Vinnytsia Airport Wrecked, Putin Says ‘Won’t Stop Until Ukraine Drops Arms’
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.
Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee by crossing the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, 5 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, 6 March, that the offensive against Ukraine will continue until Kyiv surrenders, in a telephone call with Turkish President Tayyep Ergodan who urged Putin to agree to peace talks with Ukraine.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on Sunday, 6 March that Russian rockets have completely destroyed the civilian airport of the central-western region capital of Vinnytsia, reported Reuters.
He also said that Russian forces are preparing to bombard the Ukraine port city Odessa, reported AFP.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine forces have blamed each other for failing to establish a humanitarian corridor and evacuate civilians out of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, for the second time, reported Reuters. The Donetsk separatist administration said only 300 have left the city.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India successfully managed to evacuate Indians from Ukraine due to India's "increasing resilience."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly criticised 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
Russia and Ukraine forces blame each other for failing to evacuate civilians out of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, for the second time on Sunday
Over 1,000 people detained in Russia for protesting against the war in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that 2,135 Indians have been brought back via 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries on Sunday.
Russia has blocked Twitter and Facebook within the country amid the war
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday that efforts are underway to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine's Sumy.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
US Secretary of State Meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Polish border to discuss anti-Russia sanctions and the strengthening of Kyiv's defense capabilities.
Kuleba shared a photo of their meeting and wrote on Twitter, "Met with my US counterpart and friend @SecBlinken at the Ukrainian-Polish border. We held talks on further deliveries of necessary weapons for Ukraine, ways to ensure the efficiency of sanctions and increase pressure. Putin must stop his meaningless and barbaric war on Ukraine [sic]."
Russia Wants To Seize Power Station Dam: Ukraine
The Ukrainian army has warned that the Russian military wants to seize the dam of a key hydroelectric power station, south of the capital Kyiv, Al Jazeera reported.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said that Russia planned to seize the dam of the Kaniv hydroelectric power station, located some 150 km (93 miles) south of Kyiv on the Dnipro river.
'More Than 2,200 Indians Expected To Be Back Home': Union Minister Bhupender Yadav
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday, 6 March, received 183 Indian students evacuated from war-torn Ukraine. "More than 2,200 Indians are expected to be back home today," he tweeted.
Chennai Student Delays Flights, Forgoes Luggage To Return With Pet Dog
A fifth-year medical student Keerthana landed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Saturday, 5 March, after skipping at least four different flights until the Indian Embassy allowed her to fly with her pet dog 'Candy', reported ANI.
"I had to cancel my flights four times as I was earlier not allowed to bring back the pet. I waited for extra two-three days. Finally, I got a call from the embassy which allowed me to bring the pet," she said.
Yogi Adityanath Meets Students Who Returned From Ukraine
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath interacted with the students who had returned to India from war-torn Ukraine, in Lucknow on Sunday, 6 March, and enquired about their well-being.
Adityanath tweeted in Hindi, "Due to the tireless efforts of the respected Prime Minister, the students who came back from Ukraine to the state safely met them at their official residence in Lucknow today and inquired about their well being. We are committed for the safe return of all our people trapped in Ukraine. Long live India!"
Scindia Thanks Romania for 'Caring for Our Children as Their Own'
Union Minister of Civil Aviation thanked the Romanian government on Sunday, 6 March, for ensuring the safety of Indian nationals, including students, and for "caring for our children as their own."
He tweeted on Sunday, "Overcome by gratitude towards Romania for caring for our children as their own. From an American chef teaching himself to cook Indian food to police officers manning shelters 24/7, nothing is impossible when humans decide to stand up for their mates in testing times. More power to u [sic]."
WHO Condemns Attacks on Healthcare Centres in Ukraine
The World Health Organization's (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Sunday, 6 March, expressed concern over "several" attacks on healthcare centres in Ukraine, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
Tedros said in a Twitter post on Sunday that additional reports were being investigated. He tweeted, "Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law."
Indian Embassy in Hungary Issues Advisory for Last Leg of Flights
The Indian Embassy in Hungary tweeted on Sunday, 6 March, that it had begun the last leg of repatriation flights, as part of Operation Ganga. It urged all students staying by themselves (and not at lodgings arranged by the embassy) to immediately reach the city centre in Budapest.
