LIVE: Russia – Ukraine crisis
15.49: Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says he is waiting for concrete sanctions and assistance from allies – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday said he was waiting for Ukraine’s allies to impose concrete sanctions on Russia as the military said four ballistic rockets had been fired at Ukrainian territory from the territory of Belarus.In the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city council said shelling had hit a residential area and the number of casualties was being ascertained.Zelenskiy said Ukraine was waiting for concrete assistance from its allies.
15.46: German soccer club Schalke 04 removes Gazprom logo from shirts – German soccer club Schalke 04 tweeted on Thursday it was removing the logo of Gazprom GAZP.MM from its shirts due to recent developments after Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine.
15.41: Russia says it has destroyed 74 military facilities in Ukraine – Russia’s defence ministry said it had destroyed 74 above-ground military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on Thursday, including 11 aerodromes, the RIA news agency reported.
15.34: Ukraine police say Russia has carried out 203 attacks on Thursday – Ukrainian police on Thursday said Russia had carried out 203 attacks since the beginning of the day, with fighting going on almost everywhere throughout Ukraine’s territory. State border guards said the Ukrainian military was fighting Russian forces near the eastern city of Sumy. Ukraine’s defence minister said some Russian forces had been taken prisoner in heavy fighting.
15.29: Ukraine calls on its allies to sever diplomatic ties with Russia – Ukraine’s foreign minister called on its allies to sever diplomatic ties with Russia, the RIA news agency reported on Thursday, after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
15.14:EU says additional sanctions will gradually erode Russia’s industrial basis – An upcoming second EU sanctions package will hit Russia’s economy severely, increasing capital outflow, raising inflation and gradually eroding its industrial basis, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. “These sanctions will suppress Russia’s economic growth, increase the borrowing costs, raise inflation, intensify capital outflow and gradually erode its industrial basis,” she told reporters in Brussels, adding the EU was also aiming at limiting Russia’s access to crucial technology. “Our measures will weaken Russia’s technological position in key areas from which the elite makes most of their money – this ranges from high-tech components to cutting-edge software,” von der Leyen said.
15.10:Czech Republic to shut two Russian consulates, recall ambassadors – The Czech Republic will close two Russian consulates in Brno, the country’s second largest city, and Karlovy Vary and also shut its consulates in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in Russia, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Thursday. Fiala said the government would also call home its ambassadors to Russia and Belarus for consultations.
14.50: Russia detains opposition activist who called for anti-war protests in Moscow – A Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine told Reuters that she had been detained by police on Thursday. “I was detained on my way out of the house,” Marina Litvinovich, the Moscow-based activist, wrote on Telegram. She confirmed her detention separately in a message to Reuters. Litvinovich called on Russians earlier to gather in protest in various Russian cities on Thursday evening.
14.38: Ukrainian military plane shot down, five killed – A Ukrainian military plane was shot down on Thursday and five people were killed, Ukrainian police and the state emergency service said, as its armed forces sought to defend against a massive Russian military operation.
14.37: Macron says Russian action against Ukraine will have long-lasting and deep consequences for Europe – France will stand by Ukraine’s side, President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the French nation, adding that Russia’s action against the eastern European country will have “durable and deep” consequences for the continent. Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.
14.21: Hungarian PM Orban condemns Russian attack on Ukraine – Hungary condemns Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday after a meeting of the security cabinet. “With our EU and NATO allies, we condemn Russia’s military attack,” Orban said, adding that Hungary would stay out of the military conflict as the security of Hungarians was the most important. He said Hungary would provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and was prepared to receive people fleeing Ukraine.
14.18: Ukraine recalls its Russian charge d’affaires, evacuates embassy – Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Thursday it had recalled its charge d’affaires in Russia for consultations and begun evacuating its embassy in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said earlier Kyiv had cut diplomatic ties with Russia after Moscow launched a major offensive earlier on Thursday.
14.10: Ukraine says fierce fighting under way at numerous locations – Ukraine on Thursday fought Russian forces along practically its entire border with Russia, and there was fierce fighting in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odessa and at a military airport near Kyiv, an adviser to the presidential office said.The Ukrainian official said they feared that Russian forces could be air dropped into the country and then try to penetrate the government district in Kyiv.
13.50: Erdogan says Turkey supports Ukraine’s battle for territorial integrity – Turkey supports Ukraine’s battle for territorial integrity and views Russia’s attack as a “heavy blow” to regional stability and peace, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, repeating a call for a resolution of the crisis through dialogue. “This step, which we view as against international law, is a heavy blow struck on regional peace, harmony and stability,” he said, adding that he conveyed Turkey’s support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a phone call on Thursday.
13.46: NATO puts jets on high alert, activates its defence plans – NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the Western military alliance will deploy capabilities and forces on its territory after Russian invaded Ukraine, saying it put over 100 warplanes on high alert. NATO leaders will also hold a virtual summit on Friday. The alliance also activated NATO’s defence plans to give military commanders to move forces, including those at high readiness. “We must respond with renewed resolve and even stronger unity,” Stoltenberg told a news conference after chairing an emergency meeting of NATO ambassadors. “What we do is defensive.”
13.34: Russia warns media about what is published on situation in eastern Ukraine – Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Thursday said media outlets must check the veracity of their reports about the situation in eastern Ukraine and only publish information from official Russian sources.Roskomnadzor said the distribution of false information online would lead to immediate restrictions.
13.30:Japan summons Russian ambassador, condemns invasion into Ukraine – Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan to condemn Russian invasion into Ukraine, telling the envoy the Russian action is in clear violation of international law, the Japanese government said on Thursday. Hayashi told Mikhail Galuzin that the Russia side should cease the invasion immediately, and urged that the safety of civilians including Japanese nationals should be protected unconditionally, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
13.25: France to reinforce support to Ukraine “in all its forms” – Le Drian – France will reinforce its support to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday, adding that help will be offered “in all its forms”, without giving further details.
13.19: Multiple explosions heard in Kyiv after Russia launches attack – Multiple explosions could be heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday, a Reuters reporter said, after Russia launched a massive military operation.
13.15: Turkish foreign ministry says Russian attack on Ukraine unacceptable – Russia’s military operation against Ukraine is unacceptable, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, calling on Moscow to immediately end the “unjust and unlawful” move that threatens global security.
13.12:Russia says cargo ships hit by Ukrainian missiles in Azov Sea – TASS – Two Russian civilian cargo ships were hit by a Ukrainian missile strike in the sea of Azov, causing casualties, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Thursday citing the federal security service.
13.10: Kremlin critic Khodorkovsky: Putin’s Ukraine war is betrayal of Russian interests – Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who fell foul of the Kremlin, said Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was a betrayal of Russian interests and that the conflict was only started to keep Putin’s clan in power. “We need to be clear that it is Putin and his entourage who started the war in order to hold onto their power – not the Russian people,” Khodorkovsky said. “Unleashing a war of aggression and using the armed forces for personal gain signifies that a junta led by Putin has seized power in Russia.”
12.59: Scholz says Russia will pay bitter price for “Putin’s war” – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday western sanctions would ensure Russia paid a “bitter price” for its attack on Ukraine and make it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a “serious mistake”. “Putin is bringing suffering and destruction to his direct neighbours, he is violating the sovereignty and borders of Ukraine,” Scholz told reporters in Berlin. “He is endangering the lives of countless innocent people in Ukraine – a brother people of Russia. Finally, he is endangering the peace order on our continent. For all that there is no justification. This is Putin’s war.”
12.56:18 people killed in Ukraine’s Odessa in missile attack – regional authorities – Regional authorities of Ukraine’s southern Odessa region said on Thursday that 18 people were killed in a missile attack. At least six people were killed in Ukraine’s town of Brovary, located near the capital of Kyiv, authorities from the town said.
12.51:NATO planning battle groups on eastern flank, Slovak minister says – NATO is planning to create battle group structures like it already has in Baltic states for the countries on its eastern flank, Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said on Thursday, adding the move would include Slovakia. Korcok said Slovakia had given its agreement “to start planning such steps, which are necessary to do for the defence of the alliance and Slovakia”.
