It has been eight days since Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
Here are some developments that have taken place thus far.
ANC calls for an end to Russia-Ukraine conflict
On Thursday, the African National Congress (ANC) called on the International community to stand against what continues to take place in Ukraine.
There has been continuous shooting and attacking of that country by Russian troops, leaving behind devastation.
ANC National spokesperson, Pule Mabe told a media briefing at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg, that the ANC National Working Committee has expressed deep concern over the developments between Russia and Ukraine.
South Africa abstains from the UN vote against Russia
South Africa abstained when an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution demanding Russia’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Ukraine.
The resolution received 141 votes in favour and 35 abstentions, while just four countries joined Russia in voting “no”.
Civilian toll in Ukraine climbs to 227 dead, 525 injured: UN
The United Nations Human Rights office said on Wednesday that it confirmed 227 civilians had been killed and 525 injured in Ukraine through midnight on March 1 following Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Russian assault was causing damage to non-military targets but did not outright say Moscow was deliberately targeting civilians.
Russian troops enter strategic Ukrainian port of Kherson
Russian troops were in the centre of the Ukrainian port of Kherson on Thursday after a day of conflicting claims over whether Moscow had captured a major urban centre for the first time in its eight-day invasion.
Russia’s defence ministry said it controlled Kherson on Wednesday but an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded that Ukrainian forces continued to defend the Black Sea port of about 250 000 people.
US delays ICBM test-launch in bid to de-escalate Russia nuclear tensions
The US military said on Wednesday it will postpone a scheduled test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, in a bid to lower soaring tensions after Russia announced it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weekend announcement on the heightened alert posture fanned fears that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear escalation, with some European officials seeing it as veiled threat to the West.
Putin’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, was quoted on Wednesday warning that a Third World War would be a nuclear conflict, remarks that added to growing unease.
Impact of the conflict on investments and global markets:
Investors around the world have been on high alert since last week Thursday when Russia, the world’s third largest producer of oil and gas, invaded Ukraine, unsettling global markets.
A global crisis and associated market volatility can result in anxiety and panic, but investors are cautioned against hastily reacting to any declines and locking in losses by selling out of their investments.
Russian, Belarusian athletes barred from Beijing Paralympics: IPC
Russian and Belarusian athletes have now been barred from the Winter Paralympic Games that start in Beijing on Friday.
This follows threats of boycotts by other teams over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said.
The decision comes a day after the IPC gave athletes from the two countries the green light to participate as neutrals, saying that the governing body had followed its rules and that the athletes were not the aggressors.
