Russian invasion of Ukraine: tanks and rocket attacks on the cities. Breaking news

On 8 and 9 March, air defence forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed at least eight aerial targets in the area of the Joint Forces operation and in the Kyiv Region, the press service of the AFU command said.

Ukrainian films will be shown in underground stations used as shelters by Kyiv residents.

On March 9, more than 3,000 people were evacuated from the occupied Irpin and Vorzel through the joint efforts of the police, the Red Cross, the State Emergency Service and local authorities.

Boris Johnson on Russian strikes that hit maternity hospital in Mariupol: There are few things more depraved than targeting the vulnerable and defenceless. The UK is exploring more support for Ukraine to defend against airstrikes and we will hold Putin to account for his terrible crimes.

There are few things more depraved than targeting the vulnerable and defenceless.

The UK is exploring more support for Ukraine to defend against airstrikes and we will hold Putin to account for his terrible crimes. #PutinMustFail https://t.co/JBuvB78HVC

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 9, 2022

Pictures from the maternity hospital destroyed by Russian bombings in Mariupol.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine: the evacuation convoy (12 buses and 100 cars) from Enerhodar, Dniprorudne, and Vasylivka accompanied by a State Emergency Service of Ukraine vehicle arrived in Zaporizhzhia at 7:20 PM.

The briefing with captive Russian service members in Odesa.

Over the past 24 hours, we managed to evacuate more than 40,000 women and children throughout Ukraine. However, the plans were to rescue 100,000 citizens, - said Arakhamia.

The moment of shell impact on a residential house in Mykolaiv.

"The moment of shell impact on a residential house. It will be added to the incriminating materials to convict Putin and his accomplices as war criminals in The Hague".

Russian propaganda is spreading fakes about Jewish pogroms in the Zhytomyr region. This is an outright lie. Russian fakes have already been refuted by Chief Rabbi of Zhytomyr Shlomo Wilhelm:

"This is an outright lie, thus the occupiers are trying to sow ethnic hatred inside Ukraine. Russian fakes have already been refuted by the chief rabbi of Zhytomyr Shlomo Wilhelm. “Ukraine is a free democratic country ... What kind of Nazism are we talking about? Let's be more sensible and not allow the directors and technologists of this war to bring their deadly scenarios into reality, "said the rabbi. Destroy, kill and lie – that’s all the occupiers' herd can do".

Interview with the man who survived after his car had been run over by an anti-aircraft missile system in Kyiv on February 25. Passers-by managed to pull him out of the car and called an ambulance.

Belarusians created a battalion named after Kastus Kalinovsky for the defense of Kyiv.

Head of the Donetsk Military Civilian administration Pavlo Kyrylenko commenting to UAtogether (UAразом): "Currently, the number of injured as a result of the airstrike on the Mariupol maternity hospital No. 2 is 17 people, there are injured among the medical staff and women in childbirth, there are no deaths."

On February 27, Russian siloviki kidnapped Ukrainian sailor Vadym Ignashov from a Portuguese-flagged vessel in Vladivostok. He is now in custody and is accused of extremism.

Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov:

Thousands of our citizens are already resisting in the territories temporarily occupied by the occupiers. Your contribution is huge!

The next priority target is Russian electronic warfare and electronic reconnaissance systems. Russian electronic warfare and electronic reconnaissance systems should be destroyed. This will significantly weaken the Russian forces and provide an advantage to our warriors.

Once again I emphasise - tanks and armoured vehicles will be met by our army. Tasks for all citizens who can - destroy supply convoys and REB/RSI systems.

Evacuation from Vorzel: All children and staff have been evacuated from the Kyiv City Children's Home and placed in a hospital in the capital.

"Evacuation from Vorzel: All children and staff have been evacuated from the Kyiv municipal orphanage and placed in a hospital in the capital. All children and staff who were there at the time of the evacuation have been evacuated from Kyiv Gorodetsky Orphanage in Vorzel.

