Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that Turkey is making efforts for an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. (Reuters)
Ukraine's army claims that its air defences shot down two Russian Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes carrying paratroopers near the cities of Vasylkiv and Bila Tserkva in Kyiv Oblast, but did not provide any video evidence or details on crash sites. Ukraine also claims that a Sukhoi Su-25 attack jet was shot down. (Times of Israel)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posts a video of himself in the capital Kyiv amid rumors that he left the country. (Times of Israel)
A residential tower block near Kyiv International Airport is hit by a missile. (Al Jazeera)
Battle of Melitopol The Russian Armed Forces report that they have captured the city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. However, this claim is disputed. Russian state media says that Russian troops entered the city after facing "no resistance". (Reuters) (TASS)
COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports 112 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (AP) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional. (The National)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports 112 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (AP) COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional. (The National)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports 112 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional. (The National)
Education in Afghanistan Universities reopen in Afghanistan to male and female students for the first time since the Taliban took power 6 months ago. (VOA)
Estonia announces that it will close its airspace to all Russian airlines. (Reuters)
Estonia–Russia relations Estonia announces that it will close its airspace to all Russian airlines. (Reuters)
In an official joint statement, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, agree to remove some Russian banks from SWIFT. The group also commits to "imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions." (The Guardian)
Internet censorship in Russia Russia blocks access to social media platform Twitter. (The Verge)
Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announces that Iran will be studying a rough draft aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. (Times of Israel)
Iranian police disperse protesters chanting "Death to Putin" outside the Ukrainian embassy in Tehran. (Iran International)
Nuclear program of Iran Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announces that Iran will be studying a rough draft aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. (Times of Israel)
Protesters gather at the Russian embassy in London. During the protest, demonstrators are seen throwing eggs at the embassy, and call for Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine. (The Independent)
Russia blocks access to social media platform Twitter. (The Verge)
Russian forces shell the city of Sartana, Ukraine, and the nearby village of Buhas, killing ten Greek nationals. (Al Jazeera)
Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Republic of Crimea, says that supplies of water via the North Crimean Canal returned after Russians destroyed the dam that prevented the flow of water from the Dnieper river. (TASS)
Several Freedom Convoy truckers gather at the Grant Park in Chicago to protest in solitary with Ukraine. (Jalopnik)
South Korea reports 112 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (AP)
The Russian Armed Forces report that they have captured the city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. However, this claim is disputed. Russian state media says that Russian troops entered the city after facing "no resistance". (Reuters) (TASS)
The Ukrainian military destroys rails at all railway junctions leading to Russia as part of an attempt to prevent Russian military supplies from being delivered by freight trains. (Ukrainska Pravda)
The United Arab Emirates removes the mandatory face masks mandate in outdoor spaces, making the use of them optional. (The National)
Universities reopen in Afghanistan to male and female students for the first time since the Taliban took power 6 months ago. (VOA)
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov says that a Russian delegation has arrived in Gomel, Belarus, to hold talks as part of an effort to end the war. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects Belarus as the country is a non-neutral party in the conflict. Ukraine and Russia eventually agree to hold negotiations on the Belarus–Ukraine border near the Pripyat river tomorrow as the Ukrainian delegation is travelling to the location via Poland for safety reasons. (Belarusian Telegraph Agency) (The Washington Post) (Ukrainska Pravda) (Rzeczpospolita)
The International Judo Federation suspends Russian president Vladimir Putin's titles as the honorary president and ambassador of the federation, "in light of the ongoing war... in Ukraine". (AFP via RFI)
Anti-war demonstrators gather in Minsk, Belarus, to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite Belarus's involvement in the invasion. Around 440 people are detained in the protests. (Times of Israel) (Interfax)
China and the European Union will host a virtual summit on April 1 as part of an effort to deescalate the economic and geopolitical tensions between the two governments, particularly with respect to Lithuania. (Politico.eu)
China–European Union relations China and the European Union will host a virtual summit on April 1 as part of an effort to deescalate the economic and geopolitical tensions between the two governments, particularly with respect to Lithuania. (Politico.eu)
During a meeting intended to approve a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Russian delegate Oleg Anisimov apologizes to Ukraine and says that there was "no justification" for invading Ukraine. (Politico.eu)
FIFA prohibits Russia from playing under its own flag, but will allow the country to compete under a neutral banner of "Football Union of Russia", which is similar to how the International Olympic Committee requires Russian athletes to compete at the Olympics under the name of the Russian Olympic Committee. International football matches that would have taken place in Russia may only be played without spectators in other, neutral countries. However, several teams, including all possible playoff opponents for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, refuse to compete against the Russian team. (The Guardian)
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the foreign minister of Turkey, triggers the wartime clause of the Montreux Convention and limits movements of military vessels whose bases are not on the Black Sea coast. (Reuters)
Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the foreign minister of Turkey, triggers the wartime clause of the Montreux Convention and limits movements of military vessels whose bases are not on the Black Sea coast. (Reuters)
