Russia-Ukraine War Day 3: Russian Army ordered to broaden advance 'from all directions'

All of the victims were residents of Toretsk, a city near the front line in Donetsk Oblast, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Administration.

The Archbishop of Goa and Daman Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao asked the Christian community in the state to observe March 2, which is Ash Wednesday that marks the beginning of the Lent Season, as a day of prayer and fasting for the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The military operation launched by Russia on the neighbouring Republic of Ukraine aiming at a full scale invasion of that country has sent shock waves throughout the globe and is threatening world peace, he said.

“As followers of the Prince of Peace, we cannot remain indifferent to this grave situation. We need indeed to arm ourselves with spiritual weapons of prayer and sacrifice. Though we look forward to the coming Wednesday as special day of prayer, we need to begin and keep praying with intensity even now, as the conflict continues to rage with every passing day, not showing any signs of abatement," the Archbishop said. 

Reuters: Kadyrov confirms deployment of Chechen forces to Ukraine. Kadyrov’s forces are infamous for serial human rights abuses in Chechnya.

From Tokyo to London to Taipei, Ukrainians living abroad and hundreds of protesters have turned out on the streets to join anti-war rallies spreading around the world as Russia’s troops pressed toward Ukraine’s capital.

Several hundred Ukrainians living in Japan gathered outside of Tokyo’s main train stations Saturday, chanting “Stop war!” and “Peace for Ukraine.” They held up signs including “No war,” “Stop Putin, Stop Russia,” while others waved Ukrainian flags. At a separate rally reportedly organized by Russian residents in Japan, several dozen people chanted “Hands off Ukraine!”

In Taiwan, more than 100 demonstrators chanting “Stand with Ukraine” and “Glory to Ukraine” protested outside the Russian representative office in Taiwan on Saturday.

“My family, my friends are now sheltered in their basements because of the air attacks,” said Yulia Kolorova, a 49-year-old Ukrainian living in Taiwan. “I just want them to be strong. I just can’t imagine how scary it is to see the missiles over your head. It’s surreal.”

"Whenever in life you feel things are becoming difficult, things are not moving, remember this day, February 26, and everything will be fine."
This is what Indian Ambassador to Romania, Rahul Shrivastava, told the Indian students on board the first evacuation flight from Bucharest just before it took off to Mumbai on Saturday.

The Indians reached Romania from Ukraine via the Suceava border crossing as part of a coordinated evacuation mission by the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania.

In his two-minute address, Shrivastava urged the students to convey to their stranded friends whenever they talk to them that the entire Indian government team is working "day and night" to evacuate everyone from Ukraine.

The envoy, a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official, said India's mission is not complete till it evacuates the last Indian citizen from Ukraine.

"You are in the last leg of your journey back home where your relatives, friends and families would be waiting with open arms to welcome you. While you reach there, they will embrace, you embrace them, hug them," he said.

"But while you do that, when you are back in our motherland, you should also remember that your friends are still there (Ukraine). When you talk to your friends who are waiting to be evacuated, you should tell and assure them that the entire government of India team is working day and night including all officials here to evacuate everyone," the envoy said.

He further added: "Our mission is not complete till we have taken the last person to India out of Ukraine. Wishing you a very safe journey back home."

In his address through the aircraft's passenger address (PA) system, Shrivastava also thanked Air India and the flight's crew members and wished all of them a very safe journey.

All the students gave a big round of applause to the envoy's brief remarks.

 French officials say marines patrolling the English Channel area have intercepted a cargo ship sailing under the Russian flag and escorted it to the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer for an investigation.

The interception of the ship, carrying cars, early Saturday was triggered by financial sanctions levied days ago against Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine. Maritime spokesperson Veronique Magnin said it appeared to be the first such action in the English Channel.

The approximately 130-meter-(427-foot) ship was headed from Rouen, in Normandy, to Saint Petersburg, and was stopped near Honfleur, Magnin said.

Customs officials carrying out the investigation were verifying if the vessel is indeed linked to Russian financial interests, the spokesperson said. The process could take up to 48 hours.

The French government has given maritime officials the power to intercept vessels suspected of contravening the sanctions, she said.

•  Ukraine has 'derailed' Russia's attack plan
• Zelensky urges Russians to pressure Putin into halting war
• President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine's forces have halted the Kremlin's push to capture Kyiv and oust him and urged Russians to pressure leader Vladimir Putin to stop the invasion

Internet connectivity in Ukraine has been badly affected by the Russian invasion, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country where fighting has been heaviest, internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Saturday. (Reuters)

The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indians has taken off from Romania, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, referring to India's evacuation of its nationals from Ukraine. He also said India is making progress in the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine.

"Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring," he said on Twitter.

"The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," he added. The Indians had exited Ukraine and reached Romania through land border crossings between the two countries.

The Union Cabinet was learnt to have been briefed on Saturday about the situation in Ukraine and efforts being taken to evacuate Indian nationals from the war-hit country. The Cabinet Committee on Security is also learnt to have met on Saturday amid the crisis in Ukraine after it was attacked by Russia.

Government sources said members of the Union Cabinet were briefed on the evolving situation in Ukraine and round-the-clock efforts being made by the government to bring back Indians from that country.

The government is bringing back Indians from Ukraine by operating special flights from its neighbouring countries, including Romania and Hungary.
Indians are being ferried to border areas of Ukraine before being flown to India from the bordering country concerned since the Ukrainian airspace is closed for civilian flights.

An Air India flight carrying Indians from Ukraine is enroute from Romania to Mumbai. Many more evacuation flights are expected to be operated in the coming days.

The Polish Interior Ministry on Saturday reported that about 100 thousand people have entered Poland from Ukraine in recent days, as the Russian forces have invaded Ukraine.

Russia suspends space launches from French Guiana over sanctions, AFP quotes official

Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian bomber and helicopter in the east as well as a transport plane southwest of Kyiv, news agency AFP reported.

State govt will provide air tickets to students returning to Kerala via Delhi, Mumbai on evacuation flights from Ukraine. District Collectors have been directed to make necessary arrangements for those reaching airports in Kerala: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The Russian military says it has launched a barrage of cruise missiles at Ukrainian military facilities. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Saturday that the military struck a range of Ukrainian military installations with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles.

He said that since the start of Russia’s attack Thursday, the military has hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, including 14 air bases and 19 command facilities, and destroyed 24 air defense missile systems, 48 radars, seven warplanes, seven helicopters, nine drones, 87 tanks and eight military vessels.

Konashenkov didn’t say how many Ukrainian troops were killed and didn’t mention any casualties on the Russian side. His claims and Ukraine’s allegations that its forces have killed thousands of Russian troops couldn’t be independently verified.

(AP)

The EU has imposed a complete ban on the supply and leasing of aircraft and helicopters to Russia, as well as their insurance and maintenance. The ban also applies to old contracts. The Russian Federation may lose half of its aircraft fleet.

Ukrainian President's Office on Saturday said that Russian Armed Forces have not gained any operational and tactical advantage over the past 24 hours. This "indicates that Ukraine is winning."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the missile slammed into a high-rise building on the southwestern outskirts of Kyiv near Zhuliany airport on Saturday. He said rescue workers were heading there.

He posted an image on a messaging app, showing a gaping hole on one side of the building that ravaged apartment units and several stores.

Russian troops were pressing their attack on the Ukrainian capital, trying to advance on the city from several directions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine began Thursday with massive air and missile strikes and ground troops moving in from the north, east and south.

(AP)

"If I can tell you one thing this morning it is that this war will last.... This crisis will last, this war will last and all the crises that come with it will have lasting consequences," French President Emmanuel Macron  told France's annual agriculture fair.

(AFP)

Ukrainian President Zelensky has said that Western 'partners' are sending weapons to Kyiv to fight Russians.

Air India's special flight AI-1941 for Bucharest, Romania takes off from Delhi for evacuation of stranded Indians from Ukraine

"Good morning everybody. Do not believe fake news. I am here. We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our Country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them:” Ukraine President in a video message.

Facebook has banned Russian state media from running ads and monetizing the platform over the Russian military operation in Ukraine, said Nathaniel Gleicher, the head of the social network's security policy, on Saturday. "We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world. We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend," Gleicher said in a tweet.

