Russia-Ukraine Highlights: Three killed in new shelling in Kharkiv

Russia launched a fresh offensive in east Ukraine on Monday in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the "Battle for the Donbas". Meanwhile, the White House ruled out Joe Biden visiting Ukraine, and the UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths announced Monday that he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey this week to push for the creation of a "humanitarian contact group". Stay tuned for live updates.

Russian media say 120 civilians left besieged steel plant in Mariupol

About 120 civilians living next to the Azovstal steel works in the besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol have left via humanitarian corridors, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, quoting Russian state TV.

Interfax said a TV correspondent quoted the Russian-backed separatist administration of Donetsk in easternUkraineas saying, however, that no Ukrainian fighters had accepted a Russian ultimatum to surrender their arms and leave the factory on Tuesday afternoon in return for a promise to spare their lives.

Three dead in new shelling of Kharkiv: Governor

At least three people were killed and 21 were injured in new Russian shelling onUkraine's second city of Kharkiv Tuesday, local authorities said.

The announcement came a day after strikes on the city, which lies close to the Russian border, killed five people.

"At the current time in Kharkiv, three people have unfortunately died," regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said on Telegram.

Russia says opening corridor for Ukrainian troops in Mariupol

Moscow said Tuesday that Russian forces had opened a humanitarian corridor so that Ukrainian troops who agreed to lay down their arms could leave the embattled city of Mariupol.

"The Russian armed forces opened a humanitarian corridor for the withdrawal of Ukrainian military personnel who voluntarily laid down their arms and militants of nationalist formations," the defence ministry said, adding the safe corridor was opened at 2:00 pm (1630 GMT).

Ukraine swapped prisoners of war with Russia, received 60 soldiers, 16 civilians: Deputy PM

Russia expelling 37 European diplomats: Foreign ministry

Russian officials in talks with Indian govt, RBI to find solution on payments: Russian diplomat

Welcoming India's stance on the Ukranian crisis, a senior Russian diplomat on Tuesday said Moscow and New Delhi are attempting to find a solution on the payments front amid the sanctions imposed on Russia by western countries.

The "complicated situation" created by the sanctions following the Russian invasion ofUkraine, where western countries and companies have ceased trade ties with Russia creates room for Indian exports, Aleksei Vladimirovich Surovtsev, the Consul General of Russia in Mumbai, said.

On payments for settling trade transactions, he said some solutions are in the works with Russian officials speaking to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government officials, he said while speaking on the sidelines of a seminar at the World Trade Centre here.

Russian forces seize city of Kreminna in east Ukraine, regional governor says

Russian forces have taken control of the city of Kreminna in easternUkraineand Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the city, the regional governor said on Tuesday.

"Kreminna is under the control of the 'Orcs' (Russians). They have entered the city," Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, told a briefing.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is starting a new stage of what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine

"Another stage of this operation (in eastern Ukraine) is beginning and I am sure this will be a very important moment of this entire special operation", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the India Today TV channel. [Reuters Reported]

Russia launches 'Battle of Donbas' on eastern front

Russian forces tried to push through Ukrainian defences along almost the entire front line in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, launching what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the "Battle of the Donbas" - the long-awaited second phase of the war.

A "very large part of the entire Russian army is now focused on this offensive," Zelenskiy said in a video address overnight. "No matter how many Russian troops they send there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves."

Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, assured Ukrainians their forces could hold off the offensive.

"Believe in our army, it is very strong," he said.

Meanwhile, in the besieged, ruined city of Mariupol,Russiagave the last Ukrainian defenders holed up in a giant steel works an ultimatum to surrender by noon (0900 GMT) or die.

"All who lay down their arms are guaranteed to remain alive," the defence ministry said. [Reuters Reported]

Russia tells Ukrainian forces and foreign fighters holed up in the Azovstal metallurgical plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol to lay down their arms by noon Moscow time

Mariupol, which has been encircled by Russian troops for weeks, has seen the fiercest fighting and most comprehensive destruction sinceRussiasent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Ukrainian authorities said on Monday that no fewer than 1,000 civilians were hiding in underground shelters beneath the vast Azovstal plant, adding thatRussiawas dropping heavy bombs onto the Ukrainian-held factory in the besieged city.

