LAST UPDATE | 1 Mar 2022
HERE ARE THE latest developments as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for a sixth day.
Good morning, to kick things off here’s a quick update on the latest from the situation in Ukraine:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has left London for Warsaw where he is due to meet with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Boris Johnson is set to discuss the UK’s financial and diplomatic support for central Europe as it faces the prospect of a humanitarian crisis.
Following the meeting he is set to fly to Estonia, where he will meet with leaders in Tallinn before visiting serving troops alongside Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.
British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab warned Vladimir Putin could respond to resistance in Ukraine with “even more barbaric tactics”.
He told Sky News: “We know that Putin will react to this, or we fear that he will react to this, with even more barbaric tactics, that’s why we must be prepared that this could be a long haul.
The former foreign secretary added: “This is turning into a much, much more perilous misadventure for Putin than I think he realised and it has a demoralised effect on Russia forces and it has had the effect of steeling the will of the Ukrainian people.
“That’s how we will ensure Putin fails in Ukraine and we’re there for the long haul.”
"This could be a long haul".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2022
Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab says UK sanctions have "had an impact" on Russia but fears Putin will respond with "more barbaric tactics".https://t.co/X3flQUBL0r
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/iZHqvv3W4B
Here’s a look at Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory around Kyiv as of yesterday:
The Russian army has reached the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, near Moscow-controlled Crimea, and is setting up checkpoints on its outskirts, the city’s mayor has said.
“The Russian army is setting up checkpoints at the entrances of Kherson,” mayor Igor Kolykhayev said on Facebook. “Kherson has been and will stay Ukrainian,” he said.
Kherson has a population of around 280,000 and lies north of the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Russia claimed to have besieged the city on Sunday.
As noted in our first post this morning, a huge Russian military convoy is massing on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital today.
These satellite images show a long build-up of armoured vehicles and artillery starting 29 kilometres north of the city.
The column is more than 65 kilometres long and covers the entire road from near Antonov airport outside Kyiv to the town of Prybirsk, US satellite imaging company Maxar has said.
The US is expelling 12 members of Russia’s UN mission from America for being “intelligence operatives”. This has prompted a furious response from Moscow, which denounced what it called a “hostile move”.
A spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN said those ordered to leave had “abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security”.
“We are taking this action in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement. This action has been in development for several months,” said the spokeswoman, Olivia Dalton.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia – who has not been targeted for himself for expulsion – informed reporters of the decision first in a highly unusual way.
While giving a press conference ahead of the UN meeting, Nebenzia asked reporters for a minute to answer a telephone message. He then revealed that he had just learned of the expulsion order issued by the United States.
A Russian diplomatic source later told AFP that the expulsion decision did not target either the ambassador or his two senior deputies, Dmitry Polyanskiy and Anna Evstigneeva.
“It’s bad news,” said Nebenzia, adding that the staff in question were to leave the country by 7 March.
The Russian mission to the UN has around 100 staff, according to a Russian diplomatic source.
Warner Bros, Sony Pictures and The Walt Disney Company say they are pausing the release of films in Russia in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Warner Bros said it was pausing the release of it’s highly anticipated superhero blockbuster The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz.
Sony Pictures also announced the postponement of its films in Russia including vampire-superhero flick, Morbius.
As well as pausing the release of its films, Disney said it would work with its NGO partners to provide “urgent aide and other humanitarian assistance” to refugees.
Statement from The Walt Disney Company in response to the crisis in Ukraine: pic.twitter.com/avf6HoECPt
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 1, 2022
British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has warned Vladimir Putin and his commanders must be held accountable for any war crimes during Moscow’s siege on Ukraine.
He told Sky News: “Those that engage in war crimes will be held to account.”
He said it must be clear to “both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow and on the ground in Ukraine that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war”.
"Those that engage in war crimes will be held to account."
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2022
Dominic Raab says that 'starving Putin's war machine' with sanctions is 'having the effect that we want', when asked why the West are not doing more.https://t.co/X3flQUBL0r
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/1uOYXhQER0
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said himself and his wife are “grateful” to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, “that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens”.
“Good will triumph.”
Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge @RoyalFamily that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia's invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. Good will triumph.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2022
The central square of Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv has been shelled by advancing Russian forces – hitting the building of the local administration – regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said.
“This morning the central square of our city and the headquarters of the Kharkiv administration was criminally attacked,” Sinegubov said in a video on Telegram.
“Russian occupiers continue to use heavy weaponry against the civilian population,” he said, adding that the number of victims was not yet known.
Google has announced it is blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately.
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we’re blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. It’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.
