Russia Ukraine Crisis Live: Indian evacuees return; PM Modi, Zelenskyy's phone call

Russian army has reportedly been ordered to 'broaden' its attack on Ukraine from 'all directions' as Ukrainian President continued to assert that Kyiv is still in government control.

A plane carrying Indian evacuees from Ukraine arrived in Mumbai. The flight from Romania's Bucharest carried 219 passengers.

US Department of Defense to provide additional $350 million in immediate military assistance to Ukraine as Russia war stretches on, as per reports.

Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

The Ukrainian military said a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of the city centre.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said new explosions shook the area near a major power plant that the Russians were trying to attack.

An Air India flight from Romania, bringing Indians evacuated from Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, will land in Mumbai at 4 pm. Union Minister Piyush Goyal will receive the evacuees at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

By abstaining from a UN Security Council resolution on the Ukraine crisis, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy, official sources said on Saturday.

Russia vetoed the US-sponsored resolution on Friday that "deplored in the strongest terms" Russia's “aggression" against Ukraine and asked Moscow to immediately stop its attack on that country.

The sources said India has been deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine and maintained its "consistent, steadfast and balanced" position on the matter that dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes.

While abstaining from voting on the resolution, India issued an 'Explanation of Vote' after the vote in which it called for "return to the path of diplomacy".

The sources said India called for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and pitched for an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities as was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Vladimir Putin.

In the midst of the escalating situation in Ukraine, Modi held a telephonic conversation with Putin on Thursday during which he appealed for ending violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic dialogue.

On the UN Security Council Resolution, the sources said India called on all member states to honour principles of international law and the UN Charter, as these provide a constructive way forward.

They said India regretted that the path of diplomacy has been given up to defuse the Ukraine crisis and said it must return.

"By abstaining, India retained the option of reaching out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and find the middle ground with an aim to foster dialogue and diplomacy," said a source.

"An earlier draft of the resolution had proposed moving the resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides the framework within which the Security Council may take enforcement action. However, this was dropped in the final version that was put to vote," it said.

The sources said India has been in touch with all concerned parties and urged them to return to the negotiating table.

The draft resolution demanded Russia to immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all its troops.

In the 15 member UN Security Council, the resolution received 11 votes in favour of it, Russia opposed it and India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting.

Since Russia voted against the resolution (vetoed the resolution), it was not passed.

An Air India plane from Mumbai landed in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday morning to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

The aircraft, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM (Indian Standard Time) and landed at the Bucharest airport around 10.45 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Indian nationals, who reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road, have been taken to Bucharest by the Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

AI1943, which is being operated on Boeing 787 aircraft, can carry 256 passengers at a time, they said.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

Indian Air Force says it has decided not to deploy aircraft in multi-lateral air exercise in UK next month in light of "recent events".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer.

Zelenskyy said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.

Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

Avoid unnecessary movement, exercise caution, be aware of your surroundings and recent developments: Indian embassy in Ukraine to Indians.

Those in eastern sector requested to continue to remain in their places of residence until further instruction: Indian embassy in Ukraine.

India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that “deplores in the strongest terms” Russia’s “aggression" against Ukraine, as New Delhi called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and asserted that dialogue is the only answer to settling disputes.

Indian's foreign minister S. Jaishankar received a call from his Ukrainian counterpart on Feb 25. Jaishankar said that the two discussed the predicament of Indians in Ukraine. Dmytro Kuleba shared his assessment of the situation and Jaishankar said he emphasised that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out.

European Union agrees to freeze European assets linked to Russia President Vladimir Putin, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, reports news agency AFP.

A group of around 40 Indian students were seen travelling to the Ukraine-Poland border on foot. News agency ANI said that the Indian students belong to the Daynlo Halytsky Medical University in Lviv. They were reportedly dropped 8 km from the Ukraine-Poland border crossing by a college bus.

Formula One announced that the Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled in view of the Ukraine crisis, as per reports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and called for 'negotiations' with Ukraine, as per news agency AFP.

An advance party of Russian military reportedly entered the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Feb 25. Explosions were reported from the city centre.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow is ready for talks if Ukraine lays down arms, as per news agency AFP.

Russian forces are approaching Ukrainian capital city Kyiv from the north and northeast, as per an AFP report quoting Ukrainian army.

UEFA announced that the final of the 2021-22 Men's Champion's League final match, to be played on May 28, would be relocated from Russia's Saint Petersburg to Saint-Denis in France.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian saboteurs had entered Kyiv and that he was “target No. 1” for Russian forces, followed by his family

Ukrainian forces downed an enemy aircraft over Kyiv in the early hours on Friday, which then crashed into a residential building and set it on fire: Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his anger with the Western leaders over the lack of efforts against Moscow. In a televised address, Zelenskyy said he was disheartened after speaking to Western leaders. “I see no one,” to fight alongside Ukraine, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call on the day that Moscow launched attacks on Ukraine. Putin briefed PM Modi about developments in the region. PM Modi reiterated that differences between Russia and NATO can only be solved through sincere talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said that Moscow's actions were forced due to the West's refusal to give ground on Russia's security demands.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that "Russian occupation forces are trying to seize" Chernobyl, the site of the nightmarish nuclear disaster. Zelenskyy said, "Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe."

Indian government announced that it is sending teams to Ukraine's land borders to help in the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in the country amid war with Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb 24, as per news agency ANI. Earlier, PM Modi chaired a meeting to discuss the Ukraine situation with Union home, defence, and finance ministers.

A Ukrainian military plane crashed near capital city Kyiv, as per news agency AFP. The aircraft was reportedly carrying 14 people.

Indian embassy in Ukraine asked Indian nationals in the country to go to bomb shelters in case they were hearing air sirens in their places of residence. The advisory, the third one in recent days, said that Google Maps has a list of bomb shelters.

Russian military vehicles entered north of Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Ukrainian officials have been quoted as saying in news reports.

European Union's Josep Borrell called up India's external affairs minister to discuss the Ukraine-Russia situation. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that they discussed how India can help with de-escalation efforts.

PM Modi called a meeting with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials to discuss the Ukraine-Russia situation.

Sensex fell nearly 2,800 points, while Nifty lost 840 points as tension between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated into violence. Rs 10 lakh crore was wiped from marketcap in a single session. INR saw its worst drop in over three months.

Ukraine's ambassador to India Igor Polikha called India an influential member of the global community, and Prime Minister Modi a powerful leader to seek Delhi's help in deterring Moscow from escalating the war. Polikha said that PM Modi should leverage close ties with Russia to appeal for peace.

Over 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed till Feb 24 afternoon following Russia's offensive launched at around 5 am. Several dozen soldiers are wounded, as per advisor to Ukraine President Office, quoted by Reuters.

Russian-backed separatists say they now control two towns in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, reports Reuters.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to “weaken Russia's economic base and its capacity to modernize” following the “barbaric attack” by Moscow against Ukraine.

Ukraine claims it downed five Russian planes, helicopter, while Moscow has said that Ukraine airbases, air defences have been destroyed in attacks

CNN reports Belarusian soldiers have joined Russian troops in attacking Ukraine. Report said that Belarus soldiers also crossed into Ukraine along with Russian army.

Ukraine's president declares martial law and urges citizens to stay home and not to panic as Russia launches military strike.

The Russian military says it has targeted Ukrainian air bases and other military assets, but hasn't targeted populated areas, reports AP.

An Air India aircraft flying to Ukraine to bring home Indians is turning back for Delhi after Ukraine said it has closed its airspace amid Russian military operations.

The head of the United Nations implored Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday night not to attack Ukraine and to “give peace a chance,” a plea made just minutes before Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine will defend itself and will win. Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now: Ukraine Foreign Minister

News agency AP has reported that Big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine shortly after Vladimir Putin declared war on the embattled country

US President Joe Biden condemns "unprovoked, unjustified attack" by Russia against Ukraine. Biden pledges world will "hold Russia accountable."