Here are the top developments of the day on the Russia-Ukraine crisis:
- The Indian Embassy in Ukraine will be temporarily shifted to the neighbouring country of Poland, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. The ministry said that the decision was taken “in view of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine, including attacks in the western parts of the country”. The situation will be reassessed in the light of further developments, the ministry said.
- Nine persons were killed in bombing in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv, AFP reported on Sunday, citing the regional governor. Meanwhile, nine people were also killed in Russian air strikes at a military base in the western city of Lviv, the agency reported.
- Russian troops have shot dead seven civilians – a child and six women – in the Peremoga village in the Kyiv region when they were evacuating, claimed the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. The incident took place on Friday.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that around 1,300 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the the Russian invasion began on February 24, reported AFP. This is first time he has given a count for deaths among the Ukrainian forces.
- Ukraine has told the International Atomic Energy Agency that technicians have started repairing damaged power lines to restore external electricity supplies to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which is now controlled by Russia, the United Nations agency said in a statement. The power lined were entirely cut earlier in the week.
- United States President Joe Biden on Sunday authorised $200 million (over Rs 1,535 crore) for additional arms and equipment to Ukraine. In a tweet, the White House said it has provided more than $1.2 billion (over Rs 9,211 crore) to Ukraine this year.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Russia adopted a “fundamentally different approach” during talks between the two countries to end the conflict, reported AFP. He said that this approach was different to earlier talks during which Moscow only “issued ultimatums”. Zelenskyy added that he was “happy to have a signal from Russia” after President Vladimir Putin said he saw “some positive shifts” in their dialogue.
- Air raid alerts have been issued in almost every part of Ukraine, reported The Kyiv Independent. These include cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa and Zaporizhzha.
- Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has said that Kyiv is already “under siege” and the Army and volunteers were preparing to defend the Capital, reported NDTV.
- Ukraine Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said that Russians were trying to conduct a “sham referendum” in the northeastern city of Kharkiv. “Given zero popular support, it will be fully staged,” he tweeted. “Severe sanctions against Russia must follow if they proceed. Kherson is and will always be Ukraine.”
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