Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had reportedly made a “desperate plea” for eastern Europe to provide Russian-made aircraft to Ukraine during a call with US senators. He also called for a no-fly zone, lethal aid, a ban on Russian oil and a suspension of Visa and Mastercard in Russia. According to Reuters, Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said after the call on Saturday: “These planes are very much needed. And I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer.” Russia’s military is trying to add to its gains in the south, moving closer to the vital port city of Odessa, as it tries to cut off the Ukrainian government from the sea.
Meanwhile, Indians stranded in eastern Ukraine were unable to use the exit routes that were opened up following a brief ceasefire that was announced in Mariupol and Volnovakha. In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the situation in Ukraine and the evacuation process. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said not too many Indians are left in Ukraine apart from those in Sumy and Pisochyn.
People across Ukraine have taken up arms and sought shelter. More than 1.2 million people have fled to neighbouring countries, the UN refugee agency said Friday. NATO is refusing to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine. The 30-nation military organisation believes such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia.
Casualties so far
Russia has acknowledged that nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed and around 1,600 wounded. Ukraine has not released casualty figures for its armed forces. The UN human rights office says at least 331 civilians have been killed and 675 wounded in Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Ukraine's State Emergency Service has said more than 2,000 civilians have died, though it's impossible to verify the claim.
A woman reacts as paramedics perform CPR on a girl who was injured during shelling, at city hospital of Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, February 27, 2022. The girl did not survive. (AP)
Sanctions on Russia
The wave of global sanctions on Russia could have devastating consequences for energy and grain importers. Russia is a leading exporter of grains and a major supplier of crude oil, metals, wood and plastics. More companies are suspending operations in Russia, including Apple, Mercedes-Benz, BP, Volkswagen, clothing retailer H&M and furnishings store IKEA. Spain's Teatro Real, one of Europe's major opera houses, said it is cancelling a set of upcoming performances by Russia's Bolshoi Ballet.
Russian media crackdown
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a bill into law that threatens up to 15 years in prison for what Russia deems to be "fake" reports about the war. Also, the state communications watchdog blocked Facebook, Twitter and five foreign media organisations based abroad that publish news in Russian.
Those organisations — the BBC, the US government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based website Meduza — are among the most influential and often critical foreign media publishing in Russian.
In this file photo, fire burns at a residential area in Mariupol after shelling amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine Twitter @AyBurlachenko via Reuters)
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the largest conflict that Europe has seen since World War II, with Russia conducting a multi-pronged offensive across the country. The Russian military has pummeled wide areas in Ukraine with airstrikes and has conducted major rocket and artillery bombardments, resulting in large numbers of casualties. Here is a look at some of the weapons being used in the conflict. Read more
The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Sunday asked all Indians who are still stuck in the conflict-stricken country to fill up an online form on an urgent basis.
“All Indian nationals who still remain in Ukraine are requested to fill up the details contained in the attached Google Form on an URGENT BASIS. Be Safe Be Strong,” it said in a tweet. Read more
Ukrainian soldiers bolstered defences around Kyiv on Sunday, digging trenches, blocking roads and liaising with civil defence units as Russian forces bombarded the surrounding areas and attacked towns and villages nearby.
While the armed forces and civilian volunteers dug in, thousands of people continued to try to flee the city of 3.4 million as fears of a full assault spread.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and has concentrated its heaviest attacks on the south and east of the country, besieging cities including Mariupol and Kharkiv with artillery fire and air strikes and causing extensive damage and casualties. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed directly to Russians on Sunday to take to the streets in protest against the Kremlin's invasion of his country or risk their own poverty and repression.
Since last week, thousands of people in Russia have been detained for protesting against the invasion of Ukraine or what the Russian authorities call a "special military operation" that began on Feb 24.
"Citizens of Russia! For you, this is a struggle not only for peace in Ukraine! This is a fight for your country," Zelenskiy said in a televised address, switching from Ukrainian to Russian.
