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Russia attacks by land, air and sea Cities bombed, Chernobyl seized
Biden addresses nation on Ukraine By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
President Joe Biden is meeting with his G7 counterparts this morning to discuss Ukraine.
(The Center Square) — President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday after Russia declared war on Ukraine and deployed military forces to invade the neighboring nation. President Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion, saying that “right now” there is a “complete rupture” in Russia-U.S. relations. He also said that President Putin has ambitions beyond Ukraine, in restoring the old Soviet Union. “America stands up to bullies,” President Biden said in his televised remarks. “We stand up for freedom. This is who we are.”
The military effort comes after weeks of anticipation and geopolitical maneuvering between the U.S., Russia, Ukraine and NATO nations. “If Russia pursues cyber attacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we will respond,” President Biden added. He went on to say the U.S. and NATO allies have readied their forces to defend NATO member countries in the region. NATO countries that border Ukraine include Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. “Our forces are not going to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO allies and defend those Please see UKRAINE on B4
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT PHOTO
President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine despite the threat of sanctions from the West.
Russia Thursday bombarded Ukrainian cities in what various national media have described as the biggest attack on a European nation since World War II. Missiles hit Ukrainian cities, Russian forces wiped out apartment buildings, and paratroopers landed at a strategic airport at the edge of Kyiv. Russia also seized the former Chernobyl nuclear plant north of the capital. Reuters quoted NATO
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as saying the assault on Ukraine included Russian troops in the air and on the ground, as well as naval forces. During the invasion Thursday, at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, President Volodymyr Zelensky was quoted as saying in news reports. He said that was according to preliminary figures, which also showed 316 Ukrainian soldiers have been wounded. The invasion caused Ukranians to flee their country, but President Zelensky vowed he Please see SEIZED on B4
Local nonprofits monitor Ukraine and its needs
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Poll: Americans do not want to play a major role in Ukraine conflict By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER
ERICH SCHLEGAL PHOTO
Kerri Murray, president of Santa Barbara-based Shelter USA, leads delivery of aid during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 in Houston. She said Thursday the nonprofit is watching Ukraine carefully after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Local nonprofits are watching carefully as Russia’s full-scale invasion leaves Ukraine shaken. “We are closely monitoring the situation there,” Kerri Murray, president of Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA, told the NewsPress Thursday. “The military attack there leaves us deeply concerned about the impact it’s going to have on the people who are forced to flee. “Civilians are fleeing on foot, in cars. It’s freezing; it’s horribly
cold,” Ms. Murray said. “We also saw reports that people are beginning to flee into bomb shelters and subway stations. … “We’ve already heard reports of neighboring countries that are preparing to potentially receive displaced people, countries like Poland,” she said. “This is going to be unfolding over days, weeks, months. We’re deeply concerned. “I think events in Ukraine are fast-moving and changing rapidly,” she said. “It’s hard to predict what will happen and how many people are fleeing.” ShelterBox and Goleta-based
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Direct Relief have both helped Ukraine in the past. “Direct Relief staff in Europe reported Thursday that air travel into Ukraine has been suspended indefinitely and that thousands of people fleeing Ukraine had crossed into the neighboring countries of Moldova and Poland seeking refuge,” Tony Morain, vice president of communications, wrote in a post at directrelief.org. Mr. Morain said that as recently as last week, a large Direct Relief shipment of diabetes supplies arrived in Ukraine. “Since January 2021, Direct
Relief has supplied Ukrainian healthcare providers with more than $27 million in medical aid,” Mr. Morain said. He said Direct Relief’s inventory includes IV fluids, antibiotics, medications for anesthesia, sutures and cardiovascular drugs. Mr. Morain told the News-Press Thursday that Direct Relief was still making decisions about its shipments to Ukraine and noted it was being advised by its program staff in Eastern Europe. “It’s too early to say at this Please see NONPROFIT on A4
(The Center Square) — The majority of Americans do not support the U.S. having a major role in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, newly released polling data show. The AP/NORC poll released Wednesday found that only 26% of surveyed Americans support the U.S. playing a “major role” in the “situation between Russia and Ukraine.” According to the poll, 52% said the U.S. should play a “minor role” and 20% said “no role” at all. Only 32% of Democrats said the U.S. should play a major role while Republicans came in lower at 22%. The poll found 52% of Democrats said the U.S. should play a minor role, compared to 54% of Republicans. Notably, 32% of independents want the U.S. to play no role, 20% want a major role and 44% want a minor role. The poll came before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion. Gallup released a poll earlier this week that found the majority of Americans disapprove of
President Joe Biden’s handling of the issue. According to that poll, 55% of those surveyed disapprove of President Biden’s handling of Russia while 37% approve. Biden’s overall foreign affairs job approval rating comes in at 40%, and his overall job approval was at 41%, with 55% disapproving of his work as president. President Biden’s approval rating has steadily declined since taking office last year. “The trends in approval of Biden’s handling of specific issues follow the same trajectory as the trend in his overall approval rating,” Gallup said. “The issue approval ratings were above the majority level early in his presidency, showed a significant drop in the summer of 2021, and dropped further in the fall. Americans’ approval of Biden for handling the coronavirus situation has consistently been his best among these issues, averaging eight percentage points higher than his foreign affairs and economic approval ratings.” Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-10-15-31-32 Meganumber: 25
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 6-1-7-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 6-17-22-57-62 Meganumber: 3
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 8-9-19-37-38
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 11-02-04 Time: 1:45.92
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 6-17-21-35-64 Meganumber: 16
Sudoku................... B3 Sports.................... A3 Weather................. A4
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 0-0-4 / Wednesday’s Midday 6-3-7