Ukraine in brief:
The 27th day of the heroic opposition of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion continues.
Due to the lack of success of the ground phase of the operation, the enemy continues to actively launch missile and bomb strikes on important military and civilian infrastructure using operational and tactical aircraft, high-precision missile weapons, and indiscriminate munitions.
The enemy is trying to form and move reserves to the borders of Ukraine.
Due to the lack of their own, the Russians continue to take active measures to forcibly mobilize the local population in the cities of the so-called DNR – from Horlivka, Yenakiieve, and nearby settlements. After undergoing a rapid training course, the occupiers plan to reinforce the units which suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka and Izyum.
No active offensive actions of the enemy were recorded in the Polissya direction. Regrouping, consolidation on the occupied frontiers, and logistical support of the troops are carried out.
In the direction of Chernihiv, the enemy is not conducting active offensive operations, continuing artillery shelling of positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Chernihiv. No changes in the composition of forces and the nature of the actions of the occupying troops were noted.
In Kyiv Oblast, in the direction of Brovary, the enemy continues to regroup to resume offensive operations. Logistical support of divisions and engineering equipment of occupied positions continues.
In the direction of Kharkiv and Izyum, the enemy is trying to take measures to restore units that have lost their combat capability. Massive artillery shelling of Kharkiv continues.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy focused its efforts on capturing Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Popasna, Vugledar, and Mariupol. In the site of the settlement of Yampil, russian occupation troops carried out fire influence on divisions of the Ukrainian army to maintain the further advance in the direction of the territory of Torske. It was not successful. In the direction of Donetsk – Marinka, it attempted to attack, which was not successful, suffered heavy losses, and retreated.
The russian occupiers are trying to carry out artillery shelling and assault operations in Mariupol.
In Kherson Oblast, in the settlements of Kalanchak, Radensk, Brylivka, and Tarasivka, the national guard of russia units carried out filtering measures to search for places to store small arms.
In Mykolaiv Oblast, the enemy by the specific group attempted to carry out assault actions around the settlement of Alexandrivka failed. In the area of the territory of Bereznehuvate, russian occupation troops conducted reconnaissance in battle, suffered casualties, and withdrew.
Northern Oblasts
Kyiv
Currently, the enemy is not making active offensive actions and is waiting for reserves. At the same time, the Ukrainian military continues to fortify Kyiv.
Kyiv Oblast
Currently, Kyiv Oblast is conditionally divided into two zones: where there is fighting (northern) and where there is no fighting (southern). Active battles on the Zhytomyr highway, in Irpin and Gostomel. The russians occupy Bucha and Gostomel. The occupiers fired artillery at Brovary.
Zhytomyr
The enemy continues to fire from artillery systems in the northern regions of Zhytomyr Oblast.
Sumy Oblast
In Okhtyrka District, almost 300 russian servicemen stopped obeying the order to military action and left the area. Meanwhile, other invaders resort to free footing: they steal school buses, emergency service vehicles, and private transport – probably, to soldier through to other cities under the guise of civilians.
Chernihiv Oblast
The russians are very close to Chernihiv: they are in the suburbs and attempt breaking forth into the city. They are laying POM-2 mines in residential areas around Chernihiv. The local government calls on anyone who has found a suspicious item to report these to the police.
Nearly all of the Chernihiv sits without a water supply. Local utility companies send water lorries to distribute. There are about 130 thousand still in the city (more than a half of the population have already left).
Eastern Oblasts
Kharkiv Oblast
No active offensive action by russia. In the direction of Kharkiv and Izyum, the enemy attempts to restore the units that have lost their combat readiness. It also continues massive shellings of Kharkiv. City districts of Saltivka, Velyka Danylivka, Kholodna Hora, the vicinity of the Kharkiv Tractor Plant have been affected. Russian occupation troops have also been active in Dergachi, Tsirkuny, and in the direction of Chuhuiv. The invaders shelled factories in Lozova.
The aggressors intend to install their government in temporarily occupied Vovchansk and the surrounding area.
Kharkiv utility personnel reached the flat of Borys Romanchenko, a former concentration camp prisoner who had died of russian shelling and ensuing fire in the nine-story residential building in the Northern Saltivka neighborhood. The fire consumed the flat of the 96 years-old and the rest of the story.
Donetsk Oblast
Kramatorsk
The city residents are increasingly anxious. Another yet airstrike hit the airport area. No information about losses or damage yet. Strikes were carried out against the neighboring Slovyansk and Kostyantynivka at night. Sirens have been wailing regularly during the past 24 hours. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), together with Territorial Defense Forces, prepare to face the enemy. They also patrol the city. The municipal utility services operate in normal mode. Evacuation of the population is underway. The locals try spending nights in bomb shelters.
Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk Area
Russian military used their latest self-propelled projectiles to shell Avdiyivka yesterday. The Tornado MRLs caused five casualties and wounded 10 more. Besides that, two individuals were wounded in Ocheretyne and three in Pokrovsk, Military Civil Administration Chair Pavlo Kyrylenko says. The enemy had attempted an advance towards Maryinka yet had to retreat, having sustained losses.
The AFU are fighting back the enemy. The Territorial Defense Forces are on standby alert together with the police. The utility services operate as intended. Police opened a pre-trial investigation into the strike dealt by the russian military against the city residents of Avdiyivka. Police officers are documenting shelling aftermaths and assisting with the evacuation of residents. The Myrnohrad Central City Clinic received an independent power supply source. Communication broken due to the damage to the fiber-optic communication line has been restored for Pokrovsk and other cities of the Pokrovsk Area.
Bakhmut
The situation is tense. There are city infrastructure utilities. Private trade facilities operate in a limited mode. The market is working. Police officers patrol the community’s streets, and the State Emergency Service is also working in an intensified mode.
Bakhmut City Council organized and took to the railway stations of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk for further departure, evacuated – 1889 residents. A checkpoint for evacuating from dangerous areas has been set up. Volunteers work for the benefit and support of defenders. https://www.facebook.com/rada.bakhmut/posts/696991821654344
Mariupol
Russian terrorists continue to destroy Mariupol. Today, they dropped two heavy bombs on the city. An enemy plane was destroyed over Mariupol. Tankers of the Azov Regiment destroy tanks, BBM, and infantry of the russian occupiers during street battles.
The last journalists evacuated from the city were Mstislav Chernov and Yevhen Maloletka. They reported for the Associated Press.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast
The situation remains tense – part of the settlements under temporary occupation. The occupied territories are suffering without humanitarian aid, which the russian occupation forces do not allow. Everything is in short supply: food, medicine, fuel. The Armed Forces of Ukraine troops in the Zaporizhia direction inflicted significant losses on the russian occupiers. Ukrainian artillery destroyed a command and control post of russian troops. Destroyed: four units of MLRS “Hurricane”; Russian T-90 battle tank; three Russian military KAMAZ trucks. An enemy K-52 helicopter was damaged.
The occupiers continue to kidnap local government officials, civil servants, and public figures. Olena Plaksina, a deputy of the Tokmak City Council, was detained by russian Interior Ministry employees. Viktor Kudlay, director of the Chernivtsi Lyceum of the Tavriya City Council, was also abducted from his home. According to preliminary information, the head of the community, his deputy, and a patrol policeman were abducted in Pryazovske. This fact is currently being verified.
The russian occupation forces released journalist Victoria Roshchina, who was abducted a few days earlier. She is located in the territory controlled by Ukraine and is heading to Zaporizhia. The Russian military continues to use weapons against civilians. There is evidence that the invaders are making covert preparations for the elections of the pro-Russian administration of districts and cities of Zaporizhia Oblast, including the city of Zaporizhia.
Zaporizhzhia
The regional center continues to host internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Mariupol and other settlements. A convoy of 15 buses carrying 1,114 evacuated Mariupol residents is heading from Berdyansk to Zaporizhia. In seven days, Zaporizhia received 26,332 IDPs, of whom 6,802 were children.
Zaporizhzhya rescuers paid tribute to the fallen firefighter Yevhen Donets.
Berdyansk
In the temporarily occupied Berdyansk, the occupiers “appointed” Oleksandr Saulenko as the acting mayor. Zaporizhzhya Regional Prosecutor’s Office has launched criminal proceedings in this regard. In the port of Berdyansk, there is a column of white KAMAZ tilts trucks of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the russian federation, which may indicate the organization of so-called “russian rubber convoys” in the temporarily occupied territories.
Enerhodar
The russian occupation troops brought 600 OMON (Special Purpose Police Detachment) members to Enerhodar to prevent any resistance in the city. Yuliya Chycherina, the russian singer and propagandist, cut down the Ukrainian flag set on the building of Eherhodar City Council.
Prymorsk
“Prymorsk is Ukraine!” rally against occupation took place in Prymorsk again, and it traditionally gathered a large number of locals.
Polohy
Polohy has been significantly damaged. A video of destroyed houses was uploaded to the Internet. Video: https://youtu.be/HZgRndogjps
Photos of the Basan School near Polohy, one of the occupiers’ locations, were also posted on the Internet. The russian military left some inscriptions on the blackboards. These are “Простите пожалуйста” (“Forgive me, please”), “Путин везде” (“putin is everywhere”), “Мы не хотели” (“We did not want it”), “Россия” (“russia”), “Извините” (“Sorry”) etc.
Kherson Oblast
The Kherson Oblast is occupied. The russian military controls entrances and exits from settlements and major administrative buildings and enterprises. But russian “people’s republics” scenario cannot be accomplished because locals resist. Valentyna Samar, a journalist, emphasizes that russia uses a different tactic. Russia says that Kherson Oblast is not occupied but “liberated from the Ukrainian army.” https://zn.ua/ukr/international/vidkladena-borderizatsija.html
Russia terrorizes civilians in the temporarily occupied Kherson Oblast, kidnap officials, activists, and journalists. The abducted mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, was “exchanged” for nine russian conscripts. The fates of the abducted Melitopol District Council Chairman Serhiy Priyma, activists Olha Haisumova and Serhiy Tsyhipa, Beryslav mayor Oleksandr Shapovalov and Skadovsk Сity Сouncil Secretary Yuriy Palyukha, and publisher Mykhailo Kumok are currently unknown.
Central Oblasts
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Yesterday and today, the occupiers shelled with “Grads” the villages of Hannivka and Mala Kostromka and the city of Zelenodolsk in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Residential buildings are damaged and destroyed. The enemy’s vehicles, used to fire the missiles, were damaged by Ukrainian defenders. Due to the shelling, the gas and electricity supply systems were damaged.
The enemy Intelligence Taskforce exploded on mines near Kryvyi Rih. Enemy vehicles tried to approach Kryvyi Rih but were defeated. According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 1 drone and 2 planes were shot down by the Dnipropetrovsk Air Defense Forces. The aircrafts were probably shot down over Kharkiv Oblast.
Every day 3-4 enemy saboteurs are detained in the Oblast. In Kryvyi Rih, several shopping centers have resumed their operations. There are already 115 intercity bus routes in the Oblast.
Evacuation to Kryvyi Rih was organized from the territory of the Zelenodolsk city community. Up to 4 000 people from Dnipro go to safer oblasts every day, mainly to the western oblasts of Ukraine. 18 000 citizens from the territories where hostilities occur have already arrived in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The mayor of Dnipro criticized Israel for its position and lack of support for Ukraine. At the same time, he said that all leaders of the Dnipro Jewish community stayed in the city.
Kirovohrad Oblast
Kropyvnytskyi
The situation is under control. Air-raid alarms continue to sound. The Armed Forces of Ukraine protect the borders of the Oblast and military facilities. Territorial Defense Forces stand guard at checkpoints and patrol the city with the police. Heads of Oblast Military Administration units work to provide IDPs with jobs.
Today the Oblast Headquarters have hosted more than 9 500 IDPs, including almost 3 000 children. More than 50 000 have been given shelter in Kropyvnytskyi since the beginning of the war. Kropyvnytskyi City Council Secretary, Oleh Kolyuka, appealed to real estate agencies to reduce the fee for their services by 50% of the rent and not to raise rent prices for IDPs. Public space in the Kirovohrad Oblast collects aid to be sent to the frontline.
Poltava Oblast
Military hospitals treat wounded soldiers, and civilian hospitals provide treatment services to Poltava residents and IDPs.
There is a 24-hour Coordination Center that settles IDPs and sends humanitarian aid to hotspots for people who have run out of food. City Council employees and volunteers work every day. As of today, the Center for Culture and Leisure will start providing baby food for displaced families.
Vinnytsia oblast
Zhmerynka
The city is calm, and the situation is under control. The Territorial Defense Forces patrol the city and checkpoints. Deputy Mayor for Humanitarian Affairs Olga Borovska reminded about the reception of IDPs and the community’s opportunities for asylum. Air alarm signals became more frequent. This confuses citizens. The volunteer corps is fully included, the city’s infrastructure is working at 95%.
Western oblasts
Lviv Oblast
Partners from the Republic of Poland handed over two ambulances with a full set of medical supplies and medicines to the Lviv Oblast Military. Ambulances are intended for use by the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and Ukrainian border guards.
Almost 14 000 Ukrainians have returned to Ukraine over the past 24 hours. Most of them are men ready to defend their homeland with weapons in their hands. The State Border Guard Service reported this.
13 enterprises have already been evacuated to Lviv Oblast, another 4 – on the way. About 100 producers are also preparing to be evacuated to the Oblast. Half of them already have a new location.
