25/02/2022 - 6:33 GMT+1

The key points to know

Several Ukrainian cities including Kyiv have seen a heavy night of fighting, forcing thousands of civilians to take shelter in basements and the city's metro system
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused a U.S. offer to help him leave Kyiv ahead of a Russian takeover
Ukraine's internet service has fluctuated amid reports that Russia has attacked power plants near Kyiv
The Ukrainian military has claimed to have pushed back Russian forces at several points, including the main thoroughfare of Victory Avenue
The Russian military claims to have captured a key airport, after seizing control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant and destroying dozens of Ukrainian military facilities.
Neither countries' latest military claims have been independently verified
Two major sporting events have been withdrawn from Russia: the football Champions League final and the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Russia has also been told it cannot participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest

26/02/2022 - 6:43 GMT+1

Rocket fire from Black Sea

Some very early reports are coming that, with the first light of day, Kalibr missiles have been fired towards Ukraine from Russian vessels on the Black Sea.

It has been reported by the Reuters news agency, citing Ukrainian military sources.

26/02/2022 - 6:37 GMT+1

Anti-war protests in Russia

The Russian civil rights group OVD-Info says at least 560 people were arrested at anti-war protests in 26 cities on Friday.

Lawyers for the organization released an updated tally to the German news agency DPA.

They said they were able to provide legal assistance to some of those arrested and that in many cases, those arrested were fined or detained.

Many people have been driven to the streets in Russia in horror over their country's attack on Ukraine.

More than 1,700 people protesting the war were arrested on Thursday, the first day of fighting, according to OVD-Info figures.

26/02/2022 - 6:05 GMT+1

Street fighting 'now underway'

As day breaks over the Ukrainian capital, the AP news agency has quoted officials in Kyiv as saying street fighting is now underway against Russian forces.

The warning issued on Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

Ukrainian media quoted an official from the western Khmelnitsky district that an order had been issued to start digging trenches.

26/02/2022 - 5:39 GMT+1

Zelenskyy refuses U.S. offer to evacuate

Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital early Saturday as explosions reverberated through the city and the president urged the country to “stand firm” against the siege that could determine its future. He refused American help to evacuate, saying: “The fight is here.”

Hundreds of casualties were reported in the fighting, which included shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummelled bridges and schools.

There also were growing signs that Russia may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, which U.S. officials have described as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate objective.

As his country confronted explosions and gunfire, and as the fate of Kyiv hung in the balance, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for a cease-fire and warned in a bleak statement that multiple cities were under attack.

“This night we have to stand firm,” he said. "The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.” (AP)

26/02/2022 - 5:32 GMT+1

Facebook advertising ban

Facebook has begun restricting content from organisations connected to the Russian government on its platform, including Russian state media organisations.

Russia's state-owned Tass news agency said on Saturday morning that state media had been banned from showing advertising or paying to promote its own content on the network.

The restrictions also applied to other social media platforms belonging to Facebook's owner, Meta, it said.

The report did not say which state media organisations were affected, but RT and Sputnik are both known to use Facebook extensively.

It follows reports on Friday that Russian authorities planned to restrict public access to Facebook because of the platform's plans to ban Kremlin-backed media.

Separately, Twitter announced it is pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia in order to "ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don't detract from it".

26/02/2022 - 5:15 GMT+1

Ukrainian internet use plunges

Away from the fighting, it remains a difficult night for ordinary Ukrainians at home or in shelters because of a sudden drop in internet connectivity across the country.

The monitoring group NetBlocks says service has since resumed, but remains unstable amid ongoing fighting in Kyiv.

For those Ukrainians who have abandoned their homes or shelters to try leave the country, a protracted queue awaits.

One journalist for The Independent reports a 40-kilometre tailback at the western border with Poland as thousands of families with children attempt to cross in subzero temperatures.

26/02/2022 - 3:30 GMT+1

Ukraine claims Kyiv fightback

Ukrainian forces said on Saturday that they repelled a night-time "attack" by Russian soldiers against one of their positions on Victory Avenue, one of Kyiv's main arteries.

"The attack is repelled," said the Ukrainian army in a message on its Facebook account, without giving more details on the exact location of this confrontation. (AFP)

26/02/2022 - 3:28 GMT+1

Double credit ratings downgrade

The ratings agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded both Russia and Ukraine's credit ratings as a result of this week's military action.

The agency cut Russia to BB+ with a warning that the sanctions announced by the European Union, United States and other countries could have an effect on economic activity, confidence and financial stability.

Ukraine was lowered to B- because of the uncertainties in the country relating to the military conflict.

26/02/2022 - 3:00 GMT+1

Russian ally refuses to help

Kazakhstan has announced it will not recognise the two breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine that were recognised by Russia as independent states.

NBC News reports that the Central Asian nation, a traditional ally of Russia, has also declined to send troops to join the offensive against Ukraine -- a move welcomed by the United States.

NBC quotes the White House National Security Council as saying: “We welcome Kazakhstan’s announcement that they will not recognize the LPR and DPR. We also welcome Kazakhstan’s refusal to send its forces to join Putin’s war in Ukraine."

26/02/2022 - 2:47 GMT+1

Ban Apple in Russia, Ukrainian deputy PM urges

An unusual request from Ukraine's deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who's asked Apple to block Russia from all of its services, including the App Store.

He has written to Apple's chief executive Tim Cook asking him to "stop supplying Apple services and products to the Federation".

According to a screenshot of a letter he shared on his Twitter account, he adds: "We are sure that such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression."

Federov does not appear to written similar letters to other technology service providers, such as Amazon or Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

26/02/2022 - 2:36 GMT+1

Kyiv region reported under heavy bombardment

Ukraine's leaders and the country's media are reporting it has been a night of heavy fighting around Kyiv since sunset on Friday evening.

Valery Zaluzhny, the chief commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, claimed on Facebook that an IL-76 - a Russian freighter aircraft - has been shot down with paratroopers on board close to the city of Vasylkiv, south of the capital.

Meanwhile the Kyiv Independent reports a power plant to the north of the capital has come under heavy shelling, a day after a previous attempt by Russian forces to destroy it.

At this stage, neither report can be verified independently.

26/02/2022 - 2:06 GMT+1

More airspace restrictions

In the past few hours more airspace restrictions have come into force for Russian airlines and other aircraft connected to Russia.

From midnight CET, Poland closed its airspace to all such flights.

It meant this Azur Air flight from the Dominican Republic to the city of Ufa, near the Ural Mountains, had to perform a sudden turn over the skies of Germany before it reached the Polish border.

The detour means the flight is running well over an hour behind schedule.

Poland joins Bulgaria, Czechia and the United Kingdom in shutting their airspace to Russia-connected flights.

26/02/2022 - 0:49 GMT+1

Russia to be cut off from SWIFT system - Zelenskyy

Ukraine's president has tweeted that his French counterpart telephoned him late on Friday evening to confirm the EU had decided to remove Russia from the international bank payment system SWIFT.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also wrote that personal sanctions against President Putin had been approved.

There had been growing calls earlier on Friday for Russia to be expelled from the SWIFT system, a move that would make it much harder for Russian banks to clear international payments.

EU to consider Russia's expulsion from SWIFT in new sanctions package

euronewsA third package of EU sanctions could see Russia cut off from the international payment system, a radical move that would also hit the bloc. #EuropeNews

25/02/2022 - 23:57 GMT+1

Security Council resolution vetoed

Russia has now vetoed the U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its military action in Ukraine, as expected.

But a majority of the 15 nations on the council supported the resolution, with three countries — China, India and the United Arab Emirates — abstaining from voting.

The United States and its supporters know the resolution will be vetoed by Russia but they have been trying to drum up the maximum support possible to highlight Moscow’s international isolation.

25/02/2022 - 23:06 GMT+1

Vote delayed on UN resolution condemning Russia

The U.N. Security Council has delayed a vote on a resolution that would strongly condemn Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and demand an immediate halt to its use of force and the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

The resolution’s supporters are trying to get more of the 15 council nations to vote in favor of the measure.

The United States and its supporters know the resolution will be vetoed by Russia but they have been trying to drum up the maximum support possible to highlight Moscow’s international isolation.

Before the vote, representatives of the 27 European Union nations stood outside the Security Council chamber behind a Ukrainian flag with Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya. (AP)

25/02/2022 - 22:58 GMT+1

Sanctions being discussed 'almost at level' to influence Putin, says Browder

"Over the last few days the sanctions have come to a level which is almost good enough to affect the calculus of Vladimir Putin."

That's the view of financier Bill Browder, head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, named after his former lawyer who was murdered in a Russian jail.

"If Russia is disconnected from SWIFT the economy will implode, it will be a catastrophe for the Russian economy. And if the major oligarchs are sanctioned, then Putin's own wealth would be wiped out, and would be completely inaccessible. And those are two very material things to Vladimir Putin," he told Euronews.

"Does he [Putin] stop attacking Ukraine on the day that happens? Surely not. But does it put him in a position where everything that he's worked for, for the last 20 years, has been sacrificed, surely yes. And at that point we are then in a position where we have some leverage."

Watch the interview here:

VIDEO : EU freezes Vladimir Putin's assets in response to Ukraine invasion

euronewsVIDEO : The bloc has also extended the sanctions to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

25/02/2022 - 22:31 GMT+1

On the road with a Ukrainian fleeing Kyiv

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine trying to seek safety, either elsewhere in the country or abroad. Euronews spoke to one woman trying to leave the country with a group of friends -- and a cat.

Ukraine travel: This is what it's like trying to get out right now

We spoke to a 38-year-old woman as she tries to get out of Ukraine with a group of friends.

25/02/2022 - 21:57 GMT+1

US follows EU and UK with plan to sanction Putin and Lavrov

The Biden administration announced Friday that it will move to freeze the assets of President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following the European Union and Britain in directly sanctioning top Russian leadership.

The Treasury Department announced the sanctions shortly after the EU said it had also approved an asset freeze against Putin and Lavrov as part of a broader package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also told NATO leaders during a call Friday that Britain would move to impose sanctions against Putin and Lavrov.

It wasn’t immediately clear how impactful an asset freeze would be on Putin or Lavrov, but the direct action targeting the Russian president was meant to be seen as a warning to Putin that he could emerge as an international pariah if he doesn’t end the invasion of Ukraine.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a press briefing that an attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be "an atrocious act" on the part of the Russians. (AP and AFP)

25/02/2022 - 21:53 GMT+1

UN to seek $1 billion in donations for Ukraine relief

The U.N. plans to seek over $1 billion (€887m) in donations for humanitarian relief in Ukraine over the next three months, the world body’s humanitarian chief said Friday.

Martin Griffiths said at a news briefing that the exact amount of the appeal is still being decided but will be “well north of $1 billion.”

The U.N. announced Thursday that it was immediately allocating $20 million (€17.75 million) to expand its humanitarian operations in Ukraine. Even before Russia’s attack this week, the world body estimated about three million people were in need of aid after years of fighting between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government in the country’s east.

Now, “the scale of need in these very, very extraordinary circumstances is going to be of the highest,” Griffiths said.

