KYIV, March 17, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Here are the latest developments in the
war in Ukraine:

  - Mariupol theatre hit -

  Authorities in the besieged port city of Mariupol say Russian forces bombed
a theatre where "hundreds" of civilians were taking shelter. The building was
clearly marked "children" according to aerial photos. The death toll is not
yet known.

  - Ten killed in bread queue -

  Ukraine says 10 people were killed after coming under fire while queueing
for bread in the northern city of Chernigiv.

  - Mayor freed -

  The mayor of Melitopol is freed almost a week after he was reportedly
abducted by Russian forces. He was reportedly released as part of an exchange
for several young Russian conscripts captured by Ukraine.

  - 'War criminal' -

  President Joe Biden brands Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" for the first
time. The Kremlin quickly punches back, calling the comment "unacceptable and
unforgivable."

  - Zelensky speaks to US Congress -

  In an impassioned video address to the US Congress, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky likens Russia's invasion to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl
Harbor which drew the US into World War II.

  After pleading with allies to impose a no-fly zone and showing a harrowing
montage of the devastation wrought on Ukrainian civilians, US lawmakers give
him a standing ovation.

  - US weapons aid -

  Shortly after, Biden announces a massive package of military aid for
Ukraine, including S-300 missile defence systems, 100 Switchblade "kamikaze"
drones and thousands more anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.

  - No NATO forces for Ukraine - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the
alliance is not planning to send forces to Ukraine, after Poland called for
it to deploy a peacekeeping mission there.

  - Putin doubles down -

  In meeting with regional officials Putin repeats claims that the "pro-Nazi
Kiev regime" is carrying out "genocide" and trying to obtain "weapons of mass
destruction" including developing "military biological programmes" with the
"financial support of the Pentagon."

  - Ukraine sets out demands -

  After days of cautious optimism about peace talks between Russia and
Ukraine, Zelensky reiterates his demands: an end to the war, security
guarantees and a return to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

  - US-Russia call -

  US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and General Nikolay Patrushev,
secretary of the Russian Security Council, hold the first high-level contact
between the countries since the invasion began.

  - Payment day for Russia -

  Russia is due to make a $117 million (107 million euros) interest payment
on its foreign debt. It says it will service its dollar-denominated debt in
rubles -- which could result in a default.

  - Putin announces economic relief -

  Putin says the West's "economic blitzkrieg" against Moscow has failed, but
admits the situation is "not easy" for Russians and announces an increase in
all social payments.

  - News sites blocked -

  Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor blocks access to at least 32
websites, ramping up a crackdown on the media launched after the start of the
war.

  Media affected include the BBC, the award-winning investigative website
Bellingcat and regional site Permdaily.ru.

  - Out of Council of Europe -

  Russia ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe after over a quarter
of a century of membership in the pan-European rights body.

  - China's ambassador -

  China's ambassador tells Ukrainian officials in Lviv that "China is a
friendly country" that "will forever remain a good force for Ukraine,"
according to Ukrainian accounts of the meeting.