New York, USA (CNN)—The Russian invasion and military operations launched by Russian forces in a number of regions in Ukraine continue for the sixth consecutive day, and the following is a review of the latest developments until 7:3 am local time in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv:
Biden’s speechUS President Joe Biden condemned the Russian invasion in his “State of the Union” address early Wednesday, saying the United States would close its airspace to Russian planes and launch an investigation into Russian elites. But he reiterated that the United States would not deploy troops to Ukraine.
Kyiv bombingThe Ukrainian capital was hit by a missile Tuesday, as a Holocaust memorial and maternity clinic were bombed, hours following the Russian military warned of “high-precision strikes” and told civilians nearby to flee. Missiles have also taken out transmitters, raising fears that Russia is trying to destroy the city’s communications infrastructure.
– Invasion of citiesRussian forces also attacked other major cities, ramping up their bombardment of Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, in the northeast and penetrating a hotly contested port city in the south. The Russian army appears to have captured central Kherson, a city of strategic importance north of Crimea. Russia has occupied Crimea since its annexation in 2014.
– death toll: At least 136 people, including 13 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, the United Nations said, although the true death toll is likely to be much higher, while Ukraine’s Interior Ministry announced higher numbers on Sunday, saying 352 Civilians have been killed and 1,684 others injured since the Russian invasion.
