LAST UPDATE | 6 Mar 2022
GOOD EVENING AND welcome to our liveblog on what is the eleventh day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
There have been no major overnight developments but heavy fighting is still happening across vast swathes of Ukraine.
In the latest efforts to freeze Moscow out of the world economy, US-based card payment giants Visa and Mastercard announced they will suspend operations in Russia, while world leaders vowed to act over the intensifying onslaught.
Putin has said that these sanctions are an example of how the West is waging its own war on Russia.
Good morning. Garreth MacNamee here with you this morning.
Fighting is continuing across many Ukrainian cities this morning. More peace talks are planned for Monday but the international community is not holding out too much hope for their success.
Here’s a quick round-up of what is happening right now.
The Ukraine port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, said it will begin efforts to evacuate its civilian population, after earlier efforts were scuppered by ceasefire violations.
“From 1200 (10am Irish time) the evacuation of the civilian population begins,” city officials said in a statement, which said a ceasefire was agreed with Russian-led forces surrounding the city.
Russian forces had intensified their shelling of Mariupol, while dropping powerful bombs on residential areas of Chernihiv, a city north of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has confirmed Russian attacks on Ukrainian healthcare settings.
It said these attacks had seen at least six people lose their lives. The WHO has urged Russia to stop launching targeted attacks on hospitals.
.@WHO has confirmed several attacks on health care in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated. Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law. #NotATarget https://t.co/Wdc2jeoHIB
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 6, 2022
Russia has said it has started to limit the sales of essential food to limit black market speculation and ensure affordability.
The trade and industry ministry over the weekend said there had been cases where essential foodstuffs had been purchased “in a volume clearly larger than necessary for private consumption (up to several tons) for subsequent resale”.
The move comes as the sanctions against Russia start to bite.
Here is a selection of images from our colleagues at PA. All the below photos were taken as refugees attempted to cross the Irpin River, just north of Kyiv.
Several Russian oligarchs are currently trying to sort out their own safe passage – not for themselves personally, but for their multimillion euro super yachts.
Italy has seized over €140 million worth of yachts and villas since Friday.
However, the oligarchs are now trying to move their assets without them being seized.
Russian billionaires have had decades to shield their money and assets in the West from governments that might try to tax or seize them.
Most of the Russians on the annual Forbes list of billionaires have not yet been sanctioned by the United States and its allies, and their superyachts are still cruising the world’s oceans.
The ceasefire in Mariupol is currently in place.
Tens of thousands of people will now try to leave the city by this evening.
It comes a day after an agreement to allow civilians to safely evacuate Mariupol yesterday collapsed within hours amid continued shelling. Ukrainian officials said the evacuation was aborted because the city remained under attack.
More now on the news that the UN has estimated at least 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the war started.
Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, tweeted that it is “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”.
Today at Palanca I saw thousands and thousands of people streaming across Ukraine’s border crossing with Moldova.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 4, 2022
Thousands of stories of separation, anguish, and loss.
A difficult day, but much respect for the many dedicated Moldovan officials and people helping the refugees. pic.twitter.com/84dPcFcCPG
In more offbeat news, Hollywood actor Sean Penn has met with the Ukrainian president and said how impressed he was by him.
Actor Sean Penn on meeting with @ZelenskyyUa: "I don't know if he knew that he was born for this, but it was clear I was in the presence of something. [...] This is such an extraordinary moment and I was endlessly impressed and moved by him." https://t.co/VHFeMcyTSW pic.twitter.com/2wy5bYk5NV
— The Hill (@thehill) March 6, 2022
Penn has been travelling across Poland tot he Ukrainian border and documenting the humanitarian crisis unfolding.
Myself & two colleagues walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning our car on the side of the road. Almost all the cars in this photo carry women & children only, most without any sign of luggage, and a car their only possession of value. pic.twitter.com/XSwCDgYVSH
— Sean Penn (@SeanPenn) February 28, 2022
Some breaking news now.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian forces are preparing to shell Odessa, a historic port city on the Black Sea coast.
“This is going to be a military crime. This is going to be a historical crime,” he declared.
Russian forces have made progress in southern Ukraine since their 24 February invasion, overrunning the city of Kherson and besieging the port of Mariupol, but Odessa has so far been largely spared.
