Russia-Ukraine live updates: Invasion escalates as massive convoy threatens Kyiv, Kharkiv ‘surrounded’

Prince Charles, Britain’s future king, spoke out Tuesday against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expressed “solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.”

It was the latest statement on the conflict from a member of the royal family. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful” to the royals for their support.

Prince Charles briefly spoke of Ukraine during an event in Southend-on-Sea, England, in honor of its former member of Parliament Sir David Amess. Amess was killed last year in a brutal attack that shocked Britain. The person charged with fatally stabbing Amess reportedly considered himself affiliated with the Islamic State.

“What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself,” Charles said Tuesday. “We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way.”

“In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression,” he said.

On Saturday, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, expressed their support for Ukraine in a tweet. “In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future,” they said. “Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future.”

Zelensky thanked them and the royal family for their support early Tuesday.

On Thursday, the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, issued a statement through their Archewell Foundation. It said they “stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same.”

Ukrainians and their supporters have used social media to bruise, belittle and humiliate the Russians, seeking to boost citizens’ spirits and sap invaders’ morale during the most Internet-accessible war in history.

A flood of real-time videos across Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and Twitter has blunted Kremlin propaganda and rallied the world to Ukraine’s side as it fights to defend its democracy from a military behemoth.

It has also potentially saved lives: Ukrainians have raced to disseminate defensive strategies, plot escape routes and document the brutality of a raging clash. Some expect that the phone footage recorded in recent days could play a critical role in investigating war crimes after the combat ends.

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine was mounting, Kyiv residents were strongly urged to take shelter. Manish Dave — who owns an Indian restaurant in the country’s embattled capital — swiftly opened his doors.

For the past several days, Dave’s basement eatery has doubled as a makeshift bunker, where dozens of children, pregnant women, students, homeless people and older locals have congregated, seeking safety from the deadly clashes. Since Russia waged war on Thursday, Dave has housed and fed more than 130 people.

“I will continue to offer shelter and food for as long as I can,” Dave, 52, said in a phone interview with The Washington Post.

LONDON — A Ukrainian activist berated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday for not doing more to help her country and suggested he could have taken stronger action against Russian oligarchs and imposed a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect civilians from Russian bombs.

The exchange took place at a news conference in Warsaw, where Johnson condemned Russia for using “barbaric” tactics against Ukrainian civilians. Johnson also pledged that Britain would do more to help Ukrainian refugees. He said that the United Kingdom would loosen restrictions to make it easier for family members of British nationals to come to the U.K., which is still far less than what other countries are doing.

But the standout moment at the news conference came when Daria Kaleniuk, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, a Ukrainian advocacy organization, addressed Johnson. “You’re coming to Poland. You’re not coming to Kyiv … because you’re afraid,” she said.

She also suggested that Britain could do more to target Russian oligarchs who call London — sometimes dubbed “Londongrad” — home.

“You’re talking about more sanctions, Prime Minister. But Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned. He is in London. His children are not in the bombardments. His children are there, in London,” Kaleniuk said. Johnson has pledged to crack down on “dirty money” in Britain and the British government has frozen assets and imposed a travel ban on a handful of prominent Russian oligarchs.

The campaigner, who is from Kyiv, asked Johnson to think about women and children who are scared for their lives and urged NATO allies to support a no-fly zone. “Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky. Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the rights to protect our sky. We are asking for a no-fly zone,” she said.

Johnson told her: “I just want to say I am acutely conscious that there is not enough we can do as the U.K. government to help in the way that you want. I’ve got to be honest about that. And when you talk about the no-fly zone, … unfortunately the implication of that is that the U.K. would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes, engaged in direct combat with Russia. That’s not something we can do, or we have envisaged.”

A missile drops into the top of the screen on a security camera feed, monitoring the regional administration building in Kharkiv, at 8:01 a.m. Tuesday local time. Less than a second later the building is engulfed in smoke and fire. Video verified by The Post shows debris flying, then people emerge from the smoke and flee the scene.

A small section of the roof appears to have collapsed, windows are blown out and the facade singed, but the building is still standing in videos of the aftermath. Several burned cars and debris fill the intersection as locals examine the damage.

In a Twitter post, the Ukrainian Emergency Services, reported at least 10 dead and more than 20 injured.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told The Post that other structures downtown were also hit Tuesday, including the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

On Monday, the city came under heavy bombardment from suspected cluster munitions, leaving at least 11 dead, local officials said.

BRUSSELS — The English-language interpreter for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech to European lawmakers on Tuesday was so moved by the remarks that he momentarily lost his composure.

During the virtual address, Zalensky described the recent shelling of Kharkiv, including a missile hit on the city’s Freedom Square. “Can you imagine, two cruise missiles, dozens killed,” the English-language interpreter said, his voice shaking. “This is the price of freedom.”

“We are fighting,” the interpreter continued, taking a breath. “Just for our land,” he said, exhaling sharply. “Despite the fact that all of our cities are blocked, that nobody is going to enter and intervene.”

From Nigeria to Ghana and Iraq to India, tens of thousands of students studying abroad in Ukraine are desperately calling for support from their governments as Russia’s invasion escalates.

At least two students — one from India and another from Algeria — have been killed in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which witnessed some of the heaviest shelling on Monday.

Arindam Bagchi, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a tweet: “With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family.”

Bagchi added that the Indian foreign secretary is calling on the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to help ensure “urgent safe passage for Indian nationals” stuck in Kharkiv and other conflict areas in Ukraine.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began last week, the travel industry has joined efforts to show solidarity with the afflicted nation. Airlines have ended partnerships with Russia’s largest air carrier, Aeroflot, and travel advisers have stopped making bookings in the region. Even the Russian ballet has canceled its performances to show its support for Ukraine.

Travelers watching the crisis unfold may feel unsure about upcoming trip plans. Will their flights to Europe be canceled? Should they postpone upcoming trips to the region?

To address travelers’ key concerns, we spoke with experts on travel security and aviation to find out what places to avoid, how to protect or cancel a trip, and how long people should be on alert.