Ukraine invasion latest news: What you need to know today

ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia reports on the latest developments as the invasion enters its tenth day


Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, February 24, prompting fierce criticism from the West.

Here, ITV News brings you the key developments you need to know so far today.

This page will be updated regularly as events develop.

  • Ceasefire in two cities

A temporary ceasefire in two Ukrainian cities besieged by Russian forces begun on Saturday morning, allowing civilians to leave.

The Russian military said it will observe a ceasefire in Mariupol in the south-east and the eastern town of Volnovakha from 7am UK time on Saturday.

It is not immediately clear how long the evacuation routes would remain open.

  • 'If Ukraine falls, so will Europe'

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy again called for a no-fly-zone as he warned if Ukraine falls “all of Europe will fall.”

“If Ukraine doesn't sustain, the entire Europe won't either. If Ukraine falls, all of Europe will fall,” he said.

“If we win and I'm confident in our people, in you, it will be a big victory for democracy, for freedom.”

Mr Zelenskyy remains critical of the lack of no-fly-one, warning all people who die "will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your [NATO] lack of unity."

“NATO summit is a very weak and lost summit. At this summit we saw that not everyone considers the fight for the freedom of Europe its main priority,” he said.

Here's more about what a no-fly-zone would entail and why NATO is opposed.

  • Social media ban in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified a crackdown on media outlets and individuals who fail to hew to the Kremlin line on Russia's war in Ukraine.

Facebook and Twitter have been blocked, with Putin signing into law a bill that criminalises the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be “fake” reports.

The moves against the social media giants follow blocks imposed on the BBC, the US government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based website Meduza.

The government's sweeping action against the foreign outlets that publish news in Russian seeks to establish even tighter controls over what information the domestic audience sees about the invasion of Ukraine.

  • Ukraine 'still holds key cities'

According to British intelligence, Ukraine continues to hold the key cities of Kharkiv in the east, Chernihiv in the north and Mariupol in the south-east.

However, it is "highly likely" that all four cities are encircled by Russian forces.

The latest developments as of 8pm on the 4th March 2022 Credit: The Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project

What's happening in Ukraine? The latest from ITV News correspondents on the ground

Romilly Weeks is in Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, where she has shared a picture of a billboard with a pointed message to invading forces.

“Russian soldiers stop. Don’t kill yourselves for Putin’s oligarchs. Leave without blood on your hands,” this one reads.

She has also been at the Polish border, where she has seen first-hand how welcoming Poles have been to many Ukrainian refugees.


How can I read more about what's going on and the background to the invasion?

ITV News has extensive coverage, including analysis from our correspondents, and explainers on the background to the war:


Why has Russia invaded Ukraine and can Putin be stopped? Our experts tell you what you need to know in our latest podcast. Listen here: