Live coverage – Ukraine, Russia agree to safe corridors for aid, evacuees

A war crimes probe centered on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is underway on Thursday as the first Ukrainian city fell to Russian forces.

The United Nations also just estimated that more than 1 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion.

Follow The Hill’s live coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine below:

Energy Department activates Nuclear Incident Response Team amid fire at Ukrainian nuclear plant

11:08 p.m.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Thursday night that the Department of Energy had activated the Nuclear Incident Response team after Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant caught fire amid shelling by Russian troops.

“.@ENERGY has activated its Nuclear Incident Response Team and is monitoring events in consultation with @DeptofDefense, @NRCgov and the White House. We have seen no elevated radiation readings near the facility,” Granholm tweeted.

“The plant’s reactors are protected by robust containment structures and reactors are being safely shut down,” she added.

Granholm said she had spoken with the Ukrainian energy minister about the matter, and called operations by Russian forces near the nuclear power plant “reckless.”

The development comes over a week since Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson became the first city to fall to Russia on Wednesday.

Zelensky: For first time ever ‘the terrorist country has reverted to nuclear terror’

11:05 p.m.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Thursday that “the terrorist country has reverted to nuclear terror” for the first time ever after a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following a Russian attack.

“No country has ever shot at nuclear blocks except for Russia,” the Ukrainian president said, according to CBS News. “First time ever. For the first time ever in our history, in the history of human kind, the terrorist country has reverted to nuclear terror.” 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Thursday that the nuclear power plant’s radiation levels and “essential” equipment were unaffected by the Russian shelling on the plant. 

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm called the Russian shelling “reckless.”

“I just spoke with Ukraine’s energy minister about the situation at the Zaphorizhizia nuclear plant. Russian military operations near the plant are reckless and must cease,” she tweeted.

— Caroline Vakil

Ukrainian officials say ‘essential’ equipment, radiation levels unaffected amid fire at nuclear power plant

10:07

Ukrainian officials say that “essential” equipment and radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are unaffected following Russian shelling, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in statements posted on Twitter.

“#Ukraine regulator tells IAEA there has been no change reported in #radiation levels at the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant site,” the IAEA tweeted.

“#Ukraine tells IAEA that fire at site of #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has not affected ‘essential’ equipment, plant personnel taking mitigatory actions,” the agency said in another update.

The IAEA reported earlier that it was aware that the nuclear power plant had suffered Russian shelling. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had warned over Twitter earlier that if the nuclear plant blew up, “it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl!”

— Caroline Vakil

Biden speaks with Zelensky amid fire at major Ukrainian nuclear power plant

9:45 p.m.

President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday evening for an update on the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, which broke out on Thursday. 

“President Biden joined President Zelenskyy in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site,” according to the White House. The plant provides over a fifth of Ukraine’s total electricity, Reuters reported.

Biden also received an update on the situation on the plant from the Energy Department’s undersecretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Thursday evening and plans to be briefed regularly on it. 

— Alex Gangitano

Canada drops some visa requirements for Ukrainians

8:36 p.m.

Canada announced on Thursday that it would be dropping its normal visa requirements for Ukrainians and allowing them to temporarily stay in the country for at least two years amid Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

“We’re creating a new program for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily. This will eliminate many of the normal visa requirements – and it’ll be the fastest and safest way to come to Canada,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.

The country will be creating a Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel that will allow Ukrainians to stay in Canada temporarily, with applications expected to be open in two weeks, according to a news release from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department.

Canada is also creating a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for Ukrainians with relatives that are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The pathway would allow such Ukrainians to take up residence in the country.

Ukrainians staying in Canada through these programs will also be eligible to apply for work permits.

— Caroline Vakil

Fire breaks out at major nuclear plant in Ukraine amid fighting

8:13 p.m.

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was on fire early Friday local time following a Russian attack, Mayor Dmytro Orlov of the nearby town of Energodar said, Reuters reported.

Orlov said that Russian and local Ukrainian forces have engaged in fierce fighting, resulting in casualties.

“As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire,” Orlov said, according to Reuters. He added that the situation poses a threat to world security.

