Table of Contents
Moscow signalled on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists in the east.
In a further sign that Vladimir Putin is having to rethink his objectives, the Russian defence ministry said that having completed the “first phase” of operations they would now focus on the Donbas region.
Western officials said it could mean a “pause” in operations around Kyiv and elsewhere as the Russians move resources into the east of the county.
It comes as Russia’s president today formally approved a law which rules that Russians found guilty of disseminating fake news about the work of Moscow officials abroad could face up to 15 years in jail.
The sentence is similar to that drawn up as part of of a new law adopted earlier this month, devised to punish those who spread false information about the Russian armed forces, Interfax news agency said.
It cited a senior legislator as saying the new law was needed because people were spreading false news about Russian embassies and other organisations operating overseas.
Key Points
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First phase over, says Russia, and military ‘will switch focus to Donbass region’
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Russians who spread fake news about officials abroad face jail
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Moscow signals scaling back of Ukraine ambitions with new plans
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Ukraine fears 300 killed in Mariupol theatre bombing
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Russia accused of abducting over 400,000 Ukrainians
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Russian troops ‘using rape as instrument of war’ – Ukraine
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Rescuers looking for survivors of missile strikes in Dnipro
US to sanction companies supplying tech to Russian forces, intelligence says
Friday 25 March 2022 23:06 , Emily Atkinson
The White House is preparing hit companies it says provides goods and services to Russia’s military and intelligence services with sanctions, the WSJ reported on Friday.
Sanctions could be announced as early as next week, it said – citing US officials.
The treasury department declined to comment on the report.
Briton welcomes Ukrainian refugee into his home after ‘torturous’ wait
03:19 , Stuti Mishra
A British man has described the “relief” he felt after welcoming a Ukrainian refugee into his home after a “torturous” wait.
Max Fox, 32, who lives with his partner in Poulton-le-Fylde, welcomed Vlad, 26, to the UK as he landed at Manchester Airport on Friday under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Mr Fox met Vlad while he was in Poland helping with humanitarian efforts – he submitted an application to bring him back to the UK on March 18 and put the Ukrainian up in a hotel until the application was successful.
“Well it was just a definite relief,” Mr Fox
“It’s been quite torturous the past week. So to actually get him here and to kind of close that chapter and (move) onto the new chapter, that was nice.”
Read more:
Briton welcomes Ukrainian refugee into his home after ‘torturous’ wait
Russia has attacked at least 34 medical facilities in Ukraine, report says
01:58 , Graeme Massie
Russian troops have attacked at least 34 medical facilities across Ukraine since their invasion of the country, according to the Associated Press.
The assaults have included attacks on hospitals, ambulances, medics, patients and even newborns at a maternity hospital.
Joe Biden and the State Department have said they believe war crimes have been committed in the month-long Kremlin campaign, and such attacks could form the basis of future international prosecutions of Russia’s leaders.
Zelensky claims Russia has lost more than 16,000 troops
01:28 , Graeme Massie
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russia has lost more than 16,000 troops so far in Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked assault on the country.
“The number of the Russian losses has exceeded 16,000 casualties,” Mr Zelensky said in a video message on Friday.
“Among them are the high-ranking commanders. So far no reports of killed Russian general colonels or admirals. However, in that number we have a commander of one of the occupiers’ armies and a second in command of the Black Sea Navy.”
American Tyler Jacob released from Russian captivity after trying to flee Ukraine
00:54 , Graeme Massie
An American man who was captured by Russian troops as he tried to flee Ukraine has been released from captivity, US officials have confirmed.
Tyler Jacob, who is originally from Minnesota, was taken by Russian soldiers at a checkpoint in Crimea two weeks ago as he tried to get out of the embattled country to safety in Turkey.
American Tyler Jacob released from Russian captivity after trying to flee Ukraine
Wagner group mercenaries were involved in Zelensky assassination plot, says Ukraine
00:13 , Graeme Massie
Ukrainian officials say that the Russian private army was involved in the assassination plot against President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, according to CNN.
“They wanted to assassinate the leadership of Ukraine: our President and Prime Minister. That was the goal and a couple of them were sent to Ukraine without any success,” said Markian Lubkivskyi, an advisor to Ukraine’s defence minister.
Mr Lubkivskyi claimed that the plot had been confirmed by Ukraine’s intelligence service and special forces who are protecting Mr Zelensky, who has spoken about the Kremlin’s desire to kill him.
The claims have not been independently verified.
‘The same enemy’: Syrians endured Russian bombing for years. Now they tell Ukrainians to expect the worst
Friday 25 March 2022 23:53 , Emily Atkinson
A network of underground tunnels and earthen berms crisscross the muddy front line between Syrian opposition positions and Russian-backed regime forces just beyond the field to the south near the town of Saraqib.
The battle-weathered Syrian fighters here have been confronting the forces of Vladimir Putin and his local allies for much of the past decade. And along with other Syrians, they have some advice for Ukrainians trying to survive Russian air power and missiles: dig in, prepare for more heartbreak, and take solace in being on the right side of history.
“Ukrainian people, we love you,” exclaims Abu Taim al Mourad, a 45-year-old former nurse from Hama who is now among the fighters manning the front line, and cheerily praising the efforts of Ukrainians in holding back the Russian advance. “The Ukrainians fight like beasts, and we hope they win. We are fighting the same enemy, and if Russians lose there it’s good for us here.”
The Independent’s Borzou Daragahi reports from inside rebel-controlled Idlib province:
Syrians endure Russian bombing. They urge Ukrainians to fight but expect the worst
Red Cross delivers over 500 tons of medical aid to Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 23:42 , Emily Atkinson
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today announced that over 500 tons of medical aid had been delivered to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion of the country on 24 February.
Supplies included 1,200 sleeping mats for displaced people in Dnipro, tarpaulin and plastic sheets donated to reinforce the homes of over 1,200 people in Donetsk, 9,800 litres of clean drinking water to Dokuchaevsk, and 50 tons of fuel for ambulances and insulin to a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
Over 30 assaults on Ukrainian medical facilities recorded
Friday 25 March 2022 23:32 , Emily Atkinson
At least 34 attacks on medical facilities in Ukraine have been documented by The Associated Press.
It comes as the UN high commissioner for human rights confirmed at least 1,035 civilians, including 90 children, have died and another 1,650 civilians have been wounded since the war started a month ago. It is thought those numbers are likely an undercount.
Russian commander run over ‘deliberately’ by his own troops in Ukraine, Western officials say
Friday 25 March 2022 23:23 , Emily Atkinson
A Russian brigade commander fighting in Ukraine has been run down by his own troops, according to Western officials.
Yuri Medvedev, commanding the 37th Motor Rifle Brigade, is believed to have been deliberately targeted due to anger at the number of casualties his unit experienced.
An initial report by officials said Colonel Medvedev had been “killed”, but this was later restated amid suggestions he had suffered leg injuries and been evacuated to Belarus.
My colleague Sam Hancock reports:
Russian commander run over ‘deliberately’ by his own troops in Ukraine, officials say
Zelensky calls out Hungary for lack of support: ‘You have to decide for yourself who you are with’ – watch
Friday 25 March 2022 22:44 , Emily Atkinson
UK authorises further 65 Russian sanctions – MoD
Friday 25 March 2022 22:29 , Emily Atkinson
Russia’s defence company was the latest state entity to be hit by UK sanctions as part of the country’s most recent wave of penalties against Moscow, defence officials say.
Tweeting today, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: “The UK has sanctioned a further 65 individuals and entities with supporting links to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Among those sanctioned include Kronshtadt, Russian defence company and main producer of Russia’s Orion drone and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).”
“These systems have been widely deployed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Robust Ukrainian air defences has almost certainly limited manned flights beyond their front lines, hence Russia has highly likely been forced to use more UAVs instead.”
“This is probably leading to greater demand for, and attrition of, these assets. These sanctions will damage Russia’s defence industrial complex and limit their ability to replace their UAV losses.”
Friday 25 March 2022 22:13 , Emily Atkinson
Pictures capture the efforts of volunteers and neighbours trying to extinguish a fire at a house shelled by the Russian army in Horenychi – a village in the Bucha Raion of the Kyiv Oblast.
EU fails to agree short-term solution for energy market crunch
Friday 25 March 2022 21:56 , Emily Atkinson
EU leaders were unable to reach a consensus while debating a solution to the soaring cost of energy made worse by Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, but did offer a compromise for Spain where spiralling fuel prices have led to 12 days of trucker blockades.
Reuters adds:
An intense debate on whether to cap energy prices, pitting some southern countries against Germany and the Netherlands, pushed the second day of an EU summit into the evening, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at one point walking out of the meeting room.
In the end, they settled on trade-off and left a number of issues unresolved.
UN sees evidence of mass graves as Russia hints at scaled-back war
Friday 25 March 2022 21:45 , Emily Atkinson
There is mounting evidence of mass graves in the besieged city of Mariupol, UN officials said on Friday, as Russia hinted it was scaling back its invasion to focus on eastern Ukraine.
Matilda Bogner, head of a UN human rights team currently in the country, said monitors had received information about graves in the southeastern port city, including one that appeared to hold 200 bodies. The claims of mass graves in the city came as Ukraine said it feared around 300 people had been killed in the Mariupol theatre bombing on 16 March.
“We have got increasing information on mass graves that are there,” Ms Bogner said. “The extent of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian objects strongly suggests that the principles of distinction, of proportionality, the rule on feasible precautions and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks have been violated,” she added.
David Harding has more:
UN says evidence of mass graves in Mariupol as Russia hints at scaled-back war
Russians who spread fake news about officials abroad face jail – Interfax
Friday 25 March 2022 21:31 , Emily Atkinson
Vladimir Putin has formally approved a law which rules that Russians found guilty of disseminating fake news about the work of Moscow officials abroad could face up to 15 years in jail.
The sentence is similar to those drawn up as part of of a new law adopted earlier this month, devised to punish those who spread false information about the Russian armed forces, Interfax news agency said.
It cited a senior legislator as saying the new law was needed because people were spreading false news about Russian embassies and other organisations operating overseas.
In pictures: Kyiv residents take shelter in ‘world’s deepest metro station’
Friday 25 March 2022 21:19 , Emily Atkinson
The Arsenalna metro station stop, located in Kyiv and considered the “world’s deepest metro station”, has for a month played host to sheltering Ukrainians in the country’s capital.
Watch: Putin uses JK Rowling as case for Western cynicism and ‘cancel culture’ aimed at Russia
Friday 25 March 2022 21:06 , Emily Atkinson
EU unveils plan to control soaring gas prices
Friday 25 March 2022 20:52 , Sam Hancock
EU leaders have unveiled a plan to intervene in Europe‘s gas market in an attempt to bring down soaring prices .
Presidents and prime ministers hashed out a deal late into the evening on Friday at a tumultuous summit in Brussels, writes our policy correspondent Jon Stone.
Leaders discussed the war in Ukraine on Thursday in the company of US president Joe Biden but on Friday turned their attention to addressing the continent’s unfolding cost-of-living crisis.
Read more:
EU unveils plan to control soaring gas prices
Moscow signals scaling back of Ukraine ambitions with new plans
Friday 25 March 2022 20:35 , Sam Hancock
Moscow signalled on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists in the east.
In a further sign that Vladimir Putin is having to rethink his objectives, the Russian defence ministry said that having completed the “first phase” of operations they would now focus on the Donbas region.
Western officials said it could mean a “pause” in operations around Kyiv and elsewhere as the Russians move resources into the east of the county.
One official added scathingly: “As the first phase of the operation included taking Kyiv within four days I would probably contest the idea that they have achieved the first phase of the operation.”
It is the first real indicator that Western sanctions on Moscow were impacting investment from China, with sources saying that state-run Sinopec Group, Asia’s biggest oil refiner, had halted talks on a petrochemical investment and a venture to market Russian gas.
In the month since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops have met stiff resistance and failed to capture any major city.
“The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been considerably reduced, which … makes it possible to focus our core efforts on achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbass,” said Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Watch: One of the UK’s first refugees fleeing Ukraine arrives alone
Friday 25 March 2022 20:08 , Sam Hancock
Ukraine posts video of Russian nuclear workers criticising Moscow
Friday 25 March 2022 19:56 , Tom Batchelor
Ukraine’s nuclear energy authority has published a video of what it said were four Russian guards who had accompanied a delivery of fuel elements, visibly uncomfortable as they made statements criticising Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
The authority, Energoatom, said on its Telegram channel that the men had accompanied a shipment of Russian fuel rods to Ukraine’s Rivne nuclear plant last month.
Russia’s nuclear power body, Rosatom, issued a statement demanding “the employees’ speedy and safe return home”, according to the Russian news agency RIA.
The video, which has obvious cuts, shows the four employees sitting behind a table, speaking haltingly in low voices to identify themselves as Rosatom employees.
They explain that they arrived in Ukraine on 22 February with the fuel elements for the Rivne plant, and say they finished their contracted work on 17 March.
Three of the men make statements criticising Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, one looking repeatedly to the side of the camera as he speaks.
One says the men have seen for themselves how their compatriots have killed children and mothers. Another says the men do not understand how Russian officers could give orders to fire on nuclear plants.
“We do not want to participate in this or have anything to do with it,” says the last to speak. “After everything we have seen, we are afraid to return.”
Ukrainian-American pastor kidnapped by Russian soldiers after hiding people in his church, family say
Friday 25 March 2022 19:38 , Tom Batchelor
An American missionary has been kidnapped by Russian forces in Ukraine, according to his family.
Dmitry Bodyu, 50, was snatched by a group of around eight to 10 soldiers from his home in Melitopol on Saturday morning, 19 March, as his loved ones looked on in horror, his wife Helen Bodyu told NBC News.