Protests against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Anti-war demonstrators gather in Minsk, Belarus, to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite Belarus's involvement in the invasion. Around 440 people are detained in the protests. (Times of Israel) (Interfax)
Russian President Vladimir Putin orders Russia's nuclear forces placed on high alert, in response to what he considered "aggressive statements" by NATO members. (AP)
Syrian civil war Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that a Turkish drone has targeted Tell Rifaat near the Aleppo Governorate. No casualties are reported. (Kurdistan 24)
Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that a Turkish drone has targeted Tell Rifaat near the Aleppo Governorate. No casualties are reported. (Kurdistan 24)
2021–2022 North Korean missile tests North Korea says that it has tested a ballistic missile that entered the sea. (AP)
2022 Belarusian constitutional referendum Belarus holds a constitutional referendum. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état The ruling military junta of Burkina Faso, the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, says that it is considering beginning a thirty-month transition to democracy. (Bloomberg)
2022 Eastern Australia floods Six people are killed and another is missing during heavy floods in Queensland. (7 News)
2022 EFL Cup Final Liverpool beat Chelsea 11–10 in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium to win the 2021–22 EFL Cup and claim a record ninth cup title. (The Guardian)
2022 FIFA World Cup The Associated Press reveals that Qatar, the host of the World Cup, paid more than $10 million for "Project Riverbed", a covert influence campaign run between 2012 and 2014 by a former CIA operative's company, which was aimed at neutralising Theo Zwanziger's criticism of FIFA's decision making process for Qatar's host bid, which Zwanziger accused of being corrupt. (AP)
368,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion started, according to an estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (Euronews)
Belarus holds a constitutional referendum. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Belarus–European Union relations The European Union imposes sanctions on Belarus, forbidding the import of some commodities, including timber, steel, oil-derived fuels and cement. (Ekonomichna Pravda) (Reuters)
British Petroleum liquidates its 19.75% stake in Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft. (The Daily Telegraph)
Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan freeze all assets of the Russian Central Bank and the Russian National Wealth Fund under their jurisdiction, preventing the usage of more than a third of Russia's $630 billion of foreign exchange reserves. (Rzeczpospolita) (The Japan Times)
Censorship in the European Union The European Union bans the Sputnik news agency and RT, both state-sponsored news outlets which are widely considered to be promoting Russian propaganda. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong reports a record 26,062 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the territory to 138,955. (The Standard) COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand The Thailand Public Health Ministry calls for hospitals in Thailand to treat COVID-19 like an endemic instead of a pandemic beginning on March 1. (The Nation)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong reports a record 26,062 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the territory to 138,955. (The Standard)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) COVID-19 pandemic in New York City New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces that the city will lift their vaccine mandate for indoor businesses and dining on March 7. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York City New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces that the city will lift their vaccine mandate for indoor businesses and dining on March 7. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications announces that they have extended the suspension of passenger flights from South Africa until March 31. (Andina)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand The Thailand Public Health Ministry calls for hospitals in Thailand to treat COVID-19 like an endemic instead of a pandemic beginning on March 1. (The Nation)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) COVID-19 pandemic in New York City New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces that the city will lift their vaccine mandate for indoor businesses and dining on March 7. (NBC News)
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen allows volunteers to join Ukrainian soldiers to fight against Russia. (Jyllands Posten)
Germany announces it will send weapons to Ukraine. (The Wall Street Journal)
Germany–Ukraine relations Germany announces it will send weapons to Ukraine. (The Wall Street Journal)
Hong Kong reports a record 26,062 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the territory to 138,955. (The Standard)
Israel–Russia relations, Israel–Ukraine relations Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offers to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. (Axios)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offers to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. (Axios)
Kherson offensive Russian troops enter the port city of Berdiansk and seize all administrative buildings, according to the city's mayor. (The Jerusalem Post) (Ukrinform)
Liverpool beat Chelsea 11–10 in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium to win the 2021–22 EFL Cup and claim a record ninth cup title. (The Guardian)
North Korea says that it has tested a ballistic missile that entered the sea. (AP)
Norway's sovereign fund will divest its Russian holdings. (Reuters)
Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis Censorship in the European Union The European Union bans the Sputnik news agency and RT, both state-sponsored news outlets which are widely considered to be promoting Russian propaganda. (Reuters)
Russia–European Union relations, Canada–Russia relations The European Union and Canada close their airspaces to Russian aircraft. (Reuters)
Russian Ground Forces begin targeting gas and oil pipelines outside Kharkiv and Kyiv in an attempt to incapacitate their defenses, with multiple explosions being reported at an oil depot near Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast. (BBC News)
Russian troops enter the port city of Berdiansk and seize all administrative buildings, according to the city's mayor. (The Jerusalem Post) (Ukrinform)
Six people are killed and another is missing during heavy floods in Queensland. (7 News)
The Associated Press reveals that Qatar, the host of the World Cup, paid more than $10 million for "Project Riverbed", a covert influence campaign run between 2012 and 2014 by a former CIA operative's company, which was aimed at neutralising Theo Zwanziger's criticism of FIFA's decision making process for Qatar's host bid, which Zwanziger accused of being corrupt. (AP)
