An Indian student, hailing from Karnataka, was killed in shelling in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Indian embassy in Ukraine issued an advisory on March 1, urging all Indian nationals to leave Kyiv urgently, “preferably by available trains or through any other means available”, as Russian invasion continued on its sixth day.
The first round of talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded on February 28, without resulting in a deal. Both sides agreed to continue the talks, as Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged that the country be given membership of the European Union.
The United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council met separately to address the ongoing Russian invasion. At the emergency special session of the UNGA, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Nothing can justify the use of nuclear weapons.”
At the UNSC, India’s Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti informed the Security Council that the Government was sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Russia’s global isolation continued as the United States expelled 12 Russian diplomats staffing the U.N. mission.
More than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed during the invasion, Ukraine says, while more than half a million people have fled the country.
The conflict began escalating on February 21, 2022, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops in a peacekeeping role.
Here are the latest updates:
Biden says Putin has failed to divide NATO
President Joe Biden says that dictators who do not “pay a price for their aggression” cause more chaos.
According to excerpts released on Tuesday ahead of his first State of the Union address, Mr. Biden says that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was premeditated and unprovoked.
He will also highlight the importance of European allies in the speech before Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday evening. Mr. Biden says that the alliance established after World War II to secure “peace and stability” in Europe is just as relevant now.
He said that Mr. Putin believed he could divide the NATO alliance, but he was wrong. — AP
Ukraine wants Russia kicked off the internet
In a letter sent on March 1 to the president of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, cited the “atrocious crimes” of Russia’s invasion, including it’s alleged breach of the Geneva Conventions in attacking civilian targets.
Mr. Federov said the crimes “have been made possible mainly due to the Russian propaganda machinery” and cited cyberattacks “from the Russian side” that have impeded the ability of Ukrainians and their Government to communicate.
Mr. Federov asked that ICANN revoke, permanently or temporarily, the domains .ru and .su and shut down the root servers in Moscow and St. Petersburg that match domain names and numbers.
“Russian citizens must feel the cost of war,” Government spokesperson Oleksandr Ryzhenko said on Tuesday.
ICANN had no immediate comment but the regional internet naming authority for Europe and the former Soviet Union, RIPE NCC, rejected the request.
In an email to members, RIPE’s executive board said it believes “the means to communicate should not be affected by domestic political disputes, international conflicts or war”.
Kicking Russia off the internet would be an annoyance to Russian hackers but it wouldn’t stop them since they could still use different top-level internet domains. But it would badly isolate the Russian public from international discourse. — AP
Russia hasn’t used full might yet, U.S. cautions
The U.S. on March 2 injected a strong note of caution into the persistent reports that Russian military progress — including by the massive convoy outside Kyiv — has slowed, plagued by food and fuel shortages and logistical problems.
One senior Defence official said that the U.S. has seen Russian military columns literally run out of gas, and in some places running out of food, and that morale is suffering as a result.
But the official added that it is important to be pragmatic. The Russians still have a significant amount of combat power that has not yet been tapped, and “they will regroup, they will adjust, they will change their tactics.”
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military assessments. Overall, the U.S. assesses that Russia has launched more than 400 missiles into Ukraine, of various types and sizes. As of Tuesday, the Ukrainian air and missile defence systems remain viable and are being used. Also, weapons from the U.S. and others continues to flow into Ukraine. The official said that the aid is getting to the Ukrainian military and troops are “actively using these systems.”
The official said Russians have made progress in the south, moving along two routes out of Crimea — one to the northeast and one to the northwest. It’s not clear that Russians have taken control of Kherson, but heavy fighting continues. And, the official said Russian forces have not yet advanced into Mariupol, but are close enough to strike into the city with long-range weapons. — AP
U.N.’s top court to hear Ukraine case vs. Russia
The United Nations’ top court has scheduled hearings next week into a request by Ukraine for the court to order Moscow to halt its invasion.
Kyiv filed a case with the International Court of Justice on Saturday accusing Russia of planning genocide in Ukraine and asking for urgent “provisional measures” instructing Moscow to halt hostilities.
Lawyers for Ukraine will present arguments March 7 supporting its request. Russia’s lawyers will be given time to respond on March 8.
Ahead of the hearings, the court’s president, U.S. Judge Joan E. Donoghue, sent an urgent message Tuesday to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscoring the necessity for Russia to “act in such a way as will enable any order the Court may make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriate effects”.
The International Court of Justice rules in disputes between states. It often takes years to reach decisions, but orders on provisional measures are often delivered quickly. — AP
U.S. to expel Russian ‘operative’ working for U.N.
The United States says it is expelling a Russian “intelligence operative” working for the United Nations, in addition to the 12 members of the Russian Mission to the United Nations whose expulsions were ordered on Monday for engaging in espionage.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Tuesday that the U.N. was informed on Monday that the U.S. was taking action to expel a staff member working for the U.N. Secretariat.
“We regret that we find ourselves in this situation but are engaging with the host country,” he said.
Mr. Dujarric refused to comment further on grounds of privacy and the sensitivity of the issue but did say “what makes this decision a little difficult to understand is that the staff member was scheduled to end his assignment on March 14”.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Monday that the 12 Russian diplomats had “abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security”.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Mission said on Tuesday, “On Feb. 28, the United States also initiated the process to require the departure of one Russian intelligence operative working at the United Nations who has abused their privileges of residence in the United States.” The spokesperson was not authorised to speak publicly and commented on condition of anonymity. — AP
Russia kills 5 in attack on Kyiv TV tower
Russian forces fired at the Kyiv TV tower and Ukraine’s main Holocaust memorial, among other civilian sites targeted on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said.
Ukraine’s State Service for Emergency Situations said the strikes on the TV tower killed five people and left five more wounded.
Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, posted a photo of clouds of smoke around the TV tower, which is a couple miles from central Kyiv and a short walk from numerous apartment buildings. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said an electrical substation powering the tower and a control room on the tower were damaged from the hit.
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, Andriy Yermak, said on Facebook that a “powerful missile attack on the territory where the (Babi) Yar memorial complex is located” is underway. — AP
MEA redoubles evacuation efforts after Indian student’s death
The war in Ukraine claimed its first Indian casualty as a 21 year old student belonging to Karnataka was killed on Tuesday in an attack by Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kharkiv city.
The victim, identified as Naveen S. Gyanagoudar was killed while standing outside a grocery store as he waited to buy food. It is unclear whether Mr. Naveen was killed by Russian shelling on a government building nearby or in the gunfire that followed by Russian soldiers, said officials. Briefing the media, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said that his body has now been taken to the Kharkiv National Medical University, where Mr. Naveen was a student, and will be brought back as soon as possible along with about 4,000 students who are still trapped in Kharkiv and other places under Russian fire.
Medical student Naveen Gyanagoudar from Chalageri village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district, who was killed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv on March 1, 2022. Photo: Special Arrangement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened another meeting on evacuation efforts, seeking to redouble efforts and the speed with which students are brought back, beginning the high level meeting with a note of “deep regret” over the killing. However, the government was non committal over whether the death of the student would change India’s stance at the United Nations, which is discussing a number of resolutions on the conflict in Ukraine.
Indian officials in Russian city waiting for pause in fighting for evacuation from Kharkiv
India on Tuesday said a team of officials who have been rushed to the Russian city of Belgorod are unable to help trapped Indians in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Belgorod is located 40 km from Kharkiv which is experiencing heavy bombardment by Russian forces that is working as an “obstruction” before the much needed evacuation.
The statement from informed sources came six days after President Vladimir Putin ordered a “special military operation” against Ukraine. The stationing of the officials in Belgorod is expected to increase coordination among the stranded students and professionals in the city as well as Indian and Russian authorities
.It is understood that several options are being considered to transport the trapped Indians from the conflict zone of Kharkiv.
Tension mounts for Indian students in Eastern Ukraine
The news of a fellow Indian dying in a shelling in Kharkiv spread rapidly among hundreds of students glued to their phone screens and sheltering in bunkers in cities on the eastern border of the country that are witness to fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian militaries. They are battling the cold and severe food shortage on the one hand, and on the other, they fear being hit by a missile or a bomb if they attempt to escape.
“Increasingly, there are reports of students going missing. These messages are circulating on WhatsApp groups. These are missing reports of those who stepped out to either go to the railway station or to a local shop,” says Dona Sunil, a student of Kharkiv National Medical University.
Ukraine condoles death of Indian student in Kharkiv; envoy compares Russia with Mughals
Ukraine on Tuesday condoled the death of an Indian student during intense shelling in the city of Kharkiv and renewed appeals to world leaders to use their resources against President Vladimir Putin to force him to stop the Russian aggression.
Ukrainian envoy Igor Polikha also thanked India for extending humanitarian aid to his country, adding that the first plane carrying the relief materials is expected to land in Poland tonight. The Ambassador also sought to compare the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the “massacre by Mughals against Rajputs”. “We are asking all the influential world leaders, among them Modi ji, to use their resources against Mr. Putin to stop the attack on Ukraine. Russia must stop the bombings and shellings,” he told reporters. After a meeting in the Ministry of External Affairs, the envoy said he extended “deepest condolences” over the death of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar in Kharkiv.
PM Modi conveys anguish over Indian student’s death
Chairing a high level meeting on the Ukraine issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed deep anguish over the death of Indian student Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar due to shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla briefed mediapersons after the meeting. He said the PM-convened meeting began with deep regret over the death of the student.
“Unclear how Naveen S. G. was hit and killed as he stood outside grocery store. His body is at the Kharkiv Medical University and we will try to bring Naveen’s mortal remains too,” he said.
Mr. Shringla said the Government called in the Russian and Ukrainian Ambassadors, asking for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine.
“All Indian nationals appear to have left Kyiv today. We have not received calls from anyone left there, following the advisory to leave by our Embassy (in Ukraine),” the Foreign Secretary said.
He also said the Indian Embassy team is setting up a base in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, closer to the country’s western borders.
