China Asked Russia To Delay Invasion Until After Olympics, Report Says

U.S. Cancels Planned Missile Test Launch Amid ‘Heightened Tensions’

The United States has canceled a planned intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled this week to avoid escalating “heightened tensions” with Russia.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a briefing Wednesday the decision shows “we are a responsible nuclear power,” and was intended to avoid “any actions that could be misunderstood or misconstrued” during the Russian invasion. “This is not a step backwards in our readiness, nor does it imply that we will necessarily cancel other routine activities to ensure credible nuclear capability,” Kirby said.

The Air Force planned to conduct a test launch of an Air Force Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Thursday, a test normally performed several times per year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The cancellation came three days after Russian President Vladimir Putin placed Russia’s nuclear weapons on high alert, a move Kirby called “dangerous and irresponsible” and “provocative” during Wednesday’s press briefing.

Ukrainian And Russian Delegations Set To Meet; Kherson Falls; Kyiv Railway Station Blasted

• Ukrainian negotiators are en route to meet with a Russian delegation in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, a region in Belarus, Ukrainian President Volodamir Zelensky’s office told the Eastern European news outlet NEXTA Wednesday.
• Zelensky said Tuesday, following Monday’s fruitless meeting, that the Russians must stop bombing his cities before he can begin considering concessions. 
• The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a strategically crucial site, fell to Russian forces Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said according to the New York Times.
• It’s the first major city to fall to Russia since it began its invasion last week, with Russian officers telling Kherson mayor Igor Kolykhaev they would be establishing a military administration in the city—contradicting President Vladimir Putin’s claim last week that Russia had no intention of occupying Ukraine.
• A Russian air strike hit Kyiv’s railway station via Wednesday, where thousands of civilians are evacuating the capital city, according to a release from the Ukrainian government.

China Asked Russia To Delay Invasion Until After Olympics, Report Says

Senior Chinese officials asked Russia to not invade Ukraine until after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing ended on February 20th, the New York Times reports, citing anonymous U.S. officials and an anonymous European official, who told the Times an intelligence report indicated the request came in early February.

The Times reports the classified information was considered to be credible by the officials who reviewed it. However, different intelligence agencies had varying interpretations of how much knowledge Chinese officials had of Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine. One anonymous official told the Times the report did not indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a possible invasion when they met in Beijing at the start of the Olympics.

Liu Pengyu, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson in Washington, D.C., told the Times “these claims are speculation without any basis, and are intended to blame-shift and smear China.”

After Putin and Xi met, the two countries issued a lengthy joint statement on February 4 that, in part, opposed the “further enlargement of NATO.” One day after the Closing Ceremony ended on February 20, Putin ordered additional troops to enter two pro-Russia rebel-backed regions of Ukraine, and Putin authorized a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24.

—Anna Kaplan

Sweden Says Russian Fighter Jets Briefly Violated Its Airspace

Four Russian fighter jets—two Su-27s and two Su-24s—crossed into Sweden’s airspace near the Baltic Sea island of Gotland on Wednesday, the Swedish Armed Forces announced. The violation of the Nordic country’s airspace was brief and the situation is under control, but the Swedish military said it “view[s] this event very seriously” in light of the “current situation,” according to a statement translated by Reuters.

Sweden is not a member of NATO.

Sweden didn’t release any further details on the Russian jets’ destination. Gotland sits between the Swedish mainland and Latvia, and it’s less than 200 miles northwest of Kaliningrad, a Russian territory that borders the Baltic Sea but is disconnected from the rest of Russia.

The incident came three days after Sweden and all other European Union member states responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by banning all Russian planes from their airspace.

— Joe Walsh

U.S. Imposes Export Controls On ‘Enabler’ Belarus, Further Sanctions On Russia

The White House announced additional sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Wednesday, this time also targeting Belarus, who the White House described as responsible for “enabling [Russian President Vladimit Putin]’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Belarus now faces the same export controls placed by the U.S. on Russia. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement that the U.S. would continue “coordinated action with our global allies and partners to apply maximum pressure on Russia, its enabler Belarus and any other parties that may seek to support them.”

