[Updated] Russia Launches Full-scale War On Ukraine, As Number Of Deaths Increases

Keneci Channel

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[Update] Ukrainian Teen Tells Harrowing Story Of How She Drove Wounded Civilians Through Minefield, To Safety Despite Being Shot In The Legs By Russian Soldiers

The unnamed 15-year-old girl was in a car with three men and another woman, fleeing frontline fighting when they came under fire in the town of Popasna in the contested Luhansk region near the Russian border.

Popasna has been at the center of some of the heaviest fighting in Luhansk as the battle for the wider Donbas region  rages between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

"I was travelling in the car with four adults, three men and one woman," the 15-year-old recounted. "I know them but they are not members of my family... We were leaving Popasna when we came under fire from Russian soldiers. Two of the men were hit by shrapnel, one seriously... They were so badly injured that I had to take control of the wheel and drive. I had to drive because it was an emergency. Otherwise they would have bled to death."

The girl explained: "I had to drive through a minefield. It was impossible. It was like a chessboard. But somehow, I made it through. I saw a dead woman by the side of the road. She was lying by an electricity pole. Then I turned right and the Russians opened fire. I was shot in the legs. There was nothing I could do. And the car stopped too. The engine had been shot up. It had a bullet in the battery. Somehow I got it started again. It was not easy. It was extremely painful to drive. But I had to do something. I could not leave everyone under fire."

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[Update] Russia Parades Second Captured British Fighter On TV, As It Renews Attacks On Kyiv

The propaganda video broadcast on state TV Saturday night, shows Shaun Pinner, 48, chilling in a blue hoodie, and with no visible bruises.

Pinner who appeared relaxed but tired in the video, is originally from Bedfordshire, England, but had been living in the Ukrainian city of Donbas.

“Hi, I’m Shaun Pinner, I am a citizen of the UK," he said in the video. "I was captured in Mariupol. I am part of the 36 Brigade First Battalion Ukrainian Marines. I was fighting in Mariupol for five to six weeks and now I’m in Donetsk People’s Republic.”

The 48-year-old Brit had been fighting in the besieged city of Mariupol alongside his friend Aiden Aslin, 28, who was Britain’s first known prisoner of the war.

Aslin was also shown in a propaganda video released last week. In the clip broadcast by Russian TV, he was asked if he was responsible for any killings.

“I don’t know,” Aslin answered nervously in English. “I did not do any fighting.”

Russia claimed that 1,026 marines fighting for Ukraine -- including 162 officers-- had surrendered “as a result of successful offensives by Russian armed forces and [pro-Russia rebel] Donetsk People’s Republic militia units.”

The bodies of more than 900 civilians, with most shot dead, were found around Kyiv, as Russia renewed missile strikes around the capital.

The renewed attacks come amid recent embarrassing headlines about the sinking of The Moskva -- Russia's lead warship in its Black Sea fleet -- after an explosion which Ukraine claimed was a result of their missile strike.

Russia acknowledged The Moskva sank on Thursday. It  sank as it was being towed to port in stormy weather, Russian news agencies quoted the defense ministry as saying.

On the diplomatic front, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wished Ukrainians a happy Easter in a Twitter message Sunday.

"Wishing Christians around the world a happy and blessed #Easter, including the Christians of Ukraine – whether you are marking Easter today or later this month," Johnson wrote. "May the risen Christ’s message of hope bring you strength."

Johnson recently visited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a widely-praised trip to Kyiv.

In a CNN interview Sunday, Zelenskyy urged U.S. president Joe Biden to visit Ukraine and see the carnage that Russian troops have exacted on the civilian population.

"It’s his decision of course, and about the safety situation, it depends," Zelenskyy told CNN host Jake Tapper. "I think he is the leader of the United States, and that’s why he should come here to see."

Meanwhile even as Zelenskyy urges western leaders to punish and tighten sanctions on Russia, the country's energy giant Gazprom told Reuters it is continuing to supply European consumers with millions of tons of gas via Ukraine. The company said in a statement that requests stood at 57 million cubic meters as of Sunday.

Critics slam left-wing European and American leaders who have been pushing for unreliable green energy initiatives which made Europe dependent on Russian oil.

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[Update] Zelenskyy Demotes 2 Generals He Described As "Traitors;" As Russian Forces Continue To Bombard Ukrainian Cities

Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the besieged southern city of Mariupol, as Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities for the 38th day.

Russian officials on Friday allowed 42 buses with Mariupol residents to depart from the neighboring occupied city of Berdyansk, which Mariupol residents were able to reach on their own. The convoy of about 2,000 refugees, escorted by the Red Cross, is heading to the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is under Ukrainian control.

In Odesa, Governor Maksym Marchenko said three Russian missiles hit a residential district in the port city and caused casualties. He alleged that the missiles were fired from Moscow-annexed Crimea in the south.

Speaking to Sky News Friday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the cities northwest of the capital, such as Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel were being targeted after Ukrainian fighters pushed back Russian troops, and that fighting also persisted in Brovary, east of Kyiv.

British Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday, that Ukraine's military has "retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka to the south of Chernihiv and located along one of the main supply routes between the city and Kyiv."

"Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counter attacks to the east and north east of Kyiv," the ministry added, but noted that "both Chernihiv and Kyiv have been subjected to continued air and missile strikes despite Russian claims of reducing activity in these areas."

President Zelenskyy said during a speech Friday that he has demoted two of his own generals, describing them as "traitors."

"Today another decision was made. Regarding antiheroes," Zelenskyy said. "Now I do not have time to deal with all the traitors. But gradually they will all be punished. That is why the ex-chief of the Main Department of Internal Security of the Security Service of Ukraine Naumov Andriy Olehovych and the former head of the Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kherson region Kryvoruchko Serhiy Oleksandrovych are no longer generals."

Meanwhile, the president in an interview with Fox News Friday, said he is looking for a security agreement from a "host of nations including the U.S" as a part of any deal that is struck to end the conflict. Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have so far not yielded any meaningful deal.

"It’s hard for us to talk about NATO because NATO doesn't want to admit us," Zelenskyy said through a translator when asked about potential security guarantees from other nations. "I think it's a mistake because if we join NATO, we make NATO much stronger.  We are not a weak state. We are not proposing to make us stronger at the expense of NATO…We are an addition, we are the locomotive. I think we are one of the important components of the European continent."

A Russian official accused Ukraine Friday, of launching airstrikes on an oil depot in the border city of Belgorod. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram that two Ukrainian helicopters started the fire that erupted at the facility, injuring two workers.

However Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, when asked who was behind the blasts, said he could "neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved in this simply because I do not possess all the military information."

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it is conducting defensive operations and can’t be held responsible for "every catastrophe on Russia's territory."

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[Updated] Videos Allegedly Show Ukrainian Soldiers Shooting, Torturing Russian POWs

The videos which surfaced online over the weekend, and was posted on social media by German-based journalist Maria Dubovikova, show Ukrainian soldiers shoot at the legs of some captured Russian soldiers who appeared shocked and drenched in blood.

"Ukrainian soldiers shoot Russian prisoners of war in the legs and afterwards give them a severe beating," Dubovikova wrote on Twitter. "At the beginning of the video, there are Russian POWs lying on the ground with bullet wounds in their legs, some of them have got leg bones broken."

Other clips circulating online, show Ukrainian soldiers on the phone calling the families of deceased Russian soldiers, to mock their deaths.

The shocking videos have sparked calls for investigation by the International Criminal Court, ICC.

Many conservative commentators online pointed out that while Ukrainians rightly accuse Russian forces of committing war crimes, left-wing media outlets do not report on possible war crimes which some Ukrainian troops, especially the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, commit and boldly post on social media.

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[Update] Russian Forces Hit Western Ukrainian City; As Biden's Comments During Europe Visit Spark 'Regime Change' Speculations

Russian forces continued to pound Ukrainian cities through the weekend even as Biden and NATO leaders meet in Brussels. In an attack that many interpret as a message to the United States president, Russian missiles hit the western city of Lviv, as Biden was in neighboring Poland.

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation continue offensive actions as part of the special military operation," the Russia defense ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

Long-range missiles hit a fuel depot near Lviv and cruise missiles struck a plat that was being used by Ukrainian forces to repair anti-aircraft systems and radar stations, the ministry said.

Russian warships have moved closer, to Odesa, Ukraine, according to Western officials.

A potential attack on or seizure of Odesa could allow Moscow to build a presence in the region that could have a direct route to to the separatist Trans-Dniester region of Moldova, where a Russian military base is located.

Bombardment nearby by Russian forces, raise suspicions among Western officials about the possibility of an attack on Odesa.

“It’s difficult to know what this indicates,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said of the latest bombardment. “Is it the prelude to an assault on Odesa? Is it a diversionary tactic to sort of hold and fix Ukrainian troops in the south so that they can’t come to the relief of their comrades in Mariupol or in Kyiv?"

Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, Biden's gaffe-riddled comments during his visit to Poland continue to complicate effort by Western allies to resolve the conflict, with many raising concerns about lack of leadership from United States.

During a speech at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Biden said Putin was "bent on violence" and declared "there's simply no justification or provocation for Russia's choice of war."

Biden also referenced Poland’s decades of Soviet control behind the Iron Curtain before the end of the Cold War and declared "democracy will prevail" again in Ukraine.

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said, concluding his address.

Biden's comments sparked speculations online that the United States is plotting a "regime change" in Kremlin.

The White House was forced to walk back Biden’s statements, saying he was not calling for a regime change in Russia, but rather was preparing the world’s democracies for an extended conflict and making the point that "Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region."

Earlier in the day, during a visit with Ukrainian refugees at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw, Biden had also remarked to reporters that Putin was a "butcher."

The off-script comments by Biden, prompted instant rebuke from the Kremlin, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling Russian state-media that such "personal insults" narrow the window for bilateral relations. "A state leader should control his temper, nonetheless," Peskov added.

Clarifying further during a press conference in Jerusalem earlier Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the U.S. does not have a strategy of regime change in Russia, adding that Biden made the point that "Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else."

This was not the first time during the trip that the White House had to clarify Biden's gaffe.

While addressing members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in Rzeszow, southeastern Poland, on Friday, Biden told the troops that they will witness the bravery of Ukrainians fighting off Russia’s invasion “when you’re there” -- a significant gaffe after he previously said the US must stay out of the European conflict to avoid triggering “World War III.”

“You’re going to see when you’re there, and some of you have been there, you’re gonna see — you’re gonna see women, young people standing in the middle in front of a damned tank just saying, ‘I’m not leaving, I’m holding my ground,’” Biden said.

White House officials had to quickly clarify that Biden wasn’t changing his stance on deploying the military into Ukraine.

“The president has been clear we are not sending US troops to Ukraine and there is no change in that position,” a Biden spokesman said.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday scolded Biden for his 'regime change' gaffe, and warned against escalation of the conflict.

"I wouldn't use this type of wording because I continue to hold discussions with President Putin," Macron said during an appearance on France 3 TV channel. "We want to stop the war that Russia has launched in Ukraine without escalation -- that's the objective."

Meanwhile, reportedly not impressed by Biden's speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, accused the West of cowardice as his country fights to stave off Russia’s invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks.

Zelenskyy lashed out at the West’s "ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets" and other weapons while Russian missile attacks kill and trap civilians.

"I’ve talked to the defenders of Mariupol today. I’m in constant contact with them," the president said in a video address. "Their determination, heroism and firmness are astonishing," he said, referring to the besieged southern city which has suffered some of the war’s greatest deprivations and horrors. "If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1% of their courage."

Ukrainian and Russian officials will meet on Monday in the Turkish capital of Istanbul for the next round of in-person peace talks, a Ukrainian negotiator said Sunday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday to discuss the negotiations. 

"Stressing the need for the immediate establishment of ceasefire and peace between Russia and Ukraine as well as the amelioration of the humanitarian situation in the region, President [Erdoğan] said that [Turkey] would continue to lend every kind of support regarding the process," Turkish Presidency's communications office said Sunday.

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[Update] As Russian Forces Pound Ukrainian Cities, Biden Threatens Retaliation If They Use Chemical Weapons

As the ongoing invasion of Ukraine enters its 30th day, Russian forces continue to pound Ukrainian cities even as their advance have generally stalled. According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian landing ship was destroyed and two other vessels damaged in the occupied Ukrainian port city of Berdyansk,. It is unclear what caused the explosion.

Britain's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Thursday, that Ukrainian forces are striking "high value targets" in Russian-occupied areas of the country. These targets include ammunition depots in the occupied port of Berdyansk, the MoD says.

In besieged Mariupol, the city council said in a statement Thursday, that 15,000 residents of the besieged city have been illegally deported to Russia. "Residents of the Left Bank district are beginning to be deported en masse to Russia," the statement reads. "In total, about 15,000 Mariupol residents have been subjected to illegal deportation."

Ukraine says it has conducted the first proper prisoner exchange with Russia since the war began, with 10 Ukrainians exchanged for 10 Russians. In a separate exchange 11 Russian civilian sailors rescued from a ship that sank off Odesa were swapped for 19 Ukrainian seafarers from a ship captured by the Russians.

On the diplomatic front, NATO held an emergency meeting Thursday, to discuss international efforts to support Ukraine and punish Russia for its invasion.

During a press conference after the NATO meeting in Brussels, Belgium, President Joe Biden was pressed on if the United States has collected intelligence that suggests the Kremlin is moving to deploy chemical weapons. He said any Russia’s potential use of chemical weapons would "trigger a response in kind," but said the type of response would depend on "the nature of the use."

"We would respond," Biden said. "We would respond if he uses it."

In a video address to the NATO summit, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the alliance to provide Ukraine with “1% of all your planes, 1% of all your tanks.” 

“We can’t just buy those,” Zelenskyy said. “When we will have all this, it will give us, just like you, 100% security.”

Ukraine is also in dire need of multiple launch rocket systems, anti-ship weapons and air defense systems, Zelenskyy said. “Is it possible to survive in such a war without this?” he asked.

Zelenskyy also said Russia used phosphorous bombs on Thursday morning, killing both adults and children. He reminded NATO leaders that thousands of Ukrainians have died in the past month, and urged the alliance to give “clear answers.”

“It feels like we’re in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,” Zelenskyy said. “This is the scariest thing during a war -- not to have clear answers to requests for help.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during meetings at the NATO summit, that “there isn’t a Western democracy that is currently contemplating putting boots on the ground in Ukraine.” 

“Nor is there a country that is willing to enforce a no-fly zone in the way that we would so like to – but unfortunately it does mean air to ground attacks on Russian air defenses and taking down Russian jets and asking the Royal Air Force to do that," Johnson said. "That is not something any country here is contemplating.” 

“What we are doing is steadily ratcheting up the movement of lethal but defensive weaponry to Ukraine and that is growing in volume the whole time,” the prime minister added.

The 30-member NATO alliance called on China to abandon any plans to support Russia during its "war effort" in Ukraine and asked that it look to use its "significant influence" to broker peace instead.

"China must not provide economic or military support for the Russian innovation," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said following the summit. "Beijing should use its significant influence on Russia and promote an immediate peaceful resolution."

