Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko warns of a 'difficult and dangerous moment' for the capital

Kyiv (AFP) - Here are the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine:

- ‘Dangerous moment’ for Kyiv -

As Russian forces step up strikes on residential buildings Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko warns of a “difficult and dangerous moment” and announces a 35-hour curfew from Tuesday night.

At least two people die in strikes on a 16-storey building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynsky district. More than half the population has fled.

- Refugee flood surpasses 3 million -

A child clutches her grandmother after crossing the Ukrainian border into Poland

More than three million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion, the UN migration agency IOM says.

Around half of them are minors, says the UN children’s agency.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says 1.8 million people have fled to Poland.

- ‘Positive’ talks -

A senior Ukrainian negotiator says a fresh round of talks between Moscow and Kyiv on ending the fighting has started, with both sides signalling progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier referred to discussions as “pretty good” while the Kremlin said the fact that the talks are ongoing “is in itself positive”.

- TV protester facing long jail term -

Marina Ovsyannikova, the journalist who protested against the conflict by holding up a ‘no war’ banner and denouncing Moscow’s ‘lies’ during a prime-time news broadcast on state TV risks up to 15 years in prison, her lawyer tells AFP.

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to take up her case with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

- European PMs en route to Ukraine -

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, take a train to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

The trip is to “confirm the unequivocal support of the entire European Union” with Ukraine, says Poland.

- Russia ‘enlists 40,000 Syrian fighters’ -

Russia has drawn up lists of 40,000 fighters from the Syrian army and allied militias to be put on standby for deployment in Ukraine, according to Syrian war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“More than 40,000 Syrians have registered to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine so far,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the UK-based monitor.

- Journalist death toll at three -

Three journalists have been killed and more than 30 others wounded in Ukraine since the invasion began three weeks ago, the Ukrainian parliament’s human rights chief says.

“At least 35 journalists have become victims” of Russian forces, including three who died, Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Telegram.

- More UK sanctions -

Britain has added 350 more Russians to its sanctions list, hiked tariffs on a swathe of imports from vodka to steel, and banned exports of luxury goods in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

- ‘Massive’ damage to Dnipro airport -

Russian bombardment causes “massive” damage to the airport of the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, destroying the runway and damaging the terminal, regional authorities say.

- China wary of sanctions -

China’s foreign minister says Beijing “is not a party to the crisis” in Ukraine and does not want to be affected by Western sanctions following US reports that Moscow asked Beijing for military and economic aid.

Washington has expressed concern about the “alignment” between Russia and China, which refuses to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and has hit out at US “disinformation”. American and Chinese officials held lengthy talks in Rome on Monday.

- German warns on Russian software -

Germany’s cyber security agency BSI urges consumers not to use the anti-virus software made by Russia’s Kaspersky, warning the firm could be implicated in cyber warfare.

The US already banned government agencies from using the software in 2017. Kaspersky denies being in league with the Kremlin.

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