Russia Ukraine War: Air alert across Ukraine, strong explosions heard in Kyiv | Updates

Ukrainian delegation is on its way to a meeting with the Russian delegation in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Zelensky's office said. Ceasefire on agenda, say reports.

An air alert has been declared almost throughout Ukraine. Strong explosions are heard in Kyiv near Borshchagovka.

Ukraine Foreign Affairs Ministry "urgently calls on Government of India, Pakistan, China & other counties whose students have become hostages of Russian armed aggression in Kharkiv & Sumy, to demand from Moscow that it allows opening of a humanitarian corridor to other Ukrainian cities."

Russia says its military is trying to evacuate Indians from Kharkiv as Ukraine has taken students hostages, reports quoted Moscow saying after PM Modi-President talks on Wednesday evening. READ MORE

The 193-member UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution that strongly deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine, days after a similar resolution was vetoed by Russia in the Security Council on the escalating crisis between Moscow and Kyiv. The General Assembly on Wednesday voted to reaffirm its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and "deplores in the strongest terms” Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The situation around the Russian invasion: Thank's to the successful actions of one of the Armed Forces of Ukraine unit Russian occupiers are losing not only equipment and manpower.

In panic attacks, they are leaving classified documents. Thus, we gained planning documents of the unit of battalion tactical group of 810th separate navy brigade of Russian Federation Black Sea Fleet. Among them: working map, operational order, tables of call signs, C2 signals, concealed C2, list of personnel, etc.

Taking this information into account, we know, that planning documents on warfare with Ukraine were approved on JAN 18 2022, and the operation itself should last 15 days, from FEB 20 to MARCH 06.

The enemy unit should have landed from the amphibious ship -- Оrsk -- in the vicinity of Stepanivka-1 and acted together with military units of RF 58th army, in particular with the 177th separate regiment of RF Black Sea Fleet Navy. The final objective of these forces was to block and seize Melitopol.

That is why you should not trust when a prisoner of war is saying again that he or she came to the exercises and got lost! They knew, they planned precisely and they had been preparing. Our response to the Russian occupiers is the following: keep leaving your vehicles and classified documents, they will be useful for our defenders and The Hague.

The Eleventh Emergency Special Session on the situation in Ukraine or the 4th plenary meeting of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is underway.  

14 students from Goa were studying in Ukraine out of which 2 have reached their homes, 3 have crossed the border & reached Romania. The remaining students are in touch with Indian Embassy. We are trying to evacuate all Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine, informs Goa CM Pramod Sawant.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal after civilians were bombed in Ukraine.

As India's 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded Indians from war-torn Ukraine advances, and the country explores more ways to evacuate its nationals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Tears and hugs at Delhi airport as stranded Indian students reunite with their families. The government is ramping up the evacuation process named 'Operation Ganga'.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri interacted with Indian students who were leaving from a hotel in Budapest, Hungary for evacuation to India on an Indian Air Force aircraft. 

Head of WHO spoke in favour of the urgent opening of a humanitarian corridor in Kyiv.

Four India Air Force (IAF) aircraft with approximately 800 Indian evacuees to land at Hindon airbase between 1.30 am tonight and 8 am tomorrow morning: Government officials

PM to chair a high level meeting on the Ukraine issue at 8:30pm tonight

IndiGo will send 8 flights to Hungary, Poland and Romania on Thursday to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine

Nokia will stop deliveries of technological equipment for cellular communications to Russia.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes a letter to PM Modi & sought his "urgent intervention with the Russian leadership to set up a humanitarian corridor for students to come out of the war zone..."

PM Modi is expected to call Valadimir Putin tonight to discuss safe passage for Indians stuck in Ukraine

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Operation Ganga

A mechanism for issuing emergency certificates to those who lost their Indian passports has been instituted. I think this will also help many Indian students: Arindam Bagchi, MEA Spokesperson

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indians who have left Ukraine. We now estimate that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine borders since our advisories were issued: Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson said in presser today.

As many as 15 flights are scheduled over the next 24 hours. Some of these are already actually enroute, he said.

During the last 24 hours, 6 flights have landed in India, taking the total number of flights that have landed in India to 15 and the total number of Indians who have returned on these flights to 3,352, MEA informed.

The ministry also informed that Indian Air Force aircraft have joined 'Operation Ganga' with the first C-17 flight from Bucharest (Romania) expected to return to Delhi later tonight. Three more IAF flights will be undertaken today from Budapest (Hungary), Bucharest (Romania) & Rzeszow (Poland).

Entire city of Borodyanka practically destroyed

Indian Embassy in Kyiv issues urgent advisory for Indian nationals in Ukraine 

This is an urgent advisory to all Indian Nationals in Kharkiv. For their own safety and security, they must leave Kharkiv immediately repeat immediately in the light of the deteriorating situation. They should proceed to Pesochin, Babaye, and Bezlyudovka as soon as possible for their safety. Under all circumstances they must reach these settlements by 6 pm (Ukrainian time) today.

