Kyiv: The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday. His statement came even as fighting continued in the streets of Kyiv on Saturday. At least 35 people, including two children, were injured in overnight shelling and fighting in the city, The Guardian had reported earlier quoting the city’s mayor.
As invading Russian forces stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to dispel rumours that he had called upon the army to lay down arms. “This is our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that,” he said in a short video.
Zelensky said that Ukraine has ‘derailed’ Russia’s attack plan, reports news agency AFP. He also urged Germany and Hungary to support cutting Russia from SWIFT. Moreover, he urged Russians to pressure Putin into halting war.
Britain’s defence ministry said on Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.
Britain, which earlier disputed Russian reports that Russian forces had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol, said the Ukrainian military was continuing to put up staunch resistance across the country.
“Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30 km from the centre of the city,” the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.
Russian troops captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Russia’s Interfax news agency said, as Moscow launched coordinated missile and artillery attacks on several cities including Kyiv.
🔴 British armed forces minister James Heappey said Britain did not believe Russian forces had captured Melitopol.
🔴 Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack in the Lviv region near Brody in western Ukraine, Lviv’s mayor was quoted as saying by Telegram messaging service.
🔴 Around 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion, including 9,000 who have entered since 7 a.m. on Saturday, Poland’s Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told a news conference.
🔴 A decision to cut Russia off from the global SWIFT payment system will be taken in a matter of days, the governor of a central bank within the eurozone said.
🔴 Russia will respond to the seizure of money of Russian citizens and companies abroad by seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the security, as saying.
🔴 At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
🔴 France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine to support the country against Russia’s invasion, a French army spokesman said, adding the issue of sending offensive arms was still under consideration.
🔴 Russian energy giant Gazprom said it was supplying gas via Ukraine in line with demand from European consumers despite the military conflict.
🔴 A ship that according to French authorities could belong to a Russian company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine was seized by French sea police early on Saturday, a state official told Reuters.
🔴 Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow the country’s leadership and negotiate peace.
(Photo: A Ukrainian Army soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine.)