— Google Europe (@googleeurope) March 1, 2022
AFP is reporting that the eastern Ukraine city of Mariupol has lost electricity following Russian attacks.
The launch of a joint Europe-Russian mission to Mars this year is now “very unlikely” due to sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine, the European Space Agency has said.
The agency said after a meeting of officials from its 22 member states that it was assessing the consequences of sanctions for its cooperation with Russia’s Roscosmos space agency.
“The sanctions and the wider context make a launch in 2022 very unlikely,” for the Europe-Russia ExoMars rover mission, the agency said in a statement.
The launch was already postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and technical problems.
The goal is to put Europe’s first rover on the red planet to help determine whether there has ever been life on Mars.
ESA statement regarding cooperation with Russia following a meeting with Member States on 28 February 2022:
— ESA (@esa) February 28, 2022
👉 https://t.co/vsujS7GQ1a
This tweet from Sky News shows a missile causing extensive damage to a government building in central Kharkiv.
A missile has caused extensive damage to a government building in central Kharkiv, in Eastern Ukraine.https://t.co/X3flQUBL0r pic.twitter.com/SuCGP9Mr7e
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2022
Boris Johnson’s flight has arrived at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
The British Prime Minister was met by James Hughes, minister-counsellor and acting deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Poland’s capital.
Johnson was then taken by motorcade to meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Johnson is set to discuss the UK’s financial and diplomatic support for central Europe as it faces the prospect of a humanitarian crisis.
Following the meeting with the Polish Prime Minister, he is set to fly to Estonia, where he will meet with leaders in Tallinn before visiting serving troops alongside Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.
Ukraine’s ambassador and diplomats from a wide number of countries have staged a walkout this morning as Russia’s foreign minister addressed the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
The diplomats got up and left the room when Sergei Lavrov’s pre-recorded video message began to play, in protest against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said Russia will continue the offensive in Ukraine until its “goals are achieved”.
“Russian armed forces will continue to conduct the special military operation until set goals are achieved,” he told a press conference aired on state television.
He said Moscow aims to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine, as well as protect Russia from a “military threat created by Western countries”.
An Indian student has been killed in shelling in Kharkiv this morning, India’s foreign minister has confirmed.
“Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022
Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.
Good morning, Rónán Duffy here to continue our coverage on the Russian attack on Ukrainian cities and the international reaction.
We mentioned earlier that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in Warsaw to meet with the Polish Prime Minister.
Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki is now speaking alongside Johnson, he says that sanctions on Russia are what is needed along with “the strengthening of the flank of NATO” as they are the “buffer zone” between Russia and the rest of Europe.
Poland is a member of NATO, as are three other countries that border Russia: Latvia, Estonia, and Lituania.
Johnson says it is clear that Putin is “prepared to use barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians, to burn tower blocks and to send missiles into tower blocks”.
He pays tribute to “the leadership and courage” that is being shown by (Ukrainian President) Zelensky.
“I think he’s inspired and mobilised not only his own people but he’s inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage of what is happening in in Ukraine,” Johnson says.
He adds: “I think that Vladimir Putin has also underestimated the unity and resolve of the west and the rest of the world. “
A crucial decision taken by NATO member Turkey over the weekend to declare what is happening in Ukraine as “a war” is taking effect.
Declaring it as a war meant that Turkey can restrict Russian warships from using the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits which link the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Turkey says it cannot completely block Russian ships from using the stairs as a clause in the Montreux Convention exempts ships returning to their registered base.
The restrictions on Russian ships is reportedly now causing them delays, however.
Turkey's restriction of Russian vessels in the Black Sea is already taking effect:
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) March 1, 2022
At least 4 Russian warships are currently waiting to enter from the Mediterranean
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaoike has been speaking to UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
He says that it appears that Russia’s aim so far has been “take over some of the smaller towns and regional centres”.
He’s asked about civilian casualties:
“I just talked to two people in our Kiev administration, they’re still still trying to get an understanding from under the rubble, the bodies and people wounded. In the one attack on the military establishment 70 people were killed in one in one building. So the losses are enormous, we’re trying not to publicise this losses for obvious reasons. But civilian casualties, we will have update very soon we’ll be able to share with you.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to address the European Parliament by videolink in the next 30 mins as part of his push for the country’s EU accession.
Ahead of that aadress he’s released a video in which he describes Russia’s shelling of Kharkiv as a “war crime”.
“The strike against Kharkiv is a war crime. This is state terrorism on the part of Russia,” Zelensky said.
On the sixth day of Russia’s invasion, “the defence of the capital today is the key priority for the state,” he added.
On the potential for Ukraine’s entry to the EU, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that while he favours an accelerated process for prospective EU members, he was unsure whether Ukraine could join “immediately”.
“I don’t know whether it can be done immediately. But I certainly would be a proponent and supporter of accelerating it and making it very clear that they can become members of the European Union,” he said.
On his way into a Cabinet meeting today, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said that “other countries” are also looking for EU membership.
“I think we have to be careful not to forget those who’ve also been looking for membership for a long time. My own view is that Europe will be strengthened by further additions, I think we have to manage that. Obviously, we have to make sure the rule of law and all the other basic fundamental rules of the EU are in in place,” he said.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “shattered peace in Europe” by invading Ukraine, adding that the Western defence alliance would defend “every inch of our territory”.
“President Putin has shattered peace in Europe. Allies condemn the unjustified and brutal invasion of Ukraine. The Russian assault is totally unacceptable, and it is enabled by Belarus,” Stoltenberg said while on a visit to Poland’s Lask airbase.
“Our commitment to Article 5, our collective defence clause, is iron-clad. We will protect and defend every inch of NATO territory,” he added alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Just to reaffirm, NATO says that while it will defend its members it will not enter the conflict. Poland confirms it will not be sending fighter jets.
Polish President Andrzej Duda says during an event with NATO sec gen @jensstoltenberg that Poland will not be sending any jets to Ukrainian airspace. Stoltenberg also reiterates that NATO will not enter the conflict.
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) March 1, 2022
Zelensky due to address European Parliament imminently.
Roberta Metsola, President of European Parliament introduces him:
Mr. President, thank you for showing the world what it means to stand up. Thank you for reminding us about the dangers of complacency. Everyday acts of extraordinary heroism by Ukrainians inspire us all.
You can watch Zelensky’s speech live here:
Metsola:
“We welcome Mr. President, Ukraine’s application for candidate status and we will work towards that goal because we will because we will and we must face the future together.”
“This European Parliament has a long, proud history of being a thorn in the side of autocrats and in this spirit I will seek a ban on any representatives of the Kremlin from entering European Parliament’s presences because aggressors and warmongers have no place in the house of democracy.”
Metsola:
Unfortunately, we must fight the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign and I call on social media and tech conglomerates to take their responsibilities seriously and to understand that there is no being neutral between the fire and the fire brigade.
She concludes:
President Zelensky. Thank you. We are together now, we will be together in the future, because we are with Ukraine. Thank you.
Here is Zelenksy, he’s speaking in Ukrainian but is being translated.
I’m very happy what I’ve seen here now and heard here now I’m very glad to sense this mood. That unity, ‘m happy that we have unifying today all of you all the countries of the European Union.
It’s a tragedy for me to tell you of the Ukrainian tragedy for our state. I mean this price, this high price very high. Thousands of people killed…..and five days of full scale invasion from the Russian Federation you know.
This morning was a very tragic one for us. Two cruise missiles hit Khakiv, a city which is located to the borders of the Russian Federation. There were always many Russians there, and they’re always friendly. There were warm relations. There are more than 20 universities there. It’s the city that has the largest number of universities in our country.
“This is the largest square in Europe and that’s true. This is called the Freedom Square. Can you imagine this morning to cruise missiles hit this Freedom Square?”
Zelenksy ends an emotional address with his hands on his chest. Stadium ovation from MEPs in the European Parliament:
Our people are very much motivated, so we are fighting for our rights, for our freedoms, for our life. We’re fighting for survival. And this is the highest of all motivation. But we are facing also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that’s exactly why we are in the European Union.
President of the European Council Charles Michel says that EU must “take seriously” Ukraine’s application to be a member of the EU.
He says that Russia is guilty of “geopolitical terrorism” by violating international law in its invasion of Ukraine
“The rules-based international order, democracy, human dignity are also under attack. This is geopolitical terrorism, pure and simple,” Michel told the European Parliament.
More from Michel on Zelensky’s request:
It will be up to us as a European Union to act in accordance with the times, it’s going to be difficult. We know there are different views in Europe. There are various views on the subject and it’ll be up to the European Commission to produce an opinion on the basis of which the Council will take his responsibilities on board.
“The council will have to seriously look at the symbolic, political and legitimate request that’s been made. And we’ll have to make the appropriate choices in a determined and clear headed manner.”
An update on the Russian attack on Khakiv’s Freedom Square.
Emergency services have said that at least 10 people were killed with many others injured.
“At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 were injured,” the regional emergency services said in a statement, adding that 10 people had been discovered alive under rubble as rescue workers cleared debris.
Regional governor Oleg Sinegubov earlier said that the central square of our city and the headquarters of the Kharkiv administration “was criminally attacked” this morning.
ITV News reporter Dan Rivers is at the scene of the devastation. He says that it appears that Russia has “switched tactics”.
