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WAR IN UKRAINE: Does Russia want to leave Ukraine without food?

The European Commission believes that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine's food reserves to create a famine

By ADN America Staff

February 24, 2022 10:03am

Updated: March 25, 2022 5:38pm

Breaking news: Ukraine-Russia war

Follow ADN America's LIVE update on Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. On Wednesday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine in a message to his nation, while the UN Security Council was in session.

March 23, 2022 

10:30 a.m. Brussels believes that Russia wants to leave Ukraine without food

The European Commission (EC) believes that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine's food reserves to create a famine in the country, European agriculture official Janusz Wojciechowski said Wednesday.

"It seems natural to think that this is a method similar to that used in the 1930s by the Soviets in Ukraine or in Kazakhstan, where millions of people died," Wojciechowski said at a press conference during the presentation of a report proposing measures to safeguard food security and to strengthen food systems in the EU.

8:15 a.m. Explosions in Kyiv after curfew was lifted

Kyiv dawned with a series of explosions, shortly after the curfew for citizens was lifted at 7 a.m. local time. According to correspondents, there is still little traffic in the capital.

3:00 a.m. Russia reorganizes in the north

The latest British government report on the war claims that the Russian army may be reorganizing to push into northern Ukraine. Russia's priority is the seizure of Kharkiv and the complete fall of Mariupol, says the statement shared on social networks.

March 22, 2022

11:25 p.m. Zelensky reveals who his favorite world leader to have a conversation with is

8:40 p.m. U.S. imposes more sanctions against Russia

The United States confirmed on Thursday that impose a new package of sanctions in coordination with its allies against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, which began almost a month ago. In addition, the humanitarian crisis continues in Mariupol and peace talks are not progressing.

4:15 p.m. Zelensky condemns capture of humanitarian mission

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned on Tuesday the Russian invaders that captured a humanitarian corridor heading to Mariupol where some 100,000 people live in "subhuman" conditions.

More than 7,000 people have been able to leave the city of Mariupol on Tuesday through humanitarian corridors, according to Kirilo Timoshenko, the “number two” of the Ukrainian presidential office. The figures have also been corroborated by Zelensky.

1:00 p.m. UN confirms more than 950 civilians killed in Ukraine, 78 are children

The United Nations confirmed the death of 953 civilians since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February 24, 78 of which are children, reported Europa Press. However, the figure is expected to be "considerably higher" due to the delay in verification of deaths and the lack of data from key areas such as Mariupol.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which is trying to conduct an independent casualty count, had as of Monday confirmed 953 dead and 1,557 wounded among the civilian population. Most of these casualties derive from wide-range explosive weaponry, such as missiles or aerial bombardment.

11:30 a.m. Russian teams confirmed to be excluded from the Euroleague and Eurocup

Euroleague Basketball decided on Tuesday to definitively exclude the Russian teams CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar from the Euroleague and Eurocup, eliminating all results of regular season games against them, the body said in a statement.

9:15 a.m. Pope calls Zelensky and tells him he prays for war to end

Pope Francis called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more than three weeks after the Russian army invaded Ukraine and told him he is doing what he can to end the war.

Zelensky also mentioned his talk with His Holiness about the blockade of rescue corridors by Russian troops on his social media. "The mediating role of the Holy See in ending human suffering would be appreciated. Thank you for the prayers for Ukraine and peace," the Ukrainian leader told him.

6:15 a.m. Poland welcomes two million Ukrainians

Ukrainian children sleep on the floor of Warsaw Central Station. Poland hosts two million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.

2:00 a.m. Three Ukrainian journalists released by Russian army

Ukrainian authorities claimed on Tuesday that the Russian Army released three journalists detained on Monday in the city of Melitopol. One more journalist still remains in the hands of Russian forces, which have not commented on the matter, they added.

The four journalists were detained on Monday in the city, after which talks began between the authorities and the army to try to secure their release, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.

The head of the Zaporiyia Regional Military Administration, Alexander Starukh, said that "there is new information about the journalists from Melitopol." "Three journalists have been released. Mikhail Kumok is still with the orcs," he said.

March 21, 2022

11:50 p.m. Russia accuses Ukraine of not cooperating to evacuate civilians

Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia's National Defense Control Center, criticized the Ukrainian side for "not agreeing to a single humanitarian corridor" on Monday, asserting that "millions of civilians" are being held by the Ukrainian Army as "human shields."

The Russian Defense Ministry has indicated that Ukrainian "nationalists" were planning to set up "shooting ranges" in hospitals in the cities of Odessa and Chernobyl. However, this could not be verified by independent sources, reported DPA agency.

9:30 p.m. Russia blocks EuroNews TV channel for spreading "disinformation"

Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor announced that it blocked the pages of the European TV channel Euronews because it was spreading "disinformation" about Moscow's "special operation" in Ukraine.

The decision of the Prosecutor General's Office also affects the Russian-language offer of the European channel, according to Roskomnadzor's announcement, reported TASS news agency,

6:18 p.m. Russian Justice bans Facebook and Instagram activities in the country for "extremism"

Russian Justice on Monday upheld the Prosecutor's Office's demand to ban the activities of tech giant Meta in the country, calling it an "extremist organization," effectively outlawing its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

"The activity of the US multinational Meta Platforms in offering the social networks Facebook and Instagram on the territory of the Russian Federation is banned for extremist activities," the Tverskoye court said in a statement on Telegram cited by EFE.

The decision, which comes into force immediately, does not apply to the WhatsApp messaging service because it does not contain functions for the public dissemination of information, the statement added.

2:15 p.m. Ukraine will only accept a Russian ultimatum "when we are all dead"

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainians will only accept an ultimatum from Russia "when we are all dead," in response to the deadline set by Moscow for the national fighters in Mariupol to leave the city, Europa Press reported.

"Ukraine can never meet an ultimatum from the Russian Federation. We would have to be all dead and only then would their ultimatum to surrender Kharkov, Mariupol or Kiev be met. We cannot do that," Zelensky said in an interview.

11:20 a.m. Ukraine calls on China to play a "major role" in resolving the conflict

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba today called on China "as a world power” to play "an important role" in achieving a political way out of the conflict.

In a message posted on his Twitter account, Kuleba said that "for decades," the relations between the two countries have been based "on mutual respect, understanding, and benefit."

9:00 a.m. Ukraine says Russia has lost 15,000 soldiers in 25 days of war

The Ukrainian Army on Monday claimed that around 15,000 Russian servicemen have been killed in combat since the start of the war on February 24, Pravda reported.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army claimed that the number of dead in the Russian ranks is "about 15,000" - a figure much higher than the one acknowledged so far by Moscow - while stressing that so far 498 tanks, 240 artillery systems, 97 aircraft and 121 helicopters have been destroyed.

In addition, three ships, 60 fuel tanks, 969 vehicles, 24 drones and 45 air defense systems have been destroyed.

6:20 a.m. 8 killed in shelled shopping center in Kiev

At least eight people have been killed in a shelling last night by Russian forces on a shopping center in Kyiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported Monday.

3:15 a.m. Borrell: "What is happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime"

European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said Monday that Russia is committing "many war crimes" in Ukraine and called what is happening in Mariupol a "massive war crime," EFE reported.

"Russia is truly committing many war crimes, that's the word, we have to say it. What is happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime, destroying everything, bombing and killing everybody, indiscriminately," Borrell told reporters upon his arrival at a Council of EU foreign ministers. "This is a horrible thing, we have to condemn it in the strongest terms."

March 20, 2022

11:30 p.m. UK condemns 'abduction and deportation' of Ukrainians to Russia

British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss condemned the "abduction and deportation" of Ukrainians from the besieged city of Mariupol, in a move that has been compared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Nazi Germany.

7:20 p.m. Ukraine condemns Russian attack on shopping mall in Kyiv that caused at least 4 deaths

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, reported on Sunday night that "several explosions" occurred in the Podilskyi district of the Ukrainian capital, where firefighters were struggling to control fires caused in a shopping center and in several homes.

The attack allegedly left at least four dead and one injured, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Services.

3:45 p.m. China says it is not sending weapons to Russia or Ukraine

China's ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, said Sunday that his country is not sending "arms or ammunition" to Russia or Ukraine, amid rumors of alleged Chinese support for the Russian invasion.

"There is a lot of misinformation about China's military support to Russia. We deny it. What China is sending are medicines and sleeping bags. We are not sending weapons or ammunition to either side," the diplomat claimed in an interview with CBS.

10:00 a.m. 56 dead in Russian attack on a nursing home

Ukrainian authorities blamed Russia for the death of 56 people after a shell hit a nursing home in the disputed Lugansk region in the southeast of the country.

The incident occurred in the eastern town of Kreminna when a Russian tank fired "cynically and deliberately" at the residence, the head of the Lugansk civil-military administration, Serhi Gaidai, said on his Facebook page.

7:05 a.m. Turkey says Ukraine, Russia 'almost agreed' on 4 of 6 points

Talks between Russia and Ukraine have advanced to "almost agreement" on four of the six issues raised at the negotiating table, according Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu.

In an interview published Sunday by the Hürriyet daily, the Turkish diplomatic chief summed up the conclusions he has drawn from his trips to Moscow and Lviv last week, where he met with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Dimitro Kuleba, respectively.

2:30 a.m. Mariupol condemns attack on school with 400 people

The City Council of Ukraine's Mariupol on Sunday condemned a Russian attack on an art school that served as a shelter for more than 400 people. Many are still under the rubble.

The attack took place on Saturday against the G12 Art School located in the city's Left Bank district, according to authorities.

March 19, 2022

 

10:00 p.m. Ukraine admits they have no way to reinforce the defense of Mariupol

Ukrainian authorities admitted that they have no way to reinforce the defense of Mariupol from heavy attacks by the Russians.

Olexij Arestowytsch, advisor to the Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky, said that the nearest forces are more than 100 kilometers away or have already engaged with the enemy. "Currently there is no military solution for Mariupol. It is not only my opinion, it is also the opinion of the military."

6:45 p.m. FIFA donates one million dollars to the Ukrainian people

The FIFA Foundation has donates one million dollars to help the Ukrainian people, after sending a first shipment of humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF).

In a joint response with UEFA, the UAF, and FIFA's member federations, the world’s soccer's governing institution has reported a further financial contribution. "To address the conflict, we want to contribute to the cause and support the Ukrainian people and those who have fled the war. The FIFA Foundation is ready to help in cooperation with the Ukrainian soccer community and the region," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

2:30 p.m. Russia confirms use of "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile against Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the use of a hypersonic missile "Kinzhal" against Ukraine for the first time since the beginning of the invasion ordered by the Kremlin, to destroy a Ukrainian subway arsenal in the southwest of the country.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the missile hit the village of Deliatin, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine, and succeeded in destroying boxes of ammunition for fighter planes.

10:00 a.m. Russia is pursuing a "strategy of attrition"

Russia's military has been "forced" to change its operational approach in Ukraine and is now pursuing a "strategy of attrition," the British Ministry of Defense said Saturday on Twitter.

Defense officials believes that "this is likely to involve the indiscriminate use of fire, resulting in increased civilian casualties, destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and intensification of the humanitarian crisis."

6:00 a.m. New Russian attacks

The head of the Sumy regional military administration, Dimitro Zhivitskii, claimed that Russian troops have fired on the Trostianets hospital, at a time when air raid alarms have been sounded again in other parts of the country, incluiding Yitomir, Kyiv and Chernygov.

March 18, 2022

4:00 p.m. U.S. to closely watch President Xi's actions after call with Biden

The nearly two-hour video call between U.S. President Joe Biden with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has not eased concerns that China might provide military or financial support to Russia, the White House reported.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. will be watching President Xi Jinping's actions closely in the future.

"We are concerned. The president detailed what the implications and the consequences would be if China provides material support to Russia as it carries out brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian civilians. And that's something we will watch and the world will watch," Psaki announced.

2:00 p.m. Putin reappears in public to defend Ukraine invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first public appearance since ordering Russian troops to invade Ukraine last month when he addressed a crowd at Moscow's largest stadium.

As he walked to center stage, Putin claimed that Russians "have not had such unity for a long time."

However, some reports said the Kremlin mobilized state-linked workers to attend the event, which was officially dedicated to commemorating the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, but turned into an expression of support for the recent invasion of Ukraine.

Some attendees said they were bused to the stadium and groups of people were led by their leaders, according to videos of journalists on the scene cited by The New York Times.

At the rally, thousands were waving flags or the symbol of the war supporters, the Z, which went viral before the invasion began for appearing painted on tanks and trucks deployed by the Russians on the border next to Ukraine.

12:45 p.m. 130 people have been rescued from the shelled theater in Mariupol, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that so far 130 people have been rescued from the shelled theater in the city of Mariupol. Hundreds of people had taken shelter there when it was shelled on Wednesday.

Zelensky said that rescue operations are ongoing at the site despite the difficulties. However, hundreds of people are still under the rubble of the theater in Mariupol.

Early Friday, officials in the Donetsk region and Kiev claimed that they had no further information regarding how many people survived the attack, according to CNN

10:00 a.m. Russian forces bomb area around Lviv airport

The mayor of the city of Lviv, Andriy Sadovy, claimed that Russian "missiles" exploded near the airport of western Ukrainian city Lviv, located near the Polish border.

"Missiles have hit the area of the Lviv airport. The situation at the site is in the process of being specified," he wrote on his Facebook account, where he added that the attack did not directly hit the airfield.”

AFP reported a smoke screen rising in the area, as well as police vehicles and ambulances in that direction. Ukraine’s 24 TV channel reported at least three explosions in the city, reported Deutsche Welle.

March 17, 2022

6:30 p.m. More than 320,000 Ukrainian citizens have returned home to fight

More than 320,000 citizens have returned to Ukraine to fight against Russian soldiers invading the country, according to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. Most of them are men.

"Our guys are not giving up, so we have to help, we have to fight for our country. Ukraine must be free, like all the people," the State Border Guard Service commented via Twitter, according to CNN.

5:00 p.m. Mayor of Velykoburlutska is "captured" by Russian forces, Kharkiv official says

Viktor Tereshchenko, mayor of the town of Velykoburlutska in Ukraine's northeastern region of Kharkiv, was captured by Russian forces, according to a message issued on Thursday by Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration quoted by CNN.

"Today we have news that [the Russians] have captured the head of the Velykoburlutska community, Viktor Nikolaevich Tereshchenko. These people need to have security. Victor Nikolaevich was kidnapped from his place of work and taken to the local police station. They are holding him and will not release him," Syniehubov warned.

Although the Russian forces have not taken Kharkiv, "they continue their terror work against the civilian population, in particular against the heads of territorial communities in the region," Syniehubov accused.

3:30 p.m. U.S. House approves bill to halt trade relations with Russia and Belarus

U.S. House of Representatives endorsed a bill suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, with a final vote of 424-8, CNN reported.

Republicans Chip Roy of Texas, Tom Massie of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin voted against the bill.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be debated next week.

2:30 p.m. Russia has committed war crimes, says Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine are war crimes.

"After all the destruction of the last three weeks, it is difficult for me to conclude that the Russians are doing anything else," Blinken said at a press conference, where he advanced that the State Department documents the aggressions to help international investigators.

Blinken also warned that Moscow could be preparing to use chemical weapons in the war.

1:10 p.m. WHO records 43 attacks on health-care facilities

The World Health Organization was able to verify at least 43 attacks on health care facilities, including patients, health-care workers, and facilities, since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said the agency’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Ghebreyesus added that over 300 health-care facilities are in Russian controlled areas or places under attack. Another 600 facilities are miles from the conflict line, reported The Washington Post.

12:20 p.m. A meeting between Zelensky and Putin is possible if “an agreement is achieved,” says Turkish official

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that “if an agreement is achieved about the issues that we see a rapprochement about, there is a possibility that two leaders can come together.” His comments come after he met with his Ukrainian counter part Dmyrto Kuleba in Lviv Thusrday and one day after his visit to Moscow to talk to Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov.

Çavuşoğlu hopes that a ceasefire agreement would motivate the two leaders to meet, however, “it is hard to talk about it when it comes to war.”

“In my talks yesterday in Moscow, I saw that the Russian Federation did not have an objection to this and that they could accept such a proposal,” Çavuşoğlu added.

10:05 a.m. 21 killed near Kharkiv

At least 21 people were killed and 25 were wounded after Russian troops shelled the town of Merefa, 15 miles southwest of Khrakiv, according to the regional prosecutor’s office quoted by CNN. Ten of those injured are in critical condition.

The attack took place at around 3:30 a.m. local time. The shelling hit a school, and an arts club.  

5:00 a.m. Ukraine announces nine humanitarian corridors

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced nine humanitarian corridors to help evacuate civilians from besieged cities and to deliver aid.

“We plan to send buses from Zaporizhzhia to Berdyansk… to gather people from Mariupol,” Vereshchuk said in a Telegram post. At other places, the government plans to set up a tanker truck on the corridor to allow people leaving in private cars to refuel.

“We continue to develop delivery routes for all surrounded and blocked cities,” she added. “We are stepping up our efforts to free captured civilians.”

March 16, 2022

11:45 a.m. Ukraine says Russian troops killed 10 people in line to buy bread

Suspilne Chernihiv media reported on Wednesday that Russian forces have shot and killed 10 people that were standing in line to buy bread in the Ukrainian town of Chernihiv.

11:25 a.m. EU to buy steel from other countries to veto Russia

The European Union decided on Wednesday to increase its steel imports from other countries to avoid a supply shortage and stop importing the material from Russia and Belarus.

"We will now redistribute steel quotas from Russia and Belarus to other exporting countries," said on his Twitter account the vice president of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, after the fourth package of sanctions was approved yesterday by the EU.

10:55 a.m. Putin claims that the invasion of Ukraine is "justified" and "developing successfully"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the invasion of Ukraine is "fully justified" and "developing successfully."

Speaking at a meeting on socio-economic support measures, Putin said that Russian authorities asked the Ukrainian authorities "not to engage in hostilities" and "simply withdraw their troops from the Donbas" in order to "avoid senseless bloodshed."

"They did not want to do so. This is their decision," Putin said, before remarking that the invasion "is proceeding successfully, in strict adherence to the pre-approved plans," Russian news agency Interfax reported.

10:20 a.m. Zelensky addresses U.S. Congress

From a large screen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski said, "I am proud to speak to you from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. A city attacked with Russian missiles every day. But we do not surrender, we do not even think about surrendering."

"I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Ukrainian people. Right now we are in a decisive situation, we are deciding the future of our people, whether we will be free and whether we will be able to keep our democracy."

"Like any citizen of the United States, I have been able to visit your memorial at Rushmore. I have been able to honor all those who have given their lives for America. We want what the rest of the world wants," Zelensky said, referencing the democratic values that represent America.

Zelensky asked the congressmen to remember episodes such as the attack on Pearl Harbor or 9/11.

"Remember September 11. Ukraine is suffering from this every day. A terror that Europe has not seen in 80 years," the Ukrainian leader said.

9:45 a.m. Ukraine calls for release of several local leaders

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for the release of the mayor of the coastal city of Skadovsk, Oleksandr Yakovlyev, and his deputy Yurii Palyukh, who were kidnapped on Wednesday.

"States and international organizations must demand Russia to immediately release all kidnapped Ukrainian officials!" he demanded on Twitter.

9:33 a.m. Germany's E.ON suspends new gas purchases from Russia's Gazprom

German energy company E.ON announced on Wednesday that it would suspend new gas purchases from the Russian state consortium Gazprom due to the conflict, according to the chairman of its board of directors, Leonhard Birnbaum.

Birnbaum explained that among its suppliers are European companies that have purchased from Gazprom and that, "due to the war in Ukraine we have suspended the purchase of new quantities from those companies."

8:50 a.m. Latvia blocks 71 Russian news websites

Latvia's broadcast media regulator blocked Latvian users from accessing 71 websites linked to Russian TV channels and other media outlets on the grounds that they put national security at risk.

Ivars Abolins, the chairman of the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), announced the ban in a news broadcast Tuesday on Latvian public television.

8:20 a.m. New Russian attacks on residential neighborhoods in Kyiv

The Russian Army shelled some residential neighborhoods in Kyiv on Wednesday, according to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service (SES). The attacks have hit the Shevchenko district, where at least two people have been wounded.

According to the SES, the shelling in the area have caused the collapse of a 12-story residential building and the collapse of another adjacent nine-story building.

7:45 a.m. Zelensky says negotiations with Russia are "more realistic" now

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech released early this morning that positions in negotiations with Russia for a cease-fire are now more realistic, but that time is still needed for decisions "to be in Ukraine's interest."

In his latest message, made at the beginning of the twenty-first day of Russian invasion, Zelensky said that negotiations continue. "It is difficult, but important" to negotiate and that "efforts are still needed" because "every war ends in an agreement," he added.

5:20 a.m. Ukraine to lose 18 years of economic progress if war continues, says UN

If the war in Ukraine continues, the country could lose around 18 years of economic progress, with around 90% of the population living in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty in the next twelve months, according to estimates released today by the UN Development Program (UNDP).

These projections, the first UNDP projections of the impact of the conflict, indicate that over the next year nearly one-third of Ukrainians could fall below the poverty line—14 times more people than would have been expected without the war.

2:15 a.m. Biden to announce another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden will announce on Wednesday a new military aid package to Ukraine valued at $800 million, a senior White House official told EFE.

That package will bring the assistance announced by Washington to 1 billion in the last week alone.

March 15, 2022

11:45 p.m. U.S. Senate calls for investigation of Putin for possible war crimes in Ukraine

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for an investigation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Armed Forces for possible war crimes in Ukraine.

The resolution does not have the same force as a law. However, it serves to support investigations that have been initiated by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the request of some 40 countries.

9:15 p.m. Evacuation of civilians in Sumy

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) together with the Ukrainian Red Cross are deployed in the city of Sumy to facilitate the safe passage of thousands of civilians leaving the city fleeing the war.

The operation consists of two convoys of about 80 buses leaving Sumy, located in the far northeastern corner of Ukraine, for the city of Lubny, located about 200 kilometers to the west.

6:30 p.m. U.S. donates $186 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine

The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday a donation to Ukraine and neighboring countries of $186 million in humanitarian aid to address the social and migration crisis resulting from the Russian invasion.

This additional aid brings the amount of humanitarian assistance the United States has allocated to the Ukrainian crisis since the war began on February 24 to $293 million.

4:10 p.m. European MP’s voted to expel Russia from the Council of Europe

Members of the European Parliament voted to expel Russia from the Council of Europe over its invasion of Ukraine, reported The Guardian. The vote comes after Russia announced on Tuesday that it was leaving the human rights organization.

“In the common European home, there is no place for an aggressor,” said the resolution of the vote.

3:50 p.m. Russia has fired more than 950 missiles

A U.S. defense official claimed that Russian troops have fired more than 950 missiles since the invasion of Ukraine began, reported CNN.

The US “continues to assess limited to no progress by Russian ground forces in achieving their objectives,” the official said.

3:20 p.m. Russia launching airstrikes against civilian targets in Kyiv

U.S. senior defense official reported that Russian airstrikes are hitting civilian targets in Kyiv “with increasing frequency.” 

3:00 p.m. UK imposes more sanctions on Russian and Belarusian citizens

The United Kingdom will impose new sanctions on 370 Russian and Belarusian citizens, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced on Tuesday.

The individuals sanctions include Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “key political allies and propagandists.” The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.

"We are going further and faster than ever in hitting those closest to Putin — from major oligarchs, to his Prime Minister, and the propagandists who peddle his lies and disinformation. We are holding them to account for their complicity in Russia's crimes in Ukraine," Truss said. 

“The UK is working closely with its allies and will keep “increasing the pressure on Putin and cut off funding for the Russian war machine," Truss added.

2:20 p.m. NATO believes China should condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that China "should join the rest of the world in strongly condemning Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine."

"Any support for Russia, military support, any other kind of support, will help Russia to wage a brutal war against a sovereign independent nation, Ukraine; and it will help it to continue to wage a war that is causing death, suffering and a huge amount of destruction," he added.

1:55 p.m. More than three million refugees have left Ukraine

More than three million people have fled Ukraine since Russia began its invasion of the country on February 24, the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) said Tuesday.

Of the total number of refugees, 1.5 million children are children, according to Unicef estimates. The need for the male population to stay behind to fight has led to a large number of women and children fleeing Ukraine.

1:25 p.m. Photos: Kyiv building destroyed after shelling

Oleksandra Matviichuk, director of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, shared photos from Kiev on Tuesday.

 

12:10 p.m. Biden to travel to NATO next week

President Joe Biden will travel to NATO’s headquarters next week to attend an extraordinary summit of the alliance, announced the US mission to NATO in Twitter.

NATO leaders will “address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, our strong support for Ukraine, and further strengthening NATO’s deterrence & defense,” said NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg.

11:50 a.m. Russians are holding people captive in Mariupol, claims official

The Head of Donetsk regional administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, accused Russia of holding people captive at a hospital in Mariupol, reported CNN.

"It is impossible to get out of the hospital. They shoot hard, we sit in the basement. Cars have not been able to drive to the hospital for two days. High-rise buildings around us are burning … the Russians have rushed 400 people from neighboring buildings to our hospital. We can't leave,” Kyrylenko said.

“I appeal to international human rights organizations to respond to these vicious violations of the norms and customs of war, to these egregious crimes against humanity. Russia and every citizen involved in crimes in Ukraine must be punished,” he added.

11:30 a.m. Russia imposes sanctions on Biden and other officials

Russia imposed sanctions against U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other U.S. officials, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Tuesday.

In response to a series of unprecedented sanctions prohibiting, among other things, entry into the United States for top officials of the Russian Federation, from March 15 of this year, the Russian 'stop list' includes on the basis of reciprocity President J. Biden, Secretary of State A. Blinken, Secretary of Defense L. Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff M. Milley, as well as a number of department heads and prominent US figures,” the statement read.

“At the same time, we do not refuse to maintain official relations if they meet our national interests, and, if necessary, we will solve problems arising from the status of persons who appear on the 'black list' in order to organize high-level contacts,” it continues.

The list includes the following U.S. officials: US President Joe Biden

  • Secretary of State Antony Blinken
  • Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley
  • National security adviser Jacob Sullivan
  • CIA Director William Burns
  • White House press secretary Jen Psaki
  • Daleep Singh, Biden's deputy national security adviser for international economics
  • United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power
  • President Biden's son Hunter Biden
  • Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
  • Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo
  • Reta Jo Lewis, president and chairman of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank

11:14 a.m. Russian’s rounding up activists in Kherson

Russian troops are systematically founding up activists who oppose the Russian presence in the city of Kherson, said the city’s mayor, quoted by The New York Times.

“They’re all in the city, in the jail,” said Mayor Igor Kolykhaev. The Russians “collect them, hold them, work them over and release them,” he added.

Kherson was the first major city to fall into Russian hands after the start of the invasion. Since then, the citizens of Kherson have remained defiant to Russia’s occupation and regularly gather in the ciy’s square to protest against the invasion.

10:00 a.m. Fox News Cameran killed in Ukraine

A Fox News cameraman was killed on Monday in Ukraine after his vehicle was shelled outside of Kyiv. Pierre Zakrzewski, 55, was a veteran war reporter.

“Pierre was a war zone photographer who covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria during his long tenure with us,” said Suzanne Scott, chief executive of Fox News Media.

He had been traveling in the same vehicle as news correspondent Benjamin Hall, who is currently in a hospital in Ukraine.

 

10:50 a.m. At least 3 journalists killed and 35 injured in Ukraine

At least 3 journalists have been killed and 35 others injured since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, according to Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova, who blamed Russian troops for these events.

"Russian occupiers are fighting against objective coverage of their war crimes in Ukraine, at least 35 journalists have already been injured," Denisova explained, according to Interfax-Ukraine agency.

10:20 a.m. 2,000 private vehicles have left the city of Mariupol after the opening of a humanitarian corridor

Some 2,000 private vehicles left the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in recent hours after a humanitarian corridor was created to allow people to evacuate, according to local authorities, who anticipate more departures imminently.

The City Council estimates that another 2,000 vehicles are preparing to leave the area that was besieged by Russian forces aiming to connect the Crimean peninsula with the rebel territories of the Donbas. Civilians are advancing to other nearby localities where at least basic supplies are available.

9:55 a.m. Three yachts seized in Spain

The Spanish Government has located three yachts in Barcelona, Baleares, and Melilla that will be seized as part of the sanctions approved by the European Union as a consequence of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Through the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine, under the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, the Government has already officially communicated that two yachts have been seized in the last hours in the ports of Barcelona and Port Adriano (Calvià).

9:38 a.m. Kremlin calls journalist's TV protest "hooliganism"

The Kremlin described as "hooliganism" the protest carried out on Monday by a journalist of Channel 1 of the Russian public television who went on air with a banner expressing her disagreement with the invasion over Ukraine.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dimitri Peskov, has criticized the protest. However, the government has not taken any action against the journalist, Marina Ovsiannikova, arguing that it is up to the channel itself to take action, reported the Interfax agency according to Europa Press.

9:05 a.m. Ukraine claims Russian drones allegedly overflew NATO airspace

The Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed that several Russian overflew NATO airspace on Polish territory after the attack on the Yavoriv base, 20 kilometers from the border with Poland, where at least 35 people died.

"Air Force radar means registered on the Ukrainian state border in the direction of Poland a Russian an unmanned aerial device of the Space Forpost type that was shot down by our air defense. They are searching for the wreckage," the armed forces posted on their official Facebook profile.

