Russian invasion of Ukraine: tanks and rocket attacks on the cities. Breaking news

Fail of the negotiations with russian dictator Vladimir Putin would mean that he does not want to stop the war and his goal is also to go for other European countries. This can lead to the World War III.

As of March 23, 6:00 a.m. there are no queues at border points with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova, State Emergency Service of Ukraine informs.

The mayor of Borispol Volodymyr Borysenko asks citizens and migrants from the temporarily occupied territories to leave the town in the nearest future to be safe – fights with russian occupiers continue at the neighborhood of the town. He informed this in his video at Facebbok.

“I address to civilians – be reasonable and refer to the call center (телефон (050) 656-73-17) to leave the town if possible”, the mayor called out.
According to Borysenko, the less civilians remain in the town, the easier for Ukrainian soldiers to defend and to oppose the occupiers.

Mayor added, the citizens have possibility to go to western regions of the country in a centralized way or by their own cars. He asks to call to the call center for additional information.

Russian troops are stopped in Kyiv region and are waiting for reserves. Ukrainian forces are gaining their potential, they have a task not to let the enemy cross the Irpin River for not to let them to attack Kyiv. It was announced in the interview at Radio Svoboda by the head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration lieutenant general Oleksandr Pavlyuk.

The lieutenant general stressed that Kyiv remained a huge problem for the enemy – and russian troops would do everything to enter the capital. According to him, for now Bucha and Gostomel, northern west neighborhood of Kyiv, are temporally occupied.

Pavlyuk cited that in this direction the potential does not permit to counterattack for Ukrainian troops, still AFU strive to strengthen the positions.

The declaration of the general Oleksandr Gruzevych as if the russian troops were rejected for 70 km from Kyiv on the right riverbank was precepted incorrectly. It was announced in the interview to Radio Svoboda by the Head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Pavlyuk.

March 18, Gruzevych announced: “As of today on the right riverbank the enemy is rejected for the distance of 70 km, which makes it impossible to hold fire except for missiles”.

Still Pavlyuk declared that these words have been “precepted a bit incorrectly”. According to him, it was about widening of the defense line for 70 km.

“He meant that on the right hand, on the left riverbank of Kyiv region, the line of defense had been transferred for 70 km further for the enemy would not be able to shell Kyiv. The righthand remained the same as they had been located. (russian troops- editor). And on the lefthand we succeeded to move our divisions and widen more on the righthand, to do an additional frontier, which do not allow the enemy to come closer to the city”, - Pavlyuk explained.

Ukrainian forces oppose the russians in the air extremely effectively thanks to their maneuverability and agility. This was announced by the spokesman of USA Pentagon John F. Kirby, the press service of the institution informs.

“I would say that the Ukrainians have been extremely successful in opposing the Russians to dominate in the air.”, he said.

According to Kirby’s, it is achieved by the maneuverability and agility the Ukrainians do their air defense systems distribution – anti aircraft missiles of short and long range distance.

According to Pentagon, the Ukrainian forces began a counterattack next to Kherson, heroically defend Mariupol and ruined the russian plans. This was announced by the spokesman of the American department John Kirby, Pentagon press service informs.

The russian have not achieved many or almost all goals in Ukraine, Kirby said. According to him, they wanted to take main cities, ports, and main state institutions over control, set pro russian government and later smash the sovereignty of Ukraine.

He noticed that the russian forces captured Kherson, but Ukrainian Forces started a counterattack there. According to him, russian troops occupied Berdiansk, still Mariupol resists.

“As you can see by yourselves, the Ukrainian fight very bravely to protect this city. I think that Russians were confused, they were disappointed. They did not manage to reach many of their goals”, Kirby said.

The US has already sent a new shipment of aid to Ukraine, the cargo is on its way and will be delivered in the next few days. This was reported by CNN.

It is specified that Ukraine will receive weapons worth $800m, air defence systems, as well as 100 Switchblade kamikaze UAVs. US military aid will be crucial for Ukraine's defence against the Russian occupiers.

Russian troops have lost their offensive potential in Ukraine and are trying to move reserves from remote regions of Russia. Also, Ukrainian defenders have raised the Ukrainian flag of the city of Makariv, General Staff’s situation update for the 26th day of the Russian Federation’s full-on invasion.

The enemy temporarily holds the land corridor to the occupied Crimea and blocks the access to the Azov Sea. However, the invaders have lost their offensive potential and keep drawing reserves from the remote regions of the Russian Federation to the Ukrainian border.

Because of heavy losses, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have suspended routine release of army officers, warrant officers, and sergeants. Also, the military and political leadership of the Russian Federation has been spreading aggressive propaganda targeting the Belarusian military regarding the urgency of their involvement in the invasion of Ukraine.

The situation by directions is as follows:

— Polissia. The enemy has been trying to resume offensive activities in some directions but suffered losses and achieved nothing. The Russian Federation troops continue air reconnaissance.

— Novhorod-Siverskyi. The enemy has attempted no offensive actions, albeit continuing to restore its offensive potential by moving additional units to Ukraine, including a BTG from the 90th Tank Division.

The occupiers keep shelling Chernihiv and other cities. They also keep trying to advance to Brovary, albeit unsuccessfully because of the losses. Also, they are trying to restock and conduct reconnaissance.

In the Slobozhansky direction the enemy does not carry out active offensive actions, continues to partially block the city of Sumy, carries out artillery shelling of the city of Kharkiv. Occupation forces are trying to rebuild the railway section from Valuyki to Kupyansk in order to improve the logistics of the group.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, the enemy continues to try to advance and gain a foothold, but was unsuccessful. Ukrainian defenders repulsed 13 enemy attacks and destroyed 14 tanks, 8 infantry fighting vehicles, 2 multi-purpose towing vehicle light armored, 3 artillery systems and 4 vehicles. Air defense units hit 2 enemy air targets. The losses of enemy personnel amounted to about 300 people (losses are being clarified).

Defenders of Mariupol destroyed the patrol boat "Raptor" and the electronic warfare complex "Leer-3".

In the South Buh direction, the occupiers have taken defensive action, are taking measures to restore combat capability, trying to restore damaged armored vehicles.

In the Mykolayiv direction, owing to counterattack of divisions of Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy is compelled to retreat to unfavorable borders.

Enemy aircraft continue to destroy missile and bombings of infrastructure in Ukraine in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. At the same time, the occupiers continue to actively use the airfield network of the republic of Belarus. It is expected that the enemy will continue to launch insidious missile and bomb strikes and carry out artillery shelling of critical infrastructure of Ukraine using jet artillery, aircraft, high-precision weapons and indiscriminate munitions.

New satellite images by Maxar Technologies from 19 March show artillery positions of the Russian occupation army in Mariupol, as well as Russian military vehicles and tanks in the Left Bank district of the city. This was reported by CNN. 

Smoke can also be seen rising from burning apartment buildings in the north-eastern part of Mariupol - the aftermath of airstrikes carried out by the occupiers on peaceful neighbourhoods in the city.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have liberated the town of Makarov in Bucha district of Kyiv region from the Russian occupiers. This was reported by the Defence Ministry on Facebook. 

"During the day, thanks to the heroic actions of our defenders, the national flag of Ukraine was hoisted over the town of Makarov, and the enemy has been repelled," it said.

The Russian occupation army has been blockading the town of Trostyanets in Sumy region for a third week, committing terror and genocide against the civilian population of the settlement. This was reported by the head of the Sumy military administration, Dmytro Zhyvytskyy, in a video message on Telegram.

"What is happening in Trostyanets community is a real genocide, this is a real blockade of the settlement, this is a real terrorist inhumane attitude towards civilians... Today the last emergency medical aid vehicle from the territory of Trostyanets central care was hijacked, the station was left without transport," he said.

US President Joe Biden has confirmed that Russia used hypersonic missiles against Ukraine. He also believes that the cornered Russian dictator Vladimir Putin might mull over employing biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. The US leader talked about it in his address to American companies’ top management at the Business Roundtable event.

