UN passes resolution condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Wednesday demanding that Russia immediately end its military operations in Ukraine. A total of 141 countries, including Moldova, voted in favor of the resolution, which reaffirms Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Russia and Syria voted against it, while 35 countries abstained.
The resolution demands that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
The document does not have legal effects, but represents the perception of the Russian aggression at global level and will contribute to constraining Moscow and Minsk.
You are not “liberators”! – Yushchenko
The third President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him that he has never “had real masculine courage and dignity.”
“Our enemy … the so-called “Russian world”, went 7 days ago with an occupation war against my peaceful Nation and State of Ukraine,” Yushchenko posted on Facebook. He said that Ukraine will never forgive the citizens of the neighboring state whose silence makes them accomplices in the witnessed monstrosity.
Russian ships blocked in the Black Sea
The Russian Federation asked to allow Russian vessels to pass through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits, but the Turkish government rejected the request, making reference to the recent activation of the Montreaux Convention.
A source stated for “Dumskaya” of Odessa that a number of BDK ships belonging to the fleets of the Baltic and Nordic states and two cruisers “Project 1164 Atlant” of the Pacific Fleet are now in the Back Sea. This way, the Russian vessels got stuck in the Black Sea.
Russia increasingly isolated
After seven Russian banks were disconnected from the SWIFT system, a number of international companies and brands announced their withdrawal or stopping of interaction with Russia. Among these are Apple, Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, BMW, Audi, Volvo, Ford and General Motors, Boeing, Maersk, DHL and other hundreds of companies.
Sberbank Group announced its withdrawal from Europe, while the Russian propagandistic channels RT and Sputnik were banned from broadcasting in the West and in Moldova.
In such conditions, the operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline filed for insolvency. In Russia, the websites “Dozhdi”, ”Current Time” and “Ekho Moskvy”, which, according to the authorities, “falsely” covered “the special operation in Ukraine“ can no longer be accessed.
Khodorkovsky urges Russians to protest
The Russian citizens should not be afraid to stay under arrest for 15 days for protesting against the war and the regime of Putin. The 15-day period deserves to be spent for preventing the killing of a civilian, said Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Hundreds of persons were arrested during the protests mounted in St. Petersburg and other cities in Russia. Over 160 Nobel Prize laureates supported Ukraine and the list of signatories continues to grow.
Cities of Ukraine under siege
According to Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin, Russian troops delivered an ultimatum to the local authorities. If inhabitants resist, the city will be shelled with heavy artillery. “I am for fighting,” he said.
For his part, Kherson Mayor Ihor Kolykhaev announced a possible humanitarian disaster in the city and demanded a “green corridor” for the removal of the wounded and the dead.
Ukrainians determined to fight
80% of the respondents said they were ready to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine with weapons in hand. Compared to the pre-war times, this figure has significantly increased (it was 59% in 2020). The highest level of readiness is observed in the West and in the Center, while a slightly lower one, in the South and in the East.
According to a survey conducted by the Sociological group “Rating” on March 1, 90% of the respondents feel hope when they think about the situation in Ukraine. Only 5% experience disappointment. Compared to the pre-war times, the share of those who feel hope has tripled.
88% of the respondents believe that Ukraine will be able to repel Russia’s attack. This number is increasing almost daily. Today, only 10% are not confident in this. The belief in Ukraine’s victory prevails in all regions of the country. 98% of the respondents support the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 93% support the activities of the President, and 84% support the actions of local mayors.
The support for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and NATO is the highest over the history of our surveys: 86% support accession to the EU and 76% support joining NATO. Compared to the pre-war period, the support for EU and NATO accession has increased by more than 20 percentage points. This positive dynamics took place due to the growing support for accession to the Western structures among the population of the South and the East. In terms of age, there is unanimous support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO in all the categories.
Moldovans among Heroes of Ukraine?
Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to confer the title of Hero of Ukraine on 15 defenders of Ukraine. Among them is Major Ciobanu Stepan Ivanovici, who is purportedly a Moldovan. Piloting a Su-27, he thwarted an operation of Russian fighter jets near Kropyvnytskyi.
States against Russia at The Hague Tribunal
For the first time in history, 38 countries at once appealed to the International Court of Justice because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prosecutor General of Ukraine Irina Venediktova said that 38 countries have filed the largest appeal to the International Criminal Court due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In parallel, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Poland instituted criminal proceedings over the Russian invasion.
Volunteers from 16 countries come to fight in Ukraine, Kuleba
Volunteers from 16 countries of the world are already going to Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. “Ten countries provide macro-financial assistance, 22 countries provide humanitarian assistance, volunteers from 16 countries of the world are already coming to Ukraine, who are ready to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people against the aggressor.”
Victories on tennis courts too
Elina Svitolina put on the yellow and blue colors of Ukraine and beat Anastasia Potapova of Russia in the opening round of the Monterrey Open.
“All the prize money that I’m going to earn is going to be for the Ukrainian army,” said Svitolina, who won this tournament in 2020.
Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska fled her war-torn country with her younger sister to seek safety in France and competed in the Lyon Open with the flag of Ukraine on her shoulders. She said her heart is at home, near her compatriots who fight against the Russian invaders.
