Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:40 Slovenia has joined the Czech initiative to search and purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. Slovenian media write that the country could allocate 1 million euros for these needs, but the amount was not officially announced.
22:27 The UN released its 38th report on the human rights situation in Ukraine. Experts interviewed 60 Ukrainian soldiers who were recently released from captivity and found that most of them were subjected to sexual violence. They also said that the Russian military and officials torture prisoners, in particular, they use beatings, electric shock, force them to remain in an uncomfortable position for a long time, threaten or imitate execution.
In addition, the mission documented credible reports of the execution of at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war between December 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024. Experts noted that this is more than in previous periods.
21:15 The reboot of power, especially the security bloc, announced by Zelensky, continues. The President dismissed Alexei Danilov from the post of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, his position was taken by Alexander Litvinenko, who previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service. About what Danilov is remembered for, and about his successor, see the material Rebooting Power Continues.
20:31 Zelensky said that he met in Kiev with a delegation of the Estonian Parliament led by Speaker Lauri Hussar. We discussed further assistance to Ukraine from Estonia and other partners, progress in preparing a bilateral security agreement, and the use of Russian frozen assets in favor of Ukraine.
19:59 France will soon be able to supply Ukraine with 78 Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Defense Minister Sebatien Lecornu said. In addition, according to him, Paris intends to transfer 80 thousand shells for 155 mm guns to Kyiv this year. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, 30 thousand of these shells have been handed over.
19:28 Zelensky said in an evening video message that Danilov’s dismissal from the post of NSDC secretary took place as part of a “reboot of the management system”, and he will be transferred “to another direction.” According to the president, his successor, Alexander Litvinenko, “will combine his experience in leading the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine with the tasks facing the National Security and Defense Council.”
18:43 This afternoon the Russians hit Kharkov with an X-35u missile, which hit a sports college dormitory. The roof and the ceiling between the upper floors were destroyed, one person was injured, said Sergei Bolvinov, head of the Investigation Department of the State Administration for Police in the Kharkov region.
18:40 In Mariupol, the Russians used excavators to destroy the ancient historical landmark Ded Kurgan, dating back to the 5th millennium BC. Its modern height reached 6 m, diameter - 70 m. The prosecutor's office stated that such actions are a violation of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property and the Provisions of the IV Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land.
18:33 The North Atlantic Alliance is considering the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles, in particular over the western regions of Ukraine. About whether the members of the alliance will dare to make such a decision - in the material NATO can protect Ukraine from missiles .
18:27 Macron began a three-day visit to Brazil, where the main issue on his agenda will be an attempt to convince Brazilian President Lula da Silva to take a more pro-Ukrainian position on the war, Bloomberg writes, citing French officials. They said the French leader views Brazil as a key player among the group of countries from the Global South, especially given its rotating presidency of the G20.
17:51 Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that within the framework of the Prague initiative, Ukraine could potentially receive 1.5 million shells. However, he could not say how long deliveries to the front line would take.
17:30 According to preliminary estimates, the damage to the environment from a missile attack on the Dnieper hydroelectric power station is about 140 million hryvnia, said Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strelets.
17:18 Director of the FSB of the Russian Federation Alexander Bortnikov said that the primary data received from those detained in the case of the terrorist attack in Crocus “confirms the Ukrainian trace.”
Meanwhile, Lukashenko said that the terrorists allegedly wanted to flee to Belarus first: “Due to the combat situation itself, we brought our units into action. Therefore, they could not enter Belarus in any way. They saw this. Therefore, they turned away and went to the section of the Ukrainian-Russian border.” . The President of Belarus noted that he “has suspicions” about the terrorists’ curators.
16:29 Since the beginning of the month, Kharkov has been under massive shelling. At the same time, Russian opposition media, citing sources in the Kremlin, claim that Putin has a plan to re-attack the city. This is partially confirmed by Ukrainian officials. What is known about the situation is in the material Where the Russian Federation is preparing a second offensive .
16:02 The Cabinet of Ministers appointed Artur Dobroserdov to the position of Commissioner for Issues of Missing Persons under Special Circumstances.
15:48 Zelensky, by his decrees, dismissed Alexey Danilov from the post of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and appointed in his place the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Alexander Litvinenko. The president appointed Oleg Ivashchenko , the former deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, as head of the SVR.
