Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

The Americans, Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh and Alexander Drueke, are both from Alabama.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation" into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.

The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine's disputed Donbas region, capturing the strategic port city of Mariupol and securing a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

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Two Men at War
Two Men at War
A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.
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5.2 million kids need humanitarian help

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left 5.2 million kids in need of humanitarian help, according to UNICEF.

At least 262 children have been killed and another 415 have been hurt since Feb. 24, UNICEF said.

Nearly two-thirds have been displaced, UNICEF said.


Chemical plant hit by Russian air strike, local official says

Russian air strikes hit a tank with nitric acid at a chemical plant in Severodonetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, according to Luhansk's regional governor, Serhiy Haidai.

Haidai is urging residents to stay inside and to wear protective face masks.

Haidai also said Russian forces have made significant gains and are in control of "most" of Severodonetsk.

He said about 60% of homes are completely destroyed and the city's critical infrastructure is nearly completely destroyed. Ongoing shelling is preventing civilians from evacuating.


EU to finalize ban of nearly 90% of Russian oil imports

The European Union Council plans to finalize a ban on nearly 90% of Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen said Tuesday at a joint press conference with EU Council President Charles Michel, following Monday's special meeting of the European Council.

Von der Leyen said they will soon return to the issue of the remaining 10% of pipeline oil.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou


Russia vows to 'ensure unhindered passage' of grain shipments if Ukraine de-mines waters

Russia's top diplomat vowed Tuesday to "ensure unhindered passage" of grain shipments from Ukrainian ports to the Mediterranean Sea, if Ukraine removes the mines from its coastal waters.

"Ukrainian representatives should de-mine the coastal waters within Ukraine's territorial sea, which have been mined," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference. "If the de-mining problem is resolved -- and we've been bringing the attention of our worried Western counterparts to this problem for many weeks -- then the Russian Navy will ensure unhindered passage of those vessels in high seas to the Mediterranean and further on to their destination points."

Since Russian forces invaded neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, the cost of grain, fuel and fertilizer has skyrocketed worldwide, worsening hunger crises. Russia and Ukraine produce a third of the world's supply of wheat and barley, but Kyiv has been unable to ship exports due to Moscow's offensive.

Lavrov, however, blamed the situation on Kyiv and the West.

"For longer than a month now, the Russian side has been taking measures to guarantee the unhindered export of Ukrainian grain by vessels that are currently stranded in Ukrainian ports," Lavrov added. "Therefore, the initiatives concerning food security that have been voiced should be implemented bearing in mind that the Russian side has long guaranteed everything that depends on us. As for the Western countries that have artificially caused numerous problems by closing their ports to Russian vessels and cutting logistical and financial chains, they should certainly think hard whether it's more important for them to advertise themselves taking advantage of food security problems, or take practical steps to resolve this problem. It's for them to choose."


State Dept. reacts to train station attack

Jalina Porter, the State Department's deputy spokesperson, is responding to the Russian attack at a Ukraine train station that killed at least 50, saying, "We can no longer be surprised by the Kremlin's repugnant disregard for human life."

Five children were among those killed when Russian rockets struck the station in Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on Friday morning, according to Ukraine's state-owned railway company. At least 100 people were injured, according to Donetsk Oblast Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

Russia has denied involvement in the attack, which occurred as "thousands" of civilians fleeing the Russian invasion were at the train station waiting to be taken to "safer regions of Ukraine," according to Kyrylenko.

"Civilians are killed when they stay in their homes, and they're killed when they try to leave," Porter said. "Actions like these demonstrate why Russia did not belong on the U.N. Human Rights Council, and they also reinforce the U.S. assessment that members of Russian forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine."

Porter declined to say if the department considers the train station attack a war crime, saying, "Assessing individual criminal liability in specific cases is the responsibility of courts, as well as other investigatory bodies. But as the secretary, Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken, has said, 'Those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities committed in Ukraine will be held to account.'"

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan