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Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russia has prepared puppet government, US official says

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymr Zelenskyy, are putting up “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.

The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation.”

Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, don’t appear to have advanced closer to the city since coming within about 20 miles, although smaller advanced groups have been fighting gun battles with Ukrainian forces inside the capital since at least Friday.

Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Mar 04, 10:22 am
Putin says Russia will ‘cope’ with sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday addressed the sanctions imposed by the West, saying his country will “benefit” in the end.

“Of course it will cause damage to us as well,” Putin said during an appearance on a Russian news channel. “We will simply have to postpone some projects a little, acquire additional expertise, just as we did it in a whole range of other projects, including in aviation.”

“But in any case we will cope with these tasks before us and will even benefit from this situation in the end, because we will acquire additional expertise,” Putin said.

Putin also spoke about Ukraine: “We have absolutely no ill intentions with regard to our neighbors.”

He added, “I would advise them against escalating tensions and imposing any restrictions. We are honoring all our obligations, and we will continue to do so.”

Mar 04, 9:08 am
Over 1.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine: UNHCR

More than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Over 50% of the refugees from Ukraine are in neighboring Poland, UNHCR figures show.

UNHCR spokesperson Chris Melzer said the refugee flow from Ukraine into Poland appears to be slowing down, for now.

“The flow of people is lessening,” Melzer told ABC News on Friday. “The lines are much shorter.”

Melzer, who is currently at Budomierz on the Polish border, has been hearing reports of similar scenes at other crossings. But he cautioned that this doesn’t mean the situation is over.

“The process has been streamlined and less people seem to be coming,” he said. “Here, there are about two-hour waits for cars and pedestrians are passing through freely.”

-ABC News’ Zoe Magee

Mar 04, 8:33 am
Zelenskyy alleges Russia is planning to stage ‘fake rally’ in Kherson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of planning to stage “a fake rally in support of Russia” in the strategic port city of Kherson.

In a televised address Friday morning, Zelenskyy claimed that Russian troops were busing in “outsiders” from Moscow-annexed Crimea and “trying to recruit traitors from among the locals” to demand that Kherson be a Russian city.

“I appeal to the residents of Kherson: You can stop that, show them that Kherson is your city,” Zelenskyy said. “We will not let go of what is ours.”

“Show them our flags, sing our anthem, show your spirit, let them know that they can only stay in Kherson temporarily and would never be able to claim ownership of Kherson or any other city of our country,” he added.

Russian forces took control of Kherson in southern Ukraine on Wednesday night. The Ukrainian government said earlier Friday that Russian troops have taken over Kherson’s television tower and are broadcasting Russian channels, suggesting that Moscow may be planning to permanently occupy the city.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell

Mar 04, 8:17 am
Over 1.2 million refugees have fled Ukraine: UNHCR

More than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Over 50% of the refugees from Ukraine are in neighboring Poland, UNHCR figures show.

-ABC News’ Zoe Magee

Mar 04, 7:46 am
Russia has prepared puppet government for Kyiv: US official

Russia has selected and prepared a puppet government to install in Kyiv once its forces seize the Ukrainian capital, a senior U.S. administration official told ABC News.

U.S. intelligence believes Russian troops will ultimately crush Kyiv and decapitate its government, amid mounting evidence of indiscriminate shelling and a barrage against civilian targets across Ukraine, according to the official.

The official expressed concern that Ukraine lacks air power and what air force they had has been attacked, allowing Russia to mass its forces en route to Kyiv.

-ABC News’ Martha Raddatz

Mar 04, 7:32 am
Russian forces advancing on major Ukrainian city, local official warns

Russian forces are advancing on Mykolaiv, another key city in southern Ukraine, the regional governor warned Friday.

In a video message posted on social media, Mykolaiv Oblast Gov. Vitaliy Kim said Russian troops are moving on Mykolaiv city from two directions and that some have already entered the city limits but are not yet inside in significant numbers.

The city is preparing to defend itself, according to Kim.

“Don’t panic,” Kim said. “At the moment, the enemy is approaching from two directions but they’re not on our streets yet. We’re preparing the defenses, so women and children should get home now and the men join the defense lines.”

Kim said the Ukrainian military has a large amount of armour in Mykolaiv and urged residents “not to shoot at every vehicle,” since some could be Ukrainian.

“No need to shoot at everything that’s moving in the city. There’s a lot of our armor in the city,” he said. “{lease do not shoot inside the city, there’s no enemy here yet, but they are approaching.”

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell

Mar 04, 6:45 am
US embassy calls nuclear power plant shelling ‘a war crime’

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv took to Twitter on Friday to condemn Russia’s shelling of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

“It is a war crime to attack a nuclear power plant,” the embassy tweeted. “Putin’s shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear plant takes his reign of terror one step further.”

Mar 04, 6:25 am
Blinken: ‘If conflict comes to us, we’re ready for it’

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday morning to discuss the response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During a press conference prior to the meeting at NATO headquarters, Blinken and Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s attacks on civilians in Ukraine and expressed concern over the reports of Russian shelling at Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant.

“This just demonstrates the recklessness of this war and the importance of ending it, and the importance of Russia withdrawing all its troops and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “We provide support to Ukraine. At the same time, NATO is not part of the conflict. NATO is a defensive alliance, we don’t seek war conflict with Russia.”

Blinken emphasized that NATO and the United States “seek no conflict.”

“But if conflict comes to us, we’re ready for it,” he added. “And we will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

Mar 04, 5:41 am
No radioactive material released at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: IAEA

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Friday that no radioactive material was released at Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant amid shelling from Russian forces overnight.

The shelling sparked a fire in a training building at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Enerhodar. The blaze has since been extinguished, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Two security employees at the plant were injured during the incident, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

“The safety systems at the six reactors were not effected,” Grossi said at a press conference in Vienna on Friday morning. “No radioactive material was released.”

“We are following the situation very, very closely,” he added.

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti

Mar 04, 2:57 am
Fire at Ukraine’s largest nuclear facility extinguished as Russian forces take control

A fire at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Enerhodar was extinguished Friday, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

The fire occurred in a training building at the site after shelling from Russian forces. There were no victims, the emergency service said.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is the largest in Europe.

Meanwhile, Energodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov told reporters Friday morning that the city is now under the control of Russian forces and fighting near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has stopped.

Ukraine’s national nuclear regulator has said that the plant’s employees are being permitted to work as normal, safety systems are currently functioning and there was no reported change in radiation levels at the site.

-ABC News’ Brian Hartman and Patrick Reevell

Mar 04, 2:12 am
UN nuclear watchdog warns of ‘severe danger if any reactors were hit’ at plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appealed for a halt of the use of force at Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant and warned of “severe danger if any reactors were hit.”

The United Nations nuclear watchdog said in a statement early Friday that it was informed by Ukraine that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, had been shelled overnight in the eastern city of Enerhodar. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi “immediately” spoke with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as well as the country’s national nuclear regulator and operator about the “serious situation.” Grossi is expected to hold a press conference later Friday.

According to IAEA, the Ukrainian regulatory authority said a fire at the site had not affected “essential” equipment and plant personnel were taking mitigatory actions, and that there was no reported change in radiation levels at the plant.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the blaze, which occurred in a training building after shelling from Russian forces, was extinguished Friday morning.

The IAEA said it is putting its Incident and Emergency Center (IEC) in “full response mode” due to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The agency continues to closely monitor developments at the facility and remains in constant contact with Ukraine.

Unemployment rate drops to 3.8% as 678,000 jobs added in February

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. employers added 678,000 jobs to their payrolls last month, the latest figures released Friday by the Labor Department show, exceeding economists’ expectations.

Economists had expected to see employment grow by around 440,000 new positions.

The biggest increases in employment in February occurred in leisure and hospitality (179,000) followed by professional and business services (95,000) and health care (64,000), according to the Labor Department.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dropped slightly from 4.0% in January to 3.8% in February.

Demi Lovato exits NBC comedy series, ‘Hungry’

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Demi Lovato is no longer starring in the upcoming NBC comedy series, Hungry.

According to Deadline, Demi had to leave the acting role due to “scheduling issues” but they’ll still serve as an executive producer on the project along with their manager, Scooter Braun.