15:27 Hungarian law enforcement officers will help the Ukrainian police conduct DNA research to identify those killed during the war. Such an agreement was reached during a meeting of the head of the National Police of Ukraine Ivan Vyhovsky with his Hungarian colleague Janos Balog.
15:20 Czech volunteers from the Gift for Putin initiative donated 1000 RPG-75M anti-tank grenade launchers for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They reported that they collected more than 900 thousand euros.
14:59 As a result of yesterday's rocket attack in Odessa, ten people were injured, seven remain in hospitals, said Oleg Kiper, head of the OBA. As a result of the strikes, about 300 apartments were damaged and several buildings were destroyed. The Sports Palace also suffered significant damage.
14:28 In the Khortytsia group, a lieutenant colonel from Volyn, who worked for the FSB, was detained, said the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk. According to him, Syrsky, who at that time led this group, helped identify him. At the same time, the detainee refused the FSB salary and worked “for the idea.”
14:12 In the village of Odradokamenka, Kherson region, the Russians hit a bus carrying humanitarian aid with two FPV drones. The vehicle and cargo were destroyed, no people were injured, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin.
14:09 Shoigu called “complete stupidity” rumors about a new mobilization in the Russian Federation for an offensive in the Kharkov region and the creation of a “sanitary zone” near the borders of the Belgorod region. A number of opposition Russian publications wrote about Russia’s possible attack on Kharkov and the impending mobilization.
14:04 The head of the FSB of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bortnikov, said that the terrorist attack in the Moscow region “was prepared by Islamist radicals, and the Ukrainian special services contributed to everything.” According to him, Ukraine allegedly trained militants in the countries of the Middle East. At the same time, Bortnikov added that Moscow “preliminarily received information about Kyiv’s involvement in the terrorist attack in the Moscow region,” but the mastermind of the terrorist attack has not yet been identified.
Bortnikov claims that the militants allegedly intended to get from Russia to Ukraine, where they were “waited for” and “wanted to be greeted as heroes.” The head of the FSB said that the SBU should be recognized as a “terrorist organization,” and the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, is “a legitimate target for the Russian Armed Forces, like everyone who commits crimes against Russia.”
14:00 At night, the Russians shelled Novogrodovka, Donetsk region - one person was killed, one was wounded, said the head of the OVA Vadim Filashkin. The missiles destroyed the administrative building and hangar, damaged a dormitory, two private houses and two non-residential premises.
13:51 Russia supplies North Korea with oil in exchange for weapons, writes the Financial Times. According to the newspaper, direct oil supplies began in March of this year. In exchange for this, Moscow receives shells and missiles, which it uses to bombard Ukraine.
13:43 Russia is holding more than 10 thousand Ukrainians on its territory and in the occupied territories of Ukraine, Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. “There are different figures. We estimate tens of thousands, more than 10 thousand for sure,” he noted. At the same time, Kostin clarified that we are talking only about those who were forcibly resettled, and not about those who made such a decision at their own discretion.
The Prosecutor General also said that in criminal proceedings alone, 5,600 Ukrainians have been identified as victims of torture, but the real numbers could be much higher, since there is no reliable information from the occupied territories.
13:07 The Russians hit civilian housing infrastructure in the Shevchenkovsky district of Kharkov, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. A non-residential building was damaged, and windows in a neighboring high-rise building were blown out. There were no wounded or dead.
12:59 Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, answering the question of who was behind the terrorist attack in Crocus near Moscow - ISIS or Ukraine, said: “Of course, Ukraine.”
12:48 Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez said that neither the EU, nor NATO, nor his country are preparing for any war, despite the threat from the Russian Federation and its unleashed war against Ukraine.
12:09 Kuleba said in an interview with Politico that he receives “irritated responses” from Germany every time he calls for giving Ukraine a Taurus: “Listen, I’m tired of answering this question. Sorry. You can quote me, I don’t mind. But every time, "When I answer this question, I get irritated responses from Berlin. Leave it to them. They got themselves into this situation. Let them look for a way out." The minister also called on the West to give Ukraine “these damn Patriots” to defend against Russian missile attacks.
11:24 NATO is considering the option of shooting down Russian missiles when they fly towards the territory of the Alliance, said Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna: “NATO is analyzing different concepts, in particular, that such missiles should be shot down when they are already very close to the border "NATO. But this would have to happen with the consent of the Ukrainian side and taking into account international consequences. Then NATO missiles would hit Russian missiles outside the territory of the Treaty."
