Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know
A current briefing from Associated Australian Press.
HEADLINES
* Russia attacked Ukrainian oil and gas facilities, sparking huge explosions, and some Russian forces entered the second city Kharkiv. A blast was heard after air raid siren in the capital Kyiv, where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were resisting a Russian advance.
* Western allies announced sweeping sanctions against Russia, including barring some key banks from the SWIFT payments system. The move will inflict a crippling economic blow to Moscow but also hurt Western companies and banks.
* At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed in Russia’s invasion, the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
* Russian forces blew up a natural gas pipeline in Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, while Russian-backed separatists said Ukraine had blown up an oil terminal in the breakaway Luhansk province. Russia continues to supply Europe with gas via Ukraine.
* Refugees continued to pour across Ukraine’s western borders, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days.
* Ukraine denied that it was refusing to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia but said it was not ready to accept ultimatums or unacceptable conditions.
* A Ukrainian road maintenance company said it was removing all road signs to hinder invading Russian forces: “Let us help them get straight to hell.”
* In a sea of blue and yellow flags and banners, protesters around the world expressed support for the people of Ukraine and called on governments to do more to help Kyiv, punish Russia and avoid a broader conflict.
* Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich said he was giving stewardship of Chelsea to the London soccer club’s foundation.
* Alphabet Inc’s Google has barred Russia’s state-owned media outlet RT and other channels from receiving money for ads on their websites, apps and YouTube videos, similar to a move by Facebook after the invasion o f Ukraine.
* Investors are preparing for more wild gyrations in asset prices after Western nations announced a harsh set of sanctions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including blocking some banks from the SWIFT international payments system.
QUOTES
– “We will fight as long as it takes to liberate the country,” Zelenskiy said in a video message.
– “We will hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin,” the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States wrote.
– “The Russian attack on Ukraine is appalling. We are praying for the proud people of Ukraine. God bless them all,” former US president Donald Trump said during a speech at a conservative gathering in Florida.
– “In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskiy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future,” Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate said on Twitter. “Today we stand w ith the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future.”
With additional reporting from AP
Copyright AAP
