Ukraine won't accept a 'puppet government'

Ukrainians will keep fighting even if Russian force manages to overrun the country, the country's former ambassador to Austria told DW News. Olexander Scherba is in Kyiv, the target of several nights of heavy Russian bombardment.

"The only times when they are winning is when they just press the button and shower residential areas in the big cities. This is barbaric. This is cowardly," he said. Scherba warned it would be difficult for Russia to occupy Ukraine in the long run.

"These people won't obey any kind of puppet government. Should he install, any government, that would be it would be worthless," he said. The former diplomat added, "right now, every second home has the Kalashnikov." "I think we will win in the end, just, the question is at what price, because as I said, we are on our land, on our ground," he said.

EU sanctions Belarusian military officials

The European Union imposed sanctions on 22 senior Belarusian military officers over their role in helping Russia invade Ukraine.

Six Belarusian generals and 16 colonels were added to the EU blacklist, which bans travel into the bloc and imposes asset freezes.

The sanctions have come into force after their publication in the EU Official Journal on Wednesday.

"Belarus is participating in a Russian unprovoked invasion against Ukraine by allowing military aggression from its territory," the official sanction document said.

The French EU presidency said certain sectors of the Belarusian economy, especially the wood, steel and potash sectors, would also be affected by the measures.

Belarus, one of the closest Moscow allies, has so far denied involvement in the Russian war on Ukraine.

Kyiv tells Russian mothers to collect captured sons

Ukraine's government has invited the worried mothers of Russian troops captured in the invasion to come to the capital and collect their sons.

In an apparent attempt to embarrass the Russian government, the Ukrainian defense ministry said it would hand them over.

A week into the onslaught, Kyiv on Wedensday claimed to have killed some 6,000 Russian troops and to have taken hundreds more as prisoners. Moscow has not given details of potential losses.

"A decision has been taken to hand over captured Russian troops to their mothers if they come to collect them in Ukraine, in Kyiv," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

"You will be received and taken to Kyiv where your son will be returned to you," the ministry statement said.

"Unlike Putin's fascists, we Ukrainians are not waging war against mothers and their captured children."

German weapons arrive in Ukraine

The delivery of weapons sent from Germany has landed in the hands the Ukrainian military, German news agency dpa reported.

Berlin made a surprising U-turn on Saturday and announced that it would send weapons to an active conflict zone after weeks of refusing to do so.

The German arms include 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 ground-to-air Stinger missiles.

Ukrainians 'defend' nuclear power plant: parliament

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has tweeted footage that it says shows "residents and employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant" preventing Russian forces from entering the city.

"People of Ukraine are defending nuclear safety of Europe with their bare hands," the tweet said.

Citing information from Moscow, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday that Russian forces had seized control of the Zaporizhzhia plant. It is the largest of Ukraine's four nuclear power plants.

The IAEA added that the Russian Embassy in Vienna said staff at the plant continue to ensure safe operation. Radiation levels are said to be normal.

Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, has warned that Russian forces are also seeking to capture the South Ukraine nuclear power plant, about 350 kilometers (around 217 miles) west of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine says 2,000 citizens died since war started

The Ukrainian government reported that at least 2,000 citizens were killed in the last seven days, "not including our defenders."

On Wednesday, 150 people were rescued from 400 fires that broke out due to Russian shelling, but 10 rescuers died in the mission, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.

Number of Ukraine refugees will soon reach 1 million: UN

The UN refugee agency says more than 874000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion last week.

That figure is "rising exponentially" and could cross the 1 million mark within hours, according to the UNHCR.

Spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said Wednesday that more than 200,000 people had crossed into neighboring countries over the past 24 hours.

She said the UN would be re-evaluating its initial prediction that as many as 4 million people might flee Ukraine. Most of the people who have left the country have traveled to Poland, Hungary and Moldova.

Russia already guilty of 'war crime' in Ukraine, says UK PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing a war crime against Ukraine.

"What we have seen already from Vladimir Putin's regime, in the use of the munitions that they have already been dropping on innocent civilians, in my view already fully qualifies as a war crime," Johnson told parliament.

"We call on every nation to join us in condemning Russia and demanding that Putin turns his tanks around," he said. "With the heroism of Ukraine's people ... and the unity of the West, I've no doubt that he will fail and we will succeed in protecting Ukraine."

Russia's military has stepped up its shelling of Ukrainian cities, including carrying out strikes on residential buildings in Kharkiv.

The office of the International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Monday that it would seek court approval to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Germany allocates €1.5 billion to buy gas

Germany has designated €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) to purchase liquefied natural gas, an Economy Ministry spokesman said, as Germany seeks to become less dependent on energy supplies from Russia.

The funding was "made available" to the German gas market manager Trading Hub Europe, which would decide where the gas was purchased.

Germany imports around 55% of its gas supplies from Russia.

EU excludes 7 Russian banks from SWIFT

The European Union has put into effect sanctions to exclude seven Russian banks from the SWIFT banking communications system, according to the EU official journal.

Russia's second-largest bank VTB, Bank Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Rossiya Bank, Sovcombank and Vnesheconombank (VEB) will be given 10 days to wind-down their SWIFT operations.

"All these banks that we have listed under SWIFT... they are all based on their connection to the state and the implicit connection to the war effort. We have not gone for a blanket ban across the whole banking system," a senior EU official said told Reuters news agency.

The list, however, did not name two major Russian banks, Sberbank and Gazprombank, which were left connected to SWIFT to allow EU countries to pay for Russian gas and oil deliveries.

Russian, Belarussian athletes to compete at Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as neutrals at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

The announcement came amid calls to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Games in response to Moscow's war on Ukraine.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had recommended that sports federations suspend teams and athletes from the two countries but, added that they could compete as neutrals if time or legal constraints prevented their removal.

"They will compete under the Paralympic flag and not be included in the medal table," the IPC said in a statement

"In deciding what action to take, the Board was guided by the IPC's core principles, which include a commitment to political neutrality and impartiality, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of sport."

The Winter Paralympic Games run from March 4-13.

DHL suspends deliveries to Russia, Belarus

German logistics company DHL said it was suspending deliveries to Russia and Belarus after Moscow's invasion.

The "inbound services to Russia and Belarus have been suspended," DHL said in a statement.

DHL added that it was "not accepting shipments to those countries until further notice" after also closing its offices and operations in Ukraine.

Germany registers 5,309 refugees from Ukraine

A German Interior Ministry spokesperson said a total of 5,309 people have been registered entering Germany from Ukraine.

"But as you know, there are no border controls, at least no regular border controls, only random checks. That's why it is very possible that significantly more people have already reached Germany," the spokesperson told a regular news conference.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said 835,928 people have fled Ukraine so far. The figure was at 677,000 just a day before, according to the UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

More than half have headed west into Poland.

Russia 'ready' to continue talks with Ukraine

The Kremlin says a Russian delegation is "ready to continue talks" with Ukrainian negotiators on Wednesday evening.

However, it was not clear whether Ukrainian officials would attend.

A first round of talks since Moscow's invasion was held on Monday. Those negotiations made little progress and ended only in an agreement to talk again.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Russia to stop bombing before a second round could take place.

"It's necessary to at least stop bombing people, just stop the bombing and then sit down at the negotiating table," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters.

Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny calls for anti-war protests

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny called for protests in Russia and Belarus to decry the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"We cannot wait any longer. Wherever you are, in Russia, Belarus or on the other side of the planet, go to the main square of your city every weekday and at 2 pm on weekends and holidays," Navalny's aide Kira Yarmysh wrote on his Twitter account.

Spain to deliver 'military hardware' to Ukraine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spain "will deliver offensive military hardware to the Ukrainian resistance."

The Spanish government had initially planned to send defensive equipment to Ukraine only through an EU collective action, in which the bloc agreed to dedicate €450 million ($500 million) for member states to buy arms for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy says Russia wants to 'erase' Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says nearly 6,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

In a video address, Zelenskyy said Russia would not be able to take his country with bombs and air strikes.

"They don't know a thing about Kyiv, about our history. But they all have orders to erase our history, erase our country, erase us all," he said.

Zelenskyy also called on Jewish people around the world to speak out after a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv TV tower that was built on the site of a World War II massacre of Jews by German troops.

"Don't you see what is happening? That is why it is very important that millions of Jews around the world not remain silent right now," he said.

"Nazism is born in silence. So shout about killings of civilians. Shout about the murders of Ukrainians."