Exclusive: inside Kharkiv’s devastated Freedom Square pic.twitter.com/vdvkQghDHm
— Dan Rivers (@danriversitv) March 1, 2022
Back home, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said the expected number of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland may need Irish families to open up their homes to provide temporary accommodation.
Coveney said the conflict was the first war that has “played out on social media”.
I think as Irish people watch what’s happening to Ukrainians and they’re horrified by it and they want us to be working with our EU partners and indeed other partners to respond to that in solidarity.
“And we are. So we know we’ve already announced a 10 million-euro humanitarian package. I expect we’ll do a lot more than that. We’ve waived any requirements for visas for Ukrainians to come into Ireland, and they’re going to get effectively a special refugee status when they get here for up to three years to be able to work and live here, effectively as EU citizens.”
Coveney says Irish families may he asked for open up their homes for a temporary period. pic.twitter.com/juISTDHmSZ
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) March 1, 2022
Coveney also said the EU would suffer as a result of the sanctions against Russia.
“The extent of the sanctions that are now in place or being put in place are extraordinary measures that mean that the EU is going to suffer as a result of these sanctions, as well as Russia,” he said.
“I think the humanitarian response that Ireland will need to be central to and part of, I think will also demand a level of solidarity and support and generosity and emotional connection with a country that’s just being torn apart at the moment.”
A tearful Ukrainian journalist who fled over the border has confronted Boris Johnson with demands for Britain to enforce a no-fly zone over her country to protect civilians from Russian bombs.
Daria Kaleniuk emotionally argued to the British Prime Minister at a press conference in Warsaw, Poland, this afternoon that allies from the Nato defence alliance are wrong to rule out the step out of a fear of provoking a nuclear war with Vladimir Putin.
“Nato is not willing to defend because Nato is afraid of World War Three but it’s already started and it’s Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit,” the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre civil society organisation told Johnson.
Incredibly powerful moment at Boris Johnson’s press conference in Poland pic.twitter.com/QHgWfjjrHv
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) March 1, 2022
Johnson directly apologised to Kaleniuk for the “tragedy and suffering” because of the Kremlin’s invasion but ruled out allies enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine because of the disastrous consequences that could follow UK forces engaging in combat with Russians.
Kaleniuk had told him: “Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky. Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the rights to protect our sky, we are asking for a no-fly zone.
“What’s the alternative for the no-fly zone?
“You are talking about more sanctions, Prime Minister, but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned, he’s in London, his children are not in the bombardments, his children are there in London.”
The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for $1.7 billion to provide urgent humanitarian aid to people caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and refugees fleeing the fighting.
The UN estimates that 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection, while it projected that more than four million Ukrainian refugees may need help in neighbouring countries in the coming months.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “a moment of truth for Europe” and the future of the continent is at stake, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has said.
“The destiny of Ukraine is at stake, but our own fate also lies in the balance,” the European Commission president told the European Parliament.
As part of the EU’s response, she said, Brussels would provide €500 million in extra funding to help deal with the “humanitarian consequences” of the war, including the flow of refugees into the bloc.
We cannot take our security for granted. We have to stand up for it.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 1, 2022
We will use our budget to purchase and deliver weapons to a country under attack - €500 million to support 🇺🇦 defense.
This will be matched by at least €500 million from the EU budget for humanitarian aid. pic.twitter.com/884DOIJdvw
Russian troops and pro-Moscow rebels have linked up in a key region along the Azov Sea coast in eastern Ukraine, a defence ministry spokesman has said.
Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that rebels had “joined the military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which took control of the regions of Ukraine along the coast of the Sea of Azov”.
The UK cannot waive visas for people fleeing from Ukraine as it must protect national security, Home Secretary Priti Patel has said.
Patel responded to calls for visa waivers by telling MPs that “Russian troops are seeking to infiltrate and merge with Ukrainian forces” and that there are “extremists on the ground” in Ukraine.
The UK Home Secretary added: “Given this and also Putin’s willingness to do violence on British soil, and in keeping with our approach which we have retained consistently throughout all emergency evacuations including in Afghanistan, we cannot suspend any security or biometric checks on people we welcome to our country.
“We have collective duty to keep the British people safe and this approach is based on the strongest security advice.”
President Michael D Higgins has said “a great sense of darkness has fallen across the world at the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine”.
In a statement this afternoon, he said: “The violence must stop. Troops must be withdrawn by Russia. The rise of militarism must end. Full humanitarian access must be given to all civilians in need.”
You can read his statement in full here:
“That we have returned to war, the abuse by the powerful of its neighbour, the flagrant violations of the principals of the United Nations, a great sense of darkness has fallen across the world at the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine.
