The Russian military has destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 air bases, according to media reports on-ground.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the loss of a Sukhoi-25 fighter jet due to ‘pilot error.’
Further, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered that Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms be treated ‘with respect’ and given safe corridors.
As many as 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians have been killed in the attacks, a Reuters report said on Thursday.
The AFP reported that Ukraine said it killed ‘around 50 Russian occupiers’ without providing details.
The casualties are the latest in a series of escalations in the ‘ Russian invasion’ which was set in motion following Russian President Putin’s order.
Explosions were reported in several areas of Ukraine and air sirens went off in the capital Kyiv, an early indication that this seems to be more than a mere targeted ‘special ops’ scenario as was earlier reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday said that the country has severed diplomatic relations with Russia after Moscow launched the all-out attack.
Zelenskiy has declared martial law, as Ukraine has vowed to fight and defeat Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian forces were preventing Russian troops from capturing the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl.
The mayor of Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv ordered a curfew on Thursday after matters escalated.
India taking actions to secure stranded Indian citizens
The Indian Ambassador to Ukraine urged Indian citizens, numbering about 18000, a lot of them students, who assembled outside the Indian Embassy, to maintain calm, stay put at their respective cities and wait for support.
Russian aggression on its border with Ukraine has triggered one of the greatest security crises in Europe since the Cold War.
In 2014, Russia had seized Crimea, an important port region in Ukraine. Conflicts between the two militaries continue to this day but the current Russian invasion has escalated tensions to a full-blown conflict.
Moscow had presented a list of demands to NATO including banning Ukraine and other former Soviet states from joining the organisation.
Additionally, Russia asked NATO to abandon military activity in Eastern Europe, which would mean pulling out combat units from Poland and the greater Baltic region, essentially redrawing the map
PM Modi is slated to have a conversation with Putin, even as India takes a diplomatic stance with both of its trading partners.
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