Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations
A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without any resolution.
Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.
The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation."
Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, have advanced closer to the city center in recent days despite the resistance, coming within about 9 miles as of Friday.
Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself.
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Latest headlines:
- Ukrainian air force claims Russia carried out false flag airstrike in Belarus
- UN has credible reports of Russian cluster bomb use, attacks on health care
- Putin claims 'certain positive movements' in Ukraine negotiations
- Russian general prosecutor wants Meta declared 'extremist organization'
- Putin orders Russian military to help volunteer fighters from Middle East travel to Ukraine
1.5 million have fled Ukraine in 10 days: UN
More than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, the head of the U.N. Refugee Agency said on Sunday.
"More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in 10 days -- the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II," Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said on Twitter.
Mariupol civilians to evacuate under cease-fire
An official in Mariupol, a Ukrainian city besieged by the Russians, said a cease-fire on Sunday will allow citizens to evacuate.
The temporary cease-fire was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time, with an evacuation starting two hours later, Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of Donetsk Oblast, said on Facebook.
A similar plan had been announced for Saturday, but Russian shells continued to fall throughout the day.
WHO confirms 'several' attacks on Ukrainian health care facilities
The World Health Organization said on Sunday it had confirmed "several" attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine.
The attacks caused "multiple deaths and injuries," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter.
"Additional reports are being investigated," he said. "Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law."
Ukraine says Chernihiv, Mariupol defenses underway
Ukraine’s military on Sunday said it was "fighting fierce battles to maintain certain borders," including defending Chernihiv and Mariupol, cities targeted by Russian shelling.
"The enemy, suffering losses, makes constant attempts to avoid direct fire contact with our troops," military officials said, according to an official translation posted on Facebook.
An operation is underway to defend Chernihiv, a city about 100 miles north of Kyiv, the capital, the update said. In the east, the Ukrainian military’s "main efforts are focused on defending the city of Mariupol and inflicting fire damage on the overwhelming forces of the enemy."
Ukraine’s military claimed on Sunday to have destroyed 88 Russian aircraft and helicopters.
"Some enemy pilots who catapulted and survived were found by Ukrainian soldiers," the update said. "They have received medical treatment and are already testifying about the Putin regime's crimes against humanity."