# The world in brief - Thu, Feb 24, 2022

## Catch up quickly on the global stories that matter

Updated less than 1 hour ago (19:42 GMT / 14:42 New York)


Ukrainian officials said Russian troops had seized the former Chernobyl power plant, raising fears about disturbing nuclear waste there. Chernobyl personnel were reportedly being held hostage. Russian troops have crossed the border into Ukraine from Russia in the east, Crimea in the south and Belarus in the north, where there were suggestions that Belarusian troops had joined an assault. Ukraine's government said Russia had carried out more than 200 attacks on Thursday. Russian troops were seen close to Hostomel, an airport near Kyiv, though it appeared that Ukraine repelled the attack.

=> https://www.economist.com/briefing/2022/02/26/russias-invasion-of-ukraine


President Joe Biden said he would impose a severe set of sanctions and export controls on Russia, promising that its "aggression cannot go unanswered." America will freeze the assets of four Russian banks, including VTB, the country's second largest, and target Russian elites. It will also limit high-tech exports to Russia. The invasion reflected "Putin's desire for empire", said Mr Biden, and his "sinister vision for the future of our world, one where nations take what they want by force."

=> https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/02/25/the-economic-consequences-of-the-war-in-ukraine


Boris Johnson, Britain's prime minister, said he would ban Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline, from the country. Like Mr Biden, he promised export controls against Russia. EU sanctions are expected later on Thursday. But Western countries appeared unlikely to cut off Russia from SWIFT, the bank messaging network, as Ukraine has sought. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary-general, said the alliance would send extra troops to its eastern flank, which borders Russia and Ukraine, but that it had no plans to send troops into Ukraine itself.

=> https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/12/18/the-hidden-costs-of-cutting-russia-off-from-swift
=> https://www.economist.com/international/2022/02/12/how-russia-has-revived-nato


Oil prices surged in response to Russia's invasion with Brent crude, the international benchmark, soaring past $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. Stockmarkets in America plummeted soon after opening, following similar slides in Asia and Europe. Russia's dollar-denominated RTS stock index fell by almost 50%, while the rouble-denominated MOEX index was down by around 45%. Both have since recouped around half the initial loss, but remain volatile. The Russian rouble sank to its lowest-ever value against the dollar. The price of gold reached a 17-month high.

=> https://www.economist.com/briefing/2022/02/19/vladimir-putins-attack-on-ukraine-also-damages-russia


Mr Zelensky introduced martial law in Ukraine but urged people to stay calm. He said the country would give weapons to anyone who wanted them. He also formally broke off diplomatic ties with Russia. Meanwhile, nearby Lithuania declared a state of emergency, and Moldova's government called on its parliament to do the same. Moldova said it would close its airspace on Thursday.

=> https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/02/24/fear-and-defiance-grip-the-citizens-of-ukraines-capital-as-russias-attack-begins


Some Ukrainians fled for safety. The highway from Kyiv, the capital, to Lviv, a western city bordering Poland, was clogged, and taxi prices soared. Citizens in Kyiv were advised to shelter in underground metro stations and Kyiv's mayor imposed a night-time curfew. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Germany have said they are preparing for Ukrainian refugees.

=> https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/02/24/fear-and-defiance-grip-the-citizens-of-ukraines-capital-as-russias-attack-begins


A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry accused America of "hyping up tensions and inciting war threats", saying it was "irresponsible to point fingers after fanning the flames". Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said his country was "not happy" with developments in Ukraine and blamed America and NATO for making unhelpful "provocative moves".


=> https://www.economist.com/the-world-in-brief

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