We have summed up the tenth day of the full-scale war that Russia started in Ukraine. Please read about the main events of Saturday, March 5, in our review.
In Ukraine
According to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, 1.3 million people have already left the territory of Ukraine, and the figure may reach 1.5 million by the end of the week. Grandi noted that most refugees are now reuniting with friends, family, and acquaintances living in Europe and warned that future migration waves could be even more significant. Poland has received the biggest number of refugees — 650 thousand people. Hungary has given asylum to almost 145 thousand, and Moldova has accommodated 103 thousand Ukrainians. The number of refugees in Belarus is estimated at less than 500 people.
Ukraine has published its calculation of the total combat losses of the Russian occupants for the entire period of combat operations. It is more than ten thousand people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the country’s armed forces were holding key directions and counterattacking near Kharkiv.
In the Kharkiv region, the occupants carried out an airstrike on the village of Yakovlivka. As a result, 21 out of 45 buildings in the village were completely destroyed, and 24 others were damaged. Four people were killed. Ukrainian investigators opened a criminal case for “violation of laws and customs of war.”
On the outskirts of Chernihiv, air defense forces shot down a Russian attack aircraft. The pilots ejected. One was killed and another one detained.
Despite the agreement on two humanitarian corridors, Volnovakha and Mariupol, evacuations were postponed as Russia continued shelling the towns. Also, Russia disrupted the planned evacuation of the population from Irpen by blowing up the railroad tracks.
Ukrainian troops shot down three Russian helicopters in the Mykolaiv Region.
In Kherson, despite the Russian military shooting in the air, local residents came out to a rally.
Today, in Zaporizhzhya, thousands of citizens came to sign up for the local militia and get weapons.
Two Russian fighter jets were shot down in the Odesa region around 3 p.m. Ukrainian time. One went down in the sea near Odesa, the other in the area’s north. The pilots were captured and taken away for interrogation.
Belarusian activist Vadzim Prakopyeu urged Belarusian volunteers to come and help Ukraine. He noted that 300 people ready to hold arms are now urgently needed.
According to preliminary information, the SBU shot and killed a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team Denis Kireev during detention. It is reported that the Security Service of Ukraine had evidence of Kireev’s treason, including the recordings of his telephone conversations. It allegedly happened near the Pechersky Court in Kyiv. There have been no official statements about it yet.
Also, on Saturday, it emerged that the third round of talks between Ukraine and Russia would be held on Monday, March 7.
In Russia
On March 5, Vladimir Putin made several high-profile statements. Here are the main ones:
Attempts by third countries to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be considered participation in the conflict;
Martial law will not be introduced in Russia yet;
Almost all of Ukraine’s military infrastructure has allegedly been destroyed;
Sanctions against Russia “look like a declaration of war, but it has not come to that yet;
Russia “also has neo-Nazis, but not in the government, as in Ukraine.”
The Russian Aeroflot officially canceled all international flights, except for flights to Belarus. Since March 8, our country has remained the only international destination of the company.
In the world
Belarusian and Russian railroads have been suspended from all international meetings and forums. The international railway council (UIC) decided on that effect. At the same time, it expressed its full solidarity with the Ukrainian railroad.
In Italy, the real estate of Russian oligarch Usmanov and propagandist Solovyov was seized. They seized Alisher Usmanov’s villa on the island of Sardinia and two of Vladimir Solovyov’s villas on Lake Como. Both fell under EU sanctions.
The head of PayPal, Dan Schulman, announced the disconnection of Russia from the service. He added that the campaign condemns Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine and the international community.
