Ukraine invasion: Missiles hit Kyiv as fight for capital looms

Ukraine crisis Russian assaults on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, have been met with fierce resistance as the Ukrainian military says it fought off several attacks. The military said in a Facebook post early on Saturday that an army unit managed to repel Russian forces near its base on a major city street. President Volodymyr Zelensky said: […]

Ukraine: France seizes Russian ship over sanctions

Ukraine crisis   France has intercepted and impounded a Russian-flagged cargo ship suspected of breaching sanctions imposed because of the invasion of Ukraine. The ship, the Baltic Leader, was heading from the north-western French city of Rouen to St Petersburg in Russia with a cargo of new cars. It is being held at the Channel […]

Ukraine conflict: Kyiv braces for Russian assault

Ukraine conflict The sound of gunfire has echoed through Ukraine’s capital Kyiv as Russian tanks were filmed entering the city for the first time. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence called on those living in the northern outskirts, where the tanks were seen, to make fire bombs “to neutralise the enemy”. The European Union has announced new […]

BBC Ukraine editor: There is no safe place any more

By Marta Shokalo Editor BBC Ukrainian Service, Kyiv Ukraine crisis I was awake at night when I got a message from a colleague about Vladimir Putin’s speech announcing an invasion. Then immediately the explosions began. I could hear them from my home, and people in different parts of the city started sending messages to our […]

Ukraine-Russia invasion: Europe prepares for wave of refugees

Ukraine crisis   Ukraine’s neighbours are preparing for an influx of refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of the country. As Russian air strikes hit overnight, many packed up and left Kyiv for the countryside or the border with the European Union. Traffic jams clogged the roads out of some cities, and some walked on foot into […]

Ukraine crisis: Kyiv urges citizens to leave Russia as fears

Ukraine escalation   Ukraine has urged its citizens living in Russia to leave the country immediately amid growing fears of war. In addition to the order affecting more than three million people, Ukraine mobilised its military reserves and was set to declare a state of emergency. Ukraine’s moves came as Russian troops, ordered into two […]

Ukraine crisis: Germany halts pipeline as nations sanction Russia

Ukraine escalation   Germany has put a stop to a key Russian gas pipeline following Vladimir Putin’s orders to send troops into Ukraine. On Monday the Russian president recognised two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent states and ordered Russian troops to deploy to both. Western nations largely see the action as a pretext for a […]

Ukraine tensions: Biden agrees in principle to summit with Putin

Ukraine escalation   US President Joe Biden has agreed “in principle” to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the crisis over Ukraine. The talks proposed by France will only take place if Russia does not invade its neighbour, the White House said. The Kremlin, meanwhile, said there were no “concrete plans” […]

Ukraine crisis: Five reasons why Putin might not invade

By Frank Gardner BBC security correspondent Ukraine escalation The optics look dreadful. Russia has deployed more than two-thirds of its military combat capability to within striking distance of Ukraine’s borders. Its 30,000 troops that were supposed to withdraw from neighbouring Belarus at the weekend are still there. So are pontoon bridges and other logistic equipment […]

Ukraine crisis: Russia keeps troops in Belarus amid Ukraine fears

Ukraine conflict   Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ally Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko have extended military drills which were due to end on Sunday. A statement cited the “deterioration of the situation” in east Ukraine as one reason for keeping an estimated 30,000 Russian troops in Belarus. The move will add to fears that […]