- Blasts in Kyiv and Lviv and air raid sirens sounded across much of Ukraine.
- A police officer noted that more than 900 civilian bodies were found in the Kyiv region.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on U.S. President Joe Biden to add Russia to the list of countries that “sponsor terrorism,” according to the Washington Post.
- Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has accused Russia of using long-range bombers in Mariupol, where heavy fighting is taking place around a steel mill and port.
- The governor of the eastern city of Kharkov said seven people had been killed in Russian shelling.
What powers are all over Ukraine under the control of?
Earlier, explosions sounded across Kyiv. Ukraine has resisted more attacks after the sinking of the Russian cruiser “Moscow”. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Irina Veresyuk said a total of 2,557 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on the 14th (Al Jazeera)
Here are the latest developments as the war enters its 51st day:
Moscow bans British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from entering Russia
The Russian foreign ministry said it had banned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and 10 other British government members and politicians from entering Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the move was “in view of the unprecedented hostile actions taken by the British government against Russia, especially the sanctions imposed on senior Russian officials,” adding that the list of sanctions would soon be expanded.
The British Ministry of Defence said the deliberate destruction of Ukrainian road infrastructure by retreating Russian forces had hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid to previously occupied areas.
“The situation was exacerbated by the withdrawal of Russian troops from northern Ukraine by damaging bridges, laying mines and abandoning vehicles on key roads,” the MoD said in a tweet.
In Cherniviv, only one pedestrian bridge over the Desna River remains. Before the outbreak of the war, there were about 285,000 residents in the area.
Interfax: Russia attacks armored vehicle factories and military repair facilities
Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying that Russia destroyed the production building of an armored vehicle factory in Kyiv, as well as a military maintenance facility in the city of Nikolayev.
The statement noted that the attacks were carried out by high-precision long-range weapons.
Russia also shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet near the city of Izum in the eastern Kharkov region, Interfax news agency reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
German Minister: Delivery of tanks does not mean the country’s participation in the war
The German justice minister said the shipment of tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine did not constitute war against Russia.
“Therefore, if (Ukraine) exercises its legitimate right to self-defense, then supporting it by supplying weapons cannot lead us to become a party to the war,” Deutsche Presse-Pteagne reported, citing Marco Buschman’s comments.
He also said that this is not only his personal view, but also the view of the German government.
Since the conflict began in late February, German politics have been busy figuring out what weapons to supply to Ukraine and how quickly to deliver them.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine: Agree to open 9 humanitarian corridors
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Veresuk said the two sides agreed on the 16th to evacuate civilians through nine humanitarian corridors, including the evacuation of civilians in the besieged city of Mariupol by private vehicles.
Of the nine humanitarian corridors, five are from the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, Veresyuk said in a statement. Local officials said the area was under heavy shelling.
Where do people flee to?
The United Nations says nearly 4.8 million people – mostly women and children – have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Most travel to neighbouring countries to seek asylum (Al Jazeera)
Europe’s import ban on Russian coal puts Germany at a crossroads
The Ukraine war had some unintended consequences.
Germany has been phasing out mining but has now reversed the decision after the European Union banned imports of Russian coal.
Rescuers and medics were at the blast site on the outskirts of the city, the mayor of Kyiv said
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said rescuers and medics were working at the site of the explosion on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Klitschko posted on the messaging app “Telegram” that the explosion took place in Kyiv’s Darnitsky district. Darnitsky District is located in the southeast of Kyiv, on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
Klitschko added that information on the injured was being confirmed.
Poroshenko calls for aid: “Weapons, weapons, weapons”
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told Al Jazeera that Ukraine needs more weapons if it wants to end the war.
Poroshenko said in an exclusive interview that “the shortcut to peace is to provide Ukraine with more weapons”. “That’s why we need to ask the international community for three things: weapons, weapons and more weapons.”
He also said the key is to provide “game-changing” equipment, saying the country needs 300 tanks, 1,000 armed personnel carriers and 100 fighter jets.
He also stressed, “These will completely change the nature of warfare.”
Blasts in Kyiv, Lviv, air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine
According to reports, explosions occurred in Kyiv and Lviv in the early hours of the 16th.
According to Reuters, air raid sirens were sounded in most of Ukraine.
There has been no official confirmation of these explosions.
Tribute to Ukraine ahead of US-Ukraine tennis match
The opening ceremony of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers between the United States and Ukraine to the rousing melody of the Ukrainian national anthem was deeply touching with tears, flags and Billie Jean King himself.
Ukrainian-born North Carolina resident Yulia Kashirets sang the Ukrainian national anthem, while world No. 93 seed Dayana Yastremska, who wore the Ukrainian flag, sang the national anthem. The Ukrainian team members, including them, shed tears.
The ceremony also included a moment of silence for “the people of Ukraine”. The winners of the qualifiers will advance to the finals this November.
Zelensky estimates that 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the war so far.
He also said about 10,000 people were injured, “it’s hard to say how many people will survive”.
Zelensky also said Russia lost an estimated 19,000 to 20,000 troops, although the Kremlin put the number at 1,351.
Report: British special forces provide training in Ukraine
The British “Times” reported that Ukrainian special forces have been providing training for two local battalions stationed near Kyiv.
Citing Ukrainian officials, the newspaper reported that it was the first time they had done so since Russia invaded seven weeks ago.
The Ukrainians are learning how to use British-supplied anti-tank missiles, which were delivered in February.
Ukrainian PM and top officials to visit U.S. next week
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmegar and some of the country’s top finance officials will visit the United States next week during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Reuters reported.
People familiar with the matter told Reuters that Shmegar, Ukraine’s Finance Minister Marchenko, and Central Bank Governor Kirilo Shevchenko are expected to hold bilateral talks with finance officials and other officials from the G7. He will also participate in the World Bank roundtable on Ukraine next Thursday.
Zelensky: Ukraine will ‘do everything possible’ for Mariupol
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed the fate of the besieged port city of Mariupol at a meeting with the country’s military leaders and intelligence agencies on Tuesday.
“The details cannot be released yet, but we are doing everything we can to save our people,” Zelensky said in a nightly video address to the nation.
Mariupol was razed to the ground in the seven-week war. A spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier that the situation in the city was “very difficult”.
-
- – Azov sea port city in southeastern Ukraine
-
- – was bombed by Russia
- – Pre-war population of over 400,000 (Al Jazeera)
More than 7,000 Ukrainians have landed in Mexico since the war began
U.S. President Joe Biden said last month that the U.S. would welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, but few Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the U.S. through the refugee program.
Al Jazeera reporters reported from the Mexican border city of Tijuana that thousands of people have successfully crossed the border from Mexico.
Ukrainian media: Death toll rises in Kharkiv
“Kyiv Independent” pointed out that the recent death toll in Kharkiv has risen to 10. Seven people, including a baby, have been killed in the Russian shelling, according to earlier reports.
The local news agency tweeted that Russian troops used rocket launchers in the attack.
Zelensky again calls for ban on Russian oil imports
Zelensky again called for a ban on Russian oil in his daily speech.
He also noted that “the next set of sanctions against Russia must include an oil ban on Russia.”
“In general, the democratic world has to admit that the money Russia gets from energy is actually used to undermine democracy. When these decisions are made, we will all be able to see peace.”
Germany to provide Ukraine with more than 1 billion euros in military aid
The German government said it planned to provide Ukraine with more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in military aid, amid complaints from Kyiv that it did not receive heavy weapons from Berlin. It is reported that these funds will be included in this year’s supplementary budget.
A German government spokesman told AFP that Germany had decided to increase its international aid in the defense sector to 2 billion euros, taking into account the situation in all countries, “the largest part of which is planned to benefit Ukraine in terms of military aid. form”.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner confirmed on Twitter that the 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion) “will mainly go to Ukraine.”
Russian journalist, political scientist classified as ‘foreign agent’
Russian authorities have declared prominent Kremlin critics, including documentary filmmaker Yuri Dude and political scientist Ekaterina Shulman, as “foreign agents.”
Russia’s justice ministry said in a statement that it had added nine individuals to the list of “foreign agents,” including Dude, 35, Shulman, 43, and cartoonist Sergey Yelkin, 59. .
Now, the list also includes well-known journalist Roman Doblokatov, 38, and Karen Scheinyan, 40.
Toronto creates mural dedicated to Ukrainian children
An artist based in Toronto, Canada has turned his disappointment over the conflict in Ukraine into a mural that he hopes will raise awareness of the plight of Ukrainian civilians.
The mural spans multiple sides of a building in the city center and features children as the main characters.
“I chose to use children as the subject of my creations because they represent purity. Children do not have hatred and greed.”
Expert: Russia in trouble as warship sinks
Kiel Giles, senior adviser to the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, said Russia faces a dilemma about how to interpret the sinking of the Moscow missile cruiser.
Giles pointed out to Al Jazeera reporters that “because on the one hand it claimed that the sinking of the Moskva had nothing to do with Ukraine”, “but at the same time, they used this as an excuse to retaliate against Kyiv and compared this incident to their current attack in the Ukrainian capital.”
“So the Russian propaganda campaign is making a mess of itself, but at the same time it’s fueling more hysteria.”
Pro-Russian Serbs protest in solidarity with Russia
Waving Russian and Serbian flags and holding up pictures of Russian President Vladimir Putin, thousands of Serbs marched through Belgrade to the Russian embassy to protest the Serbian government’s attempt to distance itself from Moscow.
Many from ultranationalist groups joined the march from the city centre to the nearby Russian embassy, during which they fired flares, played the national anthems of Russia and Serbia and chanted the two countries as brothers.
Mladen Obravik, one of the protesters, said: “I came to this rally to support Russia and to say loudly and unequivocally ‘no’ to the policies of the authorities in Belgrade who made the shameful decision to vote against Russia at the United Nations .”
Wife of Putin ally accuses Ukrainian authorities of detaining her husband and abusing her
The wife of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main ally in Ukraine, Viktor Medvechuk, said Medvechuk was beaten by Ukrainian security services during his detention and questioning.
At a news conference in Moscow, Viktor Medvechuk’s wife said one of two photos released in Ukraine this week showed him being beaten.
Ukraine said this week that it had arrested Medvedchuk and posted a photo of him in handcuffs and Ukrainian military uniform.
Russians mourn sinking Black Sea warship
Dozens of people gathered in the Crimean city of Sevastopol to mourn the sinking of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet capital ship Moskva.
Some hugged each other in front of a monument commemorating the foundation of the Russian Navy in 1696 in central Sevastopol and laid flowers in honor of the guided-missile cruiser.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said on the 14th that the “Moscow” sank in the storm while being towed to the port because it was severely burned by the fire.
Washington Post: Russia warns US to stop arming Ukraine
Russia has warned the Biden administration of “unpredictable consequences” if the U.S. continues to supply Ukraine with weapons, The Washington Post reported.
According to the Interfax news agency, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed in Moscow that Russia had sent diplomatic notes to the U.S. and other countries about the supply of arms to Ukraine, but did not specify what the notes contained.
The Washington Post quoted Russia as saying in a diplomatic note to the United States, “We call on the United States and its allies to stop the irresponsible militarization of Ukraine, which has unpredictable consequences for regional and international security.”
Police: More than 900 civilian bodies found in Kyiv region
More than 900 civilian bodies were found in the Kyiv region after the withdrawal of Russian troops, the chief of the Kyiv regional police said.
Andrei Nebetov, head of the Kyiv regional police force, said the bodies were either abandoned on the streets or temporarily buried. Citing police figures, he said 95 percent of the casualties were due to sniper fire and gunshot wounds.
“So we understand that during the Russian occupation, people were executed in the streets,” Nebetov said. “The number of civilians killed has exceeded 900. I want to emphasize that these are civilians. We Their bodies have been found and handed over to forensic medical examiners.”
U.S. believes Russian cruiser was hit by Ukrainian missile before sinking
A senior U.S. official said the U.S. believes the sinking of the Russian guided-missile cruiser USS Moskva was hit by two Ukrainian missiles. “Moscow” is the capital ship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was a Neptune anti-ship missile that hit the ship.
Pentagon officials have previously said they could not confirm Ukraine’s “destroyed the ship,” but they have not disputed that claim either.
Zelensky asks U.S. to add Russia to list of countries ‘supporting terrorism’
The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently called on U.S. President Joe Biden to include Russia on a list of countries that “sponsor terrorism.”
Biden did not commit to specific action during the call, according to the paper.
The current U.S. list includes four countries: North Korea, Cuba, Iran and Syria.