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A Ukrainian soldier and his partner say their goodbyes before he heads to the front.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images



This story is part of War in Ukraine, CNET's coverage of events there and of the wider effects on the world.


What's happening

Ukraine's military and citizens continue to resist the Russian invasion. As Russia's attacks escalate, casualties grow and the refugee situation becomes a major crisis.


Why it matters

The US and Europe have imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia, but that may be just the start in a new era of hostility between the West and Moscow.






Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a "war against the whole of Europe." International leaders have joined US President Joe Biden in condemning the "brutal attack." The US, EU and UK have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, including ones aimed directly at Russian President Vladimir Putin. 
Tensions had been growing for months and were marked by a buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's borders. Ukraine, which had been part of the Soviet Union for much of the 20th century, declared its independence in 1991. Since then, the country has been establishing closer ties with Western Europe and the US.

Read more: How to Help Ukrainian Refugees

Here's recent news on the war. 

Wednesday, April 13

Biden announces another $800M in assistance for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden said in a statement that he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and told him the White House has OK'd an , ammunition and other security assistance. That will include artillery systems, artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers and helicopters.

"As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself," Biden said.

Thursday, April 7

Microsoft disrupts Russian cyberattacks targeting Ukraine


Microsoft said it's helping [url=]disrupt cyberattacks by Strontium, a Russian state actor, targeting Ukraine. On April 6, the tech giant said, it obtained a court order to take control of seven internet domains Strontium had been using to conduct the attacks. Microsoft said it's now redirected those domains to a "sinkhole" it controls.

The cyberattacks were targeting Ukrainian media organizations, government institutions and foreign policy think tanks in the US and the EU, Microsoft said. The Kremlin has denied involvement in cyberattacks.

UN votes to suspend Russia from Human Rights Council


The UN General Assembly from the Human Rights Council, with 93 nations voting in favor and 24 against, while 58 abstained. The move follows "reports of violations committed by Russian forces," the UN said.

"Bucha and dozens of other Ukrainian cities and villages, where thousands of peaceful residents have been killed, tortured, raped, abducted and robbed by the Russian Army, serve as an example of how dramatically far the Russian Federation has gone from its initial declarations in the human rights domain," Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said. "That is why this case is unique and today's response is obvious and self-explanatory." The Kremlin has denied allegations of war crimes.

Wednesday, April 6

US imposes more sanctions on Russia

The United States imposed additional sanctions against Russia for what [url=]the White House called the Putin regime's "atrocities" in Ukraine. The moves include full blocking sanctions on Russia's largest financial institutions and critical state-owned enterprises. The G7 countries and the European Union also put further sanctions in place. The new sanctions also continue to target additional Russian elites and their families, including the adult children of Vladimir Putin, Russia's president. 

Tuesday, April 5

Zelenskyy addresses UN Security Council

Ukrainian President to a meeting of the UN Security Council, accusing Russia of committing a broad range of war crimes. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, offered graphic descriptions of the alleged crimes, including Russian forces killing unarmed civilians and children, raping women and using tanks to crush people in cars. "They killed entire families, adults and children, and they tried to burn their bodies," Zelenskyy said. He called for Russian leaders and soldiers to be tried before a special tribunal and urged the United Nations to take action. The Kremlin has denied the allegations.

Monday, April 4

Fortnite raises $144M for Ukraine

Epic Games confirmed its [url=]Fortnite fundraising effort achieved $144 million in humanitarian relief for helping those affected by the war in Ukraine. "Together with the Fortnite community and Xbox, we raised $144 million," Fortnite tweeted. For the last two weeks, Xbox and Epic forwarded all proceeds made from Fortnite towards Ukrainian relief.

EU to investigate alleged war crimes in Ukraine

The European Union on Monday said it would after grim images of [url=]alleged mass graves and dead civilians in Bucha, a town outside of Kyiv, emerged over the weekend as Russian troops withdrew from the area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , telling reporters that Ukraine wants "show the world what happened here." He added that it's important for people to see what the Russian military did to civilians. 

Sunday, April 3

Zelenskyy delivers emotional message during Grammy Awards

Zelenskyy [url=/news/watch-ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyys-grammy-awards-speech/]delivered an emotional prerecorded message about Russia's war on his country at . In the speech, he compared the war duties of Ukrainian musicians to the very different situation of the musicians attending the Grammys.

"Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos," Zelenskyy said. "They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can't hear them. But the music will break through anyway."

