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Rachel Hains

Retreats, refugees, and Eurovision ban: the latest on the Ukraine invasion

From Russia being banned from this year's Eurovision, the UN reporting the displacement of more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees, to fighting breaking out overnight near Kyiv - there have been several major updates regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the last twenty four hours.

The invasion began on Thursday morning and has since sparked major international outcry, with the US and its allies announcing major sanctions against Russia, including that they will block the assets of four large Russian banks, impose export controls and sanction oligarchs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain would aim to cut Russia off from the UK’s financial market. The sanctions include freezing the assets of all major Russian banks, including VTB Bank, its second-biggest.

The European Union and other Western allies, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, announced similar sanctions against Russia.

Here are the latest updates regarding the ongoing conflict.

Saturday morning: the latest updates

Russian soldiers retreat following fighting in western city of Lyiv

Mayor Andriy Ivanovych Sadovyi suggests Lyiv's forces are holding strong after Russian soldiers were reported to be retreating this morning, following battles in Lyiv.

The city, which is the largest in the west of the country and is on the border with Poland, has been targeted by Russian attacks over the past two days.

Ukraine's President releases video address

A defiant video this morning, posted by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, showed him in Kyiv saying: "Recently, fake info was spread about me ordering our army to lay down arms and evacuate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation via his smartphone in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office)

"It's untrue. I'm here, we are not laying down, we will protect our state. This is our land, our country, our kids, and we will defend them."

The message of Ukraine resistance was supported by media reports that fighting had broken out on roads close to the centre of Kyiv last night, with a section of the Prospekt Peremohy highway turned into a warzone.

The city has held strong after professional soldiers stood alongside Ukrainian citizens baring arms.

Picture taken by Maia Mikhaluk of damage to property in Kyiv, Ukraine, caused by an explosion during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (PA)

One video showed fires raging beneath wrecked vehicles strewn on the tarmac - near the capital's Beresteiska metro station, just 2.5 miles from the Ukraine's Ministry of Defence.

The night of fighting has taken a great toll on both sides, with estimates suggesting between 1,000 and 3,500 Russian soldiers have been killed.

Russia banned from Eurovision and Poland refuses to play Russian team in World Cup

This morning the president of Poland's Football Association, Cezary Kuleszaoland, has announced that the team will not play a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Russia next month because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski (Dmitry Lovetsky - Pool/Getty Images)

The country has been ousted by other major sports tournaments since entering the country, with Uefa moving the Champion's League Final from St Petersburg to Paris.

Russia has also been banned from taking part in Eurovision.

More than 120,000 refugees flee Ukraine

This morning, the UN refugee agency has said more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country since Russia began its attack.

Speaking as Russian troops battled with Ukrainian forces in the capital Kyiv on Saturday, the UN deputy high commissioner for refugees, Kelly Clements, said in an interview on CNN that the situation was expected to get worse.

Refugees fleeing the Ukrainian city of Lviv towards the Polish border (PA/Manny Marotta)

"We now see over 120,000 people that have gone to all of the neighbouring countries," she said.

"The reception that they are receiving from local communities, from local authorities, is tremendous. But it's a dynamic situation. We are really quite devastated, obviously, with what's to come."

Most are heading to Poland and Moldova, but some are also arriving in Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

What's happened so far

The invasion began on Thursday morning with a series of missile strikes, many on key government and military installations. They were quickly followed by a ground assault from the north, east and south in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.

Explosions then rocked Kyiv in the early hours of Friday as military forces moved to the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital.

US officials warned that President Vladimir Putin may be intent on installing a new, more friendly government, and US President Joe Biden is due to meet fellow leaders of Nato governments in what the White House described as an “extraordinary virtual summit” to discuss Ukraine.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that his military will keep fighting back and he ordered a full mobilisation. He also shared that he has information that he is the number one target for the invading Russians but said he planned to remain in Kyiv.

Global protests compare Putin with Adolf Hitler

In response to the violence happening in Ukraine, widespread protests have erupted globally as well as across Russia.

The protest began on Thursday night, with protesters in Moscow and other cities carrying placards reading "No war. Putin, go away."

Police officers detain demonstrators in St. Petersburg, Russia (Dmitri Lovetsky)

They signed open letters and online petitions demanding the Kremlin halt the assault - One petition garnered 330,000 signatures by the end of the day.

Other acts of defiance include one demonstrator scrawling "Adolf Putin" on the wall of an underground station in Saint Petersburg - the Russian President's hometown.

These demonstrations have lead to the detention of 1,800 people.

Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador in Dublin had his car mobbed while furious graffiti calling out "Russian fascism" was scrawled on the embassy in Tel Aviv.

An anti-war protest has taken place at Belfast City Hall with hundreds in attendance, following the recent events in Ukraine, as Russian military advances further into the country (Philip Magowan / PressEye)

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