Ukrainian authorities wrote a letter hours earlier to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), sounding the alarm that Russian tanks had broken through “the block-post” into Energodar.

“The battle is going on in the town of Enerhodar and on the road to the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) site,” the letter read, describing the situation as “critical,” according to the agency.

— Chloe Folmar

Nike, IKEA close stores in Russia

8:07 p.m.

Nike and IKEA announced they will be closing their stores in Russia, joining the growing number of companies nixing business in the country amid the its invasion in Ukraine.

Ingka Group, which owns most worldwide Ikea stores, “has taken the decision to pause all IKEA Retail operations in Russia,” IKEA said in a statement, adding that imports and exports into and out of Russia and Belarus would also be suspended.

“These decisions have a direct impact on 15,000 IKEA co-workers. The ambitions of the company groups are long term and we have secured employment and income stability for the immediate future and provide support to them and their families in the region,” IKEA said.

Meanwhile, Nike is also closing its stores in Russia, with Nike Inc. saying in a statement that the company is “deeply troubled by the devastating crisis in Ukraine,” Reuters reported.

The Hill has reached out to Nike for comment.

— Caroline Vakil

Russian opera star ditches Met performances to avoid Putin rebuke

7:41 p.m.

Russian opera star Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from her planned performances with the Metropolitan Opera after refusing to repudiate her support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Met announced on Thursday.

“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” Met General Manager Peter Gelb said in a statement. “Anna is one of the greatest singers in Met history, but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine, there was no way forward.”

Netrebko was scheduled to perform Puccini’s “Turandot” in April and May in addition to Verdi’s “Don Carlo” for the next season. 

Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska will perform in “Turandot,” taking Netrebko’s place. The Met said they would announce her replacement in “Don Carlo” later this year.

— Caroline Vakil

DHS grants temporary immigration status to all Ukrainians in the US

7:22 p.m.

For the next 18 months, Ukrainians already in the United States will be allowed to remain in the country and work without fear of deportation. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that protects foreign nationals from deportation to countries that have undergone natural or man-made disasters.

“Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

“In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States,” he added. 

Read more here.

— Rafael Bernal

Russia’s independent TV Rain network suspends coverage

7:10 p.m.

Russian independent news network TV Rain suspended its news coverage, becoming the last independent news station in Russia to do so amid the country’s invasion in Ukraine. 

“We need strength to exhale and understand how to work further. We really hope that we will return to the air and continue to work,” the news network’s general director, Natalya Sindeeva, said while on air on TV Rain, also known as Dozhd TV channel. “Dozhd” means “rain” in Russian.

In addition to the Echo of Moscow radio station, TV Rain had used banned terms such as “invasion” and “war” to describe the Russian invasion in Ukraine, violating a ban in Russia, The New Yorker reported. The prosecutor general’s office in Russia pushed for the blocking of the both news outlets’ websites.

The development comes as the production company behind Russian state-sponsored media outlet RT America announced it would be ceasing operations and laying off most of its employees.

— Caroline Vakil

Obamas urge help for organizations working on Russian-Ukrainian conflict

6:06 p.m. 

Former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama spotlighted a list of organizations that are working to support the people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

“I know many of us are wondering how we can help as we continue to hear the news about Ukraine. The @ObamaFoundation has compiled a list of organizations you can support if you’re thinking about what you can do to make a difference right now,” the former first lady tweeted, including a link to their organization’s list of groups to support. 

Among the organizations spotlighted are the English-language news outlet the Kyiv Independent; human rights organization Hungarian Helsinki Commission; Fight for Right, which works with people with disabilities; and immigration nonprofit Fundacja Ocalenie. 

Data from the U.N. refugee agency indicates over a million refugees from Ukraine have fled their country due to the invasion.

— Caroline Vakil

Russian cats banned from International Cat Federation competitions

4:38 p.m.

The International Cat Federation announced this week that it will be banning cats belonging to exhibitors living in Russia from participating in competitions amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine as more and more organizations take a stand against the conflict. 

The organization, also known as the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), added that Russian-bred cats could not be imported and registered with any FIFe pedigree books outside of Russia. 

“The FIFe Executive Board is shocked and horrified that the army of the Russian Federation invaded the Republic of Ukraine and started a war. Many innocent people died, many more are wounded and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are forced to flee their homes to save their lives,” the International Cat Federation said in a statement. “We can all witness the destruction and chaos caused by this unprecedented act of aggression.”

“The Board of FIFe feels it cannot just witness these atrocities and do nothing,” it added, noting the restrictions would remain in place until at least May 31.

— Caroline Vakil

Ukraine and Russia agree to temporary, local cease-fires for aid, evacuees

3:09 p.m.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak announced in a tweet that the two sides agreed to “the organization of humanitarian coordinators” in their second round of discussions.

He separately said the agreement pertains to “places where the humanitarian corridors themselves will be located,” and “not everywhere,” according to Reuters.

“It will be possible to cease fire for the duration of the evacuation,” he added.

Moscow and Kyiv also reached a consensus for delivering medicine and food to locations that are seeing the heaviest fighting, according to Reuters.

Podolyak said the particulars of the arrangement need to be agreed to “in the nearest time,” according to The Washington Post.

Podolyak, however, wrote on Twitter that “Unfortunately, the results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved.”

—Mychael Schnell 

Biden admin sanctions Kremlin spokesman, more oligarchs

3:04 p.m.

The Biden administration on Thursday announced sanctions on eight prominent Russians with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, leveling additional penalties on Moscow for invading Ukraine.

The White House announced plans to impose full blocking sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, whose $600 million yacht was seized by Germany on Wednesday. The Biden administration is also sanctioning Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who the White House labeled a “top purveyor of Putin’s propaganda.” 

Both individuals have already been sanctioned by the European Union.  

“These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the U.S. financial system, their assets in the United States will be frozen and their property will be blocked from use,” reads a White House fact sheet announcing the new sanctions.

The new sanctions will hit a handful of wealthy Russians with ties to the Kremlin, and some of their family members will also be targeted.

Read more here.

— Morgan Chalfant

Russia to appeal decision by UEFA, FIFA to suspend Russian teams

2:28 p.m.

The Russian Football Union announced on Thursday that it would be appealing a decision made by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) earlier this week to suspend Russian teams from competitions following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

FIFA and UEFA announced on Monday that Russian teams, including cubs and national representative teams, would be suspended from their competitions for the time being given the ongoing invasion. The two said they stood in solidarity with the people in Ukraine.

“The RFU will appeal to [the Court of Arbitration for Sport] against the decisions of FIFA and UEFA to remove the Russian national teams from participation in international competitions,” the Russian Football Union tweeted in response.

FIFA and UEFA are among a host of sports organizations and athletes who have taken a stand against Russia’s invasion, including by boycotting events and relocating competitions.

— Caroline Vakil

White House knocks down talk of banning Russian oil imports

2:06 p.m.

The White House on Thursday knocked down talk of banning Russian oil imports, warning doing so could further spike the already high price of gas for Americans, after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) threw her support behind the idea.

“Our objective and the president’s objective has been to maximize impact on President Putin and Russia while minimizing impact to us and our allies and partners,” press secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing with reporters.

“We don’t have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy and that would raise prices at the gas pump for the American people around the world because it would reduce the supply available,” she continued. “And it’s as simple as less supply raises prices, and that is certainly a big factor for the president at this moment. It also has the potential to pad the pockets of President Putin, which is exactly what we are not trying to do.”

Read more here.

— Brett Samuels

White House stands by not calling Putin’s actions war crimes

1:54 p.m.

The White House on Thursday defended President Biden’s reluctance to call Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine war crimes despite allies using the term to describe the invasion.

When asked, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration has “stood up a process” to access and evaluate evidence from the ground. She said that they have already seen “a range of barbaric tactics.”

“I would note that we work very closely with our international partners, and we will provide any information that we surface through that process,” she added. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said Putin’s actions fully qualifies as a war crime in his view.

— Alex Gangitano

Ukraine, Russia agree to create safe corridors for aid, evacuees

1:35 p.m.

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to create safe corridors for aid and evacuees, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

Mykhailo Podolyak announced in a tweet on Thursday that the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia ended with a “solution only for the organization of humanitarian corridors.”

