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Economic Times | 27 Feb, 2022 | 09.53AM IST
The Ukrainian president’s office said Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. The State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection warned that the explosion, which it said looked like a mushroom cloud, could cause an ‘environmental catastrophe’ and advised residents to cover their windows with damp cloth or gauze and to drink plenty of fluids. Ukraine’s top prosecutor, Iryna Venediktova, said the Russian forces have been unable to take Kharkiv, where a fierce battle is underway. The city of 1.5 million is located 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Russian border.
Latest from Ukraine crisis:
- Western allies announced sweeping new sanctions against Moscow, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s forces were repelling Russian troops advancing on Kyiv.
- The SWIFT international payments system said it was preparing to implement steps by the West targeting some Russian banks, a move meant to eject Moscow from the global financial system.
- At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed in Russia’s invasion, the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
- Ukraine denied that it was refusing to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia but said it was not ready to accept ultimatums or unacceptable conditions.
- A Ukrainian road-maintenance company said it was removing all road signs to hinder invading Russian forces: “Let us help them get straight to hell.”
- Refugees continued to pour across Ukraine’s western borders, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days.
- The Kremlin website was down on Saturday, following reports of denial of service attacks on various other Russian government and state media websites.
- France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine, a French army spokesman said.
- Russian energy giant Gazprom said it was supplying gas via Ukraine in line with demand from European consumers despite the military conflict.
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