Biden believes the Russian Federation has used hypersonic weaponry because it is the only thing it can use with confidence. He also explained that, although the missiles of this kind carry a regular warhead, they are almost impossible to stop, which has informed the Russian Federation’s choice.

According to Biden, Putin has been cornered. The American President believes that Putin did not expect the West to be this united, and the firmer he is pressed against the wall, the more violent tactics he may resort to.

Ukraine got closer to victory in one day, as crushing sanctions have descended on Russia in the last 24 hours alone. They have been systematised by the Anti-Corruption Centre.

These are international sanctions and aid to Ukraine from foreign partners, the blow to Russian private business - the withdrawal of a large number of companies from the market - and the economic consequences that the Russian market is already feeling today.

For a full list of retaliatory measures - just in the last 24 hours - to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, follow this link.

In Mariupol, a volunteer of the territorial defence forces and his sweetheart Marina got married in a bomb shelter. This was reported by the Donetsk regional police.

"The wedding took place in a shelter and the marriage was registered with the consent of Artem Kisko, deputy head of the Donetsk regional police, by the power granted to him during martial law," the report said.

A soldier defends the city, which is surrounded by Russian occupiers, while his sweetheart waits for him in a bomb shelter where other Mariupol residents are - without water, heat and electricity, but with a prayer for victory.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine has published a video about the work of emergency response teams during the war.

On 21 March, the EU has approved its security and defence plan until 2030, code-named Strategic Compass. The document has been adopted “at a time when we witness the return of war in Europe”. The information was published on the European Council’s website.

The EC has resolved to:

- establish an EU Rapid Deployment Capacity of up to 5000 troops, train 200 experts

- conduct regular live exercises on land and at sea

- enhance military mobility

- enhancement of cybersecurity

- increase defence spending

- enhance cooperation with strategic partners

The Strategic Compass is expected to be endorsed by the European Council on 24–25 March 2022.

As of 21 March, more than 70 residential buildings in Kyiv have been damaged by Russian airstrikes since Russia started its new invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by the Kyiv City State Administration.

"The buildings have varying degrees of destruction: where the damage is critical, residents have been evicted, and where the damage is minor, the municipal services receive repair materials for prompt restoration: film to repair windows, fasteners, roofing repair materials," the report said.

It is clarified that the cleaning is being handled by the utility companies. Services are promptly restoring utilities and services so that people can return to their homes habitable.

Zelenskyy:
It’s been a day of severe events and difficult conclusions. It’s been another day that brought us closer to our victory. To the peace for our country. Glory to Ukraine!

Operational information from the Air Force Command of the AFU as of 21 March.

The Russian occupiers have increased their air presence in Ukrainian airspace.

The enemy uses bomber, attack and fighter aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles in various directions, as well as UAVs.

Air Force aircraft have carried out dozens of sorties with air battles, interceptions and strikes against convoys and concentrations of Russian occupiers' equipment.

On 21 March, the state's air defence forces destroyed a total of:
- 1 aircraft;
- 2 helicopters;
- 6 UAVs;
- cruise missiles (to be specified).

Budapest will veto EU sanctions on Russian gas imports, the establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and even an EU peacekeeping mission, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó has said.

"We will not support sanctions that threaten the security of Hungary's energy supply. We have entered a new dimension regarding the risks of war, so now we must act even tougher and even more clearly to guarantee our national interests, that is, peace and security in Hungary," Szijjártó said.

He said Hungary "clearly views sanctions against energy supplies as a red line" because they threaten the security of Hungary's energy supply.

Photo of the day. Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov met today with British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

A few hours ago, occupiers shelled Zelenodolsk in Dnipropetrovsk Region's Kryvyy Rih district with Grad, the head of the Kryvyy Rih district state administration, Yevhen Sytnichenko, has reported.

The Armed Fources of Ukraine gave a tough response. The enemy's ammunition depot has been completely destroyed, and the Grad that shelled the city are also gone, Sytnichenko said.

