NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- Russia's attack on Ukraine drags on as refugees continue to flee the country in massive numbers. After causing worldwide concern, a fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant that was caused by Russian shelling was extinguished, and The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate says radiation levels have remained normal in the area. Meanwhile a limited ceasefire designed to evacuate civilians from two Ukrainian cities was broken by Russian bombardment. Putin threatened Ukraine might lose its statehood if resistance to the Russian invasion continues. Below, the latest:
Saturday, March 5, 2022
4:19 p.m.: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday echoed the president's assertion that Russia has lost more than 10,000 troops.
Kuleba also said in a video message released by the Ukrainian government that the Russians had lost dozens of aircraft and hundreds of armored vehicles.
The claim could not be independently verified. The Russian military doesn’t offer regular updates on their casualties. On Wednesday, they revealed a death toll of 498.
“Russians keep bearing devastating losses on the ground, and I cannot understand how mothers, wives and daughters of these Russian soldiers bear this pain, seeing how President Putin sends more and more of their beloved ones to Ukraine,” Kuleba said.
Kuleba added, “Ukraine is bleeding but Ukraine has not fallen and stands (with) both feet on the ground.”
1:44 p.m.: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday to discuss Ukraine
Bennett carried out the meeting -- which reportedly last two and a half hours -- with the blessing of both the United States and Ukraine. Bennett reportedly called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the meeting.
Zelenskyy has appealed to Israel to help negotiate a ceasefire.
Bennett and Putin discussed the war in Ukraine, including the situation of Israelis and Jewish communities as a result of the conflict, a diplomatic source told the Jerusalem Post.
Israel has sent aid to Ukraine and opposed the Russian invasion, but has maintained communication with Russia and refrained from direct public criticism of Putin.
12:34 p.m.: Putin says sanctions are 'akin to a declaration of war' and warns Russia will treat any imposition of a no-fly zone as entrance into the conflict
"These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that," said Putin during a speech on Saturday.
Enforcement of a no-fly zone involves shooting down air craft that enter it.
NATO and the United States have thus far rejected Ukraine's request to establish a no-fly zone over the embattled country for Russian air craft due to fears of expanding the conflict and becoming entangled in a shooting war with a nuclear power.
8:30 a.m.: Russian cease-fire in Ukraine imperiled amid more shelling
What looked like a breakthrough cease-fire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine quickly fell apart Saturday as Ukrainian officials said shelling had halted the work to remove civilians hours after Russia announced the deal.
The Russian defense ministry earlier said it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.
“The Russian side is not holding to the cease-fire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office. “Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a cease-fire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.”
Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters. “We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing,” she said. Meanwhile, Moscow outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defense ministry claim that the firing came from inside both cities against Russian positions.
The struggle to enforce the cease-fire showed the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across Ukraine as people continued to flee the country on the 10th day after Russian forces invaded.
"We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work,” Zelenskyy said. “This is one of the main tasks for today. Let’s see if we can go further in the negotiation process.”
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