Thursday, March 31


US announces sanctions against Russian tech sector


The US Department of the Treasury announced [url=]sanctions against the Russian tech sector, which it called "instrumental to the Russian Federation's war machine." The 21 companies targeted by the new sanctions include Russia's biggest chipmaker, Mikron.

The US has also designated the Russian government as "malicious cyber actors."

"The United States will continue to hold Putin's cyber actors accountable for destructive, disruptive or otherwise destabilizing cyber activity targeting the United States and its allies and partners," the Treasury announcement said. Sanctions were also expanded into the electronics, aerospace and marine sectors.

Wednesday, March 30

Google to support Ukrainian startups with $5M fund


Google announced a $5 million , which will give as much as $100,000 apiece to Ukraine-based startups throughout 2022. Google will also provide mentorship, Cloud credits and product support to those startups.

"This hands-on support is designed to help Ukrainian entrepreneurs maintain and grow their businesses, strengthen their community and build a foundation for post-war economic recovery," Google said in a blog post.

Chernihiv under 'colossal attack' after Russia said it would reduce intensity, official says


The northern Ukrainian city of [url=]Chernihiv is under "colossal attack" a day after Russia said it would reduce the intensity of its attacks against that city and Kyiv, Chernihiv Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko said in an interview with CNN. Shelling by the Russians against Chernihiv increased overnight, the mayor said, with 25 civilians hospitalized so far. The Kremlin has said it isn't targeting civilians in Ukraine.

Monday, March 28

Ukraine's national internet provider confirms cyberattack


Ukrtelecom has on its infrastructure, replying to customer comments on its Facebook page by describing a "powerful cyberattack of the enemy." According to NetBlocks, it's the [url=]most severe disruption of Ukraine's national internet service provider since the invasion by Russia.

Negotiators reportedly experience poisoning symptoms


Russian oligarch and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and two senior Ukrainian officials on March 3 during peace negotiations, according to The Wall Street Journal on March 28. The symptoms reportedly included red eyes and peeling hands and faces, the Journal said, citing unnamed sources. Reuters reported that a US official said [url=]intelligence suggested an environmental reason and not poisoning.

Saturday, March 26

Biden says Putin 'cannot remain in power'

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," US President Joe Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin . Biden spoke of the long-standing struggle between dictators and democracy, saying that "brutality will never grind down [a people's] will to be free." He also warned against further Russian aggression. "Don't even think about moving on one single inch of NATO territory," Biden said. Ukraine isn't a member of [url=]the NATO alliance, but neighboring Poland is. Biden also emphasized that everyday Russians aren't the problem. "You, the Russian people, are not our enemy," he said. Earlier Saturday, after meeting with Ukrainian refugees,

Friday, March 25

Kaspersky deemed US national security threat by FCC

The US Federal Communications Commission on Friday added "Russia-aligned [url=]Kaspersky" to its list of national security threats. The Covered List -- which was also updated to include China Telecom and China Mobile, and already includes Huawei -- prevents companies from receiving support through the FCC's Universal Service Fund. Kaspersky is a Russian cybersecurity company.

Adding the three companies to the list "will help secure our networks from threats posed by Chinese and Russian state-backed entities seeking to engage in espionage," Commissioner Brendan Carr said in a statement. 

In a statement, Kaspersky said it's disappointed with the decision, which it says is "unsubstantiated and is a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky's products and services." China Telecom and China Mobile didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Thursday, March 24

US to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees

The US will welcome as many as 100,000 Ukrainians and other people displaced by the war in Ukraine, . The government will use the refugee admission program and other legal pathways to bring Ukrainians to the US, particularly those with family already in the country. The US also announced an additional $1 billion in new funding for humanitarian assistance for people affected by the war.

Biden announces more sanctions on Russian individuals

While Biden is working with allies in Europe, the US announced it would [url=]sanction over 400 Russian individuals and entities, including members of Russia's lower legislative body, the Duma, and state-owned defense companies. Biden also said the US will with "significant, and increasing, amounts of security assistance to fight Russian aggression and uphold their right to self-defense."

Wednesday, March 23

US accuses Russian military of war crimes in Ukraine

The US government believes that Russia's military forces [url=]have committed war crimes in Ukraine, said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Wednesday. "Russia's forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded," Blinken said, adding that "the deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime." Blinken said the US will continue to track reports of war crimes and will pursue accountability using "every tool available, including criminal prosecutions." The Kremlin has said Russian forces have targeted only Ukrainian military facilities and has blamed Ukraine extremists for putting civilians in jeopardy.

