Russia-Ukraine War Day 9: 'Won't occupy Ukraine', insists Russian diplomat

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor has decided to block access to Facebook in the country, as crackdown on dissenting media continues, reported UNO news.

A top Russian diplomat insisted Friday that his country will not occupy Ukraine. “The goal is very clear: Denazification and demilitarization,” Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s ambassador in Geneva, said of the invasion — which he called a “special military operation.”

“We are not going to stay in Ukraine militarily. We are not going to occupy this country,” he told the U.N. Geneva press association ACANU. “I don’t now all the details of the military plan, but the political goal is as I described it.”

Russian Intelligence services have warned that NATO countries are sending 'terrorist fighters' to Ukraine, reported Sputnik.

G7 foreign ministers have agreed to impose tougher sanctions against Russia if it doesn't stop the invasion of Ukraine, reported NEXTA.

The third round of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations may be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we are in direct contact, said an adviser to Zelensky

India is primarily focusing on evacuating its nationals from the conflict zones of Kharkiv and Sumy in eastern Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that around 300 Indians are stuck in Kharkiv and 700 are in Sumy.

At a media briefing, he said a local ceasefire would help in the evacuation of the Indians and that New Delhi is urging both the Russian and Ukrainian sides to find ways for their safe passage from the conflict zones.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday said that Belarusian forces will not be taking part in the Ukraine war, reported news agency Reuters.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba took part in a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. "Act now before it’s too late. Don’t let Putin turn Ukraine into Syria. We are ready to fight. We will continue fighting. But we need partners to help us with concrete, resolute and swift actions, now", said Kuleba.

Under 'Operation Ganaga', over 10,300 Indians have been brought back in 48 flights, the MEA said on Friday.

The NATO Secretary General has said that allied countries have rejected Kyiv's request to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

The MEA has said that the Govt of India will be bearing expenses for Harjot Singh's medical treatment (in Kyiv, Ukraine.) "We are trying to ascertain his medical status... Our embassy is trying to get an update on his health status...trying to reach out but facing trouble as it's a conflict zone", it said.

Russian State Duma speaker has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left Ukraine for neighbouring Poland.

The MEA said that 16 flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours for evacuation of Indians from the borders of Ukraine. These flights also include IAF's C-17 aircraft.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that in terms of evacuating Indians,  the highest attention is on the eastern Ukraine, particularly Kharkiv and Pisochin. "We have managed to get some buses there. 5 buses already operational, more buses later in the evening; 900-1000 Indians are stranded in Pisochin and 700+ in Sumy. We are concerned about Sumy", said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

German Chancellor Scholz held talks with Putin on humanitarian corridors on the Ukrainian side. Iryna Vereshchuk and Sergey Trusov are responsible for the humanitarian corridors.

Over 20,000 Indians have left the Ukraine border since we issued our advisories. There are more people, but it's reassuring to see thta this many people have left  Ukraine. 16 flights have been scheduled for the next 24 hours, including IAF's C-17 aircraft: MEA

IndiGo said it will operate 12 evacuation flights with over 2,600 Indians from war-torn Ukraine's neighbouring countries between Friday and Sunday. India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to a Russian military offensive. In a statement, IndiGo said 42 evacuation flights with 9,200 Indians had been scheduled to operate between February 28 and March 6. Twelve flights with over 2,600 Indians will be operated by India's largest airline between March 4 and March 6.

Russian airline Aeroflot has been removed from the global electronic ticket booking system

A total of 5,245 Indians airlifted from Romania to India till 3rd March, says the Government of India.

The Japanese electronic conglomerate also decided to donate $173 million to the Polish Red Cross to help Ukrainian refugees at the border and to Peace Winds Japan, an NGO providing assistance to Ukraine.

UK wants urgent UN Security Council meeting over Ukraine nuclear plant attack: Foreign minister 

EU announces suspension of cross-border cooperation programs with Russia & Belarus 

India abstains in UN Human Rights Council vote on establishing independent commission of inquiry on Russia-Ukraine crisis. 

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that the Belarusian armed forces were not taking part and would not take part in Russia's military operation in Ukraine. A close Russian ally, Lukashenko said he spoke to President Vladimir Putin at length by telephone on Friday. Russia has used Belarusian territory to carry out a multi-pronged invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian refugees and stranded foreign nationals being taken care of in shelters with food, clothes, and medical supplies at the Siret border in Romania after crossing over from Ukraine.Many foreign nationals including Indians are here & special tents are built for them. Last night there were around 815 Indians while today there are 300: A Red Cross volunteer at Siret border, Romania

Putin says Russia has no ill intentions towards its neighbours, reports Sputnik

Kyiv: The head of the United Nations' atomic watchdog says there has been no release of radiation at the Ukrainian nuclear plant that was targeted. International Atomic Energy Agency director-general said that the agency has been in contact with the Ukrainian nuclear regulator and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after a building on the site was hit. That caused a fire that was extinguished. Rafael Mariano Grossi said two people on the site were injured in the fire. He said that the operator and the regulator say the situation “continues to be extremely tense and challenging.” He said that only one reactor is operating at about 60%. 

