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Russia will target other European countries, warns Zelensky
Almost all Ukrainians believe that Russia will be forced to abandon its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a poll suggests.
A massive 93 per cent of Ukrainians said they believe Ukraine will be victorious, according to a new poll by Ukrainian survey group ‘Rating’.
This level of faith is the highest amid Vladimir Putin’s invasion so far, the group said.
Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s brutality in the Black Sea port city of Mariupol would be remembered for “centuries”.
Several thousand residents were forcefully deported to Russian territory over the last week, Mariupol city’s council said.
“The occupiers illegally took people from the Livoberezhniy district, and from the shelter in the sports club building where more than a thousand people (mostly women and children) were hiding from the constant bombing,” the council said.
Also, an art school where 400 people were sheltering was bombed on Saturday – the council said. No mention of casualties has been made, but the building was destroyed and people were buried under rubble.
‘Russia’s losses preventing significant attacks today’ - Ukraine
Russian forces’ losses have prevented the troops from launching any significant attacks today, according to Ukraine.
Russian invaders have not launched any significant offensives over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily update.
Vladimir Putin’s troops are struggling with loss of soldiers, damaged equipment, and logistical issues.
Russia’s 331nd paratrooper platoon, that was engaged in conflict near Kyiv, has only one soldier left – and he’s in hospital, Ukraine said.
Ukraine’s army posted photos of yet another destroyed Russian military vehicle – which it said could be used to “replenish scrap metal reserves”.
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 14:35
Central European countries ‘worried over ability to host refugees'
Czech Republic is concerned over whether it can “provide comfortable living conditions” to Ukrainian refugees.
Many other central European countries – such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary – are also reaching capacity to host some of the millions of refugees who have fled Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, a Czech official said.
Many of the refugees are staying in makeshift accommodation in sports halls and campsites.
Czech interior minister Vit Rakusan said the government would seek to extend a state of emergency to deal with the influx of people.
Officials are trying to relocate new arrivals to cities outside Prague to ease pressure on the capital, he said.
During a television debate, Mr Rakusan said: “The Czech Republic is balancing on the edge of capacities where we are able to provide comfortable living conditions.
“Living in gyms, sleeping bags, or campsites is not good for life.”
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 14:20
ICYMI: Turkey says Russia and Ukraine closer to peace deal
Turkey’s foreign minister has said that Russia and Ukraine were getting closer to an agreement on “critical” issues.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said that he was hopeful for a ceasefire if the sides don’t take a step back from the progress they have made toward an agreement.
Mr Cavusoglu told Turkish media that there had been “rapprochement in the positions of both sides on important subjects, critical subjects.
“We can say we are hopeful for a ceasefire if the sides do not take a step back from the current positions,” he said.
Holly Bancroft20 March 2022 14:02
Trucks queue 45 miles as protesters block trade route to Belarus
Officials in Poland have said that trucks headed to Belarus are backed up for 25 miles while they wait to reach the border.
Protesters are blocking the road at the Koroszczyn border point and calling for a ban on trade with Russian and its ally Belarus.
The protesters have been blocking access to the crossing - on and off - for some two weeks.
Some 950 trucks were waiting to cross into Belarus early Sunday, according to a spokesperson for the local tax office. The waiting time is 32 hours, he said.
Holly Bancroft20 March 2022 13:50
Ukraine claims death of a sixth Russian general
Advisor to the Ukrainian president, Myhailo Podolyak, has claimed that a sixth Russian general has been killed.
In a post on social media, he said: “High mortality of RF senior officers is striking. Already 6 generals killed: Maj Gens Tushayev, Gerasimov, Kolesnikov, Sukhovestsky, Mityaev & Lt Gen Mordvichev.
“Dozens of colonels and other officers. RF army is fully unprepared and fights only with numbers and cruise missiles.”
Holly Bancroft20 March 2022 13:37
Ten million people have fled their homes in Ukraine - UN
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has said that 10 million people have now fled their homes in Ukraine.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Grandi said: “Among the responsibilities of those who wage war, everywhere in the world, is the suffering inflicted on civilians who are forced to flee their homes.
“The war in Ukraine is so devastating that 10 million have fled - either displaced inside the country, or as refugees abroad.”
Holly Bancroft20 March 2022 13:24
‘Massacre’ in Ukraine ‘senseless’ and ‘repugnant' - Pope Francis
Pope Francis has denounced Russia’s “repugnant war” against Ukraine as “cruel and sacrilegious inhumanity.”
His comments appear to be his strongest condemnation of Russia’s invasion since it was launched on 24 February – but, as typical of pontiffs, he stopped short of naming Russia as the aggressor.
In Vatican City, he told thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square that every day brings more atrocities in what is a “senseless massacre.”
He said: “There is no justification for this ... Again this week, missiles, bombs, rained down on the elderly, children and pregnant mothers.”
The pope said: “I feel great pain for those who don't even have the chance to escape.”
He added, before leading a moment of silent prayer: “Above all, defenseless life should get respected and protected, not eliminated.”
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 13:00
Dozens attend pro-Putin rally in Lebanon - pictures
Dozens of people attended a pro-Russia rally in Lebanon today holding Russian and Syrian flags.
Some of the attendees wore t-shirts or held banners with Vladimir Putin’s face printed on them.
Lebanese, Syrians and Russians gathered outside the United Nations’ offices in Beirut to show support for Putin amid his brutal invasion of Ukraine.
In 2015, Russian troops had joined Syria’s civil war and helped tip the balance of power in Syrian president Bashar Assad’s favour.
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 12:20
Almost all Ukrainians believe Russia will be defeated - poll
A massive 93 per cent of Ukrainians believe Ukraine will defeat Russia, according to a new poll.
This level of faith expressed by Ukraine’s civilians is the highest relating to this question so far, the survey suggests.
There are almost no people who do not believe in a Ukrainian victory, the polling group known as ‘Rating’ said.
Just 17 per cent were unable to answer the question, it added.
Nearly half of respondents said they hope a victory will be won over the next few weeks.
Almost a quarter believe that the war will last several months. Only 12 per cent said they expect it to last more than six months.
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 12:00
Calls for bigger sanctions as ‘majority of Russia backs war on EU’
A Ukrainian former minister is calling for stricter sanctions against Russia, and cited a poll that suggests the vast majority of Russians support the idea of attacking European Union countries.
A huge 86.6 per cent of Russians polled have said they would support Vladimir Putin if he decided to invade Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and others – according to the survey results released earlier this week.
More than 75 per cent of Russians would approve of invading Poland, the results also suggest.
Volodymyr Ogrysko, former foreign affairs minister for Ukraine, said the West should impose harsher sanctions against Russian individuals and sanctions.
He tweeted: “Dear Europeans, according to some pools 86,6% of Russists (Russia + faschists) support the possible military attack against some EU countries (former ‘socialist’ countries).
“Their barbarism should not be forgiven, their crazy plans should be stopped. Sanctions MUST be strengthened!”
Lamiat Sabin20 March 2022 11:40