Children Buried Under Rubble After Russian Air-Strike on Hospital: Zelenskyy
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine tensions here.
Ukrainian soldiers and militiamen carry a woman in a wheelchair as the artillery echoes nearby, while people flee Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, 7 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
A children’s hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been destroyed by Russian air strikes, the city council said. The council described the damage to the hospital as “colossal”, adding that it did not know yet about casualty figures from the attack.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) said it is freezing all relations with Russian entities, and will not allow anyone on the sanctions list to take part in its annual high-powered meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.
Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear plant had said earlier that it had "completely halted" due to the Russian offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the international community would be responsible for a mass “humanitarian catastrophe” if it does not agree to a no-fly zone and warned that the country is at maximum threat level.
The United States said that Russia was escalating shelling due to the lack of progress of ground troops
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to stay in the capital until the war was won
More than 20,11,312 Ukrainians have fled to Romania since the Russian invasion
The third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine, which took place on 7 March, bore no fruit
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McD's, Coca-cola, and General Electric Suspend Their Businesses in Russia
McDonald's, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and General Electric have all announced a temporary suspension of their businesses in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.
US Rejects Poland's Offer To Give It Russian-made Fighter Jets for Ukraine
The Pentagon said that Poland's offer to give its MiG-29 fighter jets to the United States so they could be passed on to Ukraine raised serious concerns for the NATO alliance, and that the plan was not "a tenable one," AP reported.
'Senselessly Ripped Apart': UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi on 2 Million Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN's refugee agency, recorded 20,11,312 refugees on its dedicated website, 2,76,244 more than the previous count on Monday.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi called it a "shocking milestone" and added, "Behind the monolithic statistics are two million stories of separation, anguish, and loss."
Grandi stated that families had been "senselessly ripped apart," and thrown into "despair and unimaginable suffering" by the "brutal war," AFP reported.
'Ukraine Will Never be a Victory for Putin': Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Ukraine would never be a victory for Russia President Vladimir Putin, reported AFP.
"Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price but this much is already clear -- Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin," he said.
"Putin may be able to take a city, but he'll never be able to hold the country."
Talking about the Ukrainian refugees, Biden said,"The United States will share in the responsibility of caring for the refugees so that the costs do not fall entirely on the European countries bordering Ukraine."
"Putin's war has caused an enormous suffering and needless loss of life -- of women, children, everyone," Biden added.
Biden said that Russian Army had been targeting schools, hospitals and apartment buildings.
"But Putin seems determined to continue on his murderous path no matter the cost."
"We're going to continue to support the brave Ukrainian people as they fight for their country," Biden said, promising to "support them against tyranny, oppression, violent acts of subjugation."
"When the history of this war is written, Putin's war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger," he vowed.
Ukraine War's Human Cost
Apart from the over 2 million refugees who have fled Ukraine, an unknown number of people also have been displaced from their homes within the country.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 1,03,000 third-country nationals were among those who have fled, AFP reported.
IOM spokesman Paul Dillon said, "There are countless tens of thousands of others who remain in the country stranded."
He further announced a partnership with Airbnb to connect refugees to free or heavily discounted short-term housing in neighbouring countries, with more than 26,000 hosts having signed up so far.
20,000 Foreign Volunteers Have Joined Ukrainian Forces To Fight Russia
First Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin said on Tuesday that foreign volunteers will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship if they want to.
Around 20,000 foreign volunteers have joined Ukrainian forces to fight Russia since 6 March, The Kyiv Independent reported.
‘Lost Contact With Chernobyl Nuclear Data Systems’: IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi has said that it has lost contact with Chernobyl nuclear data systems.
IAEA added that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is no longer transmitting data to the UN watchdog, and voiced concern for staff working under Russian guard at the Ukrainian facility, AFP reported.
Fitch Again Downgrades Russia’s Sovereign Debt Rating Into Junk Territory
Ratings agency Fitch has again downgraded Russia's sovereign debt rating into junk territory from "B" to "C", saying the decision reflects the view that a default is "imminent".
"Junk" status is the category of countries at risk of not being able to repay their debt.
Hungary Opposes Ban on Russian Oil and Gas
Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban, has opposed a ban on Russian oil and gas, saying it “would represent a disproportionately large burden” for his country.
“While we condemn Russia’s armed offensive and we also condemn the war, we will not allow Hungarian families to be made to pay the price of the war; and so the sanctions must not be extended to the areas of oil and gas,” he said in a statement.
Orban added, "Most of Hungary’s oil and natural gas imports come from Russia, and 90 per cent of Hungarian families heat with gas. The Hungarian economy simply cannot function without oil and gas.
At Least 474 Civilians Have Been Killed in Ukraine: UN Human Rights Office
The UN human rights office says at least 474 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.
Another 861 have been wounded, it said, adding that the real figures were likely considerably higher as reports of hundreds of casualties from the towns of Volnovakha, Mariupol and Izium are yet to be corroborated.
“Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes,” it said.
Air Alert Declared in Kyiv, Residents Urged To Get To Bomb Shelters
An air alert has been declared in and around Ukraine's capital Kyiv, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible, AP reported.
