rief facts:
- After the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks, the parties once again agreed to establish humanitarian corridors, the previous attempts were disrespected by Russia, when occupiers repeatedly violated the ceasefire regime
- Russia has already lost more troops than both in the first and second Chechen wars, but haven't achieved significant success, the blitzkrieg plan was torn to shreds by joint efforts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the government, and even civilians
- Russia is trying to use humanitarian catastrophe in cities in blockade for their propaganda but Ukrainians refuse to take goods from the invaders, use their "humanitarian corridors" to Russia and Belarus, and rally before the armed troops
Sources:
- Presidential Office: the Official website of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his social media (Facebook, Twitter, Telegram), advisers to the Office: Oleksiy Arestovych and Mykhailo Podoliak.
- MIA of Ukraine: the official Facebook of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; Anton Gerashchenko, the Advisor to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (Facebook, Telegram)
- Stratcom Centre: Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security of Ukraine – an establishment under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine – website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
- State Emergency Service (SES): the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Facebook
- Defense intelligence of Ukraine: the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (website, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
Latest news:
Thank you for your attention! The feed is closed. Read the news of the 14th day of the Russia-Ukraine war here.
Read more: Day 14th of Ukraine's Defense Against Russian Invasion (Live Updates)
01:13 Verkhovna Rada: Facing global condemnation for its war in Ukraine, Russia has become the most-sanctioned country in the world. The image shows how nations responded to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine
01:05 World Bank Group via Verkhovna Rada: World Bank Group mobilizes +$700 million in emergency financing to support Ukraine. The funds will help ensure critical services to people continue despite the Russian invasion.
"The fast-disbursing support will help the government provide critical services to Ukrainian people, including wages for hospital workers, pensions for the elderly, and social programs for the vulnerable," written in the statement by World Bank.
00:47 Defense intelligence of Ukraine: The "Wagner group" members are already dying in Ukraine. Russia involves mercenaries of private military companies (PMC) to replenish the reserves of their occupation troops. The intelligence' command informs that the "Liga" PMC (the former "Wagner" PMC) is taking part in military activities on the territory of Ukraine on the aggressor’s side. The tokens of dead occupiers prove that. Some of the tokens were made during military actions in Syria and have signatures in Arab, English, and French as well as Syrian phone numbers.
As explained on the Defense Intelligence's Telegram channel, the "Wagner" PMC is a Russian military formation consisting of mercenaries. It took part in a multitude of conflicts, such as in Donbas on Russia's side, in Syria on the side of Putin's ally Asad, and in Sudan. An independent UN mission proclaimed actions f the "Wagner" PMC being war crimes or crimes against humanity. European Union implemented personal sanctions against members and commanders of the "Wagner" PMC.
00:36 State Emergency Service: due to an airstrike at 19:00 PM in the village of Dinets (Kharkiv region), a shell hit a residential house, causing the deaths of 2 people (one of them being a 7-year-old child)
March 9 – from here upwards
22:25 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the British Parliament via video-call. This is the first time in history such an event occurs in the House of Commons. Zelenskyy described the heroic defense of Ukraine against Russia. Key points of the speech:
- Russia uses terroristic and inhumane methods of war. Despite that Ukrainians are not afraid to openly protest against occupiers and have the dignity not to harm dozens of captive Russians
- 13 days ago the question of whether NATO should close the sky over Ukraine or not, could be raised. But not now, because now NATO definitely must do it
- "Increase sanctions against the terrorist state. Recognize it as a terrorist state finally. Find a way to make our Ukrainian sky safe," Zelenskyy said to the parliamentarians
Full text of the address by the President of Ukraine to the Parliament of the United Kingdom is available on his website.
21:34 Stratcom Centre: Poland agreed to provide their MiG-29 fighter jets to the USA free of charge. Poland decided to "immediately and free of charge" give their jets to the "Ramstein" American air base in Germany. These are the jets which the Ukrainian government was asking for, the Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security of Ukraine noted. "Probably, they will be handed over to Ukraine soon. Instead, Poland is asking the USA to provide corresponding jets in exchange," the Centre wrote.
21:28 Verkhovna Rada: Great Britain banned Russian oil, too. Following the United States, the British government issued a statement. They intend to stop importing Russian oil by the end of 2022. Russian supplies account for 8% of total oil imports to Britain, and 18% of British diesel fuel comes from Russia.
21:02 Verkhovna Rada: Civilians of Sumy were successfully evacuated from the city. The first column of 22 buses with refugees has already entered Poltava city in the territories controlled by Ukraine. The second column of 39 buses will arrive shortly. Also, civilians used the humanitarian corridor on their own civilian transport.
19:06 The United Nations human rights office said Tuesday that the number of civilians killed in Ukraine after the Russian invasion has climbed to 474 with 861 injured, with the real toll likely much higher.
“From 4 am on 24 February 2022, when the Russian Federation’s armed attack against Ukraine started, to 12 midnight on 7 March 2022 (local time), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 1,335 civilian casualties in the country,” said the statement.
In the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions there were 545 casualties, with 96 people killed and 449 injured, it added.
“Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes,” said the UN office.
The office said it believes that the real casualty figures are considerably higher, especially in the government-controlled territory and especially in recent days.
19:00 U.S. President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and other energy imports on Tuesday, March 8, in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine, underscoring strong bipartisan support for a move that. He acknowledged it would drive up U.S. energy prices. The United States imports about 700,000 barrels per day of Russian crude and petroleum products.
Update: along with banning Russian energy carriers, the US prohibited "new U.S. investment in Russia’s energy sector, which will ensure that American companies and American investors are not underwriting Vladimir Putin’s efforts to expand energy production inside Russia." Americans will also be prohibited from financing or enabling foreign companies that are making investment to produce energy in Russia. Full text is available here.
18:20 The SC Ukroboronprom is ready to pay a premium of $1 million for a stolen or trophy occupiers aircraft. The head of "Sluga Naroda" party David Arahamia said on Facebook. Arahamiya added that Russian pilots who are ready to participate in the program are guaranteed the citizenship of a free country.
17:28 In the Mykolayiv region, Russian troops fired at a minibus carrying teachers from an orphanage, all of them women. At least 3 of them were killed and 2 wounded. Informed Anna Zamazeeva, Chairman of the Mykolayiv Regional Council on Telegram
16:35 The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada will continue to provide defence support to Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion.
“We call on the international community to stand by Ukraine’s right to self-defence and to respond to calls by Ukraine to strengthen its capabilities to defend itself. We will continue to do so and are bringing in further packages of defence support to Ukraine,” reads the trilateral statement.
The three countries also pledged to tighten sanctions against Russia over its military invasion. “We have also worked with partners to bring in an unprecedented package of purposeful and punitive sanctions to isolate Russia’s economy and will continue to impose severe costs on Russia given this unconscionable attack,” the document says.
On Monday, March 7, Canada announced it would expand sanctions against Russia by imposing restrictive measures against Kremlin propagandists and other supporters of the Putin regime.
15:11 The Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, appealed to Ukraine’s international partners and NATO asking for military planes and air defence weaponry, if Ukraine’s request for a "no-fly zone" cannot be met. "It is at this exact moment, on this day, at this minute, that we need maximum speed in the delivery of practical assistance, on which Ukraine’s, as well as the West’s, victory depends; it is a matter of protecting the Ukrainian skies by a transfer of military aeroplanes and anti-aircraft systems.
"This is what will determine whether Russia will continue killing our women and children, our parents and the elderly.
If NATO does not want to or is unable to "close the sky" over Ukraine, we will close it ourselves, but give us weapons, if your weapons are being kept in their cases."
16:40 Head of Kyiv region military administration Oleksiy Kuleba reported on the difficult humanitarian situation in the cities of the northern part of the region, where fighting continues.
"Humanitarian aid remains the main issue today. Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, Makariv, Borodianka, Vorzel - the inhabitants of these settlements have been forced to stay in bomb shelters for days without water and food. The occupiers do not provide humanitarian corridors, do not give guarantees of a ceasefire," Kuleba said in a video message on his YouTube channel on Tuesday.
According to him, everything possible is being done to help those in need. "Every day, every hour, every minute we demand a regime of silence. We will promptly and immediately send help and evacuate our people – we have everything ready for this. I also ask the residents of Kyiv region to contact our helpline so that we know every address, every building where we have to go and who needs help and evacuation. We are doing everything to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Kyiv region," Kuleba said.
14:45 Ukrainian Armed Forces have carried out at least seven counter-attacks in the last 24 hours. Oleksiy Arestovych, an Adviser to the Ukrainian President's Chief of Staff said on briefing.
"The Armed Forces are in control of the situation: shooting down the aggressor’s planes and cruise missiles. Like we are doing tonight, we are not allowing the enemy to move where he wants to. Mariupol is holding up heroically. There was a counter-attack and the tank column was destroyed. The Joint Forces Operation zone is being held, in which one of the Ukrainian airborne units destroyed the aggressor’s column” – state Oleksiy Arestovych.
14:20 Ukraine is ready to sign any agreements on security guarantees with all neighboring countries, including the Russian Federation, and with the participation of the leading states of the world - the United States, France, Germany, as well as Turkey, with which Ukraine borders through the Black Sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
"About NATO, I have spoken many times and conveyed public messages to both Russia and President Putin: we are ready for any guarantees for the security of our country from the relevant states, which must guarantee. And Russia is also among these states, because Russia is our neighbor," Zelensky said in an interview with the American television channel ABC News, according to the website of the head of state.
In his opinion, these will be guarantees not only to Ukraine, but also to the Russian Federation, which it constantly talks about.
"Although I don't know who it is protecting itself from. Because Ukraine has never attacked anyone, but only carried out defensive actions. Because it protects the last thing we have – family and land," the Ukrainian president stressed.
Regarding the demands made for Ukraine by the Russian authorities, in particular on the recognition of the independence of the occupied territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the head of state noted that a compromise is possible on this point, but for this Russian President Vladimir Putin must start a direct dialogue.
"We can discuss with Russia about the future of Crimea and Donbas," Zelensky said.
He called the demands made by the Russian Federation on the "denazification" of Ukraine pure Nazism, since it is aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian nation.
"It was the same in the 1940s, Nazi Germany was denazifying the Jewish people. Now the same thing is happening. I just didn't know what it could be in the modern world. That a person declaring denazification can get any support for this. This is a crime against the people. Because saying 'denazification' and then bomb civilians is genocide against the Ukrainian people," the president stressed, expressing his conviction that in the future the world will recognize that this was the destruction of the people of Ukraine.
"This happened many times in history and always ended very badly. But it ended for some states in such a way that they were then ashamed that they had begun to cleanse the world of this or that nation. And some states were ashamed that on this terrible bloody path they did not stand up and did not protect another nation," Zelensky added.
13:33 The State Emergencies Service of Ukraine: Evacuation continues from Sumy region and Irpin
Evacuation of people from Ukrainian regions is ongoing, the State Emergencies Service posted on Facebook.
"The first convoy of about 20 buses with foreign students has set out in Sumy region at 09:30 a.m. Three items of hardware and 23 employees of the State Emergencies Service are involved. The second convoy to depart at 13:00 p.m. is now being formed," the State Emergency Service said.
Evacuation of residents of Irpin in Kyiv region to Kyiv is continuing, the service said. According to the service, over 150 people have already been evacuated.
Evacuation buses have departed from Zaporizhia to Mariupol, humanitarian cargo is on its way, it said.
13:00 The UN high commissioner for refugees 2M people fled Ukraine since war began
Top UN refugee official said on Tuesday 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the war began on February 24 - Anadolu Agency reports.
"Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people," Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, wrote on Twitter.
Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people. Two million.— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 8, 2022
The number is rising steadily, up from 1.7 million as of Monday.
According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) figures, as of March 7 at least 406 civilians have been killed and 801 others injured in Ukraine since Russia launched the war on its neighbor.
Among the 406 killed were 27 children, according to the UN.
The international body has said the real toll is much higher as conditions on ground make it “difficult to verify” the exact number of civilian casualties.
A temporary cease-fire between the forces of Moscow and Kyiv was declared on Tuesday to evacuate civilians from five major cities in Ukraine including the capital.
12:37 Joint Force Operation: Russian occupiers do not let people out of Mariupol for evacuation.
The Russian occupiers did not let people out of Mariupol for evacuation, according to the Joint Force Operation (JFO).
"In order to evacuate civilians of Mariupol along a single route, the defenders of the city took a number of measures: roads were cleared of mines, engineering barriers were removed, and others."
However, the occupiers did not let children, women, and the elderly out of the city. "The enemy launched an attack precisely in the direction of the humanitarian corridor," the JFO said on Facebook on Tuesday.
12:20 The President of Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky: In 13 days in Ukraine, Russia loses more aircraft than in past 30 years
The Russian Federation lost more warplanes and helicopters in the past 13 days of war against Ukraine than it did in the past 30 years, but the invaders still have enough aircraft and other hardware to terrorize the country and kill civilians - Ukrinform reports citing a video address to the nation of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"We have been fighting for 13 days now. We’ve been destroying the invaders wherever we can. Everywhere, but there is also the sky. Hundreds of Russian cruise missiles. Hundreds of enemy warplanes. Hundreds of helicopters. Yes, we’re destroying them. Russia hasn’t lost so much aircraft in the last 30 years as they have over these 13 days in Ukraine, but they still have enough aircraft to kill, enough missiles to terrorize, enough 500-kg bombs to drop on us, ordinary people, on Chernihiv and Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv, Poltava and Zhytomyr. Dozens and dozens of Ukrainian cities. Millions and millions of peaceful Ukrainian people," Zelensky stressed.
12:12 The President of Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky: Putin's 'denazification' is pure Nazism
The so-called "denazification" of the Ukrainian people, under the guise of which Russian President Vladimir Putin started the war with Ukraine, is pure Nazism.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with ABC News.
"Denazification in this case is pure Nazism, the destruction of the Ukrainian nation. The same was true in the 1940s in Germany. They 'denazified' the Jews. The Russians are doing it now. I'm shocked. I didn't know that such things could be done in the modern world," Zelensky said.
He added that denazification has started many times in history and ended very badly.
"For some countries, it ended in such a way that those countries were horrified that they did it. Some countries began to 'cleanse' the world of one or another nation, and other countries regretted that they did not intervene, that they did not protect other nations," Zelensky said.
He said that in today's world, inhabited by different nations, there is still one nation in general - the "nation of people."
11:51 EU says Belarus should bear full responsibility for situation in Ukraine
The EU stated that Belarus is a "co-aggressor" in Ukraine and should bear full responsibility for the situation in this country.
According to a statement released by the EU during a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Belarus as a co-aggressor bears full responsibility for the loss of life, injury and destruction.
In the statement, the EU demands that Russia immediately cease hostilities, withdraw troops from Ukraine and respect the territorial integrity of that country.
11:40 State Border Guard Service: Almost 132,000 people crossed Ukraine's border on March 7
Almost 132,000 people have crossed Ukraine's state border in the western part of the country over the past 24 hours.
The press service of the State Border Guard Service reported this on Facebook.
"Almost 132,000 people and about 13,000 vehicles crossed the western section of the state border of Ukraine on March 7. Passenger traffic remained at the level of the previous day, with a slight decrease in the number of people waiting to cross the border," the statement said.
The State Border Guard Service called on citizens to use checkpoints on the border with Hungary in order to speed up border crossing, as they are currently the least loaded (almost empty), as well as checkpoints on the border with Slovakia and Moldova.
"Last day, almost 118,000 people left Ukraine. The majority of travelers - almost 90,000 people - chose checkpoints on the Polish section. As a result, there is a significant accumulation of people and cars. Ukrainian border guards and their foreign colleagues are taking all possible measures to speed up border procedures for exit from Ukraine," the SBGS said.
The State Border Guard Service added that almost 14,000 people, including over 11,000 Ukrainians, have returned to Ukraine.
More than 117,000 people left Ukraine on March 6, most of them heading towards Poland.
11.20 he head of the Sumy regional military administration, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi: Ukraine Army uses Bayraktars to stop four enemy columns in Sumy region
In the Sumy region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces stopped four columns of enemy vehicles using Bayraktar combat drones.
The head of the Sumy regional military administration, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, published photos of the destroyed columns of the Russian military equipment on Telegram.
"Whoever came to our land with the war will die on it! This is what the columns of enemy equipment destroyed by a Bayraktar drone look like. Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all those involved!" Zhyvytskyi wrote.
According to him, the region received support from the Armed Forces of Ukraine last night in the form of bombing by Bayraktars. As a result, four large columns of armored vehicles moving through the region, most of them moving towards Sumy, were stopped.
You can see Bayraktar TB2 in action in the video below:
10:51 First stage of evacuation from Sumy started – President's Office
The first stage of the evacuation of the population has begun in the city of Sumy.
Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.
"Sumy has been given a green corridor, the first stage of evacuation has begun," he said.
Tymoshenko also released a video showing evacuation convoys with civilians leaving the city.
10:20 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky: Instead of agreement on humanitarian corridors, Russian tanks come into action
Instead of an agreement on humanitarian corridors, Russian tanks came into action, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Monday, March 7, evening – Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"There was an agreement on humanitarian corridors. Did it work? Instead, Russian tanks came into action. Russian GRADs. Russian mines," he noted.
"They even mined the road, which they coordinated for the delivery of food and medicine! in Mariupol. They even destroy buses that are supposed to take people out," he said, noting that "at the same time, they make sure that a small corridor opens to the occupied territory. For several dozen people. Not so much to Russia as to propagandists. Straight to them on TV cameras. Like, that's who saves."
"Just cynicism. Just propaganda. Nothing more. Not a single humanitarian sense," Zelensky said.
10:10 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky recalls Ukrainian personnel from peacekeeping forces
President Zelensky signed a decree on the withdrawal of Ukrainian contingents that take part in international peacekeeping operations.
"In connection with the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in order to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, I decided to withdraw the national contingent and national personnel who take part in international peace and security operations to Ukraine in order to participate in the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state," the decree reads, a photocopy of which was posted on Facebook by Deputy Head of the President's Office Andriy Sybiha on Monday.
09:59 Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk: Ukraine declares ceasefire regime for evacuation corridor from Sumy to Poltava; Ukraine also has called on Russia to immediately agree on humanitarian corridors for Kyiv, Kharkiv, the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, as well as Volnovakha and Mariupol.
A humanitarian corridor for the city of Sumy should be opened today to evacuate people along the Sumy-Holubivka-Lokhvytsia-Lubny-Poltava route.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said this at a briefing on Tuesday, Ukrinform reports.
"Today [March 8] a humanitarian corridor for the city of Sumy should be opened. This fact was officially approved by the Russian Ministry of Defense in a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross. In other words, both the Red Cross and we, as the party with which the opening of the humanitarian corridor was agreed, have documentary evidence," Vereshchuk said.
She said that the real ceasefire within the route of the humanitarian corridor will be the basis for informing the public about the possibility of evacuation.
According to her, it was agreed that at 10 o'clock in the morning the first column should start moving from the city of Sumy. The column will be followed by civilians in their own vehicles.
Vereshchuk stressed that no other evacuation routes had been agreed.
"We also sent to the Russian side and the Red Cross the developed routes for humanitarian corridors: Volnovakha-Zaporizhia, Mariupol-Zaporizhia, Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the direction of western Ukraine, as well as Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region in the direction of western Ukraine. We urge Russia to agree on these routes immediately, inform the International Committee of the Red Cross about this and ensure a permanent ceasefire on these routes," Vereshchuk said.
She urged not to trust reports from unofficial sources and the Russian Defense Ministry.
"Trust the Ukrainian authorities. Listen and read the official media," Vereshchuk said.
09:30 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Russian aggressor already lost almost 12,000 personnel
The Russian aggressor lost about 12,000 personnel from February 24 to March 7 - The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook.
In addition, the enemy lost 303 tanks, 1,036 armored fighting vehicles, 120 artillery systems, 56 multiple launch rocket systems, 27 air defense systems, 48 aircraft, 80 helicopters, 474 vehicles, three ships/boats, 60 fuel tanks, and seven UAVs of the operational and tactical level.
Data are being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.
09:00 World Bank approves $723M support package for Ukraine.
The World Bank announced on Monday, March 7, that it approved a support package of $723 million for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia - Anadolu Agency reports.
In a statement, the bank said the supplemental budget support package for Ukraine, called Financing of Recovery from Economic Emergency in Ukraine, or FREE Ukraine, was approved by the Board of Executive Directors.
"The package approved by the Board consists of a supplemental loan for $350 million and guarantees in the amount of $139 million, and is also mobilizing grant financing of $134 million and parallel financing of $100 million," according to the readout.
"The fast-disbursing support will help the government provide critical services to Ukrainian people, including wages for hospital workers, pensions for the elderly, and social programs for the vulnerable."
“The World Bank Group stands with the people of Ukraine and the region," said World Bank President David Malpass. "This is the first of many steps we are taking to help address the far-reaching human and economic impacts of this crisis."
08:50 The State Emergency Service of Ukraine: Four civilians killed in enemy shelling in Mykolaiv region on Mar 7.
Four civilians were killed in Russia’s enemy shelling in Mykolaiv region on March 7.
According to Ukrinform, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine announced this on Facebook. - the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Facebook
“On March 7, after enemy shelling, 11 fires broke out in Mykolaiv region, 8 of which were in the residential sector and 3 at facilities. Four civilians were killed in shelling,” the report says.
It is noted that five people were rescued from under rubble, they were taken to hospitals.
Two ordnance disposal teams removed 15 munitions from the residential sector.
08:24 The State Emergency Service of Ukraine: Russia’s air strike kills nine people in Sumy
In Sumy, Russia’s air strike on residential buildings killed nine people, including two children - the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Facebook.
"In Sumy, rescuers eliminated the consequences of the air strike, which the enemy ruthlessly inflicted on the residential sector… According preliminary data, the shelling killed 9 people, including 2 children," the report says.
08:00 The State Emergency Service of Ukraine: Oil depots caught fire in Zhytomyr, Cherniakhiv after airstrikes, no casualties
Fires at oil depots in Zhytomyr and Cherniakhiv village of Zhytomyr region broke out on Monday evening at about 20:20 as a result of air strikes on them, according to the post of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Facebook.
In both cases, according to preliminary data, there were no victims or injured.
"In Zhytomyr, a reservoir with a capacity of ten cubic meters caught fire... Some 20 people and four units of the State Emergency Service equipment were involved in extinguishing. Two half-empty tanks ignited in the town of Cherniakhiv (the capacity is being specified). Residents were evacuated from nearby private residential buildings... Some 24 people and five pieces of equipment of the State Emergency Service were involved in extinguishing," the service said.
07:46 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Invaders continue offensive, but pace of advance slowed significantly
According to latest information as of 06:00 on March 8, Russian troops continue the offensive operation against Ukraine, but their pace of advance has slowed significantly.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote this on Facebook.
“The Defense Forces continues to conduct a defense operation within the Southern, Eastern and Northern Operational Zones along defined boundaries. The heroic defense of the city of Chernihiv continues in the Siversky direction,” the report says.
Also, the Kyiv City Defence Forces continue to defend the capital along the outer border of the defense and in additionally defined areas.
In the Southern operational zone, the defensive operation along the state border is carried out and the sea coast is covered, defensive fights in suburbs of Mykolaiv are conducted.
“In other areas, the stabilization operation is underway and territorial defense tasks are being carried out in the designated operational zone. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully repulses missile and air strikes and means of air attack of the enemy, air cover of critical objects of Ukraine and groups of troops,” the report says.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that the occupiers are demoralized and increasingly looting and violating the rules of international humanitarian law on military conflict.
Thus, in Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, in the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian invaders, there are the facts of robberies, violence against local residents, seizure of civilian housing, use of agricultural hangars for parking military equipment, and firing positions in the area are widely recorded and civil infrastructure facilities.
“In the territories of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, which are temporarily occupied by the enemy, after February 24, 2022, the occupiers use units of psychological operation units to influence the local population. According to the available information, up to 10 tactical groups of psychological operations with the tasks related to conducting propaganda work with the local population have been created,” the report says.
07:10 Japan has frozen the assets of an additional 32 Russian and Belarusian officials and oligarchs following the invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday (Mar 8). The newly added sanctions target 20 Russians including deputy chiefs of staff for President Vladimir Putin's administration, deputy chairmen of the state parliament, the head of the Chechen Republic and executives of companies with close ties to the government such as Volga Group, Transneft and Wagner. It also includes 12 Belarusian government officials and business people, as well as 12 organisations in Russia and Belarus.
Japan is also banning exports of Russia-bound oil refinery equipment and Belarus-bound general-purpose items that could be used by its military, the ministry said.
It will ban exports to the Belarusian defence ministry, armed forces and police organisations, and a Minsk-based company JSC Integral.
05:29 Australian government sanctions 10 individuals for their legitimization of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated on March 7 that Australia will impose sanctions on “propagandists and purveyors of disinformation” who propagate false narratives about “de-nazification of Ukraine” and support Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
04:10 Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the head of the Sumy Regional State Administration, said that after 11 pm on March 7, the enemy dropped air bombs on Sumy and also fired on Okhtyrka.
