March 13, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

Our live coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has moved here.

Russia asked China for economic support in addition to their request for military support, a US official familiar with the matter said.

The requests came after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had occurred, the official said.

The official declined to detail the Chinese reaction but indicated that the Chinese had responded. 

Some context: Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine, including drones, a senior US official said Sunday.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the development is a “concern" and the US has made it clear to Beijing there will "absolutely be consequences" for "large-scale" efforts to give the Kremlin a workaround to US sanctions. Sullivan will meet Chinese counterparts in Rome on Monday for talks.

When asked by CNN about the reporting of Russia's request for military aid, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US, said in a statement, "I've never heard of that."

Read the full story here.

Australia announced fresh sanctions Monday targeting Russian oligarchs, key businesspeople and their family members, the Foreign Ministry said.

In total, 33 people were hit with sanctions, including Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, CEO of Gazprom Alexey Miller and Dmitri Lebedev, Chairman of Rossiya, one of Russia's largest air carriers.

"The sanctions announced today reinforce Australia’s commitment to sanction those people who have amassed vast personal wealth and are of economic and strategic significance to Russia, including as a result of their connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin," said the statement from Marise Payne, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs.
"Many of these oligarchs have facilitated, or directly benefited, from the Kremlin’s illegal and indefensible actions in Ukraine since 2014."

Australia follows the US, UK, Canada, the European Union and New Zealand, in sanctioning key Russian individuals over the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's prosecutor general has opened a treason investigation into Galina Danilchenko, the newly installed mayor of Russian-occupied Melitopol.

The investigation comes after a group of Melitopol City Council members issued a written address Sunday, requesting the prosecutor general initiate criminal proceedings against Danilchenko, "for the high crime of treason, for attempting to set up an occupying government in Melitopol."  

In its address, the Council accused Danilchenko, "a city council member from the Opposition Bloc," of dissolving the city government and transferring its powers to a People's Deputies Committee.

The prosecutor general's office announced it had opened an investigation in a statement posted on its website, accusing Danilchenko of, "fulfilling the task set to her by her Russian Federation representatives" when she declared herself Melitopol's acting mayor.

"In announcing the creation of a body not defined by Ukrainian law, this People's Deputies Committee, the suspect called on Ukrainian citizens for their support and citizens of Melitopol to stop resisting the occupying forces," the statement from the prosecutor’s office read.

According to the statement, the investigation and criminal proceedings will be conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region.

On Facebook, Ukraine's prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova lauded the Melitopol City Council address saying, "I heard you and I'm proud of you."  

Some context: Danilchenko was installed as Melitopol's mayor after the elected mayor, Ivan Fedorov, was detained by armed men on Friday. Shortly after he was detained, the prosecutor's office for the Russian-backed separatist region of Luhansk accused Fedorov of terrorism offenses.

On Sunday, Danilchenko said in a televised video that "Russian TV channels" would begin broadcasting in the region. She claimed, "a great deficit of trustworthy information being circulated," as reasoning for the broadcasting decision.

Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine, a senior US official said, and the Ukrainian military has thwarted an attempt by Russian military vehicles to cross the Irpin River.

It comes after a day that saw Russia expanding its offensive to western Ukraine, firing missiles near the city of Lviv and hitting a large military base close to the Polish border, reportedly killing dozens of people as the war draws closer to NATO's front line.

If you're just reading in, here are the latest headlines from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Seeking China's help: Russia has asked China for military assistance in Ukraine, including drones, a senior US official said Sunday. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the development is a “concern" and the US has made it clear to Beijing there will "absolutely be consequences" for "large-scale" efforts to give the Kremlin a workaround to US sanctions. Sullivan will meet Chinese counterparts in Rome on Monday for talks.

When asked by CNN about the reporting of Russia's request for military aid, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US, said in a statement, "I've never heard of that."

Chernobyl staff: Staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are so tired they have stopped carrying out the repair and maintenance of safety-related equipment, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. The 211 technical personnel and guards have still not been able to rotate from the facility since Russian forces entered the site. Ukraine managed to resume the power supply at Chernobyl on Sunday.

Russian forces thwarted: Ukrainian troops stopped an attempt by Russian military vehicles to cross the Irpin River on a pontoon bridge near Hostomel, new satellite images show. Ukrainian forces in Irpin have so far repelled Russian advances toward the capital Kyiv. With the main bridge crossing the Irpin River having been destroyed, the Irpin River poses a significant obstacle for the Russian military.

Ukraine cut off: Britain's Ministry of Defense said Russian forces have blockaded Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, cutting the nation off from international maritime trade.

Zelensky warning to NATO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it is only a matter of time before Russia’s military assault on Ukraine expands to members of NATO unless the alliance installs a no-fly zone over his country. It comes as Russian forces fired missiles near the city of Lviv and hit a large military base close to the Polish border.

Ukraine and Russia talks to continue Monday: Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted Sunday talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials will take place Monday through video.

French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden agreed to strengthen sanctions already taken against Russia in a call Sunday, the Elysee Palace said.

The two leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine and would join efforts on initiatives to end the fighting, according to a Elysee Palace statement.

Macron also offered his condolences for the death of American journalist Brent Renaud who died while covering the war in Ukraine. 

It is not clear which sanctions the two spoke about.

During a separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron expressed his support for Ukraine and detailed the content of the additional aid the European Union will provide to the Ukrainian government during the Versailles summit, the Elysee statement said. 

The calls came a day after the French leader spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire.

Galina Danilchenko, the newly installed mayor in Russian-occupied Melitopol, said in a televised video Sunday that "Russian TV channels" would begin broadcasting in the region.

Danilchenko claimed there was "a great deficit of trustworthy information being circulated," as reasoning for the broadcasting decision.  

Her televised address was posted on social media afterwards by pro-Russian Telegram channels and by the Ukrainian-controlled Zaporozhye regional administration.

Danilchenko was installed as mayor after elected mayor Ivan Fedorov was detained by armed men on Friday.

After he was detained, the prosecutor's office for the Russian-backed separatist region of Luhansk accused Fedorov of terrorism offenses. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded his immediate release, saying the "abduction" was a "crime against democracy."

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden in separate calls Sunday, discussing the efforts to reach a ceasefire and ongoing negotiations, according to a French source familiar with the calls.

On the call with Zelensky, Macron, “reviewed the situation with him. He expressed his full support and detailed the additional aid that the European Union decided to provide at the Versailles Summit. They exchanged views on the continuation of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine," the source said, adding the two leaders will continue to coordinate in the coming days.

US President Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron Sunday evening to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The two men "reviewed recent diplomatic engagements," according to a White House readout of the call. 

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine. They reviewed recent diplomatic engagements and underscored their commitment to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to support the government and people of Ukraine," the readout said.

A French source familiar with the call said Macron, “presented his condolences for the death of the journalist Brent Renaud. They agreed to strengthen the sanctions already taken against Russia, to support Ukraine and to take all initiatives to stop the fighting. They will remain in close contact on all this in the days to come."