Biden expected to announce more sanctions against Russia

President Biden is expected to announce more sanctions against Russia when he meets with European leaders on Thursday, according to . In addition to new sanctions, the president will also reportedly discuss plans to crack down on people trying to evade the current sanctions. Some of the sanctions will target the hundreds of Russians serving in the Duma, the country's lower legislative body, [url=]according to CNN.

Monday, March 21

White House warns of cyberattacks again

Biden has warned private companies to because intelligence shows the "Russian government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks."

"My Administration will continue to use every tool to deter, disrupt, and if necessary, respond to cyberattacks against critical infrastructure," Biden said Monday. "But ... most of America's critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector and critical infrastructure owners and operators must accelerate efforts to lock their digital doors."

Biden will travel to NATO summit and Poland

The White House said Biden will travel to Europe this week to attend a NATO summit focused on deterrence and defense efforts in response to Russia's attack on Ukraine. He will also meet with G7 leaders to discuss consequences to be imposed on Russia for the war. The president will then travel to Poland to discuss how the US, alongside allies, can respond to the humanitarian crisis created by the war. 

Ukraine rejects Russian call to surrender Mariupol

Ukrainian officials [url=]reportedly rejected a Russian ultimatum to surrender Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine. The city came under intense bombardment overnight on March 20, with a Ukrainian officer that bombs were falling "every 10 minutes." The city has reportedly been cut off from sources of water, food, medicine and electricity for weeks. On March 21, [url=]Human Rights Watch called on the UN and Intentional Criminal Court to "investigate potential war crimes in Mariupol."

Sunday, March 20

Epic Games to donate Fortnite proceeds to Ukraine relief

Epic Games said it will from March 20 to April 3 to humanitarian relief for people impacted by the war in Ukraine. The game maker said Xbox is also joining the effort and will commit its net proceeds from the popular battle royale game during those two weeks. All "real-money Fortnite purchases," including V-Bucks, Battle Passes and cosmetic packs, will go to funds for a handful of organizations, including UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme, Direct Relief and the UN Refugee Agency. 

Friday, March 18

Biden holds call with Chinese President Xi


President Biden held [url=]a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday morning to in helping Russia. Biden "described the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians," the White House said.

Russia has launched over 1,000 missiles, US says


More than [url=]1,080 missiles have been launched by Russian forces during the Ukraine invasion, a US defense official told CNN.

European Space Agency suspends cooperation with Russia


ESA has had plans to land a Mars rover in 2023, but it's now suspended cooperation with Russia's Roscosmos space agency. ESA on March 18 "acknowledged the present impossibility of carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos on the ExoMars rover mission with a launch in 2022, and mandated the ESA director general to take appropriate steps to suspend the cooperation activities accordingly."

Thursday, March 17

Russia attacks Mariupol theater sheltering 1,000 civilians, Ukraine says


Despite signs indicating in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Russian forces bombed the site on March 17, Ukrainian officials said, according to the BBC. More than 1,000 people were gathered in the basement of the building, the news outlet said. Local MP Dmytro Gurin told the BBC that "it looks like most of them have survived" though emergency crews are struggling to get to the survivors.

Brittney Griner remains in Russian detention


American WNBA player [url=]Brittney Griner will remain in Russian custody until at least May 19 after a hearing on March 17 extended her detention, according to CNN. The basketball player was arrested Feb. 17 after allegedly being found with hashish oil in a vape cartridge. A trial date still hasn't been set.

Wednesday, March 16

Biden commits defense systems to Ukraine


In a , US President Joe Biden committed 800 anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 anti-armor shoulder-mounted systems, 7,000 small arms such as machine guns and grenade launchers, 20 million rounds and drones to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion.

In a comment to the press after the announcement, Biden said in relation to Putin: "I think he is a war criminal."

Ukraine legalizes crypto

Ukraine has [url=]legalized cryptocurrency, the Ministry and Committee of Digital Transformation said March 16. This comes as to aid in humanitarian efforts and Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. Ukraine has reportedly received around $100 million in crypto donations over the last three weeks.

Zelenskyy asks for more support from the US

During a virtual address to members of Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy [url=]asked the US for additional support in its fight against Russia, including a no-fly zone over Ukraine. "Ukraine is grateful to the United States for its overwhelming support," Zelensky said. "I call on you to do more." Zelenskyy also appealed directly to US President Joe Biden, calling on him to be a "leader of the world" and a "leader of peace."

