Stay updates: BBC suspends operations inside Russia | Nationwide News

LONDON — The BBC says it’s quickly suspending the work of all its journalists in Russia after the nation’s lawmakers permitted laws criminalizing reporting of the warfare in Ukraine that differs from the federal government line.

Tim Davie, director-general of the British broadcaster, mentioned the laws “seems to criminalize the method of impartial journalism.” He mentioned the company was halting newsgathering work by its journalists and help workers in Russia “whereas we assess the total implications of this unwelcome improvement.”

“The protection of our workers is paramount and we aren’t ready to show them to the chance of felony prosecution merely for doing their jobs,” he mentioned.

Davie mentioned the BBC’s Russian-language information service would proceed to function from exterior Russia.

The Russian parliament voted unanimously Friday to approve a draft legislation criminalizing the intentional spreading of what Russia deems to be “pretend” stories. It could possibly be signed by President Vladimir Putin and take impact as quickly as Saturday.

MOSCOW — A Russian lawmaker has spoken out about what she says are heavy losses being suffered by some army items preventing in Ukraine.

Lyudmila Narusova, a member of Russia’s higher home of parliament, the Federation Council, mentioned throughout Friday’s livestreamed proceedings that she knew of 1 firm which was meant to be 100 robust however “solely 4 have been left alive” when the unit was withdrawn.

Narusova, the widow of President Vladimir Putin’s former political mentor Anatoly Sobchak, didn’t current proof for her claims and mentioned the Protection Ministry had refused her request to verify the reported casualties.

Russia mentioned Wednesday 498 of its troops had been killed in Ukraine and has not up to date that quantity since. Ukraine claims that the true variety of Russian casualties is way greater.

LONDON — A Western official says an enormous Russian army convoy advancing on Kyiv has made little progress for a number of days.

The official mentioned the convoy, which has been estimated at as much as 40 miles (64 kilometers) lengthy, had change into an enormous visitors jam that included broken or destroyed automobiles.

The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate intelligence, mentioned the convoy had been attacked from the air by the Ukrainians, however that Ukraine’s capability to take action was restricted.

The official assessed that Ukrainian forces stay accountable for a lot of the nation’s territory however that Russia holds the cities of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdiansk within the south.

A number of Western officers have mentioned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has superior extra slowly than deliberate, with Russian forces assembly stiff Ukrainian resistance and encountering myriad logistical issues.

Russian President Vladmir Putin mentioned Thursday that what he calls a “particular army operation” was on target to fulfill its objectives.

Related Press Author Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia Herzegovina — Extra troops from 4 European Union nations began arriving in Bosnia Friday to strengthen the EU-led peacekeeping power within the Balkan nation which has by no means absolutely recovered from its brutal 1992-95 warfare.

All 4 firms of the reserve forces from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia will arrive on the European Union Drive (EUFOR) base exterior Sarajevo to strengthen its 600-strong contingent already stationed within the nation. The brand new deployments will whole 500 troops.

EUFOR introduced the deployment of extra forces a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The power described the step as a precautionary measure to forestall the deterioration of the safety scenario internationally from spreading to Bosnia.

A staunchly pro-Russian Bosnian Serb chief, Milorad Dodik, has for years advocated the separation of the semi-autonomous Bosnian Serb mini-state from the remainder of the multi-ethnic nation.

Final winter, with tacit help from Moscow, Dodik intensified his secessionist marketing campaign, pledging to kind an solely Serb military, judiciary and tax system.

The European Union pledged earlier in February to restrict monetary help and presumably impose sanctions in Bosnia to forestall unravelling of the US-brokered peace settlement that ended the Balkan nation’s brutal interethnic warfare within the Nineties.

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin says Russia is prepared for talks with Ukraine however insisted that it should meet Moscow’s calls for.

Putin advised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Ukraine should comply with demilitarize, settle for Moscow’s sovereignty over Crimea and give up territory to Russia-backed rebels within the east, the Kremlin mentioned in its readout of Friday’s name.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the nation’s former Moscow-friendly leaders and solid its help behind the rebels in jap Ukraine.