They were transported to a hospital in Kyiv. Tomorrow the children will be evacuated to the Western Ukraine.

The capital city is helping with evacuations and humanitarian aid to towns near Kyiv such as Vorzel, Gostomel, Irpen, and Bucha.

We should also remind you that 520 people have been evacuated from Pushcha-Voditsa in two days because of the approach of active hostilities. The evacuated people were placed in kindergartens in Kyiv. Some residents of Pushcha-Vodytsya settled with relatives of other Kyiv districts".

Ukrzaliznytsia: Up-to-date information about rail services and station operations.

The evacuation from Izium was de facto aborted by the Russians, according to the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Synehubov. The shelling continued throughout the day. The convoy with humanitarian aid and most of the evacuation buses never made it to the city, only six buses managed to evacuate people.

"Dumskaya" informs that "Sapfir" rescue vessel captured by the Russians near Zmiinyi Island is forcefully brought to Sevastopol. The newspaper has published the recording of the radio communications between the captain of "Sapfir" and Odesa Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

“[If anyone] hears me, it is Odesa Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. Russian military ships with call signals Bugel-490, Kass, Argument, Kartoshka, Gusar, and Vital, you have illegally seized and keep holding Ukraine's "Sapfir" rescue vessel in the territorial water of Ukraine near Zmiinyi Island. Your actions are illegal.

They demonstrate your weakness and are classified as a pirate seizure. You have violated all norms of international maritime law and maritime warfare. We demand that you immediately release "Sapfir" rescue vessel and do not obstruct its passage to the port of Odesa. The seizure of a civilian ship once again proves that the Russian military has no honour.

That, having started this war, they are hiding behind civilians. It is another disgraceful page in the history of your navy. You will never wipe out this disgrace. For your information, the latest data the Russian fascists' losses in Ukraine are as follows: personnel—over 12,000, tanks—317, armoured fighting vehicles—1,070, artillery systems—120, multiple-launch rocket systems—56, anti-aircraft systems—28, military aeroplanes—49, helicopters—81, automotive equipment—482. Come in, over.”

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

Unity is our main weapon. Today, the entire top military-political leadership acts as a single fist to repel Russian aggression.

The Supreme Commander and the entire team of the Office of the President, the entire security and defense sector of the state, the current and former leadership of the Armed Forces are working around the clock.

Any speculation and attempts to split our team are subversive activities in the interests of the enemy.

Belarussians are creating a separate battalion for the defence of Kyiv. The volunteers call upon to join them to protect Ukraine – informs the State Border Guard Service. 

The police evacuated residents of the Volnovakha region. Around 150 people were saved from the shelling.

Energy Minister German Halushchenko has appealed to the European Commission's support because of the Chornobyl nuclear plant electricity cut-off. He had a telephone conversation with Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy. 

The rescue workers of Kyiv meet the evacuated from the Bucha district of Kyiv oblast at the railway station. They provide the necessary medical and psychological help.

President Zelenskyy`s reaction to the airstrike on the maternity home in Mariupol: “You are strong. However, less and less human”. He called on the Western countries to close the sky over Ukraine.

Mariupol. Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity. pic.twitter.com/FoaNdbKH5k

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 9, 2022

A platform for getting Internet connection in shelters has been launched in Kyiv - wifi.kyivcity.gov.ua.

Some of the captured Russian occupiers said at a press conference that they are willing to stay in Ukraine. They fear for their lives after returning from captivity.

Three ambassadors have stayed in Kyiv. These are of Poland, Turkey and Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican).

Russian occupiers now experience huge difficulties with provision. On the tapes, intercepted by the Security Service of Ukraine, one can hear a Putin's invader complaining to his wife that the Command has forgotten about the occupiers.

As the captain of "Saphire" search and rescue ship informs, his vessel has been taken over by the Russian occupiers. According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, he succeeded in establishing contact with Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. Armed invaders are on board and they point guns at the crew. The vessel is being transported to the port of the occupied city of Sevastopol.

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation admitted “a couple of incidents” of conscripts taking part in the warfare. Only a couple of thousands left to admit.

The footage of evacuation from Kyiv Region:

Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky and the Chairman of the Kyiv Oblast State Administration Oleksiy Kuleba inform: the process of the evacuation continues. The Headquarters works on it.

The concert, calling on the international community to close the sky over Ukraine.

Happening now in Maidan Square, a concert by the Kyiv Classic Symphony Orchestra pic.twitter.com/zV6O5649bJ

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) March 9, 2022

Kyiv: the band plays in Maidan. pic.twitter.com/wIQ7O8ftWv

— John Sweeney (@johnsweeneyroar) March 9, 2022

“What an idiot it takes to strike a city with 20 foreign journalists in it. I committed everyone to make a promise – to make a tourist attraction out of Mykolaiv after the war ends”, - said the Chief of local state administration of Mykolaiv Vitaliy Kim.

As the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports, the amount of humanitarian assistance is rising. As of today, its workers have proceeded 4804 cars full of medicaments, bandages, nutrition, hygiene products and clothes.

"In the destroyed microdistricts, people were left without basic means of livelihood: food, warm clothes and water. We’re patrolling the city and helping everyone in need 24/7. Our unity is the fortress that the Kremlin's pro-Putin monsters cannot take," - Alyona Stryzhak , Head of the patrol police of the Kharkiv region.

Irpin Mayor Olexander Markushyn published the list of contacts useful in a search for evacuation information.

Ministry of Defense has created a Telegram channel "This is not an exercise", the purpose of which is to reveal the truth to the soldiers and officers of the Russian Federation who found themselves in Ukraine, not realizing that they were going to a war, and who continue to be misinformed.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine published (https://t.me/DPSUkr/1092) the information on the lines to the exit checkpoints on the border as of 9th of March, 3 p.m.

First buses with the evacuated citizens of Vorzel have arrived at Bilohorodka, - reports the Chairman of the Kyiv Oblast State Administration Oleksiy Kuleba.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kuleba called on the entire international community to immediately demand a ceasefire from Russia and allow repair teams to resume power supply as soon as possible:

"The entire power supply line of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and all its nuclear facilities controlled by the Russian army has been damaged. Chernobyl is de-energized. I appeal to the entire international community to immediately call on Russia to cease fire and allow repair teams to restore electricity supply as soon as possible."

Єдина лінія електропостачання ЧАЕС і всіх її ядерних об’єктів, які контролює російська армія, пошкоджена. ЧАЕС знеструмлена. Я закликаю все міжнародне співтовариство негайно вимагати від Росії припинити вогонь і дати ремонтним бригадам якнайшвидше відновити електропостачання 1/2

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 9, 2022

A live briefing session for "Interfax" was held by captured Russian intelligence officers.

Head of Sumy City Administration Dmytro Zhivitsky: As of 1:55 PM, the "green corridor" is open in Sumy. The evacuation is free. If someone is trying to charge you for it, please call 101 or 102.

Deputy Commander of territorial defense forces of Armed Forces of Ukraine, colonel Volodymyr Shvediuk: "Citizens of Kyiv, just like the rest of Ukraine, are ready to fight. The arms we are getting from our partners are being quickly distributed as there are lots of people willing to join the territorial defense."

Kyiv City Administration: The capital territorial centers of social services have provided groceries and hot meals to about 7 thousand people. Here's how to find these centers.

Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine: The Saphire civilian rescue ship has been captured by Russian invaders. Right now, it's being towed to the port of occupied Sevastopol.

Security Service of Ukraine: This Russian invader wanted to surrender so badly that he gave up both his weapon and his uniform. That's why he is wearing a wedding suit Ukrainians gave him out of pity.

He says they expected an easy walk of 3-4 days long and a warm reception from the locals.

Instead, they were abandoned by their headquarters. For several days, they were wandering the forests and hiding from the locals until they surrendered to the territorial defense forces.

 Watch by Oleksiy Arestovych, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, on the Russian invasion.