⚡️ Ukrainian authorities confirm Sumy-Poltava humanitarian corridor operates on 9 March

⚡️ Heineken has suspended the production and sale of beer under the Heineken brand in Russia; all factories continue to work, said the company

⚡️ Moscow intends to develop targeted trade and financial restrictions in response to western sanctions

⚡️ Several hundred people in Mariupol continue to be used as "human shields" for the national battalions of Ukraine, DPR head Pushilin said.

The national units of Ukraine are poorly controlled from Kiev, the situation with the evacuation from Mariupol is difficult, Pushilin added

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⚡️ Сhinese Foreign Ministry on ban on Russian oil imports: Beijing strongly opposes unilateral sanctions, they will not bring peace and security

❗️ Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik radio that if the activities of biolaboratories in Ukraine had not been stopped now, their development would have become uncontrolled;

🗣 She stressed that "these laboratories that were supposed to be set in motion to destroy the materials they worked with in case of an emergency (...) are the very places where American biowarfare experiments took place."

🗣 "This completely changes the picture of US involvement in the fate of Ukraine: it is not just an instrument of influence, it is not just an instrument of deterrence, it is the instrument of a direct threat to our country" she said.

Zakharova added that those responsible for such experiments, or the supply of weapons to Ukraine, will be held accountable

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⚡️ A strong explosion was heard in Lugansk, Sputnik correspondent says

⚡️ UK 'impounds' one plane under new aviation sanctions against Russia.

British Transport Minister Grant Shapps said Britain had used new aviation sanctions to impound an aircraft after making it a criminal offence for Russian aircraft to fly over or land in the United Kingdom.

He stressed that one aircraft which he "essentially impounded" is at Farnborough. They have been carrying out further investigations for the last few days

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The Russian Defence Ministry showed the destruction of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine using the Ka-52 helicopter

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⚡️Kiev is preparing provocations at humanitarian corridors in Mariupol and Volnovakha, exits from cities can be mined , headquarters of the territorial defense of the DPR says

⚡️ IMF to consider providing $1.4bln worth financial aid to Ukraine on Wednesday

⚡️ Moscow: Biolabs in Ukraine engaged in development of components for biological weapons

⚡ Russian Foreign Ministry: special operation does not include occupation of Ukraine, destruction of its statehood, nor the overthrow of current government

Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow is not responsible for the lives of foreigners who decide to take part in hostilities in Ukraine

❗EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says new EU personal sanctions against Russia will target more than 100 individuals

Ukrainian authorities are spreading disinformation about the Russian military's actions at nuclear power plants - Russian Foreign Ministry

❗ Taking control over Ukrainian NPPs was done exclusively to prevent nuclear provocations – Foreign Ministry

⚡ United States engaged in de facto economic war against Russia, Kremlin says

Highlights from Russian Foreign Ministry briefing:

▪ Moscow says US experts instructed Ukrainian specialists how to develop bioprograms;

▪ Russia is wondering if these biomaterials have fallen into the hands of extremists or nationalists;

▪ About 2 mln people from Ukraine have applied for evacuation to Russia;

▪ Russia would prefer to ensure Ukraine's neutral status via talks;

▪ Russia's military operation is going to plan

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⚡ RT reports that Telegram blocked previews of its posts without warning

❗ The decision to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine is up the United States and NATO, the Polish prime minister says