Russia-Ukraine crisis: Russia agrees to allow Ukrainian repair team to access power lines near Chernobyl

An air strike on a children's hospital in Ukraine's Mariupol triggered a row as the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continued on. The United States has moved to missile batteries to Poland to protect US and NATO allies in the region, but conclusively rejected a 'high risk' Polish jet transfer to Ukraine. The IAEA says it has lost contact with monitoring equipment at Zaporizhzhia NPP, shortly after concerns over radiation leaks were raised at Chernobyl. Stay tuned on DH for more updates.

Ukraine parliament says Russian forces attacked a Kharkiv institute that contains an experimental nuclear reactor

Russia agrees to allow Ukrainian repair team to access power lines near Chernobyl

The Russian defence ministry said on Thursday it had agreed to allow a Ukrainian repair team to access power lines in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power station, Interfax news agency said, giving no further details.

The UN's nuclear watchdog said earlier that in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, communications with Chernobyl and another nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia had degraded and the situation was concerning. - Reuters.

Over 400,000 people have been evacuated from Ukraine war hotspots, says Ukrainian minister

Over 400,000 civilians have so far been evacuated in Ukraine, mostly from active battle zones, interior minister Denys Monastyrsky said on national television on Thursday. "They have been evacuated primarily from areas where there is ongoing combat," he said. - Reuters.

IAEA says communication with Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants 'degraded'

White House says 'very clear' on consequences for Russian escalation

Google Cloud stops accepting new customers in Russia

UK PM raises concerns of Russia using chemical weapon on Ukraine

(Inputs from KyivPost)

Western Union has stopped working in Russia and Belarus.

Germans offer up 300,000 private homes for refugees from Ukraine

Germans have offered up 300,000 private homes to house refugees from Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country, Germany's interior ministry said on Thursday. The ministry is cooperating with the non-profit gut.org AG and home rental company Airbnb Inc's non-profit arm Airbnb.org to assign refugees to housing offers, it said on Thursday.

Zelenskyy signs law allowing seizure of Russian property in Ukraine

It allows Ukraine to confiscate property that belongs to the Russian Federation or its residents without any compensation. The parliament passed it on March 3.

(Input from The Kyiv Independent)

71 children killed in Ukraine so far: Parliament official

At least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded in Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war on February 24, a Ukrainian parliament official said on Thursday.

The toll was announced amid outrage over the bombing Wednesday of a children's hospital in Mariopol that officials said killed three people, including a young girl.

Putin says Russia is meeting energy supply obligations, calls sanctions illegitimate

Russia is adhering to its obligations on energy supplies, President Vladimir Putin told a government meeting, after the United States banned Russian oil imports.

Putin said Western sanctions against Russia were not legitimate, and Western governments were deceiving their own people. Russia would calmly solve its problems, he said.

West trying to blame Russia for its own mistakes: Putin on US oil ban

Goldman Sachs to exit Russia: Bloomberg News

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is exiting operations in Russia, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, marking the first pull out from the country by a Wall Street bank.

The bank did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

(Input from Reuters)

Bank for International Settlements suspends Russian central bank

The Bank for International Settlements, considered the central bank of central banks, announced Thursday that it was suspending the Bank of Russia, deepening Moscow's financial isolation following its invasion of Ukraine.

NATO is 'stronger' and Russia 'weaker' because of Putin: US

US 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.

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Russia has supportive measure for IT sector, says Russia PM Mishustin

Russia has become a leader in sanctions imposed on it all over the world. It has overtaken Iran and Syria: Ukrinform

Russia bans some forestry exports to 'unfriendly states' until 2022-end: Economy Ministry

(Input from Reuters)

Russia may temporarily ban sugar exports to outside Eurasian Economic Union: Sources

(Input from Reuters)

US vice-president Harris says there should be investigation into Russia's conduct in war

There should be an investigation into Russia's conduct in the war in Ukraine, US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Thursday during a visit to the Polish capital Warsaw, as she condemned what she said were "atrocities of unimaginable proportions".

India's Russian coal imports could be highest in over two years in March

India's coal imports from Russia in March could be the highest in more than two years, data from research consultancies showed, as Indian buyers continue buying the fuel from a market that is now increasingly isolated by sanctions.

Vessels carrying at least 1.06 million tonnes of coking coal, mainly used for steelmaking, and thermal coal, used primarily for electricity generation, are set to deliver the fuel at Indian ports in March, the highest since January 2020, data from consultancy Kpler showed.

Half of Kyiv population has left: Mayor

Half the population of Kyiv has fled since the Russian invasion began, its mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday, as Moscow's forces press ever closer to the Ukrainian capital.

Russia, Ukraine fail to make progress at 'difficult' Turkey talks

Russia and Ukraine on Thursday failed to find a breakthrough on a ceasefire and other humanitarian issues at the first high-level talks between the two sides since Moscow's invasion.

Russian forces at northeastern edge of Kyiv

Russian forces on Thursday rolled their armoured vehicles up to the northeastern edge of Kyiv, edging closer in their attempts to encircle the Ukrainian capital.

Ukrainian soldiers described a night of heavy battles for control of the main highway leading into the city.

"During the bombing of a maternity hospital in #Mariupol, three people were killed. Among them was one child - a girl”, says Ukraine President Zelenskyy

(Input from Kyiv Post)

Lavrov says Russia wants to continue talks with Ukraine

Russia is ready to continue talks with Ukraine within the framework of the existing format in Belarus, but it is too early organise a summit meeting between the two countries' leaders, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

Russia's top diplomat spoke in the Turkish resort town of Antalya after he and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held their first face-to-face talks after two weeks of war, amid international outrage over Moscow's bombing of a children's hospital.

Germany's Scholz, France's Macron demand ceasefire in Putin call

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron demanded an immediate ceasefire in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said a German government official.

Macron and Scholz also told Putin on Thursday that any resolution to the war in Ukraine needed to come through negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the official said.

Four-times F1 champion Vettel sports helmet in support of Ukraine

Four-times Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel wore a special helmet to express solidarity with Ukraine following the country's invasion by Russia as he took to the track at the start of the final pre-season test in Bahrain on Thursday.

Spain PM accuses Russia of war crimes over hospital strike

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday accused Russia of "war crimes", a day after a shocking attack on a children's hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Wednesday's airstrike hit a maternity and children's hospital in the besieged southern port city, killing two adults and a child, city officials said, updating a previous figure of 17 people wounded.

Miracles should be expected from Ukraine-Russia meeting, says Turkish Foreign Minister

Miracles should be expected from Ukraine-Russia meeting, says Turkish Foreign Minister

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, following a meeting with Russia, Ukraine counterparts, also pushed to solve problems through diplomacy.

Colonel Andrei Zakharov, commander of a Russian tank regiment, was eliminated by the AFU in the Brovary district of Kyiv region

(With Nexta inputs)

I do not believe and do not want to believe that a nuclear war could start , says Lavrov

UK imposes sanctions on 7 Russian oligarchs, including Abramovich, Sechin & Miller.

(With inputs from The Kyiv Independent)

'We have not attacked Ukraine,' claims Lavrov

Russia's foreign minister claimed that Russia had not "attacked" Ukraine and would not do so with regard to any other country either. "Putin would not refuse a meeting with Zelenskyy but any such contact would have to be substantive with specifics."

Mariupol hospital was base for Ukraine nationalists, says Russian foreign minister

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that a children's hospital that was shelled in Ukraine's Mariupol, which left many injured, was serving as a base for Ukrainian nationalists.

Russia to pay a price for Ukraine invasion: US VP Kamala Harris

USVice President Kamala Harris will discuss issues with Poland that will force Russia to pay a price for its invasion ofUkraine, she said on Thursday during a visit to Warsaw, as Moscow continues its bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Harris also said Poland was doing "extraordinary work" with the refugees who have fledUkraine.

More than 2.3 million have fled Ukraine: IOM

More than 2.3 million people have fledUkraineas of March 10, of whom more than 112,000 are third-country nationals, the UNmigration agency IOM said on its websiteon Thursday.