The U.N. issues multiple appeals each year for international donors, mainly governments, to finance humanitarian efforts in trouble spots around the world. Last month, it requested more than $5 billion for Afghanistan, the largest-ever appeal tied to a single country. (AP)

25/02/2022 - 21:31 GMT+1

EU to consider Russia's expulsion from SWIFT

Russia's expulsion from SWIFT, the widely-used system of financial transactions, is back on the table for a third round of EU sanctions, despite previous attempts to exclude it, report Jorge Liboreiro and Shona Murray of Euronews' Brussels Bureau.

EU to consider Russia's expulsion from SWIFT in new sanctions package

A third package of EU sanctions could see Russia cut off from the international payment system, a radical move that would also hit the bloc. #EuropeNews

25/02/2022 - 21:21 GMT+1

Pope makes personal appeal in remarkable trip to Russian embassy

Pope Francis went to the Russian Embassy on Friday to personally “express his concern about the war” in Ukraine, in an extraordinary, hands-on papal gesture that has no recent precedent. Francis later assured a top Ukrainian Greek Catholic leader he would do "everything I can” to help.

Usually, popes receive ambassadors and heads of state in the Vatican, and diplomatic protocol would have called for the Vatican foreign minister to summon the Russian ambassador. Francis is the Vatican head of state, and for him to leave the walled city state and travel a short distance to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See was a sign of his anger at Moscow’s invasion and his willingness to appeal personally for an end to it.

Vatican officials said they knew of no such previous papal initiative.

“The Holy See press office confirms that the pope went to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See on Via della Conciliazione, clearly to express his concern about the war. He was there for just over a half-hour,” said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.

Francis has called for dialogue to end the conflict and has urged the faithful to set next Wednesday as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine. But he has refrained from publicly calling out Russia by name, presumably for fear of antagonizing the Russian Orthodox Church. (AP)

The pope tweeted the following message in Russian and Ukrainian as well as English:

25/02/2022 - 21:13 GMT+1

Russia's offer of talks 'not real diplomacy', says US

Washington does not believe that Kyiv should accept Moscow's offer to open negotiations, as it would be doing so under threat, the State Department said on Friday.

Ned Price told reporters that diplomacy under the threat of weapons while Moscow's bombs and artillery were targeting civilians was "not real diplomacy". (AFP)

25/02/2022 - 20:28 GMT+1

Fighting reported inside Kyiv

Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian soldiers in the capital Kyiv, AFP reports.

According to AP, gunfire and explosions have been resonating ever closer to the government quarter.

After 8 p.m., a large boom was heard near Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the square in central Kyiv that was the heart of the protests which led to the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president. The cause was not immediately known and smaller repeated blasts could be heard in the distance.

Five explosions struck near a major power plant on Kyiv's eastern outskirts, said Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. There was no information on what caused them and no electrical outages were immediately reported.

Earlier there was evidence of damage to residential property, with shelling slicing through an apartment building.

Ukrainian forces have been resisting the Russian military, whose first units entered the north of Kyiv on Friday, with several casualties reported.

(AP and AFP)

25/02/2022 - 19:47 GMT+1

NATO agrees to bolster eastern forces after invasion

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that the military alliance had agreed to send parts of the organisation's response force to help protect allies in the east over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking after chairing a virtual meeting of NATO leaders in Brussels, Stoltenberg said they had decided to send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployed spearhead unit.

The NATO chief did not say how many troops would be deployed, but confirmed that the move would involve land, sea and air power.

But in a strongly worded warning, he told Russia "there must be no space for miscalculation or misunderstanding", adding that NATO would do what it needed to protect and defend "every ally and every inch of NATO territory".

He also warned the world would hold both Russia and Belarus accountable, explaining "Russia as the aggressor, Belarus as the enabler". (AP)

25/02/2022 - 19:29 GMT+1

EU approves Russian asset freeze including Putin and Lavrov

The European Union has approved a Russian asset freeze that included Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The news has been confirmed by the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell.

Here again is the full story, now updated:

EU freezes Putin's assets in response to Ukraine invasion

The bloc has also extended the sanctions to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The measure mean that EU-based banks will be prohibited from making funds available to the pair. #EuropeNews

25/02/2022 - 18:49 GMT+1

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video on his Facebook profile on Friday showing him in military fatigues and vowing to help defend the capital from military advance.

Zelenskyy who has called on Ukrainians to take up arms and defend the country against Russia, has vowed to remain in the city even as Moscow claims to be less than 100 kilometres away.

25/02/2022 - 17:51 GMT+1

25/02/2022 - 17:43 GMT+1

Russia Eurovision ban: full story

More on the EBU's decision to kick Russia out of this year's competition in Turin in May. Here's all the background from Culture News:

Russia banned from Eurovision 2022 say EBU

Both Russia and Ukraine were scheduled to compete in the first Semi-Final of the song contest in Turin on May 10. Not any more.

25/02/2022 - 17:27 GMT+1

Russia kicked out of Eurovision Song Contest

No Russian act will take part in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union has announced.

"The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year’s Contest would bring the competition into disrepute," the EBU said in a statement, adding that it "took time to consult widely among its membership".

25/02/2022 - 17:11 GMT+1

Council of Europe votes to suspend Russia

An extraordinary meeting of the 47-member organisation voted to suspend Moscow's rights of representation on Friday, "with immediate effect", in response to Russia's "armed attack on Ukraine".

The decision does not cover the European Court of Human Rights, the council's judicial arm, which will continue to offer protection to Russian citizens.

The Council of Europe was set up after World War II to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It already took sanctions against Russia after its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

25/02/2022 - 17:02 GMT+1

European countries target Putin and Lavrov

More on the story we reported on earlier. Emmanuel Macron has said that the EU sanctions against Russia will target the country's "top leaders". Euronews has confirmed reports that President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are in the EU's sights.

