Russia Ukraine War Updates: Russia says not trying to 'overthrow' Ukraine government

The European Union said on Wednesday it was stepping up sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including targeting more Russian individuals and adding banks in Moscow's ally Belarus.

The 27-nation bloc was blacklisting 160 more Russian parliamentarians and oligarchs, was banning exports of maritime navigation technology to Russia and was including crypto-assets under its punitive measures, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The EU was also targeting the banking sector in Belarus, where Russia has amassed troops it used to attack Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has already survived more than a dozen attempts on his life, said Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the Head of the Presidents Office.

"Foreign sources talk of two or three attempts. I believe that there have been more than a dozen such attempts. We are constantly receiving intelligence that there are certain reconnaissance groups trying to enter government quarters and the like," Podoliak said, Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

"We have a very strong network of intelligence and counter-intelligence -- they are monitoring this situation and these reconnaissance groups are being eliminated on their approach. That is to say, we are aware of their plans and our counter-intelligence is taking care of the situation," he said.

Russia has banned its citizens from buying US dollars, completing the isolation of an economy that once had ambitions to join the global club of financial powers, CNN reported.

As recently as the 2008 global financial crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his lieutenants had promoted the ruble as a potential alternative to the US dollar, arguing that it should be an integral part of the global financial system. Russia would become one of the world's five biggest economies, they had claimed.

Putin's quest to dominate his neighbours, starting with his assault on Georgia in 2008, and continuing with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and last month's invasion of Ukraine, has shredded what remained of the authoritarian leader's economic dreams, CNN reported.

In early 2008, one US dollar would buy roughly 25 rubles. The Russian currency has depreciated significantly since then, and Western sanctions imposed in response to the invasion of Ukraine have pushed it into a freefall.

On Wednesday, one US dollar could buy 117 rubles in Moscow after the currency fell 10 per cent and hit a new record low. The ruble has been even weaker in the offshore market this week, the report said.

The latest slide came after Russia's central bank banned Russians from buying hard currencies and ordered banks to cap withdrawals from foreign currency accounts at $10,000 for the next six months, moves that could help preserve some of the country's dollar reserves and support the ruble.

Sergey Aleksashenko, a former Russian finance ministry and central bank official, described the strategy as "incredible foolishness" that could lead to a run on the banks, CNN reported.

 India has decided to provide 3,000 LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders, and accessories to underprivileged households in three districts of Nepal bordering India, it was announced on Wednesday.

An MoU was signed on Wednesday between Embassy of India and the Nepal-India Women Friendship Society (NIWFS) under India-Nepal Development Cooperation for distribution of LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories to underprivileged households in three districts viz. Sarlahi, Rautahat and Saptari of Madhesh Pradesh under the financial assistance of the Indian government.

The LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories are being given through Society in these three districts with the grant assistance of Nepali Rs 20.49 million, the embassy stated.

This scheme is one of the 75 projects being inaugurated this year in Nepal as part of "India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" which celebrates 75 years of India's independence.

• At the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian armed forces had up to 250 serviceable combat aircraft and helicopters
• Russian forces destroyed 89 combat aircraft and 57 helicopters
• Some Ukrainian aircraft have flown in the direction of Romania and are not participating in battles;
• During the operation in Ukraine, the Russian armed forces destroyed 137 S-300, Buk M-1 and S-125 anti-aircraft missile systems: this is more than 90% of the Ukraine's long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems in service;
• 81 Ukrainian air defense radar posts have been destroyed, this led to the loss of combat control of aviation and air defense of Ukraine, now the air defense system is not capable of providing significant resistance to Russian aviation;
• E-3A aircraft of the NATO AWACS system are on 24/7 duty in the airspace of Poland, providing the Ukrainian armed forces with information about the air situation

PM Narendra Modi spoke on phone today with Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary. The two leaders discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine and agreed on the need to ensure an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy and dialogue. Prime Minister conveyed his warm thanks to PM Orban and to the Hungarian government for facilitating the evacuation of more than 6000 Indian citizens through the Ukraine. Prime Minister Orban conveyed his best wishes to the Indian medical students evacuated from Ukraine, and said that they could choose to continue their studies in Hungary if they wished. Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for this generous offer. The leaders agreed to remain in touch on the evolving situation and to continue their efforts to encourage an end to the conflict.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine says, "Russia continues holding hostage over 400.000 people in Mariupol, blocks humanitarian aid and evacuation. Indiscriminate shelling continues. Almost 3.000 newborn babies lack medicine and food. I urge the world to act! Force Russia to stop its barbaric war on civilians and babies!"

