“Huge Russian military convoy reaches Kiev suburbs”
A Russian military convoy consisting of tanks, military vehicles and logistics vehicles, more than 65 kilometers long, reached the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Monday evening. Which reports CNN based on satellite images from Maxar Technologies. Earlier on Monday, the satellite company spoke of a convoy of 27 kilometers long.
Part of the convoy would have departed from Belarus and other vehicles would have joined the procession en route. The vehicles have been on the road since Sunday, when based on satellite images, there was still a convoy of almost six kilometers long.
In addition, according to satellite company Maxar, in recent days there has been talk of a Russian build-up of troops in Belarus, near the border with Ukraine. This would mainly concern ground troops and combat helicopters. It is feared that a major attack on Kiev is being prepared with the troops.
:strip_icc()/s3/static.nrc.nl/liveblog/files/2022/03/ukraine-russia-conflict45789282.jpg)
Satellite images show the military convoy on its way to Kiev. Photo AFP / Maxar Technologies
Russia used vacuum bomb in Ukraine
Russia used a vacuum bomb in Ukraine on Monday. The Ukrainian ambassador to the US said this on Monday after a meeting with members of the US Congress. She pointed out that the use of these types of bombs is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions.
A vacuum bomb is a so-called thermobaric weapon, in which oxygen is sucked from the environment to generate an extremely hard explosion and pressure wave. Russia is said to have used this type of bomb before during the war in Chechnya and in Syria.
Meanwhile, according to the US, Russia has deployed about three quarters of the troops previously gathered on the border with Ukraine. Ukraine’s airspace is still said to be out of control of the Russians and many military vehicles have been abandoned due to fuel shortages. Also, the resistance of the Ukrainian army is said to be greater than expected, causing Western intelligence services to according to the BBC fear of heavier attacks in the coming days, with possible more civilian deaths.
Zelensky wants no-fly zone over Ukraine after Russian missile strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Zelensky said during his daily press conference on Monday, reports Reuters news agency. The president did not specify which country should ensure that the no-fly zone is complied with.
“We should consider closing the airspace completely to Russian missiles, planes and helicopters,” Zelensky said. He called the no-fly zone a response to the massive Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv earlier on Monday. According to the president, Russia has carried out 56 missile strikes and fired 113 cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine since the invasion began.
The United States has reacted negatively to Zelensky’s proposal. “A no-fly zone would require implementation,” said White House spokesman Jen Psaki. U.S. military personnel could potentially be deployed to enforce the no-fly zone, which Psaki said could lead to “direct conflict, and potentially war with Russia.”