The new sanctions also target  22 entities linked to Russian defense, export controls on Russian oil refining equipment, and the official banning of Russian aircrafts from American airspace, announced by President Joe Biden Tuesday night.

—Derek Saul

U.S. Says 82% Of Russian Forces Now In Ukraine—But Progress Is Mixed

About 82% of the troops Russia assembled for its invasion of Ukraine are now in the country, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Wednesday, up from 80% a day earlier. Russia is making some progress in southern Ukraine, but its advance in the north is slow.

Here’s where things stand, according to the defense official:

• Russia has launched over 450 missiles at Ukraine since the war began, and has become more aggressive with targeting the capital Kyiv with missiles and artillery, following reports of a strike Tuesday on a Kyiv TV tower—the northern city of Chernihiv and northeastern city of Kharkiv have also faced heavy recent attacks.
• However, Russian ground forces have made “no appreciable movement” toward Kyiv in recent days, as they continue to grapple with supply shortages and Ukrainian resistance, and Russian troops also appear to be stalled outside Chernihiv and Kharkiv.
• There are some indications that Ukrainian forces have resisted a slow-moving 40-mile convoy of Russian vehicles north of Kyiv, though the U.S. official didn’t elaborate.
• In the south, Russia has made “measured” progress: The Pentagon believes the city of Kherson is “contested,” amid conflicting reports on whether Russia had captured it, and there are early signs Russia may approach Mariupol via the separatist-run Donetsk area further north, possibly encircling the coastal city as troops also approach from the west (Mariupol—a city of over 400,000—“will be defended,” the official said).
• The airspace over Ukraine remains contested: Russia hasn’t achieved air superiority over the entire country, and Ukrainian air defenses are still intact.

— Joe Walsh

498 Russian Troops Dead So Far, Says Russia’s Defense Ministry

Russia’s defense ministry said in state-run media outlets Wednesday 498 troops have died and 1,597 more troops have been injured in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its first casualty update of the war. 

Estimates from outside the Kremlin place the Russian death toll much higher. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Wednesday nearly 6,000 Russian troops have died. American and European intelligence officials told the New York Times they believe about 2,000 Russian troops had died as of Monday.

Ukraine has yet to provide an official update on its total military casualties, though authorities have provided periodic updates on deaths from specific Russian strikes, saying Tuesday at least 70 soldiers died from a Russian rocket attack in the city of Okhtyrka. A Wednesday statement from the official Facebook account of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said more than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have died since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last month, but the post was later edited to remove the death total. The Associated Press said it was not able to independently verify the reported civilian death total. The United Nations’ office of human rights said Tuesday at least 136 civilians have died and 400 more injured in the invasion, though a spokesperson for the agency said during a media briefing, “The real toll is likely to be much higher.”

—Derek Saul

Biden Says He Won’t Rule Out Banning Russian Oil Imports

Biden On Russian Oil

President Joe Biden said Wednesday a ban on oil imports from Russia remains a possibility, marking a significant change in tune for his administration. Responding to a reporter’s question on whether he has considered banning Russian oil imports, Biden said “Nothing is off the table,” according to a White House pool report.

Russia accounts for about 8% of U.S. oil imports, estimated oil analyst Andy Lipow to the Wall Street Journal, using Energy Information Administration data. There is bipartisan support for a Russian oil ban in Congress: Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) each introduced legislation calling for it this week. Biden and his administration have resisted taking any steps to impact the nation’s energy supply, saying their focus is to combat surging gasoline prices for consumers.

Biden On Potential Russian War Crimes

When asked if Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, Biden said, “We are following it very closely. It’s early to say that.” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier Thursday that Russia’s actions in Ukraine “fully qualifies as a war crime,” while Ukraine called on the United Nations to investigate the alleged war crimes Monday. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said before the United Nations Wednesday there’s evidence of Russian war crimes: “We’ve seen videos of Russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield. That includes cluster munitions & vacuum bombs, which are banned under the Geneva Convention,” referring to the international protocols of war established following World War II.

