Situation on the ground, international reactions, sanctions: the point on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
– “A hurricane of famines” –
The UN Secretary General has warned of the repercussions of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which could result in “a hurricane of famine” in many countries. For its part, the IMF has estimated that Ukraine’s economy could contract by up to 35% if the war were to get bogged down, and that the conflict endangered global food security.
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– Talks resume on Tuesday –
The fourth round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume on Tuesday, a Kyiv negotiator reported. “We are taking a technical break in the negotiations until tomorrow” to allow “additional work by sub-working groups and clarification” of certain terms, he said.
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– Russian bombings –
Two people were killed in Russian bombardments on kyiv which targeted a residential building and the Antonov aeronautical factory, announced the town hall of the Ukrainian capital. In Kharkiv, in the north-east of Ukraine, a bombardment by the Russian army killed two people, according to the regional prosecutor’s office. And nine people were killed in a strike by the Russian army against a television tower near Rivne (west), according to local authorities.
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– Strike on Donetsk –
In Donetsk, pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow claimed that a Ukrainian army strike had targeted the city center, killing at least 16 people according to the local “Ministry” of Health and 23 dead according to the powerful Committee of Russian investigation.
The Ukrainian army strongly denied
– “Total control” of major cities –
The Russian army “does not exclude the possibility of taking full control of the large cities which are already surrounded”, warned the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov. In recent days, fighting has intensified around kyiv, which is almost completely surrounded.
– Chernobyl: another power outage –
Ukraine has accused the Russian military of again cutting off power to the Chernobyl nuclear site and detonating munitions near a reactor in Zaporozhye, with both plants under Moscow control.
The former Chernobyl power plant, which still needs energy to ensure optimum safety of the fuel assemblies stored on site.
– More than 2.8 million refugees –
More than 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, according to the latest count published by the UN, which also lists around 2 million internally displaced people.
Some 160 cars were able to exit Monday via a humanitarian corridor from the city of Mariupol, besieged by Russian and pro-Russian separatist forces, according to the municipality.
– EU sanctions new oligarchs –
The European Union has decided to sanction new Russian oligarchs, including billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of English football club Chelsea, diplomats told AFP.
Before this extension, 862 people and 53 Russian entities were already on this blacklist which prohibits entry into EU territory and allows the seizure of their property.
– Beijing and Washington discuss in Rome –
Two senior US and Chinese diplomats have begun talks in Rome, amid tense reports from The New York Times that Russia has requested economic and military assistance from China to wage war in Ukraine and circumvent Western sanctions.
Beijing reacted angrily to this information, without however specifically denying it.
– Council of Europe: kyiv wants the expulsion of Russia –
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Chmygal has asked the Council of Europe for the “immediate expulsion” of Russia from this pan-European human rights organization, which would be a first in its history.
The organisation’s Committee of Ministers is due to meet on Thursday to decide.
In video: The Odessa orchestra sings the Ukrainian national anthem in the open air
Credit: dpa.
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