People look at the damage following a rocket attack in the city of Kyiv (AP photo)Russia Ukraine Crisis Live: Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko imposed an intensified curfew as Russian troops pressed in on the city on Saturday. Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app that he is extending the curfew hours to run from 5 pm until 8 am, news agency Reuters reported. “All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” Klitschko said. The curfew imposed two days ago previously lasted from 10 pm until 7 a.m.
Ukraine President Zelensky stated on Saturday that he has spoken with PM Modi and urged India to lend them political support in the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian health minister said that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday. His statement came even as fighting continued in the streets of Kyiv on Saturday. At least 35 people, including two children, were injured in overnight shelling and fighting in the city, The Guardian had reported earlier quoting the city’s mayor.
As invading Russian forces stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to dispel rumours that he had called upon the army to lay down arms. “This is our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that,” he said in a short video. Meanwhile, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops, a defeat the United States and its supporters knew was inevitable but said would highlight Russia’s global isolation. The vote on Friday was 11 in favour, with Russia voting no and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining.
Vladimir, 70, and his wife Tamara, 80, sit in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 24, 2022. (AP)
Ukraine President Zelensky stated on Saturday that he has spoken with PM Modi and urged India to lend them political support in the UN Security Council.
The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of prolonging the military conflict by refusing to negotiate as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the pro-Western country.
In a bid to clamp down on spread of information, Russia seems to have restricted access to Twitter. Netblocks, an account that monitors the internet, has found that Twitter could not be accessed on many providers.
Refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine continued to pour across its western borders on Saturday, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days, finding temporary sanctuary in sports halls and train stations.
As Russian forces launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several cities, including the capital Kyiv, fearful families thronged European Union borders hoping to enter Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. (Reuters)
The executive board of the Norwegian Ski Federation said on Saturday it does not want Russian athletes competing at upcoming World Cup races and world championships in Norway after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine this week.
Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running. The invasion has drawn widespread international condemnation, including in the sports world. 'Russia's violations of international law and attacks on the Ukrainian people demand international condemnation and sanctions,' Norway's federation said in a statement. 'Sport is not detached from this and cannot remain passive to what is happening now. The Norwegian Ski Federation's message to Russia and Russian athletes is crystal clear - we do not want your participation.'
Norway is set to host events in Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined over the next few weeks.
The federation added that it would follow up with the International Ski Federation (FIS). Reuters has contacted the FIS for comment. (Reuters)
A man digs a trench in the middle of a main road in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, as Russia's invasion of the country enters its third day.
The Ukrainian defence forces, outmanned and outgunned, waged a ferocious resistance to the Russian invasion, battling to keep control of the capital, Kyiv, and other cities around the country. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a video on Twitter on Saturday, telling the public not to believe false reports. Read more
The mayor of Ukraine’s capital is imposing an intensified curfew as Russian troops press in on the city.Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app that he is extending the curfew hours to run from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m.
“All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” Klitschko said.The curfew imposed two days ago previously lasted from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. (Reuters)
The thuds of artillery start as a low-decibel rumble but rattle the rib cage as you get closer. A crossroads at the northern entrance of Kharkiv is about as close to the front lines as anyone would wish to be Friday, as Ukrainian soldiers waged a fierce battle to push Russian forces away from the city.
The empty carcasses of burned-out Russian armored personnel carriers and a Ukrainian police jeep littered the roadway, along with the scattered belongings of their former occupants — water bottles, a soldier’s boot, camouflage clothing. Read more
As Ukraine braces for an all-out conflict with Russia, it’s testing its ability to disconnect from Russian power supplies for three days, starting Feb. 24. Experts warn the timing could be risky. (NYT) Read more
Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Ukraine's capital Kyiv were now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.
Britain, which earlier disputed Russian reports that Russian forces had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol, said the Ukrainian military was continuing to put up staunch resistance across the country.
"Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30 km from the centre of the city," the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter. (Reuters)
Russia's finance ministry said on Saturday that the sovereign rating cut by Standard and Poor's and a move to review the country's rating by Moody's were linked to geopolitical factors.
The finance ministry said in a statement that Russia remained financially stable and would continue following prudent financial and budget policy. (Reuters)
Russian missiles pounded Kyiv on Friday, families cowered in shelters and authorities told residents to prepare Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraine's capital as fighting was reported in the outskirts of the city. (Graphics by Reuters)
Here's what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis right now:
🔴 Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Ukraine's capital Kyiv were now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.
🔴 Russian troops captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Russia's Interfax news agency said, as Moscow launched coordinated missile and artillery attacks on several cities including Kyiv.
🔴 British armed forces minister James Heappey said Britain did not believe Russian forces had captured Melitopol.
🔴 Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack in the Lviv region near Brody in western Ukraine, Lviv's mayor was quoted as saying by the Telegram messaging service.
🔴 Around 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion, including 9,000 who have entered since 7 a.m. on Saturday, Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told a news conference.
🔴 A decision to cut Russia off from the global SWIFT payment system will be taken in a matter of days, the governor of a central bank within the euro zone told Reuters.
🔴 Russia will respond to the seizure of money of Russian citizens and companies abroad by seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the security, as saying.
🔴 At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
🔴 France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine to support the country against Russia's invasion, a French army spokesman said, adding the issue of sending offensive arms was still under consideration.
🔴 Russian energy giant Gazprom said it was supplying gas via Ukraine in line with demand from European consumers despite the military conflict.
🔴 A ship that according to French authorities could belong to a Russian company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine was seized by French sea police early on Saturday, a state official told Reuters.
🔴 Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace. (Reuers)
The Russian embassy in France is seeking explanations from the French authorities over the seizure of a Russian cargo ship in the English channel, Russia's RIA news agency quoted the embassy as saying on Saturday.
A ship that French authorities said could belong to a Russian company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine was seized by French sea police early on Saturday. (Reuters)
Estonia will ban Russian airlines from using the Baltic nation's airspace, Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas told public broadcaster ERR on Saturday. (Reuters)
The United Arab Emirates called at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council for an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, state news agency WAM said on Saturday.
It expressed "particular alarm at the consequences for civilians present in Ukraine, as well as for the region, and for the international community," WAM added. (Reuters)
Ukraine President Zelensky said that Ukraine has 'derailed' Russia's attack plan, reports news agency AFP. He also urged Germany and Hungary to support cutting Russia from SWIFT. Moreover, he urged Russians to pressure Putin into halting war.
Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running and Russia's Interfax news agency said they had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol.
Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment on the fate of Melitopol and Britain's armed forces minister James Heappey cast doubt on the report, saying the city of some 150,000 people was still in Ukrainian hands.
"All of Russia's day one objectives ... and even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have taken but we can't see anything to substantiate that, are all still in Ukrainian hands," he told BBC radio. (Reuters)
Around 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion on Thursday, including 9,000 who have entered since 7 a.m. on Saturday, Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told a news conference.
"Since 7 a.m. the Ukrainian side has closed part of the lanes for cars and allowed pedestrian traffic," Szefernaker told reporters. "The queue on the Ukrainian side should decrease." (Reuters)