Putin acknowledged the separatist “folks’s republics” as impartial states simply earlier than he launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, citing their plea for army help.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators on Thursday held the second of two rounds of talks, reaching a tentative settlement on establishing secure corridors to permit civilians to go away besieged Ukrainian cities and the supply of humanitarian provides. Additionally they agreed to maintain speaking on methods to barter a settlement, however Putin’s powerful calls for make prospects for a compromise look dim.

Ukrainian negotiators mentioned the events could conduct one other spherical of talks over the weekend.

KYIV, Ukraine — A high Ukrainian cybersecurity official says a volunteer military of tons of of hackers enlisted to battle Russia in our on-line world is barely attacking what it deems army targets, prioritizing authorities providers together with the monetary sector, Kremlin-controlled media and railways.

Victor Zhora, deputy chair of the state particular communications service, additionally mentioned Friday that there had been about 10 hostile hijackings of native authorities web sites in Ukraine to unfold false textual content propaganda saying his authorities had capitulated. He mentioned most of Ukraine’s telecommunications and web have been absolutely operational.

Zhora advised reporters in a teleconference that presumed Russian hackers continued to attempt to unfold damaging malware in focused e-mail assaults on Ukrainian officers and – in what he considers a brand new tactic – attempting to contaminate the gadgets of particular person residents.

Zhora mentioned one job of civilian volunteer hackers is to attempt to receive intelligence that can be utilized to assault Russian army methods. He mentioned volunteers from Ukraine’s IT sector are additionally addressing the Russian folks immediately with cellphone calls, emails and textual content messages. That features sending movies and footage of useless Russians troopers.

KYIV, Ukraine — As occasional explosions sounded on the fringes of Kyiv, a younger couple held their wedding ceremony ceremony on Friday.

Dmytro Shybalov and Anna Panasyk smiled and blushed in shy delight on the civil registry workplace the place they married. The day was an eerie echo of once they fell in love in 2015 in Donetsk amid the preventing between separatists and Ukrainian forces that was a precursor to the countrywide warfare.

“It’s 2022 and the scenario hasn’t modified. It’s scary to suppose what is going to occur when our youngsters can be born,” Shybalov mentioned.

MADRID — Spain’s Teatro Actual, one in all Europe’s main opera homes, is canceling a set of upcoming performances by Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet due to the warfare the nation is waging on Ukraine.

In a press release on Friday, the administration of the Madrid-based opera home mentioned that the Russian state-funded firm’s mid-Might performances of Ludwig Minkus’ La Bayadere gained’t go forward “because of the warfare unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, which is inflicting a severe international disaster and a painful humanitarian emergency.”

The theatre additionally acknowledged that Bolshoi Ballet Director Vladimir Urin was amongst a gaggle of Russian artists who signed a petition towards the warfare.

On Feb. 27, through the remaining efficiency at Teatro Actual of “Twilight of the Gods,” artists on stage wrapped the corpse of the protagonist, Siegried, within the Ukrainian flag. The motion, as a part of an opera that “locations man in entrance of his personal path to self-destruction,” was meant to be “a symbolic act of homage to the victims of the warfare,” Teatro Actual mentioned on the time.

LONDON — Considered one of Britain’s greatest grocery store chains is altering the spelling of “rooster Kiev” to “rooster Kyiv” out of solidarity with Ukraine.

Sainsbury’s is the primary main U.Okay. grocer to heed requires the favored garlicky poultry dish to hold the Ukrainian spelling of the nation’s capital metropolis.

Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second-largest grocery store chain, additionally mentioned it was halting gross sales of the one purely Russian merchandise on its cabinets: Russian Customary vodka and Karpayskiye black sunflower seeds.

The grocery store mentioned in a press release that it needed to “stand united with the folks of Ukraine.”

GENEVA — The U.N. refugee company reported Friday that greater than 1.2 million folks have left Ukraine because the preventing started.