10:58 Kiev did not ask that NATO troops be deployed on the territory of Ukraine, but the West needs to come to terms with the fact that “this day may come,” Kuleba said: “I understand perfectly well that Europeans are not accustomed to the idea of war. But this is carelessness, "which Europeans simply cannot afford - neither for themselves nor for their children. Ukraine can win. But if Ukraine loses, Putin will not stop."
10:47 The southern defense forces reported that the Zircon missile, which the Russians used to hit Kiev the day before, has an average speed of 9,000 km/h. and even more. So, Zircon flies in one minute to Odessa, Kherson and Nikolaev, in two and a half minutes - to Zaporozhye and Dnepr, in three minutes - to Kropyvnytskyi.
10:42 The Navy clarified that the large landing ship Konstantin Olshansky was hit on March 24 during a missile attack on Sevastopol. At the same time, the landing ships Yamal and Azov and the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs were hit.
10:20 The difficult situation with electricity supply after the Russian attacks remains in Kharkov, Odessa, Krivoy Rog and the Nikolaev region. But there is no threat of negative consequences for the energy supply throughout Ukraine, said the head of Ukrenergo Vladimir Kudrytsky. According to him, in Odessa it was possible to stabilize the situation in the energy system and return to the schedule of planned outages. The worst situation is in Kharkov, where the enemy tried to destroy almost all main-level objects using ballistics.
09:54 EU High Representative Josep Borrell called on the United States to unblock aid to Ukraine, since this is in the interests of the entire West: “We cannot allow Russia to win this war. Otherwise, the interests of the United States and Europe will suffer greatly. It’s not just about generosity. It’s not about supporting Ukraine "because we love the Ukrainians. It's in our own interests. And it's also in the interests of the United States as a global player - which wants to be seen as a responsible partner for the security of its allies. So we urge the United States to release and approve additional assistance."
09:11 The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the ship Konstantin Olshansky with a Neptune missile, said Naval Forces spokesman Dmitry Pletenchuk. According to him, the damage is being clarified, but the ship is not in combat readiness. This landing ship belonged to Ukraine before the occupation of Crimea. It stood in the bay for nine years, and over the past year the Russians have restored it.
Pletenchuk also confirmed that Ukraine, during a missile attack on Sevastopol on March 23, damaged the ship Ivan Khurs, which received damage to its stern equipment.
08:58 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of March 26:
- personnel - about 438,160 (+770) people,
- tanks - 6893 (+6),
- armored combat vehicles - 13,207 (+24),
- artillery systems - 10 904 (+27),
- MLRS - 1019 (+1),
- air defense systems - 727 (+1),
- aircraft - 347 (+0),
- helicopters - 325 (+0),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 8553 (+14),
- cruise missiles - 2014 (+4),
- ships/boats - 26 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 14,498 (+44),
- special equipment - 1789 (+4).
08:26 At night, the Russians attacked Kharkov with drones. The building of a private enterprise was damaged, but no people were injured, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA.
08:07 Over the past 24 hours, 57 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in a cancer report . In particular, the enemy tried 22 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops in the Novopavlovsk direction - near the settlement of Novomikhailovka, Donetsk region. Another 15 enemy attacks were repulsed in the Liman direction - in the areas of Belogorovka, Lugansk region, as well as Ternov, Yampolevka, Razdolovka and north of Vesely, Donetsk region.
In the Kupyansky direction, the Defense Forces repelled one enemy attack in the Ivanovka area of the Kharkov region; on Bakhmutskoye - four attacks in the Kleshcheevka area of the Donetsk region; in Avdeevsky - four attacks in the Berdychi and Pervomaisky districts of the Donetsk region; on Orekhovsky - four attacks in the areas of Staromayorskoye, Donetsk region, as well as southwest of Belogorye and northwest of Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region. The enemy did not conduct offensive operations in the Kherson direction.
07:42 In the morning, the Russians shelled Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk region, with artillery - nine private houses were damaged, one person was injured, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak.
07:39 Air defense at night destroyed all 12 Shahed-type attack UAVs, which Russia attacked from the Crimean Cape Chauda and from the Kursk region. The drones were destroyed in the Nikolaev and Kharkov regions, the Air Force reported. In addition, the Russians fired two S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles in the direction of the Donetsk region.
06:18 Governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said that as a result of the night attack, destruction of infrastructure was recorded. According to him, on approaching Belgorod, air defense forces allegedly shot down 13 air targets. In the village of Dubovoe, two people were injured.