At least 22 people have been killed after a Russian air strike hit two schools and private houses in Chernihiv, in Ukraine's north, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are inside the port city of Kherson in Ukraine's south, a regional governor says, as Ukraine's death toll mounts.
Catch up on everything that happened on Thursday here.
Key events
- Southern port of Mariupol surrounded by Russia, says Ukrainian official
- UN says at least 227 civilians dead in Ukraine
- Ukraine says 34 civilians killed in Kharkiv region, no water or power in Mariupol city
- Russian athletes out of Paralympics in stunning about-face
- Two children, six adults killed in shelling in Izyum, in Ukraine's east
- More than 1,000 visas approved for Ukrainians coming to Australia
- Russia's claim it captured Kherson disputed
- Delegations head to Belarus for second round of peace negotiations
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells Russian soldiers 'go home', Ukraine doesn't want to be covered by dead bodies of soldiers'
- One million people have fled Ukraine this week: UNHCR
- Explosions in Kyiv
- OSCE says member of monitoring mission was killed in Kharkiv shelling
- Russia claims control of Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to fall, with peace talks set to resume
- War crimes court prosecutor opens Ukraine investigation
- World Bank halts all programs in Russia, Belarus with immediate effect
- Wealthy Russians feel the bite of sanctions
- How the UN voted
Live updates
By Kate Ainsworth
That's all for the blog tonight
We'll be back with a new blog in a few hours with the latest on the talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Belarus that's due to begin soon.
Thanks for joining us.
By Kate Ainsworth
Military analysts say new footage confirms world's largest cargo plane destroyed
A number of military analysts say new footage confirms that Antonov-225 Mriya, the world's biggest cargo plane, has been destroyed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this week Ukrainian authorities said the cargo plane dubbed "Mriya", which is Ukrainian for "the dream", had been destroyed by Russian troops on an airfield near Kyiv.
Analysts say the footage from the Hostomel airport, likely taken on February 26-27, confirms the plane was heavily damaged by fire.
By Kate Ainsworth
Putin tells Macron Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin told French leader Emmanuel Macron that Russia would achieve the goals of its military intervention in Ukraine whatever happens, the Kremlin said.
In a statement issued after the French and Russian presidents spoke by phone, the Kremlin made clear its goals included the demilitarisation and neutrality of Ukraine.
Any attempts by Kyiv to delay negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials would result in Moscow adding more items to a list of demands it has already set out, it said.
"It was emphasised that the tasks of the special military operation will be fulfilled in any event, and attempts to gain time by dragging out negotiations will only lead to additional demands on Kiev in our negotiating position," the statement said.
The statement said Russia's "special operation" in Ukraine was going "according to plan".
Reuters
By Kate Ainsworth
Dashcam captures air strike in Chernihiv
Dashcam footage has captured the moment an air strike hit a residential area in the northern Ukranian city of Chernihiv on Thursday afternoon.
The footage was published by local media and could be verified as a site just streets away from the Chernihiv Regional Children's Hospital.
It shows a driver heading through a quiet residential area just after midday before the street is shaken by an explosion just metres in front of them.
Reuters has reported the region's governor, Viacheslav Chaus, stated nine people had been killed and four were wounded in an air strike in Chernihiv.
It is not yet clear if the strike shown in this video is the same one referred to by the governor.
By Kate Ainsworth
Nine killed after Russian air strike hits two schools in Chernihiv
The governor for Ukraine's Chernihiv region, Viacheslav Chaus, says at least nine people have been killed and four have been wounded after a Russian air strike hit two schools and private houses.
"Rescue work is ongoing. According to the state emergency services, there are for now nine people killed and four wounded," Chaus said in an online post.
Chernihiv is in northern Ukraine, and is the same region where footage has emerged of a fire at an oil depot.
Reuters
By Kate Ainsworth
UK asks Meta, Tik Tok to prevent access to Russian state TV network
On Monday, Meta said it would restrict access to Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union.
Yesterday Britain's media regulator Ofcom said it was considering whether RT should retain its licence in the country, after it stepped up investigations into a channel the government has accused of being a tool of a Kremlin disinformation campaign.
"I was very glad to see yesterday that the channel is now officially off air on British televisions after it was shut down on Sky, Freeview and Freesat," Nadine Dorries told parliament.
"I've written to Meta and Tik Tok asking them to do everything that they can do to prevent access to RT in the UK, as they've done in Europe.
"We will not stop until we have persuaded every organisation, based in the UK or not, that is the wrong thing to do to stream Russian propaganda into British homes."
By Kate Ainsworth
IKEA freezes operations across Russia and Belarus
Swedish homewares giant IKEA has announced it will pause all export and import in and out of Russia and Belarus, in a move it says will directly affect 15,000 IKEA co-workers.
