According to Belarus’ most prominent human rights organization, more than 500 people were detained in Belarus because they protested against Russia’s invasion.
The Viasna human right center released the names Sunday of 530 people in Belarus detained by the Viasna. These were among the 12 cities where protests against the war took place.
Demonstrators carrying Ukrainian flags marched through the city’s capital, Minsk. At the Embassy of Ukraine, a large pile of flowers grew.
Russia has been supported by the authoritarian Belarusian government in this conflict.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian Interior Ministry claims that 352 civilians from Ukraine were killed in Russia’s invasion. This includes 14 children. According to the ministry, an additional 1,684 people including 116 children have been injured.
The statement of the ministry on Sunday did not provide any details about casualties in Ukraine’s armed forces.
Russia claims that its troops only target Ukrainian military facilities, while claiming that Ukraine’s civilian population are not at risk.
Russia has not provided any details about the casualties of its troops. Russian Defense Ministry only acknowledged that Russian soldiers had been wounded and killed on Sunday. It did not give any details.
___
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian President Jairbolsonaro said that his government would remain neutral in the face of Russia’s invasion Ukraine.
Bolsonaro claimed that he spoke for two hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday to discuss the war. He also assured Putin that Brazil would maintain a neutral position. Later, Brazil’s foreign ministry stated that Bolsonaro had not spoken to Putin on Sunday but was referring instead to the two-hour meeting he had with him during his visit to Moscow earlier in the month.
Brazil’s ultra-conservative president stated Sunday that he doesn’t want to “bring all the consequences of the war” to Brazil.
Bolsonaro stated that Russia does not intend to commit any mass murders, and that “90%” of the Ukrainian population wants to be closer to Russia.
Brazilian President Volodymyr Zeleskyy also criticised the Ukrainian President. He said that people had “entrusted their fate to a comedian.”
___
WASHINGTON — In a package that was approved Friday by the White House, the U.S. has now approved direct delivery to Ukraine of Stinger missiles.
Although the exact delivery date is unknown, officials claim that the U.S. is currently working to coordinate the logistics. Officials agreed to discuss the developments if they were not named.
This decision follows Germany’s announcement of 500 Stinger missiles, as well as other weapons and supplies, to Ukraine.
High-speed Stingers can be used to take down helicopters or other aircraft. Ukrainian officials are asking for more powerful weapons.
Since January, the Baltic countries have been providing Stingers to Ukraine. However, they had to obtain permission from the United States.
___
TORONTO — Canada will send additional $25 million of military equipment to Ukraine to assist in its defense against Russian invasion.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said that the equipment included helmets, gas masks, and night-vision gear.
She claims it will travel through Poland in order to reach its destination as fast as possible.
Anand said that Canada will provide cybersecurity experts to help Ukraine “defend their networks against cyber attacks which are becoming an increasingly important part of modern-day war.”
___
UNITED NATIONS — On Monday, the U.N. Security Council voted to allow the 193-member General Assembly a special session regarding Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.
On Sunday, Russia voted against an emergency meeting, China and India voted for it, while the United Arab Emirates voted no. The vote was identical to Friday’s resolution calling for Moscow to immediately cease its attack on Ukraine, and to withdraw all troops. Russia used its veto to defeat the resolution.
Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya requested that the General Assembly meet under the so-called “Uniting for Peace Resolution”, initiated by the United States, and adopted in November 1950 to avoid vetoes from the Soviet Union during Korea War.
This resolution allows the General Assembly to call emergency meetings if the Security Council is unable or unwilling to act due to a lack of unanimity among five permanent members, the United States of America, Russia, China and Britain.
—-
MOSCOW — On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow advised Russian citizens to leave Russia immediately as many airlines have halted flights and other countries have closed their skies to Russian planes.
“U.S. “U.S. citizens should consider leaving Russia immediately using commercial options still available,” said the Embassy in a statement posted on its website.
Recent U.S. officials have advised Americans not to travel into Russia and warned that they could not assist in the evacuation of Americans.
In an earlier alert, it was recommended that Americans make contingency plans for how to leave the country in case of emergency.
Sunday’s announcement by the European Union that their airspace was closed to Russian flights was made by the European Union
—
NEW YORK CITY — New York Gov. On Sunday, Kathy Hochul signed an executive directive prohibiting her state’s business dealings with Russia. It also prohibits her state from doing business with Russia.
The governor spoke out during a press conference at Albany to say that her state will also accept refugees from the besieged nation. Hochul stated that New York has the largest Ukrainian population in America.
