The New Arab's live coverage of the latest from the Russian invasion of Ukraine concludes for today.

Here are the key developments from Thursday and early on Friday.

Sinking of Moskva warship 'big blow' to Russia

The sinking of the warship Moskva on Thursday after it was engulfed in an inferno was a "big blow" to Russia's naval strength in the Black Sea, the Pentagon said.

Ukraine says Moskva was hit in a rocket attack while Russia's defence ministry said a "fire broke out after ammunition exploded", adding that the damage this caused meant the ship sank "given the choppy seas" when it was being towed away.

Explosions heard in Kyiv

Explosions were heard early on Friday in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, in addition to the southern city of Kherson, the eastern city of Kharkiv and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, according to local media.

The explosions in Kyiv appeared to be among the most significant in Ukraine's capital region since Russian troops pulled back from the area earlier this month in preparation for battles in the south and east.

Canada sending up to 150 troops to Poland to help refugees

Canada is sending up to 150 troops on a humanitarian mission to Poland to support its massive influx of Ukrainians who fled Russia's brutal invasion of their country, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand announced.

Only 100 of the total number of troops assigned to the mission will be deployed immediately, Anand told a news conference at Trenton Air Force Base in Ontario, adding that they will "assist Poland's efforts to support and care for Ukrainians fleeing violence."

Ukraine parliament backs 'genocide' resolution

Ukraine's parliament backed a resolution acknowledging the Russian military's actions in the country as "genocide".

"The actions committed by the armed forces of Russia are not just a crime of aggression, but pursue the goal of the systematic and consistent destruction of the Ukrainian people, their identity and the deprivation of their right to self-determination and independent development," the text approved by a majority of 363 lawmakers said.

It comes after US President Joe Biden previously labelled Moscow's military aggression of Ukraine as "genocide". He went on to call President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal", accusing him of "trying to wipe out the idea of even being Ukrainian".

Prisoner-swap deal

Ukrainian authorities said that 30 prisoners of war were being returned to the country as part of the most recent exchange of captives with Russia, which was ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Five officers and 17 servicemen were exchanged. Also eight civilians, including one woman, were released. In total, 30 of our citizens are going home today," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement on social media.

Russia officials accuse Ukraine of conducting strikes in Russia

Russian officials accused Ukraine of carrying out at least six airstrikes in a town in Russia's southern Bryansk region, situated 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the border, injuring seven people, including a toddler.

Ukraine's national security and defence council on social media alleged Russia that had staged "terror attacks" on its own soil to stir up resentment against Ukrainians.

Russia's accusation followed its threat on Wednesday to strike command centres in Kyiv if Ukraine's military launched attacks on Russian territory.

UK Government sanctions Chelsea Football Club director Tenenbaum

Chelsea Football Club's director Eugene Tenenbaum has been sanctioned by the British government in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Tenenbaum will be subject to an asset freeze as well as transport sanctions meaning that any ship or aircraft owned, chartered, controlled or operated by him could be detained should it enter the UK.

Ukraine football team to resume World Cup play-off in June

Ukraine's bid to qualify for the Word Cup will resume on 1 June against Scotland after its playoff semi-final in Glasgow was postponed in March due to Russia’s invasion of the country.

The playoff winner will go into a group at the World Cup in November with England, the United States and Iran.

(The New Arab, Reuters, agencies)

G20 meeting: Japan makes no comment on Russia but confirms attendance

Japan is attending a G20 finance ministers' meeting next week, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Friday, as Western nations called for expulsion of Russia from the forum and boycotting sessions where Moscow is represented.

"The Japanese government is not in the position to respond to each country's participation," Suzuki told a press conference when asked about Russia's plans to join the forum online, which current G20 president Indonesia announced on Thursday.

The upcoming G20 meeting "is a very important conference to discuss various issues of the global economy, including rising food and energy prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine… where participation of each country's finance minister and central bank governor is basically expected," Suzuki said.

Meanwhile, Japan "will take appropriate steps in close cooperation with G7 allies and the host country Indonesia" based on a March G7 leaders' statement that said international platforms should not continue relations with Russia in a business as usual manner, Suzuki said.

(Reuters)

Ukraine says 2,557 people evacuated on Thursday

A total of 2,557 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

Of that, 289 people evacuated from the besieged southern port of Mariupol by their own transport, Vereshchuk said in social media post.

(Reuters)

Powerful explosions heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine cities

While details remain limited, we now know that powerful explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, in addition to the southern city of Kherson, the eastern city of Kharkiv and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, according to local media.

The explosions in Kyiv appeared to be among the most significant in Ukraine's capital region since Russian troops pulled back from the area earlier this month in preparation for battles in the south and east.

There were no immediate reports of damage following the explosions, though Ukrainian media said there were electricity outages in parts of Kyiv.

