Russia-Ukraine newest information: combating on the streets of Kyiv; Zelenskiy vows ‘we received’t lay down our arms’ | World information

Russian troops have captured the town of Melitopol in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhya area, Russia’s Interfax information company cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Saturday.

The ministry additionally mentioned Russia has used air- and ship-based cruise missiles to hold out in a single day strikes on army targets in Ukraine.

Zelenskiy remains to be posting to Twitter, with a observe up message saying he spoke this morning with French president Emmanuel Macron about weapons and tools “on the way in which to Ukraine” from their companions.

“The anti-war coalition is working!” he mentioned.

Right here additionally, is a extra expansive translation of Zelenskiy’s video assertion from about half-hour in the past.

There’s lots of pretend data telling that I ordered the Ukrainian military to give up. So, pay attention right here: I’m right here. We’re not placing our weapons down, we’re going to defend our nation. Our weapons are our fact, it’s our nation, our youngsters and we are going to defend them.

Ukraine president Zelenskiy has posted one other video from central Kyiv this morning. The 40-second clip seems to be addressing false rumours. In accordance with a partial translation by the Kyiv Impartial, the chief says:

“There’s lots of pretend data on-line that I name on our military to put down arms, and that there’s evacuation,” he mentioned. “I’m right here. We received’t lay down our arms. We are going to defend our state.”

The Agence France-Presse information service has been interviewing peculiar Ukrainians who’ve been handed a rifle to allow them to assist defend their nation.

Ukrainian historian Yuriy Korchemniy has by no means fired an assault rifle in his life. However he joined scores of others and picked up a Kalashnikov when containers of them have been dumped from vehicles and handed out to Ukraine’s new volunteer defence models on day two of Russia’s invasion.

‘They gave out the rifles, loaded them for us and right here we’re,’ the 35-year-old mentioned with a barely sheepish grin.

‘I solely know the way to shoot single rounds, so my plan is to click on this right here and swap off the automated mode.’

The Kyiv bridge underpass he was guarding with a handful of different males – some of their 50s – results in Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administrative complicated. The reverse aspect of the street runs by means of a working-class district of Soviet-style tower blocks that witnessed a lethal shootout with a small group of Russian forces just a few hours earlier.

An AFP group noticed a middle-aged civilian who was killed within the conflict carried away by ambulance employees. One witness mentioned the civilian was reduce down by bullets fired by the Russians from a rushing armoured automobile.

There are extra studies coming in of assaults by the Russian forces throughout the nation. Ukrainian officers say cruise missiles have been launched at Ukraine from the Black Sea and, individually, that areas close to Sumy, Poltava and Mariupol have been hit by airstrikes, Reuters studies.

Reuters studies that President Joe Biden has instructed the US State Division to launch $350m in army help to Ukraine because it struggles to repulse a Russian invasion.

In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350m allotted by means of the International Help Act be designated for Ukraine’s defence.

Right here’s the newest wrap on the alarming occasions within the captial in a single day:

Fierce combating has damaged out in Kyiv as Russian forces tried to push their approach in the direction of the town centre and have been met with resistance from the Ukrainian army.

All through Friday night time, explosions rocked the capital. Artillery fireplace may very well be heard within the streets and as daybreak broke, a submit on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Fb web page mentioned “energetic fight” was going down within the metropolis.

The Ukrainian army claimed to have repelled one assault by Russian forces on a military base positioned on a predominant avenue within the Ukrainian capital. The Russians “attacked one of many army models on Victory Avenue in Kyiv. The assault was repulsed,” Ukraine’s military mentioned on its verified Fb web page, with out specifying the place precisely the incident came about. There was no remark from the Russian army.

Learn extra right here:

It’s daybreak now within the capital however some photographs are dropping of a abandoned Kyiv in a single day:

Ukraine’s UN ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, known as for a second of silent prayer at an emergency assembly of the safety council on Friday, in New York. Throughout his deal with, Kyslytsya known as for a second of silence to wish for peace, and for the souls of these already killed after Russia invaded his nation on Thursday.

Related Press studies that Kyiv officers are warning residents that avenue combating is underway in opposition to Russian forces, and they’re urging folks to hunt shelter.

The warning issued on Saturday morning suggested residents to stay in shelters, to keep away from going close to home windows or on balconies, and to take precautions in opposition to being hit by particles or bullets.

Meta Platforms, the mum or dad firm of Fb, is barring Russian state media from operating adverts or monetising on its platform anyplace on the planet.

“We additionally proceed to use labels to further Russian state media,” its safety coverage head, Nathaniel Gleicher, mentioned on Friday.

“These adjustments have already begun rolling out and can proceed into the weekend.”

The day is dawning on Kyiv, after a dramatic and violent night time as Russian troops stormed in the direction of the capital. Widespread studies of artillery fireplace and explosions have come from the east, west and south of the town, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed to have repelled assaults by Russian troops at an Army base close to Vasylkiv and a key metropolis street – Victory Avenue. There are studies of casualties however the Guardian has not obtained confirmed figures.