—Derek Saul

Powell Says Economic Fallout Of Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Remains ‘Uncertain’

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said before Congress on Tuesday the central bank will closely monitor the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the U.S. and its allies’ subsequent sanctions against Russia. “The implications for the U.S. economy are highly uncertain,” said Powell, adding the Fed will “proceed carefully.”

Read more here: Rate Hikes Are Coming In March Despite ‘Uncertain’ Impact From Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine, Powell Says

—Derek Saul

Sberbank Shares Trade For As Low As A Penny In London

Shares of Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, cratered on the London Stock Exchange following its exit from the European market Wednesday after the European Central Bank ordered the closure of its European arm. Sberbank’s shares on the London Stock Exchange traded for as low as 1 cent Wednesday, recovering to 4 cents as of 10:30 ET. Sberbank shares traded as high as $13.92 on February 2. Sberbank cited Western sanctions as the reason for its closure, though the bank was not one of the Russian institutions cut off from the SWIFT financial transactions network.

—Derek Saul

Everton FC Suspends Partnerships With Russian Companies Tied To Oligarch Usmanov

Everton Football Club of the English Premier League suspended its sponsorships with several Russian companies linked to newly sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the club said in a statement released Wednesday.

The suspended companies are USM Holdings, Megafon and Yota, all Russian companies with ties to Usmanov and Everton’s principal owner, British billionaire Farhad Moshiri, a close associate of Usmanov. Usmanov is the founder of USM Holdings, which controls his stake in Russian metal giant Metalloinvest, while Moshiri serves as the chairman of USM Holdings’ board of directors. Both Usmanov and Moshiri own large stakes in telecommunications company Megafon, which owns Yota, a wireless broadband operator.

In 2020, USM Holdings paid $40 million for the naming rights to Everton’s new stadium. Usmanov previously held a 30% stake in Arsenal Football Club, which he sold for $700 million in 2018.

On Monday, the European Union sanctioned Usmanov and several other Russian oligarchs, freezing their assets in the EU and banning them from traveling to EU countries. 

Worth an estimated $14.2 billion, Usmanov is the 135th wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker. 

Everton is the 15th-most valuable soccer club in the world, according to Forbes’ 2021 valuations, worth $658 million. Moshiri is worth $2.2 billion per Forbes’ latest estimates.

—Derek Saul

Russian, Belarusian Paralympic Athletes Will Compete As Neutrals At Winter Games, IPC Says

Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes will compete at the upcoming Winter Games under a Paralympic flag and will “not be included in the medal table,” the International Paralympic Committee said Wednesday.

The IPC added it would hold a General Assembly to vote on whether to suspend both nations’ Paralympic committees and that it would “not hold any events in Russia or Belarus until further notice.”

The IPC’s decision follows a similar call from the International Olympic Committee Monday, urging sports bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international competitions. The Winter Games start on Friday.

Belarus, which supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been targeted by sanctions from the EU and U.S.

– Isabel Togoh

874,000 People Have Fled Ukraine Amid Russian Invasion, U.N. Says

Nearly a week after Russia’s attacks on Ukraine began, the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine is rising rapidly and now stands at 874,000, the U.N. said Wednesday, up from 660,000 reported on Tuesday.

Western Sanctions Are A ‘Serious Blow’ To Economy, Kremlin Acknowledges

The Kremlin on Wednesday acknowledged that “unprecedented” Western sanctions a dealt “a serious blow” to Russia’s economy, but the country has a “margin of safety” to tackle them.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled the sanctions as “hostile actions that are trying to shake and undermine the integrity of our economy.”

“Tireless efforts are underway (to tackle the economic fallout). We will stand our ground,” Peskov added.

— Siladitya Ray

Abramovich ‘Seriously Considering’ Chelsea Sale – ESPN

ESPN reports that billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is mulling a sale of the premier league club.

The report follows Abramovich’s move Saturday to give control of the club, valued at more than $3 billion, to trustees of its charitable foundation after some British lawmakers called for Abramovich to be sanctioned.

The British government has joined several nations in imposing sanctions on Russian oligarchs and financial institutions amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–but Boris Johnson’s government has been criticized by the EU for not doing enough to close a number of loopholes that weaken those measures.

