Feb 28, 2022 - 21:34 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war news Live Updates
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Ukraine Russia war news Live Updates: PM Modi calls second high-level meet in 24 hrs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening chaired a second high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis after it was decided in an earlier meeting to send four Union ministers to the neighbouring countries of the war-hit nation to coordinate efforts to evacuate Indian students stranded there
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI
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19:42 (ist)
Ukraine Russia war
Ukraine, Russia envoys talk under shadow of nuclear threat
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for talks Monday amid high hopes but low expectations for any diplomatic breakthrough, after Moscow unleashed the biggest land war in Europe since World War II but met unexpectedly stiff resistance.
As outgunned but determined Ukrainian forces slowed the Russian advance and sanctions crippled the Russian economy, the military confirmed that its nuclear forces were on high alert, following President Vladimir Putin’s order. While that raised the unimaginable specter of nuclear conflict, it was unclear what practical effect it had.
A tense calm reigned Monday in Kyiv, explosions and gunfire were heard in embattled cities in eastern Ukraine, and terrified Ukrainian families huddled overnight in shelters, basements or corridors.
-AP
18:03 (ist)
Ukraine Russia war
Ukraine slows Russian advance under shadow of nuclear threat
Outgunned but determined Ukrainian troops slowed Russia’s advance and held onto the capital and other key cities — at least for now. In the face of stiff resistance and devastating sanctions, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s nuclear forces put on high alert, threatening to elevate the war to a terrifying new level.
Explosions and gunfire that have disrupted life since the invasion began last week appeared to subside around Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian and Russian delegations met Monday on Ukraine’s border with Belarus. It's unclear what, if anything, those talks would yield.
-AFP
17:36 (ist)
Ukraine Russia war
Ruble plummets as sanctions bite, sending Russians to banks
The Russian currency plunged about 30% against the U.S. dollar Monday after Western nations announced moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system and to restrict Russia's use of its massive foreign currency reserves. The exchange rate later recovered ground after swift action by Russia's central bank.
-AFP
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
Feb 28, 2022 - 21:07 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
11 killed in blast in Ukraine's Kharkiv
At least 11 people were killed and a dozen others were injured in Russian shelling on Ukraine's Kharkiv city on Monday, the regional governor said.
"The Russian enemy is bombing residential areas," Oleg Sinegubov, wrote on the Telegram messaging app, saying, "As a result of the bombardments that are ongoing, we cannot call on the emergency services. Currently there are 11 dead and dozens wounded", he said. On Sunday morning, two large explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital Kyiv
-ANI
Feb 28, 2022 - 20:50 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
PM missing in action, says Rahul Gandhi on Indians stranded in Ukraine
Levelling allegation against Indian government of not taking effective steps to bring Indians stranded in Ukraine amid ongoing Russian military operations in the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "missing in action."
Sharing a video of a student stranded in Ukraine, the Wayanad MP tweeted, "Conditions of Indians stranded in Ukraine are worsening. Yet, GOI is not taking effective steps to bring them home. As usual, PM is MIA (missing in action)." In the video, the student can be seen sharing the name of an official who allegedly works at the Indian embassy. The students alleged that the official kept "rejecting call" even after they shared videos of girls being allegedly beaten at the Romanian border.
-ANI
Feb 28, 2022 - 20:39 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
Russia uses cluster munitions in Ukraine's school
Rights groups have called on Russia to stop using cluster munitions in Ukraine, saying fatal strikes using the indiscriminate weapons on a hospital and a school could constitute war crimes.
Amnesty International said cluster bombs hit a preschool in northeastern Ukraine on Friday that was being used to shelter civilians, killing three people, including a child.
-AFP
Feb 28, 2022 - 20:24 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
PM Modi chairs another high-level meeting on Ukraine crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening chaired a second high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis after it was decided in an earlier meeting to send four Union ministers to the neighbouring countries of the war-hit nation to coordinate efforts to evacuate Indian students stranded there.
Union ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and V K Singh, who will be flying as India's "special envoys" to spearhead evacuation efforts, were present in the evening meeting, besides External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and top bureaucrats.
-PTI
Feb 28, 2022 - 20:22 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
With sanctions, Russian Sberbank faces 'failure' in Europe
Faced with a rush of people withdrawing money, Sberbank and the Russian bank's subsidiaries in southeastern and central Europe are facing closures or takeovers following international sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Central Bank said Monday that Vienna-based Sberbank Europe AG and its branches in Slovenia and Croatia are failing or likely to fail after they "experienced significant deposit outflows" because of the impact to their reputation from the conflict.