Russia's defence ministry on Tuesday issued a statement calling on Ukrainian forces and foreign fighters inside to surrender.

"All who lay down their arms are guaranteed to remain alive," the defence ministry said.

It called on troops to withdraw from the steel plant between 1400 and 1600 Moscow time "without exception, without any weapons and without ammunition". [Reuters Reported]

Russia's defence ministry said that 'high-precision air-based missiles' had hit 13 Ukrainian positions in parts of the Donbas

Russia's forces carried out dozens of air strikes in easternUkraineovernight after Ukrainian officials said Moscow had launched a major offensive, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

Russia's defence ministry said that "high-precision air-based missiles" had hit 13 Ukrainian positions in parts of the Donbas, including the key town of Slovyansk, and that other airstrikes "hit 60 military assets ofUkraine", including in towns close to the eastern frontline. [AFP Reported]

Russia-backed separatist leader in Ukraine says special groups are trying to storm the Azovstal industrial facility in Mariupol. [Reuters Reported]

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday that an embargo on Russian oil at a European Union level was in the works, adding that France's President Emmanuel Macron wants such a move.

"I hope that in the weeks to come we will convince our European partners to stop importing Russian oil," Le Maire told Europe 1 radio. [Reuters Reported]

Ukraine says no safe corridors agreed for civilians for third successive day

For the third successive day Ukraine isunable to secure Russia's agreement on establishing any humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians trapped in cities and towns, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Tuesday. [Reuters Reported]

New Zealand unveiled new sanctions on Tuesday targeting Russia’s largest banks and financial institutions, in its response to the invasion of Ukraine

"We are deeply concerned at the reports of brutality from Russian forces," Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement after the measures were announced.

"New Zealand continues to condemn Putin’s war and supports the International Criminal Court’s investigations into the atrocities committed against the citizens ofUkraine."

She said the central bank and the sovereign wealth fund were among three core government financial bodies affected, as well as eight of Russia's largest banks and seven others with ties to oligarchs, the defence sector, and the annexation of Crimea.

Moscow calls its action inUkrainea "special military operation". [Reuters Reported]

Russia has launched full-scale ground offensive to take control of the country's industrial heartland, the Donbas, said Ukrainian officials

The stepped-up assaults began Monday along a broad front of over 300 miles (480 kilometers), Ukrainian officials said.

“The Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a video address. He said a “significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.”

Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years in the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas and have declared two independent republics that have been recognized by Russia. Russia has declared the capture of the Donbas to be its main goal in the war since its attempt to seize the capital, Kyiv, failed.

“No matter how many Russian troops are driven there, we will fight,” Zelenskyy vowed. “We will defend ourselves.”

Before the offensive got underway, Russia bombarded the western city of Lviv and other targets in what appeared to be an intensified bid to grind down the country's defenses.

TheUkrainemilitary's general staff said Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces had intensified assaults in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions — both part of the Donbas — and in the area of Zaporizhzhia.[AP reported]

UN to debate move to limit veto power of Security Council permanent members

Liechtenstein is to convene the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to debate a draft resolution -- backed by Washington -- requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto.

An old idea aimed at making Security Council permanent members cut back use of their veto powers, it has been revived by Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow's veto power has allowed it to paralyze action in the Security Council, which is supposed to intervene in such conflicts as guarantor of global peace, as defined by the Charter of the United Nations. - AFP.

'Russia damaged up to 30% of Ukraine's infrastructure'

Russia's invasion has damaged or destroyed up to 30% of Ukraine's infrastructure at a cost of $100 billion, a Ukrainian minister said on Monday, adding reconstruction could be achieved in two years using frozen Russian assets to help finance it.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces start of Russia's offensive in east Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said Russia's large-scale offensive in the eastern Donbas region had begun.

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Biden to hold call with allies on Tuesday over Ukraine invasion

US President Joe Biden will on Tuesday hold a call with allies to discuss the Ukraine crisis, including on how to coordinate on holding Russia accountable, the White House said.

"The President will convene a secure video call with allies and partners to discuss our continued support for Ukraine and efforts to hold Russia accountable as part of our close coordination," it said in a statement. - Reuters.