March 1, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

A Russian-language Change.org petition against the war in Ukraine has gathered more than a million signatures, and members of Russian professional organizations have signed similar petitions, according to a CNN review.

Veteran human-rights activist Lev Ponomarev launched a "No to war" petition that has over 1 million signatures as of early afternoon Moscow time Tuesday.

A Russian website — https://we-are-not-alone.ru/ — has aggregated petitions of over three dozen Russian professional organizations representing academics, artists, journalists, musicians, economists and other professions. By their count, nearly 100,000 individuals have signed these petitions.

Prominent Russian media figures, including author and journalist Mikhail Zygar and documentary filmmaker Yury Dud — who has over 5 million Instagram followers — have posted on social media against the war. 

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced capital control measures to stop an exodus of foreign businesses from the country, Russian state news agencies TASS and RIA reported on Tuesday.

Mishustin said the sanctions imposed on Russia were making foreign investors decide not for economic reasons but because of “political pressure.”

“To enable businesses to make informed decisions, a draft presidential decree has been prepared to introduce temporary restrictions on exiting Russian assets,” he said. “We expect that those who have invested in our country will be able to continue working here.” 

“I am sure that the sanctions pressure will eventually subside, and those who will not curtail their projects in our country, succumbing to the slogans of foreign politicians, will win,” the Russian prime minister said.

Mishustin said there would be daily meetings to try and tackle the economic impact of the sanctions.

“It is important to monitor the current situation in real time and promptly work out all the necessary measures,” he said. 

Some background: On Monday, the ruble crashed to a record low against the US dollar, the Russian central bank more than doubled interest rates to 20% and the Moscow stock exchange was shuttered for the day. It will stay closed Tuesday, the central bank announced.

The European subsidiary of Russia's biggest bank was on the brink of collapse as savers rushed to withdraw their deposits. Economists warned that the Russian economy could shrink by 5%

At least 10 people were killed and 35 injured in rocket strikes by Russian forces on the center of Kharkiv Tuesday, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. 

“Freedom Square was hit by a cruise missile. There was a second hit by a similar rocket that hit the building after the rescuers arrived (in 5-7 minutes). One third of the administration building fell," Herashchenko said in a post on Telegram. 

Ukrainian State Emergency Services also confirmed the death toll in a social media post Tuesday. 

"Rescuers are working on the scene. The stairs and partial corridors on all floors are completely destroyed,” the post read. 

Indian student killed: An Indian student was among the dead after Russia's shelling of the city, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. 

Bagchi also said India's Foreign Secretary would be calling Russia and Ukraine's ambassadors to "reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals."

A senior official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs told CNN the "deteriorating situation in Kharkiv is a matter of grave concern" and that the safety and security of Indian nationals there "is of utmost priority."  

So far more than 9,000 Indian nationals have been evacuated while a "considerable number" are now in safer areas, the official said.

China said it “regrets" the casualties in Ukraine and called the current situation "undesirable" while continuing to refuse to acknowledge Russia’s military action as “an invasion.”

“The safety of civilians' lives and property should be effectively guaranteed, and in particular, large-scale humanitarian crises should be prevented,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing Tuesday. 

However, China continued to dodge questions about calling Russia’s activity in Ukraine an "invasion," instead reiterating that the conflict has a "complicated history and reality" and that it supports "all diplomatic efforts" to resolve the conflict. 

China "always advocates a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," Wang said, repeating that Russia's "legitimate demands for security" should be "taken seriously and properly addressed."

When asked whether China would provide supplies to Ukraine, Wang said China is willing to “play a constructive role” in easing the situation in Ukraine and would release relevant information "in due course."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was met with a standing ovation from diplomats as he addressed the European Parliament, telling those in attendance that his country is "fighting for survival."

"We are fighting just for our land and our freedom," Zelensky said, causing the EU translator on the English language feed to choke up with emotion. "We desire to see our children alive. I think it's a fair one."

"But we are fighting also to be equal members of Europe," he added. "I believe that today we are showing everybody that's exactly what we are."

Zelensky requested for Ukraine to be added to the EU on an expedited process on Monday.

He received a standing ovation across the chamber both before and after his speech.

Representatives from Europe and other allies walked out during a video link address by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday.

A video posted by the French delegation showed dozens of officials leaving the chamber while Lavrov started his address via video link.

“Walk out from the EU and its partners during the statement from Minister Lavrov at the Conference on Disarmament this morning to show our support to Ukraine,” the tweet said. 

During his speech to the UN Human Rights Council, Lavrov said he did not attend in person because of what he called "outrageous" measures by European Union in applying sanctions on Russia following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

When Viktoriya and her family returned to their Kyiv home Tuesday morning after spending the night in a bomb shelter, they realized that the decision to leave yesterday may have saved their lives.

Overnight, bullets have pierced two windows in their apartment. One of them shattered an electrical socket nearby, leaving a hole where the plug would normally go.

But there is no relief when it all quietens down.

“It becomes even more anxious in the moments of silence, because you know they are not going to last,” she said.

Viktoriya and her family have been spending most of their time in the shelter. They have a small son and worry about being able to keep him safe in their apartment.

In the shelter, at least there are many other families with children, so they can keep each other company.

The adults are finding it comforting too, being around each other and sharing the burden of worry and the feeling of utter hopelessness.

“The war has only lasted four days so far, but it seems like it has been with us for an infinitely long time. It’s a terrible ‘Groundhog Day’ feeling,” she added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the protection of the country's capital, Kyiv, is the “key priority” for the state. 

“Kharkiv and Kyiv are currently the most important targets for Russia. Terror is meant to break us. To break our resistance. They are heading to our capital, as well as to Kharkiv,” he said in a Facebook message Tuesday.

“Therefore, the defense of the capital today is the key priority for the state,” Zelensky said.

In his message to Ukrainians, Zelensky also described Tuesday's attack on the central square in Kharkiv as an act of terror.

“We call on all countries of the world to respond immediately and effectively to this criminal tactic of the aggressor and to declare that Russia is committing state terrorism. We demand full responsibility for terrorists in international courts,” Zelensky said.

Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda warned that no country in Europe “can feel safe” when it comes to President Putin, as the Russian invasion in Ukraine entered its sixth day. 

“No country in the European Union [EU], in Europe can feel safe right now. Yes, Ukraine is target number one, but if we cannot support Ukraine, if Ukraine will fall -- be sure that we’ll be next, that Russia will stay at our doors,” Nausėda told CNN when asked if Putin could turn his attention to the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia at some point. 

On Monday, Lithuania along with Estonia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia published an open letter urging the EU to immediately grant Ukraine candidate country status and to begin negotiations on its formal acceptance into the bloc. 

When asked about his support for Ukraine’s EU membership bid, Nausėda told CNN Europe had a “moral duty” to include the country in the bloc. 

Becoming a member of the bloc is a complex procedure and Ukraine is currently not an official candidate for EU accession.