Over the last several weeks, reports have surfaced suggesting that the U.S. and its European allies have received intelligence that Beijing is considering supplying its ally with aid as Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to swiftly take Ukraine.

NATO also confirmed that four new battlegroups comprised of 40,000 troops in total will be sent to Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.

European leaders say payments for Russian energy won't be made in roubles as Moscow has demanded - "the time of Russian energy blackmail is over," EU chief von der Leyen said.

Meanwhile in Russia, Sergei Shoigu, the head of Russia's Ministry of Defense is seen a video clip posted by a Twitter account affiliated with Russian state media Thursday, purportedly showing him in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Shoigu has not been seen in public for 12 days and was rumored to be missing, according to reports and messages that circulated on Telegram. There were rumors that he is in poor health and is experiencing heart problems, while other messages suggest he might have been fired from the ministry and is on house arrest, according to Russian journalists.

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[Update] Putin Spokesman Declines To Rule Out Use Of Nukes, As Russian Military Operation Stalls In Ukraine

As Russian forces continue to besiege and bombard Mariupol and other parts of Ukraine, there are reports of low morale overall among their troops. Ukrainians have managed to make some gains against Russian troops.

Ukraine said Tuesday it has recapture a strategically important suburb of Kyiv as Russian forces squeezed other areas near the capital.

Ukrainian troops drove Russian forces out of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said. The regained territory allowed Ukrainian forces to retake control of a key highway and block Russian troops from surrounding Kyiv from the northwest.

According to western officials, Russian forces are facing serious shortages of food and fuel and some soldiers have frostbite.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov refused Tuesday, to rule out the potential use of nuclear weapons by his nation.

“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 apparently envisions use of nuclear weapons in a first use scenario if it is losing a conventional conflict.

However the United States will not be changing its nuclear posture. "We haven't seen anything that would lead us to conclude that we need to change our strategic deterrent posture," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Tuesday, when asked about Russia's recent rhetoric on using nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile U.S. president Joe Biden reportedly plans to announce a new sanctions package against Russia during his trip to Brussels and Warsaw this week.

Biden will visit the Belgian capital for talks with NATO leaders on Thursday. He will be accompanied by the US Secretary of Defense, General Lloyd Austin.

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[Update] Death And Destruction In Besieged Mariupol; As Russia Demands The Ukrainian City's Surrender, And Zelenskyy Warns Of WW3

Russian forces bombed an art school in Mariupol where about 400 people were sheltering in the besieged port city, local authorities said Sunday. Number of casualties is unclear.

Local officials report that more than 2,500 residents have been killed in the city. They also claimed that Russian troops had forcibly taken some of its residents and relocated some of them to Russia.

The fall of Mariupol would mark a major battlefield advance for the Russians, who are largely bogged down outside major cities more than three weeks in. Ukraine is still holding the key Black Sea port that has seen some of the worst of the war.

According to Russian state media, Russian Defense Ministry has called for the surrender of Mariupol by 5am March 21, A, warning those authorities that remain will be  "with the bandits." The report also says that Russia will allow for a humanitarian corridor for civilians who wish to leave the city on Sunday.

In the eastern city of Kharkiv which has faced relentless attacks since the start of the war, at least five civilians were killed by a Russian artillery attack Sunday morning, including a 9-year-old boy, local authorities said.

Another Russian general, Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Andrey Paliy was reportedly killed during fighting in the Mariupol region. He joins a growing list of senior Russian leaders killed during the invasion so far. Ukrainian officials claim their forces have killed at least five Russian generals.

As Ukraine continued to effectively hold on to its airspace, Russian forces have largely relied on weapons launched from the "relative safety of Russian airspace," according to British defense ministry.

Russia on Saturday claimed to have used a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile to strike a munitions warehouse in western Ukraine, a first use in operations, of such weapons by Russia. Military experts have speculated that Putin may be running out of precision guided missiles.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry on Sunday claimed to have intelligence that suggested Russia has deployed more Wagner personnel in an effort to eliminate senior political and military leaders in Ukraine.

Officials said that Putin "personally" ordered the attack, which will target Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as Prime Minister Denis Shmigal. "We are ready for the rest of the aggressor both in the front and in the back," a press release said. "No terrorist attacks will succeed."

On the home front, invoking his martial law powers, Zelenskyy on Sunday ordered the suspension of 11 political parties in Ukraine that have ties to Russia.

The Opposition Platform for Life is the largest with 44 out of 450 seats in parliament. Russian President Vladimir Putin is the godfather to the daughter of the party's leader Viktor Medvedchuk.

Zelenskyy also suspended the Nashi Party led by Yevheniy Murayev who U.K. authorities previously warned Russia would try to install as the new president of Ukraine.

“Given a large-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation and links between it and some political structures, the activities of a number of political parties is suspended for the period of the martial law.” Zelenskyy said adding that “activities by politicians aimed at discord and collaboration will not succeed.”

The president also nationalized TV news outlets, claiming the measure was necessary to "tell the truth about the war," and combat Russian disinformation.

The new information policy involves "combining all national TV channels, the program content of which consists mainly of information and/or information-analytical programs, [into] a single information platform of strategic communication" to be called "United News."

On the diplomatic front, in a television interview that aired Sunday, Zelenskyy warned of a third world war if peace talks with Russia fail.

"I think that we have to use any format, any chance in order to have a possibility of negotiating, possibility of talking to Putin," the president said. "But if these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third World War."

The president in a speech to Israeli lawmakers over Zoom on Sunday, called on Israel to take a stronger stand against Russia, delivering an emotional appeal that compared Russia’s invasion of his country to the actions of Nazi Germany.

Zelenskyy urged Israel, which has emerged as a key mediator between Ukraine and Russia, to finally take sides. He said Israel should follow its Western allies by imposing sanctions and providing arms to Ukraine. 

"One can ask for a long time why we can’t accept weapons from you or why Israel didn’t impose sanctions against Russia, why you are not putting pressure on Russian business," he said. "It is your choice, dear brothers and sisters."

Criticism of the speech was swift in Israel and online. Many pointed out that Ukrainian government is working with left-wing Neo-Nazi group Azov Battalion which is integrated in the Ukrainian National Guard. Also Ukraine has mostly voted against Israel in the United Nations.

Meanwhile United States President Joe Biden is headed to Europe this week. Details of the trip, including stops, have yet to be revealed, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki made clear that Biden will not visit Ukraine.

"The trip will be focused on continuing to rally the world in support of the Ukrainian people and against President Putin's invasion of Ukraine," Psaki wrote.

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[Update] Gun Battles, Airstrikes Ravage Ukrainian Cities, As Biden Warns President Xi Jinping Against Chinese Military Support For Russia

Russian forces on Friday launched an attack against an aircraft repair installation at an airport just outside Lviv, close to the border with Poland. Satellite photos of the strike show destroyed repair hangar and damaged buildings. A row of fighter jets appeared intact, but an apparent impact crater sat in front of them.

Thousands have passed through Lviv on their way to the safety of Poland or to enter more dangerous Ukraine territories to provide aid.

On another front, according to Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko the fighting between Russian troops and Ukrainians has reached the city center, confirming earlier Russian reports

Ukraine Ministry of Defense claimed in a statement Friday, that its troops have "eliminated [the] commander of 331st airborne regiment of [the] russian army, colonel Sergei Sukharev. "He took part in the Battle of Ilovaysk in 2014, where he committed a war crime."

The claim comes amid reports that Russian troop movements are stalled on all fronts of the war in Ukraine. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense said Friday that Russian forces have made "minimal progress this week" in Ukraine as "Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities."