Ukraine paralympic team to compete in Beijing despite invasion
The Ukrainian Paralympic Federation on Tuesday confirmed their participation at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, which begin on Friday, despite the logistical challenges thrown at them due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian national team will fly in full for the Paralympic Games’” the Ukrainian federation said in a tweet.
“I hope that tomorrow, March 2, we will be in Beijing,” said Natalia Garach, communication manager for the Ukrainian team.
Twenty-nine athletes, including nine guides, are to represent the country in China.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is also expected to announce on Wednesday their decision over the whether Russian paralympians can compete at the Games which run till March 13.
Ukraine says eight dead in Russian strike on Kharkiv housing block
Ukraine said on Tuesday eight people were killed in a Russian air strike on a residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where an administrative building was earlier destroyed by Russian missiles.
“As a result of an air strike... eight people were killed and six injured in Kharkiv,” Ukraine’s emergency service said, adding that two people had been recovered alive from debris by rescue workers.
G7 Finance Ministers discuss further sanctions against Russia
Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven leading economies discussed proposals for further sanctions at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said.
“We had an exchange on the implementation of the current sanctions and we also exchanged proposals on what additional measures could be taken,” Mr. Lindner told reporters after the meeting, which Ukraine’s Finance Minister joined as a guest.
Germany, which holds the rotating G7 presidency, would assess these proposals “and in the coming days there will be an agreement on this,” he said, adding: “We want to isolate Russia politically, financially and economically.”
India faces uncertainty over defence supplies from Russia and Ukraine, as also CAATSA waiver
With tensions escalating between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis, India, which has major defence cooperation with Moscow and also with Kyiv, faces uncertainty over timely deliveries in the near future in addition to the lingering threat of U.S. sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) over the S-400 deal.
In the past, tensions between Russia and Ukraine had considerably delayed the modernisation of the AN-32 transport fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“It is too early to say at the moment, but there could be delays in deliveries from Russia both due to their own domestic commitments as well the sanctions imposed by the West. It will take sometime to get a clearer picture,” an official source said on the condition of anonymity.
The current crisis could also complicate the CAATSA waiver India is looking for from the U.S. administration, two officials independently stated. While, the S-400 deliveries began in December and are underway, a clarity on the timely completion was awaited, one of the official noted.
YouTube blocks Russian channels RT, Sputnik in Europe
YouTube has blocked Russia’s RT and Sputnik in Europe over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the video-sharing platform said on Tuesday, as the European Union prepares to ban the state-backed broadcasters.
RT and Sputnik’s YouTube channels in Europe are being blocked “with immediate effect”, YouTube said in an email to AFP.
The state-backed media organisations are considered mouthpieces of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime and stand accused of spreading misinformation about Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
YouTube’s fellow online giant Facebook took a similar decision on Monday by blocking content published by RT and Sputnik in the European Union.
U.K. relaxes immigration rules for Ukrainian refugees
The United Kingdom on Tuesday relaxed its immigration requirements for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion, after criticism it was not going far enough to accommodate refugees.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said some 1,00,000 Ukrainians could enter the country for 12 months as a result of changes to criteria for close family members.
“There is no limit on the numbers eligible,” she told parliament, adding that those arriving “will be able to work and access public funds”.
Measures relaxed include language requirements and salary thresholds and widening those eligible to grandparents, children over 18 and siblings of “any person settled in the UK”.
All applicants will still, however, have to pass security checks, she added. - AFP
Helpline launched for those from Kashmir stuck in Ukraine
Authorities in Kashmir set up a helpline on Tuesday for the residents of the valley, including students, stuck in war-hit Ukraine.
“The divisional administration, Kashmir has established a helpline for those residents and students of Kashmir who are stuck in Ukraine,” an official spokesperson said.
He said for any kind of assistance from the government, those from the valley stranded in Ukraine or their family members can contact on phone numbers +91-194-2457312 and +91-1942-473135. - PTI
Ukraine talking to allies over how to boost air defences: Foreign Minister
Ukraine is in talks with allies on how to support its air defences, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday when asked about whether NATO should set up a no-fly zone to help the country after Russia’s invasion.
“Everything they can help us with now - it’s better to help now than find themselves eye to eye with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin later,” Mr. Kuleba told an online news conference.
“No need to fear that NATO will find itself at war with Russia because of Ukraine. If Russia wins - you are next.” - Reuters
Yashwant Sinha advises PM Modi to step in as mediator in Russia-Ukraine conflict
Former External Affairs Minister and TMC leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a chance to be a “Vishwaguru” (world leader), if he successfully mediates in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mr. Modi has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he can play a significant role in ending the ongoing six-day-old war with Ukraine as it is badly affecting the global economy, Mr. Sinha told a press conference held at his house in Jharkhand’s Hazarbagh.
“It is a big opportunity for Mr. Modi to become a Vishwaguru if he utilises his good relations with Mr. Putin and convinces him to end the war at this juncture as (otherwise) this conflict will continue and ruin the global economy,” said Mr. Sinha who was the External Affairs Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
As of now, India has taken a neutral stance on the conflict. - PTI
Diplomats walk out of U.N. meetings in protest before Russian FM’s video statement
Scores of diplomats have walked out of two meetings at the United Nations in Geneva in which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was beamed in for a video statement, as a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Lavrov spoke by video to the Conference on Disarmament and the Human Rights Council, which he had planned to attend before closure of airspace to Russian planes by several European countries prevented his travel to the Swiss city.
“What you have seen is strong support for Ukraine,” said Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, after the walkout from the disarmament meeting.
Shortly afterward, in a conference room two floors higher, scores of diplomats — including Ukraine’s Ambassador in Geneva and the Foreign Ministers of Canada and Denmark —poured out of the Human Rights Council chamber. A spokesman for the council said about 100 people left the room. - AP
Ukraine recalls envoys from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv was recalling ambassadors from fellow ex-Soviet republics Kyrgyzstan and Georgia over their government’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We are recalling for consultations our ambassador from Kyrgyzstan over a justification of the aggression against Ukraine,” he said in a video on Facebook.
“We are recalling our ambassador from Georgia, over the obstacles created to the volunteers who want to help us and over the immoral position on sanctions.”
In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov “expressed support” for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called on Russia to halt the hostilities which she said “shocked the Georgian nation.” However, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili sparked an uproar, saying that Tbilisi “will not join” the economic and financial sanctions the West has imposed on Russia over the invasion. - AFP
Dutch to hand free rail tickets to Ukrainian refugees
Dutch rail tickets will be given to Ukrainians in The Netherlands for free from Tuesday, the national rail agency said, in a bid to help refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion. “Our message to all the citizens of Ukraine who have to leave their homes and their country is simply: with immediate effect your passport or ID card is your train ticket (in) The Netherlands,” said Marjan Rintel, Dutch Railways (NS) chief executive.
“We hope NS can play its part in contributing towards a better situation for fleeing Ukrainian families,” Rintel said in a statement. Austria, France, Germany and Poland have already taken similar measures.
Since 2017, Ukrainians can travel freely through the European Union using biometric passports, the Dutch refugee agency (COA) said. - AFP
Russia to limit foreign investment being pulled from country
Russia is preparing a presidential decree aimed at preventing foreign investment exiting the country, its Prime Minister said on Tuesday, after Moscow was hit by a barrage of sanctions for invading Ukraine.
“In the current sanctions situation, foreign investors will be guided not by economic factors, but by political pressure,” Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
“To enable businesses to make informed decisions, a draft presidential decree has been prepared to introduce temporary restrictions on exiting Russian assets.”
He added, “We still consider foreign business as potential partners.” - AFP
NATO sees no need to change nuclear alert level
NATO’s chief said Tuesday the alliance sees no need to change its nuclear weapons alert level, despite Russia’s threats The alliance’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, spoke to The Associated Press following talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda. They met at an air base in Lask, central Poland, where NATO’s Polish and U.S. fighter jets are based.
“We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don’t think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATO’s nuclear forces,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.
The Kremlin has raised the spectre of nuclear war, reporting on Monday that its land, air and sea nuclear forces were on high alert following President Vladimir Putin’s weekend order. NATO itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members, the United States, Britain and France, do.
Mr. Stoltenberg stressed that Russia has signed a number of agreements, agreeing that nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought.
The United States recently reinforced the eastern flank of NATO’s territory with some 5,000 additional troops. - AP
Big tech grapples with Russian state media, propaganda
As Russia’s war in Ukraine plays out for the world on social media, big tech platforms are moving to restrict Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation.
Google announced on Tuesday that it’s blocking the YouTube channels of those outlets in Europe “effective immediately” but acknowledged “it’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up.”
Other U.S.-owned tech companies have offered more modest changes so far: limiting the Kremlin’s reach, labeling more of this content so that people know it originated with the Russian Government, and cutting Russian state organs off from whatever ad revenue they were previously making.
The changes are a careful balancing act intended to slow the Kremlin from pumping propaganda into social media feeds without angering Russian officials to the point that they yank their citizens’ access to platforms during a crucial time of war, said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director for Facebook. - AP
Ukraine demands withdrawal of Russian troops: presidential aide
Ukraine was seeking an end to hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, a presidential aide said on Tuesday, adding that Kyiv would not agree to a break up of Ukraine’s territory or allow invading troops to remain on its land.
Presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych did not respond to a question on when talks with Russia could resume.
Jaguar Land Rover ‘pauses’ Russia car deliveries
Indian-owned carmaker Jaguar Land Rover on Tuesday said it was pausing deliveries of its vehicles to Russia.
“The current global context... presents us with trading challenges so we are pausing the delivery of vehicles into the Russian market,” a statement from Britain-based JLR, owned by India’s Tata Motors, said.
China warns U.S. of ‘heavy price’ for backing Taiwan’s independence as Biden’s defence team lands in Taipei
China on Tuesday warned the United States that it will pay a “heavy price” for its attempts to show support to Taiwan’s independence as a delegation of ex-American defence officials, dispatched by President Joe Biden, landed in Taipei amid apprehensions that Beijing may attempt action against the self-ruled island akin to Russia’s military assault in Ukraine. Taiwanese media reports said a five-member delegation headed by former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral (retd.) Michael Mullen was received by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, raising concerns in Beijing over the U.S.’ efforts to step up its engagement with Taiwan, which China firmly affirms as part of the Chinese mainland. China in recent months ratcheted up military preparations sending hundreds of its air force jets into Taiwan’s Air Defence Zone besides beefing up its naval force keeping the self-governing breakaway island on tenterhooks. Officials in Taiwan and the U.S. say that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China’s threat to forcibly annex the self-governing island. - PTI
Ukrainian guards beat up Indians trying to flee war zone, says MP student on return
A medical student who returned to her home in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district from Ukraine earlier this week claimed that Ukrainian guards were beating up Indian students who were fleeing the war zone. Videos of a purported security officer hitting a student had gone viral a couple of days ago as the stranded students tried to reach Ukraine’s western borders after Russia launched an invasion of the country. Shruti Nayak, a third year MBBS student at Ivano National Medical University, reached her home in Guna after being evacuated by an Air India flight.
The situation in Ukraine is very bad, she told reporters. “Ukrainian guards were harassing Indian students who were fleeing the war zone and even beating them up,” she claimed. “I am fortunate enough that I reached India and now meeting family members,” she said. - PTI
PM Modi convenes high level meeting after Indian student killed in Ukraine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a high level meeting on the Ukraine issue at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The move comes after the death of an Indian student, Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, in shelling in Kharkiv city of the war-torn country.
‘Prove you are with us’, Ukraine President urges EU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday called in a live video address to the European Parliament for the European Union to “prove” it is with Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion.
“The European Union is going to be much stronger with us, that’s for sure. Without you, Ukraine is going to be lonesome,” Mr. Zelenskyy told the European Parliament.
“Without you, Ukraine is going to be alone. We have proven our strength. We have proven that, at a minimum, we are exactly the same as you are,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.
“So, do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness. Glory be to Ukraine,” he continued. - AFP & Reuters
PM Modi speaks to father of Indian student killed in Ukraine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the father of Naveen S. Gyanagoudar, the Indian medical student from Karnataka who was killed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv.
The Prime Minister spoke to Shekharappa Gyanagoudar over the phone and condoled the family members. - Nistula Hebber.
Top Russian security official hits back at French threat of ‘economic war’ against Russia
Russia’s top security official Dmitry Medvedev responded on Tuesday to comments by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire promising to wage an economic and financial war against Russia.
“Today, some French minister has said that they declared an economic war on Russia. Watch your tongue, gentlemen! And don’t forget that in human history, economic wars quite often turned into real ones,” Medvedev, a former Russian president, wrote on his Twitter account (@MedvedevRussiaE).
Earlier on Tuesday Mr. Le Maire told France Info radio that “we are going to deliver a total economic and financial war against Russia,” over its invasion of Ukraine. - Reuters
NATO chief meets Polish President
General Jens Stoltenberg is meeting Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Lask Air Base in central Poland for talks on the eastern flank’s security, as Russia wages war on Ukraine, just across Poland’s eastern border.
Mr. Stoltenberg and Mr. Duda shook hands early Tuesday at the 32rd Tactical Air Base in Lask, where Polish and NATO fighter jets are based, including F-16s.
The United States recently reinforced the eastern flank of NATO’s territory with some 5,000 additional troops. - AP
Poland calls for more sanctions on Russia if war continues
Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau called on Tuesday for further sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not end its invasion in Ukraine.
“What has been achieved so far indicates that if the war was to last longer, the scope of sanctions would increase. There is agreement between us on this,” he said after meeting his German and French counterparts.
Poland has accepted around 400,000 refugees since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, but the total number might even reach one million, Mr. Rau added.
Kremlin says ‘too soon to assess’ Ukraine talks
The Kremlin on Tuesday said it was too early to draw conclusions from a first round of talks held with Ukraine on ending the war following Moscow’s invasion last week.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been informed about the talks and that “it is too soon to assess” their outcome. Russian and Ukrainian officials met on Monday on the border between Belarus and Ukraine for the first talks since the outbreak of war.
Mr. Peskov said Moscow will “analyse” the outcome of the talks. - AFP
U.N. says some 6,60,000 fled Ukraine so far
The United Nations refugee agency says that about 6,60,000 people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries since the Russian invasion began. The number, given on Tuesday, was up from a count of more than 5,00,000 a day earlier.
Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva that “at this rate, the situation looks set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century.”
She said the agency is urging governments to continue allowing access to all those who are fleeing, including third-country nationals living in Ukraine who are forced to escape the violence. She added: “We stress that there must be no discrimination against any person or group.” - AP
Russia pummels Ukraine’s No. 2 city and convoy nears Kyiv
Russian shelling pounded civilian targets in Ukraine’s second-largest city again on Tuesday and a 64-kilometre convoy of tanks and other vehicles threatened the capital — tactics Ukraine’s embattled president said were designed to force him into concessions in Europe’s largest ground war in generations.
With the Kremlin increasingly isolated by tough economic sanctions that have tanked the ruble currency, Russian troops attempted to advance on Ukraine’s two biggest cities. In strategic Kharkiv, an eastern city with a population of about 1.5 million, videos posted online showed explosions hitting the region’s Soviet-era administrative building and residential areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack on Kharkiv’s main square “frank, undisguised terror,” blaming a Russian missile and calling it a war crime. “Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget. ... This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation.” Throughout Ukraine, many civilians spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. - AP
Karnataka CM calls family of student killed in Ukraine
The Indian student has lost his life in shelling at Kharkiv on March 1, been identified as Naveen S. Gyanagoudar, from Chalageri in Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condoled the death of the student and spoke to his father Shekharappa Gyanagoudar over the phone. He assured the bereaved family of contacting the MEA to ensure the family gets the mortal remains of Naveen.
Mr. Gyanagoudar recalled his telephone conversation with Naveen earlier in the day. He would speak to his son at least three times every day.
Deputy Commissioner of Karnataka’s Haveri district, Sanjay Shettennavar, has sent a team to Chalageri village in Ranebennur taluk in the district.
Kremlin denies use cluster munitions use
The Kremlin has denied that the Russian military has used cluster munitions in Ukraine and insisted that the Russian forces only have struck military targets. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted on Tuesday that “the Russian troops don’t conduct any strikes against civilian infrastructure and residential areas”. Mr. Peskov’s claim contradicts abundant evidence documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of homes, schools, and hospitals across Ukraine.
Mr. Peskov also rejected the accusations that the Russian military has used cluster munitions and devastating vacuum weapons, dismissing them as fabrications.
Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he wouldn’t respond to questions about whether the Kremlin is happy with the pace of the offensive and wouldn’t comment on Russian military casualties.
The Russian Defense Ministry said for the first time Monday that it has suffered losses but didn’t name any numbers. - AP
SpiceJet sends plane to Slovakia to evacuate stranded Indians
SpiceJet on Tuesday afternoon sent a plane to Kosice in Slovakia to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.
Slovakia shares land border with Ukraine on the western side.
Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju is travelling on SpiceJet's special flight to Slovakia as a Special Envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation, SpiceJet said in a statement.
"The aircraft will fly to Kosice in Slovakia from Delhi and the return flight will operate via Kutaisi, Georgia," it said. - PTI
Donetsk Separatists say there are evacuation routes
The separatist forces in Donetsk say they have established two corridors for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, an indication that a large attack on the key Azov Sea port could be imminent.
Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the separatists' military, said civilian safety of movement is guaranteed until Wednesday in the corridors.
Mariupol, an industrial center, is seen as a key target for Russian forces for its economic value and its location, which would help Russia establish a land corridor between Crimea and the Russian mainland. - AP
U.K. warns Putin of indefinite sanctions, war crimes
The United Kingdom Government warned on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commanders in Ukraine could face prosecution for war crimes and that Western sanctions would remain “for as long as it takes”.
On a visit to Poland, Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned Mr. Putin’s “barbaric, indiscriminate” tactics against Ukrainian civilians, after shelling hit one city.
Mr. Johnson said Russia had underestimated the “passionate desire” of Ukraine’s people to defend themselves, as well as “the unity and resolve of the West and of the rest of the world”.
“And we will keep up the economic pressure,” he said, after Britain on Tuesday joined the European Union and United States in sanctioning Russia’s biggest lender Sberbank. - AFP
Government needs strategic plan for evacuation: Rahul Gandhi after Indian student killed in Kharkiv
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that Government of India needed a strategic plan for the safe evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in war-torn Ukraine. His comments came after the MEA confirmed that an Indian student had been killed in shelling in Kharkiv.
“Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” Mr. Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
“I reiterate, GOI needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious.”
Indian killed in shelling
An Indian student was killed in shelling in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed. “With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
“Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
Day 6: At a glance
European commission proposes sanction on RT, Sputnik access to Europe
The European Commission is seeking EU countries’ approval to sanction Russian state-controlled media outlets RT and Sputnik by restricting their access to the European media market regardless of their distribution channel.
The sanction means that EU operators will be prohibited from broadcasting, facilitating or otherwise contributing to the dissemination of any RT and Sputnik content, according to EU industry chief Thierry Breton.
This includes transmission or distribution via cable, satellite, IPTV, internet video sharing platforms or applications, whether new or pre-installed.-Reuters
Belarus leader says Minsk won’t join Russian operation in Ukraine: State News Agency
Belarus has no plans to join Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Mr. Lukashenko denied Kyiv’s allegations that Russian troops were attacking Ukraine from Belarus’ territory, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.-Reuters
Ukraine’s Mariupol port under constant shelling, mayor says
The mayor of Ukraine’s Mariupol said on Tuesday morning the southern port city was under constant shelling that had killed civilians and damaged infrastructure, as Russia started day six of its invasion.
“We have had residential quarters shelled for five days. They are pounding us with artillery, they are shelling us with GRADS, they are hitting us with air forces,” Vadym Boichenko said in a live broadcast on Ukrainian TV.
“We have civilian infrastructure damaged - schools, houses. There are many injured. There are women, children killed.”-Reuters
A view shows the area near the regional administration building, which was hit by a missile according to city officials, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 1, 2022. Handout via REUTERS.
Indian embassy in Ukraine advises all Indian nationals to leave Kyiv urgently today
Ukraine calls for more sanctions on Russia after Kharkiv strikes
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Tuesday for more international sanctions against Russia after what he said was a “barbaric” attack on the city of Kharkiv.
“Barbaric Russian missile strikes on the central Freedom Square and residential districts of Kharkiv. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is unable to break Ukraine down. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians,” Mr. Kuleba said on social media.
“The world can and must do more. INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY,” he wrote.-Reuters
Kharkiv official: Russian missiles hit city administration, residential areas
Kharkiv region head Oleg Synegubov said on Tuesday Russian missile attacks hit the centre of Ukraine’s second-largest city, including residential areas and the city administration building, as Moscow started day six of its invasion.
Synegubov said Russia launched GRAD and cruise missiles on Kharkiv and was guilty of war crimes. He said the city defences were holding.-Reuters
PM Modi briefs President Kovind on Ukraine crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said.
Sources said Mr. Modi briefed Mr. Kovind on the crisis and his government's efforts to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the country.
Polish PM to discuss EU membership for Ukraine with European Commission’s von der Leyen
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will discuss support for Ukraine joining the European Union with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Tuesday, a government spokesman said.
“This afternoon in Brussels, Prime Minister @MorawieckiM meets the President of the European Commission @vonderleyen,” Piotr Muller Wrote on Twitter. “The topic will be systemic support for Ukraine in the context of its membership in the EU.”-Reuters
Erdogan discusses Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with Lukashenko
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s office said early on Tuesday that he held a phone call with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko to discuss developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The two premiers discussed ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to Erdogan’s office. The talks failed to reach a breakthrough on Monday, and negotiators have not said when a new round would take place.
Erdogan’s office said he told Lukashenko that Turkey will continue to make efforts to stop the war and restore peace. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”.
Turkey’s leader said on Monday that his country could not abandon its ties with Russia or Ukraine, adding Ankara would implement a pact on passage via straits in Turkish waters leading to the Black Sea to prevent an escalation of the war.
NATO ally Turkey on Sunday called Russia’s invasion a “war”, allowing it to invoke articles under a 1936 international accord that will limit the passage of some Russian vessels from Turkish straits.-Reuters
Indian Air Force to join evacuation efforts in Ukraine: Govt. sources
In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operation Ganga, PM Modi has called for the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts, said government sources
Leveraging the capacities of our Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame. It will also help deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently.
Indian Air Force is likely to deploy several C-17 aircrafts as part of Operation Ganga from today.-Nistula Hebbar
40-mile Russian convoy threatens Kyiv; shelling intensifies
A 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles threatened Ukraine’s capital Tuesday as an intense shelling attack targeted the country’s second-largest city, and both sides looked to resume talks in the coming days aimed at stopping the fighting.
The country’s embattled president said he believed the stepped-up shelling was designed to force him into concessions.
“I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of hourslong talks that took place Monday, but he said Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions “when one side is hitting another with rocket artillery.”-AP
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the northern end of a convoy at the southeast of Ivankiv, north west of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday Feb. 28, 2022. | Photo Credit: AP
China starts evacuating citizens from Ukraine: reports
China has started evacuating its citizens from Ukraine, state media reported Tuesday, amid fears for their safety due to the invasion by Beijing’s ally Russia but also reports of resulting hostility from angry Ukrainians.
Some 600 Chinese students were evacuated Monday from Kyiv and the southern port city of Odessa, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported, citing the Chinese embassy in the Ukrainian capital.
A further 1,000 Chinese nationals will leave Ukraine on Tuesday bound for Poland and Slovakia, both European Union member states, the report added.
China has trod a cautious diplomatic tightrope on the conflict, balancing its oft-repeated insistence on the sanctity of state sovereignty with an unwillingness to call out its close ally Russia.-AFP
Artillery kills 70 Ukraine soldiers
More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region wrote on Telegram.
Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-story building and rescuers searching rubble. -AP
A view of a school destroyed as a result of fight not far from the center of Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, located some 50 km from Ukrainian-Russian border, on February 28, 2022. | Photo Credit: AFP
Australia commits $50 million in support for Ukraine
Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware to fight Russian invaders.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday elaborated on his country’s plans after revealing a day earlier that his government would provide Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with lethal military equipment. Mr. Morrison promised only non-lethal military equipment last week.
“President Zelenskyy said: Don’t give me a ride, give me ammunition,’ and that’s exactly what the Australian government has agreed to do,” Mr. Morrison said.
Australia had committed $50 million to provide both lethal and non-lethal defensive support for Ukraine through NATO, he said.
