Nigerians in Ukraine: FG reaching out to IOM, others to assist stranded Nigerians

As war between Russia and Ukraine continues, the Federal Government has said it is reaching out authorities and the International Organization for Migration to assist stranded Nigerians .

The Minister of Foreign Affairs made this known in his Twitter handle.

“We understand how difficult things are at the border. We are reaching high authorities in those countries and the International Organization for Migration to assist our people suffering at the borders.”

The minister also said he spoke on the phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba.

He expressed sympathy for the needless loss of life and destruction and reiterated Nigeria’s recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

West unleashes SWIFT bans, more crushing penalties on Russia

The United States and European nations agreed Saturday to impose the most potentially crippling financial penalties yet on Russia over its unrelenting invasion of Ukraine, going after the central bank reserves that underpin the Russian economy and severing some Russian banks from a vital global financial network.

The decision, announced as Ukrainian forces battled Saturday to hold Russian forces back from Ukraine’s capital and residents sheltered in subway tunnels, basements and underground garages, has potential to spread the pain of Western retaliation for President Vladimir Putin’s invasion to ordinary Russians far more than previous rounds of penalties.

“Putin embarked on a path aiming to destroy Ukraine, but what he is also doing, in fact, is destroying the future of his own country,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Russian troops enter Kharkov

As Russian troops enter Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, attacks are also continuing around Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

Images shared online showed flames and plumes of smoke after Russian missile strikes hit near the city overnight.

One strike set an oil terminal ablaze in the town of Vasylkiv, south-west of the capital.

“The enemy wants to destroy everything,” said the town’s mayor, Natalia Balasinovich. Authorities in Kyiv  have ordered citizens to stay indoors until Monday morning as Russian forces close in on the city.

All those venturing out “will be considered members of sabotage groups of the enemy”, they warned.

Thousands of people have been sleeping in bomb shelters and metro stations, while others have taken guns distributed by authorities to help defend the city.