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

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi writes that over 10 million Ukrainians have become refugees already. The figure includes internally displaced and those who fled the country.

The service members of the Vinnytsia Scythians mechanized infantry battalion and Ukrainian marines destroyed a convoy of Russian invaders, General Staff reports. Specifically, it included two Tigr infantry mobility vehicles and a Kamaz lorry.

“The stray Russians on the move in Zaporizhzhia Region were hit by our blitz attack and stopped within minutes. One Tigr infantry mobility vehicle was captured. The Ukrainian forces will make good use of it. Vinnytsia Scythians have already repainted it in the Armed Forces of Ukraine colours,” General Staff wrote.

Another bunch of invaders were destroyed with their equipment in the Chernihiv Region, North Operative Command wrote: “We welcomed them so hard that their tanks’ tracks came off.”

About 20,000 people attended an anti-war concert in the central part of Berlin on Sunday, Reuters reports, citing German police. The visitors waved Ukrainian flags and held banners with slogans against the Russian invasion.

The work of the Azov Territorial Defence Force unit and 92nd brigade in Kharkiv

Andrii Biletskyi

The work of the Azov Territorial Defence Force unit and 92nd brigade in Kharkiv

The enemy has no chance!

Germany has secured an energy partnership with Qatar to reduce dependency on Russia, DW reports. Before leaving for Doha, German Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck said that short-term as well as long-term gas supply from Qatar would be discussed. He also announced the intention to speed up the construction of LNG terminals in Germany and develop renewable energy carriers jointly with Qatar.

Mykhailo Podolyak urges not publish any information about weapon supplies in Ukraine before the weaponry is delivered to the frontline. Also, he insists that the information about Ukrainian forces’ movements and preparations for counter-offensives is kept secret.

The Russian Federation still fails to see the reasons why it loses this war. We are putting all our efforts to explain it on all fronts — military, diplomatic, sanction, and negotiation. I would also ask our top officials one thing. Please, talk less about our weapon purchases publicly and even less about our preparations for counter-offensives.

РФ все ще не розуміє причин, з яких вони точно програють війну. Обов'язково пояснимо. На всіх фронтах – військовому, дипломатичному, санкційному й переговорному. До наших топів прохання. Менше публічних слів про закупівлю зброї та ще менше слів про підготовку наших контрнаступів. pic.twitter.com/UXFV2sC5L7

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 20, 2022

Over 500 educational facilities have been destroyed or damaged in Ukraine so far during the way, Minister of Education Serhii Shkarlet writes.

Deputy mayor of Dnipro Mykhailo Lysenko said that Kadyrov militants who end up killed in Dnipropetrovsk region would be buried wrapped in pig skins.

“We are grateful to our city’s meat processing plants for this opportunity. Let’s see what kind of welcome these bastards get ‘on the other side’,” he wrote.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi writes that over 10 million Ukrainians have become refugees already. The figure includes internally displaced persons and those who fled the country.

20,000 soldiers from the whole world are already in. The International Legion of Ukraine to fight Russia: how to join.

In an interview for CNN, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there could be no compromises regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Also, he emphasized that he was ready for direct negotiations with Putin because they were essential to ending the war.

Izyum might have a Chornobaivka of its own, it seems, Izyum City Council member Maksym Strelnik writes. Russian invaders have been trying to entrench near a police checkpoint near the city limits, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine keep sending them to hell there. Moreover, a colonel of the occupiers’ engineering forces has been killed already.

A Russian missile has been downed over Vinnytsia, Head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration Serhii Borzov reports.

SERHII BORZOV / Vinnytsia Regional State (Military) Administration

Another one didn’t make it today!

Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!

A curfew has been imposed in the entire Kyiv Region from 8 PM on 20 March to 7 AM on 21 March. During the curfew, people are prohibited from going outdoors and visiting public places unless they have special permits and IDs on them.

Iryna Vereshchuk, Minister of reintergation, reports: according to intelligence sources, there are signs of preparation of the Russian military to capture the humanitarian column along the route of the agreed humanitarian corridor Kharkiv-Mala Rohan in the temporarily uncontrolled territory. There is also a risk of land mines on roads.

A video of Ukrainian emergency response teams’ work after today’s shelling of Kyiv:

A public rally takes place in Energodar, where deputy mayor Ivan Samoydyuk was kidnapped by Russian military. Rally participants demand freedom for Ukrainian official, they stand with Ukrainian flags and chant 'Freedom for Samoydyuk!'

All “big four” oil service companies—Weatherford, Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and Schlumberger—have stopped investing and technology deployment as a part of their operation in Russia. The last of the four—Weatherford—has announced in its statement today, on Sunday, that it suspends its business in Russia.