12.47: Slovakia to send troops to Ukraine border to help with refugees – Slovakia will send up to 1,500 troops to the country’s border with Ukraine to help with refugees and the country is also prepared to increase the number of border crossings, news website www.dennikn.sk reported on Thursday.
12.43: Belarus to discuss strengthening western flank in talks with Putin – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will on Thursday or Friday discuss strengthening his country’s western flank in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the state-run Belta news agency quoted him as saying on Thursday.
12.40: UK summons Russian ambassador over Ukraine invasion – British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday she had summoned the Russian ambassador to explain Moscow’s actions in Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country by land, air and sea.
12.37: EU sanctions should target Putin and his administration -Dutch PM Rutte – European sanctions against Russia should target Russian President Vladimir Putin and his administration directly, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday. “The Netherlands believes maximal sanctions must be imposed upon Putin and his government”, Rutte told reporters.
12.34: Ukraine hit by second wave of missile strikes – official – Ukraine is being hit by a second wave of missile strikes, an adviser to president Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a briefing on Thursday. Authorities in Kyiv say the first wave, launched shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation on Thursday morning, hit military command centres and other buildings in several Ukrainian cities.
#BREAKING : Fresh wave of cruise missile attacks on #Ukraine started.#UkraineRussiaCrisis #RussiaUkraineConflict pic.twitter.com/gmYKX2jsUW
— TheIndianPolitics (@isindianpolitic) February 24, 2022
12.28: Russia is carrying out full-scale offensive – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday Russia was carrying out a full-scale offensive from multiple directions and that Ukrainian forces were resisting the attack. “No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions,” Kuleba said on Twitter.
Latest update.
No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions.
No, the Ukrainian defense has not collapsed. Ukrainian army took the fight. Ukraine stands with both feet on the ground & continues to defend itself.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
12.27: Israel condemns Russian attack on Ukraine – Israel condemned Russian actions in Ukraine on Thursday and called on world powers to resolve the crisis swiftly. “Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a grave breach of international order. Israel condemns the attack,” Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised statement. “There is still time to stop and to return to the negotiation table and to resolve differences peacefully with world powers’ mediation. Israel has long-running, deep and good relations both with Russia and Ukraine.
12.25: Belarus closes part of its airspace for civilian flights – Belarus has closed part of its airspace for civilian flights, its defence ministry said in a statement on social media on Thursday.
12.15: Czech president demands Russia to be cut off from SWIFT – Czech President Milos Zeman, who had in the past promoted warm relations with Moscow, said on Thursday Russia’s attack on Ukraine was “crime against peace” and required a response through harsh sanctions including cutting the country from the SWIFT international payments system. “It is time to reach for much tougher sanctions than those originally planned, by which I mean above all a sanction in the area of the so-called SWIFT,” Zeman said in a speech.”It is needed to isolate a madman, not just defend against him by words, but by concrete measures.”
12.10: Ukrainian envoy says expects solidarity from Turkey – Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara said on Thursday that his country expected solidarity from NATO member Turkey and that it should not remain impartial after Russia launched an offensive against its neighbour. Speaking to reporters after holding talks at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar said Turkey will evaluate a Ukrainian request to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships.
12.05: Belgium wants EU to stop issuing visas to Russians – Belgium wants the European Union to stop issuing visas to all Russian citizens, including students, workers and tourists, asylum minister said on Thursday in response to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine. “Russia’s reckless attack forces us to be careful with Russians wishing to come to Belgium,” junior minister for asylum and migration, Sammy Mahdi, said in a statement. “At the moment, Russians are not welcome here, a general visa ban for Russians should not be a taboo,” he said, adding that should affect both short- and long-term stays.
11.57: Iran’s foreign minister says war in Ukraine caused by NATO provocation –The war in Ukraine is caused by “NATO’s provocative actions”, Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Thursday on Twitter.
11.56: Russian invasion is a catastrophe for Europe, says UK PM Johnson – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a catastrophe for Europe, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, calling for an urgent meeting of NATO leaders and setting out plans to make a public address and speak to G7 leaders. “This is a catastrophe for our continent,” he said on Twitter. “I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.” “I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible.”
