- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Russia is planning to bombard the port metropolis of Odessa
- Moscow says it destroyed Ukraine’s Starokostiantyniv navy air-base
- Mariupol broadcasts a second try at civilian evacuations after violence scuppered the primary
- Ukrainian officers, Pink Cross say Mariupol evacuations have failed for second day
- The UN says greater than 1.5 million individuals have fled Ukraine
This text was final up to date at 15:45 UTC/GMT
Kremlin cracks down on extra unbiased information retailers
A number of unbiased on-line information retailers on Sunday had been blocked or pressured to close down in Russia attributable to new repressive legal guidelines.
The Russian information web site Mediazona, which covers the police and justice system, mentioned that it had been advised to delete its web site.
“We had been ready for this. In current days, navy censorship has been successfully launched in Russia, and there are nearly no unbiased media left within the nation. We perceive all our dangers, however we proceed to work — that is our obligation to our readers and to ourselves,” Mediazona mentioned in an announcement.
The brand new legislation, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, criminalizes what the Kremlin considers to be “pretend” reviews, with these discovered responsible dealing with as much as 15 years in jail.
Russian authorities have repeatedly denied reviews of civilian casualties in Ukraine and have even claimed assaults on residential areas had been carried out by the Ukrainians themselves.
Even Novaya Gazeta, whose editor-in-chief Dimitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize final yr, has mentioned it has additionally needed to cease reporting on the struggle.
Russian anti-war protests proceed regardless of crackdown
Individuals took to the streets in main Russian cities on Sunday to name for an finish to the struggle in Ukraine regardless of hundreds of arrests and rising threats from the Kremlin.
The Anti-Corruption Basis, the non-profit group arrange by jailed activist Alexei Navalny, shared movies of protests in Saint Petersburg and Moscow on social media.
Russian authorities have tried to repress anti-war sentiment within the nation in addition to reviews of Russian losses, which they’ve branded as “pretend information.”
Police have additionally been arresting hundreds of individuals on the anti-war demonstrations. The unbiased Russian human rights group OVD-Data has been holding a tally of the variety of arrests which on Sunday surpassed 10,000, in keeping with their rely, however this determine can’t be independently verified.
US says reviews of Russian struggle crimes are ‘credible’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned reviews that Russia has intentionally focused civilians, and thus has dedicated struggle crimes, are “very credible.”
“We have seen very credible reviews of deliberate assaults on civilians, which might represent a struggle crime,” Blinken advised CNN.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen adopted swimsuit, calling for an investigation into attainable struggle crimes dedicated by Russian forces.
“I feel there must be a powerful and clear investigation on this query,” von der Leyen advised CNN, in keeping with Reuters.
Blinken has been visiting NATO member states in Jap Europe which were receiving Ukrainian refugees. He spoke on Sunday from Moldova, a former Soviet state that’s neither a part of NATO nor the EU.
Blinken additionally advised CNN that he has been discussing the choice of ceasing imports of Russian oil together with his European companions.
“We’re now speaking to our European companions and allies to look in a coordinated approach on the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil whereas ensuring that there’s nonetheless an applicable provide of oil in world markets, he mentioned.
“That is a really lively dialogue as we converse.”
Mariupol cease-fire as soon as once more falls aside
The second try at a cease-fire on the Ukrainian coastal metropolis of Mariupol for the evacuation of civilians has failed, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s inside minister, mentioned on Telegram.
“The second try at a humanitarian hall for civilians in Mariupol ended once more with bombardment from the Russians,” he wrote.
A reporter for the German broadcaster ZDF, Katrin Eigendorf, confirmed the report. “The introduced cease-fire, that was supposed to permit individuals to be evacuated from Mariupol, has failed,” she mentioned. “They’ve opened fireplace once more — towards civilians.”
The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC) additionally mentioned civilian protected passage from Mariupol has been “halted.”
“Amid devastating scenes of human struggling in Mariupol, a second try to begin evacuating an estimated 200,000 individuals out of the town got here to a halt,” the ICRC mentioned in an announcement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a name with French President Emmanuel Macron, blamed the Ukrainian authorities for the failed evacuations.
An earlier report from Russian information sources, citing Russian-backed separatists, had claimed that some 300 individuals had been evacuated in the course of the ceasefire.
Russian forces have surrounded the town and the civilians trapped there are dealing with an absence of water, meals, heating and electrical energy.
Protesters in Berlin name for an finish to the struggle
Anti-war protesters in Berlin have begun marching by the German capital beneath the motto “Cease Putin — Cease the Battle.”