In Photos: The Russian-Ukraine War
A man stands atop a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, 8 March.
Ukrainians cross an improvised path under a destroyed bridge while fleeing Irpin, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, 8 March.
Zelenskyy Party Proposes New Security Agreement for Ukraine
The Ukrainian Parliament majority Sluha Narodu Party has proposed to sign a new security guarantee agreement for Ukraine with the United States, Turkey, and Russia instead of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership, Ukrayinska Pravda news website has reported.
The Sluha Narodu party said, “The alliance is not ready to admit Ukraine over the course of at least the next 15 years and has made this clear,”
Further, it added that it was time to discuss concrete security guarantees with Russia.
By signing the agreement, "Russia will be under a legal obligation to recognise Ukrainian statehood and refrain from threatening the Ukrainian people and its government,” Sluha Narodu stated.
Ukraine’s Air Defences Have Considerable Success Against Russian Jets: UK
The UK has said that Ukraine’s air defences have been successful against Russian jets, likely preventing Russia from controlling the airspace.
The Ministry of Defence said on Twitter, “Ukrainian air defences appear to have enjoyed considerable success against Russia’s modern combat aircraft, probably preventing them achieving any degree of control of the air."
The UK’s assessment also said Russian forces had failed to make any significant breakthroughs in fighting northwest of Kyiv.
'Have Bought Enough Liquefied Natural Gas': European Commission Chief
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the bloc has bought enough liquefied natural gas that it should be independent of Russian imports up until the end of the winter, Al Jazeera reported.
She further told Germany’s ARD television that sanctions against Russia were designed to cause maximum impact on Moscow, while causing the least damage possible to Western economies.
‘Our Sanctions Will Hurt You’: Russia
In response to sanctions from Western countries, Russia has warned that it is working on a broad response that would be swift and felt in the West’s most sensitive areas.
Dmitry Birichevsky, the director of the foreign ministry’s department for economic cooperation, said, “Russia’s reaction will be swift, thoughtful and sensitive for those it addresses,” news agency RIA reported.
At Least 10 Killed in a Russian Military Attack in Severodonestk
At least 10 people were killed in a Russian military attack in the eastern Ukrainian town of Severodonestk, a local official was quoted as saying by AFP.
Further, as per a Ukraine official, Russia and Ukraine have also agreed for day-long evacuation corridors.
China To Provide 5 Million Yuan Worth of Humanitarian Assistance to Ukraine
The Chinese Red Cross will provide a batch of humanitarian assistance worth 5 million yuan ($791,540) to Ukraine, consisting of daily necessities, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
Meanwhile, China has refused to describe Russia’s activities in Ukraine as invasion.
Bangladesh PM Hasina Thanks PM Modi for Rescuing Her Country’s Nationals
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, for rescuing her country's nationals under "Operation Ganga", along with stranded Indian nationals.
'Civilians Leaving Sumy in Private Cars': Mayor
Sumy mayor Oleksandr Lysenko has said that civilians have begun leaving the northeastern city in private cars after a “humanitarian corridor” was established for a second successive day, Reuters reported.
Lysenko’s remarks came after about 5,000 people were evacuated from Sumy on Tuesday after the two countries engaged in war agreed on humanitarian corridors.
Canadian PM Trudeau Assures Prez Zelenskyy of Military Equipment Supply
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he spoke to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and assured him of another shipment of highly-specialised military equipment.
"Just spoke with President Zelenskyy. I let him know that Canada will send Ukraine another shipment of highly-specialised military equipment. Invited him to address Canada’s Parliament," Trudeau said.
US VP Harris will Travel to Poland to Discuss Military Assistance for Ukraine
United States Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Poland on Wednesday to discuss how to provide "military assistance" for Ukraine, White House officials said, hours after Washington rejected Warsaw's offer of Soviet-era fighter jets.
No Plans to Topple Ukrainian Government, Russia Says
Russia said negotiations with officials from Kyiv to resolve the conflict in Ukraine were making headway and underscored that Moscow's troops were not working to topple the Ukrainian government.
Internet Giant Lumen Technologies Pulls Out of Russia
Lumen Technologies, one of the companies that comprises the backbone of the internet, said on Tuesday that it was pulling out of Russia because of an “increased security risk.”
Mass Humanitarian Catastrophe Without No-Fly Zone: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the international community would be responsible for a mass “humanitarian catastrophe” if it does not agree to a no-fly zone and warned that the country is at maximum threat level.
Chernobyl Nuclear Plant 'Completely Halted'
Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear plant said it had "completely halted" due to the Russian offensive.
Indian Students Rescued From Sumy Board Train to Poland
'Radiation Risk After Chernobyl Power Cut': Ukrainian Nuclear Firm
Radioactive substances could be released from Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant because it cannot cool spent nuclear fuel after its power was cut off, Ukrainian state-run nuclear company Energoatom said on Wednesday.
Ukraine to Pull Troops From UN Missions
Ukraine will repatriate troops and equipment, including helicopters, involved in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in Africa and Europe to bolster defenses at home against Russian forces.
