A Ukrainian soldier looks at a hole from a shell fired by pro-Russian separatists in the village of Novoluhanske, Luhansk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2022. (AP)Russia Ukraine Crisis Live: The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Sunday advised all Indian nationals, whose stay is not deemed essential, to temporarily leave Ukraine. Indian students were also advised to also get in touch with respective student contractors for updates on chartered flights.
Earlier in the day, Multiple explosions could be heard late Saturday and early Sunday in the centre of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a Reuters reporter said. The origin of the explosions was not clear. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC that the plans that the West is seeing at Ukraine’s border suggest that a Russian invasion could be “the biggest war in Europe since 1945 in terms of sheer scale”.
Almost 2,000 ceasefire violations were registered in eastern Ukraine by monitors for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Saturday, a diplomatic source told Reuters Sunday. The Ukrainian government and separatist forces have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014. An upsurge in shelling has thrust the region to the centre of tensions between Moscow and the West over a Russian military buildup near Ukraine.
Ukrainian Army soldiers pose for a photo as they gather to celebrate a Day of Unity in Odessa, Ukraine, February 16, 2022. (AP)
Repeated Western predictions of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are provocative and may have adverse consequences, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he was convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a decision to invade Ukraine, and though there was still room for diplomacy, he expected Russia to move on the country in the coming days. Russia has repeatedly denied preparing to invade Ukraine. Putin takes no notice of such Western statements, Peskov told Rossiya 1 state TV.
"The fact is that this directly leads to an increase in tension. And when tension is escalated to the maximum, as it is now, for example, on the line of contact (in eastern Ukraine), then any spark, any unplanned incident or any minor planned provocation can lead to irreparable consequences," he added.
"So all this has - may have - detrimental consequences. The daily exercise of announcing a date for Russia to invade Ukraine is a very bad practice." --Reuters
In view of continued tensions in Ukraine, all Indian nationals whose stay is not deemed essential and all Indian students are advised to leave Ukraine temporarily. Indian students are advised to also get in touch with respective student contractors for updates on chartered flights.
The Netherlands Foreign Ministry on Sunday said it has decided to move its embassy functions in Ukraine from Kyiv to Lviv temporarily because of safety considerations.The decision follows statements by the United States saying that Russia could launch an attack on the country on any time.Many countries have moved diplomats to Lviv in the far west of Ukraine from Kyiv, with NATO moving its Ukraine staff there on Saturday.The Netherlands government last week urged Dutch citizens to leave Ukraine. --Reuters
Russia and Belarus are extending military drills that were due to end on Sunday, the Belarus defence minister said, in a step that further intensifies pressure on Ukraine as Western leaders warn of an imminent Russian invasion.The Belarus minister said the decision had been taken "in connection with the increase in military activity near the external borders" of Russia and Belarus and because of rising tension in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine.NATO says Russia has up to 30,000 troops in Belarus and could use them as part of an invasion force to attack Ukraine, although Moscow denies any such intention. --Reuters
With a fear that a war could start within days, Germany and Austria told their citizens to leave Ukraine, Reuters reporetd. German air carrier Lufthansa canceled flights to Kyiv, and to Odesa, a Black Sea port that could be a key target in an invasion. NATO's liaison office in Kyiv said it was relocating staff to Brussels and to Lviv, the western Ukraine city.
Multiple explosions were heard Sunday in the centre of the separatist-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a Reuters witness said.
A loudspeaker in the area asked citizens to exercise caution. The origin of the explosions was not clear.
As shelling struck towns in eastern Ukraine Saturday, and civilians boarded buses in a chaotic evacuation, Russia engaged in a dramatic display of military theater, test-firing ballistic and cruise missiles.
Vladimir Putin presided over tests of nuclear-capable missiles as part of what Russia insists are nothing more than military exercises around Ukraine and not the precursor to an invasion.
Ukraine Sunday suspended operations at one of the seven checkpoints to territory in the eastern Donbass region controlled by Russia-backed separatists, due to heavy shelling, the Ukrainian military said.
Incidents of shelling across the line dividing government forces and separatists increased sharply last week, in what the Ukrainian government called a provocation.
Considering 'the escalation of the situation... and the inability to guarantee the safety of the civilian population' using the checkpoint, the command was suspending its use from 8 am (0600 GMT) Sunday 'for the period of the threat,' the military said. Separatist officials accused Ukraine on social media site Telegram of shelling separatist-controlled areas and said they had to respond accordingly. (Reuters)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the plans that the West is seeing in Ukraine's border suggest that a Russian invasion could be "the biggest war in Europe since 1945 in terms of sheer scale".
"All the signs are that the plan has already in some senses begun," Johnson told BBC in an interview.
"People need to understand the sheer cost in human life that could entail," he added.
At the White House this week, President Joe Biden said the United States had “reason to believe” that Russia was “engaged in a false flag operation” to use as an excuse to invade Ukraine.
A new report by the European Expert Association, a research group that focuses on security in Ukraine, and the technology watchdog group Reset Tech said that since October, misinformation researchers had observed rumours circulating widely online and in Russian news media that could be the groundwork for such an operation, or to help justify a military buildup.
Many of the rumours first started circulating on anonymous Telegram channels, and were then repeated in televised statements by Russian officials, the report said. Others started with statements from Russian officials and were repeated on Telegram channels until they became talking points among ordinary citizens.
Almost 2,000 ceasefire violations were registered in eastern Ukraine by monitors for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Saturday, a diplomatic source told Reuters Sunday.
Ukrainian government and separatist forces have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
An upsurge in shelling has thrust the region to the centre of tensions between Moscow and the West over a Russian military buildup near Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him and seek resolution to the crisis.
"I don't know what the president of the Russian Federation wants, so I am proposing a meeting," Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference, where he also met with US Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelenskyy said Russia could pick the location for the talks. "Ukraine will continue to follow only the diplomatic path for the sake of a peaceful settlement."
There was no immediate response from the Kremlin. (AP)
The World Bank Group Saturday said it is readying a $350 million disbursement to Ukraine that the group's board will consider by the end of March as part of a plan for short- and long-term financing for the country.
In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Saturday, World Bank President David Malpass said the group will continue to support the Ukrainian people and economy for short- and long-term financing needs, the group said in a statement. (Reuters)
As Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, spiraled into chaos last month over rising energy costs and anger at the government, the country’s leaders took a drastic step to quell protests: They blocked the internet.
First, they tried to ban access to some news sites, social networks and messaging services. Then, as activists bypassed those curbs with software that masked their locations, the authorities shut down almost all connectivity in the country.
The moves added uncertainty to an already dire situation. After payment apps and point-of-sale machines used to swipe debit cards went down, lengthy lines formed at ATMs as Kazakhs rushed to get cash. Families could not communicate with loved ones. Taxi drivers who relied on ride-booking apps said they stopped driving because they could not connect with passengers.
Artillery fire escalated sharply in eastern Ukraine Saturday, and thousands of residents fled the region in chaotic evacuations — two developments rife with opportunities for what the United States has warned could be a pretext for a Russian invasion.
Russia-backed separatists, who have been fighting the Ukrainian government for years, have asserted, without evidence, that Ukraine was planning a large-scale attack on territory they control.
At the same time, the firing of mortars, artillery and rocket-propelled grenades by separatist rebels along the front line roughly doubled the level of the previous two days, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and five wounded, the military said.
Multiple explosions could be heard late Saturday and early Sunday in the centre of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a Reuters reporter said.
The origin of the explosions was not clear. There was no immediate comment from separatist authorities or from Kyiv. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Saturday he had an "urgent" phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed possible ways of immediate de-escalation and political-diplomatic settlement in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has reported an increase in ceasefire violations by Russia-backed separatists recently, and Kyiv's Western allies are concerned that Russia is poised to launch a military offensive against Ukraine. Russia denies any plans to attack its neighbour.
"(I)Informed about the aggravation on the frontline, our losses, the shelling," Zelenskiy wrote in a tweet. (Reuters)
Ukraine has received a plane load of machine guns, surveillance gear and rifles as part of a Canadian military assistance package, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday.
Ukraine has received plane loads of arms and military gear from NATO allies as the country braces for a possible military attack by Russia."We received military aid in the form of rifles, machine guns with optical sights, night vision & surveillance devices & military equipment.
Thank you for this important & timely decision," Reznikov wrote in a tweet. (Reuters)
World Bank said that it will continue to support Ukrainian people and economy for short and long-term financial needs. The statement was issued after the meeting World Bank Group President David Malpass with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to a readout from the meeting, the World Bank is considering quick disbursing budget support of up to $350 million by March-end.