On Wednesday (23rd March), the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth week, with no hint of a cease-fire between the two warring parties. As the conflict continues, NATO has invited Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy to a special conference on Thursday, despite harsh condemnation from the Ukrainian president. In the meantime, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, warned that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if the country's existence was threatened.
1. EU ban Russian planes from Airspace
The EU imposed a blanket flight restriction on Russian planes from EU airspace on the same day, February 27, 2022.
"We shut down EU airspace for Russian-owned, Russian-registered, or Russian-controlled aircraft," said Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission.
All such flights, even billionaires' private jets, are not permitted to land, take off, or fly over any EU country.
2. Selected Russian banks barred from using Swift by European Union
The EU, US, and allies have agreed to cut off certain Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications on February 27, 2022. (SWIFT)
Swift is the most widely used international payment system, and Russia relies heavily on it for its crucial oil and gas exports.
3. Putin has placed Russia's nuclear forces on 'high alert.'
Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's military to place its deterrence forces, which include nuclear weapons, on "particular alert" on February 28, 2022.
Defence chiefs claim it's because of the West's "aggressive statements," as people all over the world oppose the invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement does not imply that Russia intends to use its weapons.
The United States promptly condemned Putin's action, calling it a "unacceptable escalation."
4. International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a war crime investigation into Ukraine
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague opens an investigation into suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Ukraine on March 3, 2022.
After accusing Russia of attacking people, 39 nations demand one investigation into the matter.
According to the head prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), "they will collect evidence on alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide."
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes people accused of the world's most heinous crimes when nations are unable or unwilling to do so.
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| Map Courtesy: Google Maps |
Russian soldiers capture control of Kherson, an important port city in southern Ukraine, on March 2, 2022.
Igor Kolykhaev, the city's mayor, claims that Russian military forcibly enter the local council building and impose a curfew on citizens. As per him, We urge Russian soldiers not to shoot people, and to make it clear that no Ukrainian forces will be present in the city.
6. Mauripol is attacked, denies to surrender and hand up the city to Russia
Russian air attacks targeted a maternity facility in Mariupol on March 9, 2022, killing three people, according to officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that people are trapped beneath the debris and accuses the attack of being a war crime.
Russia continues to attack Mariupol in an attempt to force a surrender, but Ukraine has rejected the Russian ultimatum.
7. The Mayor of Melitopol has been kidnapped by Russian soldiers
Residents of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol gather on March 12, 2022, to protest the purported kidnapping of the mayor by Russian soldiers.
On Friday, Ukrainian officials posted a video purporting to show Ivan Fedorov being blindfolded and led away.
8. Biden warns Xi Jinping of the ramifications if China continues to back Russia
Joe Biden, the president of the United States, held a video conference with XI Jinping, the president of China, on March 18, 2022.
Biden would "explain the ramifications and repercussions if China provides material support to Russia while they execute savage attacks against Ukrainian cities and citizens," according to the White House.
9. In Ukraine, about 6.5 million people internally displaced
On March 21, 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that about 6.48 million people have been displaced for the sake of Ukraine as a direct result of the war.
According to a survey conducted by IMO between March 9 and 16, this is not the case.
Over 53% of people are women who have been internally displaced.
10. NATO leaders arrive in Brussels for a summit on Ukraine
NATO leaders gathers in Brussels on March 24, 2022, to discuss the next moves in reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
As the battle enters its second month, this meeting is regarded as one of the most crucial in the alliance's history.
Several NATO members have sent weapons to Ukraine to aid in the country's defense against Russia.
What Next?
It may be too early to say, but Russia's posture on the Ukraine conflict has shifted significantly.
Sergei Ratskoy, Russia's senior military officer, said the "first phase" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation" against Ukraine is nearly complete. will concentrate its efforts on "completely liberating the region."
Russian forces' progress in other parts of Ukraine is also halting. The Russian army has been driven back from Kiev's capital, and it's been reported that Russian troops are now going into a defensive position to avoid losing any more captured regions.
General Sergei Ratskoy's admission is seen as an indication by Western countries that Russia is admitting that its ambitious pre-war strategy has failed.
"Russia is finally realizing that it can't fight on numerous fronts at the same time," one official said.
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