More than 12 million people were stranded in areas affected by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, while over 6.4 million Ukrainians were displaced, but remain in the country, as of Wednesday, the United Nations-run Global Protection Cluster said Friday.

On the diplomatic front, President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video call Friday. Apparently no progress was made as China shows little sign of backing away from its support for Russia.

Readouts of the call between the two presidents are starkly different. While the U.S. emphasized “imposing costs on Russia” in their readout, the Chinese in theirs, called for an evenhanded approach that recognized “the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine.”

“The conversation focused on Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” the White House said. “President Biden outlined the views of the United States and our Allies and partners on this crisis. President Biden detailed our efforts to prevent and then respond to the invasion, including by imposing costs on Russia.”

China said that during the call, “Biden reiterated that the US does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China’s system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the US does not support ‘Taiwan independence;’ and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.”

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday local time, called for meaningful peace and security talks "without delay" with Moscow. He said it was Russia's only chance to limit the damage from its "mistakes" in the wake of its invasion.

"This is the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. "It's time to meet, it's time to talk, it's time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. Otherwise, Russia's losses will be such that you will need several generations to recover."

On Friday, the countries of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Bulgaria say they have expelled a combined 20 Russian diplomats because of Moscow's ongoing war with Ukraine.

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[Update] Biden Admin Reiterates Opposition To No-fly Zone, As Russian Forces Continue To Bombard Ukrainian Cities

In video circulating online Wednesday, smoke can be seen billowing out of buildings struck by shelling in Mariupol's central market, in south-eastern Ukraine. The city has been continuously shelled since Russia invaded Ukraine, with water and electricity supplies in the city cut off.

An earlier attack in the city, hit a theatre sheltering between 1,000 and 1,200 people, according to the city's deputy mayor. The number of casualties is unknown.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a virtual address to the United States congress Wednesday, called for a no fly-zone over Ukraine.

Invoking late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., the president made an emotional plea for more help in his people's fight against Russian forces who have been bombarding Ukrainian cities for 3 weeks.

"I have a dream. ... I can say, I have a need, a need to protect our sky," Zelenskyy said. "I need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same, the same you feel when you hear the words 'I have a dream.'"

The Ukrainian president showed Congress a graphic video during the speech, highlighting the devastating effects of war on his country and attacks by Russia.

However the Biden administration reiterated its opposition to a no-fly zone. White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested the move could lead to world war. She said the administration is "not interested in getting into World War 3."

The press secretary stressed that the U.S. would still continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons, and other military assistance.

The U.S. nearly doubled its defensive aid for Ukraine Wednesday after President Biden announced the approval of an additional $800 million in arms for the war-torn nation.

"As the president said today, America stands with the forces of freedom in Ukraine," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Wednesday. "What's at stake here are the principles of freedom. The right to determine one's own future – a right that Ukrainians have shown the world they will fight to preserve."

Meanwhile Ivan Federov, the mayor of Melitopol who was reportedly kidnapped by Russian forces five days ago, was freed after Ukraine agreed to exchange nine captured Russian soldiers for him, according to a Zelenskyy's press aide. Darya Zarivnaya said in a TV address that the Russian soldiers exchanged had all been born between 2002-03, making them "actually children."

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[Update] Two Fox News Journalists Killed; As Russian Troops Shell Their Way Around Kyiv

As the invasion enters its twenty-first day, Russian forces continue their bombardment of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, hitting residential areas and civilian targets with increasing frequency. The Russians have faced stiff Ukrainian resistance, as they try to shell their way around the cities of Mariupol and Kharkiv.

In an impassioned virtual speech to the Canadian parliament Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged them to exert more economic and military pressure on Russia.

"Justin, can you imagine you and your children hearing all these severe explosions, the bombing of the airport, the bombing of the Ottawa airport?" Zelenskyy said, speaking to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Cruise missiles are falling down and your children are asking you ‘What happened?’"

In first visit from any foreign leader to Ukraine since the invasion, the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic travelled to Kyiv Tuesday, where they met Zelensky.

Slovenian PM Janez Jansa told Ukraine's people: "You're not alone. Your fight is our fight and together we will prevail."

Czech PM Petr Fiala said: "You are fighting for your lives; your freedom. But we know that you are also fighting for our lives and our freedom... We admire your courage and we will continue to provide more aid and support."

Meanwhile, Fox News crew came under fire in Ukraine Monday resulting in the deaths of Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova and cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski. Reporter Benjamin Hall was also wounded, and is recovering at the hospital. Their vehicle was reportedly struck by incoming fire while in the field.

The network initially did not release the name of 24-year-old Kuvshynova. "We held off on delivering this devastating news earlier today out of respect for her family whom we have been in touch with throughout and we extend our deepest condolences to them," Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement.

On the sanctions front, the U.K. government on Tuesday announced more than 300 more sanctions on Russia and Belarus over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine -- bringing the number of sanctions on individuals and other entities to more than 1,000.

The new sanctions target 370 individuals, 30 of whom are oligarchs or their family members to the tune of more than $130 billion, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

"Working closely with our allies, we will keep increasing the pressure on Putin and cut off funding for the Russian war machine," Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.

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[Update] American Reporter Killed As Group Of Journalists Come Under Fire At A Frontline In Ukraine

Photo-journalist and former New York Times reporter Brent Renaud was killed when a car carrying a group of journalists came under fire as they approached a frontline of the war in the town of Irpin outside of Kyiv. Another reporter was wounded in the attack and taken to the hospital.

"The invaders cynically kill even international media journalists who are trying to show the truth about the atrocities of Russian troops in Ukraine," Kyiv police chief Andriy Nebitov wrote in a Facebook post including a picture of Renaud's press ID. "Today, a 51-year-old correspondent of the world-famous New York Times media was shot dead in Irpen. Another journalist was wounded. Currently, they are trying to take the victim out of the combat zone."

It's not yet independently confirmed who shot at the journalists.

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[Update] Dozens Killed In Russian Airstrikes Near Polish Border; As A Second Ukrainian Mayor Is Reportedly Arrested By Russian Troops

The airstrikes targeted a Ukrainian military airbase located in the Lviv Oblast, some 30 miles from downtown Lviv and only 15 miles east of the Polish border, officials said Sunday.

Death toll following the attack rose to 35 confirmed dead and 134 wounded.

This reportedly appears to be the westernmost attack of the war inside Ukraine. Troops from the U.S. and other countries had just left the Ukrainian base before the invasion. NATO sometimes conducts joint military exercises with Ukraine at the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security training base in Yavoriv.

Troops from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division are stationed near the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, 56 miles from Poland’s border with Ukraine. A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles. Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan.

Meanwhile Russian troops have reportedly arrested a second mayor in Ukraine. Yevhen Matveyev, mayor of Dniprorudne, a city in the Vasylivka Raion of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, was abducted by the Russians, according to Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba.

"Getting zero local support, invaders turn to terror," Kuleba tweeted. "I call on all states & international organizations to stop Russian terror against Ukraine and democracy."

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[Update] Biden Warns: "Direct Confrontation Between NATO And Russia Is World War 3"

As Russian forces bombard Ukrainian cities and the capital Kyiv for the seventeenth day, some western politicians are calling on United States president Joe Biden to do more to help the Ukrainians defend their country.

The president has resisted calls to transfer MiG-29 warplanes to Ukrainian forces.

"I want to be clear: We will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full might of a united and galvanized NATO," Biden tweeted Friday. "But we will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. A direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III. And something we must strive to prevent."

Critics slammed the administration's strategy as 'pre-emptive surrender' to Putin who has threatened nuclear war if NATO intervenes in the war.

Meanwhile Russian forces have reportedly started to make up ground in its attempts to advance on Kyiv.

“There's Russian bombardment and shelling going on quite violently as we speak,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters. “And we do assess that the Russians are beginning to make more momentum on the ground towards Kyiv, particularly from the east.”

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[Update] Russian Forces Advance On Kyiv Despite Fierce Pushback, Deadly Ambush By Ukrainian Forces

Russian forces continue to advance on Ukraine's capital Kyiv despite significant pushback by Ukrainian forces, as the invasion enters its fifteenth day.

A footage taken from a Ukrainian drone, shows he moment when a convoy of Russian forces was ambushed.

The footage shows three Russian tanks in the village of Skybyn before they are joined from the north by at least 20 Russian vehicles, including tanks and a thermobaric missile system, TOS-1A.

The vehicles turn and stop on the north side of the village before artillery shells and rockets begin to explode around them. The closely grouped tanks appear to be thrown into disarray by the attack, eventually turning to retreat from the town.

As they retreat the Russian vehicles bunch up together.

Intercepted radio communication in audio released alongside the video says they have been "ambushed" as multiple strikes hit the column. Ukrainian forces claimed a Russian tank commander, Colonel Andrei Zakharov, was killed during the assault.

Satellite imagery released by Maxar Technologies Thursday, of another large Russian military convoy taken over the past 24 hours near Kyiv shows that it has "largely dispersed and redeployed." The military convoy was last seen northwest of Kyiv near Antonov Airport.

"The large Russian military convoy that was last seen northwest of Kyiv near Antonov Airport has largely dispersed and redeployed," a company spokesperson said. "Armored units are seen maneuvering in and through the surrounding towns close to the airport, elements of the convoy further north have repositioned and are deployed in forests/along tree lines near Lubyanka with towed artillery howitzers in firing positions nearby. Damage to commercial and residential property is seen in and around Kyiv and also in Chernihiv, northeast of Kyiv."

On the diplomatic front, Russian and China are doubling down on claims that the United States is conducting biological weapons research in "biolabs" across war-torn Ukraine.

However Washington calls the claim absurd, and warned of "false flag effort" by Russia to "justify a biological or chemical weapons attack."

Meanwhile in a bizarrely hypocritical move, Big Tech giant, Meta is reportedly making a temporary change on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, to its hate speech policy to allow for calls for violence against Russian soldiers and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Users of the social media platforms in countries including Russia, Poland, and Ukraine will allow some posts calling for violence against Russian troops in the context of the invasion, as well as calls for violence against Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Critics pointed out that while Putin still has an account on these platforms, former U.S. president Donald Trump was banned.

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[Update] U.K. Officials Say Russia Confirmed It Used Thermobaric Bombs; As U.S. Rejects Ukraine's Request For Warplanes

British Ministry of Defense said Wednesday, that Russia has confirmed its use of a thermobaric weapon system, or "vacuum" bombs in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Vacuum bombs disperse explosive material over a large area that uses surrounding oxygen as fuel when it detonates, creating a blast wave that lasts far longer than conventional explosives. Thermobaric bombs are capable of sucking the air out of person's lungs, causing them to fill with liquid, or causing a person's lungs to rupture or explode.

Ukrainian officials had accused Russian forces of using the vacuum bombs in civilian areas. However the allegation could not be independently confirmed.

"The impact of the [TOS-1A] is devastating," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a video. "It can destroy infrastructure and cause significant damage to internal organs and flash burns, resulting in death to those exposed."

The press secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense John Kirby said Wednesday afternoon, that he has seen "no indications" that Russia has used thermobaric weapons in Ukraine.

On another front, the Kremlin has accused U.S. of being involved in biological weapons research at Ukrainian labs, following concerns raised by American officials about security at some labs, as Russian forces bombard Ukrainian cities.

The White House on Wednesday warned that Russia could use "chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine" or could create a "false flag operation" using them.

The director of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ information and press department, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, claimed that in the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia confirmed that Ukrainian leadership was quickly trying to clean up any trace of "military and biological programs" that Ukraine was conducting with financial backing from the U.S.

However a spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly denied the allegations, and a senior U.S. defense official said the claims are part of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Meanwhile as the death toll rises in Ukraine, Zelenskyy has once again appealed to western leaders for help in his country's fight against invading Russian forces. The president in an Instagram post Wednesday, urged the U.S. and Poland to work out a deal and "send us planes" to defend his country's airspace.

However Kirby said Wednesday, that "the transfer of combat aircraft right now could be mistaken by Mr. Putin and the Russians as an escalatory step."

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[Update] Ukrainian City Sustained "Significant Damage" Following Day Of Heavy Bombardment By Russian Forces; As U.S. Sends Patriot Missile To Poland

Western Kharkiv sustained "significant damage" following heavy bombardment as Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its thirteenth day. About 170 people reportedly died in the attack.

The United Nations is estimating that more than 2 million people have fled Ukraine since the onset of the invasion.

United States officials say they were not consulted following reports Tuesday, of Poland’s proposal to send fighter jets to NATO base for use by Ukrainian forces. But officials later announced that U.S. is sending two Patriot Batteries to the NATO ally at the request of the Polish government in a move designed to bolster the country's defense amid tensions with Russia.

"At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander, of U.S. European Command has directed U.S. Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland," European Command Spokesperson Scott Ghiringhelli said. "This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory."

On the diplomatic front, the leaders of both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reportedly declined White House offer to set up a call with President Biden.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the U.A.E.’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan have declined to speak with Biden in recent weeks, a U.S. official told Wall Street Journal, but both leaders did field calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

Apparently Biden wanted to ask the middle east nations to increase their oil and gas output to stem the rise in prices. Left-wing leaders in the west have faced harsh 'I-told-you-so' criticism from conservatives who have been warning against the hypocritical push for unreliable green energy adoption, while relying on countries like Russia for gas and oil supply.

Meanwhile faced with unprecedented sanctions and a plummeting ruble, the central bank of Russia said in a statement Wednesday, that it was suspending the sale of foreign currencies through September.

Russian banks "will not be able to sell foreign currencies to citizens," between March 9 and September 9.

During that window, it will be possible to exchange cash currency for rubles at any time and any amount. But cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts at Russian banks will be limited to $10,000. Any withdrawals above that amount would be converted to rubles at the current exchange rates, the statement explains.

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[Update] Russian Forces Reportedly Shelled Another Nuclear Facility, As Ukraine Claims They Shot Down Two Russian Warplanes

Russian forces on Sunday, reportedly shelled and damaged a second nuclear facility in Ukraine. The facility near Kharkiv reportedly contains nuclear material and reactor that could cause a "'large-scale ecological disaster." Though authorities say there has not been an "increase in radiation levels" at the site.

The attack comes just a day after Russian forces shelled Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia. Attacks on power plants have caused concern about a nuclear outbreak similar to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

As Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its twelfth day, Ukrainian military claimed on Monday, that they shot down two Russian planes over Kyiv. The claim has not been independently confirmed.

Meanwhile Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more sanctions against Russia, in a social media post Monday.

The president also vowed not to leave Kyiv, going so far as to reveal his location as Russian forces continue their assault on the city.

"On Bankova Street," Zelenskyy said. "Not hiding, and I’m not afraid of anyone." Bankova Street is where the presidential offices are located. He at one point defiantly pointed his camera out the window from just across the street from his office, showing that it was nighttime in Kyiv.

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[Update] SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Rejects Calls For Starlink To Block Russian News Sources

Since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine last week, the nuclear-armed nation has faced harsh economic sanctions by many countries including the United States. Companies like VISA, Mastercard, Google, Apple and others have terminated services to and in Russia. Also Russian media outlets like the state-run RT network and Sputnik have been blocked in many countries and on many platforms.

