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March 6, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan, Adam Renton, Amy Woodyatt, Ed Upright, Maureen Chowdhury, Mike Hayes and Alaa Elassar, CNN

Updated 8:07 a.m. ET, March 7, 2022

What we covered here

A Russian military strike hit a civilian evacuation crossing point outside of Kyiv, reportedly killing eight people, including two children, as they tried to flee their homes.
Fears are mounting for Ukrainian civilians trapped in the cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha and Kyiv as the Russian onslaught of besieged cities continues.
Ukraine and Russia will hold a third round of talks Monday, according to negotiators.
At least 1.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, the UN estimates.
Western intelligence officials expect Russia to increase the pace and strength of strikes on key population centers, including the capital, Kyiv. Such an escalation could lead to many civilian casualties, officials warn.
Want to help? Learn how to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine here. Having connection issues? Bookmark CNN's lite site for fast connectivity. You can also read updates at CNN Español here.

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9:41 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Blinken says US is working with European allies to look at “prospect” of banning Russian oil imports

From CNN's Devan Cole

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference in Chisinau, Moldova on March 6. (Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the US is working with its allies in Europe to look into the possibility of banning Russian oil imports in an effort to further punish the country for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

“When it comes to oil, Russian oil, I was on the phone yesterday with the President and other members of the Cabinet on exactly the subject, and we are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil in world markets,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”

“That's a very active discussion as we speak,” Blinken added.

The US has already announced a slew of sanctions against Russia and President Vladimir Putin since the country's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last month. But the unprecedented step of sanctioning its oil exports would likely send prices skyrocketing, dealing a painful blow to consumers around the world as Russia is the world's No. 2 oil producer.

Though the US consumes very little Russian oil -- oil imports from Russia stood at just 90,000 barrels per day in December -- the interconnected global market means supply shocks in one part of the world can impact prices everywhere.

Analysis: Politicians are willing to pay the price of supporting Ukraine as higher gas costs bite consumers

9:35 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

ICRC says Mariupol evacuation attempts today have failed

From CNN Staff

The ICRC tweeted a series of statements on Sunday that evacuation attempts in Mariupol, Ukraine, have failed.

The ICRC wrote the following about evacuation efforts in Twitter posts:

“We are not and cannot be the guarantor of a ceasefire agreement between the parties or of its implementation. As a neutral and impartial humanitarian intermediary, we've been facilitating dialogue between the parties on the safe passage of civilians. Civilians need safety.
Parties need to agree not just in principle but also on the details of safe passages. In particular: *Specific time, locations and evacuation routes *Who may be voluntarily evacuated *Whether aid can be brought in, not just the evacuation of civilians out.
Today, our team began opening up the evacuation route from Mariupol before hostilities resumed. We remain in Mariupol and are ready to help facilitate further attempts – if the parties reach an agreement, which is for them alone to implement and respect.
People in Mariupol and in other places across #Ukraine are living in desperate situations. They must be protected at all times. They are not a target. People urgently need water, food, shelter. The basics of life. We need safety guarantees to be able to bring them aid.”

See their initial tweet here:

8:43 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

A strike on a Ukrainian village wreaks unimaginable human tragedy

From CNN's Gul Tuysuz in Markhalivka

Igor stands in the ruins of his home in Markhalivka, Ukraine. (Gul Tuysuz/CNN)

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its 11th day, a CNN team in Markhalivka, southwest of Kyiv, spoke to a victim of the conflict.

Igor, who is 54, said that his 12-year-old daughter -- who had disabilities and used a wheelchair -- was killed in a strike that hit their village.

Igor's wife, mother-in-law, two sons-in-law and his wife's friend also died. Two of his grandchildren survived the attack, along with his cat, Marsik.

8:26 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Here are the latest developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his compatriots to keep up their resistance against Russian forces, as the invasion enters an 11th day.

Here's what you need to know:

Children killed at checkpoint: Two mortar or artillery shells hit a checkpoint in the suburb of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said, and two children were among the victims.
Civilians trapped: Concern was mounting Sunday for the civilians trapped in the besieged southeastern Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. Mariupol has been without power for five days, is out of water, and mobile networks are down, according to the city's mayor, who on Saturday added that they are unable to recover bodies as Russian strikes bombard the city.
Refugee crisis: More than 1.5 million people have crossed from Ukraine into neighboring countries in 10 days, UN refugee agency commissioner Filippo Grandi said Sunday. In a Twitter post, Grandi called it "the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II."
Russia is preparing to attack port, warns president: In a Facebook address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is preparing to bomb Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine.
Kyiv still rocked by bombardment: Heavy shelling was reported to the west and northwest of Kyiv on Sunday morning. The impact of explosions was heard by CNN teams in Kyiv and in rural areas to the southwest.

8:49 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Convoy of humanitarian aid ready to set out for besieged Mariupol

From CNN's From Tim Lister and Olga Voitovych

Ukrainian authorities say a convoy of buses to evacuate Mariupol residents is to leave the central city of Zaporizhzhya on Sunday.

Officials say the column has assembled in Zaporizhzhya, three hours from Mariupol, a port city of some 400,000 people.

Oleksandr Starukh, head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Military Administration, said there "was an agreement reached yesterday between our side and the other that today there would be a second attempt of humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol. As per the agreement while buses evacuating people go out from Mariupol other buses and humanitarian goods vehicles will move from Zaporizhzhya towards Mariupol."

"We are supposed to accept a group of people from Mariupol in Zaporizhzhya to accommodate them and provide assistance, evacuate some of them further in Ukraine," Starukh said.

Andriy Ignatov, a representative of the Mariupol City Council, said the violence continued Sunday in and around Mariupol.

"The city administration of Mariupol is working on getting the green corridor, our government is working on all levels, so let’s hope that today the whole convoy can make it. Because we were getting ready to do it yesterday, but unfortunately our enemy or opponent did not let us evacuate people, although people were already getting in lines ready to evacuate. I hope today we’ll have a breather that will allow us to evacuate civilians."

8:28 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Vynnytsia airport has been destroyed, says Zelensky

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the airport in Vynnytsia has been destroyed.

Zelensky, on camera in a video posted to Twitter, says: “I was informed just now about a rocket strike against Vynnytsia. 8 rockets.

"Against our peaceful and goodhearted Vynnytsia which has never threatened Russia in any way. A rocket strike - cruel and cynical. The airport has been fully destroyed.”

“They continue to ruin our infrastructure, our life, which we have built, and our parents, and grandparents, many generations of Ukrainians.

We repeat everyday - close the skies over Ukraine. Close to all Russian rockets, all military aviation, for all these terrorists. Please create a humanitarian zone without rockets, without air bombs.
"We are humans, and it’s your humanitarian duty to protect us, protect civilians, and you can do it. If you don’t do it, if you at least don’t give us airplanes so that we could defend ourselves, that the only conclusion remains - you also want us to be very slowly killed."

This is also the responsibility of politicians of the world, Western leaders, from today and forever,” says Zelensky.

Here's some background: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he would consider countries imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participating in the conflict.

“We will immediately consider them as participants in a military conflict, and it doesn't matter members of which organizations they are,” Putin said in a meeting with flight crewmembers of Russian national airlines.

“It is impossible to do it, on the very territory of Ukraine, it's possible only from the territory of some neighboring states. But any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict,” Putin added.

Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly pleaded with NATO and Western officials to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that a no-fly zone is not an option being considered by the alliance.

8:42 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Turkey’s Erdogan tells Putin that an urgent ceasefire would ease humanitarian problems and pave the way for political solution

From Isil Sariyuce in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “an urgent general ceasefire would not only ease the humanitarian concerns in the region, but also provide an opportunity to seek a political solution,” and urged Putin to “pave the way for peace together," in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan said that Turkey “stood ready to make all kinds of contributions for the Ukraine problem to be resolved as soon as possible by peaceful means.”

Erdogan emphasized the importance of “urgent steps to achieve a ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors, and sign a peace agreement,” according to the readout released by Turkish presidency.

The Turkish president mentioned that he was in constant contact with the Ukrainian side and other countries and added “he would continue his efforts for comprehensive negotiations to be held, and to achieve results.”

Ukrainian president Zelensky tweeted on Friday that he is having regular talks with Erdogan, and he is: “Grateful to Turkey for the consistent support. Informed about the ongoing aggression and nuclear terrorism on the part of the Russian Federation. We must achieve an end to hostilities.”

8:09 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

Zelensky says Russia is preparing to bomb Odessa

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia is preparing to bomb Odessa, a strategically important port city on Ukraine's Black Sea coast.

“Russian people always used to come to Odessa and they only knew warmth and generosity and what’s now? Artillery, bombs against Odessa. This will be a war crime. This will be historic crime”, Zelensky said in a broadcast address on Facebook.

Switching from speaking Ukrainian to Russian, Zelensky appealed to the Russian people to make a choice “between life and slavery.”

People of Russia … this is the time when you can still win over the evil,” he said.

“We are Ukrainians. We need peace. We want peace. And for Russian citizens it's not only the fight for peace in Ukraine but for your peace and for your freedom. You used to see it. You knew prosperity…If you will be silent now, then only your poverty will speak for you”, Zelensky continued.

'We will defend Odessa': Young Ukraine child joins defense preps against Russians - CNN Video

8:20 a.m. ET, March 6, 2022

"War is madness," says Pope Francis, calling for peace in Ukraine

From CNN's Delia Gallagher in Rome

Pope Francis speaks from his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, on Sunday, March 6. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Speaking on Sunday during the Angelus address from his window on St. Peter’s Square, Francis said that the Vatican is willing to do “everything” it can for peace in Ukraine.

Francis said he has sent two cardinals to Ukraine to assist humanitarian efforts, “not only as a sign of the presence of the Pope,” Francis said, “but of all people who want to say ‘war is madness, please stop, look at this cruelty!'”

The Pope called for a “return to respecting international law” and urged that evacuation corridors be opened so civilians can escape the conflict.

In Ukraine a river of blood and tears is flowing,” the Pope said. “It is not just a military operation but a war which creates death and destruction!”

Francis also thanked journalists who “risked their lives” to report on the war.

“Thank you brothers and sisters,” he said to journalists, “for this service which allows us to be near the drama of the people and to see the cruelty of war.”