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 Russia says it is now not hitting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.

 Evidence shows in any other case

Firefighters extinguish a hearth in a excessive-upward push condominium block which changed into hit with the aid of current shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26.

Firefighters extinguish a fire in a high-upward push condo block which was hit with the aid of recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty images)

On Friday, Russia's overseas minister Sergey Lavrov sought to reassure the world approximately civilian casualties an afternoon after Moscow had ordered an invasion of Ukraine.

"no person goes to attack the human beings of Ukraine," he stated all through a heated press conference, telling CNN that there were "no strikes on civilian infrastructure."

However, reports approximately condo buildings and kindergartens being shelled, civilians being killed, and rockets being found in residential streets were trickling in seeing that the start of the offensive.

Social media videos, photographs and satellite tv for pc snap shots analyzed and geolocated by CNN verify that on several activities densely populated areas have been hit by using Russian forces. CNN is achieving out to the Russian government for comment.

Amnesty global, in a press release on Friday, accused Russian forces of "indiscriminate assaults on civilian areas and moves on protected objects consisting of hospitals," mentioning three examples, together with an attack on Thursday close to a medical institution constructing in Vuhledar, inside the japanese Donetsk area. That assault killed four civilians and wounded 10 more, Amnesty pronounced.

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Russia says it's no longer hitting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Proof indicates in any other case

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Russia says it is not hitting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Evidence shows otherwise

16 min ago

Sanctions will take a look at Russia's "fortress" financial system

Analysis through Charles Riley, CNN enterprise

Vladimir Putin has been expecting the West.

Because 2014, while the us and its Western allies imposed sanctions on Moscow following the annexation of Crimea and the downing of Malaysian airways Flight 17, Russia's president has been looking to build an economy capable of withstanding a lot more difficult consequences. 

The West this week stored a number of its sanctions firepower in reserve after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. However, the measures that had been announced through the us, the eu Union and the UK will put Russia's "fort financial system" to the take a look at.

Worry of what sanctions may do despatched Russian shares crashing 33% on Thursday. They've given that recovered a number of those losses, but the ruble continues to trade near record lows towards the dollar and the euro. 

Russia's $1.Five trillion financial system is the sector's 11th biggest, simply in the back of South Korea. In view that 2014, its gross domestic product has barely grown and its people have gotten poorer. The price of the ruble has additionally tumbled, shrinking the fee of the Russian economy with the aid of $800 billion. 

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Analysis: Sanctions will put Russia's 'castle' financial system to the test

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Analysis: Sanctions will put Russia's 'fortress' economic system to the check

33 min ago

Bridge which connects Russian-held areas to Ukraine enveloped in smoke

From CNN's Nick Paton Walsh in Kherson, Ukraine

The sound of shelling influences hit around the city of Kherson, Ukraine, north of the Crimean peninsula, from 8 a.M.

Via eleven a.M. The bridge -- which connects Russian-held regions to Ukraine -- become protected in smoke from the grass around it that had stuck fireplace.

Shelling endured from side to side, and a CNN crew should see thru the smoke obvious armored motors at the bridge shifting toward the Ukrainian aspect. CNN became not able to verify who they belong to.

Forty five min ago

Zelensky tweets it is time to decide on Ukraine's club in the eu

From CNN's Eric Cheung in Taipei, Taiwan and Joseph Ataman in ParisOn this photograph supplied through the Ukrainian Presidential Press office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the nation via his cellphone inside the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26. 

On this image supplied through the Ukrainian Presidential Press workplace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the state via his telephone inside the middle of Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26. (Ukrainian Presidential Press workplace/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated it is now a "important second" to decide on his country's club within the eu Union, in a tweet on Saturday.

"it's far a crucial moment to close the long-status dialogue as soon as and for all and decide on Ukraine's club inside the #european. Discussed with @eucopresident similarly effective help and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their loose future," a tweet on his tested Twitter page said.

Defiant words: earlier Saturday because the conflict for Kyiv endured, Zelensky took to the social media platform a number of times to submit updates.

In a single forty-2d video titled "do not accept as true with the fakes," the president said: "i'm right here. We are not setting down palms. We are able to be protecting our usa, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our usa, our children, and we can protect all of this.

"that is it. It's all I desired to tell you. Glory to Ukraine," he introduced.

In a separate tweet on Saturday morning, he also stated: "a brand new day on the diplomatic frontline started with a communique with @EmmanuelMacron. Guns and device from our partners are at the way to Ukraine. The anti-battle coalition is working!"

French guide: French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday warned that the struggle in Ukraine and the disaster round it “will remaining” as he predicted affects on meals markets. "If i will inform you one thing this morning, it's miles that this struggle will remaining," Macron advised France's annual agriculture honest."This disaster will closing, this battle will ultimate and all the crises that include it'll have lasting outcomes," Macron delivered, caution: "We should be prepared.

“French and Europeans, we can be there,” he stated, “to construct quick and medium-time period responses to attempt to completely secure our power.”

The president said that the disaster’ “impact on our lives” will even increase to the arena of farmers and food, with out supplying in addition info.