The British government relocates its embassy from Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, and again urges its citizens to leave the country while they still can.
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February 18, 2022 (Friday)
2.7 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
The Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic order mandatory mass evacuations of civilians from their respective capital cities, Donetsk and Luhansk. Around 700,000 people are expected to be evacuated to Russia with the first buses carrying civilians to the Russian border already travelling to Rostov Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin orders lump-sum allowances of 10,000 rubles (130 US dollars) to be paid to refugees from Donbas.
Additional explosions are reported in Luhansk. The Luhansk People's Republic authorities state that a gas station has been blown up.
U.S. President Joe Biden says that Vladimir Putin will launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the "coming days" and that Russian troops will try to capture the capital Kyiv.
Mali's ruling military junta demands that French forces leave the country "without delay" after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a withdrawal of troops in an "orderly fashion" in the coming months.
Denmark recalls its frigate HDMS Esbern Snare from the Gulf of Guinea following a request from NATO to increase readiness and contribute to deterrence in Europe. The warship has been conducting anti-piracy measures in the Gulf since October.
Israel's Iron Dome fails to intercept a Hezbollah-operated military drone from Lebanon that penetrated seventy kilometers into Israeli airspace. The drone flew for forty minutes before returning to Lebanon. Israeli jets fly at very low altitude over Beirut in response to the incident.
A UAZ-469 jeep is blown up outside of a building of the Donetsk People's Republic government in Donetsk city. No injuries are reported.
Russia confirms that the Druzhba pipeline is on fire in rebel-held Luhansk Oblast after a massive explosion cut off gas to almost a hundred households. The pipeline is one of Russia's main pipelines used to transport oil to the European Union although transit supplies to Europe were not affected and continue as usual.
Anti-war protesters gather in Burlington, Vermont to call for a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict amidst fears of a war with Ukraine.
Eight Malian soldiers and 57 Islamist militants are killed during a gunfight in the Archam region, after 40 civilians were killed there during terrorist attacks last week.
Disasters and accidents
England records a record wind gust of 122 mph (196 kmh) on the Isle of Wight in the English Channel.
The Grain Power Station in Kent, England, goes offline following the collapse of one of its towers and the roof of The O2 Arena in London is severely damaged due to high winds.
The roof of the ADO Den Haag Stadium, in The Hague, the Netherlands, is severely damaged.
At least seventeen people are killed in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom as Storm Eunice impacts northwestern Europe. Millions are also left without power.
Health and environment
South Korea reports a record 109,831 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1.75 million.
International relations
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces the sale of 250 M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Poland amid tensions with Russia. The Polish Land Forces will become the first European military to operate the American M1 Abrams.
India and the United Arab Emirates sign a free trade agreement over digital goods, raw materials, and apparels. It is the first major trade deal signed by India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power in 2014.
Law and crime
The Ottawa Police Service makes over 100 arrests, including the arrest of protest organizer Pat King. Police accuse protestors of assaulting officers with one person being arrested after allegedly throwing a bicycle at a horse with a mounted officer on it.
Sports
Timothy LeDuc becomes the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics. They competed in figure skating with their skating partner Ashley Cain-Gribble for the United States.
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