"If you keep silent now, only your poverty will speak for you later. And only repression will answer," he said. (Reuters)
Pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine's National Guard accused each other of failing to establish a humanitarian corridor out of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Sunday, the second time the sides attempted to arrange it.
Ukraine 24 television showed a fighter of the Azov Regiment of the National Guard who said Russian and pro-Russian forces that have encircled the port city of about 400,000 continued shelling the areas that were meant to be safe.
The Interfax news agency cited an official of the Donetsk separatist administration who accused the Ukrainian forces of failing to observe the limited ceasefire.
The separatist official said only about 300 people have left the city. Ukrainian authorities have earlier said they planned to evacuate over 200,000 people from Mariupol. (Reuters)
Erdogan has talked with Putin and called for an 'urgent general ceasefire'. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has deplored what he termed the "rivers of blood and tears" flowing in Ukraine following the Russian invasion and demanded the creation of humanitarian corridors for refugees. (AFP)
The city council of Ukraine’s Mariupol said an evacuation of some of 400,000 residents trapped by Russian forces would start at noon (1000 GMT) under a temporary ceasefire that will last till 9 pm. A similar plan had to be abandoned on Saturday after the ceasefire was not fully observed, with both sides trading blame.
More than 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said on Sunday. A day earlier, it put Russian casualties at over 10,000. It did not report Ukrainian casualties. (Reuters)
More than 1,000 detained at protests against Russian military operation in Ukraine, reports AFP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the ongoing evacuation of students from war-torn Ukraine is a proof of India’s growing influence in the world.
Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government of India had launched Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian students stuck there. Modi said that more than 1,000 students have been evacuated from Ukraine till date.
“At a time when other countries are finding it difficult to rescue its citizens, we managed to get our people out. This proves the increasing influence of India in the world,” Modi, who was speaking at the Golden Jubilee programme of the Symbiosis University in Pune, said. Read more
The number of people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine has topped 1.5 million, making it Europe's "fastest-growing refugee crisis" since World War II, the United Nations said, reported news agency AFP.
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted the Ukraine President as saying that Russians are preparing to bombard Odessa city.
Ten days into the war in Ukraine, the main, immediate challenge for India is to get Indians stuck in Sumy in north-eastern Ukraine out of the conflict zone. It is estimated that about 700 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Sumy. Read our Explainer to understand the situation and why it's difficult to get them out.
The Indian Embassy in Hungary said that the country would be operating its last leg of Operation Ganga evacuation flight from the country today. “Embassy of India begins its last leg of Operation Ganga flights today. All those students staying in their OWN accommodation ( other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach @Hungariacitycentre , Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am-12 pm,” a tweet by them read.
Indians who are still stuck in Ukraine have been asked to fill up a Google form to help in the evacuation process. “All Indian nationals who still remain in Ukraine are requested to fill up the details contained in the attached Google Form on an URGENT BASIS,” a tweet read.
Russia struck and disabled Ukraine's Starokostiantyniv military air base with long-range high-precision weapons, Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday. “The Russia armed forces continue to strike the military infrastructure of Ukraine,” Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. “On the morning of March 6, strikes were carried out by high-precision long-range weapons. The Ukrainian air force base near Starokostiantyniv was disabled.”
The World Health Organization has expressed concern over “several” attacks on healthcare centres in Ukraine, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, the agency’s chief has said. Additional reports are being investigated, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post to Twitter on Sunday. “Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law,” he added.
South Korea to impose export controls against Belarus for “effectively supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Sunday, Reuters reports. The move follows a wide-ranging set of sanctions nations across the world have imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s emergency services stated that casualties were reported following a Russian missile strike which hit residential homes in the Zhytomyr region, about 140 km north-west of Kyiv. Some 15 private houses were destroyed in the assault in the city of Ovruch, the state emergency service said in an update.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and likened the West’s sanctions on Russia to “declaring war,” while a promised cease-fire in the besieged port city of Mariupol collapsed amid scenes of terror.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had spoken to SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk and announced the country would receive more of its Starlink satellite internet terminals next week. "Talked to Elon Musk. I'm grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds," Zelenskiy tweeted.