Russian Invasion of Ukraine – Day 17: Russia continues today (Saturday) the attacks in Ukraine, when last night they were expanded towards the west of the country, when the cities of Dnipro and Lutsk were attacked, according to official sources in the country. The Russian convoy is approaching the capital, Kyiv, and the British defense establishment estimates that it is 25 kilometers from the city.
Moreover, the American president Joe Biden, Threatened last night that Russia would pay a “heavy price” if it used chemical weapons, but made it clear that the United States would not send troops to fight Ukraine. At the same time, while diplomacy efforts between the countries have shown initial signs of progress, around the world have announced the imposition of another round of sanctions on the invading country.
All updates from the Russia-Ukraine War | click here
Damage from the Russian attack in Dnieper, Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)
ongoing updates:
12:20: According to various reports, despite the opening of the humanitarian corridors in Kiev, attacks by Russia continue. “The humanitarian convoy has advanced towards Mariupol, but the situation is complex, the shelling does not stop,” the Donetsk governor announced.
12:16: Report of alarms in the city of Venice.
- Neither Bennett nor Abbas: A new poll states – this is the “strongest man” in the government today
12:10: Russia is ready to resume ceasefire talks with the United States, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybkov. He said Moscow and Washington had remained in constant contact throughout the war, but the Kremlin saw no sign of a willingness to continue negotiations with the United States. Russia has completed its list of sanctions against the West.
12:08: Report: Russian Foreign Minister stated that aircraft carrying military equipment to Ukraine may be a target of harm for the Russian military.
11:41: President Zalanski’s adviser Mikhail Podolyak mentioned the prime minister in a Twitter tweet Naftali Bennett “Like other mediators, Bennett also suggested not agreeing with Russia’s demands. This is impossible militarily and politically. Israel demands that Russia assess the events more accurately.”
11:40: The humanitarian corridor in the city of Mariupol was opened, with the aim of evacuating thousands of civilians outside it. Also, according to the city council announcement, more than 90 tons of food and medicine will reach the city through the hallway.
11:35: Russia has destroyed about 3,500 military installations in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion that began on February 24, according to a TASS news agency quoted by Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konshenkov.
11:30: The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video in which vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed in the Kyiv region, using high-precision artillery ammunition.
Destruction of an infantry fighting vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Krasnopol high-precision artillery ammunition in the Kiev region. Video of the Russian Ministry of Defense pic.twitter.com/BjtWflfTIm
– NTV (@ntvru) March 12, 2022
11:00: Hundreds of civilians went out to demonstrate in the city of Litopol, following the arrest of the mayor, Ivan Fedorov, by Russian forces. “Release the mayor,” they shouted.
10:25: Russia’s fighter jets intercepted five UAVs and a Tochka ballistic missile launch system, according to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konshenkov.
10:20: The NEXTA news agency reported that a number of tobacco companies including Kent, Dunhill, Lucky, Pall Mall and Rothmans, had announced a halt to shipments to Russia in parallel with a reduction in production. Philip Morris International Ltd., which owns a number of cigarette brands including: Marlboro, L&M, Parliament and others, has announced a reduction in production.
10:00: An ammunition depot in Vosilkiv, Kyiv Oblast, is on fire. According to the district police, the fire broke out following a heavy Russian attack using six missiles, at the local military airport.
Ammunition depot in Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast, on fire.
According to Kyiv Oblast police, the fire broke out following a heavy Russian attack with 6 missiles at the local military airfield at about 7 a.m.
Video: Kyiv Oblast Police pic.twitter.com/jUuUFxfnk7
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 12, 2022
09:50: The head of the Chernivtsi regional administration claimed that a missile attack had damaged civilian infrastructure, including at the airport. He said the city was left without electricity, gas, water and heating, but city services are working to fix that. “People are dead, many are wounded, the enemy is hitting where the army is not, but Ukraine is strong,” he said.
09:46: The European Commission is planning a fourth “package” of sanctions against Russia, the president, Ursula von der Lane, has announced.
09:40: A warehouse containing frozen food products in Brovary, Kyiv region, caught fire following attacks by the Russian military, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
09:30: Report: Italian financial authorities have captured the yacht of Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko. It is the largest sailing yacht in the world, valued at more than half a billion euros. Last week it was reported that the yacht was moored in the city of Trieste.
09:23: Russian military forces have destroyed 3,491 military installations in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion 17 days ago, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konshanov said. He said Russia continues to attack targets at the front.
09:10: Irina Varshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine has announced that the humanitarian corridors will reopen today. “Hopefully Russia will honor the ceasefire,” it said.
08:50: The British Ministry of Defense has reported that the cities surrounding Kyiv, including Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Sumy and Mariupol, are suffering from continued shelling by Russia. It was also reported that Russian soldiers are now 25 kilometers from the center of Kyiv.
08:44: Ukraine’s Interior Ministry adviser said he hoped the humanitarian corridors would open today, with an emphasis on the city of Mariupol.
08:17: The United States has found no evidence that Russia is using chemical weapons against Ukraine, the Pentagon secretary said. John Kirby. “We are concerned about this, but there are no clear indications of it,” he said.
07:30: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has announced that the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to block the offensive operation of the armed forces in Russia, when according to a report by the Ministry of Defense, in the Donetsk region a significant dilution of Russian forces has taken place. Also, since the beginning of the fighting, 31 battalions of the Russian army have lost their military capabilities.
07:21: CNN reporters reported explosions in downtown Dnipro and even spotted smoke billowing near a river in the area. Also, last night a school in the city was shelled and one citizen was killed.
07:20: The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a video in which a Bayrakter TB2 unmanned aircraft hit a Russian army vehicle.
07:15: Reports of explosions in the city of Vasilkiv. It is estimated that an air strike may have taken place against the local airport.
06:50: The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as well as on his wife and two children, according to an official statement from the U.S. Treasury Department.
06:18: Alarms were sounded in most Ukrainian cities including: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Sumy, local media reported.
05:50: The UN has announced that since the beginning of the fighting, at least 2.5 million Ukrainian civilians have left the country.
05:00: President of Ukraine, Vladimir ZlanskyUploaded a video to social media in which he called the arrest of Malitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov a “crime against democracy.”
22:58: The US has announced further sanctions against Moscow.
22:30: The leaders of Russia and Belarus have agreed that Moscow will transfer advanced military equipment to Belarus.
21:40: Ukraine blamed Russian forces for violating international law by abducting the mayor of Litopol, a city in the southeast of the country that fell under Russian control during the invasion, and Moscow did not respond to the fate of Mayor Ivan Fedorov. “The abduction of the mayor of Melitopol is classified as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocol, which prohibits the taking of civilian hostages during the war,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Damage to Ukraine airport as a result of Russian attack (Photo: ImageSat International (ISI))
Chernivtsi, Ukraine (Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Handout via REUTERS)