11.49: Latvian, Estonian foreign ministers leaving Kyiv by land -spokespeople –The Latvian and Estonian foreign ministers, currently in Ukraine, are leaving Kyiv by land after arriving on Wednesday evening, spokespeople for the Latvian and Estonian foreign ministries told Reuters on Thursday.
The ministers had come to Ukraine to show support, in a visit that was due to last until Friday. Their Lithuanian counterpart had planned to join them on Thursday but cancelled after the airspace over Ukraine was closed, his spokesperson told the BNS news agency.
11.33: Belarusian troops could be used in operation against Ukraine if needed, Lukashenko says – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that troops from the ex-Soviet country could take part in Russia’s military operation against Ukraine if needed, the Belta news agency reported.
11.30: Greece says has seccured energy supplies following Ukraine invasion – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Greece has secured energy supplies after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “We are working on scenarios which have to do with the biggest possible absorption of fluctuations in energy prices,” Mitsotakis said.
11.25: Russian military convoy in annexed Crimea seen moving north – A Russian military convoy in annexed Crimea with the letter “Z” painted on the sides of vehicles was seen driving north towards mainland Ukraine on Thursday, a witness told Reuters. A second convoy of military vehicles with the same markings was parked at Krasniperekopsk about 40 km (25 miles) from the boundary between Crimea and mainland Ukraine.
11.16: Ukraine says 50 Russian troops killed, four tanks destroyed – Ukraine’s military said on Thursday it had destroyed four Russian tanks on a road near the eastern city of Kharkiv, killed 50 troops near a town in Luhansk region and downed a sixth Russian aircraft, also in the country’s east. Russia has denied reports that its aircraft or armoured vehicles have been destroyed. Ukraine’s border guard service said that three of its servicemen had been killed in the southern Kherson region and that several more were wounded.
11.06: We will unleash full sanctions package against Russia, Germany’s Baerbock says: The world must respond resolutely to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or later pay an even higher price, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday, pledging to unleash a “full” package of sanctions against Russia.Adding that Ukraine had done nothing to merit Russia’s invasion, she addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him that he would never destroy people’s belief in freedom and democracy. “We woke up in a different world today,” Baerbock told reporters. “We will launch the full package of massive sanctions against Russia … If we do not take a firm stand now, we will pay an even higher price.”
10.51: Canal in annexed Crimea to be readied for water from Ukraine’s Dnieper, official says –The governor of Russian-annexed Crimea said on Thursday he had ordered local authorities to prepare a water canal to receive water from the Ukrainian river of Dnieper, amid a Russian military operation against Ukraine.Ukraine cut off fresh water supply along the canal that had supplied 85% of the peninsula’s needs after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. The Soviet-era waterway was built to channel water from the Dnieper to arid areas of Ukraine’s Kherson region and Crimea.
10.47: Kyiv says anyone who can hold a weapon can join territorial defence forces – Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Thursday said that anyone who is ready and able to hold a weapon can join the ranks of the territorial defence forces, as the police said they would distribute weapons to veterans.
10.32: Finland’s leaders strongly condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine – Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday strongly condemned the military action Russia has taken in Ukraine. “Despite prior warnings this morning has come as a shock for all of us and our deepest feelings are with Ukrainian people,” Niinisto said.
10.26: Russian opposition activist calls for anti-war protests on Thursday – A Russian opposition activist called for anti-war protests in Russian cities on Thursday evening after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine. “We will be cleaning up this mess for years to come. Not even us. But our children and grandchildren,” Marina Litvinovich, the Moscow-based activist, wrote on Facebook. “All we see is the agony of a dying man. Alas, Russia is in agony.”
10.22: Moldova to introduce state of emergency as Ukrainians pour across the border – President Maia Sandu on Thursday said Moldova would introduce a state of emergency and was ready to accept tens of thousands of people coming in from neighbouring Ukraine. “We will help people who need our help and support,” she said. Dozens of cars were queuing on the border between Ukraine and Moldova, according to Moldovan media websites.
