Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s second largest city, causing damage to a residential area. They then closed in on Kyiv in a convoy of hundreds and tanks covering 40 miles. Talks to stop the fighting failed to produce any agreement.
The embattled president of the country claimed that the increased shelling was meant to force him into concessions.
“I believe Russia’s trying to pressure Ukraine with this simple method,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President, said late Monday. However, he did not give details of the hours-long talks but stated that Kyiv was not ready to make concessions when “each side is hitting each others with rocket artillery.” “
Russia was isolated amid growing international condemnation five days after its invasion. At the same time, it faced unexpectedly strong resistance in Ukraine and economic havoc.
The Kremlin raised concerns about nuclear war for the second consecutive day, announcing that all of its nuclear-capable intercontinental missiles, submarines, and long-range bombers were on high alert following President Vladimir Putin’s orders.
Putin escalated his rhetoric and called the U.S., its allies, an “empire full of lies”. “
In the meantime, Ukraine applied to join the European Union to strengthen its ties with the West. This was a symbolic move but it is unlikely to go down well with Putin who has long accused America of trying to pull Ukraine from Moscow’s orbit.
Vladimir Medinsky (a top Putin aide) stated that the first talks between the sides after the invasion lasted almost five hours. He also said that the envoys had “found certain points upon which common positions could have been foreseen.” He stated that they had agreed to continue discussions in the next days.
Talks along the Belarusian border were over. However, there were several explosions in Kyiv as Russian troops advanced on the city. According to Maxar Technologies satellite imagery, the convoy of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery stretched nearly 40 miles.
The Maxar photos also featured ground forces deployments in southern Belarus.
After the weekend curfew ended, people in Kyiv lined up to get groceries. They stood beneath a building with an open hole in its side. Zelenskyy stated that the city was hit by three missiles on Monday.
Zelenskyy stated that they want to destroy our nationhood and the capital is under constant threat.
Messages directed at the advancing Russian troops appeared on billboards and bus stops across the capital. Other messages appealed to the Russians’ humanity.
Stop the Russian soldier! Think of your family. Return home with a clean conscience.
A video from Kharkiv (Ukraine’s second-largest city with 1.5 million inhabitants) showed apartment buildings being damaged by powerful blasts.
The government of Kharkiv released footage that showed what looked like a home with water pouring from a pierced ceiling.
Officials in Kharkiv claimed that at least seven people were killed and many others were injured.
They wanted a blitzkrieg but it failed, so that’s what they did.
Despite evidence that schools, homes and hospitals were shelled by the Russian military, the Russian military denies targeting residential areas.
Fighting broke out in other cities and towns across the country. Oleksiy Arastovich, Zelenskyy adviser, said that an oil depot was bombed in Sumy, in eastern Sumy.
Despite its military might, Russia still did not have control over Ukrainian airspace . This may explain why Ukraine has so far avoided a rout.
Hundreds of protestors chanted in Berdyansk’s main square against Russian occupiers. They sang the Ukrainian national anthem and called the soldiers tired conscripts.
Frightened children, scared looks. The soldiers entered a supermarket to buy canned meat, vodka, and cigarettes.
He said that they ate right in the grocery store. It looked like they hadn’t been fed in recent times. “
In Ukraine, families fleeing from violence huddle in basements, shelters and corridors at night.
Alexandra Mikhailova wept as she held her cat in Mariupol’s shelter.
Many were concerned that Russia’s announcement about a nuclear high-alarm alert could lead to a conflict between the West and Russia. A senior U.S. defense officer spoke on condition of anonymity to say that there had not been any significant change in Russia’s nuclear position.
When the West began to impose severe sanctions on Russian banks, and other institutions, the ruble plunged. Russia’s Central Bank and Putin scrambled for help, signing a decree restricting foreign currencies.
However, this did not calm Russian fears. People lined up in Moscow to withdraw cash because the sanctions threatened to raise prices and lower the standard of life for millions of ordinary Russians.
Another blow to Russia’s economy, Shell announced that it would withdraw from joint ventures with Gazprom, a state-owned Russian gas company, and any other entities involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Europe and Russia.
Russia’s rise to pariah status was not caused by economic sanctions. They were also imposed by the U.S.
Russian aircraft are barred from European airspace and Russian media are restricted in certain countries. Russian soccer teams were also banned from international soccer.
In other developments:
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor said that he would soon open an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Cyberattacks on Ukrainian embassies all over the globe and Russian media outlets
The United States has announced that it will expel 12 members of Russia’s U.N. mission. They are being accused of spying.
span data ID=”65 “>– On the occasion of its first emergency session in decades U.N. General Assembly, which includes 193 members, President Abdulla Shahid called for an immediate ceasefire and “a complete return to diplomacy & dialogue.” “
A U.N. human rights chief stated that at least 102 civilians were killed and hundreds more injured — warning it is likely that this figure is a large undercount. The president of Ukraine claimed at least 16 children were among those who died.
Over a half-million people have fled the countrysince invasion, another U.N. official stated. Many of them are going to Poland, Romania, and Hungary.
Maria Pavlushko (24), a project manager for information technology from a west-side city of Kyiv, was one of the many refugees in Hungary. Her father left to fight the Russians.
She said she was proud of him and that her friends were also planning to fight.
Monday’s negotiations saw the negotiators assemble at a long table, with the Ukrainian tricolor and the blue-and yellow Ukrainian flag.
While Ukraine sent its defense minister, and other top officials to the meeting, the Russian delegation was headed by Putin’s advisor on culture. This is a surprising envoy for ending wars and perhaps a sign that Moscow takes the negotiations seriously.
