March 14, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Aditi Sangal, Melissa Macaya, Helen Regan, Steve George, Amy Woodyatt, Ben Church, Ed Upright, Maureen Chowdhury and Jason Kurtz, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, March 15, 2022
32 Posts
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9:07 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

China and Russia deny allegations that Moscow requested military assistance from Beijing

From CNN’s Beijing Bureau 

Russia and China have denied allegations that Moscow requested military assistance in Ukraine from Beijing.

Two US officials told CNN Sunday that Russia has asked China for military support, including drones, as well as economic assistance for its unprovoked invasion.

Speaking Monday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news conference the US was “peddling disinformation."

“Recently, the US side has been peddled disinformation against China on the Ukraine issue with sinister intentions,” Lijian said when asked about the Russian request for help.
“China’s position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and we have been playing a constructive role in promoting peace talks. It is imperative for all parties to exercise restraint and cool down the tension, rather than adding fuel to the fire; it’s important to push for a diplomatic solution, rather than further escalating the situation.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also dismissed the allegations on Monday, saying, “Russia has an independent potential to continue the operation.”

8:36 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

2 killed and 10 injured in shelling of Mykolaiv village

From CNN’s Natalie Gallón, Nick Paton Walsh, and journalist Maryna Marukhnych

At least two people were killed and 10 others were injured during shelling on Monday in Snihurivka, located on the outskirts of Mykolaiv, according to the town’s community group post on Facebook. 

Three civilians and seven military personnel were wounded and being treated in a hospital, the Snihurivka United Territorial Community added.

The strategic maritime city of Mykolaiv has been witnessing a fierce battle against Russian aggression for days as they fight for control of the city.

Both bridges leading into Mykolaiv were raised Monday morning, according to CNN’s team on the ground, closing the main routes in and out of city as Russian presence is currently active in the north and southeast regions, essentially encircling it. 

The bridge leading west to Odessa has now come down.

8:32 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

Ukrainian foreign minister reissues call for international companies to leave Russia

From CNN’s Sarah Dean

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has reissued Ukrainian calls for international companies to leave Russia and for governments and companies to stop buying Russian coal and gas, which he described as "soaked in Ukrainian blood."

In a briefing regarding sanctions on the Russian economy on Monday, Kuleba described Russia as "on the brink of default and economic collapse" as he urged for new sanctions and decisions to increase pressure.

"At the moment we are on the brink of introducing a fourth round of sanctions from the European Union," Kuleba said.

"We are working to get European Union countries to give up Russian energy sources. A particular problem is Germany, for which this is a very difficult decision but we are working with them," he added.

Kuleba said Ukraine is also discussing with Germany the issue of switching off Russian banks from SWIFT, a messaging service that connects financial institutions around the world.

"International business must leave Russia — both for moral and pragmatic considerations," Kuleba demanded, in the online briefing.  

 

8:16 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

One killed and six wounded after shelling hits Kyiv residential building, say authorities

From Tim Lister in Kyiv and Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong

In this photo released by Ukrainian State Emergency Service press service, firefighters evacuate an elderly woman from an apartment building hit by shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 14.
In this photo released by Ukrainian State Emergency Service press service, firefighters evacuate an elderly woman from an apartment building hit by shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 14. (Ukrainian State Emergency Service/AP)

Ukrainian emergency services revised the number of people killed and injured as a result of shelling of a residential building in a Kyiv suburb on Monday, saying one person – not two – was killed, and six were injured, of whom five needed to be hospitalized.

“Rescuers who arrived on the scene found that as a result of enemy shelling between residential five- and 10-storey buildings, a fire broke out in two apartments on the third and fourth floors of a 5-storey residential building,” rescue services said. 

Emergency services rescued 15 people and 63 were evacuated after a shell hit the ninth floor of a residential building in the Obolon district, a northern suburb of the Ukrainian capital.

The fire was extinguished around 7:58 am local time Monday morning. Search operations continue. 

Meanwhile, Russian airstrikes hit a large military base near the western city of Lviv, killing 35 people and leaving more than 130 in hospital, and fierce fighting continues across Ukraine.

8:13 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

UK to launch a "no cap" plan to host Ukrainian refugees

From CNN's Duarte Mendonca

The UK is launching the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme where anyone considering opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees can register their interest online, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Monday.

Speaking in an interview on BBC Breakfast, Javid explained that the hosting scheme — due to go live Monday — is a collaboration with “a number of charities on the ground” that will hope to support as many refugees as possible, giving them the right to remain for a period of three years.

“Michael Gove (The UK Secretary of State for Levelling UP) will be making a statement in Parliament later today setting out the details and there's no cap on the number of people that we can support," Javid said.

