Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s military has captured rescue workers and bus drivers trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged city of Mariupol.
“We are trying to organize stable humanitarian corridors for Mariupol residents, but almost all of our attempts, unfortunately, are foiled by the Russian occupiers, by shelling, or deliberate terror,” Zelenskyy said Tuesday night in a video address to the nation, adding that the workers were detained by Russia along a route that had been agreed upon ahead of time.
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the Russians seized 11 bus drivers and four rescue workers along with their vehicles. She said their fate was unknown.
The figures couldn’t immediately be confirmed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Poland expels ’45 Russian spies pretending to be diplomats’
Mariusz Kamiński, the Minister of the Interior and Administration in Poland, said Wednesday that his county has expelled “45 Russian spies pretending to be diplomats.”
“With full consistency and determination, we are breaking up the agents of the Russian secret services in our country,” he tweeted.
Poland’s Internal Security Agency also reported Wednesday that it detained a civilian who had access to Warsaw city archives over suspicions of spying for Russian secret services, according to the Associated Press.
“Given the nature of documents kept by those units, the activity of the suspect posed a threat to both internal and external security of Poland,” the agency reportedly said.
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Putin plans to attend G20 summit later this year, Russian ambassador to Indonesia says
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the G20 summit at the end of October, the country’s ambassador to Indonesia said, while calling the West’s reaction to the war in Ukraine “disproportional,” according to reports.
The summit is scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia, at the end of October.
“Not only G20, many organizations are trying to expel Russia,” Russian Ambassador Lyudmila Vorobieva said during a news conference in Jakarta, Reuters reported. “The reaction of the West [to the war in Ukraine] is absolutely disproportional.”
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Ukrainian refugees finding it hard to flee to the US
Ukrainian Ohio resident Diana Ewald and her sister Violetta Varga, who is currently in Western Ukraine, joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss the challenges they have faced as Putin’s assault continues.
The overnight shelling at Nyvky in Kyiv: photos
Translation: “This is the consequences of the shelling at Nyvky in Kyiv.”
Ukraine minister claims Russian soldier raped woman and threatened her child
Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzheppar said Tuesday that a Russian soldier has killed a homeowner, raped his wife and threatened her child.
“It was established that [one of] Russia’s soldiers broke into private house in one of villages, killed [an] unarmed owner and raped his wife, threatening her kid,” she tweeted, citing the prosecutor’s office of Ukraine.
Dzheppar also said the soldier has been identified.
It was not immediately clear where the alleged incident happened.
Ukrainian forces shot down 6 Russian planes: report
Translation: “The Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that during the day, March 22, 6 enemy planes, 5 cruise missiles, 5 UAVs and 1 enemy helicopter were destroyed.”
Russian forces have shelled the Ukrainian capital overnight: report
Russian forces have shelled the Ukrainian capital overnight and onto Wednesday morning, injuring four people, according to the Associated Press.
A shopping mall, some private sector buildings and high-rises and other buildings across the districts of Sviatoshynskyi and Shevchenkivskyi were also destroyed.
Russian Armed Forces losses surpass Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: report
Russian forces bombed a road bridge which connected Chernihiv with Kyiv: video
Translation: “Russian occupiers bombed a road bridge across the Desna, which connected Chernihiv with Kyiv.”
“This bridge was used by evacuation flights from Chernihiv and humanitarian aid was delivered to the city.”
Ukrainian refugees achieve right-to-work permits in Latvia
Translation: “In Latvia, almost 5,000 refugees from Ukraine have received a residence permit with the right to work.”
Sec. Blinken shows ‘unwavering commitment of the U.S. to Ukraine’
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed continued international support for Ukraine amid their war with Russia.
“The Secretary of State reaffirmed the need for a strong and unified transatlantic response to the Russian government’s war against Ukraine and welcomed the ongoing steps to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities,” the US State Department said, Ukrinform reported.
Blinken showed “unwavering commitment of the United States to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The US State Department said the leaders “also discussed the large-scale humanitarian and defense assistance provided by NATO allies to Ukraine in bilateral formats.”
Ukraine Defense recognizes military medic who died on March 10
Translation: “Military medic Kateryna Stupnytska died on March 10, 2022.”
“Since 2014, the sergeant on the front line has repeatedly saved the lives of defenders of Ukraine.”
“On March 19, 2022, the woman was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine (posthumously). Eternal memory and eternal glory to the Heroes!”
Zelenskyy provides an update ahead of NATO, EU summits this week
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement ahead of this week’s NATO and G7 summits.
“As of today, there are about a hundred thousand people in the city [Mariupol]. In inhumane conditions. In a complete blockade. No food, no water, no medicine. Under constant shelling, under constant bombing,” he said.
“For more than a week now we have been trying to organize stable humanitarian corridors for Mariupol residents. And almost all our attempts, unfortunately, are disrupted by the Russian occupiers. By shelling or deliberate terror,” Zelenskyy added.
He continued: “We continue to work at various levels to force Russia to peace. To the end of this brutal war. Ukrainian representatives are working on the negotiations, which continue virtually every day. It’s very difficult. Sometimes scandalous. But step by step we are moving forward.”
“We will work, we will fight in any way we can. Till the end. Bravely and openly. At all these sites. With full energy.”
Putin spokesman declines to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia perceives ‘existential threat”
Russian President Vladimir Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov refused Tuesday to say his nation would not use nuclear weapons if it thought Russia could be destroyed.
Peskov said the conditions were consistent with the nations national security concept. “If there’s a threat to the very existence of our country, it can be used in accordance with this concept,” he stated in response to the question of whether Russia’s use of nuclear weapons could be completely ruled out, according to the Russian government-controlled news site TASS.
“Russian military doctrine envisions use of nuclear weapons in a first use scenario if it is losing a conventional conflict. Ukraine is exactly the scenario for which this was developed,” said Rebekah Koffler, who is a former DIA intelligence officer who specialized in Russia.
“They fear U.S. intervention in Ukraine because they fear we are conventionally superior,” she said. “And if they interpret our action as offensive rather than defensive, that is when the viability of Russian statehood would be threatened, in accordance with the Russian national security concept and military doctrine.”
Russians destroy laboratory at Chernobyl nuclear power plant
Russian troops destroyed a laboratory that helped improve management of radioactive waste at Chernobyl’s nuclear power plant, the Ukrainian government said Tuesday.
The laboratory contained “highly active samples and samples of radionuclides that are now in the hands of the enemy, which we hope will harm itself and not the civilized world,” the Ukrainian state agency responsible for the Chernobyl exclusion zone said in its statement.
The laboratory was built in 2016 with the support of the European Commission at a cost of 6 million euros.
Forest fires also broke out near the plant on Monday, causing concerns that it could help spread radiation.
Russia took control of plant soon after invading a month ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House warns about potential Russian cyber attacks
Fox News correspondent Gillian Turner discusses warning of cyber attacks and how some lawmakers are pushing for more U.S. support in Ukraine on ‘Special Report.’
President Zelenskyy’s office launches humanitarian aid website
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office has launched a humanitarian website aimed at providing assistance to Ukrainians.
The website, help.gov.ua, has a number that people can dial as well as step-by-step instructions for delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The website comes as many Ukrainian cities have faced a constant barrage by Russian forces, with many residents struggling for food and medical supplies.
Click here for Tuesday’s live coverage.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism