As the Russian offensive enters its third day we take a look at the key events during the day.
Russia has launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin demanded Kyiv’s army lay down its weapons.
The US, EU and Western allies have ramped up sanctions against Russia, targeting banks, oil refineries, and military exports.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to not surrender and continue fighting to defend his country.
Below are the key moments of the third day of invasion:
Russian forces launched coordinated missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities including the capital, Kyiv.
Russia ordered its troops to advance “from all directions” as it pounded the Ukrainian military with cruise missiles.
The US military said half of Russia’s invasion force is already inside Ukraine but is being slowed by unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance, with President Zelenskyy claiming his troops have “derailed” the Russian masterplan.
Civilians – some of whom have never held a gun before – hunker down to battle with Russian tanks.
A dead civilian is seen sprawled on the pavement in central Kyiv as nearby medics helped another man whose car was crushed by an armoured vehicle. Others are feared dead after artillery blasted a hole in a high-rise apartment block.
The mayor of Kyiv said a missile has hit an apartment building, but no deaths or injuries were immediately reported.
The mayor of Kyiv extended a curfew in the Ukrainian capital.
President Zelenskyy released in the morning a self-shot video from central Kyiv saying, “I am here … this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this.”
Russia said it is bombarding Ukraine’s military infrastructure with cruise missiles.
Ukraine’s health minister said 198 civilians, including three children, have been killed so far by Russian forces.
French naval forces intercepted a cargo vessel loaded with cars heading for Russia’s Baltic port city of Saint Petersburg.
Ramzan Kadyrov has said Chechen fighters had been deployed in Ukraine, and he urged Ukrainians to overthrow their government.
US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum to provide up to $600m in “immediate military assistance” to Ukraine. Later in the day he also announced the approval of an additional $350m.
Germany will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks. The Dutch government will supply 50 Panzerfaust-3 anti-tank weapons and 400 rockets.
Poland’s Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker said 115,000 people had crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia’s invasion started.
Russia ordered its media to remove reports describing its attack as an “assault, invasion, or declaration of war” or face being blocked.
Germany says it is working on excluding Russia from the SWIFT interbank system after coming under severe criticism for resisting EU efforts to impose the sanction.
Russia will respond to sanctions by seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the security.
The world must brace for a long war between Russia and Ukraine, the French president warns, saying it will have “lasting consequences”.
Poland refuses to play a 2022 World Cup playoff with Russia in Moscow on March 24 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying, “It is time to act.”