Day 22 of the war: Hecatomb

Bombardment of Mariupol has intensified, with Russia destroying a theater, where hundreds of civilians had taken shelter. Russia has shifted the blame onto Ukraine’s Azov battalion, for which there is no evidence presented.

The attacks on Kyiv have also intensified, as multiple civilian buildings were hit by Russian rockets.

Russia has been ordered to cease its military operations in Ukraine by the UN’s highest court. Although the court’s decisions are binding, Russia is unlikely to abide by them.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s chief, has stated that the military alliance is going to deploy “substantially more forces” on its east flank. Forces are going to be sent primarily to Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, and Czechia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the US to provide additional military assistance, which would include a no-fly zone. He also urged for further sanctions against Russia.

Joe Biden has expressed his “unprecedented” support for Ukraine, announcing $1 billion in new security aid. He has also announced the deployment of drones and longer-ranged weapons to Ukraine.

People are disappearing in regions, occupied by Russia. Tens of bloggers, journalists, activists, and others have vanished without a trace in the occupied areas in Southern Ukraine.

Russia has become the most sanctioned nation in history, setting new records on a daily basis.

According to the UNHCR refugee agency, more than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.