Putin asks Ukrainian military to overthrow govt

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army to remove leadership in Kyiv even as their forces tried to fight off Russian troops in the capital on Friday on the second day of a conflict that has claimed dozens of lives. Addressing Russia's security council, Putin said, "I once again appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine: do not allow neo-Nazis to use your children, wives and elders as human shields. Take power into your own hands."

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defence Ministry said that more than 1,000 Russian servicemen had been killed so far in the Ukrainian conflict. "Russia has not suffered so many casualties during the fighting in any of its armed conflicts since its inception," the ministry said. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has urged India to support UNSC draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine. Former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Gyunduz Mamedov said he, along with various human rights activists, has started collecting evidence against Russia on war crimes. Criminals must be held accountable for each of them, he said.

Chinese president Xi Jinping, in a telephone talk  with Russian president Putin on Friday, called for the issue between the two European neighbours to be resolved through negotiations, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. “The situation in eastern Ukraine has undergone rapid changes, and China supports Russia and Ukraine to resolve the issue through negotiation,” CCTV quoted from a readout of talks between the two leaders. It further said Xi urged Putin to ‘abandon the cold war mentality.’ Explaining the reason for launching what he describes as a ‘special military operation,’ Putin informed Xi Moscow's hands were ‘forced’ as the NATO, as well as the United States, had, for long, ‘ignored Russia’s security concerns.'