Here are the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine:
– Russia encircling Kyiv –
Russian forces advance ever closer to the capital from the north, west and northeast. Russian strikes also destroy an airport in the town of Vasylkiv, south of the city.
Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says Kiev is already effectively “under siege” as the army and volunteers prepare to defend the city, street by street.
– 1,300 Ukrainian troops killed –
“Around 1,300” Ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of the invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky says, the first time he has given a toll for Ukraine’s forces. Russia said on March 2 it had lost 498 soldiers, but Zelensky says it is closer to 12,000.
– French, German appeal to end siege –
The leaders of France and Germany urge Russian President Vladimir Putin in a call to end the more than week-long siege of the port of Mariupol. Residents have been trapped without running water and power for 11 days and there are reports of people starving.
The mayor says more than 1,500 civilians have been killed. Corpses are lying uncollected in the streets.
– Mayor abducted –
Ukrainian lawmakers say Russian soldiers have abducted the mayor of the southern city of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov.
A senior official publishes a video showing soldiers escorting a man from a building, his head apparently covered in a black bag.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks France and Germany to help secure his release.
– Cancer hospital hit –
A cancer treatment hospital and an eye clinic suffer damage in bombardments of the city of Mykolaiv, near the strategic Black Sea port of Odessa, a few days after a maternity hospital in Mariupol was shelled.
Ukraine claims a mosque where about 80 civilians, including some Turkish nationals, were sheltering in Mariupol was shelled but a person staying there denies the report, saying the bomb fell 700 metres away.
– West steps up sanctions –
Washington announces a ban on Russian seafood, vodka and diamonds, and along with the European Union, bans exports of luxury goods to Russia.
– Space station in jeopardy –
The head of Russian space agency Roscosmos warns that Western sanctions could cause the International Space Station to crash.
Dmitry Rogozin says the sanctions are affecting supplies to the Russian part of the station, which corrects the station’s orbit.
– Abramovich disqualified –
The Premier League board disqualifies Roman Abramovich as a director of Chelsea Football Club after the Russian billionaire was placed under Western sanctions.
Abramovich has already announced his intention to sell the club.
– No ‘World War III’ –
US President Joe Biden again rules out any direct intervention by the United States to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that such conflict pitting the NATO alliance against the Kremlin “is World War III”.
– Bio-weapons claims rejected –
Western countries reject Russian claims that the United States and Ukraine researched using bats to conduct biological warfare. Britain’s ambassador to the UN says the claims are “utter nonsense”.
– Putin slammed over Syria fighters –
The Kremlin says Syrian fighters can fight for Russia in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin backs plans to draft in 16,000 volunteers, mostly from the Middle East.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Moscow of hiring “murderers”.
– Instagram in Russian sights –
Russia’s moves to block access to Instagram and Moscow prosecutors open a case against Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta for allowing posts urging violence against Russian forces.
The UN warns Meta could be encouraging hate speech.
– 2.5 million flee –
More than two and a half million people have fled the “senseless war” in Ukraine, the UN says — more than half to Poland.
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