Explosions and heavy fighting underway in Kharkiv after Russian paratroopers land
Watch live as U.S. nuclear commander testifies to House panel amid Russia-Ukraine conflict
At least 21 have died and 112 were injured after a shelling attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, while Russian paratroopers attacked the city overnight, marking a week of the Russian invasion of the country.
Heavy gun battles have ensued between Ukrainian and Russian troops while a military hospital has been attacked in Kharkiv, officials said.
Alongside, a 40-mile chain of Russia’s armoured military vehicles, tanks and towed artillery is advancing towards Kyiv, stoking fears of a full-blown assault on the capital city.
Fresh blasts and air-raid sirens were heard across the city on Tuesday night, even as Joe Biden drummed up support during his State of the Union address for Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s military offensive and warned that the Russian leader has “no idea what’s coming”.
Referring to Mr Putin as a “dictator”, Mr Biden said that “when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos”.
Meanwhile, the Moscow Exchange remained shut for the third consecutive day as Russia faces the heat of global sanctions aimed at sinking the Ruble’s value.
Russian missile hits Kharkiv police building
A Russian missile hit the national police building in Kharkiv city, Ukraine government officials have confirmed.
Videos shared on social media showed the top storeys of the building engulfed in a massive fire as debris fell.
This is what “Russian peace” looks like, tweeted Ukraine’s defence ministry, sharing a clip of the aftermath of the attack.
This is the second such attack on Kharkiv’s government building in a span of 24 hours, signalling escalation of Russian aggression.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 07:19
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(AP)
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Arpan Rai2 March 2022 07:02
Massive explosion in Kharkiv kills 21, 112 wounded
A Russian shelling attack has killed at least 21 and wounded 112 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in the last 24 hours, Ukraine’s regional governor Oleg Synegubov said today.
Kharkiv has been hit by Russian missiles, damaging residential areas and the regional administration building.
This is the second day in a row when Kharkiv has been facing deadly attacks from Russia.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 06:50
Russian paratroopers attack military hospital in Kharkiv
Russian paratroopers were parachuted to Kharkiv in the early hours of Wednesday, Ukraine’s security chief said today.
The paratroopers engaged in heavy fighting with the Ukrainian forces, as they closed in on weakening Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.
They also attacked the Military Medical Clinical Center hospital of the northern region, launching violent attacks, officials said.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 06:33
Russian EV charging stations hacked with ‘Putin is a d***head’ message
Charging stations for electric vehicle in Russia have been hacked by a Ukrainian company that helped build them.
The messages left behind by the hackers read: “Putin is a d***head”.
Social media users said that the chargers were disabled, following which they displayed pro-Ukrainian messages.
“Glory to Ukraine / Glory to the heroes / Putin is a d***head / Death to the enemy,” the message reportedly read.
The Independent’s Graeme Massie has the full story here:
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 05:52
Moscow Exchange remains shut today
Moscow Exchange will not be seeing stock market trading today as Russia’s central bank kept the markets suspended for a third consecutive day.
The markets were shut down on Monday after Ruble sunk to historic lows, facing heat of the international sanctions imposed by the western nations.
However, a limited range of operations will be allowed for the first time this week, the central bank said today.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 05:38
Biden calls out Russian ‘dictator’ Putin in State of the Union speech
Joe Biden called out Russian “dictator” Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine in an unprovoked action, underestimating the effectiveness of American diplomacy and the Nato alliance.
“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson: When dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving, and the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising,” Mr Biden said as he delivered his first State of the Union address.
“That’s why the Nato Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War Two.”
Mr Biden drew parallels of Mr Putin’s actions with other authoritarians historically.
“He thought the West and Nato wouldn’t respond, and he thought he could divide us at home,” he said. “Putin was wrong — we were ready”.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 05:17
US stands with Ukrainian people, says Biden
Shortly after State of the Union address, Joe Biden shared a photo of him leading a standing ovation for Ukrainians facing Russian invasion.
“The United States of America stands with the Ukrainian people,” he wrote.
Mr Biden had led the ovation earlier today for showing US’s support to the Kyiv under Russian siege for a week now.
He called his Russian counterpart’s actions as “unprovoked and premediated invasion”.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 04:38
Ukrainian tennis star wins against Russian player, pledges money for country’s army
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has won against Russian player Anastasia at the Monterrey Open on Tuesday and vowed to donate her prize money to Ukrainian army.
Svitolina put her hand on her heart and waved to the crowd after she won the opening round match.
“I was on a mission for my country,” Svitolina said, talking at an on-court interview of her performance.
This was a very special match for me and moment here… I am in a very sad mood, but I’m happy that I’m playing tennis here, she said.
She also wore blue and yellow — the colours of the Ukrainian flag — on the court for the match.
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 04:08
Joe Biden swaps symbolic yellow and blue Ukraine coloured tie for State of the Union
In a symbolic gesture, Joe Biden donned a yellow and blue striped tie as he attended a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
But he later, in an outfit change, he switched out to a plain Democrat blue for delivering his State of the Union address at the US Capitol.
Justin Vallejo has the full story here:
Arpan Rai2 March 2022 03:53
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