“The hearts of the Irish people go out to all of those who are suffering from this completely unacceptable, immoral and unjustified violence. Our television screens carry images of all those mothers and babies crossing borders in order to flee the mayhem which is being inflicted upon them by an invading powerful neighbour operating with total disregard for the principles of international law, and of those brave Ukrainian people struggling to defend their homes and country.
“This violence must stop. Troops must be withdrawn by Russia. The rise of militarism must end. Full humanitarian access must be given to all civilians in need. Every glimmer of hope through diplomacy must be seized. Humanity had achieved one of its most significant axis of cooperation with the agreements on Climate Change, the Sustainable Development Goals. Now, as we hear reports of the perilous level to which the planet has come, in some aspects near irreversible, we must not allow ourselves to be mired in militarism.
I call on all those inflicting this violence to reflect on that great principle that is lodged in the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and its affirmation that “recognition of the inherent dignity, and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”.
These times, these events, however challenging are times for diplomacy, for multilateralism and for our international institutions. At times like these, it is essential that the peoples of the world come together and demand the peace that in the Charter of the United Nations was not only an alternative to war, but where our best hopes for humanity lie.
I call on everyone to use the tiny glimmers of hope which we have seen to bring this dreadful nightmare to an end and restore peace.”
Russian troops will carry out an attack on the infrastructure of Ukraine’s security services in Kyiv and urged residents living nearby to leave, the defence ministry has said.
“We call on … Kyiv residents living near relay nodes to leave their homes,” defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said Ireland will “take all actions short of military action to support them”.
He said Ireland will provide financial and humanitarian assistance, such as medicines, equipment and supplies.
“We’re making a full contribution to the peace facility. It’s just that the Irish money will be used to pay for fuels and flak jackets and helmets, rather than lethal weapons,” Varadkar said.
I'm joined by Tánaiste and @FineGael leader @LeoVaradkar who says Ireland "will take all actions short of military action to support" Ukraine.
— RTÉ News at One (@RTENewsAtOne) March 1, 2022
He says Ireland will "make a full contribution to the EU peace facility" by paying for flat jackets "rather than lethal weapons".
Tanaiste @LeoVaradkar says Ireland has military neutrality but is not politically neutral.
— RTÉ News at One (@RTENewsAtOne) March 1, 2022
However, he says due to Russia's attack on Ukraine "we have to ask ourselves" about the "EU security architecture" and that "we need proper consideration and thought" to our defence plans.
These images show damage caused by shelling in Brovary, on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Leaders Questions kicked off shortly after 2pm with Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Russian assault is “a criminal affront to the civilised world”.
She added that any justification of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions being a response to NATO “are without foundation”.
Leaders Questions begins with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. @MaryLouMcDonald says the assault by Russia is "a criminal affront to the civilised world".
— Rónán Duffy (@ronanduffy_) March 1, 2022
Adds that any justification of Putin's actions being a response to NATO "are without foundation" pic.twitter.com/awJLOqz4P6
Speaking during Leaders Questions, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Putin is a “bully and a thug” who has “unleashed an unprovoked and unjustifiable war on the people of Ukraine”.
He said it’s “unimaginable” that there’s a convoy of Russian troops and heavy military equipment “grinding its way towards Kyiv”.
Taoiseach raises Ireland's role in accepting refugees:
— Rónán Duffy (@ronanduffy_) March 1, 2022
"The biggest challenge facing us as a country I believe, is that we must be very, very generous in terms of the refugee crisis that will undoubtedly flow as a result of this war."
Taoiseach repeating the govt's position on expelling diplomats.
— Rónán Duffy (@ronanduffy_) March 1, 2022
He says such a response "should be in concert with our European partners".
Taoiseach says there are "six individuals" working in the Irish Embassy in Moscow pic.twitter.com/6fO8LskSfG
The Department of Foreign Affairs has tweeted reminding people that it is operating a dedicated Ukraine Consular Crisis Line on +353 1 6131700.
“Please only call this line in relation to consular support for Irish citizens in Ukraine so that we can assist them as effectively as possible,” the Department said.
“Our travel advice for Ukraine remains unchanged: We strongly advise that you do not travel to Ukraine for any reason,” it said.
“If in Ukraine, shelter in a secure place. If safe to do so, depending on your location and local circumstances, consider leaving Ukraine.”
Our travel advice for Ukraine remains unchanged: We strongly advise that you do not travel to Ukraine for any reason
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) March 1, 2022
If in Ukraine, shelter in a secure place. If safe to do so, depending on your location & local circumstances, consider leaving Ukraine https://t.co/TyCnHZPCL8
The Kyiv Independent is reporting that an explosion has been heard in Kyiv.
