US Slaps Sanctions on Putin's Daughters Over Ukraine Invasion
Catch all the live updates from the Russia-Ukraine war here.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy examines the site of a recent battle in Bucha, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, 4 April, 2022.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
The United States has slapped sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters over the country's invasion of Ukraine, AFP reported on Wednesday, 7 April.
Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a vote on Thursday, 7 April, to decide whether Russia will stay in the Human Rights Council, an official said, as per a report by AFP.
Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament on Wednesday, 6 April that the conflict in Ukraine had global consequences, and that India would take care of its national interests.
In the aftermath of the Bucha killings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday, 5 April, called for Russia's expulsion from the top decision-making body.
He also challenged the UNSC saying that if the council cannot find a way to stop Russia's actions in Ukraine, it should "dissolve", because it proves "there is nothing that you can do besides conversation".
As many as 3,400 civilians, including 121 children, have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the UN has said
Twitter has introduced new measures against Russian government accounts in order to reduce the impact of official propaganda on the social network
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a taped video at the Grammy Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday
Zelenskyy addressed Russian forces as “murderers”, “torturers,” and “rapists” after hundreds of bodies of Ukrainian civilians were found on the streets of towns surrounding Kyiv
Around 200 People Missing, Presumed Dead in Borodyanka
A Ukrainian official has told the New York Times that as many as 200 people are missing and presumed dead in the town of Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv.
Georgii Yerko, the town’s acting mayor, said the number is a rough estimate and that most of the bodies were likely trapped in the rubble of collapsed apartments.
Ukrainian officials have previously said the civilian toll in Borodyanka was likely “much worse” than that in Bucha.
Twitter Introduces New Measures Against Russian Government Accounts
Twitter has introduced new measures against Russian government accounts in order to reduce the impact of official propaganda on the social network.
Twitter said in a statement, “We will not amplify or recommend government accounts belonging to states that limit access to free information and are engaged in armed interstate conflict — whether Twitter is blocked in that country or not."
‘Likelihood of a Significant International Conflict Increasing’: US
The world is becoming more unstable and the likelihood of a significant international conflict between the great powers is increasing, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said during a congressional testimony on Tuesday.
Milley told the US House Armed Services Committee, "We are now facing two global powers, China and Russia, each with significant military capabilities, both who intend to fundamentally change rules based on the global order. We are entering a world that is becoming more unstable. The potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing, not decreasing," news agency ANI reported.
Russia Supplied 8,500 Tonnes of Humanitarian Cargoes to Ukraine: Report
Russia supplied 8,500 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes to Ukraine, reports Russia's media outlet Sputnik.
'India Should Use Its Influence To Mediate a Truce': Shashi Tharoor
The Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday asked the government to use its influence to mediate a truce between Russia and Ukraine engaged in a war for over 40 days.
Tharoor stated that India should not shy away from taking a morally correct position in line with its foreign policy, which he stressed, is "neither Congress’ nor BJP’s foreign policy but it is Indian foreign policy.”
The Thiruvananthapuram MP added, “We need to take a principled stand on such matters… with moral conviction,” and exphasised that since Russia started the war, India cannot condone Moscow's actions.
US To Send $100 Mn in Aid to Ukraine
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Washington will send an additional $100 million in aid to Ukraine to meet its “urgent need” for anti-armour systems, AP reported.
Blinken stated that this is the US’s sixth drawdown of arms, equipment, and supplies for Ukraine and that it brings the US’s total security assistance to Kyiv to more than $1.7 billion since the Russian invasion began.
Intel Suspends Operations in Russia
US computer chip designer and manufacturer Intel Corp has suspended business operations in Russia.
The company told Reuters news agency that it “continues to join the global community in condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine and calling for a swift return to peace”.
New Zealand Imposes ‘Significant Sanctions’ on Russian Imports
The New Zealand government has said that it will introduce a 35 percent tariff on all imports from Russia and ban the export of industrial products such as telecoms equipment and engines to Russia.
New Zealand’s Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor said, “Our response to the war in Ukraine is the most significant response to an international crisis we’ve undertaken as a nation in recent history.”
He added that images and reports of atrocities against civilians in Bucha were “abhorrent and “reprehensible” and that “New Zealand will not fund or support the Russia war machine”.
'Humanitarian Situation in Mariupol Worsening': UK
The British Ministry of Defence has said that the humanitarian situation in Mariupol is worsening as Russian airstrikes and heavy fighting continues.
In its latest intelligence update, the ministry said, “Most of the 1,60,000 remaining residents have no light, communication, medicine, heat or water."
‘Fuel Depot, Factory Hit by Russian Airstrike’: Dnipropetrovsk Governor
Russian forces attacked a fuel depot and a factory in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region at night, governor Valentyn Reznichenko said on Telegram.
Reznichenko said, “The night was alarming and difficult. The enemy attacked our area from the air and hit the oil depot and one of the plants. The oil depot with fuel was destroyed. Rescuers are still putting out the flames at the plant."
'Conflict has Global Consequences, India Prioritising National Interest': Jaishankar in LS
Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament on Wednesday that the conflict in Ukraine had global consequences, and that India would take care of its national interests.
"The conflict in Ukraine has had significant consequences for the global economy and for our national economy. Like all countries, we too are assessing the implications and deciding what is best for our national interest."
Russia's Gazprom Neft Website Down After Apparent 'Hack'
The website of Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian gas giant Gazprom, has gone down after an apparent hack, Al Jazeera reported.
The website posted a statement purporting to be from Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller, a close ally of President Putin, making critical comments about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A Gazprom spokesperson dismissed the statement as "nonsense". The website went down shortly afterwards.
Ukraine to Restart Mariupol Evacuation Efforts
Ukraine will attempt to evacuate trapped civilians in the war-torn city of Mariupol through 11 humanitarian corridors, but those fleeing will have to use private vehicles, deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Wednesday.
This comes after efforts to get convoys of buses into the southern port city to evacuate tens of thousands of civilians failed repeatedly.
Pope Condemns 'Horrendous' Bucha Massacre
Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the "ever more horrendous cruelty" in Ukraine's Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were allegedly killed by Russian forces.
"The recent news about the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing relief and hope, instead attests to new atrocities, such as the Bucha massacre," the Pope said while addressing his weekly general audience at the Vatican, AFP reported.
Russia Wants to Maintain Diplomatic Ties with West Despite Expulsions: Report
Russia wants to maintain diplomatic ties with Western countries despite a series of expulsions of its diplomats, Moscow's Interfax news agency quoted its deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko as saying.
Grushko added that European countries were damaging their own interests by disrupting the work of Russian diplomats.
'Russian Strike on Aid Point Killed 2 Civilians'
The governor of Ukraine’s Donetsk region said on Wednesday that at least two civilians were killed and five wounded after Russian forces fired at a humanitarian aid distribution point in the town of Vuhledar.
Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko shared graphic photos online of the aftermath of the alleged attack, Reuters reported.
Russia Says it Paid Foreign Dollar Debt in Roubles
Russia said on Wednesday that it made foreign debt payments on dollar-denominated bonds in rubles, after a correspondent bank refused to implement payment instructions, AFP reported.
Zelenskyy Condemns EU's 'Hesitancy' Over Barring Russian Imports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the "hesitancy" of the European Union (EU) over barring Russian energy imports, arguing that some leaders were more concerned with business losses than with war crimes, Reuters reported.
'Bucha Massacre Not Far Short of Genocide': UK PM Boris
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that the alleged massacre of civilians by Russian troops in the Ukrainian town of Bucha "doesn't look far short of genocide to me," AFP reported.
UNGA to Hold Vote on Suspending Russia from Human Rights Council
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will hold a vote on Thursday, 7 April, to decide whether Russia will stay in the Human Rights Council, a UN official said, as per a report by AFP.
3 Russian Diplomats Expelled from Norway
Norway expelled three diplomats working at Russia’s embassy in Oslo, the country’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
"It is not by chance that these expulsions take place now," Norwegian foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement.
"They come at a time when the world is shocked by reports of Russian forces’ crimes against civilians, in particular in the town of Bucha outside Kyiv. In this situation we pay particular attention to unwanted Russian activities in Norway," Huitfeldt added.
Hungarian PM Orban Urges Putin to Initiate Ceasefire
Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said on Wednesday that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to initiate an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
89, Including 4 Children, Killed in Kyiv Since Invasion
89 people, including four children, have been killed in Ukraine's capital Kyiv since Russia's invasion of the country began, the city council said.
It added that 398 people had been wounded and 167 residential buildings damaged by the Russian offensive.
The statement further said that "It has become safer in Kyiv, but the threat of airstrikes remains".
Red Cross Convoy Reaches Zaporizhzhia
A Red Cross convoy has reached Zaporizhzhia with refugees from southeast Ukraine, according to AFP.
'Ukraine War Could Last Many Months, Even Years': NATO Chief
NATO chief Stoltenberg warned on Wednesday that Ukraine war could last 'many months, even years', AFP reported.
Ukrainian Authorities Behind 'Crude and Cynical Provocation' in Bucha: Putin
Russian President Valdimir Putin on Wednesday said that Ukrainian authorities were behind 'crude and cynical provocation' in Bucha, according to the Kremlin, reported AFP.
US Slaps Sanctions on Putin's Daughters
The United States has slapped sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters over Ukraine invasion.
US Places 'Full Blocking' Sanctions on Sberbank, Alfa Bank
The US has placed 'full blocking' sanctions on Russian giants Sberbank, Alfa Bank, the White House said on Wednesday, AFP reported.
"US, G7 & EU impose severe and immediate costs on Russia for its atrocities in Ukraine, including in Bucha. They include sanctions on Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, and Russia’s largest private bank, Alfa Bank. Prohibiting new investment in Russia," the White House said.
UK Introduces New Sanctions Against Russia
The UK imposed fresh sanctions against Ukraine banning all new outward investment to Russia and expressed their commitment to cease all imports of Russian coal and oil by the end of the year, with gas to follow as soon as possible, The Guardian reported.
Further, eight new Russian oligarchs were added to the sanctions list.
Joe Biden Denounces 'Major War Crimes' in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden, in a public address, denounced 'major war crimes' in Ukraine.
(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.)