Tuesday, March 15

Number of refugees surpasses 3 million

More than since the start of the war, though that number is expected to continue to grow, according to the United Nations. Nearly 2 million people have additionally been displaced within Ukraine. "Today we have passed another terrible milestone: three million refugees have fled from Ukraine," said Filippo Grandi, the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, in a [url=]tweet. "The war has to stop. Now."

Biden signs bill to provide $13.6B to Ukraine

Biden signed the Bipartisan Government Funding Bill into law on March 15, which will provide and neighboring countries. The funding is to be used for [url=]humanitarian, security and economic assistance.

Russia sanctions Biden

The Russian Foreign Ministry has and other US officials. The sanctions announced by Russia mean [url=]Biden cannot enter the country, and any assets he holds there are frozen -- though White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted that "President Biden is a junior, so they may have sanctioned his dad, may he rest in peace."

Other people included on the sanctions list are Psaki, the president's son Hunter Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley.

"None of us are planning tourist trips to Russia, none of us have bank accounts that we won't be able to access, so we'll forge ahead," Psaki said in a press briefing.

Russia has also sanctioned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top Canadian officials.

NATO leaders meeting set for March 23

World leaders will come together at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 23 to discuss the crisis in what the alliance calls an extraordinary meeting. , the US Mission to NATO tweeted on March 15.

Monday, March 14

Zelenskyy to address Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the US Congress virtually on March 16, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The virtual address is only open to lawmakers and will take place in an auditorium inside the Capitol Visitor Center. 

Talks continue amid intense fighting in Kyiv, Mariupol

A fourth round of diplomatic talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials kicked off on March 14, though reportedly they are [url=]being held virtually this time. Earlier talks, which were held in Belarus, failed to produce a resolution. The fresh round of negotiations come as air strikes and shelling reportedly intensify in several Ukraine cities, including and [url=]Mariupol. 

Sunday, March 13

Zelenskyy calls out tech companies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 13 thanked tech platforms, including Facebook parent Meta, for standing with Ukraine. "War is not only a military opposition on UA land. It is also a fierce battle in the informational space," said . He also [url=]sharply called out companies that continue to sell products and services in Russia, saying that they can either support Ukraine or the "bloody Russian aggressor" and that there's no in between. 

Friday, March 11

Instagram protests block in Russia


starting Monday, March 14, Instagram head Adam Mosseri has confirmed.

"This decision will cut 80 million in Russia off from one another, and from the rest of the world as ~80% of people in Russia follow an Instagram account outside their country. This is wrong," Mosseri tweeted.

YouTube bans invasion denial videos


The global video streaming service is [url=/news/youtube-bans-videos-denying-or-trivializing-russias-ukraine-invasion/]removing videos that deny or trivialize the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It's also broadening its ban on Russian state-sponsored media, and preventing YouTube users in Russia from monetizing their videos in any way. YouTube said March 11 it's removed over 1,000 channels and 15,000 videos so far.

Number of refugees surpasses 2.5 million

More than 2.5 million Ukrainians, mostly women, children and the elderly, have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees, said March 11 in a . Another 2 million Ukrainians have been displaced within the country, he said.

Thursday, March 10

Congress approves nearly $14 billion in aid for Ukraine

The Senate on Thursday voted to approve nearly [url=]$14 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as part of a massive spending bill to fund the federal government. The package for Ukraine includes money meant to help protect against cyberattacks and to bolster regional allies against Russian aggression, according to . It also reportedly includes new support for federal programs that can assist in refugee resettlement and other humanitarian needs. 

Russia bombs institute housing nuclear reactor

Russian planes shelled the Institute of Physics and Technology in Kharkiv, Ukraine, which [url=]houses an experimental nuclear reactor, the Ukrainian Parliament tweeted March 10. The attack caused a nearby hotel to catch fire, the tweet added with an accompanying video.

Facebook allows violent speech against Russian invasion


Meta is suspending its Facebook rules to allow some violent speech against the Russian invaders of Ukraine, saying it views these comments as a form of political speech.

"We have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders,'" Meta spokesman Andy Stone said March 10 in a tweet.

Facebook will not allow posts calling for violence against Russian civilians.

Google will provide air raid alerts


Google has started rolling out a rapid Air Raid Alerts system for Android users in Ukraine, the company announced March 10.

"Tragically, millions of people in Ukraine now rely on air strike alerts to try to get to safety," Google said in a statement.

Disney pulls out of Russia


While Disney last week paused theatrical releases of its new movies, the company has now and product licensing, channels, local productions, National Geographic magazine and tours, and Disney Cruise Line activities.