Greater than 165,000 folks left the nation on Thursday — down barely from Wednesday’s depend and nicely below the practically 200,000 on Tuesday, which amounted to the height one-day outflow of individuals from Ukraine because the battle started, in response to the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees.

Its information portal on Ukraine confirmed that almost all — about 650,000 — had gone to neighboring Poland, and roughly 145,000 had fled to Hungary. One other 103,000 have been in Moldova and greater than 90,000 in Slovakia.

UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo mentioned “we all know that almost all are girls, youngsters and the aged,” however she was unable to offer a extra particular breakdown by age or gender.

GENEVA — The U.N. human rights workplace, in its newest depend of casualties launched Friday afternoon, mentioned it had confirmed 331 folks killed and 675 folks injured because the starting of the Russian invasion.

The rights workplace makes use of strict methodology and solely stories casualties it has confirmed. It believes the actual figures are a lot greater. Ukrainian officers have introduced far greater numbers.

LONDON — A union says dockers at a British port have refused to unload fuel tankers from Russia, and referred to as for tighter sanctions to forestall Russian cargoes arriving within the U.Okay.

The Unison union says two tankers, Boris Vilkitsky and Fedor Litke, have been diverted from Europe’s largest liquefied pure fuel terminal on the Isle of Grain in southeast England.

The union mentioned the British authorities should shut a loophole that meant the cargo may return if it was loaded onto non-Russian vessels.

Britain has banned Russia-linked ships from its ports, however the union’s head of power, Matt Lay, mentioned the principles “solely cowl the possession and operators of vessels, not the cargo.” He mentioned “firms are free to get across the guidelines by hiring ships from different nations to import Russian items.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has referred to as for Western nations to cease shopping for Russian oil and fuel, however it’s nonetheless being purchased by many nations, together with the U.Okay.

BRUSSELS — Irish Overseas Minister Simon Coveney says the European Union could agree “early” subsequent week on one other set of sanctions towards Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Coveney mentioned Friday that “we within the European Union and different companions are actually disgusted and outraged by what we proceed to see day after day in Ukraine and Russia’s actions, which clearly are a breach of worldwide legislation.”

Talking to reporters earlier than a gathering together with his EU counterparts and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Coveney mentioned: “I don’t suppose there’s any credible argument now that warfare crimes aren’t being dedicated every day.”

He says the West should brace for no letup within the preventing in Ukraine.

“Sadly it appears like we’re going to see extra of this within the coming days and weeks,” Coveney mentioned. “The image appears very bleak, very darkish, when it comes to Russia’s intentions. And there doesn’t appear to be any willingness to debate a cease-fire, to debate a pulling again out of residential areas.”

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Latvia joined Lithuania in altering the title of the road the place the Russian Embassy is situated in Riga to “Ukrainian Independence Road.”

The choice has been made Friday by the Riga Metropolis Council to voice help to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Ukraine’s battle towards the Russian invasion, the Baltic News Service reported Friday.

On Thursday, the mayor of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius mentioned that town will change the title of a road the place the Russian diplomatic mission sits. Mayor Remigijus Simasius mentioned a quiet alley in downtown Vilnius the place the Russian embassy is situated will change its title to “Heroes of Ukraine road.”

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish brewer Carlsberg mentioned Friday that it was instantly stopping new investments and exports to Russia.

The group’s CEO Cees ‘t Hart mentioned the cease additionally consists of exports from different Carlsberg Group firms to Baltika Breweries in Russia.

“We’ll respect all relevant sanctions being put in place and proceed to evaluate the scenario in relation to our enterprise in Russia,” he mentioned in a press release to The Related Press.

Carlsberg has 8,400 staff throughout Russia.

The group was “deeply shocked by the horrible occasions unfolding in Ukraine” and “strongly condemn the acts of violence and aggression,” he mentioned, including the brewer had taken a number of actions to make sure the security and well-being of its 1,300 workers in Ukraine. On high of that, Carlsberg will donate 75 million kroner ($11.2 million) to the reduction efforts in Ukraine.

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Safety Council has scheduled an emergency open assembly on the assault on Ukraine’s largest nuclear energy plant.

