The bombardment of residential areas of the southern port city of Mariupol continued on Wednesday when the city's Drama Theatre was hit. Up to a thousand civilians were seeking shelter there, according to local authorities.
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It's day 21 of Russia's war in Ukraine, which was launched by Vladimir Putin on 24 February.
The fighting has forced more than three million Ukrainians to flee their homes, with thousands of people killed or wounded.
Follow our live updates below or tune into Euronews in the video player, above.
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Here are the latest key developments:
- The Russian forces bombarded a theatre and a pool facility in Mariupol, both designated shelters for civilians who lost their homes in the continued assault on the city. The number of casualties is unknown but considered to be high, while rescue operations are hindered by further shelling of residential areas of the southern port city.
- Ten civilians were killed on Wednesday morning while waiting in a line for bread in Chernihiv, Ukrainian State Prosecutor's Office said.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has addressed the US Congress, invoking Pearl Harbour and 9/11, calling Russia's invasion the worst conflict since World War II.
- The Council of Europe in Strasbourg voted to expel Russia from the human rights body over its invasion of Ukraine.
- The International Court of Justice, or ICJ, delivered a verdict on the Russia vs Ukraine case, ordering it to suspend its invasion.
- Another round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is taking place by videoconference today. President Zelenskyy said overnight that Russian demands are becoming "more realistic" and that "patience is needed".
- Turkey's foreign minister is in Moscow today, and will visit Ukraine on Thursday, in a new round of 'shuttle diplomacy' to try and negotiate a ceasefire in the war, which is now in its 21st day.
- Fighting continues in Ukraine with loud explosions heard Wednesday morning in Kyiv, and the city of Zaporizhzhia was bombarded for the first time.
- Meanwhile, Britain's Ministry of Defence says Russian forces are "struggling" to overcome challenges posed by Ukraine's terrain, and that Ukraine's destruction of bridges has stalled them.
Explosions heard in several cities in Belarus 'artillery exercises', authorities say
After multiple reports of explosions in several Belarusian cities, mainly in the Brest region close to the Ukrainian border, authorities dismissed the possibility of an attack by Kyiv.
"The city can sleep calmly," Chairman of the Brest City Executive Committee Alexander Rogachuk said, claiming that the explosions were "artillery exercises" and sonic booms of Russian aircraft headed to Ukraine.
Another Mariupol strike stokes fears of significant civilian casualties
A missile strike on the Neptune pool facility in Mariupol on Wednesday is believed to have resulted in substantial civilian casualties, Donetsk Region Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
The extent of the damage and the number of those killed or injured are still unknown, but the authorities fear that many are trapped under the rubble, including children.
The pool facility was one of the designated sites for those seeking shelter after their homes were destroyed in the continued shelling of the residential areas of the southern port city.
Putin 'is a war criminal', says Biden
President Joe Biden on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal as the atrocities in Ukraine mount and the president there begged the US Congress for more help.
"He's a war criminal," the president said of Putin as he left an unrelated event. It's the sharpest condemnation yet of Putin and Russian actions by a US official since the invasion of Ukraine.
While other world leaders have used the words, the White House had been hesitant to declare Putin's actions those of a war criminal, saying it was a legal term that required research.
But in a speech Wednesday, Biden said Russian troops had bombed hospitals and held doctors hostage. He pledged more aid to help Ukraine fight Russia.
Kyiv historic residential area shelled, no information on casualties
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko says Russian shelling damaged several residences in the city’s Podil neighbourhood, just north of the city centre and about 2.5 kilometres from the so-called “government quarter” that holds the presidential palace, president’s office and other significant offices.
Officials did not immediately release additional details about the attack, including whether there were any casualties.
Kyiv residents have been huddled in homes and shelters amid a citywide curfew that runs until Thursday morning, as Russia shelled areas in and around the city. Earlier, a 12-story apartment building in central Kyiv erupted in flames after being hit by shrapnel.
Russian troops bomb theatre where residents were hiding, Mariupol city council says
Russia bombed a theatre where hundreds were sheltering, Mariupol's city council said on Wednesday.
The number of casualties is still unknown since the residential area where the theatre is located is reported to be under heavy artillery fire, the city council stated.
Local sources said that up to 1,000 people sought safety at the Mariupol Drama Theatre, including families with small children.
The besieged port city has come under heavy shelling from Russia, with repeated calls for humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.
Around 20,000 people were eventually evacuated from the city yesterday, a Ukrainian official said. It is unknown how many have died in the city, where there is no electricity and food and water are sparse.
