Ukraine fighting: Russian forces have made no significant progress in the previous 24 hours, with continuing supply problems and aggressive resistance from Ukrainian fighters, UK defence officials say. Poor morale and a lack of momentum have compounded the problems facing Russian forces, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence briefing. Heavy fighting continues around Mariupol as Russian forces try to capture the port on the Sea of Azov, which connects to the Black Sea, the ministry said. Russia was also maintaining a blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, cutting off maritime trade with the country. The Russian navy has launched sporadic missile strikes against targets in Ukraine, the ministry said.
Chernobyl fires: Fires covering more than 10,000 hectares across the Chernobyl exclusion zone could lead to increased radiation pollution levels in the air spreading on prevailing winds heading west, Ukrainian officials have warned. Russian military forces are to blame for 31 fires burning in the forests, Lyudmila Denisova, commissioner of a Ukrainian human rights group, said. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the fires were a threat to Ukraine and to hundreds of millions of Europeans. “Significant fires have started in the exclusion zone, which can have very serious consequences,” Ms Vereshchuk said.
Refugees: By Monday, 3,821,049 refugees have fled Ukraine, with the majority of them in European Union countries. EU justice and home affairs ministers are in Brussels for a meeting to determine how much more funding is needed and to help facilitate travel of refugees to other nations in the bloc. The EU has already expedited €3.4 billion euros for front-line states, particularly Poland.
Peace talks: Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams plan to meet in Turkey this week with the conflict in its second month as differences remain on terms for a potential ceasefire deal. China has also offered to help, saying it is uniquely positioned to help peacefully resolve what it called “the crisis”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that a Russian demand for the country's neutrality — a key issue for Moscow at conflict negotiations — was being closely looked at by Kyiv's negotiators. US President Joe Biden's speech and apparent call for regime change in Russia, which the White House has since denied, continues to be a concern in diplomatic circles.
Oscars silence: For 30 seconds, the Oscars went silent for Ukraine. A tribute that started with words from the Ukraine-born Mila Kunis ended with the Academy Awards fading to black about midway through Sunday’s show in Los Angeles, with a plea for anyone watching to do whatever possible to send help to those in the war-torn nation. “Recent global events have left many of us feeling gutted,” Kunis said. “Yet when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it’s impossible to not be moved by their resilience. One cannot help but be in awe of those who find strength to keep fighting through unimaginable darkness.”
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