Russia Attacks Ukraine, Day 9, HIGHLIGHTS | Hope Round 2 Talks Will Lead To Safe Humanitarian Corridor: India At UNSC
Russia-Ukraine Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this page for all the updates and Breaking News on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
While we're discussing the nuclear dimension of this conflict, there is a pressing humanitarian crisis confronting us in Ukraine, where safety of civilians including 1000s of Indians is at stake. We hope that 2nd round of talks b/w 2 sides leads to safe humanitarian corridor: India
We continue to carefully follow developments regarding safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power reactors & facilities. India attaches highest importance to ensuring safety and security of nuclear facilities as any accident involving the nuclear facilities may have severe consequences.
India accords the highest priority to the discharge by the IAEA of its safeguards and monitoring activities, in accordance with its Statute in an effective, non-discriminatory and efficient manner: TS Tirumurti, at UNSC
Microsoft on Friday suspended sales in Russia as Western sanctions tighten, news agency AFP reported.
BBC says 'temporarily suspending' work of all journalists and support staff in Russia due to new legislation, news agency AFP reported.
Ukraine is planning to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials this weekend, said a presidential advisor on Friday, AFP reported.
The Ukraine situation has to be seen in the context of similar attempts that could be made by the Chinese PLA along our contested Northern borders. At no stage should people lose focus on the Northern borders: Senior officer at Army Headquarters to ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left Ukraine for Poland, Russian State Duma Speaker said, according to Russia state media Sputnik.
Over 20,000 Indians have left the Ukraine border since we issued our advisories. There are more people, but it's reassuring to see that this many people have left Ukraine: MEA
From Budapest, 3000 people evacuated till yesterday, another 1100 expected to leave today. We've asked for 7 more flights, which will make it another 1400 people being evacuated tomorrow: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri from Hungary-Zahony border
The physical integrity of the (nuclear) plant (in Ukraine) has been compromised...It's time for action...Ukraine sent a request to us. I have indicated to both Russia and Ukraine my availability & position to travel as soon as possible: IAEA DG Rafael MarianoGrossi to ANI
This initiative has nothing to do with the political aspects of the crisis...Given the complicated circumstances on the ground, my presence...( is needed): IAEA DG Rafael MarianoGrossi on the situation at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
China's foreign ministry on Friday urged all sides to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, news agency Reuters reported.
This statement comes after a fire broke out in a building adjacent to a nuclear plant that was later seized by Russian forces.
"We will monitor the situation and call on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing, as quoted by Reuters.
China has refused to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine or call it an invasion. Wang said on Friday that China is "very concerned" about the situation.
Google said it had stopped selling online advertising in Russia, a ban that covers search, YouTube, and outside publishing partners, Reuters reported. Sneaker maker Nike and home furnishings firm IKEA shut down stores in Russia.
Russian lawmakers approve laws providing up to 15 years in jail for any publication of fake news about the Russian armed forces, AFP reported.
The bill sets out jail terms of varying lengths and fines against people who publish "knowingly false information" about the military
Ukrainian nuclear regulator says no leaks of radiation have been detected at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, AFP reported.
Russian military forces have seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine's southeast, a local authority said on Friday, as reported by Reuters.
Russian forces entered territory of Ukraine nuclear power station, AFP reported the government as saying.
This comes after a fire broke out in the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe on Friday. While Ukraine's emergency services said they have extinguished the fire, Kyiv blamed Russian military shelling for starting the blaze.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officials.
The Prime minister had on Monday chaired two meetings to review the ongoing efforts under Operation Ganga for the return of Indians from Ukraine amid military operations by Russia. Another meeting was held on Sunday. The Cabinet Committee on Security had met on February 24 in the wake of Russian military actions in Ukraine. The Centre has ramped up efforts to evacuate Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine amid heightened tensions.
The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh in Poland. (ANI)
Supreme Court of Friday that it's unfortunate that "we have not learned from past mistakes and still resort to war. We don't have much say but there is anxiety about students.", ANI reported.
Attorney General KK Venugopal told Supreme Court that Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia contacted the petitioner student who was stranded at Ukraine border & now has crossed over to Romania & will be brought back by special flight to India tonight along with other persons by tonight
Supreme Court asked Attorney General to get instructions from the Centre about all the steps being taken to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine, the possibility of a helpline for parents, etc.
130 Russian buses are ready to evacuate Indian students and other foreigners from Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy to Russia’s Belgorod Region, Russian National Defense Control Center head Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev announced Thursday: Russian News Agency TASS.
Ukraine's emergency services say fire at Ukraine nuclear plant 'extinguished', AFP reported
Ukraine's emergency services say they have gained access to a nuclear power plant where a fire erupted after shelling by the Russian military, AFP reported.
Google and Tripadvisor block war news in reviews of maps, restaurants, hotels in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, Reuters reported. Both services were being used to supply news of the war to Russians who only have access to information from the government.
Ukrainian emergency services say Russian troops are preventing them from extinguishing a fire that broke out at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after it was struck by shelling.
"The invaders are not authorising Ukrainian public rescue units to begin extinguishing the fire," they said, as reported by AFP.
UK PM Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the early hours today. PM Johnson said the reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. He said the UK would do everything it could to ensure that situation didn't deteriorate further, UK Govt stated, as reported by ANI.
The Prime Minister said he would be seeking an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours, and that the UK would raise this issue immediately with Russia and close partners.
This statement comes after the fire at the site of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station as Russia attacked the city of Enerhodar.
US President Biden urges Russia to cease firing on a Ukrainian power plant and to allow in emergency services. Senior US official says "our latest information shows no indications of elevated levels of radiation, and we're monitoring closely", AFP reported.
US President Joe Biden 'just spoke with Zelensky' about Ukraine nuclear station, informs senior US official to news agency AFP.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Russian military has offered safe corridors to civilians to allow them to leave areas of fighting in Ukraine.
Putin, speaking in a video call with members of his Security Council, has charged that Ukrainian nationalist groups are preventing civilians from leaving.
The Russian leader said the groups were also using civilians as shields, taking up firing positions to provoke the Russian retaliatory fire. Putin's claim couldn't be independently verified.
Background
Russia Ukraine Crisis HIGHLIGHTS: The tension between Ukraine and Russia entered its ninth day today with no solution or negotiations in sight. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian military was offering safe corridors for the civilians.
According to Ukraine’s presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, the two sides will together provide humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and to deliver food and medicine to the areas with the harshest battles, reported news agency AFP.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 33 persons were reported dead while 18 were injured after Russia conducted airstrikes on Chernihiv residential area in Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported.
UKRAINE-RUSSIA CONFLICT: FULL COVERAGE
Putin delivered a speech on Thursday where he said that Russia and Ukraine are "one people." In the same speech, he said that Ukrainian Army has held 3000 Indian students hostage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also held a press conference on Thursday where h called for direct negotiation with Putin, saying that it was "the only way to stop war." Addressing Putin, Zelenskyy said, "We are not attacking Russia and we do not plan to attack it. What do you want from us? Leave our land."
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press briefing on Thursday said that more than 3000 Indian students have been brought back from Ukraine in the last 24 hours. 18 flights have been scheduled for the next 24 hours to bring back more Indians stranded in Ukraine, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
Under ‘Operation Ganga’ 30 flights have brought back 6,400 Indians from Ukraine so far, he added.
- - - - - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - - - - -