PM Modi Holds High-Level Meeting on Situation in Ukraine
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.
An armed man stands by the remains of a Russian military vehicle in Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting on Saturday, 5 March, on the crisis in Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia, news agency ANI reported.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Saturday that any country imposing a no fly zone over Ukraine will become a party to the conflict.
The Indian government earlier in the day said that over 13,700 Indians have been brought back from Ukraine since the special flights began on 22 February.
Meanwhile, Russia had earlier declared ceasefire in Ukraine from 7:00 GMT on Saturday, 5 March, to open humanitarian corridors for civilians in the sieged port city of Mariupol and Volnovakha. However, the evacuations were stopped after Mariupol officials reported ceasefire violations by Russian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly criticised the NATO's refusal to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying that the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign
Ukraine claims Russia violated ceasefire in Mariupol after agreeing to a truce, halting evacuations
Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Friday, after a fire broke out at what is the largest nuclear facility in Europe due to an attack by the invaders
Multiple loud explosions were heard in Kharkiv city on Saturday morning
India said at the UNSC meet on Friday that it attaches the highest importance to ensuring safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine
Russia has blocked Twitter and Facebook inside the country amid the war
Ukraine is looking to hold third round of talks with Russian officials this weekend
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Multiple Explosions Heard in Kharkiv
Multiple explosions were heard on Saturday morning in Kharkiv city, which was bombed heavily by the Russian forces on Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents were asked to go to the nearest shelter, reported The Kyiv Independent.
Russia Closing in on 2nd Largest Nuclear Facility in Ukraine: US Ambassador
The US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned on Friday that Russian forces are now 20 miles, and closing, from Ukraine’s second-largest nuclear facility – the Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Station in southern Ukraine’s Mykolaiv Oblast.
This comes a day after Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Friday, after a fire broke out at what is the largest nuclear facility in Europe due to an attack by invaders.
Thomas-Greenfield said that the world had narrowly averted a “nuclear catastrophe” and condemned Russia’s actions as “reckless” and “dangerous,”
NATO Has Given Green Light to Bombing: Prez Zelenskyy on Alliance's Refusal for No-Fly Zone
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes, stating that the imposition of a no-fly zone over Ukraine would bring the NATO directly into war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticised the decision, saying the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign.
“All the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity,” the Ukrainian president said a nighttime address.
He had earlier appealed to the NATO and the US to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Russian Strike Kills 7 in Kyiv Region
A Russian air strike on a rural residential area in Kyiv region killed at least seven people on Friday, including two children, Ukraine state police said in a statement. Police said the strike hit the village of Markhalivka, around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the southwestern outskirts of the capital.
Samsung Suspends Shipments to Russia
Samsung Electronics says shipments to Russia have been suspended "due to current geopolitical developments."
Ukrainian Port City Mariupol Blockaded by Russian Forces
The strategic Ukrainian port city of Mariupol has been 'blockaded' by Russian forces, news agency AFP quoted the city's mayor as saying on Saturday.
Russian troops has encircled Mariupol on Thursday, cutting it off electricity, food, water, heating and transport.
229 Indians Stranded in Ukraine Reach Delhi From Romania
A special Indigo flight, carrying 229 Indian nationals from Ukraine, arrived in Delhi from Suceava in Romania on Saturday morning.
Ukraine Prez Zelenskyy To Address US Senate Today
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the US Senate on Saturday, at 9:30 am ET. Zelenskyy will speak to senators via Zoom at the request of Ukraine.
IAF Has Flown 10 Flights, Evacuated 2k Indians From Nations Neighbouring Ukraine
Three C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of IAF, that took off on Friday from Hindan airbase, evacuated 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland, and also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries.
Till date, the IAF has flown 10 flights to bring back 2,056 passengers, while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries, as part of Operation Ganga, reported news agency ANI.
Putin Denies Bombing Ukrainian Cities, Says Reports on Strikes Are 'Propaganda Fakes'
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denied that Russian troops were bombing Ukrainian cities, dismissing such information as fake, the Kremlin said Friday, AFP reported.
Putin said reports about "the alleged ongoing air strikes of Kyiv and other large cities are gross propaganda fakes," the Kremlin said in a statement.
He added that dialogue on Ukraine would be possible only if Russian demands are met.
Russia Has Fired Over 500 Missiles So Far: Pentagon
Russia has fired more than 500 missiles in the week since it invaded Ukraine, and is launching different types of missiles at a rate of about two dozen per day, a Pentagon official was quoted as saying by The Kyiv Independent.
Cyber-Attack Affects Thousands in Europe
Thousands of internet users across Europe have been thrown offline after a likely cyberattack at the beginning of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, AFP reported.
According to Orange, nearly 9,000 subscribers of a satellite internet service provided by its subsidiary Nordnet in France are without internet following a "cyber event" on February 24 at Viasat, a US satellite operator of which it is a client.
G7 Leaders 'Deeply Concerned' Over Russia's Continuing Strikes
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major world powers say that those responsible for Russian military attacks on civilians in Ukraine must be held accountable for their crimes, amid reports of the use of cluster bombs and other banned munitions.