The demonstration was organized by Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, German and different activist teams, native newspaper Berliner Zeitung reported.
Berlin noticed huge numbers of individuals take to the streets final weekend in protest towards the Russian invasion, with some reviews placing the variety of contributors at half 1,000,000 individuals.
DW’s Matthew Moore spoke to protesters in Berlin.
One particular person mentioned that she felt “dangerous for being right here” since her household and associates are nonetheless again in Ukraine, she added that the Ukrainian individuals know “they don’t seem to be alone.”
DW’s Teri Schulz was at the same protest in Belgium the place marchers had been calling for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, one thing that NATO has already dominated out.
Russian rockets destroy Ukrainian regional civilian airport: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the civilian airport of the central-western regional capital of Vinnytsia has been devastated by Russian rockets.
“I’ve simply been knowledgeable a few missile strike on Vinnytsia. Eight rockets … The airport was utterly destroyed,” he mentioned.
Earlier, there had been reviews that emergency companies had been making an attempt to extinguish fires on the airport.
Pope requires finish to ‘rivers of blood and tears’ in Ukraine
Pope Francis has known as for an finish to the combating in Ukraine, saying that “there are rivers of blood and tears flowing” within the nation.
“This isn’t only a navy operation, however a struggle that sows dying, destruction and struggling,” Francis advised worshippers in St Peter’s Sq. in Rome, thus difficult Russia’s declare that its invasion of Ukraine is a mere “particular mission.” Nevertheless, as he has did not do in all of the 11 days of the battle thus far, he didn’t condemn Russia by identify for its assault.
Francis additionally mentioned he had despatched two cardinals to Ukraine, saying that “the Holy See is prepared to do every little thing to place itself in service for peace.”
The 2 are Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almsgiver, who has been dispatched with support, and Cardinal Michael Czerny, who’s head of the papal workplace that offers with migration, charity, justice and peace.
Turkey requires ‘pressing ceasefire’
Turkish state information company Anadolu on Sunday reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has known as for pressing steps to be taken to make sure a ceasefire.
Erdogan is reported to have mentioned this throughout a cellphone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Turkish president can also be reported to have known as for the opening of a humanitarian hall and a peace settlement to be signed.
In response to Russia’s International Ministry, Putin mentioned that the operation “goes in keeping with plan and in accordance with the schedule.”
The assertion went on to say that there was willingness from Russia to have dialogue with Ukrainian authorities, and known as for a “extra constructive strategy” from Kyiv.
Greater than 1,000 anti-war protesters arrested in Russia: OVD-Data
Greater than 1,000 individuals protesting at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine had been detained at protests on Sunday in 29 cities throughout Russia, an unbiased Russian-based group monitoring protests mentioned.
OVD-Data mentioned a few of these arrests came about within the Pacific port metropolis of Vladivostok and the Siberian metropolis of Irkutsk.
It mentioned that as of 1140 UTC, a minimum of 9,478 protesters had been arrested because the invasion started on February 24.
Russia has harsh anti-protest laws entailing excessive penalties for offenders.
To this point, this truth and Moscow’s rising censorship of worldwide media retailers difficult the Kremlin’s narrative of a reputable navy motion have meant that anti-war protests in Russia haven’t reached the scale of these in lots of different nations. Nevertheless, protests have nonetheless have been happening commonly throughout the nation.
The Inside Ministry warned on Saturday that any try to carry unauthorized rallies can be prevented and the organizers held liable.
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has known as for every day protests in Russia and internationally towards the invasion.
Russia continues to pump gasoline by Ukraine
Russian gasoline remains to be flowing by pipelines that run by Ukraine and into central Europe, the state-owned firm Gazprom mentioned on Sunday in keeping with Russian information company Interfax.
Over 100 million cubic meters of gasoline is predicted to circulate on Sunday.
“Gazprom fulfills the provision of Russian gasoline for transit by the territory of Ukraine on the ordinary capability and in keeping with the necessities of European shoppers,” firm spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov was quoted as saying.
Regardless of the raft of sanctions aimed on the Russian financial system, European nations proceed to purchase their gasoline from Moscow, even fearing that the Kremlin could flip off the faucet in retaliation.
Different gasoline pipelines that offer Ukraine have been broken, leaving a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals with out entry.
Shortly after Russia launched its invasion, Germany canceled the controversial Nord Line 2 pipeline that was set to pump extra gasoline straight into Germany, bypassing Ukraine and different nations.
Berlin additionally mentioned it might pace up its detachment from counting on Russian fossil fuels.
Russia has constructed a brand new pipeline to keep away from its pure gasoline transiting by Ukraine, however the venture has been shelved
Zelenskyy warns of ‘historic crime’ in Odesa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Sunday that Russian forces had been making ready to bombard the key port metropolis of Odesa.
“That is going to be a navy crime. That is going to be a historic crime,” he mentioned in a televised tackle.
Russian troops getting into Ukraine from the Crimean peninsula — territory occupied by Russia since 2014 — have superior alongside the coast, having taken management of Kherson and laid siege to different coastal cities, however thus far Odesa has largely been spared.
The inhabitants of Odesa is near 1 million individuals, together with each Ukrainian and Russian audio system in addition to sizeable Bulgarian and Jewish minorities. It has additionally been a hotspot for Russian vacationers.
“Russians have all the time come to Odessa. They’ve all the time felt solely heat in Odessa. Solely sincerity. And now what?” Zelenskyy mentioned in his tackle.
Over 1.5 million individuals flee Ukraine: UN
The variety of refugees who’ve crossed the border from Ukraine into neighboring nations has surpassed 1.5 million, the UN’s Excessive Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi mentioned on Twitter.
The variety of refugees has risen quickly within the first 10 days of the battle. Grandi mentioned it’s “the fastest-growing refugee disaster in Europe since World Battle II.”
Individuals fleeing the invasion have crossed into numerous nations, with the bulk getting into EU member state Poland. Warsaw says that nearly 800,000 individuals have arrived because the starting of the battle.
Moldova, which shares a big border with Ukraine however is just not an EU member state, mentioned that 250,000 individuals, together with 30,000 kids, had crossed into the nation and that it wanted pressing worldwide help to help them.
Greece additionally mentioned on Sunday that some 3,700 individuals had arrived within the nation from Ukraine. Round 100,000 ethnic Greeks reside in Ukraine and Athens has pledged further help to evacuate them. Many Ukrainians additionally moved to Greece after the autumn of the Soviet Union and lots of the new arrivals had been reportedly staying with family, dpa new company reported
Ukraine battle might ‘final months, if not years’: UK deputy PM
Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab mentioned on Sunday that opponents of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine must present “strategic stamina” if they need Russian President Vladimir Putin to fail.
“Our mission with our allies is to make sure Putin fails in Ukraine, and it’ll take a while — we’re speaking about months, if not years,” he advised UK broadcaster Sky Information.
When requested about Putin’s seeming veiled risk of probably utilizing nuclear weapons, Raab mentioned, “(Putin’s) bought a monitor document so long as anybody’s arm of misinformation and propaganda … this can be a distraction from what the true points are at hand — which is that it is an unlawful invasion and it isn’t going in keeping with plan.”
Just below per week in the past, Putin ordered his navy to place Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on excessive alert. It stays unclear precisely what this implies on the bottom and is seen by many because the response of a frontrunner pissed off on the progress of his navy plans amid sturdy Ukrainian resistance.
Ukraine claims large Russian losses
The final workers of the Ukrainian armed forces has put the variety of Russian troops killed thus far at 11,000. The quantity stood at 10,000 on Saturday, the navy mentioned. DW is unable to confirm these figures.
Russian authorities on Wednesday claimed {that a} a lot decrease variety of troopers had been killed within the invasion — fewer than 500.
On the eleventh day of the struggle, Russian positive factors embrace the important thing metropolis of Kherson within the south. Russian forces have additionally surrounded the cities of Kharkiv — Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy. However these stay largely or partly in Ukrainian arms.
A mileslong convoy of Russian troops and tools that had been headed to the capital Kyiv remains to be blocked on the freeway, in keeping with current reviews.
Ukraine’s predominant port metropolis Odesa can also be nonetheless beneath Ukrainian management, with native forces holding out towards Russian ships within the Black Sea.
The dpa information company cited the Protection Ministry in Moscow as saying that Russian troops and separatist rebels from Luhansk and Donetsk had superior some 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) and brought management of 5 cities and villages.
Mariupol to make second try at evacuations
Town council of Mariupol, the port metropolis near Ukraine’s jap border with Russia, has introduced a brand new cease-fire with the Russian forces at present surrounding the town.
The deliberate pause in hostilities will final from 12 p.m. native time (1000 UTC) till 9 p.m on Sunday. The authorities are hoping to evacuate the 400,000 people who find themselves trapped within the metropolis with out entry to meals, water and heating.
The introduced cease-fire follows a failed try on Saturday that was deserted after each the Ukrainians and Russians accused one another of violations in the course of the agreed interval.
