Russia-Ukraine War: Russia temporarily cuts off Ukraine from Sea of ​​Azov

The head of the Russian National Defense Control Center stated that Moscow has notified Kyiv that it is willing to let militants flee Mariupol via humanitarian corridors in order to save the city and its people. The Defence Official further stated that Russia is prepared to provide militants assurances that they will not be harmed if they lay down their arms, according to Russian media

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Russia has temporarily cut off Ukraine from access to the Sea of ​​Azov. It also said that the Russian occupation forces are waging a strategic offensive on Ukraine and that their key objective of destroying Ukrainian Armed Forces groups. It further said that they want to encircle Kyiv, reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and gain control of Ukraine's left bank.

Russia committed severe strategic mistakes during its invasion of Ukraine, as the US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin suggests. He stated that Russia have logistical issues, and he doesn't see any evidence of effective tactical intelligence or the integration of aviation assets with ground movement. He further said that he believe that Russia expected to conquer the capital city quickly but that has not been possible.

Ukrainian Internal Ministry announced on Telegram that in most of the parts of Ukraine, the service centres and migration service has reopened, claiming that they have been working on it for the last three weeks.

"We have been working for all three weeks to restore the capacity of the services provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. And now I can clearly say that in most regions of Ukraine the work of service centres and the migration service, which works with passports and citizenship issues, has been restored," said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

On March 21, the mortal remains of Naveen Shekarappa, who was killed in Ukraine amid war with Russia, will arrive in Bengaluru. Naveen's father Shankarappa revealed the news stating that his son's body will arrive in Bengaluru at 3 am, and they will keep it for the public view. He further said that they have made the decision to donate his body to the SS Hospital in Davanagere for medical research.

The majority of UN Security Council member nations rejected false charges of Russia of US military-biological operations in Ukraine on Friday. 

Mykhailo Podolyak, who is the advisor of the Ukrainian President stated that on March 18, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was convened at the request of the Russian Federation, with an incredibly cynical and false agenda on new facts of US military and biological activity in Ukraine. He claimed that Russia tried to present new facts related to US military-biological activity in Ukraine but the UNSC rejected the claims of Russia.

Indian Oil, which is India's public sector company has purchased around 3 million barrels of crude oil after Russia offered a significant discount over Brent crude, despite the warnings of the United States, according to Russian media. White House Press Secretary stated that India's purchase of Russian oil would put the world's largest democracy on the wrong side of history. In the meanwhile, India has criticised the US for its warning against Russian oil imports and stated that it will continue to import energy from whatever sources best suit its needs, including Russia.

Russia and Ukraine are getting closer to an agreement on a neutral status for Ukraine, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, who is in talk with Ukrainian officials said. Medinsky, who led Russian negotiators in numerous rounds of discussions with Ukraine, said Friday that the sides have narrowed their differences over Ukraine's decision to abandon its NATO ambition in favour of neutral status.

Medinsky said that one of the important concerns in talks is Ukraine's neutral status and no NATO membership. He also stated that the sides are now on the same page in terms of Ukraine's demilitarisation.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video call to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Both the Presidents agreed that the video call was constructive and also stated that they have to make appropriate efforts to resolve the Ukraine situation. The leaders are alo looking for ways to effectively solve global hotspot concerns while also keeping global stability and the livelihoods of billions of people in mind.

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an international human rights organisation, Reporters Without Borders, has filed a case against Russia for its atrocities against journalists at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The organisation is demanding an investigation against the Russian military for their crimes against the journalists during the invasion of Ukraine

Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Ukrainian President shared the status of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, where he stated that the Russian assertions are simply their requesting positions and all statements are meant to create conflict in the media, among other things. He further stated that their positions remain the same and that is a ceasefire, army withdrawal, and substantial security assurances based on realistic formulas.

Fearing that Poland might be the next target of Putin's assault, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a new bill on March 18 that would nearly quadruple Poland's army to 300,000 troops. According to Polish media, he stated that they foresaw that Russia could attack Ukraine and that we could be the next victim of a ruthless onslaught in this regard in the future. 

"Conflict and confrontation are not in anyone’s interest", Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out during his video call with US President Joe Biden on March 18. According to Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, during the high-level interaction, President Xi mentioned that the world is 'neither tranquil nor stable' at the moment and asserted that the two countries must shoulder responsibilities to guide it towards peace.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States' ambassador to the United Nations, took her turn at the meeting to accuse Russia of a false flag operation. She went on to claim that Russia is spewing conspiracy theories and that it is using its rhetoric to plot a false flag assault and accuse others of doing the same thing it is doing.

She claimed, "In fact, it is Russia that has long maintained a biological weapons program in violation of international law. It is Russia that has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons. It is Russia who is the aggressor here. It was Russian operatives who poisoned Aleksey Navalny and Sergey and Yulia Skripal with nerve agents. It is Russia that continues to support the Assad regime in Syria and shield it from accountability when the UN... have confirmed that Assad has repeatedly used chemical weapons over the past several years."

Components of biological weapons were being produced on the Ukrainian territory and Russia's Ministry of Defense is receiving more material about the unlawful activities carried out by the Pentagon, a Russian representative claimed at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine.

According to local media reports, YouTube, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, is on the verge of being blocked in Russia. Russian news agency RIA News reported, citing an unnamed source that, YouTube could be blocked in Russia by the end of next week, or even today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was cut off during an address to a massive rally in Russia commemorating the annexation of Crimea, according to media reports. The Russian President was in the middle of a sentence when a state broadcast cut to patriotic songs, confusing the audience.

However, a Kremlin spokesman quickly clarified that the glitch was caused by a technical malfunction, Sputnik reported.

Speaking to 100,000 supporters at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted that the 'main goal' of the Russian Operation in Ukraine is to 'set Donbass free from genocide'. He also declared the 'special operation' in Ukraine a 'success.'

In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict, the foreign ministries of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania announced on Friday that ten Russian diplomats had been expelled. Four diplomats were expelled from Lithuania, and three were expelled from Latvia and Estonia, respectively. Read more.

Despite modest advances by Russia, UK Defense Ministry claims the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Mariupol remain "encircled." On Twitter, the UK Ministry of Defence posted a map with the most recent Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine.

Prior to their scheduled talks on Friday, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping accused each other of providing military assistance to the countries they support and of exacerbating the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Read more.

Switzerland, following the European Union, imposes sanctions against Russia similar to those imposed by Brussels, they will come into force in the coming days, the Swiss government said in a statement.

"On March 18, the Swiss Federal Council decided to also impose these EU sanctions. The corresponding measures will come into force in the coming days ..." - it says.

Thus, Switzerland, among other things, will impose a ban on the export of luxury goods to the Russian Federation, but the government notes that such sanctions affect only a small part of Switzerland's global exports of such goods.

"The ban on the export of luxury goods, present in the new sanctions, affects only a small part of Switzerland's global exports of such goods. However, certain companies will be seriously affected," the statement said.

Mariupol airport comes under the control of the DPR group, claim reports.

Russia's request to freeze a FIFA ban on its soccer teams ahead of next week's World Cup qualifying playoffs was denied Friday.

FIFA said the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the Russian soccer federation's bid for an urgent interim ruling to freeze the ban pending a full appeal, which could come within weeks.

The CAS decision means Russia will not be able to play Poland in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

The latest ruling follows a similar CAS refusal on Tuesday to freeze UEFA's ban on Russian national and club teams in European soccer.

Russian athletes have been banned from competing in multiple sports because of the country's invasion of Ukraine. Belarusian athletes have also been banned because their country has been an ally of Russia

Latvia expels three staff members of the Russian embassy in connection with activities contradicting their diplomatic status, announces Foreign Minister.

On March 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a 'substantial conversation' with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In a tweet, he stated that the European Commission's verdict on Ukraine's EU membership application will be ready in a few months. On the other hand, the European Commission President confirmed that Ukraine's European journey had begun. She also assured Zelenskyy that the EU would continue to help Ukraine.

Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland's Prime Minister, announced on March 18 that the country has introduced the Anti-Putin shield. According to the PM's announcement, the measure aims to combat the massive economic turbulence caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ten Russian diplomats in Bulgaria were declared Personae Non Gratae, according to the Russian embassy in the country, Sputnik reported on March 18.

According to media sources, Russia has threatened to attack possible S-300 air defence system supply networks to Ukraine. Following Slovakia's announcement that it is willing to provide the equipment to Ukraine if they are replaced quickly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Moscow "will not allow" the transfer, according to Kyiv Post.

In response to the looming global energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency has issued a new 10-Point Plan to Reduce Oil Consumption. Check it out here:

According to Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 98-year-old WWII veteran named Olha Tverdokhlibova is ready to defend her homeland once more. Despite her skills and expertise, she was denied due to her age, according to the ministry.

During a telephonic conversation on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's attention to rocket attacks on the cities of Donetsk and Makeevka by the Ukrainian military, according to the Kremlin press office. Putin went on to say that these strikes are "war crimes," but the West has turned a blind eye towards it.

On Thursday, Canada's Permanent Mission to the United Nations trolled a Russian diplomat by marking up his letter denouncing a UN resolution condemning attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's UN representative, encouraged member states to reject a proposed humanitarian resolution in response to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and instead approve Russia's own draught resolution. However, Canada's UN representative chose to release copies of the letter to Twitter, with red ink edits.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claims that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is attempting to excuse his indecisiveness by dividing regular Russians and Putin. He went on to say that it could become a misleading trend throughout Europe, given that 71% of Russians publicly support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

According to a Chinese diplomat, China has been urging the international community to focus on encouraging peace talks and preventing large-scale humanitarian disasters. He further added that China has made significant efforts in this regard during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a tweet, he also stated that China has proposed a six-point plan to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and has made concrete steps. He concluded by saying that that China will continue to give further humanitarian help as needed.

2 people have been killed while 6 others have been wounded by Russian airstrikes in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast. The March 18 missile strike hit a residential building and an administrative building, Kyiv Independent reported citing Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration.

Russia's Foreign Minister said the United States wants the world to look like an "American saloon" where Americans call on the shots. According to Lavrov, there were many countries that "did not want to take orders from 'Uncle Sam'.” Talking about Western sanctions, the Russian diplomat said that they have made Russia stronger as they “have lost any illusion that we can ever rely on the West".

Ukraine born actress Mila Kunis and husband actor Ashton Kutcher have successfully raised $34 Million for Ukraine. Announcing the news online, they said the money was donated to Flexport and Airbnb, which both help Ukrainian refugees. The duo began their fundraiser at the beginning of March to lend support to the Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to flee their homeland as Russia continues its military operation.

One person was killed after a multi-storey teaching building was shelled this morning in the eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. Furthermore, 11 others were injured while another person continues to be trapped in the rubble. Russian bombs also hit the eastern city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast today, killing two people and wounding six, city’s governor Pavlo Kyrylenko told Sky News.

Ukraine, Russia agree on 9 humanitarian corridors for March 18, Kyiv Independent reported. The designated corridors may include cities of Mariupol, Sumy, Trostyanets, Lebedyn, Konotop, the settlements of Krasnopillya, and Velyka Pysarivka. Ukraine plans to deliver humanitarian aid to Balakleya and Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast.

UK's communications regulator Ofcom, on Friday, revoked the licence of Russian Television channel RT with immediate effect. “We do not consider RT to be fit and proper to hold a UK licence and cannot be satisfied that it can be a responsible broadcaster,” Ofcom said on Twitter announcing the decision. 

Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv said that he believes there will be an assault similar to those seen in Mariupol and Kharkiv.  Speaking to Sky News, Vitali Klitschko pointed to damage caused by a recent aerial strike. While the Russian troops haven’t reached the city centre yet, 6 buildings - including a preschool – were damaged in a recent attack in the region.  

The war in Ukraine is "absolutely going the Ukrainian way" but Europe should be on guard against nuclear attacks, one former NATO commander has warned. On Friday, Former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, General Sir Richard Shirreff, told Sky News Russian forces have shown "extraordinary incompetence and lack of professionalism", adding "Amateurs talk tactics and professionals talk logistics."

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Friday sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia in reaction to its invasion of Ukraine were starting to have a “real impact”. Speaking to BFM TV, he said, "We hope these sanctions will force Russian President Vladimir Putin to change his plans. France is a part of the European Union which imposed the fourth package of sanctions to pressurise Moscow on ending its military attacks on Ukraine. 

Over 22,500 Indian citizens were evacuated from Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, External Affairs Minister said. In an address to the Rajya Sabha external affairs minister, S Jaishankar said that over 22,500 Indian citizens have returned safely under Operation Ganga. He added that 150 foreign nationals of 18 countries including Bangladesh and Nepal were also evacuated from Ukraine and brought to India. Notably, over 7,629 people were rescued by flights operated by IndiGo. 

One person was killed and four others injured after parts of a Russian missile fell on a residential building in Kyiv causing a fire. The 5-story building in Podil district was hit on the morning of March 18. The Emergency Services said that 12 people were rescued and 98 were evacuated from the building.

Credits: State Emergency Services

The UK Ministry of Defence released its latest intelligence report on the situation in Ukraine, saying Russian forces have made “minimal progress” this week. In addition, it said that Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities. Meanwhile, the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Mariupol remain encircled and subject to heavy Russian shelling.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered 23^rd day on Friday. At least 21 people were killed in Merefa when Russian artillery destroyed a school and a community centre, AP reported citing a local official. Merefa is located near the northeast city of Kharkiv, which has been under Russian control for weeks now.  

Here are Ukrainian cities in pictures as the invasion continues:

Chernihiv,  Credits: AP

Kyiv, Credits: AP

Mariupol, Credits: AP

Swiss multinational food and drink processing firm Nestle has refused to completely withdraw from Russia. At present, it has halted the supply of non-essential items like mineral water and coffee but it continues to supply essentials like baby food. Just a day ago, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that he spoke with Nestle's CEO about the "side effect" of continuing to do business in Russia.

Russian missiles struck an aircraft repair plant in Lviv on Friday morning, according to Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. In a telegram Post, he revealed that several missiles hit the site where workers had already stopped working before the attack. As of now, no casualties have been reported. Notably, Lviv, located in the western part of Ukraine is NATO’s doorstep into Ukraine.

“Russian missiles hit the area near Lviv airport. I can't say the address in real-time yet, but it's definitely not an airport. The windows in the buildings of our ATP-1 are damaged. The situation on the spot is being clarified and will be published later. Be careful, follow the instructions in case of air alarm and do not share photos from the place of shelling, “he wrote in the Telegram Post.

In their latest attack on Ukraine, Russian troops shelled Kharkiv kindergarten. "Another 'legitimate military target" according to Russia's MoD, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated. 

Russia has established a no-fly zone over Ukraine’s Donbas region, according to a separatist official from the Donetsk People’s Republic, The Interfax News Agency reported on Friday. In a separate report, Tass News Agency reported that the no-fly zone in the South of Russia has been extended till March 26. “The Krasnodar airport confirmed the extension of the closure of airports in southern Russia until 3:45 am Moscow time on 26 March,” TASS added.

Lviv’s mayor, on Friday, confirmed the blasts heard earlier in the morning hit the area near the city’s airport but did not hit the airport itself. I can’t say the address in real-time yet, but it’s definitely not an airport,” Mayor Andriy Sadovy said on his Telegram account after 8 am (local time).

As the Russia-Ukraine war entered Day 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday held a telephonic conversation with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, stressing the importance of France's support for Kyiv. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy informed, during the brief call, he also emphasised the continuation of peace dialogue aimed at ending the conflict by strengthening the "anti-war coalition."  

Emergency services have been deployed to douse fire in one of the largest shopping centres in Kharkiv. The city came under attack earlier today leading to the death of one rescue worker. Another rescuer is being treated for injuries. Ukraine’s state emergency services said they received a call reporting commercial pavilions had caught fire with two residential buildings partially damaged.

All Images: Ukraine’s state emergency services

Russian forces have made few moves in the last day, Sky News reported citing a senior US defence department official. The report which came before Russian troops shelled Lviv, stated that there was no bombardment in the course of 24 hours. Meanwhile, there were naval activities in the North Black Sea off the coast of Odesa. Officials have warned against a possible attack on the southern port city.

Japan has imposed sanctions on 15 Russians and nine additional entities in its latest measure to pressurize the Putin Administration to end the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The list comprises of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswomen Maria Zakharova along with 4 deputy defence ministers of the country- Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Aleksey Krivoruchko, Timur Ivanov and Dmitry Bulgakov. 

As the west continues to isolate the Russian Federation by halting the supply of products and services, two brands are facing difficulties due to franchising. Burger King (American brand)  has not been able to close 800 of its restaurants in Russia and Marks & Spencer (British brand) has struggled to close its supermarkets there because they are franchises. Burger King Holdings said its independent operator in Russia "refused" to close the branches.

Australia said on March 18 it expanded sanctions against Russia to include 11 more Russian banks and government entities, as well as oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg.

As Russian troops continue to close down on Kyiv, explosions were reported in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv earlier this morning. As per Ukraine 24 TV News, a minimum of three blasts were heard in the city located in the western part of the country. Social media videos and photos showed smoke billowing from buildings.

Over 3,800 people have been evacuated from Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the conflict, Interfax News Agency said. Some 3,810 people have been evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors today, it cited a senior official as saying. More than 2,000 people have fled the besieged city of Mariupol, as per the country's deputy PM. 

Ukrainian rescuers have saved 130 people from the basement of a theatre that was shelled by Russian troops on Thursday. The theatre located in Mariupol was sheltering 1000-2000 residents when the aerial strike hit the building. The ancient port city of Mariupol has been under Russian siege for weeks now. More than 30,000 civilians have fled the city while 80% of the total residential buildings have been obliterated in the shellings. 

US president Joe Biden labelled his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “a murderous dictator,” and “a pure thug” during an address for St Patrick’s day, according to The Guardian. The US leader said that the Russian President was paying a price for his aggression. Earlier this week, Biden triggered sharp criticism from Kremlin after he said Putin was a “war criminal.”

Russia has attacked medical institutions 43 times since the start of its all-out war against Ukraine, WHO said on Thursday. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that aerial strikes on medical facilities violate international humanitarian laws. It has been 23 days since the Vladimir Putin led invasion began. 

Amidst the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war, Pentagon has said that the intelligence that it provided to Ukraine helped it in its resistance against the invaders.

As per Sputnik, Moultrie while speaking at the hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on “defence intelligence to support warfighters and policy makers” on Thursday, said, "I would say that the intelligence we are sharing and the work that we are doing to support the Ukrainian government is making a difference. It's accurate, timely, and actionable." He also added that Ukraine is pleased with the support extended by the United States in the war situation.

As the war entered its 23^rd day on Friday, Ukraine’s Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk requested Red Cross to urge Russia to allow them to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. Russia has not attempted to contact the Ukrainian government to extradite the bodies of its troops, she said. 

Canada will offer Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion a temporary Canadian residence permit for up to three years. According to UN, the number of refugees that have fled the war is now eclipsing 3 million. “Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality may stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years,” the Canadian govt. said, as reported by The Guardian.

US President Joe Biden will hold a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at 9:00 am (EST) on Friday, White House said. Both the leaders are scheduled to discuss the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, this comes as US State Secretary Antony Blinken warned that Beijing could face consequences if it tried to help Moscow in its military operations.

"This is part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the (People’s Republic of China)," WH said in a statement. "The two leaders will discuss managing the competition between the two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern," it added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Wednesday, thanked Italy’s Minister of Culture after the latter said that Rome was ready to rebuild the theatre destroyed by Russian shelling. “Thanks Dario Franceschini. You set a good example to follow. Together we will rebuild the country to the last brick,” the 44-year-old President said. On Thursday, Russian troops bombed a theatre in Mariupol sheltering 1000 to 2000 civilians. 

Ukrainian military released its daily operational report late on Wednesday claiming that Russia was now using “foreigners” to make up for the loss of personnel. “According to available information, the Russian occupiers have already picked up 1,000 volunteers from the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah,” the ministry of defence said, adding that the main requirement for foreign fighters is the experience of fighting in the city. The report also stated that Russian troops were focused on retaining the occupied territory and preparing for a possible attack on Kyiv.

Commenting on the ongoing negotiations with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was not the time to reveal Ukraine’s tactics in the talks with Russia. “Working more in silence than on television, radio or on Facebook,” Zelenskyy said. “I consider it the right way.” Soon after completing the fourth round of negotiations, both the warring sides agreed to draw a tentative peace plan to end the war. 

Ukraine’s embattled President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was thankful to the US for the additional military aid but stopped short of disclosing the specifications of it. Making a late-night address on Wednesday, he refrained from revealing the details of the package and said, “This is our defence.” 

“When the enemy doesn’t know what to expect from us,” he continued. “As they didn’t know what awaited them after Feb. 24. They didn’t know what we had for defence or how we prepared to meet the blow,” the 44-year old said. US announced US$800 of aditional military aid to Ukraine earlier this week. 

Ukraine’s embattled President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was thankful to the US for the additional military aid but stopped short of disclosing the specifications of it. Making a late-night address on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that revealing the details of the military support would tip off Russia. Earlier this week, Biden has announced US$800 Billion of additional aid to Ukraine. 

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Thursday, said that American President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xi tomorrow. He further asserted that the call between the two leaders will make clear that the US "will not hesitate to impose costs" if Beijing supports Russia's aggression. The war between Russia and Ukraine entered its 23rd day on Friday. 

Russian forces have captured Viktor Tereshchenko, mayor of Ukraine's north-eastern settlement of Velykoburlutska, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration, in a video message on Thursday.

"We have news today that (the Russians) captured the head of the Velykoburlutska community, Viktor Nikolaevich Tereshchenko. Such people need to have security. Victor Nikolaevich was kidnapped simply from his workplace and taken to the local police station. They are holding him and will not release him," Syniehubov said in the video.

Ukrainian actress Oksana Shvets has been killed in a Russian rocket attack on a residential building in Kyiv.

Confirming the demise of Oksana, her troupe, the Young Theater, issued a statement that read, "During the rocket shelling of a residential building in Kyiv, a well-deserved artist of Ukraine Oksana Shvets was killed."

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Oksana was 67. She had been awarded one of Ukraine's highest artistic honors, the title of which roughly translates as 'Honored Artist of Ukraine'.

Australia has imposed sanctions on 11 Russian banks and many governmental entities, including those responsible for managing the Russian sovereign debt, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The sanctions have been introduced over the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

"The Australian Government has placed sanctions on 11 additional Russian banks and government entities, with the majority of the country's banking assets now covered by our sanctions along with all of the entities that handle Russia's sovereign debt," the ministry said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said that China "bears responsibility" to use its influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. Blinken's remarks come ahead of US President Joe Biden's call on Friday with China's Xi Jinping

"We continue to call on all nations, especially those with direct influence with Russia, to use whatever leverage they have to compel Moscow to end this war of choice. We believe China, in particular, has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support," Blinken said.

According to Spectator index, General Roman Gavrilov, the Deputy Director of Russia's National Guard, has resigned. General Gavrilov, 45, was detained earlier this week amid claims he had 'leaked information' and 'squandered' much-needed fuel. 

Ukraine Air Defence Forces hit at least 14 Russian air targets on March 17.

Russia halted its call for a vote on its draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine over lack of support and will instead call for an emergency meeting to address the US bio-laboratories in the war-torn country. "We decided, on this stage, not to ask for a vote on our draft, but we are not withdrawing the draft resolution. Instead, tomorrow morning, we will ask for an emergency meeting to discuss again the issue of US bio laboratories in Ukraine, using the new documents we obtained in the course of the special military operation," Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said during a Security Council meeting on Thursday.

ANI

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that at least 12 people have been killed and 34 people have been injured in at least 43 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine amid intensified attacks by Russia. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his remarks to the UN Security Council said, "Attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law - anytime, anywhere. They deprive people of urgently-needed care and break already strained health systems. That is what we are seeing in Ukraine."

India's Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti, during the UN emergency meeting, said that New Delhi has rescued 22,500 Indians from Ukraine. Appreciating the cooperation proffered by Ukrainian authorities, he said India also assisted people from other countries to relocate from the war zone. "We've ensured the safe return of about 22,500 Indians from #Ukraine, assisted nationals from 18 other countries. We appreciate the facilitation rendered by Ukraine authorities and its neighbouring countries in ensuring their safe return," said Tirumurti.

India emphasized that humanitarian action shall be guided by the principles of humanity and should not be politicised while reiterating its previous calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Thursday. "Allow me to underscore that it is important that humanitarian action is always guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance, i.e., humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. These measures should not be politicized," India's Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti said at the meeting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on the ongoing war on Thursday. According to the Twitter post of Zelenskyy, both the leader discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine and the continuation of peaceful dialogue. "Continued dialogue with  President @EmmanuelMacron. Discussed the support for Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression, especially in the defence sphere. Emphasis was put on the continuation of peaceful dialogue. We must strengthen the anti-war coalition. #StopRussia.

The UN political chief is calling for an investigation of massive civilian casualties and the destruction of hundreds of residential buildings, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and for those responsible to be held accountable. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the UNSCon Thursday that “international humanitarian law is crystal clear” in prohibiting direct attacks on civilians in military operations and ensuring their protection. Yet, she said, many of the daily attacks that are battering Ukrainian cities “are reportedly indiscriminate, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.”

The House voted overwhelmingly to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, preparing for President Joe Biden to enact higher tariffs on more products and further weaken the Russian economy in response to its military assault on Ukraine. The US has already taken steps to shut off the importation of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The vote on Thursday sets the stage for making it more expensive to import certain steel, aluminum and plywood items, among other goods.

At least 21 people have been killed and another 25 were injured when after Russian forces shelled the town of Merefa in Kharkiv, according to the regional prosecutor's office. The attack occurred at 3:30 am (local time) and destroyed a school and an arts club, the prosecutor's office said, as per CNN.

A day after United Nations’ highest court ordered Russia to stop hostilities in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko demanded Moscow to give up all the rights granted under the UN Charter. The statement from the Ukrainian Ministry came as the Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine despite the International Court of Justice's order to stop it immediately. He also demanded Russia to ditch its right of veto in the UN Security Council as it has violated the legal order.
"Russia wants to sit on two chairs at the same time. On the one hand, it does not want to implement the mandatory order of the UN’s International Court of Justice. On the other hand, it wants to continue using the privileges of international law. But the international law cannot be wagged like a dog’s tail," Nikolenko told  National News Agency of Ukraine, Ukrinform on Thursday. 

The US State Department confirmed that an American citizen was killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv.

The department did not immediately confirm the identity of the American, who was at least the second American citizen to be killed in the conflict, after the killing of journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud last week.

Chernihiv police said on Facebook there was a heavy artillery attack on the city and a U.S. citizen was among the civilians killed.

As the Russian forces are now using advanced weapons to target Ukraine, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced the deployment of the Sky Sabre missile system to Poland. According to a report by Sky News, the announcement from Wallace came after he held a closed-door meeting with his Polish counterpart on Thursday. Notably, he is currently on a trip to Warsaw. Apart from announcing the deployment of the Sky Sabre missile, the minister also vowed to deploy at least a hundred troops to Poland.

Kosovo’s president on Thursday asked US President Joe Biden to help Kosovo become a NATO member at a time that Russia is making efforts to destabilize the Balkans. President Vjosa Osmani sent a letter to Biden saying that “Kosovo’s membership in NATO has become an imperative.”

Kosovo, “the most pro-American and pro-NATO country in the world,” is excluded from NATO enlargement processes, she said in a letter made available to The Associated Press.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, took to Twitter on Thursday and said he got a call from an imposter claiming to be the Ukrainian prime minister. According to Wallace, the caller asked him a few questions and, when he realised the caller was suspicious, he terminated the call. "No amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks can distract from Russia’s human rights abuses and illegal invasion of Ukraine. A desperate attempt," he wrote.

Amid the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced to hold negotiations with the aggressor, Russia. According to a report by the Russian news agency, Sputnik, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has set March 17 as the date for the negotiations between the leader. Notably, this came a day after the Turkish leader held a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed the situation.
"Our leader held talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday and, today it is planned to hold talks with Putin," Cavusoglu said during a press conference in Kyiv.

Rescuers searched for survivors Thursday in the ruins of a theatre blown apart by a Russian airstrike in the besieged city of Mariupol. At the same time, scores of Ukrainians across the country were killed in ferocious urban attacks on a school, a hostel and other sites. Hundreds of civilians took shelter in the grand, columned theatre in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the southern port city of 4,30,000. More than a day after the airstrike, there were no reports of deaths. With communications disrupted across the city, there were also conflicting reports on whether anyone had emerged from the rubble.

Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs, Liu Xiaoming, on Thursday, took to Twitter affirmed that the Chinese government was ready to initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Also, taking a dig at the criticizers, he said," China will continue to promote peace talks and play its due role in the Ukraine issue. China is a major country with the most laudable record and credibility when it comes to peace and security. Any attempt to deny China’s efforts and distort China’s intention is irresponsible."

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading economies are calling on Russia to comply with the International Court of Justice’s order to stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw its military forces.

In a joint statement, the G-7′s top diplomats condemned what they described as “indiscriminate attacks on civilians” by Russian forces including the siege of Mariupol and other cities.

They accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of conducting an “unprovoked and shameful war” that has forced millions to flee their homes and resulted in the destruction of infrastructure, hospitals, theatres and schools.

The G-7 said that “those responsible for war crimes, including indiscriminate use of weapons against civilians, will be held responsible” and welcomed work to investigate and gather evidence in this regard, including by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

AP

A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is likely to take place in the next few weeks, Ukraine President's advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Thursday. According to reports, Russia and Ukraine are drawing up a tentative peace plan to conclude the war. The deal includes a ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops if Kyiv renounces its ambitions for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and accepts limits on its armed forces, The Kyiv Independent reported. The meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could take place once this peace treaty is finalised.

According to reports Ukraine, Russia draw up a tentative peace plan to end the war. The Kyiv Independent said the deal included a ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops if Kyiv renounced its ambitions for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and accepted limits on its armed forces.
 

Ukraine intends to end the war with the Russian Federation by forming a new international security coalition
Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated this in an interview with the Polish newspaper

Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe will no longer be attempting this year to send its first rover to Mars, which was to have probed whether the planet ever hosted life. The European Space Agency confirmed Thursday that it's indefinitely suspending its ExoMars rover mission with partner Roscosmos, Russia’s state space corporation.

The UAE is ready to provide assistance to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Thursday.

"I would also like to use this opportunity to emphasize that the UAE is confident that the parties are capable of reaching mutual solutions and reaching a solution that suits everyone. In this regard, the UAE is ready to provide all necessary assistance to the parties to reduce suffering and bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We hope that a ceasefire will be reached in the near future," the minister told a joint press conference following the talks. 

President Joe Biden will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this Friday, March 18. This is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the PRC, the White House Press Secretary said in a statement.

Jen Psaki added, "The two Leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern." 

Russia denied the Maripol theatre attack. In a statement, the country said, "Of course, the Kyiv regime immediately tried to lay the blame for everything that happened in Mariupol, in particular, for blowing up the drama theatre building, on the Russian military, who, in their opinion, allegedly dropped an aerial bomb on the theatre building. Of course, this is a lie."
 

In a massive statement made on the Russia-Ukraine war,  the President of Belarus said, "If Zelensky does not reach an agreement with Putin, he will have to sign a surrender act." 

After Russian missiles struck a military base in Yavoriv, Ukraine, just a few miles from the border with Poland, the United Kingdom has come forward to help. The Boris Johnson-led government will be sending a missile defence system to Poland. 

In a release, the Defence Ministry of the United Kingdom said, "The Russian invasion of Ukraine has largely stalled on all fronts. Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses. Ukrainian resistance remains staunch and well-coordinated. The vast majority of Ukrainian territory, including all major cities, remains in Ukrainian hands." 

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with top officials of Russia and Crimea on the development of the peninsula ahead of the 8th anniversary of the annexation on 18 March.

As the war in Ukraine continues on the 22nd day, China said that it will take 'necessary measures' to protect its companies from actions by other governments for support to Russia. The affirmation of China comes in the backdrop of the US warning of 'consequences' for any moves by Chinese companies to skirt sanctions for Moscow amid an offensive in Kyiv.

A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said China opposes any form of unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” without a basis in international law. “The imposition of economic sanctions will not only fail to solve security problems, but will also harm the normal lives of the people in the relevant countries, disrupt the global market, and make the already slowing world economy even worse,” Gao said, adding that China will take necessary measures to safeguard the normal trade interests and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

US President Joe Biden has called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "war criminal", prompting an angry response from the Kremlin which denounced it as "unforgivable rhetoric" from a head of state.

Biden's off-the-cuff remarks on Wednesday was the harshest condemnation of Putin's actions from any US official since Russia launched a 'special military operation' in Ukraine three weeks ago. 

In Moscow, Kremlin described Biden's "war criminal" remarks as "unforgiveable rhetoric".

"We consider such rhetoric from a head of the state, whose bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world, to be unacceptable and unforgivable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by  Russian state news agency TASS.

The RF Defence Ministry Spokesperson said, "In total, over the past day, aviation and air defence of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down 1 Ukrainian helicopter Mi-24 and 1 Mi-8, as well as 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including 3 Bayraktar TB-2. Operational-tactical and army aviation hit 46 military assets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Among them are 11 anti-aircraft missile systems, including the S-300 division, 1 multiple launch rocket system, 3 command posts, 1 electronic warfare station, 7 ammunition depots and 18 areas of military equipment concentration. In total, 181 Ukrainian aircraft and helicopters, 172 unmanned aerial vehicles, 170 anti-aircraft missile systems, 1,379 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 133 multiple launch rocket systems, 514 field artillery and mortars, as well as 1,168 units of the special military vehicle." 

In a significant development, Russia on Thursday, March 17, refused the demand of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop the war in Ukraine. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that the ICJ has a concept of 'consent of the parties,' and there was no such 'consent' to end the war, on Moscow's part.

"No, we cannot take this decision into account. The International Court of Justice has such a concept as 'the consent of the parties.' There can be no consent here," said Dmitry Peskov, as reported by Russia's state-affiliated media Sputnik.

Despite three weeks of Russian bombardment, Ukraine has kept up a stiff defense of its cities by using Turkish-made drones to carry out pop-up attacks on the invaders with a lethal effectiveness that has surprised Western military experts.
The Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, which carry lightweight, laser-guided bombs, normally excel in low-tech conflicts, and Turkey has sold them to more than a dozen countries, including Azerbaijan, Libya, Morocco and Ethiopia.
The drones have carried out unexpectedly successful attacks in the early stages of Ukraine's conflict with Moscow, before the Russians were able to set up their air defenses in the battlefield, said Jack Watling of the London-based Royal United Services Institute.

(AP)
 

Bolstering its allegations against Ukraine, Russia claimed that its specialists have studied original documents from the Kharkiv laboratory on the implementation of a secret project by the US to study ways of transmitting diseases to humans. "New documents on the export of a large number of human biomaterials from the territory of Ukraine to the UK and other European countries will be presented, Russia said in statement. 

On March 17, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations' website was hacked, spreading information on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It became unavailable shortly after, according to media agency Nexta.

Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says Russia sees no reason to comment on every sanctions from the European Union. She further called these sanctions, "Anti-Russia" & "Illegal." The Russian Ministry of Defence tweeted citing Zakharova, "We receive many questions about the EU’s new anti-Russia sanctions. We see no reason to comment on every new product of the EU’s conveyor belt of sanctions. Our stand on the unilateral illegal #EU restrictions is absolutely clear."

Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of using information to incite internal conflict in the country. He further blamed Russia of delaying the decision on the humanitarian corridor, waging viscous positional battles on all frontlines, and setting up local traps for civilians.

According to a short statement posted on Facebook on Thursday by the former head of the Donetsk region, Sergei Taruta wrote, "After an awful night of not knowing, we finally have good news from Mariupol on the morning of the 22nd day of the war. The bomb shelter [of the theater] was able to hold. The rubble is beginning to be cleared. People are coming out alive".

In the latest update, the General Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Russia has lost about 14,000 personnel since Vladimir Putin announced its 'special' operation in Ukraine on February 24. Additionally, Ukrainian forces have taken down around 444 Russian tanks, 201 artillery systems among others. 

Ukraine on Thursday has confirmed that its forces have hit Kherson airport as it launches counteroffensive in a bid to drive Russian troops back from Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Ukraine said it carried out an airstrike on Russian forces at the Kherson airport.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the German lawmakers on Thursday after addressing the US Congress on Wednesday, He explicitly made reference to the post-Holocaust phrase 'Never again'.

"Every year politicians say never again. Now I see that these words are worthless. In Europe a people is being destroyed", Ukrainian leader said. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with UAE counterpart as Republic reports LIVE from war zone, Ukraine.

Ukrainian defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov has called Kremlin is the "real Hitler of our time".  He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be recognized as a 'war criminal'. He said that Russian troops are committing genocide against Ukrainians in Mariupol, and Russia's goal is to destroy Ukraine.

According to BBC, the Polish Border Guard agency said on Thursday that around 1.95 million people have fled Ukraine to Poland since the war began. Warsaw University migration researcher Prof Maciej Duszczyk reportedly noted that more than half a million have already left the country for other destinations.

Ukrainian city Mykolaiv mayor, Oleksandr Senkevych told BBC that "I would call this Russian Nazism because they kill people. When they say they try to 'de-nazificate' ... or 'de-militarise' Ukraine, it's totally untrue because they just kill civilians."

"So, I think they like the taste of the blood," he added.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the country is expecting "bigger wave of refugees" arriving in the country next week from Ukraine. In a video posted on Facebook, Orban said more border guards would be posted there next week to handle the increased influx.

Dmitry Medvedev, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies said on Thursday that Russia has the might to put enemies led by the United States in their place and Moscow will foil the West’s Russophobic plot to tear Russia apart, as per The Guardian. He said that the US had stoked the 'disgusting' Russophobia to reduce the power of the nation. Medvedev said, "It will not work - Russia has the might to put all of our brash enemies in their place".

As the Russia-Ukraine war entered the 22nd day, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday reiterated that “Russia must stop this war now”. Noting that over three million people have been forced to flee conflict-torn Ukraine, the UN chief said that Ukrainians “desperately need peace” and added that the people across the globe are also demanding peace. UN chief’s remarks came after UN Refugee Agency said that three million refugees have fled Ukraine and more than two million are displaced inside the nation. 

Russia’s state news agency TASS cited the digital ministry as saying on Thursday that Russian government websites are facing unprecedented cyberattacks and efforts are ongoing to filter foreign web traffic. Hacker group Anonymous had previously hacked Russian streaming services, official government website handling nuclear power plant in Ukraine and several others attacks have also been recorded. 

Due to the lack of Ukrainian raw material, BMW, Volkswagen closed production sites across Europe.

Belarus started mass summoning of persons liable for military service. 

In the latest intelligence report, UK Defence Ministry said that the Russian invasion is 'largely stalled on all fronts'.  The report stated, "Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses.

"Ukrainian resistance remains staunch and well-coordinated. The vast majority of Ukrainian territory, including all major cities, remains in Ukrainian hands," it added.

Nexta TV stated a large convoy of military equipment was spotted near Homel, Belarus. It is heading towards Dobrush in the direction of the Russian border.

According to United Nations (UN), more than three million people have fled the country since Russia invaded on 24 February.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday blasted pro-Western Russians by calling them “national traitors” in a televised address. “The West will try to rely on the so-called fifth column, on national traitors, on those who earn money here with us but live there. And I mean ‘live there’ not even in the geographical sense of the word, but according to their thoughts, their slavish consciousness,” Putin said.  These people "cannot live without oysters and gender freedom," he added. 

In a rambling speech, Putin went on to target the Russians who are opposing the war in Ukraine. He said that Russians "will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths". Russian President said, "And there is only one goal, I have already spoken about it — the destruction of Russia."

Putin continued: "I am convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country."

The Ukrainian military said, "The occupation forces continue to bear losses. They have major problems with the assembling of combat units and security units. The personal composition of the opponent is demoralised, which led to an increase in the number of cases of desertification and the refusal of the military forces of the Russian Federation to participate in the war on Ukraine.” Additionally, the Ukrainian armed forces even said that Russian troops launching cyberattacks and destroying TV and radio signals 

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to visit India by end of March to discuss bilateral relations and geo-political uncertainty amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The meeting will also address the sweeping sanctions on Russia that have led to an unprecedented hike in prices of several key items. As per reports, Truss will be accompanied by senior US and European officials, including US Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

In the operational update on Thursday, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said that the country destroyed "two Su-34, three destroyers Vachi Su-34CM, three helicopters and UAVs of efficient-tactical level. Information on the type of another crashed plane and the death of the pilot is being specified."

Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang said that Russia's war against Ukraine "is not good for China". He also rejected that China knew about Russia's preparations for war: "If China had known of the inevitable crisis, we would have done everything possible to prevent it".

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said "Just in the sky over Kyiv oblast enemy's SU-25 was destroyed and the enemy's SU-35 was shot down. In total, minus more than 10 russian air targets per day".

UK's permanent mission to the UN has said  Britain, Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, and the United States have called for a Security Council meeting on Ukraine. It added, "Russia is committing war crimes and targeting civilians. Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine is a threat to us all."

Russian forces have lost over 7,000 soldiers since the invasion began on February 24, the New York Times reported on Thursday citing the “conservative side of the estimate” by U.S. intelligence. Additionally, around 14,000  to 21,000 Russian soldiers have been wounded in the war so far. According to intelligence officials, the massive death toll has lowered the morale among Russian troops which has led to Russian troops abandoning their vehicles and walking away from the battlefield.

Human Rights Watch has said that at least 500 civilians were taking shelter in bombed Mariupol theatre. Belkis Wille, HRW senior researcher, said on March 16, "this raises serious concerns about what the intended target was in a city where civilians have already been under siege for days.”

Russian saboteurs may be entering Ukraine under the guise of journalists, stated Kyiv Independent citing Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. It also said that saboteurs are with the media outlets Ruptly, a subsidiary of Russia Today, & Redfish and Maffick LLC.

Netflix has re-aired a 2015 satirical comedy starring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 'Servant of the people.' In the three-season series, Zelenskyy plays the role of a teacher who unexpectedly becomes President after a video of him complaining about corruption goes viral.

According to The Kyiv Independent, reports have emerged that Russian forces in Sumy Oblast are evicting civilians from homes and stealing food. On March 16, the Sumy governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky detailed the looting via Telegram. It is also pertinent to note here that the area has sustained heavy fighting since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. 

China’s ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong said that Beijing "will never attack Ukraine" but will support it economically and politically while meeting with Lviv’s regional military administration, Ukrainian media outlet Ukrinform reported, citing the administration’s press service. He reportedly said, "China will never attack Ukraine, we will help, in particular in the economic direction."

"In this situation, which you have now, we will act responsibly. We have seen how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is, and that means its strength," he added. 

Canada has banned broadcasting of Russia's state-owned channels RT and RT France.

