Russia expelled from Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers decided to expel Russia from the Council of Europe.
“In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership,” a statement by the Council of Europe reads.
Russia joined the Council of Europe on February 28, 1996. Russians will no longer be able to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against their government, and a number of conventions will cease to apply to Russia, the Council of Europe earlier said.
Russia deliberately bombs theatre in Mariupol that serves a shelter. On March 16, Russia’s bombing raid destroyed the Drama Theatre in Mariupol, the city council said.
“Aircraft dropped a bomb on the building serving shelter for hundreds of civilians. We cannot yet assess the scale of the horrible, inhumane act amid raging air raids on the city’s residential areas. The bombardment destroyed the central part of the theatre. Debris blocked the entrance to the bomb shelter inside the building,” Mariupol’s city council said. People are trapped under debris. Casualty information is collected.
On Wednesday, the Russian troops shelled a convoy of civilian vehicles escaping Mariupol headed to Zaporizhzhia. Five people were killed, a few more were injured including children.
President Zelenskyi’s historic appeal to U.S. Congress. The Ukrainian President invoked bravery of Ukrainians in the fight against the aggressor, called for no-fly zone over Ukraine, and for more sanctions against Russia. Members of Congress gave Zelenskyi a standing ovation twice. Full speech.
Ukraine in Flames #6: Not Just Putin. Shared responsibility of the Russian population for the war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian experts and politicians talk about the shared responsibility of the Russian people for the war against Ukraine and why recognizing this responsibility is necessary to understand the roots and consequences of war.
Speakers:
Volodymyr Vyatrovych, historian, Ukrainian MP
Vakhtang Kebuladze, philosopher, writer and translator
Irma Vitovska, Ukrainian actress
Oleksandra Tsekhanovska, Head of Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group at Ukraine Crisis Media Center
Volodymyr Boiko, historian, expert on the local development strategies. Chernihiv.
Tetyana Ogarkova, Head of International Outreach at Ukraine Crisis Media Center
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/