France has said it is in favour of banning Russia from the SWIFT international payments system. But Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said "some countries have reservations" when "a European consensus" is needed.

Germany is one of the countries reportedly against the move. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock insited however that Putin and Lavrov would be 'severely sanctioned" by Brussels.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that Britain and northern European allies in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) had agreed that more sanctions were necessary against Russia, focused particularly on Putin and his entourage.

Founded in 2012, the JEF is composed of NATO members Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK, plus non-members Finland and Sweden. It focuses on security in northern Europe taking in the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. (with AFP)

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25/02/2022 - 16:44 GMT+1

IOC urges sports bodies to cancel events in Russia and Belarus

The International Olympic Committee urged sports bodies Friday to cancel or move all events they plan to hold in Russia and Belarus, and stop using the countries' flags and national anthems.

The request from the Olympic body came after UEFA moved the Champions League final from St. Petersburg to suburban Paris, and after the governing body of skiing and Formula One pulled upcoming races from Russia.

Volleyball and shooting both have world championships scheduled to be held in Russia. There is also a World Cup qualifying playoff match against Poland scheduled for March 24 in Moscow.

Russia breached the Olympic Truce by invading Ukraine on Thursday, only four days after the closing ceremony of the Winter Games in Beijing. Some of the Russian troops entered Ukraine from Belarus, Russia's ally.

It was the third Russian breach of the Olympic Truce in the past 14 years. Russia invaded Georgia during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and annexed Crimea shortly after the end of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. (AP)

25/02/2022 - 16:39 GMT+1

More on Kremlin proposal for Minsk 'talks'

Putin is ready is ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with the Ukraine he invaded, according to Russian news agencies quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (see earlier post)
The Kremlin had previously consistently refused talks with Ukraine, despite repeated requests for dialogue from Ukraine's President Zelensky before the Russian invasion began.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov qualified the offer on Friday, saying Russia was ready for negotiations if Ukraine "lays down its arms".

He said the objective of the invasion of Ukraine was to "liberate" the Ukrainians "from oppression". (with AFP)

25/02/2022 - 16:32 GMT+1

Putin repeats Ukraine 'Nazi' insult

Vladimir Putin has called on the Ukrainian military to "seize power" in Kyiv by overthrowing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage, calling them "neo-Nazis" and "drug addicts".
"Take the power in your hands," the Russian president urged Ukraine's army in a broadcast on Russian television.
He said he was not fighting army units in Ukraine but nationalist formations which behave "like terrorists" using civilians "as human shields".

The "Nazi" jibe comes even though President Zelenskyy is Jewish, while his government is democratically elected and not from the far-right. In an earlier justification for the invasion, Putin said one of the invasion's objectives was to "de-Nazify" Ukraine, and he falsely claimed there had been a "genocide" in eastern Ukraine. (with AFP)

25/02/2022 - 16:05 GMT+1

What is SWIFT and why is it on everybody’s mind?

Russia’s participation in the SWIFT system has become the new Nord Stream 2: an ever-growing choir of voices is asking for its cancellation.

But what makes this move so important – and so risky?

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is an intermediary system that allows banks and institutions around the world to carry out financial transactions – that is, ordinary payments – among each other.

The system was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in La Hupe, Belgium.

Today, SWIFT links over 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 counties and territories, making it an essential piece of our globalised, fast-paced economy.

Crucially, SWIFT is used by EU member states to pay for Russian gas and oil, two resources that represent the backbone of the Russian economy.

Since the EU is Russia’s number one energy client, many are now calling for the country’s expulsion from SWIFT in order to deprive Moscow of the much-needed funds to bankroll the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

But the move is risky. A total expulsion from SWIFT would mean that virtually all EU-Russia trade would come to a sudden halt.

Total trade in goods between the bloc and Russia in 2020 amounted to €174.3 billion, of which €79 million were EU exports, according to the European Commission.

If this enormous amount of money were to disappear overnight, member states would feel the pain in an instantaneous and painful way.

Gas prices would skyrocket, sending consumer bills to impossible highs and forcing many factories to stop production altogether.

The rapid pace of the war and the growing death toll, however, are putting more pressure on Western leaders to come up with the harshest and more radical sanctions that would make Moscow agree to a ceasefire.

SWIFT was conspicuously absent from the latest package of EU sanctions, announced on Thursday evening.

“[SWIFT] is always an option. But right now, that’s not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take,” said US President Joe Biden when asked about the possibility.

EU foreign affairs ministers are meeting today in Brussels to finalise the new penalties and discuss a third sanctions package, in which SWIFT is poised to come back to the table.

“I also think that many countries want to go beyond what's being agreed today,” Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister, told Euronews before heading to the ministerial meeting.

“There's a lot of talk about the SWIFT system in terms of money transfers and banking that should be part of this package. We agree that the EU should make the case for that last night. And I understand that there is already a third package of sanctions that includes this one system, which may well be passed in the next few days.”

(Euronews Brussels bureau)

25/02/2022 - 15:16 GMT+1

EU in talks to freeze assets of Putin and Lavrov

The European Union is in talks to freeze the assets of Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Euronews can confirm.

It depends on the cooperation of financial authorities and does not include a travel ban, in order to keep diplomatic channels open.

EU in talks to freeze Putin's assets in response to Ukraine invasion

Ministers are also considering extending the sanctions to Russia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov. #EuropeNews

25/02/2022 - 14:58 GMT+1

Ukrainians queuing to join territorial defence: Ministry

25/02/2022 - 14:48 GMT+1

Russian troops don't know what they're fighting for, we do: Ukrainian civilian tells Euronews

Alex, 38, was heading west from Kyiv by car on Friday to find somewhere safe for his wife, son and daughter. Once he had, Alex was heading back to the capital to join the fight against Russia.

