The British Army confirms that a number of active-duty soldiers have disobeyed orders and gone AWOL, and have likely gone to Ukraine to fight against the Russian military. Defence Minister Ben Wallace says that the serving members are "breaking the law and will be prosecuted" when they return to the United Kingdom.
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March 9, 2022 (Wednesday)
3.3 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says over two million Ukrainians have now fled the country since the invasion began. Most have gone to neighbouring Poland, with Hungary, Romania and Slovakia also taking in several hundred thousand refugees each.
The United Kingdom's Defence Ministry says that it is sending another 1,615 MBT LAWs, and a small number of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian army. More small arms, body armour and medical supplies have also been sent.
A Russian airstrike destroys a maternity ward and a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, killing three people and injuring at least 17 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that many people are unaccounted for.
The Pentagon rejects an offer from Poland's foreign ministry to "deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets" to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America" for transfer to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Ukrainian forces announce that they have regained control of Derhachi, a city located in the Kharkiv Raion district of the Kharkiv Oblast.
Business and economy
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announces that China will provide 5 million yuan ($790,000) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Fitch Ratings downgrades Russia from "B" to "C", one grade above default, and warns that Russian default on its obligations is "imminent".
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development proposes a draft nationalisation bill that will impose receivership for up to 3 months on assets of companies that boycotted the Russian market due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine if the ownership share by legal entities from "unfriendly countries" exceeds 25%. If the companies still do not resume their business in the country, their assets will be auctioned. More than 300 companies that left Russia or suspended operations in Russia could be targeted.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs a legislation banning the state from doing business dealings with Belarus and Russia.
Disasters and accidents
The Ukrainian state grid operator warns that Russian forces, which are in control of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, have disconnected the plant from the electricity grid, which the operator says will impact nuclear fuel cooling, and which also caused a blackout in the nearby city of Slavutych. The nuclear plant previously suspended all communications with the IAEA, the United Nations-based organisation specialising in nuclear energy production.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison declares a national emergency in Australia in response to the ongoing floods in Australia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that reserve diesel generators that cool spent nuclear fuel can only last for another 48 hours and that a radiation leak from Chernobyl is "imminent" if power is not restored immediately. Kuleba also says that "Putin's barbaric war" puts all of Europe in danger. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency says there is "no critical impact on security" imminent.
Health and environment
Austria suspends its universal COVID-19 vaccine mandate one week before fines of up to €3,600 were scheduled to take effect for those who did not comply with the mandate. The suspension of the mandate will be reviewed in three months.
South Korea reports a record 342,446 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 Hours.
International relations
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells the United States to "await its response" to the "economic war" being waged against Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Ankara, Turkey, for upcoming talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Ukrainian foreign policy aide Ihor Zhovkva says that Ukraine is open to holding talks discussing Russia's demand of Ukraine's neutrality as long as Ukraine is given security guarantees. However, Zhovkva warned that Ukraine will not give up any of its territories.
The UK bans all Russian aircraft from landing in its territory and travelling in its airspace, impounding a Russian oligarch-owned private jet at Farnborough Airport. The UK also bans all exports of aviation and space industry-related goods and services.
Politics and elections
Preliminary results of the presidential election show a narrow victory for the conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol.
Science and technology
The wreck of Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance, which sank in 1915, has been located beneath the Weddell Sea.
Sports
Major League Baseball postpones opening day to April 14 after failing to reach a deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association.
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