EU Commission proposes protection plan for Ukraine refugees

The European Commission has proposed a plan to offer temporary residence permits and access to employment and social welfare for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The temporary protection proposal is set to be discussed by EU interior ministers on Thursday.

The Commission's "Temporary Protection Directive" was designed to deal with large numbers of displaced persons arriving in the EU.

The new legislation will provide the same level of protection in all member states.

"Europe stands by those in need of protection. All those fleeing Putin's bombs are welcome in Europe," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"We will provide protection to those seeking shelter and we will help those looking for a safe way home."

German coal-fired plants an option if Russia cuts gas exports

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the government was prepared in case Russia stopped exporting gas to Germany.

"We are prepared for that. I can give the all-clear for the current winter and summer," Habeck told German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

"For the next winter, we would take further measures," he added, pointing to planned new legislation to ensure gas storage is full for winter.

"So we are also taking precautions for the worst case, which has not happened yet because the Russians are delivering," he said.

Habeck, a Green politician, added that in a worst-case scenario, Germany could keep "coal-fired power plants in reserve, maybe even keep them running," but that it was committed to moving to renewables in the medium-term.

Russia claims it has control of Kherson

Russia's Defense Ministry says Russian troops have captured the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

"The Russian divisions of the armed forces have taken the regional center of Kherson under full control," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in televised remarks.

The coastal city, which is home to nearly a quarter million people, has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days. It lies just north of Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Ukrainian ex-minister: Make Russia a 'Middle-ages-kingdom'

Sergiy Petukhov, Ukraine's former deputy minister for European integration, told DW that Ukrainians deserve "the signal" from the EU.

"We clearly see people continue to fight for the future, for independence, and for the right of choice — to choose to become a European nation," he said, a day after President Zelenskyy pushed EU lawmakers for Ukraine to join the bloc.

"I think it's fair for the people to get the signal from the EU that they are heard, that they are part of the European family," Petukhov added.

Petukhov also called for a "complete lockdown" on Russian economic and financial activities.

"Putin doesn't care about the life of his soldiers… what he cares about is his influence. And the only way to stop him is to physically make it impossible for Russians to go on," he said.

"Make [Russia] a Middle-ages-kingdom, where [there is] no communication, no technology, no ability to wage war. I think that's the only way. And that would make Russian people think… whether they need a crazy leader like that."

Speaking from Kyiv, Petukhov said he feared a Russian attack was imminent. "While the city remains under the control of Ukrainian administration and armed forces, we are awaiting pretty much for an attack on the civilians," he said. "It's just a matter of time."

Germany sends extra Eurofighters to NATO flank

Germany has "increased and extended" its role in NATO's enhanced Air Policing in Romania in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said.

In a post on Twitter, the ministry said six German Eurofighter jets would protect the military alliance's southeastern flank until at least the end of March.

Three German Eurofighters already in Romania were joined by three additional German aircraft last week, a NATO statement said.

Enhanced Air Policing is a collective defense mission to protect and secure NATO's airspace.

Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv

Ukraine's military says Russian airborne troops have landed in the eastern city of Kharkiv.

"There is an ongoing fight between the invaders and the Ukrainians," the military said in a statement on messaging app Telegram.

The battle over Kharkiv intensified on Tuesday, with Russian shelling hitting residential areas and the city's central square.

Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said a fire broke out in the barracks of a flight school in Kharkiv following an airstrike on Wednesday.

"Practically there are no areas left in Kharkiv where an artillery shell has not yet hit," he was quoted as saying in a statement on Telegram.

The country's second-largest city is home to around 1.4 million people and lies near the Russian border. It has been a target for Russian troops since last week's invasion of Ukraine began.

The city's governor said at least 21 people had been killed in shelling and 112 wounded.

DW correspondent Mathias Bölinger, who is in western Ukraine, said there had been continuous attacks on Kharkiv, the capital Kyiv, and the southern city of Kherson.

"Russian troops are inside the town of Kherson," he said. "This would be the first big city in Ukraine where they seem to have taken control, although fighting is still going on, nothing is decided yet."

Bölinger also said it was not clear what the massive Russian military convoy advancing towards Kyiv would do next. "We have seen these columns standing there for some time. There are also questions about how long they can stand there because all the fuel and food that they have with them will be eaten away in the time they are standing there."