Forbes estimates Abramovich’s net worth currently stands at $12.6 billion, down from $13.6 billion last week.

Read more here: Roman Abramovich Has Sanction Insurance: A $2 Billion Loan To Chelsea FC.

– Isabel Togoh

Navalny Urges Russians To Take To The Streets And Protest ‘Aggressive War Against Ukraine’

In a statement issued on Twitter, jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny called on the people of Russia to take to the streets and protest its invasion of Ukraine.

Navalny slammed the invasion, calling it an “aggressive war against Ukraine unleashed by our obviously insane czar,” as he urged people to not sit back and let Russia become a “nation of frightened silent people.”

The vocal Putin critic called on everyone to “take to the streets and fight for peace.”

Last year, Navalny was detained by Russian authorities in Moscow following his return from Berlin where he spent four months being treated for poisoning by a Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, which he alleges was carried out on Putin’s orders. In February, Navalny was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for failing to meet the requirements of a suspended sentence handed to him on corruption charges in 2014.

— Siladitya Ray

Kremlin Prepares For Second Round Of Talks With Ukraine

Russia will send its delegation for a second round of talks with Ukrainian representatives on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov told reporters.

Peskov did not disclose where the talks are scheduled to take place but noted that the delegation will arrive for talks late in the afternoon on Wednesday and is ready to “continue the conversation tonight.”

According to state-backed news agency TASS, the talks may take place in the Belovezhskaya Forest in Belarus.

— Siladitya Ray

Ukrainian Authorities Report Fresh Strikes On Kharkiv

The city of Kharkiv on Wednesday witnessed fresh missile strikes that damaged the buildings of the regional police, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.

The missiles reportedly struck the building at around 8.10 am local time and at least three people were injured.

Kharkiv has borne to most severe aerial bombardment in the past two days with dozens of deaths and more than 100 injuries reported.

— Siladitya Ray

At Least 2 Dead Following Russian Airstrike On Zhytomyr

At least two people were killed and 16 others were injured as a result of a Russian air strike in the city of Zhytomyr on Wednesday, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said.

According to authorities, the airstrike left 10 private residences and a city hospital damaged. Emergency personnel have rescued 12 people, including 6 children, from basements of dilapidated homes. Zhytomyr lies to the west of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

— Siladitya Ray

Russia’s Sberbank Announces Exit From European Market

Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, will leave the European market, the company announced on Wednesday. The lender said its regional subsidiaries are facing large cash outflows and also claimed that there were threats to the safety of its employees and properties in the region.

On Tuesday, the European Central Bank (ECB) already ordered the closure of Sberbank’s European unit after warning about a run on its deposits earlier.

Sberbank’s move comes after several Russian lenders were targeted by severe western sanctions that included freezing of assets and exclusion from the SWIFT global payments network. Sberbank, however, was one of the major Russian lenders that was not cut off from SWIFT as part of the sanctions.

— Siladitya Ray

Moscow Stock Exchange Remains Closed On Wednesday

The Moscow Stock Exchange remained closed for trading on Wednesday, according to Russia’s Central Bank. The exchange has been shut since Monday after Russia was hit with a flurry of international sanctions, causing the ruble to slump to record lows.

Forbes previously reported that despite the closure of the bourse market, the value of Russian stocks have continued to crater. Several investors believe that the Russian market has become “uninvestable” due to the sanctions.

— Siladitya Ray

Brent Crude Futures Hit $110 Per Barrel, U.S. Oil Benchmark Up 5%

Crude oil prices continued to climb on Wednesday with Brent Crude Futures surging more than 5.6% and topping $110 per barrel, the highest level since 2013.

The West Texas Intermediate crude futures, the U.S. oil benchmark, also jumped more than 5% crossing $109 per barrel.

The surge comes as OPEC+, the group of oil producing nations including Russia, are set to meet on Wednesday to discuss April’s output.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia indicated that it remains committed to the OPEC+ agreement with Russia despite global outrage against its invasion of Ukraine. The Middle Eastern kingdom has also resisted U.S. calls to expand output more quickly than called for under the OPEC+ agreement.

