Live updates: U.N. says some 660,000 fled Ukraine so far

___

GENEVA — The U.N. refugee company says that about 660,000 folks have fled Ukraine for neighboring nations because the Russian invasion started.

The quantity, given on Tuesday, was up from a depend of greater than 500,000 a day earlier.

Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Refugees, mentioned in Geneva that “at this price, the scenario seems set to turn into Europe’s largest refugee disaster this century.”

She mentioned the company is urging governments to proceed permitting entry to all those that are fleeing, together with third-country nationals dwelling in Ukraine who’re pressured to flee the violence. She added: “We stress that there should be no discrimination towards any particular person or group.”

___

BERLIN — The Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe says a few of its observers in Ukraine are trapped in Kharkiv and Kherson resulting from combating in these cities.

The Vienna-based group introduced Friday it was evacuating members of the monitoring mission from Ukraine.

In its newest report, revealed late Monday, the OSCE mentioned that “resulting from ongoing kinetic exercise, together with continued shelling and stories of combating, in addition to the dynamic motion of entrance traces, the monitoring groups situated within the cities of Kharkiv and Kherson proceed to shelter in place.”

“The groups are conducting dynamic safety threat assessments to determine a window to permit them to maneuver safely,” it added.

The OSCE mentioned its chief Monitor and senior administration would stay in Ukraine till the evacuation course of was full. The mission comprising some 500 observers was tasked with monitoring the road of contact between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists within the east of the nation.

__

GENEVA — The U.N. human rights workplace known as Tuesday for the discharge of all peaceable protesters who have been arrested after collaborating in anti-war demonstrations in Russia.

The Geneva-based workplace mentioned stories recommended about 6,400 folks have been arrested in Russia since final week for collaborating in peace protests.

“We perceive the overwhelming majority are launched inside hours, many after paying an administrative nice, whereas some are given jail sentences starting from seven to 25 days below numerous legal guidelines,” it mentioned. “There are additionally stories of pointless and extreme use of power by police throughout and after the arrests.”

“Arresting folks solely for exercising their rights of peaceable meeting and freedom of expression constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty,” it added. “We name for the speedy launch of all these arbitrarily detained and for the authorities to abide by their worldwide obligations to respect and make sure the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceable meeting.”

Individually, it additionally urged the discharge of some 744 folks detained in neighboring Belarus, saying some had been arrested for chanting “no warfare” and expressing help for Ukraine.

___

GENEVA — The Crimson Cross is interesting for 250 million Swiss francs ($272 million) to assist folks affected by the warfare in Ukraine.

The Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross and the Crimson Cross federation mentioned in a press release Tuesday they concern “tens of millions of individuals face excessive hardship and struggling with out improved entry and a speedy enhance in humanitarian help.”

“Casualty figures preserve rising whereas well being amenities wrestle to manage,” mentioned the pinnacle of the ICRC, Robert Mardini.

“We already see long-term disruptions in common water and electrical energy provides,” he added. “Individuals calling our hotline in Ukraine are desperately in want of meals and shelter.”

___

ROME — The Italian ambassador to Ukraine has been sheltering 87 Italians, together with youngsters and newborns, in his residence in Kyiv.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi advised Parliament on Tuesday mentioned most of these being sheltered needs to be leaving right now for Lviv, a metropolis in western Ukraine.

Not like a number of different Western nations, Italy stored its embassy companies functioning in Ukraine’s capital within the run-up to the invasion by Russia however moved the embassy to the ambassador’s residence.

There are some 2,300 Italians in Ukraine, greater than half of them residents of the nation.

___

MOSCOW — The Kremlin has denied that the Russian army has used cluster munitions in Ukraine and insisted that the Russian forces solely have struck army targets.

Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Tuesday that “the Russian troops don’t conduct any strikes towards civilian infrastructure and residential areas.” Peskov’s declare contradicts plentiful proof documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of houses, colleges, and hospitals throughout Ukraine.

Peskov additionally rejected the accusations that the Russian army has used cluster munitions and devastating vacuum weapons, dismissing them as fabrications.

Talking in a convention name with reporters, he wouldn’t reply to questions on whether or not the Kremlin is pleased with the tempo of the offensive and wouldn’t touch upon Russian army casualties.

The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned for the primary time Monday that it has suffered losses however didn’t identify any numbers.