It says air raid sirens went off a minute later.
⚡️Explosion heard in Kyiv.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022
Air raid sirens went off a minute later, reminding residents to head to the nearest shelter.
If Putin achieves his goal of ousting the government in Kyiv, the humanitarian and rights crises in Ukraine “will only get worse”, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned.
“If President Putin succeeds in his stated goal of toppling Ukraine’s democratically-elected government, the human rights and humanitarian crises will only get worse,” Blinken told the UN Human Rights Council in a video address.
'Russia is carrying out a premeditated and unjustified attack on Ukraine'
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2022
Antony Blinken claims reports of Russia's human rights abuses and violations of international law "are mounting by the hour".https://t.co/X3flQUBL0r
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/ZVaXUHcMow
Ukraine says eight people dead in Russian strike on a Kharkiv housing block, AFP is reporting.
Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has said Russia had gone from being a “difficult neighbour to a rogue state”.
At a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nato’s Jens Stoltenberg, she also said Belarusian troops were also part of the invasion force in Ukraine.
“There’s no doubt Belarus is a co-aggressor in this conflict,” she said.
Russia has gone from a "difficult neighbour to a rogue state", says Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, adding that there is also no doubt that Belarus is a "co-aggressor in this conflict".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2022
Latest: https://t.co/X3flQUBL0r
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/31ZJ2ba8zM
Speaking at the Tapa military base in Estonia, Boris Johnson said: “It’s clearer, day by day, from the way the Ukrainians are responding, that President Putin has made a disastrous miscalculation.”
Russian troops have not been welcomed into Ukraine but instead have faced “astonishing and tenacious resistance”, the British Prime Minister said.
“We as the international community have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians in their efforts,” he said.
“That is why the UK has trained 22,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces and why we have provided further defensive military support to Ukraine.”
Boris Johnson has clarified that Britain is not actively supporting UK volunteers going to join the fight against Russia in Ukraine.
An Estonian journalist asked Johnson about what she suggested was the UK Government supporting volunteers joining the fight, to which the Prime Minister replied:
“I’m going to be very clear about this because you’re not quite right in what you say about supporting volunteers going to fight, the UK is not actively doing such a thing.
“But I understand of course the feelings of people who feel emotionally engaged in this conflict because I cannot think of a time in international affairs when the difference between right and wrong, between good and evil, has been so obvious.
“I can understand why people feel as they do but we have laws in our country about international conflicts and how they must be conducted.
“NATO is a defensive alliance. I think for any NATO member to get involved actively in conflict with Russia is a huge step which is not being contemplated by any member.”
That’s all from myself, Hayley Halpin, for today.
My colleague Lauren Boland will keep you updated on all the latest on Ukraine for the next while.
Thanks Hayley. This is Lauren here signing on.
In the last 20 minutes, a strike hit, or hit near, the 385m-tall TV Tower in Kyiv.
The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Ukrainian TV channels have stopped broadcasting.
Earlier today, Russia indicated that troops would attack the infrastructure of Ukraine’s security services in Kyiv.
A spokesperson for Russia’s defence ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said: “We call on … Kyiv residents living near relay nodes to leave their homes.”
The Kyiv TV Tower, which was built in 1973, is used for radio and television broadcasting.
Here’s a photo of it and the surrounding city from May 2021:
Ukraine’s interior ministry has said that the blast damaged equipment and channels will not work for a while, but that the structure of the tower is intact.
Lot’s of us are wondering what we can do to help people in Ukraine.
Dóchas, the Irish association of development NGOs, has put together a list of organisations with appeals open to donations.
“Irish people have shown great compassion and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We would encourage people to provide cash donations to organisations who are working on the ground with emergency response teams in the Ukraine or in border countries,” a spokesperson said.
“Donating cash, rather than physical items, allows organisations to source relief items locally, ensuring quality and quick delivery to those who need them.”
Here’s the list of appeals:
World Athletics has banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from events “for the forseeable future, with immediate effect”.
Upcoming events include the World Athletics Championships Oregon 22, the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, and the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22, which begin on Friday in Oman.
Uefa and Fifa made a similar decision yesterday, banning Russia from competing in the World Cup and international football competitions.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) is setting up its emergency response in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, including Russia and Belarus.
Teams are present in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia to provide humanitarian assistance, with teams being dispatched to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
In a statement, MSF said its emergency teams have arrived at the Polish-Ukrainian border and are trying to get essential staff and supplies into Ukraine.
“With active fighting ongoing, determining the true extent of medical needs in Ukraine remains challenging. MSF is preparing for a range of scenarios, which will allow us to step up our response.
