Russian firms to be blocked from trading in pounds, dollars in case of escalation.

Moldovan authorities said investigative measures began at 6 a.m. local time.

Ukraine reportedly struck an oil depot in Russia's Pskov Oblast and launched missiles at the Russian city of Belgorod, causing power outages in parts of the city, Telegram news channels and local authorities reported overnight Feb. 18-19.

The reported number includes 830 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The decision escalates tensions between Kyiv and two of the EU's most Russia-friendly governments.

"Thousands, dozens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed on this direction, defending this part of Ukraine," Zelensky said in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan. "We have to understand that Donbas is a part of our independence."

"We agreed to continue and move forward," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The alleged raid was described by Zaluzhnyi as "an act of intimidation," according to AP.

Ukraine carried out a series of successful overnight attacks on Feb. 17–18 against military facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories.