Military experts have warned that Russia is planning a lightning advance upwards from southern Ukraine to link with other battalions to encircle Volodymyr Zelensky’s army and claim it has won the war.
While Russia had initially planned a swift invasion to seize Kyiv last month, their sluggish advance thwarted by the spirited Ukrainian defence forces may mean generals have switched objectives and targets.
Bloody new attacks on civilians fuelled accusations on Thursday that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, as the US warned it will make China pay for any support given to Moscow’s assault.
Despite mounting carnage, punishing international sanctions and strong resistance from Ukrainians, top US diplomat Antony Blinken said he saw no sign that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “is prepared to stop”.
“Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime. After all the destruction of the past few weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise,” he said, following warnings from the G7 that those behind such crimes “will be held responsible”.
Mr Blinken was doubling down on the tough language used by President Joe Biden – who branded Putin a war criminal, thug and murderous dictator.
Follow the latest updates below.
03:38 AM
Australia sanctions Russian billionaires with mining industry links
Australia imposed sanctions on Friday on two Russian oligarchs with links to its mining industry, one of them a billionaire with an investment connection to Rio Tinto’s Gladstone alumina refinery joint venture.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was working in close cooperation with international partners to increase sanctions pressure on oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine.
“Australia has now added two billionaires with links to business interests in Australia, Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg,” Ms Payne said in a statement.
The measures are in addition to curbs on 41 oligarchs and immediate family members who already face targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, she said.
Ms Payne said the government welcomed Australian companies taking a principled stand with moves to cut ties with Russia “in protest of Moscow’s illegal, indefensible war against Ukraine”.
03:32 AM
12 killed in health care attacks so far, says WHO
The World Health Organization says it has verified 43 attacks on health care, with 12 people killed and 34 injured.
“WHO has verified 43 attacks on health care, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, including #healthworkers. In any conflict, attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law”-@DrTedros #NotATarget
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 17, 2022
03:21 AM
One person dead in warehouse fire in Kyiv
One person died after a warehouse caught fire as a result of Russian shelling in the Sviatoshynksy district of Kyiv, the country’s communications agency tweeted at midnight local time on Thursday.
03:01 AM
More than 321,000 Ukrainians have crossed into Maldova
More than 321,000 Ukrainians have crossed into Maldova since the start of the war, said the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu.
“Many transited our country but more than 104,000 refugees are still in Moldova, including more than 48,942 minors.”
Update on the #refugee situation in the Republic of #Moldova: since the beginning of the war, more than 321,000 #Ukrainians crossed the border with #Moldova. Many transited our country but more than 104,000 refugees are still in Moldova, including more than 48,942 minors.
— Nicu Popescu (@nicupopescu) March 17, 2022
02:49 AM
Biden to speak with China’s Xi on Friday
US President Joe Biden will speak with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at 9 am Eastern time (1pm UK time ) on Friday.
“This is part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the (People’s Republic of China),” according to a statement from the White House.
“The two leaders will discuss managing the competition between the two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.”
02:31 AM
In pictures: Ukrainians bear the brunt of cruel war
02:12 AM
Russia accused of dirty tricks as ministers targeted with hoax calls
Russia has been accused of “dirty tricks” after senior Cabinet ministers were targeted with hoax calls from an impostor posing as Ukraine’s prime minister.
A cross-Whitehall security inquiry has been launched after Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, were targeted.
The alarm was raised by Mr Wallace after he became suspicious during a 10-minute video call on Thursday, with the Defence Secretary publicly accusing Russia of being behind it.
He ordered an investigation into the security breach but there are serious questions about Whitehall security after Ms Patel said the same thing happened to her earlier this week.
Mr Wallace said he became suspicious and terminated the call after “several misleading questions”.
Read the full story here.
01:39 AM
Russia planning lightning advance to encircle Ukrainian army
Russia is planning a lightning advance upwards from southern Ukraine to link with other battalions to encircle Volodymyr Zelensky’s army and claim it has won the war, military experts have warned.