Our teams at the Ukraine-Poland border checkpoints are seeing people cross over on foot, in cars and on buses, many tired and exhausted, and some with children as young as 25 days old.
“Many of those crossing the Polish border told us they spent long hours in queues in freezing temperatures. Some were dehydrated and others suffered from hypothermia. We have donated basic shelter items to a reception shelter in Poland and are working to step up our response.”
Ukraine’s President and Foreign Affairs Minister are drawing comparisons between the strike on the Kyiv TV Tower today and a Nazi attack in the same area during World War Two.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at least five people have been killed.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, whose department will be responsible for helping Ukrainians that travel to Ireland, spoke in the Dáil this afternoon.
“Since I introduced the Visa waiver on Friday, a total of 143 Ukrainians have arrived in the state up to 6pm yesterday,” the minister said.
However, it should be noted that many of those who travelled were already resident in the State and had travelled back to the State for reasons other than escaping the conflict in Ukraine.
“We will keep the situation under review as events transpire.”
Minister McEntee said she briefed Cabinet this morning on discussions that she has had with “EU Justice and Home Affairs colleagues on what we can do, as well as the potential implications of the invasion of Ukraine”.
“These include the need to be vigilant against potential security issues as well as cyber threats,” she said.
“Here in Ireland, we have already lifted Visa requirements to allow Ukrainian people who want to seek safety here to do so as quickly and easily as possible.”
President Michael D Higgins has published a video expressing solidarity with people in Ukraine.
“The hearts of the Irish people go out to all of those who are suffering from this completely unacceptable, immoral and unjustified violence,” President Higgins said.
“A great sense of darkness has fallen across the world at the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine.”
He said that Russia must withdraw its troops and that the “rise of militarism” must end.
The full written version of his message is here.
Here’s a powerful image of an animal keeper, Kirilo Trantin, comforting an elephant at Kyiv Zoo as Russian forces strike the capital.
One of the first repercussions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine last week was the halting of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipline.
The Switzerland-based company behind the project is now “insolvent” and has laid off more than 100 staff, AFP is reporting.
The Economist has carried out a statistical analysis of anti-war posts.
It found that out of over 50,000 Twitter and Instagram posts that used the hashtag #нетвойне, Russian for ‘no war’, 7,120 had a geographic location, and 3,495 of these were marked as posted from within Russia.
They came from Russia’s 50 largest cities, across all 11 time zones and in 83 out of 85 federal subjects.
Russia is blocking an independent TV channel and a liberal radio station over what it describes as “false information” about the invasion of Ukraine.
The prosecutor general ordered Russia’s media watchdog to “restrict access” to the Dozhd TV channel and Ekho Moskvy radio, AFP reports.
Russian nuclear submarines sailed off for drills in the Barents Sea and mobile missile launchers roamed snow forests in Siberia after President Vladimir Putin ordered his nation’s nuclear forces put on high alert over tensions with the West over the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s Northern Fleet said in a statement that several of its nuclear submarines were involved in exercises designed to “train manoeuvring in stormy conditions”.
It said several warships tasked with protecting northwest Russia’s Kola Peninsula, where several naval bases are located, would join the manoeuvres.
Great.
In the latest bout of ‘Twitter: the European war edition’:
Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, responded on to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire’s comments that the EU would unleash an all-out economic and financial “war” against Russia.
Today, some French minister has said that they declared an economic war on Russia. Watch your tongue, gentlemen! And don’t forget that in human history, economic wars quite often turned into real ones
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) March 1, 2022
More on the reaction of Russians to the war.
A growing stream of Russians leaving for Armenia as a temporary refuge, fearing a crackdown at home. I know of art curators, designers, McKinsey advisors and PhD students who left for Yerevan, which is rapidly turning into a new Istanbul of the White Russians in 1918.
— Grigor Atanesian (@atanessi) March 1, 2022
And if you’re wondering why they’re not fleeing to Azerbaijan…
Azerbaijan not likely to benefit from this wave of Russians seeking to escape dictatorship because, well... pic.twitter.com/R4a6SH0IZI
— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) March 1, 2022
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe attended a virtual meeting of G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in his capacity as the President of the Eurogroup.
The G7 Finance Ministers meeting focused exclusively on the developments in the Ukraine from Russia’s unwarranted aggression and opened with a short meeting with the Minister for Finance of Ukraine, Serhiy Marchenko.
Discussions centred on the implementation of sanctions and the impact of these sanctions to contain the conflict.
“As the Russian aggression continues against Ukraine, our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people, who are showing remarkable courage and resilience in the face of an unjustified, unprovoked and immoral attack on their country. This is not only an attack on Ukraine. It is an attack on the free and democratic world, values at the core of our European Union. The Union stands strongly united in protecting our common freedoms, values and rule of law, which are fundamental to our success as a Union.
“The EU has taken decisive action to hold Russia accountable. Our first priority is to implement those sanctions and finance ministers are acting urgently to do this. The costs of these actions will emerge over the coming weeks and months and be different for different Member States. The EU is united with our institutions as we respond to this test.”
The International Court of Justice said it would hold genocide hearings over the war in Ukraine on 7 and 8 March.
“The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 March 2022,” the court said in a statement.
Some analysis here from AFP on why Russia might not be using the skies during the invasion (though it’s still possible in the days to come):
Air defences deployed in Kyiv and in other cities are in good shape, leaving the Russians with the hard choice of launching high-altitude attacks and risk carnage among the civilian population, or coming in low at the risk of being shot down.
“You get the feeling that Putin is pursuing contradictory objectives,” said Pierre Razoux, head of research at the FMES strategic research foundation. “On the one hand he’s showing off his power, but on the other hand he hasn’t yet crossed some lines, such as taking a city whatever the cost may be.”
Justin Bronk, aviation expert at the British RUSI think tank, said he suspected a possible lack of precision guided munitions (PGMs) available to Russian pilots may also be a factor in the attack delay.
“This not only indicates a very limited familiarity with PGMs among most Russian fighter crews, but also reinforces the widely accepted theory that the Russian air-delivered PGM stockpile is very limited,” he wrote.
According to strategic intelligence research service Janes, Russia’s air force comprises 132 bombers versus none for Ukraine, 832 fighter jets against 86 for Ukraine, and 358 transport planes against 63 for Kyiv. For drones, Ukraine has 66 and Russia 25.
More updates, on the financial squeeze currently on Russia:
Putin has banned taking more than $10,000 of foreign currency out of the country in cash https://t.co/TJx6RaKZad
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 1, 2022
Here’s a solid extract for you from our FactCheck newsletter:
FactCheck newsletter: Russia is fighting an 'Information War' - and it's spread to Ireland https://t.co/km5b8KD1wW
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) March 1, 2022
“In recent weeks, Vladimir Putin has leaned on disinformation narratives about Ukraine and its treatment of those in the Donbas region to justify the Russian invasion.
“He has parroted a claim that has been made repeatedly over the years that Ukraine is carrying out “genocide” in Donbas. On the eve of the invasion, he suggested that Ukraine was about to attack the region and initiated a mass evacuation of its residents before approving a move to send in Russian troops as ‘peacekeepers’. And as 150,000 Russian troops amassed near Ukraine’s borders, Russian media painted NATO as the aggressor and suggested the country would not have felt threatened if the bloc had not broken its promise not to expand east, even though such a promise was never made.
“In his speech announcing the war, Putin continued to lie about Ukraine’s history as he justified his country’s attack on a sovereign nation. He falsely suggested that modern Ukraine is a Nazi state that is a hotbed of far-right groups, despite evidence to the contrary. And he further claimed that Ukraine has no right to exist as a modern state because it is historically a Russian country, when the reality is far from the truth.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has spoken to Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
(1) Have just spoken to Prime Minister of #Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 1, 2022
He thanked Ireland for our solidarity, political, economic and humanitarian support in the face of Russian aggression... pic.twitter.com/tzDDEQyB2h
PM Shmyhal told the Taoiseach that the situation on the ground in Ukraine is extremely difficult, with adults and children being killed in indiscriminate attacks.
“We agreed that politics and dialogue is the only way to end the violence,” the Taoiseach tweeted.
“I told Denys Shmyhal of our strong support for EU enlargement and Ukraine’s application for membership. The PM reiterated the leadership’s determination to stay in Ukraine and uphold the rights of its people.”
This is interesting: a former foreign minister of Russia calls on Russian diplomats to resign over the invasion of Ukraine.
“Dear Russian diplomats, you are professionals and not cheap propagandists. When I worked at the Foreign Ministry, I was proud of my colleagues. Now it is simply impossible to support the bloody fratricidal war in Ukraine.”
I call on all Russian diplomats to resign in protest.
— Andrei V Kozyrev (@andreivkozyrev) March 1, 2022
Уважаемые дипломаты России, вы профессионалы а не дешёвые пропагандисты. Когда я работал в МИДе, я гордился своими коллегами. Сейчас просто нельзя поддерживать кровавую братоубийственную войну в Украине.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy poses after an interview with Reuters in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas pic.twitter.com/voSzwA3Kny
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) March 1, 2022
We’re going to leave the Liveblog there for the day. If you want to catch up on the latest, you can follow our main points piece here, or keep an eye on the site for bigger news.
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