Russian forces have taken control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station after fighting which caused damage to the compartment of one of the plant's reactors, Ukranian authorities say.
Look back on the updates from March 4 in our blog.
Key events
- Ukraine Foreign Minister urges the international community to not let his country be turned 'into Syria'
- Australian sports minister calls for Russia to be excluded from world sport after Ukraine invasion
- Death toll rises to 47 at Chernihiv after Russian attack
- Fighting begins in the streets of Mykolaiv
- IAEA chief confirms Russian takeover of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
- Ukraine's state emergency service says Zaporizhzhia fire has been extinguished
- Reactors being 'safely shut down', US Energy Secretary says
- Zaporizhzhia fire doesn't appear to have affected 'essential' equipment, IAEA reports
- Ukraine officials say fire at nuclear power plant erupted outside the perimeter
- Radiation levels within normal limits, says Ukraine authority
- Russian army attacking nuclear power plant 'from all sides', Ukrainian Foreign Minister says
- Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant on fire, Mayor says
- Ukraine emergency services: Air strikes have killed 33 in Chernigiv
- Russia's top radio station and last independent TV station shut amid crackdown on dissent
Live updates
By Michael Doyle
Closing the blog
This is the end of the Ukraine-Russia blog for this evening.
Thank-you to those who viewed the blog throughout the day.
You can find out the latest news on the Ukraine invasion on the ABC News website and app.
Good night.
By Georgia Hitch
Russian Paralympic Winter Games athletes to leave China
Russia's contingent at the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing plan to leave China after being banned from participating because of the country's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) said on Friday.
The RPC added that it would not appeal the decision to ban its athletes to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following legal advice.
Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from the Winter Paralympics by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on Thursday after initially being allowed to compete as neutrals.
Belarus has been a key staging area for the full-scale invasion Russia launched on Ukraine a week ago.
Reuters.
By Michael Doyle
Nuclear plant attack signals 'a slow strangulation of Ukraine'
By Georgia Hitch
Kyiv continues to prepare defences after 'relatively' calm night
Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has given an update on the situation in the Ukranian capital, where he says Thursday night passed "relatively calmly".
"Air defence systems have worked several times," he said.
He has urged private pharmacies to open if they can, noting people have been standing in line for hours for medicine at public pharmacies.
Mr Klitschko also told the community not to ignore the regular air alarms while the city remained in a state of war.
"The city continues to prepare for defence. There are more and more checkpoints, restrictive blocks and hedgehogs [anti-tank traps] on the streets," he said.
Despite the crisis, he said hospitals were still working and 390 babies had been born in the city in the past eight days.
By Michael Doyle
Ukraine Foreign Minister urges the international community to not let his country be turned 'into Syria'
Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has posted a video on social media saying Russia wanted to create
Syria in Europe.
By Michael Doyle
Alexei Navalny calls on Russians to protest against war across the world
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny told Russians on Friday to protest against the war in Ukraine in Russian cities and across the world on March 6, and accused President Vladimir Putin of bringing shame on the Russian national flag and language.
Mr Navalny, Mr Putin's most prominent domestic opponent, told Russians in a post on his blog to shrug off fears of protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to take to the squares of their cities even if they had already left Russia.
"Show the world that Russians don't want war. Come out in the squares of Berlin, New York, Amsterdam or Melbourne, wherever you are. Now we are all responsible for Russia's future. For what Russia will be in the eyes of the world," he said in the post.
The anti-corruption campaigner called for protests every day of the week, but said that a demonstration on March 6 was most important and should take place in Moscow's Manezhnaya Square and St Petersburg's Gostiny Dvor.
Reuters
By Georgia Hitch
Ukraine Foreign Ministry condemns taking of nuclear plant
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has condemned the seizure by Russian armed forces of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the city of Energodar.
In its statement it also said people had been killed and injured during the fight for the plant.
"As a result of the shelling on the territory of the nuclear station, a fire broke out, people were killed and injured," it said.
"The fire has been extinguished at this time."
It confirmed Russia now has control of the plant.
By Georgia Hitch
Update on Russian convoy heading for Kyiv
What's happening with the column of tanks that was marching to Kyiv?
-Jeremy
Hey Jeremy, according to British military intellingence that 64km convoy of tanks that was en route to Kyiv hasn't made much progress over the last few days.
Russian troops have been advancing on the capital north from Belarus — where the convoy originated — and also from Russia to the north-east.
But the expanse of Russian supply trucks, troops, and weapons has been plagued with fuel, food shortages, and logistical challenges including weather and mud.
According to the UK Defence Ministry, Ukraine's resistance, as well as multiple mechanical complications, have delayed Russia's advance, with the convoy now over 30km from the capital.
You can read the full story from earlier today (or technically now yesterday!) here.
By Michael Doyle
Australian sports minister calls for Russia to be excluded from world sport after Ukraine invasion
Australia's federal sports minister has joined forces with other ministers from allied nations in calling for Russia — and Russian athletes — to be exiled from world sport after the invasion of Ukraine.
In a joint statement released late on Friday, the ministers have condemned the actions of the Russian government and called for a series of sanctions by sporting bodies, many of which have already been implemented after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) called for similar actions last week.
"Athletes and teams representing Russia or Belarus are not welcome in Australia," Sports Minister Richard Colbeck said.