Another 5 400 IDPs were received and resettled in the Oblast. Since the beginning of the war, the number of people sheltered in the Lviv oblast has been over 216 000. Currently, the total number of settled citizens is over 175 thousand people.
The Lviv Oblast Military Administration coordinates evacuation trains transporting IDPs to the Republic of Poland.
Yesterday, on March 21st, 5 trucks and one bus with humanitarian aid were received from Poland and Germany. 145 pallets with food, clothing and household chemicals were sent to Chernihiv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy oblasts. 6 trucks and 2 buses with humanitarian aid and medicines were dispatched from the warehouse in Lviv and Vynnyky to the cities that needed it the most. Also, 4 covered humanitarian wagons were sent by rail to Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Drohobych
During the day, there were 5 air alarms. The danger due to the launch of Iskander missiles from the territory of the Republic of Belarus has been reported twice. Residents were once warned about a raid by russian strategic aircraft from the Black Sea. Sirens also announced the threat of a missile attack. Citizens are urged to be very attentive to air alarms.
The city authorities instructed the specialists of relevant departments to study the needs of each farmer and agrarian. Farmers and agrarians were also informed about the procedure for providing fuel and credit support from the state.
The Drohobych community forbade the sale of alcoholic beverages. This decision was conditioned by the position of residents and the city council. In oblast, the ban is valid only at night.
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
During the day, as of 6 pm, air sirens were sounded 3 times in the oblast. Due to air alarm signals, public transport is operating intermittently. Despite this, citizens work to manage critical infrastructure and rebuild the economy.
Police officers and checkpoints work in an intensified mode. Systemic supplies of various types of insulin have already been restored in the oblast. Before that, there were interruptions in their supply. The City Health Department Director said that the oblast was provided with insulin a month in advance.
The Department of Social Policy and the Ivano-Frankivsk Center for Social Services prepare food kits for the needy: single low-income retirees, people with disabilities of groups 1 and 2. These kits will also be issued to registered IDPs. Volunteer headquarters of international organizations are opening in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Rivne Oblast
Rivne
The situation in the city is relatively quiet. There were three air raid alerts during the day. The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to patrol the border with Belarus. The Territorial Defense Forces patrol the city and keep watch at checkpoints. Last night, Vitaliy Koval, Head of the Rivne Oblast State Administration, recorded an appeal. He noted that four missiles were fired during the evening air raid, Ukrainian fighters shot down three rockets; as for the fourth one, it could cause certain destruction and losses. This information is yet to be clarified and confirmed. (https://www.facebook.com/suspilne.rivne/posts/3182699675382648)
People are united, and they provide the volunteer centers with financial and non-financial support. A rally in support of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and Enerhodar residents took place in the town of Varash. (https://www.facebook.com/RivneODA/posts/294462939492068)
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi
The situation in the community is under control. A student from Khmelnytskyi made a periscope for Ukrainian service members. Already eight such periscopes were provided for the needs of the Territorial Defense Forces unit and the army.
Thanks to the program of the Ministry of Economy and the joint work of the government and business, the first enterprise was moved to the Khmelnytskyi Oblast from the territory where the fighting is taking place. The company is engaged in textile printing with subsequent tailoring and sewing. Another food production company, which is planned to be located in Horodok, is currently awaiting a logistical opportunity to move its business.
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Air raid alerts have become more frequent, and this causes concern among residents. The city is relatively quiet. The Ukrainian Armed Forces stay in their positions. The Territorial Defense Forces guard the strategic facilities of the community. The mayor instructed the relevant services to check people’s complaints about high food prices and housing rentals and report the facts of abuse to the military administration for decision-making. Everyone who has a job is working. People help those in need.
Chernivtsi Oblast (Bukovyna)
An air raid alert sounded in the oblast, but the situation was under control. Recruitment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues in Bukovyna. The Chernivtsi Oblast Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support has a hotline that provides information on the issues related to conscription and mobilization.
In all, 56 696 IDPs, including 17,918 children, have already found shelter in Bukovyna. Humanitarian aid from Bukovyna was delivered to the Volodarka community in Kyiv Oblast. Doctors from the USA set up a field hospital in Chernivtsi. Psychologists provide free consultations online and in person.
The Free Sky art event took place in Chernivtsi. During their performance at the UNESCO monument, an orchestra and choirs called to close the skies over Ukraine. Artists from Kharkiv, Kyiv, and other cities where hostilities are in progress, shared this improvised “stage” with the Bukovynian musicians.
Zakarpattia Oblast
In Transcarpathia, the situation is under control. In Mukachevo, they said goodbye to the Ukrainian soldiers killed in action. The Oblast continues to receive humanitarian aid from abroad.
