It’s now five weeks since Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Here are the latest developments in the conflict:

• Bombardment continues: Despite Russia claiming this week it would “drastically reduce military activity” around Kyiv and surrounding cities, Ukrainian officials said the Russian assault is ongoing there. Meanwhile, the northeastern region of Kharkiv has come under heavy shellfire in the past 24 hours, which is preventing the opening of evacuation corridors, according to its military governor. The eastern Donbas region also reported heavy shelling, as Russia steps up its offensive there. 

• Talks to resume Friday: Ukraine’s next round of negotiations with Russia will resume online on April 1, the head of the Ukrainian delegation said. Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told CNN he has a “very, very small portion of optimism” following diplomatic negotiations in Istanbul earlier this week.

• Russian troops regrouping: Russian forces may be regrouping in Belarus, the Ukrainian General Staff said in a statement Thursday. The movement of Russian military equipment had been observed in Belarus, “probably for regrouping units, as well as creating a reserve to replenish losses in manpower, weapons and equipment of groups operating in Ukraine,” the statement said.

• Zelensky calls for more sanctions: President Zelensky has continued to call for more international sanctions against Russia. During a virtual address to the Australian parliament Thursday, he warned of great implications to global security if Russia isn’t stopped. In response, Australia pledged $25 million AUD of defensive military assistance and said it would apply additional tariffs on imports from Russia and Belarus.

READ MORE

• Chelsea’s Tuchel hopes James’ latest injury is not serious.
• Two Russian Military transport planes shot down over Ukraine.
• more-usa-heavily-armed-troops-on-the-way-to-europe

• On the ground latest: Satellite images from Maxar Technologies have shown that entire city blocks in central Mariupol have been obliterated and a Red Cross warehouse hit by military strikes. Meanwhile, a video posted on social media appears to show Ukrainian troops have retaken territory from Russian forces near the northern city of Chernihiv. And half of the city of Irpin, near Kyiv, has been destroyed, according to Oleksandr Markushin, the city’s mayor.