— Siladitya Ray

Ukrainian Tennis Star Svitolina Says She Will Donate Prize Money To Army After Emotional Win

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina said she will donate her prize money to her country’s army after she beat Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in straight sets in the opening round of the Monterrey Open in Mexico on Tuesday.

In her post-game interview, Svitolina said she was on a “mission for my country,” drawing cheers from the crowd. She added: “It’s a very very special event for me. All the prize money that I’m going to earn here is going to the Ukrainian army.”

The world number 15 entered the Mexican tournament as the top seed but had initially refused to play against Russian or Belarusian athletes. The Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation eventually released a statement that players from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete but under a neutral flag.

While Svitolina appeared on court dressed in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, Potapova played under no flag or nation.

— Siladitya Ray

Russian Military Reportedly Seizes Control Of Kherson

The Russian military seized control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson with its military vehicles spotted in the center of the city, CNN reported.

According to webcam videos of the city center, reviewed by CNN, Russian forces are apparently moving through the city unimpeded. The reported fall of Kherson also means that Russian forces invading from Crimea have managed to cross the Dnieper River and are now on its western bank.

This was confirmed by Forbes Ukraine, which reported that the Russian military has occupied the railway station and the river port in Kherson. Kherson mayor Ihor Kolikhaev said power lines in the city are damaged and local shops are facing food shortages. “People are very scared, they are hiding in their homes, in bomb shelters,” Kolikhaev added.

— Siladitya Ray

Biden Announces Ban On Russian Flights In U.S. Airspace During State Of The Union Speech

The United States is banning all Russian flights from American airspace, President Joe Biden confirmed during his State of the Union address Tuesday, following similar moves by Canada and the European Union last weekend. Several media outlets reported Tuesday afternoon that Biden was weighing the measure.

The president used a large share of his first State of the Union address to excoriate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, applaud Ukraine for its stiff resistance and promise that Russia will pay a hefty economic price for the war.

Read more about the airspace ban here.

ExxonMobil Plans To Exit Drilling Project In Russia

ExxonMobil is planning to exit an offshore oil and gas drilling joint venture in the Russian Far East, and will not invest in any future ventures in Russia, the company said Tuesday, the latest petroleum giant to wind down its operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The company didn’t offer a timeline for cutting off its involvement in the Sakhalin-1 drilling project, which is owned jointly by ExxonMobil and Russian, Japanese and Indian companies. ExxonMobil operates the project in addition to owning a 30% stake in it, so exiting it “will need to be carefully managed and closely coordinated with the co-venturers in order to ensure it is executed safely,” the company said.

On Monday, petroleum giant Shell said it will exit several joint ventures with Russian state gas company Gazprom, and BP said it will divest a nearly 20% stake in Russian firm Rosneft. Several other companies have responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by distancing themselves from the Russian market, including Boeing, Ford, Apple and BMW.

Biden Reportedly Planning To Ban Russian Flights From U.S. Airspace

President Joe Biden plans to ban Russian-owned and -operated planes from entering U.S. airspace, multiple outlets reported Tuesday, further punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The announcement will come during Tuesday evening’s State of the Union address, CNN reported, citing two unnamed sources.

On Sunday, the European Union announced it will ban Russian planes from taking off, landing or flying in any E.U. nation, and Canada closed its airspace to Russian operators. The U.S. Embassy on Sunday encouraged U.S. citizens in Russia to leave the country as soon as possible due to flight cancellations.

The United States and its allies have imposed a series of harsh penalties on Russia in the past week, sanctioning some of the country’s largest banks and wealthiest individuals and restricting technology imports.

Latest Kharkiv Target: Russia Reportedly Shells Ukrainian Military University

The Russian military has shelled Ukraine’s National Air Force University in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, news agency Ukrinform reported early Wednesday morning, citing the military.

Kharkiv—a city of more than 1.4 million—has faced frequent shelling since Monday, causing several deaths and extensive damage. The city’s Freedom Square was hit by a missile attack earlier Tuesday, damaging government offices and an opera house, multiple news outlets reported.

