Russia Has Destroyed Infrastructure Worth $100 Billion, Ukraine Claims
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.
The White House warned that the Kremlin could be planning to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.
(Photo: PTI)
The Russian invasion has so far destroyed about $100 billion in roads, bridges and businesses in Ukraine, dealing a huge hit to its economy, a Kyiv government official said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Russia’s energy ministry said on Thursday that Belarusian specialists had restored power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
The Bank for International Settlements, considered the central bank of central banks, has announced it is suspending the Bank of Russia, deepening Moscow's financial isolation following its invasion of Ukraine
United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said Russian President Vladimir Putin has only made the NATO Western defence alliance "stronger" through his country's invasion of Ukraine.
Three people, including a child, were killed in a Russian air strike on a maternity and children’s hospital in the port city of Mariupol on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Three people, including a child, were killed by a Russian air strike on a Mariupol children’s hospital
The US has warned that Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine
UAE to encourage OPEC members to increase oil production in light of US ban on Russia oil imports
The UK has announced that it will send anti-tank missiles to Ukraine
More than 30,000 NATO troops in Norway will take part in a military exercise
Sumy students reach Poland, expected to fly to India today
Foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine meet in Turkey
US Warns About Russian Chemical Attacks
White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted on 10 March that Russia was making "false claims about alleged US biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine".
Other officials also said that they were "very concerned" about the possibility of Russia using non-conventional weapons, a reference to chemical weapons, biological weapons, or dirty bombs.
"We've got good reason to be concerned," said one official, as quoted by the BBC.
UAE to Ask OPEC to Up Oil Production
The UAE stated that it will ask OPEC members to increase oil output faster after prices surged due to President Biden's ban on Russian oil imports.
"We favour production increases and will be encouraging OPEC to consider higher production levels,” Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to the US, stated on 9 March, as reported by the Financial Times.
Ukraine Says Russia Holding Thousands Hostage in Mariupol
Ukraine has accused Russia of "holding 400,000 people hostage" in Mariupol.
The Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, described the city's conditions as "apocalyptic", and stated that it was still being shelled by Russia despite an agreement to establish humanitarian corridors for civilians.
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Hitting Sumy With Airstrikes
Local officials in Sumy have stated that Russian warplanes have carried out overnight strikes in the north-eastern city of Okhtyrka.
Regional state administration head Dmytro Zhyvytsky claimed that residential areas and a gas pipeline were struck just after midnight on 10 March.
US House Approves $13.6 bn Package for Ukraine
The US House of Representatives has approved a spending bill worth $13.6 billion for aid to Ukraine and its European allies, according to AP.
Approval in the senate is expected either next week or by the end of the week.
"We’ve got a war going on in Ukraine. We have important work that we’re doing here", House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters, as quoted by AP.
Carlsberg to Halt Operations in Russia
Carlsberg, a multinational brewer, has stated that it will cease the sales of its beer, and will also cease all advertising in Russia.
The Carlsberg Group's Baltika Breweries, which is headquartered in St. Petersburg, will continue to operate as a separate business as it has over 8,400 employees, Bloomberg reported.
"Baltika Breweries will be run as a separate business, with the purpose of sustaining our employees and their families," Carlsberg said in a statement.
Canada to Send $50m in Aid to Ukraine
The Canadian government announced that it will provide an additional $50m in lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.
UNHCR Says More than 2 Million Have Fled Ukraine
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that more than two million refugees have fled Ukraine so far.
At least 35,000 civilians were evacuated on 9 March alone, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Norway to Host 30,000 Nato Troops for Exercises
More than 30,000 NATO troops in Norway will take part in one of its largest military exercises since the early 1990s.
"When a neighbouring country to Nato is at war, of course it affects the whole European security architecture. But there is no increased threat to Norway and no change in Russian forces close to our border. It’s a long-planned exercise, and it’s quite clearly a defensive exercise", Yngve Odlo, the Norwegian general in charge of the exercise told the Financial Times.
