Russia has ramped up war efforts, and President Putin has ordered his country's deterrence forces — including nuclear arms — be placed on high alert.
CNNCanada announced new sanctions Wednesday against 10 individuals from two Russian energy companies, Rosneft and Gazprom, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The measures aim to put more pressure on Russia’s leadership to stop the war, according to a news release from Canada’s Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.“Canada’s support for Ukraine and its people is unwavering,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said in the release. And, basically, Mom, go to the military registration and enlistment office and start getting together the Council of Soldiers' Mothers so that they would get our people out of here, those who are fighting in Ukraine."The Ukrainian soldier added, "We will not touch him because I am half Russian and Ukrainian." Canada's Embassy in China put up a banner supporting Ukraine. It was vandalized within a dayEarlier this week, the Canadian Embassy in Beijing put up at least two banners outside its building in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, bearing the words "We support Ukraine." The embassy tweeted a photo of the banners on Tuesday, with the caption, "Stand with Ukraine."By Wednesday night, one of the banners had been vandalized by graffiti using expletive language against NATO, as seen by a CNN producer in Beijing. It's unknown if any arrests have been made in connection with the incident. "We have companies that give for free medications, even give salaries in advance ... Even in 2014 (during the annexation of Crimea) there were people who sympathized with Putin. But now, nobody would meet him with bread and breakfast ... People are very united, and they say they come to save Ukrainians."Canada's Prime Minister offers further support for Ukraine in call with President ZelenskyCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, during which he expressed solidarity and offered further support for the Ukrainian people, according to a statement from Trudeau's office. This is in addition to the $10 million of humanitarian support already pledged, the ministry said.The ministers agreed to ensure the safety of nationals of both countries in Ukraine and South Korea. Seoul has granted stay extensions for Ukrainians in the East Asian country.Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in southern city of MykolaivUkrainian forces captured several Russian troops on Wednesday in the southern city of Mykolaiv, where fierce fighting broke out in recent days, according to the region's governor and a member of Ukraine's Parliament pictured with the captured soldiers.Roman Kostenko, a lawmaker and secretary of the Parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, told CNN that a reconnaissance unit of the Russian GRU’s 10th brigade had been intercepted on the outskirts of Mykolaiv.“We encircled them and they gave themselves up. South Korea is relocating its embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv to a "safe area," the country's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday as Russian troops step up their assault on the Ukrainian capital.The ministry did not disclose the embassy’s destination, citing safety reasons. Russia would be held "accountable for its unjustifiable and illegal invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory," Trudeau said.According to the statement, the two leaders discussed ways in which Canada could continue to support Ukraine in the immediate future.1 million refugees have fled Ukraine in a week, UN saysPeople fleeing war-torn Ukraine get food, clothing and toiletries at Hauptbahnhof main railway station in Berlin, Germany, on March 2. And though they walked 8 miles with a newborn, many people across Ukraine are "walking so much further than that in order to get to the border," Jessie said. A Russian military convoy was also seen on a nearby roadway.Burned remains of Russian military vehicles in a residential area in Bucha. (Maxar Technologies)The satellite images also show the burned remains of Russian military vehicles in a residential area in Bucha, a town outside of Kyiv. On Sunday, Ukrainian officials claimed they had thwarted the advance of a Russian column in Bucha. A large impact crater is seen in Sukachi. (Maxar Technologies)In Sukachi, a small town 70 kilometers (about 43.5 miles) northwest of Kyiv, a large impact crater is seen in the middle of a roadway, with houses nearby appearing significantly damaged.A line of people is seen outside a grocery store in Kyiv. (Maxar Technologies)The images also captured scenes of daily life amid the war in both Chernihiv and Kyiv, with dozens of people lining up outside supermarkets.Mother sheltering in Kyiv: Despite "constant fear," Ukrainians are "united like never before"Olena Gnes is sheltering with her children in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. (CNN)Olena Gnes has been hiding in a basement in Kyiv with her three children, the youngest only a few months old, since the Russian invasion began, while her husband fights to defend Ukraine.On Wednesday, she took advantage of the relative quiet to bring her children home for a quick shower and to stock up on supplies before returning to the shelter. "We've been in the Soviet Union, there was nothing good for us Ukrainians in the Soviet Union — and we will not want to come back," she said.But, she added, as Ukraine's forces push back hard against Russian troops, people's spirits have risen with the resistance." We decided that it was going to be the warmest part of the day, and the only opportunity to make it to the border before nightfall would be to get out and walk," Jacob told CNN on Wednesday. "Our biggest concern, with our daughter being 4 days old, was hypothermia. When they finally got to the border, it was chaos, with "thousands and thousands of people, all kind of packed on top of one another trying to exit the country," Jacob said.Since women and children are being prioritized, Jessie and the baby were able to get to the front of the line and enter Poland, with Jacob crossing separately hours later.The family is now safely home in California, but they're aware how lucky their escape was. Homes on fire in the village of Rivnopillya. (Maxar Technologies)The images show homes on fire in the village of Rivnopillya in the Chernhiv region, roughly 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) north of the capital, Kyiv. Dozens of impact craters can be seen dotting the fields surrounding the village.In Chernihiv, a bridge across the Stryzhen River appears to have been destroyed, while residential buildings and a factory nearby seem to have sustained damage.