You can see a [url=/news/what-companies-have-left-russia-see-the-list-across-tech-entertainment-and-financial-institutions/]list of tech and entertainment companies that are leaving Russia here.

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Poland

During a with the president of Poland, Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed that the US is committed to supporting NATO allies and helping with humanitarian assistance as refugees flee Ukraine.

Harris also met with Ukrainian refugees during her trip to Warsaw. The vice president announced nearly $53 million in additional aid, through the US Agency for International Development, to support civilians affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

No breakthrough after talks between top diplomats from Russia and Ukraine

High-level talks held in Turkey between diplomats for Ukraine and Russia failed to yield an agreement, according to [url=]The Washington Post. Ukraine's foreign minister reportedly said the country wouldn't surrender, while Russia's foreign minister said Russia wouldn't back down because of Western sanctions and boycotts. 

Wednesday, March 9

Sony stops PS5 sales

Following  for the company to cease sales of its PS5 gaming system in Russia, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it has [url=]suspended all hardware and software shipments, as well as the launch of Gran Turismo 7 and PlayStation Store operations in Russia.

The company's movie studio has stopped upcoming theatrical releases in Russia. 

Chernobyl disconnected from power grid

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been disconnected from the electricity grid and cut off from its external power supply, the country's energy operator and state-run nuclear company on Wednesday. That comes after Russian forces seized control of the plant earlier in the invasion. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency says it was notified but sees "[url=]no critical impact" on safety. Chernobyl, the site of a 1986 nuclear disaster, isn't active but operates various radioactive waste management facilities, according to the IAEA.

Tuesday, March 8

Lumen disconnects Russia from its network


The American telecommunications company said it will " in the region." 

"Life has taken a turn in Russia and Lumen is unable to continue to operate in this market," Lumen said on its website, adding that its physical presence and business services in Russia are "extremely small and very limited."

American fast food giants pause Russian operations


McDonald's announced March 8 that it is [url=]temporarily closing all restaurants in Russia and pausing all operations there, but will continue paying Russian employees' salaries. 

"Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine," McDonald's said in a statement, adding that its Ronald McDonald House Charities mobile clinics will be at the Poland-Ukraine and Latvia-Ukraine borders to provide humanitarian aid and medical care for children and families. RMHC Ukraine is also providing medical supplies throughout Ukraine.

Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut,  in Russia. All profits from continued operations in Russia will be directed to humanitarian efforts.

Instagram ups privacy on Ukraine user accounts


Meta said it will begin [url=]hiding information about private Instagram users in Russia and Ukraine, including their following and follower lists. Users in those countries are also being told how to find and bulk-delete any content they've posted, or previous likes and comments.

Biden bans Russian oil imports

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday banned imports of oil and natural gas from Russia.

"Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putin's war," Biden said from the White House. "This is a step we're taking to inflict further pain on Putin, but there will be a cast as well here in the United States."

Over 2 million refugees flee Ukraine

have escaped Ukraine, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a tweet Tuesday. Around [url=]1 million of them are children, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told CNN.





Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people.

Two million.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi)





















Monday, March 7

Biden meets with EU, UK leaders on video call


[url=]Biden held a video call Monday morning with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, discussing "their determination to continue raising the costs on Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine."

They also affirmed they'll , economic and security assistance to Ukraine, as well as outlining communication they've each had with Zelenskyy and Putin.

Sunday, March 6

US considers banning Russian oil


Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday [url=]on NBC's Meet the Press that the US is in "very active discussions with our European partners about banning the import of Russian oil" as part of sanctions against Russia.

"We want to make sure that we're acting in coordination," Blinken said.

Netflix suspends services in Russia


Netflix announced that it's suspending its streaming service across Russia on Sunday. It followed Netflix last week refusing to comply with a local law mandating it must air Russian state-sponsored media channels.

Saturday, March 5

PayPal, major credit payment card companies halt services in Russia


PayPal said it's suspending its services in Russia and cited the country's "violent military aggression in Ukraine." The company had discontinued domestic services in Russia in mid-2020 but still allowed cross-border transactions. Later Saturday, the Associated Press reported that Mastercard and Visa also would be suspending operations in Russia. Mastercard cards issued by Russian banks won't be supported, and cards issued outside the country won't work at Russian ATMs or stores, the AP , adding that Visa transactions will stop in the coming days. A number of [url=/news/apple-microsoft-and-other-tech-companies-stop-sales-in-russia/]tech companies have also stopped selling products and services in Russia as a response to the invasion.