"I'm pleased that we're doing this because as a country, we have a very proud record of offering sanctuary to people from wars and from conflicts and it's right that we respond in this way,” he added.

Javid said more details would be disclosed later but added that the refugees would be granted the right to work and English lessons would be provided.

It is not yet clear how those willing to host would connect with the refugees.

CNN reached out to the Department for Levelling Up to get further details but were told more information would be revealed later on Monday.

8:24 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

Mother and baby injured in Mariupol maternity hospital bombing have both died, their surgeon confirms

From Tim Lister in Kyiv and Olga Voitovych

Ukrainian emergency employees and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from the maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9. It has now been confirmed that both mother and baby have died.
Ukrainian emergency employees and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from the maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9. It has now been confirmed that both mother and baby have died. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

The surgeon who tried to save the life of the woman rescued from last week's hospital bombing in Mariupol, as well as her newborn baby, has confirmed that both died.

The surgeon, Timur Marin, told Ukrainian television from the city:

"While she was being resuscitated and the anti-shock measures were being taken, we performed a caesarean section and took a child with no signs of life. The child's resuscitation for more than half an hour did not work. Resuscitation of the mother for half an hour or more -- without any results. They both died."

Some background: The Associated Press reported earlier that the pregnant woman had died, along with her baby.

An AP image of emergency workers carrying the injured pregnant woman on a stretcher outside the bombed hospital last Wednesday had been widely reported, including by CNN.

As CNN earlier reported, at least three people died in the attack Wednesday, which came despite Russia agreeing to a 12-hour pause in hostilities to allow refugees to evacuate.

At the time, the Mariupol city council accused Russian forces of dropping several bombs on it from the air, calling the destruction "enormous."

7:52 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

Israel will "not be a route to bypass" Russian sanctions, says minister of Foreign Affairs

From CNN’s Hadas Gold

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid pledged on Monday that Israel will not be used as a way for Russians to bypass Western sanctions.

Speaking in Slovakia, Lapid reiterated Israel’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding Israel will “do everything it can to assist mediation efforts.”

“Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other western countries," Lapid said.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the issue together with partners including the Bank of Israel, the Finance Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Airports Authority, the Energy Ministry, and others.”

Lapid’s comments come two days after the US State Department's undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, called on Israel to implement sanctions.

Speaking to Israeli news Channel 12 on Friday, Nuland said they are asking “for every democracy to join us in the financial and export control sanctions that we have put on Putin.”

“We asking that of Israel as well. Among other things, you don't want to become the last haven for dirty money that's fueling Putin's wars,” she added.

7:42 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

Strike hits facility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities near Kyiv, says regional council

From CNN's Ivana Kottasová in Lviv

A Russian strike has hit a residential facility housing people with with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health conditions near Kyiv, according to a statement from the Kyiv Region Council.

The council said two strikes hit the Pushcha-Vodicʹkomu care home on Sunday, one destroying the boiler room and hitting the mortuary.

The residential building was also damaged in the attack, the council said, adding that at the time of the strikes, staff and the resident of the facilities had been evacuated to a safe place.

7:27 a.m. ET, March 14, 2022

Missile strike in Donetsk causes multiple casualties

From Tim Lister in Kyiv, Celine Alkhaldi, Katie Polglase and Julia Kesa

Images and video uploaded from the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine Monday morning show multiple casualties from what appears to have been a missile strike on the city.

Donetsk is held by Russian-backed separatist forces and is the capital of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 

The videos, geolocated by CNN, show that there were at least several fatalities on a main street in the city center as well as a large number of injured.

Remnants of the missile can be seen at the scene. Where it came from and who fired it are still unclear. 

“At the moment, we can talk about the largest number of civilian casualties as a result of a single strike," the leader of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, told Russian television.

"Around 20 people [died], but the number is being updated” he told Russia 24, calling it a “war crime.”

A local news agency quoted the Headquarters of the Territorial Defense of the DPR as giving the same figure.

The People's Militia of the DPR accused the Ukrainian side of launching the missile, saying, “The Ukrainian armed formations once again used the tactical missile system 'Tochka-U' in the residential areas of Donetsk, in order to [cause] genocide [to] civilians and destroy important civilian infrastructure in the capital of the Republic."

The Ukrainian armed forces have the Tochka missile but it has also been used by Russian and separatist forces in the past. CNN has reached out to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for comment.

Pushilin separately told the Russian state television network Russia-1, "We managed to shoot down the tactical missile system Tochka-U , but even the wreckage did so much damage."

"The worst is the loss of civilian lives. People were standing in line for the ATM, at the bus stop," he added.

Separately, the health ministry of the DPR spoke of 23 injured being admitted to hospital.