Ukraine on Monday reported the death of as many as 3,500 Russian troops, adding that over 200 soldiers were taken as prisoners of war. However, Kvyiv’s claims were denied by the Kremlin at the United Nations.

In a significant breakthrough amid war, both the countries have agreed to hold talks on the border of Belarus “without preconditions”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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As many as 352 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, including 14 children, and 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded, Kyiv has further said. 

Here are seven major updates on the Ukraine-Russia conflict:

1. Russia’s Vladimir Putin has informed his defence chiefs to put the country’s nuclear “deterrence forces” on high alert. “I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service. You see that Western countries are not only unfriendly to our country in the economic sphere — I mean illegitimate sanctions,” he was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

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2. From sanctions on the country’s biggest banks to freezing of Putin’s assets, several punitive measures have been taken against the Kremlin in the midst of an increasing global pressure.

3. In talks with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Zelensky on Monday said that ‘next 24 hours are critical for Ukraine’, Johnson said the UK and its allies would do everything possible to guarantee that defensive aid reached Ukraine, a Downing Street spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. 

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4. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has said that the 27-nation bloc would close the airspace for planes owned, registered or controlled by Russians, “including the private jets of oligarchs,” news agency AP has reported.

5. A rare emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly has been called on Monday. Speaking against the resolution to call the session, Russia’s ambassador told the United Nations – “The UNSC failed to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace & security.”

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6. Tens of thousands of people from Ukraine have crossed borders to escape war since Thursday when Russia began its full-scale invasion in an escalating humanitarian crisis. Millions of children are at risk, UNICEF has said.

7. Canada, France and Germany have pledged military aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy last week had turned down an offer from the US for evacuation, saying: “I need ammunition…not a ride.”