The Russian Ministry of Defence denied the allegations of the bombing, claiming that the theatre was "mined" and blown up as a provocation.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed the news of the theatre's bombing on Twitter, saying that the building is "now fully ruined". "Save Mariupol! Stop Russian war criminals," he wrote.
Last week, a Russian airstrike hit a maternity hospital in the city.
Russians set to launch new 'Rossgram' photo-sharing app after Instagram blocked by the Kremlin
Russian tech entrepreneurs are set to launch a picture-sharing application on the domestic market to help fill the void left by Instagram, which the authorities blocked this week.
The new service, known as Rossgram, will launch on March 28 and have additional functions such as crowdfunding and paid access for some content, its website said on Wednesday.
(Reuters)
Read the full story here.
NATO vows more forces, exercises to face 'new reality' of Russian aggression
NATO defence ministers tasked military commanders on Wednesday to come up with measures to bolster the alliance's posture due to the "new reality" ushered in by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We face a new reality so we must reset our collective defence and deterrence for the longer term," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting.
He added that ministers have tasked military commanders to come up with options to present NATO leaders.
Read the full story here.
ICJ ordered Russia to suspend its invasion in genocide case
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a verdict on the Russia vs Ukraine case, ordering it to suspend its invasion.
Ukraine sought an emergency order from the United Nations’ highest court on Monday to halt hostilities on its territory, arguing that Russia – which boycotted the hearing – had falsely applied genocide law to justify its invasion.
Watch the entire hearing here: ⬇️
Ten people queuing for bread killed by Russian gunfire, prosecutor's office says
10 civilians were killed after the Russian armed forces opened fire on a line for bread near a grocery store in one of the residential districts of Chernihiv, the Ukrainian State Prosecutor's Office said.
The attack on civilians took place at 10 am local time on Wednesday. There was no further information available on the victims.
"A pre-trial investigation is underway into violations of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder," the office said in a statement.
Japanese authorities: Russian fleet spotted elevates fears of escalating tensions
Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday it has spotted Russian warships crossing a strait in northern Japan this week as Russia’s maritime activity in the area has escalated.
A pair of Russian tank-landing ships crossed the Tsugaru Strait between Aomori on the northern end of Japan’s main island and Hokkaido on Tuesday night, and another pair of tank carriers were spotted in similar waters Wednesday. The ships moved west to the Sea of Japan.
Larger fleets of Russian warships have been repeatedly seen in northern Japanese waters in recent months.
The ministry said that it has also spotted an unmanned Chinese aircraft BZK-007 violating the Japanese Defence Identification Zone over the East China Sea, causing the Air Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets and conduct surveillance activity.
China and Russia have stepped up their military collaboration recently, causing concerns in Japan about escalating tension in East Asia.
Direct plea to Biden
Zelenskyy ends by speaking in English and with a direct plea to his US counterpart Joe Biden.
I wish you to be the leader of the world, he told Biden. To be the leader of the world, he added, is to be the leader of peace.
Earlier, Zelenskyy spoke of how the war was denying Ukrainians the fundamental right to die "when it's your time, not when someone else decides, like your neighbour".
"I see no sense in life if it can't stop death," he added.
Zelenskyy proposes new alliance
Zelenskyy has been talking about the possibility of a new global alliance that is able to respond to conflicts and climate-related disasters.
He has now given way to a film that shows the alleged result of Russia's invasion on Ukraine.
The video ends with the text: 'Close the sky over Ukraine'.
'Europe has not seen terror like this for 80 years'
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskky has been telling the US Congress that Russia's invasion has sparked the worst war since World War II.
He has urged members to remember Pearl Harbour and 9/11 when thinking about what is going on in Ukraine.
"This is a terror Europe has not seen for 80 years and we are asking for an answer from the world. Is it too much to ask for a humanitarian no-fly zone?"
Watch his speech live, here.
Ukraine's president is addressing the US Congress
You can watch it live here.
We'll be bringing you the key quotes on this page.
Council of Europe expels Russia over Ukraine invasion
The ministerial committee of the 47-nation organization said in statement Wednesday that “the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership.”
Health workers in Ukraine struggle to cope with COVID crisis during war
UNICEF has said hospital statistics do not reflect the full scale of the pandemic across Ukraine because many people don't seek medical help, while others receive it at home.
Czech, Polish, Slovenian leaders return safely from Kyiv visit
The leaders met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to send the message that Ukraine is not alone and that they support the nation’s aspirations to one day join the European Union.
