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

Mila Kunis, an American actress of Ukrainian origin, together with her husband Ashton Kutcher published a video in support of Ukraine.

"Today I am more proud than ever to be Ukrainian," Kunis said. Together with her husband, she will donate $3 million to humanitarian support for Ukraine.

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Johnson had an urgent phone conversation and agreed that the main priority now is to force the Russian side to immediately cease hostilities in the Zaporizhzhya NPP zone.

Russia has fired more than 480 missiles into Ukraine, the US Department of Defence has reported. As of 3 March, 230 missiles had been launched from mobile launchers that Russia had delivered to Ukraine.  More than 160 were launched from Russia, more than 70 from Belarus.  Another 10 were launched from the Black Sea

Airbnb is suspending its operations in Belarus and Russia, CEO Brian Chesky announced.

At 06:20, the fire in the training building of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the city of Energodar was extinguished, the State Emergency Service reported.  There were no casualties or injuries.

US President Joe Biden joined President Zelenskyi in calling on Russia to stop military activities in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and to allow firefighters and rescuers access to the site.

The White House press service also notes that Biden has received up-to-date information on the situation at the plant from relevant U.S. officials and will be holding regular briefings.

International Atomic Energy Agency announced that it put its Incident and Emergency Centre in full 24/7 response mode due to serious situation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

IAEA puts its Incident and Emergency Centre (@IAEAIEC) in full 24/7 response mode due to serious situation at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in #Ukraine.

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 4, 2022

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, as of 05:55 the fire in the training building (60x40 m) of Zaporizhzhia NPP in Enerhodar was localized at an area of 2,000 sq. m.
No victims or casualties are reported yet.

Bitcoin fell by 2.4 percent to $41,093 because of the shelling at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether, fell by 4.1 percent to $2691, Bloomberg reported.

As of 05:20 a.m., State Emergency Service units arrived to extinguish the fire in the training building of Zaporizhzhia NPP. 40 people and 10 units of equipment are involved from the State Emergency Service.

As of 05:30, the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP had ceased, Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov said on the Sovet TV channel.

An environmental expert and head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy Oleh Bondarenko said that in case of an explosion of radioactive materials at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, a nuclear cloud will cover the territory of Russia.

"A nuclear cloud, a cloud that contains radioactive materials, will cover Kuban, Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, the western and northern Caucasus. The Crimea is not yours, you don't feel sorry for it, but it will be covered too. The explosion at Zaporizhzhia NPP, if it happens, will be comparable to the explosion of your Rostov NPP and Kursk NPP taken together," Bondarenko appealed to the Russians.

Mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov said on Rada TV channel that there are seriously injured people at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The number is unknown. There is no possibility to transport them to hospitals.

Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, head of the Sumy Regional State Administration, reported that as a result of Russian air strikes, the thermal power station in Okhtyrka was completely destroyed, people were killed, and the city is currently without electricity, hot water, and heating.

According to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, since 01:40 on March 4, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian artillery attack, resulting in sporadic fires. Extinguishing the fires is complicated by continued shelling.

Zaporizhzhia NPP essential equipment and power units remain intact. No changes in the radiation condition have been detected to date. Radiation monitoring data is available on the Zaporizhzhia NPP website and is currently within normal limits.

Zaporizhzhia NPP is under the control of qualified personnel dedicated to safety.

One of the six Zaporizhzhia NPP power units is currently functioning.

Current information from State Emergency Service (SES) on the attack of the Russian invaders in the Zaporizhzhya NPP, as of 04:00.

As a result of the shelling of the NPP territory, the fire at one of the training facility buildings continues. Fire seized floors 3, 4, 5 of the five-storey building.

The invaders are not allowing SES crews to start on any fire recovery actions.

One power unit out of six is operating at the Zaporizhzhya NPP in Enerhodar. NPP fire alarm systems are stable.

Great Britain's prime minister, Boris Jonson, has declared that he will ask for the emergency meeting of the Security Council of the UN next few hours because of the Russian invaders' attack on the Zaporizhzhia NPP. He has also added that the UK will immediately raise this question with Russia and its closest partners.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said he spoke urgently by phone with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

"I asked to prevent a nuclear disaster and to close the flight zone over Ukraine," Halushchenko said.

IAEA is aware of reports of shelling at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in contact with Ukrainian authorities about situation.

Ukraine regulator tells IAEA there has been no change reported in radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant site.

Ukraine tells IAEA that fire at site of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has not affected “essential” equipment, plant personnel taking mitigatory actions.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Acting General Director Ihor Murashov: "Nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is compromised. We are doing everything possible, but the fire continues, and the firefighters are not let in. There are huge risks. There are combat operations at the plant. The reactors are in danger".

Acting Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets said that explosions at the Zaporizhzhia NPP could lead to a world disaster, causing damage for decades to come.

He said that it is necessary to stop fighting on the territory of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and not to get close to it, because it violates all world agreements concerning work at such facilities.

ZELENSKYY'S URGENT APPEAL RELATED TO THE SITUATION AT THE ZAPORIZHZHIA NPP (the text):

“It is time for Europe to wake up as the largest plant in Europe is on fire. At this very moment, the Russian tanks are shooting at the nuclear units. These tanks are equipped with thermal sights, which means they know where to shoot. They have been preparing for this.

I address all Ukrainians and all Europeans, all people familiar with the word Chernobyl… Russia would like to make it happen again and is doing so already, but sixfold.

Europeans, wake up, talk to your politicians. Russian troops are shooting at the nuclear plant in Ukraine, there are six power units there. Chernobyl only saw one power unit blow up.

The President has already spoken to the EU President Charles Michel, Chancellor of Germany Scholz, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, President of the United States Joe Biden, and contacted the IAEA Director General Grossi and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"We warn everybody. No country, except Russia, has ever bombarded nuclear power-generating units. It is the first case in the history of humanity. The terroristic country has resorted to the nuclear terror for the first time. Russian propagandists threatened to cover the world with the nuclear ash. Not it is not just a threat but reality.

We don't know how the fire at the plant is going to end, when it will blow up, or it won't happen at all. Nobody knows for sure.

But our guys always keep the plant safe for nobody to be able to seize or mine it, and then to blackmail the whole world with the nuclear catastrophe.

We have to immediately stop Russian troops.

Shout to your politicians: Ukraine is 15 nuclear power generating units. If it explodes, it will be the end of Europe, the evacuation of Europe. The immediate actions from Europa are the only way to stop Russian troops. Don't let Europe die due to the NPP catastrophe".

ZELENSKYY'S URGENT APPEAL RELATED TO THE AIR STRIKES OF THE ZAPORIZHZHIA NPP

Anna Netrebko, the pro-Putin opera singer, has been dismissed from Metropolitan Opera in New York as CNN has reported.

Starukh: Director of the ZNPP assured that, at the current moment, nuclear safety of the site is ensured.

According to the source of LIGA.net in the Office of the President, Kadyrov squads broke into the Zaporizhzhya NPP. At this moment, they are fighting the National Guard inside.

Current information from the State Emergency Service covering the attack of Russians invaders on the Zaporizhyzhya NPP.

As of 02:26 in Enerhodar, the third power unit has been disconnected from the single power network at the Zaporizhyzhya NPP (only four power units are operating). Only one unit is operational out of six.
Fire alarm systems are stable at the NPP.

There is a fire in a training building beyond the NPP perimeter.
As the fighting continues, State Emergency Service crews are not being let in to extinguish the fire.
Rescue crews are ready engage.

Starukh is reporting on fire at the ZNPP: “This may truly drive one insane, but it’s not an option. We keep on working. We sent the firefighters back to their station. They are in our way!!!”

The USA have sanctioned eight Russian oligarchs who are the closest to Putin to strengthen the financial pressure related with the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

There are in the list:
- Alisher Usmanov called as "one of the wealthiest persons of Russia and Putin's close friend" by the White House;
- Dmitriy Peskov named as "the main provider of Putin's propaganda";
-Nikolay Tokarev, the executive director of the energetic giant Transneft, being included in the list together with his wife and daughter;
-Boris and Arkadiy Rotenbergs as well as some members of their families;
- Igor Shuvalov, the Russian politician and Putin's former vice-president;
-Evgeniy Prigozhin, the Russian oligarch, restaurant and catering owner, who is called "Putin's cook" .

The Head of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Oleksandr Starukh, has reported that firefighters have been let in.

