Russia-Ukraine war latest news: humanitarian convoy seized near Mariupol, says Zelenskiy, as fighting continues in besieged city – live | World news

The most recent conviction of imprisoned Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny on Tuesday displays the Russian authorities’s intensified crackdown on dissent and free expression, Human Rights Watch has mentioned.

Hugh Williamson, Europe and central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, mentioned in an announcement:

This verdict is outwardly meant not solely to silence Navalny however to function a warning to Russian civil society and anybody who dares to face as much as the Kremlin’s insurance policies.”

Navalny is already serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence and was discovered responsible of embezzling cash from his personal Anti-Corruption Basis and sentenced to an extra 9 years in jail.

The instances towards Navalny are a part of the Kremlin’s grim panorama of repression towards Russia’s civil society and peaceable dissent, which has drastically intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin appears decided to isolate Russian society from the surface world to chop Russians off from uncomfortable info, together with about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So it’s hardly shocking that Russian authorities are doubling down on smearing and silencing Navalny and others who can inform folks to not consider the Kremlin’s lies and that the world is watching.”

Ukraine’s armed forces has launched its operational report as of 6am this morning, claiming its army continues to defend the southern port metropolis of Mariupol in addition to Chernihiv to discourage Russia’s advance in the direction of Kyiv.

Notably, officers mentioned rebels working in Belarus towards Russia’s warfare on Ukraine partially eliminated a railway connection between Belarus and Ukraine.

“On the territory of Belarus, representatives of the opposition forces and caring residents, who condemn the contribution of the present unlawful energy of the Russian Federation within the warfare with Ukraine, partially eliminated the railway connection between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine. The knowledge is being specified,” the report, revealed by Ukraine’s the ministry of defence, learn.

Officers added that 17 Russian air targets had been destroyed over the previous 24 hours, together with 6 plane, 5 UAVS, 1 helicopter and 5 winged missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to attend a G20 summit being hosted by Indonesia later this 12 months, Russia’s ambassador in Jakarta mentioned on Wednesday, following calls by some members for the nation to be barred from the group.

“Not solely G20, many organisations try to expel Russia….the response of the west is totally disproportional,” ambassador Lyudmila Vorobyova advised a information convention on Wednesday.

The USA and its western allies are assessing whether or not Russia ought to stay inside the Group of Twenty (G20) grouping of main economies following its invasion of Ukraine, sources concerned within the discussions advised the information company earlier on Tuesday.

The Pentagon has condemned Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s refusal to rule out the usage of nuclear weapons through the Ukraine battle.

Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the specter of utilizing nuclear weapons and in an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Peskov refused to rule out their use.

Peskov advised the broadcaster that such arms may very well be used if Russia confronted an “existential menace”. Russia has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear warheads.

US division of protection spokesman John Kirby mentioned Moscow’s nuclear remarks had been “harmful”.

Chatting with reporters, he mentioned:

It’s not the way in which a accountable nuclear energy ought to act.”

Nonetheless, Kirby added that Pentagon officers “haven’t seen something that will lead us to conclude that we have to change our strategic deterrent posture”.

“We monitor this as greatest we are able to day-after-day,” he added.

Former US Protection Secretary Leon Panetta additionally criticised Peskov’s feedback.

“I don’t see how one can see it another approach however as harmful when Russia is in search of a doable excuse for the usage of low-yield nuclear weapons,” Panetta advised CNN.

“And basing it frankly on a really false premise that someway Russia is being threatened. I believe that presents an actual concern that Russia no less than is contemplating that chance.”

Scenes of normality distinction with the catastrophic assaults Russia continues to launch on Ukraine.

The USA and its western allies are assessing whether or not Russia ought to stay inside the Group of Twenty (G20) grouping of main economies following its invasion of Ukraine, sources concerned within the discussions advised Reuters on Tuesday.

The probability that any bid to exclude Russia outright can be vetoed by others within the membership – which incorporates China, India, Saudi Arabia and others – raised the prospect of some nations as an alternative skipping G20 conferences this 12 months, the sources mentioned.