Chronicle of the 26th day of the Ukrainian people's heroic confrontation with the Russian occupiers.

The unit's commander, Major Denys Prokopenko, told CNN that the number of civilian casualties is growing daily. As of Monday March 21 more than 3,000 civilians have been killed in Mariupol.

No one can give an exact number of killed by the occupiers, as people are buried in mass graves with no name. Many bodies are left lying in the street without being buried, while some remain buried alive under the rubble of houses.

Ukrainian defenders are trying to help residents with food and water, but it is not enough. There are no safe places in the city. Missiles and shells hit residences when many are asleep.

Young yachtsmen from Odesa region tried to prevent the yacht of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich from docking in Bodrum. The children were in Turkey for training, Odesa State Administration spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk said.

Children from Zatoka, Serhiyivka and other places in the Odesa region, who are now training in Turkey as a team called "The sailing team of Ukraine", according to him, prevented the Russian oligarch's yacht from docking when it entered the port of Bodrum.

The young yachtsmen did not allow the ship into the port, but when the police arrived, the yacht had to be allowed in.

A defender of Kharkiv talks about the defence of the city:

The Russian occupiers cannot defeat the Ukrainian military in open combat. The occupiers destroy civilians' dwellings, kindergartens and infrastructure. They think they can intimidate the Ukrainians this way. But they are wrong. The occupiers' actions make Ukrainians even stronger and angrier, and the resistance even more powerful.

Seven-year-old Amelia from Kyiv, who recently sang in a bomb shelter in the capital to cheer people hiding from shelling, sang the Ukrainian anthem at a big charity concert in Lodz, Poland.

In Ekaterinburg, Russia, a protesting lady resisted the police. People who were nearby did not help her, but shouted "shame" at the police.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, published a photo of the blazing Avdyivka.

"This horror was created in the city by Russian aircraft and artillery. Russian fascists killed five residents of Avdiyivka today and wounded 20," Kyrylenko said.

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions, 13 enemy attacks were successfully repulsed during the day thanks to the skillful actions and mastery of servicemen, the Joint Forces Operation said on its Facebook page.

Ukrainian military destroyed:

• - 14 tanks
• 8 IFVs
• 2 MT-LBS
• 3 artillery systems
• 4 vehicles.

Total losses of enemy manpower amounted to around 300. Air defence units in the skies of Ukrainian Donbas shot down one enemy aircraft and shot down another. Mariupol defenders destroyed a Project 03160 Raptor patrol cutter. The destruction of the Russian Leer-3 electronic warfare system has also been confirmed.

The occupiers fired four rockets at Rivne region, three were shot down by the Ukrainian air defence, the head of the Rivne State Administration Vitaliy Koval has reported.

"Three rockets were dealt with by our Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fourth... possible losses and destruction and casualties are being clarified," he commented.

The website of the Russian publication Komsomolskaya Pravda has published information on the Russian army's losses, Oleksiy Honcharenko's Telegram channel has reported.

The media quoted the Russian Defence Ministry as saying that a total of 9,861 people were killed in the "special operation in Ukraine" and another 16,153 were wounded.

After a while, the article was deleted.

Russia withdraws from negotiations with Japan on a peace treaty and the establishment of joint business activities in the southern Kurils, and cancels visa-free travel to the islands for Japanese citizens.

Japan claims that the Soviet Union illegally seized four islands, Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and the Habomai island group, shortly after Japan capitulated in World War II in August 1945.

Russian occupiers today kidnapped three Israeli citizens in Melitopol: Tetyana Kumok and her parents, Vera and Mykhaylo Kumok. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

In the temporarily occupied Trostyanets, Sumy region, Russian occupiers are looting houses and flats of local residents and using people as human shields, Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denysova has said.

"Fearing air strikes and artillery from Ukraine, the occupiers force civilians to sit in the streets at night near the Rashist army's equipment as a human shield," Denysova wrote.

Russian occupiers have shelled a pediatric hospital in Severodonetsk, the head of the Luhansk State Administration Serhiy Gaidai has said.

"Russian inhumans opened fire on a pediatric hospital in Severodonetsk. As a result, the roof caught fire. Fortunately, all the young patients, their mothers and staff managed to be evacuated in time," the report said.

Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk, Popasna, Novodruzhk and Toshkivka have been shelled by the Russian army during the day. The bodies of two dead in Lysychansk were found, three wounded were given first aid, and eight people were rescued from under the rubble and fire.

A total of 14 fires occurred in Luhansk region during March 21 due to the Russian invasion. Around 25 buldings were damaged, including two apartment buildings and 16 private houses, a children's hospital in Severodonetsk, a school in Rubizhne, a food warehouse, outbuildings, garages, and infrastructure facilities.

Another 4384 Mariupol residents have been evacuated from Berdyansk today, including 1,073 children, according to the Mariupol city council.

In total, the support centres received and provided aid to about 30,000 people from Mariupol. "Thank to everyone who is helping to save the lives of Mariupol residents. We personally thank the Zaporizhzhya regional and city administrations," reported in the statement.

Humanitarian corridor work results on 21 March.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, seven of the eight agreed humanitarian corridors worked and 8,057 people were evacuated.

From Mariupol 3,007 Mariupol residents reached Zaporizhzhya today. More than 4,370 people were evacuated from Velyka Dymerka to Brovary. 380 people were evacuated from Bucha and Vorzel. From Lysychansk, Severodonetsk and Horny, 300 people were evacuated to Bakhmut.

There was no evacuation from the village of Kozarovychi to Vyshgorod as the occupation troops shelled the convoy.

"Today our drivers and an ambulance crew who tried to deliver humanitarian aid to the town of Volchansk in Kharkiv region were released," Vereshchuk said.

They thought they would be welcomed with bread and salt. Instead, Ukrainian worriers turned their "trip" into hell, and there's nothing left from demonstrative heroism.

International legion in Ukraine. Jesper is a military instructor. He believes in human values and his professional knowledges.

When he saw ruined Ukrainian cities and death of our children, he left peaceful Sweden and arrived to Kyiv. To protect what he believes.

They protect not only Ukraine and the Ukrainians, but Europe, Western civilization, democracy values.

Zelenskyy says:" I address to all the Ukrainians, everywhere where we are. Do everything to protect our country. To save our people.
Fight. Be at war and help. Run those slaves! Run the occupiers!
For Ukraine to be alive. And all of us altogether. Free and peaceful. Like we love it. Slava Ukraini! "

Evraz metallurgical company was not able to pay 19 mln usd interest on its eurobonds maturing 2023. A possible reason is sanctions against its major shareholder Roman Abramovich.

The final compromises on the negotiations between Ukraine and russian federation will be decided on a general Ukrainian referendum, including security guarantees, temporary occupied territories of Donbass and Crimea. This was announced by The President Zelenskyy.

Soldiers from one of brigades succeeded to hit a modern russian main combat tank T-90 "Vladimir", the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs.

40,000 soldiers from the whole world are already in. The International Legion of Ukraine to fight Russia: how to join.

Due to the war, the Ukrainian zoos are operating under extremely difficult conditions. Animals suffer from a lack of the warm and food.

Without the people’s assistance, animals are not able to evacuate, get food or keep warm.

How you can help animals in zoos survive the war:

Transfer money, for example, through the Portmone online payment service. The "Charity" section contains the bank details of zoos throughout the country and the foundation that takes care of animals. All contributions are commission-free, and the list of beneficiaries is constantly being updated.

President Zelensky signed a decree on the creation of the Gostomel military administration and an order on the appointment of Taras Dumenko as its head.

Buses with children was shelled, while driving through the evacuation corridors. There are children in serious condition, the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai said.

Today, more than 20 buses are trying to get through the evacuation corridors. It was very difficult to cross the line of confrontation because of constant shelling going on.

Four children were taken to hospital. Three children came under fire in the Polohovsky district. The families were trying to get out of Mariupol in order to reach safety. One child is in critical condition. Another family was shelled in Kamianske, which led to another child being in serious condition.