Latest developments on Ukraine-Russia tensions after Russia launched military operation against Ukraine
Latest developments on Ukraine-Russia tensions after Russia launched military operation against Ukraine
As the Russian troops continued Closed in Ukraine’s capital KievSanctions on Russia were intensified with the US, the European Union and the United Kingdom agreeing to block “selected” Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial system.
The United Nations said more than 150,000 Ukrainians had fled to Poland, Moldova and other neighboring countries and warned that the number could rise to 4 million if fighting escalated.
Two Air India flights carrying over 200 Indians evacuated from Ukraine landed Mumbai And Delhi Yesterday Air India’s third evacuation flight, AI1940, which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest, is scheduled to return to Delhi with evacuation on Sunday as well.
In Prime Minister Narendra Modi Telephone conversation with President of Ukraine Zelensky Demanded the convenience of the Ukrainian authorities for the speedy evacuation of the Indians. President Zelensky urged India to provide political support to the United Nations Security Council. On Saturday, India did not participate in the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian attack.
The conflict began to intensify on February 21, 2022, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized separatist territory Deployed troops to eastern Ukraine and in a peacekeeping role.
Here are the latest updates:
Romania
Romania, which shares a border about 600 kilometers (372 mi) with Ukraine to the north, is seeing an influx of refugees from the country as many have fled Russian attacks.
Conflict refugees from neighboring Ukraine sit in the event hall of a shelter hotel in Cyrate, Romania, on February 26, 2022. photo credit: AP
Russia
YouTube RT blocks other Russian channels from earning advertising dollars
YouTube on Saturday blocked Russian state-owned media outlet RT and other Russian channels from receiving funding for ads that accompany their videos, in a move similar to a move by Facebook following the invasion of Ukraine.
Citing “extraordinary circumstances”, YouTube said it was “withholding the ability of many channels to monetize YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions” such as the European Union. Ad placement is primarily handled by YouTube.
The European Union on Wednesday announced sanctions on individuals including Margarita Simonyan, whom it described as RT’s editor-in-chief and “a central figure” of Russian propaganda.
YouTube spokesman Farshad Shadlu said videos from affected channels would also fall short of recommendations. He said that RT and many other channels would no longer be available in Ukraine due to the request of the Ukrainian government.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted earlier on Saturday that he had “contacted YouTube to block promotional Russian channels such as Russia24, TASS, RIA Novosti.” , Reuters
Ukraine
Musk activates Starlink internet service in Ukraine
Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX’s Starlink satellite broadband service had been activated in Ukraine after a Kiev official urged the tech titan to provide his beleaguered country with stations.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Musk tweeted, adding “more terminals en route.”
The tweet came some 10 hours after Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov urged Musk to provide Starlink services to Ukraine, days after it was invaded by neighboring Russia. AFP
Ukraine
Ukraine’s road company removing road signs to confuse Russians
A Ukrainian company in charge of building and maintaining roads said it was removing all road signs that could be used by the Russian military to find its way across the country.
“The enemy has poor communication, they cannot navigate the area,” the company Ukravtodor said in a Facebook update late Friday.
It posted an edited image of a standard road sign in which directions to nearby cities have been abused- Reuters
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Russian army blows up gas pipeline in Kharkivo
Ukraine’s president’s office said Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city.
The State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection warned that the explosion, which it said looked like a mushroom cloud, could cause an “environmental catastrophe” and advised residents to clean their windows with a damp cloth or Cover with gauze and drink plenty of fluids.
Ukraine’s top prosecutor, Irina Venediktova, said the Russian military had been unable to take Kharkiv, where a fierce battle was going on. AP
Russia
West bans Swift, harsher punishment on Russia
The United States and European nations agreed on Saturday to impose the most potentially crippling financial penalties on Russia over its unrelenting invasion of Ukraine, going after the central bank reserves that underpin the Russian economy and some Russian banks. It separates the U.S. from an important global financial network.
The US and European allies announced the moves in a joint statement as part of a new round of financial sanctions meant to “take Russia into account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin.” Is.”
The central bank aims to have access to more than $600 billion in reserves held by the Kremlin, and aims to block Russia’s ability to support the ruble as it falters in value amid tightening Western sanctions.
Saturday’s move also includes pulling out major Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system, which moves countless billions of dollars per day to more than 11,000 banks and other financial institutions around the world.
Officials said the fine print of the sanctions was still being ironed out over the weekend, as they work to limit the impact of sanctions on other economies and European purchases of Russian energy. AP
Kiev, Ukraine
Russian troops zero in on Kiev as 150,000 Ukrainians flee
Ukraine, Russian troops closed in on Kiev and clashes broke out on its outskirts on 26 February as Ukraine’s leader vowed to continue battling an invasion by a better-armed adversary. Fearful men, women and children sought security inside and underground amid a government-imposed 39-hour curfew to keep people off the streets.
President Volodymyr Zelensky promised, “We will fight as long as it is necessary to liberate our country.”
Germany
In a big shift, Germany will send arms to Ukraine
In a significant change, the German government said it would send arms and other supplies directly to Ukraine, which is fighting to prevent Russia from invading its capital city. Officials said Germany is also ready to support some of the restrictions of the SWIFT global banking system for Russia.
Germany’s chancellor announced on the evening of February 26 that it would send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles “as soon as possible” to Ukraine.
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