All news in Central European Time (CET)
15:10 | Putin’s popularity has increased in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine
About 83% of Russians approve of the action of Vladimir Putin, who has gained 12 points in popularity since February, according to the poll by the independent Russian institute Levada released on Thursday, its first poll since the offensive began in Ukraine. Only 15% of Russians say they don’t approve of the President’s actions (-12% in one month) and 2% have no opinion. Prime Minister Mikhail Missouri gained 11 points (71% vs. 60% in February) and the government 15 points (70% vs. 55% in February). Previous polls had been released in recent weeks and already showed Putin’s approval rating of 80 percent or more, but they were conducted by pro-government institutions. AFP
14:38 | Russia accuses Ukraine of laying hundreds of mines
Russia on Thursday accused Ukraine of laying some 420 mines in the Black and Azov Seas, about 10 of which have been declassified and are floating, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashénkov. According to a statement, from February 25 to March 4, Ukrainian forces laid 370 sea mines in the Black Sea and 50 in the Azov Inland Sea. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, these are obsolete YaM-1 mines. “As a result of storms in the Black Sea and unsatisfactory technical conditions, the anchor cables at about 10 Ukrainian mines broke,” Konashenkov said. However, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Russia was responsible for these mines. AFP
13:36 | NATO: Russia is not withdrawing, it is only repositioning itself towards Donbass
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that Russia was not withdrawing its troops from the encirclement of Kyiv to concentrate on the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, as Moscow had announced, but was “repositioning” its units. Stoltenberg admitted that in the alliance they recently heard Russian statements that the country “will reduce its military operations around Kyiv and northern Ukraine”. “But Russia has repeatedly lied about its intentions, so we can only judge Russia by its actions, not its words. According to our knowledge, the Russian units are not retreating, but are repositioning themselves,” explained the Norwegian politician during a press conference. EFE
12:54 | The Kremlin denies that Vladimir Putin feels “betrayed” by his advisers
The Kremlin on Thursday denied information released by the US suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been misinformed about the actual course of the military campaign in Ukraine.
“They just don’t understand what’s going on in the Kremlin. They don’t understand President Putin and they don’t understand the decision-making mechanism,” Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in his daily phone briefing. US intelligence services have previously said Putin feels duped by his advisers for giving him “misinformation” about the evolving war in Ukraine and the impact of the sanctions on Russia’s economy. EFE
12:44 | Agency: Russian troops continue bombing Donbass
Russian troops continue to extensively bombard the disputed Donbass region with heavy weapons, while attacks around Kyiv and other major cities such as Chernihiv (north) and Kharkov (east) continue. The various regional administrations assure that practically the whole country continues to face attacks of various kinds, although Moscow has announced that it will reduce its offensive to Kyiv and some other key cities, Urkrinform agency reports. EFE
12:24 | Pro-Russian separatists claim advances in eastern Ukraine
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have said they control almost all of the Lugansk region and more than half of Donetsk after Moscow made those areas its main military target. “By the morning of March 31, 2022, more than 90 percent of the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic had been liberated,” the foreign envoy of the self-proclaimed republic told Telegram on Thursday. Donetsk separatists leader Denis Pushilin told TASS on Wednesday that “55 to 60 percent” of the territory of that region is under Russian control. AFP was unable to independently verify these accounts. AFP
12:18 | The Red Cross will take part in the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said today that its teams in Ukraine are now traveling to Mariupol (Sea of Azov) with emergency relief and medical supplies and are ready to take part tomorrow in the evacuation of civilians trapped in the besieged are city. “Our teams are currently on the move with supplies and medical supplies to facilitate the safe transit of civilians from Mariupol. For logistical and security reasons, we will be ready to conduct the operation tomorrow,” the organization said. EFE
10:50 | Ukraine accuses Russia of using phosphorus bombs
Ukrainian authorities on Thursday accused Russian troops of attacking several towns in the east of the country in the disputed Donetsk region with phosphorus shells. According to the head of the Donetsk regional military administration Pavlo Kyrylenko, Russian troops “again used phosphorus shells in Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka,” reports the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Kyrylenko said that eleven residents of the city of Maryinka were injured in the attacks, including four children. “About 11 injured civilians from the Maryinka community, including our children, were transferred to Kurakhiv city hospital,” the regional official confirmed on his Telegram channel. EFE
10:47 | Zelenskyy: Russia’s “nuclear blackmail” is a global threat
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Thursday that the heightened threat of a nuclear attack from the war in Ukraine is jeopardizing global security, he said in a virtual speech to Australia’s parliament. “There hasn’t been a threat of a nuclear attack like the one we’re having now for decades because Russian propagandists are openly discussing the possibility of using nuclear weapons against those who refuse to comply with Russian orders,” Zelenskyy said in a speech with simultaneous translation. “The country that uses nuclear blackmail should get the sanctions that would show that this blackmail is destructive for the blackmailer himself,” said Zelenskyy, warning that “the most terrible thing” is that the possibility will open up if Russia does not now be stopped . that “other countries” emulate him without identifying them. In his speech, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for further sanctions against Russia and its collaborators as well as the strict blockade of Russian ships in all international ports and called for more military aid, which his country urgently needs. Later, during an intervention before parliament, Zelenski urged the Netherlands to be ready to boycott Russian energy. “Be ready to stop the (export of) energy from Russia so as not to pay billions for the war,” he said during a video conference.
EFE
9:46 | Possible new diplomatic meeting between Russia and Ukraine in two weeks: Turkey
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitro Kuleba could meet “in a week or two,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday. “There could be a high-level meeting in a week or two, at least between ministers,” Cavusoglu said in a TV interview, adding that it was “impossible to give a date” and without giving a place. AFP
9:18 | Russia makes ‘limited’ withdrawal from Ukraine, Britain says
Despite Russian statements about intentions to reduce military activity around the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv (south), Russian missile attacks and bombings have continued, the latest British intelligence report says. Russian forces continue to occupy positions east and west of Kyiv despite the withdrawal of a limited number of units, adds the report released by the UK MoD. According to this intelligence information, heavy fighting is expected to break out in the suburbs of this city in the coming days. Heavy fighting continues in Mariupol, a key target for Russian forces, but Ukrainian forces remain in control of the city centre, the UK said. EFE
9:09 | Germany calls for an “immediate” end to Russian attacks on Mariupol
The German government today called for an immediate end to the Russian attacks on Mariupol and to ensure safe corridors for the more than 100,000 civilians still in the besieged city. “The attacks must stop immediately. International humanitarian law must be respected. Therefore, I call on the Russian government to provide safe corridors for the voluntary evacuation of civilians and the provision of humanitarian assistance to those who cannot or do not want to stay,” he urged German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in a statement. The minister reminded that more than 100,000 civilians are still trapped in Mariupol, including children, women, men and the elderly. EFE
8:59 | The death toll in a Russian attack in Mikolayiv rises to 16
The death toll in Tuesday’s Russian attack on the headquarters of the regional administration in the Ukrainian city of Mikolayiv in the south of the country is 16, according to the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Rescuers came to recover up to 15 bodies from the rubble, in which the building was left behind while another person saved alive was taken to a hospital and later died in intensive care, the SES adds. EFE
8:15 | Vehicles were mobilized to evacuate civilians in Mariupol
Kyiv on Thursday sent 45 buses to evacuate civilians from Mariupol after Russia announced a ceasefire. The vehicles are also transporting food and supplies for the population under siege in this Ukrainian city. REUTERS