8:25 a.m. Opera houses in NY fill to capacity at benefit concert for Ukraine

New York's Metropolitan Opera, considered one of the world's greatest opera houses, filled all of its seats on Monday at a benefit concert from which all proceeds will be given to the Ukrainian government.

The "Concert for Ukraine" was performed by the Met Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Yannick Nétez-Séguin, and featured sopranos Lise Davidsen and Elza van den Heever, among other soloists, as well as Ukrainian Valentin Silvestrov.

7:50 a.m. Zelensky calls on Russian troops to surrender

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday night in a message to the nation that the Russian Army has already lost more soldiers in Ukraine since the invasion began than in the two wars fought in Chechnya.

Zelensky called on Russian troops to surrender and promised them that they will be treated with "dignity."

5:28 a.m. Russian oligarch's superyacht valued at $140 million immobilized in Barcelona

The 85-meter-long superyacht Valerie linked to Russian oligarch Sergei Chemezov and valued at $140 million was immobilized in Barcelona as a result of the sanctions approved by the EU against Russia. This is the first Spanish action against Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin, reported El Imparcial.

2:15 a.m. Spain will host 84 orphaned and disabled children from Ukraine in Gijon

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that 84 orphaned and disabled children from Ukraine along with accompanying adults will be transferred to Gijon on Wednesday in response to a request from Ukrainian authorities, DW News reports.

March 14, 2022 

11:30 p.m. Zelensky sends condolences to the family of U.S. journalist Brent Renaud

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote a letter to share his condolences to the family of American journalist Brent Renaud.

"He lost his life while documenting the cruelty and evil inflicted on the Ukrainian people by Russia. May Brent's life and sacrifice inspire the world to stand up in the fight for the forces of light against the forces of darkness."

9:28 p.m. Global private sector donates $200 million for refugees

Private companies from around the world and charitable foundations, including Inditex, BBVA, Santander or La Caixa Foundation, donated more than 200 million dollars to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in order to meet the needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war, said the agency led by High Commissioner Filippo Grandi.

6:15 p.m. WHO confirms 31 attacks on health facilities in Ukraine

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Monday a total of 31 attacks on healthcare facilities since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, leaving 12 dead and 34 wounded. Eight wounded and 2 dead were healthcare workers.

"WHO strongly condemns acts of violence against health care. Each and every attack deprives people of life-saving services. Attacks on health care are violations of international humanitarian and human rights law," WHO said in a statement.

3:50 p.m. Fox News journalist injured in Ukraine

A journalist for Fox News network, Benjamin Hall, was injured on Monday while working outside of Kyiv and has been taken to a hospital, the news outlet reported.

"The safety of our entire team of journalists in Ukraine and the surrounding regions is our top priority and is of the utmost importance," Fox said.

Fox News president Suzanne Scott claimed the network had a "minimal level of detail" on Hall's condition. However, she did confirm that the journalist is hospitalized.

3:12 p.m. U.S. warns that China is ready to support Russia militarily

China is ready to send military support for Russia to aid its invasion of Ukraine, claimed White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan after meeting on Monday in Rome with the highest representative of Chinese diplomacy, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, reported El PAÍS.

2:57 p.m. Estonia becomes the first country to publicly support a no-fly zone for Ukraine

The Estonian Parliament on Monday approved a document in which, among other things, it calls on UN member states to take the necessary steps to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, according to Europa Press.

The document approved in the Riigikogu with 90 votes in favor is addressed to the parliaments of the EU member states and NATO, as well as to the parliaments of other countries.

2:13 p.m. Pfizer to use its profits in Russia to help Ukraine

Pfizer claimed that for "humanitarian reasons" it has not suspensded its operations in Russia following similar announcements by numerous U.S. companies, such as Coca Cola and McDonald's.

"To stop delivering medicines, including therapies for cancer or cardiovascular diseases, would cause significant suffering to patients and the possible loss of life, particularly among children and the elderly," the pharmaceutical company explained.

1:45 p.m. Russia stalling in its drive on Kyiv

Russian forces advancing on Kyiv have made no progress over the weekend, a senior U.S. defense official said during a briefing with reporters, CNN reported.

1:20 p.m. Russia says U.S. journalist was killed by Ukrainians

Vasili Nebenzi, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said that Brent Renaud was not a journalist, but a filmmaker, and that he was killed by Ukrainians, according to El Comercio.

The ambassador wanted to provide "two clarifications": "He is not a journalist, the New York Times said so; but on the Internet there is information that he was not a journalist, but a filmmaker."

12:50 p.m. Ukraine insists on a no-fly zone in the country

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Monday insisted on Kiev's request for a no-fly zone in the country, arguing that this measure could "save thousands of lives."

Following a summit with his Polish and Lithuanian counterparts, Mateusz Morawiecki and Ingrida Simonyte respectively, Shmyhal claimed that closing Ukraine's airspace is "very important" after "thousands" of Ukrainians die in aerial bombardments.

12:33 p.m. The world has "opened its eyes" on Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Monday at the Council of Europe that the whole world has finally "opened its eyes" regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian troops "shell schools, kindergartens, hospitals. They kill children. They take hostages. They kidnap representatives in local authorities. They torture civilians," he said during his speech.

11:45 a.m. Poland warns that Russia’s attack is a message to "the whole NATO"

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz said on Monday that the attack by Russian forces on Sunday against a base 20 kilometers from the border where at least 35 people died, is a message to "all NATO."

Przydacz indicated that it is a "very provocative" act that, in addition, "threatens" the Atlantic alliance, according to his declarations to the British channel BBC.

11:23 a.m. Ukrainian city "looks like the set of an apocalyptic movie"

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said via Twitter that "one of the most beautiful cities in Europe today looks like the set of an apocalyptic movie. Sumy, Kharkiv, Mariupol: it's terrible."

He added that, "this is what the world carries with it: deaths of people, destruction not only of cities but of democracy, rights, freedoms. They are not Slavs. They are orcs. But we will win.”

10:50 a.m. "Ukraine successfully strikes back"

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday sent a message to those abroad "who are scared of being dragged into World War III, Ukraine successfully fights back."

Kuleba called for help to fight back with "weapons and more sanctions on Russia" to "isolate it completely."

10:25 a.m. At least 2,500 dead in Mariupol

Ukrainian authorities estimate that more than 2,500 people have died in the city of Mariupol since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, reported Europa Press.

An advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Oleksiy Arestovych, claimed that the city "resists" Russia’s attacks, which have also hit civilian infrastructure. However, "the number of victims among civilians is growing," according to the UNIAN news agency.

9:58 a.m. Zelensky to address the US Congress on Wednesday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced.

In a letter inviting members of both houses of Congress, Pelosi and Schumer expressed their support for Ukraine and praised the "extraordinary courage, resilience and determination" shown by the Ukrainian people in the face of the "illegal" war started by Russia.

9:30 a.m. Ukraine announces opening of ten humanitarian corridors

Ukrainian authorities announced on Monday the opening of ten humanitarian corridors in several areas of the country to proceed with the evacuation of civilians, reports Europa Press. 

Kirilo Timoshenko, “number two” of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on his Telegram account that among the corridors is one that will connect Berdiansk with Mariupol, which has been besieged by Russian forces for days.

8:55 a.m. Pregnant woman who was in Mariupol hospital when it was shelled dies

The pregnant woman whose shocking image went around the world after she was rescued on a stretcher by Ukrainian emergency services following the shelling of a hospital in Mariupol has died, ABC News reported.

Images of the Russian shelling of the Mariupol hospital showed several shocking pictures of pregnant women fleeing the scene.

 8:10 a.m. Australia sanctions Abramovich and other Russian oligarchs

The Australian government on Monday announced sanctions against Roman Abramovich, owner of English soccer club Chelsea, and 32 other Russian oligarchs and businessmen, as well as their immediate families, as a consequence for the invasion of Ukraine, DW News reports. 

The sanctions come after the English Premier League on Saturday stripped Abramovich of the club's managerial license after the British government froze his assets last week.

6:24 a.m. Biden and Macron speak again and pledge to "hold Russia accountable"

U.S. President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, held a new phone conversation on Sunday and pledged to "hold Russia accountable" for its invasion of Ukraine.

Biden and Macron "reviewed recent diplomatic engagements and underscored their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to support the government and people of Ukraine," the White House reported.

4:30 a.m. Zelensky: "It is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on NATO territory"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that "it is only a matter of time" before Russian missiles fall in NATO member countries.

The president also said that the aim of the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Russia is to achieve a meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

1:37 a.m. Ukraine-Russia negotiations will continue on Monday online

Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet again this Monday via videoconference, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Sunday.

The two countries held three rounds of talks in Belarus since the beginning of the Russian military operation on the Ukrainian territory on February 24.

March 13, 2022

6:00 p.m. Almost 70 Ukrainians arrived in the Spanish city of Alicante on Sunday.

Around 69 displaced Ukrainians arrived by train during Sunday at the Alicante station in Spain. Most of them have been accommodated by relatives or friends residing in the Spanish province.

As reported to EFE by the Alicante Red Cross, at noon eleven the displaced persons arrived by train. Three people required assistance to be accommodated in a hotel, the organization added. Later, in another convoy, six more people arrived who did not require assistance or housing.

3:55 p.m. Zelensky asks software companies not to provide support in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on multinational software companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP to stop supporting their products and cancel their contracts in Russia.

"Microsoft, Ocracle, SAP, stop supporting your products in Russia - stop the war!" Zelensky tweeted.

3:23 p.m. Caravan of vehicles in Belgrade in support of Putin

A hundred vehicles with large letters Z on them—similar to those carried by Russian invading vehicles in Ukraine—as well as flags of Russia, Serbia, and the Donetsk and Luhansk "republics", drove through the center of Belgrade on Sunday to express their support for Moscow.

2:45 p.m. Electricity supply to Chernobyl partially restored

The Ukrainian company Energoatom reported on Sunday that the power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had been restored after it was completely disconnected on March 9.

"Today, thanks to the incredible efforts of NPC Ukrenergo specialists, our nuclear scientists and electricians, it was possible to return power to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was taken over by Russian invaders," the statement said.

1:20 p.m. The Pentagon answers what would happen if Russia attacks Poland

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has been clear in answering the question of what would happen if Russia attacks Poland. "We take our commitment to Article 5 very seriously...An armed attack on one is an attack on all," Kirby said.

12:45 p.m. Russia boasts of having eliminated "180 mercenaries" in Yaroviv

The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday confirmed its attack on the Yaroviv military base in western Ukraine, where it reportedly "eliminated 180 foreign mercenaries and a large consignment of weapons from abroad," according to Russian military spokesman General Igor Konashenkov.

12:15 p.m. U.S. says death of its journalist will have "consequences"

The U.S. government on Sunday vowed to apply "appropriate consequences" for the death of American journalist Brent Renaud, who, according to Kiev police, was killed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Irpin.

In a televised interview with CBS, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Renaud's murder is "shocking and horrific" and assured that they are in contact with Ukrainian authorities to obtain more information to help them take the "appropriate consequences."

11:45 a.m. Russia claims that the U.S. now recognizes Maduro as president of Venezuela

Russia's ambassador to Venezuela, Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, said on Sunday that the visit of a U.S. government delegation to Caracas represents a "recognition" of Nicolas Maduro as the president of Venezuela, and a change by Washington of "its wrong policies" towards that country.

11:20 a.m. This is how the attack on the Yavoriv base went

Images are released of this morning's missile attack on a base located just 20 km from the Ukrainian-Polish border, in which at least 35 people have been killed.

10:50 a.m. At least 596 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, says UN

At least 596 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 1,067 injured since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, according to the latest updated toll from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that was released onSunday.

10:36 a.m. Protests in Germany against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Tens of thousands of people protested on Sunday in Berlin and other German cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In Berlin, between 20,000 and 30,000 people gathered, according to the municipal police—far fewer than the 100,000 who gathered in the capital last February 27.

10:15 a.m. 67 victims of Russian shells buried in mass grave

At least 67 victims of Russian artillery shelling attacks have been buried in a mass grave in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, the director of the primary care center in neighboring Irpin, Andrii Levkovskii, reported Sunday.

According to a video posted by Levkovskii that has not yet been confirmed, it shows several people unloading corpses in black plastic bags from a truck to place them in a grave.

9:50 a.m. Spain will give 23 million euros in humanitarian aid

Pedro Sánchez announced on Sunday at the Conference of Presidents that the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) will send a first humanitarian aid package of 23 million euros to Ukraine, which "represents the largest shipment ever made to a single country."

9:20 a.m. Spain warns that the war may be long

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, warned on Sunday at the Conference of Presidents that the war in Ukraine could take a long time. He also urged China to mediate discussion to find a diplomatic solution, sources from La Moncloa reported to Europa Press.

8:15 a.m. Wounded journalist explains what happened in Irpin

A wounded journalist explains that he and Brent Renaud were crossing a bridge in Irpin to film refugees, when they were shot. Renaud was shot in the neck.

7:40 a.m. American journalist killed in Irpin

Russian forces reportedly killed U.S. journalist Brent Renaud in an attack in Irpin, Kyiv Regional Police Chief Andrii Nebitov said and Ukrainian press reported.

"Today, a 51-year-old correspondent from the famous newspaper The New York Times has been shot dead in Irpin. Another journalist has been wounded. Right now we are trying to get the victim out of the combat zone," Nebitov confirmed on Facebook.

7:00 a.m. 268 detained Sunday for demonstrating in Russia

At least 268 people have been detained at demonstrations on Sunday in 23 Russian cities as crowds gathered to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to the civilian organization OVD-Info.

6:25 a.m. President of Spain plans to open a center for refugees in Málaga

Spainish President Pedro Sanchez announced at the Conference of Presidents held this Sunday in La Palma, that Spain is studying a way to implement a fourth center for refugees in Malaga.

This new center would be added to those in Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante, Spanish Government sources informed.

5:00 a.m. 125,000 evacuated through humanitarian corridors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that almost 125,000 citizens of the country have been evacuated from combat zones to safe areas through humanitarian corridors, according to Europa Press.

At least 12,000 people have been using these corridors daily for the past week and a half, according to Ukrainian government estimates.

1:05 a.m. EU to activate new sanctions package against Russia

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that the EU will activate a new package of sanctions against Russia this Sunday in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

March 12, 2022

2:00 p.m. Ukraine condemns death of seven people from Russian attack during evacuation

Ukraine condemned the death of seven people who died from a Russian attack while evacuating women and children from the village of Peremoha, in the region of Kyiv.

"After the attack, the occupants forced the remnants of the column to return to Peremoha and did not let them leave the village," the Ukrainian intelligence service said in a statement.

"The Russians fired at a column of women and children when they were trying to evacuate the village of Peremoha in the Kyiv region along an agreed 'green' corridor. Seven people were killed, including one child," it detailed.

12:50 p.m. Biden authorizes $200 million in military aid to Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden authorized $200 million worth of military hardware to be sent as aid to Ukraine.

"By the authority as president vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I delegate to the secretary of state the authority to use the sum of $200 million in Department of Defense materiel and services to assist Ukraine," ordered Biden, whose decision was released by the White House in a statement.

11:15 a.m. Zelensky welcomes Russia's "different approach" in negotiations

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated Russia’s "fundamentally different approach" in the negotiations to put an end to the armed conflict that started last February 24.

At a press conference, the president stressed that Moscow no longer comes to the negotiations only to "give ultimatums."  Zelensky added that Putin recently said he had seen "positive steps" in the latest bilateral negotiations, which he interprets as "a sign from Russia" that gives him hope.

10:05 a.m. Zelensky proposes to meet Putin in Jerusalem

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to meet in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, acting as a mediator, according to The Kyiv Independent.

9:45 a.m. At least 579 civilians killed and over 1,000 injured in Ukraine, says UN

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 579 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion, while more than a thousand have been injured. Of those killed, 42 were children.

The entity explained that the actual number of casualties may be higher than recorded so far, due to the fact that many reports need to be corroborated.

9:25 a.m. Zelensky claims 1,300 Ukrainian troop members have died

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that around 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

At a press conference, the president said that between 500 and 600 Russian soldiers surrendered on Friday to Ukrainian forces.

8:45 a.m. Macron asks Putin for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron asked his Russian counterpart for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine in a phone call on Saturday between the two and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Putin, according to the Kremlin, briefed his counterparts on the progress of talks between Russia and Ukraine and accused Ukrainian forces of "flagrant violations" of humanitarian law.

8:30 a.m. Zelensky: Ukrainian forces deal "the biggest blow in decades" to Russian army

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces are dealing the Russian army the "biggest blow in decades."

In a message broadcasted on Facebook, the president said that 31 Russian tactical battalion groups have lost capacity and that the Kremlin's invading forces have lost more than 360 tanks.

He added that regular Russian troops are surrendering to Ukrainian forces, but Moscow is now recruiting mercenaries, reservists and conscripts to outnumber them.

March 11, 2020

7:05 p.m. Pink Floyd withdraws its music from digital platforms in Russia and Belarus

British band Pink Floyd and guitarist David Gilmour decided to remove their music from digital platforms in Russia and Belarus.

"To join the world in strongly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Pink Floyd's works from 1987 and all of David Gilmour's solo recordings will be removed from all digital music providers in Russia and Belarus as of today," the band announced in a Twitter post:

6:50 p.m. Satellite images show fires northwest of Kyiv

Maxar Technologies, a U.S. satellite company, shared satellite images of fires affecting several locations northwest of Kyiv.

6:35 p.m. Core of Kharkiv nuclear lab undamaged after shelling

The central part of a nuclear research center in Kharkiv was not damaged after a relentless round of shelling, the head of the scientific institute said in an interview with Reuters on Friday.

The exterior of the institute was "badly destroyed" by several shells fired from the Russian side, added Mykola Shulga, general of the National Science Center of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology.

6:20 p.m. Russian state TV broadcasts criticisms of war against Ukraine

A series of comments critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine were released by Russian state television, marking an unusual shift in Russia's tightly controlled media.

The program "Evenings with Vladimir Soloviev," a popular pro-Kremlin talk show on the Russia-1 channel, strayed from Moscow's official line and featured comments by Semyon Bagdasarov, who questioned whether Moscow wishes to meddle "in another Afghanistan, but even worse," reported Moscow Times, quoted by BBC.

Karen Shakhnazarov, a filmmaker appearing alongside Bagdasarov, also questioned the Kremlin's decision. "I have a hard time imagining taking over cities like Kiev. I can't imagine what it would be like," Shakhnazarov commented.

5:57 p.m. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls the detention of Melitopol mayor a ‘war crime’

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called the detention of Melitopol’s mayor a “war crime” in a statement posted on Facebook.

“Armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is accompanied by gross violations of norms and principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as other violations of human rights on the side of the Russian army.”

“The abduction of the mayor of Melitopol is classified as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocol banning the capture of civilian hostages during the war,” reads the post.

5:34 p.m. Russian forces are using cluster munition, says report

The United Nations human rights office received reports that Russia is using cluster munitions in its invasion of Ukraine, a weapon that is prohibited to use in populated areas under international law, reported The Associated Press.

Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said “the utter devastation being visited on these cities is horrific.”

5:25 p.m. Power line repairs begin at Chernobyl

Ukraine said that technicians have started to repair the damages power lines at the defunct Chernobyl power plant, reported the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Technicians were able to repair one section of the lines. However, there are damages in other places, added the IAEA. The agency vowed to continue the repairs “despite the difficult situation.”

5:10 p.m. Russians can only withdraw cash in rubles, says central bank

Russia’s central bank announced on Friday that Russians who receive transfers from foreign banks can only withdraw their money in rubles, reported Reuters.

The bank announces it was a temporary measure that would come into effect on Saturday.

The measure comes as the country struggles with western sanctions.

5:00 p.m. Facebook rule change will only apply in Ukraine, says Meta

After Meta, the parent of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, changed its policy to allow calls for violence against Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers, the company’s Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications Nick Clegg clarified that neither "Russophobia" nor any kind of discrimination against Russians will be tolerated. Moreover, he indicated that this policy will only apply in Ukraine.

"The fact is that if we were to apply our standard content policies without any adjustments, we would now be removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and anger against the invading military forces, which would rightly be considered unacceptable," he explained to BBC.

4:45 p.m. Russia to deliver state-of-the-art military equipment to Belarus

The leaders of Russia and Belarus agreed to continue their collaboration in the near future, according to the Belarusian State Telegraph Agency (BelTA), reported by CNN.

According to BelTA, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to deliver the most modern models of Russian military equipment in the near future. In turn, Belarus will increase the supply of modern agricultural, passenger and other engineering equipment, Belarusian President's press secretary Natalya Eismont reported.

4:20 p.m. EU to double its financial aid for Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the EU will double its financial aid for arms purchases for Ukraine from €500 million to €1 billion. Refugees will also be accepted without limitations as the bloc's leaders prepare to announce a fourth round of sanctions against Russia.

4:00 p.m. Russia restricts access to Instagram

Russia announced it would restrict access to the social media platform Instagram, after accusing it of spreading calls for violence against Russians, due to the conflict in Ukraine.

"Following the request of the Prosecutor General's office, access to the Instagram social network (...) is restricted in Russia," Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor said in a statement.

The measure comes just hours after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, decided to relax its policies and allow users from a dozen countries more or less directly related to the conflict make death threats against Russian troops.

3:45 p.m. Americans fighting in Ukraine 'face significant risks,' State Department says

Americans traveling to Ukraine and fighting with Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war will be treated by Russia as "mercenaries" or foreign fighters, exposing them to increased risk of mistreatment, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned during a briefing Friday.

U.S. citizens could also face criminal prosecution, capture or death by Russia for fighting on behalf of Ukraine in the war, added Price, adding that the United States would not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens from Ukraine at any time.

3:30 p.m. Evacuation corridors in Ukraine achieve limited results

Ukrainian authorities reported that the evacuation of civilians in the worst-hit areas have not been as successful as they wanted.

Around Kyiv, volunteers and local authorities were able to help thousands of others escape from the worst-hit districts to the north and west of the city. Despite heavy departures and gunfire, more than 22,000 people were evacuated after three days from the districts of Vorzel, Hostomel, Bucha and Irpin, all of which have suffered extensive destruction and are without electricity and water, mentioned Oleksiy Kuleba, head of the Kyiv regional administration.

3:15 p.m. YouTube blocks Russian state media channels globally

YouTube has blocked Russian state media channels worldwide, escalating the pulse between Silicon Valley companies and Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its third week.

The company said in a Twitter post that it blocked access to "channels associated with Russian state-funded media globally," and that the change is effective immediately.

The company previously banned Russian state media in Europe. The company explained that it was making the change to be consistent with its policies, which include banning content that denies or trivializes well-documented violent events.

3:00 p.m. Ukrainian mayor could face terrorism charges by Russia-backed prosecutor

The prosecutor’s office of the Russia-backed region of Luhansk said that Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol could facwe terrorism charges, reported CNN.

A video that surfaced recently shows Fedorov being dragged away from the city’s government building by armed men.

According the Luhansk prosecutor’s website, Fedorov assisted and financed terrorist activities, and belongs to the criminal community “Right Sector,” a Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary and political group.

2:50 p.m. Russian forces are shelling port of Mykolayiv

The regional governor of Mykolaiv claimed that Russian forces are shelling the port city, reported Reuters.

2:34 p.m. Sony suspends business in Russia

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that is was suspending business operations in Russia, including planned home entertainment releases and any future television distribution deals.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been impacted and it is our hope that a peaceful resolution can be found soon,” said Chairman Tony Vicinquerra.

Two weeks ago, the studio paused the release of its films in the country.

2:15 p.m. The U.S. will not fight a third world war, says Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden said he stands by his decision to not implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, arguing that such a move could start a third world war, reported The Washington Post.

Biden reiterated that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, but will not send U.S. troops and will not establish a no-fly zone.

“We are showing our strength and will never falter. But look, the idea that we’re going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews, just understand — don’t kid yourself, no matter what you all say — that’s called World War III. Let’s get it straight here, guys,” he said.

1:49 p.m. Turkey evacuates its Kyiv embassy

Turkey evacuated its embassy in Kyiv on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said as Russian forces surround the city, reported The Associated Press.

Bilgic added that the embassy would relocate to Chernivtsi, near the Romanian border.

1:10 p.m. Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, has been seized by Russian forces.

There is ample evidence that the town of Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine has fallen into the hands of Russian forces and their allies in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, reported CNN.

The town was surrounded almost from the beginning of the Russian invasion, but had been fiercely defended by Ukrainian forces. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that a "group of troops of the Donetsk People's Republic liberated the town of Volnovakha" and several surrounding settlements.

1:00 p.m. "There's a price to pay for democracy": Harris on gas prices

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris suggested that Americans will have to bear the burden of higher gas prices, as it is worth paying higher costs in the United States in order to penalize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

"You have to pay a price for democracy. You have to stand with your allies," Harris asserted during a joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Romania.

12:45 p.m. No evidence of Ukraine's biological weapons development: UN

The UN's top official for disarmament affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, commented to the Security Council that the UN has no evidence that Ukraine has a biological weapons program. Ukraine and Russia are members of a 1962 convention banning the development and use of biological and chemical weapons, he added.

12:30 p.m. UN says at least 564 civilians have been killed in Ukraine war

The United Nations reported that 564 civilians have been killed and another 982 people injured by Russian forces so far in the war in Ukraine, although it acknowledged that the total number of casualties is likely much higher.

"Schools, hospitals and kindergartens have been attacked with enormously devastating consequences," Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the U.N. human rights office, told a briefing in Geneva. Russian forces have used heavy artillery, rockets and cluster munitions widely banned in populated areas, she added.

12:15 p.m. Survivor of maternity hospital bombing gives birth to baby girl

Mariana Vishegirskaya, one of the women at the Mariupol maternity hospital that was shelled by Russia earlier this week, gave birth to a baby girl at another hospital, CNN reported.

12:00 p.m. There are "strong indications" that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine: White House

The White House asserted Friday that there are "strong indications" that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine. However, an investigation is legally required before making such an assessment.

"We have all seen the devastating images coming out of Ukraine and are horrified by Russia's brutal tactics. Pregnant women on stretchers, apartment buildings bombed, families killed as they sought safety in the face of this terrible violence. We're also seeing reports of other types of potential abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told CNN.

11:50 p.m. Russian forces have launched more than 800 missiles since start of invasion

Russian forces have launched more than 800 missiles of "all types, varieties and sizes" since the start of their invasion of Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official said.

About half of the missile launches have come from within Ukraine, and about half have come from Russia and Belarus combined, the official added.

11:35 a.m. U.S. revokes Russia’s ‘most favored nation’ trade status

The United States and the European Union are calling to revoke Russia’s “most favored nation” status, which indicates a permanent normal trade relationship with the U.S., reported CNN.

"Each of our nations will take steps to deny 'most favored nation' status to Russia. A most favored nation status designation means two countries have agreed to trade with each other under the best possible terms — low tariffs, few barriers to trade and the highest possible imports allowed," said U.S. President Joe Biden.

"In the United States, we call this permanent normal trade relations, PNTR, but it's the same thing. Revoking PNTR for Russia is going to make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States and doing it in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another crushing blow to the Russian economy that's already suffering very badly from our sanctions," Biden added.

11:20 a.m. Russia declares Meta an ‘extremist’ organization

Russian authorities initiated the process to declare Meta, Facebook’s parent company, an “extremist organization” for allegedly allowing users to call for violence against Russian soldiers in Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

As part of the measure, Russia started blocking Instagram, one of the most popular social media applications in Russia.

The Russian government has already blocked citizens from using Facebook and Twitter.

10:43 a.m. Russia will pay if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, says Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden said that Russia will pay a “severe price” if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine.

"I'm not going to speak about the intelligence, but Russia will pay a severe price if they use chemicals," Biden told CNN's Arlette Saenz.

Russia has allegedly used chemical weapons in 2020 and 2018, when the government poisoned two opposition leaders.

10:35 a.m. Biden announces more sanctions against Russian oligarchs

U.S. President Joe Biden announced more sanctions against Russian oligarchs and their families as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"The G7 also stepping up pressure on corrupt Russian billionaires. We're adding new names to the list of oligarchs and their families that we're targeting, and we're increasing coordination among the G7 countries to target and capture their ill-begotten gains," Biden said.

They support Putin. They steal from the Russian people, and they seek to hide their money in our countries. They're part of that kleptocracy that exists in Moscow, and they must share in the pain of these sanctions," he added.

Furthermore, Biden also announced that seafood, vodka, and diamond imports from Russia will be banned.

As Putin continues his merciless assault, the United States and allies and partners continue to work in lockstep to ramp up the economic pressures on Putin and to further isolate Russia on the global stage. Later today, together with other NATO allies and the G7, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, as well as European Union, we're going to jointly announce several new steps to squeeze [Russian President] Putin and hold him even more accountable for his aggression against Ukraine," Biden said.

10:14 a.m. Biden assures Zelensky that the U.S. stands with Ukraine

During a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden assured that “that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine and as they bravely fight to defend their country, and they are doing that."

8:47 a.m. Ukrainian authorities issue warning about Chernobyl

Ukranie’s Defense and Intelligence Ministries claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “ordered the preparation of a terrorist attack” at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, reported The New York Times.

“They will try to create a man-made catastrophe at the Russian-controlled Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and then to accuse Ukraine of the disaster.”

The accusation has not yet been confirmed.

6:00 a.m. Besieged cities need aid, land mines are a danger, says the UN

The United Nations refugee agency said Ukraine is struggling to bring aid and evacuate people from the cities most affected by the war. Furthermore, it says that the clashes with Russian troops are becoming more complicated by the increased use of land mines.