The assembly, to be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday GMT, was requested by the USA, United Kingdom, France, Eire, Norway and Albania.

Council diplomats mentioned the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company will transient council members. Russia’s shelling of Europe’s greatest nuclear plant in Ukraine acquired widespread worldwide condemnation on Friday. The shelling on the Zaporizhzhia plant in Enerhodar had touched off a hearth that was extinguished. Russian forces have taken management of the positioning.

TOKYO – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has condemned Russia’s assault on Europe’s largest nuclear energy plant in Ukraine, calling it “unforgivable reckless act.”

Kishida mentioned he talked on the cellphone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and advised him that “Russian assault on the nuclear plant was an unforgivable reckless act.”

Russian forces shelled Europe’s largest nuclear energy plant Thursday, inflicting a hearth there that was extinguished in a single day however sparking international concern of radiation leaks. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company, the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog, says there was no signal on Friday of radiation leaks.

A large earthquake and tsunami in March, 2011 destroyed energy and cooling methods on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plant, inflicting its triple meltdowns, spewing massive quantities of radioactive supplies in its environment and maintaining a part of the area nonetheless uninhabitable.

VATICAN CITY – The top of the Polish bishops’ convention has written on to the top of the Russian Orthodox Church urging him to attraction to President Vladimir Putin to cease the warfare and to induce Russian troopers to disobey orders on ethical grounds and stand down.

“The time will come to settle these crimes, together with earlier than the worldwide courts,” In his Mar. 2 letter to Patriarch Kirill, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki warned that “the time will come to settle these crimes, together with earlier than the worldwide courts.” He added that even when somebody avoids human justice, “there’s a tribunal that can’t be prevented.”

Gądecki’s tone was vital, given its sharp distinction to the comparatively impartial tone utilized by the Vatican and Pope Francis. The Holy See thus far has referred to as for peace and a return to negotiations, and even supplied itself as a mediator, however has not condemned Russia by title or its invasion.

The Vatican has a practice of such diplomacy, believing that it could facilitate dialogue higher if it doesn’t take sides or name out an aggressor. Within the case of Ukraine, nonetheless, Francis has been criticized for promoting out Ukrainian Catholics on the expense of his longer-term purpose of bettering relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.

As lately as December, Francis had expressed hope {that a} second assembly with Kirill may quickly be organized, after their historic encounter in 2016, the primary between a pope and Russian patriarch.

MOSCOW — Russians may face jail sentences of as much as 15 years for spreading data that goes towards the Russian authorities’s place on the warfare in Ukraine, a transfer that comes as authorities block entry to international media retailers.

The Russian parliament voted unanimously Friday to approve a draft legislation criminalizing the intentional spreading of what Russia deems to be “pretend” stories.

Russian authorities have repeatedly decried stories of Russian army setbacks or civilian deaths in Ukraine as “pretend” stories. State media retailers seek advice from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “particular army operation” moderately than a “warfare” or “invasion.”

State information businesses mentioned the draft legislation was permitted by the decrease and higher homes of parliament in fast succession. It could possibly be signed into legislation by President Vladimir Putin and take impact as quickly as Saturday, the speaker of the decrease home, Vyacheslav Volodin, mentioned

The blocks have an effect on the BBC, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based web site Meduza. Collectively, they’re among the many most influential and infrequently vital international media publishing in Russian.

SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Jewish Shalom group in Bulgaria rejected as “completely unjustifiable and inappropriate” Russian propaganda claims that Ukraine is a Nazi state that must be de-Nazified.

Shalom mentioned in a press release Friday that Ukraine is among the few nations on this planet to go a legislation criminalizing antisemitism.

The group mentioned it strongly condemns Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin is attempting to justify, claiming that the purpose of his army aggression was “the demilitarization and de-Nazification” of Ukraine.

Shalom mentioned its members mourn along with those that died within the first days of the battle and expressed sympathies to “the tons of 1000’s of Ukrainians who misplaced their houses, who have been separated from their family members, and compelled to flee the borders of their homeland, together with 1000’s of Jewish households.”

