Ukraine, Briefly

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• The Russian government criticized Finland’s bid to join NATO, saying that such a move “definitely” posed a threat to its security, Reuters wrote. Russian officials said it warranted “retaliatory steps” to stop threats to its national security.

• One person was killed and seven others were injured in a Russian town near the Ukrainian border, in what is likely the first death of a Russian civilian in Russia since Moscow began its invasion, Al Jazeera noted. Russian regional officials said the village of Solokhi came under Ukrainian shelling late Wednesday. The village of 638 inhabitants is located 12 miles north of the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.

• The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution calling for an investigation into alleged abuses by Russian forces in areas of Ukraine that were previously under their authority, the Guardian noted. The resolution was approved by a large majority, with 33 members voting in favor and two voting against – China and Eritrea. There were 12 abstentions.

• Russia’s Gazprom announced it will suspend shipments of natural gas flowing through Poland to the rest of Europe, a day after the Kremlin imposed sanctions against more than 30 energy corporations including a Polish firm in retaliation for Western sanctions imposed because of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Moscow Times reported.

• More than 6 million people have fled Ukraine since Russian forces invaded, accordingto the UN’s refugee agency. More than half of those fled to Poland while others have temporarily settled in Romania, Hungary and Moldova, among other nations. Meanwhile, at least 785,000 people have fled to Russia, where authorities are strip-searching and interrogating them, putting some in guarded camps, taking away their documents and sometimes making them stay in Russia, according to the Washington Post.