“They are a major danger, a major hazard, and it’s imperative they are quickly removed and no more are laid down,” said Matthew Saltmarsh, a spokesman for the agency.

4:00 a.m. Missile strikes reported in several Ukrainian cities

Missile strikes were reported in several Ukrainian cities throughout the night, reported The New York Times.

The affected cities include, Dnipro in the east, Lutsk in the northwest, and Ivano-Frankivsk in the southwest.

March 10, 2022

11:45 p.m. The cities of Lutsk and Dnipro are attacked for the first time.

Reports of explosions in cities that are located on opposite sides of Ukraine were reported by the BBC.

"Ukrainian television and media are reporting explosions in Lutsk, in the northwest, as well as in Dnipro, an inland city that is located on the Dnieper River and a major stronghold in east-central Ukraine," the English outlet said.

None of these cities had previously suffered direct shelling.

11:30 p.m. White House questions Russia on the possibility of seizing assets of international companies

White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed Russian reports that Moscow is considering seizing the assets of U.S. and international companies that have announced plans to suspend operations there or withdraw from the Russian market.

"Ultimately, these decisions are up to the companies. As President Biden said earlier this week, we welcome decisions by companies to exit Russia because they do not want to participate in Russia's deliberate war against Ukraine," the official wrote on Twitter.

11:00 p.m. Zelensky responds to Russia's accusations

In a video broadcast via Facebook, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Moscow's questioning of the alleged agreement between Washington and Kyiv to run laboratories and produce chemical weapons.

"I am the president of a right country, a right nation. And the father of two children. And no chemical or any other weapon of mass destruction was developed in my land. Everybody knows that. You know that. And if Russia does something like that against us, it will get the most severe sanctions in response," the Ukrainian president replied.

10:00 p.m. Ukraine claims to have shot down 10 Russian fighter jets

Ukraine's air force said it shot down 10 Russian fighter jets and destroyed two large weapons convoys, in a statement, quoted by the BBC. Ukraine claims that Su-25 aircraft and an Su-34 were hit. They further detail that one of the fighter jets was shot down by a Stinger missile.

8:30 p.m. Ukraine accuses Russia of "nuclear terrorism"

Ukraine accused Moscow of "nuclear terrorism" after a nuclear research facility was shelled by Russian forces. Russian shelling hit the Institute of Physics and Technology in Kharkov, home to an experimental nuclear reactor.

Ukraine's State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that the facility in the city of Kharkov was left without power and suffered "superficial" damage during shelling on Thursday night.

8:15 p.m. Russian tanks are stationed on the outskirts of Kyiv

Russian tanks arrived at the outskirts of Kyiv as part of their strategy to encircle Ukraine's major cities, following a day of high-level negotiations that ended with accusations against Moscow of attacking a humanitarian corridor.

On the ground, an AFP team reported plumes of smoke in the town of Skybyn, a few meters from the last checkpoint on the northeastern edge of Kiev.

8:00 p.m. UN to hold emergency meeting at Moscow's request

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday at Moscow's request over the alleged production of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Russia accused Washington and Kyiv of running laboratories to produce chemical weapons in Ukraine. Both governments have denied the accusation.  

Moscow accused the U.S. in 2018 of secretly conducting chemical experiments at a lab in Georgia, another former Soviet republic that also wants to join NATO and the European Union.

"Russia has repeatedly spread disinformation about Syria's repeated use of chemical weapons," U.S. Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills responded.

7:45 p.m. Satellite photos show movements of huge stalled Russian convoy

Satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies show that the 64-kilometer (40-mile) long line of vehicles, tanks, and artillery that had been stalled on the outskirts of Kiev since last week has relocated.

Some of the vehicles have been moved to forests. Thus, armored units have been seen in villages near Antonov airport, north of the city, Maxar reported.

6:50 p.m. Zelensky accuses Russia of attacking humanitarian corridor in Mariupol

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of launching a tank attack on the route through which humanitarian material was to pass for the besieged port of Mariupol, which "is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe," according to the Ukrainian city's municipal council.

"Russian troops have not ceased fire. However, I decided to send a convoy to Mariupol with food, water and medicines", explained the president, who added that "the occupants launched an attack with tanks exactly where this corridor should pass."

6:10 p.m. NATO is determined "not to do anything that would give excuses to Putin to escalate the war"

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares assured that NATO will not do "anything" that could be used as an excuse by Russian President Vladimir Putin to escalate the tension in the war with Ukraine.

"We are determined in NATO not to do anything that could be used as an excuse for escalation or as an excuse for aggression towards Russia. Therefore, no action will be taken that will give excuses to [Vladimir] Putin (...) to escalate," he said in an interview to Spanish channel Antena 3.

5:45 p.m. Russia accuses U.S. of funding biological weapons research in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry accused the United States of funding a biological weapons program in Ukraine and said it had found evidence to that effect in Ukrainian laboratories.

"The aim of this Pentagon-funded biological research in Ukraine was to create a mechanism for secretly spreading deadly pathogens," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

4:45 p.m. Facebook and Instagram will temporarily allow calls for violence against Russians

Meta will allow Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers with regards to the invasion of Ukraine, according to internal emails cited by Reuters, implying a temporary change to its hate speech policy.

The social media company is also temporarily allowing posts calling for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in countries including Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.

4:15 pm. EU expects millions of Ukrainian refugees

Following the arrival of Russian tanks at the gates of Kiev as part of its strategy to encircle major Ukrainian cities, the European Union (EU) is preparing to receive "millions" of refugees.

The military operations followed in parallel to the first high-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, where the goal of a cease-fire in the conflict initiated by President Vladimir Putin on February 24 was not achieved.

3:45 p.m. Walt Disney suspends activities in Russia

Walt Disney announced a "pause of all activities" in Russia due to the country’s "assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis."

Disney's announcement follows similar measures by several companies who have put a halt to their activities on Russian territory following the invasion of Ukraine.

3:30 p.m. IMF warns of economic fallout from Russian invasion

The invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine and subsequent economic sanctions against Russia have triggered a contraction of world trade and triggered soaring food and energy prices, which will force the International Monetary Fund to downgrade its global growth forecast in April, advanced the agency's managing director, Kristalina Georgieva.

3:12 p.m. Ukraine appeals to the international community for help

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vershchuk called for help from the international community for the city of Mariupol, which has been encircled for days by Russian forces. "There is a humanitarian disaster," she warned.

"Help for Mariupol. There is a real humanitarian disaster there," she said in a video message, after the humanitarian corridor agreed with Russia failed.

3:05 p.m. China warns it will react if U.S. extends sanctions against Beijing

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian claimed on Thursday that China will react firmly if the United States imposes sanctions against it over its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reported m24. 

"The United States should neither impose sanctions on Chinese enterprises and individuals nor harm China's legitimate rights and interests in handling its relations with Russia. Otherwise, China will take a firm and forceful response," the spokesman said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that sanctions will not solve the conflict, but will aggravate it, which is "not constructive at all."

2:30 p.m. Zelensky asks to speak at Holocaust museum in Jerusalem 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked to address the Museum, Yad Vashem, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine progresses. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the institution.

The Jewish genocide memorial center will discuss the proposal with the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, while Yad Vashem did not elaborate on the request, local press reported.

2:00 p.m. Three dead, including a girl, after attack on children's hospital

Three people, including a girl, were killed after Russian shelling of a children's hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday, the Mariupol municipal government announced on Thursday. 

"Three people died, including a girl," the municipality said on Telegram. The first balance of the authorities spoke about 17 people wounded.

1:45 p.m. Ukraine's 'express' EU membership ruled out
European leaders on Thursday ruled out Ukraine's demand for 'express' accession to the European Union (EU) in response to the Russian invasion of the country, reported Europa Press. 

"There is no fast track for accession. That does not exist," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte upon his arrival at the Palace of Versailles, where a summit of the bloc is set to reaffirm its support for Ukraine.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said  "we cannot give Ukrainians the impression that everything can happen in one day."

1:15 p.m. UK imposes more sanctions against Russian businessmen 

The UK imposed sanctions on seven Russian businessmen, including the Chealsea soccer team owner Roman Abramovich, and halted the sale of the English soccer club.
Abramovich and the other businessmen will have all their assets frozen in the UK and where they will not be able to travel to the country, the British Government said, confirming that the sale of Chelsea was suspended because of the sanctions.

The British Government also announced that Ukrainians with family members in the UK will be able to take out temporary visas more easily.

12:40 p.m. Negotiations fail in Turkey, tanks close in on Kiev

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey on Thursday failed to reach an agreement on a cease-fire, in their first face-to-face meeting after Russian troops began invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, and are still advancing toward Kiev. 

"We wanted to get a 24-hour ceasefire. [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov said that Moscow wanted to talk about humanitarian corridors", indicated the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba after the meeting in Antalya, in the south of Turkey.

The Ukrainian official assured that Russia intends to "continue its aggression until Ukraine capsizes." 

"I heard today that the cease-fire is linked, on the Russian side, to the respect of the demands expressed by President Putin to Ukraine", he added. "But Ukraine has not surrendered, is not surrendering and will not surrender."

12:26 p.m. Putin warns sanctions against Russia will cause food prices to soar 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine will lead to global inflation and soaring food prices since Russia will no longer be able to export enough fertilizers.

"If this continues, there will be serious consequences (...) for the food sector as a whole, rising inflation will be inevitable," he said at a government meeting after Russia suspended fertilizer exports.

12:00 p.m. Russia has destroyed $100 billion worth of Ukrainian assets

An economic advisor to the Ukrainian government claimed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has destroyed $100 billion worth of Ukrainian assets.

“The situation is a disaster that is really much deeper than somebody can imagine,” Oleg Ustenko said. “What is really needed to be done is to introduce a full embargo worldwide on Russian oil and gas. This is blood money.”

Ustenko said that more than 50 percent of Ukrainian businesses are not currently operating. The ones that are, are running at a limited capacity he added.

11:35 a.m. U.S. considering more sanctions against Russia

The United States is considering imposing more sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, said U.S Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

“The Russian economy will be devastated as a consequence of what we’ve already done, but we…continue to consider further steps we can take,” Yellen said.

“We continue to work very closely with our allies to consider sanctions,” she added. “At this point, we are not seeing Russia back off the horrific war they started, an unprovoked invasion of the Ukrainian homeland. In fact, the atrocities they are committing against civilians seem to be intensifying. So, it’s certainly appropriate for us to be working with our allies to consider further sanctions.”

11:29 a.m. More than 1,200 bodies have been found in Mariupol

More than 1,200 bodies have been collected in the port city of Mariupol since Russia began its attack on the city, claimed the city’s Deputy Mayor Sehiy Orlov, reported The Guardian.

“[These are] just bodies that we collected on the street”, Orlov said. The real number of people killed in the city remains unknown.

11:00 a.m. Russian forces laying siege on Chernihiv

Russian forces are laying siege Chernihiv, a city of 300,000 residents in northern Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

“We are surrounded,” Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said, adding that Russians are repeatedly bombing the city.

The city has been left without gas for heating or cooking, and some areas do not have electricity.

“Dozens of people have died,” the Mayor said in a message. “Dozens of multistory buildings have been ruined. Thousands of people have no place to live.”

10:50 a.m. Half of Kyiv’s residents have left the city

More than half of the residents of the Ukrainian capital have fled the city, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko in a live broadcast.

“The city is not buildings. It is, first of all, people,” he said as Russian forces continue to attack the city.

10:30 a.m. Residents of Mariupol are left without food, water, heat, or medical care

Hundreds of thousands of people in the port city of Mariupol that was taken over by Russians are left without food, water, heat, electricity, or medical care, said the International Red Cross.

“Many people report having no food for children,” said the organization’s delegation deputy head Sasha Volkov.

“People started to attack each other for food. People started to ruin someone’s car to take the gasoline out,” he added.

“We will have food for a few days. We have started to get sick, many of us, because of the humidity and cold that we have. We tried to achieve hygiene standards as much as possible but not always actually possible.”

10:05 a.m. Russia changes conscription rules

Russia is planning to change conscription rules in order to be able to send summons by mail, reported The Guardian.  

If a conscript does not receive a letter or does not show up at a recruiting office, they could be criminally charged.

9:45 a.m. Goldman Sachs exits Russia

Goldman Sachs announced the suspension of its operations in Russia, becoming the first major Wall Street bank to exit the country as a result of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, reported The Washington Post.

“Goldman Sachs is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements,” the bank said in statement. “We are focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out preexisting obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people.”

9:05 a.m. U.S. is prepared to help Poland with refugees, says Harris

During her visit to Warsaw on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris said the U.S. is “absolutely prepared” to help Poland with Ukrainian refugees.

“We recognize that, and we recognize the burden that it places on the government of Poland, on the president and the infrastructure of this country,” Harris said. “So the United States is absolutely prepared to do what we can and what we must to support Poland in terms of the burden that they have taken on.”

Poland has received more than 1.5 refugees since the start of the war.

8:35 a.m. Russia says shelling of children's hospital is "fake news"

Russia said Thursday that a Ukrainian claim that it shelled a children's hospital in Mariupol was "fake news" as the building was a former maternity hospital that troops seized it a while back.

"This is how fake news is born," Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Twitter.

Polyanskiy claimed that, Russia had warned on March 7 that the hospital had become a military object from which Ukrainians were firing.

8:12 a.m. Mining company Rio Tinto cuts business ties with Russian companies

Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto announced on Thursday that it will cut all commercial ties with Russian companies, following the example of several countries and multinationals after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Rio Tinto is in the process of terminating all commercial relations it has with any Russian company," reads a statement sent to the EFE news agency by a spokesman for the miner, one of the largest in the world.

Rio Tinto is analyzing with its legal team the future of its aluminum refinery Alumina Queensland, located in northeastern Australia and in which the Russian mining-metallurgical company Rusal, one of the world's largest aluminum companies, has a 20% stake, according to the Australian Financial Review newspaper.

7:42 a.m. Sony suspends PlayStation operations in Russia

Sony announced on Thursday that it halted PlayStation shipments to Russia and suspended the online gaming company's operations in that country as punishment for invading Ukraine.

"Sony Interactive Entertainment joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine," said a statement posted on the PlayStation account. "We have suspended all software and hardware shipments, the launch of Gran Turismo 7 and PlayStation Store operations in Russia."

7:25 a.m. Italy's ENI will not sign new contracts to buy Russian oil

Italian energy multinational ENI will not sign new contracts for the purchase of oil from Russia, according to EFE.

"ENI has suspended the signing of new contracts for the purchase of oil and oil products from Russia," the multinational said in a statement, saying it will operate in "full compliance with the provisions of European and national institutions."

6:50 a.m. U.S. pressures oil companies to increase production

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urged oil companies to increase crude oil supplies in the face of the emergency caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at the annual CERAWeek energy conference in Texas, Granholm said that the impact of high oil prices is "real and serious."

"In this time of crisis, we need more supplies. And that means you produce more right now," she noted.

5:20 a.m. Turkey to host diplomatic heads of Ukraine and Russia

Turkey will host the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine on Thursday for their first direct meeting since the start of the Russian offensive.

Russian diplomatic chief Sergey Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in the Turkish resort of Antalya, where they will be received by Turkish Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has tried to mediate in the conflict, stressed on Wednesday that his country "can talk at the same time with Ukraine and Russia."

3:35 a.m. Zelensky: About 35,000 civilians evacuated from Ukrainian cities

At least 35,000 civilians were evacuated Wednesday from Ukrainian cities under attack by Russian troops, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

He added that three humanitarian corridors allowed the evacuation of residents of the cities of Sumy and Enerhodar and areas on the outskirts of the capital Kiev.

2:00 a.m. IMF approves $1.4 billion in aid to Ukraine

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday approved $1.4 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine to "mitigate the economic impact" that Russia's invasion of that country is having, DW News reported.

"The war in Ukraine is causing tragic loss of life and human suffering. While the outlook is subject to extraordinary uncertainty, the economic consequences are already very severe, with refugee flows of more than 2 million people in just 13 days and large-scale destruction of key infrastructure in the country," the agency said in a statement.

9 de marzo 2022

10:15 p.m. Maduro warns about the danger of a nuclear war

Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro warned about the danger of a nuclear war being triggered by the crisis in Ukraine.

"The danger is that it will be a nuclear world war, there is a real danger that a nuclear war will be triggered in today's world. Venezuela rings the alert. Venezuela makes the denunciation. Venezuela makes the call to the awakening of the world conscience," Maduro said in a speech broadcasted by the state television channel.

Likewise, Maduro reiterated his concern for a possible war in Europe and an extension to other regions.

9:35 p.m. Spain does not rule out sending more weapons to Ukraine

The Spanish government is willing to send more weapons to Ukraine if Kiev requests it, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.

"Within the availabilities, if Ukraine needs it, we will send the material that we have and that can help that heroic defense that the Ukrainians are making," Robles said in statements to the press in the Congress of Deputies.

8:40 p.m. Russia accuses Ukrainian forces of sabotaging power to Chernobyl

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian ultra-nationalists attacked the substation supplying power to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

"They attacked the power grid facilities supplying power to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but Russian specialists took prompt measures to switch to backup diesel generators," Deputy Defense Minister Army General Nikolai Pankov said at a briefing.

"I am very sorry to have to note that Ukrainian nationalists have once again indulged in provocation, an extremely dangerous provocation. They have attacked the substation and power lines feeding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Russian specialists have taken swift action to switch to backup diesel generator power sources," Pankov said.

6:02 p.m. Boris Johnson vows to impose “maximum economic cost” on Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to “impose the maximum economic cost on Russia” during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reported CNN.

“Both leaders condemned the horrifying attack on a maternity hospital in Mariupol and the failure by Russian forces to respect ceasefire agreements in humanitarian corridors. The Prime Minister noted that this was yet further evidence that Putin was acting with careless disregard for International Humanitarian Law,” a Downing street spokesperson said of the phone call.

5:50 p.m. USAID worker killed on her birthday in Ukraine

U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power reported that a worker at one of the agency’s partner organizations “was killed by the Russian military just shy of her 32nd birthday.”

“I'm enormously sad to share the death of Valeriia ‘Lera’ Maksetska — proud Ukrainian, beloved @USAID implementing partner & brilliant, compassionate leader on building social cohesion & fighting disinformation,” Power posted on Twitter\

“Lera, a trained medic, could've left Kyiv when the invasion began, but stayed to help others. Only when her mom Irina ran out of medicine did she evacuate. As Lera, Irina & their driver Yaroslav waited in a car for a Russian convoy to pass, a tank fired on them—killing all three,” added Power.

5:45 p.m. Russian strike on hospital is the ‘ultimate evidence that genocide,' says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the bombing of a childrens hospital in Mariupol evidence of Russia’s genocide in Ukriane.

“A children’s hospital, a maternity ward. How did they threaten the Russian Federation? What is this country, the Russian Federation, that is afraid of hospitals, maternity wards and is destroying them? Were there little Banderovites? Were pregnant women going to shoot on Rostov? Did anyone in the maternity ward humiliate Russian speakers? Or was it de-Nazification of a hospital?” the president asked.

“Europeans, Ukrainians, Mariupol residents, we have to stand united in condemning Russia for this crime that reflects all evil that the invaders have brought on us, on all destroyed cities: Volnovakha, Izyum, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Borodyanka, Hostomel, Zhytomyr and tens of our Ukrainian cities that never posed any threat to Russia,” he added.

“Hospitals and schools are destroyed. Churches and ordinary buildings are destroyed. People are killed. Children are killed. Air bombing on a children’s hospital is the ultimate evidence that genocide of Ukrainians is happening.”

5:34 p.m. Russian claim that U.S. is developing weapons in Ukraine is false, says Psaki

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Russia’s claims that biological and chemical weapons are being developed in Ukraine are false, reported The Washington Post.

“This is preposterous,” Psaki said in a tweet.

“Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them,” Psaki added. “It’s a clear pattern.”

5:05 p.m. 1 million children have fled Ukraine

More than 1 million children have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, said the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reported Reuters.

“This attack, if confirmed, underscores the horrific toll this war is exacting on Ukraine’s children and families,” said Executive Director Catherine Russel in a statement.

At least 37 children have been killed and 50 injured, she said.

4:40 p.m. Zhytomyr mayor says air strike hit civilian building and thermal power plant

Zhytomyr’s mayor, Serhii Sukhomlyn, reported another Russian airstrike on Wednesday evening local time, reported CNN.

“An air strike has just been made. Thermal power plant of Zhytomir has been hit and a civilian building.”

So far, no casualties have been reported, but the power plant might have to shut down, said the mayor. The power plant provides heating to around 30% of the city.

4:20 p.m. Russian delegation “will not concede” in negotiations

Russian delegation negotiator Leonid Slutsky said on Wednesday it “will not concede a single negotiating point” during its negotiation talks with Ukraine, RIA news agency reported.

Ukraine and Russia have had three round of negotiation talks since the start of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. The two countries’ foreign ministers are scheduled to meet again on Thursday in Turkey.

4:08 p.m. Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant stopped transmitting data

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the systems of the Zaporizhzhia power plant un Ukraine, which has been taken over by Russian troops, stopped transmitting data, reported Reuters.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi “said he was concerned about the sudden interruption of such data flows to the IAEA’s Vienna headquarters from the two sites, where large amounts of nuclear material are present in the form of spent or fresh nuclear fuel and other types of nuclear material.”

A similar interruption was reported at the Chernobyl power plant yesterday.

3:47 p.m. Over 3,000 people have escaped Kyiv

Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said that more than 3,000 people managed to evacuate the “occupied parts of Irpin and Vorzel," two localities north of Kyiv, on Wednesday, reported CNN.

"About a hundred buses and ambulance vehicles were involved in the evacuation," the ministry said. "Among the rescued citizens there are several hundred children, the elderly and the seriously ill."

3:15 p.m. Ukraine’s prosecutor general calls for war crime tribunal

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova called for an investigation to track alleged war crimes in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.

“International Humanitarian Law, International Public law, all the institutions created after WW2 as preventative, are not quite capable. Therefore, we need new models, new mechanisms. We’re asking our partners to joint investigative models, because the ones we have unfortunately don’t work,” she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

She claimed that her office has launched a criminal investigation into the “encroachment of territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine and waging an aggressive war.”

2:43 p.m. Heartbreaking images from Mariupol shared on social media

Heartbreaking images from Russia’s airstrike in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol have been shared on social media. The bombing hit a children’s medical hospital.

2:30 p.m. U.S. stands by decision to not send Polish warplanes to Ukraine

The White House defended its decision to decline Poland’s offer to deliver MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine due to “a range of logistical operational challenges.”

“They have to be taken apart and put back together,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. “You have to have people who are able to put those planes back together. You have to ensure that they can be safely moved through the course of a contested country.”

“There are important operational logistics concerns here and steps [and] conversations that should happen between military experts and that’s exactly what’s happening,” she added. “It doesn’t require a military expert to understand why having planes fly from a U.S. air base into … a country where there is a war is not in our interests and not in NATO’s interests.”

2:25 p.m. British prime minister calls Mariupol hospital attack "immoral"

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the aerial bombing of a children's hospital in Mariupol "immoral" and vowed to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable "for his terrible crimes."

"There are few things more immoral than attacking the vulnerable and defenseless," Johnson tweeted after the attack, which left 17 adults injured. "The UK is seeking further support for Ukraine to defend itself against air strikes," he added.

2:10 p.m. Amazon, GE, John Deere among the latest companies to suspend business in Russia

As the West continues to isolate Russia with sanctions, several companies are suspending their business operations in Russia as a result of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, reported CNN.

General Electric announced in a statement on Wednesday that it would suspend operations in Russia.

The world’s largest agriculture equipment manufacturer, John Deere, halted shipments of products to Russia.

Similarly, Amazon suspended Russia’s access to Prime Video and will no longer ship retail order to customers in Russia and Belarus.

1:55 p.m. Russia admits to using themobaric weapon systems in Ukraine war

Russia’s Ministry of Defense admitted to using the TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine, which uses the power of thermobaric rockets, reported The Guardian.

1:33 p.m. Dockworkers at U.S. ports refuse to handle Russian cargo

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents workers from 29 ports from Washington to California, announced that they would refuse to handle Russian cargo as a response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

“With this action in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, we send a strong message that we unequivocally condemn the Russian invasion,” said  ILWU International President Willie Adams.

“West coast dockworkers are proud to do our part to join with those around the world who are bravely taking a stand and making sacrifices for the good of Ukraine,” he added.

1:20 p.m. Russia says Ukraine was planning to attack Donbas in March

The Russian Defense Ministry published a document stating that Kyiv was preparing an offensive operation in Donbas for March, ABC News reports.

"The Russian Defense Ministry publishes the original secret order of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel General Mykola Balan, dated January 22, 2022," said Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.

As the official clarified, it is "an order" on the organization of training of a battalion tactical group of the 4th operational brigade to perform special combat tasks in the joint forces operation as part of a brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

1:10 p.m. Putin claims he didn’t send conscripts to Ukraine, Defense Ministry said it did

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged sending conscripts into battle in Ukraine. This latest statement contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim earlier this week that conscripts were not going to participate in the war, reported The New York Times.

“Comprehensive measures are being taken to prevent conscripts from being sent into combat areas and to release captured servicemen,” said the Defense Ministry in a statement.

12:35 p.m. WHO verified 18 attacks on health facilities in Ukraine

The World Health Organization (WHO) was able to verify 18 Russian attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine, said Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“So far, WHO has verified 18 attacks on health facilities, health workers and ambulances, including ten deaths and 16 injuries,” Tedros said.

“More than 2 million people have left Ukraine and WHO is supporting neighboring countries to provide health care for refugees, most of whom are women and children. Some of the main health challenges we see are hypothermia, and frostbite, respiratory diseases, lack of treatment for cardiovascular disease and cancer, and mental health issues. WHO personnel and have been deployed to neighboring countries to provide mental health and psychosocial support.”

“WHO continues to call on the Russian Federation to commit to a peaceful resolution to this crisis and to allow safe, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for those in need. A peaceful resolution is possible, and that's true in every war and humanitarian crisis to which WHO is responding around the world,” the director general added.

 

12:46 p.m. Zelensky calls for progress in negotiations: "The war must end"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again called for negotiations to resolve the conflict with Russia. "The war must end. We must sit down at the negotiating table," the president asked.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations already held three rounds of peace talks in Belarus since last week. However, all of them ended without significant progress.

12:21 p.m. Russia warns that it will take measures against countries that help Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that there will be consequences for countries that collaborate with Ukraine, either by sending weapons or volunteers.

"Any involvement in supplying weapons or sending so-called volunteers [to Ukraine], any experiments in this direction, will entail responsibility for the corresponding countries," the official said.

11:47 a.m. At least 500 civilians killed in Ukraine, says UN

The United Nations said that at least 516 civilians have been killed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

“Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes,” says a UN report.

“OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, especially in Government-controlled territory and especially in recent days, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration.”

11:20 a.m. UK to provide anti-aircraft weapons and anti-tank missiles to Ukraine

The United Kingdom plans to supply Starstreak anti-aircraft weapons and Javelin anti-tank missiles to help Ukrainian forces fight against the Russian invasion, said the UK’s Denfence Secretary Ben Wallace, reported by The Guardian.

“In response to Ukrainian requests, the government has taken a decision to explore the donation of Starstreak high-velocity man-portable anti-air missiles,” said Wallace.

11:00 a.m. Congress finalizes $13.6 billion aid package for Ukraine

Congress finalized a bill on Wednesday that could send $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, doubling the amount the Biden administration initial request of $6.4 billion, reported The New York Times.

The bill includes $6.5 billion for the Pentagon to cover the costs of deploying American troops to Europe and providing Ukraine with intelligence reports. Humanitarian and economic aid will account for around $6.7 billion to help Ukrainians. The bill also allocated $120 million to prosecute those who violate the sanctions imposed on Russia.

10:45 a.m. Zelensky says children buried in Rubble after airstrike in Mariupol

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed there are children buried under the rubble of a Russian airstrike that hit a maternity hospital in Mariupol.

10:30 a.m. Russian air strike hits a children hospital and maternity facility in Mariupol

A Russian air strike hit a children’s hospital and a maternity facility in the southeastern city of Mariupol, according to Ukrainian officials, reported the Associated Press.

 The city’s city council said the hospital suffered “colossal” damage. It is still unknown how many were wounded or died due to the attack.

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky called the strike an “atrocity.”

9:58 a.m. EU adds 160 Russian leaders to its blacklist

The European Union added 160 Russian leaders to its blacklist, as well as new sanctions against three Belarusian banks and restrictions on exports of maritime components to Russia and cryptocurrencies.

As confirmed by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU includes 160 Russian individuals, including oligarchs and members of the Federation Council, the Russian Senate.

With this new decision, the EU maintains sanctions against more than 800 Russian leaders involved in the invasion of Ukraine.

9:35 a.m. Chernobyl "totally disconnected" from power grid

The Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine is completely disconnected from the power grid in the face of damage inflicted by Russian troops, raising concerns about radioactive contamination from spent nuclear fuel cooling.

The 540 kV Cherbobyl-Kyiv high-voltage line is currently offline "due to damage caused by occupiers," Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear company, confirmed Wednesday, according to Fox News.

"The backup diesel generators have a 48-hour capacity to power the Chernobyl nuclear power plant," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. "After that, the cooling systems of the spent nuclear fuel storage facilities will stop, making radiation leaks imminent. Putin's brutal war endangers the whole of Europe - he must stop it immediately!".

9:20 a.m. "Send us your planes," Zelensky asks Western countries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western countries to decide "quickly" on Poland's proposal to send them Mig-29 fighter jets to help cope with the Russian invasion.

"Make a decision as quickly as possible. Send us your planes," the leader asked in a video posted on Telegram after the United States said the proposal was "not feasible."

8:40 a.m. Kamala Harris travels to Poland to meet with Ukrainian refugees

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel today to Warsaw, capital of Poland, to assess ways to provide "military assistance" to Ukraine, the White House said.

Her trip comes amid controversy yesterday when Poland said it could make its Mig-29 aircraft available to Washington "without delay" to send to Ukraine, while the U.S. rejected the offer, saying it was "not feasible."

8:25 a.m. New European Sanctions against Russia and Belarus

The 27 members of the European Union expanded their sanctions against Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine.

Representatives of member states meeting in Brussels excluded three Belarusian banks from the international financial platform SWIFT and also adopted new sanctions targeting the maritime sector. In addition, they added Russian leaders and oligarchs to their blacklist, the French presidency of the Council of the EU indicated on Twitter.

Similarly, they expanded the list of technologies and goods that cannot be exported to Russia and "clarified" the restrictions imposed on cryptocurrencies, curbing Moscow’s efforts to avoid Western sanctions.

8:00 a.m. Ukraine bans exports of wheat, sugar, and salt

The Ukrainian government banned exports of rye, barley, buckwheat, millet, sugar, salt, and meat until the end of this year, according to CNN.

With this decision, the country seeks to put food security in the spotlight, which will lead to grain shortages and higher prices for basic rice.

Russia and Ukraine combined are responsible for about 30% of world wheat and barley exports.

6:45 a.m. Russia is denounced for a bombing that occurred on March 3

On March 3, at around 12:15 p.m., a square in Chernihiv was hit by multiple bombs, killing civilians and severely damaging buildings.

Within days of the episode, an Amnesty International investigation claims that the attack which killed 47 civilians while they were standing in line to buy bread may constitute a war crime.

5:20 a.m. Japan sends bulletproof vests, helmets, food, and clothing to Ukraine

Japanese authorities sent bulletproof vests, helmets, food supplies, and winter clothing to Ukraine, making it the first time the Asian country has sent such aid to another country due to its pacifist stance after World War II, Semana reports.

3:12 a.m. New explosions reported in Kyiv

Explosions were reported in and around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, setting off raid alarms. Residents were asked to go to air-raid shelters as soon as possible.

"Kyiv region: anti-aircraft alert. Threat of missile attack. Everyone immediately to shelters," the head of the regional government, Oleksiy Kuleba, said on Telegram.

1:00 a.m. At least five dead after airstrike in northern Ukraine

At least five people were killed on Tuesday, including two one-year-old children, after an airstrike on a residential area in the town of Malin, Yitomir region, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

"On March 8 at 20.50 (local time) in Malin, Yitomir region, seven single-storey private residential buildings have been destroyed, five people were killed, including two children (born in 2021), as a result of the airstrike," the emergency body reported on Telegram.

March 8, 202

11:55 p.m. Ukraine asked for help to relieve 210 Chernobyl employees

Ukraine requested help from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to lead an international plan to relieve the personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, who have remained at the site since a day before the Russian invasion on February 24.

Ukrainian authorities conveyed to the IAEA the urgency and importance of rotating the 210 technicians and guards working at the plant.

"I am deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation facing the staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the potential risks this implies for nuclear safety," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

10:00 p.m. Ukraine repatriates its blue helmets deployed in Congo

Ukraine announced to the UN the repatriation of its 250 blue helmets deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the organization reported on Tuesday.

"The UN received official notification of the Ukrainian government's decision to withdraw its military contingent, including personnel, helicopters and equipment from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo," the spokesman for the UN Peace Operations department told AFP.

8:12 pm. Fitch agency warned that a Russian debt default is "imminent"

The rating agency Fitch downgraded the Russian debt on Tuesday from B to C, currently rated as junk bond, Ámbito reported.

Fitch, like the other major rating agencies, placed Russia's long-term debt rating in early March in the risk category of not being able to repay its debt, but decided to lower it again due to the evolution of events "that have undermined Russia's willingness to repay public debt"

6:00 p.m. Putin orders import-export ban on products for 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order restricting imports and exports of certain products and raw materials in 2022, reported Russian state media RIA. The list of the Russian products, however, has yet to be defined, reported CNN.

The ban comes as U.S. President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian energy imports as a consequence of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

5:40 p.m. West will form a new “Marshall Plan,” says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson for forming a new “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine in a video on Telegram.

“There will be a new Marshall Plan for Ukraine. The West will form this support package. The British Prime Minister said this today. A man of his word, a sincere friend of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“We are already expecting tough decisions from the European Union. Sanctions. Against Russia. For this war. For this aggression, which its authors will regret. They will. For sure. That is why it is so important that the Russian leadership realizes that the world will follow the example of the United States, Great Britain, the European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan and other free countries. So, the world cannot be fooled. Sanctions cannot be avoided," Zelensky added.

5:30 p.m. Russian warplanes strike residential areas

Ukrainian authorities claimed Russian warplanes have carried out strikes on residential areas in several parts of the country, reported The Associated Press.

“Ukrainian officials said that that two people, including a 7-year-old child, were killed in the town of Chuhuiv just east of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine late Tuesday. And in the city of Malyn in the Zhytomyr region west of the capital Kyiv at least five people, including two children, were killed in a Russian air strike,” reported the outlet.

5:05 p.m. Zhytomyr mayor claims Russians destroyed apartment building

In a video message on Telegram, Zhytomyr Mayor Serhii Sukhomlyn said Russian military strikes destroyed an apartment building and a textile factory, reported CNN.

He did not have any information about any fatalities that might have resulted from the strike.

4:30 p.m. Irpin residents say Russian troops continue to attack as they evacuate

Residents of Irpin, a town in the outskirts of Kyiv said that Russian troops are continuing to attack as they attempt to evacuate the town, reported The Washington Post.

“People who stayed there have no water, no gas, no electricity,” Elena Stolyar told The Post. “Our parents stayed, they didn’t evacuate. They didn’t want to leave the home they had been building their whole lives.”

4:15 p.m. IAEA says it lost contact with safeguards at Chernobyl

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it lost contact with remote data transmission from safeguards that are monitoring the systems at the Chernobyl powerplant.

“The Director General also indicated that remote data transmission from safeguards monitoring systems installed at the Chornobyl NPP had been lost. The Agency is looking into the status of safeguards monitoring systems in other locations in Ukraine and will provide further information soon,” the IAEA said in a statement.  

3:47 p.m. Zelensky thanks Biden for banning Russian oil imports

Ukrainian President Vladymyr Zelensky thanked President Joe Biden for announcing the U.S. ban on Russian oil and gas imports.

“Thankful for US and @POTUS personal leadership in striking in the heart of Putin’s war machine and banning oil, gas and coal from US market,” Zelensky tweeted. “Encourage other countries and leaders to follow.”

3:15 p.m. Russia proposes new ceasefire to allow evacuations

Russia announced a new proposal for a ceasefire starting at 10.00 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday to allow citizens to evacuate from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Mariupol, reported CNN.

“Russia insists on the need of a continuous communication channel with Ukraine to exchange information regarding the evacuation of civilians and foreigners,” wrote the outlet.

2:30 p.m. Israel offers temporary refuge to 25,000 Ukrainians

Israel said it would provide temporary refuge to 25,000 Ukrainians who are not Jewish until the end of the war, reported The Associated Press.

“The images of the war in Ukraine and the suffering its citizens shake one’s soul and do not allow us to remain indifferent,” said Ayelet Shaked, the Israeli interior minister.

Around 20,000 Ukrainians were in Israel without legal status before the beginning of the war. According to Shaked, they will not be deported “until the danger subsides.”

Another 5,000 will be given three-month visas that will allow them to work and stay until the war is over. Ukrainians can apply for the program online.

1:56 p.m. The New York Times pulls its team from Russia

The New York Times announced on Tuesday the temporary departure of its team of correspondents from Russia to protect their safety, after a law went into effect that condemns with up to 15 years in prison any "misleading" information about the invasion in Ukraine.

"Russia's new legislation seeks to criminalize independent and truthful reporting on the war against Ukraine. For the safety of our staff working in the region, we are withdrawing them from the country for now," the newspaper said in a statement.

"We will maintain our powerful live coverage and intend to continue to report rigorously on Russia's offensive in Ukraine and attempts to stifle independent journalism.”

1:32 p.m. "We will fight to the end," Zelensky vows, quoting Churchill

In a virtual speech on Tuesday before the parliamentarians of Great Britain, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to "fight to the end,” invoking the historic speech of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1940, during World War II.

"We will not surrender and we will not lose. We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue to fight for our land, whatever it takes, in the forests, in the fields, on the coasts, in the streets," Zelensky said after receiving a standing ovation from the lawmakers.

1:15 p.m. McDonalds suspends business operations in Russia

McDonalds announced it will temporarily close 850 restaurants in Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine,” the company said in a statement.

McDonalds, however, promised to keep paying its 62,000 employees in Russia.

12:45 p.m. American oil and gas industry supports banning Russian imports

America’s oil and gas industry announced it would support the Biden administrations plan to plan Russian oil and gas imports, reported CNN.

"Our industry is prepared to comply with the import ban in response to this aggression," said Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute.

"The industry has already taken significant and meaningful steps to unwind relationships, both with respect to assets in Russia, as well as imports of Russian crude oil and refined products. We share the goal of reducing reliance on foreign energy sources and urge policymakers to advance American energy leadership and expand domestic production to counter Russia’s influence in global energy markets."

12:00 p.m. UK to phase out Russian oil imports

The United Kingdom will phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, British Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on Tuesday.

"Businesses should use this year to ensure a smooth transition so that consumers will not be affected," Kwarteng said.

He said the transition timeline will give the market enough time to replace Russian imports, which account 8 percent of U.K.’s. oil, reported NBC News.

11:45 a.m. US claims 2,000-4,000 Russian troops have been killed

Around 2,000 to 4,000 Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine since Russia began its invasion, claimed Director Lieutenant General Scott Berrier the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, cited by CNN.

However, Berrier said that the intelligence community has “low confidence” in its assessment of deaths. The estimate was based on intelligence sources and open-source material.

11:36 a.m. Putin will not succeed in Ukraine, says Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden said Russian President will not be victorious in his invasion of Ukraine.

"He has already turned two million Ukrainians into refugees. Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price, but this much is already clear: Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin. Putin may be able to take a city, but he'll never be able to hold the country. And if we do not respond to Putin's assault on global peace and stability today, the cost of freedom, and to the American people, will be even greater tomorrow," he said.

"Putin seems determined to continue on his murderous path no matter the cost," Biden added.

10:45 a.m. One million children have fled Ukraine

One million children have fled Ukraine in less than two weeks, Unicef spokesman James Elder said via Twitter. Elder considered this a "dark milestone".

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, indicated in a new report that 2,011,312 people have already left the country.

10:26 a.m. Ukraine accuses Russia of not respecting the humanitarian corridor in Mariupol

Ukraine's Defense Ministry accused Russia of not respecting the humanitarian corridor in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

"Ceasefire violated! Russian forces are now shelling the humanitarian corridor from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter.

10:00 a.m. More than 2 million people escaped from Ukraine

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, claimed that more than 2 million people have already fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began last February 24.

According to the organization's data, 2,011,312 people left the territory. More than half of the refugees —1,204,403—went to Poland.

9:40 a.m. Russia announces opening of humanitarian corridors

After the Ukrainian government confirmed the start of the first stage of evacuation in the city of Sumy, Russia announced the opening of several humanitarian corridors from Kiev and cities such as Kharkov and Mariupol, Europa Press reported.

"As of 10 a.m. (local time) Russia declared a regime of silence and is ready to create humanitarian corridors," the National Defense Control Center said.

9:23 a.m. Ukraine says 12,000 Russian soldiers have been killed

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that 12,000 members of the Russian armed forces died since the invasion began on February 24.

Officials said that the Kremlin has lost 48 aircraft, 80 helicopters, 303 tanks, 1036 armed vehicles, 120 artillery pieces, and 27 anti-aircraft warfare systems in the war.

8:30 a.m. First stage of evacuation in Sumy begins

The first stage of evacuation in the city of Sumy began, deputy head of the Ukrainian President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

The State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection posted a video on social networks showing evacuees boarding a vehicle in the direction of the town of Poltava.

8:02 a.m. Former Ukrainian president asks Zelensky to stop the war "at all costs"

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych asked the country's current president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to stop "at all costs" the "bloodshed" following the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.

"I want to make a request to Zelenski in a presidential and even a little paternal way," he said in a statement. "Volodymyr, maybe you dream of being a real hero, but heroism is not ostentation, it is not fighting to the last Ukrainian."

"I understand very well that you may have many advisers, but you are obliged at all costs to stop the bloodshed and achieve a peace agreement. That is expected of you in Ukraine, in the Donbas and in Russia. The Ukrainian people and your partners in the West will thank you for it," he added.

7:38 a.m. Russia threatens to cut off Europe's gas supplies.

Russia warned that it could shut down its main gas pipeline to Germany if the West bans Russian oil, La Vanguardia reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said such a move would have "catastrophic consequences" for world supplies and would cause the price of a barrel of oil to double to $300.

7:12 a.m. Russia becomes the most sanctioned country in the world

Russia became the most sanctioned country in the world, even above Syria and Iran, according to the BBC. This follows a report by the Castellum.ai website, which detailed that before February 22nd the nation ruled by Putin already had 2,754 sanctions. But, after the invasion, the number quickly increased: 2,778 sanctions were imposed, giving a total of 5,532.

Iran was previously in first place, with 3,616 sanctions; followed by Syria, with 2,608.

6:36 a.m. Ukrainians authorized to enter and stay in Argentina for up to three years

The Argentinian National Direction of Migration (DNM) issued a provision authorizing the entry and the stay of Ukrainian citizens in the country for humanitarian reasons, as well as their direct relatives, "as a response to the crisis caused by the war conflict that the country is going through," according to El Economista.

The measure adopted "grants the status of temporary protection to guarantee the entry and stay in Argentina of Ukrainians and their direct relatives, with a term of stay of up to three years", detailed the DNM.

5:48 a.m. More than 20 killed in shelling in the city of Sumy

The head of the Sumy Regional State Administration, Dmitry Zhivitsky, stated that at least 21 people were killed as a result of Russian-led shelling in the city of Sumy, reported local media The Kiev Independent.

Children were among the victims of the Russian air strike on residential buildings in the city.

3:00 a.m. World Bank to grant Ukraine over $720 million in aid

The World Bank approved a $723 million aid program for Ukraine, of which it will immediately disburse $489 million, according to news outlet Diario del Norte.

"The package approved by the Board (of Directors) consists of an additional loan of $350 million and guarantees in the amount of $139 million," the entity said in a statement.

1:14 a.m. Ukrainian nuclear site shelled by Russia

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it received reports of a shelling that damaged a nuclear research center in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. However, although no "fallout" was detected.

The Vienna-based entity said Ukrainian authorities reported the attack on Sunday and said that there was no increase in the radiation level at the site was reported.

The IAEA noted that "the reported damage will be of no consequence" because the "inventory of radioactive material is very low" and kept at a "subcritical" level.

March 7, 2022

10:20 p.m. Ukrainian authorities say another Russian general was killed

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's intelligence service reported that a senior Russian army commander was killed during the fighting near Kharkov. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the matter.

The ministry said identified the general as Vitaly Gerasimov, who was chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 41st Army of the Central Military District of Russia. He participated in the second Chechen war and the Russian military operation in Syria; and received a medal "for the return of Crimea" to Russia.

8:15 p.m. China says Russia is its most important partner

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that Russia is his country’s most important partner and that there is an "iron" friendship between the two nations, El Pais reported.

He added that Russia and China's relationship is one of the most important "bilateral relations in the world."

6:01 p.m. Zelensky staying at official residence in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is at an official presidential residence in Kyiv and has no plans to leave, he said in a video released on Telegram.

“I am staying in Kyiv, on Bankova Street. Not hiding,” he said. “I’m not afraid of anyone. For as long as it takes to win this war!”

5:40 p.m. Putin plans to brutalize Ukraine, says U.S. envoy to the UN

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council that “Mr. Putin has a plan to brutalize Ukraine,” reported The Guardian.

“The humanitarian toll of President Putin’s war on Ukraine is mounting. Children are dying, people are fleeing their homes - for what?” she asked.

5:30 p.m. Russia’s ambassador to the UN: Ukrainians are shelling themselves

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, told the United Nation’s Security Council at a meeting in New York that Ukrainians were shelling themselves.

5:15 p.m. Russia trying to recruit foreign fighter, says Pentagon

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN that the entity believes reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to recruit foreign fighters to aid their war in Ukraine.

“We do have indications that corroborate that story that in fact they are trying to enlist and recruit foreign fighters, which we find noteworthy that with more than 150,000 troops, a stalled military advance inside Ukraine, particularly in the north, that Mr. Putin has found it necessary to try to recruit foreign fighters for this war of his,” he said.

5:00 p.m. U.S. is collecting evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine

The U.S. is collecting evidence of possible war crimes and human rights abuses by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, reported CNBC.

Forty five states launched the “Moscow Mechanism” in Thursday to gather information, said Michael Carpenter, U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

“The brutality of this war is both revolting and heartbreaking,” said Carpenter. “Children have been killed, grandparents driven from their homes, families forced to flee their country in the face of relentless strikes on civilian infrastructure,” he said.

4:30 p.m. Russian troops clash with protesters in Chaplynka

Residents of Chaplynka clashed with the Russian military forces occupying their town, CNN reported and confirmed.

Videos show dozens of protesters chanting “go home” to Russian forces.

Chanplynka is located 300 miles south of Kyiv in the Kherson region, a Russian-occupied territory.

4:15 p.m. Macron does not expect a successful negotiation for weeks

French President Emmanuel Macron said he does not expect negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end for weeks.

“I don’t think that in the days and weeks to come there will be a true negotiated solution,” Macron said at a forum on Monday.

Macron said that he has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement a cease-fire before seriously negotiating with his Ukrainian counterpart.

4:00 p.m. Albania condemns Russian shelling of its consulate in Ukraine

Albania condemned the Russian shelling of its consulate in Kharkiv and called on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, reported The Associated Press.

“Albania strongly condemns the #Russian aggression which led to the destruction of the Honorary Consulate of Albania in Kharkiv,” the Albanian Foreign Ministry Tweeted, adding that, “Perpetrators must be held accountable! #StopRussianAggression #StandWithUkraine️.”

3:50 p.m. Little progress made during third round of negotiations

Russia and Ukraine said there has been little progress in their third round of negotiations.

“There were some small positive shifts regarding logistics of humanitarian corridors,” said Miykailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Our expectations from the talks have failed, but we hope that we would be able to make a more significant step forward next time,” said Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky. “The talks will continue.”

3:20 p.m. Ukraine says it shot down two Russian planes

Ukrainian jets and anti-aircraft missiles have shot down two Russian airplanes near Kyiv, a commander of the Ukrainian military said, cited by The New York Times.

While it has not been possible to confirm the claim, several explosions were heard over Kyiv after the air raid sirens sounded.

2:30 p.m. U.S. sends 500 troops to Europe

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III sent 500 additional U.S. troops to Europe to support NATO and deter Russia from continuing its attack on Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official said.

The new deployment bring the number of troops that the Pentagon has sent to Europe since the Russian invasion on February 24 to 15,000.

“These are purely defensive forces,” said Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby. “These are specifically, the ones we’re talking about today, are enablers. And we said before, when we deployed the additional 7,000, that there would be associated enablers with them. This is part of that support."

2:15 p.m. At least 13 dead after shelling of industrial bakery in Ukraine

At least 13 people were killed Monday in a shelling that hit an industrial bakery in Makariv, some 50 kilometers west of Kyiv, relief services said according to El Economista.

In a message on Telegram, the relief services indicated that about 30 people were in the bakery at the time of the shelling. A spokesman later confirmed to AFP that there were at least 13 dead.

1:35 p.m. EU could expect up to five million Ukrainian refugees

The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said on Monday in the city of Montpellier that up to five million refugees could arrive in the European Union if the war continues.

"If the shelling of cities continues indiscriminately, we can expect up to five million exiles," he specified.

1:12 p.m. Boris Johnson meets world leaders and promises more sanctions against Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met on Monday in London his counterparts from Canada and the Netherlands, Justin Trudeau and Mark Rutte, with whom he agreed to work to build a united front against Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also promised further sanctions against Moscow.

"Justin, Mark, and I have been discussing that today. And later I will talk to the leaders of the United States, France and Germany to further coordinate our action," the prime minister claimed.

12:55 p.m. Rally in Russia in favor of invasion

Russia Today TV channel posted a video on Twitter showing dozens of drivers in Russia supporting the invasion in Ukraine.

12:40 p.m. Almost 100% of Russia’s pre-staged combat power is in Ukraine, says defense official

Almost 100% of Russia’s combat power that had been stationed on Ukraine’s border with Belarus is now in Ukraine, said a senior defense official cited by CNN.

12:30 p.m. Russia to try to negotiate evacuation corridors again

Russia will once again try to discuss evacuation routes with Ukraine during Monday’s talks, said Vladimir Medinsky Russia’s chief negotiator for the discussions.

"We will try again" said Medinsky after a proposal of humanitarian corridors was rejected last week.

12:20 p.m. French Foreign Minister criticizes Russia’s humanitarian corridors

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian criticized Russia’s offer to give Ukrainians safe passage and called it a “trap” that could lead to more bombing, reported The Associated Press.

Le Drian referenced Russia’s bombing tactics in the past, when it offered humanitarian corridors it that resulted in more bombing when negotiations failed.

“I’m even wondering if in Russian military schools there are classes to explain: ‘bombing, corridor, negotiations, breach (of negotiations), we start it all again’. It’s quite tragic but unfortunately it sends shivers down your spine,” he said.

12:00 p.m. Ukrainian forces repel Russian attack on Mykolaiv

The Mykolaiv airport was the site of a tank battle between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops on Monday. Ukrainian officials claimed they had repelled the Russian attack, reported The New York Times.

“They are retreating and running away,” Vitaliy Kim, the Mykolaiv region governor posted on Facebook. “Nothing remains of their tanks, as far as I understand.” According to Kim, around 20 Russian soldiers fled into a nearby forest.

Mykolaiv is a port city with 500,00 resident near the Black Sea. It has been targeted by Russian forces due to its important location, it is the fastest route to Odessa, Ukraine’s largest port.

11:40 a.m. The ‘Big Four’ accounting firms cut ties with Russia

Accounting firms Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Pricewaterhousecoopers, and KPMG announced they would no longer operate in Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, reported The Associated Press.

Deloitte also said it was cutting ties with Belarus, the Kremlin’s ally.

11:20 a.m. Ukraine turns to UN’s highest court to end the war

Ukraine presented its case against Russia at the United Nation’s highest court on Monday in an attempt to stop the Kremlin’s attack on the country.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Anton Korynevych, accused Moscow of breaching the genocide treaty that the UN established in 1948.

“Russia must be stopped, and the court has a role in stopping it,” Mr. Korynevych told the court.

10:30 a.m. Ukraine rejects Kremlin proposal to evacuate people to Russia

The Ukrainian government rejected a Russian proposal to evacuate civilians looking to flee the conflict and take them to Russia, reported The New York Times.

The head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said Russia was using “use people’s suffering to create a television picture.”

10:00 a.m. Hungary signs decree allowing passage of NATO forces

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed a decree allowing NATO troops to be station in Hungary, reported The Associated Press.  

While the Hungarian government does not allow troops or weapons to be delivered across its border into Ukraine, it will allow NATO forces to transit its territory.

The decree also allows non-lethal aid and medical supplies to cross the Hungarian border into Ukraine.

9:15 a.m. China could mediate the conflict, says EU spokesman

Peter Stano, a foreign affairs spokesman for the European Commission, said he would like China to play a mediation role in the conflict.

“China has the potential to reach out to Moscow because of their relationship obviously and we would like China to use its influence to press for a cease-fire and to make Russia to stop the brutal unprecedented shelling and killing of civilians in Ukraine,” he said.

9:00 a.m. Ukraine’s EU membership to be discussed soon, says EU Council president

Ukraine’s request to join the European Union will be discussed in soon, said European Council President Charles Michel.

“The EU stands firmly by Ukraine’s side in efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering inflicted by Russia’s aggression and ensure nuclear safety,” Michel posted in a tweet. “The EU’s solidarity, friendship and unprecedented assistance for Ukraine are unwavering.”

8:00 a.m. Zelensky announces a tax holiday to easy Ukraine’s economy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that businesses would be exempt from paying taxes on employees who are helping the nation’s defense forces, reported The New York Times.

Furthermore, people living in areas where the conflict is taking place are exempt from land taxes and will not have to pay rent for state or communal lands.

“The payment of taxes for all enterprises that are unable to pay them is postponed,” he added.

7:30 a.m.  UN confirms deaths of 406 civilians

The United Nation’s Human Rights Office said at least 406 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Around 801 have been injured, the entity added.

However, the real figure is likely higher, the agency said, “especially in government-controlled territory and especially in recent days.”

7:00 a.m. Visa and Mastercard suspends business in Russia

Visa and Mastercard announced that they would suspend business in Russia. As part of the measure, banks cards issued in Russia will not work abroad. However, they will continue working in the country because the transactions are handled by a local processor.

“As we take this step, we join with so many others in hoping for and committing to a more positive, productive and peaceful future for us all,” Mastercard wrote in a statement.

 “This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values,” said Visa’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Al Kelly.

6:30 a.m. Russian Foreign Minister to meet Ukrainian counterpart in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will meet in Turkey on Thursday, according to Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

“Upon President Erdogan’s initiatives and our intensive diplomatic efforts, Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia and Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine have decided to meet with my participation

March 6, 2022

1:26 p.m. Ukraine says nearly 20,000 foreigners have enlisted to fight

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed that almost 20,000 foreign volunteers have enlisted to fight Russian troops just 24 hours after the opening of a website to facilitate this procedure, fightforua.org.

"The whole world is on Ukraine's side, not only in words, but also in deeds," Kuleba told the Ukrainian press as reported by CNN.

"The mobilization of people around the world is simply breathtaking. Experienced veterans and volunteers from 52 countries around the world have made contact. It is what they want. We have not hired them or incited them in any way. It is their desire to fight on the side of good," the official stressed.

12:40 p.m. WHO confirms attacks on health care centers

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed multiple attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. "Additional reports are being investigated," the agency's director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter.

"Attacks on health facilities or workers violate medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law," he added.

12:23 p.m. Russian troops fire on evacuees, leaving at least three dead

As a group of civilians were preparing to evacuate from the town of Irpin, located about 25 kilometers from Kyiv, a team of Russian troops heading to the capital fired shells at a bridge used by citizens and left at least three dead on the pavement, according to the New York Times.

The newspaper claims that Irpin residents ran through the streets clutching their children, luggage, and pets as they made their way to vehicles that would transport them away from the fighting.

11:36 a.m. More than 4,300 arrested for anti-war protests in Russia

The number of people arrested in Russia for protesting against the war in Ukraine has now risen to more than 4,300 people, according to an independent group monitoring the demonstrations.

The arrests came as part of demonstrations unfolding in half a hundred Russian cities and in Moscow alone there have been more than 1,600 arrests so far.

 

11:09 a.m. It is "illegal" for the British to go to fight in Ukraine, said chief of the General Staff

British Chief of the General Staff Admiral Tony Radakin believes that it is "illegal and useless" for the British to go Ukraine to fight against Russian forces. "We have been very clear about the fact that to start going into Ukraine is illegal and pointless for the British armed forces and the British population," he told the BBC.

The Ukrainian government announced in late February the creation of an "international legion" of foreign fighters to help stop the Russian invasion.

10:45 a.m. Ukrainian children with cancer arrive in Germany

Around 21 Ukrainian children with cancer arrived Sunday in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia to continue their treatment, the pediatric hospital in the city of Essen said in a statement.

"The seriously ill children and young people between the ages of three and 17 from various cities such as Kiev, Odessa, and Lviv could no longer be treated in Ukraine because of the war and were temporarily treated at a clinic in the Polish city of Krakow," the medical center's spokesman described. "A bus left Saturday night near Krakow bound for the (German) Ruhr region."

10:14 a.m. Russian missiles destroy Vinnytsia airport in central Ukraine

Vinnytsia airport in central Ukraine was destroyed by Russian strikes, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski reported via social networks.

Zelenski reiterated his request for NATO to create a no-fly zone over his nation.

"Close the sky over Ukraine. Close it for all Russian missiles, for planes, for all terrorists. Make a humanitarian air zone without missiles, without bombs," Zelenski emphasized.

9:07 a.m. Pope Francis condemns "rivers of blood" in Ukraine

Pope Francis condemned the "rivers of blood and tears" flowing in Ukraine and called for humanitarian corridors for the civilian population, after Sunday's Angelus prayer.

"Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine, it is not just a military operation, but a war that sows death, destruction and misery," the Supreme Pontiff said.

"The victims are more and more numerous, as are the people fleeing, in particular mothers with their children. The need for humanitarian aid in this martyred country increases every hour in a dramatic way."

He also thanked the journalists who "put their lives in danger" to inform the world about the war.

6:51 a.m. Ukraine is going through the "most accelerated" refugee crisis in Europe since World War II

"More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine crossed into neighboring countries in ten days. This is the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi posted on Twitter. 

 

Since February 24, the first day of the Russian invasion, 922,400 people fleeing the conflict have entered Polish territory, border guards announced Sunday.

4:48 a.m. 3,000 Americans volunteered to fight in Ukraine

The Ukrainian embassy in the United States received a request for 3,000 volunteers to fight in Ukraine as the war with Russia escalates, according to Voice of America.

An embassy official in Washington confirmed the information amid the appeal launched by Volodymyr Zelenski for help to resist the Russian invasion.

Among those who applied are war veterans who fought in Iraq and other armed conflicts.

 

2:22 a.m. U.S. Officials Travel to Venezuela in an attempt to isolate Putin

Senior U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela on Saturday to meet with Nicolas Maduro as they seek to isolate Russia from its allies as the invasion in Ukraine intensifies, The New York Times reported.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted the United States to pay more attention to President Vladimir Putin's allies in Latin America, which Washington believes could become a security threat if the confrontation with Russia deepens," unidentified sources familiar with the matter told the U.S. newspaper.

 

 

March 5, 2022

11:46 p.m. 82,000 people without electricity in Luhansk due to Russian shelling

More than 82,000 people are without electricity in the Luhansk region, in eastern Ukraine, due to Russian shelling, the Rubizhne city council reported in a note quoted by local media.

There are 23 areas that are partially without electricity, while 33 are completely dark, according to ANSA news agency.

9:25 p.m. Zelensky and Biden talk on the phone

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a telephone conversation again with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss financial support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

"Within the framework of an ongoing dialogue, I had a new conversation with Joe Biden. The agenda included financial support for Ukraine and the pursuit of sanctions against Russia," Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

Hours earlier, the Ukrainian leader talked with call U.S. lawmakers in a video call and asked for more assistance for his country and to cut off Russian oil imports.

7:12 p.m. Zelensky calls on Ukrainians to "go on the offensive" in cities invaded by Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday urged Ukrainian citizens to maintain their resistance and "go on the offensive" in cities invaded by Russia, reported Europa Press.

"Ukrainians! In all our cities, where the enemy has invaded, go on the offensive. Take to the streets. Every meter of the land won from the invaders is a step forward to victory, it is a chance to live!" the president said in a video speech posted on his official Facebook page.

4:15 p.m. 10,000 Russians killed, claims Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed that more than 10,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war, reported The Associated Press.

“Russians keep bearing devastating losses on the ground, and I cannot understand how mothers, wives and daughters of these Russian soldiers bear this pain, seeing how President Putin sends more and more of their beloved ones to Ukraine,” Kuleba said.

Kuleba added, “Ukraine is bleeding but Ukraine has not fallen and stands (with) both feet on the ground.”

3:55 p.m. Town near Kyiv “almost completely destroyed”

The head of Kyiv’s Regional State Administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, said a town close to Kyiv was “almost completely destroyed,” reported CNN.

"There's no water and electricity there ... There is no Borodyanka. It is almost completely destroyed. The city center is just awful. Borodyanka is under the influence of Russian troops; they control this settlement," Kuleba said.

Kuleba added that people in the town are running out of medicine and water as Russian troops continue to patrol the immediate area.

3:20 p.m. Russia seizes another nuclear power plant

Russian forces seized a second nuclear power plant and are heading towards a third, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call with U.S. Senators.

The nuclear plant that is currently under threat is Yuzhnoukrainsk, located 75 miles out of Mykolaiv. The Russians have already gained control of Zaporizhzhia in the city of Enerhodar and Chernobyl

2:30 p.m. Ukraine demands new sanctions against Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked for stronger sanctions against Russia during a televised address.

"They include, among others, banning the Russians bank Sberbank from SWIFT, closing European ports for Russian ships, closing access of Russia to cryptocurrency and stopping purchases of Russian oil," Kuleba said. 

Russian oil "smells with Ukrainian blood today… buying it is financing Russian war crimes."

1:40 p.m. Prada suspends retail operations in Russia

Luxury clothing brand Prada announced that it would suspend its retail operations in Russia, reported The Guardian.

“Our primary concern is for all colleagues and their families affected by the tragedy in Ukraine, and we will continue to support them,” the company said in a statement.

1:15 p.m. U.S. and Ukrainian diplomats meet at Polish border

State Antony Blinken and met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at Ukraine’s border with Poland to discuss additional support and protection that the U.S. might provide to the ongoing crisis.

Ukraine will win this war,” Mr. Kuleba said after the meeting. “The question is the price of our victory. And if our partners continue to take bold, systemic decisions to step up economic and political pressure on Russia, if they continue to provide us with necessary weapons, the price will be lower.”

“This will save many lives in Ukraine, many houses; many children will be born, many sufferings will be avoided,” he said. “This is the only question that is on the agenda.”

12:25 p.m. Israel’s prime minister meets with Putin

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday to discuss the conflict. His visit comes days after he spoke with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders on the phone.

Israel is one of the few countries that keeps a good relationship with both sides of the conflict, reported The Associated Press.

12:05 p.m. Germany to build a gas terminal to reduce reliance on Russia

Germany announced that it would build a terminal to import liquified natural gas (LNG) to reduce Europe’s reliance on Moscow for energy.  

Around 55% of Germany’s gas comes through pipelines from Russia, reported DW News.

"It is also necessary to reduce the dependency on imports from Russia, this is urgent at least since Russia's attack on Ukraine," German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

11:40 a.m. More than 350 civilians killed in Ukraine, says UN

At least 351 civilians have been killed and 707 injured since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, reported the United Nation’s human rights office.

“Total of 351 killed:  71 men, 41 women, 8 boys, and 4 girls, as well as 10 children and 217 adults whose sex is yet unknown,” said the report.

“Most of the civilian casualties recorded from 4am on 24 February 2022 until 12 midnight on 4 March 2022, were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area3, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes,” the agency added.

11:20 a.m. Red Cross confirms that evacuations from  Mariupol and Volnovakha will not take place

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the evacuations of civilians from the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha will not occur today due to Russian shelling.

"We understand that the safe passage operations from Mariupol and Volnovakha will not start today,” the ICRC posted on Twitter.

“We remain in dialogue with the parties about the safe passage of civilians from different cities affected by the conflict,” the statement added. 

11:00 a.m. U.S. urges Americans not to travel to Russia

The U.S. State Department urges Americans not to travel to Russia due to the “unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine,” and “the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials,” reported CNN.

10:50 a.m. Ukrainian foreign minister praises protests

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba praised the protests against Russia’s occupation of his country.

“Courageous Kherson inspires Ukraine and the world! Thousands of peaceful Ukrainians protests Russian occupation in front of armed Russian soldiers. What a spirit.”

“Also in Berdyansk peaceful Ukrainians demonstrate that their city does not belong to Russian invaders. I admire the fearless spirit of my compatriots and call on everyone around the globe to support them!”

10:45 a.m. Zelensky asks U.S. for a no-fly zone and airplanes in call with Senators

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the U.S. for additional military aid and the establishment of a no-fly zone during a virtual call with U.S. Senators as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky urged the U.S. to help establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that such a measure would be taken as a declaration of war.

Zelensky also asked lawmakers to help provide airplanes to aid Ukrainian forces fight against Russia’s invasion.

“He said we either need a no-fly zone or we need to be given planes, that was the basic message,” Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) told The New York Post after the call. “If NATO is not going to provide a no fly zone, then provide planes. And that is something where NATO can help.”

10:33 a.m. Ukrainians protest in Russian occupied Kherson

Protesters are gathering in the streets of Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine that is occupied by Russian forces. Videos shared on social media show hundreds of people chanting and holding Ukrainian flags, reported The New York Times.

Russian troops fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowds, reporter Kherson’s mayor Igor Kolykhaev. He estimated that at least 2,000 people were protesting.

Russia captured Kherson last week after a fierce battle that left over 300 dead.

10:20 a.m. Kherson has no more armed resistance, mayor says

"We don’t have more weapons to resist,” thee Mayor of Kherson, Igor Kolykhaiev, told CNN in an interview with John Berman.

“The people of Kherson are unarmed. We don’t have more weapons to resist, to put up an armed resistance,” he said.

“We don’t have the army in the city. The army has been defeated. The Ukrainian army had to retreat, so there are no arms. They’ve retreated towards Nikolaev,” he added. "Russian troops are everywhere."

“The normal services have stopped because the normal services have no way of operating," he said.

10:00 a.m. Over 700,000 Ukrainians have fled to Poland

More than 700,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border into Poland in an attempt to escape their war-torn country, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezeinksi, told senior U.S. lawmakers.

The ambassador added that residents in Poland have opened up their homes to displaced Ukrainians.

“When we think of Poland, we think of the Solidarity movement,” Mr. Brzezinski said. “This is another solidarity movement.”

9:30 a.m. More than 27,000 Ukrainian refugees have gone to Germany

Over 27,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Germany since the beginning of the Russian invesion, said Germany’s interior ministry.

"Since there are no border controls, the number of war refugees entering Germany may in fact already be much higher," according to the interior ministry statement sent to CNN.

9:00 a.m. Putin claims sanctions are like “an act of war”

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday described Western sanctions as a “declaration of war” and warned that Ukraine might lose its statehood if it continues to resist the Kremlin’s invasion.

“The current leadership needs to understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they risk the future of Ukrainian statehood,” he said . “If that happens, they will have to be blamed for that.”

“Our proposals are on the table with the group of negotiators from Kyiv,” he added. “Hopefully, they will respond positively to that.”

8:30 a.m. Intidex halts activity in over 500 Russian stores

The Spanish clothing retailer Inditex, parent company of Zara and other brands, announced that it would temporarily suspend activity in 502 Russian stores, the company said in a statement.

“Inditex reports that in the current circumstances it cannot guarantee the continuity of its operations and the commercial conditions in the Russian Federation,” the statement said.

8:00 a.m. Aeroflot to suspend international flights

Russian state airline Aeroflot announced that it would suspend all international starting on Tuesday “due to additional circumstances that prevent the performance of flights.”

The decision will also affect the airline’s subsidiaries, Aurora and Rossiya. However, Aeroflot said it would continue to operate its flights to Belarus.

7:36 a.m. F1 team ends contract with Russian driver and sponsor

Haas Formula one team ended its contract with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and its sponsor Uralkali, a Russian chemical company, over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"Haas F1 Team has elected to terminate, with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver contract of Nikita Mazepin," the team said in a statement.

"As with the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict."

7:00 a.m. Russian shelling ends proposed humanitarian corridor

Russian shelling in the eastern town of Volnovkha ended the prospect of a humanitarian corridor proposed, Ukrainian official said.

Russian officials had said that its forces would halt military engagements at 9:00 a.m. local time. However, by noon, Russian forces continued to shell the town, reported The New York Times.

6:00 a.m. Evacuation in Mariupol affected by Russian shelling

An evacuation of civilians from the southern city of Mariupol was halted due to Russian shelling, the city administration posted on Telegram.

“The Russian side is not upholding the cease-fire and is continuing to shell Mariupol and the surrounding regions,” the city administration said.

Earlier on Saturday, Russian and Ukrainian officials had agreed to a limited cease-fire to allow civilians to evacuate Mariupol and bring essential supplies into the city.

4:00 a.m. Russia’s air assaults are a challenge, says Ukraine’s military

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that his country is most vulnerable to Russian air raids.

“Aircraft of all kinds is bombing cities, towns and civilian infrastructure, including critical and dangerous nuclear and hydropower plants,” Reznikov said in a statement.

Russian air raids had affected residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and other non-military areas, killing dozens in the process.  

5:00 a.m. Samsung and Apple halt sales in Russia

Samsung and Apple are suspending all shipments to Russia as the Kremlin continues its invasion of Ukraine. Both companies provide almost half of all smartphones in the country, reported The New York Times.

The South Korean technology company, Samsung, announced its decision on Saturday, making it one of the latest companies to exit the Russian market and condemn its actions against Ukraine.

March 4, 2022

11: 45 p.m. Musk declined to block Russian propaganda from Starlink

Elon Musk declined the request of foreign government officials “to block Russian news outlets” from Starlink.

“Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint,” Musk tweeted.

“Sorry to be a free speech absolutist,” he added.

11:30 p.m. Singapore to impose sanctions on Russia

Singapore announced that it would impose sanctions on Russia in a statement, targeting financial activities and exports.

 “We will impose export controls on items that can be directly used as weapons to inflict harm on or to subjugate the Ukrainians, as well as items that can contribute to offensive cyber operations,” Singapore’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The sanctions also include “financial measures targeted at designated Russian banks, entities and activities in Russia, and fund-raising activities benefiting the Russian government.”

7:00 p.m. Par Pacific Holdings suspends purchases of Russian crude

Par Pacific Holdings, a Houston-based oil and gas exploration company, announced that they will no longer buy Russian crude oil for their Hawaiian refinery.

“We intentionally diversify our crude oil sources from locations around the globe to enable us to meet the state's ongoing demand for fuels,” Par Pacific Holdings said in a statement. “However, in light of recent geopolitical events, we have decided to suspend purchases of Russian crude oil for our Hawaii refinery.”

“As the geopolitical situation evolves, we will work closely with our customers and partners in state government to make prudent decisions in support of energy assurance for Hawaii,” the statement said.

6:50 p.m. Italy seizes Russian oligarch’s $71 million yacht

 Italian authorities seized a yacht belonging to Russia’s wealthiest oligarch, Alexei Mordashov, said spokesperson for Italy’s Prime Minister, Ferdinando Giugliano. The move comes as part of a global effort to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine, reported the Washington Post.

Mordashov, who has a net worth of $21.9 billion, gained his wealth after the collapse of the European Union. E is the largest shareholder of Severstal, a conglomerate dealing with mining companies. His $71 million yacht, called Lady M, is the latest Russian oligarchs’ yacht to be seized.

6:30 p.m. Ukrainian authorities release video from inside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

Ukrainian authorities released a video of the interior of the control room of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russian forces on Thursday.

The video shows the interior of the control room as a public address announcement directed at the Russian forces outside sounds.

6:00 p.m. U.S. oil price soars to highest level in 14 years

The price of a barrel of U.S. crude oil rose 7.4% on Friday, ending the week at $115.68 a barrel. It is the highest closing level since September 22, 2008, just a week after the implosion of Lehman Brothers, CNN recalls.

The latest gains leave crude almost 26% more expensive than before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite the fact that the White House and the International Energy Agency announced the release of some 60 million barrels of emergency oil stocks to prevent price increases.

5:30 p.m. Zelensky criticizes NATO decision not to implement no-fly zone over Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned NATO's decision to rule out the implementation of a no-fly zone over the country.

"We believe that NATO countries have created a narrative according to which closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke direct aggression of Russia against NATO. This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact that they possess weapons many times stronger than us," he said.

5:15 p.m.  No radiation leaks at Ukrainian nuclear power plant: U.S. Energy Dept.

A U.S. Department of Energy official stressed that the "immediate crisis is over" and that sensors around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant do not indicate any radiation leakage.

"The immediate crisis is over in the sense that we have sensors, both sensors around the plant and IAEA sensors, that show no radiation leakage,” the official told CNN.

5:04 p.m. CNN and CBC to stop reporting from Russia

CNN and the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) announced that they will stop reporting from Russia, at least temporarily, because of a new law in that country that jeopardizes independent reporting on the invasion of Ukraine.

While CNN said it would "assess the situation," CBC called its move temporary "while we get clarity on this legislation," The New York Times reported.

5:00 p.m. Bipartisan group of U.S. senators to attend Zoom call with Zelensky

Democratic and Republican U.S. senators received an invitation to attend a Zoom meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, according to sources cited by CNN.

On Friday night (Ukrainian time), Zelenski addressed Europeans and urged them to "take to the streets" in support of Ukraine. Some demonstrations were held in cities such as Bratislava (Slovakia), Frankfurt (Germany), Lyon (France), Prague (Czech Republic), Tbilisi (Georgia), Vienna (Austria) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

4:52 p.m. Louis Vuitton and Hermès will also close their stores in Russia

French fashion and luxury companies Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) and Hermès announced on Friday that they would temporarily close their stores in Russia in the face of the crisis in Ukraine.

LVMH, which is estimated to have more than 120 stores in Russia, said it would close as of Sunday "given the current circumstances in the region," according to a spokesman quoted by The New York Times.

The spokesman added that the company would continue to pay salary and benefits to its 3,500 employees in the country.

Hermès, announced in a LinkedIn post that it would temporarily close its stores and suspend commercial activity in Russia as of Friday.

4:40 p.m. Sanctions are not aimed at regime change in Russia, says EU

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that sanctions imposed in the wake of the war in Ukraine do not seek any regime change in Russia.

"We are not about regime change. The sanctions are not to provoke regime change in Russia. On the contrary, the sanctions have been provoked by the war. And the purpose is to weaken the Russian economy, to make the Russian economy feel the weight of the consequences and to increase, to strengthen the position of the Ukrainians in the upcoming negotiations," Borrell reaffirmed.

 

4:28 p.m. Kamala Harris to Travel to Poland and Romania Next Week

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Warsaw, Poland, and Bucharest, Romania on March 9 to 11, her office announced on Friday.

"Her visit will demonstrate the strength and unity of the NATO Alliance and U.S. support for allies on NATO's eastern flank in the face of Russian aggression. It will also highlight our collective efforts to support the people of Ukraine," said a statement from his deputy press secretary.

4:10 p.m. U.S. still hesitant to ban Russian oil

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration is hesitant to ban oil imports from Russia due to the negative impact it could have on the U.S. and European economy, reported the Associated Press.

The White House is “looking at options we could take right now to cut U.S. consumption of Russian energy,” she added.

4:03 p.m. Macron calls of emergency UN meeting on nuclear safety

French President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss risks to nuclear safety, security and the implementation of international safeguards that result from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

“The President of the Republic strongly condemns any attack on the integrity of Ukrainian civilian nuclear facilities caused by Russian forces in the course of their military aggression against Ukraine. It is imperative to guarantee their security and safety,” a statement from the Elysee Palace said.  

“Russia must also allow free, regular and unhindered access of personnel to the facilities to ensure their continued safe operation of the facilities,” the statement added.

4:00 p.m. S&P Dow Jones to drop Russian stocks

Index giant S&P Dow Jones announced it would remove all stocks listed in Russia from its benchmark indices, reported NBC News.

The company said it would "reclassify Russia from an emerging market to 'standalone,'” given the "deterioration in the level of accessibility of the Russian market."

3:45 p.m. Poland arrests alleged Russian spy planning to go to Ukraine

Poland arrested a Spanish journalist who is suspected of being a Russian spy. According to Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), the spy was planning to  “go to Ukraine in order to continue his activity,” reported The Guardian.

3:30 p.m. U.S. internet provider to cut service to Russian companies

Cogent Communications, a major internet provider, said it would stop providing service to Russian internet companies on Friday, further isolating the Kremlin.

“We were concerned about the use of our infrastructure for cyberwarfare and dissemination of false information,” said Dave Schaeffer, Cogent’s chief executive, in an interview. “We did not want our services to be used in an offensive manner.”

Cogent helps transport data for Rostelecom, Russia’s largest internet provider.

3:20 p.m. Pentagon asks Russia to be ‘mindful’ or targets

Pentagon spokesperson John Kibry asked Russia to be “more mindful” of where they choose to attack, warning that a strike on a nuclear power plant could bring “more damage and destruction,” reported the Washington Post.

“We continue to call on Russia to stop the invasion period … but certainly short of that to be more mindful of their obligations under international law,” Kirby said.

3:11 p.m. A no-fly zone over Ukraine could lead to 'all-out war in Europe,' says Blinken

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the establishment of a no-fly zone in Ukraine by the United States and its NATO allies could lead to a "full-fledged war in Europe." However, he reported that Washington will continue to work with its allies to provide Ukrainians with the means to defend themselves against Russian aggression.

"The only way to really implement something like a no-fly zone is to send NATO aircraft into Ukrainian airspace and shoot down Russian aircraft, and that could lead to a full-blown war in Europe. President Biden has been clear that we are not going to go to war with Russia," Blinken said during a press conference Friday in Brussels.

3:02 p.m. Ukrainian actions have "stalled" the large Russian military convoy, says the Pentagon

Ukrainian actions have "stalled" the large Russian military convoy heading toward Kiev, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed during a closed-door briefing.

"We have reports that a bridge has been blown up that we believe was on the way there. We also have indications that the Ukrainians have hit the convoy in other places and in vehicles," Kirby said, cited by CNN.

2:47 p.m. Ukrainian ambassador to the UN calls for urgent discussion on no-fly zone

During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya called for an urgent discussion on the ban on flights through Ukrainian airspace and claimed that there was damage to the nuclear power plant attacked by Russian forces.

He explained that Russia "committed an act of nuclear terrorism by shelling and seizing" the Zaporzhizhia nuclear power plant.

He also claimed that his counterpart Vassily Nebenzia had lied in his statements after he told the Council that the nuclear power plant is fully operational and that there is no threat of release of radioactive material.

2:21 p.m. Ukrainians are having difficulty getting food

The World Food Program revealed that people in besieged areas of Ukraine are finding it increasingly difficult to get food.

"In a year when the world is already facing an unprecedented level of hunger, it is simply tragic to see hunger rear its head in what has long been the breadbasket of Europe," noted David Beasley, executive director of the UN agency.

 

1:50 p.m. U.S. delays  information to Ukraine in war with Russia

Democratic and Republican lawmakers say the United States has delayed providing some intelligence information to Ukraine in its fight against Russia as it also seeks to limit any direct confrontation with Moscow, AP revealed.

The White House insists it routinely shares intelligence with Ukraine. However, a classified directive issued when the invasion began last week set effective limits on how quickly some tactical intelligence—the kind of information that determines minute-by-minute battle decisions—could be shared, according to two people cited by the media.

1:20 p.m. Russia blocks access to Facebook

The Russian government has blocked access to Facebook within the country, on the grounds that the social network has engaged in "discrimination against Russian media," The New York Times reported.

1:01 p.m. BBC suspends the work of its journalists in Russia

The British broadcaster BBC announced the temporary suspension of the work of all its journalists in Russia, in response to a law that, from its perspective, criminalizes "independent journalism."

"The safety of our employees is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their job," said BBC Director General Tim Davie in a statement released by the network.

12:46 p.m. Brazil offers temporary visas for Ukrainians

Brazil announced that the country will issue temporary visas and residency permits for Ukrainians who have been affected by the war with Russia, reported the Associated Press.  

The visas will be valid for 180 days, but can be extended for a temporary residency of two years, according to local news.

Brazil has the largest population of Ukrainians in Latin America.

12:27 p.m. Normal operations continue at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official said “no security or safety systems have been compromised near the reactors themselves" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that was taken over by Russian troops.

“We consider from a technical point of view that operation continues normally, although as I have stressed to the board of governors to the IAEA, there is no of course normalcy about this situation when there are military forces of course in charge of the site,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told the United Nations Security Council.

12:05 p.m. Russian convoy slowed down by destroyed bridge and attacks

The 40-mile Russian convoy outside of Kyiv has been slowed won by direct attacks and a destroyed bridge in its path, said a senior defense official.

“We certainly believe that the Ukrainians blowing up that bridge absolutely had an effective on stopping and curtailing the movement of that convoy,” the official said. “But we also believe that they have hit the convoy at other places as well in direct attacks.”

11:30 a.m. US State Department asks embassies no to share Kyiv embassy tweet

The U.S. State Department asked all of the U.S. embassies in Europe to not retweet a post by the U.S. embassy in Kyiv calling the attack on the nuclear power plant Zaporzhzhia a war crime, reported CNN.

“All – do not/not retweet Embassy Kyiv’s tweet on shelling of the facility being a possible war crime,” State Department said. “If you have retweeted it – un-retweet it ASAP.”

The requests might come as a sign that the U.S. does not endorse the war crime allegations made by the embassy.

11:15 a.m. Videos show Russian forces driving through Ukraine

Videos show Russian forces driving around the city of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine hours Russian troops took over the city’s nuclear power plant.

The videos, verified by the New York Times, show military trucks around the city’s council building.

Enerhodar is home to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Earlier this week, Ukrainians tried to build a barricade to prevent the advance of Russian troops.

11:00 a.m. U.S. concerned about Russia’s intention with power plant

According to a senior defense official, the U.S. is “deeply” concerned about Russia’s intentions with the Zaporzhzhia power plant, reported CNN.

“We are in no position to refute claims that they are in control of the nuclear power plant. But we don’t know exactly right now what that control means and what it looks like. So I would be loath to say that we know with specificity, you know, how many people they have there and what their control over the power plant looks like in terms of continuation of operations. And again, that’s one of the things that deeply concerns us, is that we don’t know what expertise they have, what they’ve applied to this, what their intentions are in the near term. I mean all of that is of great concern,” the official said.

10:50 a.m. Switzerland imposes more sanctions on Russia

Switzerland announced in a statement that it would adopt the European Union’s sanctions against Russia and freeze assets of close aids to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The export of all dual-use items to Russia is now prohibited, regardless of their end-use or end-user. In addition, the export of goods that could contribute to Russia's military and technological enhancement or the development of the defence and security sector is prohibited. In this context, it is also prohibited to provide technical assistance, brokering services or financing.”

“The export to Russia of certain goods and services in the oil sector is no longer permitted. Furthermore, the export of certain goods and technology that can be used in aviation and the space industry is prohibited. Certain services related to these goods, for example insurance, repair work, inspections, brokering services and financial assistance, are also prohibited.”

10:40 a.m. Microsoft pauses sales in Russia

Microsoft announced that it would suspend sales and services in Russia on Friday, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, including most recently a cyberattack against a major Ukrainian broadcaster,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president on the company’s blog.

Microsoft is the latest company to break ties with Russia after their aggression in Ukraine.

10:30 a.m. FedEx suspends service in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus

FedEx announced that it was suspending all services in Ukraine due to safety issues. The company also said it would suspend services in Russia and Belarus due to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“First and foremost, we are focused on the safety of our team members in Ukraine, and we know you share our concern for their well-being,” Frederick Smith, chairman and CEO of the company, and Raj Subramaniam, president and COO of the company, said in a statement. “This is our top priority. Our team in Europe is staying in close contact with them on a daily basis, and we have temporarily suspended all services in Ukraine for their safety. And, as we support the people of Ukraine, we also have made the decision to suspend all FedEx services in Russia and Belarus."

10:15 a.m. Third round of talks will take place this weekend, says Russia

A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place this weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Sholz in a telephone call, reported CNN.

10:00 a.m. Large explosion outside of Kyiv

Videos on social media show the results of an explosion in western Kyiv, reported CNN.  The explosion is thought to have been caused by a missile strike that damaged multi-story buildings.

9:45 a.m. EU Commission suspends research programs with Russia

The European Commission suspended science and research programs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“EU research cooperation is based on the respect for the freedoms and rights that underpin excellence and innovation. Russia's heinous military aggression against Ukraine is an attack against those same values. It is therefore time to put an end to our research cooperation with Russia," said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president for a Europe fit for the Digital Age. 

9:00 a.m. NATO rejects no-fly zone call from Ukraine

NATO rejected Ukraine’s request to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference.

“Allies agree we should not have NATO planes operating in Ukrainian air space or NATO troops on Ukraine’s territory,” he said, adding that otherwise there would be a risk of a much wider war.

“We will provide support, but we will not be part of the conflict,” he said.

8:30 a.m. NATO secretary general accuses Russia of using cluster bombs

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that Russia has been using anti-personnel cluster bombs in its invasion of Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

“We have seen the use of cluster bombs, and we have seen reports of use of other types of weapons which would be in violation of international law,” he said.

“Anti-personnel cluster munitions are rockets, missiles, artillery shells and bombs that deploy a large number of small explosives over a wide area, intended to attack infantry formations, reported the Times.

7:26 a.m. Russia has exhausted most of its operational reserve, Ukrainian Defense says

Russia has begun transferring troops from its Southern and Eastern Military Districts to replenish their ranks, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reported.

According to the data of the Ukrainian Army General Staff, out of 117 tactical battalion groups equipped for the attack on Ukraine, only six remain, which are now not in the country.

6:00 a.m. Russia to be investigated for alleged human rights violations

The UN Human Rights Council approved by a large majority a resolution condemning alleged rights violations in the framework of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and established a commission to investigate them.

5:40 a.m. No radiation leaked after Zaporiyia attack

The head of the UN atomic agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, claimed that the attack on Zaporiyia took place in the training center of the nuclear plant, which was "not part of the reactor."

"What we understand is that this projectile came from Russian forces and we do not have details of what type of projectile it is," he reported, according to La Nación.

5:05 a.m. Ukraine accuses Russia of "nuclear terrorism"

In a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism" and condemned the attack on the Zaporizhzhia power plant.

4:33 a.m. ‘The only way to end the war is for someone to take out Putin’, says Senator Graham

In an interview with Fox Network, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the only way to end the war is for someone to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian Army? The only way this is going to end is for someone in Russia to take this guy out," he said.

4:00 a.m. Japan to send bulletproof vests and humanitarian aid to Ukraine

Japanese Executive spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno announced that Japan will send helmets, bulletproof vests, tents, food, and electricity generators in response to a request from Kiev, reported Europa Press.

3:49 a.m. Mariupol under Ukrainian control but subject to "intense Russian attacks"

The southeastern city of Mariupol is still under Ukrainian control but is subjected to "intense Russian attacks," the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Friday in its latest intelligence update on Ukraine.

2:46 a.m. Russia has lost 9166 men, says Ukraine

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry estimated that at least 9166 Russian soldiers have lost their lives since the beginning of the invasion on February 24.

1:25 a.m. Russia seizes Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russian troops took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, Ukrainian officials confirmed to Reuters.

March 3, 2022

11:36 p.m. Russian attack causes fire at nuclear plant

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke with Ukraine's prime minister and the country's nuclear regulator about the alleged fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the IAEA posted on Twitter.

Ukraine claimed that "a large number of Russian tanks and infantry 'broke through the blockade post' towards the town of Enerhodar, a few kilometers from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP)," the IAEA said in a statement.

The fire was finally brought under control at 06:20 local time (22:20 ET), the Ukrainian Emergency Service reported. No casualties were reported.

10:14 p.m. ‘Europe has to wake up,’ Zelensky says after attack on nuclear plant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recorded a video in the evening following the Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and insisted on further backing from Western powers to help stop the war.

"We have contacted the leaders of other countries and our comrades. There is no other country in the world, none except Russia, that has ever fired on the facilities of a nuclear power plant." The head of state claimed that the invading troops used infrared imagery to fire.

9:12 p.m. Biden talks with Zelensky to get update on nuclear power plant fire

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, says a White House report.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is "aware of reports of shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," and is in contact with Ukrainian authorities to monitor the situation.

7:34 p.m. Russian army fires at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukrainian foreign minister says

"The Russian army is firing from all sides at the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on Friday.

The Zaporiyia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is on fire, the mayor of the city of Energodar, Dmytro Orlov, confirmed.

3:12 p.m. Russia destroys Yakovlivka, a Ukrainian town of 600 inhabitants

Russian troops completely destroyed Yakovlivka, a town of 600 inhabitants in the Kharkov region of eastern Ukraine.

The bombardment "destroyed the entire town, that is, 45 houses, 21 of which were completely destroyed," the Kharkov region Prosecutor's Office reported according to EFE.

2:30 pm. U.S. and U.K. announce more sanctions on Russian oligarchs

The governments of the United States and Great Britain announced this Thursday more sanctions that directly target Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin, including Alisher Usmanov, identified as one of the figureheads of the Russian president.

NEW RUSSIA SANCTIONS: The U.K. has imposed more sanctions on leading oligarchs. These associates of Putin are now cut off from their significant interests in the U.K.

— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 3, 2022

2:13 p.m. White House asks Congress for $10 billion for Ukraine

The White House announced Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Congress for an additional $10 billion in humanitarian and defense aid for Ukraine and Eastern Europe, according to CNN.

"We are requesting $10 billion to deliver additional security, economic, and humanitarian aid to and around Ukraine in the coming days and weeks," White House Budget Office Acting Director Shalanda Young said in a message posted on the White House website.

1:47 p.m. Russia and Ukraine agree to a temporary ceasefire to evacuate civilians

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak reported Thursday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in places where humanitarian corridors are established for the evacuation of civilians in Ukraine.

"The parties have reached an understanding on the joint creation of humanitarian corridors with a temporary ceasefire," he said on his Telegram channel.

However, the Ukrainian delegation "did not obtain the results it expected and will continue the dialogue in a third round of talks," he added.

1:25 p.m. 33 pronounced dead in the northern city of Chernihiv

At least 33 people were killed after Thursday's Russian shelling of the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.

"As of 6:20 p.m. (4:20 p.m. GMT), the bodies of 33 dead and 18 wounded had been pulled from the rubble as a result of air strikes," reports confirmed.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine added that the rescue work was temporarily suspended due to heavy shelling in the area.

1:06 pm Moldova also applies to join the EU, following application from Georgia

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, requested the country's entry into the European Union on Thursday, shortly after Georgia also applied to join the bloc.

"Moldova officially signs the application for membership in the European bloc. Citizens are ready to work hard towards a stable and prosperous future in the EU and the family of European states," Sandu wrote on his official Twitter account.

12:43 p.m. Conclusion of the second round of negotiations: Ukraine and Russia agree to temporary ceasefires in local areas to allow civilians safe passage through "humanitarian corridors"

"The second round of negotiations has ended. Unfortunately, the results that Ukraine needs have not yet been achieved. There is only a solution for the passage of humanitarian corridors," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhailo Podolyak, wrote on Twitter. 

Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky said "significant progress" had been achieved in the talks with Ukraine. The two countries also agreed to establish "humanitarian corridors for the population's exit and a possible temporary ceasefire," according to statements reported by Russia's TASS news agency. 

12:24 p.m. President of Argentina speaks about the war

Argentine President Alberto Fernández said this Thursday that “the world is experiencing dramatic hours” as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating that “humanity must not resign itself to war, which devastates thousands of families with pain and destruction.”

"The anguish and deaths caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which we reject, forces us to be clear and forceful," Fernández assured when participating via videoconference from the Casa Rosada of the IV Summit between the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Central American Integration System (SICA).

12:07 p.m. Putin says Ukrainian forces are using civilians as “human shields”

During a speech on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukrainian forces are using their own people as “human shields.”

He also said that Russian soldiers are “acting bravely” and are the “real heroes” of this war.

11:55 a.m. France persuaded that “Russia wants to control all Ukraine”

A phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday left the French presidency believing that the Kremlin wants to invade and control all of Ukraine.

“Our analysis of the military operations is that the Russian ambitions are to take control of all of Ukraine,” said a senior official in the French presidency.

11:40 a.m. Russia has plans for public executions in Ukraine, says intelligence official

A European intelligence official said that the Kremlin has drafts of strategies to break the morale of Ukrainians in captured cities, Bloomberg reported.

According to the article, Moscow plans to detain opponents and potentially execute them publicly.

11:38 a.m. Zelensky tells Putin to “sit down with me to negotiate”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him, reported the Associated Press.

 “Sit down with me to negotiate, just not at 30 meters,” referencing Putin’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron where they sat across a long table.

“I don’t bite. What are you afraid of?” Zelenskyy added.

11:30 a.m. Artic Council pause participation amid invasion

The Artic Council members issued a statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said they would “temporarily pausing participation in all meetings of the Council.”

The Artic Council is an intergovernmental forum of artic nations including the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The organization’s current chair is Russia.

“We remain convinced of the enduring value of the Arctic Council for circumpolar cooperation and reiterate our support for this institution and its work,” the statement. “We hold a responsibility to the people of the Arctic, including the indigenous peoples, who contribute to and benefit from the important work undertaken in the Council.”

11:15 a.m. The Council of Europe suspends Russia

The Council of Europe suspended Russia from participating in the the continent’s leading human rights organization, reported The New York Times.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “goes against everything we stand for and is a violation of our statute and of the European Convention on Human Rights,’’ the entity’s secretary general, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, said on Thursday.

11:08 a.m. Top US general meets with NATO leaders

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley met with NATO’s Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense virtually on Monday to discuss the invasion of Ukraine, reported CNN.

"Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is undermining global security," the readout said. "The United States’ commitment to defending NATO territory is ironclad and the United States will continue to bolster our posture to better defend our NATO Allies," the leaders discussed.

10:55 a.m. Australia sends missiles to Ukraine

Australia will send a $50 million package of lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine to help fight against Russian forces, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The package includes anti-armor missiles.

"We are answering the call from President (Volodymyr) Zelensky: he said we need ammo, not a ride and that's exactly what we're doing... we'll provide 50 million US dollars to support Ukraine, lethal and non-lethal support... we're talking missiles, we're talking ammunition," Morrison said.

10:42 a.m Nine killed in shelling of residential area

At least nine are left dead and four wounded after a Russian shelling on a residential area in the Chernihiv region near Belarus, Governor Vyacheslav Chaus confirmed.

"Rescue teams are working. Many apartment buildings were damaged. Nearby there are hospitals, several schools and kindergartens, dozens of high-rise buildings," the governor said.

The Northern Armed Forces Regional Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted in a Facebook post that in the attacked area "there are no military objects nearby" but "hospitals, several schools and kindergartens, dozens of multi-story apartments."

10:23 a.m. Cargo ship sinks near Odessa after explosion

An Estonian-owned cargo ship sank off the Ukrainian port of Odessa after an explosion, Reuters reported.

"The ship finally sank. Two crew members are on a raft in the water and four others are missing. I don't know where they are at the moment," said Igor Ilves, general director of Vista Shipping Agency.

10:00 a.m. First foreign soldiers arrive in Ukraine, Zelenski says

President Volodymir Zelensky said on Thursday in his daily message to the nation that Ukraine received the first "foreign volunteers" to "defend the freedom and life" of Ukrainians as they are attacked by Russian troops.

"Ukraine has already received foreign volunteers going to our country. The first of 16,000″, the president claimed during his speech.

9:35 a.m. Ucrania en camino a las negociaciones con Rusia 

La delegación de Ucrania está en camino a las negociaciones con Rusia en Bielorrusia, según mostró en Twitter Mikhailo Podolyak, asesor presidencial y uno de los negociadores ucranianos.

9:35 a.m. Ukraine to negotiate with Russia on Thursday

The Ukrainian delegation is on its way to negotiations with Russia in Belarus, Mikhailo Podolyak, presidential adviser and one of the Ukrainian negotiators shared on Twitter.

9:21 a.m. H&M temporarily suspends all sales in Russia

Swedish textile firm Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) decided to temporarily suspend its sales in Russia as a result of the "tragic" events in Ukraine, the multinational said in a statement.

The chain also confirmed that stores in Ukraine were temporarily closed to ensure the safety of customers and workers.

"The H&M Group is deeply concerned about the tragic events in Ukraine and supports all those who are suffering," the statement read.

9:10 a.m. France warned that in Ukraine "the worst is yet to come"

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that "the worst may be yet to come" in Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

"We have to fear the siege logic to which the Russians are accustomed to," he warned on public television France 2 cited by Infobae. "Remember Aleppo, Grozny," the French minister said in reference to the Syrian city and the Chechen capital, devastated by Russian bombardments in 2016 and 1999 respectively.

7:42 a.m. "We don't want Ukraine to be covered with Russian corpses,” says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky gave a addressed his nation in a speech on Thursday morning as Ukraine continues to be shelled by Russian troops. 

"We do not want Ukraine to be covered with corpses of 19 or 20-year-old Russian soldiers. Young Russians: go home, tell your superiors that you do not want to die but to live," the leader urged.

Zelensky also called on the entire Russian Army to withdraw from Ukraine. "Here you will find no calm, no food, no tranquility. You will only see the fierce resistance of Ukrainians."

6:08 a.m. Spotify closes Russia office

Streaming music giant Spotify announced the closure of its Russian office, with limitations on access to content published by Russian state media in response to the country’s "unprovoked attack on Ukraine."

"We have closed our office in Russia until further notice," the company confirmed in a statement,  adding that it analyzed "thousands of podcast episodes since the start of the war" and limited users' ability to find programs produced by Russian state-linked media.

However, the platform is still working for Russian users. "We believe it is of great importance that our service is available in Russia to enable a global flow of information," they said.

March 2, 2022

11:56 p.m. Trump says Russian invasion is "a holocaust"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump called the Russian invasion of Ukraine "a holocaust," and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop killing" Ukrainians.

"You have to come to an agreement, you have to stop killing these people. It has to stop now," Trump said in an interview with Fox television.

The former president reiterated his recent criticism of how Joe Biden has handled the crisis in Ukraine: "They don't respect the United States and the United States is not doing anything about it, this is a holocaust, it's a horrible thing that's going on.

9:30 p.m. Air raid alerts in several Ukrainian cities 

Air raid alerts are heard in multiple Ukrainian cities, as more Russian air strikes are expected.

According to local media outlet The Kyiv Independent, the cities of Mykolaiv, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernigov, Volyn, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia, and Odessa are under air raid alerts.

7:25 p.m. One million people have fled Ukraine after Russia’s invasion

Around one million people have left Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, reported the Associated Press citing the United Nations Refugee Agency.

“In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries,” tweeted Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency.

“For many millions more, inside Ukraine, it’s time for guns to fall silent, so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided,” he continued.

6:08 p.m. City of Kherson captured by Russia

Kherson, a city northwest of the Crimean peninsula, was captured by Russia, the New York Times reported citing Ukrainian officials.

Kherson’s mayor, Igor Kolykhayev, posted on Facebook that “there were armed visitors in the city council” and they had reached an agreement.

“I made no promises to them. I just have nothing to promise. I am only interested in the normal life of our city! I just asked not to shoot people,” said Kolykhayev.

The agreement included a curfew, limits on cars that enter the city, and limits on the numbers of people walking together, the Washington Post reported, citing the mayor. 

“Don’t provoke soldiers,” he wrote on Facebook. “Stop at the first request. Don’t get into conflicts.”

“The fall of Kherson — a city of 300,000 people, northwest of the Crimean peninsula — is significant because it would allow the Russians to control more of Ukraine’s southern coastline and to push west toward the city of Odessa,” wrote the Times.

5:14 p.m. UN confirms 227 civilian casualties

The United Nations Human Rights Office claimed that there have been 227 civilian casualties and 525 others have been injured since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Most of the deaths were caused by "explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and air strikes,” reported Reuters. 

5:00 p.m. 40-mile long Russian convoy stalled in Ukraine

The 40-mile-long Russian convoy is stalled north of Kyiv, indicating problems, said a senior U.S. defense official.

The official says the stall could be due to several factors, including Ukrainian resistance and attempts to attack the convoy and logistical problems.

“We have some indications that they have also at places and at times tried to target this convoy," the official said.

4:45 p.m. U.S. sends stinger missiles to Ukraine

The U.S. has sent hundreds of stinger missiles to Ukraine, according to Congressional officials, as the Ukrainian government calls for help to help fight the Russian military.

The missiles are part of the White House’s $350 million lethal and non-lethal aid package to Ukraine, which also includes anti-tank missiles and ammunition.

4:36 p.m. Blinken sanctions 22 Russian defense-related companies

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is imposing sanctions of Russia’s defense sector, reported NBC News.

Twenty two Russian defense related entities will be sanctioned, "including companies that make combat aircraft, infantry fighting vehicles, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems — the very systems now being used to assault the Ukrainian people, abuse human rights, violate international humanitarian law," Blinken said.

"All told, these sanctions and restrictions have had a powerful effect on Russia's economy," he continued.

4:20 U.S. expands technology restrictions to Belarus and Russian oil

The Biden administration announced a new set of sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

“The new controls will prevent American companies from exporting certain sensitive items that would support defense, aerospace and maritime industries in Belarus, which the administration said had aided Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” reported The New York Times.

4:10 p.m. More than 15,000 people take shelter in Kyiv’s subways

Around 15,000 people, including women and children, have moved to Kyiv’s subway system, the city’s mayor said on Wednesday.

“It’s not so comfortable,” said a 9-year-old who has been living in the Dorohogychi station with her mother and their cat for six days now and quoted by the New York Times. “But you see, this is the situation, and we just have to put up with it. It’s better to be here than to get into a situation outside.”

4:06 p.m. Kyiv’s train platforms near central station damaged after explosion

A video on social media shows a train platform outside of Kyiv’s central station that was damages by an explosion, CNN reported and confirmed.

The video shows damages to the ticket station and train platform of the Pivnichna train station, about 700 feet from Kyiv’s central station.

4:00 p.m. Crowds block Russians from entering nuclear power plant

A video shows Ukrainian civilians blocking Russian troop’s access to a nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, reported CNN.

3:50 p.m. US cancels missile test to avoid misunderstanding

The U.S. canceled a test of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that was scheduled for this week to avoid any misunderstandings amid the “heightened tensions” caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby on Wednesday.

“In order to demonstrate that we have no intention of engaging in any actions that could be misunderstood or misconstrued, the secretary of defense has directed that our minute man three intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled for this week to be postponed,” Kirby said

3:40 p.m. China asked Russia not to invade Ukraine until after Olympics

An intelligence report revealed that Chinese officials might have been informed about Putin’s plans to invade Ukraine.

“A Western intelligence report said senior Chinese officials told senior Russian officials in early February not to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to senior Biden administration officials and a European official,” wrote the New York Times.

3:30 p.m. Biden to ban Russian ships from U.S. ports

In the latest pack of U.S. sanctions against Russia, President Biden is expected to ban Russian-flagged ships from American ports, according to the New York Post.

“I expect an announcement from Washington today that will ban all Russian ships from our shores,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told the Wall Street Journal.

The move would be mostly symbolic, as Russian-flagged ships bring less than one percent of the cargo imported to the U.S.

3:10 p.m. Four Russian fighter jets violated Swedish airspace in the Baltic Sea

Four Russian fighter jets violated Sweden's airspace on Wednesday east of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, the Swedish military reported according to Barron's.

"In the current context, we take this incident very seriously. It is an irresponsible and unprofessional action on the part of Russia," Swedish Air Force chief Carl-Johan Edstrom said in a statement.

The "two Sukhoi Su-27s and two Sukhoi Su-24s violated Swedish airspace" and the Gripen interceptors were able to document them. "This shows that our preparedness is good. We are in place to secure Sweden's territorial integrity and borders."

2:44 p.m. G7 seeks to prevent Russia from avoiding sanctions using cryptocurrencies

G7 members are studying ways to prevent Russian officials and entities that were sanctioned for the invasion of Ukraine from using cryptocurrencies to circumvent the measures, Infobae reported. 

"We will have to take measures to prevent individuals and institutions on that list from using cryptocurrencies that are not regulated. We have acted in this regard in the framework of the German G7 presidency″, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in a statement.

2:23 p.m. Ukrainian delegation heads to Belarus for second round of negotiations with Russia

A Ukrainian delegation is heading to Belarus for a second round of negotiations with Russia, the government in Kiev reported Wednesday according to El Financiero.

Russia assured that the venue of the meeting would be near the Belarusian-Polish border and that the agenda includes discussions on a cessation of hostilities.

2:00 p.m. UN votes in favor to condemn Russia’s invasion

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

In the emergency session, 141 out of 193 member states voted in favor of the resolution, 35 abstained, and five voted against. The countries who voted against the resolution include Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, and Syria. Cuba, Venezuela, and China, Moscow’s allies, abstained from the vote.

The UN “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” said the resolution, demanding that “the Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine” and “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces”.

1:41 p.m. Ukraine receives donation of $34 million in crypto

Around $33.8 million worth of cryptocurrency have been donated to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said reported the Associated Press.

Most donations have been in bitcoin and ether. However, other people have been sending NFT’s or non-fungible tokens, to the Ukrainian government, said Elliptic, a blockchain analytics firm.

1:30 p.m. Hundreds thought dead from Russia’s 15-hour attack in Mariupol

Hundreds of Ukrainians are feared dead after Russia attacked the southeastern city of Mariupol for more than 15 hours, Ukrainian officials said.

Authorities have yet to confirm the number of casualties and retrieve the bodies. However, since the city was “nearly totally destroyed” Ukrainian officials expect a large number of deaths, Deputy Mayor Sergiy Orlov told BBC News.

“The situation is awful, we are near to a humanitarian catastrophe. We have been under more than 15 hours of continuous shelling without pause,” he added.

12.03 p.m. UN urges countries to open borders to Africans fleeing Ukraine

The U.N. refugee agency on Wednesday urged authorities in Ukraine's neighboring countries to open their borders to African citizens fleeing the conflict in that country, Reuters reported.

Thousands of Africans and other foreign nationals, mostly students, have rushed to leave Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

Videos and testimonies have circulated on social networks denouncing discrimination against Africans at railroad stations and border posts.

11:54 a.m. Projectile falls over Ukrainian volunteer's head

The Twitter account of Alchevsk, a town in Ukraine occupied by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2014, on Wednesday shared the shocking moment when a projectile hits a building directly over the head of a Ukrainian volunteer.

11:33 a.m. Zelensky replaces two governors

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky announced on Wednesday the replacement of the governors of the Odesa and Cherkasy regions, Europa Press reported.

The Ukrainian president confirmed that Maxim Marchenko will head the Odesa oblast and Igor Taburts will govern Cherkasy.

Marchenko, known for fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014, will replace Sergei Grinevetski. Taburts, a professional military officer with the rank of major general, will take the post of Alexander Skichko.

11:15 a.m. Ukraine says Belarus is preparing to send troops to aid Russia

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry claimed it had evidence showing that Belarus is preparing to send troops to Ukraine, reported the Associated Press.

“During the past 24 hours, according to intelligence findings, there has been significant aircraft activity. In addition, there has been movement of a column of vehicles with food and ammunition” approaching the border,” the statement said.

11:00 a.m. Russian troops admit to killing innocent civilians

Captured Russian soldiers in Ukraine admit to killing innocent civilians in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in several confessional videos shared by Ukraine’s Security Service.

“We are killing civilians who haven’t done anything wrong,” a Russian soldier said in one video.

Another video shows a captured Russian soldier saying that they kill their fellow Russian soldiers that have been wounded and leave their dead bodies in the battle field.

10:56 a.m. EU opens weapon dispatch hub in Poland

The European Union opened a logistics hub to dispatch weapons to Ukraine in Poland, a spokesman for the France told the New York Times.

On Sunday, EU official Ursula von der Leyen said that “for the first time ever” the block would deliver weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.

Polish authorities declined to comment on the hub.

10:45 a.m. Russia threatens to ban Wikipedia

Russia is threatening to block Wikipedia in Russia over an entry about the invasion of Ukraine that details the numbers of Russian military casualties and Ukrainian citizens, reported the New York Post.

Wikipedia’s editors for the Russian language site received a letter from the Kremlin’s censorship bureau, the Roskomnadzor, warning them that the article violates Russian law.

Censors said the article  “contains false messages about terrorist attacks or other kind of information of public concern disseminated under the guise of reliable information that threatens life and (or) health of citizens.”

 10:30 a.m. UN to vote on resolution against Russia

The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Wednesday morning on a resolution to condemn Russia for its aggression towards Ukraine and activating its nuclear defense.

All member states will participate on the vote.

10:00 a.m. Ukraine asks UN to consider Russia’s membership on Security Council

Ukraine is asking the United Nations to reconsider Russia’s permanent membership on the UN Security Council after the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday.

“We are confident that when the analysis is complete, it will be evident that Russia’s presence at the UN Security Council is illegitimate,” Kuelba said.

“Everything depends on readiness and determination of the legal team of the UN secretariat to investigate this,” he added.

9:30 a.m. Medical battalion volunteer:  “I’m seeing my people die”

A Ukrainian medical battalion volunteer said she is seeing her people die as Russia continues its aggression towards Ukraine.

“I’m seeing dead children. I'm seeing hospitals being bombed. I'm seeing churches being bombed. It’s difficult. … I’m seeing my people die. I'm seeing all sorts of horrible things. I studied crimes against humanity at the university. I studied international humanitarian law. I never thought I would see this with my own eyes in my country,”  Tata Marharian told CNN.

"I know it is difficult for people to sort of realize the scale of the situation right now, but just imagine that there is a city and there is a town, small town, and you've spent there 17 years of your life. You drove your bike over there and you went to school, you said hello to your neighbors, you lived and loved, you laughed there, and then the other day you see the town, it's completely bombed and there is not a single house … The last thing I want is for my beautiful Kyiv to repeat the destiny of my Volnovakha. I'll do anything in my power to stop this aggression," she added.

9:15 a.m. Biden administration considering sanctions on Russian oil and gas

White House press secretary Jen Paski said that the U.S. is considering sanctioning Russia’s oil and gas industry as a way to further hurt the Kremlin economically.

"I think it's important for people to know is how we can maximize the impact on the squeeze on President Putin and the financial sector. We're already seeing that. You know, the Ruble, their currency is plummeting, we're seeing the stock market plummet there, inflation is skyrocketing," Psaki said with MSNBC.

However, Psaki said that it is important to "minimize the impact on the global marketplace."

9:00 a.m. Ukraine expected to see heavy snowfall in the midst of battle

Ukraine is to expect the heaviest snowfall of the conflict over the next few days. The snowfall will bring about poor visibility, difficult travel conditions, and more than 6 inches of snow, reported CNN.

The cities that will be impacted by this weather include Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk.

Additionally, strong wind gusts of 25-30 mph (40-50 kph) will be felt throughout the region.

7:26 a.m. Russia warns a third world war would be "nuclear" and "devastating"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that U.S. President Joe Biden knows that the only alternative to sanctions against Russia is a Third World War and that it would be "a devastating nuclear war," in statements on Qatar's Al Jazeera television.

The Russian minister made the remarks following President Biden's State of the Union address, in which he delivered a strong message to Russia.

Lavrov also noted that Russia will never be isolated because of the number of friends it has. "Russia has many friends and it is impossible to isolate it," he said.

7:15 a.m. Second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia could be held today

The second round of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine may be held on Wednesday night, the Kremlin announced.

Chief advisor to the Ukrainian Presidential Office Aleksei Arestovich said that "Ukraine will continue to insist on its own position during these negotiations," he said.

6:27 a.m. Switzerland confirms temporary closure of its embassy in Kiev

The official representative of the Swiss Foreign Ministry in Ukraine Pierre-Alain Eltschinger reported that the authorities of his country ordered the temporary closure of the embassy in Kiev in view of the security situation threatening the Ukrainian capital.

"In view of the security-threatening situation in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, on February 28, 2022 the Swiss embassy was temporarily closed," the diplomat said.

3:05 a.m. Biden closes US airspace to all Russian flights

U.S. President Joe Biden announced his decision to close U.S. airspace to Russian airlines, following the example of the European Union (EU) and Canada.

"We will join our allies and close U.S. airspace to all Russian flights, to further isolate Russia and further stifle its economy," Biden said during his first State of the Union address to both houses of the US Congress.

March 1st, 2022

11:40 p.m. UN claims there are already about 520,000 refugees

The United Nations claimed on Tuesday that there are about 520,000 refugees as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, the "largest exodus within Europe" since the Balkan war.

"This figure has been increasing exponentially, hour by hour, since Thursday," said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi. "I have worked on refugee crises for almost 40 years and rarely have I seen such an incredibly rapid exodus of people, surely the largest within Europe since the Balkan wars."

10:27p.m. Russian troops attack the city of Kherson

Russian troops on Tuesday began an attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the State Service for Communications and Information Protection reported on its official Telegram account according to DW News.

"The assault on Kherson has begun. According to witnesses, the enemy is advancing from the airport to the Nikolaev highway and the ring near the refrigeration plant," the news outlet said.

9:18 p.m. For the first time in more than 60 years, Norway sends arms to a country at war

The Norwegian government announced that it will deliver a shipment of grenade launchers to Ukraine, in its first arms shipment to a country at war or in danger of war since 1959, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed on Twitter.

6:04 p.m. Russia and Belarus suspended by World Rugby "until further notice"

Russia and Belarus were suspended on Tuesday from international rugby "until further notice," the sport's world federation said in announcing "full and immediate" sanctions, EFE reported.

Russia's membership in the World Rugby federation was also suspended indefinitely, ending its team's chances of qualifying for next year's World Cup in France.

"World Rugby reiterates its condemnation of Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine and the facilitating role of Belarus," it said in a strongly worded statement.

5:45 p.m. Biden will say that Russia’s war is “premeditated and unprovoked” in State of the Union address

President Joe Biden plans to say that Russia’s war against Ukraine is “premeditated and unprovoked” during his State of the Union address later today, according to excerpts released by the White House.

“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”

“That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations. It matters. American diplomacy matters.”

“Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.”

5:14 p.m. Ford suspends operations in Russia

Ford said on Tuesday it was halting operations in Russia, effective immediately, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.  

Ford is deeply concerned about the invasion of Ukraine and the resultant threats to peace and stability. The situation has compelled us to reassess our operations in Russia,” the car company said.

Ford has a joint venture with Russian company Sollers, which focuses exclusively on van manufacturing and Russian sales.

“Given the situation, we have today informed our JV partners that we are suspending our operations in Russia, effective immediately, until further notice,” Ford continued.

4:40 p.m. UK announces new sanctions against Russia

The United Kingdom announced new sanctions against Russia, including a ban on Russian ships from UK ports, the government announced in a statement.

“The ban includes any vessels owned or operated by anyone connected to Russia and authorities will also gain new powers to detain Russian vessels,” the government said.

Additional sanctions include economic measures against the Russian Central Bank and the state’s sovereign wealth fund.

“The new measures prohibit UK individuals and entities from providing financial services to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, as well as the Ministry of Finance and National Wealth Fund,” the statement added.

4:37 p.m. Russia bombs Kyiv neighborhoods

Russia has bombed several Kyiv neighborhoods, reported the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine.

“The neighborhoods that are currently under attack are Rusanivka, Kurenivka, Boiarka and the area near the Kyiv International Airport, or Zhuliany,” reported the Kyiv Independent on Twitter.

4:20 p.m. No more talks until Russia stops bombing, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russia should stop bombarding his people before more negotiations talks between the two countries are held.

“As for dialogue, I think yes, but stop bombarding people first and start negotiating afterwards,“ Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN and the Reuters news agency.

Russia and Ukraine have held one round of negotiation talks since the war began six days ago.

3:49 p.m. Ukraine asks that Russia be kicked off the internet

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, sent a letter to the president of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) asking to remove the domains .ru and .su from the web and shut down root servers in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Russia’s “atrocious crimes have been made possible mainly due to the Russian propaganda machinery using websites continuously spreading disinformation, hate speech, promoting violence and hiding the truth regarding the war in Ukraine,” wrote Fedorov. “Ukrainian IT infrastructure has undergone numerous attacks from the Russian side impeding citizens’ and government’s ability to communicate.”

3:30 p.m. Russia prohibits citizens from taking more than $10,000 out of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday prohibiting citizens from taking more than $10,000 worth of foreign currency out of Russia.

The move comes as a response to the sanctions imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine that sent thousands of people to banks and ATMs, fearing that they would lose their savings, reported the Associated Press.

3:28 p.m. U.S. oil prices close at highest since July 2014

U.S. oil prices increased to more than $100 on Tuesday, a figure that had not been seen since July 2014.

U.S. crude oil increased 8% to $103.41 a barrel, it’s the market’s largest one-day gain since 2020, reported CNN.  

The world’s benchmark, Brent, rose by 8% to $105 a barrel.

3:20 p.m. Former Russian minister calls for diplomats to reign in protest

Former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev called for diplomats to resign as a sign of protests against the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“I call on all Russian diplomats to resign in protest,” he tweeted on Tuesday. “Dear Russian diplomats, you are professionals and not cheap propagandists.”

Kozyrev was Russia’s Foreign Minister from 1990 to 1996 and a member of the State Duma until 2000.

3:17 p.m. Airstrikes hit Holocaust memorial in Kyiv

Russian airstrikes on Kyiv on Tuesday hit the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Site, according to Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

“Putin seeks to distort and manipulate the Holocaust to justify an illegal invasion of a sovereign democratic country is utterly abhorrent. It is symbolic that he starts attacking Kyiv by bombing the site of the Babyn Yar, the biggest of Nazi massacre," said the memorial’s Advisory Board Chair Natan Sharansky.

“We remind the Russian leadership that Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities were last subjected to massive bombing by Nazi Germany during World War II, now they are burning under the blows of Putin's army, under the false and outrageous narrative of 'denazifying' Ukraine and its people.”

2:58 p.m. Massive explosion reported at an airbase near Kharkiv

On Tuesday, a massive explosion was recorded at an airbase in Chuguev, a town in Kharkiv oblast, according to Ukrainian media. Because of its magnitude, it is presumed to be related to an ammunition depot.

2:44 p.m. UK Sanctions Russia's Biggest Bank

The British government on Tuesday sanctioned Russia's bank, Sberbank, and the country's sovereign wealth fund, warning that the "economic cost" of the invasion of Ukraine will only make the situation worse for the Kremlin.

The Russian direct investment fund, RDIF, set up in 2011 by Moscow to promote foreign investment in Russia, is known for having financed the development of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. It is headed by Kirill Dmitriev, a close associate of Vladimir Putin who on Tuesday was also sanctioned by the British government.

2:26 p.m. U.S. accuses Russian UN official of spying

The United States requested the departure of a Russian official working at the UN accusing him of spying, a source at the US embassy to the organization told AFP. This new expulsion follows that of 12 other Russian officials to the UN.

"On February 28, the United States also initiated the process to request the departure of a Russian intelligence agent working in the United States who abused his residency privilege" in the country, "conducting espionage activities contrary to our national security.

2:03 p.m. The International Court of Justice confirms hearings about the war

The International Court of Justice confirmed that it would hold hearings about Russia’s possible crimes against humanity in its invasion of Ukraine on March 7 and 8, reported AFP News Agency.

2:00 p.m. Biden and Zelensky discuss sanctions and support

U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation to discuss “the United States’ continued backing for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression,” reported the White House.

“President Biden underscored the United States’ sustained help for Ukraine, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance, economic support, and humanitarian aid.”

“The leaders discussed Russia’s escalation of attacks on sites used by civilians in Ukraine, including today’s bombing near Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial,” said the report.

1:20 p.m. Russia to restrict two independent news outlets

Russia’s prosecutor general’s office restricted independent news outlets TV Rain and radio station Ekho Moskvy.

According to a statement by the government office, the news outlets disseminated “information known to be false regarding the actions of Russian servicemen, as part of a special operation to protect the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.”

The information the outlets have shared calls “for extremism, violence against citizens of the Russian Federation, mass violations of public order and public security,” the statement continued.

Ten other news outlets were warned to stop spreading “false information” by Russia’s communication regulator. The outlets notified included Echo of Moscow, InoSMI, Mediazona, New Times, TV Rain, Svobodnaya Pressa, Krym.Realii, Novaya Gazeta, Zhurnalist and Lenizdat, reported CNN.

1:13 p.m. Car manufacturers halt trade with Russia

Car manufacturers are halting shipments to Russia as the Kremlin’s troops move further into Ukraine, reported NBC News.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time,” said General Motors, who stopped exporting cars to Russia. “The loss of life is a tragedy and our overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region.”

“Considering the potential risks associated with trading material with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and US, Volvo Cars will not deliver any cars to the Russian market until further notice,” the Swedish company told NBC News.

12:47 p.m. Turkish President calls for immediate cease-fire

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, reported the Associated Press.

“Our call to both Russia and Ukraine is: let the firing stop as soon as possible, let Russia and Ukraine make a beautiful contribution to peace,” Erdogan said Tuesday during a joint news conference with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu on Tuesday.

Erdogan also added that Turkey, a member of NATO, supports the expansion of the alliance.

12:35 p.m. Doctors Without Borders sets up emergency response activities in Ukraine

The international humanitarian medical organization Doctors Without Borders said it is distributing medical kits in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and is providing telemedicine training for trauma surgeons in eastern Ukraine.

At Ukraine’s borders, the organization is trying to move essential staff and supplies into Ukraine.

12:30 p.m. Russian troops surrendering, pentagon official says

Russian troops are surrendering or sabotaging their own vehicles in Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official said.

Entire Russian units have stopped fighting and surrendered when they encountered Ukrainian defense, according to the New York Times quote from the official.

Other members of the Russian troops have are deliberately sabotaging their vehicles to avoid fighting.

12:25 p.m. Russian troops attack TV tower in Kyiv

Russian troops shelled a television tower in Kiev on Tuesday, after Russia today warned citizens living near the relay nodes about possible attacks in the area, according to news outlet La Voz de Galicia.

The attack, on the sixth day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, "touched" tower equipment, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said. "The channels are not going to work for a certain period of time," he added.

12:17 p.m. Ukraine calls for more sanctions, arms, and humanitarian and financial aid

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday held talks with his counterparts from Poland, France, and Germany. He urged them "to intensify sanctions pressure on Russia to stop its war crimes in Ukraine, and to provide Ukraine with more arms, financial and humanitarian support," he posted on Twitter.

11:39 a.m. Russia denies targeting civilians and residential areas

"Russian troops in Ukraine are only attacking military targets," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday after learning that the International Criminal Court in The Hague would launch an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine.

Peskov claimed that Moscow "categorically denied" the accusations made by Ukraine. The Russian official called such claims "hoaxes."

Russian troops "do not attack civilian facilities and residential areas," Peskov added, reiterating earlier statements to that effect by the Russian Defense Ministry.

11:18 a.m. China "deeply regrets the conflict between Russia and Ukraine"

China's foreign minister spoke on Tuesday with his Ukrainian counterpart and urged a resolution of the conflict through negotiation, reported the Daily Mail.

Minister Wang Yi told Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing "deeply regrets this conflict that has broken out between Ukraine and Russia, and pays extreme attention to the pain suffered by civilians," the media outlet continued.

The Chinese official urged the two countries to "find a way to resolve the problem through negotiations."

10:45 a.m. U.S. Secretary of State calls out Russia for killing civilians

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called out Russia for killing civilians in their invasion of Ukraine.

Blinken said Russian strikes are “are hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings.”

“They are destroying critical infrastructure, which provides millions of people across Ukraine with drinking water, gas to keep them from freezing to death, and electricity. Civilian buses, cars, and even ambulances have been shelled. Russia is doing this every day – across Ukraine,” Blinken added.

10:00 a.m. Ukraine could become the largest refugee crisis this century, says UNHCR

Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine could provoke “Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century,” said the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the agency, over 600,000 Ukrainians have fled their homeland to neighboring countries. However, this number is expected to grow in the coming days.

9:40 a.m. France to provide $111 million in Aid to Ukraine

France will provide $111 million (100 million euros) in financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, announced the French foreign ministry.

“Faced with the humanitarian situation in Ukraine caused by Russia's invasion of the country and in response to the request of the Ukrainian authorities, France has decided to mobilize a financial package of 100 million euros to provide a response for the population affected by the conflict,” read a statement published by the ministry.

“In addition to financial support to NGOs and multilateral organizations, our assistance takes the form of emergency humanitarian aid.”

9:24 a.m. Diplomats walk out of Russian foreign minister’s speech at U.N.

Around 100 diplomats walked out during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov’s speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday to protest the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The walkout was led by Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, reported the New York Times.

Lavrov delivered his speech by video due to the flight bans from Russia, the minister claimed.

9:15 a.m. Russia warns of strikes against Kyiv facilities

The Russian military claimed it will strike facilities in Kyiv and warned civilians to leave nearby areas, reported CNN.

According to a statement shared by Russian state media outlet TASS, Russian troops will target the Security Service of Ukraine and the 72nd Main Center for Information and Psychological Operations.

"In order to suppress information attacks against Russia, the technological facilities of the SBU and the 72nd main PSO center in Kyiv will be hit with high-precision weapons," read the statement. "We call on Ukrainian citizens attracted by Ukrainian nationalists to carry out provocations against Russia, as well as residents of Kyiv living near relay nodes leave their homes."

9:04 a.m. Zelensky asks EU to ‘prove that you are with us’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the European Union to “prove that you are with us” as Russia advances its attack on Kyiv.

"We are fighting to be equal members of Europe," Zelensky said in a speech.

"Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness," he added. "The EU will be much stronger with us."

9:00 a.m. Container shipping companies halt cargo to Russia

Two of the world’s largest shipping container companies, Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), announced that they will halt all bookings to and from Russia.

“As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended, with exception of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies,” said Maersk in a statement.

8:30 a.m. Visa and Mastercard block Russian banks from their network

Credit card giants Visa and Mastercard have blocked Russian financial institutions from their networks after the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine.

Mastercard said it “blocked multiple financial institutions” from its payment network, reported CNBC. “We will continue to work with regulators in the days ahead to abide fully by our compliance obligations as they evolve,” the company added.

On Tuesday, Visa also said it blocked the institutions on the U.S. sanctions list. The company said it was “taking prompt action to ensure compliance with applicable sanctions, and are prepared to comply with additional sanctions that may be implemented.”

8:25 a.m. Russia to launch information operation against Ukraine, says defense minister

Russia is making preparations to launch a “large-scale information and psychological operation” against Ukraine, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on Tuesday.

“Its goal is to break the resistance of Ukrainians and the Ukrainian army with lies,” he said. “As a ‘confirmation’ of this, fake — supposedly signed — documents as well as edited fake videos will be spread.”

8:05 a.m. 136 civilians killed in Ukraine, says the U.N.

Around 136 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, said spokeswoman for the United Nations Liz Throssel on Tuesday. At least 13 of the civilians that were killed were children.

Over 400 civilians were injured in the first five days of the war. However, she said that these numbers are only casualties verified by the U.N., making the true figure higher.

“Most of the casualties were killed by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area,” Ms. Throssell said. “That includes shelling from heavy artillery and multiple rocket systems as well as airstrikes.”

6:18 a.m. Russia strikes a building of the Kharkov Regional Administration

The leader of Ukraine's Kharkov region, Oleg Synegubov, confirmed Tuesday that several missiles launched by Russian troops landed in the center of Ukraine's second largest city, destroying a government building of the Kharkov Regional Administration.

Images shared on social media show the moment when a missile hits the building of the Regional Administration, on Liberty Square, which was destroyed early in the morning.

4:42 a.m. A Kyiv hospital basement turned into a pediatric ward

In the midst of the war in Ukraine, the basement of a hospital in Kyiv was turned into a makeshift bomb shelter and makeshift pediatric ward, the BBC reported.

"These are patients who cannot receive medical treatment at home, they cannot survive without medicines, medical treatment, and medical workers," chief surgeon Volodymyr Zhovnir told reporters Monday.

2:45 a.m. Massive Russian convoy approaches Kiev

Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24. A Russian military convoy over 60 kilometers long was spotted northwest of Kiev, according to satellite images shared by ABC.

"Russian occupiers continue to surround the Ukrainian towns of Sumy, Lebedyn, and Okhtyrka, the opponent is regrouping to continue its advance towards Kiev," the General Staff of the Ukrainian army wrote on Facebook.

February 28, 2022

11:09 pm. Disney suspends the release of its films in Russia

The Walt Disney Company announced that it suspended the release of its films in Russian theaters following "the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis," reported El Economista.

"We will make future business decisions depending on how the situation develops," the company added.

They also explained that they are working to provide aid and other forms of humanitarian assistance to refugees.

6:45 p.m. Finland agrees to send aid to Ukraine

Finland, a European nation that had previously rejected sending aid to Ukraine, reversed its decision. Finland will now send 2,500 assault rifles, 1,500 anti-tank weapons, as well as food rations to Ukraine, announced Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

6:30 p.m. NHL ends business relations with Russia

The National Hockey league (NHL) announced it would end business relations with Russia after the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine.

“The National Hockey League condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and urges a peaceful resolution as quickly as possible. Effective immediately, we are suspending our relationships with our business partners in Russia and we are pausing our Russian language social and digital media sites. In addition, we are discontinuing any consideration of Russia as a location for any future competitions involving the NHL," the league said in a statement.

“We also remain concerned about the well-being of the players from Russia, who play in the NHL on behalf of their NHL Clubs, and not on behalf of Russia. We understand they and their families are being placed in an extremely difficult position," the league added.

5:51 p.m. Russia used a vacuum bomb, says Russian ambassador

Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told U.S. Congress members on Monday that the Kremlin used a vacuum bomb during its military attack of Ukraine, reported NBC News.

"They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention," she said.

"A vacuum bomb uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive," explained Reuters. 

"The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large."

5:50 pm. Ukraine is analyzing today’s talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is analyzing today’s talks with Russia.

"There can be fair negotiations if one side does not hit the other side with rocket artillery at the time of negotiations. So far, we do not have the result we would like to get. Russia has stated its position, and we have declared counterpoints to end the war. We received some signals. When the delegation returns to Kyiv, we will analyze what we have heard and then we will decide how to proceed to the second round of talks," Zelensky said in a message quoted by CNN.

5:15 p.m. Zelensky accuses Russia of war crimes in Kharkiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address of Monday that Russian forces have launched 56 missiles and 113 cruise missiles in five days.

"Kharkiv is a peaceful city, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people: the Russians knew where they were shooting."

“Today, Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime,” he added.

"There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime — it's a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people," Zelensky concluded.

4: 57 p.m. Kyiv’s mayor urges citizens to seek shelter for the night

Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv’s mayor, asked the city’s residents to spend the night in bomb shelters or basements in a statement, reported the New York Times.

“Tonight will again be difficult,” he wrote. “I call on people in Kyiv to spend the night in a shelter.”

4:35 p.m. International Crime Court to investigate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The International Crime Court in The Hague announced on Monday that it would open an investigation into potential war crimes against humanity after Russia invaded Ukraine, said prosecutor Karim Khan.

According to Khan, a preliminary investigation showed that Russia might have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, reported NBC News.

"Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my Office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine," he said in a statement.  

4: 32 p.m. White House takes step to address possible impact on oil markets

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. is addressing “any impact on the global markets, global oil markets, that we expect could happen, expect at the time could happen, and could continue to happen as a result of President Putin’s invasion.”

Despite not mentioning any specific details, she told CNN that “there has been an ongoing discussion about steps that we can all take as a global community to address any volatility in the market.”

3: 55 p.m. European Union sanctions Russian financial elite

The European Union imposed new sanctions on several Russian financial elites in an attempt to punish the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, the E.U. and the U.S. unveiled a detailed list of the people that will be affected by these measures.

The sanctions will be applied to top Russian financiers, including owners of several conglomerates and members of Putin’s inner circle, reported The Washington Post.

“These sanctions can have a pretty sharp bite,” said Edward Fishman, a former State Department official who worked on sanctions policy.

3: 50 p.m. Russian dissident Alexei Navalny calls for national disobedience campaign

Jailed Russian dissident Alexei Navalny called for a national disobedience campaign against President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.

“Putin is not Russia,” Navalny Tweeted.

“Navalny was Putin’s strongest rival until he was poisoned by state agents in 2020, jailed a year ago and saw his political network banned as extremist in the summer,” reported the Washington Post.

3: 40 Meta blocks Russian state media in Europe

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, said it would restrict Russian- state-affiliated outlets in the European Union.

"We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media," Nick Clegg, vice president for global affairs at Meta, said in a statement. "Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time."

3:20 p.m. U.S expels 12 Russian diplomats from U.N.

The U.S. declared 12 diplomats from the Russian mission to the U.N. as “persona non grata,” demanding that they leave the U.S. territory by March 7.  According to the U.S., the diplomats threatened national security.

Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya sayd the U.S.’s decision was a “gross violation.”

“There are a lot of countries that understand what the Russian position is and what it is doing and why,” Nebenzya added.

2:33 p.m. Turkey to restrict access to black sea  

Turkey limited the movement of Russian and Ukrainian warships passing through the Bosporus, the stretch connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean controlled by Ankara, on Monday.

To do so, Turkey redefined Russia’s attack on Ukraine from a “military operation” to war, allowing it to bar warships from passing, reported DW News.

Turkey, however, cannot bar ships from returning to their home base in the Black Sea, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavasoglu.

2:17 p.m. Russia claims to have hit more than 1,000 Ukrainian military installations

Russia claimed that its armed forces have hit 1,146 Ukrainian military installations since Wednesday, said a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, in a statement reported by CNN.

“31 command posts and communication centers, 81 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 75 radar stations. Operationally, tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit six columns of armored vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces" were hit, he said.

“311 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 42 aircraft and helicopters (including on the ground), 51 multiple launch rocket systems, 147 field artillery pieces and mortars, 263 units of special military vehicles were destroyed,” Konashenkov added.

The information is yet to be verified, claimed CNN.

2:06 p.m. Ukraine’s second-largest city hit with heavy shelling

Khrakiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, was hit with heavy shelling on Monday as Russian troops escalate their attack, reported Ukrainian officials.

Videos on social media show explosions across residential areas of Khrarkiv, a city of 1.4 million people. The destruction of the city has left apartment buildings and streets on fire, as well as several bodies on the street, reported NBC News.

“This horror must be seen by the whole world,"wrote Ukrainian Interior Ministry Advisor anton Gerashchenko.

“This is happening in the daytime, when people have gone out to the pharmacy, for groceries, or for drinking water. It’s a crime,” the head of regional administration in Kharkiv, Oleg Synegubov told Reuters.

1:43 p.m. Switzerland breaks neutrality, imposes sanctions against Russia

Switzerland broke its neutral posture regarding the invasion of Ukraine on Monday and will join the European Union in imposing sanctions against Russia.

As part of the sanctions, Switzerland will freeze all of the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail V. Mishustin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and 367 other individuals, reported the New York Post.

“Switzerland reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine and its people; it will be delivering relief supplies for people who have fled to Poland,” the government said.

1:32 p.m. Zelenskyy signs application to join European Union

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application on Monday for Ukraine to join the European Union, reported NBC news.

"Our goal is to stand alongside all Europeans and, most importantly, to stand on their level," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shymhal shared a picture of Zelenskyy after he signed the document.

1:30 p.m. Finland says it will send weapons to Ukraine

Finland’s government said in a press release on Monday that it will send 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges for rifles, 1,500 anti-tank weapons, and 70,000 ration packages to Ukraine.

“The situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult because of Russia's military attack and there is an immediate need for defense [material],” the statement said.

1:22 p.m. Shell says it will end ventures with Russia’s Gazprom

Oil company Shell said it intends to end its joint ventures with Russian gas company Gazprom after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Along with BP and Equinor, Shell is the third oil company to break ties with Russia over Ukraine, reported the Washington Post.  

“We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security,” Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in an emailed statement. “We cannot — and we will not — stand by.”

1:15 p.m. Ukrainian presidential adviser says "negotiations are difficult."

The advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Mykhailo Podoliak said on Twitter that negotiations with Russia to agree on a ceasefire "are difficult."

"Unfortunately, the Russian side is still extremely biased with regard to the destructive processes it launched" in Ukraine, he said.

12:34 p.m. UEFA and FIFA suspend Russia from all international tournaments

All Russian clubs and national teams are suspended from participating in both FIFA and UEFA competitions, according to a joint statement.

"Football is fully united and in full solidarity with all those affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents (of the institutions) hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly so that soccer can once again become a vector of unity and peace between peoples," the statement read.

12:00 p.m. Russian convoy around Kyiv stretches out 17 miles

Satellite images from Maxar Technologies shows several hundred Russian vehicles and troops  approximately 20 miles north of Antonov Airport near Kyiv. The convoy of Russian forces stretches out at least 17 miles, reported the New York Times.

It is unclear towards what direction the troops will move in.

11:35 a.m. Macron asks Putin to end aggression in phone call

During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron urged for an immediate cease-fire and to end all Russian attacks on civilians and infrastructure, said the French presidency.

Mr. Macron “reiterated the request of the international community to stop the Russian offensive against Ukraine, and reaffirmed the need to implement an immediate cease-fire.”

Macron and Putin agreed to stay in touch “to prevent the situation from getting worse,” reported the New York Times.

The French president also talked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the past few hours. According to the French presidency, Marcon “praised the sense of responsibility of the Ukrainian president in view of the negotiations that are beginning and at a time when Ukraine is being attacked by Russia.”

11:20 a.m. U.N. emergency session begins

The 193 members of the UN General Assembly held a minute's silence at the initiative of its president, Abdulla Shahid, in memory of the victims of the war in Ukraine, Radio National reports.

This "extraordinary emergency session" of the body will decide whether or not the countries condemn Moscow's invasion of Kyiv. The vote on the resolution will take place at the moment when the speeches are concluded.

In view of the high number of speeches expected, it is believed that the session will have to be extended until tomorrow or Wednesday.

8:05 a.m. Ukraine-Russia negotiations begin

Negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on the border with Belarus began in an attempt to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"Dear friends, the President of Belarus has asked me to welcome you and facilitate your work as much as possible. As agreed with Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin, you can feel completely safe," Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said during the welcome.

7:45 a.m. Argentine Foreign Minister condemns the invasion of Ukraine

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero spoke about the war between Russia and Ukraine at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. "Argentina reiterates to the Russian Federation to immediately cease the use of force and condemns the invasion of Ukraine, as well as the operations on its territory," he said.

Referring to Moscow's military action, he insisted that "it is not legitimate to resort to the use of force and violate the territorial integrity of another State as a way of resolving a conflict", reports El Economista.

5:55 a.m. Ukrainian delegation arrives at Belarusian border for negotiations

The Ukrainian delegation arrived on Monday at the Belarusian border, where it will negotiate with the Kremlin to demand an "immediate" ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops, according to El Periódico.

"In Belarus, everything is ready to host the Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Waiting for delegations to arrive," Belarus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on Twitter with a photograph of the meeting venue.

4:40 a.m. Russia continues its efforts to invade Kyiv

On the scheduled day peace negotiations, warning sirens sounded in the early hours of Monday morning in several Ukrainian cities, even half an hour after the curfew was lifted, reported the BBC.

Explosions and attacks were also reported at various facilities, including a building in Chernihiv, where a woman was injured after a Russian missile hit the residential complex.

2:40 a.m. Brazilian President avoids condemning Russia's actions.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro avoided condemning Russia for its actions against Ukraine and said he will remain neutral after holding a two-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters.

"There is no sanction or condemnation against President Putin, Brazil's vote is not defined and is not tied to any power. Our vote is free and will be given in this direction. We cannot interfere. We want peace, but we cannot bring the consequences here," Bolsonaro said.

February 27, 2022

11:28 p.m. Russian missile hits building 150 kilometers north of Kiev

A Russian missile hit a residential building in Chervihiv, about 150 kilometers north of Kiev, on Sunday night and set its two lower floors on fire, according to Ukrainian media.

"A woman was injured in a fire at a residential complex in central Chernihiv after a Russian missile strike hit the building," The Kyiv Independent posted on Twitter.

Advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office Oleksiy Arestovych confirmed that Russian forces carried out missile strikes overnight Sunday in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv.

3:05 p.m. More than 5,000 arrests in Russia following protests.

Russian police have arrested around 5,250 people who demonstrated against the invasion of Ukraine, reported OVD-Info, an organization specializing in tracking arrests and defending detainees.

OVD-info reported Sunday that in St. Petersburg police made violent arrests, with at least three protesters injured.

2:40 p.m. Mayor of Kiev: "Right now we are surrounded"

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko claimed that there is no way to evacuate civilians if Russian troops manage to take the Ukrainian capital because the city is surrounded by their military, he said during an interview with Associated Press.

"We can't do it, because all roads are blocked," he said after several seconds in silence. "Right now we are surrounded."

The advance of Russian troops has been slower than expected by military experts, but Russia's continues to have an advantage, the media outlet said.

2:35 p.m. UN says idea of nuclear war "inconceivable"

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told AFP agency Sunday that the idea of a nuclear war is "inconceivable" after Russian President Vladimir Putin put Russian nuclear forces "on alert" as a way of responding to Western sanctions.

Several countries condemned Putin's "alert." The White House condemned it as an "unacceptable" action and NATO called it "dangerous" and "irresponsible."

1:33 p.m. WHO warns of oxygen shortages in Ukraine

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday called for safe corridors to deliver medical supplies, including oxygen, during the fourth day of Russian attack on Ukraine.

"Most hospitals could run out of oxygen reserves in the next 24 hours. Some have already run out. This puts thousands of lives at risk," WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus and regional director for Europe Hans Kluge wrote in a statement.

The WHO said the oxygen supply "is approaching a very dangerous point" in Ukraine as trucks are unable to transport oxygen tanks from the production plant to the country's hospitals.

1:24 p.m. At least ten children have died in Ukraine, according to Save the Children

The NGO Save the Children confirmed that at least ten Ukrainian children were killed and a dozen schools were destroyed during Russian shelling.

"Schools should NEVER be a target," the organization wrote on Twitter. "These attacks are endangering the lives and futures of Ukraine's 7.5 million children."

Attacks on schools and hospitals are classified by the UN as one of six grave violations committed against children. In the face of increased threats by Russian troops, schools in eastern Ukraine closed on February 21.

12: 45 p.m. At least 100,000 people march in Berlin in support of Ukraine

At least 100,000 people marched this Sunday in Berlin in support of Ukraine, according to police data reported by AFP. However, organizers estimated the presence of half a million participants.

The demonstrators gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, which is the building of the Chamber of Deputies, and carried Ukrainian flags and signs saying "No to World War III" or "Stop the killer."

Germany is home to more than 300,000 people of Ukrainian origin or nationality, as well as a large Russian diaspora, especially in Berlin.

12:05 p.m. NATO calls Putin's alert "dangerous" and "irresponsible"

NATO members called Russian President Vladimir Putin's alert to nuclear deterrent forces "dangerous" and "irresponsible."

"This is dangerous rhetoric. It is irresponsible behavior and, of course, when you combine this rhetoric with what they are doing on the ground in Ukraine, it adds to the gravity of the situation," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, as reported by RTVE.

NATO's comments come after the White House called Putin a "threat factory that doesn't exist."

11:35 a.m. White House responds to Putin's nuclear warning

The United States responded to Vladimir Putin announcement that Russia raised its nuclear alert level as a reaction to Western sanctions, reported EFE.

"This is really a pattern that we've seen from President Putin throughout this conflict, which is to manufacture threats that don't exist in order to justify further aggression," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in an interview on ABC television in which she responded to reports from Moscow.

She added that, "the global community and the American people should see it in this light", since "at no time has Russia ever been under threat from NATO, or has Russia ever been under threat from Ukraine."

11:20 a.m. Spain closes its airspace to Russia

Following France, Germany and a dozen other European countries, Spain's Transport Ministry announced on Twitter that it will proceed to close its airspace to Russia.

"Following the cooperation guidelines set by the European Union, this measure will have effects on flights operated by Russian airlines using Spanish airspace," the post said.

10:20 a.m. Putin raises nuclear alert level to "special combat readiness"

The Kremlin has raised Russia's nuclear alert level, drawing the attention of U.S. and NATO allies, reported the Associated Press and Axios.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the new nuclear alert order citing alleged "aggressive statements" by NATO members and as a response to the financial sanctions imposed by the West, the Associated Press added.

"Western countries are not only taking hostile measures against our country in the economic sphere, but senior officials of leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country," the Russian president said in comments that were televised to his citizens.

9:55 a.m. France closes its airspace to Russia

French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari announced that his nation will join the list of European countries that have closed their airspace to Russia, as the Kremlin's goes further into Ukrainian territory.

"France closes its airspace to all Russian planes and airlines as of tonight. To the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe responds with full unity," the official assured on Twitter.

9:14 a.m. Pope Francis calls for opening of "humanitarian corridors" for Ukraine

Pope Francis called for the urgent opening of "humanitarian corridors" for refugees fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion, reported news outlet Semana.

"I think of the elderly, of all those who at this moment are seeking refuge, of mothers fleeing with their children. They are brothers and sisters for whom it is urgent to open humanitarian corridors, and who must be welcomed," the pope said at the end of his traditional Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square this Sunday.

He added that people who take the road to war should not think that God is on their side. He also condemned those who "trust in the diabolical and perverse logic of weapons."

