LAST UPDATE | 10 Mar 2022

INTERNATIONAL LEADERS AND Ukraine have accused Russia of a “barbaric” attack on a children’s hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol, as civilians continued to bear the brunt of the conflict two weeks into Moscow’s invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 35,000 civilians had managed to flee cities under Russian attack yesterday, but there was little relief in Mariupol where the mayor said relentless bombardment had killed over 1,200 civilians in the nine-day siege.

Here are the main points you need to know today:

• The Journal’s Niall O’Connor reported from the Polish border and in the frontier town of Przemysl.
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described an attack on a maternity hospital and children’s ward in Mariupol as a war crime. At least 17 women were injured in the attack. Women were in labour inside the hospital, Ukraine said.
• Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was added to the UK sanction list, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced this morning.
• High-level peace talks took place today in Turkey between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, but no progress was made on a proposed 24-hour ceasefire.
• Yesterday, at least 35,000 civilians were able to leave the cities of Sumy, Enerhodar and areas around Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
• The UK’s Ministry of Defence says Russia has confirmed the use of thermobaric rockets – often called vacuum bombs – in Ukraine and is also “likely” deploying private mercenaries.
• Residents of Orwell Road in Dublin, where the Russian embassy is based, are expected to be consulted on a proposal to change the name of to Independent Ukraine Road. 
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin is travelled to France for an informal summit of the European Council, where he said it’s “possible” that Irish Defence Force personnel would be sent to the Ukrainian border to help with the escalating humanitarian crisis.
• A Conservative MP in the UK has been accused by a senior colleague of spouting “utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile” over Ukrainian refugees.
• Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney warned that Ireland is facing an increased threat of cyber attacks.
• Modular homes on State land are among ‘emergency measures’ being considered for Ukrainian refugees.

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