36 seconds ago (16:43 GMT)
Russian police detain more than 100 people at anti-war protests, monitoring group says
Russian police have detained at least 167 people at anti-war protests held in cities throughout the country, protest monitoring group OVD-Info says.
The group said demonstrations had been staged in 24 different locations, including in the capital, Moscow.
5 mins ago (16:38 GMT)
Russian municipal deputies, journalists and scientists pen open letters opposing invasion
More than 180 municipal deputies from cities across Russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara and Volgograd, among others, have signed an open letter strongly condemning Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
“We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate,” the regional officials’ letter says, before warning that the incursion will have “catastrophic consequences”.
“This is an unparalleled atrocity for which there is and cannot be justification,” the letter adds. It also calls on Russians not to “be silent” over the attack, saying “only massive popular condemnation can stop the war”.
In two other open letters, more than 240 journalists and 260 scientists also expressed their opposition to the Kremlin’s move.
4 hours ago (12:44 GMT)
Russian forces trying to penetrate Kyiv region, border officials say
Russian forces are trying to penetrate into Ukraine’s Kyiv region and its Zhytomyr region on the Belarusian border, Ukrainian border officials say.
The officials said Russia was using Grad rocket systems as part of its assault, and claimed that Russian helicopters had attacked a military airport near Kyiv.
Ukrainian forces shot down three of the helicopters involved in the attack on the facility, the officials added.
