The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has been raging for more than three weeks. As both countries negotiate, the number of civilian casualties increases. Follow the most important developments in the star-Live blog.
After three weeks of war, flight and expulsion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj made a direct appeal to Germany. The 44-year-old is said to speak via video link in the Bundestag in the morning. During the night, Ukraine reported renewed fighting with Russian attackers, including near the capital Kyiv. There is still great concern for the people in the besieged and partially destroyed port city of Mariupol.
The mayor of Mariupol, Vadim Bojchenko, reported overnight via the Telegram service that people could now leave the city in private cars. Within two days, around 6,500 cars left Mariupol. But there is no ceasefire, people fled under fire. On Wednesday there was a devastating bomb attack on a theater building in Mariupol. Bojchenko said there were more than 1,000 people there and it was “another tragedy”. The civilians are said to have taken shelter in the building. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the attack.
The most important news of the day in brief:
- 3:54 p.m.: Ukrainian officials: At least 21 dead from artillery shelling in the small town of Merefa
- 11:03 a.m: Zelenskyi adviser announces even more intense fight if Kyiv falls
- 10:22 a.m.: Union requests debate on Zelenskyj’s speech – traffic light rejects
- 9.56 a.m.: 187,428 people from Ukraine entered Germany
- 9:31 a.m: Ukrainian President Selenskyj appeals to the Bundestag
- 6:32 a.m: According to the mayor of Mariupol, more than 1000 people seeking protection in the bombed theater
- 6:23 a.m: Chancellor Scholz and the prime ministers discuss refugees