Russia - Ukraine War News Updates -- February 28, 2022

Daily Mail: Huge explosions rock Kyiv hours after dozens were killed in Russian CLUSTER BOMBS attack on Kharkiv

* Russians are now using banned cluster munitions against civilian areas, experts and activists have warned

* Attack with Grad rockets on shopping centre in Kharkiv today killed dozens and wounded hundreds, Kyiv said

* Campaign group Amnesty said similar bombs were used to destroy a school in Okhtyrka, leaving three dead

* If Russia is confirmed to have used the weapons it could constitute a war crime, amid warnings that Putin is likely to start resorting to using heavier weapons to turn the tide of war Russia appears to have used banned cluster munitions to indiscriminately shell civilian areas in Ukraine's east that had stood up to Vladimir Putin's invasion in what would constitute a war crime.

Kharkiv, which has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the war so far, was hit by rockets fired from Russian positions on Monday - with video showing a shopping centre in the Serpnia area blanketed by explosions.

A military source told MailOnline that the videos showed 'cluster' munitions had been used. 'The BM-21 Grad is a multiple launch rocket system used for 'area denial', dropping cluster bombs on a concentrated area,' the expert said. 'It's mainly used on enemy troops before an offensive. Used against civilians, it's not only a war crime, but has only one purpose – to spread terror and alarm among the civilian population.'

Read more ....

WNU Editor: On Saturday I talked to my cousin who lives in Khirkiv. He predicted that a major battle was going to occur in the center of the city. I posted our conversation and hoped he was wrong (link here). He was not. I tried to call him and my aunt who also lives outside of Kharkiv an hour ago, and I failed. It looks like communication lines are being severed. Another sign that rules of engagement by Russian forces are changing.

Before the war my worst case scenario for a Russia - Ukraine conflict was massive death and casualties on both sides. The major cities on fire. 5 million Ukrainians fleeing the country. Economic damage for a decade (or more). Russia becoming a pariah state that only a new Russian leader will need to be in place to start to repair. A devastated Ukraine that will bleed hundreds of billions from Russia to fix and repair.

Sighhhh ....

All of this is now unfortunately and tragically coming into play. I would add two more points in my worst case nightmare scenario. The use of a tactical nuclear weapon by Russian military forces on a major Ukrainian base to force the Ukraine government to capitulate unconditionally, and the imposition of a Yugoslav "solution" to Ukraine by breaking it up into three different countries.

Update: I agree .... US officials fear the worst is yet to come for Kyiv (CNN).

Russia - Ukraine War News Updates -- February 28, 2022

Ukraine conflict: Dozens killed in attack on Kharkiv, officials say -- BBC

Russian rocket strikes kill ‘dozens’ in Kharkiv as Kyiv-Moscow talks begin -- The Guardian

Several killed as Russian rockets pound Ukraine’s Kharkiv -- Al Jazeera

Rockets kill civilians in Kharkiv as Moscow ‘adapts its tactics’ -- The Guardian

Ukraine says dozens killed in indiscriminate shelling in Kharkiv -- Axios

Ukrainian military says dozens of civilians killed in Kharkiv -- Reuters

Ukraine: Kyiv fights back against Russian assault -- DW

Russian saboteurs ‘are singling out Ukrainian buildings for missile strikes by painting symbols on rooftops’, Kyiv officials warn -- Daily Mail

Ukraine talks yield no breakthrough as Russians close in -- AP

From Kalashnikovs to blankets: residents of Dnipro equip themselves against Russian invaders -- France 24