As a native of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, this is the second time that Alex has found his home city under attack. Last time, the battle was lost. This time would be different.

“We have no fear. We are not afraid. We see how we are beating the Russians,” he told Euronews’ Orlando Crowcroft over the phone from somewhere in western Ukraine.

"Maybe the Russians have more soldiers but they don’t know what they are fighting for. They were just ordered by Putin to fight. We are defending our land, our cities, our families, our homes.”

For weeks, Alex said, Ukrainians have been preparing for the war that many predicted would come as Russia massed troops on the border and backed the separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk.

His children, 11 and six, had spent time drawing up evacuation plans with instructions as to which parent should bring the medicine (their mother) and which should bring the food (Alex). On the day of the invasion, his 11-year-old daughter was furiously WhatsApping her school friends.

She looked up from her phone, he recalled, and said: “A lot of my friends, their fathers are fighting back: will you?”

“Of course it is frightening but they’re not scared. They know what needs to be done,” he said.

The family had always spoken both Russian and Ukrainian at home but as of Thursday, they made the decision to only speak Ukrainian. “This is what Putin is doing to us,” he said.

Alex says that the European reaction to the crisis does not go far enough, and has called for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. That, he said, is all the Ukrainians will need to beat the Russians and win by force the independence they were granted in 1991.

“Close the skies - and we will do the rest,” he said.

25/02/2022 - 14:43 GMT+1

Kyiv now in 'defensive phase': Mayor

Vitali Klitschko told Kyiv TV that "the city has entered a defensive phase. Now in some areas of the capital shots and explosions are heard."

"Ukrainian military neutralises Russian sabotage groups. The enemy is already in Kyiv. We must keep the capital that the enemy wants to bring to its knees and destroy!," he added.

He called on Kyiv residents to help the military and "to report suspicious objects and marks planted by saboteurs to adjust enemy fire."

25/02/2022 - 14:39 GMT+1

In pictures: Disbelief and resistance as Russia invades Ukraine

Here's a look at the most recent pictures of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

25/02/2022 - 14:26 GMT+1

Putin ready to send delegation in Minsk for talks with Ukraine: Spokesman

The Kremlin's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has been quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that Putin is ready to send a delegation to the Belarusian capital for talks with Ukraine.

The delegation would include representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.

25/02/2022 - 14:21 GMT+1

About 2,000 Russians arrested for anti-war protests: Borrell

The EU's chief diplomat affirmed on Friday that '"almost 2,000 brave Russians have been brutally detained in dozens of cities for participating in calm protests for peace and against the unjustified attack on the sovereign country of Ukraine."

25/02/2022 - 14:03 GMT+1

Russian military claims to have captured key airport and cut Kyiv off from the west

In his latest update, Major General Igor Konashenkov, the official spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defence, said that the airport in Hostomel is now under Russian military control.

Hostomel is about seven kilometres northwest of Kyiv.

Konashenkov said that "more than 200 Russian helicopters were involved in the operation" and that it was successful because of the "suppression of the entire air defence system in the landing area, complete isolation of the combat area from the air and active electronic warfare."

He claimed 200 Ukrainian special units troops "were killed during the seizure of the airfield" but that Russia recorded no loss.

"The main forces of the airborne troops have now joined Russian airborne units at the Hostomel airfield, ensuring the blockade of Kyiv from the west," he added.

25/02/2022 - 13:49 GMT+1

Ukraine claims Russian fatalities over 1,000

"Today the number of losses from the occupying forces of the Russian Federation is more than 1 thousand," the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.

"Russia has not suffered such a large number of casualties during this period of hostilities in the entire period of its existence in any of the armed conflicts it has started," it claimed.

25/02/2022 - 13:45 GMT+1

Zelenskyy urges Europeans to come to Ukraine and 'defend Europe'

Ukraine's President has issued a call to European civilians to help. He urged them to demand their governments provide "more financial and military assistance" to Ukraine.

He also said: "If you are in Europe and you have military experience and can't look at the indecisiveness of your politicians, then you can come to our country and defend Europe with us, where it's really important now."

25/02/2022 - 13:39 GMT+1

Account opened for donations to Ukrainian army receives nearly €900,000 in 24 hours

The multi-currency account created by the National bank of Ukraine on Thursday to receive donations for the country's armed forces has so far received "nearly UAH 300 million" (about €900,000), the Interior Ministry has announced.

"Funds for it came from business and citizens of Ukraine, as well as from the international community (including the EU, USA, Canada, Britain, etc.)."

"We are grateful to everyone who found an opportunity to support the Ukrainian Army. We appreciate your support, it is very important at this time. And together we believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, "Kyrylo Shevchenko, Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, said in a statement.

25/02/2022 - 13:34 GMT+1

How are people escaping the Russian invasion?

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its second day, thousands of refugees from the besieged nation are arriving in bordering countries by road and rail.

Poland is a key destination for many Ukrainians hoping to escape the Russian military, with the border town of Medyka offering direct access to people travelling by bus or foot.

Vitalii Koval and Oleksandea Brechkoi and their five-month-old sons are among are those seeking refuge from the fighting.

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25/02/2022 - 13:25 GMT+1

Romanian ship damaged by Russian vessel in Black Sea: Ukraine

The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces has claimed that a Romanian-flagged bunkering vessel "was damaged by a Russian ship 12 nautical miles on the way to the Pivdennyi Seaport."

