Russian-Ukrainian War Live: Zelenskiy calls for new sanctions and more weapons after latest strikes | Ukraine
Key events
Oleskandr Musiyenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Military and Strategic Research, said Russia was sending more reinforcements to block Ukrainian advances.
“They mainly send infantry and artillery forces into battle, mostly made up of conscripts. But they don’t have the level of artillery and tank support they had on February 24,” Musiyenko said in an interview with Ukrainian television.
“They have fewer resources. They rely on the numerical superiority of their troops.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine and slammed supporters of the Russian invasion on Friday after a video emerged showing Novak Djokovic’s father posing at the Australian Open with fans holding Russian flags, Reuters reports.
Police have questioned four fans seen with “inappropriate flags and symbols” after Wednesday’s quarter-final match between Russia’s Andrey Rublev and favorite Djokovic, organizers Tennis Australia said.
“I will make this point, that Australia stands with the people of Ukraine. That is Australia’s position and Australia is unequivocal in its support for the international rule of law,” Albanese said. at a press conference after a reporter asked if Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, should be deported after he was seen posing for photos with fans holding Russian flags.
“We don’t want to see any support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is having a devastating impact on the Ukrainian people.”
Albanese didn’t answer directly when asked if Srdjan Djokovic should be sent off.
Djokovic’s father could not be reached for comment by Reuters.
An adviser to President Zelenskiy has issued a warning to fellow Ukrainian officials that appears to be linked to the ongoing campaign to root out corruption.
More than a dozen Ukrainian officials were sacked this week after a series of scandals and corruption allegations. Political analysts said Zelenskiy needed to show Western partners and war-weary Ukrainians that he was serious about punishing mismanagement.
“Everyone should understand their level of responsibility to the country and the nation during the war. Anyone who forgets receives a quick reaction,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskiy’s office.
“This will happen to anyone who allows themselves to forget (their duties), regardless of their names and functions,” Yermak wrote on Twitter.
Among the most high-profile cases was that of a deputy defense minister who resigned following a report, which he denied, that his ministry paid inflated prices to feed troops.
A presidential adviser who had been called out by local media for driving flashy cars has also quit, as has a senior prosecutor who Ukrainian media said went on holiday to Marbella in Spain, flouting martial law.
Explosions heard near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during Thursday strikes, UN nuclear agency says
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who visited Ukraine last week, said IAEA observers reported powerful explosions near Ukraine’s nuclear power plant on Thursday. of Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia and renewed calls for a safe zone around the plant.
But Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the boss of Rosenergoatom, the company that operates Russia’s nuclear power plants, said the comments were unfounded and called them a “provocation”.
In the past, Russia has reacted to Ukrainian successes with massive airstrikes that have left millions without light, heat or water.
On Thursday, he seemed to be following this pattern. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia’s attacks targeted power plants.
“I held an urgent meeting today on the energy situation – on the shortages that are occurring and on the repair work after the terrorist strikes. Repair crews are working at these sites,” Zelenskiy said Thursday.
The Kremlin has said it sees the promised delivery of Western tanks as evidence of growing US and European “direct involvement” in the 11-month war, which both deny.
Zelenskiy calls for new sanctions and more weapons after latest strikes
In his evening speech after Thursday’s deadly missile strikes, Zelenskiy called for new sanctions against Russia and for allies to supply Ukraine with more weapons.
Ukrainian civilians took cover on Thursday as Russia fired a barrage of missiles and drones across the country, killing at least 11 people, a day after Kyiv secured battle tank pledges to fight against the invasion of Moscow by Western countries.
Zelensky said:
This Russian aggression can and must only be stopped with adequate weapons. The terrorist state will understand nothing else. Weapons on the battlefield. Weapons that protect our skies.
New sanctions against Russia, that is to say political and economic weapons. And legal weapons – we must work even harder to establish a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Welcome and Summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the war in Ukraine. I’m Helen Sullivan and I’ll bring you the latest developments as they happen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for new sanctions against Russia and more weapons for Ukraine, after Russian strikes on Thursday left 11 dead and 11 injured.
We’ll have more information on Zelenskiy’s latest address shortly. In the meantime, here are the other key recent developments:
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On Thursday, Ukrainian civilians took cover as Russia fired a barrage of missiles and drones across the country, killing at least 11 people.a day after Kyiv won battlefield tank pledges to fight against Western countries’ invasion of Moscow.
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On Thursday, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych criticized the International Olympic Committee for considering allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to resume international competitions.
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Russia’s Finance Ministry has proposed removing liquidity restrictions for “anti-crisis” investment spending from its National Wealth Fund (NWF), citing the need to support key sectors in difficult geopolitical conditions.
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The UK hopes the Challenger 2 tanks it is supplying to Ukraine will arrive in the country at the end of March, Defense Minister Alex Chalk said Thursday.
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Russian authorities on Thursday designated the independent media Meduza as an “undesirable organization”, effectively banning the site from operating in Russia and banning any Russian from cooperating with Meduza or its journalists.
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The foreign exchange reserves of the Ukrainian central bank will amount to around 30 billion dollars at the end of January, Yuri Heletiy, the deputy governor told reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters.
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The arrest of a high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence agent accused of spying for Russia has highlighted the urgent need for a cleanup of the country’s key security service, said a former deputy director of the agency.
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