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Latest Developments in Ukraine: March 9

by VOA News

   For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit [1]Flashpoint
   Ukraine.

   For the latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,
   all times EST:

   1:07 a.m.: A humanitarian corridor being used by people to flee the
   northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy will stay open on Wednesday.

   The corridor was agreed to by Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday. It allowed
   about 5,000 people to exit the city on buses and allowed about 1,000
   cars to leave via the route which leads south to the city of Poltava,
   Reuters reported.

   The city had been attacked by Russian forces until a cease-fire Tuesday
   allowed civilians to flee. The regional governor of Sumy, Dmytro
   Zhyvytskyy, said prior to the cease-fire, bombs hit residential areas
   in the city and one blast killed 22 civilians, Reuters reported.

   12:18 a.m.: The U.S. announced it is repositioning two Patriot missile
   defense batteries to Poland.

   The move, which came at the direction of the U.S. Secretary of Defense,
   is to "confront any potential threats" to European allies, according to
   U.S. European Command (EUCOM).

   "This defensive deployment is being conducted proactively to counter
   any potential threat to U.S. and Allied forces and NATO territory,"
   EUCOM spokesman Capt. Adam Miller said in a statement.

   Miller said the systems are purely defensive and designed for
   protection. "Every step we take is intended to deter aggression and
   reassure our allies," Miller said.

   Patriot missile defense systems can destroy incoming short-range
   ballistic missiles, advanced aircraft and cruise missiles.

   Some information in this report came from Reuters.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/z/6932