Russia-Ukraine latest news: ‘I’m still here,’ says defiant Zelensky in battle for Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky has given a defiant message as he refused an offer of evacuation and remains on the streets of Kyiv.

Denouncing disinformation that he had fled the Ukrainian capital, its president said: “I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth.”

Mr Zelensky then was asked to evacuate at the behest of the US government, but turned down their offer, telling America: “”The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”.

Russian troops are bearing down on Ukraine’s capital after the president grimly predicted that the conflict would soon intensify.

Ukraine’s army said on Saturday that it had repelled a Russian attack on one of Kyiv’s main avenues.

Amid reports of hundreds of casualties – including shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummelled bridges and schools – there also were growing signs that Russia may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, which the US says is Putin’s ultimate objective.

Follow the latest updates below.

08:50 AM

Almost 200 thought to be killed by Russian invasion

At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying today.

He said 1,115 people were wounded, including 33 children.

08:39 AM

Ukraine war will hurt Europe’s farmers, says Macron

The war in Ukraine, and heavy sanctions Western powers have taken against Russia, will have long-lasting and serious consequences for the French farming sector, the European Union’s biggest, Emmanuel Macron has said.

“If you ask me to share one conviction with you this morning, it is that this crisis is here to stay, this war is here to stay,” Mr Macron told the Paris farm show today.

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Trade restrictions resulting from EU sanctions on Russia will weigh on French exports such as wine and grains, Macron said, while a further rise in energy prices will hit livestock farming.

“We are building a resilience plan,” Macron said, adding measures would be taken to protect farmers from cost pressures and compensate lost revenues.

08:21 AM

Ukraine calls on countries to expel Russian ambassadors

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister has called for a full isolation of Russia, including an embargo on the purchases of Russian crude.

“I demand the world: fully isolate Russia, expel ambassadors, oil embargo, ruin its economy,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

European Union ministers agreed yesterday not to expel Russian ambassadors.

08:11 AM

Russian foreign adviser claims he was ‘shocked’ and ‘devestated’ at invasion

Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council and an adviser to the Russian Foreign ministry claims he had not advised the Russian Foreign Ministry to carry out the invasion.

“I would say that many of us in the Foreign Office were surprised and I would say shocked and I would even say devastated to see what is happening,” he told the BBC’s Today Programme.

Asked about whether he still supported Putin, he said: “Some of his actions I was critical of. But the Russian government, I have many issues of which I cannot align myself with what is being done right now in Russia.

“But definitely this is an important red line that was crossed by the Russian leadership and the repercussions are likely to be very significant.”

08:01 AM

Russia claims to have destroyed over 100 pieces of military equipment

Russia’s military has reported destroying key pieces of Ukraine’s infrastructure while keeping silent on potential Russian casualties, writes Nataliya Vasilyeva, our Moscow correspondent.

07:51 AM

Injuries in Kyiv overnight

The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has said that 35 people, including two children have been injuried in night fighting in Kyiv as of 6am.

07:47 AM

Ukraine discusses membership with the EU

The Ukrainian president has said that it is “a crucial moment” to decide on Ukraine’s membership of the European Union, as Russia continued to invade its neighbour.

Zelensky said in a tweet he had discussed with European Council President Charles Michel “further effective assistance and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future.”

07:42 AM

Baby born in Kyiv metro while Putin bombards the city

A young mother has given birth to her daughter in an underground metro station in Kyiv last night.

Hannah Hopko, a Ukrainian politician, shared a picture of baby Mia online, saying: “”Mia was born this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv.

“Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving and immediately departing to shelter.

“When Putin kills Ukrainians we appeal to mothers in Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine. We defend lives and humanity!”

07:35 AM

Poland, Lithuania, and Germany to discuss further sanctions

Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister and Gitanas Nauseda, the Lithuanian president will meet German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today to discuss sanctions on Russia, Polish government spokesperson Piotr Muller said on Twitter.

“At the initiative of Prime Minister Morawiecki a meeting will be held in Berlin today. Prime Minister Morawiecki together with the President of Lithuania will hold talks with the German Chancellor,” Muller said in a tweet early on Saturday.

“The European Union must immediately adopt a package of ruthlessly harsh sanctions against Russia.”

07:18 AM

Latvia sings

Latvian crowds have been seen singing the Ukrainian national anthem in front of the Russian embassy in its capital Riga.

US and other Nato troops are currently stationed in the country

“We are a small country. We are ready to do whatever is needed to defend ourselves. We are not afraid to die for that,” Latvian Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said yesterday.

06:58 AM

‘Glory to Ukraine,’ announces defiant president

Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken to his people from the streets of Kyiv.

“A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is underway,” he said outside his office.

Wearing olive green military-style clothing and looking tired but determined, he declared: “Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this.

“This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!”