Ukraine’s Armed Forces report that in an attempt to crush Ukrainian resistance, Russian National Guard units have entered Kherson and illegally detained over 400 Ukrainian citizens, the Kyiv Independent reports

Russia says 'some progress' being made in talks with Ukraine and that it is not trying to 'overthrow' the Ukraine government, reports news agency AFP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday met students from Gorakhpur who returned from Ukraine and claimed that only India was taking action to bring back its citizens from the war-torn country.  The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive. The Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The chief minister claimed that students from other countries were left on their own while "only India has ensured the safe return of their residents." "This facility (of bringing back home) was available only to Indian citizens and students. You must have seen that students from other countries studying with you were left on their own at the mercy of God. Their governments did not take any cognizance of bringing them back," he said.

The euro exchange rate on the Moscow Exchange reached 128 rubles. The dollar exchange rate exceeded 119 rubles, according to trading data.

The Ukrainian army claimed on Wednesday that more than 12,000 Russian troops had died so far in the war.

At least 10 people killed in a Russian military attack in the eastern Ukrainian town of Severodonestk: local official

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk confirmed the opening of new humanitarian corridors. Directions:▪️ Energodar - Zaporozhye; ▪️ Sumy - Poltava; ▪️ Mariupol - Zaporozhye;▪️ Volnovakha - Pokrovsk;▪️ Izyum - Lozovaya;▪️ Vorzel, Bucha, Borodianka, Irpen, Gostomel - Kyiv.

The ceasefire will be in effect from 9 am to 9 pm.

Russias Defence Ministry has claimed that its obtained secret documents that "prove" Kiev was planning an attack on Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Reuters news agency says the Ministry has published six pages of documents that "prove" Kiev was planning a military assault on the Russian-backed rebel regions in Donbas, the BBC reported. Reuters says it can not independently verify the documents -- written in Ukrainian -- which appear to outline combat preparations for tactical military units. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two Russian-backed regions in east Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, as independent states. Later, Putin ordered troops into the two regions, before the war in Ukraine began.

Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to Warsaw to thank Poland for taking in hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion took an unexpected turn before she even left Washington. She'll be parachuting into the middle of unexpected diplomatic turbulence over fighter jets. The Polish government on Tuesday came out with a plan to transfer its Russian-made fighter planes to a U.S. military base in Germany, with the expectation that the planes would then be handed over to Ukrainian pilots trying to fend off Russian forces. In turn, the U.S. would supply Poland with U.S.-made jets with corresponding capabilities. But the Poles didn't run that idea past the Biden administration before going public with it, and the Pentagon quickly dismissed the idea as not tenable. It was a rare moment of disharmony in what has been a largely united effort by NATO allies to assist Ukraine without getting embroiled in a wider war with Russia. And it meant Harris was flying into fractious terrain Wednesday as she opens a two-day visit to Poland and Romania and tries to patch things up. 

Congressional leaders reach bipartisan deal on Ukraine, COVID aid as part of $1.5T bill financing federal agencies, reports AP.

Kyiv residents awoke Wednesday to an air raid alert urging them to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible over fears of incoming Russian missiles, while the strategic port city of Mariupol remained encircled as a humanitarian crisis grew. Kyiv regional administration head Oleksiy Kuleba issued the air raid alert saying there was a "threat of a missile attack" on the Ukrainian capital. "Everyone immediately to shelters," he said, later lifting the alert as the all-clear was given. For days, as Moscow's forces have laid siege to Ukrainian cities, the fighting has thwarted attempts to create corridors to safely evacuate civilians. 

Nearly 35 natives of Madhya Pradesh stuck in Sumy city of Ukraine have left the war-ravaged country and are likely to reach India by Wednesday night, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters here, Mishra said till now, more than 500 people hailing from Madhya Pradesh have left Ukraine. "As I said on Tuesday, some natives of MP were stuck in Sumy city (in north-eastern Ukraine). We have got the information that around 35 of such students have come out of the war-hit country safely. The number of students may vary," he said. 

The United States on Tuesday rejected a Polish offer to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine via a US air base, saying the proposal raised "serious concerns" for the entire Nato alliance. (AFP)

Russia reduces use of US dollar in reserves and external settlements against backdrop of sanctions, switches to non-western capital markets, Russian Foreign Ministry said 

An air alert was declared Wednesday morning in and around Kyiv, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible. "Kyiv region air alert. Threat of a missile attack. Everyone immediately to shelters," regional administration head Oleksiy Kuleba said on Telegram. Nearly two weeks into the invasion, Russian troops have advanced deep along Ukraine's coastline. The city of Mariupol, which sits on the Azov Sea, has been surrounded by Russian soldiers for days and a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the encircled city of 430,000. For days, as Moscow's forces have laid siege to Ukrainian cities, attempts to create corridors to safely evacuate civilians have stumbled amid continuing fighting. Across the country, thousands of people are thought to have been killed, both civilians and soldiers, in nearly two weeks of fighting. Russian forces have seen their advances stopped in certain areas ù including around Kyiv, the capital, ù by fiercer resistance than expected from the Ukrainians.