She said, “If you are looking for a place to live, we will help integrate you into our community.”
These economic sanctions are similar to those imposed by President Joe Biden in order to siphon resources from Russia’s government. The Russian government launched its long-awaited invasion of Ukraine last Thursday.
It is unclear how Hochul’s decision will help in the global effort by the Russian government to force Vladimir Putin from power to withdraw.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — As Russian troops approach the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv’s mayor is filled with pride at his citizens’ spirit, but also anxious about how long they will last.
Interview with The Associated Press, Sunday. After a long night of Russian attacks on the outskirts, Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that there was no plan to evacuate civilians if Russian troops were to take Kyiv.
He said, “We cannot do that because all avenues are blocked.” “Right now, we are encircled.”
The city of 2.8million people reacted initially with concern and a bit of self-possession to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. But nerves began to fray when grocery stores closed and the famously deep subway system made its stations bomb shelters.
According to the mayor, nine civilians were killed in Kyiv so far, one of them a child.
___
NEW YORK — There are early signs of serious economic consequences for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine three day ago. Official Russian ruble quotes remained unchanged at 84 rubles per dollar. However, Tinkoff, an online Russian bank, offered an unofficial exchange rate for 152 rubles during the weekend.
Russian videos showed long lines of Russians trying withdraw cash from ATMs. The Russian Central Bank issued an appeal for calm in an attempt to prevent bank runs. Also, reports indicated that Visa and Mastercard are no longer being accepted by international bank accounts.
Amanda DeBusk, a partner at Dechert LLP, stated that banks and credit card companies that deal with Russia are now in lockdown mode due to the rapid pace and increasing bites of sanctions.
Analysts believe Russia could have to declare a bank holiday or close down branches temporarily to safeguard its financial system.
Adam Tooze, a Columbia University history professor and Director of The European Institute, said that if there is a banking panic of any kind, it can lead to a crisis. “A rush to dollars by the Russian general population moves things into a new realm of financial warfare.”
___
MOSCOW — Sunday’s statement by the Russian military in Ukraine claimed that some of its soldiers were killed and others were injured. This was the first admission that the Russian army had suffered casualties since the invasion.
Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson, stated Sunday that “there are dead and injured among our comrades.” He did not give any figures but said that Russia’s losses were “many time” less than those of Ukraine.
This was the first time that Russian military officials had mentioned casualties on their side. According to Ukraine, its forces have killed 3500 Russian soldiers. Konashenkov said that the Russian military had also attacked 1,067 Ukrainian military facilities since Thursday’s attack, including 27 command posts, communication centers and command post, and 38 air defense missile systems and 56 radar stations.
The claims of Konashenkov and the allegations by Ukraine that it killed thousands of Russian soldiers can’t independently be verified.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — On Sunday, hundreds protested Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite the fact that the authoritarian Belarusian government sided with Moscow, the protests took place.
At least 12 Belarusian cities were affected by the anti-war demonstrations. Human rights activists reported that over 170 people had been detained. Demonstrators carrying Ukrainian flags marched through the capital, Minsk. At the Embassy of Ukraine, a large pile of flowers grew.
___
JERUSALEM — Since the Russian invasion began, approximately 2,500 Ukrainian Jews applied to become Israeli citizens.
The Jewish Agency for Israel handles immigration issues and has received more than 5,000 inquiries. The agency stated that approximately half of those who have asked to immigrate right away.
A Jewish community of approximately 43,000 lives in Ukraine. Under Israel’s Law of Return (which extends citizenship to any person with one Jewish grandparent), approximately 200,000 Ukrainians are eligible to immigrate to Israel.
___
TORONTO — Canada joins many European countries in closing their airspace to Russian aircraft, as the West intensifies pressure on Russia in order to invade Ukraine.
Omar Alghabra, Transport Minister, stated Sunday that Canada would hold Russia responsible for its unprovoked aggressions.
Many European countries have either declared that they will close their airspace, or stated they plan to do so. To date, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, and Spain have not joined the Russia-rejecting move.
___
BRUSSELS — A top official in the European Union’s migration department says that more than 300,000.00 Ukrainians fleding war have entered 27-nation bloc over recent days. He warns that Europe must be prepared for millions of migrants.
Ylva Johansson, EU Home Affairs Commissioner, is urging the bloc’s interior ministers to meet on Sunday to activate a special protection mechanism that was established 20 years ago to deal with influxes.
She said that “we have to prepare even larger numbers and that we have to prepare to provide support to the Ukrainians fleeing.”
This protection system was created in response to the wars in Kosovo and former Yugoslavia, in which thousands were forced from their homes. It has never been used. It allows for residence permits for a set time and offers the possibility of employment, housing, social welfare, treatment for medical conditions, education for children, and other benefits.
___
ATHENS — According to authorities, Greece has sent ammunition, assault rifles, and missile launchers to Ukraine as a response to a request from the Ukrainian government.
At a Sunday morning meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitchells and top defense officials, the military aid was agreed upon.
The equipment was delivered to Poland by a C-130 aircraft, which arrived in Poland on Monday, according to a Defense Ministry official. A second plane will be arriving later.
According to a spokesman, two more planes carrying humanitarian aid like blankets and food left Athens International Airport in order to fly to Poland.
___
GENEVA — The World Health Organization warns that oxygen supplies, which are vital for fighting COVID-19 and other diseases, have reached a “very dangerous” point in Ukraine because of transportation problems in the aftermath of Russia’s military invasion. This could lead to thousands of deaths.
“The vast majority of hospitals will run out of oxygen within 24 hours. Some hospitals have already exhausted their oxygen reserves. In a joint statement, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and WHO Europe Regional Director Dr. Hans Kluge made Sunday afternoon in Europe.
They claimed that patients were at greater risk from power and electricity shortages as well as the possibility of ambulances being caught in the crossfire.
___
TOKYO — Fumio, the Japanese Prime Minister, has announced that Japan will join the United States of America and European countries in removing key Russian banks from SWIFT’s international financial messaging system SWIFT. This is to increase sanctions against Russia for its invasion Ukraine.
Kishida stated that Japan would also freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other high-ranking Russian officials, and send $100 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
“Russian invasion of Ukraine is an unilateral attempt to alter the status quo, and the act shakes foundations of international order. It is a clear violation of international law, and we strongly condemn the act,” Kishida stated.
Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, said that the US and its allies would continue to work closely together to impose more severe costs on Russia and make Putin’s war choice a strategic failure.
___
MOSCOW — Russians marched from Moscow to Siberia on Sunday to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Demonstrators marched through the city center, shouting “No to War!”
Protests against the invasion began on Thursday, and have been ongoing for four days despite police moving quickly to detain hundreds each day.
Police in riot gear grabbed demonstrators in St. Petersburg and took them to their vans.
According to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests and statistics, police had detained at most 356 Russians in 32 locations by Sunday afternoon for protests against war.
___
KYIV, UKRAINE — As Moscow’s troops get closer to Kyiv, the office of Ukraine’s President has confirmed that a delegation would meet with Russian officials.
The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskyy stated Sunday via Telegram that they would meet at an unknown location near the Belarusian border. They did not specify a time or date.
This news was announced shortly after Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, ordered that Russian nuclear forces be on high alert to respond to “aggressive statements”, made by NATO leaders.
___
BERLIN — Around 100,000 people marched in Berlin to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
According to police, large protestors have gathered in the original area for demonstration, which was around Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin. They are allocating more space to accommodate them.
Sunday’s peaceful protest included many families with young children. To show support, people waved yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags. Placards bearing slogans such “Hands Off Ukraine” or “Putin go to therapy, leave Ukraine and all of the world in peace” were carried by some.
___
MOSCOW — Russian nuclear deterrent forces have been placed on alert by President Vladimir Putin amid tensions with the West regarding his invasion of Ukraine.
Putin stated at Sunday’s meeting with his top officers that NATO leaders had made “aggressive statement” in addition to the West imposing severe financial sanctions on Russia, including the president.
This alert indicates that Putin has instructed Russia to have its nuclear weapons ready for launch at an increased rate. The Russian defense minister and chief of the military’s General Staff were instructed by Putin to place the nuclear deterrent forces under a “special regimen of combat duty.”
___
WARSAW (Poland) — Although countries like Poland, Hungary and Poland have welcomed fleeing Ukrainians into their country, some Ukrainian citizens have had difficulties crossing the border to Poland.
A volunteer from India in Poland stated Sunday that some Indian citizens trying to flee Ukraine to Poland were stuck at the border into Medyka, Poland and are unable to cross.
Sunday’s statement by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv stated that Indian citizens were being evacuated from Ukraine to Romanian and Hungary. Some have remained stuck at the Polish border, apparently unaware that this is happening.
Ruchir Kataria, a volunteer, said that Indians who wanted to cross at Medyka were given in broken English: “Go To Romania.” However, they had already traveled hundreds of kilometers on foot to get to the border and could not reach the border with Romania.