A video from the place where missile fragments fell, hitting a block of flats in Kyiv: city mayor Vitali Klitschko comments on the situation.

Friends! Dear Kyiv residents! The enemy keeps shelling the capital. In the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District, a missile hit the grounds of a 10-storey block of flats. The building was damaged, and some cars burned down.

No killed have been reported so far. Five people were injured, and two of them have been hospitalized. Medics and rescue teams are working at the site.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports that a residential building caught fire in the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District after being hit by shell fragments.

The flame broke out on the 4th-storey balcony of a 10-storey block of flats and in two cars. The fire was put out, evacuation of the residents is underway. Six people have already been evacuated. Information about the casualties is being clarified.

The Special Service Forces of Ukraine and the General Staff report about huge represses by the FSB among the Russian command. FSB searches the responsible people for the failure of military missions in Ukraine. Oleksiy Arestovych, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, informed at a briefing on March 20.

He also noted that now the front is almost frozen. There are tactical actions, almost no strikes on cities. The occupiers' aircraft are almost non-existent.

Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhaylo Podolak on the losses of the occupiers in Ukraine:

High mortality of RF senior officers is striking. Already 6 generals killed: Maj Gens Tushayev, Gerasimov, Kolesnikov, Sukhovetsky, Mityaev & Lt Gen Mordvichev. Dozens of colonels & other officers. I.e. RF army is fully unprepared & fights only with numbers & cruise missiles.

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 20, 2022

The Russian occupiers stole 5 grain ships in Berdyansk, the head of the Zaporizhia State Military Administration Oleksandr Starukh said.

In Berdyansk, the occupiers began detaining and beating Ukrainians in an attempt to break the will of local residents.

The French government has frozen €22bn worth of funds from the Central Bank of Russia, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told RTL radio on Sunday. It has also affected the accounts and properties of individuals who are sanctioned by the West.

Kyiv Regional Military Administration on the current situation in the region:

The situation in Bila Tserkva, Boryspil, Obukhiv and Fastiv districts is under control. There is fighting in Gostome, Irpin, Bucha, Moschun and Makarivka.

Near Brovary enemy vehicles are located in Baryshevskaya, Kalitianskaya, Velikodimerskaya and Kalinovskaya communities.

In the Vyshgorod district, the enemy shelled Novi Petrivtsi village with multiple rocket launcher Grad. Slavutych is completely isolated. Also, there is a humanitarian disaster in Ivankivska, Dymerska and Poleska communities.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service transported and destroyed a R-27 aircraft missile in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, on March 19 at a special blasting site, the SES said.

The Australian government has imposed a ban on exports of alumina and aluminium ore to Russia, which will limit its ability to produce aluminium, a critical export for Russia, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Aluminium is a raw material for the automotive, aerospace, packaging, engineering and construction industries, as well as an important raw material for the military industry.

Video of Russian Intelligence special forces being eliminated by Azov soldiers

State Emergency Service of Ukraine on the situation in Chernihiv:

During the day 3 explosive objects were found and seized. A total of 91 explosive objects have been seized since the start of the war.

Due to constant shelling by the Russian occupants, the city has no electricity, heat, water or gas supply. Restoration work is being carried out as far as possible.

In Chernihiv region, 309 fires have been extinguished since the beginning of the war, 228 of which were caused by shelling. Forty-four people have been rescued, including 10 children.

The Azov regiment eliminated a Intelligence special forces unit from the Kabardino-Balkar Republic.

The Army has demonstrated how Ukrainian tank crews practice dueling in twos. The tank duels are carried out in the order of combat tasks using the Lasertag laser battle simulation system.

Almost all crews have combat experience, which they gained in 2014-2015. Only trained crews who know how to destroy the Russian occupier are involved in combat missions.

Our military destroyed a convoy of enemy equipment in Kyiv region. The occupiers were taking weapons to one of the region's settlements to reinforce their troops. They failed to deliver it and the armament was taken over by the Ukrainian military.

Fresh operational update from the General Staff, the key points:

there is a threat of long-range high-precision missile strikes by the enemy, including the "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile system.

The next significant losses among the top management and command staff of units and military units of the russian federation were confirmed. During the fighting, the commander of the 346th separate special brigade from Prokhladny was wounded, the commanders of the 331st parachute landing Kostroma assault regiment were killed, "Forges of Commanders" - 247th Airborne Assault Caucasian Cossack Regiment from Stavropol; 6th Guards Tank Red Banner Regiment from Chebarkul.

Signs of preparation of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus for direct invasion of the territory of Ukraine have been recorded.

In the Polissya direction, the enemy is trying to gain a foothold on the occupied frontiers, expects the group to strengthen due to the arrival of reserves, and is preparing to attack the capital of Ukraine, the city of Kyiv.

