Russia’s war in Ukraine: Latest developments

Here are the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

– Nuclear plant shelled, taken –

A fire at Europe’s biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia is put out after Ukraine accuses Russia of “nuclear terror” in shelling the plant.

Russian troops later take the reactors, which generate 40 percent of Ukraine’s electricity, after firefighters say they were prevented them from reaching the blaze for hours.

– Moscow media blackout –

Russia admits to “limiting” access to news websites including the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, independent Russian site Meduza and Germany’s Deutsche Welle, with Facebook also blocked.

– Jail terms for ‘fake news’ –

Russian lawmakers approve legislation providing up to 15 years in jail for any publication of fake news about the Russian armed forces.

– 33 killed in northern city –

Thirty-three people are killed as Russian forces hit residential areas, including schools, in the northern city of Chernihiv, the local governor says.

– Humanitarian corridors agreed –

Russia and Ukraine agree to create humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from as yet unspecified cities.

– Invasion going ‘to plan’: Putin –

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow’s advance is going “according to plan”.

– ‘Assassinate him’ –

Senior US Republican senator Lindsey Graham calls for “somebody in Russia” to assassinate Putin.

– Zelensky calls for Putin talks –

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for direct talks with Putin as the “only way to stop the war”.

– Russia’s Black Sea push –

Russian forces take the Black Sea port of Kherson as it appears Moscow is trying to cut Ukraine’s entire access to the sea, with the besieged port of Mariupol in the east without water or power.

– EU protection for refugees –

The United States and European Union offer temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees so far numbering more than one million.

– Russians head for Finland –

Russians pack trains out of the country to Finland, fearful that it is their last chance to escape the impact of swingeing Western sanctions.

– Lukoil calls for halt –

Sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil calls for a halt to fighting in Ukraine, one of the first major domestic firms to speak out against Moscow’s invasion.

– Yandex on ropes –

Russian tech giant Yandex warns it may default on its debt after it was suspended from trading on New York’s digital stock exchange.

– China bank pulls plug on Russia, Belarus –

The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank suspends business with Russia and Belarus in a sign of their deepening pariah status over the war in Ukraine, as credit agencies give Russian debt a junk rating.

– Georgia, Moldova apply to EU –

Ex-Soviet states Georgia and Moldova — which borders Ukraine’s threatened south — apply to join the EU.

– Paralympics opens to ban –

The Beijing Winter Paralympics opens with Russian athletes banned.

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