"Details are being confirmed, there is no communication with the vessel," it added.

25/02/2022 - 13:19 GMT+1

'Impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix': Formula One

"The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together," Formula One said in a statement.

"We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.

"On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances," it added.

25/02/2022 - 13:12 GMT+1

Pope Francis goes to Russian embassy to express worry about Ukraine in unusual step

Pope Francis went to the Russian embassy in Rome to personally express his concern about the war in Ukraine, in an extraordinary papal gesture that has no recent precedent.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed the pontiff wanted “clearly to express his concern about the war.” Pope Francis was there for just over a half-hour, Bruni said.

While popes often receive ambassadors and heads of state in the Vatican, officials said they knew of no such previous papal initiative to take a short trip to the embassy.

25/02/2022 - 12:59 GMT+1

Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov calls on citizens to take up arms

Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who spent years in a Russian jail after being arrested in Crimea in 2014, urged Ukrainians to take up arms.

"The enemy wants to destroy Ukraine and its people. All to arms," he wrote on Facebook.

Sentsov won the EU parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2018 and was part of a Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap in 2019.

25/02/2022 - 12:47 GMT+1

Moscow to weigh non-aligned status for Ukraine

The Kremlin says it will analyse the Ukrainian president’s offer to discuss a non-aligned status for his country, as a Russian military invasion pushes closer to Kyiv.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold talks on the issue.

Asked about Zelenskyy’s offer, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described it as “a move in a positive direction.”

He said in a conference call with reporters that “we paid attention to that, and now we need to analyse it.”

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Zelenskyy “is simply lying” when he offers to discuss non-aligned status for Ukraine.

25/02/2022 - 12:41 GMT+1

25/02/2022 - 12:25 GMT+1

Hungary has condemned Russia's invasion - but is it too little too late?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could become a key issue in Hungary’s leadership election, where Viktor Orban already faces his toughest challenge yet in Peter Zarki-May, a conservative that has managed to united the fractured Hungarian opposition behind his candidacy.

Orban has always been close to Vladimir Putin, and as recently as February 1 visited the Russian president in Moscow and spoke in glowing terms about their 13-year relationship which, he said, would continue for many years. Orban and Putin have met a total of 12 times.

Less than a month later - and one military invasion later - and Orban’s close relationship with Putin is looking less like an asset and more like a liability. Zarki-May has accused Orban of being anti-NATO and anti-EU and said that if NATO sends troops to Ukraine, Hungary should join them.

Orban, for his part, has scrambled to distance himself from his friend in the Kremlin, putting out a statement on February 25 that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and announcing that Hungary would back sanctions against Russia.

25/02/2022 - 12:07 GMT+1

Ireland lifts visa requirements for Ukrainians

The country's Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee announced that she is "immediately lifting visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland" and that the measure "will apply to all Ukrainians."

She said Ireland "will play our part in assisting them (Ukrainians) in their time of need."

25/02/2022 - 11:56 GMT+1

Ukrainian police create bot for civilians to flag Russian military codes

"Cyberpolice has created a special bot to report detected signs that the occupiers leave on the roads. You can take pictures of points and they will get to a single database on Google Maps," Police said.

Ukrainian authorities had earlier urged people to destroy these marks by painting them over or pouring oil and sand over them.

25/02/2022 - 11:48 GMT+1

Several Russian official websites down

The websites for the Russian Ministry of Defence and the Kremlin were down on Friday morning.

It comes hours after the Anonymous hackers collective announced it is "officially in cyber war against the Russian government".

25/02/2022 - 11:32 GMT+1

Aid pledge lost in translation

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy tweeted on Friday morning that he'd spoken with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to update him on the defence of Ukraine, and latest overnight shelling of Kyiv.

"Grateful to [Finland] for allocating $50 million aid" wrote Zelenskyy "it’s an effective contribution to the anti-war coalition."

However there seems to be some misunderstanding about the amount. The Finnish president's office tells Euronews "President Niinistö informed President Zelensky that Finland is increasing its financial support to Ukraine by almost €15 million" not the $50 million additional aid Zelenskyy apparently thought.

Finland's total support to Ukraine between 2014-2021 has been over €70 million. With this €15 million additional support, it will rise approximately up to €85 million.

25/02/2022 - 11:29 GMT+1

Situation at Slovakia-Ukraine border 'calm'

Police in Slovakia said at around 09:30 CET that "the situation on the eastern border with Ukraine is calm, we do not currently have any waiting times."

"Ukraine has announced mobilisation, so men aged 18-60 are not coming to us. There are no large columns on the Ukrainian side. We ask everyone not to spread unverified information and panic,' they added.

25/02/2022 - 11:11 GMT+1

Irish Foreign Minister calls on Russians to 'hold their leadership to account'

Simon Coveney said he is currently in Brussels for another emergency meeting to approve more sanctions against Russia.

But he conceded that the "most powerful voice to stop this madness can come from Russian people, holding their leadership to account."

25/02/2022 - 10:57 GMT+1

Further package of EU sanctions 'under urgent preparation': Charles Michel

The EU has so far unveiled two packages of sanctions against Russian entities and individuals with the aim of weakening the country's ability to fund its military and access key technological material.

The second package was imposed on Thursday evening following a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels and also targets the energy and transport sectors.

Now, the head of the European Council has announced that "further package (is) under urgent preparation."

25/02/2022 - 10:49 GMT+1

UEFA moves Champions League final from Saint Petersburg to Paris

"The UEFA Executive Committee today held an extraordinary meeting following the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe," the governing body for European football said in a statement.

"The UEFA Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.

"At today’s meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice," it added.

25/02/2022 - 10:43 GMT+1

Gunfire heard in Kyiv's government quarter: Associated Press

25/02/2022 - 10:42 GMT+1

Ukrainian musicians speak out about war

With a string of hit albums behind him, and more than 100 million YouTube views of his music videos, the lead singer of BoomBox finds himself in the same situation as many other Ukrainians after the start of the Russian military assault: apprehensive but resilient.

"They bombed us" he says. "But what I hear now is complete support from everywhere, from everyone who knows me and listens to my music."

Khlyvnyuk says all of his friends are leaving their kids in safe places and getting together to join the army.

"Musicians are peacemakers," he states, but "now it's not time for playing guitars. It's time to take the rifles."

Ukrainians 'donate blood en masse' for military: Army

The Ukrainian army shared a video on Facebook it says shows civilians queuing to donate blood for the military.

25/02/2022 - 10:22 GMT+1

25/02/2022 - 10:18 GMT+1

Moscow and Kyiv give conflicting accounts of radioactivity at Chernobyl

Igor Konashenkov said in his statement that "the radioactive background in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant is normal".

Russia troops captured the former nuclear power plant on Thursday.

Ukrainian officials however said that "control levels of gamma radiation dose rate have been exceeded at a significant number of observation points."

"It is currently impossible to establish the reasons for the change in the radiation background in the exclusion zone because of the occupation and military fight in this territory," the Ukrainian parliament added.

25/02/2022 - 10:14 GMT+1

Russia claims to have disabled 118 military facilities in Ukraine

Major General Igor Konashenkov, the official spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defence, said on Friday that the military infrastructure Russian troops have disabled across Ukraine includes 11 airfields, 36 radar stations, five warplanes, one helicopter, five drones, 18 tanks, seven multiple-launch rocket systems, five boats and air defence missile systems.

25/02/2022 - 10:07 GMT+1

Fragments of a downed aircraft are seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. It was unclear whose aircraft crashed and who brought it down amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. AP Photo/Oleksandr Ratushniak

25/02/2022 - 10:03 GMT+1

Natali Sevriukova reacts next to her house following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022.

25/02/2022 - 9:59 GMT+1

'Possibilities for sanctions not exhausted': Zelenskyy

Ukraine's President said he talked with the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, and stressed that "the pressure on Russia must increase."

"Not all possibilities for sanctions have been exhausted yet," he also said.

25/02/2022 - 9:55 GMT+1

Russia bans UK flights to and over Russia

Russian airspace is off-limits to all aircraft "owned, leased or operated by a person linked to Britain" and those registered there, Russian air regulator Rosaviatsia announced in a statement.

This is in retaliation to the British ban on Aeroflot, Russia's state carrier.

25/02/2022 - 9:53 GMT+1

Lavrov to meet with the 'foreign ministers' from so-called republics of Donetsk and Luhansk

The meeting on Friday aims to "create a legal framework for cooperation" as well as prepare for the opening of embassies, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

Russia recognised the two separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine as independent earlier this week and then announced that he would deploy troops there on "peacekeeping" duties.

He later justified the invasion of Ukraine as necessary to protect civilians in the wider Donbas region.

25/02/2022 - 9:42 GMT+1

Situation at Hungary-Ukraine border 'normal'

Hungarian Police said shortly before 09:00 CET this morning that "passenger traffic is normal at border crossing points with Ukraine."

"The police is operating the road border crossing points at full capacity, there is currently an hour of waiting time in Beregsurany for entering passenger traffic," it added.

25/02/2022 - 9:37 GMT+1

Poland's border guards record 29,000 entries from Ukraine

The Border Guard agency said it recorded more than 38,000 crossings with Ukraine on Thursday, including 29,000 entries and 9,200 exits.

It is unclear if these figures are a jump from the norm or how many are refugees.

Warsaw has set up reception centres for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

25/02/2022 - 9:22 GMT+1

Modi asks Putin to ensure safety of Indian nationals in Ukraine: Kremlin

India's Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Friday.

In a readout of the call, the Kremlin reiterated its claim, refuted as false by the West, that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was down to "Kyiv's aggressive actions against civilians in Donbas and also its long-standing destructive policy of seeking to dismantle the Minsk agreements."

"The Prime Minister of India was appreciative of the explanation and asked for assistance in ensuring the safety of Indian nationals who are currently in Ukraine. The President of Russia said that the necessary instructions would be given," the Kremlin said.

25/02/2022 - 9:15 GMT+1

Zelenskyy's security under threat: French Foreign Minister

Jean-Yves Le Drian also told France Inter radio that "the security of President Zelenskyy is a central element of what is happening."

We are in a position to help him if necessary," he added.

25/02/2022 - 9:10 GMT+1

'Make Molotov cocktails': Ukrainian Armed Forces tell civilians

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine urged people in a Facebook post to report Russian theft of Ukrainian military equipment, citing the events in Obolon (see previous post).

"Make Molotov cocktails, neutralise the occupier," it added, nonetheless calling on people to "be careful" and "not leave the house."

25/02/2022 - 9:01 GMT+1

Russian soldiers wearing Ukrainian uniforms heading for Kyiv: Official

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar said in a statement relayed by the parliament's official Twitter page that "the Russian military seized 2 cars of the Armed Forces, changed into the uniform of the Ukrainian military and are at speed moving to the centre of Kyiv from Obolon," a residential area north of the capital.

"They are followed by a column of the Russian military trucks," she added.

25/02/2022 - 8:56 GMT+1

Putin becoming 'pariah': French Foreign Minister

Speaking to France Inter radio on Friday morning, Jean-Yves Le Drian said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "going to be the pariah of the international community."

