Live Updates: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky dispel rumours that he has fled Kyiv.

By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

In video clip from the capital, Zelenskyy says he is ‘defending Ukraine’

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has posted a video of himself outside the presidential administration in Kyiv to dispel rumours that he has fled the capital.

“We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,” he says in the clip.

More than 50,000 Ukrainians have fled, UN refugee agency says

More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country in less than 48 hours, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who said the majority have gone to Poland and Moldova.

“More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours – a majority to Poland and Moldova – and many more are moving towards its borders,” Grandi said in a tweet. “Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees.”

The United Nations refugee agency estimated Thursday that tens of thousands will be displaced as Russia invades Ukraine. The agency is stepping up operations and capacity in Ukraine and neighboring countries as people start to flee.

Delta ends partnership with Russian airline Aeroflot

Delta Air Lines is ending its partnership with Russian airline Aeroflot in response to the invasion of Ukraine. 

Delta did book passengers on some flights operated by the Russian national airline, but says it is ending its codeshare agreement effective immediately. The agreement allowed Delta to ticket its passengers on Aeroflot flights from Moscow and enabled Aeroflot to ticket its passengers on some Delta flights operated from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Los Angeles International Airport.  

“We have removed our code from Aeroflot-operated services beyond Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and removed Aeroflot’s code from Delta-operated services from Los Angeles and New York-JFK,” said a statement from the airline. “Accommodations will be made for customers affected by these changes.”

Delta’s decision was first reported by Politico.

Aeroflot joined the SkyTeam Alliance in 2004, a partnership of 19 international airlines of which Delta is also a member. Delta said it does not operate flights to Ukraine or Russia.

Lawmakers urge Biden to release emergency oil reserves in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine

Democrats in Congress are calling for the White House to take new steps to blunt the impact of soaring gasoline prices in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. 

“As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to cause volatility in the global oil market, we are writing to urge you to consider using all of the tools at your disposal to insulate Americans from rising gasoline prices,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President Biden dated Thursday.  

The letter, signed by nine senators and one congressman, specifically cited an additional release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Biden said Thursday the United States stands ready to release more oil from America’s oil stockpile, if necessary. 

The lawmakers also encouraged the use of “diplomatic pressure” to persuade global oil producers to boost production and “restrictions on petroleum exports unless they will advance our national security goals and lower prices for consumers.” 

The national average price for regular gasoline climbed to $3.57 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA. That’s up by about 3 cents in just a day and 23 cents in a month. Gasoline prices move with a lag to oil.

US trade representative on response to Russia: “Critical” to coordinate and look at “impacts to our economy”

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “gravely concerning” and emphasized the need for US coordination with NATO allies to “respond appropriately” to the attacks.

“I think what’s happening between Russia and Ukraine is gravely concerning to all of us who are watching it,” Tai told US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a United States Department of Agriculture event Friday.

Tai underscored how “we as a government stand with our NATO allies,” adding that “there is a lot of coordination that we need to do with those allies, but also within our own government and economy to look at appropriate responses to the Russian actions.”

But the really critical piece,” Tai said, “in terms of the coordination between the allies and within our own government and economy, is to figure out how to respond appropriately and also to look after the impacts to our economy.”

This comes as concerns have grown over the potential impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on agricultural products worldwide. Russia is the world’s top exporter of wheat, and Ukraine is also a significant exporter of both wheat and corn.

Tai described Ukraine as an “agricultural powerhouse” Friday and noted to Vilsack that USDA and USTR are “going to have to work very closely to assess where the impacts are going to be, especially when it comes to agricultural trade.” 

The US will further need to determine “how our trade policies take into account the foreign policy needs but also our domestic economic needs to ensure that we can be the kind of trading partner that our allies need us to be and how we take care of our own, “Tai said.

Some of roughly 200 missile launches in invasion “have impacted civilian residential areas,” US official says

The US has observed at least 200 total missile launches since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a senior US defense official told reporters Friday. 

The missiles being launched are a mix of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, the official said. The missiles are primarily being launched from ground and air, the official added.

Some of these missiles we have assessed have impacted civilian residential areas,” the official added. 
 
The death toll of these missile launches is unknown by the US.