An air alert has been declared in and around Kyiv, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible, reports AP.

UK's new aviation sanctions against Russia: - Will prevent UK exports of aviation or space-related items and technology to Russia, include related insurance and reinsurance services - Will give it power to detain any Russian aircraft in the UK

Universal Music Group to suspend business in Russia. The world's largest music company announced on March 8 that it would suspend all operations in Russia and close its offices.

Zelensky also said that NATO is "afraid of controversial things and confrontation with Russia", adding that he is open to 'compromise' on the status of two breakaway pro-Rusian territories that Russian President Putin had recognised as independent last month. READ FULL STORY 

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the situation in Kharkiv region remains tense. Ukraine said that at least three bombs were dropped on the small village of Dinets in the Slobozhansk community. One of them hit the foundation of a two-storey private house. Two people, including a child, died.

Ukraine's energy minister said Russian forces that now control a Ukrainian nuclear plant are forcing the exhausted staff to record an address that they plan to use for propaganda purposes. Russian troops have been in control of the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest in Europe, since seizing it an attack on Friday that set a building on fire and raised fears of a nuclear disaster. It was later determined that no radiation was released. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Facebook that about 500 Russian soldiers and 50 pieces of heavy equipment are inside the station.  He said the Ukrainian staff are physical and emotionally exhausted. Russia describes the war as a special military operation and says it is conducting targeted attacks. Halushchenko's reference to propaganda appears to refer to Russian efforts to show it is not endangering Ukrainian civilians or infrastructure

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will hold talks in the US on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, as well as members of the Congress. "The UK, the US and our allies have shown remarkable strength and unity in supporting Ukraine and imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We need to maintain that unity and do more to ensure Pussian President Vladimir Putin fails in Ukraine," she said in a statement ahead of her trip as reported by the BBC. "The Ukraine crisis is a wake-up call for free democracies." The topic of her discussions will "be what more the UK and the US can do to support Ukraine on security, intelligence and humanitarian issues," her office said.

The US authorities will not impose sanctions on uranium from Russia, as American nuclear power plants depend on it.

The IMF will consider providing $ 1.4 billion in aid to Ukraine immediately, which will reduce the shock to the war-torn economy.

Instagram has begun hiding information about people's followers, who they're following, and people who are following each other for private accounts in Russia and Ukraine to reduce the spread of misinformation. This means that people following private accounts based in Ukraine and Russia will no longer be able to see who those accounts are following, or who follows them. FULL STORY

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanks PM Narendra Modi for rescuing its nationals under ‘Operation Ganga’. India rescues 9 Bangladeshis from Ukraine. India rescued Nepalese, Tunisian students too.

The death toll from an overnight strike in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy has now risen to 21 civilians, according to the Regional Prosecutor's Office. The office confirmed "the death of 19 adults and 2 children as a result of an air strike in the city." "As a result of the bombing, one house was completely destroyed, 16 were partially destroyed. As of 7:00, the bodies of 21 people, including 2 children, were found during an inspection," it added.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Tuesday said that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is no longer transmitting data. The agency voiced concern for staff working under Russian guard at the plant which is the largest in Europe. FULL STORY 

A World Health Organization (WHO) official has urged that health and humanitarian principles should play as key drivers of peace in Ukraine.

"Through personal experience in other conflicts, I firmly believe that health and humanitarian principles remain key drivers of peace, and I am using all diplomatic resources that are at my disposal as elected WHO leader to reduce the impact of this human catastrophe," Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Russia has become a global economic pariah after it attacked Ukraine and the international community has joined the US in imposing tough sanctions against Moscow, the Joe Biden administration has claimed.

US President Biden termed the package of economic sanctions enforced against Russia "most significant in history" and claimed that it has caused consequential damage to the Russian economy.

"It has caused the Russian economy to crater. The Ruble is now down 50 per cent and worth less than one American penny since Putin announced his war," he told reporters at the White House after announcing an immediate ban on import of Russian oil and gas.

"We cut Russia's largest banks from the international financial system and it has crippled their ability to do business with the rest of the world," Biden said.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the US would ban the import of Russian oil and gas, "targeting the main artery of Russia's economy" in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

US is redeploying two Patriot air defense system units to Poland, the Pentagon tells Sputnik

All Indian students stranded in the war-torn Ukrainian city of Sumy have been moved out and flights under Operation Ganga are being prepared to bring them back home, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian students moved out of Sumy were being taken to Poltava, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine. Poltava is at a distance of about 175 km from Sumy.

"Happy to inform that we have been able to move out all Indian students from Sumy. They are currently en route to Poltava, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine," Bagchi tweeted.

"Flights under Operation Ganga are being prepared to bring them home," he said.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday called on British MPs to recognise Russia as a “terrorist country” following President Vladimir Putin’s attack on his nation and called for tougher sanctions to "make sure our skies are safe".

The 44-year-old Ukrainian leader, who made a “historic” address to the House of Commons via videolink, received a standing ovation by members of Parliament.

"We are looking for your help, for the help of Western counties. We are thankful for this help and I am grateful to you, Boris,” said Zelenskyy, addressing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"Please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country (Russia) and please recognise this country as a terrorist country. Please make sure that our Ukrainian skies are safe. Please make sure that you do what needs to be done and what is stipulated by the greatness of your country. Glory to Ukraine and glory to the United Kingdom,” he said.

A former Miss Ukraine winner on Tuesday described her journey with her young son to escape Kyiv and her homeland as Russian troops invaded the country last month, and called on countries to do more to arm her countrymen and women. Veronika Didusenko, who was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018, said she and her 7-year-old son were awoken on the first day of the invasion to the sounds of air raid sirens and explosions, and they joined thousands of others on the road to evacuate.

"On my ... journey to the border of Ukraine, there was no place where sirens would not sound, where rockets and bombs would not explode," she said.

"Right now, millions of Ukrainian children and their mothers are trembling at every sound in the subway stations and bomb shelters. Even more heartbreaking that women are giving birth in such conditions in these shelters," Didusenko said.

She said her request to get a visa for her son to travel to the US has been rejected. She plans to return to Geneva this weekend to reunite with him. Allred said she was hoping US officials would relax visa policies to allow more Ukrainians to travel.

A US aid package for Ukraine and its Eastern European allies grew to around USD 14 billion on Tuesday as lawmakers put finishing touches on a USD 1.5 trillion government-wide spending bill that leaders hope Congress will enact by week's end.

Democrats and Republicans rallied solidly behind the Ukraine aid, with Russia's attack devastating parts of the country and prompting Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II.

Negotiators said the package of military, humanitarian and economic aid to the region had grown close to USD 14 billion, up from USD 12 billion just Monday and President Joe Biden's USD 10 billion request last week.

The British Ministry of Defense has banned United Kingdom servicemen from entering Ukraine without permission, The Independent reported

US rejects Poland's offer to give it Russian-made fighter jets for Ukraine

Civilian casualties reach 1,335 since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. So far, 474 civilians have been killed and 861 injured. 38 children have been killed and 71 wounded.

Chinese companies that defy Western sanctions on Russia and Belarus can be subjected to "devastating" actions, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said on Tuesday.

"We could essentially shut SMIC [Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation] down because we prevent them from using our equipment and our software," Raimondo said told The New York Times (NYT) in an interview about Chinese firms that continue working with Russia.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the situation on the ground & consult on continuing US support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree prohibiting the import and export of products and raw materials to certain countries, tweets The Kyiv Independent

Russia destroyed 61 Ukrainian hospitals. Ukraine Health Minister Viktor Lyashko says the Russian military has damaged buildings and medical equipment, reports The Kyiv Independent

Russia suspends sale of foreign currencies until September 9, AFP reports

“The world doesn’t believe in Russia’s future, doesn’t talk about it. They talk about us, they are helping us, they are ready to support our recovery after the war,” The Kyiv Independent quotes Ukrainian President Zelensky

McDonald's, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and General Electric -- ubiquitous global brands and symbols of US corporate might -- all have announced they were temporarily suspending their business in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

"Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine," McDonald's President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in an open letter to employees.

The Chicago-based burger giant said it will temporarily close 850 stores but continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia "who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald's brand". Kempczinski said it's impossible to know when the company will be able to reopen its stores.

Russia has announced a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine for Wednesday morning for the evacuation of the civilian population, media reports said. Russia has declared a "silence mode" and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors from a number of cities, including Kyiv, Sputnik news agency reported.

The announcement comes as both sides have blamed each other for disrupting humanitarian corridors. The Russian said that they are ready to provide corridors from Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Zaporizhzhia.

Mikhail Mizintsev, the head of the humanitarian coordination centre said Russia again offered Ukraine to agree on the routes for the withdrawal of civilians.