"There's going to be a Security Council at the United Nations where he's going to be isolated and he's not going to be able to continue to be alone in this world, to be the permanent aggressor and to want to spread war as a means of governance," he added.

25/02/2022 - 8:47 GMT+1

'Russia has failed to deliver on day one its main objectives': UK Defence Minister

Ben Wallace told British television this morning that the UK intelligence assessment is that "Russia has not taken any of its major objectives."

"In fact it's behind its hopeful timetable, they've lost over 450 personnel," he said, adding that they have failed to secure a "significant airport" they were trying to capture.

"Contrary to great Russian claims and indeed President Putin's sort of vision that somehow the Ukrainians would be liberated and would be flocking to his cause, he's got that completely wrong and the Russian army have failed to deliver on day one its main objectives," he also said.

25/02/2022 - 8:36 GMT+1

'No desire in EU, US to go to war with Russia': French Armed Forces Minister

Asked on RTL Radio this morning whether NATO countries could intervene in Ukraine and what would be the catalyst for an intervention, Florence Parly said: "We have not declared war on Russia."

"I don't think there is a desire in any of the European countries, in the US, to go to war with Russia. What we want is to be able to put an end as quickly as possible to this invasion, which is a terrible invasion, which is vast, which is undoubtedly much more ambitious than the simple annexation of the territories that are closest to the Russian border, the so-called disputed territories.

"Our objective is to succeed in obtaining a ceasefire as quickly as possible, to put an end to this violence which is unacceptable," she added.

25/02/2022 - 8:19 GMT+1

Ukrainian emergency services release images of aftermath of shelling

These images are from Starobilsk, in the eastern region of Luhansk, according to emergency services.

25/02/2022 - 8:15 GMT+1

Eastern European countries start closing their airspace. Here's what it means for travel

Euronews Travel has contacted all the airlines that fly to Ukraine and surrounding countries. Their responses can be found in this article, which we are updating regularly.

25/02/2022 - 8:08 GMT+1

International Criminal Court warns it may 'exercise its jurisdiction' to probe war crimes in Ukraine

ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC said in a statement on Friday morning that he has been "closely following recent developments in and around Ukraine with increasing concern."

He reminded all those "conducting hostilities" that his office "may exercise its jurisdiction over and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within the territory of Ukraine since 20 February onwards."

"Any person who commits such crimes, including by ordering, inciting, or contributing in another manner to the commission of these crimes, may be liable for prosecution before the Court," he stressed.

25/02/2022 - 7:44 GMT+1

Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv

Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko said it meant a "new wave of bombing by Russian aviation" was coming.

25/02/2022 - 7:38 GMT+1

Ukraine appeals to Bucharest Nine for defence aid: Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian leader said he discussed "effective international assistance" with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on Friday morning.

"Appealed to Bucharest Nine for defence aid, sanctions, pressure on the aggressor. Together we have to put Russia at the negotiating table," he wrote on Twitter.

The Bucharest Nine is an organisation made up of eastern EU member states some of which border Russia including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

25/02/2022 - 7:17 GMT+1

Bank of Russia unveils measures to support banks hit by Western sanctions

"The Bank of Russia and the Russian government will provide all necessary assistance to banks sanctioned by Western states," including the country's two largest banks, VTB and Sberbank, the financial institution said in a statement.

"All operations of these banks in roubles will be carried out and appropriate services will be provided to all customers as usual," it said.

"All customers' foreign currency assets have also been preserved and can be issued in these currencies," the statement said.

"The Bank of Russia is ready to take additional measures to ensure the stability and continuity of the banks' operational activities, to defend the interests of their creditors and savers," it added.

Sberbank said on Thursday that all its systems and offices were continuing to operate "normally", with its customers having "full access" to all their financial resources.

For its part, VTB announced that due to sanctions, the use of its Visa and Mastercard bank cards abroad was "impossible".

25/02/2022 - 6:59 GMT+1

'World's most powerful forces watching from afar': Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian President delivered another address to the nation on Friday morning.

Here are some of the key quotes:

"They [Russia] say that civilian objects are not a target for them. This is a lie. In fact, they do not distinguish in which areas to operate."

"Enemy aircraft operate viciously over residential areas, including the capital."

"The purpose of this attack is to put pressure on you, the citizens of Ukraine, to put pressure on our entire society."

"This morning we are defending our state alone, as we did yesterday. The world's most powerful forces are watching from afar."

"Russia will still have to talk to us sooner or later. Talk about how to end the fighting and stop this invasion. The sooner the conversation begins, the smaller Russia's losses will be."

25/02/2022 - 6:48 GMT+1

Ukrainian ambassador to UN calls for support to 'hold Russia accountable'

Sergiy Kyslytsya said that the UN Security Council will on Friday "vote on a resolution to hold Russia accountable" for its invasion of Ukraine which he described as "an attack on the UN Charter and every UN member state."

"We are asking every UN member state to co-sponsor this action when Russian bombs and tanks hit Ukraine," he added.

25/02/2022 - 6:39 GMT+1

UN chief reiterates call for humanitarian laws to be respected

Antonio Guterres took to Twitter on Friday morning, flagging that "with the death toll rising, we are seeing images of fear, anguish and terror in every corner of Ukraine."

"The protection of civilians must be priority number one. International humanitarian and human rights laws must be upheld," he added.

He had told reporters earlier that the UN is working on "both sides of the contact line" and "scaling up our humanitarian operations in and around Ukraine."

25/02/2022 - 6:21 GMT+1

Good morning. I'm Alice Tidey and I'll be taking you through the developments in the Ukraine-Russia crisis today.

The Ukrainian president said civilians and military alike would protect the country's independence, while Kyiv's mayor said the city was entering a "defensive phase"

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