In a statement after talks in Brussels on Friday, the G7 ministers said they are "deeply concerned with the catastrophic humanitarian toll taken by Russia's continuing strikes against the civilian population of Ukraine's cities."
Air Raid Alert in Kyiv
An air raid alert has been sounded in Kyiv, as per The Kyiv Independent. Residents have been advised to go to the nearest shelter.
Russia's Attack on Nuclear Plant a War Crime: US
The US Embassy in Ukraine described Russia’s attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, as a war crime, stating: “Putin’s shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear plant takes his reign of terror one step further.”
Efforts On To Bring Back Body of Naveen: Karnataka CM
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday that efforts are on to bring back the body of Naveen Shekharappa, the 21-year-old medical student who died in Ukraine's Kharkiv last week.
"We're in touch with the Indian embassy, also spoke to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on the matter," Bommai said, ANI reported.
Singapore Announces Sanctions on Russia
Singapore announced sanctions against Russia on Saturday that include four banks and an export ban on electronics, computers, and military items, in a rare move by the Asian financial hub in response to what it said was Moscow's "dangerous precedent" in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
'Nobody Has Fled': Zelenskyy Rubbishes Rumours of Leaving for Poland, Shares Video
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video on his official Instagram account on Friday, saying he is still in the capital Kyiv and has not fled to Poland.
"Every two days information comes out that I have fled somewhere — fled from Ukraine, from Kyiv, from my office. As you can see, I am here in my place, Andriy Borisovich (Yermak) is here. Nobody has fled anywhere. Here, we are working," Zelenskyy said.
WATCH: The Quint Discusses the Russian Invasion With Ukraine's Indian Students
Russia Announces Ceasefire From 11 AM To Allow Evacuation From Mariupol
Russia has declared ceasefire in Ukraine from 07:00 GMT on Saturday, 5 March, to open humanitarian corridors for civilians in the sieged port city of Mariupol and Volnovakha.
"The Russian Ministry of Defense has said it is halting its offensive at 10 am local time on Saturday so residents can leave the encircled Azov Sea city of Mariupol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)," RT Media reported.
"Another humanitarian corridor was established for the DPR town of Volnovakha, also controlled by the Ukrainians," the report said.
Moscow said that safe passages had been agreed on with Ukraine.
Mariupol To Begin Evacuation at 9:00 GMT
Ukraine port city Mariupol will begin the evacuation of its civilians at 9:00 GMT, the mayor of the city said, AFP reported.
Temporary Ceasefire Begins in Mariupol & Volnovakha
Temporary ceasefire begins in Mariupol and Volnovakha to set up humanitarian corridors, reports The Kyiv Independent. The corridors will serve to evacuate civilians and deliver food and medicine to the cities that have been cut off from the world by Russian attackers.
'Ban Sberbank From Swift, Oil Embargo': Ukraine Demands More Sanction on Russia
"Russia shifts to ugly tactics aimed at maximum civilian damage: bombs residential areas and critical infrastructure, threatens nuclear facilities. Sanctions must increase. Ban Sberbank from SWIFT. Oil embargo. Close ports for Russian ships. Close crypto loopholes. Cut all ties," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.
Ceasefire To Last Till 4 PM Local Time
The ceasefire has been declared for 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, as per The Kyiv Independent. The evacuation of 440,000 civilians is set to start at 11 am in Mariupol, and of 21,000 people in Volnovakha.
'Evacuation Corridors Being Prepped in Mariupol & Volnovakha': Ukrainian Official
Evacuation corridors are being prepared in parts of Ukraine, said Mykhailo Podoliak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, on Saturday.
"In Mariupol and Volnovakha, humanitarian evacuation corridors are being prepared for opening, columns are being formed from those who are subject to evacuation. The parties temporarily ceased fire in the area of the corridors," Podoliak said on his official Twitter account.
"Today, on 5 March, from 10 am Moscow time, Russian side declared a regime of silence and opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha. Humanitarian corridors & exit routes have been coordinated with the Ukrainian side," the Russian embassy in India said.
Radiation Levels at Zaporizhzhia Normal After Russia Takes Nuclear Plant
Staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), which was occupied by Russian forces after a fire broke out on Friday, say radiation levels in the region look normal.
"Currently, the ZNPP attending personnel monitor the condition of power units and control their operation. No changes in the radiation status in the Zaporizhzhia region have been detected, the gamma radiation background is within normal limits," Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said in a statement Saturday.
66,224 Men Have Returned to Ukraine To Fight: Defence Minister
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday that 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to join the fight against Russia's invasion.
"That's how many men returned from abroad at this moment to defend their country from the horde. These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades! Ukrainians, we are invincible," Reznikov said on Twitter.
Buses for 298 Students in Pisochyn En Route: Indian Embassy in Ukraine
"Reaching out to our 298 students in Pisochyn. Buses are enroute and expected to arrive soon. Please follow all safety instructions and precautions. Be Safe Be Strong," the Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted.
'Evacuated 6,222 Students From Romania and Moldova': Jyotiraditya Scinida
In an update on Operation Ganga, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "Evacuated 6,222 Indians in last 7 days from Romania and Moldova. Got a new airport to operate flights in Suceava (50 km from border) instead of transporting students to Bucharest (500 km from border). 1050 students to be sent home in next 2 days."
He added,
F1 Drops Russian Driver Nikita Mazepin
In view of the Ukraine war, F1 team Haas terminated the contract of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin with immediate affect.
Russia Blocks Access to Facebook, Twitter
In response to the online platform placing restrictions on its state-owned media, Russia has completely blocked access to Facebook and restricted access to Twitter, The Guardian reported.
Concerned For Students Stranded in Sumy': MEA
"We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students," Arindam Bagchi, MEA Spokesperson said in a tweet.
He added that the MEA has advised students to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks. Ministry and our Embassies are in regular touch with the students.
'Needed Media Law Due to Information War': Kremlin
The Kremlin said on Saturday that it needed a 'harsh' fake news law in view of the ongoing 'information war that has been unleashed against Russia', AFP reported.
"Zelenskyy Provoked Russian Troops to Attack Nuclear Plant': Ex-Ukraine PM
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has claimed that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had attempted to use provocations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in order to convince Western countries to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, news agency ANI reported.
"Of course, it was a deliberate provocation because, first of all, no sane Russian or Ukrainian soldier would ever dare to carry out this sort of provocation on the territory of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which has six nuclear power units," Azarov told Sputnik News, ANI reported.
'Over 66,200 Men Have Returned From Abroad to Fight for Ukraine'
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday that 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to join the fight against Russia's invasion.
"These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades," he added.
1.45 Million Fled Ukraine: UN
The International Organization for Migration says the number of people who have left Ukraine since fighting began has now reached 1.45 million, news agency AP said.
Evacuation of Mariupol Halted ‘After Ceasefire Breached’
Mariupol mayor informed the press that evacuation of the civilian population was getting delayed due to ceasefire violations by Russia.
"Due to the fact that the Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both of Mariupol itself and its environs and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed," city officials said in a statement on social media.
US Secretary of State Blinken Visits Poland
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reached eastern Poland near the border with Ukraine on Saturday to meet with officials about the situation with refugees.
He is supposed to meet Ukrainian refugees later in the day.
Russia’s Aeroflot to Halt International Flights, Barring Belarus
Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot announced that it will stop all international flights, except those going to Belarus, from 8 March.
'13,700 Indians Brought Back From Ukraine': Indian Government
The Indian government on Saturday, 5 March, said that over 13,700 Indians have been brought back from Ukraine since the special flights began on 22 February.
"Under ‘Operation Ganga’ to rescue Indian citizens, about 3000 Indians have been airlifted today by 15 special flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. These included 12 special civilian and 3 IAF flights," the press release said.
"Tomorrow, 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, bringing in more than 2200 Indians back home," the release added.
3 Buses Sent to Pisochyn, 2 More on the Way: Indian Embassy in Ukraine
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said that three buses had been organised by the government of India in Pisochyn to rescue students stuck there.
"Two more buses will be arriving soon," the statement added
UK Asks British Nationals to Leave Russia if Stay Not 'Essential'
The UK government on Saturday told British nationals to leave Russia if it was not essential for them to stay, news agency AFP reported.
"If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes," the Foreign Office website said.
Focus Now on Sumy: MEA on Evacuation From Ukraine
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a media briefing, said that while all students had left Kharkiv, the focus was now on rescuing students from Sumy.
“From Pisochyn and Kharkiv, we should be able to clear out everyone in the next few hours, so far I know no one left in Kharkhiv. Main focus is on Sumy now, challenge remains ongoing violence and lack of transportation; best option would be ceasefire,” he said.
"We are pushing for a safe corridor with both Ukrainian and Russian governments," he added.
Any Country Imposing No Fly Zone Over Ukraine Will Become Party to Conflict: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Saturday that any country imposing a no fly zone over Ukraine will become a party to the conflict.
"No matter which country declares a no-fly zone over Ukraine, we will count it as participation in the war. And it doesn't matter which alliance the country is a member of, " he said in a media briefing.
Putin also said that he had no intention of declaring martial law in Russia.
Talking about Russian military operations Putin said, “It’s going entirely according to plan. Everything is being done the way our General Staff planned it.”
Will Ensure Safe Evacuations of Indians From Sumy: Indian Embassy in Ukraine
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine put out a statement on the evacuation process and said that it will ensure safe evacuation of all students from Sumy.
Possibility of Financial Cooperation Between India-Russia: Russian Envoy
The Russian envoy spoke to the media on Saturday and said, "It (Ukraine situation) will have consequences for whole world including Russia-India ties, to what extent, it'll be reflected, can't say now. There may be an impact in terms of transactions, possibility of financial cooperation in connection with sanctions," news agency ANI reported.
The envoy added that this is proving to be a beneficial situation for Indians, as the West partners refuse to cooperate.
He added, "Russia has provided 100s of buses and is waiting to take Indians out. A group of diplomats has been sent to Belgorod from the Indian embassy to deal with this issue on the spot and coordinate actions with the Russian side."