Russia caused significant damage to roads, bridges during withdrawal
Russian troops made sure to leave lasting damage on key infrastructure around Kyiv as they withdrew from the area, according to the latest British intelligence report.
The troops left land mines and vehicles along key routes throughout Northern Ukraine, and destroyed several river crossings in and around Chernihiv.
The damaged infrastructure now makes it difficult to deliver humanitarian aid to much of the region, the British Defense Ministry said.
Russia bans Boris Johnson and other UK officials over Ukraine war sanctions
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday that British political figures including Prime Minister Boris Johnson are banned from entering the country due to “hostile actions” against Russia.
The Russian MFA accused Britain of “deliberately aggravating” the situation in Ukraine, including “pumping” lethal weapons into the country and coordinating similar efforts with NATO allies.
“The Russophobic course of the British authorities, whose main task is to stir up a negative attitude towards our country, curtails bilateral ties in almost all areas and is detrimental to the well-being and interests of the inhabitants of Britain itself,” the ministry wrote, calling Britain’s actions “unacceptable.”
Russia banned over a dozen British officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former prime minister Theresa May.
Airstrikes reported in Lviv region in western Ukraine: Governor
Airstrikes were reported in the Lviv region in western Ukraine on Saturday morning, Ukrainian officials said.
Missile strikes were carried out by Russian Su-35 aircraft that took off from an airfield in Belarus, according to Maksym Kozytskyy, the governor of the Lviv region, who spoke via the Telegram messaging app.
Kozytskyy didn’t elaborate on possible deaths or damage from the strikes. Kozytskyy noted that Ukraine’s air defenses shot down four cruise missiles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol holding out against Russian invasion
The besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is holding out against the continuous bombardment from Russian forces.
Ukrainian troops are ferociously battling the superior firepower of the Russians in the eleven bustling city where about a quarter of its pre-war population remains.
The fighting and resistance from Ukraine has helped to tie up Russian forces and delay a planned offensive in eastern Ukraine.
“As long as the street fighting is going on, Russia can’t remove troops from Mariupol and deploy them to other areas, including Donbas,” Oleh Zhdanov, an independent military expert, told the Associated Press.
The Russians see Mariupol as a key objective since the beginning of the invasion on Feb. 24, as taking it over could help Russia establish a land corridor to Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Zelenskyy on repeated weapons requests: ‘It’s groundhog day’
Rep. Michael Waltz discusses Zelenskyy’s frustrated comments regarding his numerous weapons requests from the West on ‘Fox News @ Night.’
Zelenskyy says between 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian troops have died in the war with Russia
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said between 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian troops have died in the war with Russia so far.
He made the comments on CNN Friday, noting that 10,000 have been injured.
Zelenskyy added that 19,000 to 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war, which grinds into an eighth week.
His comments come as Russian forces were continuing preparations for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Reuters contributed to this report
Ukrainian marriages Russian in Mexico after war disrupted wedding plans
A Ukrainian woman got married to a Russian man in the Mexican border city of Tijuana this week.
After the war disrupted their plan to wed in Kyiv, they hoped to travel to the US to marry.
While the bride, Daria Sakhniuk was allowed to enter the US as a Ukrainian refugee, her partner, Semen Bobrovski, a Russian citizen, was unable to travel due to restrictions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Bobrovski told El Sol de Tijuana he felt being married could help his chances to enter the US with his wife — as Russian nationals with family members stateside are the only ones allowed to enter the country.
“Without it, we won’t be able to cross because, still to the official American government, we are strangers to each other,” Bobrovski said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Zelenskyy urges ‘democratic world’ to ban Russian oil, says sanctions ‘painful’ but not enough
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday called on the “democratic world” to ban Russian oil.
“In general, the democratic world must accept that Russia’s money for energy resources is in fact money for the destruction of democracy,” Zelenskyy said in a nightly address to Ukraine.
He said that sanctions on Russia were “painful” but not enough as Europe relies more heavily on Russian energy supplies.
“The sooner the democratic world recognizes that the oil embargo against Russia and the complete blockade of its banking sector are necessary steps towards peace, the sooner the war will end,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Moscow warns US to stop arming Ukraine after sinking of Russian warship
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin has the latest from Kyiv, Ukraine, on ‘America Reports.’
Ukraine: More than 900 civilian bodies found in Kyiv region, police say
The bodies of more than 900 civilians have been discovered in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital following Russia’s withdrawal — most of them fatally shot, police said Friday, an indication that many people were “simply executed.”
The jarring number emerged shortly after Russia’s Defense Ministry promised to step up missile attacks on Kyiv in response to Ukraine’s alleged assaults on Russian territory.
Around Kyiv, Andriy Nebytov, the head of the capital’s regional police force, said bodies were abandoned in the streets or given temporary burials. He cited police data indicating 95% died from gunshot wounds.
For more on this story: Ukraine: More than 900 civilian bodies found in Kyiv region, police say
Ukraine’s prime minister, finance officials to visit Washington next week
Ukraine is sending its prime minister and finance officials for next week’s spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, where discussion will focus on the Russian invasion and its impact on the global economy.
Those coming to the gathering include Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and central bank governor Kyrylo Shevchenko, a World Bank official said under the condition of anonymity.
It will be the first chance for key Ukrainian officials to meet with a host of financial officials in person after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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