Top Russia, Ukraine diplomats begin talks in Turkey: Turkish official

Russia accuses US of funding biological weapons research in Ukraine

Three killed, including child, in attack on Mariupol child hospital: Officials

At least three people were killed, including a young girl, in an attack the previous day on a children's hospital in Mariupol in southernUkraine, local officials said on Thursday.

"Three people were killed, including a female child, in yesterday's attack on a children's and maternity hospital inUkraine's besieged Mariupol, according to updated figures this morning," the city council said on its Telegram channel.

Officials had previously given a toll of 17 injured in the attack.

600 Indian students evacuated from Ukrainian city of Sumy reach Poland, likely to fly to India today

The last big group of 600 Indian students evacuated from the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy has reached Poland.

The students had boarded a special train from Lviv for Poland. They are likely to board flights to India on Thursday.

The students reached Lviv in westernUkrainefrom Poltava on another special train.

Ukraine Deputy PM says 7 humanitarian corridors opened, including one from Mariupol

Civilians start leaving Ukrainian city of Sumy for third day: Governor

Civilians started leaving the Ukrainian city of Sumy through a "humanitarian corridor" on Thursday following an agreement on a local ceasefire, the regional governor said.

Several thousand people have left the besieged city this week under agreements with Russia, which invadedUkraineon Feb. 24. People were also leaving the nearby settlements of Krasnopillya and Trostyanets, Governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said.

UK Defence Ministry says Russian column outside Kyiv has made little progress in over a week

The United Kingdom's Defence Ministry said on Thursday the large Russian column northwest of Kyiv has made little progress in over a week and is suffering continued losses.

As casualties mount, President Putin will be forced to draw from across Russian armed forces and other sources to replace the losses, the UK ministry said in a statement.

Top Russia, Ukraine diplomats arrive in Turkey for talks

he foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have arrived in Turkey for face-to-face talks set for Thursday morning, officials said, in the first high-level contact between the two sides since Moscow invaded its ex-Soviet neighbour.

Officials from Kyiv and Moscow have held several rounds of discussions in Belarus, but the meeting in the southern city of Antalya represents the first time Russia has sent a minister for talks on the crisis.

Ukraine-Russia crisis: IAF flight with 119 Indians, 27 foreigners land in Delhi from Bucharest

An Indian Air Force (IAF) flight with 119 Indians and 27 foreigners landed at Hindon air base here from Romanian capital Bucharest on Thursday morning, sources said.

These Indians and foreigners were stranded inUkrainedue to the Russian military offensive that began on February 24, they mentioned.

TN launches counselling service for Ukraine returnees

Tamil Nadu health department has launched a counselling service for students who returned from war-tornUkraineand their parents.

State health minister Ma Subramanian, in a statement on Thursday, said that 40 counsellors have been deployed in the state to speak with the students who have returned fromUkraineand their parents.

US ban on Russian oil imports heads to passage in House of Representatives

A majority of the USHouse of Representatives on Wednesday voted to impose a ban on imports of Russian oil and other energy products in retaliation for Moscow's ongoing attack onUkraine.

With the vote still underway, the Democratic-controlled House was poised to pass the bill after President Joe Biden on Tuesday used his executives powers to impose such a ban.

Ukraine crisis to dominate EU leaders' Versailles summit

EU leaders will scramble Thursday to find ways to urgently address the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that has imperilled the bloc's economy and exposed a dire need for a stronger defence.

The meeting at the Versailles palace was set to be the high point of France's six-month EU presidency, but President Emmanuel Macron will instead spearhead a crisis summit to answer Russian leader Vladimir Putin's brutal disruption to decades of stability in Europe.

US Congress takes first step to pass budget, $14 billion Ukraine aid

US lawmakers advanced aid totaling almost $14 bn for war-torn Ukraine on Wednesday as part of a giant blueprint to fund federal agencies and avoid a damaging government shutdown at home.

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Russian, Belarusian tennis players call for peace as Ukraine conflict rages

Russian Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka called for peace amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that caused tennis officials to strip any mention of their home countries from the Indian Wells tennis tournament.

Twitter has launched a privacy-protected version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship after Russia restricted access to its service in the country

Twitter has launched a privacy-protected version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship afterRussiarestricted access to its service in the country.