Residents have been instructed to remain inside shelters, together with underground metro stations and resort basements.

The Kyiv Impartial studies air raid sirens in a number of Ukrainian cities this morning, together with Lviv, Lutsk, Uman, Vinnytsia, and Rivne.

Ukraine’s former ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba, has shared this video purportedly from Odessa. The Guardian has not independently verified this footage, which was additionally shared by a Ukrainian information outlet.

The US has been providing to assist evacuate Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, from Kyiv to flee threats to his life, however he has to date refused to depart, the Washington Publish studies.

Zelenskiy has pledged to stay, regardless of consciousness that he’s Russia’s “Enemy No. 1” and his household quantity 2.

Citing US and Ukrainian officers, the Publish reported US intelligence companies, together with the CIA director throughout a go to to Ukraine in January, had warned Zelenskiy of the menace to his security for a number of weeks. It cited officers saying intelligence on the time urged Russian hit groups might have already been in Kyiv.

“We’ve been making him conscious not solely of the specter of Russian invasion, now a actuality, but additionally the menace to him personally,” Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif), the chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee, mentioned. “We stand prepared to help him in any approach.”

“All of that is now taking place inside the metropolis limits,” studies CNN’s Clarissa Ward, but it surely doesn’t seem to have reached the centre.

There aren’t any indicators of residential areas being focused but, she says, “however we’re listening to lots of explosions from many alternative instructions.”

Interfax Ukraine information company studies Russian forces have tried to assault an electricity-generating station, whereas the Ukrainian army says it has repelled an assault on a Kyiv military base, based on Reuters.

The Ukrainian authorities additionally says it stopped a Russian development down Peremohy Avenue – which runs previous the Beresteiska metro station, the place heavy combating has additionally been reported. The Guardian has not independently verified the studies.

The assault seems to line up with Zelenskiy’s warning that tonight might see Russia’s try to storm the town. Three million folks name Kyiv residence.

In an deal with to the nation on Friday Zelenskiy mentioned: “Tonight, they’ll launch an assault. All of us should perceive what awaits us. We should stand up to this night time,” he mentioned. “The destiny of Ukraine is being determined proper now.”

Hey, that is Helen Davidson with our persevering with protection of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Listed here are among the most up-to-date developments:

• Explosions and combating have rocked the east, west and south of Kyiv, the place the Russian assault has continued in a single day in a siege apparently aimed toward seizing the town. Residents have been taking cowl in shelters and underground stations. A girl has reportedly given beginning in a single station the place she had been sheltering with different residents.

• “Greater than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their nation in lower than 48 hours – a majority to Poland and Moldova,” mentioned the UN refugee company head Filippo Grandi, including that “many extra are shifting in the direction of its borders”.

• The Russian defence ministry claimed its forces had taken management of the strategic Hostomel airfield to the north-west, whereas Russian tanks have been filmed by locals within the Obolonskyi district about six miles north of the town centre within the morning.
• Ukrainian armed forces say they’ve repelled Russian assaults on a military base and on a significant thoroughfare in Kyiv.

• Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow its management, whom he labelled as a “gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis who’ve has lodged itself in Kyiv and brought hostage your entire Ukrainian folks.”

• The US division of protection mentioned a Russian “amphibious assault” was launched on Mariupol, a coastal metropolis in south-east Ukraine.

• A report from the Reuters information company has urged it’s trying extra probably that Russia may very well be excluded from the Swift world financial institution funds system – a step that some international locations had been reluctant to take. Amongst different sanctions, The EU and the UK have moved to freeze foreign-held belongings of Vladimir Putin and his international minister, Sergei Lavrov – largely symbolic, but it surely follows appeals for motion from Volodymyr Zelenskiy who mentioned: “When bombs fall on Kyiv, it occurs in Europe, not simply in Ukraine. When missiles kill our folks, they kill all Europeans.”

• Nato will deploy vital additional troops to international locations in jap Europe who’re a part of the alliance, its secretary basic, Jens Stoltenberg, mentioned. UK ministers warned there could be no forces going to Ukraine itself to keep away from an “existential” conflict between Russia and the west.

• The UN safety council has voted on a decision deploring Russian invasion of Ukraine. Eleven member states voted for the decision, three abstained (China, India, and UAE) and one voted in opposition to (Russia). As Russia holds a veto the decision was not upheld.

• The Council of Europe suspended Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The 47-nation council introduced that Russia was suspended with “speedy impact” from the organisation’s committee of ministers and parliamentary meeting on Friday “because of the Russian Federation’s armed assault on Ukraine”.

• Russia will not be allowed to compete on this 12 months’s Eurovision track contest, with organisers saying its inclusion might “deliver the competitors into disrepute”.