Russia says nuclear triad put on high alert

President Vladimir Putin speaks as he visits the construction site of the National Space Agency in Moscow, Russia, Feb 27, 2022. Putin ordered Russia’s deterrence forces to be placed on "a special mode of combat duty" in a Sunday meeting with top defense officials. (SERGEI GUNEYEV, SPUTNIK, KREMLIN POOL VIA AP)

KIEV/MOSCOW/WASHINGTON – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin on Monday that the country's nuclear deterrence forces have begun combat duty with reinforced staff. 

Shoigu informed Putin that "the duty shifts of control units of the strategic rocket forces, the Northern and Pacific fleets, and the long-range aviation command have started to carry out the combat duty with increased capacity," Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited the ministry as reporting. 

READ MORE: Zelensky says next 24 hours crucial for Ukraine

Putin ordered the country's deterrence forces to be placed on "a special mode of combat duty" in a Sunday meeting with top defense officials.   

Ukrainian, Russian delegates arrive for talks 

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations arrived at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border for talks on Monday. 

Key issues of the talks would be an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the Ukrainian President's Office said Monday on its Telegram page. 

In a retaliatory move, Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from using the country's airspace

The Ukrainian delegation includes David Arakhamia, head of the Party of Servant of the People; Oleksiy Reznikov, minister of defense and Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the Head of the President's Office, the office said. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that a delegation including representatives of the foreign ministry, the defense ministry and other government agencies has arrived in Belarus. 

After a seesaw struggle between the two sides, a ray of hope emerged as Russia and Ukraine agreed to meet for talks. 

Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on Feb 24. 

Russia bans flights from 36 countries 

Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from using the country's airspace, local media citing aviation authorities reported Monday. 

As a response to the ban of European states on Russian air carriers, a restriction has been introduced on the operation of flights by air carriers from 36 countries, according to aviation authorities. 

These restrictions will affect airlines from Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada and Portugal, among others. 

Russia's central bank hikes key rate to 20% 

Russia's Central Bank announced Monday it has decided to increase its key interest rate to 20 percent. 

"The Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to increase the key rate to 20 percent per annum from Feb 28," it said in a statement. 

"External conditions for the Russian economy have drastically changed," it said.  

ALSO READ: Kyiv plunges into chaos as Putin aims to demilitarize Ukraine

The increase of the key rate will ensure a rise in deposit rates to levels needed to compensate for the increased depreciation and inflation risks, and this is needed to support financial and price stability and protect the savings of citizens from depreciation, it added. 

Further key rate decisions will be made taking into account risks posed by external and domestic conditions and the reaction of financial markets, as well as actual and expected inflation movements relative to the target and economic developments over the forecast period, according to the statement.  

‘1,114 Ukrainian military objects hit’ 

The Russian Armed Forces have hit 1,114 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Monday. 

The military objects included "31 control points and communication centers," Konashenkov said, citing a statement published by the ministry. 

Russian air forces have gained air supremacy over the entire territory of Ukraine, and the armed forces have taken control of the Ukrainian cities of Berdiansk and Energodar, the spokesman added. 

Ukraine has not yet confirmed this. 

Websites of key Russian news outlets hacked 

The websites of major Russian news outlets including TASS, Izvestia and Kommersant have been hacked on Monday. 

The websites could not be opened earlier, with many displaying error pages. 

The press service of the Izvestia newspaper confirmed the hack, adding that everything is currently being done to ensure citizens' access to information, Russia's RIA Novosti reported. 

The editor-in-chief of Kommersant, Vladimir Zhelonkin, also confirmed the hack. 

US suspends Belarus embassy operations 

The US Department of State said in a statement Monday that it has suspended operations at the US Embassy in Belarus and authorized the voluntary departure of "non-emergency" employees and family members at the US Embassy in Russia. 

The statement said Washington took these steps due to the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. 

The Washington Post, citing an administration official, first reported Sunday that the United States believes Belarus will send its troops into Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces as soon as Monday. 

The Ukrainian and Russian delegations arrived at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border for talks on Monday. 

Previous post Suspected Islamist militants kill 20 civilians in eastern DRC
Next post ESF chief: early summer break would harm learning