-AFP
Feb 28, 2022 - 20:12 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
Olympic body calls for Russia to be excluded from sports
In a sweeping move to isolate and condemn Russia after invading Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee urged sports bodies on Monday to exclude the country's athletes and officials from international events.
The IOC said it was needed to "protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants."
The decision opened the way for FIFA, the governing body of soccer, to exclude Russia from a World Cup qualifying playoff match on March 24. Poland has refused to play the scheduled game against Russia.
-AP
Feb 28, 2022 - 19:54 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
Russian mogul uses UK paper for anti-war plea
Russia-born media mogul Evgeny Lebedev has used the pages of a British newspaper he owns to implore Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the invasion of Ukraine.
London’s Evening Standard on Monday features a front-page statement by Lebedev headlined “President Putin, please stop this war,” alongside an Associated Press photo of medics battling to save a 6-year-old girl killed by shelling in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Lebedev wrote: “As a Russian citizen I plead with you to stop Russians killing their Ukrainian brothers and sisters. As a British citizen I ask you to save Europe from war.”
-AP
Feb 28, 2022 - 19:50 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
Russian tycoon Deripaska says time to end 'state capitalism' in Russia
Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska on Monday said it was time to put an end to "all this state capitalism" and change policies as the country's economy reeled from the effects of Western sanctions over Moscow's assault on Ukraine.
"It is necessary to change the economic policy, it is necessary to end all this state capitalism," Deripaska said on messaging app Telegram, demanding "explanations" from officials on what was going to happen to the economy in the next three months.
-AFP
Feb 28, 2022 - 19:49 (IST)
Ukraine Russia war
Russia's Lavrov cancels trip to UN in Geneva: official
Russia's foreign minister has cancelled a trip to the United Nations in Geneva due to the "anti-Russian sanctions" imposed by EU countries, Russia's mission in Geneva said Monday.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had been scheduled to address the UN Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament in person Tuesday, and had also been due to give a press conference.
-AFP
Ukraine Russia war news Live Updates | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening chaired a second high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis after it was decided in an earlier meeting to send four Union ministers to the neighbouring countries of the war-hit nation to coordinate efforts to evacuate Indian students stranded there
UEFA is set to suspend Russian teams from all competitions in response to the invasion of Ukraine, according to a report Monday by German sports agency SID, an AFP subsidiary.
The first Russian team affected would be Spartak Moscow, who face RB Leipzig away in a Europa League last 16, first-leg tie on 10 March.
The Russian women's national team would also be excluded from the European Championship due to be hosted by England this July.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for talks Monday amid high hopes but low expectations for any diplomatic breakthrough, after Moscow unleashed the biggest land war in Europe since World War II but met unexpectedly stiff resistance
The Russian Central Bank said that Moscow's stock exchange will not open Monday after the ruble free fall due to Western sanctions.
“Due to the current situation, the Bank of Russia has decided not to open a stock market section, a derivatives market section, or a derivatives market section on the Moscow Exchange today,” the statement from the bank read.
The Russian Central Bank further said it would announce the opening times for Tuesday on the day, at 9:00 a.m. local time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union to "urgently admit Ukraine" to the bloc on Monday.
"We appeal to the European Union to urgently admit Ukraine using a new procedure. We are grateful to partners for standing with us. But our goal is to be with all Europeans and, to be equal to them. I am sure we deserve it. I am sure it is possible," Zelensky said in his latest video message.
The Ukrainian president also spoke with the presidents of Portugal, Lithuania, France and Poland as well as the prime ministers of Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom, he said.
Peace talks in Belarus have started between Russia and Ukraine, reports Sputnik News.
According to a Sputnik News report citing information from Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation, Ukrainians are increasingly reporting attempts by Kiev to use their compatriots living and working in Russia for sabotage operations inside the country.
The FSB is calling upon all those who have come into contact with individuals that could potentially be used by the Ukrainian special services to conduct subversive activities against Russia’s security to step forward and share this information.
Four Union ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and VK Singh are set to travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation mission and help students, government sources said on Monday. While Puri is travelling to Hungary, Singh will go to Poland, they added. On the other hand, Scindia will look at Romania, and Moldova as Rijiju will coordinate operations in Slovakia.
Ukraine demanded an “immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops” on Monday as the country’s delegation arrived for talks with Russia at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, a statement from the Ukrainian presidency said. The delegation includes several high-ranking officials.
"We have further isolated Russia from the international financial system this morning. Working with our partners, and the G7, we are determined to impose the most severe economic measures possible against President Putin for his abhorrent campaign against Ukraine. Putin must fail," tweets British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Ukrainian presidency on Monday said that the Ukrainian delegation including Minister of Defence Oleksiy Reznikov, adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi among others arrived at the designated area at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border for talks with Russia.
