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Seventh day of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. In a videoconference with the European Parliament, Volodymyr Zelensky asked the European Union not to “ to let down » Ukraine, while the city center of Kharkiv, the country’s second city, was bombed by the Russians and Russian airborne troops landed. Several towns are surrounded, a 60 km long military convoy is approaching Kiev.
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► Several towns in Ukraine were bombed on Tuesday 1 March. Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa, Kherson and Mariupol are surrounded by Russian forces, according to the Ukrainian presidency. A 60 km long military convoy is approaching Kiev. However, he would be stopped about thirty kilometers from the Ukrainian capital, according to American intelligence. The town of Volvonakha in Donetsk was also heavily shelled. From Russian airborne troops landed in the city of Kharkiv, according to several sources.
► Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech greatly applauded by MEPs meeting in Brussels in an extraordinary session, asked Europeans to “ prove that they are with Ukraine ». « We fight for our survival […] but we are also fighting to be equal members of Europe […] So prove that you are with us, prove to us that you are not abandoning us, and that you are really Europeans “, he insisted.
► Over 660,000 refugees have already fled the fightingaccording to the United Nations, one million people are internally displaced.
►The Twenty-Seven have agreed to ban the broadcasting of Russia Today and Sputnik in the EU. The World Bank is also preparing three billion dollars in aid for Ukraine.
Times are given in Universal Time (UT)
05h43 : In Kherson, Russian forces took control of the railway station and the port overnight, according to the city’s mayor Igor Kolykhayev. The Russian army already controlled the entrances to the city, adds AFP.
05h31 : At the border with Romania, thousands of Ukrainian refugees are also flocking and the Romanians are mobilizing to help the population fleeing the fighting, reports our correspondent in the country, Benjamin Ribout.
05:06: During his address on the state of the nation, the American president made unifying remarks. In particular, he began his speech with a diatribe against the “ dictator ” Vladimir Poutine. The Russian offensive launched in Ukraine has provoked rare scenes in the American Congress: Democrats and Republicans, standing, applauding together.
He thought he could divide us in our home, in our room, in this nation. He thought he could divide us in Europe too. But Putin was wrong. We are ready, we are united and that is what we have done. We stayed united.
US President Joe Biden during his State of the Nation Address
04h56 : The capital Kiev has been preparing for the assault for several days. Many civilians took part in the war, like Sergei, interviewed by the correspondent of the Russian editorial staff of RFI.
I thought the Russians couldn’t do that. How could Russia hit civilians? Now we have to help each other, me and my friends were able to get medicine to bring to Kyiv tomorrow
Sergei, a Ukrainian who was an entrepreneur before the war
04h34 : For the first time since 2014, the barrel of Brent exceeded 110 dollars, pushed by the war in Ukraine.
03h56 : Many remaining residents in Kiev armed themselves, making Molotov cocktails, to defend themselves. For her part, Diana, 31, has decided to stay in Kiev and volunteers in solidarity groups. Sophia Khatsenkova of the international service was able to reach her:
Those who remained in Kiev are very united. There is a great mutual aid among the population. Each person tries to help as they can. We have a lot of support groups and volunteers. From the first day of the war, I rented a car, because I knew that getting around was going to be very complicated in the city. I knew the transport would stop working. It is with this car that I travel in order to distribute food. We have a group on which we communicate with other volunteers to find out where to bring food and other necessities first. We take care of everyone. I go to hospitals, to anti-bombing shelters, to seniors’ homes or even to mothers who have just given birth and who cannot go out to do their shopping.
Diana, Ukrainian who stayed in Kiev: “There is great mutual aid among the population”
03h40 : « Russian airborne troops landed in Kharkiv […] and attacked a hospital local, the Ukrainian military said in a statement on Telegram. “ A fight is underway between the invaders and the Ukrainians “, she clarified.
02h18 : US President Joe Biden put the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the heart of his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, March 1. Vladimir « Putin is today isolated on the international scene today more than ever », launched President Joe Biden. He confirmed that the United States will close its airspace to Russian planes.
01h33 : The American aircraft manufacturer Boeing announces suspension of operational services to Russian airlines (spare parts, maintenance and technical support) as well as major operations ” in Moscow. “ As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on the safety of our teammates in the region “, underlined Boeing, which also temporarily closed its office in Kyiv.
12:43 a.m .: The United States will ban its airspace to Russian planesa major sanction already decided by the European Union and Canada in response to the invasion of Ukraine, announced Tuesday several American media including CBS, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. President Joe Biden will officially announce it during his “ State of the Union address to Congress “, which should start at 2:00 UT, according to the same sources.
►United States: Joe Biden attacks “dictator” Putin during his State of the Union speech
00h23 : The American oil giant ExxonMobil announces it is phasing out a major oil field in Russia of which he is the operator on behalf of a consortium comprising Russian, Indian and Japanese companies, the Sakhalin-1 project. “ In response to recent events, we are beginning the process of shutting down operations and taking steps to phase out of this field of exploitation, details the group in a press release, stressing that it will no longer invest in new projects in Russia.
00h04 : Belarusian opposition leader, refugee in Lithuania, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, announced overnight a “ anti-war mobilization » in Belarus : « We must stop looking at Belarusians as aggressors “, she said on Telegram messaging, calling the Belarusian military either at “ refuse to take part in the war, or to go immediately to the side of the Ukrainians. »