We are now into the sixth day of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, following Russian president Vladimir Putin‘s decision to invade the neighbouring country last Thursday morning. The start of this week has seen more sanctions introduced against Russia, yet this does not appear to be slowing them down – at least with regard to their invasion of Ukraine.
Russia Ukraine Live Blog
Stay up to date with the latest developments in Ukraine in this live blog.
18:10 GMT / 12:10 CST: Ukraine claims to have killed over 7,000 Russian soldiers
Oleksiy Arestovich, a Ukrainian military advisor to the president, has claimed in an interview than more than 7,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the invasion.
17:45 GMT / 11:45 CST: Russia’s plan was to take over Ukraine in 15 days
Russian documents have reportedly been intercepted and they reveal that this invasion of Ukraine was approved on January 22, while they add that Russia expected the entire takeover to be completed in 15 days.
17:15 GMT / 11:15 CST: UN officially deplores the invasion of Ukraine
The UN General Assembly has approved a motion that calls for Russia to withdraw troops, with 141 votes in favour, five votes against and 35 abstentions. The assembly also officially “deplores” the invasion “in the strongest possible terms”.
16:45 GMT / 10:45 CST: Speech from Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, has given a speech to colleagues at the UN. “What was the point of repeating the slogan ‘never again’ in eighty years?” he lamented.
16:25 GMT / 10:25 CST: WHO release statement expressing concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) have made a statement on the conflict via Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We are deeply concerned about reports of attacks on health facilities and health workers,” he started. “The sanctity and neutrality of healthcare, including of health workers, patient supplies, transport and facilities, and the right to safe access to care must be respected and protected. [Such attacks] arein violation of international humanitarian law.”
16:00 GMT / 10:00 CST: Klitschko brothers thank civilian fighters
Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko have spoken to the BBC and have praised the efforts of the civilian fighters. “People are proud of them,” Vitali said. “What would you do if someone gets in to your house? You defend it.”
15:40 GMT / 09:40 CST: Russia plans prison for fake news
Reports claim that the Russian parliament are looking to pass legislation that would see anyone spreading “fake news” about the conflict in Ukraine imprisoned. There could be sentences of up to 15 years.
15:10 GMT / 09:10 CST: Russia travels for more peace talks
According to the Belta News Agency, in Belarus, a delegation from Russia is currently travelling to an unnamed location for more peace talks with their Ukrainian counterparts.
14:30 GMT / 08:30 CST: Boris Johnson criticises Putin
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called for Russian president Vladimir Putin to be prosecuted for the “full range” of war crime charges available, which UK prime minister Boris Johnson seems to be in favour of.
“What we have seen already from Vladimir Putin‘s regime in the use of the munitions that they have already been dropping on innocent civilians, in my view, already fully qualifies as a war crime,” Johnson replied to Blackford.
“I know that the ICC prosecutor is already investigating, and I am sure the whole House will support that.”
14:00 GMT / 08:00 CST: Russia looks to capture Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Russian forces have secured the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to the UN’s nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi, with this being Europe’s largest power plant and having six out of Ukraine’s 15 nuclear energy reactors.
13:30 GMT / 07:30 CST: Ukraine-Russia talks to resume
The peace talks between Ukraine and Russia will be resumed today, CNN is reporting, citing a Ukrainian presidential aide.
13:00 GMT / 07:00 CST: More than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have died
More than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion, according to Ukraine’s emergency service.
12:30 GMT / 06:30 CST: UK parliament applauds Ukrainian ambassador
Ukraine‘s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, received a standing ovation from the MPs in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon. Many of the MPs are wearing yellow and blue ribbons to show their solidarity for Ukraine.
12:00 GMT / 06:00 CST: Kharkiv council building hit by missile
A Russian cruise missile has hit a local city council building in Kharkiv, as shown by the photo of Roman Semenukha, deputy head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration.
11:30 GMT / 05:30 CST: Collaboration between Ukraine and the UK
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has confirmed that there are ‘coordinated actions’ between his government and the United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson.
11:00 GMT / 05:00 CST: China won’t impose financial sanctions on Russia
China will not follow the likes of the United States and European governments in imposing financial sanctions on Russia, according to Guo Shuqing, the chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission.
“We will not join such sanctions, and we will keep normal economic, trade and financial exchanges with all the relevant parties,” he said.
“We disapprove of the financial sanctions, particularly those launched unilaterally, because they don’t have much legal basis and will not have good effects.”
10:30 GMT / 04:30 CST: Second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine?
The Kremlin has said Russian officials are ready to hold a second round of talks with Ukraine on Wednesday, although Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy made clear on Tuesday that Russia must first stop the bombing of Ukrainian cities before talks could take place.
10:00 GMT / 04:00 CST: New sanctions against Belarus
Belarus has shown its support for Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, which has led the European Union to approve new sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko‘s country.
The sanctions will look to hit “some economic sectors, and in particular timber, steel and potassium,” the statement said.
09:30 GMT / 03:30 CST: Zelenskiy’s warning
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has claimed that almost 6,000 Russians have been killed in the first six days of Russia‘s invasion, while he also stated that Vladimir Putin would not be able to take Ukraine with bombs and airstrikes.
“This strike proves that for many people in Russia our Kyiv is absolutely foreign. They don’t know a thing about Kyiv, about our history. But they all have orders to erase our history, erase our country, erase us all,” said Zelenskiy.
09:00 GMT / 03:00 CST: Casualties in Kharkiv
The regional governor of Kharkiv, Ukraine‘s second largest city, has confirmed that least 21 people have been killed and 112 wounded from Russian shelling.
08:30 GMT / 02:30 CST: Overnight attack on Kharkiv
Kharkiv, Ukraine‘s second largest city, was targeted by the Russians last night. Ukrainian authorities have said that Russian airborne troops landed and engaged in heavy fighting with Ukrainian forces at roughly 3am local time. This came after Russia had looked to take out the region’s administrative building on Freedom Square on Tuesday.
08:00 GMT / 02:00 CST: US bans Russian flights from its airspace
United States president Joe Biden has announced that Russian flights are now not allowed to fly over its airspace.
“Tonight, I’m announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding an additional squeeze on our economy,” said Biden.
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