LIVE: Russia's military ops in Ukraine a 'forced measure', says Putin

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Ukrainian forces were fighting to prevent Russian troops from capturing the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl.

11:23 PM

Russian Defense Ministry says its ground forces in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that its ground forces have moved into Ukraine from Crimea, the first confirmation from Moscow that its ground forces have moved in.

 

Russia previously said only that it unleashed air and missile strikes on Ukrainian air bases, air defense batteries and other military facilities. The ministry said it has destroyed 83 Ukrainian military facilities.

 

For the first time since the start of the action, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed the Russian ground troops had rolled into Ukraine, saying they advanced toward the city of Kherson, northwest of Crimea.

 

Kherson sits on reservoir providing the bulk of fresh water for Crimea until Ukraine cut it off with a dam in 2017 in response to Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

 

Konashenkov said that the Russian troops' move allowed to resume water supply to Crimea.

11:13 PM

Ukraine crisis: NSUI stages protest outside MEA, demands safe return of students

Activists of Congress' students wing NSUI staged a protest in front of the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, demanding safe return of the Indian students stranded in Ukraine.

 

Panic erupted in several cities of the eastern European nation after Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an early morning address, announced a military operation against the country. Thousands of Indian students are stranded there. According to estimates, over 15,000 Indians are currently staying in Ukraine.

 

NSUI national president Neeraj Kundan said there is a war-like situation in Ukraine since the last 10 days, and the parents of these students are appealing to the government for help.

11:00 PM

Russian banks would be excluded from London's financial system as part of further sanctions: Boris Johnson

Russian banks would be excluded from London's financial system as part of further sanctions: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a statement on Ukraine in Parliament

10:59 PM

Putin will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands: British PM Boris Johnson

10:59 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin briefs PM Modi about recent developments

Russian President Vladimir Putin briefs Prime Minister Modi about recent developments regarding Ukraine: PMO. PM called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to path of diplomatic negotiations, dialogue: PMO on Modi-Putin conversation. PM reiterated his long-standing conviction that differences between Russia, NATO can be resolved through dialogue: PMO on Modi-Putin call.

10:57 PM

PM called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to path of diplomatic negotiations, dialogue: PMO

PM called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to path of diplomatic negotiations, dialogue: PMO on Modi-Putin conversation

10:57 PM

PM reiterated long-standing conviction that differences between Russia, NATO can be resolved via dialogue: PMO

PM reiterated his long-standing conviction that differences between Russia, NATO can be resolved through dialogue: PMO on Modi-Putin call

10:55 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin briefs Prime Minister Modi about recent developments regarding Ukraine: PMO

Russian President Vladimir Putin briefs Prime Minister Modi about recent developments regarding Ukraine: PMO

10:46 PM

PM Modi speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, appeals for immediate cessation of violence: PMO

PM Modi speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, appeals for immediate cessation of violence: PMO

10:44 PM

Any sanctions will have an impact on our relationship: Foreign Secy

10:32 PM

Russia, Ukraine crisis might give India opportunity to export more wheat in global markets

The Russia-Ukraine conflict would have nil or negligible impact on India's foreign trade, and the crisis may give domestic exporters an opportunity to ship more wheat in the global markets, sources said on Thursday. India's central pool stood at 24.2 million tonnes, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs, they said.

 

More than a quarter of the world's wheat export comes from Russia and Ukraine.

 

Russia is the world's largest exporter of wheat, accounting for more than 18 per cent of international exports. In 2019, Russia and Ukraine together exported more than a quarter (25.4 per cent) of the world's wheat. Egypt, Turkey and Bangladesh bought more than half of Russia's wheat, they said.

10:14 PM

G7 nations 'ready to act' on potential disruption to energy supplies- statement, reports AFP

G7 nations 'ready to act' on potential disruption to energy supplies- statement, reports AFP

10:14 PM

Ukraine seeks India's support in defusing crisis

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Ukraine on Thursday sought India's support in defusing the crisis following the Russian attack on the country and said it was "deeply dissatisfied" with New Delhi's position on the deteriorating situation.

 

Ambassador of Ukraine Igor Polikha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among a very few global leaders to whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can leverage its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.

 

"I am following all the reports on the site of your ministry and the latest advisory to your citizens in Ukraine," Polikha told the media.

 

"We are deeply dissatisfied with the Indian position. We are asking, pleading for the strong voice of India. In this case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji can address Putin," he added.

9:59 PM

Russia-Ukraine conflict: India Inc frets over spiking crude, input costs

Industry leaders on Thursday said the Russia-Ukraine conflict may lead to a spurt in crude oil and commodity prices, which will raise their input costs and further stoke inflationary pressures.

 

Biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products said the geopolitical situation is going to have a huge effect on crude oil prices and impact several industries as trade costs are bound to rise.

 

"For the previous 7-8 years it (crude oil) had been below 100 dollars but today it has crossed the 100 dollar mark, impacting several industries in addition to the food industry. "For instance, formalin oil, RBD oil will see a hike in price. Price hikes will have a huge impact on most of our products," said Krishnarao Buddha, Senior Category Head at Parle Products.

 

In addition, vegetable oil, which is used in several FMCG products like anti-caking agents and soaps will also experience inflation, he said.

9:46 PM

Our Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional: Foreign Secy Harsh V Shringla

9:41 PM

Heard sound of multiple explosions while exiting Kyiv airport: Indian student in Ukraine

India-bound Ronak Sherasiya, an MBBS student in Ukraine, was meant to take a morning flight out of Kyiv on Thursday, but instead he is on his way back to his university in a bus, the sound of "multiple explosions" that he said he heard while exiting the airport, still echoing in his head.

 

The 18-year-old native of Gujarat, a first year student at the Bukovinian State Medical University (BSMU) in Chernivtsi, a beautiful town in western Ukraine, about 500 km from capital Kyiv, said, "I had no idea that in a matter of few hours, the situation in Ukraine will take such a drastic turn".

 

"I and my friend and classmate Mahavir, also from Gujarat, were suppose to take a flight from Kyiv to Istanbul and then another flight from there to India. Our flight from Kyiv was scheduled to take off around 9 AM local time, so we had reached airport in the wee hours. When went to the counter to check-in, we were told that our flight has been cancelled," he told PTI over phone.

9:37 PM

Ukrainian leader: Russian forces trying to seize Chernobyl

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

 

The plant was the site of the world's worst nuclear accident when a nuclear reactor exploded in April 1986, spewing radioactive waste across Europe. The plant lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the capital of Kyiv.

 

The exploded reactor has been covered by a protective shelter to prevent radiation leak and the entire plant has been decommissioned. Zelenskyy said on Twitter that our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. He added that this is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.

9:32 PM

Topmost priority of govt is safety and security of Indian nationals: Harsh V Shringla

9:28 PM

I don't know how much longer my country will exist: Ukraine President

The fate of Ukraine is looking increasingly uncertain as Russia launches a series of strikes across the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently told his Austrian counterpart, RT reported.

 

The Ukraine President apparently warned that the Eastern European nation may not be able to withstand the offensive by Moscow's armed forces.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer shared details of his telephonic conversation with Zelensky. According to Vienna's leader, Zelensky told him, "I don't know how much longer my country will exist", RT reported.

9:21 PM

Pak PM Imran Khan meets Russian President Putin amidst Ukraine conflict; discusses developments in South Asia

President Vladimir Putin met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Kremlin on Thursday in his first face-to-face talks since the start of a special Russian military operation in eastern Ukraine and the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including "developments in South Asia".

 

Khan, who arrived in Russia on Wednesday on a two-day visit - the first by a Pakistani premier in over two decades began his engagements in Moscow by laying a wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier', hours after the Russian President ordered a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, ignoring last-minute appeals and warnings from the West.

 

During the meeting in the Kremlin, the leaders of the two countries discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia, said a brief statement issued by the Russian President's office - Kremlin.

9:17 PM

Embassy of India, Kyiv writes to Govt of Ukraine for safety & security of Indian students

9:13 PM

With crisis in Ukraine deepening, Indian students make tearful pleas to govt for safe return

As the situation in Ukraine worsens after the Russian attack, hundreds of stranded Indian students made desperate appeals to the government on Thursday to ensure their safe return.

 

Several videos emerged on social media in which teary-eyed students urged the Indian authorities to make arrangements for their return.

 

The videos have gone viral on social media, with several prominent personalities sharing them and calling on the government to take action. In one such video, around a dozen visibly-distressed students were seen stranded on a railway station in the capital city of Kyiv.

9:02 PM

Ukraine's capital of Kyiv imposes curfew: Mayor

The mayor of Ukraine's capital of Kyiv ordered a curfew on Thursday in comments shown on television after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine.

 

 

 

8:42 PM

Russian troops breach area near Chernobyl, says adviser to Ukrainian minister

8:40 PM

Embassy of India in Ukraine accommodates more than 200 Indian students at school

8:39 PM

To assist in evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, MEA teams are being sent to borders: Ministry

8:05 PM

UK's Johnson to Germany's Scholz: Inaction on Ukraine would have unthinkable consequences

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Western "inaction or underreaction" in response to Russia invading Ukraine would have unthinkable consequences, a spokeswoman for his office said on Thursday.

 

Johnson held calls with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Germany's Scholz to discuss sanctions after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in a massed assault by land, sea and air.

 

"Prime Minister (Johnson) underscored that western inaction or underreaction would have unthinkable consequences. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact and to discuss our response further in this afternoon's meeting of G7 leaders," a Downing Street spokeswoman said in a statement.

 

7:51 PM

Def Ministry signs contract worth Rs 1,075 cr with Bharat Electronics Limited

7:49 PM

PM Modi likely to speak to Putin tonight, says report

7:23 PM

Russia says it has destroyed 74 military facilities in Ukraine: Report

Russia's defence ministry said it had destroyed 74 above-ground military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on Thursday, including 11 aerodromes, the RIA news agency reported.