New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): Russia on Tuesday intensified the shelling on the sixth day of its military operations in Ukraine by targeting the capital city Kyiv as well as the second-largest city Kharkiv with France providing Ukraine with USD 111 million financial and humanitarian aid and Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserting that “Nobody can break Ukrainians”. Eight people have died and 35 injured in a rocket attack on a housing block in the second-largest city of Kharkiv in Ukraine.
Notably, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier in the day denied the reports of attacking infrastructure, residential areas in Ukraine. “During the course of the special operation, Russian troops do not carry out any strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities and on a residential complex. This is out of the question. We are talking only about the demilitarization of Ukraine and military facilities. We must not forget that in a large number of cases, we are talking about the fire of nationalist groups that use living objects as a shield,” Peskov said as quoting` according to Sputnik.
Despite that claim, Russia is striking cities and building up its forces near the capital Kyiv, vowing not to stop until “set goals are achieved”. Russian Defence Ministry that it was planning to launch a strike in Kyiv and asked its residents to leave. “We call on…Kiev residents living near relay nodes to leave their homes,” Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, reported by TRT World.
“In order to suppress information attacks on Russia, the technological infrastructure of the SBU (Ukraine’s Security Service) and the 72nd main PSO (Psychological Operations Unit) centre in Kyiv will be hit with high-precision weapons,” the spokesperson added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba informed that Kyiv TV tower which was situated on the territory of Babyn Yar has been hit by a missile. “Kyiv TV tower, which has just been hit by a Russian missile, is situated on the territory of Babyn Yar. On September 29-30, 1941, Nazis killed over 33 thousand Jews here. 80 years later, Russian Nazis strike this same land to exterminate Ukrainians. Evil and barbaric,” he said in a Tweet.
According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 70 Ukrainian servicemen were killed by a rocket attack and dozens of civilians have died in the shelling. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Kyiv, in an advisory issued Tuesday, asked Indians asked to leave Kyiv urgently through “any means available”. Meanwhile, an embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union, a largely symbolic move for now. Google announced that it is blocking the YouTube channels linked to Russia’s RT broadcaster. (ANI)
Sweden announces additional 500 million SEK in humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Stockholm [Sweden], March 1 (ANI): Sweden on Tuesday announced an additional 500 million SEK in humanitarian support to Ukraine bringing the total contribution to Ukraine to 1 billion SEK in humanitarian aid. Talking to Twitter, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, said, “Sweden announces another 500 million SEK (47 million euro) in humanitarian support to #Ukraine. This is on top of the 120 million SEK last week. In total, Sweden has contributed over 1 billion SEK in humanitarian aid and 2,3 billion SEK in reform support to Ukraine since 2014.”
Sweden also proposed several new EU measures in light of the ongoing crisis, targeting Russian leadership and oligarchs. “Sweden proposes several new EU measures in light of the ongoing Russian invasion, targeting Russian leadership and oligarchs, and strengthening support to #Ukraine. The sale of “golden passports” in the EU must stop now,” it added.
Furthermore, Ann Linde also virtually met with Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers and discussed ways to increase support for Ukraine. “Meeting today with #NB8 Nordic-Baltic FM colleagues. Strong support for #Ukraine and its people. Discussions on how to increase support. Briefed about Swedish proposals. Russia’s war in Ukraine calls for extraordinary actions,” added Linde in her tweet. (ANI)
Container shipping companies halting cargo bookings to and from Russia
Washington [US], March 1 (ANI): Two of the world’s biggest container shipping companies— Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)– are halting cargo bookings to and from Russia. The biggest container shipping companies on Tuesday temporarily halted cargo bookings to and from Russia deeply concerned over the escalating conflict in Ukraine, reported CNN. “As the stability and safety of our operations are already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended, with exception of foodstuffs, medical and humanitarian supplies,” shipping giant Maersk said in a statement.
“We are deeply concerned by how the crisis keeps escalating in Ukraine,” the company added noting that it starts “seeing the effect on global supply chain flows such as delays, detention of cargo by customs authorities across various trans-shipment hubs, unpredictable operational impacts.”
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will also stop all cargo bookings to and from Russia starting today, “covering all access areas including Baltics, Black Sea and Far East Russia,” the company said in a statement, reported CNN. However, MSC will continue to accept and screen bookings for delivery of essential goods such as food, medical equipment and humanitarian goods, added the statement. (ANI)
