Eight days after Russia first launched its attack against Ukraine, Russian forces have seized control of the major city of Kherson in the south of the country. Russia is intensifying its attack on major Ukrainian cities, as the civilian death toll continues to rise.
Follow the most important developments here. The latest updates appear highest on the page.
Europe's largest nuclear power plant on fire, damaged by Russian fire [01:19]
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station is on fire following fierce fighting to capture to the plant. A spokesperson for the nuclear power plant Andriy Tuz warned of a "real threat of nuclear danger."
The head of the plant appealed for an immediate stop to the use of heavy equipment around the site of the plant.
In footage captured live from the official video livestream from the plant, Russia troops could be seen engaged in heavy fighting with Ukrainian defenders.
More than 100 units of heavy military equipment entered the nearby city of Enerhodar earlier in the day, facing peaceful resistance from 20,000 local residents who were later fired open.
British Queen Elizabeth II makes donation to help Ukrainian refugees [20:00]
The Queen of the United Kingdom has made a "generous donation" towards helping Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing Russia's invasion. The donation was made to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), who thanked the Queen for her donation.
Buckingham Palace has refused to give any further details, stating that the donation was a personal matter.
DEC workers began operating in Ukraine today. One worker described the situation as "the most horrible he has ever seen."
Ukrainian army reaches Russian border near Sumy [19:00]
According to the Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Oleksiy Danilov, units of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service have recaptured the border in the north of Sumy Oblast.
According to Danilov, Russian forces failed to make any significant progress in any areas in Ukraine, and their offensive has been halted.
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine end [18:54]
The negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Belarus have ended, seemingly without a peace agreement. "Unfortunately, the results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved. There is a solution only for the organization of humanitarian corridors," said Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak.
'Only way to stop this war': Zelenskyy wants to talk to Putin [18:43]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and called a direct conversation "the only way to stop this war" in a speech on Thursday afternoon.
"We are not attacking Russia and do not want to do so. What do you want from us? Leave our country," Zelenskyy said. "Talk to me. Sit at the table with me. Not 30 metres apart as with Macron. We must talk unconditionally, without rancour, like men."
He again emphasised that his country would not surrender easily, and warned that "if Ukraine were to fall, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania would follow."
Ukraine bans export of natural gas [16:11]
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine temporarily prohibits the export of natural gas, announced Ukrtransgaz, the Ukrainian government's energy company. The ban also applies to gas stored in underground gas storage facilities of Ukraine.
Ukraine calls for suspension of Russia's WTO membership [15:58]
On Thursday, Ukraine called for the suspension of Russia's participation in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a week after the Russian invasion. In the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva and elsewhere, the Ukrainian authorities are stepping up their efforts to isolate Russia.
In a tweet, Ukraine's representation to international organisations in Geneva announced that it had "informed WTO Members of its decision to impose a complete economic embargo and to no longer apply the WTO Agreements in its relations with Russia."
The tweet called on other WTO members "to stand with Ukraine in taking similar trade-restrictive measures" against Russia. A letter from the Ukrainian ambassador sent to the WTO on Wednesday explaining the reasons why Kyiv decided to impose the embargo was added to the tweet.
"We strongly believe that other WTO members will stand along with Ukraine in countering the Russian military invasion by taking similar measures against the aggressor state," Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko wrote.
"We urge all WTO members to consider further steps with the view to suspending the Russian Federation's participation in the WTO," she added, accusing Moscow of violating the global trade body's "purpose and principles."
Putin tells Macron Ukraine 'demilitarisation' will be achieved [14:39]
In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated the it will achieve its goals of demilitarising Ukraine and turning it into a neutral state.
Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine in order to, it its words, "denazify" the country, despite the fact that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish.
Dozens of major companies leave Russia, suspend services [12:36]
Hundreds of global companies are now cutting ties with Russia, closing corporates offices and stores, withdrawing their services, and ending their investments.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of companies who have already suspended their services or closed their corporate presence in Russia.
Apple, Microsoft, BP, Shell, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Boeing, Airbus, Lufthansa, Meta, Google, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Disney, Warner, Sony, Netflix, HSBC, Nordea, H&M, Nike, Adidas, FedEx, UPS, Canada Goose, Expedia, Harley-Davidson, Equinor, Roku, Mastercard, Visa, Maersk, and many more.
"We will see other companies decide to pull out (of Russia) voluntarily” @HenryJFoy tells CNBC as BP offloads its nearly 20% stake in Rosneft pic.twitter.com/koHcZ3RFe1
— CNBC Middle East (@CNBCMiddleEast) February 28, 2022
Ukraine, Russia to hold new peace talks [12:00]
According to Vladimir Medinsky, assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, new negotiations will take place on 3 March in Belarus, close to the Polish border.
Key Ukrainian city Kherson captured by Russian forces [09:30]
Major media outlets are reporting that the southern Ukrainian city Kherson fell to Russian troops this morning.
The situation is extremely dire in Kherson.
Russians have captured the city. There is no way out for civilians and no supplies. There is vision of prisoner trucks, people being arrested. Here’s footage of citizens waving flags at Russian tanks. I can’t image the terror. 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/uKwEObEjTz — misha (@mishazelinsky) March 2, 2022
The mayor of the city, Igor Kolykhaiev, stated that Russian forces had taken controlled of the local council building. One of the conditions for the surrender of the building was the flying of the Ukrainian flag, and a measures to protect the safety of civilians in the city.
