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

Slovenia is sending its ambassadors back to Kyiv, said Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.

"Slovenia will send its diplomats back to Kyiv soon. They are volunteers. We are working to make the EU do the same. Ukraine needs direct diplomatic support," he wrote.

In the Podilskyi District of Kyiv, a shopping mall and cars that were parked on the third and fourth floors of the parking lot caught fire after an airstrike by the Russian invaders. This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Eleven pieces of equipment and 63 officers of the Service are now extinguishing the fire. Information about casualties is being verified.

Theses from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address on March 25.

"It is already the 25th day of the Russian military looking for and not finding the "Nazis" they invented, from whom they supposedly wanted to protect our people. Just as they are looking for and cannot find the Ukrainians who are greeting them with flowers. At least in some city of our state. At least in some village. And most importantly, the Russian military cannot find their way home. So our military is helping them on their way to God's judgment".

...

"Well, Russian propagandists have a rather difficult task today.
After all, for the first time in history, the president of a foreign country spoke to the Knesset via video. And before the people of Israel. The president of Ukraine, which is accused of "Nazism" in Moscow, addressed the Knesset in front of the people of Israel. This fact alone confirms how wrong things are in Moscow."

...

"The Kherson region fought again today. I am grateful to them. Again in the streets. And as always - for all of us, for Ukraine. With our national flags. And with our, Ukrainian bravery. Without weapons against the invaders. Against the gunfire and military vehicles. This is what inspires us all. This is the Ukraine we are proud of. These are the Ukrainians to whom I am immensely grateful. And so are all our people."

...

"Personally presented state awards to Ukrainian intelligence officers. Please be understanding - I can't name them publicly. But believe me, that the contribution of these people to our defense is so crucial that the orders and the title of Hero of Ukraine for them is the minimum we can give them. To just thank them. To them and to all our heroes. Thanks to whom we are holding on. And not badly".

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba announced the preparation of the fifth package of EU sanctions against Russia. He discussed the issue with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

According to the minister, "the pressure will increase as long as it takes to stop Russian barbarism." The subject of discussion was also assistance to Ukrainian refugees who were forced to flee from the Russian bombing to the European Union.

The address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summing up the 20 March events.

“For 25 days already, Russian troops have been looking for their imaginary Nazis, from which they allegedly wanted to protect our people. Also, they can’t find any Ukrainians who would greet them with flowers. Most importantly, however, Russian troops don’t find their way home because our military sends them straight to the justice of Heaven.”

A resident of Kyiv showed the consequences of the explosion in his apartment. The windows are broken and the window frames are damaged. He claims that he was at home when the explosion happened and miraculously survived.

The video has a lot of profanity, 18+

Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko reports that rescuers are extinguishing a very large fire at the spot of the explosion in the capital - this is the territory of one of the shopping centers in the Podilskyi district.

It is known that one person died. All services work on the spot - rescuers, doctors, police. The information is being clarified.

Several explosions were heard in Kyiv, the capital's patrol police said.

Doctors, rescuers and police are working on the spot.

Information on affected citizens and damaged houses is being clarified.

The moment of the explosion in Kyiv.

On 20 March, one warplane, four drones and two cruise missiles were downed by the Air Force of Ukraine.

Over the 25 days of the war, occupiers suffered heavy losses on the ground and in the sky:

- 96 warplanes
- 118 helicopters
- dozens of drones and cruise missiles

The enemy air raids have been losing intensity for the second day already. In general, the occupiers use tactical drones to document the results of the missile strikes on the Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian strike aircraft successfully destroyed multiple ground targets. Su-24M bombers and Su-25 ground-support fighters have destroyed groups of enemy equipment, tank columns, and personnel.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reports that multiple explosions were heard in the Podil District of the city. According to the currently available information, the blasts hit a number of blocks of flats and one mall’s territory.

The emergency response teams, medics, and police have already arrived at the sites.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Twitter that he assured Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their phone call that he would advance Ukraine’s interests at this week's NATO and G7 meetings.

“The UK will continue to step up military, economic, and diplomatic support to help bring an end to this terrible conflict,” he wrote.

Ukrainian defenders have terminated the commander of the reconnaissance company of the 11th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 1st Army Corps of the terrorist organization DPR—Captain Sergey Mashkin, code name Maneater, East Operative Tactical Group reports on its Facebook page.

A message from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi

We will inevitably win.

All the forces of good in this world have united around our victory. Some join the army; others help our defenders however they can.

Today, I would like to thank the Come Back Alive Foundation—the largest foundation to competently help the army in Ukraine.

From 24 February to 18 March, the organization’s team raised UAH 2,291,324,310.43 for our army. And this figure does not include crypto and cash donations.

Over the first three weeks of Russia’s full-on invasion, the foundation purchased UAH 1,193,849,577.33 worth of equipment for our defenders: 7,954 units of communication equipment, 2,546 helmets, 1,293 thermal, night-vision, and other scopes, 1,312 armour vests, and 573 quadcopters.

These are impressive figures. And they are the most telling illustration of the unity of our nation and our army.

The Come Back Alive team are ordinary Ukrainians who have been working toward our victory. Most of them prefer to keep a low profile, but I have met many of them personally.

Lesia, who keeps track of the financial matters. The analyst, who returned to intelligence work. The foundation employees who lost their homes. Pavlo, who brought an abandoned old man from the “grey zone” during yesterday’s shelling. And other team members, who are saving Ukrainian 24/7 together with all of us.

Together, to victory!

We will be short. This is war. Day 25. Video digest from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were the first to react to the war in Ukraine. They have raised $35 million already, sending the money to Flexport and Airbnb to help refugees from Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informs.

“I personally thanked them for their support. I am so impressed with their resolve. They are an inspiration for the world,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.

Ukrainian citizens who have sheltered refugees in their homes will be able to receive about 450 hryvnias "for the utilities", — the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development said.

The results of the humanitarian corridors on the 20th of March, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

Four out of the seven humanitarian corridors worked today. A total of 7295 people were evacuated.

Donetsk region

Today, 3985 people from Mariupol arrived to Zaporizhzhia by buses from Berdyansk and private transport.

To evacuate the Mariupol residents from Berdyansk, 11 buses were provided. They have already reached the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Tomorrow morning it is planned to send 50 more buses from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol.

Kyiv region

2000 people were evacuated from the village of Bobryk to Brovary.

1310 people were evacuated from the village of Tarasivka to Brovary.

The evacuation from the town of Borodyanka to the town of Bila Tserkva was disrupted for the second day in a row due to the violation of the silence regime by the occupying forces.

Kharkiv region

Humanitarian aid was delivered from the city of Kharkiv to the village of Rohan.

At the same time, the delivery of aid to the village of Mala Rohan was disrupted.

The intelligence units provided information about a planned provocation by the occupying forces. They intended to capture the humanitarian column.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to prevent such plans of the occupying forces for the convoy with humanitarian aid for the city of Vovchansk.

There is no contact with six people, five drivers and one doctor. Negotiations about their return are underway.

Seven enemy attacks were repelled in the direction of Donetsk and Luhansk today, the Joint Forces Operation Command reports.

The service members of the Joint Forces Operation have inflicted the following losses on the Russian invaders:

- 12 tanks
- 9 IFVs
- 3 motor vehicles
- Around 170 personnel

Also, the Ukrainian anti-air defences downed the invaders’ Su-34 warplane and a helicopter.

In all districts of the Kyiv region, the efforts to improve defense continue, said the head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Oleksandr Pavliuk.

"We are all on high alert. Checkpoints are being strengthened, fortifications are being built," — he said.

According to Pavliuk, during another attempt to attack Kyiv, the occupiers lost an integrated security detachment of the 6th Tank Regiment. Due to the active actions of the Armed Forces in some areas in the Brovary district, enemy units remain cut off from the supply of fuel and food.

"We also see that the enemy is constantly moving its equipment. It is trying to gain a foothold, to establish logistics. We do not rule out that in the near future the enemy will try to force the Irpin River. We are aware of it and we have it under control," — Pavliuk said.

Six countries have already launched investigations into the Russian war crimes: Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

"We are working closely with them to speed up the exchange of information and evidence," — said the Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova.

Ukrainian Railroads made public the schedule of additional evacuation trains for March 21.

Operators of the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system from the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the TDF of Ukraine continue to destroy the Russian occupiers. Here, an enemy tank was shot down. Video: General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Pope Francis called for help to Ukraine.

"Let us be close to this martyred people, let us embrace them with affection with concrete commitment and prayer. And please let us not get used to war and violence, let us not tire of welcoming them with generosity, not only now, but also in the weeks and months to come" the pontiff wrote.

"Let us think of these women and children who in time, without work, separated from their husbands, will be sought out by the ‘vultures’ of society. Please, let us protect them" — added the Pope.