“I cannot tell you at this time what the casualties are, and I cannot tell you at this time whether those civilian residential areas were deliberately targeted. All I can tell you is we have seen that they have been impacted by some of these missiles,” the official said.

South Africa calls upon UN Security Council to do their mediation work

President Cyril Ramaphosa calls upon the United Nations Security Council to do their mediation work to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

A Russian military invasion of Ukraine is currently unfolding, and has left at least 137 Ukranian civilians and military recruits dead and hundreds of others wounded.

“That… conflict should be subjected to mediation, negotiation [and] engagement. It is not necessary for people to go to war and have people getting killed, and infrastructure getting damaged.

“…Countries of the world, particularly the United Nations [UN] Security Council… should be getting more engaged in a mediation process… This is what I believe should happen to bring the hostilities to an end,” he said.

Ramaphosa said government is expected to have discussions with Russia and the United States of America in an effort to curb the violence.

He called on the UN Security Council to resolve the conflict.

“Right now the parties need to get together so that we stop this conflict that is turning into a violent one.

“I call upon the United Nations Security to do their mediation work. If ever there was a time in the world where the United Nations Security Council needs to come into its own, this is the time where they must put their heads together and ensure that this war stops, “Ramaphosa said.

South Africa has already expressed its dismay at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

“South Africa emphasises respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.”

“As a nation birthed through negotiation, South Africa is always appreciative of the potential dialogue has in averting a crisis and de-escalating conflict. In line with our strong commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflict, South Africa urges all parties to devote increased efforts to diplomacy and to find a solution that will help avert further escalation.”

It added that the armed conflict will result in human suffering and destruction, the effects of which will not only affect Ukraine but also reverberate across the world.

“We regret that the situation has deteriorated despite calls for diplomacy to prevail, “said DIRCO which also highlighted that no country is immune to the effects of this conflict.

“As the United Nation Secretary-General has indicated, the conflict will have a huge impact on the global economy in a moment when we are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and so many developing countries need to have space for the recovery”.

DIRCO said the door of diplomacy should never be closed even as conflict has broken out.

“We also urge all parties to approach the situation in a spirit of compromise, with all sides respecting international law. In light of the escalating conflict, we call on all parties to resume diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the concerns raised expressed by Russia.”

South Africa also called on all parties to uphold and protect human rights and abide by their obligations in terms of international law and international humanitarian law.

South Africa continues to support and encourage regional initiatives such as the Minsk Agreements, and we welcome the work of the Normandy Format, the Trilateral Contact Group and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”

In addition, the South African government has called on the United Nations Security Council to play its role in the search for peace.

The Security Council remains the primary body tasked with the mandate to maintain international peace and security and it must exercise its responsibility fully in this regard.

“We also believe that the Good Offices of the UN Secretary-General could also make a positive contribution in finding a lasting solution to this conflict.”

Meanwhile, the South African Embassy in Kyiv is monitoring developments closely and is also assisting South African nationals in Ukraine.

Putin wants to “take Ukraine off the map of nations,” French foreign minister says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to “take Ukraine off the map of nations,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday.

In response, the minister told radio station France Inter that European sanctions announced in the last 24 hours are designed to “asphyxiate the functioning of Russia, to strangle the functioning of Russia.”

Putin, Le Drian said, “chose a massive offensive — he has decided to take Ukraine off the map of nations.”

The minister said that French sanctions against Russia that are yet to be announced by President Emmanuel Macron “will be drastic and strong — that means freezing their means, freezing their check books, that means no longer being able to have economic activities in France.”

Asked why restrictions on Russia’s access to the SWIFT banking system were not included in sanctions so far, Le Drian said, “because we had to go quickly.”

The minister said that European leaders had received Ukrainian requests for military, financial and humanitarian aid, which he said they were following up on. 

“They have requested a whole list of [military] equipment that we are studying,” he said. 

Le Drian said that the security of the Ukrainian president is “a central element of what’s going on now,” following comments from Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia was targeting him and his family. 

The minister said that “it’s important that [Zelensky] remains in his post” and that France was ready to help “if necessary”. 

Today “is not the same thing as the Cold War,” Le Drian said “Now there’s war at the heart of Europe.”

