Latest Russia-Ukraine News: 198 Ukrainians Killed in Invasion as Fighting Continues in Kiev Streets | world news

Ukrainian forces repelled an attack by 60 Russian paratroopers near Lviv, reports Reuters.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian soldiers reportedly withdrew after clashing with the military in Brody, western Ukraine, about 105 kilometers from the city.

Russia’s lockdown of the Swift financial payments network became more likely after Cyprus agreed to the proposal.

Calls have been made for Russia to be excluded from the system, which facilitates cross-border payments. It is believed that this will increase pressure on Russian businesses and the economy.

The move was announced on Twitter by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who also spoke with Italy, Germany and Belgium – where Swift is based.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had a call on saturday morning of the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, to say that this decision had his support.

Although a small European nation, Cyprus’ support is important as it is a major destination for Russian investment.

Local media in Russia were warned about their coverage of the invasion, with threats to block access to their websites.

Communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Saturday accused 10 media outlets of misrepresenting what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine and publishing false information.

He censured them for calling it an “attack, invasion or declaration of war”, and said the government would stop access if it continued. Fines of up to 5 million rubles are also possible.

The death toll so far in the Russian invasion of Ukraine is at least 198, according to Ukraine’s Health Ministry.

Three children are among the dead. Its leader, quoted by the Interfax news agency, reportedly said that 1,115 people had been injured, including 33 children.

Reuters said it was unclear whether it was referring only to civilian casualties

Fighting resumed in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, and Kiev on Saturday morning,

Territorial defense forces in Sumy are engaged with the Russian military, according to Reuters. Loud explosions were reported in the Ukrainian capital.

Other donations have been pledged by other countries, with the Czech Republic approving the shipment of $8.6 million worth of weapons. The Netherlands said it would provide an additional 200 air defense rockets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a tweet, he said they had discussed EU aid to Ukraine and he hoped it would get their support.

“Ukraine is fighting the invader with arms in hand, defending its freedom and its European future. Converse with @vonderleyen effective aid to our country in this heroic struggle. I believe that the #EU also chooses Ukraine,” he said.

Britain’s Armed Forces Minister said Russia had failed to achieve its initial objectives – and that fighting outside Kiev was limited to Russian special forces units.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, James Heappey said Russian aims to take key Ukrainian towns had not been successful. He said the UK did not believe Russian claims that it had taken the southeastern town of Melitopol.

“Ukrainian resistance to the Russian advance appears extraordinary. All of Russia’s first day objectives of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, Sumy and even Melitopol, which the Russians claim to have taken but we can’t see anything about it, are still in Ukrainian hands.

“The fighting in the outskirts of Kyiv overnight, we understand it’s just Russian spetsnaz special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is that the armored columns coming down from Belarus and the north to encircle Kyiv are still a long way off, because they were held back by this incredible Ukrainian resistance.

Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow evacuates to Latvia, according to Reuters.

The news was announced this morning by a spokesperson for the Latvian Foreign Ministry.

“It was their plea, we easily accepted. We help them through the process and help them get settled,” said Jānis Beķeris.

The building had seen low-key anti-war protests in recent days, with some Russians laying flowers outside.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called for Russia’s total isolationincluding embargoes on purchases of Russian crude oil.

“I demand of the world: completely isolate Russia, expel ambassadors, oil embargo, ruin its economy,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

In addition, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, called for a decision on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

“This is a crucial moment to close once and for all the long-standing discussion and decide on Ukraine’s accession to the #EU“, he said on Twitter a short time ago. ” Converse with @eucopresident effective new aid and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future.

35 people including two children were injured in the fierce fighting overnight in Kiev, according to the mayor of the city. No further details were available, but in a separate Reuters report quoting an Interior Ministry adviser, there were no fatalities in the building believed to have been hit by a Russian missile.

This post has been edited, to correct that all 35 people were injured, not killed.