Refugee crisis grows


At least 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the 10 days since Russia's invasion began, the leader of the United Nations refugee agency told The New York Times on Saturday. "This is the fastest-moving refugee crisis -- let's call it a refugee crisis, please, it's a refugee crisis -- since World War II," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi the Times. Kelly T. Clements, the UN's deputy high commissioner for refugees, emphasized in [url=]a tweet that "a person with a story is behind every number."

Putin ramps up his threats, deal to evacuate civilians falls apart


Russian President Vladimir Putin likened international sanctions against his country to "." He also said "the future of Ukrainian statehood" was at risk. 

Meanwhile, an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on [url=]evacuating civilians from the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha broke down, with Ukrainian officials saying Russian forces had continued shelling, and the Russians blaming the deal's collapse on Ukraine.

Friday, March 4

Cogent disconnects Russia from its network


Cogent Communications said Friday it's disconnected its high-capacity internet service in Russia, according to a report. Cogent operates over 100,000 miles of fiber optic links across the globe.

"In light of the unwarranted and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Cogent is terminating all of your services effective at 5 PM GMT on March 4, 2022," the US company said in an email to customers, .

Crypto exchanges resist banning Russia


Coinbase and Binance, two of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, have so far [url=/personal-finance/crypto/big-crypto-exchanges-resist-banning-russian-users/]refused to ban Russian users, citing fair treatment and potentially a necessity given Russia's economic turmoil. They said they are complying with current sanctions and will institute a full ban if required.

Amazon amps up AWS security in Ukraine


Amazon Web Services is working with Ukrainian customers and partners to keep their apps secure, including any on-premises infrastructure into AWS to prevent physical or cyberattacks from disrupting services, and providing malware intelligence and security tools.

"For several weeks, we have been partnering closely with Ukrainian IT organizations to fend off attacks and working with organizations in Ukraine, and around the world, to share real-time, relevant intelligence," AWS said late Friday. "As this activity has ramped up, our teams and technologies detected the threats, learned the patterns and placed remediation tools directly into the hands of customers."

Bloomberg, CNN, BBC, CBS stop journalists reporting in Russia


With Putin on Friday enacting a new law that punishes people who spread "false information" about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, news organizations including the [url=/news/bloomberg-cnn-and-bbc-suspend-reporting-in-russia/]BBC, CNN, CBS and Bloomberg have stopped their journalists from reporting within Russia. The law carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

"The change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country," said Bloomberg's editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait.

TikTok to label Russian state-controlled content


TikTok said Friday that it'll start warning viewers when videos are posted by Russian state-controlled media accounts. The labels will be added in the coming days to the bottom of videos, similar to other TikTok banners.

Russia blocks Facebook

The Russian government said it will block access to Facebook in the country in response to the social network restricting accounts of some state-controlled media. The move escalates a decision by Russia's communications regulator on Feb. 25 to partially restrict access to Facebook. 

In a , Facebook executive Nick Clegg said the social network would work to restore access. 

"Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out," Clegg said. "We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organize for action."

Microsoft stops sales in Russia

Microsoft [url=/news/microsoft-stops-sales-of-products-services-in-russia/]suspended sales of its products and services in Russia, the company said in a blog post Friday.

"We continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, including most recently a cyberattack against a major Ukrainian broadcaster," company President Brad Smith wrote.

Google pauses all advertising in Russia

Google suspended advertising on search, YouTube and display marketing in Russia. It followed Russian internet watchdog Roskomnadzor accusing the Google-owned YouTube of  about the invasion.

Ukraine's biggest nuclear plant seized by Russian forces


Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, [url=/news/ukraines-biggest-nuclear-plant-zaporizhzhia-seized-by-russian-forces/]was seized by Russian forces, according to Ukraine's state nuclear regulator. 

A fire broke out in a nearby training building amid the attack, but didn't affect the reactor buildings. There are , according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The US Embassy in Ukraine called the attack on the nuclear power plant a "war crime."

Thursday, March 3

Airbnb suspends operations in Russia and Belarus

Airbnb is [url=]halting all operations in Russia and Belarus, the home-sharing company's CEO and co-founder, Brian Chesky, said in a tweet Thursday.

It'll from accepting new bookings in those countries until further notice, in addition to restricting those users from making new reservations as guests, the company told CNBC.





Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus
— Brian Chesky ���� (@bchesky) [url=]March 4, 2022





















Elon Musk warns probability of SpaceX being targeted is high


SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has warned that the Starlink satellite internet service, which remains live in Ukraine, could be targeted by Russia. 

"Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution," Thursday.

Intel halts shipments to Russia

[url=]Intel has suspended all shipments to its customers in Russia and Belarus, it announced Thursday. 

"We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and the global community in calling for an immediate end to this war and a swift return to peace," Intel said in a statement. The Intel Foundation has raised more than $1.2 million for relief through an employee donation and matching campaign.

Russia blocks access to app stores, social media, Western news sites

Russia has blocked access to several big app stores and Western news organizations such as BBC and Deutsche Welle, as well as social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, according to Der Spiegel reporter Mathieu von Rohr, who  the news Thursday.

US announces more sanctions on Russian oligarchs

The US said it's [url=]sanctioning an expanded list of Russian elites and their family members that have supported Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sanctions will freeze the assets of the individuals and target their "yachts, luxury apartments, money, and other ill-gotten gains," said the White House. 

The Department of State is also imposing visa restrictions on 19 Russian oligarchs as well as 47 family members and close associates. 

Russia, Ukraine agree to 'humanitarian corridors' to allow civilians to evacuate

After a second round of talks on Thursday, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations agreed to limited cease-fires in some local areas of Ukraine to create "humanitarian corridors" that would enable civilians trapped by the war to escape, The Washington Post. The cease-fires will reportedly only be in place along evacuation corridors and for limited times. 

"The main issue that was resolved today is the issue of saving people, civilians, who found themselves in the zone of military clashes," Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said, according to the Post. 

The delegations have reportedly agreed to convene a third meeting. 

Wednesday, March 2

BMW, Ford, GM pull back from Russia

Automakers including [url=/roadshow/news/bmw-ford-and-others-pull-back-from-russia/]BMW, Ford and GM have announced plans to scale back their operations in Russia. BMW said Wednesday it will stop local production in Kaliningrad and halt exports to Russia. Ford is suspending its operations in Russia "effective immediately, until further notice."

They follow GM on Monday saying it , while Honda has also reportedly [url=]suspended Russian exports. Mazda also plans to.

Tesla superchargers made free for those fleeing Ukraine

Electric vehicle owners leaving Ukraine can use Tesla superchargers for free in Trzebownisko, Poland; Košice, Slovakia; Miskolc, Hungary; and Debrecen, Hungary, a report Wednesday said. There are around 30,000 EVs in Ukraine, according to .

Ukraine and Russia to enter second round of talks 

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are planning to meet for their [url=]second round of talks on Wednesday, according to The New York Times, citing Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovych.

EU bans Russian state-run news agencies in Europe

The European Union on Wednesday prohibited state-controlled news outlets Russia Today and Sputnik from broadcasting and publishing within Europe.

"We are witnessing massive propaganda and disinformation over this outrageous attack on a free and independent country," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement." We will not let Kremlin apologists pour their toxic lies justifying Putin's war or sow the seeds of division in our Union."

Read more: Russia's Ukraine War Raises Specter of an Online Splinternet

Tuesday, March 1

Biden announces ban on Russian aircraft in US airspace


US President Joe Biden announced during his first State of the Union address that Russian aircraft would be prohibited from entering US airspace in an effort to increase the pressure on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. The US joins Canada and the European Union in banning aircraft owned or registered by Russians from flying across its borders.

"Tonight, I'm announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding additional squeeze on their economy," the president said.

The ban will reportedly be enforced .

Google adds refugee resources

Google on Tuesday [url=/news/politics/google-maps-adds-refugee-resources-for-ukrainian-asylum-seekers/]added an SOS alert on Search across Ukraine to point people searching for evacuation information to UN resources for refugees and asylum seekers. The search giant said it's also upping its account security protections and removing misinformation, while Google Pay "may become unavailable in certain countries."

Snapchat halts ads across Russia and Ukraine

Snapchat stopped all advertising running in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus on Tuesday, as well as halting advertising sales to Russian and Belarusian entities.

"We do not accept revenue from Russian state-owned entities," Snap said, but the Snapchat app remains live in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus because Snap said it's "an important communications tool for family and friends."

Biden and Zelenskyy discuss sanctions, defense


again Tuesday. "Just had a conversation with [url=]@POTUS. The American leadership on anti-Russian sanctions and defense assistance to Ukraine was discussed," Zelenskyy tweeted. "We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!"