The tentative agreement is for passageways for civilian evacuation and the delivery of humanitarian supplies, according to The Associated Press.

Of the talks as a whole, however, Podolyak said, “Unfortunately, the results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved.”

— Mychael Schnell

Biden speaks with Quad leaders about Ukraine

12:45 p.m.

President Biden held a call on Thursday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine with the leaders of the Quad, an alliance made up of the United States, Australia, India and Japan.

Biden spoke with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida about the Russian invasion of Ukraine “and its broader implications.”

“They agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine,” the leaders said in a joint readout of the call.

The group also agreed to meet in-person in Tokyo, “in the coming months,” according to the readout.

The U.S., Japan and Australia have each imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but India has largely remained on the sidelines as Western nations project a united front in response to the invasion.

Asked last week whether India was on the same page as the United States in its approach to Russia, Biden said the two sides were in “consultation.”

“We haven’t resolved that completely,” Biden said.

— Brett Samuels

UN human rights chief: Military activity in Ukraine ‘escalating further as we speak’

12:10 p.m.

The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday said military activity in Ukraine is “escalating further as we speak” as the Russian invasion enters its second week.

Michelle Bachelet, speaking at the U.N. Human Rights Council during an urgent meeting, also said a town in eastern Ukraine, Volnovakha, had been almost destroyed in the invasion, The Associated Press reported.

A majority of delegates at the meeting spoke out against Russia for invading Ukraine and will vote Friday on a resolution to create a three-person panel to monitor and report on human rights abuses, the AP noted.

–BRAD DRESS

EU members vote to provide refugees with temporary protection, residency permits

12:05 p.m.

European Union members voted on Thursday to provide refugees fleeing Ukraine with temporary protection and residency permits.

E.U. Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson announced the news on Thursday, calling the move a “historic decision.”

“The EU stands united to save lives!” she added on Twitter.

The vote comes after the E.U. Commission on Wednesday proposed activating the Temporary Protection Directive to provide “quick and effective assistance” to individuals fleeing Ukraine.

The commission in a statement said the proposal would give those fleeing the conflict temporary protection and residence permits in the EU, providing them access to education and the labor market.

–MYCHAEL SCHNELL

Zelensky says first foreign fighters now in Ukraine

11:57 a.m.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first round of foreign fighters has arrived in Ukraine to help defend his country against Russia’s invasion, CNN reported. 

In a video address posted on Facebook, Zelensky said at least 16,000 foreign troops are headed to the country “to protect freedom and life for us, and for all.” 

“Ukraine is already greeting foreign volunteers. (The) first 16,000 are already on their way to protect freedom and life for us, and for all,”  Zelensky said in his address. 

Zelensky also praised Western allies for sending weaponry to Ukraine, adding that the country is receiving new “ammunition daily from our partners, from true friends. Every day we have more and more powerful weapons,” according to CNN. 

— Olafimihan Oshin

Zelensky says he has ‘to talk with Putin’ to end war

11:43 a.m.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said he has to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

“It’s not about I want to talk with Putin, I think I have to talk with Putin,” Zelensky told reporters. “The world has to talk with Putin because there are no other ways to stop this war.”

Read more here.

— Mychael Schnell

Ukraine’s top diplomat: Direct confrontation between Russia, NATO ‘inevitable’ without help from allies

11:32 a.m.

Ukraine’s foreign minister on Thursday warned NATO allies that direct confrontation with Russia is “inevitable” if they don’t do more to help counter Moscow, NBC News reported. 

“You can think as much as you want about how to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. “But if you do not help us to stop it now, a direct confrontation will be inevitable because you will be next.” 

“Your restraint and your unwillingness to take the next steps — all this gives Russia the opportunity to continue the killings without punishment,” Kuleba said.

In a tweet, Kuleba wrote that “Russia’s barbaric war tactic is to manipulate the civilian suffering it itself inflicts.” 

“Now Lavrov accuses Ukraine of preventing civilian evacuations. Tell your boss to stop the indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian cities. Show the world that Russia is serous about negotiations,” Kuleba added.

— Olafimihan Oshin

Venezuela president condemns West’s ‘economic war’ on Russia 

10:50 a.m. 

Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro has condemned Western countries imposing sanctions against Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, citing it as an “economic war,” Yahoo News! reported. 

“What they are doing against the Russian people is a crime, an economic war,” Maduro said at an event Wednesday, reiterating his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What they are doing with Russia is madness.”

According to a statement, Russian officials said Putin had a call with Maduro where the Venezuelan president expressed his “strong support” for the ongoing invasion.  

“Economic wars must end,” Maduro said. “The world’s problems must be resolved via the diplomatic, political route. World peace must be preserved.”

— Olafimihan Oshin

Global reservation system drops Russian airline

10:47 a.m.

In another blow to Russian travel capabilities, an international airline reservation system canceled its agreement with a Russian state-owned airline

Sabre Corp. announced Thursday it had terminated its agreement with Aeroflot, the largest majority government-owned airline in Russia.

“Sabre is taking immediate steps to remove Aeroflot flight content from its global distribution system (GDS), a marketplace used by travel agencies, travel websites and corporations around the world to shop, book and service flight reservations,” said the company.

Sabre CEO Sean Menke said, “We are taking a stand against this military conflict. We are complying, and will continue to comply, with sanctions imposed against Russia. In addition, today we announced that Sabre has terminated its distribution agreement with Aeroflot, removing its content from our GDS.”

— Joseph Choi

Internet governing board rejects Ukraine request to cut off Russia 

10:38 a.m.

The primary international internet governing board on Wednesday denied Ukraine’s request to cut off Russia’s internet access. 

Earlier this week, Ukraine asked the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to cut off connections to Russia’s internet. 

However, NBC News reported that ICANN rejected Ukraine’s request on Wednesday evening.

“Our mission does not extend to taking punitive actions, issuing sanctions, or restricting access against segments of the Internet – regardless of the provocations,” the group said.

— Joseph Choi

Explosions rock two cargo ships near Ukraine

10:34 a.m.

A Bangladeshi vessel was hit by a missile or bomb, killing one crew member, while an Estonian-owned cargo ship sank off a major Ukrainian port as Russia’s invasion of the country escalates. 

“We have no power supply. Emergency generator power supply is running. We are on the verge of death. We have not been rescued yet. Please save us,” a surviving seafarer on the Bangladeshi ship said in a video on social media after the ship had been hit, according to Reuters.

“The vessel has finally sunk,” Igor Ilves, managing director of Vista Shipping Agency, said of the other cargo ship. “Two of the crew are in a raft on the water and four others are missing. I don’t know where they are at the moment.”

Some shipping companies have suspended voyages to Ukrainian terminals and certain Black Sea ports affected by the conflict, Reuters reported.

— Monique Beals

Biden weighing sanctions on India over Russian military stockpiles

10:30 a.m.

The Biden administration is weighing whether to impose sanctions against India over its stockpile of and reliance on Russian military equipment as part of the wide-ranging consequences the West is seeking to impose on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. 

Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, on Thursday told lawmakers in a hearing that the administration is weighing how threatening India’s historically close military relationship with Russia is to U.S. security.

“It’s a question we’re looking at very closely, as the administration is looking at the broader question over whether to apply sanctions under CAATSA or to waive those sanctions,” Lu said, referring to the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.  

Lu told lawmakers that the administration is “in the process of trying to understand whether defense technology that we are sharing with India today can be adequately safeguarded given India’s historical relationship with Russia and its defense sales.” 

“It is critical that with any partner, that the United States is able to assure itself that any defense technology we share is sufficiently protected,” he said. 

Read more here.

— Laura Kelly

Mariupol official: Russian forces have cut off water, food, power

10:12 a.m.

A top official in the coastal city of Mariupol says Russian forces have battered critical infrastructure with shelling and cut off access to water, food and power in a massive siege,

Sergei Orlov, the deputy mayor of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine, told CNN on Thursday that Russian forces have blasted the city for at least 26 hours.

“We do not have electricity in the whole city, we do not have water supply, we do not have sanitary system, we do not have heating,” Orlov said. “The situation is very bad.”

Orlov estimated that at least 200 residents have died, but did not know the exact toll. He pleaded for help from the Ukrainian army, saying the city could only hold on for seven or eight days.

“Internal forces are very brave but we are surrounded by the Russian army,” Orlov said.

— Brad Dress

Nobel Prize organization condemns ‘Russian regime’s illegal invasion of Ukraine’

10:09 a.m.

The Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize in literature and historically avoids making political statements, on Thursday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the Russian regime’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,” according to The Associated Press.

The organization said its history and mission “are deeply rooted in the traditions of freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of inquiry.”

“We therefore join the legion of our fellow academies, literary and cultural institutions, places of higher learning, defenders of a free press, human rights organizations and nation states in expressing our abhorrence of the Russian government’s unjustified attack on Ukraine and its people,” it said.

— Monique Beals

Zelensky says Ukrainian defenses holding

10:04 a.m.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the country’s defense lines were holding against the Russian incursions and referred to the attack as “another virus” the country had to face.

“It’s been a week now that another virus attacked” and Ukrainians “have nothing to lose but our own freedom,” he said in an emotional speech, according to Reuters.

Zelensky told Ukrainians that the defense forces had held their lines against Russia’s invasion through another night filled with airstrikes. 

“They wanted to destroy us so many times. They couldn’t. We’ve been through so much! And if someone thinks that, having overcome all this, Ukrainians will be frightened, broken or surrender — he knows nothing about Ukraine, and he has nothing to do in Ukraine,” he said in a video message according to CBS News.

The president said that Ukrainians have endured tragedies and hardship including two world wars, the Holodomor famine, Holocaust, Soviet terror, the Chernobyl nuclear explosion and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. 

“We don’t have the biggest territory … we don’t have nuclear arms, we don’t provide oil and gas to international markets. But we do have our people. We do have our land. This is what we are fighting for,” he said, according to Reuters.

— Sarakshi Rai 

EU official says sanctions on Russia starting to have ‘first effects’

9:51 a.m.

A European Union official said its sanctions against Russia have started to have their “first effects” as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine enters its second week, Reuters reported. 

“We believe that the package of sanctions we’ve put on the table is quite impressive and is now starting to have the first effects,” the official said on Thursday.  

“Take the economic side, we have the Moscow stock exchange being closed since Monday. The depreciation of the ruble is also quite impressive,” the official added.  “The fact that the Russian Central Bank had to double his interest rate to 20% also.”

— Olafimihan Oshin

Ukrainian officials urge citizens to use guerrilla tactics

9:41 a.m.

Ukrainian presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovich encouraged civilians to use guerrilla tactics to stop the Russian troops in a video message on Thursday.

“We urge people to begin providing total popular resistance to the enemy in the occupied territories,” Arestovich said, according to The Associated Press.

“The weak side of the Russian army is the rear — if we burn them now and block the rear, the war will stop in a matter of days,” he added.

“Total resistance … this is our Ukrainian trump card and this is what we can do best in the world,” the presidential aide also said, encouraging people to build barricades in the city, rally, create online networks and defend the country to the best of their ability.

— Monique Beals

Russia suspends rocket engine deliveries to US

9:15 a.m.

Russian officials have suspended deliveries of rocket engines to the U.S. in retaliation for the sanctions placed on them over the invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

State-space agency Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin told state media Thursday that his agency will stop servicing rocket engines it has previously delivered to the U.S.  

Rogozin said the U.S. still has 24 engines that will be left without Russian technical assistance, according to Reuters. 

“In a situation like this, we can’t supply the United States with our world’s best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don’t know what,” Rogozin told state media.  

Rogozin said Russia has delivered a total of 122 RD-180 engines to the U.S. in the 1990s, of which 98 were used to power Atlas launch vehicles.

— Olafimihan Oshin

Norway, Germany sending missiles to Ukraine

8:44 a.m.

Norway and Germany will provide Ukraine with weapons to assist the nation’s resistance to Russia’s invasion. 

Norway is sending roughly 2,000 anti-tank missiles, The Associated Press reported citing Norway’s national news agency NTB, while the dpa news agency reported that Germany approved sending 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Those missiles were Soviet-made and left over from East German army supplies, the AP added.  

The move marked a reversal from Germany’s stance that it would not provide Ukraine with weapons in the earlier days of Russia’s attack.

— Rachel Scully

34 civilians killed, almost 300 injured during past day in Kharkiv, officials say

8:32 a.m.

Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday that at least 34 civilians were killed and 285 others were injured during a 24-hour period in Kharkiv.

“The enemy continued to strike residential neighborhoods and entire settlements with its deadly bombs, shells and rocket-propelled grenades,” the nation’s emergency services agency said in a statement, according to CNN, referring to Russian forces that launched the invasion one week ago.

Several dozen fires were reported in eastern Ukrainian city.

The agency also noted attacks on Wednesday including “a massive air raid on the peaceful city of Izyum” as well as “a massive airstrike affected the Saltivka residential area,” CNN reported

— Monique Beals

Church bells chime throughout Europe in solidarity with Ukraine

8:27 a.m.

Churches across Europe rang their bells in unison on Thursday in an expression of solidarity with Ukraine as Russia’s invasion entered its second week.

“Europe is burning – we want to let the bells of our churches ring for seven minutes on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 at 12 noon, one minute for each day of this senseless war,” the European Association of Cathedral Master Builders said in a statement, according to Reuters.

“With the ringing, we pray for all who are affected by this war,” the association added. “With the ringing, we pray for peace.”

Major churches in cities including Paris, Rome and Cologne participated.

The association said churches “from Norway to Malta and from Spain to Ukraine” did not want to remain silent about the war, Reuters noted.

— Rachel Scully

Lavrov says Russia has no thoughts of nuclear war

8:23 a.m.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Russia has no intention of nuclear war, saying Moscow is prepared to press on in its invasion of Ukraine until “the end.”

“The thought of nuclear is constantly spinning in the heads of Western politicians but not in the heads of Russians,” Lavrov said, according to Reuters. “I assure you that we will not allow any kind of provocation to unbalance us.”

Lavrov made the remarks during an interview on state television.

— Monique Beals

Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from Beijing Paralympics

8:21 a.m.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed a prior decision and announced on Thursday that athletes from Russia and Belarus would not be permitted to compete in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games.

“At the IPC we are very firm believers that sport and politics should not mix. However, by no fault of its own, the war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes, many Governments are having an influence on our cherished event,” IPC President Andrew Parsons said in a statement.

“In order to preserve the integrity of these Games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from RPC and NPC Belarus. To the Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce. You are victims of your governments’ actions,” added Parsons.

— Maureen Breslin

International Criminal Court prosecutor launches Ukraine war crimes probe

8:04 a.m. 

An International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has launched an investigation that could target officials responsible for war crimes during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The investigation will include any “allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person,” according to a statement from ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan late Wednesday.

“Our work in the collection of evidence has now commenced,” Khan said, adding that “we will remain focused on our core objective: ensuring accountability for crimes falling within ICC jurisdiction”

— Monique Beals

China denies asking Russia to delay invasion until end of Olympics

7:49 a.m.

China’s foreign ministry on Thursday condemned a New York Times report claiming that Beijing asked Russia to delay invading Ukraine until after the Winter Olympics ended, calling it “fake news.”

“We hope the culprit of the crisis would reflect on their role in the Ukraine crisis, take up their responsibilities, and take practical actions to ease the situation and solve the problem instead of blaming others,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, according to The Associated Press.

“The New York Times report is purely fake news, and such behaviors of diverting attentions and shifting blames are very despicable,” he added.

— Rachel Scully

Formula One terminates contract with Russia

7:35 a.m.

Formula One (F1) on Thursday terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Formula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix,” F1 said in a statement. “Russia will not have a race in the future.”

F1 previously canceled a race set to be held in Sochi, Russia, on Sept. 25. However, after discussions this week, F1 took a step further and canceled its contract with Russia, which ran until 2025.

Notable drivers, including four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel, said last week that they would not race in Russia, according to The Associated Press.

— Rachel Scully