MoS Civil Aviation General (Retd) VK Singh interacts with 600 Indian students at Hotel Prezydenckie in Rzeszow, Poland. Says, "If your course isn't complete... all people I met in Poland said that they'll take up responsibility for education of all students who were in Ukraine."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Britain was pushing UN members meeting in New York to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine

Up to 15,000 people are currently hiding from bombs in the Kyiv metro. According to Viktor Brahinsky, head of the Kyiv metro, the underground can host up to 100,000 people. The stations have water, bathrooms, food, and medicine at their disposal.

European Union decides to exclude 7 Russian Banks from SWIFT

More than 2,000 Ukrainians have died since the Russian invasion

It is not yet known when the second round of negotiations with the Russian Federation will take place. Unclear when next round of Ukraine-Russia talks will be held. Ukraine’s FM said that Kyiv was ready to negotiate, but would not work with “Russian ultimatums.” Kuleba said that Russia’s demands are “the same as those publicly voiced by Putin at the start of the war,” says Kuleba

China won't join the United States and European governments in imposing financial sanctions on Russia, the country's bank regulator said on Wednesday. China is a major buyer of Russian oil and gas and the only major government that has refrained from criticizing Moscow's attack on Ukraine. Beijing opposes the sanctions, said 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,” Guo said at a news conference. "We disapprove of the financial sanctions, particularly those launched unilaterally, because they don't have much legal basis and will not have good effects."

Things are still unfolding, I don't think it will affect us too much. India’s relations with both countries have remained good. We're evaluating, there will be certain difficulties: Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of Air Staff on impact of sanctions against Russia

Nearly 836,000 refugees have fled Ukraine, says United Nations

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia interacts with Indian students at Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest (Romania). The students are being evacuated and being brought back to India. 

Indian students in Ukraine may have miscalculated gravity of situation although Centre had issued evacuation advisory before Russia attacked: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that if a third World War were to take place, it would involve nuclear weapons and be destructive, the RIA news agency reported. Lavrov has said that Russia, which launched what it calls a special military operation against Ukraine last week, would face a "real danger" if Kyiv acquired nuclear weapons. READ FULL STORY 

China says one of its citizens was shot and injured while evacuating from Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the incident occurred on Tuesday while the person was leaving on their own. The Chinese Embassy in Kyiv immediately contacted the person to provide assistance. Wang told reporters at a daily briefing that the injured person is out of danger. He said the embassy is following the person's progress and will continue to provide aid. Details surrounding the shooting are unclear, pointing to the chaotic situation as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and thousands of foreigners seek to escape the fighting. Beijing has refused to criticize the Russian assault or even describe it as an invasion or war, arguing that NATO and the West had failed to properly address Russia's legitimate security concerns.

Russia will investigate the death of the 21-year-old Indian medical student in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Russian Ambassador-designate Denis Alipov said on Wednesday. Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, a fourth-year medical student at the Kharkiv National Medical University, was killed in intense shelling in Kharkiv on Tuesday. Following the incident, India asked the envoys of both Russia and Ukraine to ensure "urgent safe passage" to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other conflict zones. "I want to express our sympathy to the family of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar and to the entire Indian nation over the tragedy," Alipov said at a media briefing. "Russia will do everything it possibly can to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in the areas of intense conflict...and a proper investigation of this unfortunate incident," he said. Naveen hailed from Chalageri in the Haveri district of Karnataka.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern that Russian attacks could threaten holy religious sites and said Russian troops are trying to erase our history. In a speech posted on Facebook, Zelenskyy on Wednesday denounced a Russian strike that hit Holocaust memorial site Babi Yar in Kyiv. He said: "This is beyond humanity. Such missile strike means that for many Russians our Kyiv is absolute foreign. They know nothing about our capital, about our history. They have orders to erase our history, our country and all of us." "What will be next if even Babi Yar (is hit), what other military' objects, NATO bases' are threatening Russia? St. Sophia's Cathedral, Lavra, Andrew's Church?" he asked, referring to sites in Kyiv held sacred by Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox believers around the world. Zelenskyy also claimed almost 6,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began last Thursday. Russia has not released overall casualty numbers and the figure could not be confirmed.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, one of the four Union ministers sent to coordinate evacuation of Indians from war-hit Ukraine, has reached the Slovakian city of Kosice, his office said on Wednesday. Besides Rijiju, ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gen V K Singh (retd) are the four special envoys sent to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation mission and help students. The ministers have been sent as part of 'Operation Ganga' to fly out Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine. "Kiren Rijiju reaches Kosice airport near Ukraine border for Operation Ganga.  Received by India's Ambassador to Slovakia Vanlalhuma and Pankaj Phukan, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Brussels, Belgium," Rijiju's office tweeted. It also shared pictures of the minister at the airport. Rijiju reached Slovakia on a SpiceJet flight sent to pull out Indians who have reached the country by road from Ukraine.

