Category Archives: Ukraine

MPs seeking ‘fast-track’ freeze on oligarchs’ assets before formal sanctions

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Amendment to the economic crime bill comes after criticism that UK has been slower to act than US or EU

Russian oligarchs suspected of having links to Vladimir Putin could have their UK assets seized even before the British authorities have completed formal steps to impose sanctions, under far-reaching plans tabled for debate in parliament on Monday.

The move – put forward in an amendment to the economic crime bill by former Tory cabinet minister David Davis and backed by a cross-party group of MPs – would, if passed, amount to the toughest action yet to clamp down on illicit Russian cash in the UK.

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Britons face fraught journeys overland and delays to find a way out of Russia

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Government has urged UK nationals to ‘consider leaving’ the country now but the war in Ukraine has led to travel disruption

British nationals urged to leave Russia amid the fallout of the war in Ukraine are facing fraught journeys back to the UK, with reports of tense border crossings, visa problems and disruption caused by flight cancellations.

The UK government updated its travel advice yesterday to “strongly advise” those whose presence is “not essential” in Russia to consider leaving now. In a statement on its website, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes.”

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Russian chef joins forces with Ukrainian best friend to serve food across frontiers

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The London-based pair launch initiative to raise awareness – and funds – through shared love of traditional dishes

Alissa Timoshkina was brought up on a “beautiful diet” of Ukrainian and Russian dishes. Growing up, she remembers her great-grandmother – a Ukrainian Holocaust survivor who emigrated to Siberia following the second world war – pounding lard and frying vegetables to make a hearty beetroot borscht (Ukrainian soup).

Now the Russian chef has joined forces with her Ukrainian best friend, Olia Hercules, in a show of unity in the face of war. The London-based pair, both 37, are the force behind Cook for Ukraine, an initiative that uses food to raise awareness about the conflict and funds to support the humanitarian effort.

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Biden and Zelenskiy discuss more aid for Ukraine as bombardment continues

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Intelligence report says Russia had responded to unexpected ferocity of the Ukrainian military by targeting cities such as Kharkiv and Mariupol

The strength of Ukraine’s resistance “continues to surprise Russia”, a British intelligence report has said, despite attempts by invading troops to break Ukrainian morale by targeting populated areas.

In its daily intelligence report, the Ministry of Defence said Russia had responded to the unexpected ferocity of the Ukrainian military response by targeting cities such as Kharkiv, Chirnihiv and Mariupol.

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Tens of thousands join rallies around the world in support of Ukraine

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Demonstrators gathered in cities across Europe, the US and South America to demand an end to Russia’s invasion

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities including Santiago, Vancouver Paris and New York in support of Ukraine, demanding an end to Russia’s invasion.

The protesters rallied on Saturday against Russian president Vladimir Putin’s attack, which began on 24 February and appeared to be entering a new phase with escalating bombardment.

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Zelenskiy invites Elon Musk to Ukraine after war following Starlink commitment – video

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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared a video on social media where he had spoken to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and invited him to visit after the war. The meeting came as Ukraine announced it would receive more Starlink satellite internet terminals for destroyed cities from the company next week

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Visa and Mastercard will both suspend operations in Russia

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Transactions to be cut off after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged companies to take action

Visa and Mastercard have announced tonight they will be suspending operations in Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

Visa said in a statement that it would cut off transactions “over the coming days” and consequently cards issued in Russia would not work abroad as well as foreign issued cards in Russia.

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Defiant Putin warns the west: your sanctions are akin to an act of war

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Ukraine told: your statehood is in doubt as Russian bombs end ceasefire in Mariupol

Vladimir Putin delivered a chilling warning to the west over the imposition of sanctions on Russia on Saturday, warning that measures designed to cripple his country’s economy were “akin to an act of war”.

In comments that were both defiant and threatening, the Russian president also told Ukraine’s leaders that their nation risked being dismantled as an independent sovereign state if they continued to resist Russia’s invasion.

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Ukraine: UN says more than 1.3 million have fled since Russian invasion began

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United Nations calling exodus Europe’s fastest-moving refugee crisis since end of second world war

More than 1.3 million Ukrainians have crossed borders since the Russian invasion started on the 24 February in what the United Nations is now calling Europe’s fastest-moving refugee crisis since the end of the second world war.

Figures released today by the United Nation’s Refugee Agency (UNHCR) show that to date 1.37 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring European countries after the military offensive ordered by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

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Russia-Ukraine war latest: western sanctions akin to declaration of war, says Putin; Russia and Ukraine to hold third round of talks on Monday – live

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Vladimir Putin criticises economic sanctions imposed on Russia, and warns western countries against implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to help fight against Russia’s invasion.

That’s how many men returned from abroad at this moment to defend their country from the horde. These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades! Ukrainians, we are invincible,” Reznikov said in statement posted online.

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Mariupol evacuation postponed as Russia accused of breaking ceasefire

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Local authorities in Ukrainian city ask residents to return to shelters and wait for further information

Authorities in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have said an evacuation of civilians has been postponed because Russian forces encircling the city were not respecting an agreed ceasefire.

In a statement, the city council asked residents to return to shelters in the city and wait for further information on evacuation.

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Gunfire reportedly heard as Ukrainians rally in Kherson against Russia’s occupation – video

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Warning: some viewers may find the following footage distressing

Gunfire was reportedly heard as thousands protested in the Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday to protest against the arrival of Russian troops. Residents flooded into its main square on Saturday and protested peacefully and noisily against the occupation.

As protesters took to the streets, local media reported that some armed men fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd. The Black Sea port has become the first major Ukrainian target to fall under the de facto control of Russia forces

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As 1.3 million people flee, Ukraine’s refugee crisis is only just beginning

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Analysis: despite the EU’s solidarity in helping those escaping war, aid agencies are overwhelmed with many people stuck at borders

Just over a week after Russian rockets first began to slam into Ukraine, more than 1.3 million people have fled over the borders of neighbouring European countries into a frightening and uncertain future. What we are witnessing, the United Nations has warned, is the largest refugee crisis in a century.

All week, the world has watched families fighting to board trains in chaotic crowds, fathers kissing their children goodbye through car windows, and seen the shock and exhaustion on the faces of those who have made it to safety.

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Ukraine fundraiser hits £85m as charities say money needed more than goods

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Disasters Emergency Committee chief says ‘things people give today might not be what is needed tomorrow’

More than £85m has been raised to provide aid in Ukraine, in an “absolutely incredible” show of support from the UK public.

But the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has urged people to donate money rather than goods to help those affected by the conflict.

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Boris Johnson praises ‘astonishing’ courage of UK journalists shot by Russian hit squad

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Prime minister says press reporting conflict will not be cowed after Sky News team ambushed near Kyiv

Boris Johnson has praised British journalists who were hit by bullets in Ukraine and said press reporting on the conflict “will not be intimidated or cowed”.

The prime minister commended the “astonishing” courage of the Sky News journalists, who he said were “putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations”.

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Footage shows aftermath of Russian airstrike in Ukraine’s Bila Tserkva – video

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Footage released by the Ukrainian national police shows burning debris and damaged buildings after an airstrike on the town of Bila Tserkva, just over 60 miles from Kyiv

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‘We understand what war means’: Poles rush to aid Ukraine’s refugees

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Ordinary citizens are volunteering time and money – but the pleas for the government to do more are getting urgent

In a giant food depot in Poland, a few miles from the border with Belarus, thousands of people, many of them women and children wrapped in woollen blankets, are crammed together in corridors and hallways. As Polish locals and volunteers frantically work alongside soldiers to try to distribute food and water to those most in need, buses pull up outside carrying more shellshocked and exhausted people needing help.

There is no attempt to register the new arrivals. There is no time. Just over a week since Russia invaded Ukraine, those working here know that this crisis has just begun. Since the violence began, more than 650,000 people have crossed into Poland, leaving their lives behind and becoming refugees.

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Be open, be honest and listen: how to talk to children about Ukraine

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Hearing parents say ‘It’s OK to feel scared and I’m here to listen’ might provide comfort

How should we deal with children’s anxiety over what’s happening in Ukraine?

I wonder if the question should be: how do we deal with our own? Our kids will pick up on how we are feeling and are likely to mirror our own emotive state. Even if you don’t mean to expose them to news, children will realise that something is going on. It may not concern younger children at all but those who are a bit older or old enough to have a smartphone may well be worried, and even work themselves up into a bit of a frenzy.

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UK nationals should leave Russia while they can, Foreign Office says

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Website update advises Britons to ‘consider leaving by remaining commercial routes’

The UK government has urged British nationals in Russia whose presence is “not essential” to consider leaving the country amid the mounting crisis in Ukraine.

The Foreign Office said it had updated its travel advice to say that Britons who can should use the remaining commercial routes to leave Russia.

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