President Zelensky, speaking about the potential Russian shelling of the historic city of Odessa.
“Russians have always come to Odessa. They have always felt only warmth in Odessa. Only sincerity. And now what? Bombs against Odessa? Artillery against Odessa? Missiles against Odessa?” he demanded.
Almost a million people live in Odessa, a cosmopolitan harbour on Ukraine’s southern coast with both Ukrainian and Russian speakers and Bulgarian and Jewish minorities.
More than 1,100 people in cities across Russia have been detained at protests Sunday against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, AFP is reporting.
It states that the OVD-Info group said that the latest data shows that 1,103 people had been detained across 35 cities, bringing the total number of demonstrators detained to 9,472 since February 24, when President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine to carry out a “special operation”.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that “never in my life have I seen an international crisis where the dividing line between right and wrong has been so stark”, as he urged world leaders to back his six-point plan to tackle Vladimir Putin.
Writing in the New York Times this morning, he said “Western unity has been impressive and heartening”. But he said: “Have we done enough for Ukraine? The honest answer is no.”
“We must not allow anyone in the Kremlin to get away with misrepresenting our intentions to find post-facto justification for their war of choice,” Johnson wrote.
“We have failed to learn the lessons of Russian behaviour that have led to this point. No-one can say we were not warned: we saw what Russia did in Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014 and even on the streets of the British city of Salisbury. And I know from speaking to my counterparts on recent visits to Poland and Estonia just how acutely they feel the threat.
“It is no longer enough to express warm platitudes about the rules-based international order. We are going to have to actively defend it against a sustained attempt to rewrite the rules by force and other tools such as economic coercion.”
Pope Francis has deplored what he termed the “rivers of blood and tears” flowing in Ukraine following the Russian invasion and demanded the creation of humanitarian corridors for refugees.
“Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine. This is not just a military operation but a war which is sowing death, destruction and misery,” said the Pontiff during his weekly address to crowds in the Vatican’s St Peter’s square.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appealed for an urgent general ceasefire in Ukraine when he spoke today with Putin by telephone, Erdogan’s office has said.
The two heads of state spoke several days ahead of a diplomatic forum in the southern city of Antalya on 11-13 March that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to attend.
If you’re just checking in, here are the latest developments today so far:
With over 1.5 million refugees fleeing the conflict since Russia invaded, here’s a look at where Ukrainians are seeking safety.
Ukrainian authorities are currently making a second attempt to evacuate civilians from the southern city of Mariupol which has been pounded by a week-long Russian attack.
Russia blocks large independent news outlet Mediazona over war coverage
One of the last remaining independent media outlets in Russia, Mediazona, said it had been blocked by authorities for its reporting on Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Roskomnadzor began blocking Mediazona,” the outlet said in a statement, referring to Russia’s communications regulator. “Because we cover honestly what is happening in Ukraine and call the invasion an invasion, and the war a war,” it said.
The statement added that Russia has in recent days introduced “military censorship and there are almost no independent media left in the country.”
Earlier this week Ekho Moskvy radio station and the Dozhd TV channel – two of Russia’s landmark liberal media outlets – were either dissolved or suspended operations. Dozens of media workers and independent outlets – including Dozhd – have already been designated “foreign agents” by authorities, and many reporters and editors have been forced to quit the country.
Mediazona is an independent online publication that writes about court cases and abuses of prisoners’ rights, among other subjects. The outlet was founded in 2014 by Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina after they served prison time for mocking Putin in church.
Vinnytsia airport in central Ukraine destroyed by Russian strike: Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says that Russian rockets have struck and completely destroyed Vinnytsia regional airport in west-central Ukraine.
Терміново! pic.twitter.com/P99C5UJlte
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2022
The head of the UK armed forces Admiral Tony Radkin has said that it was “unlawful and unhelpful” for Britons to go and fight against Russia in Ukraine.
His comments contradict British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who said she supported anyone who wanted to volunteer and follow an appeal for foreign fighters to come to Ukraine from President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We’ve been very clear that it’s unlawful as well as unhelpful for UK military and for the UK population, to start going towards Ukraine,” Chief of the Defence Staff Radkin told BBC television.