— Joe Walsh

Ford And Apple Are Latest U.S. Companies To Take Action Against Russia

Ford announced Tuesday it will immediately suspend its operations in Russia until further notice, and Apple is pausing product sales in Russia, joining a litany of companies that have distanced themselves from the Russian market amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ford said it has “significantly wound down its Russian operations” in recent years, though it still sells versions of its commercial Transit van in Russia through a joint venture. Meanwhile, in addition to pausing sales and exports, Apple has cut off downloads for Kremlin-funded media outlets RT and Sputnik outside Russia, the company told several news outlets.

Several other Western companies have backed away from Russia in recent days. Most notably, petroleum giants BP and Shell are divesting from their Russia-based oil ventures, and Visa and Mastercard blocked some Russian banks from their network due to Western sanctions.

Read more about the corporate response to Russia’s invasion here.

— Joe Walsh

Biden Will Excoriate Russia’s ‘Premeditated And Unprovoked’ Ukraine Invasion In State Of The Union

President Joe Biden is set to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, calling the attacks “premeditated and unprovoked.” Biden will say Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to divide Americans and dodge retaliation from the West and NATO. 

“When dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” an advance excerpt of his State of the Union address says. “That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2.”

Last week, Biden reiterated the U.S. would defend NATO allies and territories, but he would not send troops to Ukraine.

—Mason Bissada

Putin Bans Cash Exports Of More Than $10,000

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Tuesday limiting the withdrawal of foreign currency in the country, the Kremlin said in a statement to Reuters. Putin’s decree bans the export of foreign currency valued at more than $10,000 starting Wednesday.

Forbes Ukraine reports Putin may be attempting to keep as much money as possible within Russia after several countries levied massive sanctions against Russia’s economy, Russian officials, including Putin himself, and members of elite families in the country. The Russian ruble plunged following the sanctions, CNBC reports.

The move comes one day after Putin banned Russians from withdrawing foreign currency from their accounts in foreign banks.

—Anna Kaplan

UK Imposes Sanctions On Belarus

Britain launched its first round sanctions against Belarusian officials and organizations Tuesday in response to the country’s support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

“The Lukashenko regime actively aids and abets Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote Tuesday in a release announcing the sanctions. “We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him.”

The sanctions target Victor Gulevich, Belarus’ chief of the general staff in charge of directing the Belarusian armed forces, along with three other deputy defense ministers, and two military enterprises believed to have played a part in the invasion.

The European Union aims to impose more sanctions on Belarus this week, Reuters reported Monday, targeting oligarchs and exports. It also plans to cut Belarusian banks off from the financial messaging system SWIFT, as it did with Russian banks in recent days, an EU official told Reuters. 

—Mason Bissada

Russian, Belarusian Tennis Players Can Still Compete–But Not Under Their Countries’ Flags

Russian and Belarusian tennis players can still participate in pro tour events, but cannot compete under their countries’ flags, according to a joint statement from the sport’s international governing bodies. Read more about the ruling from the International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association and the four Grand Slam tournaments here.

Facebook Parent Meta Reducing Visibility Of Russian State Media

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said Tuesday it has stopped recommending content from Russian state-sponsored media companies, as well as posts with links to the organizations, multiple news outlets report.

Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said the company is “making them harder to find across our platforms” by demoting Russian controlled media outlets on the main Facebook feed and no longer algorithmically recommending the posts across the social network. Instagram is in the process of blocking recommendations to the media organizations globally, according to Instagram executives. 

Last week, the Russian government restricted access to Facebook in the country, amid a wave of protests over its invasion of Ukraine.

Meta had said on Monday it would restrict access to Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union, joining a number of companies taking action amid the invasion.

—Anna Kaplan

Russia Must Stop Bombing Ukrainian Cities Before More Negotiations, Zelensky Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before he will agree to additional ceasefire negotiations, after the first round of talks made little progress. “It’s necessary to at least stop bombing people, just stop the bombing and then sit down at the negotiating table,” Zelensky said in a joint interview with Reuters and CNN. Earlier on Tuesday, a Russian missile struck a TV tower in Kyiv.