Russiahas blocked access to Facebook and has limited Twitter in an attempt to try to restrict the flow of information about its war inUkraine.

Chernobyl power cut, transmission lost at Europe's largest atomic plant: IAEA

Power has been cut to the Chernobyl nuclear plant,Ukrainesaid Wednesday, but the UN's atomic watchdog said there was "no critical impact on safety".

The news from the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster came as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said data transmission was also lost at the Zaporizhzhia atomic plant, Europe's largest

PlayStation, Nintendo suspend shipments to Russia

PlayStation and Nintendo are suspending shipments to Russia, the Japanese gaming giants said Thursday, as international brands increasingly halt operations in the country following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Sony Group, which owns PlayStation, said in a statement that its video game unit "joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine".

Ukraine wiped out four Russian Su-25 aircrafts, two helicopters, and two cruise missiles in Kyiv and the Joint Force Operation regions on March 8-9, Interfax news agency reports, citing the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

More than 1 million children have fled Ukraine since start of Russia’s all-out war

US warns Russia may use biological weapons in Ukraine

The United States on Wednesday rejected Russian claims that it supports a bioweapons program in Ukraine, saying the allegations were a sign that Moscow could soon use the weapons themselves.

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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with his Ukrainian counterpart the continued provision of defensive security assistance for Ukraine - Pentagon

Biden to hold phone call on Thursday with Turkey's president Erdogan to discuss latest developments regarding Russia and Ukraine

Elderly, disabled unable to flee Ukraine war: charities

Millions of elderly and disabled Ukrainians are "at high risk" as they are unable to flee the fighting, the UK Disasters Emergency Committee alliance of leading aid charities warned Thursday.

More than two million people have already fled Russia's military assault and "older people and those with disabilities in Ukraine risk being left behind and urgently need protection and assistance," the DEC said.

There are more than seven million people aged 60 or more in Ukraine and 2.7 million people with disabilities, according to the European Disability Forum. - AFP.

Sheltering from bombs, Ukraine's 'cellar violinist' plays on

A gentle tune from a violin played by a musician who has been dubbed Ukraine's “cellar violinist” is a lullaby for a child sheltered in the dark basement of an apartment building in the besieged Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Vera Lytovchenko has become an internet icon of resilience as images of the accomplished musician playing in the basement bomb shelter have inspired an international audience via social media.

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Around 35,000 Ukrainians evacuated on Wednesday, more corridors planned: Zelenskyy

Around 35,000 Ukrainians were evacuated through humanitarian corridors from three cities on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding authorities planned to open another six escape routes on Thursday.

Zelenskyy said in a televised address that rescue efforts would focus on Mariupol and Izyum, which have both been heavily bombarded. A children's hospital was bombed in Mariupol on Wednesday despite a Russian pledge to halt firing so at least some trapped civilians could escape the city.

Zelenskyy said the 35,000 civilians had left from the cities of Sumy and Energodar as well as towns in the Kyiv region. - Reuters.

IMF board approves $1.4 billion in 'critical' support for Ukraine

Washington, March 9, 2022 (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund board on Wednesday approved $1.4 billion in emergency financing for war-torn Ukraine to help the country deal with the "massive humanitarian and economic crisis" caused by the Russian invasion.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the package provides "critical financial support" which in turn will catalyse a "large-scale mobilisation" of funding needed to "mitigate the economic impacts of the war." - AFP.

Zelenskyy calls hospital bombing 'war crime'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday described a Russian air strike on a children's hospital in the southeastern city of Mariupol as a "war crime" after it prompted international condemnation.

"We have not done and would never do anything like this war crime in any of the cities of the Donetsk or Lugansk regions, or of any region... because we are people. But are you?" Zelensky asked, switching to Russian to make his point. - AFP.

1,207 civilians dead in Mariupol siege: mayor

A total of 1,207 civilians have died during a nine-day siege by Russian forces of Ukraine's port city of Mariupol, its mayor said Wednesday.

The first nine days of the Russian siege saw "1,207 peaceful Mariupol residents dying", the city authorities posted on Telegram along with a video message by Mayor Vadym Boichenko, after a Russian air strike destroyed a children's hospital in the city earlier in the day. - AFP.