First attacks in western Ukraine: "78 children killed since the war began". Putin: "Progress in the talks"

Sixteenth day of the war in Ukraine, and as confirmed by Dmytro Kuleba, so far the talks with Russia "have produced zero progress", even if Kiev says it is "willing" to compromise by accepting a neutral status of the country in exchange for guarantees on the safety.

In the meantime, the first bombings have arrived in the city which, up to now, have not been hit by Russian forces.

Explosions in Lutsk, in the north-west of the country, and in Dnipro, an inland city located on the Dnieper River. In Lutsk - 150 km north of Lviv, where many Western embassies have moved - an airport that is currently "out of service" was targeted, a factory was also hit, the only place where it is possible to repair some fighter aircraft engines.

In Dnipro, Ukrainian media reported on three explosions, one of which allegedly hit a two-story shoe factory. The other two blasts hit a nursery and an apartment building, according to reports released by the BBC. First attacks also in Ivano-Frankovosk, in the south-west of the country.

And while Kiev prepares for the Russian assault, given as increasingly imminent, the most dramatic situation is always recorded in Mariupol, where 1,207 bodies have been removed from the streets of the city, according to the deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov. The exact count of the victims is not possible at the moment: the morgues of the city are full and the bodies have begun to be buried in mass graves. Since the beginning of the conflict, according to information provided by Kiev, 78 Ukrainian children have been killed.

Meanwhile, pressure from the West increases. The EU promises new sanctions if Putin does not respect humanitarian corridors, while Joe Biden has called for an end to normal trade relations with Moscow, paving the way for an increase in tariffs on Russian imports.

Yesterday nothing has been done since the summit in Turkey between foreign ministers Lavrov and Kuleba: only exchanges of accusations and no truce, even if Moscow and Kiev say they are ready to continue the dialogue and the Kremlin opens a Putin-Zelensky meeting: "Not is excluded ”, he says.

While the Ukrainian president continues to accuse Russia as a "terrorist state" and ventures ("We are close to victory"), Beijing says it is "deeply concerned about the situation and hopes that peace can return as soon as possible".

“China follows an independent peaceful diplomatic policy. It is important to support Ukraine and Russia to overcome the differences: we will work with the international community to prevent further escalation and for the situation to go completely out of control ”, said Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

Here are the live updates ( HERE all the articles on the Ukrainian crisis).

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20.10 - The US: "No indication of an attack from Minsk"

"There is currently no indication that they are doing this." Thus the Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, replies to those who ask him about a possible attack by the Belarusian forces in Ukraine, as hypothesized by Kiev.

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7.15 pm - Russia has blocked access to Instagram from 14 March

Access to Instagram in Russia will be permanently blocked at midnight on March 14. This was announced by TASS citing the Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor. "Since active Instagram users will need time to copy their photos and videos to other social networks, to notify their contacts and subscribers, Roskomnadzor decided to complete the Instagram blocking procedure at 00 on March 14. , granting 48 hours of a transitional period ".

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19.10 - Ukraine at the UN: "Mass graves like in the Second World War"

"For the first time since World War II, people killed in Ukraine are buried in mass graves." Ukrainian envoy to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya said this during a meeting of the Security Council.

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18.50 - Russia at the UN with alleged photos of the "intact" Mariupol hospital

Russian envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, showed alleged photos of the Mariupol Children's Hospital at the Security Council meeting. "It wasn't destroyed, do you see? Does it look destroyed? Does it look like a building hit by cluster bombs?" And then he showed a photo of the injured pregnant woman insisting that it is a "fake photo" artfully constructed by a fashion blogger. "This is dirty propaganda that we are fed up with."

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18.08 - Kiev, "Belarus could invade us tonight"

Belarus could attack Ukraine today. This was announced by the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, explaining that "according to preliminary data, Belarusian troops could be involved in the invasion on 11 March at 9 pm". According to Kiev, the invasion would be Minsk's response to the alleged air raid that started from Ukraine and which, according to Ukraine, was planned by Russia. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense has already denied the attack with an official statement.

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6 pm - The UN denounces: "The Russians use cluster bombs"

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has received credible reports on the use of cluster bombs by Russian forces even in populated areas of Ukraine. This was stated by Rosemary Di Carlo, UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs, quoted by the Guardian. Indiscriminate attacks, including those using cluster bombs, are prohibited under international humanitarian law. Direct attacks on civilians, as well as aerial bombardments of cities and villages, are also prohibited by international law and may constitute war crimes.

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17.30 - Media: the Russians kidnapped the mayor of Melitopol

A Russian group, consisting of about ten people, kidnapped the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, "taking him away with a plastic bag on his head". This was reported by a source from the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs on the Telegram channel. Fedorov - according to reports from the Ukrainian agency UNIAN - had refused to collaborate with the Russians, keeping the Ukrainian flag on the town hall of the occupied city.

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5 pm - "Almost 1,600 dead in Mariupol since the beginning of the siege"

Nearly 1,600 people have been killed in Mariupol since the invasion began. The city hall announces it on its Telegram profile: "1,582 peaceful residents of Mariupol were killed by the Russian occupation forces in a 12-day blockade of the city and merciless bombing of residential neighborhoods. Every occupant - it says - will burn in hell. Not we will forget and never forgive this crime against humanity, against Ukraine, against Mariupol ".

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4.40 pm - The US revokes commercial privileges in Moscow

The president of the United States has decided to revoke Russia's most favored nation clause, effectively putting an end to normal commercial relations and opening heavy tariffs on Made in Russia products. Joe Biden announces it. "The free world has united against Putin," he added, also banning "fish, alcohol and diamonds" from Moscow. "If it uses chemical weapons, Moscow will pay a high price", but a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia would provoke the "third world war".

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4.15 pm - Scholz: "We will not stop energy imports"

"We will not stop the imports we have in the energy field in Europe, but what we will do is get out of this dependence". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this at a press conference in Versailles. "Europe cannot take the same measures" as the US and Canada, Scholz explains, adding that the EU intends to continue "to push sanctions that have a direct impact on Russia's economic development opportunities, including financial ones".

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4 pm - Moscow: "Mariupol completely surrounded"

The city of Mariupol is completely blocked and surrounded by Russian forces. This was stated by the Ministry of Defense of Moscow, quoted by TASS, according to which "all the bridges have been destroyed and the roads mined by the Ukrainian nationalists".

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3.10 pm - New US alarm for Chernobyl: "Russians prepare terrorist attack"

The Ukrainian government believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "ordered the preparation of a terrorist attack" on the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The New York Times writes, citing the Ukrainian ministries of defense and intelligence, and explaining that they have no confirmation on the ground.

The NYT cites a statement from the ministries, according to which it would be a 'false flag' operation: the Russian occupation forces - the note said - "will try to cause a catastrophe at the Russian-controlled Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and then accuse the 'Ukraine of the disaster ".

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14.45 - Zelensky: "Disappointed by EU leaders, let them do more for our entry"

"Yesterday there was a very important meeting of EU leaders. We know what they said, who intervened, who supported us, who was silent and who tried to make the wording insufficient for Ukraine: we need more strength. It's not what we expect. " Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky said this when commenting - reports the UNIAN agency - the EU Summit in Versailles.

"The decisions of politicians must coincide with the mood of their peoples among whom there is a lot of support: at least 60% of Europeans are in favor. The EU must do more for us. We expect it," he added. .

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2.15pm - Lutsk airport “Out of service”

The military airport of Lutsk, located in the north-west of Ukraine, about ninety kilometers from the border with Poland, is "out of service". This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. The airport was hit by three missiles today. Ivano-Frankivisk airport is also out of service.

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2.00 pm - "78 children killed since the beginning of the war"

At least 78 children have been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of February 24, according to Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova. The Guardian reports it stating that it is not able to verify this news independently.

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13.50 - WHO in Kiev: "Destroying pathogens in laboratories"

WHO has recommended Ukraine to destroy high-risk pathogens in health laboratories to prevent potential spills. CNN reports it.

The World Health Organization has "strongly recommended" the Ministry of Health in Ukraine to safely destroy "high threat pathogens" that could be housed in the country's public health laboratories in order to prevent "any spills. WHO she also encouraged "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogen" and made herself available to assist as needed and where possible.

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1.15 pm - Zelensky: "We are on the road to victory"

“We have already reached a strategic turning point. We are already on the way to victory ”. Thus the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video message posted on his Telegram profile, in which among other things he says that "Putin will pay for the civilian casualties" he has caused in Ukraine.

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1 pm - Putin: "Progress in the talks"

"There is some progress in the Russian-Ukrainian talks which take place practically every day." This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin while meeting the Belarusian leader Lukashenko, according to reports from TASS: "There has been some positive development".

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12.20 pm - London: "Soon a new offensive against Kiev"

"Russia is restoring and repositioning its forces in the field for a new offensive in the coming days. This will probably also include operations against the capital Kiev." This was written by the intelligence service of the British Ministry of Defense on its Twitter profile, updating the situation of the crisis in Ukraine. "The Russian ground forces - it continues - continue to make limited progress. Logistic problems persist that have hindered the Russian advance, as well as the strong Ukrainian resistance".