___

GENEVA — The U.N. human rights workplace says it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians, together with 13 youngsters, in Ukraine because the begin of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, however warned the toll could also be far greater.

The Geneva-based workplace mentioned Tuesday that it has additionally recorded 400 civilians injured within the battle, amongst them 26 youngsters.

“Most of those casualties have been triggered by means of explosive weapons with a large affect space, together with shelling from heavy artillery and a number of launch rocket techniques, and air strikes,” it mentioned. “These are solely the casualties we have been in a position to cross-check, and the true toll is prone to be a lot greater.”

It urged events to the battle to not use explosive weapons with vast space results in populated areas due to the “very excessive dangers of indiscriminate and disproportionate affect on civilians.”

___

MOSCOW — Russia’s Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu says that the army will preserve urgent its offensive in Ukraine “till it achieves its acknowledged objectives,” charging that the assault is meant to “shield” his nation from a army menace from Western nations, “which are attempting to make use of the Ukrainian folks within the battle towards our nation.”

Shoigu reaffirmed on Tuesday that the Russian army “strikes solely army amenities and makes use of solely precision weapons” regardless of plentiful proof documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of houses, colleges and hospitals throughout Ukraine.

__

KYIV, Ukraine — Separatist forces in Donetsk say they’ve established two corridors for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, a sign that a big assault on the important thing Azov Sea port could possibly be imminent.

Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the separatists ’army, mentioned on Tuesday that civilian security of motion is assured till Wednesday within the corridors.

Mariupol, an industrial middle, is seen as a key goal for Russian forces for its financial worth and its location, which might assist Russia set up a land hall between Crimea and the Russian mainland.

___

PARIS — French finance minister Bruno Le Maire mentioned Tuesday on France Information radio that Western sanctions are “going to trigger the Russian economic system to break down.”

“Russia’s international change reserves are disappearing into skinny air and Vladimir Putin’s infamous warfare chest is all however empty,” Le Maire mentioned Tuesday on France Information radio. “The market is collapsing. Inflation is rising. We’re going to see traces of Russian folks attempting to withdraw money from their banks.”

Le Maire additionally mentioned that the Russian Central Financial institution having to boost rates of interest “implies that firms received’t have entry to loans, or at very excessive charges” and due to this fact received’t have the ability to make investments and develop the Russian economic system.

___

BERLIN — Google is obstructing the YouTube channels of Russian broadcasters RT and Sputnik in Europe because of the warfare in Ukraine.

Google mentioned in a press release Tuesday on Twitter that the choice will likely be “efficient instantly.” However the firm added that “it’ll take time for our techniques to totally ramp up.”

“Our groups proceed to observe the scenario across the clock to take swift motion,” Google mentioned.

___

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The world’s largest transport firm A.P. Moller – Maersk says that each one new bookings to and from Russia “will likely be briefly suspended, with exception of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian provides.”

The transfer got here as a result of “the steadiness and security of our operations is already being immediately and not directly impacted by sanctions,” the Copenhagen-based group mentioned in a press release Tuesday including the suspension applies to “all Russian gateway ports.”

The group mentioned it’s “deeply involved by how the disaster retains escalating in Ukraine.”

___

BERLIN — The town of Munich mentioned Tuesday it has fired Valery Gergiev because the chief conductor of the town’s philharmonic orchestra due to his help for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mayor Dieter Reiter mentioned in a press release that Gergiev had failed to reply to a Monday deadline to distance himself from Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

“I had anticipated him to rethink and revise his very optimistic evaluation of the Russian chief,” mentioned Reiter.

“After this didn’t happen the one choice is the speedy severance of ties,” he added.

Gergiev has already been dropped as conductor of the Verbier Competition, the Edinburgh Worldwide Competition, the Vienna Philharmonic’s five-concert U.S. tour and different engagements in latest days.

___

BERLIN — German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock says unity “has turn into a query of survival for Europe” in gentle of Russia’s resolution to disregard worldwide guidelines with its assault on Ukraine.

Talking Tuesday forward of a gathering together with her Polish and French counterparts in Lodz, Poland, Baerbock mentioned it was essential that the three nations convey their very own — usually fairly totally different — views to the difficulty and thereby guarantee Europe stays united.

“If our three nations can act as one, as we at the moment are in our help for Ukraine, then Europe acts as one,” she mentioned in a press release.

