11:58
A German arrested for “supplying information to secret services in Russia”.
A German national was arrested at Munich Airport on Sunday, the federal prosecutor announced on Thursday.
According to the prosecution, he “supplied information to the secret services in Russia”.
The man, Arthur E., is suspected of having passed on information gathered by Secret Service agent Carsten L., who was arrested on December 22 for espionage.
However, Arthur E. is not a member of the German secret service.
11:34
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is in Odessa this Thursday
Catherine Colonna, French Foreign Minister, is present this Thursday in Odessa, a city in southern Ukraine whose energy infrastructure was the target of Russian attacks on Thursday morning.
“To Odessa! To mark France’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, today as yesterday,” the minister said on Twitter.
11:26
The air alert has been lifted over large parts of Ukraine
At noon, Ukrainian authorities lifted the air alert that was in effect over a large part of Ukrainian territory. Some oblasts in the east of the country are still affected by the measure.
Russia launched a massive airstrike on Ukraine earlier this morning. At least one death has been reported in the capital Kyiv.
11:17
Zelenskyy says Ukraine is just “the first step” for Putin
Also on Sky News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Westerners that invading Ukraine was only a “first step” for Vladimir Putin.
“I am convinced that Ukraine is only the first step for him (Vladimir Putin, editor’s note). I’m convinced he’s preparing for a bigger war,” he said.
11:12
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Vladimir Putin is “nothing” to him.
In an interview with English broadcaster Sky News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “not interested” in meeting Vladimir Putin. He stressed that he did not understand who made the decisions in Russia.
“Putin is not for me,” he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacted to the statements made by the Ukrainian president. “He himself has long ceased to be a possible opponent of President Putin,” he said.
10:53
Germany plans to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine “end of March, beginning of April”
The federal government announced on Thursday that the promised Leopard tanks would be delivered to Kyiv “at the end of March or beginning of April”.
After weeks of hesitation, the German government announced on Wednesday that it had sent heavy tanks to Kyiv. The United States also announced the upcoming delivery of Abrams tanks.
10:30 a.m
Power outages in Kyiv and three regions
“Emergency” power outages were triggered Thursday morning in Kyiv and three regions amid Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, private power company DTEK said.
“This is a preventive measure that will prevent significant damage to electrical infrastructure when enemy missiles reach their target,” the group said on Telegram.
In addition to the capital, the cuts also apply in the region, as well as in Odessa (south) and Dnipropetrovsk (middle-east), according to DTEK.
10:06
After announcing deliveries of heavy tanks, the Kremlin denounced the West’s “direct involvement” in the conflict
The Kremlin on Thursday denounced westerners’ “direct involvement” in the conflict in Ukraine after announcing the delivery of dozens of European and American tanks to Kyiv.
“In Moscow we see this as a direct involvement in the conflict and we see that (this involvement) is increasing,” Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
9:54
Two energy sites hit by Russian attacks near Odessa
Two key energy sites in the Odessa region (south) were damaged in a new massive volley of Russian missiles against Ukraine on Thursday morning, local authorities said.
“Two important sites of energy infrastructure in the Odessa region were damaged,” the head of the Odessa region’s military administration said in a statement.
The strike did not cause any injuries, he said, calling on city residents to stay in shelters.
9:52
At least one dead and two injured in Kyiv after Russian bombings
One person was killed and two others injured in Russian airstrikes on Kyiv on Thursday morning, said the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko.
“We have information about one dead and two wounded” in the Golosiïvsky district in the south of the city, he wrote on Telegram.
For its part, the Kiev military administration said it was debris from a launched missile.
9:16
Kyiv hit by at least one explosion
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that at least one explosion had been observed in the Ukrainian capital. The Kiev independent, in turn, puts forward two detonations.
At the same time, 15 Russian cruise missiles were shot down.
9:13
All of Ukraine was placed under air alert
While a new volley of Russian missiles was fired towards Ukraine, the whole country is now on air alert.
30 missiles are expected from the air defense forces.
9:07
Ukraine targeted by “more than 30 missiles” Russian
A missile attack on Ukraine was underway on Thursday morning, targeted by “more than thirty Russian missiles,” the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force said on television.
“Six Tu-95s took off from the (Russian) Murmansk region and fired missiles. We expect more than 30 rockets in total,” said Yuri Ignat.
Media have already reported explosions in several regions and governors have reported the use of anti-aircraft defenses.
9:04
The British say Moscow is training part of its troops in Belarus
The UK Ministry of Defense intelligence said in its daily update posted on social media that Moscow is training part of its troops in Belarus.
“Russia has certainly completed the training of the 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division in Belarus,” the news agency said.
This 2nd division is now back in Russia and will soon be transferred to Ukraine, according to London.
“It is realistic to say that other Russian units will be sent to Belarus to receive similar training,” the statement concluded.
8:46
Kyiv says it shot down 24 Russian drones overnight
Ukraine announced Thursday morning that it shot down a group of 24 suicide drones launched by Russia overnight.
“According to preliminary data, the enemy deployed 24 Iranian-made Shahed drones,” the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram.
“All 24 were destroyed by Ukrainian forces,” she added.
8:45
Most of Ukraine is on air alert after new Russian bombings
The Ukrainian authorities have put most of the country on air alert after renewed Russian bombings in the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
In particular, drones were shot down over the capital Kyiv.
8:43
Hello everyone
Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to news about the conflict in Ukraine.