Britain's queen has made a large donation to a fund to help Ukrainian refugees. The amount is not specified, but the Buckingham Palace website says the donation is very generous.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has kept two IL-76 military transport aircraft on standby to evacuate Indians who are stranded in conflict-hit eastern Ukrainian cities like Sumy and Kharkiv from Russian capital Moscow, officials said on Friday.  As the Indians stranded in eastern Ukranian cities, where the fighting is the heaviest, cannot move to the western border of Ukraine, the IAF is planning to evacuate them from Moscow with the help of Russian military forces, the officials noted. Till now, India has been evacuating its citizens from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary as the Ukranian airspace has remained shut since February 24, when the Russian military offensive began. Two IL-76 aircraft -- which are of Russian origin -- have been kept on standby so that they can immediately depart for Moscow and evacuate Indians, the officials  added. Till date, the IAF has evacuated a total of 1,428 Indians on seven flights from Ukraine's western neighbouring countries. These seven flights were operated through US-origin C-17 planes. 

The Supreme Court Friday took note of the Centre's submission that it has so far evacuated 17,000 stranded Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine, saying it appreciated the efforts but was concerned about the anxiety of people. The top court asked the Centre to consider setting up an ôonline helpline for the parents and families of stranded students in Ukraine and to convey to the high courts not to take up the issue pertaining to the evacuation of students to avoid multiplicity of litigation. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submission of Attorney General K K Venugopal that 17,000 stranded Indian students have been evacuated and the rest are in the process of being rescued by the government which is as concerned as your Lordshipso. We are not saying a single word, anything about the efforts which you are taking. We appreciate that but at the same time, we are also concerned about the anxiety of the people,ö said the bench which also comprised justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday decried Russia's "recklessness" over the shelling of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine and demanded Moscow stop the war against its neighbour. "Overnight we have also seen reports about the attack against the nuclear power plant. This just demonstrates the recklessness of this war and the importance of ending it and the importance of Russia withdrawing all its troops and engaging good faith in diplomatic efforts," Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting with Western foreign ministers.

The Supreme Court Friday took note of the Centre's submission that it has so far evacuated 17,000 stranded Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine, saying it appreciated the efforts but was concerned about the anxiety of people. The top court asked the Centre to consider setting up an online helpline for the parents and families of stranded students in Ukraine and conveyed to the high courts not to take up the issue pertaining to the evacuation of students to avoid multiplicity of litigation. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submission of Attorney General K K Venugopal that 17,000 stranded Indian students have been evacuated and the rest are in the process of being rescued by the government which is as concerned as your Lordships.

Australia's foreign minister says 45 million Australian dollars (USD 33 million) have been frozen in an Australian financial institution under new sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday declined to identify the institution or who owned the money. Australia has imposed sanctions against more than 350 Russian individuals including President Vladimir Putin. Australia has also targeted with sanctions 13 Belarus entities and individuals including Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin.

An Indian student who was shot while trying to escape from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv said that he was shot twice. Identified as Harjot Singh, the student said the bullet entered from his shoulder and also his leg was fractured. READ FULL STORY

As Russia continues to pound Ukraine moving ahead to establish its control over the eastern European country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has survived three assassination attempts, a report said. According to The Times, the assassination attempts were foiled after anti-war Russian intelligence informed Ukrainian authorities about the kill plan by two separate mercenary groups. FULL STORY 

Russian forces seize control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, in southeast Ukraine

Supreme Court says 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.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered to host mediation talks between Russia and Ukraine in a phone call Thursday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the conflict entered its second week. The Gulf state's de facto leader called for a "political solution" after the Russian invasion and also reiterated his support for the OPEC+ group of oil producers, which includes Russia, to stabilise oil markets. "The crown prince explained the kingdom's... support for efforts that lead to a political solution that leads to (the war's) end and achieves security and stability, and that the kingdom is ready to make efforts to mediate between all parties," the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Senior US senator Lindsey Graham called for "somebody in Russia" to assassinate President Vladimir Putin after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in a televised interview Thursday evening. "How does this end? Somebody in Russia has to step up to the plate... and take this guy out," the senator told conservative Fox News TV host Sean Hannity. (AFP)

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: 

Private carrier Go First on Friday said it has operated first evacuation flight to New Delhi from Budapest in Hungary to bring back 177 Indian evacuees from war-hit Ukraine. The city-based airline also said it will operate two flights every till March 10 as part of the Operation Ganga mission. The first evacuation flight of Go First from Budapest departed at 5.58 pm (local time) on Thursday and arrived in New Delhi at 9.20 am (local time) on Friday with 177 passengers onboard, the airline said in a statement. For the evacuation, the flight had departed from New Delhi at 10:30 am (local time) on Thursday and landed at Budapest via Kuwait at 4 am (local time), it said. "This is a massive humanitarian crisis. Go First will support Indians with many more evacuation flights that are required to help Indians return to their loved ones. "The airline has always been at the forefront and stands committed to providing our services during a crisis situation for helping our fellow citizens when they need it the most," said Go First CEO Kaushik Khona.

