Ukraine Russia conflict updates: ‘Soviet-era drone’ crashes in Croatia
A large unidentified flying device, suspected to be a Soviet-era drone, has suddenly crashed to the ground in suburban Croatia.
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The bodies of more than 1200 civilians have been recovered from the southern city of Mariupol as it continues to face a barrage of Russian attacks.
Yesterday, the destruction of a children’s and maternity hospital in the city sparked global outrage, with harrowing images emerging of injured pregnant women and children fleeing the carnage.
Three people, including a child, are believed to have been killed, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describing the bombing as “proof of a genocide”.
The UN migration agency reported that more than 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion, with over 1.5 million arriving in neighbouring Poland.
Meanwhile, power remains cut off from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, leading to fears of radiation leaks.
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Follow our updates below.
Suspected Soviet-era drone crashes in Croatia
An unidentified flying device, which local media reported could be a Soviet-era drone, crashed in the Croatian capital Zagreb, police said.
Several parked vehicles were damaged in the accident that occurred around 9pm local time (8am AEDT) Thursday, but there were no reports of anyone injured, an interior ministry statement said on Friday.
Police rushed to the scene after residents reported that they “felt a detonation preceded by a fall of an object from the sky”, the statement said.
In a park close to the Jarun lake, some six kilometres from the city centre, police found a crater and two parachutes nearby, it added.
Local media quoted military aviation experts as saying that the device that crashed could have been a Soviet-era Tu-141 reconnaissance drone used by by the Ukrainian military.
Police sealed off the site and temporary halted public transport in the area. Zagreb is located some 550 kilometres flying distance from the border with Ukraine, which Russia invaded on February 24.
- AFP
Putin calls on volunteers to aid Donbass
The stalled Russian tank convoy outside Kyiv has been disrupted, according to local news sources on the ground.
The Kyiv Independent, citing information received from Maxar Technologies, reported satellite images taken on March 10 showed the military convoy northwest of Ukraine’s capital has “largely dispersed and redeployed”.
It came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the military would be accepting volunteers.
“If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone,” Putin said on Friday.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced there were 16,000 soldiers in the Middle East were “ready to come” awaiting Putin’s green-light to fight with Russian-backed forces.
Putin has instructed military leaders “to meet them halfway and help them move to the combat zone”.
UK minister attacks Russian ‘false narrative’
UK Technology minister Chris Philp has weighed in on Russia’s recent accusations against Ukraine and the US over chemical weapons, accusing Vladimir Putin’s government of creating a “false narrative”.
“We have seen in the last 24 or 48 hours what appear to be bits of disinformation published by Russian state outlets, including in fact the Russian embassy here in London, putting on things like Twitter information that appear to be creating a false narrative that Ukrainians are considering using chemical weapons, which is clearly ridiculous and totally untrue,” Mr Philp told Sky News on Friday.
“Sometimes they do that in preparation but I hope that's not what they're contemplating, the use of chemical weapons in any theatre of war, certainly one where there are lots of civilians, is totally unacceptable.”
Mr Philip warned Russia against “crossing the line” and committing “barbaric” chemical attacks on soliders and civilians.
“I'm not going to talk about intelligence but using chemical weapons in an area which has lots of civilians would be a barbaric thing to do and I would say to Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime not to cross that line, not do that to Ukrainian civilians,” he said.
New city targeted in 6am strike
Ukrainian officials reported Russian shells struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro early on Friday morning.
The attack, which left one civilian dead, appears to be the first direct attack on the city in 16 days of conflict.
“There were three air strikes on the city, namely hitting a kindergarten, an apartment building and a two-story shoe factory, starting a fire. One person died,” the emergency services said in a statement.
On March 11, at about 06:10, three air strikes took place in the city of Dnipro. There was a hit near a kindergarten and an apartment building and hit a two-story shoe factory with subsequent burning. pic.twitter.com/U1cHQMNj4C
— SSSCIP Ukraine (@dsszzi) March 11, 2022
Russians speak out against war on live TV
A Russian filmmaker has caused a stir on live television after calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine, warning his country risks becoming ostracised from the rest of the world if the invasion continues.
“I have a hard time imagining taking cities such as Kyiv. I can’t imagine how that would look,” Karen Shakhnazarov told talk show host Vladimir Soloviyev on Russia 1.
“If this picture starts to transform into an absolute humanitarian disaster, even our close allies like China and India will be forced to distance themselves from us.
“This public opinion, with which they’re saturating the entire world, can play out badly for us ... Ending this operation will stabilise things within the country.”
Later in the same show, academic Semyon Bagdasarov questioned if the current invasion could spiral into something resembling the disastrous Afghanistan war and warned the effects of current sanctions placed against Russia were only just beginning.
“Do we need to get into another Afghanistan, but even worse?” he said, prompting a heated response from the state-backed network’s host.
“Gotcha. We should just lay down and die,” Soloviyev said.
The public acts of defiance came after Russia warned of 15-year prison sentences for those opposing the current war.