Demi’s role is being recast. Deadline reports it’ll have to be done quickly so the pilot can remain on schedule.

Hungry follows a group of friends who belong to a food issues group and help each other along the way. It was set to be Demi’s first regular television role in over 10 years.

Supreme Court reinstates death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court reinstated the death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who attacked the Boston Marathon in 2013, in a decision announced Friday.

It was a 6-3 decision, with the opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas. Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

“Dzhokhar Tsarnaev committed heinous crimes. The Sixth Amendment nonetheless guaranteed him a fair trial before an impartial jury. He received one. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is reversed,” Thomas wrote in the decision.

Breyer in the dissent said Tsarnaev should have been allowed to present evidence that his older brother Tamerlan had previously committed three brutal murders to bolster his case that he “radicalized him.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers premiere new ’Unlimited Love’ track, “Poster Child”

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Red Hot Chili Peppers have shared another preview of their hotly anticipated new album, Unlimited Love.

The latest cut is called “Poster Child,” and is available now via digital outlets. An accompanying animated video is streaming now via Facebook.

“Poster Child” is the second Unlimited Love track to be released, following lead single “Black Summer.” The album, which marks the return of both longtime guitarist John Frusciante and frequent Peppers producer Rick Rubin, arrives in full on April 1.

RHCP will launch a worldwide stadium tour in support of Unlimited Love in June. The U.S. leg begins in July.

Paul McCartney headlining UK’s Glastonbury Festival

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney has confirmed the online speculation: He’ll be headlining the U.K.’s prestigious Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, June 25. The festival is returning in person this year after the last two editions were canceled due to the pandemic.

On February 24, McCartney tweeted what appeared to be a Wordle score, with the stats, “Wordle 121 25/6.” Since those numbers don’t actually make sense in Wordle world, fans suspected something was up, and one spelled it out: “I think 121 25/6 is saying 121 days to Glasto and Saturday Glasto is 25th June. Guessing he is headlining.”

If you’ll recall, McCartney had been slated to play a headlining set at the 2020 Glastonbury Festival, but that event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as was the 2021 edition of the fest.

As previously announced, Billie Eilish will be the headliner at this year’s festival on Friday, June 24, while rapper Kendrick Lamar has just been announced as the headliner for Sunday, June 26. Also on the bill: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Diana Ross, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Crowded House, Pet Shop Boys, HAIM, Lorde, Herbie Hancock, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and dozens more.

Bipartisan calls for Russian oil ban meet resistance from White House

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Bipartisan calls are growing on Capitol Hill for the United States to ban imports of oil from Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but the White House stopped short of an outright ban — and experts said the impact would be limited.

The United States and other Western nations have imposed an unprecedented raft of sanctions on Russia, but they have created exceptions for the oil and gas sector — from which the Russian government derives much of its income — because of fears cutting off the supply would drive up energy prices around the world.

But Republican members of Congress have for weeks been calling for a ban on imports of Russian crude oil and petroleum products, saying it would kneecap Russian President Vladimir Putin more than the Biden administration’s sanctions have so far.

“Putin’s major source of revenue is selling oil and gas and Biden’s given an exception,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday. “You can continue getting billions of dollars to fund the invasion of Ukraine.”

Experts predict muted impact on Russia

Just 1% of Russia’s total crude oil exports in 2020 went to the United States, according to U.S. government figures.

So while cutting off that trade would force Russia to find other buyers for that relatively small amount of oil, it would not have as significant of an impact as if Europe — where Russia sends nearly half its oil — stopped them, experts told ABC News.

And the crippling financial sanctions on Russia’s banks and other parts of its economy have already turned off potential buyers of Russian oil who are wary of doing business in a country quickly becoming a financial pariah, the experts said.

“Russian oil has already been de facto sanctioned” by the United States and its partners, Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told ABC News.

The global market has already started to react, according to Ben Cahill, an expert on energy security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“For Russia, this is part of a bigger set of challenges — which is a lot of people don’t want to buy their oil,” Cahill said. “There’s a lot of self-sanctioning happening in the marketplace.”