Apparently officials from unnamed countries privately asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to block Russians' access to the Starlink system -- a satellite megaconstellation designed to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet access to regions all over the world, with a focus on remote or underserved areas.

"Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources," Musk wrote on Twitter over the weekend. "We will not do so unless at gunpoint. Sorry to be a free speech absolutist."

The Tesla CEO's stance was widely praised online by conservatives who are wary of Big Tech's unaccountable and totalitarian power over global communication and finance. However as expected many unhinged woke leftists slammed him for not joining their 'cancel culture' crusade against Russians most of whom do not support Putin's war with Ukraine.

Starlink internet is active in Ukraine and the company recently sent antennas and terminals to the country to help restore internet and communications after widespread outages caused by Russia's invasion.

Musk had earlier revealed that SpaceX was shifting its focus to cyber security after some Starlink terminals near conflict areas in Ukraine had their signals jammed for hours at a time. He also warned users in these area to take safety measures.

"Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high," Musk wrote on Twitter. Please use with caution. Please use with caution."

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[Update] Senator Reacts To Backlash Over His Call For Putin's Assassination, As Russia Bans Big Tech, Media Outlets For Spreading Fake News And Misinformation

During Thursday's attack by Russian forces on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station near the city of Enerhodar, Western and IAEA officials warned about safety concerns at the plant. However neoconservative warmongers took the opportunity to double down on their dangerous push for NATO intervention in the conflict. United States senator Lindsey Graham went further, he called for the assassination of Putin.

The senator  referenced Brutus, a Roman politician who killed dictator Julius Caesar, and Stauffenberg, a German military officer who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Graham asked on Twitter. "Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service. The only people who can fix this are the Russian people. Easy to say, hard to do. Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate."

The senator had made similar comments during an appearance on Fox News show Hannity.

Reactions to his comments were swift on social media. Conservatives slammed the senator for trying to drag the U.S. into the war in Ukraine.

Many pointed out Big Tech's hypocrisy in enforcing speech rules, noting that Twitter and other Big Tech platforms wrongly banned former U.S. president Donald Trump for allegedly inciting riots. But in this case, Graham was not suspended by Twitter for calling for the killing of a foreign leader. The social media company told Daily Beast reporter that the senator's tweet didn't violate their terms of service.

Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov called the Graham’s remarks “unacceptable and outrageous,” calling for “strong condemnation” of the “criminal statements.”

“It is impossible to believe the senator of a country that promotes its moral values as a guiding star for all mankind, can afford to call for terrorism as a way to achieve Washington’s goals of the international arena,” the Ambassador added.

Graham later reacted to the backlash during his appearance Friday morning on Fox News' Fox & Friends. While not apologizing as the Russian Ambassador demanded, he said Putin “needs to go to jail,” this time not repeating his assassination threat.

“Mister Ambassador, you are supporting a war criminal in Putin," the senator said. "Your country is engaged in war crimes in front of the entire world. You are bombing innocent civilians, using banned munitions,” Graham said, speaking directly to Antonov. “You have a record — your country does — of dropping barrel bombs on people in Syria. You destroyed Chechnya by massive war crimes. You’re committing war crimes in the Ukraine. You need to apologize to the world for how Putin has stolen your country blind, how they are dismembering a neighboring democracy called the Ukraine. How they are killing innocent men, women, and children — indiscriminate use of force and violation of the Geneva convention. You, my friend, are the one who needs to apologize, and when it comes to Putin — he needs to go to jail.”

In another development Friday, left-wing Big Tech companies and media outlets are 'getting a taste of their own pro-censorship medicine' in Russia. The regime in Kremlin has banned social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter from the country. This is in retaliation to the banning of Russian state-backed media outlets like RT, from these platforms in many Western countries.

Putin recently signed a law banning the spread of 'fake news' by media outlets.

Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor on Friday said it had blocked the websites for the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Deutsche Welle as well as other media outlets. 

"Access has been restricted to a host of information resources owned by foreigners," he said in a statement. "The grounds for restricting access to these information resources on the territory of the Russian Federation was their deliberate and systematic circulation of materials containing false information."

Far-left outlets like BBC, CNN, CBC and ABC have all announced they will suspend operations in Russia, fearing possible legal exposure due to their notorious penchant for spreading 'fake news.'

Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, told The Guardian that Russia’s new law “leaves us no other option than to temporarily suspend the work of all BBC News journalists and their support staff within the Russian Federation while we assess the full implications of this unwelcome development.”

Meta President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said that the company will do "everything we can" to restore Facebook service in Russia.

"Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived from their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out," Clegg lamented. "We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organize for action."

Critics online were quick to point out the hypocrisy: Big Tech platforms censor and deplatform users in the West -- for expressing dissenting views -- but are now apparently opposed to censorship in Russia?

On the news front, British outlet Sky News, shared a video of their reporters coming under in an alleged ambush near Kyiv. Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and four others were traveling in a car near when they were fired upon by soldiers.

In the video, Ramsey and the others could be heard continually shouting that they were reporters. Ramsey and cameraman Richie Mockler were each shot.

Ramsey recounted the incident:

"The first round cracked the windscreen. Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack. Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated."

The reporters survived thanks to their protective flak jackets.

“We didn’t know it at the time, but we were later told by the Ukrainians that we were being ambushed by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad,” Ramsey said. “It was professional, the rounds kept smashing into the car – they didn’t miss.”

The crew eventually escaped the car, were offered refuge in a warehouse, and listened as gunfire continued around them.

Sky News reported the the crew was eventually taken to safety by Ukrainian police officers.

Ramsey recalled being shot:

"But what amazed me was that it didn’t hurt that bad. It was more like being punched, really. It was strange, but I felt very calm. I managed to put my helmet on, and was about to attempt my escape, when I stopped and reached back into a shelf in the door and retrieved my phones and my press card, unbelievably."

Meanwhile as Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its nineth day, the Biden administration is still resisting calls to cut the import of oil and gas from the country. Critics argue that continued purchases essentially help fund Putin’s war.

Even electric car maker and Tesla CEO called for more domestic oil and gas production.

"Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately," Elon Musk wrote on Twitter. "Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. Obviously, this would negatively affect Tesla, but sustainable energy solutions simply cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil & gas exports."

However Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, downplayed the impact that energy sanctions on Russia would have, arguing any such sanctions would hurt America and its allies more than they would Moscow.

"The sanctions are designed … to have maximum impact on Russia and Putin while minimizing harm to us and our partners," Blinken told reporters. "There’s no strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy."

U.S. lawmakers have expressed bipartisan support for cutting imports on Russian oil and gas. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki maintains that energy sanctions remain "on the table."

On another front, Ukraine's President slammed Western leaders for repeatedly ruling out the introduction of a no-fly-zone over his country.

Earlier on Friday in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said allied forces would not move into Ukraine either by land or air. Western officials have argued that a no-fly-zone would oblige the alliance's jets to fire on Russian fighters, potentially sparking World War Three.

"Knowing that new strikes and casualties are inevitable, NATO deliberately decided not to close the sky over Ukraine," Zelenskyy lamented in a video address from the capital city of Kyiv. "Today the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, refusing to make a no-fly zone."

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[Update] Fire Breaks Out Near Ukraine's Largest Nuclear Power Plant As Russian Forces Close In

Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its eight day Thursday, as troops reportedly pummeled the northern city of Chernihiv, where emergency officials said at least 22 civilians had been killed in a residential area. They warned that the number of casualties could grow as rescuers search the debris. The mayor said he was struggling to organize safe passage for civilians.

Russian forces are closing in on one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. A plant manager reportedly said that Russian forces have repeatedly shelled the plant Thursday.