Baerbock mentioned Europe’s solidarity with Ukraine is also seen within the peace protests which have taken place in latest days “the place a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals expressed their sorrow and likewise their anger” over the warfare.

____

ROME — Italian Premier Mario Draghi is asking the nation’s Parliament to step up army assist to Ukraine, a day after his Cupboard authorised supplying arms like anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

Draghi advised lawmakers on Tuesday that Russia’s assault on Ukraine “obligates us to make decisions that have been unthinkable” till not too long ago. Some lawmakers in events in his wide-ranging pandemic unity authorities have voiced opposition to sending deadly army assist. However each chambers of Parliament are anticipated to approve the help in votes this week.

Simply final week, the federal government mentioned it might be sending solely “non-lethal” assist to Italy’s army forces, comparable to gear to disable land mines. However “it’s mandatory {that a} democratically elected authorities is ready to withstand invasion and defend the independence of the nation,” Draghi mentioned, arguing for supplying deadly weaponry.

__

BEIJING — China is urging restraint from “all events” in Russia’s warfare on Ukraine, persevering with its efforts to specific help for its northern ally with out outright endorsing the invasion.

Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday reiterated China’s name for the “cheap safety issues” of all nations to be revered, and assertion that the Ukraine problem has “a posh actuality.”

Russia’s “authentic safety calls for needs to be taken critically and correctly addressed” within the face of NATO’s enlargement eastward, Wang advised reporters at a every day briefing.

“We specific remorse over the casualties. The present scenario shouldn’t be one thing we need to see,” Wang mentioned.

“It’s crucial that each one events preserve the mandatory restraint to stop the scenario on the bottom from additional deteriorating and even going uncontrolled, and make efforts to successfully safeguard civilians’ lives and property, particularly to stop a large-scale humanitarian disaster.”

China has largely aligned its international coverage with Russia’s in recent times as a part of joint efforts to problem the U.S.-led liberal worldwide order. Throughout a go to by Putin to Beijing early final month, Beijing endorsed Putin’s objections to additional NATO enlargement and Russia backed China’s declare to the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan.

___

LONDON — Britain’s deputy prime minister once more rejected requires NATO to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it might threat widening the warfare by placing the alliance in direct battle with Russian forces.

Dominic Raab advised Sky Information on Tuesday that Britain as a substitute is pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to alter course by working with different nations to ratchet up sanctions and examine warfare crimes throughout the battle.

“We’re not going to (impose a no-fly zone) as a result of it might put us ready the place we must implement it by, in impact, taking pictures down Russian planes,” Raab mentioned in an interview with Sky.

The feedback got here after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested NATO to impose a whole no-fly zone for Russian airplanes, helicopters and missiles.

The U.Okay. Ministry of Protection on Tuesday mentioned Russia had failed to realize management of the skies over Ukraine, forcing it to shift to nighttime operations to scale back its losses.

Russian forces have “made little progress” of their advance on the capital, Kyiv, over the previous 24 hours most likely due to logistical difficulties, the ministry mentioned.

___

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone name with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko through which the 2 mentioned talks between Ukraine and Russia on the Belarus-Ukraine border, the Turkish president’s workplace mentioned Tuesday.

Erdogan advised his Belarusian counterpart late Monday that NATO-member Turkey would proceed to exert efforts to “finish the warfare and restore peace,” it mentioned in a press release.

Ukrainian and Russian officers met on Monday for talks aimed toward ending the Russian army assault on Ukraine. The talks yielded an settlement to maintain speaking.

Turkey, which is attempting to steadiness its help for Ukraine with its fragile financial ties to Russia, mentioned Monday it’s implementing a world conference that enables the nation to close down the straits on the entrance of the Black Sea to warships, to keep away from an escalation of the battle.

Erdogan has mentioned Turkey would “not quit” on its shut relations with both Moscow or Kyiv.

___

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities say the middle of the nation’s second-largest metropolis has been hit by renewed Russian shelling.

Oleh Sinehubov, the pinnacle of the Kharkiv regional administration, mentioned the administration constructing within the middle of Kharkiv got here below Russian shelling Tuesday together with residential buildings. Sinehubov didn’t give any particular numbers of casualties from the newest shelling.

Beforehand, Sinehubov mentioned not less than 11 folks have been killed and scores of others have been wounded within the shelling in Kharkiv on Monday.