Zelenskyy's Instagram: a video of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia.

Western countries already know about the air strikes of Zaporizhzhia NPP and the fire.

CNN: Fire breaks out at nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Der Spiegel: Russian troops have attacked the biggest nuclear power plant in Europa.

Citizens of Ukraine who had to leave the county because of the Russian invasion can live and work in EU countries until 3 years. They are free of complicated document proceeding.

Kuleba: "Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!"

The live broadcast from Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

Andriy Tuz, Zaporizhzhya NPP press office representative, “Merely a week ago, the power unit was operating at power, it was connected to the power network. A few days ago, it was prepared to undergo scheduled maintenance. Nuclear fuel is inside the reactor, it has not been unloaded. Moreover, the central room has a loading and spent fuel storage pool that contains assemblies with uranium and nuclear fuel.
If, at this moment, the containment is damaged, then the leak of radioactive materials may reasonably happen”.

Kyiv - the air raid alert.

The fire at the Zaporizhzhya NPP continues. Firefighters cannot reach the fire point and eliminate the consequences - they are being shot at point blank. The first power unit has already been hit, as reported by ZNPP.

Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine Energoatom informs that the shelling hit a plant power unit.

At this moment, the wind is blowing towards the south-eastern part of Ukraine and in the direction of major Russian cities: Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar.

A video of the fire at the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
Live steam at the site of the catastrophe can be found here.

Mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov has called for cease of artillery attacks on the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

As a result of artillery attacks by the Russian invaders, a fire erupted at the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

Russian invasion into Ukraine is not going as the Cremlin planned, claimed the UK Minister of State for Security Ben Wallace.

According to him, armored vehicles logistics shows that the Russian Army is behind the schedule.

“The reason is extremely poor planning of the invasion by the General Staff and the President of the Russian Federation”, believes Wallace.

Shelling near Zaporizhzhya NPP.

It has been over an hour of continuous fighting near Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Ukrainian military are holding the defense line.

There have been casualties, however, the exact number is unknown, as reported by the mayor of Enerhodar Dmytro Orlov.

Zaporizhyzhya NPP Telegram channel posted a video address demanding to cease the heavy artillery fire attack on the nuclear power plant.

“There is a real nuclear threat “, as noted in his address.

UNESCO called for Russia to immediately stop the war against Ukraine to preserve its cultural heritage.

In accordance with its mandate, UNESCO is also demanding to immediately cease the attacks on civilian infrastructure - schools, universities, memorial sites, and objects of cultural and communications infrastructure.

Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba warned on his Twitter page that Russian invaders were preparing to release fake televised streams in Kherson.

“When the Russians fail to achieve their actual goals, they resort to fake live streams. Having seized the television tower in Kherson, they are now planning for a show where the Russian troops are providing humanitarian aid, while fake “locals” imported from the Crimea are staging a fake “demonstration” to push for the Kherson region to “reunite” with the Crimea”, wrote Kuleba.

News summery by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine as of 24:00 pm of March 3

According to the available data, the enemy has sent to Ukraine the most part of their groups formed to invade Ukraine.

Out of 117 equipped battalion tactical groups have left only six that are out of our county.
The moral and psychological condition of these units are at the low level.

The enemy hesitates to land amphibious forces in the area of Odesa-Gulf making demonstrative actions to withdraw Ukrainian units there.

Considering air strikes on objects of our territory, they have used all ammunition-carrying capacity of missile complex Kalibr planned for the offensive attack in Ukraine. Now they replenish their ammunition.

Within the day, the enemy has achieved no significant success in advancing further and focused on engineer equipment of their positions.

During another unsuccessful attempt to seize Hostomel, invaders lost approximately 20 materiel units (loses of the manpower is specified) fighting with Ukrainian troops.

The State Service for Special Communication and Information Defense has declared that mobile subscribers of the Ukrainian mobile operators won's be able to call Russian numbers anymore. It is done to prevent invaders to pass the information from Ukrainian phones in Russia of Belarus.

Resembling restrictions are available for subscribers using fixed-line telephones.

Prosecutors from the International Criminal Court in Hague need help in collecting the evidence of crimes committed by Russian invaders in Ukraine.

The Chief ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan QC asks everyone who has such evidence to send it to [email protected].