Ukrainian official say Russian forces looted civilian vehicles and property, Putin blackmails Europe

Picture Courtesy: The Times

Ukrainian forces said today that withdrawal by Russian forces from northern Kyiv toward the border with Belarus is continuing. They also said that Russian forces have looted civilian vehicles and property.

Russian forces said today that they will reopen the evacuation corridor from the besieged city of Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia on Friday. This comes after the Ukrainian official said that the convoys ran into several issues on Thursday, including Russian troops confiscating aid and blocking buses.

In the military update today, Ukrainian officials also shared that in some areas which were occupied by Russian forces, Ukrainian businesses were asked to deal in Russian roubles.

Vladimir Putin today demand that all the foreign buyers should pay Russia in roubles from Friday or else have their gas supplies cut. This move was rejected by European capitals. This will cause Europe to lose almost third of its gas supply.

Germany, the most heavily reliant on Russia, has already activated an emergency plan that could lead to rationing in Europe’s biggest economy. The German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that what Russia is asking for amounts to “blackmail”.