"The war has had a huge human impact already," the company said in a statement.
"It is also resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions. For all of these reasons, the company groups have decided to temporarily pause IKEA operations in Russia."
The company said its Mega shopping centre in Russia would remain open to ensure Russians still had access to essentials such as food, groceries and pharmacies.
The company is also donating 20 million euros for humanitarian assistance to those who have been displaced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
By Kate Ainsworth
Ukrainian advisers in transit to Belarus for talks with Russian delegates
Adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podoliyak (on the right) is part of the delegates meeting with Russia in Belarus, along with Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia.
The meeting isn't due to start until 1:00am AEST.
By Kate Ainsworth
Future of F1 driver Nikita Mazepin in doubt as UK bans Russian drivers
Mazepin, who is about to enter his second year in F1, has had his spot on the grid thrown into doubt as governments and organisations impose more sanctions against Russia over the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has banned drivers from Russia and Belarus from racing under their national flags, but will allow them to compete.
However, Motorsport UK says it will not let any Russian or Belarusian drivers or teams compete in the United Kingdom.
By Kate Ainsworth
Amnesty International says possible war crimes committed in Kharkiv
By Kate Ainsworth
Church bells ring across Europe for peace in Ukraine
The European Association of Cathedral Master Builders said churches "from Norway to Malta and from Spain to Ukraine" did not want to remain silent about the war.
"Europe is burning — we want to let the bells of our churches ring for seven minutes on Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 at 12 noon, one minute for each day of this senseless war," the association said in a statement.
"With the ringing, we pray for all who are affected by this war. With the ringing, we pray for peace."
Reuters
By Kate Ainsworth
Southern port of Mariupol surrounded by Russia, says Ukrainian official
Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko says the country's southern port of Mariupol is surrounded by Russian troops.
"The occupiers want to turn it into besieged Leningrad," he said, referring to Nazi Germany's siege of the then-Soviet city where about 1.5 million people died during two years of blockade.
In a statement, Mariupol city council said Russian forces were constantly and deliberately shelling vital civilian infrastructure in the southeastern Ukrainian port, leaving it without water, heating or power and preventing bringing supplies or evacuating people.
Mariupol's mayor Vadym Boychenko said Russian forces have severed the city's rail link to prevent civilians evacuating, and a ceasefire is needed to restore the city's power supply.
By Kate Ainsworth
Ukraine announces payment for those out of work due to invasion
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that the government will provide an assistance program for all Ukrainians who have lost jobs due to the Russian invasion.
In an online post, the Ukrainian government says "every employee, entrepreneur and Ukrainian from whom Russia has taken away the opportunity to work" will receive 6,500 hryvnias (around $296) with no conditions.
By Kate Ainsworth
Ukraine-Russia talks will begin in 'a couple of hours': Ukraine adviser
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said a Ukrainian delegation is on its way to talks with Russia by helicopter, and negotiations will start in a couple of hours.
Kyiv plans to discuss setting up humanitarian corridors before moving on to other issues, Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia said on Facebook.
Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations will begin in Belarus at about 1400 GMT (1:00am AEST).
It will be the second time delegates from both countries have met in Belarus since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
By Kate Ainsworth
Russian forces have control of key building in Kherson, governor says
The regional governor of Kherson, Hennadiy Laguta, says Russian forces have occupied the regional administration building in the Ukrainian port city.
Russia's defence ministry said it had captured Kherson on Wednesday but Ukraine said its forces continued to defend the Black Sea port of about 250,000 people.
If Kherson falls to Russian troops it will become the first major Ukrainian city to do so. The city has been heavily bombarded in recent days.
By Kate Ainsworth
Ukrainian refugees arrive in Hungary
The UN estimates more than 130,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border into Hungary since Russia's invasion began on February 24.
By Kate Ainsworth
Russia halts deliveries of rocket engines to the US
The head of Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, says Russia will stop supplying rocket engines to the United States in retaliation for its sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.
Dmitry Rogozin said Roscosmos will also stop servicing rocket engines it had previously delivered to the US.
By Kate Ainsworth
Kyiv city mayor says situation "difficult but under control"
Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko says the situation in Ukraine's capital is "difficult but under control".
Klitschko said there were no casualties overnight and that nighttime explosions were Ukrainian air defences striking down incoming Russian missiles.
He said a heating system site damaged by Russian shelling on Wednesday would be fixed today.
Klitschko appeared to be referring to a system that was hit when parts of the missile fell on the Kyiv train station.
By Kate Ainsworth
Australians among 500 medical professionals registered to help Ukraine
In a post on their official Telegram account, the Ukrainian government says Australians are among more than 500 medical professionals who have expressed interest in travelling to the country to help war victims.
Doctors, nurses and paramedics from the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Jordan, Brazil, are among the countries that have also registered their interest.