Zelensky also called for NATO allies to implement a no fly zone to stop the Russian air force—a move President Joe Biden already personally conveyed was currently off the table, according to Zelensky. A no-fly zone from NATO countries is extremely unlikely, as it would involve direct conflict with Russian aircraft. “To put in a no fly zone is to go to war,” Olga Oliker, the International Crisis Group’s director for Europe and Central Asia, told Vox.

Zelensky also urged Biden to make a “useful” message about the invasion during his State of the Union speech Tuesday evening.

—Anna Kaplan

U.S.: Russian Assault On Kyiv Stalled Amid Fuel And Food Shortages

As Russian forces maneuver to encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, their advance on the city has been slowed by logistical problems, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Tuesday.

Russian forces have grappled with food and gasoline shortages, according to the official. Plus, the Pentagon has seen evidence that morale among Russian military personnel—many of whom are conscripts—is flagging: Many troops entered Ukraine with little training and preparation, some appeared to be unaware that they were embarking on a combat operation and surrenders have been reported in certain cases, the official said. Russian personnel have also been relatively risk-averse and Ukraine is putting up resistance.

A convoy of Russian vehicles north of Kyiv stretches for about 40 miles, satellite company Maxar Technologies said Monday evening, but the U.S. defense official said Tuesday that convoy “doesn’t appear to be making a lot of progress.”

Meanwhile, Russia has mounted frequent aerial attacks on Ukraine, with more than 400 missiles launched since the start of the invasion, according to the U.S. official. Ukrainian officials said Monday that Russian forces had used a thermobaric “vacuum bomb,” which spreads a fuel cloud that when ignited sucks up surrounding oxygen to create a massive destructive blast—an act White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday could “potentially be a war crime.” The senior U.S. defense official said Russia has deployed into Ukraine rocket launchers that could be used for thermobaric weapons, but didn’t confirm the weapons have been used.

— Joe Walsh

Zelensky Says Kyiv TV Tower Strike Leaves At Least 5 Dead, Damages Holocaust Memorial

Russian forces targeted Kyiv TV Tower with a missile Tuesday, the Ukrainian parliament’s Twitter account said. The New York Times verified videos of the strike circulating on Twitter and Telegram, showing a loud and fiery blast and the tower in smoke.

The attack left at least five dead, said Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky in a tweet. Zelensky said the strike hit a memorial site at Babi Yar commemorating where Nazis killed more than 30,000 Jews in 1941.

Forbes Ukraine reported the attack cut off Ukrainian TV broadcasts.

Shortly before the strike on the tower, the Russian defense ministry said Russia planned to target Ukrainian communication facilities with “high-precision weapons,” aiming to cut off Ukraine’s information capabilities.

—Derek Saul

Ukrainian Railway Operator Activates Starlink Service

Forbes Ukraine reports state-owned Ukrainian Railways is now using Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. 

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Saturday he activated Starlink in Ukraine and sent user terminals to the country to combat internet outages reported throughout Ukraine. Musk, the richest man in the world according to Forbes, announced the move on Twitter in response to a plea from Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister. Federov posted on Telegram on Tuesday that the first batch of Starlink user terminals arrived in Ukraine, sharing an image of the small satellites. 

Musk’s announcement was met with widespread praise, but skepticism of how effective Starlink would actually be in Ukraine followed. Brian Weeden, a space operations and policy analyst at the Secure World Foundation, told The Atlantic Starlink may not make a “meaningful impact right away” in the country. There are also concerns about SpaceX’s service working during a war: Starlink has “never really been tested in a context of battle,” said John Scott-Railton, a security researcher at the University of Toronto, to The Atlantic.

—Derek Saul

Billionaire Oligarchs Aven, Fridman Plan To Contest EU Sanctions

• Russian billionaires Pyotr Aven and Mikhail Fridman told Reuters and Forbes Russia on Tuesday they plan to challenge sanctions imposed on them by the European Union, which they claimed were “groundless.”
• Aven and Fridman, whose EU-based assets are being frozen and who have been banned from traveling there, are close personal associates: Fridman is the founder of Alfa Bank, Russia’s largest private bank, and Aven is the head of the bank. Forbes’ latest estimates place Fridman’s fortune at $12.8 billion and Aven’s at $4.9 billion.
• Fridman was the first Russian oligarch to speak out against Russia’s war against Ukraine and told Reuters Tuesday, “The war should be stopped.”

—Derek Saul

President Zelensky Given Standing Ovation As He Addresses European Parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy was given a standing ovation by members of the European Parliament after giving an address Tuesday morning.

Ukraine has long chosen Europe, and now is the time for Europe to choose Ukraine, Zelnsky said, Forbes Ukraine reports.

Zelensky, whose leadership during Russia’s invasion has been lauded as heroic in his country and across the West, renewed calls for Ukraine to join the European Union and on Monday signed an application to join the bloc.

“Nobody will break us, because we are Ukrainians,” the BBC also reported Zelensky as saying.

– Isabel Togoh

International Skating Union Bans All Participation Of Russian And Belarus Skaters

Ice skaters from Russian and Belarus have been banned from taking part in all international competitions with immediate effect, the International Skating Union (ISU) announced on Tuesday.

The ISU Council also expressed support for the Ukrainian Speed Skating Federation and the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation and said it is evaluating possibilities for swift humanitarian assistance to its Ukrainian ISU Members.

– Siladitya Ray

YouTube Will Block Channels Run By Russia Today And Sputnik Across Europe

YouTube will block channels operated by Russian-state-funded outlets Russia Today and Sputnik News across Europe effective immediately, the streaming platform’s parent company Google announced on Tuesday.

“It’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action,” the company said.

YouTube’s moves follow similar steps undertaken by Facebook on Monday.

– Siladitya Ray

Visa, Mastercard Suspend Services To Russian Banks Hit By Sanctions

Global payments firms Mastercard and Visa blocked a number of Russian financial institutions targeted by sanctions from their networks, in compliance with Western sanctions, the companies announced Monday and Tuesday.

Read more here.

– Robert Hart

Shipping Giant Maersk Suspends All Deliveries To And From Russia Except Essential Supplies

Maersk, one of the world’s biggest shipping lines, has suspended deliveries to and from Russia apart from food, medical and humanitarian supplies, citing the impact of sanctions.

The company said in an emailed statement to Forbes: “As the stability and safety of our operations is already being directly and indirectly impacted by sanctions, new Maersk bookings to and from Russia will be temporarily suspended.”

It added that it’s already seeing delays to global supply chains as sanctions take place, the “detention of cargo by customs” across shipping hubs and “unpredictable operational impacts.”

Maersk, headquartered in Denmark, says it has been operating in Russia since 1992 and in ports and offices across the country, from Moscow in the west to Vladivostok in the east.

– Isabel Togoh

Belarusian Forces Reportedly Enter Ukraine

Belarusian troops have enter the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament announced on Twitter, citing the country’s Northern Territorial Defense Forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that his country has no plans to join Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, despite allowing its territory to be used as a launch pad for the northern flank of Russia’s invasion.

– Siladitya Ray

At Least 70 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In Russian Strike On Okhtyrka

More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by a Russian rocket attack in the city of Okhtyrka on Tuesday, regional head Dmytro Zhyvytskyy revealed on Telegram.

Zhyvytskyy shared photos of a charred and demolished four-story building in Okhtyrka—located between the western city of Kharkiv and the capital Kyiv—which was reportedly a base of operations for the soldiers.

Okhtyrka mayor Pavlo Kuzmenko accused Russia of “waging a vile war” and dropping a fuel-air bomb on an oil depot, the Guardian reported.

– Siladitya Ray

Key Developments: Massive Russian Military Convoy Near Kyiv, Kharkiv Bombarded

• A Russian military convoy stretching more than 40 miles is closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, raising fears that the Russian military could use brute force to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.
• Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kubela accused the Russian military of using “barbaric” missile strikes in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv. The alleged strikes appeared to have hit the city’s main administrative building, part of a large apartment block and the city’s opera house, and took place around 8 am local time—two hours after the city lifted its curfew.
• Over 520,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled the country after Russia’s invasion, the United Nations Refugee Agency said on Monday.

– Siladitya Ray