Ukrainian Military's Report Says Russian Advance Stalled
The Ukrainian military, in its daily operational report, claimed on the morning of 10 March that the Russian advance into parts of Ukraine has been slowed down.
The report further stated that Russian troops have been held back in Kyiv and regions of eastern Ukraine like Donetsk and Slobozhansky.
Sumy Students Reach Poland
The last group of Indian students, who were successfully evacuated from Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine, reached Poland on Thursday, 10 March.
The students first took a bus from Sumy to Poltava in central Ukraine, from where they boarded a train to Lviv in western Ukraine.
Then they took another special train to Poland, and are likely to fly to India on Thursday.
Ukraine Opens 7 Humanitarian Corridors
Ukraine has reportedly opened seven humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee the war, Reuters reported.
One such corridors is from Mariupol, amid reports that Russian forces have taken control over certain parts of the city.
Russia To No longer Participate in Council of Europe
The foreign ministry of Russia has stated that it will no longer participate in the Council of Europe, which is the leading human rights organisation of the continent.
It accused NATO members of undermining the European organisation created for the purpose of upholding human rights and democracy.
Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine Meet in Turkey
Talks between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers began in Antalya, Turkey, on 10 March.
Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba are meeting in what is the highest-level meeting between the two nations since the war began on 24 February.
3 Dead in Russian Airstrike on Hospital
Ukrainian officials have confirmed that three people, including one child, have been killed in a Russian air strike on a maternity and children's hospital, BBC reported.
UK Sanctions Chelsea FC Owner Roman Abramovich
The United Kingdom announced on 10 March in a list of "Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets" that it has frozen the assets of seven prominent Russian businessmen including Roman Abramovich, who is the owner of Chelsea football club.
Abramovich had previously stated that he would "set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated."
More Than 2.3 Million People Have Fled Ukraine
More than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine so far since the beginning of the Russian offensive two weeks ago, the United Nations (UN) said on Thursday.
The UN migration agency said that of those who have been forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries, 112,000 people are third-country nationals.
'Three Killed, Including Child, in Mariupol Hospital Airstrike'
A Russian airstrike on a children's hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday killed three people, including a child, the city council said.
The attack also wounded 17 people in the war-torn port city, including women in labour, doctors and children.
Bombs also fell on two other hospitals on Wednesday.
Claim of Russian Airstrike on Children's Hospital Fake News: Moscow Says
Russia said on Thursday that Ukraine's claim that the former bombed a children's hospital in Mariupol was "fake news" because the building was a former maternity hospital that had long been taken over by troops.
No Progress in Talks For Ceasefire in Mariupol
The meeting between Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Dmytro Kuleba respectively, in Turkey is over with no progress having been made, The Guardian reported.
In a news conference after the talks, Kuleba said that no progress was made on a ceasefire and that Lavrov did not commit to a humanitarian corridor in Mariupol.
Belarus Must Protect Russia From Rear: Prez Lukashenko
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told his defence ministry on Thursday that the Belarus army must prevent any attack on Russian forces from the rear, state news agency BelTa reported.
Russia Will Try to Never Again be Dependent on West: Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a press conference on Thursday that Russia will try to never again be dependent on the West.
He also claimed that Moscow will endure the crisis, and that Ukraine seemed to want to have meetings for the sake of meetings.
Lavrov Says Mariupol Hospital Was a Military Base for Nationalists
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that a children's hospital in Mariupol, which Ukraine claimed was attacked by Russian forces, had been serving as a military base for nationalists
China Refuses to Supply Aircraft Parts to Russia Amid Sanctions
China has refused to supply Russian airlines with aircraft parts, an official from Russia's aviation authority was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on Thursday.
This comes after Boeing and Airbus stopped supplying components to Moscow.
Humanitarian Convoy Fails to Reach Mariupol
A humanitarian convoy attempting to reach the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol was forced to turn around due to intense fighting, Reuters reported.
Ukraine Investigating Cases of Treason
Ukraine is investigating 38 cases of alleged treason against law enforcement officers accused of aiding Russia, Ukraine’s state bureau of investigation said on Thursday.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against a number of police officers in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Kherson.
