Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING Russian and Belarus athletes banned from Winter Paralympics: IPC

#BREAKING Germany to deliver 2,700 further anti-air missiles to Ukraine: govt source

#UPDATE Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from the Beijing Winter Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee announces, citing the war in Ukraine.

"To preserve the integrity of these Games... we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from RPC and NPC Belarus"

#BREAKING Russia's liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy closes after ban over Ukraine

#UPDATE Germany will increase its weapons deliveries to Ukraine following the Russian invasion by sending an 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles to the conflict zone, a government source tells @AFP.

Germany will deliver STRELA-type anti-aircraft missiles of Soviet manufacture

Britain announces new sanctions preventing Russian companies in the aviation and space industry from accessing British insurance and reinsurance services following the invasion of Ukraine, the treasury office says in a statement

#UPDATE Ekho Moskvy radio station - symbol of new-found media freedom in post-Soviet Russia - is to shut down after being taken off air over its coverage of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian media have been instructed to only publish information provided by official sources

One million refugees have fled Ukraine in the week since Russia's invasion, the United Nations says, warning that unless the conflict ends immediately, millions more are likely to flee

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📸 Crowds of Ukrainian refugees in Poland try to board buses

Advance of Russian troops.

#AFPgraphics maps of Ukraine comparing areas under Russian control as of February 24 to March 2 at 2000 GMT

#BREAKING Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov accuses Western politicians of considering 'nuclear war', which is 'not in the heads of Russians'

#UPDATE Oleg Rubak wept for love of his wife Katia, crushed in the rubble of his family home in #Zhytomyr, west of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, and for hatred of Vladimir Putin, whom he blames for the missile strike that killed her u.afp.com/wdP3

#BREAKING President Zelensky vows to rebuild Ukraine after war, says Russia 'will reimburse us for everything you did against our state'

#BREAKING Euro sinks to 82.76 pence, lowest level against pound since mid-2016 on Ukraine turmoil

#BREAKING France seizes superyacht belonging to company linked to Russian energy boss Igor Sechin: finance ministry

#BREAKING Satellite operator OneWeb says suspending all launches from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

#BREAKING UN aid chief tells AFP $1.5 billion already raised for Ukraine

#UPDATE The UN's emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths on Thursday pleaded for humanitarians to be allowed to work unhindered in #Ukraine, adding in an interview with AFP that with $1.5 billion raised for urgent aid "we have the resources"

#UPDATE Shovelling sand into bags and collecting bottles to make Molotov cocktails, volunteers in the Ukrainian city of #Dnipro are preparing for an onslaught from invading Russian troops u.afp.com/wdmC

#BREAKING No Russian Grand Prix in future as F1 terminates contract: official #AFPSports

#BREAKING French President Macron held new 90-minute call with Putin: Elysee

#UPDATE Russian and Belarusian athletes were on Thursday banned from the Beijing #WinterParalympics over the war in Ukraine, with organisers bowing to international pressure and threats of a boycott u.afp.com/wdsg #AFPSports

#BREAKING IAEA passes resolution calling on Russia to 'immediately cease actions' at Ukraine nuclear sites

#BREAKING Heightened nuclear threat levels over Ukraine underline 'gravity of the risks to all of humanity': UN rights chief Bachelet

#BREAKING Ukraine delegation heading to conflict talks with Russia on Belarus-Poland border: Kyiv

#BREAKING Ukraine says wants to agree 'humanitarian corridors' at Russia talks

#BREAKING Mariupol mayor says Russian forces attempting 'blockade' of Ukraine port city

#BREAKING UEFA orders Belarusian teams to play games at neutral venues #AFPSports

#UPDATE Formula One has removed Russia as a Grand Prix host for good due to the invasion of #Ukraine, by terminating its contract with the organisers, the championship promoters announced on Thursday u.afp.com/wdeS #AFPSports

#BREAKING Russia's Putin vowed to continue fighting against 'militants of nationalist armed groups' in Ukraine, said Kremlin could add to demands at negotiations if Kyiv stalls talks: readout of Macron call

#BREAKING German economy to face 'big impact' over Russia sanctions: economy minister

#BREAKING Ex-Soviet republic Georgia formally applies for EU membership: PM

#BREAKING French President Macron believes 'worse is to come' in Ukraine after Putin call: aide

#BREAKING Putin aiming to seize 'whole' of Ukraine: Macron aide after Putin call

#BREAKING France's Macron condemned Putin's 'lies' during call with Russian president: aide

#UPDATE Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed no let-up in his invasion of #Ukraine on Thursday, even as the warring sides met for ceasefire talks and Kyiv appealed for relief supplies to reach shattered cities - latest
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