Videos circulated online of an apparent attack on the regional police and intelligence headquarters in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. It shows a building with its roof blown off and its top floor on fire. Pieces of the five-story building are strewn across adjacent streets. The Ukrainian government's center for strategic communications released images Wednesday of strikes hitting Kharkiv, with balls of fire lighting up the city skyline over populated areas. Kharkiv resident Marina Boreiko described strikes hitting a neighbouring building Tuesday, and her shock at seeing bodies lying in the rubble.

Our MEA, PM working on it. Given the situation in Ukraine, there is no airstrip... even a plane can't land there: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on bringing the body of Karnataka's Naveen Shekharappa, an MBBS student who died in shelling in Ukraine

Russia 'ready' to continue talks with Ukraine Wednesday night: AFP News Agency. The two sides had earlier met on Monday at the Belarus border. 

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny calls for nationwide anti-war protests

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz kicked off a visited to Israel on Wednesday, briefly leaving Europe as the continent's largest ground war in generations rages between Russia and Ukraine. Scholz arrived in Israel Tuesday evening and will return to Germany later Wednesday in a visit his first to Israel since becoming German leader that was planned before the fighting erupted. He toured Israel's Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem alongside Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the two were set to hold a press conference later in the day. His visit comes as Russia's assault on Ukraine continued for a seventh day, and as Western countries have rallied together against the incursion. 

Russia’s escalating attacks on populated urban areas of Ukraine left rubble and wreckage in streets and plazas as the invasion claimed new victims across the country. | IN PICS: Scenic Ukraine turns into rubble country amid Russian bombing

A total of 60 natives of Madhya Pradesh, out of the 193 who have contacted the state government for their evacuation from Ukraine, have returned home from the war-ravaged country so far, a minister said on Wednesday. The Madhya Pradesh government has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) of all the districts to contact the family members of the persons stuck in Ukraine, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said. "As many as 193 Madhya Pradesh natives trapped in Ukraine had contacted the state government through the CM helpline and other means. Of them, 60 have returned to the state safely," he told reporters. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India will not spare any effort to bring home citizens from war-torn Ukraine. Today is the seventh day of Russia's invasion of the neighbouring country which Vladimir Putin wants to demilitarise. FULL STORY 

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Government must tell how many students have been evacuated and how many are still stranded in Ukraine, and demanded that it must also spell out its clear strategy to the families of those involved. The Congress has been questioning the delay in evacuation of all Indians from war-struck Ukraine after Russia attacked it and criticised its response "To avert further tragedy, the Government of India (GOI) must share: How many students have been evacuated. How many are still stranded in Ukraine. Region-wise detailed evacuation plan," Gandhi said on Twitter. "We owe a clear strategy and communication to the families involved," he said.

Britain's defence secretary has pushed back against calls for NATO to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine, saying aircraft from both sides would be grounded and that could help Russia's land forces. Ben Wallace's comments came a day after a Ukrainian journalist confronted Prime Minister Boris Johnson with questions about why NATO had failing to enforce a no-fly zone while civilians were being attacked from the air.

In a makeshift maternity ward in the basement of a Ukrainian hospital, new mother Kateryna Suharokova struggled to control her emotions as she held her son while doctors upstairs raced to treat victims of Russian shelling. “I was anxious, anxious about giving birth to the baby in these times,” the 30-year-old said, her voice trembling. “I'm thankful to the doctors, who helped this baby to be born in these conditions. I believe that everything will be fine.” The basement of the maternity hospital in Ukraine's coastal city of Mariupol transformed into a bomb shelter and nursery as Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday. Workers bundled one newborn and carried him down flights of stairs to the basement, where a dimly lit room cramped with beds and cribs sheltered workers and patients.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1498933986038796289

Zelensky replaced the governors of Cherkasy and Odesa regions. The Ukrainian General Staff announced the closure of navigation in the northwestern part of the BlackSea

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said information about Malayalis stranded in the eastern region of Ukraine, which was witnessing a raging battle, was handed over to the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Embassy there. Over 3500 people have already registered online and through other means with Norka Roots, the state government's Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) welfare agency, which opened a 24x7 control room at its headquarters here for the same, he said. Those who are yet to enlist with the Norka should register at the earliest, he said. Stating that his government was ensuring that all Keralites repatriated from the eastern European country get to reach back home safely, he said the Norka officials were working round the clock in Mumbai and Delhi to receive the returnees.

