The Latest Development Russia-Ukraine War News: Updates

 

Ukraine

Status

 Humanitarian Situation

OCHA -Situation Report - Highlights (10 Feb 2023)

• The humanitarian situation in Ukraine deteriorated drastically and rapidly in 2022, after Russia’s invasion dramatically escalated eight years of conflict into a full-scale war.
• Throughout the year, intense hostilities caused widespread destruction, killed and injured thousands, forced millions from their homes, destroyed jobs and livelihoods.
• The number of people in need of humanitarian aid and protection increased from approximately 3 million people at the start of the year to nearly 18 million a few months later.
• Humanitarian organizations rapidly expanded operations and reached nearly 16 million people with critical assistance in 2022, despite immense challenges.
• The work was also possible thanks to local NGOs & volunteers, the international community, private donors, who stepped in to support Ukraine, when the country needed it the most.

Latest Developments

Russia Steps up Strikes Near Kyiv; Zelensky Foresees ‘New Stage of Terror’

Russia Steps up Strikes Near Kyiv; Zelensky Foresees ‘New Stage of Terror’Play video: Russia Steps up Strikes Near Kyiv; Zelensky Foresees ‘New Stage of Terror’

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In Ukraine: Ukraine’s president warned Saturday of a “new stage of terror” by Russian forces in Ukraine, after what he said was the kidnapping of a mayor in the south of the country as well as a fresh round of airstrikes on the outskirts of the capital.

Cruise missiles slammed into an airport south of Kyiv early Saturday, setting fire to an oil terminal and an ammunition depot, authorities said. Russian strikes also hit suburbs to the east and west, while a drone crashed in the center of the city after being shot down, setting fire to a bank, officials said.

In Russia: Russia is dropping a digital iron curtain over its population, creating a big, new fracture in the global internet—but there are still big gaps in President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cut off the country from online information accessible in much of the rest of the world.

In Russia: Russia is dropping a digital iron curtain over its population, creating a big, new fracture in the global internet—but there are still big gaps in President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cut off the country from online information accessible in much of the rest of the world.

In the West: President Biden said the U.S. will move to revoke normal trade relations with Russia, joining Western allies in a coordinated action to further punish Moscow.

• U.S. Plans to Revoke Normal Trade Relations With Russia
• In the Rubble of Kharkiv, Survivors Make Their Stand: ‘It’s a War, and It’s a Dirty War’
• Russia Rolls Down Internet Iron Curtain, but Gaps Remain
• Ukraine Is a World Leader in Surrogacy, But Babies Are Now Stranded in War Zone
• Biden Says Russia Would Pay ‘Severe Price’ If It Used Chemical Weapons
• Pressure Mounts for Western Companies Leaving Russia

  Biden Authorizes New Security Assistance to Ukraine

  By Andrew Restuccia

  

  President Biden authorized aid in the form of 'defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training.'AL DRAGO - POOL VIA CNP/ZUMA PRESS

  President Biden on Saturday authorized $200 million in new security assistance to Ukraine, according to the White House.

  The new money brings the total security assistance to Ukraine the U.S. has authorized this year to $1.2 billion, according to a White House official.

  Mr. Biden signed a memo to the State Department authorizing assistance in the form of "defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training."

  Congress approved a government funding bill this week that includes $13.6 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine.

4 hours ago

Putin Showing No Willingness to End War, French Official Says

By Matthew Dalton

Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured Friday, spoke with his French and German counterparts on Saturday.MIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/KREMLIN POOL/ZUMA PRESS

PARIS--President Vladimir Putin showed no willingness to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a senior aide to Mr. Macron said.

The three men spoke for around an hour and a half, the official said. Messrs. Macron and Scholz pressed Mr. Putin to accept a ceasefire, to address the humanitarian catastrophes caused by the Russian invasion--including Russia's siege of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine--and to resume talks on future security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine.

"Have we detected a willingness of Mr. Putin to stop the war? The answer is no," the official said. "The response is that we draw one conclusion ... raise the price of the war for him and take new sanctions measures."

"However, will the talks not get there? The response is also 'no,'" the official added. "It's important in the situation where we are to use all the tools of diplomacy."

European Union leaders at their summit Friday in Versailles decided to draw up new sanctions against Russia. Mr. Macron on Friday said there were no taboos on what would be targeted, and the official said Russia's financial system is likely to be further targeted by the sanctions.

A key question before the bloc is whether to target Russia's oil and gas industry. Germany, Europe's biggest consumer of Russian gas, is resisting that step. The French official said that the three leaders didn't discuss the delivery of arms to Ukraine by U.S. and European countries. Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Saturday said convoys supplying arms to Ukraine were "legitimate targets," according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.