03:40 On March 7, the Ukrainian military destroyed the enemy medium-range surface-to-air missile system Buk-M1 with the help of a UAV Bayraktar-TB2.
03:30 Russia has vaulted past Iran and North Korea to become the world’s most-sanctioned nation in the span of just 10 days following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a surge of action led by the U.S. and European allies starting Feb. 22, Russia became the target of 2,778 new sanctions designations, bringing them to more than 5,530, according to Castellum.ai, a global sanctions-tracking database. That surpassed Iran, which has confronted 3,616 sanctions against it over the course of a decade, most for its nuclear program and support of terrorism.
The pressure on Russia has increased nearly every day. Over the weekend, American Express Co. and Netflix Inc. joined the growing list of companies withdrawing from or suspending operations in Russia. Some are doing so because of sanctions liabilities, but others are “self-sanctioning” -- essentially deciding to get out even though they aren’t legally required to do so.
“This is financial nuclear war and the largest sanctions event in history,” said Peter Piatetsky, a former Treasury Department official in the Obama and Trump administrations who co-founded Castellum.ai. “Russia went from being part of the global economy to the single largest target of global sanctions and a financial pariah in less than two weeks.”
The sanctions against Russia underscore the extraordinary unity between the U.S. and its allies in the face of Putin’s invasion and their determination to leverage their economic power to try to dissuade him from pressing his advance. It also reflects the reluctance of those nations to put troops in harm’s way in Ukraine, a non-NATO ally.
02:23 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the decree on the withdrawal of Ukrainian contingents participating in international peacekeeping operations.
"In connection with the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in order to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state ... I decide to withdraw the national contingent and national personnel involved in international peacekeeping and security operations to Ukraine to participate in defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state," - stated in the President decree, which was posted by Deputy Head of the President's Office Andriy Sybiga on Facebook.
1:59 Air Forces: last night, three Russian jets were taken down by Ukrainian air defense. Two of them were downed by Ukrainian ace pilots, another one by anti-aircraft missile forces. Many Russian cruised missiles launched from different directions don't reach their targets due to Ukraine's air defense. Today, one of those missiles was intercepted by a rocket, launched from a Ukrainian fighter jet.
s of March 7, the Ukrainian air defense has destroyed dozens of cruised and ballistic missiles, 52 fighter jets, 69 helicopters, and other smaller targets.
01:40 Photojournalist Maks Levin published a video of a downed Russian jet. The aircraft was taken down by Ukrainian air defense in Kyiv
01:35 MIA of Ukraine: catastrophic consequences of the Russian blockade of Mariupol:
- The city is without light, heat, and water supply. There is no connection as well.
- Residents prepare food near houses on fires.
- All areas of the city are suffering from enemy fire. There are no streets left in the city without broken windows, destroyed apartments, even houses.
- The victims of enemy shelling cannot be counted: the bodies of the dead are buried right in the yards of the residential sector.
"The struggle for the city continues. With incredible efforts, the Ukrainian military is stopping the enemy's attempts to breakthrough. No less important component is the reluctance of the local population to see Russian tricolor rags on their streets," the Ministry of Internal Affairs wrote.
01:27 Presidential Office: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award. Ambassador of Ukraine to the US Oksana Markarova has received the prestigious award to pass it on to the President.
The high award honors the leadership of the President of Ukraine and the steadfastness of millions of Ukrainians, who defend their right to choose their own future and inspire the entire civilized world to fight for the values of freedom and democracy.
Zelenskyy will be the 11th world leader to receive the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award “for his courageous fight against tyranny and for his indomitable stance for freedom and democracy,” The Independent reports. Other laureates include Lech Walesa, Mikhail Gorbachev, General Colin Powell, George H. W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, King Hussein I.
Background:
February, 24 – Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine, Reuters report. A number of cities of Ukraine suffered a missile attack. Missiles hit several military facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro cities. "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression," wrote Ukrainian MoF Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.
"Today, on 24 of February, at 5.00 AM the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched an intensive shelling of our units on east, delivered missile/bomb strikes on airfields in Boryspil, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Chuhuiv, Kramatorsk, Chornobaivka, as well as on military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook: "At the same time the aggressor started artillery shelling of the areas and settlements along the state border and administrative boundary with the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea."
National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, imposed martial law across the country, the decision was approved by the Ukrainian government during an emergency session.
Earlier Putin recognized the Russia-backed regions of Eastern Ukraine as "independent" entities, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The executive order on the recognition of those illegal formations included a point on military cooperation and "peacekeeping" functions of the Russian Army in those regions. The next day Putin ordered his military to enter Donbas and asked the government for permission to use Russian Forces outside the country – and received it shortly after.
Since the very first day of the invasion, Russia has been struggling to achieve any significant success. Ukrainian Army effectively repels attacks on the land, but Russia has an advantage in the sky. Because of that one of the acute issues is to make NATO shelter the Ukrainian sky from Russian missiles and aircraft.
The Presidential Office of Ukraine said, that Vladimir Putin's plan to quickly take control over the key objectives and take down the Ukrainian government is ruined. Ukrainian officials suggest that Kyiv, the capital, is the primary aim of the Russian invasion. It is being shelled daily.
Ukraine united and swiftly established defense. Thousands of people voluntarily joined Territorial Defense, servicemen were mobilized across the country. Curfew was imposed. National Police along with Territorial Defense hunt for Russian saboteur-reconnaissance groups.
Russia uses terroristic methods, targeting civilians and shelling non-military facilities of ecological significance. The aggressor has already caused an ecological disaster – a major oil processing and storage facility was hit by a Russian missile. The radioactive background is heightened due to Russian activities in Chornobyl. Later Russian troops capture the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
Fightings in Hostomel, where a strategically significant Antonov Airport is situated, were one of the toughest of the first days. Over 60 Russian helicopters and other aircraft were engaged in the attack, but Ukrainian Army managed to regain control of the area.
Due to the lack of concrete successes, Russian started on fourth and next days attacks on civilians. Kharkiv and Chernihiv were shelled by BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers. On March 1, the sixth day, a cruise missile hit the central square in Kharkiv. As a result, at least ten people were killed, more than 20 were injured. State Emergency Service is continuing to rescue people from the rubble. Kyiv TV Tower, a civilian object for broadcast was hit by a missile. Five people were killed, five Tower personnel were injured. A few hours before that happened, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense warned that Russia was preparing an info&psycho attack, and for that, they would try to cut off the information network.
The war crimes of Russia will be investigated by the International Criminal Court in Hague. The ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, has personally launched an investigation into the Situation in Ukraine.
Many Russian occupiers surrender, unwilling to fight. They claim to have been deceived by Russian authorities – they were had been deployed under the pretext of military drills but then forced to participate in war. The whole reconnaissance platoon of the Russian 34th Motorized Rifle Brigade surrendered to Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The whole world condemns Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. 38 countries closed their skies to Russian aircraft. Even Switzerland deviated from its traditional neutrality to impose European sanctions on Russia.
The European Commission of the European Union has approved cutting off Russian banks from SWIFT – the global provider of secure financial messaging services. Private companies also show their support: SpaceX, Google, Meta, and many other giants have expressed their support and offered their help.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a proposal of negotiations. The first round of them resulted in no decisions yet. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President has signed the Ukrainian Government's application for the membership of Ukraine in the European Union and urges for the special procedure of accepting Ukraine to the EU.
The next day the European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels to assess Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held a speech, greeted with standing applause. After a vote by the EU Parliament Ukraine got a recommendation on being granted a candidate status for EU membership.
Numerous protests have happened across the world, and even more to happen. Even in the cities in the Russian blockade, Ukrainian citizens rally against occupiers. Russian troops shoot into the air and even on civilians, but rebels continue to force them away, even without weapons. Kherson, Mariupol, and many other cities rise against aggressors despite humanitarian catastrophes – power and water supply were cut off, there is a lack of food, many residential houses were damaged, impossible to live in. Ukraine is trying to establish humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens but Russian forces repeatedly violate the ceasefire.
On Friday, March 4 Ukraine's president condemned NATO leaders over their refusal to implement a no-fly zone around the country. In a fiery speech, Volodymyr Zelensky said the West's reluctance to intervene had given Russia "a green light" to continue bombarding towns and villages. In his speech from Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said he disagreed that direct action could "provoke Russia's direct aggression against NATO".
Read more: Day Twelve of Ukraine Defending Against Russian Invasion (Live Updates)