There has been no official confirmation of the explosions.

Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.

(Reuters)

'Explosions reported' in capital Kyiv and surrounding areas

After earlier reports of air raid sirens across Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent says there have been "explosions reported" in the capital Kyiv and surrounding areas already on Friday.

⚡️Explosions reported in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast early on April 15.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 14, 2022

US prepares news efforts to crack down on Russia sanctions evasion

The United States is preparing new efforts to crack down on sanctions evasion by Russia, President Joe Biden's national security adviser says.

"Where our focus will be over the course of the coming days is on evasion," says national security adviser Jake Sullivan in an interview at the Economic Club of Washington.

"I think we'll have some announcements in the next week or two that identify targets that are trying to facilitate that evasion both inside Russia and beyond," he says, without giving details on the coming plans.

But Sullivan did say that Washington has no desire to give back yachts and other assets seized from people they see as oligarchs with ties to Putin.

"The president is actively looking at how we can deal with the fact that as we seize these assets, our goal is not to give them back," he says.

"Our goal is to put them to a better use than that. But I'll be careful in what I say today because there's an ongoing - kind of - policy process around how we end up dealing with that question. But rest assured that the goal is not just to sit on them for a while and then pass them all back."

(Reuters)

Sinking of Moskva warship 'big blow' to Russian naval strength in Black Sea: Pentagon

The sinking of the warship Moskva on Thursday after it was engulfed in an inferno was a "big blow" to Russia's naval strength in the Black Sea, the Pentagon says.

The guided missile cruiser sank in rough seas after being damaged by fire during Russia's military operation in Ukraine, according to Moscow's defence ministry, though Ukraine says the ship had been hit in a rocket attack.

"This is a big blow to the Black Sea fleet, this is... a key part of their efforts to execute some sort of naval dominance in the Black Sea," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN.

"This is going to have an effect on their capabilities."

Kirby says the United States could not confirm the exact cause of the ship's demise.

"We're also not in any position to refute the Ukrainian side of this," he adds. "It's certainly plausible and possible that they did in fact hit this with a Neptune missile or maybe more."

It comes as journalist Olga Tokariuk says Ukraine is experiencing "air raid alerts almost all over" the country not long after midnight local time on Friday.

Air raid alerts almost all over Ukraine's territory now. The sinking of Moskva ship obviously wasn't well received in Moscow

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) April 14, 2022

Russia says Black Sea flagship Moskva has sunk

Russia's guided missile cruiser Moskva has sunk in the Black Sea after being damaged during Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Russia's defence ministry said late on Thursday.

"While being towed… towards the destined port, the vessel lost its balance due to damage sustained in the hull as fire broke out after ammunition exploded. Given the choppy seas, the vessel sank," the state news agency TASS quoted the ministry as saying.

French embassy to return to Kyiv from Lviv in Ukraine's west

France says its embassy in Ukraine will return to the capital Kyiv from the western city of Lviv, where it had been relocated in early March after the Russian invasion.

"This redeployment will happen very soon and will allow France to deepen its backing for Ukraine even further in all spheres to face the war unleashed by Russia on February 24," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine: Canada sending 150 troops to Poland to help refugees fleeing Russian invasion

Canada is sending up to 150 troops on a humanitarian mission to Poland to support its massive influx of Ukrainians who fled Russia's brutal invasion of their country, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Thursday.

Only 100 of the total number of troops assigned to the mission will be deployed immediately, Anand told a news conference at Trenton Air Force Base in Ontario, adding that they will "assist Poland's efforts to support and care for Ukrainians fleeing violence."

The soldiers, who are fluent in Ukrainian, are to be sent to frontline reception centres across Poland to "provide general support, spiritual services and limited medical care," she said.

They will also support a Poland-led humanitarian task force, and help resettle Ukrainians in Canada.

Ukraine parliament backs resolution acknowledging Russia military actions as 'genocide'

Ukraine's parliament on Thursday backed a resolution acknowledging the Russian military's actions in the country as "genocide".

"The actions committed by the armed forces of Russia are not just a crime of aggression, but pursue the goal of the systematic and consistent destruction of the Ukrainian people, their identity and the deprivation of their right to self-determination and independent development," the text approved by a majority of 363 lawmakers said.

US president Joe Biden also labelled Moscow's military aggression of Ukraine as "genocide", and went on to call President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal", accusing him of "trying to wipe out the idea of even being Ukrainian".

Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron, who has advanced to the French elections' second round, declined to label Russia's actions as such, saying that "an esclation of words" would not bring peace.

UK government sanctions Chelsea Football Club director Tenenbaum

Chelsea Football Club's director Eugene Tenenbaum has been sanctioned by the British government in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Tenenbaum will be subject to an asset freeze as well as transport sanctions meaning that any ship or aircraft owned, chartered, controlled or operated by him could be detained should it enter the UK.

