198 Ukrainians have been killed so far in the assault, Reuters reports quoting a minister. The conflict has spilled to the streets of Kyiv – the capital city – with fighting on streets. Frequent artillery blasts could be heard in the early hours in the city. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to stand up to the invasion.
Here are the top 10 latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:
1. After a series of airstrikes on cities and military bases across the country, Russian forces have closed down the Ukrainian capital in an apparent siege. Kiev reportedly sees street fights as a worrying sign of escalation. Residential buildings were also targeted.
2. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said a rocket hit a high-rise building near Giuliani Airport on the southwestern outskirts of Kiev on Saturday. Mayor Natalia Balansynovych said the Russian air force landed near the city overnight and tried to seize the Vasylkiv base, about 40 kilometers south of Kiev. She also said heavy fighting was taking place on the city’s central streets. A small group of Russian troops also tried to infiltrate, but made no progress.
3. Russia vetoed a resolution to recall troops at an emergency UN meeting, sparking a flurry of anti-Kremlin criticism. Eleven countries supported the resolution, while India, China and the UAE abstained.
4. Although the United States refused to send troops, the Ukrainian president said that weapons were being brought in from France.
5. Heavy fighting took place around the southern border of Kherson, north of Crimea, and around the Black Sea ports of Mykolayiv, Odessa and Mariupol. Earlier, Mikhailo Podoljak, an adviser to Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia considered conquest of the south a priority, but had not made any significant progress, Reuters reported.
6. A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 85 km south of Kiev.
7. An adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton Khrashenko says Russia is lying about not shelling civilian infrastructure. At least 40 such sites have been attacked and Russian forces are shelling civilian sites, the adviser said, according to Reuters.
8. The Ukrainian military also fought Russian armor at two locations 40 to 80 kilometers (25 to 50 miles) north of Kiev.
9. The Ukrainian war was the worst war in Europe in decades.
10. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the government.
Complete News Source : HINDUSTAN TIMES