Apple stops selling products in Russia

Apple halted online transactions in Russia and exports to its Russian partners, in addition to limiting Apple Pay transactions in the country, it said Tuesday. The company also disabled some features of Apple Maps in Ukraine to protect civilians.

"We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence," it said in an e-mailed statement. "We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region."

DirecTV removes RT America programming


Satellite TV provider DirecTV will no longer carry RT America, one of Russia's state-controlled international television networks, in the US, DirecTV said Tuesday. 

"We are accelerating this year's contract expiration timeline and will no longer offer their programming effective immediately," DirecTV said in a statement. "We felt it necessary to move the timeline up from mid-year following the devastating recent events in Ukraine."

Facebook is demoting Russian state media content


Meta said Tuesday that it's demoting content shared on Facebook and Instagram by Russian state-controlled media outlets. Meta is also making the content harder to find and labeling it on both platforms. "This link is from a publisher Facebook believes may be partially or wholly under the editorial control of the Russian government," the  says.

Ukrainian president calls for his country to be admitted into EU 

Zelenskyy implored lawmakers to grant European Union membership to Ukraine, in an [url=]emotional video conference address to the European Parliament.

"The EU will be much stronger with us. We have shown our strength and that we are equals," he said, as . "On your side, you can prove to us that you are by our side, that you will not give up on us."




























[url=/news/politics/facebook-youtube-to-restrict-some-russian-state-controlled-media-across-europe/]will limit access to RT and Sputnik across the European Union. 

"We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media. Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time," said Nick Clegg, who oversees global affairs at Meta, in a tweet. 

Clegg didn't specify when these new restrictions would start. Facebook previously restricted access to several accounts, including from Russian state-controlled media, in Ukraine after a request from the government there.

Twitter to label tweets that link to Russian state media

Twitter on Monday to tweets that shared links to Russian state-backed media sites and is also taking steps to reduce their spread on the social network. The label reads "This Tweet links to a Russia state-affiliated media website" and links to a [url=]Twitter help center page on government and state-affiliated media accounts. 

"Since the invasion, we've seen more than 45,000 Tweets a day sharing links to Russian state-affiliated media outlets," said Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of site integrity, explaining the company's decision. "While we've labeled the accounts of hundreds of global state media outlets for years, Tweets sharing their content lacked visible context."

Twitter said it would roll out the labels to other state-affiliated media outlets in the coming weeks. 

Ukrainian and Russian delegations end initial talks


Ukraine and Russia sent delegations to neighboring Belarus to enter the first talks since the Russian invasion began, the [url=]Washington Post and reported. The talks reportedly lasted almost five hours and more are expected in the coming days. 

The delegations "identified a number of priority topics on which specific solutions were outlined," said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, according to the Washington Post. No specific resolution was reached and both sides will reportedly return to their countries for consultations. 

Sunday, Feb. 27

Google Maps live traffic data temporarily disabled in Ukraine


Google Maps tools offering live information about traffic conditions and activity in stores and restaurants were [url=]temporarily disabled in Ukraine, the search giant confirmed to CNET via email.

The decision to disable these features was apparently made to protect local users' safety after consultation with Ukrainian regional authorities, as previously reported by Reuters.

Meta restricts some Russian accounts in Ukraine

The giant social network said it had to some accounts in Ukraine, including some belonging to Russian state media organizations. Meta took the move at the request of the Ukrainian government. It's also considering similar requests from other countries.

The company had previously established a center staffed with native Russian and Ukrainian speakers to monitor the platform. It also expanded its fact-checking capability and prevented Russian state media accounts from running ads, [url=https://www.purevolume.com/?s=effectively%20demonetizing]effectively demonetizing them. 

Elon Musk activates Starlink in Ukraine amid internet disruption


SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Saturday that the company's Starlink satellite internet service is active in Ukraine and that more terminals are being sent to the country as invading Russian troops disrupt internet access. Musk's actions were in response to a plea from a senior Ukrainian government official for him to provide more Starlink stations to the country. The satellite-based service provides an alternative to land-based systems that can often be difficult to deploy in remote areas or vulnerable to interruption by military action or natural disaster.

Saturday, Feb. 26

US, allies to expel some Russian banks from SWIFT payments system


Significantly ramping up sanctions, the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the European Commission said Saturday that they've committed to "ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed" from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication messaging system. Millions of financial messages and money transfer orders are sent over SWIFT by banks worldwide, including the US Federal Reserve System, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. The allies said the move will ensure that the affected Russian banks "are disconnected from the international financial system," harming "their ability to operate globally."

Social media sites tamp down on ads

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