Ukraine: Civilian evacuations suspended over Russian 'provocations' — live updates
Monday, 28 March 2022 (15:41 IST)
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that no escape corridors for the evacuation of civilians will be possible in Ukrainian cities on Monday.
While explaining the decision, Vereshchuk cited intelligence that warned of possible Russian "provocations" along escape routes.
"Our intelligence has reported possible 'provocations' by the occupiers on the humanitarian corridor routes. So, for reasons of public safety, we are not opening any humanitarian corridors today," Vereshchuk said.
Ukrainian official: Turkey could give security guarantees
Senior Ukrainian official Ihor Zhovka said on Monday that Turkey could be one of the countries to give Kyiv security guarantees.
Zhovka made the comments ahead of peace talks scheduled between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey.
"Turkey is among those countries that could become guarantors of our security in the future," Zhovka said.
Ukraine has demanded legally binding guarantees that would give the country protection from allies in the event of a future attack.
Ukraine: Russia has turned Mariupol to 'dust'
The ministry of foreign affairs in Ukraine tweeted on Monday that Russian forces have turned the besieged city of Mariupol "into dust."
"While Mariupol besieged and bombed, people fight to survive. The humanitarian situation in the city is catastrophic. Russian Armed Forces is turning the city into dust," the ministry tweeted.
While #Mariupol besieged and bombed, people fight to survive. The humanitarian situation in the city is catastrophic. #Russian Armed Forces is turning the city into dust.
Several German states ban pro-Russian "Z" war symbol
In Germany, several states have declared they will punish by law any public use of the "Z" symbol associated with Russia's war against Ukraine.
On Friday, Lower Saxony and Bavaria announced their plans to make it a crime to use the symbol. Lawmakers in Stuttgart and in the state of North Rhine Westphalia, lawmakers spoke in support of a ban.
Russian military exits town for Chernobyl workers
Russian troops have left Slavutych, a town that is home to workers at the nearby Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the world's worst man-made nuclear catastrophe in 1986.
Slavutych Mayor Yuri Fomichev said Russian forces that took over the town over the weekend left early Monday after surveying the town.
Oscars: Solidarity gestures with Ukraine
The Oscars, Hollywood's premier red carpet award show event, held a minute of silence for Ukraine.
Among those showing gestures of support for Ukraine were Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung, nominated songwriter Diane Warren, composer Nicholas Britell and the actress Jamie Lee Curtis. They wore blue ribbons that read #WithRefugees to show support for those who have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24.
Actor Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, was among the presenters.
Biden: US not seeking regime change in Russia
When asked whether he is seeking regime change in Russia, US President Joe Biden told reporters: "No."
His rejection of the notion comes after a speech in Warsaw where he said Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power."
Airstrikes hit several Ukrainian cities
Ukrainian media has reported that Russia targeted the cities of Kyiv, Luzk, Rivne and Kharkiv with air strikes on Sunday. Among the targets was a fuel depot in Luzk in the northwest.
Earlier in the day, air raid sirens rang in all regions of Ukraine.
Again total missile strikes at ????????. Lutsk, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Rivne. Every day more & more rockets. Mariupol under carpet bombing. ???????? no longer has a language, humanism, civilization. Only rockets, bombs & attempts to wipe ???????? off the face of the earth. Does Europe really like it?
Ukraine reports successful counterattacks near Kharkiv
Ukrainian military commander Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had launched successful counterattacks around the eastern city of Kharkiv.
Synegubov said Russian troops had been repelled in several locations.
He said: "We are driving the occupiers back in the direction of the Russian border."
Russian air strikes hit civilian residences in the village of Oskil in the Izium region. A family of four was killed, Synegubov wrote.
Summary of Sunday's events in Ukraine-Russia crisis
Russia targeted military structures in the western city of Lviv using high-precision cruise missiles, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Long-range missiles were used to hit a fuel depot used by Ukrainian forces, and cruise missiles targeted a plant being used to repair anti-aircraft systems, radar stations and sights for tanks in Lviv.
Significant destruction in Chernihiv means residents of the northern Ukrainian city are without water, heating or electricity, according to the regional administration. Chernihiv is currently surrounded by Russian troops and has been "completely devastated," Mayor Vladyslav Atrozhenko said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his government was "carefully" considering the option of adopting a neutral status to broker a peace deal with Russia. Zelenskyy's comments came in a video interview with Russian journalists that the country's media watchdog Roskomnadzor said could not be aired within Russia.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Turkey for face-to-face talks on Monday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Erdogan called for an immediate cease-fire and a peace agreement between the two sides.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told public broadcaster ARD that he believes more than 10,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war.
According to the United Nations, more than 3.7 million have fled Ukraine. Most have gone to neighboring Poland.
(Photo Source: Twitter/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine)