Russia on Wednesday said that it is working intensely on creating corridor and safe passage for Indians stuck in conflict zones in Ukraine. Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador-designate, said that the corridor for evacuation of Indians will be operational soon. FULL STORY 

More than 600 Indian students are currently stranded in a university located in Sumy, a city in north-eastern Ukraine, hoping that they will soon be evacuated as "continuous firing and bombing" by the Russian forces has left them completely terrified, one of the students said. Not a single Indian student from Sumy State University, located close to the Russian border has been evacuated so far, Viraj Walde, who hails from Nagpur in Maharashtra and who is currently studying in the fourth year medical course in that university, told PTI over phone on Wednesday. "More than 600 Indian students are stuck here in Sumy university. The embassy has neither evacuated us nor given any assurance to that effect. Since the last five days, there has been continuous firing, shelling and bombing in the city," he said. Their final exams were about to start from March 15, he said. "Before Russia's invasion of Ukratine,  temporary advisories were given to the students and the university informed us that those having exams can wait. Hence, we waited for the exams to start," Walde added. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the government is trying to find out details about the student from Haveri district who was reportedly injured due to the shelling by Russian forces in Ukraine's Kharkiv city. On Tuesday, 22-year-old Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagouda was India's first tragic casualty in the ongoing military offensive in the eastern European country. To a query on the condition of the injured person in the shelling that killed Naveen, Bommai said he is trying to gather the details. "I am trying to find out. One report says that the person is safe as he was not with him, another report says he is injured. We are waiting for confirmation," Bommai said. On Tuesday, Bommai had said two students from Chalageri village in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district were also there during the attack. "One is injured while the other is safe," Bommai had said. State government officials were in touch with the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, he had said.

In their phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on the "Russian aggression" against Ukraine and agreed on the importance of reaching a ceasefire as soon as possible. The French embassy in India said this in a readout on Wednesday, a day after the Modi-Macron talks. It said the two leaders underlined the importance of ensuring unhindered humanitarian access and agreed to maintain close coordination on the crisis, particularly at the UN Security Council. The "tragic" death of an Indian student in shelling in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Tuesday also figured in the discussion.

Leading Russian bank Sberbank announced Wednesday it is pulling out of European markets amid tightening Western sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bank said its subsidiaries in Europe were facing an ôabnormal outflow of funds and a threat to the safety of employees and branches,ö according to Russian news agencies. They did not provide details of the threats. Authorities in Austria and Czech Republic had taken actions in recent days against Sberbank's activities in Europe. The move was the latest consequence of Russia's invasion last week, which has led to warfare across Ukraine and unprecedented Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia's economy.

The administration is in touch with the families of all the 32 persons from Jammu who are stranded in war-torn Ukraine, a senior official said on Wednesday. The government is taking all possible measures for their safe return, he said.  The administration here has issued two telephone numbers for assistance of the families, whose members are stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive. "The district administration is in touch with the families of 32 stranded persons of Jammu in Ukraine", a senior officer of Jammu district said, adding the government is taking all possible measures for their safe return. The administration has asked families to seek any assistance from district Control room on telephone numbers -- 0191-2571616 and 0191-2571912.

Students and workers from India, along with a large number of people from other countries, were marching on Wednesday in Kharkiv in war-ravaged Ukraine towards the nearest railway station risking their lives holding the Indian national flag, the father of one student said. "About 1,000 people, including 700 Indians, are marching towards the railway station holding the Indian flag. They are going to the railway station, which is seven kilometres from their bunker, by walk as no vehicles are available," Venkatesh Vaishyar told PTI. 

Of the estimated 20,000 Indians, including students, who were trapped in Ukraine at the start of the Russian offensive there, 60 per cent have crossed Ukrainian borders and are safe with efforts underway to rescue the remaining people, the Centre told the Kerala High Court on Wednesday. The central government has told the high court that under 'Operation Ganga', in addition to commercial aircrafts, Indian Air Force flights have also been pressed into operation to evacuate the Indians who have crossed into Romania, Poland, Hungary and other neighbouring countries of Ukraine. With regard to the students stranded in war-hit Kharkiv, the government said the situation there was volatile as the city was under heavy shelling and it was, therefore, "advisable for our students to stay put wherever they are for their physical safety".

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Wednesday that Russian aviation disabled the main TV tower in Ukraine's capital in an airstrike, but said the attack did not hit any residential buildings. Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov did not address deaths from Tuesday's strike or damage to the adjacent Babi Yar memorial to Kyiv's Holocaust victims. He said the attack was aimed at disabling Ukraine's ability to stage “information attacks.” Ukraine's State Service for Emergency Situations said the strikes on the TV tower killed five people and left five more wounded. Ukrainian television stations briefly went down after the strike but were later restored. Konashenkov also said Russian forces had seized the southern city of Kherson. The claim could not immediately be confirmed. Russian forces have faced tougher than expected resistance since invading Ukraine from three sides last week.

We are in touch with the Indian authorities for Indians stranded in Kharkiv, and other areas of eastern #Ukraine. We have received India's requests for emergency evacuation of all those stuck there via Russain territory...: Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador-designate to India

Don't foresee any obstacles as far as S-400 supply to India is concerned; have routes to continue with this deal unobstructed. Sanctions - old or new, do not interfere in any way: Denis Alipov, Russian Envoy-designate to India on the impact of sanctions in defence deal with India

India’s national tricolour came to the rescue of not only the stranded Indians but also those hailing from Pakistan and Turkey to cross into the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. The Indian students who arrived in the city of Bucharest in Romania from Ukraine said that the national tricolour helped them as well as some Pakistani and Turkish students in safely crossing the various checkpoints in the war-torn country. FULL STORY 

We are in touch with the Indian authorities for Indians stranded in Kharkiv, and other areas of eastern #Ukraine. We have received India's requests for emergency evacuation of all those stuck there via Russain territory...: Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador-designate to India

Russian military claims to have taken control of Ukraine's Kherson (AFP). Kherson is a city in the south of Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says almost 6000 Russians killed in 6 days of war: Reuters. Today (March 2) is the seventh day of Russia's invasion. 

As many as 31 evacuation flights will be operated to neighbouring countries of crisis-hit Ukraine and will bring back more than 6,300 Indians stranded in the eastern European nation, according to official sources. Under 'Operation Ganga', the flights will be operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Indian Air Force. From March 2, 21 evacuation flights will be operated to bring back Indians from Bucharest in Romania, while 4 will be from Budapest in Hungary, the sources said. Further, 4 flights will be operated to bring back people from Rzeszow in Poland and 1 flight from Kocise in Slovakia.

US sanctions on Russia won't affect IAF significantly; India's relations with both countries strong: IAF Vice Chief FULL STORY 

IAF Vice Chief says three aircraft have departed to evacuate stranded citizens. Evacuation operations will run round the clock till all Indians are brought back.

Pakistan allowed its turn to pass as the UN General Assembly continued to debate a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, according to a media report on Wednesday. The 193-member UN General Assembly convened the rare and unprecedented emergency special session on Russia's aggression against Ukraine on Monday after the 15-nation Security Council voted on Sunday on a resolution to refer the crisis to the most representative body of the world organisation. The statement noted that Russia launched an unprovoked action against Ukraine that posed no threat to it. "This constitutes a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and presents a serious risk to global peace and security," it said. 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday urged Malayalis stranded in war-torn Ukraine, who are yet to enlist with the government's Non-Resident Keralites welfare agency Norka Roots, to get registered at the earliest. He said the state government was ensuring that all   Keralites repatriated from the eastern European country, which is facing Russian offensive, get to reach safely back to the southern state. As many as 180 students would reach Kochi from Delhi in a chartered flight this evening, he said. "180 students will be flown down from Delhi to Kochi in an @AirAsiaIndia chartered flight at 4 pm, by the Govt. of Kerala. We are ensuring that all Keralites repatriated from #Ukraine, reach back safe and sound. Those who are yet to register should do so with @Norka_Roots," Vijayan tweeted.

Russian tourism agency recommends tour operators to suspend sales of tours to countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia.

China is deeply grieved to see the outbreak of conflict between Ukraine and Russia and "extremely concerned" over the damage done to civilians, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and called on Kyiv and Moscow to resolve the raging crisis through negotiations. The two ministers spoke for the first time on the phone on Tuesday since violence broke out in Ukraine following an attack from Russia. Wang said that the situation in Ukraine has changed rapidly and that China laments the outbreak of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and is "extremely concerned" with the harm to civilians, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. 

Moscow's war on Ukraine and the ferocious financial backlash it's unleashed are not only inflicting an economic catastrophe on President Vladimir Putin's Russia. The repercussions are also menacing the global economy, shaking financial markets and making life more perilous for everyone from Uzbek migrant workers to European consumers to hungry Yemeni families. Even before Putin's troops invaded Ukraine, the global economy was straining under a range of burdens: Surging inflation. Tangled supply chains. Tumbling stock prices.  The Ukraine crisis both magnified each threat and complicated the potential solutions. "We are actually in uncharted territory,'' said Clay Lowery, executive vice president at the Institute of International Finance, a trade group of global banks. "We know there are consequences that we cannot predict.'' For now at least, the damage to the overall global economy appears to be relatively slight, if only because Russia and Ukraine are not economic powerhouses. Important as they are as exporters of energy, precious metals, wheat and other commodities, the two together account for less than 2% of the world's gross domestic product. Most major economies have only limited trade exposure to Russia: For the U.S., it's 0.5% of total trade. For China, around 2.4%. 

Accusing his Russian counterpart of waging a "premeditated and unprovoked" war against Ukraine, President Joe Biden in his maiden State of the Union Address asserted that "dictators" like Vladimir Putin would "pay a price" for "invading" a foreign country. Set upon a backdrop of a conflict in Ukraine that grows deadlier each day, Biden called for a united resistance to Russia's aggression and sought to reassure pandemic-weary Americans who are also feeling the pinch of rising inflation.  "A Russian dictator, invading a foreign country, has costs around the world," Biden said in a prime-time speech, nearly a week after President Putin ordered a special military operation against Ukraine.

Air raid alert in Kyiv. Air raid alert in Chernihiv. Residents should go immediately to the nearest shelter. 