BRUSSELS – NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg says the army group won’t police a no-fly zone over Ukraine and is warning that such a transfer may finish in a wide-spread warfare in Europe.

Talking Friday after chairing a gathering of NATO international ministers, Stoltenberg mentioned “we aren’t going to maneuver into Ukraine, neither on the bottom, nor within the Ukrainian airspace.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces have ramped up their assaults in Ukraine, launching tons of of missiles and artillery strikes on cities and making vital features within the south.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to the West to implement a no-fly zone over his nation, most lately after a hearth in a single day at one in all Ukraine’s nuclear crops, the most important in Europe.

“The one technique to implement a no-fly zone is to ship NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, after which impose that no-fly zone by capturing down Russian planes,” Stoltenberg mentioned. “We perceive the desperation, however we additionally imagine that if we did that, we might find yourself with one thing that would finish in a full-fledged warfare in Europe.”

“We now have a accountability as NATO allies to forestall this warfare from escalating past Ukraine,” he mentioned.

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s international minister says Ankara needs to deliver Russia and Ukraine’s high diplomats collectively for talks throughout a global diplomacy discussion board within the nation subsequent week.

Talking Friday to reporters in Brussels the place he attended a NATO assembly, Mevlut Cavusoglu mentioned Russian Overseas Minister Seygey Lavrov has confirmed his attendance on the Antalya Diplomacy Discussion board to be held within the Mediterranean coastal metropolis between March 11-13.

Cavusoglu mentioned a gathering between Lavrov and Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba could possibly be attainable, however added that he was not sure Ukrainian officers would be capable of attend.

Turkey, which has shut ties to each Ukraine and Russia, has been attempting to stability its relations with each. It has repeatedly supplied to mediate between the 2.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch army says it has begun housing refugees who fled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Protection Ministry mentioned Friday that the primary 120 refugees arrived a day earlier at a army base in Harskamp, a village within the central Veluwe area.

The Harskamp base can home 950 refugees. It is also residence to a sprawling firing vary the place Dutch troops often follow dwell fireplace workouts.

One other group of fifty Ukrainian refugees arrived Friday within the western city of Waddinxveen, the place they’re being housed in a neighborhood sports activities corridor.

The city’s mayor, Evert Jan Nieuwenhuis, greeted the brand new arrivals and advised native broadcaster Omroep West it was “heartbreaking. It brings tears to your eyes.”

He mentioned he was glad the city may do one thing to assist the refugees fleeing the battle in Ukraine “even whether it is only a drop within the ocean.”

LONDON — The Ukrainian authorities and a former British prime minister are pushing for a particular felony tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies over the invasion of Ukraine.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown mentioned the decision for a physique to research the “crime of aggression” was based mostly on the tribunals that prosecuted senior Nazis after World Warfare II.

The Netherlands-based Worldwide Felony Courtroom is already investigating allegations that Russia has dedicated warfare crimes in Ukraine. However whereas it could examine genocide, crimes towards humanity and warfare crimes, Russia has not signed as much as a separate ICC statute below which nations pledge to not commit “crimes of aggression.”

Brown mentioned that “this act of aggression by Russia … can’t go uninvestigated, unprosecuted and unpunished.”

He mentioned the Russian president “should not be capable of escape justice.”

Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the decision for a tribunal, which is backed by authorized specialists and lecturers from world wide.

“We’re preventing towards an enemy who is far stronger than us. However worldwide legislation is on our aspect,” Kuleba advised a gathering in London by video hyperlink from Ukraine.

TOKYO — Japan is sending bulletproof vests, helmets and different protection provides to Ukraine to assist the nation battle Russia’s invasion.

It’s a uncommon transfer by Japan, which has a precept of not transport protection provides to nations in battle.

Chief Cupboard Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno advised reporters Friday that transport and different logistical particulars are being finalized after a choice by the Nationwide Safety Council.

Bulletproof vests, helmets, tents, in addition to turbines, meals, winter garments and medical provides can be delivered by Self-Protection Drive plane, Matsuno mentioned.

