Similar to what happened after the Civil War, Necco saw a huge increase in its sales after World War II as they gained many new loyal customers.
The delicious candies remain on sale until 2018, when Necco declares bankruptcy. Fortunately, the company was bought by Spangler Candy Company, which puts the sweets back into production.
Photo: Boston Now, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
St. Vikenty Lerinsky tries to define this infallibility of the church consciousness as follows: We maintain what has been believed everywhere, always and by all – this is what is truly and truly Catholic. Outwardly, however, this is not the case. The definitions of the First Ecumenical Council for the oneness, of the Sixth for the two wills and the two actions, of the Seventh for the icons have been professed always, everywhere and by all. Therefore, the Western Church Father wanted to say that these new dogmatic formulas therefore became infallibly Catholic, because they were perceived by the whole Church as its original, universal and universal, because they were perceived as derived from its roots.
Thus, the laity in the Church – in case they are not an impersonal and inert mass, but are figures and collaborators in the church work – need a special, in a way also “professional” representation of the councils, separated from the state representation – namely as members of the spiritual society, which is the Church, as a special rank members of the Church – the rank of the laity. Thus we come to the controversial question of the right of the laity to participate in the councils of the Church.
This right, or, more precisely, this possibility, the appropriateness of the participation of the laity in councils, even in ecumenical ones, can be reasonably explained only by revealing the very principle of catholicity. Only in the light of this principle do the references to the colorful examples from antiquity make sense. The word itself, the concept of catholicity is an extremely abstract term. It is a product of the new Russian thought and the late phase of the development of the Russian language from the 19th century. Terms such as ecclesiology, hierarchy, grace, mystery, iconicity and others. do not exist in antiquity, did not yet know such a degree of abstraction and flexibility of language.
At the end of the 3rd century we no longer see lay people at the councils, but there are still presbyters. Led by Malchion, they played a prominent role in the great Council of Antioch in 269 against Paul of Samosata. Origen performed the same mission as a presbyter at the Council of Bostra Arabia. At the beginning of the 4th century, at the Elvir Council of 306, we noticed the people for the last time, together with deacons and elders. The era of state protectorate over the Church followed, when the presence of the laity as members of the Church was replaced by the complex secular representation of imperial power. In the Council of Arles in 314, in the case of the Donatists, according to African tradition, not only elders and deacons also participated, but also signed together with the bishops. At the First Ecumenical Council, one of the main actors was St. Athanasius in the rank of deacon. Even the voices of unbaptized philosophers were respected behind the scenes and by delegation.
Author: Anton Kartashov, Ecumenical Councils and Unity
Source: “Ecumenical Councils and Conciliarity” – In: Kartashev, A.V. On the way to the Ecumenical Council, Paris, 1932, pp. 41-71.
Archaeologists working in the deserts of the Middle East have discovered a board game in an ancient settlement that people played four thousand years ago.
The excavations are carried out within the framework of the Omani-Polish project “Development of settlements in the mountains of Northern Oman in the Bronze and Iron Ages” under the joint supervision of Professor Piotr Bieliński from the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw and Dr. Sultan al-Bakri (Sultan al-Bakri) from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of Oman. Project specialists are exploring the development and forms of settlements in one of the least studied corners of Oman – in the mountain valleys of the northern part of the Hajar Range.
In the completed season, archaeologists focused on the cultural monuments of Umm al-Nar (2600-2000 BC), located near the village of Ain Bani Saadah. This settlement is located at the intersection of routes along which several large objects of the Umm al-Nar period have already been found. The new object was previously also attributed to this archaeological culture.
According to Polish archaeologists, the settlement is extremely interesting, since it includes at least four towers: three round and one corner. One of the round towers was not visible on the surface, despite its large size – up to 20 meters in diameter; it was discovered only during excavations. In general, the culture of Umm al-Nar is characterized by such large stone buildings, similar to towers: several hundred have already been found. Some are collective burials. The functions of others are not entirely clear, and there is no indication that they were used as living quarters.
In addition, the researchers found evidence of copper processing at the site, as well as some copper objects. This shows that the settlement was involved in the lucrative copper trade for which Oman was famous at the time: references to Omani copper appear in cuneiform texts from geographically close ancient Mesopotamia.
But perhaps one of the most interesting finds in the excavations around Ain Bani Saada is a board game made of stone. The playing field is marked with squares, each of which has a central recess. There are at least 13 squares, but part of the found board is broken off, so there could be more of them. Bones or stones that replace chips have not yet been found. Therefore, one can only guess what kind of game it is.
