Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: List of key events from day six

Russia is pressing on with its invasion of Ukraine, defying mounting global pressure that saw a war crimes probe opened against it and sanctions smash its economy.

More than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed during the invasion, according to Ukraine’s government, while more than half a million people have fled the country.

Below are the key moments from Tuesday, March 1, the sixth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

Kharkiv bombarded

• Russian forces launch a massive strike on local government headquarters in the centre of Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, killing at least 10 people. Eight more are killed in an airstrike on a residential building, officials say.

Kyiv braces

• Residents in Kyiv dig in as satellite images show a Russian military column dozens of miles long bearing down on the city.

Russian attack hits Kyiv television tower

• Russian forces have attacked a television tower in Kyiv, potentially disrupting its signal, Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said. Earlier, Russia’s defence ministry said it was planning to strike communications and intelligence sites in the capital.

Zelensky appeal to EU

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks the EU to “prove” it is with Ukraine by accepting it as a member, in a video address to the European Parliament.

136 civilian dead

• At least 136 civilians, including 13 children, have been killed since Russia launched its invasion, a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said.

Turkey blocks warships

• Turkey warned countries not to pass warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, limiting the movement of Russian and other naval assets by invoking a 1936 treaty.

 ‘Total economic war’

• French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire vows “total economic war” with Russia and says the West’s aim is to bring about “the collapse” of the Russian economy.

Race for cash

• Russians race to withdraw cash after Putin orders emergency capital controls and forces exporters to buy rubles to prop up the currency, which has hit record lows against the dollar.

660,000 refugees

• More than 660,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries since Russia invaded, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

Ukraine says Starlink equipment has arrived

• Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation said equipment to use SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has arrived in his country.

No Hollywood films

• Disney and Sony Pictures stopped the release of their films in Russian cinemas because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mastercard blocks several financial institutions

• Mastercard blocked multiple financial institutions from its payment network as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

You can read key moments from Day 5 here