new Delhi: The invasion of Ukraine has now entered its ninth day, with Russian forces shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, igniting a fire that was put out overnight.
The United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog has said there was no sign of a radiation leak. Meanwhile, Russian forces have also captured the strategic port city of Kherson, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the campaign will pressure Ukraine to demilitarize.
Following a call from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, the people of the war-torn country took up arms and sought refuge.
Here are the top developments on Day 9 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:
President Zelensky left for Ukraine for Poland, claims Russia
A Russian legislator claimed on Friday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fled the country and is currently in Poland. Russian state-owned media Sputnik quoted Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin as saying. Read more: https://bit.ly/3CfOUPd
Putin denies Russia’s claims of bombing Ukrainian cities
Russian President Vladimir Putin denies bombing Ukrainian cities. The Kremlin said that in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin denied that Russian forces were bombing Ukrainian cities and dismissed such information as fake. Read more: https://bit.ly/3CcUOR7
G7 warns Russia of more sanctions
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, the G7 (Group of Seven) countries warned of “more severe sanctions” against Russia and called for “rapid” humanitarian corridors in Ukraine. Read more: https://bit.ly/374DfqX
India requests local ceasefire, says evacuation difficult without it
India on Friday said it was not possible to evacuate Indian civilians stranded in Ukraine without a ceasefire as firing and bombing continued in these areas. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ty9iXK
India issues fresh advisory
With Russia continuing to attack Ukraine, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine has asked its citizens to travel to the Polish borders of Budomierz and Scheini-Medyka. Read more: https://bit.ly/3sHe5XF
No radiation leak from Ukraine nuclear plant: UN nuclear agency
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said no radiation was released from Ukraine’s nuclear plant that Russia targeted on Friday. Russian military forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant located in the southeast of Ukraine. Read more: https://bit.ly/3hD8ETh
Attack on nuclear plant a war crime: US
The United States embassy in Kyiv said on Friday that the shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear plant by Russian President Vladimir Putin “takes the regime of terror one step further”. Read more: https://bit.ly/3hHRfJj
Indian students stranded in Ukraine demand immediate evacuation
Hundreds of Indian students stranded in the Ukrainian border city of Sumi have urged the Indian government to rescue them and bring them back home immediately as shells are falling from above and armed men roam the streets. Read more: https://bit.ly/3MqGlpu
India hopes for humanitarian corridor in second round of talks
Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India stressed the humanitarian dimension of the conflict, saying the safety of civilians and thousands of Indians was at stake. Read more: https://bit.ly/3HJUPNE