Archaeologists say that this is a similarity to the royal game of Ur – an ancient board game, the appearance of which historians date back to the 3rd millennium BC. Findings of playing fields for it were made in Mesopotamia, and the rules are known to us thanks to Babylonian clay tablets. This is a game for two people, similar to modern backgammon. It is interesting that the first royal game, found in the first half of the 20th century by the English archaeologist Leonard Woolley, during excavations of the royal burial in Ur, dates back to approximately the same time as the stone playing field that has now been discovered.
It should be noted that archaeologists have unearthed layers belonging to at least five different archaeological periods. They found traces of people from the late Neolithic period (4300-4000 BC), the Umm al-Nar culture of the Bronze Age (2600-2000 BC) and the Iron Age (1100-600 BC). In addition, there are finds dated to around the beginning of the 1st millennium AD (they have not yet been attributed), the ruins of a settlement of the early Islamic period, standing on top of earlier remains. Such an abundance of traces of settlements proves that this valley was an important place for people at various times.
And it is not surprising, because the coastal strip of Oman is one of the main ways for the settlement of people from Africa to South and Southeast Asia. But if we are talking about the culture of Umm al-Nar, then we cannot fail to mention the mysterious kingdom of Magan, which historians are increasingly localizing in Oman. We know about it from Mesopotamian sources, and it is described as an extremely developed state. It is mentioned that Magan traded with the Sumerians and Mellukha (presumably located in Western India). Also, this state is known as a source of copper (we said above about the found evidence of smelting) and diorite – a coarse-grained igneous rock consisting of basalt and granite. It is on the diorite stele that the main text of the Code of Hammurabi is carved.
Brett Chamberlain, 50, of Tiverton, refueled his car for £ 60 with diesel at a Tesco petrol station and demanded payment of £ 100 end of 2021.
This caused a scandal because it was clear to everyone that such a coin was not in circulation, the story was silent about the words that were spoken during the scandal, but in the end the manager of Tesco in Exter called the police.
The uniformed men handcuffed Brett without hesitation and took him to a nearby police station, accusing him of trying to deceive the cashier and even running away from the gas station, although the latter was not quite so.
But what happened after Mr. Chamberlain’s lawyer came? He quickly explained that his client was a numismatist and that the coin could not be counterfeit. A quick search on the Internet showed that the coin in question with a value of 100 British pounds was a jubilee production and even had one – “Trafalgar Square £ 100 Coin”.
The lawyer for the arrested numismatist, who was actually an amateur and worked as a carpenter, quickly established that under the 1971 Mint Act, all coins minted by the British Mint were legal tender and even illegal not to be accepted as such.
The police made the arrest and their superiors were not very impressed by the curiosity of the lawyer, who actually proved that the arrest of Brett Chamberlain was absolutely illegal, and this is a big quarrel for the uniformed in democratic Britain.
The frowning behavior of the police and their refusal to write off Brett’s arrest led to a claim for compensation, which was approved by the court and the police in Exeter had to make an early Christmas present to the illegally detained numismatist worth 5,000 British pounds. In fact, they transferred them directly to his personal bank account without protesting.
In the Italian city of Catania, the Catholic diocese has decided to ban the appointment of godparents for three years. This is reported by Jason Horowitz, head of the New York Times Bureau in Rome.
The Vicar General of Catania, Salvatore Cristina, explained this decision by the loss of the true religious significance of the godfather figure. According to him, many are specifically looking for influential patrons for their children in order to strengthen their own material and social situation. Christina also added that he himself has 15 godchildren, and the ex-president of Sicily has 20, given that he accepted only 5% of such proposals.
In addition, the figure of the godfather is of great importance to the mafia. By recruiting a large number of godchildren, mafia bosses spread their influence and attracted new faces to the gangs.
He was born 100 years ago and goes down in history as one of the most successful nuclear weapons developers in the history of the world. His project managed to be felt all over the world, quickly managing to equalize in the Cold War. Curious or not, the same inventor received the Nobel Peace Prize. How did one of the creators of nuclear weapons win this award? Let’s get acquainted in more detail with Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov. His life began in Moscow on May 21, 1921 in the family of a physics professor who would point to science as the only solution for Andrei, his mother was the daughter of General Alexei Sofiano, who would also help shape the young person.
In 1938, Sakharov entered Moscow University, but did not have much time to complete it, the evacuation of Moscow would move him to present-day Turkmenistan, and during the war he would work in a military laboratory, and then return to Moscow to take a doctorate in theoretical physics. His first interests were in the cosmic rays, and although his work showed a good foundation for the development of new theories, the USSR would soon need all the scientists to create an atomic bomb. In this project, Andrew will give a very interesting solution, placing pure and unenriched uranium around the deutirium – isotope, expanding the boundaries of the structure.
During the thermonuclear reaction, uranium can also capture its own neutrons, ensuring higher power and radius of effect. This effect is called the “cake” by himself. At first it became clear that the first tests could not work as expected. Of course, the idea is quite original and with the help of some accelerators and weak radiation rays, Andrei managed to put the nuclear weapon in the hands of the USSR. The first hydrogen bomb codenamed RDS-37 was produced and detonated, with an original power of about 3 megatons, for real tests, the power will be reduced to 50%. Only 6 years later, his model will be used for the well-known “King Bomb” with a capacity of 50 megatons – to this day it remains one of the most powerful atomic bombs in history.
With the demonstration of such power, it is clear that the world will never be the same, and success at some point becomes a special scourge for the creator. The fate of Oppenheimer and Edward Teller is similar in this respect. Many do see the creation of such a weapon as too extreme a measure, but this is where another reasoning emerges. For the inventor himself, it became clear that about 40 years after the creation of such a weapon, World War III was avoided, and probably one great merit is the fact that nuclear terror and constant threats keep each side in open conflict.
In 1965 he began working on theoretical physics and studying proton decay. Such theories have already been proposed, but have not yet been proven. He researched the big bang theory and then even suggested the presence of so-called induced gravity, a proposal that first appeared from Einstein and Bose.
In the 1950s, the scientist would express serious concerns about the detonation of a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere. In 1967, he will be one of the people who will try to reason with the United States and the Soviet Union about the creation of long-range ballistic missiles, which are likely to be developed, accompanied by the possible creation of defenses against such missiles. In general, the scientist’s idea is to show that if this armament continues, nuclear war will become the only option.
He finally wrote his own manifesto, and although he had permission to publish it, he never managed to find a place to express himself in the USSR. On the other hand, we must not forget that it has been a huge success outside the country. But why is Sakharov such an ardent opponent? As you know, the Rainbow anti-radar system malfunctions at one point, leaving only one person to decide whether they really need to notify their superiors of the first phase of nuclear war or simply accept that this is a particular system error. It is during this period that one person saves the whole world, and what can we imagine if there were more than one radar. After Andrei’s literary appearance, he received an official forgetfulness to work in the military industry, to conduct various experiments or to work as a theoretical physicist.
The iconographic canon is a set of rules and norms that regulate the writing of icons. It basically contains a concept of image and symbol and fixes those features of the iconographic image that separate the divine, upper world from the earthly (lower) world.
The iconographic canon is realized in the so-called erminia (from the Greek explanation, guidance, description) or in the Russian version-originals. They consist of several parts:
• facial originals – these are drawings (outlines) in which the main composition of the icon is fixed, with the corresponding color characteristics;
• Interpretive originals – give a verbal description of the iconographic types and how the various saints are painted.
As Orthodoxy became the official religion, Byzantine priests and theologians gradually established rules for the veneration of icons, which explained in detail how to treat them, what could and should not be depicted.
The decrees of the Seventh Ecumenical Council against the Iconoclasts can be considered the prototype of the iconographic original. Iconoclasts oppose the veneration of icons. They considered sacred images to be idols, and their worship to be idolatry, relying on Old Testament commandments and the fact that the divine nature is inconceivable. The possibility of such an interpretation arises, because there was no uniform rule for the treatment of icons, and in the masses they were surrounded by superstitious worship. For example, they added some of the paint to the icon in the wine for communion and others. This raises the need for a complete teaching of the Church about the icon.
The Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council gathered the church experience from the first times and formulated the dogma of icon worship for all times and peoples who profess the Orthodox faith. on a par with Him. The dogma of icon-worship emphasizes that the veneration and worship of the icon does not refer to the material, not to the wood and the paint, but to the one depicted on it, therefore it does not have the character of idolatry.
It was explained that icon-worship was possible because of the incarnation of Jesus Christ in human form. To the extent that He Himself appeared to mankind, His portrayal is also possible.
An important testimony is the non-manufactured image of the Savior – the imprint of His face on the towel (tablecloth), so the first icon painter became Jesus Christ himself.
The Holy Fathers emphasized the importance of the image as a perception and influence on man. In addition, for illiterate people, icons served as the Gospel. Priests were tasked with explaining to the flock the true way of worshiping icons.
What Gospel expresses through word, the icon must express through image..
The decrees also say that in the future, in order to prevent the incorrect perception of the icons, the holy fathers of the Church will compose the composition of the icons, and the artists will perform the technical part. In this sense, the role of the holy fathers in the future was played by the iconic original or erminia.
The earliest fragments preserved to this day from a Greek icon-painting original are from 993.
Later, along with the adoption of Christianity, the first icons were obtained, and liturgical books were translated from Greek. Among them was translated the icon-painting original, which became a necessary accessory for every icon-painter.
