Representative photo
Kyiv/Chisinao/New Delhi/Moscow: As fierce fighting between Russian and Ukranian forces continue, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine today claimed that the rescue services neutralized a 500 kg airbomb dropped by Russian invaders in the Zhytomyr region.
Russia claimed Ukraine had lost its cyber sovereignty and the country was digitally controlled by the intelligence agencies of UK and the USA. Moscow further claimed that during the course of the special military operation evidence of an emergency clean-up performed by the Kiev regime was found, which aimed at eradicating traces of the “military-biological” programme, in Ukraine, financed by the US Department of Defense.
Moreover, Vladlen Semivolos, Ambassador of Russia to Uganda, retweeted a tweet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the latter claimed that “Over the last eight years the 13,000-14,000 people of Donbass have been killed by the Ukrainians. More than 500 children have been killed or crippled. What is particularly intolerable is that the so-called civilized West has preferred not to notice this”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile had a telephone conversation with President of Turkey today and informed him on the progress of the special military operation to defend Donbass. Putin also outlined the main goals and objectives of the operation.
The Security Service of Ukraine further claimed that Russian forces shelled where the Neutron Source nuclear facility of Kharkiv Institute is located. 37 nuclear fuel cells were loaded at the time in the active zone of the facility, it claimed, adding that Russians continue to threaten nuclear safety in Europe.
A UK Defence Intelligence update of March 6, 2022 claimed that Russia was targeting populated areas in multiple locations (including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol cities). These tactics were previously used by Russian forces in Syria and Chechnya, employing both ground and air munitions, it claimed.
Russian forces repotedly shelled the Korosten railway station, which was part of the civilian evacuation route of trains from Kyiv. No casualties are reported, but this has complicated the evacuation for refugees from the city, the Ukrainian Railway Company stated.
Ukrainian Minister of Health claimed in a violation of the Geneva Convention, Russia hit or damaged 34 hospitals. “Some buildings have been destroyed completely, others are cut off from water, heating or electricity. Many hospitals will not be able to operate at all. This is brutal aggression against civilians,” the Minister said.
A Russian missile strike also hit a gas line in Irpin city (Kyiv region), cutting off gas and heat to local residents. Russian airstrikes further damaged the Dontesk-Mariopol gas pipeline which may leave dozens of villages and towns in the area without gas/heating, head of the Donetsk Oblast Administration stated.
At least two people were killed in a Russian missile attack on residential buildings in Kramatorsk. “Medics are trying to rescue survivors,” the head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration stated.
Vinnytsia city was reportedly hit by eight Russian missiles strikes, and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that “The sky over Ukraine needs to be closed urgently.”
A Russian cruise missile was shot down near the Okhmatdit Children’s Specialized Hospital in Kyiv, the hospital’s press service reported. It informed that wounded children were still in need of transfer to the hospital but it is impossible due to Russian shelling. “Doctors are still operating and helping kids despite Russian airstrikes,” it stated.
Russian aircraft destroyed a food base, warehouse of building materials, and a parking in Okhtyrka with localized strikes. A residential area came under fire. Information on the number of victims was being clarified, the head of the regional military administration, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, said.
Ukrainian town Irpin’s mayor claimed that eight civilians were killed in the evacuation of the town. Five people were killed in a shelling of a checkpoint in the village of Yasnohorodka, Fastiv district (Kyiv region), the Ukranian Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed. Russian occupiers opened fire on civilians during a pro-Ukraine rally in Nova Kakhovka. One person is injured, but the protestors refused to leave. At least three persons were reportedly injured in a missile strike against the airfield in Starokostiantyniv (Khemlnytski region).
About 400 people from Volnovakha town traveling to Volyn region came under Russian fire near Vinnytsia. Safe travel organized by railroad was disrupted. According to the Volyn Regional Administration, evacuated Ukrainians will travel to Volyn in groups.
Reports further claimed that near Kyiv, Russian forces opened fire on British journalists from Sky News, shooting to kill.
The head of Kyiv Regional State Administration stated that “Russian aggressors are blocking humanitarian convoys from entering the occupied areas of Kyiv region”. Moreover, Russian invaders were reportedly once again stopping the evacuation of Mariupol, breaking the ceasefire agreement and shelling civilian targets, Ukraine claimed.
The press secretary of the National Police of Zhytomyr region claimed that during the night of 5-6th March, Russian forces resumed airstrikes against civilian houses in Zhytomyr region. “There are casualties (information is being updated). 30 families were left without homes,” he said.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine claimed shelling of Mykolaiv city by Russian forces on March 5 led to at least 7 major fires erupting in the city (4 of them – in residential homes). Moreover, 56 calls were made to the State Emergency Service as at 8 AM of March 6th regarding explosive objects / live armaments.
The US Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken, who was in Moldova stated the American administration had requested of Congress $2.75 billion in emergency assistance, humanitarian assistance, both to meet the needs of vulnerable people and communities inside Ukraine and also to help countries like Moldova supporting refugees and address the humanitarian crisis from outside Ukraine.
Moldova President Maia said the number of refugees to stay in her count for 3 percent of the number of the stable population, settled population, and sought support “in order to be capable to help out other people which will definitely continue arriving to our country”. She said over 250,000 people crossed the border from Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova from the beginning of the war.
Russian embassy in India said Russia was taking all possible measures to evacuate civilians amd foreign citizens from the blocked settlements of Ukraine. “Corridors were opened daily in the Volnovakha and Mariupol directions, but the national battalions prevented civilians to exit,” the Embassy stated.
Meanwhile, Under ‘Operation Ganga’ to rescue Indian citizens, 2135 Indians were brought back today by 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. With this, more than 15 thousand 9 hundred Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on February 22, 2022. The number of Indians airlifted by 66 special civilian flights goes up to 13852. Till date, the Indian Air Force has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2056 passengers, while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries, as part of Operation Ganga.
Among the special Civilian flights today, 9 landed in New Delhi while 2 reached Mumbai. There were 6 flights from Budapest, 2 from Bucharest, 2 from Rzeszow, and 1 from Kosice.
Tomorrow, 8 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest (5), Suceva (2) and Bucharest (1), bringing in more than 1500 Indians back home, the Ministry of Civil Aviation of IndIa stated.
– global bihari bureau