Ukraine’s deputy interior minister Anton Herashchenko, in a Facebook post warned that violence at the power plant could result in a massive radioactive disaster. "Because of [Vladimir] Putin’s madness, Europe is again on the brink of a nuclear disaster," he wrote, sharing images of makeshift defenses in Enerhodar, the city where the power plant is located.

The nuclear power station is Ukraine's largest and one of the largest in all of Europe. It is larger than its more famous counterpart in Chernobyl, containing six nuclear blocks compared to Chernobyl's one. It was reported that some of the shelling hit one of the plant's energy block's, with firefights having a difficult time fighting the blaze because of the ongoing attack.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called the situation at the plant "critical" and implored military units to avoid combat in the area. “The IAEA continues to consult with Ukraine and others with a view to provide maximum possible assistance to the country as it seeks to maintain nuclear safety and security in the current difficult circumstances,” he said in a statement.

On another front, according to Ukrainian officials, Russian Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky was reportedly killed in combat by Ukrainian forces earlier this week. Kremlin-backed Pravda said the 47-year-old was killed "during a special operation in Ukraine." The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear.

TASS news agency reports that Putin appointed Sukhovetsky deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District last year. He was also the head of the 7th Airborne Division, and had served in Syria.

Meanwhile, Ukraine presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak says a meeting Thursday between Ukrainian and Russian officials has ended without a ceasefire deal being reached. “The second round of negotiations is over," he tweeted. "Unfortunately, the results Ukraine needs are not yet available. There is only a solution for the organization of humanitarian corridors...”

Ukraine's President Zelensky Thursday asked for one-to-one talks with Vladimir Putin, saying this is the only way to end the war. He also appealed to the West to "give me planes" to fight invasion.

The European Union Commission announced Thursday, that it will give temporary residence permits to refugees fleeing the violence in Ukraine and allow them to study and work in the 27-nation bloc. Over a million refugees have fled the war-torn country.

"Today’s decision by the European Union to offer temporary protection to refugees fleeing Ukraine is unprecedented," tweeted Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. "It will provide protection to millions on the move. We encourage its swift and broad application."

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[Update] Multiple Explosions Rock Ukraine's Capital, As Russian Attacks Intensify On Key Cities

Explosions have been reported in Kyiv, early hours of Thursday local time. Powerful blasts reportedly went off in the city center, and near a metro station. Air raid sirens have been heard throughout the area.

CBS News International Correspondent Charlie D'Agata was broadcasting live Thursday local time, from a rooftop in Kyiv when explosions shook the city. The veteran reporter initially mistook the explosion for lightning before the sound reached the news team seconds later.

The Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling on Russia to stop the attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy to allow for evacuations of international students, saying the students are currently "hostages" of the Russian regime.

Former US General David Petraeus says Russia would have had absolute supremacy in the air over Ukraine if the West had not sent air defense weapons, supplies and missiles early on. "Russians should have been able to just fly at will, but they are not, because of these systems," he told BBC World News. He also claimed multiple verified reports of downed planes suggest Russian forces have suffered "very significant losses."

At the Prime Minister's Questions in the British parliament Wednesday, Boris Johnson said bombing innocent civilians "already fully qualifies as a war crime."

International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said he was now investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a historical but non-binding resolution Wednesday, condemning the invasion, and demanding that Russia withdraw immediately. It is a symbolic sign of global unity against Putin as only five of the 181 nations present for the vote opposed the measure.

The U.S. along with 140 other nations supported the resolution while 35 nations abstained, including authoritarian regimes like China, Cuba and Iran abstained. Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria voted against the resolution.

Meanwhile according U.S. and European intelligence sources, the Chinese government reportedly asked Putin -- and he agreed -- to delay the invasion of Ukraine until after the Olympic.

Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Feb. 4 just before the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the two countries releasing a statement indicating Chinese support of Russia and denouncing the expansion of NATO. The closing ceremony of the Olympics were held on Feb. 20, with Putin launching the invasion of Ukraine the day after.

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[Update] Explosions Rock Ukrainian Cities, As Russian Forces Surround Kyiv, And The West Ratchets Up Sanctions

As the invasion enters its fifth day, explosions and Russian bombs continue to terrorize innocent civilians in several Ukrainian cities and especially in and around the capital Kyiv.

Russian missile strikes Monday targeted the towns of Vasylkiv, Bila Tserkva and Kalinovka. One five-story dormitory and two five-story residential buildings in the Kyiv region were destroyed resulting in some civilian casualties, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova on Monday, alleged that Russia used a bomb "prohibited by the Geneva convention" in Ukraine. "They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention," he said, after a briefing with members of Congress. "The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large."

Satellite pictures show a long convoy of Russia military forces heading to Kyiv, raising fears of even more deadly escalation. President Vladimir Putin is reportedly frustrated with the slow progress of the operation.

The Ukrainians are bravely fighting back. The country released a video  of a drone destroying a Russian missile system in a village north of Kyiv.

And footage posted online allegedly show tied up "demoralized and exhausted" Russian prisoners of war captured after they failed to break through Ukrainian defenses in Kyiv and Kharkiv over the weekend. Several of the videos were posted on a Telegram channel set up on Saturday by Ukraine's Interior Ministry called "Find Your Own."

Russia has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses in the conflict after several bodies of the Kremlin's servicemen emerged. Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov gave no figures on Russia's dead and wounded but claimed Sunday his country's losses were 'many times' lower than Ukraine's.

However, Ukraine's defense ministry claimed the total number of Russian casualties at 5,300.

Putin had on Sunday, raised the alert status for his nuclear forces ordering the defense minister and the chief of the military's General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces on "special regime of combat duty." 

The unhinged threat of nuclear war however lead many Western nations to double down on their support for Ukrainian forces.

"The language that President Putin has used doesn't actually link to anything of Russian readiness procedure," British defense minister Ben Wallace told Sky News Monday. "It's really, we assess, him putting the deterrent into the communications space, reminding people that he has a deterrent. It's also about distracting the world and the public from what he's actually doing in Ukraine. It doesn't link to anything specific in their readiness structures of their forces."

Meanwhile, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov thanked Elon Musk Monday for delivering Starlink broadband service to Ukraine as the Eastern European country struggles with internet outages. Fedorov appealed to Tesla billionaire last week for help as Russian attacks hurt the country’s digital infrastructure.

Sanctions continue to pile up against Russia and Putin's allies. British foreign secretary Liz Truss said Monday, that all Russian banks would be hit with a full asset freeze within days as she announced new powers to limit them from clearing payments in sterling, which will initially target the nation's largest bank, Sberbank. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote to British ports telling them to turn away any Russian ships. 

Even neutral Switzerland is getting in on the sanctions front. The country announced it was copying the EU's sanctions regime and banning five oligarchs from the country.

U.S. is also ratchetting up its sanctions against Russia. It cut off the Russian central bank, effectively preventing Americans from doing business with it and severely limiting Russia's ability to defend its currency. The U.S. also imposed sanctions on the state investment fund.

Russia's central bank has now more than doubled interest rates from 9.5 per cent to 20 per cent and refused to open the Moscow stock exchange in a desperate attempt to protect its currency and economy.

Despite the measure, Pictures show long lines outside cash machines in Russia today. as fears rise of an economic collapse.

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[UPDATE] Russia-Ukraine war: U.S. Denies Involvement In Any Naval Operations With Ukraine, As Big Tech Belatedly Censors Kremlin Propaganda

As explosions rock Ukrainian cities and more countries step up to send weapons and other material support to the eastern European nation, Russian leaders are apparently frustrated by the slow progress of their brutal invasion forces.

Kremlin claimed that United States was involved in naval operations with Ukraine near the Zmiiny Island.

