Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities hit by Russian missiles at rush hour
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia pounded cities across Ukraine during rush hour, killing civilians and knocking out power and heat, in apparent revenge strikes after President Vladimir Putin declared a blast on Russia’s bridge to Crimea to be a terrorist attack.
Cruise missiles tore into busy intersections, parks and tourist sites in the center of downtown Kyiv with an intensity unseen even when Russian forces attempted to capture the capital early in the war.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near Ukraine in response to what he said was a clear threat to Belarus from Kyiv and its backers in the West.
Igor Tikhiy, a 49-year-old marketing professional, has a simple answer to the question of why he fled to Georgia last week, crossing the border in the dead of night on his bicycle. “I don’t want to shoot anybody. That’s why I’m here.” We spoke to war-averse Russians seeking sanctuary.
Some 7.6 million Ukrainian refugees have scattered around Europe since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops over the border, but many are having difficulty finding jobs and homes. The European Commission unveiled a new online tool to help Ukrainians find a job as the bloc looks to extend its protection for those displaced.
Here’s what you need to know about the conflict right now