WHO condemns assaults on well being care services in Ukraine
The World Well being Group confirmed a number of assaults on well being care facilities in Ukraine, WHO Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted on Sunday.
The assaults led to a number of deaths and accidents, he added.
Ghebreyesus mentioned that they had been investigating different comparable reviews and condemned the assaults on well being care services and employees, saying they ”breach medical neutrality and are violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation.”
‘Fierce’ combating in Mykolaiv: Ukrainian navy
Airstrikes and combating continued in Ukraine on Sunday amid Russia’s invasion, with the Ukrainian navy reporting “fierce battles” with Russian troops across the southern metropolis of Mykolaiv.
Town is vital strategically, because it controls the highway to the important thing Black Sea metropolis of Odesa.
This comes as Russia reported that it had destroyed Ukraine’s Starokostiantyniv navy air-base with long-range weapons. The report has not been verified.
Combating can also be persevering with for the northern metropolis of Chernihiv, whereas an anticipated Russian advance on Kyiv has reportedly been preceded by airstrikes on the cities of Bucha and Irpin which have pressured civilians to flee.
The state of affairs within the Black Sea metropolis of Mariupol, which is now with out water or energy amid Russian shelling, has in the meantime been known as “catastrophic” by the group Medical doctors With out Borders (MSF).
Officers within the metropolis mentioned they needed to delay the evacuation of civilians on Saturday after an agreed cease-fire broke down, however Moscow has contradicted their model of occasions, saying that it was Ukrainian “nationalists” stopping the civilians leaving.
Israel’s PM returns house after shock Russian journey
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is again in Israel after a gathering with Russian President Vladimir Putin that came about “with the blessing” of the US Biden administration, in keeping with Bennett’s workplace.
Bennett, whose nation has been striving to take care of good relations with each Russia and Ukraine regardless of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor, spoke with the Kremlin chief for 3 hours. No particulars of their dialog have been launched
He then spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier than flying on to Germany to satisfy Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“We proceed to dialogue,” the Ukrainian chief tweeted after his speak with Bennett.
After his return, Bennett mentioned his nation would proceed negotiating with Russia though he held out little probability of success.
“We are going to proceed to help wherever that is requested, even when the possibilities are usually not nice,” he mentioned in televised remarks. “The second there’s even a small opening, and we’ve the entry to all sides and the potential, I see it as an ethical obligation to make each try.”
Ukraine has requested Israel to behave as an middleman between Kyiv and Moscow, because the nation has good relations with each governments.
Israel tries to take care of good ties with Russia partly to make sure that warplanes from the 2 nations don’t come into battle in Syria. Nevertheless, it has additionally delivered humanitarian support to Ukraine, although no weapons.
Russia ‘shocked’ by Ukrainian resistance: UK navy intelligence
Russia has been attacking a number of populated areas in response to a Ukrainian resistance that’s stronger than Moscow anticipated, British navy intelligence mentioned.
In response to an replace on Sunday, “the dimensions and power of Ukrainian resistance proceed to shock Russia,” with Russian forces responding by concentrating on “populated areas in a number of places, together with Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol.”
Ukrainian media have mentioned blasts had been heard in a single day in Kharkiv, the second-largest metropolis.
The replace in contrast Russia’s techniques with these it utilized in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016. Civilian areas in each nations suffered widespread devastation from aerial and artillery assaults.
The report contradicts Moscow’s repeated assertions that it isn’t concentrating on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
It additionally mentioned that Ukrainian assaults on provide strains had been slowing the Russian advance.
Most Germans need ex-Chancellor Schröder barred from SPD: Survey
A majority of Germans want to see former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder barred from his occasion, the ruling Social Democrats (SPD), for his connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin and main positions at Russian power companies.
A survey by the Insa polling institute carried out for the Sunday tabloid Bild am Sonntag confirmed that 74% of respondents general wished Schröder thrown out — a determine that rose to 82% amongst SPD voters.
A complete of 75% (or 79% of SPD voters) need Schröder’s pension and bills from his time as chancellor to be canceled if he doesn’t surrender his jobs in Russian companies.
Schröder’s friendship with Putin goes again a few years; this image was taken in 2005
Schröder is head of the supervisory board of the Russian state power firm Rosneft and likewise holds main positions within the now shelved Nord Stream 2 pipeline venture.
Many individuals in Germany nonetheless keep in mind a 2004 interview through which Schröder was requested whether or not Putin was a “flawless democrat.” The previous chancellor responded: “Sure, I am satisfied that he’s.”
Senior US officers journey to Venezuela for first time in years
Senior US officers traveled to Venezuela on Saturday to satisfy with the federal government of Nicolas Maduro, The New York Occasions reported.
The journey marks the primary high-level go to by US officers to Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in years, as Washington steps up efforts to isolate Russia on the world stage.
The US lower diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 2019 after accusing Maduro of electoral fraud.
Some within the US imagine Venezuela might doubtlessly develop into a safety risk given its shut ties to Russia.
The New York Occasions additionally reported that some Republican officers have been concerned in talks with Venezuelans to restart the oil commerce between the 2 nations. Such a transfer might scale back US oil imports from Russia.
Scholz meets Israel’s Bennett in Berlin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Berlin on Saturday night, German authorities spokesman Steffen Hebestreit mentioned.
The 90-minute dialog between the leaders targeted on Bennett’s talks with Russian chief Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Hebestreit mentioned in an announcement.
The objective stays to finish the struggle in Ukraine as rapidly as attainable, Hebestreit added.
Bennett met Putin in Moscow on Saturday, after having coordinated the assembly with the USA, France and Germany, in keeping with an Israeli official.
Israel, on the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has provided to mediate within the battle between Russia and Ukraine, although officers have performed down expectations of any main breakthrough.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty shut Russian operations
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) suspended operations in Russia after native tax authorities initiated chapter proceedings towards the US-funded broadcaster’s Russian entity on Thursday and police intensified strain on its journalists, RFE/RL mentioned in an announcement.
“It’s with the deepest remorse that I announce the suspension of our bodily operations in Moscow as we speak. This isn’t a choice that RFE/RL has taken of its personal accord, however one which has been pressured upon us by the Putin regime’s assault on the reality,” RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly mentioned within the assertion.
“Following years of threats, intimidation and harassment of our journalists, the Kremlin, determined to stop Russian residents from realizing the reality about its unlawful struggle in Ukraine, is now branding trustworthy journalists as traitors to the Russian state,” Fly added.
Zelenskyy speaks with Biden
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced that he spoke on the cellphone with US President Joe Biden on Sunday.
“As a part of the fixed dialogue, I had one other dialog with @POTUS,” Zelensky mentioned.”The agenda included the problems of safety, monetary help for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions towards Russia.”
Minister: Germany will soak up refugees from Ukraine no matter nationality
In an interview for the German weekly Bild am Sonntag, Inside Minister Nancy Faeser mentioned Germany will soak up refugees from Ukraine no matter their nationality.
“We wish to save lives. That does not rely upon the passport,” Faeser mentioned.
“The overwhelming majority of those that fled are Ukrainian nationals. Individuals from different nations who already had a everlasting proper of residence in Ukraine deliver this standing with them,” Faeser defined.
“They do not should undergo a posh asylum process both.”
Faeser described European cooperation in serving to refugees from Ukraine as “historic.”
The minister’s assertion got here amid reviews, together with from the United Nations, that non-white individuals have confronted racist and xenophobic remedy whereas making an attempt to flee Ukraine.
Zelenskyy urges Ukrainians to struggle
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to drive Russian troops overseas.
“We’ve to go outdoors! We’ve to struggle! Each time there is a chance,” Zelensky mentioned in a video message.
Zelensky added that extraordinary, unarmed individuals had opposed Russian items in a number of cities, together with the southern port metropolis of Kherson. He mentioned it was vital to stop the institution of extra pro-Russian so-called “individuals’s republics” on Ukrainian territory just like the 2 at present self-declared in jap Ukraine.
Addressing the individuals of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, Zelenskyy mentioned that if Russians “haven’t erased you reminiscence by propaganda, in case your eyes are usually not closed in concern – struggle, to your rights, you freedom, for Ukraine.”
Abstract of occasions in Ukraine-Russia disaster on Saturday
Russia mentioned it resumed assaults on the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha after having accused Ukraine of breaking the cease-fire deal. Ukraine claimed that Russian shelling had not stopped after the cease-fire was introduced.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukrainian forces of sabotaging the cease-fire effort, claiming that the actions of Ukraine’s management known as into query the way forward for the nation’s statehood.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with the US lawmakers over Zoom, calling for them to help a no-fly zone over Ukraine and making a “determined plea” for the US to ship extra planes.
Over 1.3 million individuals have fled Ukraine because the Russian invasion started on the finish of final month.
Bank card corporations Visa and MasterCard introduced individually that they had been suspending operations in Russia.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, providing to mediate to finish the struggle.
tj, ab,sdi/mm (dpa, AP, Reuters, AFP)