Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv as shelling kills 21

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( March 02, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Russian paratroopers land in Kharkiv as shelling kills 21]( Russian paratroopers have reportedly landed in the city of Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine, according to the Security Service of Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities said that the airborne troops landed at around 3am local time and engaged in heavy fighting with Ukrainian forces. At least 21 people were killed and 112 wounded in the shelling of Ukraine's second most populous city, Kharkiv's mayor said. The governor of Kharkiv Regional State Administration said that all Russian attacks "were repulsed". This morning, Russia's defence ministry claimed control of the city of Kherson, which has a population of almost 300,000, in the south of the country. Overnight, US President Joe Biden banned Russian planes from American airspace and likened Putin to a "dictator" in his State of the Union address. 2 / [Ukraine says its forces foiled assassination plot against Volodymyr Zelensky]( Officials say Chechen special forces were behind attempt to kill Ukraine's president 3 / [State of the Union: Biden pledges to make Putin pay for Ukraine invasion]( US President condemned Russian attack on Ukraine, saying Putin 'badly miscalculated' the resistance of the Ukrainian people. 4 / [Boris Johnson to address MPs after confirming Nato intervention 'not on the agenda']( PM visits Estonia amid fears Baltic states could be targeted by Putin if Ukraine war successful 5 / [Ukraine asks China to mediate ceasefire with Russia]( China has refused to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine The Big Question What constitutes a war crime and how is it punished? Karim Khan, chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), has said he plans to open an investigation into alleged war crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine “as rapidly as possible”. “I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine,” he said in a statement announcing the decision. So what precisely will that entail and how does the ICC define a war crime? [Read the full story >]( Watch /[Unarmed Ukrainians attack Russian military vehicle with bare hands]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £390m Scrapping free Covid tests could cost parents and teachers in England £390m a year and leave schools “flying blind” in their efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, [Boris Johnson has been warned](. QUOTE OF THE DAY "You are not coming to Lviv because you are afraid!" – Ukrainian journalist Daria Kaleniuk [makes emotional speech to Boris Johnson](, urging the UK to do more amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Other stories you might like [Ukrainians need open, unconditional generous help - now]( [Donate to our Refugees Welcome fund to help the people of Ukraine]( [Sign The Independent's petition to help the people of Ukraine following the Russian invasion]( Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent: [Boris Johnson always wanted to be Churchill, but this is the wrong kind of war]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.