"Every single measure taken to reinforce the condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is important," Senator Colbeck said.
"It is important that all Russians come to understand that the actions of their leadership has made them unwelcome in the international sporting community.
"Sport connects across all nations and at all levels of society, and is a community that simply rejects the breach of peace and international law being perpetrated by the Russian leadership.
"We stand united with the people of Ukraine and urge Australians to show their support and solidarity, particularly for Ukrainian athletes at this difficult time."
By Tracey Holmes for The Ticket and ABC Sport
By Michael Doyle
More deaths and suffering expected in Ukraine in days to come, NATO says
The war in Ukraine will cause more deaths and destruction over the coming days, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.
He called on Russia's President Vladimir Putin to withdraw all troops from Ukraine without conditions.
"The days to come are likely to be worse, with more deaths, more suffering and more destruction," Mr Stoltenberg told reporters after a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers in Brussels.
Reuters
By Georgia Hitch
Russian athletes speaking out
Following on from the statement by Russian chess players, have other high profile Russian sports people, for example recently crowned world number 1 Daniil Medvedev, made a statement about their country's actions?
-Eric
Hey Eric, it wasn't a statement as such, but Medvedev spoke about the war when it'd just started while he was competing at the Mexico Open.
Here's what he had to say then:
"Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy," Medvedev said.
"By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries. It's just not easy to hear all this news. I'm all for peace."
By Georgia Hitch
Airbnb latest company to stop operations in Russia
Airbnb has joined a number of other international companies in announcing it'll halt its operations in Russia.
Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky announced the company would also be pulling its services out of Belarus.
Mr Chesky also said that people were using Airbnb in Ukraine even if they didn't intend to stay there, in an effort to financially support some of the hosts on the site.
By Michael Doyle
By Georgia Hitch
Multinationals tossing up whether to keep business in Russia
Companies and investors across the world faced Russian dilemmas on Friday as they weighed up an offer from Moscow to fast-track their exits from the country and allow them to hand over holdings to local managers until they return.
First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov outlined three alternatives for foreign firms.
"The company continues to work fully in Russia," he said in a statement.
"Foreign shareholders transfer their share to be managed by Russian partners and can return to the market later.
"The company permanently terminates operations in Russia, closes production and dismisses employees."
Russia's invasion has prompted the United States and Europe to impose sweeping sanctions, affecting everything from global payments systems to a range of hi-tech products, which make doing business in Russia increasingly complex and precarious.
For ordinary Russians, it means deep economic pain.
Some multinationals such as energy majors BP and Shell have already said they are quitting, while others have held off signing off from Russia for now.
IKEA announced plans to close stores on Thursday but said it would pay its 15,000 Russian staff for at least three months.
Reuters.
By Michael Doyle
Death toll rises to 47 at Chernihiv after Russian attack
In the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, authorities say the death toll from a Russian airstrike in a residential area on Thursday has risen to 47.
The toll is comprised of 38 men and nine women, authorities said.
Today authorities have listed the opening hours and supply availability of pharmacies and grocery stores in a bid to help people access essential supplies.
Several air alarms have been called in the city again today, as authorities warn more Russian air strikes could be imminent.
By Georgia Hitch
Organisations supporting Ukrainians coming to Australia
Do you know which organisations will be supporting the Ukrainians who have been granted visas for Australia? I would like to contact them to see what kind of support they need.
-Britt
Hi Britt, I'm sure there's a few organisations around the country that are preparing to help people who do decide to come to Australia, but the main ones are the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria and the Ukranian Council of NSW.
The government's issued 1,000 visas so far and expects some people from Ukraine could begin to arrive from as soon as this weeked.
By Georgia Hitch
Atomic energy chief ready to travel to Chernobyl
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi was speaking after a Russian attack was blamed for starting a fire which Ukraine said damaged a reactor building at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine's south.
Mr Grossi said Ukrainian and Russian officials were considering an offer of a meeting at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986.
He said he was willing to be there to offer assistance.
The Ukraine Foreign Ministry says the Agency must take decisive action during the talks.
By Michael Doyle
Intel bans all shipments to Russia and Belarus
Technology company Intel says it will stop all shipments to Russia and Belarus, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement released by the company, it said it would continue to support Ukraine.
“Intel condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and we have suspended all shipments to customers in both Russia and Belarus. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this war, including the people of Ukraine and the surrounding countries and all those around the world with family, friends and loved ones in the region."
By Georgia Hitch
Seizing nuclear plant 'reckless' act, UK government says
The UK's Foreign Minister Liz Truss has heavily criticised Russia for seizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site and warned there could be further sanctions on the country as a result as a result.
"This was a completely reckless act," she said.
"We've heard now that the fire has been extinguished, but it is extremely concerning that forces are prepared to do this.
"This is a threat to European security and stability, and we need those responsible to be held to account."
She said the UK has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to be convened.
Reuters.
By Georgia Hitch
Inquiry into alleged violations of human rights by Russia to be set up
The UN Human Rights Council has just passed a resolution to set up an independent inquiry into allegations Russia has violated human rights in its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia and Eritrea in east Africa voted against the inquiry, and 13 others - including China and India - abstained from the vote.
