Ukraine-Russia story briefs Monday February 28

Latvian citizens will be able to volunteer to fight for Ukraine

Latvia's parliament in Riga unanimously passed the necessary legal framework on Monday, allowing its citizens to join the fight against Russia's military advances in Ukraine.

IOC wants Russia and Belarus athletes banned; Putin loses Olympic order

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) called on sports federations to deny athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus entry into international events on Monday. In an unprecedented move, Russian President Vladimir Putin and two other top political figures have had their Olympic Orders revoked.

Over 500,000 people have flee Ukraine

The number of people fleeing war in Ukraine has risen to over 500,000, while a scandal erupted at the country's border with Poland over alleged racist treatment of African refugees. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, over 500,000 people have fled the conflict in Ukraine to neighboring countries.

US closes its embassy in Minsk and authorises diplomats in Russia to leave.

According to the State Department, the United States is suspending its embassy operations in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. It has also authorized the voluntary departure from Russia of non-essential personnel from the US Embassy in Moscow, as well as their family members.

Russia declares tit-for-tat closure of 35 countries' airspace.

In response to multiple countries' decisions to close their airspace to Russian aircraft, Russia's aviation authority Rosaviatsiya announced on Monday that it would close Russian airspace to 35 countries.

All EU member states and Canada are affected by the indefinite ban.

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As a Russian ally, Japan imposes sanctions on Belarus

Japan intends to impose sanctions on Belarus as a Russian ally, according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as Moscow continues its attacks on Ukraine. According to Kishida, Tokyo's sanctions will target Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and other government officials.

FIFA expels Russia from Qatar 2022 World Cup

The governing body of football FIFA and UEFA, the European Union's governing bodies, have suspended Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions "until further notice," the federations announced on Monday. As things stand, Russia will be unable to compete in the World Cup play-offs next month or the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to FIFA's decision.

Russian-Ukrainian peace talks end without a breakthrough

On Monday, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without a breakthrough.

"We're travelling back to the capitals for consultations," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said as he exited the meeting on the Belarus-Ukraine border.

Protesters says no to sex tourism in Ukraine

Police arrested several Ukrainian feminist activists for staging a topless protest as UEFA chief Michel Platini visited Kiev to check on preparations for the Euro 2012 football championships.
Four activists from FEMEN were arrested after stripping down to their waists and exposing their breasts outside Kiev's main stadium to draw attention to their campaign against sex tourism in Ukraine.
"FEMEN demands that UEFA initiates a educational programme for football fans (who will travel to Ukraine) about the inadmissibility of sex tourism and the financing of sex tourism," it said in a statement.
Feminists maintain that President Viktor Yanukovych did nothing to help its campaign against sex tourism when he said this year that foreigners should visit Ukraine in spring to see its scantily-clad "beautiful girls."

Platini, who arrived later at the stadium and did not encounter the naked protestors, expressed satisfaction with Ukraine's efforts ahead of the championships which are being jointly hosted with Poland.
"We are completely reassured and we are awaiting a great Euro 2012 here," he said. "Bravo to all those who have helped building the stadiums, airports," Platini added.
Platini, who had earlier visited other Ukrainian host cities Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lviv on his two day visit, reaffirmed that there were still several "small problems" to deal with before the championships get underway.
There had been doubts about Ukraine's ability to host the championships at all amid an economic crisis, but Platini said these had been completely erased.

"We asked whether we could continue to stay in Ukraine at all, then we asked if we could just stay in two cities but now the work is so well done that we will stay in the four cities," the former French star said.

Nigerian stabs Nigerian in Ukraine

A fight between two Nigerian medical student at the Crimea State Medical University occured in Ukraine recently. A 24 years old Nigerian student in his fourth year stabbed his 23 years old countryman, a third year medical student with a knife and hurt him seriously.

While the former is recuperating at an hospital, Jay Jay as he's fondly called is languishing in police custody and his due to face trial in a law court shortly against the state. He faces a possible eight years jail term, if conviccted of the crime.
However president of the Nigerian community are making efforts to see that the young man is granted bail and released.