Ukrainian servicemen take positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region, Ukraine February 26, 2022. Reuters/Maksim Levin
BREAKING: Russia's President Vladimir Putin has temporarily lost his most senior official position in world sports.
The International Judo Federation on Sunday cited "the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine” for suspending Putin’s honorary president status.
The Russian president is a keen judoka and attended the sport at the 2012 London Olympics.
The judo federation is rare among Olympic sports bodies for using the word "war” to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ordered by Putin since Thursday. Others have used phrases such as "escalation of conflict.”
A Kremlin-supporting oligarch and longtime friend of Putin, Arkady Rotenberg, remains on the IJF executive committee as development manager.
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Town near Ukraine's Kyiv hit by missiles, oil terminal on fire
Russian missiles have hit the Ukrainian town of Vasylkiv southwest of the capital, Kyiv, setting an oil terminal ablaze, the town's mayor said on Sunday.
"The enemy wants to destroy everything around," Natalia Balasinovich said in a video posted online.
Photographs and video posted online showed large flames rising under the night sky. The authorities warned residents to be on alert for toxic fumes.
Also on Sunday morning, Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's Luhansk province said an oil terminal was blown up by a Ukrainian missile in the town of Rovenky.
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Ukrainian health minister says 198 killed, 1000 wounded
The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive.
Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians.
He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday with massive air and missile strikes and troops forging into Ukraine from the north, east and south.
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Dutch embassy staff in Ukraine move to Poland
The Dutch government has shifted its embassy staff out of Ukraine amid Russia’s military onslaught on its neighbour.
The foreign ministry announced early Saturday that ambassador Jennes de Mol and his staff, who had already moved from Kyiv to Lviv before Russia’s invasion, will relocate to Jaroslaw, Poland.
The ministry said the diplomatic post that is helping Dutch citizens who want to leave Ukraine has been moved out of the country because of the deteriorating security situation in Lviv.
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Britain says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been slowed by strong Ukrainian resistance
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said fighting in the capital, Kyiv, was so far confined to "very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers.”
He said that "the main armored columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off.”
He said: "It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule. I think that will be a great cause of concern for President Putin and rather points to the fact that there was a lot of hubris in the Russian plan and that he may be awfully advised.”
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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.
Konashenkov claimed that the Russian military has taken full control of the southern city of Melitopol, about 35 kilometers inland from the Azov Sea coast, and said Russia-backed separatists have made significant gains in the eastern region of Donbas.
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No deaths from strike on residential building in Kyiv, Ukrainian government adviser says
A missile that struck a residential building in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv earlier on Saturday killed no one, an adviser to the interior minister said.
Anton Herashchenko also said Russia was lying about not shelling civilian infrastructure. According to the adviser, at least 40 such sites had been hit and Russian troops were shelling civilian sites.
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Ukraine reports fresh air, cruise missile strikes
Ukraine's military command said areas near the cities of Sumy, Poltava and Mariupol were hit by air strikes on Friday, with Russian Kalibr cruise missiles launched at the country from the Black Sea.
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Gunfire heard close to govt quarters in central Kyiv - witness
Gunfire was heard close to the government quarters in the centre of Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday morning, a witness told Reuters. Ukraine earlier reported an attack on a military base close to the city centre, which it said had been repelled.
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Biden approves $350 million in military aid for Ukraine
President Joe Biden instructed the U.S. State Department to release $350 million in military aid to Ukraine on Friday as it struggles to repulse a Russian invasion.
In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine's defense.
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Ukraine's Zelenskiy spoke to Biden about strengthening sanctions, defense assistance
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed strengthening sanctions, defense assistance and an anti-war coalition with U.S. President Joe Biden, he wrote on Twitter on Friday.
"Grateful to the U.S. for the strong support to Ukraine!," Zelenskiy wrote.
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Russian forces cut off two cities in northeastern Ukraine- IFX
Russian forces have cut off two cities - Sumy and Konotop - in northeastern Ukraine, Interfax news agency quoted Russia's defence ministry as saying on Friday.
The forces have taken out 211 Ukrainian military targets, Interfax reported, citing the ministry.
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Russia fired on foreign ships near Black Sea port: Ukraine's ministry
Russia fired on two foreign ships near the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi on Friday, Ukraine's infrastructure ministry said on its Facebook page.
Russia fired on "Namura Queen" under Panama's flag and "Millennial Spirit" under Moldova's flag, the ministry said.
The crew had been evacuated and taken to the Chernomorsk port by Ukrainian rescue service, it added.
Ukraine has said it closed all its seaports due to war with Russia.
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Ukrainian military vehicles enter Kyiv as Russian assault looms
Ukrainian military vehicles are entering the country's capital Kyiv to defend it against approaching Russian troops, Ukraine's interior ministry said on Friday.
Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said earlier the city had "entered into a defensive phase".
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Russia ready to send delegation to talk with Ukraine
The Kremlin says Russia is ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is willing to discuss a non-aligned status for Ukraine. Moscow has demanded Ukraine drop its bid to join NATO, and adopt a neutral status.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send the delegation in response to that offer.
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Romanian mobile teams can offer medical assistance to fleeing Ukrainians - minister
Romania has mobile teams ready to offer assistance to Ukrainians entering the country, and county hospitals are also ready to help, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, the government waived COVID-19 quarantine rules for Ukrainians fleeing after Russia launched an all-out invasion of their country by land, air and sea.
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Russia closes its airspace to British airlines
Russia has banned British airlines from landing at its airports or crossing its airspace, its state civil aviation regulator said on Friday. The move follows London's ban on the flights of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Russia to deploy paratroopers to guard Chernobyl site
Russia will deploy paratroopers to help guard the closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Ukraine's capital Kyiv, a spokesman for Russia's defence ministry said on Friday. Radiation levels at the plant are normal, the spokesman told a briefing. Russian troops, which started a full-scale military operation in Ukraine on Thursday, have destroyed 118 Ukrainian military infrastructure sites, he said.
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Kyiv calls air raid alert after Russian missile strikes
The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv called an air raid alert after Russian missile strikes early on Friday, Ukrainian television said, as municipal authorities urged people to go to the nearest shelters.
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UK says West to impose massive sanctions to hobble Russian economy
The West will impose massive sanctions to hobble the Russian economy after President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday.
"We will do what more we can in the days ahead," Johnson said on what further support Britain would give to Ukraine.
"Today, in concert with our allies, we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy," he said, in a televised address to the nation.
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Russia says cargo ships hit by Ukrainian missiles in Azov Sea
Two Russian civilian cargo ships were hit by a Ukrainian missile strike in the sea of Azov, causing casualties, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Thursday citing the federal security service.
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Ukraine says 50 Russian troops killed, four tanks destroyed
Ukraine's military said on Thursday it had destroyed four Russian tanks on a road near the eastern city of Kharkiv, killed 50 troops near a town in Luhansk region and downed a sixth Russian aircraft, also in the country's east.
Russia has denied reports that its aircraft or armoured vehicles have been destroyed.
Ukraine's border guard service said that three of its servicemen had been killed in the southern Kherson region and that several more were wounded.
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EU plans 'harshest' sanctions
The European Union says it is planning the "strongest, the harshest package” of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order, and we will hold President (Vladimir) Putin accountable for that.”
"We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval,” she said.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the "strongest, the harshest package” ever considered.
Oil surged above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 as Russia attacked sites across Ukraine, triggering fears of a disruption to energy exports at a time of already tight supplies.
Brent jumped almost 6% after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to strike military facilities across Ukraine. Kyiv called it a "full-scale invasion” and announced martial law, while Joe Biden said he would impose "severe sanctions” on Moscow.
Prices of natural gas and metals including gold, aluminum and copper also spiked. Russia is a key seller of commodities to global customers, with Europe relying on the nation for about a quarter of its oil and a third of its gas.
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West will impose unprecedented sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin authorised an invasion of Ukraine, British junior foreign minister James Cleverly said on Thursday. "We will be bringing forward ... in close concert with our international friends and allies, an unprecedented sanctions response, coordinated sanctions response, to punish this appalling decision," Cleverly said.
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Ukraine says at least 7 people killed by Russian shelling, 9 wounded
NATO chief convenes a meeting of ambassadors
BRUSSELS - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has convened a meeting of NATO ambassadors to assess the invasion of Ukraine, which borders several NATO members.
The meeting Thursday morning will "address the situation in Ukraine and the consequences of Russia’s unprovoked attack.”
Earlier, Stoltenberg had already condemned Russia’s invasion. "Despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression,” Stoltenberg said.
He also warned Moscow that the alliance will will "do all it takes to protect and defend” NATO members.
He called the invasion a "grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately.”
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Russian military says it has knocked out Ukraine’s air defense assets and airbases
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian strikes have "suppressed air defense means of the Ukrainian military,” adding that the infrastructure of Ukraine’s military bases has been incapacitated.” It denied the claims that a Russian warplane was shot down over Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military, meanwhile, reported that it has shot down five Russian aircraft while fending off the Russian attack on the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he unleashed an attack on Ukraine in a televised address early Thursday, drawing international condemnation.
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China advises its people in Ukraine to stay home
China is advising its people in Ukraine to stay home because of ongoing military actions and chaos but made no mention of Russian forces.
The notice issued on its Kyiv embassy’s social media account Thursday said: "Social order is chaotic and out of control, especially in the cities where at times of serious unrest."
It said a person walking on the streets could be a target of attack and traffic could be stopped at any time. It added that people should remain calm and contact local authorities if they come into danger.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the military operation in eastern Ukraine early Thursday.
China has denounced sanctions against Russia, with which it has increasingly aligned its foreign policy to challenge the West, and blamed the U.S. and its allies for provoking Moscow.
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More sanction will be in the offing: Top European Union chiefs
BRUSSELS - The top European Union chiefs said the invasion of Ukraine "will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia” and that more sanction will be in the offing.
The 27-nation bloc already issued sanctions on Russia for its recognition of breakaway republics in Ukraine earlier this week, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "will outline a further sanctions package.”
The 27 EU leaders will discuss them later Thursday at a summit meeting and they could be imposed soon after.
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Ukraine’s border guard agency says that the Russian military has attacked the country from neighboring Belarus.
The agency said that the Russian troops unleashed artillery barrage as part of an attack backed by Belarus. They said the Ukrainian border guards were firing back, adding that there was no immediate report of casualties.
Russian troops have deployed to its ally Belarus for military drills, a move that the West saw as a prelude to an invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is about 75 kilometers (50 miles) south of the border with Belarus.
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German Chancellor sharply condemns Russian attack
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine calling it "a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.”
The chancellor said Thursday morning that "the Russian attack on Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law. It cannot be justified by anything.”
He added that "Germany condemns this reckless act by President Putin in the strongest possible terms.”
Scholz said in a written statement that "our solidarity is with Ukraine and its people. Russia must stop this military action immediately."
He added Germany would coordinate closely with others within the framework of the Group of Seven, NATO and the European Union.
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Russia's attack on Ukraine was "the saddest moment”: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says Russia's attack on Ukraine - as he appealed for President Vladimir Putin to stop his troops - was "the saddest moment” of his five-year tenure.
The U.N. chief opened the emergency Security Council meeting by urgently appealing to Putin: "In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia."
But during the meeting, Putin announced early Thursday that he was launching a "special military operation” in eastern Ukraine.
Guterres later urged the Russian president to withdraw his troops and added: "In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century, with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation, but with an impact we cannot even foresee in relation to the consequences for the global economy.”
"What is clear for me is that this war doesn’t make any sense,” Guterres said, stressing that it violates the U.N. Charter and will cause a level of suffering if it doesn’t stop that Europe hasn’t know since at least the 1990s Balkans crisis.
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Asian stock markets plunge and oil prices surge
BEIJING - Asian stock markets have plunged and oil prices surged after President Vladimir Putin announced Russian military action in Ukraine.
Market benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul fell 2% and Hong Kong and Sydney lost more than 3% Thursday. Oil prices jumped nearly $3 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies.
Earlier, Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8% to an eight-month low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance.
Investors already were uneasy about the possible impact of the Federal Reserve’s plans to try to cool inflation by withdrawing ultra-low interest rates and other stimulus that boosted share prices.
