Moscow’s objectives did not include the overthrow of the Kyiv government. Russia said it looked forward to achieving more significant progress in the next round of talks with Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund Board on Wednesday approved $1.4 billion in emergency financing for war-torn Ukraine to help the country cope with a “massive humanitarian and economic crisis” caused by the Russian aggression.
Ukrainian officials say Russia’s attack has affected a children’s hospital and maternity facility in the southeastern port city of Mariupol.
Ukraine’s government has banned the export of wheat, oats and other staples that are vital to the global food supply as officials try to ensure they can feed people during Russia’s intensifying war.
During this, The evacuation exercise from India is expected to end – Operation Ganga – On Thursday, an official said that the few remaining Indians have been urged to opt for last flights from Ukraine.
The conflict began to intensify on February 21, 2022, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized separatist areas in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops to a peacekeeping role.
Read | An unnecessary war and its serious parts
editorial | Chance for peace: on Russia-Ukraine talks
Here are the latest updates:
Russia
Twitter launches Tor service, bypassing Russia’s block
Twitter has launched a privacy-protected version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship after Russia restricted access to its service in the country.
Russia has blocked access to Facebook and Twitter in an effort to restrict the flow of information about its war in Ukraine. Both companies have said they are working on restoring access to people inside Russia, even as they ban the country’s state media from their services. -ap
Russia
Sony suspends PlayStation operations in Russia
Sony said Thursday it had halted PlayStation shipments to Russia and suspended operations of the gaming giant’s online store, the latest global brand to turn the country away from its invasion of Ukraine.
“Sony Interactive Entertainment joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine,” said a statement posted on PlayStation’s Twitter account. -afp
Ukraine
35,000 civilians were evacuated from Ukrainian cities on Wednesday: Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that at least 35,000 civilians were evacuated from besieged cities in Ukraine.
In a video address late Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader said three humanitarian corridors had allowed residents to leave the areas around Sumy, Enerhodar and Kyiv. -ap
America
White House warns Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine
The Biden administration warned publicly on Wednesday that Russia may seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as the White House rejected Russian claims of illegal chemical weapons development in the country.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova this week accused Ukraine of running a chemical and biological weapons laboratory on its territory, supported by US White House press secretary Zhen Psaki, calling Russia’s claim “absurd”. Said and said that it could be part of an effort. To lay the groundwork for itself by Russia using such weapons of mass destruction against Ukraine. -ap
Poland
Harris landed in Poland amid unrest over jets to Ukraine
Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Warsaw to thank Poland for including the thousands of Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion took an unexpected turn even before she left Washington. She is parachuting on a fighter jet in the middle of unexpected diplomatic unrest.
The Polish government on Tuesday came out with plans to relocate its Russian-made fighter jets to a US military base in Germany, with hopes that the planes would be handed over to Ukrainian pilots trying to intercept Russian forces. In return, the US would supply Poland with US-made jets with “related capabilities”. -ap