"It is exactly the safety of your nationals" in Ukraine for which "you should be the first" to vote to stop the war, Kyiv’s envoy at the United Nations has said in an apparent reference to India as it abstained on a UNSC resolution that "deplores" Russian aggression against Ukraine. “I am saddened, however, that there is a small, handful of members that seem to be still tolerating the war,” Sergiy Kyslytsya said after the Security Council voted on the US-led draft resolution.

US President Joe Biden on Friday authorized a sanction of USD 350 million to Ukraine for procurement of Defense equipment and imparting military training and education. Authorization was also given to the secretary of state to sanction up to USD 250 million in assistance, if "it is important to the security interests of the United States," a Memorandum issued by the White House said. The aggregate assistance to Ukraine by the US is to the tune of USD 600 million.

The Indian Air Force has decided not to deploy its aircraft in a multilateral air exercise in the UK next month in view of the situation arising out of the crisis in Ukraine. The exercise 'Cobra Warrior' is scheduled to take place from March 6-27 at Waddington in the United Kingdom. "In light of the recent events, IAF has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK," the IAF tweeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that Moscow would attempt to take Kyiv before dawn. 

"We cannot lose the capital," he said in an earlier address.

(AFP)

As many as fifty counties have issued a joint statement saying that Russia "abused" its veto power by blocking a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning the Russian military action in Ukraine. The joint statement, which was read aloud by the US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said this resolution was "vital and straightforward." "Fundamentally, it was about whether the countries on the Security Council - charged with maintaining international peace and security - believe in upholding the UN Charter," the statement said. 

Holding Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible, the signatories said that Russia's action amounts to "violation of the UN Charter." "Russia has abused its power today to veto our strong resolution. But Russia cannot veto our voices. Russia cannot veto the Ukrainian people. Russia cannot veto their own people protesting this war in the streets. Russia cannot veto the UN Charter. Russia cannot, and will not, veto accountability," the statement added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer. Zelenskyy said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat. Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

Two saboteurs were captured near Koblevo. They are already testifying to the relevant service agency. This was reported by the head of the public council at the Odessa regional state administration, Serhiy Bratchuk. Shooting and explosions are going on in the city.

Russia attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv. The attack was repulsed: AFP quotes Ukraine's Army which confirmed the same news on its verified Facebook page.

The metro station "Polytechnic Institute" in Kyiv was closed inside with gates, i.e. it is temporarily impossible to enter it from outside People there reported about this incident by phone.

An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive. The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 am and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 am (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on the phone on Saturday and agreed they must respond to Russian invasion of Ukraine properly to prevent it from becoming "a wrong lesson" because of its potential influence in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. Hayashi declined to comment if Japan plans to join the United States, Britain and the European Union in imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He said Japan will closely stay in touch with other Group of Seven members and the international society while watching the development. Hayashi told reporters that he and Blinken reassured their commitment to work closely with the rest of the international society. They agreed that it is necessary to respond to Russia properly and to absolutely reject the unilateral act to change the status quo and not leave "a wrong lesson." (AP) 

Facebook says it was penalized by Russia after refusing to halt fact-checkers: AFP

Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks, President Zelenskiy's spokesman said, adding that Ukraine is 'ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace'

(ANI quotes Reuters)

China's permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun said that the security of one country cannot come at the cost of undermining the security of other nations..., China abstained in the vote". "We believe that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states should be respected and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld," said Zhang Jun. "...Security of one country cannot come at the cost of undermining the security of other nations...China abstained in the vote...Ukraine should become a bridge between East and West, said China's permanent representative to the UN.

India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, with New Delhi saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and voicing "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up. The resolution did not pass since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February, used its veto. The resolution received 11 votes in favour and three abstentions, including by India, China and the UAE.

Ukraine's military said it has shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board. According to a statement from the military's General Staff, the Il-76 heavy transport plane was shot down near Vasylkiv, a city 40 kilometres south of Kyiv. The Russian military has not commented on the incident so far, and the report could not be immediately verified. (AP)