Google blocks RT, Sputnik from Play store in Europe: report

Google says it has blocked mobile apps linked to Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik from its Play store, according to Reuters.

The step is in line with an earlier move by the company to remove the Russian state publishers from its news-related features.

The European Commission is preparing to ban Kremlin-backed media over concern they are spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine. That has prompted several tech companies to limit distribution and advertising tools for those outlets.

RT Deputy Editor-in-Chief Anna Belkina said in a statement on Tuesday that technology companies that have cut her outlet's distribution have not pointed to any evidence that it has reported falsehoods.

Apple Inc said that RT News and Sputnik News were no longer available for download from its App Store outside Russia.

More than 450,000 refugees arrive in Poland

Poland says more than 450,000 people have entered the country from Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Thursday.

Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told private Radio Zet that the number of people crossing the border dropped slightly on Tuesday to 98,000 from a record 100,000 on Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to neighboring countries, mainly Poland, Hungary and Romania. The UN estimates that around a million people are internally displaced, while more than four million Ukrainian refugees may need help in neighboring countries in the coming months.

Moscow stock exchange closed for a third day

Trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange remained suspended on Wednesday, but Russia's Central Bank said it would allow a limited range of operations for the first time this week.

Western sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine have sent Russia's ruble plunging to a record low. In response, the Central Bank more than doubled interest rates to 20%.

The government has also taken measures to restrict foreign investors from divesting Russian assets in a bid to stem an investor retreat.

Twitter to comply with EU sanctions

Twitter said it will comply with the European Union's sanctions on Russian state-affiliated media RT and Sputnik, after the order comes into effect. The social media giant also said it would reduce the visibility of these accounts outside of the EU.

"The EU sanctions will likely legally require us to withhold certain content in EU member states. We intend to comply with the order when it goes into effect," the company told Reuters agency.

Facebook, Google, YouTube and TikTok have said they are blocking access to RT and Sputnik in the EU.

Russians cannot leave with more than $10,000

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to prevent Russians from leaving the country with more than $10,000 (€9,000) in foreign currency, according to state media.

The move is an attempt to "ensure Russia’s financial stability" according to a statement from the Kremlin's press office.

Since last week's Kremlin-instructed invasion of Ukraine got underway, Western sanctions have threatened to send the Russian economy into a tailspin.

Dozens of Japanese sign up to fight for Ukraine

The Mainichi Shimbun daily newspaper reported Wednesday that 70 Japanese men, including 50 former members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and two veterans of the French Foreign Legion, had applied to be volunteers in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Sunday for the creation of an "international legion," prompting dozens from the United States and Canada to volunteer.

Moscow threatens to block Wikipedia over invasion article

Russian authorities have threatened to block Wikipedia's Russian language offering over an article detailing the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian Wikipedia said state communications regulator Roskomnadzor sent a notification from the state prosecutors office. The notice complained about "reports about numerous casualties among service personnel of the Russian Federation and also the civilian population of Ukraine, including children."

Baerbock: 'Russia has brutally attacked peaceful order'

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted the example of Mia, the baby girl born "in a metro station just a few days ago," as she spoke of the plight of millions of Ukrainians seeking shelter, "because of Russia launching a war of aggression."

Baerbock made the comments as she addressed the UN General Assembly in New York. For more on this, click here.

Summary of events in Ukraine-Russia crisis on Tuesday

A Russian airstrike hit the main television tower in the heart of Kyiv, killing five people and injuring five more. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said equipment had been damaged and "channels won't work for a while" after a blast sounded in the Babi Yar district.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to prove that it supports Ukraine during the invasion by Russia. His comments came in a video link address to the European Parliament one day after he submitted an official request to join the bloc.

More than 70 Ukrainian troops were killed when Russian troops shelled a military base in the town of Okhtyrka, regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said in a social media post. The town is located between Kyiv and Kharkiv, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Britain's Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update that Russia's advance on Kyiv had made "little progress," citing "logistical difficulties" as the reason for the lack of headway. On Monday satellite pictures showed a massive Russian military convoy spanning a distance of about 40 miles (65 kilometers) inching towards Kyiv.

Advancing Russian forces shelled the central square of Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, hitting the local administration building. The regional governor said that Russia had launched GRAD and cruise missiles.

The UK government said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin could face prosecution for war crimes.