Here are the latest developments:
- Ukraine armed forces say they have repulsed Russian attempts to seize Popasna and Rubizhne in the east where invading troops have shifted focus in the last few days.
- In his address late on Thursday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed Ukrainians for having survived 50 days under Russian attack and fighting back against invading troops.
- In an interview to the BBC, Zelensky singled out Germany and Hungary, accusing them of blocking efforts to embargo energy sales, from which Russia stands to make up to £250bn ($326bn) this year.
- The White House said US President Biden will not be visiting Ukraine. The president has said he is considering sending a senior official to the capital, Kyiv.
- News of the sinking of Russia’s warship Moskva – which Ukraine says was hit by its missiles – has inspired Kyiv residents to snap up a commemorative postage stamp.
- CIA director William Burns has warned that the potential Russian use of low-yield nuclear weapons to offset setbacks in Ukraine cannot be “taken lightly”, although there is little practical evidence to reinforce such a concern.
- Ukraine’s neighbour Moldova, a former Soviet republic, has banned Russian war symbols, including the letters Z and V and the St George ribbon.
Story by Vikas Pandey and Meryl Sebastian Pictures Credit:Getty images,bbc and AFP