Here is the full report:
Ukrainian-American pastor kidnapped by Russian soldiers, family say
US sees Russia focusing on eastern Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 19:16 , Tom Batchelor
The United States assesses that Russia is prioritising eastern Ukraine’s Donbass, as opposed to Kyiv, in what could be an effort to build leverage in negotiations and cut off Ukrainian forces in the east from the rest of the country, a senior US defense official said on Friday (reports Reuters).
Russia said earlier on Friday that the first phase of its military operation was mostly complete and it would focus on completely “liberating” Ukraine’s breakaway eastern Donbass region.
The announcement appeared to indicate Moscow may be switching to more limited objectives after running into fierce Ukrainian resistance in a month of war.
The senior US official suggested Russia’s activities on the ground appeared broadly to back up Moscow’s announcement.
“They are prioritising it and we concur, our information would concur, with that,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
The official said the United States was seeing Russian forces become more aggressive in the Donbass area.
“They have certainly made it a higher priority on their list,” the official added.
Not just Ukraine: How the fate of Belarus is linked to the war between two of its neighbours
Friday 25 March 2022 19:03 , Tom Batchelor
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, Belarus has played a Judas-like role, sacrificing the little sovereignty it had left to be used as a staging ground for the Russian assault on Kyiv, writes Amanda Coakley.
Belarusian border guards have let Russian troops move through the frontier, the country’s air defence and traffic control systems have assisted Moscow’s campaign, and Russia’s dead and wounded have filled hospitals in southern Belarusian cities.
Here is her article:
Not just Ukraine: How the fate of Belarus is linked to the war next door
Life goes on in Kyiv despite bloodshed
Friday 25 March 2022 18:46 , Tom Batchelor
For the residents of Kyiv who decided to stay when the war broke out, life goes on despite the daily bloodshed and scenes of devastation in their city.
Russian troops are stationed a matter of miles from the centre of the capital yet many are attempting to continue with their daily routines, including visits to their local park.
Russia trying to send reinforcements from Georgia – report
Friday 25 March 2022 18:31 , Tom Batchelor
Reuters’ Pentagon correspondent Idrees Ali tweets a line from a US official who has claimed Russia is now trying to send in reinforcements from Georgia, which lies around 300 miles to the south.
JK Rowling responds after Putin references her in speech on ‘cancel culture’
Friday 25 March 2022 18:24 , Tom Batchelor
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has spoken out against Vladimir Putin after he defended her in a speech condemning “cancel culture”.
The Russian president claimed the west was trying to cancel Russian culture, including the works of great composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Rachmaninov.
He said the British author had also been “cancelled” over her stance in transgender debates.
Here is how Ms Rowling responded:
JK Rowling responds after Putin namechecks her in speech condemning ‘cancel culture’
Ukrainian farmers use tractor to tow away anti-aircraft cannon
Friday 25 March 2022 18:09 , Tom Batchelor
Fresh footage has emerged of Ukrainian farmers using their tractor to tow away Russian military equipment.
The video apparently shows Ukrainian farmers capturing a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannon.
Footage of tractors towing Russian weaponry has become an unlikely feature of Ukraine’s defiant struggle against Vladimir Putin’s forces, with clips repeatedly shared on social media.
Oleksandr Usyk leaving Ukraine to train for Anthony Joshua rematch
Friday 25 March 2022 17:43 , Tom Batchelor
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will go head-to-head for the second time after the Ukrainian confirmed that he will leave his home country to begin preparations for a rematch.
Joshua lost the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles to Usyk in September, when he suffered a comprehensive decision defeat by the undefeated southpaw at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The rematch seemed set for spring, but a further complication arose this month when Usyk returned to Ukraine to aid his nation in its defence against the ongoing Russian invasion. The champion was this week granted permission to leave the country to train for a second bout with Joshua, however.
Here is the story:
Oleksandr Usyk leaving Ukraine to train for Anthony Joshua rematch
Biden visits US troops on Nato’s eastern border
Friday 25 March 2022 17:33 , Tom Batchelor
President Joe Biden has met American troops bolstering Nato’s eastern flank during a trip to Poland on Friday.
Mr Biden shared a meal with soldiers from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division stationed in the area of Rzeszow airport.
“You are in the midst of a fight between democracies and oligarchs,” he said, referring to rich Russians who have faced Western sanctions since the war started.
“What’s at stake is what are your kids and grandkids going to look like in terms of their freedom,” Mr Biden said.
Ukraine says 300 died in Mariupol theatre attack
Friday 25 March 2022 16:56 , Tom Batchelor
About 300 people were killed in the Russian airstrike last week on a Mariupol theatre that was being used as a shelter, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.
If confirmed, it would make the bombing the war’s deadliest known attack on civilians yet.
The Ukrainian government has previously said it was impossible to tell how many were killed because Mariupol is in chaos and under almost constant bombardment from Russian forces.
“From witnesses comes information that about 300 people died in the Mariupol Drama Theatre as a result of the bombing by a Russian plane,” the Mariupol city council said in a statement.
Petro Andrushenko, an adviser to Mariupol‘s mayor, later gave the same estimate in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia has denied bombing the theatre.
Russia ‘suffering failure rates as high as 60 per cent for some precision-guided missiles’
Friday 25 March 2022 16:41 , Tom Batchelor
Russia is suffering failure rates as high as 60 per cent for some of the precision-guided missiles it is using to attack Ukraine, three US officials have told Reuters.
The disclosure could help explain why Russia has failed to achieve what most could consider basic objectives since its invasion a month ago, despite the apparent strength of its military against Ukraine’s much smaller armed forces.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide evidence to support the assessment and did not disclose what precisely was driving high Russian missile failure rates.
Moscow-Kaliningrad train shown images of war during Lithuania stop
Friday 25 March 2022 16:22 , Tom Batchelor
“Dear passengers of train no. 29, Moscow-Kaliningrad. Today, Putin is killing civilians in Ukraine. Do you support this?” an announcer repeats in Russian at Vilnius station while the service stops there (reports Reuters).
Two dozen large pictures from the war in Ukraine, each with the same message, were put up on Friday morning on either side of the platform reserved for the Russian transit trains.
The trains, up to six per day, pause for around 10 minutes in Vilnius, capital of EU-member Lithuania, as they pass to and from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave – sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland – and cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg, via Belarus.
Under a two decade old agreement between Lithuania, Russia and the European Union, passengers are issued Lithuanian visas for the transit-only services, which are powered by a Lithuanian locomotive for the portion of the journey inside the country.
“As far as we know, Russians are shielded from what is happening in Ukraine. Here in Vilnius railway station, we have a possibility to show at least a small piece of what is happening,” Mantas Dubauskas, a spokesperson for the state-owned Lithuanian railways, said.
“It’s the least that we can do,” he added. “Maybe we can change the minds of a very small number of passengers”.
The pictures, provided by Ukrainian photographers, show the dead and injured, people grieving, destroyed buildings and bridges, and refugees with small children escaping the country.
Russian commander ‘ deliberately run over by own troops’
Friday 25 March 2022 16:00 , Lamiat Sabin
A Russian brigade commander in Ukraine has been killed by his own troops, Western officials said.
The colonel, commanding the 37th Motor Rifle Brigade, is believed to have been deliberately run over by a tank.
“The brigade commander was killed by his own troops, we believe, as a consequence of the scale of losses that have been taken by his brigade,” one official said.
“We believe that he was killed by his own troops deliberately. We believe that he was run over by his own troops.”
The official said that a lieutenant general commanding the 49th Combined Arms Army has also died in the fighting, making him the seventh Russian general to be killed in combat since the invasion began.
Russian ambassador summoned over ‘unacceptable’ tweet
Friday 25 March 2022 15:45 , Lamiat Sabin
The Russian ambassador to France was summoned by Paris over a post that the embassy tweeted that the French foreign ministry deemed “unacceptable”.
The Russian Embassy in Paris had posted a picture depicting a body lying on a table called “Europe” with characters representing the United States and European Union jabbing needles into it.
The tweet appears to have been deleted.
The ministry told Reuters in a statement: “These posts are unacceptable. We made that clear today to the Russian Ambassador.
“We are trying to maintain a demanding channel of dialogue with Russia and these actions are completely inappropriate.”
Peace negotiations with Russia ‘very difficult’ – Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 15:30 , Lamiat Sabin
Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said peace negotiations with Russia were difficult.
He also denied reports that progress had been made resolving four out of six key issues.
Mr Kuleba wrote in a Facebook post: “The negotiation process is very difficult. The Ukrainian delegation has taken a strong position and does not relinquish its demands.
“We insist, first of all, on a ceasefire, security guarantees and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Earlier, Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky was reported by Interfax news agency as having said that the two sides were coming closer to an understanding on secondary issues in the peace talks.
There has been limited progress on the key questions, the news agency added.
Mr Medinsky said that positions on “secondary issues are converging” but that “on the main political issues, we are in fact treading water.”
The negotiations are to continue tomorrow.
‘West trying to cancel Russia’s 1,000-year culture’ – Putin
Friday 25 March 2022 15:15 , Lamiat Sabin
Here’s some background to what Vladimir Putin said earlier about the West and Nazi book-burning.
The Russian president has accused the West of trying to cancel Russian culture, including the works of great composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Rachmaninov.
At a televised meeting with leading cultural figures, he likened the current situation to the actions of Nazi Germany in the 1930s when books were burned on bonfires.
“Today they are trying to cancel a whole thousand-year culture, our people,” Putin said.
The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra has dropped a Tchaikovsky piece from its programme and media reports saying similar moves were taken by orchestras in Japan and Croatia.
Spain’ÂÂs Teatro Real, one of Europe’ÂÂs major opera houses, cancelled performances later this year by Russia’s Bolshoi, while Ballet Auction houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams have cancelled sales of Russian art in London.
The Cardiff Philharmonic said it was subject to “hate speech and vicious comments” after cancelling a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture earlier this month.
“Basic humanity takes precedence over art and history,” the Orchestra said in a Facebook post. “When the humanitarian crisis is over the discussion about ‘woke’ and ‘cancel culture’ can have its place.”
Australia sanctions Belarus president and family members
Friday 25 March 2022 14:38 , Jane Dalton
Australia has imposed sanctions against Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, members of his family, and 22 Russians in its latest action condemning the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sravasti Dasgupta reports:
Australia sanctions Belarus president and family members for supporting Ukraine war
Watch live as Biden visits troops from 82nd Airborne ahead of briefing on Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 14:32 , Jane Dalton
Joe Biden is visiting troops from 82nd Airborne in Poland, before attending a briefing on Ukraine. Watch live:
First phase over, says Russia, and military ‘will switch focus to Donbass region’
Friday 25 March 2022 14:17 , Jane Dalton
Russia’s defence ministry says the first phase of its military operation in Ukraine is mostly complete and that it will now focus on completely “liberating” eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region.
The announcement appeared to indicate that Russia may be switching to more limited goals after running into fierce Ukrainian resistance in the first month of the war.
Russian news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying that Russian-backed separatists now controlled 93 per cent of Ukraine’s Luhansk region and 54 per cent of the Donetsk region – the two areas that jointly make up the Donbass.
The ministry said it did not rule out storming Ukrainian cities that had been blockaded and that Russia would react immediately to any attempt to close the airspace over Ukraine – something Kyiv has asked Nato to do.
The defence ministry said on Friday that the operation would continue until Russian forces had completed the tasks that had been set, without elaborating.
Russia’s military had considered two options for its operation in Ukraine, one confined to the Donbass and the other on the whole territory of Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
Growing evidence of Mariupol mass graves
Friday 25 March 2022 14:04 , Jane Dalton
The head of the UN human rights team in Ukraine says monitors have received more information about mass graves in the besieged port city of Mariupol, including one that appeared to hold 200 bodies.
“We have got increasing information on mass graves that are there,” Matilda Bogner said by video link from Ukraine, adding that some of the evidence came from satellite images.
The rights office, which has 50 staff in the country, has so far counted 1,035 civilian deaths.
But verification difficulties meant that toll included “very few” from Mariupol, which has been under heavy bombardment for weeks, Ms Bogner said.
“The extent of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian objects strongly suggests that the principles of distinction, of proportionality, the rule on feasible precautions and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks have been violated,” she said.
A Reuters journalist who reached a part of Mariupol held by Russian forces on Sunday saw several bodies lying by the road and a group of men digging graves in a patch of grass by the roadside.
Ms Bogner’s team is probing alleged human rights violations, such as reports that Russian forces had shot and killed civilians in their cars as they were fleeing; dozens of cases of disappearances of Ukrainian officials and journalists; and the forced movement of civilians into Russian-held territory.
Russia has denied targeting civilians in Ukraine. Russian news agencies have said buses have carried several hundred people from Mariupol to Russia.
Ms Bogdan said her team had also received reports of violations by Ukrainian forces including indiscriminate shelling in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, and two alleged killings of civilians due to their perceived support for Russia.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly said that they have never targeted civilians, adding that the people in Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukrainians.
Watch live as Biden arrives in Poland
Friday 25 March 2022 13:21 , Jane Dalton
President Biden is flying to Poland for a briefing on the humanitarian response to the Ukraine-Russia war and the response to the flow of refugees.
Putin likens ‘cancellation’ of culture to Nazi book burnings
Friday 25 March 2022 13:10 , Lamiat Sabin
Vladimir Putin is accusing the West of trying to cancel Russian culture, and likened it to the burning of books in Nazi Germany.
In his speech, he referred to the works of famous Russian composers Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich and Sergei Rachmaninov.
City built for Chernobyl nuclear plant ‘completely isolated’
Friday 25 March 2022 12:50 , Lamiat Sabin
A city that was built to house workers of the now-defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant has reportedly been under constant Russian artillery fire.
Slavutych was “completely isolated”, with Russian forces just beyond the town’s limits, the local authorities said.
In a statement, the Kyiv region administration said: “Slavutych is completely isolated. The enemy is 1.5 km (one mile) from the town.”
Workers at the plant were forced to work for four weeks, as rotation of staff was not possible due to the shelling – said the UN’s nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency.
Boris Johnson and China’s Xi Jinping speak about Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 12:27 , Lamiat Sabin
Boris Johnson has spoken to China’s president, Xi Jinping, as part of Western pressure on Beijing to toughen up its stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, deputy political editor Rob Merrick writes.
China’s position has been described as neutral by some observers – but Vladimir Putin’s key ally has failed to criticise the war and is believed to have been asked, privately, to help Russia.
No 10 has yet to set out what was discussed in the 50-minute call – the first between the two leaders since the Ukraine crisis broke – but the issue of potential sanction on China if it does help Moscow is not thought to have been raised.
It is understood that the prime minister did emphasise the need for every country to do everything it can to ensure Putin “fails” in his war aims.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “This is part of the prime minister’s wider engagement with world leaders, so he can set out our position on where we think the current situation is.”
Russia ‘creates part of land corridor from Donetsk to Crimea’
Friday 25 March 2022 12:00 , Lamiat Sabin
Russian forces had managed to “partially” create a land corridor from the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine along the southern coast to Crimea, Ukraine said.
“The enemy was partially successful in creating a land corridor between the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and part of Donetsk region,” the Ukrainian defence ministry posted on Facebook.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Poorest countries’ food ‘collateral damage’ of invasion
Friday 25 March 2022 11:40 , Lamiat Sabin
The world’s food supply could become “collateral damage” in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the World Food Programme (WPF) told The Independent.
Lebanon, Yemen, Bangladesh and Pakistan all suffer from widespread food insecurity and all rely on Russia for 50 per cent or more of imports of wheat – a crop that has seen its price rise by more than 10 per cent.
Friederike Greb, an WPF economist, said: “Once poor people face these higher prices, they might not be able to pay for their food.”
Read the full story here by Liam James
Putin war in Ukraine may put food out of reach for world’s poorest
Russia ruling elite ‘trying to distance itself’ from invasion
Friday 25 March 2022 11:20 , Lamiat Sabin
Ukraine has suggested that Russia’s ruling elite is trying to distance itself from Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
This is according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, “publicly stated that the decision to conduct the hardest special operation (war) against Ukraine” was made “solely” by Putin.
Mr Podolyak added: “The ruling elite is trying to distance itself, understanding the legal consequences.”
Kremlin dismisses chemical weapons claim as US diversion
Friday 25 March 2022 11:00 , Lamiat Sabin
The Kremlin is accusing the US of engaging in diversion tactics for claiming that Russia could resort to using chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US was making the claims to try to shield itself from awkward questions.
He told a conference call with reporters that the military would submit proposals to Vladimir Putin on how Russia should strengthen its defences in response to Nato strengthening its eastern flank.
The spokesman also said that that “nothing terrible will happen” if the US and its allies succeed in expelling Russia from the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies because many of the group’s members have already sanctioned Moscow.
It comes after Joe Biden said he favoured Russia being pushed out of the G20 after Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine.
There was no official position on whether Russia would rebuild ruined Ukrainian towns and cities such as Mariupol, Peskov said.
Newspaper sued for raising Putin assassination as ‘option’
Friday 25 March 2022 10:40 , Lamiat Sabin
An Italian newspaper is being sued over an article that had raised the possibility of killing Vladimir Putin.
Sergey Razov, Russia’s ambassador to Italy, said he was suing La Stampa over the analysis that was headlined: “If killing the tyrant is the only option”.
The article said if all other options failed to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the only solution would be for Putin to be assassinated.
Me Razov said that the article dated 22 March “goes against the rules of journalism and morality.”
La Stampa did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.
About 3.7 million people fled Ukraine as refugees – UN
Friday 25 March 2022 10:30 , Lamiat Sabin
The United Nations revealed that about 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
The number mainly represents women and children, the UN refugee agency said.
Earlier, the agency said that the humanitarian response to the refugee crisis should “take into account women and girls’ unique needs, include women in decision-making, and prioritise protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.”
Finland suspending Helsinki – St Petersburg rail route
Friday 25 March 2022 10:20 , Lamiat Sabin
Finland’s national railway operator will suspend services between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg on Monday.
The rail route is one of the last ones still currently open between the European Union and Russia.
The Finnish government said it was “no longer appropriate” for rail operator VR to keep the route open.
Head of passenger traffic Topi Simola said in a statement: “So we are suspending the traffic for the time being.”
The border between Finland and Russia remains open for crossings by private car, while flight connections between Russia and the European Union have been cut off.
The rail route has been open to allow Finnish people living in Russia to return to Finland, minister Tytti Tuppurainen said.
“Now it is evident that the situation has changed for the Allegro (trains) and the continuation of Allegro traffic is no longer appropriate from the point of view of the state owner,” she told the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.
Ukrainian family to stay with UK minister Grant Shapps
Friday 25 March 2022 10:10 , Lamiat Sabin
UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said he has arranged to host a family of Ukrainian refugees.
The family – a six-year-old boy, his mother, grandmother and their dog Max – will stay at the minister’s house.
Mr Shapps was one of more than 100,000 Britons who have signed up to a government scheme to match those fleeing war in Ukraine with families who can offer them a minimum of six months shelter.
He said there were some visa issues to be resolved with the family, who had contacted him on social media, but he added that he looked forward to welcoming them to his home as soon as possible.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We had the conversation as a family about this, and of course it means the house is more crowded and there’s less room for a desk to study at.
“But every time we came to the end of the conversation, we thought ‘But look at what’s happening to these people, look at what’s happening to their home’.”
Four killed in Kharkiv shelling that hit hospital – police
Friday 25 March 2022 10:00 , Lamiat Sabin
Four people were killed in Russian shelling of Kharkiv, including on a clinic used as a centre for humanitarian aid, the regional police force said.
“As a result of the morning shelling of civilian infrastructure from multiple rocket launchers, 7 civilians were injured, 4 of whom died,” said a statement on social media.
“There is no military facility nearby.”
Reuters news agency said it could not independently verify the report.
Ukraine fears 300 killed in Mariupol theatre bombing
Friday 25 March 2022 09:41 , Lamiat Sabin
Three hundred people are feared to have died in the Russian shelling of a theatre in Mariupol last week.
More than 1,000 people were sheltering in the Donetsk Regional Theatre of Drama when the missiles hit on 16 March.
Read all the details here as the story develops:
Ukraine fears 300 people were killed in Mariupol theatre bombed by Russia
City of Chernihiv north of Kyiv ‘cut off by Russian forces’
Friday 25 March 2022 09:30 , Lamiat Sabin
The Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is now cut off by Russian forces, according to local governor Viacheslav Chaus.
Vladimir Putin’s forces were accused earlier this week of taking a number of civilians from Chernihiv hostage and deporting them to Russia.
The city, about 100 miles north of Kyiv, has been cut off from the capital after the troops bombed a road bridge across the Desna River.
Dozens of people have been killed per day in Chernihiv, which has a population of about 150,000.
Civilians are struggling to live amid the chaos that has caused power and gas cuts, destroyed infrastructure, and rationing of drinking water.
Watch live: Biden and Von der Leyen news conference
Friday 25 March 2022 09:06 , Lamiat Sabin
Earlier, we reported that a new US-EU partnership was announced today that will seek to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.
Joe Biden and Ursula Von der Leyen are now holding a joint news conference. Watch live here:
U.S to help boost gas exports to Europe to isolate Russia
Friday 25 March 2022 09:01 , Lamiat Sabin
A new US-EU partnership has been announced today that will seek to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.
The scheme would be the start of a years-long plan to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the plan, the US and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic metres this year, the White House said, and the amount is expected to increase in future.
At the same time, they will try to stick to climate goals by running the gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks.
But there are potential problems in Europe receiving the shipments as import terminals are located in coastal areas where there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing the gas.
US president Joe Biden was set to discuss the issue with Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s executive arm, before leaving for Poland, the final leg of his four-day trip.
European sanctions against Russia ‘a little late’ – Zelensky
Friday 25 March 2022 08:53 , Lamiat Sabin
The European Union acted “a little late” in imposing sanctions on Russia and faster action could have stopped Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president told the EU Council, in a video, that sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany were also “a little late”.
Mr Zelensky said: “What about the European Union? You applied sanctions. We are grateful. They are powerful steps. But it was a little late.
“Because if it had been preventative, Russia would not have gone to war. At least no one know for sure. There was a chance.”
Ukraine has applied to join the EU, and Mr Zelensky – in his video – urged the bloc to “not be late” in making a decision over membership.
Ukraine ‘regain east of Kyiv as Russia progress slows’ – MoD
Friday 25 March 2022 08:40 , Lamiat Sabin
Ukraine has managed to reoccupy towns and defensive positions up to 21 miles (35 kilometres) east of Kyiv, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Vladimir Putin’s troops are “being slowed” by logistical problems and the resistance shown by Ukrainian forces, the UK government department said.
In its latest intelligence update, the MoD tweeted: “Ukrainian counter-attacks, and Russian forces falling back on overextended supply lines, has allowed Ukraine to reoccupy towns and defensive positions up to 35 kilometres east of Kyiv.
“Ukrainian forces are likely to continue to attempt to push Russian forces back along the north-western axis from Kyiv towards Hostomel Airfield.
“In the south of Ukraine, Russian forces are still attempting to circumvent Mykolaiv as they look to drive west towards Odesa, with their progress being slowed by logistic issues and Ukrainian resistance.”
Rescuers looking for survivors of missile strikes in Dnipro
Friday 25 March 2022 08:20 , Lamiat Sabin
Two missile strikes hit a Ukrainian military unit on the outskirts of Ukraine’s fourth-largest city Dnipro, an official said.
Rescuers are looking for people amid the “serious destruction”, Valentyn Reznichenko, the governor of the region said.
No mention has yet been made about any casualties.
Evacuation route to be opened today in Mariupol
Friday 25 March 2022 08:06 , Lamiat Sabin
Civilians in Mariupol are hoping to leave the city via a humanitarian corridor today.
Ukrainian deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk said Ukraine hopes to open a safe corridor to allow evacuate civilians to flee the besieged Black Sea port city in private vehicles.
Those who manage to leave Mariupol will find buses awaiting in the nearby city of Berdiansk which will take them to the city of Zaporizhzhia, she said.
“We will do everything in our power so that buses filled with Mariupol residents reach Zaporizhzhia today,” Ms Vereshchuk added.
Repeated attempts to arrange safe passage out of the southern port city, which is surrounded by Russian forces, have failed.
Mariupol – that had a population of about 400,000 – has been under heavy bombardment for weeks.
Civilians there have been sheltering in basements with little food, power or running water.
Russia ‘running out of precision-guided munitions’ – U.S.
Friday 25 March 2022 07:44 , Lamiat Sabin
Russia is running out of precision-guided munitions, a senior Pentagon official said.
Troops are more likely to rely on so-called dumb bombs, that are also known as conventional “gravity bombs”, and artillery in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to Colin Kahl – Under Secretary of Defense for Policy – said.
Mr Kahl speculated that he did not believe Vladimir Putin wanted to have an all out conflict with Nato.
US charges four Russians with cybercrime
Friday 25 March 2022 07:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The United States has charged four Russian citizens with cybercrime in 135 countries.
Yevgeny Gladkikh, who is said to be an employee of the Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics (CNDIHM), and his accomplices allegedly hacked the systems of a foreign refinery and installed malware between May and September 2017, Interfax news agency reported.
“The conspirators later tried to hack into the computers of an American company that operated similar critical infrastructure in the United States,” the US department of justice said.
Russian state TV blames Ukrainians for devastation in Mariupol
Friday 25 March 2022 07:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian state TV aired aerial footage showcasing the devastation wrought on the besieged port city of Mariupol by Moscow’s invading forces – with the anchor appearing to blame Ukrainian nationalists for the destruction.
In a clip shared to Twitter by Washington Post journalist Mary Ilyushina, the anchor can be heard saying: “Sad scenes, of course… the [Ukrainian] nationalists withdraw trying not to leave a stone unturned”.
Andy Gregory has more.
Russian state TV appears to blame Ukrainians for Mariupol destruction
Japan to freeze assets of 25 Russian individuals
Friday 25 March 2022 06:36 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Japan will freeze the assets of additional 25 Russian individuals and prohibit exports to 81 Russian organisations, the foreign ministry said.
Prime minister Fumio Kishida earlier on Thursday said Japan will take steps to strip Russia of “most favoured nation” trade status to prevent Moscow from evading financial sanctions through digital assets.
Inside Makariv, the town Ukrainians took back from Russian troops
Friday 25 March 2022 06:18 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
After weeks of fierce fighting, the town of Makariv, located 32 miles from capital Kyiv, is now back under Ukrainian control. There are other towns and cities in Ukraine that have suffered more deaths and injuries, that have also been the targets of pounding airstrikes and artillery barrages.
But as this brutal and unexpected war reached its first monthly anniversary, this town has taken on great strategic and symbolic significance.“Welcome to hell,” says the soldier at the checkpoint, pointing to the scene of devastation at Makariv.
Kim Sengupta reports from the war-torn town.
‘Welcome to hell’: Inside the Ukraine town retaken from Russian forces
Russian troops using rape as ‘instrument of war’
Friday 25 March 2022 06:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian troops are allegedly using rape “as an instrument of war”, the Ukrainian prosecutor said.
Iryna Venediktova accused the invading soldiers of breaking into a home near capital Kyiv before shooting dead a Ukrainian man and then sexually assaulting his wife.
She said the alleged crime took place in Brovary, one of the capital’s eastern suburbs. She added that the victim’s child was present when the incident happened.
