Four killed, nine wounded in Kharkiv strikes, Ukraine emergency services say

 By AFP

Today, 12:24 pm

Firefighters work to contain a fire at the Economy Department building of Karazin Kharkiv National University, allegedly hit during recent shelling by Russia, on March 2, 2022. (Sergey BOBOK / AFP)

KHARKIV, Ukraine — Four people have been killed and nine wounded during shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the emergency services says.

“Four dead, nine injured,” the services say, citing preliminary information.

57min ago

Boris Johnson calls Putin a war criminal, urges UN vote against invasion

By AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and urges UN unanimity in condemning his invasion of Ukraine.

His comments come in parliament, where MPs give a standing ovation to Ukraine’s ambassador in attendance.

Johnson wears a UK-Ukraine flag pin, and many lawmakers wear clothing in Ukraine’s blue and yellow colors.

“What we have seen already from Vladimir Putin’s regime, in the use of the munitions that they have already been dropping on innocent civilians, in my view already fully qualifies as a war crime,” Johnson says.

UK ministers have been warning that Putin, his cronies and commanders could face prosecution at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which has already opened a probe into the invasion.

Ahead of a vote by the UN General Assembly in New York, Johnson adds: “We call on every nation to join us in condemning Russia and demanding that Putin turns his tanks around.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister’s Questions, in London, Feb. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

1hr ago

EU ousts 7 Russian banks from SWIFT under sanctions

By AFP

The EU excludes seven Russian banks from the global SWIFT network, as sanctions are ratcheted up over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

The banks immediately cut out from the secure interbank messaging network that permits transactions are Russia’s second-biggest lender VTB Bank as well as Bank Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Rossiya Bank, Sovcombank and VEB (Vnesheconombank), according to an official EU publication.

Their listing is the latest package of coordinated Western punishment of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, now in its seventh day.

“At the speed of light, the European Union has adopted three waves of heavy sanctions against Russia’s financial system, its high-tech industries and its corrupt elite,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says in a statement.

“This is the largest sanctions package in our Union’s history. Today’s decision to disconnect key Russian banks from the SWIFT network will send yet another very clear signal to Putin and the Kremlin.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press statement on Ukraine, at EU headquarters in Brussels, Feb 24, 2022. (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP)

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/four-killed-nine-wounded-in-kharkiv-strikes-ukraine-emergency-services-say/