“The overwhelming majority of that ... will be in the lethal category,” Mr. Morrison said.-AP
Air India flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from Ukraine lands in Mumbai
An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday, March 1 morning, an airline spokesperson said.
Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane received them at the Mumbai airport, the spokesperson said.
The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said.
An aircraft to bring back Indian nationals from Ukraine had left from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) for Bucharest on Monday.-PTI
ICC to open probe on ‘situation in Ukraine’: prosecutor
International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday he was launching an investigation on the “situation in Ukraine” following Russia’s invasion.
“Today I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible,” Khan said in a statement.
“I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine” since 2014, he added.
“Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine.”-AFP
Disney halts film releases in Russia over Ukraine invasion
Disney announced Monday it is suspending the release of its films in theaters in Russia after Moscow’s assault on Ukraine, following the example of other major companies choosing to pull out of the country.
“Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming ‘Turning Red’ from Pixar,” the US entertainment giant said in a statement.
“We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees,” it said.-AFP
Mastercard blocks multiple Russian financial institutions from network
Mastercard has blocked multiple financial institutions from the Mastercard payment network as a result of sanction orders on Russia, it said late on Monday.
Mastercard will continue to work with regulators to abide fully by compliance obligations, the company said in a statement.-Reuters
A serviceman of pro-Russian militia walks inside a house that was damaged by recent shelling, in Donetsk, Ukraine February 28, 2022. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Russia shells Ukraine’s Kharkiv as pressure on Moscow bites
Russia shelled the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as it pressed on with its invasion Tuesday, defying mounting global pressure that saw a war crimes probe opened against Moscow, sanctions smash its economy and FIFA ban it from the World Cup.
At least 11 people killed by Russian attacks in Kharkiv and Russian missile fire on several residential buildings.
Explosions were also reported in and around Brovary, a city on the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv.
Russian fire killed several civilians, including children, in Kharkiv and Russian armoured vehicles and tanks are “everywhere” around the city, said mayor Igor Terekhov, quoted by Ukrainian media.
More than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed during the invasion, Ukraine says, while more than half a million people have fled the country.-AFP
Taekwondo-Putin stripped of black belt over Ukraine invasion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been stripped of his honorary taekwondo black belt over his country’s invasion of Ukraine, a personal rebuke heaped on top of international economic and sporting sanctions.
World Taekwondo, citing its motto of “Peace is More Precious than Triumph,” condemned the Russian military action in Ukraine, saying the “brutal attacks on innocent lives” violated the sport’s values of respect and tolerance.
“In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013,” the governing body said in a statement.
It added that it would join the International Olympic Committee in banning the Russian flag and anthem at its events.-Reuters
Vast Russian army convoy spotted north of Kyiv
A huge Russian military convoy stretching some 40 miles was spotted Monday by a US satellite imaging company just north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which has already repulsed several assaults.
Satellite photos provided by Maxar, a US company, showed that the convoy -- which had been massing since Sunday -- had mushroomed to more than 40 miles of military vehicles.
It said the column covered the entire stretch of road from near Antonov airport, some 18 miles from the capital, to the town of Prybirsk - a distance of approximately 40 miles.-AFP
Taiwan to follow SWIFT move, sends medical aid to Ukraine
Taiwan will join moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system and has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine to show support for the international “democratic camp”, the government said on Tuesday.
Taiwan has joined with Western-led allies in putting sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and expressed cross-party sympathy for the Ukrainian people, seeing parallels with what Taipei views as Beijing’s threats against the island.
Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters Taiwan was in lock-step with its democratic partners around the world on its sanctions decision, adding that on SWIFT the government will “cooperate” with what Western countries have decided.
The move is largely symbolic as Taiwan’s trade with Russia is minimal.-Reuters
India calls for immediate cessation of violence, says all differences can only be bridged through honest dialogue
India has said that it was deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and reiterated its call for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities, saying all differences can only be bridged through honest, sincere and sustained dialogue.
India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti told a rare emergency special session of the U.N. General Assembly on Ukraine convened on February 28 that New Delhi is doing whatever it can to undertake immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals still stranded in Ukraine.
U.S. expels 12 Russian diplomats staffing U.N. mission
The beginning of an already fraught United Nations Security Council meeting got even more tense when Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, informed the body that the U.S. had just expelled twelve of his colleagues from the country, a move confirmed by the American Deputy UNPR Richard Mills.
India ready to help nationals of neighbouring, developing countries stranded in Ukraine: Tirumurti tells U.N. Security Council
As the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) met in a special session to vote on a resolution calling for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine, the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the humanitarian crisis that is developing in the region.
Expressing concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UNPR) T.S. Tirumurti said that India’s evacuation efforts had been hampered by the events at the Ukraine border.
Ukraine seeks to join EU as round of talks with Russia ends
An embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its bond with the West on Monday by applying to join the European Union, while the first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at ending the fighting concluded with no deal but an agreement to keep talking.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted photos of himself signing the EU application, a largely symbolic move that could take years to become reality and is unlikely to sit well with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused the West of trying to pull Ukraine into its orbit.