Since his ascension to power in 2000, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has maintained levels of approval among the Russian public that would be the envy of most world leaders. Prior to the recent invasion of Ukraine, Putin's approval rating stood at 71%, according to an independent pollster. Contrary to widespread belief, research has found that this support is not a fiction or an artifact of massaged polling numbers. As Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, a look at the public perception of Putin over the years may help us to understand how Russians will react to this violent war û and where the fate of this leader's popularity lies. In my ongoing research, I investigate what drives public approval of authoritarian leaders, including Putin. I and other scholars have found that economic performance is a constant underlying Russians' support for Putin over the last 20 years. Following Russia's economic collapse in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union, Putin has relied on economic recovery and stability to underpin his popularity. Today, practical factors like financial wellbeing and inflation rates generally dominate many Russians' perceptions of their government. This is the case even during times of patriotic fervour, such as the massive surge in Putin's approval observed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Update:  Fire at Ukraine nuclear plant 'extinguished': emergency services

The Council of the Baltic Sea States excluded Russia and banned Belarus. This decision was supported by 11 members of the CBSS. Belarus had an observer status there. CBSS members --Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden & EU

UNESCO calls on Russia to respect Ukraine’s cultural heritage, cessation of attacks on civilian facilities. The U.N.’s cultural agency is currently working to assess Ukraine’s educational and cultural institutions as well as the country’s seven World Heritage sites.

The Russian military seized a TV broadcasting tower in the southern city of Kherson. Today is the 9th day of Russia's attack. 

As Russian forces advance on strategic points in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities on Thursday called on compatriots to launch a guerrilla war against Russian forces. In a video message posted online, Ukrainian presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovich urged men to cut down trees and destroy rear columns of Russian troops. “We urge people to begin providing total popular resistance to the enemy in the occupied territories,” Arestovich said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he also spoke with Zelensky about the attacks on the power plant. “These unacceptable attacks by Russia must cease immediately,” he said on Twitter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged European leaders to "wake up" as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in the continent, is on fire, while also appealing for "immediate action" against Russia. In a video posted on Twitter, the President said that "the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe is on fire right now" and accused Russian troops of deliberately shooting at the plant's six reactors using tanks equipped with thermal imaging, reports the BBC. Invoking the "global catastrophe" at Chernobyl in 1986, he warned the consequences of a meltdown at Zaporizhzhia would be far worse. "Europeans, wake up please. Tell your politicians that Russian forces are shooting at the nuclear plant in Ukraine," he said.

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: Government of the UK

UK PM Johnson spoke to Ukrainian Pres Zelensky in the early hours today. PM Johnson said reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. He said UK would do everything it could to ensure situation didn't deteriorate further: UK Govt

As part of ongoing Operation Ganga, 3 more IAF C-17 aircraft returned to Hindan airbase late last night and early morning today carrying Ukraine conflict affected 630 Indian nationals, using airfields in Romania and Hungary: Indian Air Force

An Indian student has reportedly been shot at and injured in Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said on Friday. Singh is in Poland currently to facilitate the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-hit Ukraine. "Today, we heard reports that a student leaving Kyiv was shot at. He was taken back to Kyiv. This will happen in a fighting," the minister told media persons. READ FULL STORY 

The White House has imposed new sanctions on 50 Russian oligarchs, including Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskovt, and their families in the latest attempt to target President Vladimir Putin for ordering the invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden said the sanctions will target those who line their pockets with the Russian people's money as the Ukrainian people seek shelter from airstrikes. The new penalties will cut members of the Russian elite, their families and close associates, from the US financial system. "Today, I'm announcing that we're adding dozens of names to the list, including one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires. I'm banning travel to America by more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families, and their close associates," Biden told reporters at the top of his Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday.