The deliberate cargo comes after a request from Ukraine. Japan, due to its pacifist rules, is supplying solely non-lethal items, Matsuno mentioned.

“(Russia’s) unilateral change of establishment by power, which is totally unallowable, is an act that shakes the muse of worldwide order,” he mentioned. “Worldwide society is sticking collectively and taking unprecedented steps to help Ukraine.”

WARSAW, Poland — Polish safety providers say they’ve arrested a Spanish citizen on suspicion of spying for Russia.

Safety providers spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn mentioned the person, who was born in Russia however holds a Spanish passport, was arrested on the night time of Feb. 27 at a lodge in Przemysl, in southeastern Poland, and had journalist standing.

Przemysl, close to Poland’s border with Ukraine, is among the details the place tons of of 1000’s of Ukrainian refugees arrive as they flee Russia’s invasion.

Additionally, 1000’s of extra U.S. troops lately deployed to Poland to strengthen NATO’s jap flank are stationed within the space.

The person allegedly was amassing data that was delicate to Poland’s safety and protection, Zaryn advised The Related Press.

The person is accused of spying for Russia. If convicted, he may stand up to 10 years in jail.

BERLIN — Austria’s former chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has stop his publish on the supervisory board of Russian oil agency Lukoil.

The Austria Press Company quoted Schuessel on Friday saying that whereas he had at all times backed “constructive relations” between Russia and the European Union, the Russian invasion of neighbor Ukraine had “crossed a purple line.”

Schuessel mentioned he had labored to assist produce a press release by Lukoil this week that referred to as for an finish to the battle.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — With Europeans unnerved by a Russian assault on a nuclear energy plant in Ukraine, Norwegian well being authorities need municipalities to evaluation iodine preparedness for kids below 18, pregnant and breastfeeding girls.

“Though no emissions from nuclear energy crops in Ukraine have been reported, the chance of accidents and incidents is greater than regular because of the warfare within the nation,” deputy well being director Espen Rostrup Nakstad mentioned Friday.

Since 2017, iodine tablets have been beneficial as a contingency measure by the Directorate for Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security (DSA) and the Norwegian Directorate of Well being, the latter mentioned in a press release.

It added that roughly 2.2 million tablets are saved within the municipalities for this objective. As well as, folks between the ages of 18 and 40 are beneficial to purchase iodine tablets at pharmacies as self-preparedness.

“Within the present scenario, it’s not related to make use of iodine tablets, however we nonetheless need the municipalities to make sure that they’re accessible at brief discover if there’s a want for it,” Rostrup Nakstad mentioned.

Current stories say gross sales of iodine tablets in Denmark, Sweden and Finland have elevated sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

GENEVA — The U.N.’s high human rights physique has voted overwhelmingly to nominate a three-person panel of specialists to observe human rights in Ukraine, the place Russian forces are invading.

The Human Rights Council voted 32-2, with 13 abstentions, to go a decision that was introduced by many Western nations and others who’ve spoken out towards Moscow’s assault on its neighbor.

Solely Russia and Eritrea opposed the decision, with China abstaining.

The vote Friday was the fruits of an pressing debate referred to as by Ukraine, throughout which most council members lambasted Russia.

Many Western envoys sported blue or yellow ties, scarves, jackets or ribbons on their lapels, in a reference to the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Far-flung nations equivalent to Gambia and Malaysia spoke out towards the invasion.

The outcome testified to rising worldwide isolation of Russia: On Monday, 5 nations — together with China — had voted towards Ukraine’s effort to convene the pressing debate.

Ukraine’s ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko, her eyes purple with emotion, advised delegates after the vote: “I thank all those that voted for the best course.”

BERLIN — Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany and its companions have decided there’s at the moment no threat to the general public from a hearth at a Ukrainian nuclear plant.

Talking to reporters throughout a go to to German troops Friday, Scholz mentioned Germany had instantly carried out measurements and exchanged data with different nations following the incident on the Zaporizhzhia plant, the place Russian forces attacked late Thursday.

Scholz mentioned the incident exhibits how harmful the scenario in Ukraine is.