As the video hit social media platforms, the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens could still be heard around the capital, as the Russian military declared it had fired air- and sea-based cruise missiles at Ukrainian military targets.

06:50 AM

Reports of airport strike

There are reports that an area near Kyiv’s Zhulyany airport has been struck by a missile.

06:44 AM

Defiant Zelensky vows ‘I’m still here’

After Ukrainian forces said they had repulsed a Russian attack on their capital on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky shot a selfie video (below) to vow to stay and fight on.

“I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth,” he declared, denouncing as disinformation claims that he had surrendered or fled.

06:38 AM

Power plant controlled by Ukrainian troops

Ukrainian troops are in control of the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant to the north of the Ukrainian capital, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry.

06:23 AM

Second Russian military transport plane shot down

A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, the Associated Press reports.

On Friday, Ukraine’s military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles south of Kyiv.

05:55 AM

Be careful when talking on WhatsApp, says Ukraine’s communications agency

Residents must be careful about what they say to each other over the WhatsApp messaging service as Russian forces could be listening, said Ukraine’s communications monitoring agency.

05:36 AM

Street fighting in Kyiv

Street fighting has broke out as Russian troops stormed towards Ukraine’s capital early on Saturday.

Police told residents to remain hiding if there were doing so already and to avoid going to their windows and balconies if they were at home, according to a journalist at Politico.

“Active fighting is taking place on the streets of our city. Please stay calm and be as careful as possible! If you are in hiding – do not leave it now. If you are at home – do not go to the windows, do not go to the balconies. Hide indoors, for example in the bathroom, and cover yourself with something that will prevent injury from bullet fragments. If you hear sirens (“Air Alarm” signal) – go to the nearest shelter immediately.”

05:06 AM

Biden to provide $600m in military aid to Ukraine

President Joe Biden has signed an order to provide up to $600 million in “immediate military assistance” to Ukraine.

He will pledge $250 million for overall assistance and $350 million for ‘defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training’.

04:52 AM

Tens of thousands of people throng Georgian capital to protest invasion

Incredible scenes from the Georgian capital Tbilisi as people gather to protest against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine

04:27 AM

‘Backbone’ internet provider suffering disruptions

Ukraine’s internet is experiencing major disruptions, according to a service provider, yet users in the country appear to still be able to access the internet.

NetBlocks, which tracks network disruptions and shutdowns, said Ukraine’s main internet provider Real-time data showed “a major disruption” to the Ukraine’s main provider GigaTrans, with intermittent connectivity.

04:05 AM

Boris Johnson’s message to Ukraine

03:47 AM

‘Ukraine’s women will join its men to defend the country’

Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, says Ukraine’s women will protect the country in the same way as the men.

Ms Rudik posted a photo of herself holding a gun on Twitter late Friday, with the caption: “Our women will protect our soil the same way as our men. “

Speaking to CNN, she said it was surreal to find herself herself holding a gun, but had little choice in the face of Russia’s advances.

“It was super unusual and super crazy for myself to understand and realize that I’m holding a gun and I’m ready to bear arms, and I’m ready to go and shoot other human beings,” Ms Rudik CNN early Saturday.

“And the reason for that change was because Russian soldiers are coming to Kyiv and Russian soldiers are trying to take what is actually not theirs.”

03:12 AM

Budapest offered as a safe venue for negotiation

Hungary’s foreign minister has offered Budapest as a possible location for negotiations between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine as Russia’s invasion intensifies.

“Budapest can serve as a safe venue for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiation delegations,” Peter Szijjarto said in a video on Facebook late on Friday, adding that he had made the proposal to both Russia’s and Ukraine’s governments, neither of which dismissed it.

“I sincerely hope that an agreement can be reached within a few hours or days to start discussions; the sooner the talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war,” Szijjarto said.

03:05 AM

Russia vetoes resolution

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops.

Friday’s vote was 11-1, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. It showed significant but not total opposition to Russia’s invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbour.

The US and other supporters knew the resolution wouldn’t pass but argued it would highlight Russia’s international isolation.

03:03 AM

Ukraine ‘repulsed’ Russian attack on main Kyiv avenue

Ukraine’s army said on Saturday that it had repelled a Russian attack on one of the capital’s main avenues.

“[Russi] attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv. The attack was repulsed,” Ukraine’s army said on its verified Facebook page, without specifying where exactly the incident took place.

An AFP journalist said there were loud explosions heard in central Kyiv early on Saturday.

In a separate post, the army said “heavy fighting” was underway in the town of Vasylkiv south of Kyiv, adding that Russia was “trying to land paratroopers”.

The military also said it had shot down a Russian helicopter and SU-25 aircraft at around midnight on Saturday, and posted that an IL-76 military transport plane had been destroyed.

The statement did not say how many people were onboard.

02:54 AM

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