____
BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz claims that Germany has committed 100 billion euros (112.7 billion dollars) to a special fund to support its armed forces. This will increase its defense spending by more than 2% of its GDP.
Scholz spoke at a Sondersitzung des Bundestags in Berlin Sunday, stating that it was clear that “we must invest significantly more in security of our country in order to preserve our freedoms and our democracy.”
Germany was criticised for failing to invest adequately in its defense budget, and not responding to Russia’s invasion.
The German government announced that it would send weapons and other supplies to Ukraine on Saturday night to support troops fighting invading Russia forces.
___
BUDAPEST (Hungary) — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin temporarily lost his most important official position in international sports.
Sunday’s International Judo Federation cited the “continuing war conflict in Ukraine” as the reason for Putin’s suspension of honorary presidency status.
Russian President is an avid judoka, and attended the London Olympics 2012 in the sport.
It is rare for Olympic sports bodies to use the term “war” to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by Putin since Thursday. Others used terms such as “escalation” and “escalation in conflict.”
Arkady Rotenberg is a Kremlin-supporting oligarch who has been a longtime friend to Putin. He remains on the IJF executive board as development manager.
___
TEL AVIV (Israel) — The prime minister of Israel says that Israel is sending 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in support of civilians who have been caught up in fighting.
Naftali Bennett explained to his Cabinet Sunday that the aid included medical equipment, medicine, tents and sleeping bags, as well as blankets.
Bennett didn’t comment on Kan’s report that the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked the Israeli leader for mediation to end the Russian crisis. Bennett’s office confirmed that there was a call, but declined to comment. For comment, the Ukrainian Embassy could not be reached immediately.
Bennett has been careful in his public statements on Russia’s invasion. While he has expressed support for the Ukrainian civilians, he has not condemned Russia. Russia is a key partner in security coordination in Syria where Russia has a military presence. Israel also strikes hostile targets frequently.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President says that his country is open to peace talks with Russia, but not in Belarus. Belarus was used as a staging ground by Moscow for its 3-day-old invasion.
In a video message, Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested Warsaw, Bratislava Istanbul, Budapest, Budapest, or Baku as possible venues. While he acknowledged that other locations are possible, he made it clear that Ukraine does not accept the selection of Belarus.
Sunday’s Kremlin statement stated that a Russian delegation arrived in Homel, Belarus for talks with Ukrainian officials. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said that the delegation included diplomats and military officials.
Peskov stated that the Russian delegation was ready to talk and is now waiting for the Ukrainians.
___
MOSCOW — A Russian delegation arrived in Homel, Belarus for talks with Ukrainian officials, according to the Kremlin.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said that the delegation included diplomats and military officials. Peskov stated that the Russian delegation was ready to talk and is now waiting for the Ukrainians.
Officials from Ukraine didn’t immediately comment on the matter. They previously indicated their willingness to engage in peace talks with Russia, but they haven’t given any details about their location or timing.
Russia invaded Ukraine Thursday. Its troops are closing in on Kyiv and making important gains along the coast.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities claim that Russian troops entered Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv. Fighting is ongoing in the streets.
Oleh Sinehubov (head of the Kharkiv region administration) stated Sunday that Ukrainian forces were fighting Russian soldiers in the city. He asked civilians to stay at their homes.
Russian troops moved into Kharkiv (located about 20 km (12.4 mi) south of Russia’s border), shortly after Moscow declared its invasion of Ukraine. They remained at the city’s outskirts until Sunday while other forces advanced, pushing their offensive into Ukraine.
Ukrainian media and social networking videos showed Russian vehicles moving through Kharkiv, and a light vehicle lighting up the streets.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — According to the Ukrainian president’s office, Russian forces destroyed a pipeline in Kharkiv which is the country’s second largest city.
The State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection warned residents that an explosion that looked like a mushroom cloud could lead to an “environmental disaster”. They advised them to cover their windows with gauze or damp cloth and to drink lots of fluids.
Iryna Venediktova is Ukraine’s top prosecutor. She stated that the Russian forces were unable to capture Kharkiv where there is a fierce fight.
The Russian border is 40 km (25 miles) away from the city of 1.5million.
___
GENEVA — Although the United Nations claims it has verified at least 240 civilian casualties in fighting in Ukraine since Thursday’s Russian invasion, it believes the actual figures are much higher because there are many more reports.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs transmitted the count late Saturday from the U.N. Human Rights office. This office has rigorous methodologies and verification procedures regarding the toll of conflict.