Scholz mentioned it’s “utterly clear” that NATO won’t take part within the battle in Ukraine, the place the nation’s president needs a no-fly zone to be imposed.

“Collectively we’re making certain that no one assaults NATO territory,” Scholz mentioned, noting that the alliance has positioned extra troops in its jap member states for this objective.

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s pharmaceutical authorities say prospects are asking whether or not they need to take iodine to guard towards radiation, after a nuclear plant in neighboring Ukraine was focused by invading Russian troops.

Tomasz Leleno, spokesman for Poland’s Predominant Pharmaceutical Chamber, mentioned Friday that pharmacists and medical doctors are advising towards that, as a result of iodine could trigger extra hurt than good if used with out consulting a physician.

The United Nations atomic watchdog mentioned there was no launch of radiation on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after a constructing on the positioning was hit by Russian shelling.

However the improvement has alarmed Poles. Sale of iodine answer had already surged final week, after Russian troops took management of Ukraine’s idled Chernobyl nuclear plant, the place there was an unintended meltdown in 1986.

After Chernobyl, many individuals in Poland, particularly the younger, took iodine, as some specialists claimed it may defend towards radiation.

VIENNA — The top of the UN atomic company says a Ukrainian nuclear plant was hit by a Russian “projectile” however that the constructing it struck was a coaching heart and there was no launch of radiation.

Preliminary stories have been unclear about what a part of the plant was affected by a hearth that broke out after the shelling late Thursday, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company Director-Basic Rafael Mariano Grossi mentioned Friday that the constructing was “not a part of the reactor.”

He mentioned Ukrainians are nonetheless accountable for the reactor and the hearth has been extinguished.

The Ukrainian state nuclear firm mentioned three Ukrainian troops have been killed and two wounded within the Russian assault.

The UN says just one reactor on the plant is working, at about 60% of capability.

MOSCOW — Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor is obstructing entry to the web sites of 5 worldwide media organizations.

State information company RIA Novosti reported Friday that the blocked web sites embrace these of the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The websites have been blocked for internet hosting what Roskomnadzor advised RIA was “false data” about Russian army actions in Ukraine, together with stories of assaults on civilians and the Russian army’s losses.

The 5 named organizations, additionally together with Latvia-based Russian-language web site Meduza and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, are among the many largest international information retailers with Russian-language information operations.

On the early afternoon in Moscow, the BBC Russian service and Radio Free Europe Russian-language content material weren’t reachable, however Voice of America content material remained accessible.

BERLIN — UNICEF says that about 500,000 youngsters have been compelled to flee their houses in Ukraine over the previous week resulting from Russia’s invasion, calling the exodus “unprecedented in scale and velocity.”

“If the violence (doesn’t) cease, many, many extra youngsters can be compelled to flee their nation in a really brief house of time,” James Elder, a spokesman for the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund, mentioned Friday. “And we concern many extra can be killed.”

He mentioned UNICEF is sending massive quantities of humanitarian provides to Ukraine to assist these in want and likewise offering emergency coaching to pediatricians who’re being despatched to the area.

“They’re making ready for a mass casualty of youngsters,” he mentioned, including that the coaching included a triage system for treating youngsters.

The Worldwide Group for Migration mentioned Friday that thus far 1.25 million folks have fled Ukraine, together with nearly 80,000 third-country nationals.

LONDON — Google is suspending gross sales of on-line adverts in Russia after the nation’s communications regulator demanded the tech large cease spreading by means of its promoting what Moscow referred to as false details about the Russian army in Ukraine.

The corporate mentioned late Thursday that the suspension covers YouTube, search and show adverts.

Google is among the world’s greatest sellers of on-line adverts.

The Russian regulator, Roskomnadzor, issued a number of notices to Google this week warning the corporate about spreading false data or demanding it ease restrictions on YouTube channels operated by Russian media.

Individually, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tweeted that the short-stay reserving website is suspending all operations in Russia and its neighboring ally Belarus. Chesky didn’t elaborate.

Comply with AP’s protection of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine