Britain announces new legal powers prohibiting U.K. maintenance on planes, ships belonging to Russian oligarchs
LONDON — Britain’s government has announced new legal powers prohibiting U.K. maintenance on planes and ships belonging to Russian oligarchs. The Foreign Office said Wednesday the new sanctions have been used immediately against billionaire oil tycoon Eugene Shvidler and Oleg Tinkov, founder of Tinkoff bank.
Shvidler, who’s already sanctioned over his business links to Roman Abramovich, has had two private jets seized.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the new law adds to Britain’s powers to “deprive oligarchs’ access to their luxury toys.”
British authorities on Tuesday seized a Russian-owned superyacht valued at $38 million. They did not identify the owner of the vessel, only saying the billionaire was connected to President Vladimir Putin.
The government also said that finance, trade and shipping sanctions imposed on Crimea have been expanded to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Kyiv offers psychological assistance to families sheltering in metro stations
Kyiv’s local government announced Wednesday that they are offering “psychological assistance” to families sheltering in the metro stations.
“Therapists are holding private and group sessions to help fight the emotional consequences of the crisis and regain control of their lives,” an update posted to the city’s website Wednesday read, adding, “Kyivans who require psychological support are asked to use all the resources the capital is providing for these purposes.”
Kyiv advertised its free 24/7 telephone hotline and said psychologists can put residents in contact with necessary social support and medical assistance services.
The city’s curfew remains in place every night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., the update stated.
The Kyiv City Council also held its second meeting since the beginning of the Russian invasion, according to the update. During the meeting, the council did not conduct planned votes on measures to promote local businesses because “under martial law and the challenging conditions facing the city, the economy must work.”
Former Ukrainian president condemns Putin’s activity in Ukraine, calls for further sanctions
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s activity in Ukraine on MSNBC on Wednesday and called for the U.S. to impose further sanctions, likening the Russian invasions in Crimea and Donbas to having the same credibility as invading Alaska.
“Russia has absolutely the same zero reason to demand Crimea or Donbas as Alaska. If we allow Putin to speak ultimatum language, the war never ended and Putin never stop,” Poroshenko said.
The former president said he can hear artillery fire from his location on the northern border of Kyiv, despite ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and Putin’s claims of de-escalation.
“I’m the president who had a negotiation with Putin for five years. He never keep his words,” Poroshenko said, stating that “the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be the part of any compromise.
Poroshenko called for the U.S. to restart a lend-lease program for Ukraine and to begin a “second wave” of sanctions and embargoes to encourage Russia to stop the attacks.
“With this situation, I’m absolutely confident that Putin cannot keep going, and Russian troops will be withdrawn from Ukrainian territory,” he added.
Russia is using land mines, Human Rights Watch says
Russian forces fighting in Ukraine have used banned antipersonnel mines that “can indiscriminately kill and maim people,” a report from Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
The recently developed POM-3 land mines, banned under international treaties, are “equipped with a seismic sensor to detect an approaching person and eject an explosive charge into the air,” the report said.
It added that they…
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