- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday the nation’s military had halted Russian forces’ bid to capture capital Kyiv and oust him. Zelensky further urged Russians to plead with their leader Vladimir Putin to stop the invasion.
- Russian forces captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol on Saturday, reports Reuters citing local news agency, as Moscow launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several cities, including the capital Kyiv.
- Do not believe fake news. I am here’: Ukraine presidents to residents
- “Good morning everybody. Do not believe fake news. I am here. We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our Country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them:” Ukraine President in a video message.
- Facebook has banned Russian state media from running ads and monetizing the platform over the Russian military operation in Ukraine, said Nathaniel Gleicher, the head of the social network’s security policy, on Saturday.
- US President Joe Biden on Friday authorized a sanction of $350 million to Ukraine for procurement of Defense equipment and imparting military training and education.
- Russian troops have taken over the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant to the north of the Ukrainian capital, reports news agency Reuters citing local news agency.
- Gunfire heard close to govt quarters in central Kyiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer. Zelenskyy said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.
- The Ukrainian Army claimed that it has killed over 1,000 Russian troops. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 137 “heroes,” including 10 military officers, had been killed in the Russian invasion.
- “All Indian citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of the Embassy of India, Kyiv,” the Indian embassy in Ukraine said in latest statement.
- Russian and Ukrainian forces clashed on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital as authorities urged citizens to help defend the city from advancing Russian forces in the worst European security crisis in decades.
- Russian Ministry of Defence said its troops have knocked out 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed that it has destroyed at least 80 tanks, 516 armoured combat vehicles, 7 helicopters, 10 aircraft and 20 cruise missiles.
- Russia “attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv. The attack was repulsed,” Ukraine’s army said on its verified Facebook page, without specifying where exactly the incident took place.
- Frequent artillery blasts could be heard in Kyiv coming from some distance from the city center. Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said on social media, earlier.
- Amid the ongounf Russia-Ukrain conflict, Bulgaria has shuts airspace to Russian planes, reports said.
Hundreds and thousands have reportedly been killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Ukraine claimed that its army killed over 1,000 Russian troops, the Russian Ministry of Defence said its troops have knocked out 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine crisis deepened as Russian missiles pounded Kyiv following a declaration of war by Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
In a late-night message, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “We’re all here defending our independence, our country, and it will stay this way.” Meanwhile, the US government joined European countries in slapping sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Amid the chaos, Russia vetoed a UN resolution deploring “aggression” in Ukraine even as UN chief Antonio Guterres said Russian soldiers “need to return to their barracks”.