‘Thousands of Students Evacuated Due to India’s Resilience’: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, 6 March that India successfully managed to evacuate Indians from Ukraine.
Addressing the students and staff at Symbiosys University, Pune on the occasion of the college's golden jubilee, he said, "Even big countries facing difficulty in doing so, but it's India's increasing resilience that thousands of students have been evacuated," reported ANI.
Indian Embassy in Ukraine Requests Students To Fill Out Google Form
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine urged Indians who are still stuck in Ukraine 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.
448 Students From Karnataka Rescued: KSDMA
Dr Manoj Rajan, Commissioner of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said on Sunday, 6 March, that a total of 448 students from Karnataka have been evacuated via Operation Ganga flights.
He said, "Through Operation Ganga, we've evacuated 448 students of Karnataka origin. 47 batches from Delhi and Mumbai have reached. 12 flights have been scheduled for tomorrow. We've another 236 students who have to be evacuated from Ukraine."
Russia Strikes Ukrainian Military Air Base With Long-range Weapons
Russia struck and disabled Ukraine's Starokostiantyniv military air base with long-range high-precision weapons, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday, reported Reuters.
"On the morning of 6 March, strikes were carried out by high-precision long-range weapons. The Ukrainian air force base near Starokostiantyniv was disabled," said Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
India Has ‘Excellent Diplomatic Service’: German Envoy to India
Walter J Lindner, German Envoy to India, said on Sunday, 6 March that India has "excellent diplomatic service" regarding global world order, reported ANI.
He said, "They (India) know what to do... It's not about Ukraine or the EU, it is about the global world order...We all have to stand together against it (Russia)." He said Russian President Vladimir Putin has been lying from day 1, "...he said he is not invading but rescuing Russian speaking people there and now there is shelling and bombing. NATO is a defence alliance, we've never been aggressive, never invaded anything."
Lindner added that Germany is strongly taking part in sanctions against Russia. He said, "This is a terrible situation, he (Putin) has to stop. Our stand is the same as other European countries (on Ukraine's refugees)."
Mariupol to Attempt Evacuating Civilians Again Under Ceasefire Rules
The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, said it will restart efforts to evacuate civilians on Sunday, 6 March after earlier efforts were scuppered by ceasefire violations, reported CNBC.
The city council of Mariupol has said a ceasefire will be observed between 10am and 9pm local time on Sunday.
An earlier attempt on Saturday to allow civilians to leave by buses and private cars along the road northwest towards Zaporizhzhia failed when both sides accused the other of shelling.
2,135 Indians Returned Via 11 Special Flights on Sun: MEA
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Sunday, 6 March, that a total of 2,135 Indians have been brought back via 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries today.
"With this, more than 15,900 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on 22nd February, 2022," the MEA said.
Another 8 flights are scheduled to operate on Monday, 7 March, including 5 flights from Budapest, two flights from Suceva, and one flight from Bucharest to bring home over 1,500 Indians stranded in Ukraine's neighbouring countries, as per the statement.
Russia Gearing up To Bombard Odessa: Zelenskyy
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on Sunday that Russian forces are preparing to bombard the Ukraine port city Odessa, reported AFP.
He said in a televised address, "Rockets against Odessa? This will be a war crime."
Over 1.5 Million Fled Ukraine Since Russian Invasion: UN
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, said the United Nations, reported news agency AFP.
38 Children Killed During Russia Strikes: Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner
Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova said that a total of 38 children have been killed during the Russia's strikes in Ukraine, reported The Kyiv Independent on Sunday.
Denisova added that the casualties include a one-and-a-half-year-old boy who had died in a shelling by the Russian occupiers in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast.
Over 11,000 Russian Troops Killed: Ukraine
Ukraine's armed forces general staff said on Sunday that more than 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
Red Cross Provides Aid To Indian Students Stuck in Sumy
The Red Cross Ukraine is providing humanitarian assistance to stranded Indian students in Sumy, in coordination with the Indian World Forum. They are being provided with water and essential supplies, reported ANI.
Ihor Shapoval, Red Cross coordinator in Sumy has visited the university campus and interacted with students coordinators and liaised for their early evacuation subject to a green corridor, said Indian World Forum's president Puneet Singh Chandhok.
Over 1,000 People Detained in Russia for Anti-war Protests
Over 1,000 people detained in Russia for protesting against war in Ukraine, reported The Kyiv Independent on Sunday. According to Russian human rights media project OVD-Info, the demonstrators have been detained in 35 cities.
Zelenskyy Pushes Call for Ukraine No-fly Zone
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy is pushing his call for foreign countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, reported the Associated Press on Sunday, 6 March. Zelenskyy said in a video address that the world is "strong enough to close our skies."
NATO countries have ruled out policing a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorised aircraft from flying over Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participation in the armed conflict.
Efforts on To Bring Back Indians Stuck in Sumy: Puri
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday that efforts are underway to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine's Sumy, reported ANI.
The Minister said that Operation Ganga is operating its last leg of evacuation flights today and added, "Approximately 5,200 Indian nationals were returned home country yesterday. Today around 889 are returning to their home country."
8 Rockets Fired at Vinnytsia, Airport Destroyed: Zelenskyy
Ukraine's President Zelensky said on Sunday that 8 Russian rockets were fired in the regional capital Vinytsia, destroying a civilian airport, reported The Kyiv Independent.
150 Indians Reached Romanian Border: Indian Embassy in Ukraine
Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Sunday that a group of 44 Indians who began their trip from Pisochyn are on their way to the Polish border from Lviv.
The Embassy tweeted on Sunday that another group of over 150 Indians have made their way to the Romanian border said added, "Our efforts are ongoing."
Mariupol Evacuations Fail Again
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, reported Reuters.
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.
Indian Who Was Shot At, in Kyiv, to Return on Monday: VK Singh
Union Minister Gen (Retd) VK Singh said on Sunday, 6 March that the Indian national who sustained bullet injuries and lost his passport in war-torn Ukraine will return to India on Monday.
He tweeted, "Harjot Singh is the Indian who was shot during the war in Kyiv. His passport was also lost in the chaos. Glad to inform that Harjot is reaching India with us tomorrow. Hope there is a speedy recovery with home food and care."
Odisha CM Writes to PM Modi Over Disrupted Studies of Indians Who Fled Ukraine
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the "unprecedented crisis" that has disrupted the studies of thousands of Indians forced to flee from war-torn Ukraine, reported ANI.
He requested PM Modi for his "urgent intervention with National Medical Commission and ministries concerned to enable continuance of studies of students returned from Ukraine in medical colleges in India."
Evacuated Over 15,920 Students via 76 Flights: Scindia
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Sunday, 6 March that India has successfully evacuated over 15,920 students via 76 flights.
Giving a breakup of the number of students evacuated from Ukraine's neighbouring nations, Scindia tweeted, "Romania - 6,680 (31 flights) Poland - 2,822 (13 flights) Hungary - 5,300 (26 flights) Slovakia - 1,118 (6 flights)."
Operation Ganga: Over 5,920 Indians returned to India, says GoI
Under Operation Ganga, so far 76 flights have brought over 15,920 Indians back to India. Out of these 76 flights, 13 flights landed in the last 24 hours, said the Government of India, as reported by ANI.
Russian Troops Shell Nuclear Research Facility in Kharkiv
The Kharkiv branch of Ukraine’s Security Service said on Sunday, 6 March, that Russian troops used Grad multiple rocket launchers to shell the Kharkiv Physics and Technology Institute, reported The Kyiv Independent.
French President Macron Speaks With Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to each other via telephone call on Sunday, 6 March. The conversation lasted 1 hour 45 minutes, reported AFP quoting Elysee Palace.
During the conversation, Putin blamed Kyiv for failed civilian evacuations from the key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol which is surrounded by Russian troops, said AFP quoting Kremlin.
Wont Stop Attacking Until Kyiv Surrenders: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday, 6 March, that the offensive against Ukraine will continue until Kyiv lays down arms and that his campaign in the country was going as per plan, reported Reuters.
Putin made these comments in a telephone call with Turkish President Tayyep Ergodan who urged Putin to agree to peace talks with Ukraine.
Putin said that Russia’s military operation in Ukraine can be suspended only if Kiev fulfills Moscow’s demands, as per Russian news agency TASS.