Country after country, from Europe's economic powerhouse to a tiny Pacific island nation, have lined up to lash out at Russia's invasion of Ukraine and urge support for a UN resolution demanding an immediate halt to Moscow's offensive and withdrawal of all Russian troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin did have a few supporters Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly's emergency session, including Cuba and North Korea. And there were countries that took no position on the draft resolution, such as Surinam and South Africa, which urged compromise and diplomacy to find a lasting resolution to the crisis.  The 193-member General Assembly scheduled a vote on the resolution for Wednesday afternoon after hearing 120 speeches. Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do have clout in reflecting international opinion. The final 10 speakers Wednesday morning include a late addition, Russian ally Belarus. Its representative will address the world body just before the United States and is virtually certain to support Moscow's invasion. The draft resolution deplores the involvement of Belarus in this unlawful use of force against Ukraine and calls for it to comply with its international obligations.

Russia's central bank keeps stock market trading on Moscow Exchange suspended for third day in row, but says it would allow limited range of operations for first time this week

I am happy to return to India. I hope other Indians are also evacuated soon. Operation Ganga is really helpful. I thank the Govt of India: Krishna Kumar, on returning from Ukraine. The Indians evacuated from Ukraine were received by Union Min Smriti Irani at Delhi airport today.

United Airlines said Wednesday it has stopped using Russian airspace for flights between the US and Mumbai and Delhi in India. An airline spokesperson called the move ôtemporary,ö but gave no further details. American Airlines has avoided Russian airspace for flights between Delhi and New York by flying south of Russia. 

A C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force left for Romania on Wednesday morning carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The aircraft is expected to bring back Indians from Romania, who exited war-hit Ukraine through its border crossings. Officials said the aircraft left for Romania early morning. India on Tuesday sent the first tranche of humanitarian assistance comprising medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine via Poland. India had decided to send the relief supplies to Ukraine to help it deal with the humanitarian situation along its border areas with tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion. "The prime minister noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders would be despatched tomorrow," the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

The Indian embassy in Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday advised Indians stuck in Lviv and Ternopil and other places in western Ukraine to travel at the earliest to the Budomierz border check-point for a relatively quick entry into Poland. In an advisory, the embassy asked the Indians to consider avoiding the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing which has been witnessing very long queues and massive gatherings of people. India has launched an evacuation mission under which its nationals from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia are being brought back home after their exit from Ukraine through its land border crossings. READ MORE

Since the military operation started on Thursday, the Russian Armed Forces had destroyed 1,325 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, according to Igor Konashenkov of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. In addition, 395 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 59 multiple launch rocket systems, 179 field artillery guns and mortars as well as 286 units of special military vehicles had been destroyed, he added.

Vladimir Putin signs decree to prohibiting Russians from leaving the country with more than $10,000 in foreign currency. The move follows the sanctions the U.S. and allies have imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Three more Indian Air Force aircraft are scheduled to visit Poland, Hungary and Romania today to bring back Indians from Ukraine. One C-17 Globemaster took off at 4 am earlier today for Romania under Operation Ganga: IAF officials

Joe Biden said that American forces will not engage with Russia on Ukraine’s soil. “Our forces are not going to fight for Ukraine, but defend our Nato allies and to prevent Putin from moving West. We have mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, ships, to protect Nato countries, including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia,” he said.

Aerospace company Boeing on Tuesday announced the suspension of maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines. "We have suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed our office in Kyiv," the company said in a statement. "We are also suspending parts, maintenance and technical support for services for Russian airlines. As the conflict continues, our teams are focussed on ensuring the safety of our teammates in the region," added Boeing in its statement. FULL STORY 

The World Bank has announced that it is preparing a $3 billion aid package for Ukraine, which will include at least $350 million in immediate funds.

Let me be clear, our forces are not engaged and will not engage in conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO Allies – in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west. For that purpose we’ve mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, and ship deployments to protect NATO countries including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. As I have made crystal clear the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of territory of NATO countries with the full force of our collective power. And we remain clear-eyed.

Joe Biden: Together with our allies we are providing support to the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom. Military assistance. Economic assistance. Humanitarian assistance. We are giving more than $1 Billion in direct assistance to Ukraine. And we will continue to aid the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and to help ease their suffering.

The devastated family members of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who died in the shelling in war-torn Ukraine, are hoping that the deceased young man's body would be brought back to India at the earliest. The family members till now have not got any specific inputs from the authorities on when their son's body would be brought back to the country. Harsha, the brother of deceased Naveen, said on Wednesday said, "No one is confirming whether the body will be brought back. His body should be brought back to us. His friends are coming back alive and we are coping with the news of death," he said. Shekarappa, Naveen's father, stated that he had lost his son and he wanted the government to bring back other boys alive to India. "Thousands of students are stuck in Ukraine, they are assets of our country. They should be brought back safely," he said.

Six flights under India's evacuation mission 'Operation Ganga' have departed for India in the last 24 hours, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. India launched the evacuation mission under which the Indians from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia are being brought back home after they exited Ukraine through its land border crossings. Jaishankar said the flights that departed for India in the last 24 hours included the first one from Poland. In the last few days, Indian evacuation flights were operating from Romanian capital Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest.

American Express announces that it is ending cooperation with sanctioned Russian banks. Russia has stepped up shelling of Ukraine on Wednesday which is the seventh day of the war.