Scholz, Macron Urge Putin to Resolve Conflict Through Diplomacy
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue with diplomacy over the war in Ukraine, AFP reported.
'Doubt Ukraine Conflict Will Lead to Nuclear War'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that he did not believe the conflict in Ukraine would spiral into a nuclear war.
Earlier, he had cautioned the United States and Europe that Russia never again wanted to be dependent on the West.
Zelenskyy Confirms 3, Including Child, Killed in Russian Airstrike on Hospital
Three people, including a child, were killed in a Russian air strike on a maternity and children’s hospital in the port city of Mariupol on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In a televised address, Zelenskyy denied Russia’s claim that the hospital had no patients.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had claimed that there were no women or children at the hospital, and that it was being used as a military base for nationalists.
Half of Kyiv's Population Has Fled Since Russia's Invasion
Speaking on Ukrainian television, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said that half of the capital city's population had left the city as Russian forces advanced.
"From our information, one in two Kyiv residents has left the city. A little less than two million people have currently left. However, Kyiv has been transformed into a fortress. Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified," he said.
'Russia Has Made NATO Stronger by Invading Ukraine'
United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said Russian President Vladimir Putin has only made the NATO Western defence alliance "stronger" through his country's invasion of Ukraine.
EU Condemns Russian Bombing of Hospital
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has condemned Russia's bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine's Mariupol, and demanded that Moscow allow aid into the besieged city.
Borrell said the attack by Moscow was a "heinous war crime."
'Russian Economy in Shock From Unprecedented Economic War'
Moscow said on Thursday that Russia's economy was experiencing a shock, and that measures were being taken to soften the impact of what it described as an "absolutely unprecedented" economic war being waged against the country.
Zelenskyy Asks UK PM Boris For Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was in continued talks with leaders of European countries today, and discussed further support with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He also said that he held peace talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier in the day Zelenskyy had also spoken to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Bank for International Settlements Suspends Russian Central Bank
The Bank for International Settlements, considered the central bank of central banks, has announced it is suspending the Bank of Russia, deepening Moscow's financial isolation following its invasion of Ukraine
Goldman Sachs Withdraws From Russia
The Goldman Sachs Group said on Thursday that it was closing its operations in Russia.
The bank is the first major Wall Street entity to exit the country following Moscow's offensive against Ukraine.
Chernobyl Power Supply Restored, Moscow Claims
Russia’s energy ministry said on Thursday that Belarusian specialists had restored power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
Ukraine's state energy company had stated earlier that the plant had lost power after it was cut off by Russian troops, who seized it around two weeks ago.
Russia Has Destroyed Infrastructure Worth $100 Billion
The Russian invasion has so far destroyed about $100 billion in roads, bridges and businesses in Ukraine, dealing a huge hit to its economy, a Kyiv government official said on Thursday.
Putin Warns of Soaring Food Prices Amid Sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Western sanctions against Moscow could send global food prices soaring, as Russia is one of the world's main producers of fertilisers, which is essential to global supply chains.
Moscow Retaliates Against Western Sanctions
In retaliation against economic sanctions announced by the West, Russia on Thursday said it had banned exports of certain goods and agricultural commodities.
1,200 Bodies Recovered From Mariupol
More than 1,200 bodies have been collected on the streets of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol since Russian shelling began, the city’s deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov said.
Speaking to the BBC, he said he did not know how many people had been killed in total in the city, but the most recent figure was 1,207.
He also said that some 47 people had been buried in a mass grave as it was not possible to reach burial sites outside the city. “Not all of them were identified," the mayor added.
US Rejects Russian Claim of Biowarfare Labs in Ukraine
The United States denied Russian accusations that Washington was operating biowarfare labs in Ukraine, calling the claims "laughable" and suggesting Moscow may be laying the groundwork to use a chemical or biological weapon.
Mariupol Maternity Hospital Third to Be Destroyed in Ukraine
Russia's air strike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol that reportedly left three people dead, including one child, marked the third time Ukrainian maternity hospitals have been destroyed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations said.
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