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Russia-Ukraine War: IAF deploys C-17 Globe Master in operation Ganga
IAF officials on Tuesday (March 1) informed that the C-17 will leave for Romania at 4 am on Wednesday (March 2) to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine.
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The Prime Minister welcomed the talks between the two parties & stressed upon the importance of ensuring free & uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people: PMO
Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft to leave for Romania at 4 am tomorrow to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine. The aircraft will take off from its home base in Hindan near Delhi: IAF officials (ANI)
NATO foreign ministers will hold emergency talks in Brussels on Friday (March 4) over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the alliance said in a statement.
NATO allies have rushed to bolster their eastern flank after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack, but remain adamant that they will not get involved militarily in the war in non-NATO member Ukraine.
Two tonnes of humanitarian aid including tents, blankets, surgical gloves, protective eye gear, water storage tanks, sleeping mats, tarpaulin and medicines have been sent to Ukraine today: MEA Sources (ANI)
Over the next 3 days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest. Airports in Poland and Slovak Republic will also be used: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Mortals of the Indian student who lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv taken to a morgue in university. I did speak to his parents in Karnataka earlier today. We'll not only try and evacuate our nationals from the conflict zone as soon as possible but also bring back Naveen's body. We are in touch with local authorities in that regard: Foreign Secy H V Shringla. (ANI)
Russian forces have attacked a television tower in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, potentially disrupting its signal, says Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin miscalculated two things. He miscalculated the strength of the Ukrainian resistance and he also miscalculated and underestimated the strength of Western unity: British PM Boris Johnson (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggests Russia should be stripped of UN Human Rights Council membership: AFP News Agency
If Russian President Vladimir Putin thinks he’s going to push NATO back by what he is doing then he is gravely mistaken. This will end up with a fortified and strengthened NATO on his western flank. You will have more NATO, not less NATO: British PM Boris Johnson. (ANI)
"We will not fight Russian forces in Ukraine," reported Reuters quoting British PM Boris Johnson.
Indian PM, French President Macron hold talks amid war in Ukraine
President of European Council Charles Michel speaks to PM Modi; Extend condolences over the death of an Indian national in Ukraine's Kharkiv, assures support for Evacuation Efforts.
The Divisional Administration Kashmir has established a helpline for stranded residents/students of Kashmir in Ukraine. In case of any assistance from the government, the concerned and their family members can contact on phone numbers---01942457312 & 01942473135. (ANI)
UK says evicting Russia from UN Security Council among 'all options' on the table. (AFP)
Russia must immediately withdraw its troops and end the "bloodshed" in Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday, warning of further sanctions to punish Moscow's aggression. (AFP)
BJP MP Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi from Haveri meets kin of Naveen Shekharappa, the MBBS student, who died in shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine this morning.
The special flight under Operation Ganga carrying Indian nationals takes off from Romanian capital Bucharest for Delhi.
Naveen Shekharappa, a Haveri district student died in Ukraine. CM Bommai spoke with his father. All efforts will be made to bring back Naveen's body to India. The CM said that the matter is being negotiated with foreign ministry officials: Karnataka CMO (ANI)
Ministry of External Affairs says that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is enroute to Budapest in Hungary to aid the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine.
Refugees from Ukraine cross into Romania after Russian invasion
Ukrainians cross over the border into Poland
Russian forces have increased their use of artillery north of Kyiv & in the vicinities of Kharkiv & Chernihiv. The use of heavy artillery in densely populated urban areas greatly increases the risk of civilian casualties: UK Ministry of Defence
Despite talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, fighting continues in the Russian war against Ukraine. Missile strikes killed dozens of civilians in the country`s second city, Kharkiv, while air raid sirens sounded again in the capital, Kyiv, BBC reported. Ukraine`s President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian bombardment of Kharkiv a "war crime".
There were reports of fierce shelling in the northern city of Chernihiv, BBC reported. Russia is attacking Ukraine on several fronts, but its advance has been slowed by Ukrainian resistance. All three cities remain under Ukrainian control.
Embassy of India in Ukraine advises Indians to leave Kyiv urgently today
In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts from Ukraine under Operation Ganga, PM Narendra Modi has called for the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts: Sources
SpiceJet will operate a special evacuation flight to Kosice, Slovakia today to bring back Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju is travelling to Kosice as a Special Envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet President Ram Nath Kovind.
The US has expelled 12 diplomats from Russia's mission to the UN, saying they engaged in "espionage activities", a move which Moscow described as a "hostile action" and gross violation of the commitments by the US as host country of the United Nations headquarters.
US Mission to the United Nations Spokesperson Olivia Dalton said that the US has informed the United Nations and the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations that we are beginning the process of expelling twelve intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.
More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region wrote on Telegram. Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-story building and rescuers searching rubble.
Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware to fight Russian invaders. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday elaborated on his country's plans after revealing a day earlier that his government would provide Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with lethal military equipment. Morrison promised only non-lethal military equipment last week.
Disney, Warner Bros. pausing film releases in Russia over Ukraine invasion: Reuters
Netflix will not add state-run channels to Russian service, defying regulation: Reuters
Pratik Mathur, Counsellor, India's Permanent Mission to UN speaks at UNSC meeting on the situation in the Middle East:
Indian students at the temporary camps set up at the Siret border in Romania
An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from war-torn Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said.
ALSO READ | What is the Wagner Group? Russian mercenaries on secret mission to kill Ukraine President Zelenskyy
More than 400 specially trained Russian mercenaries have been flown in from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Daily Mail report. A private militia, known as the Wagner Group, allegedly has orders from Vladimir Putin to take out Zelensky - and 23 other government figures - to allow Moscow to take over its eastern European neighbour, the report said.
Ukraine envoy to U.S. says Russia used a vacuum bomb in its invasion
Ukraine's president has signed a decree temporarily lifting the requirement for entry visas for any foreigner willing to join Ukraine's International Defense Legion and fight on Ukraine's side against invading Russian troops. The decree by President Volorymyr Zelenskyy takes effect Tuesday and will remain in effect as long as martial law is in place. (PTI)
Taiwan has sent 27 tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine, the government announced on Tuesday, saying it was extending a helping hand as a member of the "democratic camp" in the international community. Taiwan has joined with Western allies in putting sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and expressed cross-party sympathy for the Ukrainian people, seeing parallels with what Taipei views as Beijing`s threats against the island.
"Peaceful settlement of disputes has been India's consistent position; my govt firmly believes that there's no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy," said India's Permanent Rep to UN, TS Tirumurti, at 11th Emergency Special Session of UNGA on Ukraine.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to other leaders to condemn "President Putin’s brutal war, and we’re working together to hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine."
After waiting in long lines at the border, refugees from Ukraine arrive in Poland.
Russian ground forces move closer to Kyiv, convoy stretches for miles -Maxar
Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Kyiv residents showed up at local civil territorial defense centers to get enrolled and receive arms.
EU sanctions (Russian President) Putin's spokesman, oligarchs, journalists: Reuters
Taking into account the humanitarian requirements in Ukraine, Ambassador of India to United Nations, T S Tirumurti, on Monday (local time), said that India has decided to provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines to Ukraine, which is expected to be despatched tomorrow. Tirumurti made these remarks at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. He said that there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine.
"In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured," he said.
India voiced concern over the "urgent and pressing" humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine and told the UN Security Council that apart from evacuating its own citizens, New Delhi stands ready to help those from neighbouring and developing countries stranded in Ukraine and in need of assistance.
"There is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said at the Security Council meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
More than 5,00,000 people have left Ukraine since the start of Russia`s military operation and about 1,60,000 have become internally displaced, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Monday.
"According to the latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency, more than half a million people have already crossed the international borders, mostly towards Poland. An additional 1,60,000 have been internally displaced. This is likely a significant underestimation as the numbers are changing by the hour," Griffiths said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the transfer of the French embassy from Kyiv to Lviv. "At the request of the President of the Republic, we decided to transfer our embassy, which is now in Kyiv, to Lviv due to threats in the Ukrainian capital. The ambassador remains in Ukraine to support our compatriots and the Ukrainian authorities," Le Drian said on air of the BFMTV broadcaster. (ANI)
Norway decided to provide Ukraine with additional military support, in particular, M72 light anti-tank weapons, the Norwegian government said on Monday. "Like other countries, Norway has an idea of the military equipment Ukraine needs. With that in mind, the armed forces assessed what Norway can offer promptly. The government decided to donate up to 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons," the government said in a press release.