Sirens sounded across Kyiv Friday morning

Sirens rang out across Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv on Friday morning.

CNN witnessed a group of Ukrainian security forces leave the city police headquarters with weapons and ammunition — apparently heading towards the northern district of Obolon, where fighting has been reported.

What is happening in Kyiv? Ukrainians in the capital huddled in air raid shelters Friday morning, amid claims of troops blowing up a bridge to stop an advance of Russian forces.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Russian reconnaissance troops have entered Obolon, which is just a few miles from the city center.

The ministry in a tweet asked citizens of the district to report any suspicious movements and adds: “Make Molotov cocktails and take down the occupier.”

Before dawn, explosions lit up the sky as Russia targeted the city with missile strikes, according to a Ukrainian government adviser. A CNN team reported hearing two large blasts in central Kyiv and a third loud explosion in the distance, followed by at least three more explosions to the southwest of the city a few hours later.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said airborne assault troops blew up a bridge over the Teteriv River at Ivankiv, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Kyiv, successfully preventing a Russian column of forces from advancing towards the capital.

Ukrainian military says it’s resisting Russian advance from north

Ukraine’s military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said Friday that the country’s army was successfully resisting Russian forces advancing from the north. 

Zaluzhnyi said Ukrainian forces had been able to repel the breakthrough of Russian troops in the Chernihiv area north of the capital, Kyiv.

However, it appears Russian forces are consolidating their positions to the northwest of Kyiv after taking the airbase at Hostomel on Thursday.

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Anna Malyar, tweeted Friday about a “possible invasion of the occupiers in Vorzel and surrounding settlements,” which is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Kyiv.

Malyar added that Russian troops had seized two Ukrainian army vehicles, had put on Ukrainian army uniforms and were trying to advance on Kyiv.

UEFA strips St. Petersburg of Champions League final, and moves match to Paris

UEFA has moved its flagship soccer match, the Champions League final, from St. Petersburg to Paris, it announced Friday.

The decision to move the game out of Russia was made on Friday morning at an extraordinary meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee, held in response to “the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe.”

The game, on May 28, will now take place at the Stade de France, it said.

“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis,” UEFA said in a statement.

“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement,” it added.

The Russian and Ukrainian national teams will also play home games at neutral venues, the agency said.

Soccer in the spotlight: UEFA has come under pressure to go further in its response, with some calls across Europe to ban Russia from competitions and end its sponsorship deal with Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Wednesday that English teams should boycott May’s final — if they make it — as a result of Russia’s actions.

UK Defense Secretary: “Our view is that Russia intends to invade the whole of Ukraine”

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Friday that Russia intends to take the whole of Ukraine, but that it has failed to deliver its main objectives.

“It’s definitely our view that the Russians intend to invade the whole of Ukraine,” Wallace told Sky News Friday.

“Our assessment as of this morning is that Russia has not taken any of its major objectives. In fact, it is behind its hopeful timetable. They’ve lost over 450 personnel.

“Contrary to great Russian claims, and indeed President (Vladimir) Putin’s sort of vision that somehow the Ukrainians would be liberated and would be flocking to his cause, he’s got that completely wrong. And the Russian army has failed to deliver on day one his main objective.”

On her official Twitter account, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described the Russian invasion as “barbaric.”

“Putin’s assault on Ukraine is barbaric, unjustified and shows a callous disregard for human life. We will continue to hold Putin to account and remain steadfast in our support,” Truss tweeted, reiterating the United Kingdom’s solidarity with Ukraine.

ICC prosecutor could investigate any war crimes or acts of genocide in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court reminded the world on Friday that it is watching Ukraine, and could investigate any “acts of genocide” and “war crimes” seen there.

“I remind all sides conducting hostilities on the territory of Ukraine that … my office may exercise its jurisdiction over and investigate any acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crime committed within the territory of Ukraine since 20 February 2014 onwards,” ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC said in a statement.

“My office will continue to closely monitor the situation in Ukraine,” he added. “In the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate, the Office remains fully committed to the prevention of atrocity crimes and to ensuring that anyone responsible for such crimes is held accountable.”

Scroll to Top