Russia-Ukraine updates: US to ban Russian carriers from its airspace

Biden will announce the news in his State of the Union address, a source said.

ByMorgan Winsor, Libby Cathey, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Emily Shapiro, Julia Jacobo, Ivan Pereira, Mark Osborne, Celia Darrough, Kevin Shalvey, and Bill Hutchinson
Last Updated: March 22, 2022, 4:04 AM EDT

Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.

The attack began Feb. 24 as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation."

Russians moving from Belarus towards Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, don't appear to have advanced closer towards the city since coming within about 20 miles, although smaller advanced groups have been fighting gun battles with Ukrainian forces inside the capital since at least Friday.

Russia has been met by sanctions from the U.S., Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting Russia's economy and Putin himself.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 25, 2022, 2:24 PM EST

Russia restricts Facebook

Russia is restricting its use of Facebook, according to its parent company, Meta.

Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Meta, said in a statement Friday, "Yesterday, Russian authorities ordered us to stop the independent fact-checking and labelling of content posted on Facebook by four Russian state-owned media organizations. We refused. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services."

“Ordinary Russians are using our apps to express themselves and organize for action," he continued. "We want them to continue to make their voices heard."

Feb 25, 2022, 2:19 PM EST

Czech Republic, Poland ban Russian carriers from airspace

Poland and the Czech Republic said Friday they are banning Russian carriers from their airspace.

The United Kingdom on Thursday suspended the foreign carrier permit held by Russian airline Aeroflot.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Feb 25, 2022, 1:54 PM EST

Zelenskyy says, 'We are all here'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted a selfie-style video showing himself standing outside the president’s office in central Kyiv Friday night along his defense minister, prime minister and parliamentary leader.

Zelenskyy, in combat fatigues, said to the camera that Ukraine’s army is there and will win.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing himself standing outside the president’s office in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022, along his defense minister, prime minister and parliamentary leader.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy/Facebook

"We are all here. Our military are here, as are our people and whole society. We're all here defending our independence and our country. And we'll go on doing that," he said.

President Joe Biden held a secure call with Zelenskyy on Friday, according to a White House official.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell, Fidel Pavlenko

Feb 25, 2022, 1:51 PM EST

Russia says their troops seized large quantity of weapons 

The Russian troops conducting a special operation in Ukraine seized a large quantity of weapons recently supplied by Western countries, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. 

"Among the trophies are the American Javelin anti-tank missile systems and British NLAWs," he said. 

He said Russian troops in Ukraine have disabled 211 Ukraine military installations and destroyed 67 tanks and six aircraft. 

Firefighters hose down burning debris in front of a damaged building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
Ukrainian Police Department Press Service via AP

He said Russian troops have blocked the northeastern Ukrainian cities of Sumy and Konotop. 

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova

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