They went ahead with the hours-long train trip despite worries within the European Union about the security risks of traveling within a war zone. Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said on Wednesday that they had returned safely to Poland.
Officials had not given details about their schedule for security reasons.
Red Cross seeks greater access in Ukraine
The ICRC said Wednesday that the planned five-day visit by its president, Peter Maurer, aims to view first-hand the challenges facing civilians, meet with members of Ukraine’s government and explore ways the ICRC can expand its work in the country.
The trip came a day after the Geneva-based organization helped shepherd out hundreds of people in an evacuation from the northern city of Sumy in some 80 buses.
The ICRC also announced the delivery of 200 tons of aid to Ukraine, including kits for the war-wounded, blankets, kitchen sets, water and more than 5,200 body bags.
The ICRC has been working in Ukraine since 2014 and has a team of more than 600 staffers there.
Ukraine rejects Swedish or Austrian model of neutrality
Ukraine rejected a Swedish or Austrian model of neutrality, stating that the model can only be "Ukrainian".
"Ukraine is now in a state of direct war with Russia. Therefore, the model can only be Ukrainian and only about legally verified security guarantees," said Mykhailo Podolyak, a negotiator for the Ukrainian president, in a statement on Telegram.
"This means that the signatories of the guarantees do not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, like today. But they take an active part on the side of Ukraine in the conflict and officially provide us with an immediate supply of the necessary amount of weapons," Podolyak wrote. He said Ukraine wanted direct guarantees of a no-fly zone.
The statement came after Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said a neutral status was being discussed in connection with security guarantees. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said a Swedish or Austrian model of neutrality was being discussed as a possible compromise.
(Euronews with AFP)
Russian forces struggling to overcome challenge of Ukrainian terrain, UK defence ministry says
In the UK defence ministry's latest intelligence update, it said "Russian forces are struggling to overcome the challenges posed by Ukraine's terrain."
The UK's MOD said Russian forces have remained on roads and that Ukraine's destruction of bridges has stalled them.
Russia's failure to control the air has limited their options, MOD continued, adding that Ukrainian tactics have inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops.
NATO concern over Poland's 'peace mission' proposal
French foreign minister: "Obligation" to protect journalists
Ukrainian journalist Evgueni Sakoun was killed in the bombing of a television tower in Kyiv and his colleague Viktor Doudar died during fighting near the city of Mykolaiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Boris Johnson: "No way" Ukraine will join NATO soon
Zaporozhye hit by Russian strikes on Wednesday morning
Reports: Explosions heard in Kyiv on Wednesday morning
Several thick columns of black smoke were observed shortly after in the sky of the city, like the day before, where several Russian strikes hit residential buildings.
Ukraine signals 'more realistic' talks with Russia, and possible NATO concession
However, he also cautioned that "efforts are still needed, patience is needed" for the talks to be succesfull, and that "any war ends with an agreement."
Meanwhile the president also seemed to signal that Ukraine would not be able to join NATO. “This is the truth, and we have simply to accept it as it is" he told northern European leaders, who were meeting in London on Tuesday.
Read more at our story here:
Turkish foreign minister in Moscow-Kyiv shuttle diplomacy trip
International Court of Justice to deliver Russia verdict later on Wednesday
Ukraine wants the ICJ, which was created in 1946 to settle disputes between states, to take emergency measures, to order Russia to "immediately suspend military operations".
"Russia must be stopped, and the court has a role to play in stopping that" Ukraine's representative told a hearing.
Russia declined to appear at the ICJ hearings into the case on March 7th and 8th, but in a written statement Moscow refuted the court's jurisdiction over Ukraine's claim.
Ukraine's military claims they shot down three more Russian attack jets
- In an overnight video message, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy says ongoing talks with Russian negotiators "sound more realistic, but time is still needed." Another round of conference calls between the two sides is set to take place today.
- Zelenskyy has appeared to concede his country will not join NATO. In an address to northern European leaders meeting in London, he said "we have heard for many years about the open doors, but we also heard that we can't enter those doors and this is truth and we have simply to accept it as it is."
- Later on Wednesday, President Zelenskyy will give a joint address to the US Congress, and afterwards President Biden is expected to announce a new package of support for Ukraine.
- Kyiv is under a 35-hour lockdown which lasts until Thursday morning as Russian forces stepped up their attacks on the capital city, with many residents spending another night in basement bomb shelters or subway stations for safety.
Russian warships fired missiles and artillery at the Ukrainian coast near the Black Sea port city of Odessa. Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said "they fired a huge amount of ammunition from a great distance."