Britain also imposed sanctions on David Davidovich, an associate of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, confirming that he would be issued an asset freeze, travel bans as well as transport sanctions.

Both men have been sanctioned due to close relations with Chelsea Football Club director Abramovich, who was already sanctioned over Russia's invasion of Ukraine amongst several other Russian oligarchs. Abramovich was also disqualified as the club’s director.

Two of Abramovich's close business associates Eugene Tenenbaum and David Davidovich are sanctioned in the U.K. freezing assets of around £10 billion.

— Max Colchester (@MaximColch) April 14, 2022

Ukraine football team to resume World Cup play-off in June

Ukraine's bid to qualify for the Word Cup will resume on 1 June against Scotland after its playoff semi-final in Glasgow was postponed in March due to Russia’s invasion of the country.

The playoff winner will go into a group at the World Cup in November with England, the United States and Iran.

The World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar, for the first time in the Middle East region.

"FIFA would like to thank all of the parties involved for the strong spirit of solidarity and cooperation that has led to this unanimous decision," the world football’s governing body said in a statement.

Most of the Ukraine squad is typically drawn from domestic clubs Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk.

NEW: Scotland to face Ukraine on June 1 in World Cup play-off with winner to play Wales on June 5 for place in the finals, FIFA has announced pic.twitter.com/hJ0v5W9Otz

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 14, 2022

Ukraine carried out 'at least six airstrikes' on Russian border town: officials

[Updated: 05:59 BST on Friday, 15 April]

Russian officials accused Ukraine of carrying out at least six airstrikes in a town in Russia's southern Bryansk region, situated 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the border, injuring seven people, including a toddler.

Ukraine's national security and defence council on social media alleged Russia that had staged "terror attacks" on its own soil to stir up resentment against Ukrainians.

Russia's accusation followed its threat on Wednesday to strike command centres in Kyiv if Ukraine's military launched attacks on Russian territory.

Russia has made a series of allegations of attacks on border areas by Ukrainian forces in recent weeks, including by a strike on a fuel depot in the city of Belgorod earlier this month.

(Reuters, agencies)

30 people returned from Russia to Ukraine in prison swap deal

Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday that 30 prisoners of war were being returned to the country as part of the most recent exchange of captives with Russia, which was ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Five officers and 17 servicemen were exchanged. Also eight civilians, including one woman, were released. In total, 30 of our citizens are going home today," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement on social media.

⚡️ 30 Ukrainian prisoners of war released in new exchange.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that 17 soldiers, five officers, and eight civilians were released from Russian captivity.

Vereshchuk didn’t disclose the number of prisoners of war sent back to Russia.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 14, 2022

Earlier, the defence ministry announced that two military pilots captured by Moscow's forces last month and held in Russia had been released, without giving any additional details.

It was not immediately clear whether the pilots were part of the exchange announced by Vereshchuk.

Calling Russian action in Ukraine genocide 'would be verbal escalation': Macron

France’s President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that employing the word "genocide" concerning Russia's actions in Ukraine has the possibility to lead to "verbal escalation" that would obstruct his efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.

"Words have a meaning and it is necessary to be careful because my role is to help bring peace or at least to stop this war," Macron said in an interview with France Bleu radio, adding that he wanted to avoid verbal escalation.

Currently, President Macron has advanced to the second round of the 2022 French elections, where the war in Ukraine served as a "political backdrop" during election bids.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Wednesday accused President Vladimir Putin of ‘genocide’ in Ukraine, following Moscow’s military aggression on Kyiv, where more than 2,000 people have been killed. Biden said that Putin was "trying to wipe out the idea of being Ukrainian".

Russia fires missiles in Sea of Japan amid Ukraine stance tension

Russian submarines have launched cruise missiles in the Sea of Japan during exercises amid tensions over Tokyo’s support of Ukraine, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry announced two submarines off far eastern Russia, the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Volkov, fired Kalibr cruise missiles from underwater at a target.

It posted video footage of the missiles rising out of the sea as the submarine crews simulated coming under missile attack.

Japan, who shares a border with Russia, joined Western countries’ efforts to sanction Moscow, and has received several hundred Ukrainians refugees, as well as delivering non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.

Last Friday, Tokyo declared a fresh wave of sanctions including a ban on Russian coal, a significant energy import, as well as the expulsion of eight Russian diplomats over "war crimes" in Ukraine.

Moscow to investigate 'torture' Russian servicemen in Ukraine 

The Russian Investigative Committee said on Thursday it was opening criminal cases into Ukrainian servicemen's alleged torture of Russian soldiers as Moscow continues its military aggression in Kyiv, reported Reuters.

The committee, which investigates major crimes, said some Russian soldiers had were taken away by Ukrainian forces in the Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv regions and held illegally by Kyiv’s security service.

"Russians were subjected to physical violence and torture in order to force them to give false explanations about the actual conditions of their illegal detention on the premises of the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as on (Russia's) special military operation," it said in a statement.

The committee’s comments could not be independently verified.

Ukraine stated that it authenticates information concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and confirmed that it will probe into any violations and take appropriate legal action.

Russia launched an offensive on Ukraine on 24 February, where more than 2,000 people, mostly civilians have been killed.

Kharkiv governor: Four killed, 10 injured
 

The governor of Ukraine's Kharkiv region said four civilians were killed and 10 wounded during Russian shelling of the city of Kharkiv on Thursday, reported Reuters.

Oleh Synyegubov's comments could be immediately verified.

In a statement, the governor also urged residents of some towns to evacuate since as military operations are expected to take place in the area.

EU shuts loophole permitting million-euro arms sales to Russia

The European Union has put an end a loophole that allowed EU governments to export weapons worth tens of millions of euros to Russia last year alone despite an embargo which was introduced in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, reported the Associate Press.

The EU has imposed five rounds of sweeping sanctions banning exports to Russia of a large variety of technology that could be used by the defence industry, in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s military aggression in Ukraine.

EU countries last year sold weapons and ammunition worth 39 million euros ($42.3 million) to Moscow, according to the latest data made available by the EU Commission, which has increased by more than 50 percent from 2020.

The EU had forbidden the export of arms to Moscow in July 2014 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea, but a clause in the sanctions made way for sales under contracts signed before August 2014.

Countries with large defence industries, such as France and Germany, were among the largest exporters.

The loophole was scrutinised from some EU governments since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, which the Kremlin calls "a special military operation".

Russia warns NATO over Sweden and Finland membership moves

Russia on Thursday warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland joined the military alliance then Russia would have to amp up its defences and that talks of a "nuclear free" Baltic would cease.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council said: "There can be no more talk of any nuclear–free status for the Baltic - the balance must be restored, the balance must be restored. 

"Until today, Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to," he added.

Finland and Sweden undertook big steps by joining NATO yesterday, after their leaders said Moscow’s invasion of Kyiv altered Europe’s "whole security landscape" and "dramatically shaped mindsets" in the Nordic countries.

UN says Ukraine war will devastate many poor nations

Russia’s war on Ukraine threatens to devastate the economies of many developing countries that are now facing even higher food and energy costs and increasingly difficult financial conditions, a UN task force warned Wednesday.

The report says 69 of the countries, with a population of 1.2 billion people, face a "perfect storm" and are severely or significantly exposed to crises in food, energy and finance. The countries include 25 in Africa, 25 in Asia and the Pacific, and 19 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres released the report saying that the war is "supercharging" a crisis in poorer countries that were already struggling to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and a lack of access to adequate funding for economic recovery.

"We are now facing a perfect storm that threatens to devastate the economies of many developing countries," Guterres said at a news conference.

Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, prices were already on the rise, "but the war has made a bad situation worse," Guterres said.

Thirty-six countries rely on Russia and Ukraine for more than half their wheat imports, including some of the world’s poorest countries, he said, and wheat and corn prices have risen 30 percent just since the start of the year.

These countries include several in the MENA region, such as Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon.

Nine humanitarian corridors agreed for Thursday: Ukraine deputy PM

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk declared that nine humanitarian corridors have received the green light for Thursday to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol.

Nine humanitarian corridors agreed for Thursday: Ukraine deputy PM Other evacuation routes are determined to be from Berdiansk, Tokmak and Enerhodar, and ones in the eastern Luhansk region will operate if occupying Russian forces stop their shelling, Vereshchuk added in a statement.

Private cars will be used, according to Vereshchuk.

There were no corridors set up yesterday, in part, she had said, because Russia was unable to control its forces on the ground and observe agreed local ceasefires while people were fleeing. The claims were not independently verified.

Ukraine says two military pilots captured by Russia released

Ukraine said Thursday that two military pilots captured by Moscow's forces last month and held in Russia have been released, without giving any more details.

"Two Ukrainian pilots who were held captive by Russian occupiers were released," Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement on social media.

The men were identified as Ivan Pepelyashko and Oleksiy Chyzh and said they had been held since the beginning of March in a village in Ukraine's northern Chernigiv region.

The statement said the pilots were held in several locations before being brought to the Kursk region of southern Russia, where they were held with eight other Ukrainian military personnel.

The status of the other eight captives remains unknown.

The statement cited Chyzh as saying they were subjected to hostile interrogations and refused medical treatment while in captivity.

The pilots said that they were forced to "record" propaganda videos and were threatened with no longer having their wounds bandaged if they refused.

The defence ministry statement said the men met with minister Kirill Budanov on their return to Ukraine.

The warring sides have overseen several prisoner swaps since Moscow's forces began their military aggression of their neighbour on 24 February.