LIVE: India brings back 219 citizens from Ukraine; 250 more on their way
First Air India flight carrying 219 Indian evacuees from Ukraine lands at Mumbai airport from Bucharest at 7.50 pm
 "Piyush Goyal")
Piyush Goyal welcomes Indian students evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai Airport (Photo: ANI)
Running short of essentials, TN students stranded in Ukraine send SOS for early evacuation
As Russia's offensive against Ukraine continued on Saturday, Indian students hailing from Tamil Nadu made a fervent appeal for their early evacuation, saying they were short on supplies and virtually feared for their lives amidst "repeated sounds of explosions."
A video of Tamil Nadu students holed up in some kind of a facility showed a number of youth cramped with their belongings, making the appeal to the government to ensure their safety and take all steps for their early return home.
"There is no medical equipment, no safety measure... there is no guarantee (for our life). We are struggling without food, water, money and we are unable to withdraw cash from ATM," a woman student was heard saying in the video.
China is Russia's best hope to blunt sanctions, but wary
China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping's government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to US and European markets by doing too much.
Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited.
Relations with Moscow have warmed since Xi took power in 2012, motivated by shared resentment of Washington, but their interests can conflict. While their militaries hold joint exercises, Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia's Far East.
Top diplomats from S.Korea, US condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Russia banned from Eurovision Song Contest 2022
The European Broadcasting Union, who organise the Eurovision Song Contest, have barred Russia from participating this year following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
According to Variety, in a statement, the EBU said: "The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that no Russian act will participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
The Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest's governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.
Ask for forgiveness from Putin and apologise: Chechnya strongman Kadyrov 'advises' Ukraine Prez
Chechen strongman and leader Ramzan Kadyrov has "advised" Ukrainian President Zelensky "to call Vladimir Putin and apologize", RT reported.
In a speech he gave to the assembled servicemen in central Grozny in Chechnya, Kadyrov demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky apologize to Putin.
"Taking this opportunity, I want to give advice to the current President Zelensky so that he calls our President, Supreme Commander Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and apologizes for not doing so sooner. Do it in order to save Ukraine. Ask for forgiveness and agree to all the conditions that Russia puts forward. This will be the most correct and patriotic step for him," the leader declared, RT reported.
US embassy warns Americans in Ukraine to locate their nearest shelter
The United States embassy for Ukraine has warned US citizens that "conditions may deteriorate without warning," and advised them to locate their nearest shelter.
"The security situation throughout Ukraine remains highly volatile, and conditions may deteriorate without warning. US citizens should remain vigilant and know the location of your closest shelter or protected space," the embassy said in a tweet.
This comes as explosions have been heard in parts of Kiev as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported.
Street fighting begins in Kyiv; people urged to seek shelter
Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital early Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. The country's president refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting that he would stay. The fight is here, he said.
The clashes followed two days of fighting that resulted in hundreds of casualties and pummeled bridges, schools and apartment buildings. US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine's government and replace it with a regime of his own.
The assault represented Putin's boldest effort yet to redraw the world map and revive Moscow's Cold War-era influence. It triggered new international efforts to end the invasion, including direct sanctions on Putin.
Series of explosions near Kiev metro station located next to military facility
Videos have been circulating online showing what appears to be a series of explosions in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday night. The blasts are reportedly concentrated in the north-west area of Kiev, RT reported.
The blasts reportedly took place near Beresteiska metro station, which is located next to a military facility.
An eyewitness can be heard saying in one of the videos shared online that the sounds of explosions appear to come from the direction of the base, RT reported.
Air India plane lands in Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine
An Air India plane from Mumbai landed in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday morning to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.
The aircraft, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM (Indian Standard Time) and landed at the Bucharest airport around 10.45 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.
Indian nationals, who reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road, have been taken to Bucharest by the Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.
Russia has seized Western weapons in Ukraine: Russian defense ministry
Russia's special military operation in Ukraine has seized a large quantity of weapons supplied by Western countries in recent months, said Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
The seized weapons include the US Javelin anti-tank missile systems and British NLAWs, the spokesman said on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
US to release up to $600 mn in security assistance to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden on Friday authorized a sanction of $350 million to Ukraine for procurement of Defense equipment and imparting military training and education.
Authorization was also given to the secretary of state to sanction up to $250 million in assistance, if "it is important to the security interests of the United States," a Memorandum issued by the White House said.
The aggregate assistance to Ukraine by the US is to the tune of $600 million.
U.S. Puts Banning Russia From SWIFT Back in Play
Ukraine: Indians told not move to border posts without embassy coordination
In a latest advisory by the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, Indian citizens in the war-torn country were on Saturday advised not to move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government.
"All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kyiv," the advisory read.
The armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified in the early hours of Thursday after Russian forces launched a major assault on Ukraine, firing missiles on cities and military installations.
Visuals of Indian students in bunkers disturbing: Rahul
Amid conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the government has stepped up the evacuation process of Indians stranded in the war-torn country, mostly students.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, "Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to GOI to execute urgent evacuation."
Meanwhile, the MEA has issued advisory that, "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev."
Russia-Ukraine conflict LIVE | IAF not to deploy aircraft in multi-lateral air exercise in UK next month
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First Published: Feb 26 2022 | 7:15 AM IST
