Russian attacks on Ukraine continued for the 10th day on Saturday. The Russian army targeted the cities of Odessa, Lviv, Mykolyev, including the capital Kyiv. On Saturday, Russia issued an alert for air strikes in key areas of the cities of Sumy and Chernihiv, along with Kyiv. Within 10 days, 1.2 million people have been made homeless in Russia, many innocent people have been killed and many cities, homes and neighborhoods have been destroyed.
The Russian army has surrounded Kyiv from all sides and the battle for control of the capital will be the final turning point of this war. Apart from Kyiv, Russian troops are present in many cities of Ukraine. The Russian army is either taking control of the cities or destroying them. There are no Russian tanks on the streets of Kyiv yet, but Russian tanks, rockets and missiles have caused massive destruction in many cities of Ukraine.
Experts believe that if Kyiv is not captured, the war could drag on for several days. On the other hand, there was panic in these cities on Saturday after an air strike alert was issued in Chernihiv and Sumy cities of Ukraine. Residents have been warned to move to the nearest shelters.
Mariupol’s mayor, Vadim Boychenko, said the Russian army had cordoned off the city after several days of attacks. “The southeastern city of Mariupol, with a population of 4.5 million, is of strategic importance to the Russian military because here they can work on a land corridor linking Crimea with southern Russia,” CNN reported.
US sanctions on 50 Russian elitesThe Biden administration in the US has announced new sanctions on Russian businessmen and close aides of President Vladimir Putin. The United States has imposed new sanctions on 50 Russian elites and their families, including Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, in a fresh attempt to target Putin for ordering an attack on Ukraine. President Joe Biden said the sanctions would target those who are illegally affiliated with Russian businessmen.
“Today, I am announcing that we are adding dozens more names to the list, including Russia’s richest billionaires,” he said. I am also banning more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families and their close allies from traveling to the United States. “We continue to impose tough economic sanctions on the Russian President and all those close to him, to cut off his access to technology and the global financial system,” he said.
Alisher Usmanov and Boris Arkady were also banned
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has revealed the names of some Russians banned by the Biden administration. These include the names of Alisher Usmanov, Boris Arkady and Igor Rotenberg, members of his family. The sanctions also include Kremilan press secretary Dmitry Peskov and Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. All of them are considered very close to Putin.
White House distances itself from MP Graham’s statement on Putin’s assassinationUS lawmaker Lindsey Graham from South Carolina is facing condemnation for her statement in which she called on the Russian people to assassinate President Vladimir Putin to stop the Ukraine war. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, this is not the stand of the US government.
Graham tweeted, “The only people who can stop this (Putin) are the people of Russia. The only way to end the war is to have someone kill Putin in Russia. You will do great service to your country and the whole world. Texas Republican lawmaker Ted Cruz called it a “very bad idea”. Georgia MP Marjorie Taylor Green said Graham’s statement was “irresponsible and dangerous”.