20220225 Notice: All Services to Ukraine Suspended

On Thursday (February 24, 2022), Russia launched widespread attacks along the Ukrainian border, with armored columns advancing into Ukraine and airstrikes hitting dozens of cities. Airborne troops landed at a military airfield on the outskirts of Kyiv, and Ukraine declared a state of emergency. Therefore, all CZL channels are suspending shipments to Ukraine until further notice.

Latest developments:

According to Agence France-Presse, Ukraine’s military said on the 24th local time that Russian forces had taken control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Reuters reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing officials from Ukraine’s nuclear regulator, said the plant had not been damaged and was operating safely.

According to Agence France-Presse, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 137 people had been killed and another 316 injured in the first day of military action.

According to Russia’s Sputnik news agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a presidential decree declaring a 90-day nationwide mobilization.

Newsweek reported that Daniil Menshikov, head of customs in Ukraine’s Lviv region, said on social media late on the 24th local time that Ukrainian male citizens aged 18 to 60 would not be allowed to leave the country. Menshikov also stressed, “Please do not cause panic or attempt to cross the border!”

On the 25th local time, Russia’s central bank said it would provide ruble and foreign currency support to banks in the country affected by sanctions. The central bank also said that nearly all affected banks had contingency plans and sufficient resilience to continue normal operations under the sanctions, and that market conditions were stable for now.

Agence France-Presse, citing the Kremlin, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call on the 24th local time and “frankly exchanged views” on Ukraine. Putin gave a detailed explanation of the reasons and circumstances behind the special military operation in Ukraine, while Macron urged him to stop military action immediately.

Agence France-Presse reported that EU leaders agreed at an emergency summit on the 24th local time to impose sanctions on key sectors of Russia’s economy in response to its military action against Ukraine. The measures cover finance, energy, transport and exports. The EU said the sanctions would have “massive and severe consequences” for Russia.

According to a statement from Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, the Ukrainian government distributed more than 10,000 automatic rifles to Kyiv residents over the past several hours.

CNN reported that U.S. President Joe Biden said on the 24th local time, in a statement on the situation in Ukraine, that U.S. forces would not fight Russia in Ukraine but would defend every inch of NATO territory.

CNN reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered 7,000 U.S. troops to be deployed to Europe on the 24th local time.

Agence France-Presse reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced sanctions against 58 Russian individuals and entities on the 24th local time. Trudeau said the sanctions would target Russia’s elites and their families, security officials, private military companies and banks. Canada also canceled export permits to Russia. Trudeau said Canada would impose “further severe sanctions” on Russia in the future.

CNN reported that Biden announced four new sanctions against Russia on the 24th local time, including restricting Russia’s use of the U.S. dollar, euro, pound and yen in global trade; cutting off its ability to fund and develop its military; weakening its competitiveness in the high-tech economy of the 21st century; and sanctioning several Russian banks with combined assets of about $1 trillion. Biden added that four more major Russian banks would also be sanctioned, “which means all their assets in the United States will be frozen.”

On the 24th local time, U.S. President Joe Biden said he had met with the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), who had agreed to impose “devastating” sanctions on Russia “to hold Russia accountable.”

According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said, “Ukrainian ground military infrastructure at 83 locations has been disabled by strikes from the Russian armed forces. Since the start of the special operation, Russian forces have shot down two Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, two Su-24 aircraft, one helicopter and four Bayraktar TB2 attack drones.” Konashenkov also said, “All tasks assigned to Russian forces that day have been completed.”

CNN, citing data from a flight-tracking website, reported that no civilian aircraft were flying over Ukraine, or over parts of Russia and Belarus that border Ukraine. On the 24th local time, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency warned that “the presence and possible use of a large number of ground and air combat systems pose a high risk to civil flights at all altitudes and flight levels.”

According to Agence France-Presse, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech on the 24th local time that he condemned Russia’s military action against Ukraine, calling it Europe’s most serious military conflict since World War II. Scholz also said that Russia’s actions “could well wipe the entire country [Ukraine] off the world map.”

According to Agence France-Presse, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 24th local time that “Russia remains part of the world economy.” He said, “We will not destroy the global economic system in which we participate,” adding that he did not want Russia to be excluded from the international economic community.

On the 24th local time, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on its official website saying that the EU’s sanctions against Russia were ineffective and illegal. The statement stressed that neither the EU nor organizations such as NATO had the right to decide on war and peace in Europe; only the UN Security Council had that authority.

Agence France-Presse reported on the 25th that the Group of Seven (G7) held a closed-door meeting online and issued a new statement condemning Russia’s military action against Ukraine. The statement described Russia’s actions as a “serious threat” to the international order, with consequences far beyond Europe. It also said, “This fundamentally changes the Euro-Atlantic security situation.”