Russia-Ukraine updates: US sanctions Russian military shipbuilder, diamond miner

Russia's largest military shipbuilding and diamond mining firms were targeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation” into Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with troops crossing the border from Belarus and Russia. Moscow's forces have since been met with “stiff resistance” from Ukrainians, according to U.S. officials.

Russian forces retreated last week from the Kyiv suburbs, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After graphic images emerged of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha, U.S. and European officials accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.

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Two Men at War

A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.

Mar 12, 2022, 4:48 PM EST

13,000 Ukrainians evacuated on Saturday, Ukrainian official says

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk posted an update Saturday on the country's evacuation progress.

About 13,000 Ukrainians were evacuated Saturday, which was half the number from Friday, she said.

Nine out of 14 humanitarian corridors were open Saturday, according to Vereshchuk.

About 8,000 refugees left Sumy, more than 3,000 left Konotop, 800 people were taken out of Gostomel and about a thousand people evacuated Nemeshaevo, Vereshchuk said.

People who have arrived from war-torn Ukraine disembark from a bus at a makeshift shelter and transit center, March 12, 2022, in Przemysl, Poland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

About a thousand people were rescued from Bucha, including patients at a nursing home, she said.

However, Russia didn't let a convoy through the checkpoint in Vasilyevka and as a result no one could evacuate from the Zaporіzhya region, Vereshchuk said.

A Ukrainian convoy also did not reach Mariupol, because it got stuck at a Russian checkpoint, according to Vereshchuk. The convoy will try to take people out from the locations Sunday, she said.

-ABC News' Jason Volack

Mar 12, 2022, 3:46 PM EST

US senators to travel to Poland to meet with officials, visit refugee sites

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators announced Saturday that they are traveling to Poland to meet with Polish officials and visit refugee sites to reaffirm the United States' commitment to Poland, Ukraine and other allies in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The group is made up of Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

The group was also expected to meet with the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Poland on the trip this weekend.

"The Polish people continue their unwavering support for NATO after 23 years of fighting alongside the U.S. and our allies. This bipartisan delegation will send a clear message that the U.S. is thankful for their support of Ukraine and their offer of providing fighter jets, as the people of Ukraine continues to endure brutal Russian atrocities," Portman said in a statement.

Echoing U.S. support for Ukraine, Blumenthal said, "As Putin continues his brutal, savage invasion, I’m traveling with a bipartisan group of Senators to the Ukrainian border in Poland to see first-hand the heartbreaking, exploding humanitarian crisis — and learn how America can magnify its military assistance to brave Ukrainian freedom fighters."

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Mar 12, 2022, 2:56 PM EST

NATO allies' resolve 'strengthened' since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Harris says

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday re-emphasized the U.S.' commitment to defend NATO allies and said, "Our collective resolve has been strengthened” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"The United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people [and] in defense of the NATO alliance," Harris said at the DNC Winter Meeting, hours after returning from her trip to Poland and Romania.

"Russia's invasion threatens not just Ukraine's democracy, it threatens democracy and security across Europe and by extension when democracy is threatened, anywhere, it threatens us all," Harris said.

Harris recalled her meeting with the presidents of both nations and how she met with refugees from Ukraine, who she said “feel very alone."

"I told them people around the world stand with them and they are not alone," Harris said.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Mar 12, 2022, 2:24 PM EST

To take Kyiv, Russia will have 'kill all residents,' defiant Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters Saturday that Russia would have to carpet-bomb Kyiv and kill all its residents to be able to conquer the capital city.

"They will come here only if they kill us all," Zelenskyy said. "If that is their goal, let them come."

-ABC News' Jason Volack

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