EU to Add 160 Russian Oligarchs, Senators to Sanctions Blacklist
The European Union (EU) will add 160 Russian oligarchs and senators to the sanctions blacklist, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Ukraine Calls for Ceasefire to Restore Power in Chernobyl Nuclear Plant
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for a ceasefire to allow repairs to be carried out in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to restore the power supply.
Ukraine’s state power operator had said earlier that Russian forces disconnected the nuclear power plant from the grid.
Russia, Ukraine Agree to Open More Humanitarian Corridors
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to open more humanitarian corridors to evacuate terrified civilians from bombarded cities as Moscow said some progress was being made in talks with Kyiv.
Wait for Response to Economic War: Russia Warns US
The Kremlin accused the United States on Wednesday of declaring an economic war on Russia that was sowing mayhem through energy markets.
Moscow also warned Washington that it was considering a response to the ban on Russian oil and energy.
UK Impounds Russia-Linked Private Jet Amid Aviation Sanctions
Britain said on Wednesday it had impounded a plane connected to a Russian billionaire, reported Reuters.
This comes amid new aviation sanctions which give authorities the power to detain any Russian aircraft and to ban exports of aviation or space-related goods to Russia.
No Critical Impact on Safety From Chernobyl Power Loss: IAEA
The loss of power at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine does not have any critical impact on safety, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Heat load of spent fuel storage pool and volume of cooling water at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sufficient for effective heat removal without need for electrical supply,” the IAEA stated.
EU Freezes Ties with Belarus' Central Bank Amid New Sanctions Against the Russian Ally
The European Union (EU), agreeing to new sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus, blacklisted 14 more oligarchs and froze relations with Belarus' central bank and three top lenders there, the EU Commission said on Wednesday.
NATO Countries Must Act Together on Jets For Ukraine: Poland
Any supply of fighter jets to Ukraine must be done jointly by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday, after Washington rejected Poland's offer to fly all its MIG-29 jets to a US airbase with a view to provide them to Ukraine.
FMCG Giant Nestle Suspends Investment in Russia
Nestle, the world's largest packaged food group, said on Wednesday that it had suspended all capital investment in Russia following the country's offensive against Ukraine.
World Economic Forum Freezes Relations With Russian Entities
The World Economic Forum (WEF) said it is freezing all relations with Russian entities, and will not allow anyone on the sanctions list to take part in its annual high-powered meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.
More than 3 Million Ukrainians Will Need Food Assistance: WFP
David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said it will need to help over three million people from Ukraine with food donations.
The head of the UN agency made this statement in Warsaw, where he met Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau to discuss providing assistance to refugees arriving in Poland.
Germany Refuses to Send Warplanes to Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that Berlin would certainly not send warplanes to Ukraine after the United States rejected an offer by Poland to transfer its Russian-made MiG-29 jets to a US base in Germany.
Mariupol Children's Hospital Destroyed by Russian Air Strike
A children’s hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been destroyed by Russian air strikes, the city council said.
The council described the damage to the hospital as “colossal”, adding that it did not know yet about casualty figures from the attack.
Children Buried Under Rubble After Russian Air-Strike on Hospital: Prez Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that children were buried under rubble after a Russian air strike hit a hospital in Mariupol.
"Mariupol. Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity," Zelenskyy said.
Russia Admits to Use of 'Conscript' Soldiers During the War
Russia's defense ministry said that some conscripts - soldiers compulsorily drafted into the army - had been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.
This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin had claimed in a televised message on Tuesday that Moscow did not use any conscript soldiers in Ukraine.
"I emphasise that conscript soldiers are not participating in hostilities and will not participate in them," Putin had said.
Zelenskyy's Adviser Says Women in Labour and Children Under Wreckage After Russian Air-Strike on Hospital
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that women in labour and children were under wreckage after Russia carried out an air-strike that severely damaged a children’s hospital in the port city of Mariupol.
Russia, Germany Discuss Diplomatic Solutions to the Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday discussed diplomatic ways to settle the Ukraine conflict and the implementation of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians, the Kremlin said.
At Least 516 Civilians Have Been Killed Since the Russian Invasion: UN
The Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights said it had verified 1,424 civilian casualties - 516 killed and 908 injured since the Ukraine conflict began two weeks ago.
However, they said the real casualty figures were much higher "especially in government-controlled territory and especially in recent days, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration."
17 Wounded After Russian Airstrike on Mariupol Children’s Hospital: Donetsk Governor
Around 17 people have been wounded after a Russian airstrike reportedly hit a children’s hospital and maternity ward in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Wednesday, the governor of Ukraine’s Donetsk region said, as per a report by The Guardian.
Some of those injured included women in labour, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
He accused Russia of carrying out the strike during an agreed ceasefire period that was meant to allow the evacuation of civilians from the war-torn city.
UK PM Calls Russian Air-Strike on Mariupol Children's Hospital a 'Depraved' Act
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the attack by Russia on a children’s and maternity hospital in Mariupol as “depraved”.