The invaders resumed air reconnaissance and shelling of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the use of army aircraft and artillery.

On the territory of the Belhorod region, near the State border of Ukraine, positions of high-power artillery were found. The enemy did not abandon its intentions to establish control over the city of Izyum, but lost the combat capability of its units and was stopped.

In the Donetsk direction, the enemy's main efforts are focused on storming the settlements of Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, and Popasna. He tried to break through the defenses of our troops in the area of the settlement of Verkhnotoretske, suffered losses and was unsuccessful.

Civilians have been banned from visiting forests in Kyiv region.

Today 789 Mariupol residents have been evacuated from Berdyansk in a convoy of 11 buses, the Mariupol City Council has said. The next five buses to continue the evacuation are going from Zaporizhzhya to Berdyansk.

Another video from our defenders from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. This time about the captured “Tigrs”. Our soldiers repelled the occupiers special forces who came to clean up Mariupol. Almost all of the Special Forces' equipment was destroyed, the crews were all eliminated. The remaining “Tigrs” joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

A precise hit on a enemy’s depot with ammunition and fuel and lubricants in Luhansk Region. One enemy tank and a fuel vehicle were also destroyed in the process. Video by 24th Mechanized Brigade.

The occupiers are moving further terrorist groups to Ukraine with the aim of liquidating Ukraine's leadership, the Ukrainian Central Intelligence Directorate has said.

In particular, these are militants related to a Russian propagandist close to Putin and owner of the Liga PMC (Vagner) Yevheniy Prygozhin. The main task of the criminals is the elimination of Ukraine's top military and political leadership.

The key "targets" of the mercenaries are, in particular: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andrii Yermak, Denys Shmygal.

On March 11, Rashists fired from tank at point-blank range at a nursing home in Kreminna, Luhansk Region. Serhiy Gaidai, head of the Luhansk regional state administration, said today that 56 people had been killed. The survivors, 15 people, were kidnapped by the occupiers and taken to the regional geriatric hospital in Svatove in the occupied territory.

"Cynically and deliberately. They just drove up a tank, put it in front of a house and started shooting," Gaidai writes.It is still impossible to reach the site of the tragedy.

Mariupol has just been shelled by four ships of the Russian navy, Azov writes. The enemy continues to cynically destroy the Ukrainian city using all the arsenal available to it. After aircraft, artillery, various systems and tanks, the Russian occupiers destroy the city with heavy weaponry of warships.

A Ukrainian Stugna-P operator is working. Results are shown on the occupiers from the Russian Federation:

The 72nd Brigade plays a counting game

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 20.03 were approximately:

personnel - more 14700,

tanks ‒ 476,

APV ‒ 1487,

artillery systems – 230,

MLRS - 74,

Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 44,

aircraft – 96,

helicopters – 118,

vehicles - 947,

boats / cutters - 3,

fuel tanks - 60,

UAV operational-tactical level - 21.

Special equipment- 12

Kakhovka, temporarily occupied by the Russians

Another dead group of occupiers near Sumy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine published photos

Russia's business-political "elite" is allegedly considering removing Putin as soon as possible through poisoning, "sudden illness", "accidents", etc., and restoring economic ties with the West, the Ukrainian Intelligence reports.

A certain part of this Russian "elite" sees as his successor FSB director Bortnikov, who has allegedly "recently fallen into Putin's disfavour" for "fatal miscalculations" in the war against Ukraine.

The Intelligence added that the recent "leak" of the location of Chechen units north of Kyiv came "precisely from the Russian side". The intelligence service believes that in this way the FSB leadership is allegedly "trying to weaken Kadyrov's influence," or "it may be an attempt to establish cooperation with the Ukrainian authorities in advance, bypassing the current Russian leadership.

In the deep rear of the Russian occupiers, Joint Forces Operation, Intelligence and Georgian Legion soldiers blew up an enemy column. "At the site of the explosion, the enemy's live personnel cannot be identified. I hereby report: we blew up the column, we blew up the column," reports a fighter in the video.

93% of Ukrainians believe we will repel a Russian invasion, with confidence prevailing everywhere in the country, according to Rating Group poll of 18.03.2022. 72% are absolutely sure of it.

74% of respondents support Zelenskyy's direct negotiations with Putin to end the war and 24% don't. 78% of Ukrainians do not support the signing of a temporary peace treaty with Russia without the withdrawal of its troops from the territory of Ukraine.

Support for Ukraine's integration with NATO is 72%. But even more, Ukrainians support the creation of a Ukraine-Poland-Britain military-political alliance - 85%.

The most friendly countries to Ukraine (according to Ukrainians) are Poland, Lithuania, Britain, and the US. The anti-leader is the well-known country (Russia), then goes Belarus.