10.17: Baltics call on stop to Russia’s access to SWIFT payment system – The foreign ministers of the Baltic states, once ruled from Moscow but now members of NATO and the European Union, called on Thursday to stop Russia’s access to the SWIFT payment system and to provide Ukraine with weapons and ammunition.
The international community should “impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia, including disengaging Russia from SWIFT,” the three foreign ministers said in a joint statement.
10.10: Ukrainian armed forces are fighting hard, says presidential adviser – Ukrainian armed forces are fighting hard in the face of a massive Russian artillery bombardment of infrastructure facilities, an adviser in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said on Thursday.
Zelenskiy’s spokesman said their was no panic in the presidency.
10.05: Latvia warns of security risks after Russia invades Ukraine – Latvia, a Baltic nation that was once ruled from Moscow but is now a member of NATO and the European Union, said it should prepare for “possible security risks” after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. “Latvia is safe, we are not under a direct military threat,” the Latvian foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “However, Latvia must also prepare for possible security risks – an unpredictable refugee flow, cyber threats, disinformation attacks, energy resource related challenges.”
10.01: Russia says strikes not targeting Ukraine’s cities, pose no civilian threat – Russia’s defence ministry said on Thursday that its air strikes on Ukraine were not targeting cities and posed no threat to civilians, the RIA news agency reported.
9.49: UK will bring in new sanctions on Russia on Thursday – minister – Britain will respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to authorise military action in Ukraine with the largest and most severe sanctions package Moscow has ever seen, a junior British minister said, adding that some would begin on Thursday. “This will be the largest and most severe economic sanctions package that Russia has ever seen,” junior foreign office minister James Cleverly told BBC TV on Thursday. “An unprecedented, punitive set of sanctions, which we will start today but also we’ll be announcing further sanctions measures over the forthcoming days.”
9.44: Russian-backed separatist says their goal is to capture Ukrainian regions – A Russian-backed separatist leader in eastern Ukraine said on Thursday their main objective was to regain control of all the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk where their breakaway territories are located, the Interfax news agency reported.
9.40: Ukraine has asked Turkey to close Black Sea waterways to Russia- Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships and wants sanctions imposed on Moscow, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara said on Thursday, after Russia launched air and ground assaults on its neighbour. Under a 1936 pact, Ankara has control over the straits and can limit warship passages if it is threatened or during wartime
9.24: First casualties reported by Ukraine: At least eight people have been killed and nine were wounded by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs said on Thursday as Russia has launched massive air and ground assault on the neighbouring country.
9.20 China calls for restraint in Ukraine, rejects the term ‘invasion’ – China reiterated on Thursday a call for all parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to exercise restraint and rejected a foreign journalist’s description of Russia’s actions as an invasion.
The comments were made by foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular daily briefing.
9.16: Russia-backed separatists say they downed two Ukrainian warplanes near Luhansk – Russia-backed separatists said in a statement on social media on Thursday they had downed two Ukrainian warplanes in the self-proclaimed Luhansk republic in eastern Ukraine.
9.13: Russian military hardware entering from Crimea – Ukraine said on Thursday that Russia was moving military equipment into the country from annexed Crimea and that Russia was shelling it across the country all the way to western Ukraine’s Lviv region.
Ukraine was facing non-stop cyber attacks, one official said. Another said that one person had been killed and another injured by shelling in Kyiv region.
9.11: Portugal calls for immediate end of Russian military operation – Portugal’s Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva called on Thursday for an immediate end of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
“The military operation launched this morning by Russia on Ukraine’s territory is an unjustified aggression and a gross violation of international law,” Santos Silva said on his twitter account.
9.06: Spanish PM coordinating with NATO over Russia – The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday morning condemned the Russian military operation in Ukraine and said he is in contact with allies from NATO to coordinate a response.
9.05: Sweden moves embassy staff from Ukraine capital to Lviv – Sweden has moved its remaining embassy staff to Lviv from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Twitter on Thursday. “All diplomatic staff relocated to Lviv last night,” she said. “Embassy continues to operate from there.”
9.04: German defence minister: EU, NATO united on Russia – Germany’s defence minister said it was never too late for dialogue with Russia while underscoring that NATO and the European Union stood united in the face of Moscow’s “drastic breach of international law”.
“This is especially true now, of course, for our allies on the eastern flank of the alliance, who can rely on our full support,” Christine Lambrecht said in a statement.
She appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops immediately and said Russia should prepare for harsh, unprecedented sanctions.
9.02: Russian cenbank says will start FX interventions as rouble tanks – The Russian central bank will start interventions on the currency market and will offer extra liquidity to the banking sector to secure financial stability, the bank said on Thursday. The rouble crashed to an all-time low on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in Ukraine.
9.01: Denmark shuts down its embassy in Kyiv – Denmark’s foreign ministry said has shut down its embassy in Ukraine capital Kyiv, it said in a notice on its web page on Thursday, citing safety concerns.
8.55: Japan PM Kishida condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday that Japan strongly condemns the one-sided actions of Russia, following reports that Russian forces had fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities. Read full story
Kishida said he has instructed the relevant Japanese authorities to do everything possible to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in Ukraine.
8.47: Russian-backed separatists say they capture two towns in Ukraine’s east -RIA – Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine said on Thursday they had captured the towns of Shchastia and Stanytsia Luhanska in Ukraine’s region of Luhansk, the RIA news agency reported.
8.45: Russia throws Europe into ‘very dark situation’, says Norway PM – Norway, a NATO member that shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “Russia has the full and whole responsibility for throwing Europe into this very dark situation,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement on Thursday.
8.30: Russia limits movement of commercial vessels in Azov sea – Russia has restricted movement of commercial vessels in the Azov sea until further notice, two grain industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.
8.28: Italy condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine as “unjustifiable” – PM – Italy condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine as “unjustified and unjustifiable” and is working with its European and NATO allies to respond immediately with unity and determination, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday.
8.12: EU leaders set to discuss further sanctions on Russia at emergency summit – European Union leaders will discuss a further sanctions package on Russia at an emergency meeting later on Thursday, the EU said in a statement.
8.00: ‘This is Europe’s darkest hour’ since World War 2, Belgium’s De Croo says – Russia’s attack on Ukraine has thrown Europe back into a situation it thought the continent had long overcome, Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. “This is Europe’s darkest hour since the Second World War,” he said on Twitter.
7.59: Ukraine says troops attacked from Russia and Belarus – Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support at around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, and an attack is also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s border guard service said. It said that attacks against border guard units and check points were under way using artillery, other military hardware and small arms in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr.
7.42: Siren sounds in Kyiv, shelling hits Ukrainian military units in east – minister – An emergency siren sounded around Kyiv on Thursday morning and the defence minister said that Ukrainian units, military control centres and airfields in Ukraine’s east were under intensive Russian shelling. The military said that Ukraine’s air force was trying to repel a Russian air attack. It said that reports of Russian troops landing in Odessa were false.
7.23: Two big blasts heard east of Ukraine’s Mariupol -Reuters reporter – Two big blasts were heard one after another early on Thursday to the east of Ukraine’s southeastern port city of Mariupol, a Reuters reporter said.
7.12: Russian-backed separatists launch strikes against Ukrainian forces – Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk have launched large-scale strikes against Ukrainian forces along the line of contact, Russia’s Interfax news agency cited a separatist spokesman as saying on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday.
7.05: Russian missile strikes hit Ukrainian infrastructure, border guards – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the country’s border guards, and that explosions had been heard in many cities. He said that martial law had been declared across the country and that he had spoken by phone to U.S. President Joe Biden.
7.01: Moscow Exchange suspends trading – The Moscow Exchange said on Thursday morning it had suspended trading on all markets. The exchange will announce the resumption of trading at a later date, it said.
6.37: Artillery fire heard in Donetsk -Reuters witness – Artillery fire was heard on Thursday in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk controlled by Russian-backed separatists, a Reuters witness reported, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in Ukraine.
6.16: Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says – Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet on Thursday. Interfax Ukraine reported rocket attacks on military facilities throughout Ukraine and that Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol. It also reported staff and passengers evacuating Kyiv’s Boryspil airport. “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” Kuleba said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”