“Support from the UK, support in whatever way you can. But this isn’t really something that you want to rush to, in terms of the sound of gunfire.”
Crowds continue to gather outside the Russian embassy in Dublin.
News is filtering through there about the attack on the Vinnytsia Airport.
Another great crowd outside the Russian embassy in Dublin protesting Putin’s war against Ukraine. As I type this, Russia has bombed and destroyed an airport in Vinnytsia with eight massive missiles. Putin must be stopped. pic.twitter.com/4lA6oT1szl
— Sean Pollock (@SeanPollock44) March 6, 2022
Latest tweet here from official Ukrainian Parliament Twitter account.
‼️ Urgent appeal by President @ZelenskyyUa: a missile strike on #Vinnytsia consisted of eight missiles; the airport is completely destroyed.
— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (@ua_parliament) March 6, 2022
The President called on the world to close the skies over #Ukraine and provide Ukraine with aircraft. pic.twitter.com/0s8nUneRZP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the US is “working actively” on a deal with Poland to supply Ukraine with jets to fight invading Russians.
The deal, according to reports, could involve Poland handing over its existing MIG-29s, a Soviet/Russian-made jet fighter Ukrainian pilots are familiar with, and the US would then provide its F-16 fighters to Poland as replacements.
US officials, including Blinken, had downplayed the possibility of any Nato country supplying besieged Ukraine since the beginning of this week.
Some new developments this afternoon.
French President Emmanuel Macron held new telephone talks with Vladimir Putin today.
The call, which a presidential official said lasted 1 hour 45 minutes and was at Macron’s request, was the fourth time they had spoken since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Israel’s Prime Minister has said his country has a “moral obligation” to help stem fighting in Ukraine even if chances of success were “not great”, after shuttle diplomacy that saw him visit the Kremlin.
Naftali Bennett met for three hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin yesteday, before flying to Berlin to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Bennett, acting after Kyiv asked him to launch a dialogue with Moscow in the wake of Russia’s invasion, has also held three phone calls in 24 hours with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking before his weekly cabinet meeting, Bennett said he could “not expand further” on his talks, but that Israel would press on with its diplomatic efforts “as needed”.
Closer to home now, Minister James Browne has said the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland could exceed 80,000.
Browne said the exodus of people from Ukraine was on a scale not witnessed in Europe since the end of the Second World War.
The updated estimate on the number of refugees expected in Ireland comes amid government efforts to bolster domestic grain production in response to the anticipated significant disruption of supply lines from Ukraine and Russia.
Putin in a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron blamed Kyiv for failed civilian evacuations from the key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol which is surrounded by Russian troops, the Kremlin said Sunday.
Putin “drew attention to the fact that Kyiv still does not fulfil agreements reached on this acute humanitarian issue,” according to a statement from the Kremlin, after two agreements to evacuate Mariupol fell though following allegations of ceasefire breaches.
Washington has seen “very credible reports” that Russia has committed war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine, particularly in attacking civilians, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“We’ve seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians, which would constitute a war crime,” Blinken told CNN talk show State of the Union.
But President Joe Biden’s top diplomat also hailed the resilience of the Ukrainian people and said Russian leader Vladimir Putin was “destined to lose” the war that has already claimed hundreds of lives, including civilians.
"We've seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians…"
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) March 6, 2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells CNN's @jaketapper the US is investigating and documenting reports of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians that could constitute war crimes. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/yEP2NeFw0W
Here’s a summary of the situation on the ground in Ukraine, based on statements from the sides, Western defence and intelligence sources and international organisations.
Kharkiv remains in Ukrainian hands despite intense bombardments, according to Western sources.
Russian forces are also pressing an offensive through the Russian-backed separatist Donetsk and Lugansk regions although how far they have penetrated remains unclear.
There has been heavy fighting around and inside the city of Sumy in northeast Ukraine, where Kyiv said there was intense Russian shelling and efforts underway to extract foreign students.
Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control, despite heavy bombardments, although Western observers have pointed to a major Russian column of hundreds of vehicles outside the city stationed around the Hostomel airfield.
There has been heavy fighting in the vicinity of Hostomel but the column has made little progress in recent days.
Ukrainian forces also retain control of the northern town of Chernihiv where there have been heavy civilian casualties in recent days.
Russia has besieged the strategic southern city of Mariupol and the International Committee of the Red Cross said a new attempt to evacuate an estimated 200,000 civilians from the city had failed.
Taking the city would give Russia chance to link forces pushing north from the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea with their forces from the east.
The famed port city Odessa remains in Ukrainian control and has been for now spared fighting. But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was aware of intelligence that Russia planned to bomb the city.
Russian forces last week took the southern city of Kherson, just north of the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, and now appear to be moving on Mykolayiv to the northwest.
The west of Ukraine remains largely spared from the fighting. The main western city of Lviv has become a hub for foreign diplomatic missions, journalists and Ukrainians seeking safety or seeking to leave the country.
Zelensky said the civilian airport in the central city of Vinnytsia was completely destroyed by Russian rockets, in an area far from the limit of the Russian ground advance.
Russia said Wednesday that 498 Russian troops had been killed in Ukraine, its first announced death toll.
Ukraine and Western sources claim that the real toll is far higher. Ukraine says around 11,000 Russian soldiers have been killed.
The UN said Friday it had recorded nearly 331 civilian deaths in Ukraine, although the true toll could be far higher.
Over 1.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine in the week since the invasion, with over half going to Poland, according to the UN refugee agency.
The President of the European Council Charles Michel said closing Ukraine’s airspace could spark a world war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on Nato countries to stop the Russian onslaught on his country by imposing a no-fly zone. Western leaders have refused for fear of triggering a wider war in Europe.
Deploying fighter jets over Ukraine could “in current circumstances” be considered as “Nato’s entry into the war and therefore risk World War III,” Michel said in an interview with the public broadcaster France Inter.
Michel denied that economic sanctions against Russia constitute “a war of the EU or Nato against Russia”.
Putin has linked the West’s economic punishment for his invasion of Ukraine to “declaring war” on Moscow. Michel said European and American allies imposed sanctions “to create pressure and hurt the (Russian) regime”, not the people.
La fermeture de l’espace aérien ukrainien serait, "dans les circonstances actuelles, considérée comme une entrée en guerre de l’Otan, et donc un risque de 3e guerre mondiale ", explique Charles Michel, président du Conseil européen#QuestionsPol pic.twitter.com/NTXXdEfKes
— France Inter (@franceinter) March 6, 2022
Johnson tells Zelenskyy he’ll work with partners to provide further defensive equipment
Boris Johnson told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that “the British people stand fully behind the Ukrainian people” when the pair spoke this afternoon.
Downing Street said Johnson told his counterpart that “international support and admiration for President Zelensky and the whole of Ukraine grows every day”.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The leaders discussed the increasing threat Russia’s barbaric attacks pose to Ukrainian civilians and the Prime Minister underlined the UK’s determination to ensure Putin fails.”
Johnson spoke about the support offered by the UK and his six-point plan outlined over the weekend, and the spokesperson said: “The leaders discussed the urgent needs of the Ukrainian armed forces and the Prime Minister undertook to work with partners to provide further defensive equipment.
“The Prime Minister and President Zelensky also discussed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, precipitated by Russia’s indiscriminate attacks and ceasefire breaches.”
Johnson also promised to continue to press other countries to take further action to remove Russia from the Swift payment system.
“The leaders agreed to continue speaking to ensure the wishes of the Ukrainian people are at the forefront of the international response going forward,” the spokesperson said.
Putin tells Macron Russia to reach aims through ‘negotiation or war’
Further updates on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call with his French counterpart are coming in now.
Putin told Emmanuel Macron this afternoon that Moscow planned to achieve its aims in Ukraine either through diplomacy or military means, the Elysee said.
Russia would reach its objectives in Ukraine “either through negotiation or through war”, Putin told Macron according to a French presidential official, adding the Russian president also pledged “it was not his intention” to attack Ukrainian nuclear sites.
Russia has warned Ukraine’s neighbours including NATO member Romania against hosting Kyiv’s military aircraft, saying they could end up being involved in an armed conflict.
“We know for sure that Ukrainian combat aircraft have flown to Romania and other neighbouring countries,” defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a video briefing.
“The use of the airfield network of these countries for basing Ukrainian military aviation with the subsequent use of force against Russia’s army can be regarded as the involvement of these states in an armed conflict.”
Twin cities
Dublin City Councillors are set to vote tomorrow on a motion seeking to have Dublin twinned with Kyiv.
If passed, the motion would also see the Ukrainian flag fly over City Hall and the Mansion House.
Cllr Ray McAdam said he hoped the twinning of Dublin and Kyiv will create the basis for helping them to rebuild when the war is over:
“Hopefully other European capitals might follow suit so that cities, as well as countries, can work together in helping the people of Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has renewed calls for a no-fly zone to be imposed over the country.
Sharing a photo of what he says is an unexploded Russian bomb that fell on the city of Chernihiv, Kuleba asked the international community to “do something”.
“Help us protect our people from Russian barbarians! Help us close the sky. Provide us with combat aircraft. Do something,” he tweeted.
This horrific 500-kg Russian bomb fell on a residential building in Chernihiv and didn’t explode. Many other did, killing innocent men, women and children. Help us protect our people from Russian barbarians! Help us close the sky. Provide us with combat aircraft. Do something! pic.twitter.com/3Re0jlaKEL
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 6, 2022
UK denies French charge of turning Ukraine refugees away
Britain’s Home Secretary Priti Patel has insisted the UK is “doing everything possible” to speed up efforts to grant visas to Ukrainian refugees as it was revealed only around 50 have been approved so far.
France yesterday accused Britain of an inadequate response and lacking humanity in assisting Ukrainian refugees who are seeking to join family in the UK from the French Channel port of Calais.
The Home Office said “around 50” visas had been given the green light under the Ukraine Family Scheme as of 10am today.
“Let me just correct what has been said by the French government. The British government is not turning anybody around or turning anybody back at all,” Patel told reporters.
“And I think it’s really important to emphasise that, particularly at this time, when all nations across Europe must work together to help and support people in need and fleeing Ukraine at this awful, awful time.”
Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant under the control of Russian forces
The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine is now under the control of the Russian forces that took site by force on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed.
Regular staff are continuing to operate the Zaporizhzhya plant, however, any action of plant management – including measures related to the technical operation of the six reactor units – requires prior approval by the Russian commander, Ukraine’s nuclear regulator informed the IAEA.
IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed “grave concern” over this development, noting that Russian forces at the site had switched off some mobile networks and the internet “so that reliable information from the site cannot be obtained through the normal channels of communication”.
“Less than 24 hours after Ukraine’s regulatory authority said it had been able to maintain communications with Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant, it today said the phone lines, as well as e-mails and fax, were not functioning anymore. Mobile phone communication was still possible, but with poor quality,” the watchdog said.
The AIAE added that despite these communication issues, the regulator was able to provide updated information about the operational status of the Zaporizhzhya NPP and to confirm that radiation levels there remained normal.
#Ukraine informs IAEA that regular staff continue to operate #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, but plant management is now under orders from commander of Russian forces controlling site. DG @RafaelMGrossi deeply concerned with latest developments. https://t.co/TDZlLpV10f
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 6, 2022
Communications lost with institutions using category 1-3 radiation sources, says UN nuclear watchdog
The International Atomic Energy Agency says that communications have also been lost with all enterprises and institutions in the port city of Mariupol that use Category 1-3 radiation sources.
The Ukrainian regulator told the IAEA that there was no information about their status, with the watchdog explaining that such radioactive material can cause serious harm to people if not secured and managed properly.
Bolshoi music director Tugan Sokhiev quits
The Bolshoi Theatre’s music director and principal conductor Tugan Sokhiev announced his resignation today, saying he felt under pressure due to calls to take a position on the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian said in a statement he was resigning “with immediate effect” from his post at the Moscow theatre as well as his equivalent position at France’s Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.
Sokhiev was appointed by the Bolshoi in 2014. He was brought in as part of moves to improve the theatre’s image after scandals including the 2013 acid attack on its then-artistic director Sergei Filin.
He comes from the same North Ossetia region of Russia as star conductor Valery Gergiev and is considered to be his protege. Kremlin loyalist Gergiev has been stripped of his role at the Munich Philharmonic for failing to denounce Russia’s actions.
Sokhiev said he decided to resign after “being forced to face the impossible option of choosing between my beloved Russian and beloved French musicians”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is heading to New York tomorrow to participate in a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations on Europe’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Coveney is set to participate in an open debate at the UN Security Council on the theme of Women, Peace and Security. A spokesperson for the Minister said he will be highlighting the grim reality currently facing women and girls in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed earlier reports that a second ceasefire attempt in Ukraine has again not been upheld.
In an intelligence update posted on Twitter, it said: “For the second day in a row, a ceasefire agreement to enable the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol failed. The ceasefire was scheduled between 10:00 and 21:00 local time, but the agreement was violated within hours of its planned implementation.”
The update said that Russian artillery strikes on the port city “have likely remained at the high level seen in recent days”.
It added: “As with yesterday, Russia has accused Ukraine of breaking the ceasefire agreement. This is probably an additional attempt to diminish responsibility for civilian casualties caused by continued Russian strikes on the city.”
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 06 March 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 6, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/mOTvCHV5KX
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/IpG3Kf2o72
American Express suspending ‘all operations’ in Russia, Belarus
American Express says it is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus in light of the “unjustified attack on the people of Ukraine”.
The US credit card and payments giant said that globally issued American Express cards will no longer work at merchants or ATMs in Russia while cards issued locally in Russia by Russian banks will no longer work outside of the country on the American Express global network.
American Express said it was also terminating all business operations in Belarus.
“One of our company values is to “Do What is Right.” This principle has guided us throughout this difficult crisis and will continue to do so, as we stand by our colleagues, customers, and the international community in hoping for a peaceful resolution to this crisis,” it said in a statement.
Denmark to vote on lifting EU defence opt-out over Russia tensions
Denmark will decide whether to scrap its opt-out from part of EU defence policy in a referendum to be held 1 June in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country’s prime minister has said.
“Historic times call for historic decisions,” Mette Frederiksen told a press conference, adding that the government “very clearly calls on Danes to lift the opt-out on defence”.
Denmark’s opt-out, one of four EU special arrangements negotiated by the Scandinavian country, sees it abstain from participation in EU military operations and from providing support or supplies to EU-led defence efforts.
Today, Frederiksen also pledged to increase the country’s defence spending to two percent of GDP, in line with NATO membership requirements, by 2033, calling it the “largest investment in recent decades”.
The Social Democrat leader also expressed a wish to make Denmark “independent of Russian gas”, but did not specify a time frame.
Boris Johnson has been urged to tell a powerful parliamentary committee everything he knows about Russian-born media mogul Evgeny Lebedev’s elevation to the House of Lords.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has written to Johnson following a report in The Sunday Times which alleged that security services withdrew an assessment that granting a peerage to the Moscow-born son of an ex-KGB agent posed a national security risk after Mr Johnson personally intervened.
The newspaper reported that intelligence provided by MI5 and MI6 to the House of Lords Appointments Commission via Cabinet Office security officials initially said there could be a national security threat, but this was later withdrawn.
TikTok suspending posting of new videos from Russia
Social media giant TikTok has announced it is suspending the posting of all video content from Russia in order to keep its employees safe and comply with the country’s new “fake news” regulations.
“In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law,” the company said in a Twitter message, adding that its in-app messaging service will not be affected.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed into law a bill introducing jail terms of up to 15 years for what is deemed fake news about the Russian army, as Moscow pushes forward with its invasion of Ukraine.
1/ TikTok is an outlet for creativity and entertainment that can provide a source of relief and human connection during a time of war when people are facing immense tragedy and isolation. However, the safety of our employees and our users remain our highest priority.
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) March 6, 2022
Two members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces got married at a checkpoint in Kyiv earlier today.
Photos show a military chaplain leading the wedding ceremony for Lesia Ivashchenko and Valerii Fylymonov amidst the conflict, while others show fellow volunteers congratulating and throwing rose petals over the newly married couple.
As we wind down this liveblog for the evening, here are the latest developments so far today:
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