Rory Sullivan reports.
Russian troops using rape as ‘instrument of war’, claims Ukraine’s prosecutor general
Medvedev says west ‘foolish’ to think sanctions will impact
Friday 25 March 2022 05:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
MoscowFormer Russian president and deputy head of security council Dmitry Medvedev reportedly said that the west is “foolish” to believe that sanctions against Russian businesses could have any effect on Moscow.
The sanctions will only consolidate the Russian society and not cause popular discontent with the authorities, Mr Medvedev told Russia’s RIA news agency.
“Let us ask ourselves: can any of these major businessmen have even the tiniest quantum of influence of the position of the country’s leadership” he was quoted as saying. “I openly tell you: no, no way”.
Australia sanctions Putin ally Lukashenko, Russian media employees
Friday 25 March 2022 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Australian government on Friday imposed sanctions on Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and members of his family, according to the foreign ministry.
The Pacific nation also slapped sanctions on 22 employees of the Russian media.
“The Australian government has also imposed new sanctions on 22 Russian propagandists and disinformation providers, including senior editors from Russia Today, the Strategic Culture Foundation, Inforos and NewsFront,” the statement said.
Russia accused of abducting over 400,000 Ukrainians
Friday 25 March 2022 05:14 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine has accused Moscow of “forcibly deporting” over 400,000 civilians from shattered Ukrainian cities to Russia to pressure Kyiv into conceding defeat.
Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraine’s ombudsperson, said 402,000 civilians, including 84,000 children, had been taken against their will into Russia, where some may be used as “hostages”.
“We have information that the Russian occupiers are forcibly deporting our citizens from Mariupol, Volnovakha, Stanytsia Luhanska to the Russian Federation,” she said.
Russia fires missiles at Ukraine military unit
Friday 25 March 2022 04:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russian forces on Thursday night fired two missiles at a Ukrainian military unit on the outskirts of Dnipro, the fourth-largest city in the country.
According to regional emergency services, the strikes destroyed buildings and set off two fires. The casualties, if any, are still being established.
Dnipro is located on the west of the regions along the Russian border that have been controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014.
US says Ukraine likely conducted successful attack against Russian ships
Friday 25 March 2022 04:34 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US on Thursday said Ukraine likely conducted a successful attack against Russian ships in Berdyansk port on the Sea of Azov.
A defence official told CNN that it was unclear what type of weapon was used to carry out the attack.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine said it destroyed the Orsk, a landing ship docked at the Berdyansk port, which was capable of carrying 20 tanks.
Chernobyl workers at risk due to Russian shelling: UN nuclear watchdog
Friday 25 March 2022 04:03 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were at risk due to continued Russian shelling of checkpoints in the city of Slavutych, Ukrainian officials told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Several people working at the now-defunct plant live in the city which is located outside the Exclusion Zone that was established following the 1986 nuclear catastrophe.
The IAEA, in a statement on Thursday, said the shelling was endangering “the homes and families of those operational personnel that ensure the nuclear and radiation safety” of the plant.
Zelensky calls for peace in night-time address to Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 03:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday night that the country “must move toward peace” as it marked one month since the start of the Russian invasion.“It is already night. But we are working,” he said.
“The country must move toward peace, move forward. With every day of our defence, we are getting closer to the peace that we need so much. We are getting closer to victory. We can’t stop even for a minute. For every minute determines our fate, our future, whether we will live,” he added.
He reported on his conversations that day with leaders of Nato and European Union countries gathered in Brussels, and their promises of even more sanctions on Russia.
“We need to look for peace,” he said. “Russia also needs to look for peace”.
Biden says US will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing war
Friday 25 March 2022 03:32 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US president Joe Biden on Thursday said up to 100,000 Ukrainians feeling the war was welcomed to seek refuge in his country.
“We’re focused on reuniting families and providing refuge to those in harm’s way,” he said.
Russia now ‘more of a burden’ to China – Pentagon
Friday 25 March 2022 02:55 , Adam Withnall
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made it more of a strategic burden on China, a senior Pentagon official said late on Thursday.
“I do think that there’s a degree to which what Putin has done in Ukraine makes Russia much more of a strategic burden for Beijing than it was six weeks ago or six months ago,” Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said.
In February, China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership, backing each other over standoffs on Ukraine and Taiwan with a promise to collaborate more against the West.
US calls for Mexico ‘solidarity’ in supporting Ukraine
Friday 25 March 2022 02:21 , Adam Withnall
The US ambassador to Mexico spoke to Mexico’s lower house of Congress on Thursday, urging politicians there to join the United States in supporting Kyiv against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It comes a day after Ken Salazar’s Russian counterpart encouraged Mexico to defy “Uncle Sam”.
“The Russian ambassador was here yesterday making a lot of noise about how Mexico and Russia are so close. This, sorry, can never happen. It can never happen,” Salazar said.
“We have to be in solidarity with Ukraine and against Russia.”
“I remember very well that during the Second World War there was no distance between Mexico and the United States, both were united against what Hitler was doing,” he added.
In May 1942, Mexico’s Congress approved a formal resolution of war against the Axis powers, about half a year after the United States declared war on Germany.
Salazar’s comments came after Russia’s ambassador to Mexico, Viktor Koronelli, addressed lawmakers at a newly inaugurated “Mexico-Russia friendship committee” on Wednesday.
“On the orders of Uncle Sam, Mexico will never answer ‘Yes, Sir’” Koronelli said, drawing applause from some legislators.
During his appearance, Russia’s ambassador repeated his government’s position that it is conducting a “special military operation” to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, whose president is Jewish.
“Russia did not begin this war, it is finishing it,” Koronelli said.
Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice that has raised fears of wider conflict in Europe.
75 civilians have been killed in Kyiv, says Klitschko
Friday 25 March 2022 01:57 , Graeme Massie
ICYMI: A total of 75 civilians have now died in Kyiv since the start of the war, the city’s mayor has said.
Vitali Klitschko added that another 307 people had been injured in the capital over the past four weeks.
3,343 evacuations from Ukraine cities today
Friday 25 March 2022 01:24 , Graeme Massie
ICYMI: A total of 3,343 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors today, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said, down from 4,554 yesterday.
Ms Vereshchuk said in an online post that 2,717 people had left the besieged city of Mariupol. She accused the Russians of blocking humanitarian aid convoys into the city for the last three days.
Around 7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced since the war started one month ago today, according to the World Health Organisation. A further 3.6 million have fled the country.
Joe Biden says Nato would respond ‘in kind’ to Russian use of chemical weapons
Friday 25 March 2022 01:02 , Graeme Massie
Joe Biden says that Nato would respond “in kind” if Vladimir Putin used chemical weapons in his unprovoked assault on Ukraine.
The president spoke after a day of summits in Belgium with Nato allies, the European Union and G7 partners.
More details below.