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12.05 pm - Stoltenberg: "NATO does not want a war with Russia"

NATO does not want a war with Russia or an extension of the conflict beyond Ukraine. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with the AFP agency on the occasion of his participation in the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, Turkey. For Stoltenberg, a no-fly zone over Ukraine would most likely lead to a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.

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11.45 am - Moscow: "Western borders not expected to be closed"

Plans to strengthen security on Russia's western borders do not involve closing the borders. The Kremlin spokesman said this, according to reports from the Tass agency.

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11.30 - Kremlin "does not rule out Putin-Zelensky meeting"

"Nobody excludes" a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who "should meet to get some results": the Kremlin affirms, quoted by TASS.

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11.15 am - Russian troops closer and closer to Kiev

Russian attacks hit civilian targets in Dnipro, central Ukraine, as troops from Moscow approach Kiev, where officials say the capital is turning into a "fortress".

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10.40 am - EU: "More military aid in Kiev"

"The EU has decided to allocate another 500 million euros for military support to Ukraine. We will double the contribution of the European Peace Facility". This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell as he entered the Versailles summit.

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10.30 - UN: "2.5 million refugees"

Two and a half million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24th. The United Nations announced it. "Two and a half million people have fled Ukraine, including 116,000 third-country nationals," Paul Dillon, spokesman for the United Nations International Organization for Migration, wrote on Twitter.

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10.10 am - Kiev: "12 thousand Russian soldiers killed"

Ukraine claims to have killed roughly 12,000 Russian soldiers since the start of the war, according to an estimate by the Kyiv Independent, which however states that the figure needs to be verified.

The Kiev "bulletin" adds that 57 Russian military aircraft and helicopters were shot down, 353 tanks, 125 artillery pieces, 1,165 armored vehicles and troops, 58 multiple rocket launchers, 2 boats, 558 military vehicles were destroyed, 60 fuel tankers, 7 drones and 31 anti-aircraft batteries, according to a tweet from the Kyiv Independent.

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10 am - "Strict checks on companies leaving Russia"

The Russian Attorney General has announced tighter controls on foreign companies that are leaving the country following the invasion of Ukraine. "The prosecutors have ordered stricter controls on compliance with labor laws, employment contracts, the procedures on the payment of wages", says a statement from the Attorney General, promising "firm repression" of any attempt by companies "to not respect unilaterally their obligations ". Many international companies have announced the suspension of their activities in Russia, including Coca-Cola, H&M, McDonald's, Ikea, Shell and BP.

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9.40 am - Chernihiv without water after the night raids

Last night's raids caused the interruption of running water distribution in the Ukrainian town of Chernihiv. This was reported by the water company, Chernihivvodokanal, which adds that they are trying to repair the damage.

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9.20 am - Raid on Lutsk, at least two dead and six injured

At least two people were killed and another six injured in the Russian missile raid on the city of Lutsk in western Ukraine, according to the president of the local regional administration, Yuriy Pohulyayko, according to whom the victims are Ukrainian soldiers. Shortly before, the mayor of Lutsk had spoken of a dead man.

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8.25 am - Donbass, pro-Russian conquer Volnovakha

In Ukraine, the pro-Russian militias of Donbass claim to have captured Volnovakha, a strategic town north of the besieged city of Mariupol. This was stated by the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by the BBC.

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8.10 am - More than 220 thousand people evacuated to Russia from Ukraine

Over 220,000 people were evacuated to Russia from Donbass and the rest of Ukraine, according to the Tass agency, citing several regional security agencies. "To date - he specified - about 222 thousand people have crossed the Russian border. Among them, 50 thousand children".

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8 am - First attacks also in Ivano-Frankovosk

Missile and cannon fire explosions are reported in the city of Ivano-Frankovsk, in southwestern Ukraine. It is the third largest town in the west of Ukraine, therefore far from the war zones up to now, after Lutsk and Dnipro. Ivano-Frankovsk is located about a hundred kilometers south of Lviv.

Meanwhile, Moscow has confirmed the bombings in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk, stating that they are "long-range and high-precision (missile) attacks against as many small airports.

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7.30 - Kiev confirms: "A nest and a condominium hit in Dnipro"

Ukrainian state emergency services (SES) in Dnipro confirmed that three airstrikes hit a nursery and an apartment building this morning, and one person was killed. The BBC reports it.

"At around 6.10 am there were three air strikes in the city, which hit a nursery and an apartment building," they reported. A shoe factory, which is in flames, also hit.

(Unioneonline)