The potentially “critical” strategy envisages the recent massive build-up of Russian navy forces in the Black Sea which appear ready to launch an amphibious assault on the coastal city of Odesa as a feint – a bogus attack preparation designed to distract Ukrainian generals from a secret new tactic.
Instead of attacking Odesa, the strategists believe the Russian military machine will continue to “bypass” nearby Mykolaiv by thrusting northwards before heading east to target the Ukrainian army, most of which remains pinned down near Donetsk and Luhansk closer to the Russian border.
READ MORE: Russia planning lightning advance to encircle Ukrainian army and claim victory
01:10 AM
Patel confirms green light for Ukraine’s orphans to travel to UK
A group of Ukrainian orphans evacuated from their war-torn country by a Scottish charity can travel to the UK, the Home Secretary has confirmed.
Priti Patel said the 48 youngsters, who were taken out of Ukraine and into Poland by the Dnipro Kids organisation, had been given the green light to travel to Britain.
It comes after SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford raised their plight in the House of Commons on Wednesday, saying then that the Home office was the “only obstacle” to bringing them to the safety of the UK.
On Thursday, Ms Patel said: “It is deeply troubling that children from the charity Dnipro Kids have been caught up in Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
“I have been working directly with the Ukrainian Government and asked for their permission to bring these children to the UK.
“I am extremely grateful to the authorities in Ukraine, who have now confirmed to me that the children can come here.”
I’ve been working with the Ukrainian government to help the children from the Dnipro Kids charity and am extremely grateful that we will now be able to bring them to safety in the UK.
No child should be dragged into Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.#StandwithUkraine
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— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) March 17, 2022
She added: “We are working urgently with Poland to ensure the children’s swift arrival to the UK.”
01:02 AM
American soldiers alive, despite Russian ‘fake news’: US military
Three current and former members of the Tennessee National Guard falsely identified in a Russian media report as mercenaries who were killed in Ukraine are in fact alive and well, the Tennessee National Guard said.
A report published in Russia’s Pravda newspaper identified the Americans by name and gave military ranks for each of them, citing information from pro-Russian militia in Ukraine’s Donetsk.
The report offered an intricate explanation for how the three were identified – using items from a backpack “near the remains of one of the militants”, including a Tennessee state flag.
“The Tennessee Guard is aware of the fake news coming out of Russia,” said Tracy O’Grady, a spokesperson for the US National Guard.
The Tennessee Guard said: “They are accounted for, safe, and not, as the article headline erroneously states, US mercenaries killed in Donetsk People’s Republic.”
The National Guard speculated the militia picked the three men while reviewing official imagery associated with a 2018 deployment by Tennessee’s 278th Armoured Cavalry Regiment to Ukraine, suggesting all three had been in Ukraine.
12:21 AM
Adults hosting families with children must undergo ‘enhanced’ checks
All British adults who host Ukrainian refugee families with children will have to undergo “enhanced” security checks, the Government will announce on Friday.
The move follows warnings from charities that “light touch” checks on host families would not be sufficient to protect refugee children living for at least six months in the same house as sponsoring UK adults.
The “enhanced” Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are generally restricted to workers in jobs such as teaching and social services dealing with children and vulnerable adults.
They require the full details of a person’s criminal record.
Ministers say the checks will not delay refugee families coming to the UK because they will not have to be completed until after they arrive.
Read the full story from The Telegraph’s Home Affairs Editor Charles Hymas here.
12:16 AM
150,000 register for UK’s Homes for Ukraine
More than 150,000 people registered their interest in the UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme ahead of its launch on Friday, but concerns have been raised about how it will work in practice.
The programme aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling Ukrainians without family ties in Britain to enter the country.
Amid concerns about red tape, safeguarding and resourcing, one major charity warned that the Government was “unleashing chaos” with the scheme and refugees could die before being matched with a sponsor and could safely reach the UK.