He mentioned Ukrainian troops are keeping off Russian makes an attempt to advance on the town of 1.4 million folks.

Movies posted on Ukrainian social networks and media confirmed an enormous explosion subsequent to the towering Soviet-era administrative constructing on Kharkiv’s central sq. hitting a number of automobiles parked in entrance of it, shattering home windows however leaving the constructing largely intact.

___

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel has begun sending 100 tons of humanitarian assist to help folks caught up within the combating in Ukraine.

An El Al airplane was loaded with dozens of cardboard containers Tuesday on the nation’s primary worldwide airport. Israel’s Overseas Ministry says it’s sending medical gear and drugs, water purification techniques, 1000’s of tents, blankets, sleeping baggage and coats. The planes will land in Poland and the help will likely be despatched to Ukraine from there.

Israel has repeatedly pledged its help for the folks of Ukraine within the warfare. But it surely has been cautious in becoming a member of the West in condemning Russia.

Israel depends on Russia for safety coordination in Syria, the place Russia has a army presence and the place Israel over latest years has repeatedly struck weapons caches destined for its enemies and different targets.

___

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan says it despatched 27 tons price of medical provides to Ukraine by way of a flight to Germany late Monday.

Overseas affairs ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou advised reporters Tuesday that Taiwan was pleased to help as “a accountable member of the worldwide neighborhood, and a member of the democratic camp.”

Taiwan has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraineand had mentioned it might impose financial sanctions towards Russia. It has but to disclose what these sanctions have been, however the island is a dominant producer of semiconductor chips, that are essential to tech merchandise starting from smartphones to automobiles.

___

KYIV, Ukraine — Greater than 70 Ukrainian troopers have been killed after Russian artillery hit a army base in Okhtyrka, a metropolis between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the pinnacle of the area wrote on Telegram.

Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted pictures of the charred shell of a four-story constructing and rescuers looking out rubble.

In a later Fb publish, he mentioned many Russian troopers and a few native residents additionally have been killed throughout the combating.

The report couldn’t instantly be confirmed.

___

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia will present Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and different army {hardware} to battle Russian invaders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison elaborated on his nation’s plans Tuesday after revealing his authorities would offer Ukraine with deadly army gear. Morrison had promised solely non-lethal army gear final week.

“President Zelenskyy mentioned: ‘Don’t give me a journey, give me ammunition,’ and that’s precisely what the Australian authorities has agreed to do,” Morrison mentioned.

Australia had dedicated $50 million to supply each deadly and non-lethal defensive help for Ukraine by NATO, he mentioned, including the overwhelming majority will likely be “within the deadly class.”

___

KYIV, Ukraine — Satellite tv for pc images present a convoy of Russian forces north of Ukraine’s capital stretching for 40 miles.

The huge convoy of armored autos, tanks, artillery and help autos was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the middle of Kyiv and stretched for about 40 miles, in line with satellite tv for pc imagery from Maxar Applied sciences.

The Maxar images additionally confirmed deployments of floor forces and floor assault helicopter items in southern Belarus.

___

WASHINGTON — Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. is telling senators her nation wants extra army weapons because it fights the Russian invasion.

Senators emerged from a Monday night assembly with Ambassador Oksana Markarova on the Capitol as Congress is getting ready supplemental funding to assist Ukraine throughout the disaster. The White Home is searching for not less than $6.4 billion in army and humanitarian assist.

“They want extra arms,” mentioned Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

“It’s David versus Goliath,” mentioned Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the highest Republican on the Overseas Relations Committee. “I feel that any human being studying the stories popping out of there notice that that is dire.”

Senators within the U.S. are working to supply ammunition comparable to anti-tank and anti-aircraft techniques to Ukraine.

___

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian troops have intensified shelling of Ukraine, calling it an effort to power his authorities into making concessions throughout talks held Monday.

In a video tackle late Monday, Zelenskyy says that “the talks have been going down towards the backdrop of bombing and shelling of our territory, our cities. Synchronizing of the shelling with the negotiating course of was apparent. I consider Russia is attempting to place strain (on Ukraine) with this straightforward technique.”

The president gave no particulars in regards to the talks themselves. However he says Ukraine shouldn’t be ready to make concessions “when one aspect is hitting one other with rocket artillery.”

___