ANNEXATION

* Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the annexation of territory seized in his invasion in four regions amounting to 15 per cent of total Ukrainian territory while Kyiv said it would continue its fight to retake occupied land.

* Before signing documents to annex four regions - an act denounced as illegal by Ukraine, the United States, the European Union and the head of the United Nations - Putin delivered a 37-minute anti-Western diatribe.

* President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine said it was formally applying for fast-track membership of the NATO military alliance and that Kyiv was ready for talks with Moscow, but not while Putin was president.

* Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution introduced by the United States and Albania condemning Moscow's proclaimed annexations, with Russia's strategic partner China abstaining from the vote.

* The United States responded to the annexations by imposing sanctions on Russia, targeting hundreds of people and companies, including those in Russia's military-industrial complex and lawmakers.

ZAPORIZHZHIA

The director general of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was detained by a Russian patrol, according to Energoatom, the state-owned company in charge of the plant.

GAS FLOWS

* Greece and Bulgaria started commercial operation of a long-delayed gas pipeline which will help decrease southeast Europe's dependence on Russian gas and boost energy security.

* Russia's Gazprom cut natural gas supplies to Moldova on Saturday by around 30 per cent, according to Vadim Ceban, the director of gas firm Moldovagaz.

CASUALTIES

* At least 30 civilians were killed and almost 100 wounded in what Kyiv said was a cynical Russian missile strike on Friday on a convoy of civilian cars in southern Ukraine.

Australian Associated Press