Saudi Arabia extends visas of Ukrainian nationals on humanitarian grounds

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has extended tourist and business visas of Ukrainian citizens on humanitarian grounds, the Saudi state news agency reported Friday, as Russian forces continued pressing their attacks on Ukrainian cities with shelling and missiles. 
Russian forces have been striking Ukrainian cities from a distance again, pounding the capital of Kyiv and the country’s west as their ground offensive inches forward in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance. 
The invasion is now in its fourth week. Russian troops have failed to take Kyiv — a major objective in their hopes of forcing a settlement or dictating Ukraine’s future political alignments — but have wreaked havoc and devastation. 
In implementation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s royal directive, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has announced the extension of visas for Ukrainians in the kingdom, whether they are tourists or businessmen, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. 
“Extending visas for Ukrainians will be implemented without fees or fines,” the report read. “Passports explained that the extension will be carried out automatically in cooperation with the National Information Center.” 
The fighting has led nearly 3.3 million people to flee Ukraine, the United Nations (UN) estimates. The death toll remains unknown, though thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed. 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s defenses have proved much stronger than expected, and Russia “didn’t know what we had for defense or how we prepared to meet the blow.” 
The World Health Organization said it had confirmed 43 attacks on hospitals and health facilities, with 12 people killed.