The Serbian state airline, Air Serbia, has cancelled all flights to and from Russia as Moscow continues to invade Ukraine.
 

Following the tragic bombing of Mariupol theatre, evidence has emerged that the bombing was reportedly 'intentional'. Nexta TV stated, "In front of the Drama Theater in Mariupol, the word "CHILDREN" was written in huge letters. This did not stop them [Russian forces] from bombing."

As the situation in Mariupol continues to deteriorate on day 22 of the Russia-Ukraine war, Nexta tv stated that more than 2,400 civilians died in the city. Additionally, there is no electricity, gas or water in the city for 13 days and temperatures reach -5°C at night. 400,000 people still remain in the city. Today, 11,000 people were able to evacuate the city.

Canada has announced that it would ban Belarusian planes from its airspace, days after it announced the same move for Russian planes. 

As peace talks between Russia and Ukraine continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy has also said "My priorities in the negotiations are absolutely clear: the end of the war, security guarantees, sovereignty, restoration of territorial integrity, real guarantees for our country, real protection for our country."

In the late-night address on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has become a tterrorist state. He averred, "The war has not stopped yet. Russia’s war crimes continue. The Russian economy is still able to maintain the military machine. That’s why we need new sanctions against Russia. The world must finally recognise officially that Russia has become a terrorist state.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, "We are already working on the program for the restoration of our country after the war. I promise to every Ukrainian who lost their house or apartment as a result of shelling, that the state will rebuild everything."

"I am confident that we will be able to rebuild our country quickly. No matter how big the losses are.... It will be a historic reconstruction, a project that will inspire the world just as our fight for freedom, our fight for Ukraine," he said

By a vote of 13 to two, with Vice President Kirill Gevorgian of Russia and Judge Xue Hanqin of China dissenting, the ICJ ruled that Russia “shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February.” In the first verdict by a 'world court' since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC in an interview that Russia has "already crossed all the red lines". When Zelenskyy was asked by NBC's Lester Holt Wednesday evening that if Russia uses chemical weapons, would it trigger US to be more involved in the Russia-Ukraine war, Zelenksyy said, "I believe that Russians have already crossed all the red lines when they started shelling civilians."

He added, "I don’t understand the meaning of red lines. What else should we wait for? For letting Russians kill 200, 300 or 400 children?"

Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security said in a statement Thursday that Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was freed from detention by Russian forces as part of a prisoner swap. according to CNN, the statement also said Fedorov was exchanged for nine Russian soldiers, whom the Ukrainians say are “conscripts,” born between 2002 and 2003. The same was confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who said, "We have finally managed to release the mayor of Melitopol from captivity. Our Ukrainian Melitopol, which did not submit and will not submit to the occupiers".

He said, “Ivan Fedorov is free. I talked to him today. The Russian military abducted him on March 11, trying to persuade him to collaborate. But our man withstood. He did not give up. Just as we all endure. You all. Just as we all do not give up. Because we are Ukrainians. And we always protect our own.”

The latest intelligence update by UK's Ministry of Defence as of March 16 stated that Russian forces are now using 'less military effective weapons due to the 'delay' in achieving the objective of controlling entire airspace above Ukraine. The British defence ministry said, "Given the delays in achieving their objectives and failure to control Ukrainian airspace, Russia has probably expended far more stand-off air launched weapons than originally planned."

The ministry added, "As a result, it is likely Russia is resorting to the use of older, less precise weapons, which are less militarily effective and more likely to result in civilian casualties."

"Latest UN reporting indicates that 1,900 civilian casualties, including 726 deaths, have already occurred in the conflict to date. The true casualty figure is likely to be significantly greater and will continue to rise as long as the conflict continues," it also said.

In an address posted on Telegram, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of Donetsk regional administration said, "This s*** is seeking to physically destroy Mariupol and the people of Mariupol, who have long become a symbol of our resistance. Today, they launched an airstrike on the drama theater and the Neptune swimming pool."

He said, "Several hundreds of Mariupol residents were taking shelter in the drama theater. It is unknown how they are because the entry to the bomb shelter is covered with rubble. Russians are already starting to lie that it was a headquarters for the Azov battalion. But they know well that civilians were there."

"Only civilians were also in Neptune. Now there are pregnant women and women with children under the rubble there. This is pure terrorism", he added.

In a powerfully emotional plea to US lawmakers, while addressing the Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the Americans "remember Pearl Harbor. The terrible morning of December 7, 1941. When their skies were black from attacking planes. Asked to remember September 11. A terrible day in 2001, when evil tried to turn American cities into a battlefield. When innocent people were attacked. Attacked from the air. In a way no one expected."

"Explained that our state experiences this every day! Every night! For three weeks now!" he said after the speech.

Earlier, Russian forces bombed a theatre in Mariupol where hundreds were sheltering amid constant shelling. On Wednesday (local time), Mariupol's city council had posted an image of the city’s theatre showing it sustained heavy damage in today’s attack. It also said that Russian forces had “purposefully and cynically destroyed the Drama Theater in the heart of Mariupol,” 

Kremlin spokesperson has lambasted US President Joe Biden for calling Russian leader Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal'. According to TASS, the spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that comments that US made about war criminal were “unacceptable” and “unforgivable rhetoric". Earlier, while talking to reporters, Biden had said about Putin, "I think he is a war criminal". 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked to Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin about the ongoing Ukraine invasion and the death of Fox News journalist Pierre Zakrzewski. Even though the Irish government has not given military aid to Ukraine, the people in the country have opened their homes for Ukrainian refugees as Russia continues ts onslaught for 22 days now. 

The United States announced the allotment of $800 million in military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday. Biden said, "To activate additional security assistance to continue to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s assault — an additional $800 million in assistance.  That brings the total of new U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to $1 billion just this week.  These are the lar- — these are direct transfers of equipment from our Department of Defense to the Ukrainian military to help them as they fight against this invasion."

It includes:
800 anti-aircraft systems (including longer-range)
9,000 anti-armour systems 
7,000 small arms (machine guns, shotguns, grenade launchers)
20 million rounds of ammo
Drones

While announcing the military aid for Ukraine, US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" for the first time since February 24, when Russian forces started invading Ukraine. It is to note that in the past, the White House had avoided using the phrase “war criminal,” citing an ongoing investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.