However in a tweet Saturday afternoon, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that the Russian claims are false. "We did not provide ISR or any other support," he tweeted. "Chalk this up to just one more lie by the Russian Ministry of Defense."

On another front, a cyberattack against Russia, is reportedly underway, and has been going on for three days. Many Kremlin and defense ministry websites were down.

Big Tech platforms have finally taken action against Russia, after facing criticisms for allowing Kremlin to freely spread its war propaganda on western social media.

Citing "extraordinary circumstances" in its reasoning YouTube said it is "pausing a number of channels’ ability to monetize content, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions."

YouTube spokesperson Farshad Shadloo said content from the channels impacted by the decision will also show up less frequently as recommendations, and that content from RT and other Russian channels would not be accessible in Ukraine due to a "government request."

The decision by YouTube follows similar moves by Facebook and Twitter to prevent Russian state media from advertising and monetizing content on its platform.

In a tweet, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of security policy at Facebook, said the company is "now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world. We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. "These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend."

Twitter also announced on Friday, that it has suspended advertisements in Russia and Ukraine: "We’re temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don’t detract from it."

Meanwhile British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday.

The two spoke about the need for the international community to isolate Russia both diplomatically and financially, which includes excluding Russia from the SWIFT financial system, according to a readout of the call from a Downing Street spokeswoman.

Johnson also "paid tribute to the incredible heroism and bravery of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people," according to the readout of the phone conversation. The two agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being met with "a greater Ukrainian resistance than he calculated on."

According to the readout, Johnson and Zelenskyy also "expressed their mutual concern about the role Belarus is playing as a conduit for President Putin's violence."

Zelenskyy said in a tweet that the two also agreed on "further joint steps to counter the aggressor."

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[UPDATE] Biden Announces New Set Of Sanctions On Russia, As Ukraine Arms Willing Citizens To Defend Country

During a press conference Thursday, the United States president said the new set of sanctions is meant to "maximize a long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and its allies."

Biden says the US will stop Russia's ability to finance and grow its military, impact the country's ability to compete in the high tech 21st Century economy.

"We've now sanctioned Russian banks that together hold one trillion dollars in assets," Biden says. "We've cut off one of Russia's largest banks, which holds one-third of the country's banking assets."

Biden also says he is adding to the list of Russian elites and their family members that are sanctioned. "These are people who personally gained from the Kremlin's policies and they should share in the pain," he says.

The sanctions stopped short of cutting Russia off from the global SWIFT banking system. The president says it is not being proposed "right now.," arguing that the sanctions already proposed on all the banks are of equal consequence. He says cutting the country off SWIFT "is always an option but right now it's not the position the rest of Europe wishes to take."

Thousands of US ground and other forces have been deployed to NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Alliance) countries in eastern Europe that feel threatened by Russia, including Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in the Baltic, as well as Poland and Romania.

Biden says that he believes alliance is more united than ever before and that there is "no doubt" the US and other alliance countries will meet their treaty commitments.

In Ukraine, the head of Lviv regional customs Daniil Menshikov late on Thursday announced that Ukraine would not allow men aged 18 to 60 to leave the country.

"An urgent message!! To the attention of citizens!!" Menshikov wrote in a Facebook post. "Due to the military state, men - citizens of Ukraine, aged 18 to 60 will not be released outside our state. Please do not create panic and do not try to cross the border on your own!" He also proclaimed that "victory is upon us!"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that any citizen who wanted to defend the country from Russian attacks would be provided with a weapon. "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country," he tweeted. "Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities."

At least 735 people were arrested Thursday, at anti-war in Russia, including more than 330 in Moscow, according to OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies. Footage from Moscow shows large crowds close to the Kremlin.

Some 2,000 people gathered near Pushkin Square in Moscow and up to 1,000 people in the city of St Petersburg, AFP news agency reports.

Stay on the page for more updates....

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[UPDATE] Dozens Already Dead in The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, As G7 Leaders Convene Virtual Meeting

More than 40 Ukrainian troops and at least 10 civilians have been killed in the hours since Russia launched attacks on the country, officials in Ukraine said Thursday. Images and videos circulating on social media media show the aftermath of the devastating airstrikes in many parts of the country.

Ukrainian commander in chief Lieutenant General Valerii Zaluzhnyi has confirmed the military is fighting Russian forces for control of the airport in the Kyiv region, the Reuters news agency reports.

Hostomel is Ukraine's most important international cargo airport, as well as a key military airbase. It is also the base of the world's largest cargo plane - the Mriya.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has warned airlines to avoid flying over Ukraine. It cautioned airline operators flying in airspace within 100 nautical of the Belarus-Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine borders to exercise "extreme caution."

Flight radar maps Thursday, show that airspace over Ukraine has largely cleared after Russia began its land, sea and air invasion.

United States President Biden held a National Security Council meeting Thursday morning in the Situation Room to talk about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to a White House official.

G7 world leaders including Johnson and Biden are meeting via video conference Thursday, to discuss their next set of sanctions against Russia.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recorded address early morning Thursday local time, said he has decided to green light military operations in Ukraine. “I’ve made the decision to conduct a special military operation," he said. “Our analysis has concluded that our confrontation with these [Ukrainian] forces in inevitable. A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene. Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”

The Russian strongman threatened "consequences you have never seen" to any foreign interference in its operation. Videos circulating online show explosions erupting in various cities in Ukraine including the capital Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised that his countrymen "will defend" themselves.

“This morning Russia launched a new military operation against our state. This is an unjustified deceitful and cynical invasion," Zelenskyy said. "There are strikes on military and other important defense facilities, border units are under attack, the situation in the Donbas has degraded. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, all special and law enforcement agencies of the state are on alert. The National Security and Defense Council is working in an emergency mode. Martial law will be imposed. Civilians of Ukraine should stay at home. Warn your loved ones about what is happening. Take care of those who need help. All thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers. Glory to Ukraine!"

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted early Thursday morning local time, that "Ukraine will defend itself." 

"To Ukrainians around the globe: Putin attacked, but no one is running away. Army, diplomats, everyone is working. Ukraine fights. Ukraine will defend itself. Ukraine will win," he wrote. "Share the truth about Putin’s invasion in your countries and call on governments to act immediately."

President Zelenskyy in another video address, declared martial law Thursday and announced the country had severed diplomatic ties with Russia after the giant neighboring nation launched a military invasion into Ukraine.

The announcement came as images and videos on social media showed Russia troops entering his country.

Russia's attack has been widely condemned by the US and its allies, many of whom are imposing sanctions on Moscow

Responding to the war, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK and allies will "respond decisively."

“I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps,"  Johnson said. "President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction…The UK and our allies will respond decisively." The prime minister later said in a TV address Thursday, that the "hideous and barbaric venture by Vladimir Putin must end in failure."

United States president, Joe Biden in a statement Wednesday local time, said:

"The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable. I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine."

Biden later shared details of his late evening phone call Zelenskyy:

"President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council. He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."

Also, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement Wednesday:

"I strongly condemn Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives," "Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country. This is a grave breach of international law, and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO Allies will meet to address the consequences of Russia’s aggressive actions. We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time. NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all Allies."

The European Union has urged Belarus not to corroborate with Russia.

The prime minister of the Baltic republic of Estonia, bordering Russia, said a number of Nato allies that shared borders with Russia had agreed to launch consultations under Nato's Article 4.

Moldova has declared a state of emergency and is prepared to give help to tens of thousands of Ukrainians. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also said he was signing a state of emergency to be approved by parliament.

The US, EU, UK and Japan have imposed sanctions against leading Russians, Russian banks and MPs who backed the move.