Joe Biden says Nato would respond ‘in kind’ to Russian use of chemical weapons
Russian troops using rape as ‘instrument of war’, claims Ukraine’s prosecutor general
Friday 25 March 2022 00:45 , Graeme Massie
Russian troops are allegedly using rape “as an instrument of war”, with the Ukrainian prosecutor general accusing invading soldiers of breaking into a home near Kyiv before shooting dead a Ukrainian man and then sexually assaulting his wife.
Rory Sullivan has the story.
Russian troops using rape as ‘instrument of war’, claims Ukraine’s prosecutor general
Russian state TV anchor appears to blame Ukrainians for devastation in Mariupol
Friday 25 March 2022 00:26 , Graeme Massie
ICYMI: A Russian state media journalist has appeared to blame Ukrainian “nationalists” for the destruction of Mariupol, a city which has been relentlessly bombed by Moscow.
“Sad scenes, of course… the [Ukrainian] nationalists withdraw trying not to leave a stone unturned,” the anchor said.
Russian state TV appears to blame Ukrainians for Mariupol destruction
‘We all stay united and pray for peace’: How tech startup with Ukrainian and Russian staff is navigating conflict
Friday 25 March 2022 00:16 , Graeme Massie
Jacob Udodov speaks to The Independent about trying to keep Bordio staff safe and employed amid the violence of war.
How Eastern European startup with Ukrainian and Russian staff is navigating conflict
New footage of damage inflicted on Mariupol
Thursday 24 March 2022 23:56 , Graeme Massie
ICYMI: New drone footage shows the scale of damage Russian shelling has inflicted on Mariupol.
The southeastern port city has been bombed for a month, with tens of thousands of civilians struggling with a lack of food, water and heating.
US military leaders have tried calling Russian counterparts but calls not taken, raising fears of ‘sleepwalking’ into war
Thursday 24 March 2022 23:31 , Graeme Massie
ICYMI: Lines of communication between top US Defense Department officials and their Russian counterparts have gone dark since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last month, placing the world’s two nuclear superpowers in jeopardy of mischaracterising each other’s troop movements and drilling with potentially disastrous consequences.
According to the Washington Post, both General Mark Milley — the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have repeatedly tried arranging conversations with their opposite numbers in Moscow, General Valery Gerasimov and defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said neither Russian official had accepted the invitations and had instead “so far declined to engage”.
Read more here:
US military leaders have tried calling Russian counterparts but calls not taken
Nato will respond ‘in kind’ if Putin uses chemical weapons
Thursday 24 March 2022 23:02 , Liam James
Joe Biden said Nato would “respond in kind” if Vladimir Putin were to resort to the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Speaking after a Nato meeting in Brussels on Thursday, the US president warned a chemical attack by Russia “would trigger a response in kind”.
He added: “The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use”.
A White House official said later that Mr Biden’s comments did not imply any shift in the US position against direct military action by Nato in Ukraine.
Mr Biden and Nato allies have stressed that the alliance would not put troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Mr Biden two days ago said there was a “clear sign” Mr Putin was preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as his invasion struggles to make ground.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of preparing chemical weapons, in what has seen by some analysts as a “false flag” attempt to justify later Russian use of the outlawed arms.
US sanctions Russian, North Korean and Chinese entities over weapons proliferation
Thursday 24 March 2022 22:40 , Liam James
The US has imposed sanctions on five entities and individuals in Russia, North Korea and China for violating a US weapons proliferation law, the State Department said.
The 1999 Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act gave the US power to sanction foreign individuals, bodies and governments for transferring material that could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction or cruise or ballistic missiles to any of the three countries named.
Sanctions under the act are brought fairly often. Eight individuals and entities from Iraq, Russia and Syria were sanctioned last July, with two other rounds of sanctions earlier in the year.
More than half of Ukraine’s children now displaced, says Unicef
Thursday 24 March 2022 21:00 , Rory Sullivan
More than half of Ukrainian children have been displaced by Putin’s war, Unicef has said.
Catherine Russell, Unicef’s executive director, confirmed the grim milestone:
Kremlin can’t blackmail EU with gas and oil, says Brussels
Thursday 24 March 2022 19:05 , Rory Sullivan
Russia cannot blackmail Europe with its energy resources, the EU has said.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, added that Moscow will not be allowed to avoid sanctions by asking customers to pay for its gas and oil in roubles.
“It would be an attempt to circumvent the sanctions. We will not allow our sanctions to be circumvented. The time when energy could be used to blackmail us is over,” she said.
Ukrainian orphans land in the UK
Thursday 24 March 2022 18:47 , Rory Sullivan
A flight bringing Ukrainian orphans from Poland has landed in the UK.
A month into Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, more than 3.5 million people have fled the country.
Nato ‘more united’ than ever, says Biden
Thursday 24 March 2022 18:28 , Rory Sullivan
Nato is “more united” than ever, Joe Biden has said, claiming Vladimir Putin underestimated the strength of the west’s response to his invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking about Vladimir Putin, the US president said: “He didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion.”
He added that Nato has “never been more united than it is today”.
Nato countries have applied harsh sanctions against Russia and have sent defensive weapons to Ukraine.
China will be in ‘significant jeopardy’ if it helps Russia, US tells Beijing
Thursday 24 March 2022 18:05 , Rory Sullivan
Joe Biden says he has warned his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that he and Beijing will be in “significant jeopardy” if they help Russia with its war in Ukraine.
Speaking in Brussels, the US president said he: “I made no threats, but I pointed out the number of American and foreign corporations [that] left Russia as a consequence of their barbaric behaviour.”
Biden says he told Xi aiding Russia would put him in ‘significant jeopardy’
Italy tells citizens not to volunteer as soldiers in Ukraine
Thursday 24 March 2022 17:48 , Rory Sullivan
Italy has urged its citizens not to travel to Ukraine to fight, with the foreign ministry saying such action could be “considered criminally relevant under current legislation”.
Eugenio Spina, the head of the police unit which investigates terrorism, estimated that 20 Italians were currently fighting in Ukraine.
“At the moment we do not have a sustained flow (of people), just lots of people saying they want to go,” he added.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged foreigners to fight for his country. Earlier this month, he said 16,000 people had volunteered to join the “international” legion.
Watch live as Biden speaks following Nato summit
Thursday 24 March 2022 17:35 , Rory Sullivan
US president Joe Biden is now talking about the situation in Ukraine.
Watch here:
US wants direct communication channel with Russian defence ministry
Thursday 24 March 2022 17:32 , Rory Sullivan
The US wants a more direct communication channel with Russia during its war in Ukraine, Washington’s ambassador to Moscow has said.
John Sullivan told the Novaya Gazeta that the US sought an emergency line with the Russian defence ministry, adding that a hotline between Moscow and Washington to prevent nuclear hostilities still exists.
“But we hope that we will have a direct line for more direct interaction on issues related to Ukraine, especially with the leadership of the ministry of defense,” Mr Sullivan said.
“We’re working on this, and, in fact, there has already been a precedent for such interaction – this is a communication channel that was used by the militaries of our countries to prevent conflict situations in Syria,” he added.
