– It’s lunch time in Kyiv. This is what you need to know
The situation in Ukraine continues to escalate as the country’s Air Force reported shooting down two Russian fighter jets in the eastern part of the country. The military also stated that they repelled a series of attacks in the southeast. This comes amid growing concern over Ukraine’s dwindling arms supplies, with Sweden pledging a record aid package of US$683 million to Kyiv.
In Russia, a dual Russian-American citizen was arrested on charges of treason for allegedly raising funds for Ukrainian organizations and openly supporting Kyiv. This follows the arrest of American journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia on charges of espionage, with the Moscow City Court confirming his detention until March 30.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed accusations from Yulia Navalnaya, wife of the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny, that President Vladimir Putin was behind her husband’s death. Navalnaya has appealed to Putin to release her husband’s body.
The situation in Ukraine and the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West continue to dominate headlines, with the region remaining on edge as the conflict shows no signs of abating.