"We appeal to the people of Kyiv. All civilians in the city can freely leave the capital of Ukraine along the Kyiv-Vasilkov (Vasylkiv) highway. This route is open and safe," Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, said in a statement. "Once again, I want to emphasize that the armed forces of the Russian Federation strike only military targets. The civilian population is not in danger."
The bulk of Russian ground forces are still more than 30 kilometres (about 19 miles) north of Kyiv, the UK's Ministry of Defence said in a tweet on Monday.
The Russian military claimed on Monday that it has gained control over Ukrainian airspace.
"Russian aviation has gained air supremacy over the entire territory of Ukraine," Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman, said in a statement as per CNN.
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in the country's Parliament on Monday that his country will impose “appropriate sanctions and restrictions” on Russia and called the Russian invasion of Ukraine “unprovoked” and a “clear and gross violation of the international norms". Balakrishnan said that Singapore intended to “act in concert” with other countries to take a strong stance.
The AFP reported citing Russian agencies that Russia's central bank has hiked key interest rate to 20 per cent
The United States Embassy in Russia encouraged Americans to leave the country as soon as possible, calling on them to prepare a “contingency plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.”
In an advisory on Sunday, the US Embassy noted that “an increasing number of airlines are canceling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines” in response to Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.
The embassy advised that, with this in mind, US citizens “should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available.” It also reiterated that the US State Department’s current travel advisory for Russia was ‘Level 4: Do Not Travel’.
British oil giant BP said on Sunday that it is exiting its share in Rosneft, a state-owned Russian oil and gas company. BP has held a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft since 2013. The British company also said its CEO, Bernard Looney, and former BP executive Bob Dudley will immediately resign from Rosneft's board.
The Dalai Lama on Monday said he was "deeply saddened" by the conflict in Ukraine, as the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader called for peace and "mutual understanding", according to CNN. "War is outdated — non-violence is the only way," he said in a statement.
According to Russia Today, Brazil has refused to pick sides in the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, pledging to remain neutral as the US, EU, UK, and allies continue to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia, accusing it of “unprovoked” aggression.
Union Ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen VK Singh to travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation mission and help students, government sources tell News18.
According to News18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a high-level meeting now on the Ukraine crisis. There is a possibility that some ministers from the Government of India may go to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuations.
Russia's ruble plunged nearly 30 per cent against the dollar on Monday after world powers imposed fresh, harsher sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
The ruble was indicated to be down 27 per cent at 114.33 per dollar in offshore trading, according to Bloomberg News.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday activated a dedicated Twitter handle, "OpGanga Helpline" (@opganga), to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine. The mission to evacuate the stranded Indians from Ukraine has been named as "Operation Ganga". India has already set up round-the-clock "control centres" in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine through border-crossing points with these countries.
The helpline numbers of the control room in Poland are: +48225400000,+48795850877 and +48792712511. Those requiring help can also write an email to controlroominwarsaw@gmail.com, according to the MEA. The helpline numbers of the control room in Romania are: +40732124309, +40771632567, +40745161631 and +40741528123. The email address for contacting the control room in Romania is controlroombucharest@gmail.com.
The MEA said Indians can contact the control room in Hungary on phone numbers +36 308517373, +36 13257742 and +36 13257743. It also has a WhatsApp number: +36 308517373 for assistance. The helpline numbers of the control room in Slovakia are +421 252631377, +421 252962916 and +421 951697560. The email address is hoc.bratislava@mea.gov.in.According to Ukrainian officials, the world's largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225, has been destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The enormous aircraft, named "Mriya," or "dream" in Ukrainian, was parked at an airfield near Kyiv when it was attacked.
"Russia may have destroyed our 'Mriya'. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail!" wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.
India abstained from a procedural vote taken in the UN Security Council to call for a rare special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi welcomed Moscow and Kyiv's decision to hold talks at the Belarus border.
The resolution was adopted with 11 votes in favour, paving the way for the General Assembly to meet on the crisis as soon as Monday. India, China and the UAE abstained, while Russia voted against the resolution. This will be only the 11th such emergency session of the General Assembly since 1950.
The 15-nation Security Council met on Sunday afternoon to hold the vote on the emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This comes two days after the Russian veto blocked a UNSC resolution on its "aggression" against Ukraine.
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A medical team in the port city of Mariupol, where Ukrainians are trying to fend off a Russian advance, tried desperately to revive the small girl but were unsuccessful in their attempts