The US on Thursday (local time) invoked the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Moscow Mechanism to establish an expert mission to examine reported human rights abuses & violations of humanitarian law by Russia in Ukraine. With Ukraine's agreement, the United States and 44 other countries have invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. This action will establish an expert mission to address our grave concerns regarding the humanitarian and human rights impacts on the people of Ukraine caused by Russia's further invasion with the support of Belarus, read US State Department statement. "The US & @OSCE partners invoked the Moscow Mechanism to establish an expert mission to examine reported human rights abuses & violations of humanitarian law by Russia in Ukraine. The mission will compile a factual record to inform accountability efforts," tweeted State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

Putin said that the special military operation in Ukraine is proceeding strictly according to the schedule, all the assigned tasks are being successfully solved. The President said this as part of his opening speech before the meeting of the Security Council.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will never give up the belief that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. "I will never give up my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Even despite the fact that some of the inhabitants of Ukraine were intimidated. Many are fooled by Nazi, nationalist propaganda, and someone deliberately, of course, followed the path of Bandera, other Nazi henchmen who fought on the side of Hitler during the Great Patriotic War," he said, RT reported. READ FULL STORY 

US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to receive an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and urged Russia to cease its military activities in the affected area and allow access to emergency responders, the White House has said. On Thursday, Russian forces pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city by shelling Europe's largest nuclear plant early Friday, sparking a fire and raising fears that radiation could leak from the damaged power station. "President Biden joined President Zelenskyy in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site," the White House said in a readout of the call on Thursday. Biden also spoke with the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the US Department of Energy and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to receive an update on the situation at the plant. The President will continue to be briefed regularly, the White House said. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow on Friday of resorting to "nuclear terror" and wanting to "repeat" the Chernobyl disaster after he said invading Russian forces shot at a nuclear power plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Twitter that it’s been informed by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator that “there has been no change reported in radiation levels” at a nuclear power station shelled by Russian troops. The agency said its Director General Mariano Grossi was in touch with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Schmygal and the Ukrainian regulator and operator about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant. Grossi “appeals for halt of use of force and warns of severe danger if reactors hit,” the IAEA said in another tweet. An official in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, not authorized to speak publicly and speaking on condition of anonymity, said the reactors have not yet been damaged and radiation levels are normal.

A top American Senator has urged the Ukrainian government to end racial discrimination at its border, a prickly issue that has been pointed out by numerous students who have been frantically trying to flee the war-ravaged country. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine intensified, foreign students, especially Africans and Asians, who are attempting to flee the country have been complaining that they have been experiencing racist treatment by Ukrainian security forces at border check-posts. "I want to call attention to a growing body of disturbing reports along Ukraine's western borders, which allege discriminatory treatment and processing of certain non-Ukrainian individuals û in particular, individuals from African nations," Senator Mark Warner said in a letter to Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the US on Thursday. Warner is Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and is also Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus.

US President Joe Biden urges Russia to allow emergency responders to Ukraine nuclear site: AFP News Agency 

An Air India Express flight from Bucharest carrying 185 Indians stranded in Ukraine landed in Mumbai on Friday, an official said. Union minister Raosaheb Danve welcomed the passengers as soon as the Air India Express Flight IX 1204 landed at 2 am. This was the fourth evacuation flight to have landed in Mumbai. Another flight, this one from Budapest, is likely to land in Mumbai around 8 am on Friday, the official said.

The leaders of the Quad who met in a sudden virtual summit will have their national security teams follow up on the Ukraine crisis, according to White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki. She said at her briefing on Thursday that Biden "asked members -- he suggested -- or they'll discuss, I should say, having members of their national security team follow up from there". The joint statement of the summit of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Scott Morrison of Australia and Fumio Kishida of Japan, and US President Joe Biden made no mention of the national security teams. It only said, "They discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications."

Buildings and structures were destroyed in Russian shelling of a multi-story residential complex in Kharkiv district of North Saltivka. On Thursday in the North Saltivka residential district of Kharkiv, multiple buildings and structures were destroyed as a result of shelling on a multi-story residential complex, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. Sevety people and 20 equipment items were involved in the search operation, including rescue and firefighting teams.

The State Emergency Service reported that fires broke out in more than 40 apartment and private buildings after the shelling of Kharkiv on Thursday. At the same time, most of the emergency calls come from Saltovka district. The Kharkiv Aeroclub reported that its Korotych airfield was destroyed by an enemy aircraft raid. The aerodrome infrastructure and aircraft housed there are out of order.

- IANS

"Elevated levels of radiation were detected near the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which provides about 25% of Ukraine’s power generation," reports The Associated Press quoting a government official

Air raid alerts in Odesa, Bila Tserkva, and Volyn Oblast. Residents should go to the nearest shelter, reports local Ukrainian media the Kyiv Independent

Russian troops are shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power station in Ukraine. “We demand that they stop the heavy weapons fire,” Andriy Tuz, spokesperson for the plant in Enerhodar, said in a video posted on Telegram. “There is a real threat of nuclear danger in the biggest atomic energy station in Europe.”

The plant accounts for about one quarter of Ukraine’s power generation. Tuz told Ukrainian television that shells were falling directly on the Zaporizhzhia plant and had set fire to one of the facility’s six reactors. That reactor is under renovation and not operating, but there is nuclear fuel inside, he said. Firefighters cannot get near the fire because they are being shot at, Tuz said.