WHO warned Ukraine to destroy ‘high-threat pathogens’
The World Health Organisation has revealed it advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens held in the nation’s public health labs in order to prevent “any potential spills”.
The UN-affiliated organisation said there were concerns a leak, caused by damages from the war, could spread disease among the already under-siege population.
“As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills,” the WHO said in an email, via Reuters.
Officials called for both sides to ensure “the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed”.
The WHO would not reveal when it had advised Ukraine to destroy pathogens and did not provide details on the specific types of diseases held in laboratories. The statement did not make specific claims in regard to biowarfare, following Russia’s recent accusation of chemical weapons being developed in Ukraine.
The White House immediately refuted those claims, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki labelling any assumption the US was tied to chemical weapons in Ukraine as “preposterous”.
It still remains unclear whether the official health body’s recommendations were followed.
‘Dispersed’: Telling clue in satellite pic
A massive, 64km convoy of Russian tanks and troops en route to Kyiv sent shockwaves across the globe recently.
But new satellite images have revealed the line has been “largely dispersed and redeployed”, according to Maxar Technologies.
Many vehicles are now positioned on roads in residential areas in the town of Ozera, with others “repositioned” to forested areas near Lubyanka.
Some vehicles do remain in position southeast of Ivankiv, where the convoy previously ended, although it’s a fraction of what was there previously.
The redeployment comes after reports emerged that the convoy had stalled due to critical food and fuel shortages, with the line also attacked by Ukrainian defenders.
Meanwhile, a report from the Institute For the Study of War has claimed that is was getting more and more likely that Ukrainian forces could fight Russian troops attempting to encircle Kyiv into a standstill.
“Russian forces also appear to be largely stalemated around Kharkiv and distracted from efforts to seize that city,” the report states.
“Russian advances in the south around Mykolayiv and toward Zaporizhya and in the east around Donetsk and Luhansk made little progress as well in the last 24 hours.”
The likelihood is increasing that #Ukrainian forces could fight to a standstill the #Russian ground forces attempting to encircle and take #Kyiv.
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) March 10, 2022
Read the latest report from @TheStudyofWar and @criticalthreatshttps://t.co/wD6Mq7Lhj3pic.twitter.com/bfBpmtBszg
‘I’m worried’: Disturbing clue hints at Russia’s next move
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has given a passionate new address to his people and the wider world, issuing a chilling warning of Russia’s anticipated next move.
In the address, the father of two – who defiantly remains in Kyiv – said “Russian propagandists” have been working hard to “cover up the crimes of their army in Ukraine” with “new accusations”.
One of those accusations was the widely debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine was developing biological weapons to be used in a chemical attack.
“I’m worried about it because we have repeatedly seen for ourselves: if you want to learn the plans of Russia, look at what Russia is accusing others of …,” Mr Zelensky said.
“They come to us with tanks and rockets, grab what’s ours, occupy. They are embarrassed to even show it to their officers, hide their generals, and conceal from their people that they deploy conscripts only to increase their invading power.
“And we are the guilty ones. We are being accused of attacking peace-loving Russia …
“I’m a sane president of the sane people. I’m the father of two children. No chemical or any other kind of weapon of mass destruction is being developed on our land. The entire world knows that. You know that. And if you do anything like that against us, it will receive the harshest sanctions in response.”
Those fears were echoed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who said in a tweet that Russia’s “manic obsession” with “non-existent biological or chemical weapon” in Ukraine was “deeply troubling and may actually point at Russia preparing another horrific false flag operation”.
The manic obsession with which various Russian officials fantasize about non-existent biological or chemical weapons or hazards in Ukraine is deeply troubling and may actually point at Russia preparing another horrific false flag operation. This tweet is for the record.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 10, 2022
Meanwhile, Russia has urged the UN to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the allegations that Ukraine was creating biological weapons with the aid of the US.
The claim was dismissed by CIA Director Burns as “false flag efforts in the creation of false narratives”.
Putin’s troops on doorstep of Ukraine capital
Reports are emerging that Russian troops are advancing towards Kyiv, and are now just 40km away from the capital.
A US official has claimed Putin’s forces had moved around 5km closer to the city, although Ukrainians were fighting back “very, very well”.
“We see Russian forces continue to advance their troops, they’re really along two sort of parallel lines there, and we assess that the northernmost of those two lines, the closest line has reached about 40km east of Kyiv,” the official said, according to CNN.
The official said the line to the south “which kind of emanated out of Sumy, we also assess that some of [the Russian forces] might have reached approximately 40km from Kyiv”.
‘Red line’ that would force world to act
Britain’s Armed Forces minister James Heappey has hinted that the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian civilians could be the “red line” that would force the rest of the world to intervene in the ongoing crisis.
So far, NATO has declined to send planes to Ukraine or to set up a no fly-zone, but Mr Heappey said the use of brutal weapons could change that stance.
“I think President Putin needs to be very clear that when other countries have used chemical weapons it has caused an international response,” he said.
“I think he should reflect very urgently on what has happened to other countries where they have used them.”
It comes as UK PM Boris Johnson reiterated concerns that Moscow may soon deploy chemical weapons against Ukrainian citizens.
