Sex traffickers exploit Ukrainian refugees as dark side of exodus to Europe emerges

"Sex traffickers are taking advantage of young women and unaccompanied children fleeing
the war in Ukraine, police and volunteers in Poland have warned.

As more than a million refugees flood westwards to escape Vladimir Putin’s invading troops, a darker side to their welcome in central Europe has emerged.

The authorities are understood to be particularly concerned about gangs seeking to lure vulnerable refugees to Germany for sexual exploitation." DMYUZ

Zelensky: Russia Attacked Airport With 8 Cruise Missiles

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba alleged
Sunday that Russian forces attacked the Vinnytsia airport with eight cruise missiles.

“Against our city, against our peaceful Vinnytsia which never posed a threat to Russia in any way,” Zelensky said in a video on Twitter. “A brutal, cynical missile strike has completely destroyed the airport.” EpochTimes

Sting sings his 1985 ‘Russians’ song amid Ukraine war: 'Never thought it would be relevant again'

"The tune, which is from 'The Dream of the Blue Turtles' record, was written during the Cold War.

Sting took to Instagram to perform his 1985 song "Russians" amid the Russia-Ukraine war. 

He captioned the video, "I’ve only rarely sung this song in the many years since it was written, because I never thought it would be relevant again." FOX

French Aircraft Carrier Now Supporting NATO

"The French Navy (Marine Natiionale) aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its air wing has
started supporting NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Black Sea region following a short logistical stop in Cyprus....rench Navy spokesman said the CSG will contribute 3 Combat Air Patrols (CAP) of two Rafale M each, per day. This translates into a nearly permanent (24 hours) presence. In addition, a daily E-2C Hawkeye flight is planned from the carrier, as well as occasion patrols by the two ATL2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) currently based in Cyprus. The Rafale M will be refueled by NATO tankers present in the area. The patrol zones are the skies above Romania, Bulgaria and the Black Sea." NavalNews

NATO Countries Have ‘Green Light’ to Send Fighter Jets to Ukraine

"Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CBS’s “Face The Nation” that the United
States has given the “green light” to NATO countries who have wanted to provide fighter jets to Ukraine.

Russia has warned countries offering airfields to Ukraine would be entering the ongoing conflict.

MARGARET BRENNAN: NATO has said none of its 30 members are willing to set up a no-fly zone. President Biden has been very clear. He has no interest in that or combat troops. But what more can the United States do here? If, for instance, the Polish government, a NATO member wants to send fighter jets, does that get a green light from the U.S.? Or you were afraid that that will escalate tension? 

BLINKEN: No, that- that gets a green light. In fact, we’re talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to do to back fill their needs if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to to the Ukrainians." Breitbart

IAEA "Extremely Concerned" Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Is Under Russian Control, Communications Switched Off

"On Sunday the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia
nuclear power plant in Ukraine is now under the command and operation of Russian forces, and that its communications are now restricted to the outside world. The UN nuclear watchdog agency further said it is "extremely concerned" with these developments, following widespread reports that it had witnessed heavy fighting and shelling. In those several alarming hours Ukraine's government leaders claimed there could be massive radioactive fallout and sought to use the episode to attract greater Western military help and intervention." ZH

Russian forces 'fire rockets at SECOND nuclear facility': Warning of 'large-scale ecological disaster' as missiles hammer Kharkiv physics institute with atomic reactor inside

"Russian forces are firing rockets at a physics institute in the city of Kharkiv that contains
nuclear material and a reactor which could lead to a 'large-scale ecological disaster' if hit, according to Ukraine's national security service.

The service said on Facebook on Sunday that the Russians were firing at the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology from Grad launchers.

Missiles fired from Grad launchers do not have precise targeting, raising concern that one could damage the reactor and release deadly radiation across Europe." DailyMail

Russia switches to China’s card system after Visa, Mastercard suspends operations

"After Visa and Mastercard announced that their operations in Russia would be suspended,
many Russian banks announced on Sunday that they would soon begin issuing cards using the Chinese UnionPay card operator’s system combined with Russia’s own Mir network. Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, as well as Alfa Bank and Tinkoff, all announced the transfer to UnionPay on Sunday." PopulistPress

'We were only following orders': Bleeding Russian pilots beg for mercy as they are filmed by their Ukrainian captors after being shot down in field

"Russian pilots have been filmed saying they were 'following orders' after their aircraft was
shot down over Ukraine.

Pictures and video show the men, some on their knees with their hands behind their heads and others bleeding heavily, after being detained by soldiers and civilians in a field." DM

Cut down as they run for their lives: Heartbreaking scenes as Putin rains bombs on Irpin's 'green corridor', killing civilians as they flee while ceasefire to protect 400,000 evacuating Mariupol is shattered within minutes by heavy shelling

"Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky today warned that Russian forces are preparing to
shell Odessa today - a historic port city on the Black Sea coast. Russia has made progress in southern Ukraine since its invasion 11 days ago, overrunning the city of Kherson and shelling the port of Mariupol, but Odessa has so far been largely spared. 

Almost a million people live in Odessa, a cosmopolitan harbor on Ukraine's southern coast with both Ukrainian and Russian speakers and Bulgarian and Jewish minorities. Meanwhile, attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol will restart on Sunday after similar efforts yesterday were scuppered by Russian bombing just 45 minutes after a ceasefire was agreed." DailyMail

Wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, 31, says they are desperately working to get her home after she was detained on arrival at Moscow airport three weeks ago with 'cannabis-filled vape pen': Fears grow Putin will use the athlete as a 'high-profile hostage'

"Brittney Griner, 31, who plays in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury was arrested last
month in Russia and charged with drug smuggling. A drug-sniffing dog was drawn to her luggage at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, prompting Russian customs officials to inspect the bag. Officials found vape cartridges and Griner was charged with smuggling a 'significant amount' of drugs, a crime carrying a penalty of five to ten years. Griner remains in custody and the team said they are 'monitoring the situation'. Her wife, Cherelle Griner, said the situation is 'one of the weakest moments of my life' and issued her gratitude to everyone who has expressed concern and offered support. Congressman Sheila Lee, who represents Griner's hometown of Houston, has called on Putin to release the athlete, citing her American citizenship and concern for her safety. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department argued Putin will likely keep Griner as a 'high-profile hostage' and said: 'If we want her out of jail, Russia is going to have some terms'. The arrest comes as Russia is increasingly cut off from the rest of the world due to the country's invasion of Ukraine." DM

U.S. warns Americans to leave Russia

"The U.S. State Department urged Saturday that all Americans in Russia should immediately
leave the country, as foreign policy and military experts access the very dangerous escalation of war in Ukraine. Those U.S. officials also warned Americans that they may have a difficult time getting access to their bank accounts in Russia and may face some forms of harassment as they leave the country." SaraCarter

Russian Shops to Limit Food Sales to Counter Black Market

"Retailers in Russia will limit sales of essential foodstuffs to limit black market speculation
and ensure affordability, the government said Sunday, as sanctions imposed over Moscow's military incursion into Ukraine began to bite. 

The trade and industry ministry over the weekend said there had been cases where essential foodstuffs had been purchased "in a volume clearly larger than necessary for private consumption (up to several tons) for subsequent resale." MoscowTimes

Putin says Western sanctions are akin to declaration of war

"Putin said on Saturday that Western sanctions on Russia were akin to a declaration of war and
warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would lead to catastrophic consequences for the world.

Putin reiterated that his aims were to defend Russian- speaking communities through the “demilitarisation and de-Nazification” of the country so that Russia’s former Soviet neighbou became neutral and no longer threatened Russia." Reuters