Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky vows to hold fast as 2,000 civilian deaths blamed on Russia's invasion
UPDATED ON: MARCH 2, 2022 / 6:37 PM / CBS NEWS
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky vowed Wednesday that Russia would not topple his government by pummeling Ukraine's cities and civilians with missiles, but with pressure from unprecedented international sanctions against Moscow swelling by the day, that increasingly appeared to be Vladimir Putin's strategy.
Zelensky said almost 6,000 members of Russia's invading force had been killed since Putin launched his unprovoked war against Ukraine a week ago. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said, meanwhile, that more than 2,000 civilians had been killed since the beginning of Russia's invasion, and a government official said there were at least 21 children among the dead.
Putin's forces continue pushing slowly into Ukrainian territory, but after seven days of war, Russia has yet to take full control of any major Ukrainian city. Russian officials claimed "full control" of Kherson, on the southern coast, but both Ukrainian and U.S. officials denied the assertion, with an advisor to Zelensky saying "the city has not fallen, our side continues to defend."
U.S. officials say a mammoth column of Russian troops and weapons currently about 20 miles north of Kyiv could move to encircle the capital city within a week, and then seize it within a month.
But Russia's war from a distance — an increasingly merciless barrage of heavy artillery hitting major population centers — is already exacting a devastating toll on Ukrainian civilians. Almost 700,000 have fled their homes to neighboring countries. Tens of thousands more continue to wait in long lines at the borders, freezing with children and pets in tow, fleeing from a Russian onslaught that the U.S. said on Wednesday looked set to get worse.
Photos: Inside the Russian invasion of Ukraine53 PHOTOS
In his first State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, President Biden voiced solidarity with the Ukrainian people and lambasted Putin, whom he vowed would "pay a continuing high price over the long run" for his decision to unleash "violence and chaos" on his neighbors.
Powerful explosion in Kyiv near rail station
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qNWJhBawAY
2M AGO
U.S. delivers 200 Stinger missiles to Ukraine
The U.S. has delivered 200 Stinger missiles to Ukraine, with hundreds more still to be sent, an official confirmed to CBS News' David Martin.
BY JORDAN FREIMAN
8M AGO
ICC prosecutor to investigate possible war crimes
The International Criminal Court's prosecutor opened an investigation Wednesday into possible war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in Ukraine dating back to 2013, but also covering the conflict sparked by Russia's invasion.
Prosecutor Karim Khan said he launched the probe after 39 of the court's member states requested an investigation, a process known as a referral.
"These referrals enable my Office to proceed with opening an investigation into the Situation in Ukraine from 21 November 2013 onwards, thereby encompassing within its scope any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person," Khan said in a statement.
"Our work in the collection of evidence has now commenced," he added.
Department of Defense postpones ICBM test-launch in effort to de-escalate
In an effort to de-escalate tensions with Russia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided to postpone a test launch of the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that was scheduled for this week.
The decision comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday he was putting nuclear forces on higher alert, a move the Pentagon has called unnecessary and escalatory.
The Pentagon has not made any similar moves and remains confident with its current deterrent posture.
"It is a wise and prudent decision by the secretary to send a strong clear unambiguous message to Mr. Putin how seriously we take our nuclear responsibilities at a particularly tense time," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said at a Wednesday press briefing.
54M AGO
Powerful explosion in Kyiv near rail station
Ukrainian officials reported a powerful explosion in Kyiv between a central railway station and the Ibis hotel, an area near Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
The Ukrainian Railway Service said that thousands of women and children were being evacuated from the station at the time of the strike. The station building suffered minor damage, and train traffic continued. Officials said it was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties.
"Russian terrorists launched an air strike on the South Railway Station in Kyiv, where thousands of Ukrainian women and children are being evacuated," the national railway company said.
The station is one of two that make up the main passenger rail complex. The two stations are connected by an overhead corridor that crosses over about a dozen tracks.
The stations are about 2 miles from Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the square that was the site of huge protests in 2014 and 2004.
5:02 PM
WHO chief concerned by reports of attacks on medical facilities
The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday the agency is concerned by reports of attacks on medical facilities and health care workers.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general, said during a briefing the agency was able to confirm one incident in which a hospital "came under heavy weapons attack" last week, killing four people and injuring 10 others, including six health care workers.
"We're currently in the process of verifying several other incidents," Tedros said.
Before the war, Ukraine reported a surge of COVID-19 cases, and the recent low rates of testing since Russia's invasion means "significant undetected transmission" is likely, he said. On Sunday, WHO warned of a dangerously low medical oxygen supply in Ukraine, which Tedros said will have a critical impact on treating patients with severe COVID symptoms and other conditions.
"At least three major oxygen plants in Ukraine have now closed and we're seeking ways of accessing oxygen from neighboring countries and ways to deliver it safely to where it's needed," he said.
The organization said it still needs $45 million to help those impacted in Ukraine and another $12.5 million to support neighboring countries providing care for refugees. WHO is asking for donations to help provide emergency and trauma care, COVID-19 care and support for health facilities.
Exxon exits $4 billion Russia deal over Ukraine attack
ExxonMobil is closing its operations in Russia, joining fellow energy giants BP, Equinor and Shell in pulling back from the world's third-largest oil producer after its invasion of Ukraine.
Exxon late Wednesday announced it was exiting the Sakhalin-1 project, an oil and gas operation on Sakhalin Island in Russia's Far East that the company operates on behalf of an international consortium. Exxon is also dropping new investments in Russia, the company said.