“The stuff which you are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook,” Mr Johnson told Sky News.
“They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weapons – as I fear they may – they have a fake story ready to go.
“You have seen it in Syria, you saw it even in the UK. It is a cynical, barbaric government I’m afraid.”
Mr Johnson’s comments echo similar concerns raised by US officials.
‘Nuclear terrorism’ as reactor shelled
Russia has been accused by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine accused Russia of committing “an act of nuclear terrorism” after a reactor site was bombed in the city of Kharkiv.
The attack occurred at the Institute of Physics and Technology, with the blast sending towering flames into the sky at the site.
In a tweet, Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security explained the danger posed by the bombing.
“The building contains equipment which, if damaged, can lead to radioactive pollution of the environment,” the tweet reads.
‘Desperate’ Putin fires generals over invasion fail
A top Ukrainian defence chief has claimed the Russian President is so furious over his army’s stalled invasion he has fired a string of top generals in retribution.
According to newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda, Defence Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said Mr Putin was enraged by Russia’s failure to swiftly seize Kyiv and other major cities.
“[The enemy] had about 8 generals removed from their posts because they did not complete the task. New ones have been appointed,” Mr Danilov was reported as saying.
“We clearly understand what is happening in the Russian Federation.
“What’s more, I can tell they’re desperate.”
It comes as Ukraine scored another significant win, after special forces captured a mobile Russian anti-aircraft missile launcher.
In an announcement on Twitter, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said the seizing of the Pantsir-CI air defence system was “another ‘special’ trophy” stolen from the invaders.
The post was accompanied by a photo of a soldier posing in front of the weapon with his face blacked out.
The equipment is believed to be worth a staggering $US15 million ($A20.3 million).
More civilians killed than troops in ‘terrorist war’
Ukraine’s defence minister has branded Russia’s invasion a “terrorist war” and claims more innocent civilians have been killed than Ukrainian troops.
The comments were made by Oleksiy Rezniko in an interview with The Kyiv Independent, and comes after the shock bombing of a women’s and children’s hospital in Mariupol that left three dead and 17 injured.
âš¡ï¸Reznikov: Russian forces killed more civilians than Ukrainian service personnel.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 10, 2022
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has described Russia’s invasion as a “terrorist war." According to Reznikov, Russian troops killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers.
Putin’s commander killed in surprise attack
A top Russian commander has reportedly been killed and a convoy of Russian tanks obliterated in a surprise ambush by Ukrainian forces near Kyiv.
The attack occurred as Russian forces were advancing towards Brovary, a suburb on the outskirts of the capital.
However, footage taken from the scene showed the tanks being hit by artillery, forcing what remained of the column to retreat.
According to Ukraine’s defence ministry, a top commander, Colonel Andrei Zakharov, was killed in the onslaught.
Three Russian generals have previously been killed over the course of the invasion.
Russia’s extraordinary claim
The bombing of a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol sent shockwaves around the world – but now, Russia has sparked new fury by responding to the tragedy with a startling claim.
Soon after the hospital was destroyed, Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov blamed Ukraine, claiming it was a “staged provocation”.
“The Russian aviation carried out absolutely no missions to hit targets on the ground in the Mariupol area,” Mr Konashenkov told reporters.
“The air strike that allegedly took place is a completely staged provocation to maintain anti-Russian hype for a Western audience.”
Russia ‘losing this war’
Poland’s Ambassador to the US, Marek Magierowski, has given a damning assessment of Russia’s invasion during an interview with CNN, claiming Putin’s mission was all but doomed.
“Russia is losing this war right now,” Mr Magierowski told the network.
“Not only in the hearts and mind of Europeans and Americans or the societies of the so-called free world but Russia is losing this war literally.”
He explained that the Ukrainian forces had the upper hand.
“I don’t know whether we will find a diplomatic solution, but maybe a military solution … I believe the Ukrainian army is capable of defeating the Russian army right now,” he said.
“ … I am confident that Mr. Putin and his cronies and all his closest aides will end up in the dock, in The Hague, in the International Criminal Court, because this is what he has already fully deserved.”
City’s act of defiance after bombing
Besieged Mariupol has remained defiant after yesterday’s shock maternity hospital bombing.
In a message posted on the city’s Telegram, it was announced that 24 new babies had been born since the attack, and insisting that “Mariupol lives”.
“From yesterday to today, 24 babies were born in our city,” the post reads.
“May there never be another war in the lives of our new little Mariupol residents.
“May there never be another war in our hometown.
“Ukraine will win.”
Fears grow over Chernobyl
Officials are scrambling to restore power to the Chernobyl nuclear plant after electricity was cut off during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Electricity is essential to the site in order to keep cooling mechanisms running, with back-up generators only able to power the site temporarily.
In a message posted on the Ukrainian energy ministry website, energy minister Herman Halushenko said authorities were doing “everything possible” to fix the potential crisis “as soon as possible”.
“For the sake of [the] safety of Ukraine or Europe, and for the whole world, the [Russian] military has to leave the nuclear facilities,” Mr Halushenko said.
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