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A delusional Vladimir Putin has once more insisted that Russia isn’t bombing Ukrainian cities, regardless of fears that 100 individuals are buried underneath rubble after an condo block close to Kyiv was struck and after a cluster bomb assault on town of Chernihiv which killed 49.
Putin, talking on a name with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this night, dismissed all experiences of Russian assaults on condo buildings, faculties and hospitals as ‘pretend’ – a day after occurring TV to accuse Ukrainians of utilizing civilians as ‘human shields’ whereas vowing to not again down from his assault.
As he spoke, emergency providers in Ukraine warned that round 100 folks could possibly be buried in rubble after a rocket strike cleaved an condo within the metropolis of Boradyanka – 30 miles from Kyiv – in two, with rescue employees unable to get to them. Officers in Chernihiv additionally raised the quantity killed in a cluster bomb assault to 49.
More and more determined warnings are additionally coming from the surrounded metropolis of Mariupol, within the south, the place the mayor has warned town is being ‘merely destroyed’ by Russian artillery – with water, electrical energy, and heating reduce off whereas meals can be working low. He has begged for a ceasefire to permit civilians to evacuate.
A shell fragment additionally landed within the grounds of President Zelensky’s nation home, although he isn’t regarded as there and no injury was induced.
In the meantime Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s overseas minister, claimed that Russian troops have raped ladies in cities they’ve already captured. He didn’t give proof to again his declare, however Ukrainian media reported that eleven circumstances of rape had been reported in Kherson – the one main metropolis captured by Russia after greater than per week of combating.
Russia has been more and more waging a battle of terror towards Ukrainian civilians after makes an attempt to quickly seize the nation failed. Indiscriminate shelling of main Ukrainian cities has been happening, leaving lots of of innocents useless.
And the assault confirmed no signal of letting up right this moment, as Mykolaiv, within the south of Ukraine, got here underneath assault with Russian forces moved inside placing distance of town centre. The town is positioned just some miles from Kherson, which fell to Putin’s males earlier within the week, alongside the street to Odessa – Ukraine’s third-largest metropolis and principal port.
Nonetheless, experiences emerged on Friday night that an assault on an airport on the outskirts of town had been repulsed, with Ukrainian forces digging in for recent combating in a single day.
However Ukraine’s army did managed to tug off some successes. Two Russian jets had been downed close to Volnovakha, within the east close to Donetsk, whereas Ukrainian particular forces additionally ambushed two of the Kremlin’s tank columns at Hostomel and Brovary, leaving massive numbers of troops useless and destroying automobiles.
Kyiv says Russia has now misplaced round 9,200 males within the combating, together with lots of of tanks, virtually a thousand armoured automobiles, and dozens of helicopters and jets.
It got here after Russia launched an assault on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in a single day, killing three guards and sparking a hearth that raged within the facility for 4 hours earlier than emergency crews had been finally allowed to extinguish it as soon as Putin’s males had taken management.
The assault sparked worldwide condemnation, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson branding it ‘reckless’ and saying it had ‘threatened the safety of the entire of Europe’.
The combating raged on as NATO diplomats met in Brussels right this moment, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that NATO is ‘prepared’ for battle and can defend ‘each inch’ of member states’ territory – although resisted requires a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying that might violate the defensive alliances’ rules.
Jens Stoltenberg, head of the alliance who spoke alongside Blinken, mentioned after a gathering of overseas ministers that NATO’s accountability is to guard its 30 member states – two of which, Poland and Romania, straight border Ukraine – and to cease the battle from spilling over right into a Europe-wide battle.
The duo spoke amid considerations in Washington {that a} ‘cornered’ Vladimir Putin – who faces near-total condemnation of his invasion overseas, rising dissent at residence, and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than he bargained for – might ‘lash out’ by invading one other nation or threatening the West with nukes, in accordance with the New York Instances.

Individuals take cowl from shelling within the metropolis of Bucha, west of Kyiv, throughout a Russian assault to attempt to seize it

Ukrainian troops take cowl from Russian shelling within the metropolis of Bucha, positioned to the west of Kyiv

A Russian armoured car sits on a avenue of wrecked troop transports after a number of assaults attempting to grab the city of Bucha

Rescuers and locals search via rubble of residential buildings destroyed by Russian shelling within the village of Markhalivka, to the south west of capital metropolis Kyiv

Russia has been more and more waging a battle of terror towards Ukrainian civilians after makes an attempt to quickly seize the nation failed. Shelling has focused small villages and cities, reminiscent of Markhalivka (pictured)

A person walks in entrance of a residential constructing broken in yesterday’s shelling within the metropolis of Chernihiv on March 4

A home is on hearth following shelling in town of Irpin, 26 kilometres west of Kyiv, on Friday

Forty-seven folks died on March 3 when Russian forces hit residential areas, together with faculties and a high-rise condo constructing, within the northern Ukrainian metropolis of Chernihiv (pictured on March 4), officers mentioned

A person stands in entrance of a residential constructing broken in yesterday’s shelling within the metropolis of Chernihiv on March 4 after 47 folks died within the metropolis on March 3, in accordance with officers

A college constructing broken in yesterday’s shelling within the metropolis of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, which noticed 47 folks die, in accordance with native authorities

An condo constructing broken following a shelling in town of Irpin, 26 kilometres west of Kyiv

A canine wanders via the wreckages of Russian armoured automobiles left littering the streets of Bucha, close to Kyiv

A Russian tank within the metropolis of Irpin, west of Kyiv, sits deserted after being attacked by Ukrainian forces

Destroyed Russian armored automobiles within the metropolis of Bucha, west of Kyiv, which has been underneath heavy assault in current days


A fraction of a Russian shell sits within the backyard of President Zelensky’s nation residence, regardless of Putin’s insistence that he’s not concentrating on civilian properties

A native resident walks previous the stays of a home of tradition following an evening air raid within the village of Byshiv, 40 kilometres west of Kyiv

A lady picks her manner via the rubble of a destroyed college within the metropolis of Zhytomyr, 80 miles to the west of Kyiv, as Russia renews its assault on the nation for a ninth day

Kharkiv, the nation’s second-largest metropolis, has come underneath renewed bombardment having already suffered heavy injury in more and more indiscriminate Russian assaults (pictured)
‘NATO will defend all its allies and territory towards a Russian assault,’ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on arriving in Brussels, which hosts the alliance’s headquarters.
‘Ours is a defensive alliance. We search no battle. But when battle involves us, we’re prepared for it and we’ll defend each inch of NATO territory.’
NATO’s head echoed Blinken’s condemnation of Russian assaults on civilians in Ukraine, a former Soviet republic and Moscow satellite tv for pc that desires to affix the European Union in addition to the Western army alliance.
Ukrainian authorities mentioned on Friday Russian forces seized the biggest nuclear energy plant in Europe after a constructing on the Zaporizhzhia complicated was set ablaze throughout intense combating.
‘This simply demonstrates the recklessness of this battle and the significance of ending it and the significance of Russia withdrawing all its troops,’ Secretary Basic Jens Stoltenberg mentioned.
Whereas some international locations indicated a willingness to debate a no-fly zone, they made clear they didn’t take into account it a viable choice.
Canadian Overseas Minister Melanie Joly mentioned that NATO’s pink line was to keep away from triggering a wider battle. France’s presidential workplace described a no-fly zone as ‘a really authentic request and really tough to fulfill.’

Russia is continuous to advance in southern Ukraine, with Mariupol underneath bombardment and Odessa and Mykolaiv underneath menace. Chernihiv, within the north, and Kharkiv, within the east, proceed to come back underneath heavy bombardment. The capital Kyiv can be underneath menace, although Ukrainian counter-attacks took out some Russian forces early on Friday

A mom flees along with her baby from the city of Irpin, on March 4, as combating continues within the Ukraine

Ukrainian military troopers stand at a checkpoint within the city of Irpin, on March 4. In accordance with data from the Ukrainian authorities and UNHCR, not less than 2,000 civilians have died and round a million refugees have fled Ukraine

Jens Stoltenberg (left) and Antony Blinken (proper) have right this moment warned Putin that NATO is able to defend ‘each inch’ of its territory within the occasion of a Russian assault, however isn’t in search of a battle

Yevghen Zbormyrsky, 49, reacts in entrance of his burning home after being shelled within the metropolis of Irpin, outdoors Kyiv

A lady weeps within the streets of Irpin, a satellite tv for pc metropolis of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, after it was destroyed by a Russian shell

Individuals take away private belongings from a burning home after being shelled within the metropolis of Irpin, outdoors Kyiv

A militiaman enters a car on March 4 in Irpin. Ukraine has been embroiled in an armed battle for 9 days following the beginning of assaults by Russia

A lady cries after not having the ability to board an evacuation prepare that departed carrying ladies and youngsters that fled combating in Bucha and Irpin

A Ukrainian military soldier carries a field of provides, March 4, 2022, in Irpin, after shelling hit the northern Ukrainian metropolis

A person runs in entrance of a home burning after being shelled within the metropolis of Irpin, outdoors Kyiv

Individuals flee the city of Irpin, on March 4 because the Ukraine has been within the midst of an armed battle for 9 days

Ukrainian military troopers experience in a car on a street in Irpin on March 4

An workplace block within the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest metropolis, is left in ruins after being hit by a Russian strike

Broken vehicles sit deserted within the streets amid rubble after an workplace block in central Kharkiv was hit by a Russian strike

A burned-out constructing sits subsequent to a ruined workplace block and amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in downtown Kharkiv

Kharkiv has been underneath days of bombardment, with native officers saying there isn’t any space of town that has not been hit
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte mentioned calls to get NATO concerned into army battle now had been ‘irresponsible.’
Putin launched his ‘particular army operation’ to eliminate what he mentioned was Ukraine’s fascist authorities and demilitarize the nation. Zelenskiy says Moscow is attempting to forestall a liberal democracy flourishing on Russia’s border.
‘We at the moment are witnessing a fully-fledged battle at our borders, a battle unleashed by president Putin towards Ukraine,’ the EU’s prime diplomat mentioned forward of the bloc’s separate talks on Friday.
‘We’ll take into account all the things. Every thing stays on the desk,’ Josep Borrell mentioned of extra sanctions on Russia.
On Thursday, Zelenskiy mentioned that if allies would not meet his request to guard Ukrainian air house, they need to as a substitute present Kyiv with extra battle planes.
‘We’ve got 15 nuclear items so these items, two within the east are near the entrance line of battle. It isn’t only a Ukrainian query,’ Power Minister Herman Halushchenko instructed Reuters on Thursday. ‘We’re combating. We’ll battle to the tip.’
Russia’s land assault on the capital Kyiv has moved slowly however Russian forces have shelled residential blocks and key civilian infrastructure, together with in Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis of Kharkiv within the northeast.
The Azov Sea port of Mariupol has been encircled and left with out electrical energy or working water by heavy Russian bombing.
Spooked by the invasion, jap members of the 30-nation NATO are ramping up defence spending and in search of extra safety.
‘Russian troops are in Ukraine and in Belarus, so we have to rethink all the things,’ mentioned Romania’s Overseas Minister Bogdan, including his nation would improve its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP subsequent 12 months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flag-raising ceremony on the ferry Marshal Rokossovsky through a video hyperlink right this moment

The stays of a Russian Su-25 fighter-bomber plane is seen in jap Ukraine after being shot down by Kyiv’s forces

A second Russian plane was additionally destroyed by Ukrainian anti-air items in jap Ukraine, as they inflicted losses on Russia

A destroyed Russian T-72 tank is seen in Brovary, on the jap outskirts of Kyiv, after being hit with an anti-tank weapon

Ukrainian forces mentioned they ambushed a Russian tank column outdoors Kyiv, destroying two tanks and 5 armoured automobiles

Ukraine has confirmed it scuttled the flagship of its personal navy – the Hetman Sahaidachny – whereas it was at anchor in Odessa as a result of the vessel was within the midst of repairs that would not be accomplished in time for it to affix the combating

Ukrainian artillery items are pictured working within the Luhansk area of jap Ukraine, the place battle has been ongoing with insurgent factions since 2014 – although the area is now a part of a much-larger battle with Russia

Artillery automobiles of the Ukrainian armed forces take up firing positions in a subject in Luhansk, within the east of the nation

Ukrainian artillery items open hearth on Russian positions within the Luhansk area, the place they’re in peril of being surrounded

Servicemen of Ukrainian Navy Forces set a hearth to get heat within the Luhansk area

Troopers of a cell artillery unit in jap Ukraine observe as their weapons open hearth on Russian positions on Friday

A Ukrainian soldier throws a cocktail Molotovs throughout a self-defence civilian course on the outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, on March 4

A Ukrainian soldier throws a cocktail Molotovs throughout a self-defence civilian course on the outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, on March 4

A Ukrainian soldier throws a cocktail Molotovs throughout a self-defence civilian course on the outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, on March 4

A destroyed college constructing is seen within the Ukrainian metropolis of Zhytomyr after being blown up by a Russian strike

Civilian and administrational infrastructure broken in Russian shelling in Kharkiv

A destroyed Ukrainian military tank within the settlement of Gnutovo outdoors Mariupol, taken by Russian forces

A Russian armoured personnel service is seen after being attacked by Ukrainian particular forces and destroyed

Armoured personnel carriers of Russian forces are seen after being attacked by Ukrainian particular forces
Poland introduced plans to go as much as 3%. Final week Germany additionally responded to the battle with a dedication to extend army spending. In a departure from its long-declared coverage, Berlin additionally authorised arms provides to Ukraine.
In the meantime Russian lawmakers authorized laws Friday to impose fines and harsh jail phrases for publishing ‘pretend information’ in regards to the military – the newest transfer to silence dissent one week after Moscow launched the invasion of Ukraine.
The invoice units out jail phrases of various lengths and fines towards individuals who publish ‘knowingly false data’ in regards to the army.
‘If the fakes led to critical penalties, (the laws) threatens imprisonment of as much as 15 years,’ Russia’s decrease home of parliament mentioned.
Amendments had been additionally handed to advantageous or jail anyone calling for sanctions towards Russia.
Opening the parliament’s session, chairman Vyacheslav Volodin railed towards overseas social media, after Fb was briefly inaccessible in Russia on Friday.
‘All these IT firms starting with Instagram, and ending with the others, are based mostly in the US of America. It’s clear they’re used as weapons. They carry hatred and lies. We have to oppose this,’ he mentioned.

A person stands subsequent to a burnt automobile close to a cultural and neighborhood centre, which locals mentioned was destroyed by current shelling, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, within the settlement of Byshiv within the Kyiv area

A person stands in entrance of a destroyed home by shelling within the city of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4

Kyril Kolcheryn, 21, walks subsequent to a destroyed home by shelling within the city of Stoyanka, west of Kyiv, on March 4

A physician operates on a Ukrainian soldier who was wounded combating Russian forces which have attacked the nation

Medical doctors hook up a Ukrainian soldier to IV drips to assist his wounds heal after he was damage combating Russian troops

Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear energy plant, was attacked by Russian forces and set on hearth in a single day – with the blaze raging for hours earlier than the plant was captured and the fireplace extinguished


A broken Russian assault car is seen outdoors the ability plant (left) whereas firefighters work to extinguish a hearth that broke out inside a coaching complicated (proper)

A column of Russian tanks, armoured automobiles and vans is seen at Zaporizhzhia after the nuclear plant was attacked

Russian forces had stormed the plant within the early hours of Friday, sparking a firefight with Ukrainian defenders
The previous 12 months has seen an unprecedented crackdown on impartial and demanding voices in Russia that has intensified because the invasion.
Russia’s media watchdog mentioned Friday it had restricted entry to the BBC and different impartial media web sites, additional tightening controls over the web.
Entry to the BBC, the impartial information web site Meduza, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and the Russian-language web site of the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Svoboda, had been ‘restricted’ by Roskomnadzor following a request from prosecutors.
Roskomnadzor mentioned in every case, the request was filed on February 24, the day Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his assault on Ukraine.
Valery Fadeyev, the top of the Kremlin’s human rights council accused Western media of being behind ‘an enormous circulate of false data that comes from Ukraine’ and mentioned the council had arrange a challenge to cease it.
In one other assault on crucial voices, Russian police on Friday had been finishing up searches on the workplace of the nation’s most distinguished rights group, Memorial, which was ordered to shut late final 12 months, sparking worldwide outcry.
Russia’s invasion has already claimed lots of of lives, displaced greater than 1,000,000 folks and spurred allegations of battle crimes.
Western-led sanctions levelled towards Russia in retaliation have despatched the ruble into free-fall forcing the central financial institution to impose a 30-percent tax on gross sales of onerous forex after a run on lenders.
Moscow has few financial instruments with which to reply however the duma on Friday adopted a invoice that might freeze any property inside Russia of foreigners ‘violating rights of Russians’.
Russian media have been instructed to publish solely data offered by official sources, which describe the invasion as a army operation.
State-controlled broadcasters have in the meantime strengthened authorities narratives about nationalism in Ukraine and Moscow’s declare that Ukrainian troopers are utilizing civilians as human shields.
For the second, it seems the invasion has marked the start of the tip for what stays of Russia’s impartial media.
Ekho Mosvky – a liberal-leaning radio station majority-owned by Russia’s vitality big Gazprom – mentioned Thursday it could shut down after being taken off air over its Ukraine battle protection.
Authorities had on Monday blocked the Ekho web site and took the station off air as punishment for spreading ‘intentionally false data’ in regards to the battle.
One other impartial outlet, Znak, mentioned Friday it was ceasing work ‘as a result of massive variety of restrictions which have lately appeared for the work of the media in Russia’.
The BBC mentioned this week that the viewers of its Russian language information web site had ‘greater than tripled…with a document attain of 10.7 million folks within the final week’.
In a Friday response to the blocking, a BBC spokesperson mentioned the corporate will ‘proceed our efforts to make BBC Information accessible in Russia, and throughout the remainder of the world’ regardless of the restrictions.

Cabinets in a grocery store stand empty, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Skvyra close to Kyiv

A lady walks via an empty grocery store in Skvyra, close to Kyiv, as meals runs scarce with the Russian army advancing

Empty cabinets are seen at a grocery retailer in Irpin, west of Kyiv, amid Russian assault on town
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