Ukraine Dawn under heavy attacks + – DW – 02/03/2022

• Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv
• Ukraine comes under heavy attack from Russia
• Airstrikes on the city of Cytomir
• Biden announced the closure of US airspace to Russian aircraft
• Boeing halts support for Russian airlines

Updates are in Brasilia time (Press Ctrl + F5 to update)

04:15 – Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv

The Ukrainian military says Russian troops have landed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. “Fighting continues between the occupiers and the Ukrainians,” the military said in a statement to the Telegram.

Anton Jerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said there had been a fire in the air school’s camps after Wednesday’s airstrikes.

“There are no areas in Kharkiv that have not been hit by artillery shells,” he said in a statement in the Telegram.

The country’s second largest city has a population of about 1.4 million and is located close to the Russian border. The site has been a target of Russian troops since the beginning of the invasion.

The blast killed at least 21 people and injured 112, city officials said.

Mathias Bölinger, a DW correspondent in western Ukraine, said there had been ongoing attacks on Kharkiv, the capital Kiev and the southern city of Kherson.

“Russian troops are inside the city of Gershon,” he said. “It will be the first major city in Ukraine, however the fighting is still going on. Nothing has been decided yet,” he said.

Bollinger said it was unclear what the next large Russian military contingent would do toward Kiev.

03:28 – Ukraine comes under heavy attack from Russia

Ukrainian media announced warning sirens in several cities early Wednesday morning (local time), and residents took refuge in shelters.

According to the newspaper Kiev IndependentCivilians of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that Russian forces were trying to advance in all directions, but were facing casualties in the face of opposition from the Ukrainian military everywhere.

02:22 – Moscow Stock Exchange closed

Trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange was suspended for the third day in a row on Wednesday, but Russia’s central bank said it would allow a limited amount of activity for the first time this week.

Western sanctions imposed by the invasion of Ukraine have sent the Russian ruble into record decline. In response, the central bank more than doubled interest rates to 20%.

01:58 Russian troops land in Kharkiv

The Ukrainian military says Russian air forces landed early Wednesday morning in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city.

“Fighting is going on between the invaders and the Ukrainians,” the military said in a telegram.

The Union Agency said Russian troops had attacked a military medical center in the city.

01:17 – Putin has vowed that the Russians will not give up more than $ 10,000

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning Russians from leaving the country with more than $ 10,000 in foreign currency, state media reported.

According to the Kremlin, the move is an attempt to stabilize Russia’s financial stability.

01:13 – Moscow threatens to block Wikipedia

In an article describing the invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials threatened to block Wikipedia’s Russian language supply.

The Russian Wikipedia government said it had sent a notice from the communications regulator’s lawsuit. The report complains about “reports of numerous casualties, including service personnel of the Russian Federation and citizens of Ukraine, including children.”

01:04 – Risk of Russian invasion of the Greek minority in Ukraine

In the first five days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 12 members of the Greek minority were killed in the village of Sardanas near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, they were the victims of bombings by Russian forces, which led the ministry to register “strong opposition” to the Russian ambassador in Athens.

The Greeks have lived in this area for thousands of years and today they are a minority of 100,000 to 150,000. The Russian invasion is dangerous for them.

Read more.

00:30 – Boeing halts support for Russian airlines

US aircraft maker Boeing has said it will stop providing parts, maintenance and technical support to Russian airlines.

“As the conflict continues, our teams are focused on keeping our colleagues safe in the region,” a Boeing spokesman said.

The company has already suspended training operations in Moscow and temporarily closed its Kiev office.

00:24 – Airstrikes on the city of Cytomir

The airstrikes were carried out from the Ukrainian city of Cytomir. According to the Union News Agency, Russian ship missiles damaged several buildings, including a hospital. Two were killed and at least 10 were injured, according to authorities. Videos shared on social media showed homes being on fire and rescue crews.

“It will not be a peaceful night,” said Mayor Sergei Sukomlin.

Zhytomyr is located 140 km west of the capital Kiev.

00:03 – Biden announced the closure of US airspace to Russian aircraft

US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the decision to close the country’s airspace to Russian airlines, following what the European Union (EU) and Canada have already done.

“I announce tonight that we, along with our allies, will close US airspace on all Russian flights to further isolate Russia and further stifle its economy,” Biden said, receiving applause in his first speech on the Union State. , Both before the US Congress.

White House spokeswoman Jen Zhaki said last Monday that Washington would not make such a decision, which would certainly provoke Moscow’s reciprocal action because many of its airlines “fly over Russia to go to Asia.”

Russia closed its airspace on Monday to planes from 36 countries, including all EU countries and Canada, in response to the same action taken by these countries since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviazia). .

European retaliation against Russia’s military action against Ukraine forced Russian airline Aeroflot to suspend all flights to Europe and neighboring countries.

Flights to several destinations in the United States and Latin America have also been canceled, allowing flights to take longer routes as European and Canadian airspace closes.

(EFE)