Here's what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis as Russia continues a major military assault.
Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. Photo: AFP / Aris Messinis
- Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides on Thursday after Moscow mounted an assault by land, sea and air.
- By nightfall, a picture was emerging of fierce fighting across multiple fronts. An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl former nuclear power plant. Heavy exchanges of fire were also taking place in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson in the south.
- Ukraine's Health Minister Oleh Lyashko said 57 people had been killed and 169 wounded on Thursday.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said his aim was to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a new Iron Curtain was falling and closing Russia off from the civilised world. "Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall across our land."
- US President Joe Biden said Putin's action was about naked aggression. He unveiled new sanctions on its banks and wealthy elite and sweeping export restrictions.
- Biden also said Washington was working with allies on a release of oil from strategic reserves after the oil price shot up.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a package of "severe" sanctions against Russia targeting banks, members of Putin's closest circle and the extremely wealthy who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.
- The European Union said it would impose sanctions including freezing Russian assets in the 27-nation bloc, halting banks' access to European financial markets and hitting "Kremlin interests." Moscow would respond with "tit-for-tat" measures, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
- Thousands of Ukrainians began fleeing to neighboring countries, including Poland, Hungary and Romania. The UN refugee agency estimated that 100,000 had fled their homes.
- In Russia, police detained more than 1600 people at anti-war protests in 53 cities, according to a rights monitor. Protesters rallied in support of Ukraine in cities across the world.
- Stock markets tumbled at the open, with shares in financial firms particularly hard-hit, and Russia's rouble hit an all-time low. But US stocks turned positive as the West detailed its sanctions against Russia.
- Major buyers of Russian oil were struggling with bank guarantees, according to sources.
Quotes
- "I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide," Putin said. "We will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine."
- "Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom," Zelensky said.
- "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," Joe Biden said.
Coming events
- The UN Security Council is likely to vote on Friday on a draft resolution condemning Russia for invading Ukraine and requiring it to unconditionally withdraw, a senior US administration official said.
- NATO will hold an emergency summit on Friday.
- Reuters