8:10 a.m. Ukraine reports Russia to the International Court of Justice

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Sunday that he filed a complaint against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), aiming to obtain a ruling that would force the immediate end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Ukraine filed a complaint against Russia with the ICJ. Russia must be held accountable for manipulating the notion of genocide to justify aggression," the Ukrainian president said on Twitter. "We request an urgent decision ordering Russia to cease military activity now and expect the proceedings to begin next week," he added.

The ICJ is a body that Russia and Ukraine turned to in recent years over the conflict in the Donbas region, where the Ukrainian Army faces the Donetsk and Luhansk separatists.

6:12 a.m. International Judo Federation suspends Putin as honorary president

Russian President Vladimir Putin was suspended as honorary president of the International Judo Federation (IJF) following Russia’s attack against Ukraine, the sports body announced Sunday, according to Reuters.

"Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announced the suspension of Vladimir Putin's status as honorary president and international ambassador of the Judo Federation," the IJF said in a statement.

Russia has great influence in world judo. Vladimir Putin is a lover of the sport and is a black belt.

5:25 a.m. Ukrainian President is willing to talk with Russia, but not in Belarus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that his country is ready to negotiate with Russia but not in Belarus, a loyal ally of Moscow, he said in a video according to media reports.

Zelensky said his country does not want to talk in Belarus, after its president lent its territory for the Russian invasion. Instead, the Ukrainian leader proposed to do it in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, or Turkey.

"Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest, Istanbul, Baku. We propose any of these," he said.

4:50 a.m. Russia says it blockaded two cities in southern Ukraine

The Russian Army confirmed on Sunday that it surrounded two major cities in southern Ukraine, Kherson and Berdyansk, during the fourth day of the Russian invasion, RIA news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying.

"Over the past 24 hours, Russian armed forces completely blockaded Kherson and Berdyansk, with 290,000 and 110,000 inhabitants respectively," the statement said.

3:23 a.m. Russia seizes Nova Kakhovka

Russian troops took over Nova Kakhovka, a small town in southern Ukraine that is strategically located on the Dnipro River and directly supplies the Crimean peninsula with water channels, reported the BBC.

The information was confirmed by the town’s mayor Volodymyr Kovalenko, who claimed that Russian uniformed men are removing Ukrainian flags from public buildings.

1:35 a.m. Poland willing to receive Ukrainian refugees

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Sunday announced that Poland is ready to welcome "a large number" of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war, reported Europa Press.

"We will welcome those who need it. We see fear growing in Ukrainian society. We are prepared for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people who will arrive," Morawicki said in an interview to the French daily Ouest-France.

12:20 a.m. U.N. reports 240 civilian casualties

The United Nations reported 240 civilian casualties since the start of the invasion, including 64 deaths, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Recent reports indicate that a six-year-old boy was killed due to a shooting in western Kiev. The clashes in the area also left two teenagers and three adults wounded.

February 26, 2022

7:04 p.m. Protesters around the world show support for Ukraine

Protesters from all over the world took to the streets to show solidarity with Ukraine on Saturday. The demonstrators called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion on Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

“We don’t want war,” said Tetiana Vyborna, a Ukrainian living in Paris. “We are just defending ourselves.”

6:50 p.m. Oil depot near Kyiv on fire

The news outlet Kyiv Post reported that the Vasilkov oil depot was on fire. The depot is about 10 miles south of the city.

 6:43 p.m. Russia closes its airspace to several countries

Russia closed its airspace to planes from Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovenia, reported the Associated Press.

According to Russia’s state aviation agency, the measure was implemented after Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovenia closed their airspace to Russian planes.  

6:30 p.m. Ukrainian official calls for an ‘IT army’ to help the country

 Ukrainian Minister of Digital transformation Mykhailo Fedorov claimed that the country was creating an “IT army” to “fight on the cyberfriend” as Russia continues its attack on Ukraine.

“We are creating an IT army. We need digital talents. All operational tasks will be given here: https://t.me/itarmyofurraine. There will be tasks for everyone. We continue to fight on the cyber front. The first task is on the channel for cyber specialists,” he tweeted.

Fedorov called for hackers from all countries to help hack Russian energy firms and banks.

6:15 p.m. Kyiv under curfew as Russian forces near

Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv will impose a 39-hour curfew starting on Saturday, allowing only critical infrastructure workers and military on the streets, reported ABC News.

According to authorities, the curfew will allow them to find Russian sabotage groups and prevent incidents with civilians.

Ukrainian soldiers also set up checkpoints and barricades to prevent the free movement of people around the city as fighting engulfs the city.

6:08 p.m. Two massive explosions reported in Kyiv 

Two large explosion in Kyiv were seen in the southwestern part of the city a little before 1 a.m. local time, reported CNN. One of the explosions is thought to have come from around 12 miles (20 km) away from the city. The second explosion was seen in the direction of one of the city's major airports. 

“The night sky lit up for several minutes,” reported CNN's Tim Lister.

Ukrainian officials warned citizens to be ready for more airstrikes. 

5:45 p.m. U.S. and E.U. announce expulsion of Russian banks from SWIFT

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada announced on Saturday that several Russian banks will be removed from the SWIFT system, in an attempt to halt Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

"We will hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," read a joint statement by the countries. "This past week, alongside our diplomatic efforts and collective work to defend our own borders and to assist the Ukrainian government and people in their fight, we, as well as our other allies and partners around the world, imposed severe measures on key Russian institutions and banks, and on the architects of this war.”

"As Russian forces unleash their assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, we are resolved to continue imposing costs on Russia that will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies," the statement continued. "We will implement these measures within the coming days."

The statement did not specify which Russian banks will be affected by the measure.

5:15 p.m. Macron talks to Balarus’ Lukashenko about Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Marcon had a telephone call with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Saturday. During the phone call, Macron accused Belarus of acting as “Russia’s vassal and de facto accomplice in the war against Ukraine,” according to a statement from his office.

Macron asked Lukashenko to withdraw all Russian troops from Belarus “as quickly as possible

5:00 p.m. Greece claims 10 expats were killed by Russian airstrikes

Ten Greek nationals were killed and six others were wounded by a Russian airstrike near Mariupol, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

"Ten innocent civilians of Greek origin (were) killed today by Russian air strikes close to Mariupol. Stop the bombing now!" Mitsotakis posted on twitter.

Greece’s Foreign Ministry condemned Russia’s aggression and summoned Russia’s ambassador to Greece to its offices, reported Reuters.

4:40 p.m. Facebook and YouTube limit Russia’s ads over invasion of Ukraine

Russian state media outlets will no longer run adds on Facebook or Youtube, the companies announced on Saturday.

“We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world. We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend,” said Facebook’s head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, on Twitter.

YouTube also said it would suspend Russian state-owned media channels from making money from advertisements, reported Reuters.

The video company said it would be "pausing a number of channels’ ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions"

Furthermore, Meta—Facebook’s parent company—published a statement outlining the company’s efforts regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As part of their strategy, Facebook has added several safety features in Ukraine to help protect people from being targeted.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the war in Ukraine. We are taking extensive steps across our apps to help ensure the safety of our community and support the people who use our services — both in Ukraine and around the world,” Meta said.

4:38 p.m. EU limits ‘golden passports’ for Russians

The European Union and its allies will limit the number of citizenship sales for wealthy Russians, reported BBC news.

"We commit to acting against the people and entities who facilitate the war in Ukraine and the harmful activities of the Russian government," says a statement by the E.U.

"Specifically, we commit to taking measures to limit the sale of citizenship—so called golden passports—that let wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government become citizens of our countries and gain access to our financial systems."

4:02 p.m. Thousands of Ukrainians seek refuge in neighboring countries 

More than 150,000 Ukrainians have fled into neighboring countries as Russian troops continue their invasion of Ukraine, the U.N. refugee agency said. 

“The numbers and the situation is changing minute by minute,” said Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. “At least 150,000 people have fled, they are refugees outside of Ukraine. ... At least 100,000 people — but probably a much larger number — have been displaced inside Ukraine.”

To help those displaced by Russia’s attack, Poland, Romania, and Moldova have opened their borders to accept Ukrainian refugees, reported Al Jazeera.  

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her country would open its border to those who have “humanitarian needs.” Similarly, Poland said the government will be willing to take in “as many as there will be at our borders.”

Hungary also supported Ukrainian refugees, claiming that its border will be open to those seeking help. 

“We’re prepared to take care of them, and we’ll be able to rise to the challenge quickly and efficiently,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

4:00 p.m. U.N. Secretary-General cancels trip to Geneva, citing Ukraine’s situation

 The situation in Ukraine prompted United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to cancel a trip to Geneva for a U.N.’s Human Rights Council meeting.

“Due to the aggravating situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General will remain in New York and not travel to Geneva as planned. He will send a video message to Monday’s meeting of the Human Rights Council,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.  

3:00 p.m. Ukrainian ambassador sending war crime accusations to The Hague

The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, said that Ukraine will be sending a report of Russia’s alleged war crimes to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

"We are collecting all of this, we have recorded all of this, we have preserved all of this," she said. "And we will immediately transmit this to The Hague."

"Responsibility for these actions is inevitable," Markarova added.

Earlier today, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmyrto Kuleba said that Russian troops attacked a kindergarten and an orphanage.  According to Kuelba, these actions qualify as “war crimes.”

2:20 p.m. Texas Governor asks businesses to stop selling products made in Russia

Texas Governor Greg Abbot asked Texas businesses to stop selling Russian-made products as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.

1:40 p.m, Zelenskyy asks U.N. to prevent Russia from voting at the Security Council

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to prevent Russia from being able to vote on the Security Council.

1:30 p.m. Russian oligarch gives away “stewardship” of Chelsea FC

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich gave away his “stewardship” of the British soccer club Chelsea FC to a charitable foundation in an attempt to distance the team from Russia’s actions on Ukraine, reported Axios.

"I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values," Abramovich said in a statement.

1:04 p.m. Zelenskyy says Ukraine will “fight as much as necessary”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation that his people will continue to defend their country from Russian attacks.

"The world saw — Ukrainians are strong ... Ukrainians are powerful. Ukrainians are brave, Ukrainians are in their homeland and will never give it to anyone," he said.

"We are doing a worthy rebuff, I'm sure you see all this in the news, and I want to tell you only one thing — we will fight as much as necessary to liberate our country ... Even when the shelling continues, the enemy has no chance ... Glory to Ukraine,” he added.

12:55 p.m. Germany considers cutting off Russia from SWIFT

 German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Germany is considering further sanctions on the Kremlin after its invasion of Ukraine. One such sanction would target Russia’s SWIFT banking system.

"We are urgently working on how to limit the collateral damage of decoupling from SWIFT in such a way that it affects the right people. What we need is a targeted and functional restriction of SWIFT," Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

Targeting Russia’s involvement in the SWIFT system would cut off most of its ability to make international payments.

12:40 Germany sends weapons to Ukraine

Germany reversed a ban that prevented the country to send German-made weapons into conflict zones, making it the third country that will send arms to Ukraine, reported the BBC.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin would send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to help aid Ukrainian soldiers.

12:00 p.m. Russia announces expansion of offensive against Ukraine

The Kremlin on Saturday ordered the Russian military to expand its offensive on Ukraine, claiming that the Ukrainian government rejected its offer to negotiate. Kyiv denied the accusation.

"After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, all units have been ordered today to expand the offensive in all directions in accordance with the plan of attack," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

11:00 a.m. Ukraine withstands onslaught by Russian troops in Kyev. Civilian casualties rise to 198.

Ukrainian forces continue to fight back against Russian attacks on Kyiv.

President Volodimir Zelensky has reiterated that he will not abandon the capital and that Ukrainians will not lay down their arms. Ukraine "successfully repelled enemy attacks," the president said.

The Ukrainian Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, reported that 198 civilians have died since the beginning of the invasion last Thursday.

4:00 a.m. Russia claims to have taken Melitopol. Ukraine denies it.

Russia claimed early on Saturday to have taken control of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, located 50 kilometers from the Sea of Azov.

The city is the second largest in the Zaporiyia region and has a population of about 150,000.

Ukraine denies that the invading troops have gained any "operational and tactical advantage" in the last 24 hours and assures that the country's forces "completely control the whole situation and the territory."

3:00 a.m. Russian missile hits residential building in Kiev

A Russian missile hit a large residential building in Kiev, the Ukrainian State Emergency Situations Service said Saturday.

In a first report, the entity indicated that there are no casualties despite the obvious damage to the structure of the building.

February 25th, 2022

5:10 p.m. U.S. joins European Union in sanctioning Putin and Lavrov

"The United States will join—the European Union—in sanctioning Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and the rest of Russia's security team," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki has said at a press conference.

Psaki, said the U.S. sanctions will include a travel ban. President Joe Biden, who had previously said that sanctions against Putin were under consideration, decided to take the action in the last 24 hours after talks with European leaders, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. Treasury Department is expected to release more details later on Friday. Psaki said the move intends to send "a clear message about the strength of opposition to actions" by the West against President Putin.

5:00 p.m. Pope Francis arrives at Russian embassy and expresses concern about the war

Pope Francis visited on Friday the Russian embassy in the Vatican and expressed to Ambassador Alexander Avdeev his concern about the war in Ukraine, the Vatican News reported. The pontiff affirmed that he is following the events, after the first military attacks perpetrated by Russia on Ukrainian territory.

4:50 p.m. Ukraine launches petition to remove Russia from SWIFT system

The Ukrainian government demanded that that the West include Russia’s removal from the SWIFT system among its sanctions. SWIFT allows banking transactions worldwide.

4:30 p.m. Warnings about possible air raids in Kiev tonight: "Everyone to the shelters"

From Kiev, Ukraine, Professor Darina Tkachenko informed ADN America and ADN Cuba about air raid warnings in the city.

4:00 p.m. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko: It will be a "difficult" night, Russian troops are "very close to the capital"

Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, said on Friday that it will be "a difficult night" for the city. "The situation now is threatening for Kyiv, without exaggerating. The night and the morning will be difficult," he predicted on his Telegram channel.

"Russian troops are very close to the capital. Sabotage groups are neutralizing the armed and police forces in the city. Bridges are under special protection and control in the capital. Military teams and soldiers of the Armed Forces are patrolling them," he said.

Klitschko, noted that hospitals in the Ukrainian capital are operating in war mode and checkpoints were set up at the main approaches to the city. "We are doing this to protect Kyiv," he concluded.

3:00 p.m. The European Union sanctions Vladimir Putin and his chancellor

The European Union (EU) included Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in the list of sanctioned persons for the military invasion in Ukraine, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell announced Friday.

"President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov are on the list of sanctioned persons," Borrell said at an emergency meeting of European foreign ministers.

The sanctions involve freezing Putin's and Lavrov's assets.  The head of European diplomacy noted that besides the Russian president, the only other leaders sanctioned by the EU are Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus. 

1:30 p.m. Volodymyr Zelensky on video: "We are here. We are in Kiev. We are defending Ukraine"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video saying that he is in the capital resisting the Russian invasion. "We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,” he said.

The video shows the president among a group of close collaborators. "Good evening everyone! The leader of the faction is here [pointing to his left], the head of the president's administration is here, Prime Minister [Denys] Shmyhal is here, [advisor to the head of the President's Office Mykhailo] Podoliak is here, the president is here," he says.

"We are all here. Our military is here. The citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state, and it will remain so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to our defenders! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!", Zelensky added.

12:00 p.m. Putin calls on Ukrainian army to betray their homeland and join aggression

In the second day of Russian attacks in Kiev, Putin called on the Ukrainian Army to revolt in a televised message. "Take power in your hands. It will be easier to negotiate with you," said the Russian leader according to news outlet El Pais.

Russian troops are getting closer and closer to the Ukrainian Parliament. Kiev soldiers are defending themselves from the Russian advance amid heavy gunfire in the neighborhood surrounding the Habana bridge, one of the main roads to the city located only 3.4 kilometers from the Parliament and three kilometers from the Maidan square.

11:00 a.m. Russian tank crushes car with civilian inside

A shocking video filmed in the Ukrainian capital shows the moment when what appears to be a Russian tank crushes a car with a civilian still inside. Videos of the incident and the aftermath were posted on social media.

One of the videos, posted by Ukrainian journalist Alexander Khrebet, was recorded from a distance on a rooftop in the Obolon district of Kiev and showed the moment the tank crushed the car.

Other videos of the incident from different angles have also begun to appear on social media. Another video showed members of the public attempting to rescue the civilian inside the vehicle. It is unclear whether the man inside was seriously injured after the incident.

The movement of tanks in Obolon has sparked fears that Ukraine's capital, Kiev, could fall within hours, Newsweek reported. Ukraine's Defense Ministry’s Twitter page instructed civilians to make Molotov cocktails if necessary to "neutralize the occupier."

10 a.m. Blinken says Putin has sights on countries beyond Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it is obvious that Russian President Vladimir Putin has goals beyond Ukraine and may have other countries in his sights.

"When President Biden addressed the nation he said Putin wants a new Soviet Union - is there intelligence to suggest that President Putin will move beyond Ukraine?" asked CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell to Blinken.

"You don't need intelligence to tell you that's exactly what President Putin wants," Blinken replied. "He has made it clear that he would like to reconstitute the Soviet empire. Lacking that, he would like to reassert a sphere of influence around neighboring countries that were once part of the Soviet bloc. And failing that, he would like to make sure that all these countries are somehow neutral."

8:00 a.m. "We have been left alone," Ukrainian president says

In a video posted on the Ukrainian presidential account, President Zelensky said  "we have been left alone to defend our state."

"Who is ready to fight with us? I see no one. Who is ready to give Ukraine the guarantee of a NATO membership? Everyone is afraid," the president lamented.

7:00 a.m. Russia bombs Ukraine's capital.

Ukraine's capital woke up to bombing in the early morning hours of Friday as Vladimir Putin's tanks moved within 20 miles of Kiev. Bridges leading to the capital and Kharkov in the east were destroyed by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to slow down the Russian advance, the Daily Mail reported.

Ukraine's deputy defense minister said a missile was fired from the sky by its missile defense system. Another projectile hit a residential building in the city, the government said. Meanwhile, a Russian aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in a separate incident, the Ukrainian government said.

2:00 a.m. Russia arrests 1,700 individuals protesting against invasion of Ukraine

Thousands of Russians took to the streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities to protest against the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin. Around 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were arrested, at least 957 of them in Moscow, reported The Associated Press.

12:30 a.m. Russian attack leaves 137 Ukrainian soldiers dead and more than 300 wounded.

At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and 316 others wounded on the first day of the Russian attack against Ukraine, according to an updated casualty report by Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky.

"137 heroes, our citizens" lost their lives, Zelensky said in a video posted on the government website, adding that another 316 Ukrainians were wounded in the clashes.

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and more than 12 civilians were killed in the first hours of Russia's invasion, an adviser to Ukraine's president said Thursday.

February 24, 2022

4:00 p.m. China defends Russia's interests, avoids calling its military action an 'invasion'

China expressed support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and blamed the United States for provoking tensions with its ally, according to a transcript shared by Chinese state media.

According to the report, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that he respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, but added that Beijing understood the "complicated and specific" historical issues at stake in Ukraine.

Lavrov told Wang that Russia had been forced to "take necessary measures" in response to NATO's proposed eastward expansion. "China understands Russia's legitimate concerns about security issues," Wang replied, according to the transcript.

3:30 p.m. 100,000 people displaced from their homes by the invasion

At least 100,000 people have had to leave their homes in Ukraine on Thursday following Russia's invasion. Another thousands of citizens have crossed the borders into neighboring countries, according to Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Mantoo warned that population movements "at the moment are sporadic and unpredictable."

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, also called on countries neighboring Ukraine, such as Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, to "keep their borders open to those seeking safety and protection".

3:00 p.m. E.U. prepares sanctions to crush the  Russian economy after invasion of Ukraine

The European Union (EU) announced that it will respond with "massive" sanctions to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and assured that Russian President Vladimir Putin will "pay" for his "unprecedented" attack.

"We are living through an unprecedented act of aggression against a sovereign state. The target is not just the Donbas, it is not just Ukraine, but the stability of the EU and the peace order, and we will make sure that Putin pays for it," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an official statement with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell.

The 27 members of the EU met in Brussels (Belgium) at an extraordinary summit of heads of state and government convened urgently to approve new sanctions with "serious and enormous consequences" for Moscow.

2:45 p.m.: Joe Biden announces new sanctions against Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine launched Thursday, reported Bloomberg Line.

"I'm going to introduce a series of sanctions with our allies to amplify the joint space for our responses. We're going to limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, pounds, and yen," Biden informed a White House press conference after meeting virtually with G7 allies.

"We have cut off access to Russia's largest bank, which has a huge amount of banking assets. We have blocked four banks… We are going to impose restrictions on corrupt millionaires and the companies that have benefited," the president added.

The United States will also suppress more than half of Russia's technological imports, the media continues.

Putin "chose this war" and now "he and his country will suffer the consequences", concluded Biden.

2:00 p.m.: Canada breaks off relations with Russia after attack on Ukraine

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, assured that the country will end all export relations with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, reports the news outlet 24 horas.

He explained that the measure would be to try to weaken Vladimir Putin's ability to continue financing the attack.

"The violation that Russia has made of all sovereignty, is going to have its consequences," he added. "Any kind of financial transactions with those two republics (Donetsk and Luhansk) have been banned and we are going to impose much more severe sanctions."

1:30 p.m.: Ukraine claims Russia is bombing Ukrainian hospitals.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba charged that Russian troops are shelling hospitals in his country.

"Consider this: Putin has launched a massive war of aggression in Europe during a still raging pandemic. On top of that, the Russians are now shelling Ukrainian hospitals," Kuleba wrote on Twitter. "This is beyond evil. The only moral choice any government can make now is to support Ukraine by all means."

1:20 p.m.: Putin's troops raise Russian flag in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin's troops were seen raising the Russian flag in Ukraine as an apparent symbol of the second wave of invasion by Russia, according to The Sun.

Russian ground forces crossed the border into the former Soviet state since Russian attacks began early Thursday morning.

1:15 p.m.: Russian troops take over Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant was seized by Russian forces "after a heavy battle," Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, told The Kyiv Independent.

"The status of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the confinement and nuclear waste storage facilities is unknown," he added. "This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today."

12:50 p.m.: Joe Biden meets with G7 allies

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday met with G7 allies to implement more sanctions against Russia after Putin's decision to invade Ukraine on Thursday.

“This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin’s unjustified attack on Ukraine and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia to account. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine,” Biden wrote on Twitter.

12:35 p.m.: At least 13 civilians and 9 soldiers killed in southern Ukraine

At least thirteen civilians and nine Ukrainian officers were killed on Thursday in the town of Kherson in southern Ukraine, a region under partial control of Russian troops.

"Thirteen civilians, including two children, were killed and nine soldiers were killed in the attack on the Kherson region," the local government stated on Facebook according to news outlet La Razon.

12:00 p.m.: Russia arrests anti-war protesters

Dozens of demonstrators protesting against the Russian attack on Ukraine were detained Thursday in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Russian riot police detained dozens of protesters in Moscow's Pushkin Square, while in St. Petersburg there were 20 arrests made so far.

11:00 a.m.: Ukrainians seek to cross the border to Romania

Thousands of Ukrainians are standing in long lines to cross the border into Romania after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to carry out an attack on Ukraine.

Most of the crowds are at the Tereblecea-Siret border crossing, which connects the Ukrainian oblast of Chernivtsi with the Suceava province of northeastern Romania.

At the same time, Ukrainian citizens from the area are lining up at the Ukrainian Army recruitment office to join the resistance against the Russian invasion, according to a Chernivtsi publication quoted by EFE.

10:10 a.m.: Boris Johnson promises a "sanctions package" on Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised Thursday that the UK and its allies will establish a "massive sanctions package" that will hurt Russia's economy.

"Our mission is clear: diplomatic, political, economic and, at some point, military. This horrendous and barbaric adventure by Vladimir Putin must end in failure," Johnson said in a statement shared on Twitter.

"Ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom, democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. We and the world cannot allow that freedom to be erased. We cannot and will not look the other way," he added.

10:00 a.m.: Moldova and Belarus close their airspace

Moldova, a country of the former Soviet republic, closed its airspace Thursday and Belarus closed part of its airspace after Russia attacked Ukraine.

"To ensure the safety of Belarusian airspace, the Belarusian Armed Forces have decided to close parts of it as of 12h00 [10h00 GMT]," Moldova's first deputy minister Andrei Spinu said in a brief note broadcast via his Telegram channel.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry also announced the closure of its airspace over the Ukrainian border as of 09h00 GMT, to "ensure the safe use of airspace."

9:00 a.m.: Argentina suggests Argentinian citizens to "leave Ukrainian territory".

The Argentine Foreign Ministry informed that "the Argentine Embassy in Ukraine suggests Argentines to leave Ukrainian territory" after the Russian attack on Ukraine.

"Our embassy is attending to all emergency situations that may be required," it added.

8:20 a.m.: Russia says military operation will last as long as necessary

Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press conference Thursday that the military operation against Ukraine will last as long as necessary, depending on its "results" and "relevance."

According to Peskov, Moscow's goal is to impose a "neutral status" in Ukraine, a demilitarization and the elimination of the Nazis still existing in the country.

"The duration [of the operation] will be determined by its results and by its relevance. That will be determined by the commander-in-chief," he said.

French President calls for "urgent" NATO meeting

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a NATO summit "as soon as possible" after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to attack Ukraine on Thursday.

"The president wants to hold a NATO summit as soon as possible," Elysee sources quoted by EFE indicated after the end of a meeting of Macron with his Defense and National Security Council.

Ukraine claims to have killed 50 'Russian occupants'

The Ukrainian military reported killing about "50 Russian occupants" in the Luhansk region in the first hours of the Russian invasion.

"According to the Joint Forces Command, today, February 24, about 50 Russian occupants were killed in the Shchastya area. In addition, another aircraft of the armed forces of the Russian Federation was destroyed in the Kramatorsk region. This is the sixth aircraft," the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement.

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers killed in first hours of invasion

More than 40 Ukrainian servicemen and a dozen civilians were killed in the first hours of the Russian invasion, an advisor to the Ukrainian president reported.

“As a result of Russian missile strikes, more than 40 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed and several dozen injured,” Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Arestovich said at a media briefing.

Ukraine breaks diplomatic relations with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky announced Thursday that his government was breaking diplomatic relations with Russia, just hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

“We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine,” Zelensky tweeted.

Ukraine: At least eight killed and a dozen wounded

Ukrainian sources have reported at least eight dead and a dozen wounded in the first hours since the start of Russian military operations in the country, according to Interior Ministry advisor Anton Geraschenko.

 “A woman and a child were injured in the Konopot region, where a car burned. In the city of Podolsk in the Odessa region, seven dead, seven injured and 19 missing as a result of shelling. In the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region, there is one dead and two wounded,“ Minister of the Interior Antón Geraschenko reported on his Telegram channel.

Belarus joins Russia, Ukraine denounces more attacks

Ukraine is under fire along its northern border with Russia and Belarus, sources on the border reported on Thursday, noting that Ukranian forces were responding to the attack.

Border guards have claimed that Russian forces are being supported by Belarus and launched an attack from the south from the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, the Daily Mail reported.

UN speaks out: "This war makes no sense".

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Russia to back down and stop its intervention in Ukraine, claiming that "this war makes no sense."

"This is the saddest moment of my tenure as UN secretary general," Guterres declared at the conclusion of an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

He added that, the consequences of the war could be "devastating" not only for Ukraine, but "tragic" for Russia.

Russian troops attack military targets in Ukraine, says Moscow

Russian Armed Forces are attacking Ukrainian military targets and infrastructure, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

"Precision weapons are degrading military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the ministry said.

Putin is not ordering attacks on cities, but on military infrastructure. "Civilians are not threatened," according to Tass, the Kremlin-controlled media outlet.

Ukraine denounces "large-scale invasion"

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday condemned Putin’s "large-scale invasion" against his country, where explosions could be heard in several cities.

"Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under attack," Kuleba tweeted. "It is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," he added.

Explosions heard in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities

Several explosions were heard Thursday in the center of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities shortly after Putin's announcement of a military operation against Ukraine.

Users of social networks began to share information about the explosions and images of the fire around Kiev and Kharkov, the two main Ukrainian cities. Powerful explosions were also heard in the city of Odessa, located on the shores of the Black Sea.

Ukrainian airspace cleared after Russia bans civilian air traffic over border

Ukrainian authorities closed airports in eastern Ukraine from midnight to 7 a.m. after the Russians banned civilian flights in the region's airspace, according to the Associated Press.

Ukrainian and surrounding airspace is completely empty, FlightAware shows, as aircraft are actively avoiding the area.

Biden holds Russia responsible for "the death and destruction" that may ensue

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned Russia's "unjustified attack" on Ukraine after Vladimir Putin announced a "military operation" in defense of separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"President Putin chose [to launch] a premeditated war that will cause catastrophic human suffering and loss," Biden said in a statement. Russia "is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will cause," he insisted.

UN Secretary General calls on Putin to avoid confrontation 

UN Secretary General António Guterres called on Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops and avoid a confrontation that could bring consequences in the world.

"I must say, President Putin: In the name of humanity, return your troops to Russia. In the name of humanity, do not allow what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century to start in Europe, with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation, but with an impact that we cannot even foresee in relation to the consequences for the world economy," Guterres said a press statement shortly after Putin announced "a special military operation" to the Ukrainian Donbas region.

Putin announces "special military operation" in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his army to carry out a "special military operation" to "demilitarize" Ukraine, a move that many see as a declaration of war against Ukraine.

Putin made the announcement in a televised speech broadcast shortly before 5 a.m. in Kiev.

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