US President Joe Biden has no plans to visit Ukraine during his trip to Europe next week, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"The trip will be focused on continuing to rally the world in support of the Ukrainian people and against President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,
but there are no plans to travel into Ukraine," — Psaki wrote.

Ukrainian drivers were banned from using video recorders in order not to disclose information that could help the enemy find out about the movement of and the execution of tasks by the Ukraine's Defense Forces.

Thousands of people are rallying in support of Ukraine in Gabim Square in Tel Aviv right now.

The people of Israel are demanding the government to:

- unblock the reception of refugees from Ukraine;
- impose sanctions on Russia;
- allow to sell weapons to Ukraine.

Today, on 20 March, Russian invaders carried out nine attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian military in the area of the North Operative Tactical Group.

The enemy was pushed back in all directions, suffering personnel and equipment losses:

Personnel: up to 100
Tanks: 12 destroyed, 10 damaged
IFVs: 17 destroyed
IMVs: 4 destroyed
Artillery systems: 7 destroyed
Automotive vehicles: 21 destroyed, 7 damaged, 5 abandoned by the fleeing enemy

In Energodar local citizens fought their people back from the Russian invaders. It is not Russian where one person with a stick can intimidate everyone.

Captured during a fight with Russian invaders, the powerful Ural TK6A-001 towing vehicle designed to evacuate military equipment will now work for the Transcarpathian 128th Independent Mountain Assault Brigade, Transcarpathian Legion informs.

According to the head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration Oleg Synegubov, humanitarian cargoes sent to Mala Rogan had to be unloaded elsewhere because the invaders sabotaged the green corridors.

A humanitarian convoy from emergency cars, busses and trucks moving in the direction of Vovchiansk disappeared.

According to Synegubov, the moment the convoy entered the territory that is no under Ukrainian jurisdiction connection was lost.

“Now together with the President’s Office and Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk are trying to find its location. It is likely that the convoy is under the control of occupying forces. We are doing all we can to bring our people back”, - informed Synegubov.

For one day David Beckham passed his Instagram account over to a Ukrainian doctor – the head of Kharkiv oblast pre-natal care center Iryna Kondratova.

In this way the football player wants to support our country and together with UNICEF raise money for Ukrainian children and families who suffered from the military conflict.

“Please look at my stories to learn more about the amazing work that Iryna and her colleagues do to save lives in Ukraine”, - Beckham wrote on his page.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

Ukrainian General Staff showed pictures of burning  vehicles of Russian invaders.

Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment of the National Guard Kalyna reports on the situation in Mariupol as of 20 March.

The bombs are falling every 10 minutes. In addition to tanks and artillery, four major assault landing ships of the Russian Federation have been shelling the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

“Army officers, sergeants, and soldiers keep fighting. According to the verified data alone, the Azov Regiment service members destroyed four tanks, armoured personnel carriers and lots of the invaders’ infantry,” Kalyna said.

AZOV—Mariupol

‼️Kalyna, the Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment of the National Guard, reports on the situation in Mariupol as of 20.03.2022:

Glory to Ukraine!
Today is the 25th day of Mariupol’s defence.
The city has been under siege for 20 days already.

The bombs are falling every 10 minutes. In addition to tanks and artillery, four major assault landing ships of the Russian Federation have been shelling the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Army officers, sergeants, and soldiers keep fighting. According to the verified data alone, the Azov Regiment service members destroyed four tanks, armoured personnel carriers and lots of the invaders’ infantry.

The boys are valiantly defending Ukraine!

They are killing special operations soldiers and those traitors who have been mobilized and ended up here as cannon fodder.

They don’t give a damn about their captives. They don’t give a damn about their killed in action. They don’t give a damn about the Ukrainian civilians. They are the barbarians of the 21st century! These ruthless crooks!

We believe that Ukraine will win!
We believe that the sky over Mariupol will be closed. The Azov Sea will be ours again!

Russian invaders have started relying more on drones in Odesa and Odesa Region, Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Maksym Marchenko reports.

“However, our anti-air defences stay vigilant, and we have already confirmed the destruction of these drones,” Marchenko said.

The video of President Zelenskyy’s address to the Knesset of Israel.

Pavlo Slobodchikov, an accomplice of Russian collaborator Volodymyr Saldo, was shot in Kherson. The information was relayed by journalist Denys Kazantsev, a former Donetsk representative with the Trilateral Contact Group.

According to Kazanskyi, Slobodchikov was shot to death in his own car.

“It’s either Slobodchikov got on his Russian masters’ bad side, or the Ukrainian underground resistance got to him. We don’t know that for sure. What we do know, though, is that a collaborator’s fate is always unenviable,” he wrote.