Russian forces have reportedly seized control of Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine, as Moscow stepped up assaults on Day 7 of the invasion. However, there has been no word from local officials. 

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation at request with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday.

Kuleba briefed Wang about the first round of Ukraine-Russia talks, saying that the end of the fighting is the top priority for Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ukraine stays open to a negotiated settlement to the current issue and treats the talks with Russia with positive sincerity, said Kuleba, adding that despite current difficulties, the Ukrainian side remains calm and willing to push forward the talks.

Russian paratroopers landed in Kharkiv and attacked one of the city’s military medical centers, Ukrainian forces are repelling the attack

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has banned shooters from Russia and Belarus from all its events owing to the invasion of Ukraine that has triggered global outrage.

The decision came even as a World Cup takes place in Cairo, Egypt where Russian shooters were competing till Tuesday. The statement from ISSF now indicates that they may no longer be able to continue in the event.

"Following the respective decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board and a meeting with the IOC President, the ISSF decided that athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus will not be allowed to take part in ISSF Championships," the ISSF said.

"This decision entered into force at 16.00 CET (8.30pm IST) on March 1, 2022 and is valid until upon further notice," it added.

The CBI has arrested an assistant supervisor working in the office of Rajasthan accountant general in Jaipur for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a man for clearing his arrears and promotion benefits, besides regularizing his service there, officials said on Tuesday.

It was alleged that Assistant Supervisor Sinha was demanding and accepting the bribe on behalf of a senior DAG and an assistant supervisor both working in the Rajasthan AG’s office in Jaipur, besides some other officials, they said.

"It was further alleged that the assistant supervisor demanded the bribe on behalf of Sr DAG for releasing complainant's arrear, regularization of his service and promotion benefits," CBI Spokesperson R C Joshi said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an immediate cease-fire between the Russian and Ukrainian forces. 

“Our call to both Russia and Ukraine is: let the firing stop as soon as possible, let Russia and Ukraine make a beautiful contribution to peace,” Erdogan said Tuesday during a joint news conference with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, on Tuesday.

The Turkish leader said on Turkey welcomes overtures by European Union officials toward Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application to join the bloc.

He however, urged the EU to “show the same sensitivity” toward Turkey.

The country is a candidate to join the EU but its accession talks have been stalled over a number of issues, including the country's democratic backtracking.

The United States said on Tuesday it is expelling a Russian “intelligence operative” working for the United Nations in addition to the 12 members of the Russian Mission to the United Nations whose expulsions were ordered Monday for engaging in espionage.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the UN was informed Monday that the US was taking action to expel a staff member working for the UN Secretariat, under the agreement between the United States and the United Nations for hosting the 193-member world body.

“We regret that we find ourselves in this situation but are engaging with the host country,” he said.

Dujarric refused to comment further on grounds of privacy and the sensitivity of the issue but did say “what makes this decision a little difficult to understand is that the staff member was scheduled to end his assignment on March 14.”

Britain on Tuesday banned any ship with Russian connections from entering its ports as the country stepped up efforts to isolate President Vladimir Putin's government because of its war in Ukraine. Announcing the blanket ban in a tweet, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps encouraged other countries to prohibit ships tied to Russia from using their ports.

“We've just become the first nation to pass a law involving a total ban of all ships with any Russian connection whatsoever from entering British ports,” Shapps said.

The decision came a day after Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, urged Shapps to block a Russian tanker from docking in the Orkney Islands, where the ship was due to arrive Tuesday.

Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, and Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who exposed what the company may have known about damage caused by its social media platforms, will sit with Jill Biden for President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, the White House said Tuesday.

Also sitting with the first lady are Patrick Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel Corp., and several people she met during the past year of travelling around the country on behalf of the Biden administration.

They include a community college student-parent, a military spouse, a middle school student, a nurse, a member of a Native American tribe and a labour union member.

The guest list marks a big change from last year when Biden delivered a speech — not called a State of the Union address — to a joint session of Congress a few months after he took office in 2021.

Republican politicians across the US are criticising President Joe Biden over his domestic energy policies and urging his administration to do more to embrace domestic production. The sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia for its war with Ukraine so far do not include oil and gas exports from the country, a step that would have severely hurt Russia's ability to generate revenue.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and US Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio both urged Biden on Tuesday to take steps to stop Russian oil imports to the US.

“The recent events in Ukraine are yet another example of why we should be selling energy to our friends and not buying it from our enemies,” Stitt wrote to Biden.

Portman said it doesn't make sense to import Russian oil at the same time the Biden administration shut down the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have transported tens of thousands of barrels each day from Canada to US refineries.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says his government will not impose any economic sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The president often cites a guiding principle of nonintervention in foreign affairs. He said Tuesday that “we want to maintain good relations with all the world's governments, and we want to be in a position to be able to speak with all parties to the conflict.”

Russian investment in Mexico is estimated at some $132 million and the bilateral trade at more than $2.4 billion.

The harsh sanctions imposed on Russia and the resulting crash of the ruble have the Kremlin scrambling to keep the country's economy running. For Vladimir Putin, that means finding workarounds to the Western economic blockade even as his forces continue to invade Ukraine.

Former Treasury Department officials and sanctions experts expect Russia to try to mitigate the impact of the financial penalties by relying on energy sales and leaning on the country's reserves in gold and Chinese currency. Putin also is expected to move funds through smaller banks and accounts of elite families not covered by the sanctions, deal in cryptocurrency and rely on Russia's relationship with China.

Right now, “the biggest two avenues that Russia has are China and energy,” said John Smith, former director of Treasury's financial intelligence and enforcement arm.

Accusing his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of waging a "premeditated and unprovoked" war against Ukraine, President Joe Biden in his maiden State of the Union Address said the United States is ready to tackle the challenge posed by him.

"Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising," Biden said addressing the joint session of the Congress in his first State of the Union.

"That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations. It matters. American diplomacy matters,” he said, launching a blistering attack on Putin.

"Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready,” Biden said.

Shares of the Russian company Rusal depreciated by almost 30% in the first minutes of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Russian forces appear to have seized control of Kherson, reports say

Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks but he'll never gain the hearts & souls of the Ukrainian people, and he will never weaken the resolve of the free world: US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address

Canada closes ports to Russian ships because of the invasion of Ukraine

In State of the Union speech, Biden repeats US forces 'will not engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine'

We will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights: US President Biden during the State of the Union address

The US Dept of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs. We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets: US President Biden during the State of the Union address

The US & our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory with full force of our collective power. Ukrainians are fighting back with pure courage. Putin may gain makes gains on the battlefield but he'll have to continue to pay a high price over the long run. We, the United States of America, stand with the Ukrainian people: US President Biden during the State of the Union address

Explosions erupted around Kiev's 1,300-ft TV tower on Tuesday afternoon (local time), just hours after Russia told civilians to evacuate because it was about to begin bombarding 'strategic' targets in the Ukrainian capital, Daily Mail reported.

At least two large blasts were seen near the foot of the tower, around three miles from central Kiev, at around 5.30 pm local time.

It was not immediately clear whether the tower had been the target of the strikes, or whether they had been targeting nearby buildings. The tower remained standing, but several state broadcasts went off air, the report said.

That raised fears that Kiev was about to come under heavy bombardment after the cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kherson were hit by indiscriminate shelling earlier in the day, Daily Mail reported.

The US nuclear power industry is pushing the White House not to sanction Russian uranium & let uranium imports from Russia continue despite the escalating conflict in Ukraine, according to two sources familiar with the matter

Boeing announces suspension of support for Russian airlines

European Central Bank orders European arm of Russia's Sberbank closed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Polish President Andrzej Duda and thanked him for providing assistance for evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine. The Prime Minister warmly thanked President Duda for the assistance provided by Poland in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, and for the special gesture of relaxing visa requirement for Indian citizens crossing over to Poland from Ukraine, according to a release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

PM Modi also expressed his particular appreciation for the warm reception and facilitation extended by Polish citizens to Indian nationals at this difficult time.

Alluding to the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries, PM Modi recalled the assistance offered by Poland in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the release said.

Russian forces' movement towards the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv is currently "stalled," a senior US defense official said on Tuesday morning (local time). Russia's advance on Kyiv is "where it was yesterday," the official told reporters, citing a variety of factors, including lack of food for Russian troops.

Russians are not only facing "fuel and sustainment" problems but are showing signs that they are running out of food, the official claimed, adding that the Ukrainian "resistance" also could be a possible reason for the stall.

The official noted that Russia's current lack of progress may not be only due to problems arising from resistance or their own logistics and they are "possibly regrouping, rethinking, reevaluating" before carrying on again.

World Bank preparing $3 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine

American tech giant Apple on Tuesday (local time) paused all product sales in Russia and has limited Apple Pay and other services in the country due to the military operation in Ukraine.

"We have paused all product sales in Russia," the Russian News Agency Sputnik reported citing Apple's statement.

"Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia," read the statement.

EU nations considering banning Russian ships from ports

The Embassy of India in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday (local time) issued an urgent advisory to Indian nationals in Ukraine saying Indians in Lviv and Ternopil in the western side of the country may travel to Budomierz border for quicker entry into Poland.

"Indians presently in Lviv and Ternopil and other places in western Ukraine may travel at the earliest to Budomierz border check-point for a relatively quick entry into Poland," the Embassy of India in Poland said in a statement.

Alternatively, they are advised to travel south to transit via Hungary or Romania, the embassy added.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is overseeing the evacuation efforts of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine as a Government of India-appointed special envoy, on Wednesday (local time) met the Indian Ambassador to Romania and Moldova, Rahul Shrivastava to discuss the operational issues for evacuation and the flight plan from Bucharest and Suceava in the coming days.

UP President Joe Biden to ban Russian aircraft from US airspace