The Finnish government has decided to provide the Ukrainian authorities with military assistance, including assault rifles, anti-tank weapons, and combat ration packages, the Finnish defense ministry said on Monday.
"On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 1,50,000 cartridges for the attack rifles, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons and 70,000 combat ration packages to Ukraine as material aid," the ministry said in a statement.
Canada will supply anti-tank weapons and upgraded ammunition to Ukraine to support its fight against a Russian invasion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday, and it will ban imports of Russian crude oil.
"Canada will continue to deliver support for Ukraine`s heroic defense against the Russian military," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. "We are announcing our intention to ban all imports of crude oil from Russia, an industry that has benefited President Putin and his oligarchs greatly."
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the West to consider a no-fly zone for Russian aircraft over Ukraine on Monday after Moscow bombarded the country`s second largest city, drawing new sanctions by the United States and its allies. Russia faces increasing international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine, and hours of negotiations between the two sides on Monday failed to reach a breakthrough to halt the fighting.
India has said that it was deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and reiterated its call for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities, saying all differences can only be bridged through honest, sincere and sustained dialogue.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine convened on Monday that New Delhi is doing whatever it can to undertake immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals still stranded in Ukraine.
Satellite images taken on Monday show a Russian military convoy north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), substantially longer than the 17 miles (27 km) reported earlier in the day, a U.S. private company said.
Maxar Technologies also said additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units were seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles (32 km) north of the Ukraine border. (Reuters)
Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (local time) asked the International Court of Justice to hold a hearing on Ukraine`s request as soon as possible and called upon Russia to immediately halt all military activities in the country.
"...In light of the extraordinary urgency of the situation, Ukraine respectfully asks the Court to hold a hearing on Ukraine`s Request during the week of 28 February 2022," Kuleba said in a statement. "...Ukraine requests the President of the Court to call upon the Russian Federation to immediately halt all military actions in Ukraine to enable any order the Court may make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriated effects," read the statement.
Amid ever-growing international condemnation, Russia found itself increasingly isolated five days into its invasion, while also facing unexpectedly fierce resistance on the ground in Ukraine and economic havoc at home.
For the second day in a row, the Kremlin raised the spectre of nuclear war, announcing that its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and long-range bombers had all been put on high alert, following President Vladimir Putin's orders over the weekend. Stepping up his rhetoric, Putin denounced the US and its allies as an "empire of lies."
"I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of the hourslong talks that took place earlier, but said that Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions "when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery.?
The ninth flight carrying 218 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Romania`s capital Bucharest for New Delhi under Operation Ganga, informed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "We will not rest till our fellow Indians are safe. Ninth #OperationGanga flight departs Bucharest for New Delhi with 218 Indian nationals."
The eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary`s capital Budapest for New Delhi under Operation Ganga, informed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Eighth Operation Ganga flight leaves from Budapest for New Delhi with 216 Indian nationals. Our endeavour for everyone`s safe return continues."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has assured to impose more sanctions against Russia and will provide weapons to Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (local time).
"In our call, @SecBlinken affirmed that the U.S. support for Ukraine remains unfaltering. I underscored that Ukraine craves for peace, but as long as we are under Russia`s assault, we need more sanctions and weapons. Secretary assured me of both. We coordinated further steps," Kuleba tweeted.
New Delhi: Satellite images taken on Monday (February 28) showed a Russian military convoy north of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that stretches for about 40 miles (64 km), substantially longer than the 17 miles (27 km) reported earlier in the day, a U.S. private company said.
Russian forces shelled Ukraine's second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighbourhood, and closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 40-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking.
As the talks along the Belarusian border wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv, and Russian troops advanced on the city of nearly 3 million. The vast convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the center of the city, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies.
At the UNGA meeting, Ambassadors from dozens of countries on Monday backed a proposal demanding that Russia halt its attack on Ukraine, as the UN General Assembly held a rare emergency session during a day of frenzied and sometimes fractious diplomacy surrounding the five-day-old war.
Meanwhile, at the high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure, informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.