Starting from March 21 will reintroduce paid passage by trains moving from the west to the center, east, south of the country and abroad. Evacuation trains and commuting trains will remain free.

President Zelenskyy has increased military spending by UAH 67.6 billion owing to the incoming financial help from the UK and Northern Ireland.

Ukraine will pour the money into the state investment projects to buy two minesweepers from British suppliers, move them to Ukraine, and service them.

Also, it will fund the joint construction of eight missile cutters, shipping and installation of weaponry for the existing ships, and the joint construction of a frigate.

Ukraine on the global mass media’s front pages today.

On March 20 Russian invaders used heavy artillery against residential areas in the town of Trostianets. The invaders basically ruined several private buildings and killed three pensioners who lived there.

Also several multistoried buildings were destroyed and a shop.

Prosecutor General office started a criminal proceeding on the basis of breaking the law of war.

President Zelenskiy addressed the Knesset

The Russian Federation is trying to destroy the Ukrainian People just like the Nazi Germany tried to destroy the Jews, said Zelenskiy.

“I have all the right to employ such a comparison of our war and the Second World War. Just listen to what the Kremlin is saying. We can even hear the same phrases we heard then. They called it “the final solution to the Jewish question”. Hear what is now said in Moscow: “the final solution to the Ukrainian question”, notes Zelenskiy.

In his words, Ukrainians today, just like the Jews in the XX century, are under the threat of extinction: of the people, of the culture, even of the proper names. This if what the war started by Putin has for the goal, says the President.

He reminded that on February 24, 1920 National Socialist German Workers’ Party was founded. And 102 years later, day to day, Russia attacked Ukraine.

“The people of Israel, you saw how Russian missiles hit the Babyn Yiar. You know what land it is. You say missiles hit the city of Uman. What will remain form these places after this horrendous war?” – asked Zelenskiy.

The President also criticized the decision of Israel to demand electronic permits for entry for Ukrainians, as well as absence of any strong sanctions against Russia. He also highlighted how strong Israeli air defense systems are and the need for help Ukraine has.

“You can protect the lives of Ukrainian Jews. 80 years ago Ukrainians saved the Jewish. Now this choice is available for you too”, - said the President.

The situation on the ground as of 18:00 on 20 March: a General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine update

The invaders lost a joint detachment of the 6th Tank Regiment during the attempted offensive on Kyiv.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine squads keep the enemy units in the area of Brovary cut off from the fuel and food supplies.

In the Russian Federation, military commissariats of Kuban, Primorsky Krai and some regions of the Ural Federal District are carrying out hidden mobilization activities. Cases of mass draft evasion have been reported.

Meanwhile, the Russian propaganda starts priming the Russian citizens for a long war. The official communication channels are spreading the propaganda about alleged achievements of the so-called “special military operation”.

During the visit of Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar to Moscow, it was agreed that Libyan “volunteers” would be deployed in Ukraine to take part in the hostilities on the Russian side. Transportation of the mercenaries will probably be funded by PMC Liga (former PMC Wagner) and carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ aircraft.

Mobilization activities continue on the temporarily occupied territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The management of education establishments (vocational schools and institutes) has initiated the so-called “registration” of students aged over 18.

In Kherson, the occupiers have started replacing military units with the Russian National Guard troops and police.

A Russian Msta-S self-propelled artillery vehicle has been captured, the Operative Armed Forces of Ukraine Telegram channel informs.

Germany and Qatar have agreed on the long-term energy partnership, German Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck informed after the meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad in Doha.

Habeck emphasized that the partnership with Qatar involved not only LNG shipments to Germany but also the development of renewable energy carriers and measures to enhance energy efficiency.

The move is aimed to ensure Germany’s energy independence from Russia.

Over 500 educational facilities have been destroyed or damaged in Ukraine so far during the Russo-Ukrainian war, Minister of Education Serhii Shkarlet informs.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko informs that 20 buses and 250 cars from the village of Bobryk have arrived in Brovary.

The convoy evacuated 1,600 people, including 843 children.

President Zelenskyy thanked the service members of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence.

“The service members of Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence are the eyes and ears of our country. Although invisible to the public, your work is tremendously important for Ukraine. Thank you!” the message on the President’s social media reads.

Russian invaders’ materiel destroyed in the Chernihiv Region.

Russia has started looting Ukrainian ports. In Berdiansk, five ships with grain were stolen, Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh wrote.