The U.S. relies on Russian oil more than Russia depends on sending its oil to the U.S., with about 7 to 10% of the United States’ imports of crude oil and petroleum products coming from Russia in recent years.

De Haan said cutting off the supply would likely raise gas prices in the U.S. in the short term.

But Cahill said the switch would be “manageable,” with the U.S. potentially turning to countries like Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Canada to replace the Russian oil.

Growing bipartisan support runs up against White House reluctance

Still, a slew of Democratic senators, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Thursday threw their support behind cutting off Russian oil imports.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by moderate Democrat Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Republican Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation Thursday that would declare a national emergency and direct President Joe Biden to impose a ban.

But Biden already has such authority.

And while the White House has not completely ruled out the possibility, it has expressed concern it could lead to higher energy prices for Americans who are already being hit at the gas pump by record-high inflation rates.

“The president’s objective has been to maximize impact on President Putin and Russia, while minimizing impact to us and our allies and partners,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.

The group backing Manchin’s proposal is bipartisan. Nine Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors. And Democratic supporters span the caucus from traditionally moderate members like Sen. Jon Tester, of Montana, to more progressive members like Hawaii Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Connecticut’s Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

“Putin has weaponized energy,” Tester said. “I don’t believe this country should be importing anything from Russia, but the fact of the matter is energy is something Putin depends upon for his finances, and he is depending on it to fight this war in Ukraine.”

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., has offered a separate bill that would also ban Russian oil imports. In addition, his legislation would require a report identifying entities involved in the import of Russian crude oil and petroleum products into the U.S. — and impose sanctions on those entities based on the report’s findings.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave the effort her stamp of approval Thursday.

“I’m all for that,” Pelosi told reporters. “Ban it. Ban the oil coming from Russia.”

Manchin said Americans should be willing to make a sacrifice.

“You talk about an inconvenience, can you imagine if you lived in Ukraine right now?” Manchin said. “If there was a poll being taken and they said, ‘Joe, would you pay 10 cents more a gallon to support the people of Ukraine and stop, basically, the support of Russia?’ I would gladly pay 10 cents more a gallon.”

Republicans call for new drilling on US public lands

Pelosi was clear that she did not back an increase on oil and gas drilling on federal land, which the Biden administration has restricted — and which Republicans want.

While the bipartisan bill makes no mention of domestic production, many Republican lawmakers — and some Democrats, including Manchin — see the two policies going hand in hand.

An increase in U.S. production would blunt rising oil prices and provide a global alternative to Russian oil, they argue.

“We must dramatically increase domestic production of energy to support the energy needs of American consumers without causing increased financial burden,” Manchin said in a statement Tuesday.

Increasing U.S. oil production is a controversial move. Many Democrats applauded steps taken by the administration for sidelining the Keystone XL pipeline project last year and taking steps to pare back production in favor of greener energy sources earlier this year.

But the White House says oil companies have access to plenty of places to drill, and the Biden administration supports investing in clean energy in the long term to prevent a reliance on foreign oil.

Cahill said there are signs U.S. producers are already reacting to demand that increased even before the war in Ukraine — and that most of the new drilling would take place on private land.

“This industry mostly takes its signals from Wall Street, and the market is going to take care of some of this on its own,” Cahill said. The White House lending its rhetorical support could help, though, he said.

Murkowski echoed that sentiment.

“If the president were to come before the American people and give a speech and say we in this country need to embrace the role that we can take on as a full energy producer,” she said, “I think that that would do as much to send a signal to help calm the markets to help address what we are seeing with the daily prices of fuel at the pump.”

ABC News’ Zunaira Zaki contributed to this report.

Swedish House Mafia team up with Sting for new “Redlight” single and video

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

What’s it like to go to a rave in hell? Watch the new Swedish House Mafia video and find out.

After collaborating with The Weeknd for “Moth to a Flame” and “Sacrifice,” the trio has now teamed up with Sting for a new track, “Redlight.” It’s a techno-influenced banger and the only vocals come from Sting interpolating his classic song “Roxanne,” which he originally wrote and recorded as a member of The Police.

Sting re-recorded some of “Roxanne’s” lyrics just for “Redlight,” and he repeats them over and over: “You don’t have to put on the red light,” “you don’t have to wear that dress tonight” and “those days are over.”

Swedish House Mafia’s Axwell tells SPIN magazine, “For him to agree that this treasure of his should be slaughtered in a song like this, it’s kind of rare.”

Meanwhile, SHM will release their debut full-length album, Paradise Again, on April 15. The album was partially inspired by Dante’s Inferno, which explains the hellish landscape in the video. They’ll perform at Coachella before launching a world tour, their first major trek since 2012.

“Proud” Ukrainian Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher raise $3 million and counting for relief efforts

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

“Proud” Ukrainian Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher raise million and counting for relief efforts

In a message shared to YouTube and their Instagram feeds, native Ukrainian Mila Kunis and her husband and former That 70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher announced they’ve started a GoFundMe for the country in the wake of the Russian invasion.

So far, they’ve kicked in $3 million of their own cash to the “Stand with Ukraine” effort, with a goal of $30 million.

“I was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in 1983,” Kunis begins. “I came to America in 1991 and I have always considered myself an American. A proud American. I love everything that this country has done for myself and my family. But today, I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian.”

“And I’ve never been more proud to be married to one,” Kutcher replies.

“The events that have unfolded in Ukraine are devastating,” Mila says. “There is no place in this world for this unjust attack on humanity.”

Kutcher adds, “And while we witness the bravery of the people of the country she was born in, we are also witness to the needs of those who have chosen safety. We’re raising funds to support a relief effort that will have immediate impact and supply much needed refugee and humanitarian aid to the area.”

Kunis implores, “The people of Ukraine are strong and brave, but being strong and brave doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of our support.”

The GoFundMe they’ve matched their $3 million to will benefit Flexport.org and Airbnb.org, “two organizations who are actively on the ground providing immediate help to those who need it most.”

So as of 8:30 ET Friday morning, more than 8,300 donations have been added to the celebrity couple’s generous kick-start.

In Brief: Phoebe Waller-Bridge sets ‘Fleabag’ follow-up, and more

March 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge has nailed down her next project, according to Deadline. Details of the new show are being kept under wraps. Amazon Prime Video has greenlit her new show, scheduled to start shooting by the end of the year. It’s the first series she’s created since inking her three-year overall deal with Amazon Studios, which she signed back in September 2019. Following the success of Fleabag, Waller-Bridge executive-produced and appeared in the HBO romantic comedy series Run, starring Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, and co-wrote Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film, No Time to Die, which grossed over $774 million worldwide. She also wrote, ran and executive-produced the first season of the award-winning series Killing Eve. She’ll next be seen in Disney/Lucasfilm’s upcoming Indiana Jones movie…

Variety reports Pitch Perfect and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist alum Skylar Astin is joining Grey’s Anatomy‘s current 18th season in a recurring role. Astin will play Todd Eames, described as “charming and handsome with a gentle soul” whose sister is a pregnant patient at the hospital. Astin’s first episode, titled “Put the Squeeze on Me,” will air March 24…

The Ryan Murphy shows American Crime Story and Pose will move to Hulu when their current deal with Netflix expires, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They’ll join American Horror Story on the Disney-run streaming service. All seasons of Pose and American Crime Story — including Impeachment, which aired on FX in the fall of 2021 and has yet to stream anywhere — will make their Hulu debuts on March 7. All future seasons of American Crime Story and American Horror Story, which has been renewed through its 13th season, will also be available on Hulu after their broadcast TV debuts on FX…

Sheryl Underwood has signed a multi-year deal to remain on the panel of CBS’ The Talk through season 15, according to Variety. The show is currently in its 12th season. Additionally, Underwood has entered into a new two-year first-look deal with CBS Studios. “The Talk will forever be my home; I have no intentions of going anywhere, but while I have this platform and while I have access to the audience, I want to be as integral in the success of the corporation of CBS as I possibly can,” Underwood tells Variety. “I want to be able to create content — not just for me to star in, but for other people to get the same opportunity and go on the same journey, especially women and stand-up comics.” Underwood joined The Talk in September 2011, ahead of its second season…

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