11:31,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Rostov Region was brought to the highest level of readiness regarding the incoming refugees from Donets and Lugansk, RIA Novosti reports.
More than 400 people and 150 vehicles are involved in providing assistance.
Earlier, the authorities of Donetsk and Lugansk republics declared evacuation of citizens to Rostov Region.
More than 25,000 people are already evacuated from Lugansk, and 6600 from Donetsk.
11:38,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. 1469 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total number of confirmed cases to 414,764, the Armenian National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.
30 people died, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 8308.
2587 people recovered (total 388,780).
5879 tests were conducted (total 2,857,715).
As of February 19 the number of active cases stood at 16,088.
12:02,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will participate in the Munich Security Conference on February 19 and will return to Ukraine on the same day, the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement.
“Naturally, the discussions at the Munich Security Conference will be dedicated to the current threats in Eastern Europe and the situation around Ukraine. That’s why our country’s stance must be accurately presented in order for issues relating to Ukraine to be solved with Ukraine’s participation,” the presidency added.
12:10,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. United States President Joe Biden extended the national emergency declared in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said.
More than 933,000 Americans have died due to COVID-19 since the virus started spreading in the US.
12:26,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) is calling on the U.S. government to increase aid to Artsakh deportees of the 2020 war and cutting aid to Azerbaijan.
“This week, I met with Armenian refugees of the 44 Day War. After hearing their stories and meeting their children, it’s clear that we must do more to acknowledge the atrocities that happened and to hold Azerbaijan accountable.
As a Jewish American, the targeting of ethnic minorities is deeply personal for me. The U.S. must do more to stand with Armenians, including expanding aid to Artsakh deportees and cutting aid to Azerbaijan,” Gottheimer tweeted.
12:32,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. An explosion occurred in the Tarasovsky District of Russia’s Rostov Region, RIA Novosti reported citing the law enforcement agencies.
A law enforcement source told RIA Novosti that preliminary information suggests a shell exploded. The blast took place at a distance of 1km from the border with Ukraine.
“The explosion took place at 04:00 in the morning, 300 meters from a village home of Mityakinskaya village,” the source said.
No victims or damages were reported.
12:40,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. 10,356 people have crossed into Russia from Donbas amid the Russian-Ukrainian tensions, RIA Novosti reported citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter.
“As of 10:00, 10,356 people crossed the border, 4527 of whom are citizens of Russia, 5806 are citizens of Ukraine, and 23 are foreigners,” the source told RIA Novosti.
Earlier the authorities of Donetsk and Lugansk republics ordered evacuation of civilians into Rostov Region.
12:47,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine says its security and defense forces are fully controlling the situation in the country’s east.
“Our special services are analyzing the situation at the line of contact in Donbas, in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the border regions of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement, adding that intelligence data is being studied and information exchange is carried out with partners.
“Ukraine is also regularly receiving updated intelligence on the activities of the Russian forces. The situation in the country’s east is entirely controlled by the Ukrainian security and defense forces,” the statements said.
12:55,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with German businessmen on February 18 in Munich, his spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said.
Executives of Veridos, Giesecke+Devrient(G+D), Secunet and other leading German companies were present at the meeting.
Mirzoyan also toured the Giesecke+Devrient(G+D) headquarters.
14:45,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of military exercises involving the nuclear triad, RIA Novosti reported citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Putin, together with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, is overseeing the missile drills.
According to the Russian military, the maneuvers are of planned nature.
The Strategic Missile Forces, the Navy and Aerospace Forces are participating in the drills.
The military exercises were planned to check the readiness level of the troops.