The G20 together with the smaller Group of Seven – comprising simply the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Britain – is a key worldwide platform for coordinating all the pieces from local weather change motion to cross-border debt.

In line with Reuters, a senior G7 supply mentioned:

There have been discussions about whether or not it’s acceptable for Russia to be a part of the G20.

If Russia stays a member, it can turn into a much less helpful organisation.”

Requested whether or not US President Joe Biden would transfer to push Russia out of the G20 when he meets with allies in Brussels this week, nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan advised reporters on the White Home Tuesday: “We consider that it can’t be enterprise as regular for Russia in worldwide establishments and within the worldwide neighborhood.”

Nonetheless, the USA plans to seek the advice of with its allies earlier than another pronouncements are made, he mentioned.

A European Union supply individually confirmed the discussions about Russia’s standing at forthcoming conferences of the G20, whose rotating chair is at present held by Indonesia.

“It has been made very clear to Indonesia that Russia’s presence at forthcoming ministerial conferences can be extremely problematic for European nations,” mentioned the supply, including there was nevertheless no clear course of for excluding a rustic.

US President Joe Biden is anticipated to announce new sanctions towards Russia and new measures to tighten present ones when he visits Brussels this week.

Biden will meet with leaders of Nato, the EU and G7 on Thursday, the place he’s anticipated to announce new sanctions on greater than 300 members of Russia’s decrease home of parliament as quickly as Thursday, in accordance with The Wall Road Journal, which cited unnamed officers and inside paperwork.

“No closing selections have been made about who we are going to sanction and what number of we are going to sanction,” mentioned a White Home spokesperson.

“We may have extra sanctions measures to announce that will likely be rolled out together with our allies on Thursday when the President has the chance to talk with them.”

Biden’s Europe journey can be set to incorporate an announcement on joint motion to reinforce vitality safety on the continent, which is extremely reliant on Russian fuel, and a go to to Poland to point out solidarity with Ukraine’s neighbour.

The US president may also announce extra US help to assist deal with the rising refugee disaster in Poland and different japanese European nations, the White Home mentioned.

In an announcement, the White Home mentioned Biden may also define “additional American contributions to a coordinated humanitarian response to ease the struggling of civilians inside Ukraine and to answer the rising movement of refugees”.

In Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s nightly nationwide tackle, the Ukrainian president offered an replace on the scenario unfolding in Mariupol, saying there are nonetheless 100,000 folks within the metropolis residing in “inhumane” circumstances whereas accusing Russian forces of seizing a humanitarian convoy close to Mangush, simply 20km south-west of Mariupol.

As of at the moment, there are about 100,000 folks within the metropolis. In inhumane circumstances. In a complete blockade. With out meals, water, treatment. Underneath fixed shelling, below fixed bombing.”

The president added that officers are persevering with to try to organise humanitarian corridors for Mariupol residents however efforts have been sabotaged by continued shelling.

Sadly, virtually all of our efforts are sabotaged by Russian occupants, by [their] shelling or deliberate terror.

As we speak, one of many humanitarian convoys was seized by occupants on an organized route close to Mangush.

Staff of the State Emergency Service and bus drivers have been taken captive. We’re doing all the pieces to set our folks free and unblocked the motion of humanitarian cargo.”

Regardless of the difficulties, Zelenskiy mentioned 7,026 folks had been capable of be saved from Mariupol with efforts persevering with to rearrange humanitarian corridors in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Luhansk areas.

Zelenskiy wrapped up his nightly tackle by promising he was persevering with to work “to push Russia in the direction of peace”.

We’re persevering with to work on numerous ranges to push Russia in the direction of peace, in the direction of the top of this brutal warfare. Ukrainian representatives are persevering with negotiations that principally happen day by day. It is rather laborious, typically, scandalous. However step-by-step we’re transferring ahead.”

Zelenskiy additionally famous the three summits scheduled for this week: G7, Nato and the EU.

New packages of sanctions, new help. We’ll hold working and can hold combating as a lot as we are able to. Till the top. Courageously and brazenly. On all of these platforms. With full vitality. With all our power. And we is not going to get drained. We may have relaxation after we win. And it’ll undoubtedly occur.”

Whats up it’s Samantha Lock with you and we unpack all the newest developments in Ukraine.

It’s the morning of day 28 of Russia’s warfare on Ukraine. Casualties are within the 1000’s and tens of millions have fled the nation looking for refuge overseas.

Here’s a complete rundown on the place the disaster at present stands:

• Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces of seizing a humanitarian convoy close to Mangush west of Mariupol. “Staff of the state emergency service and bus drivers have been taken captive,” he mentioned, including that 100,000 folks remained within the metropolis residing “in inhumane circumstances. In a complete blockade. With out meals, water, treatment. Underneath fixed shelling, below fixed bombing”.
• Russian forces are actually inside Mariupol, a senior US defence official mentioned. Two “super-powerful bombs” rocked the town on Tuesday at the same time as rescue efforts had been ongoing, native authorities mentioned.
• Russia’s fight energy in Ukraine has declined under 90% of its pre-invasion ranges for the primary time since its assault started, a senior US defence official mentioned on Tuesday, suggesting heavy losses of weaponry and rising casualties and describing morale points, command-and-control issues, a reliance on conscripts and a stalled advance to Kyiv.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to rule out the usage of nuclear weapons in an interview with CNN on Tuesday. Peskov advised the broadcaster that such arms may very well be used if Russia confronted an “existential menace”. Russia has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear warheads.
• The Pentagon later condemned Peskov’s refusal to rule out the usage of nuclear weapons.
• US President Joe Biden will depart on Wednesday to fly to Brussels the place he’s anticipated to announce new sanctions towards Russia and new measures to tighten present ones.
• The deputy head of Kyiv’s police drive has accused Russia of utilizing white phosphorous munitions within the metropolis of Kramatorsk in Donetsk. Oleksiy Biloshytskiy shared on-line footage, which couldn’t be independently verified, of fabric burning fiercely beneath a pile of mixture. “One other use of phosphorus ammunitions in Kramatorsk,” he mentioned.
• Zelenskiy will communicate nearly on the Nato summit in Brussels on Thursday, the place US president Joe Biden can be planning to push for brand spanking new sanctions towards Russia. “Three necessary summits are scheduled this week: G7, Nato and the EU,” he mentioned. “New packages of sanctions, new help.”
• About 300,000 folks within the occupied southern metropolis of Kherson are operating out of meals and medical provides, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s overseas ministry mentioned. Kherson was the primary main Ukrainian metropolis to fall into Russian arms for the reason that invasion started on 24 February.
• Russia plans to unleash a “nice terror” on Kherson by kidnapping residents and taking them throughout the Russian border, an FSB whistleblower has claimed. The Kremlin was now not keen to “play properly” with protesters within the Ukrainian metropolis, a letter mentioned.
• Russian forces have solely three additional days of gasoline, meals and ammunition left to conduct the warfare after a breakdown of their provide chains, Ukrainian army commanders have claimed. The statements had been described as “believable” by western officers.
• Russian forces have “kidnapped” 2,389 youngsters from the Russian-controlled territories of Luhansk and Donetsk, the US embassy in Kyiv has mentioned, citing figures by Ukraine’s overseas ministry. The embassy mentioned: “This isn’t help. It’s kidnapping.”
• The Ukrainian well being minister, Viktor Lyashko, mentioned 10 hospitals had been fully destroyed since Russia invaded. Different hospitals couldn’t be restocked with medicines and provides due to close by combating, the minister added.
• The UN secretary basic, Antonio Guterres, mentioned it’s time for Russia to finish its “absurd” and “unwinnable” warfare in Ukraine, because the EU ready to arrange a “belief fund” geared toward serving to Kyiv repel the invasion and rebuild afterwards. Chatting with reporters on the UN’s headquarters in New York, Guterres mentioned the warfare was “going nowhere, quick”.
• The USA and its western allies are assessing whether or not Russia ought to stay inside the Group of Twenty (G20) grouping of main economies following its invasion of Ukraine, sources concerned within the discussions advised Reuters on Tuesday.