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

On the 18th of March, at about 8 p.m. the occupiers fired at the suburbs of Zaporizhia with high-power missile systems, civil-military administration ща Zaporizhzhya reports.

Emergency and rescue units of the State Emergency Service, the National Police and medical workers arrived at the scene to eliminate the consequences of the missile strike.

As a result of the second missile strike, ambulances and fire trucks were damaged. There are killed and wounded, but due to the destruction at the site of the tragedy, the final number of victims and injured is still unknown.

Military medics continue to help the wounded and fight for people’s lives.

Еhe Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reports that Russian bots are spreading fakes on social networks that Mariupol residents do not need to leave the city and go to Zaporizhia. With such reports, they disrupt the evacuation from the city.

Propagandists unreasonably claim that Zaporizhstal and Zaporizhkoks are allegedly “mined” and that “armed Banderas are hiding” in the facilities.

This is another cynical lie of the occupiers. The Russian aggressor is trying to disrupt the evacuation of Mariupol residents to safe places and destroy as many patriots of the city as possible by shelling residential neighbourhoods.

Dear friends, 

We call on you on behalf of the entire LIGA.net team. 

Our team works on the edge, sparing no efforts. We work directly from the bomb shelters and basements. However, we have now lost all our financial sources which means that without external support the company will not be able to keep the staff. 

That is why we have to ask you for help. Support us so that the team of Liga.net would be capable to continue fighting successfully on the information front. 

This link – https://www.liga.net/donation_ua – leads to all of our fundraising channels. You can support us by subscribing or by making a one-time transfer or by our Patreon. Any financial support will enable us keeping the staff.  

We will win because together we are strong. And together, we are the TRUTH! 

Ermak states: “Russia must pay reparations for its aggression”.

The Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak held the meeting with representatives of the world’s leading investment companies.

According to him, the online meeting was attended by almost 300 representatives, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton and others.

“We are already thinking about rebuilding the country. Ukraine plans to attract funds from our international partners, as well as reparations which will be paid by Russia for its aggression,” Ermak said.

He informed that he called on international business to buy Ukrainian government military bonds.

The Head of the Presidential Administration assured that the Ukrainian authorities will never enter into any agreements contrary to the national interests of Ukraine.

Ukrainian UCAV Bayraktar TB2 adjusts fire on units and columns of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Kharkiv and Mykolayiv direction. 

Tony, the International Legion volunteer used to serve as a SWAT California Police Special Forces Instructor. He taught the ways to fight robbers and murderers. When he saw the crimes of the Russian occupiers, he could not stay at home and arrived in Ukraine.

People continue to be rescued from the rubble of the Mariupol Drama Theater destroyed by the Russian occupiers. There is no information about the casualties, according to the Mariupol City Council.

Russian army reached Chernigiv on the first day of the war, now the occupiers surrender the city from three sides, and they have been shelling it for three weeks already, the press service of Chernigiv RSA informs.

During last two weeks the enemy have not moved forward practically in any direction.

Russian army started shooting and shelling civilians districts, due to not successful attempts to occupy the city.

“Dozens of multi stored buildings, hundreds of private houses in nearby villages and suburbs are destroyed there. There is no heat, water, almost all the city has no electricity. There are problems with mobile connection,” – RSA informed.

Report from the front as of 6 p. m. the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The military leadership of the Russian Federation plans to transfer some units from the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia to the territory of Ukraine.

There are confirmed facts of refusal of separate servicemen of the Russian Federation from participation in military operations.

Thus, in particular, at the permanent deployment point of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division of the 8th All-Military Army of the Southern Military District, about 130 servicemen refused to take part in hostilities.

Due to the lack of positive results and inability to fulfil the set tasks, it is planned to remove from duty the commander of the 45th Guards Spetsnaz Detached Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel Vadym Pankov. He is accused of failing to perform a combat mission at Hostomel airfield.

In the city of Dzhankoi, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, training in local secondary schools has been suspended with their further use to accommodate servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces arriving in the city.

In the Chernihiv region, Russian occupiers are intimidating locals to quell civilian resistance.

The occupiers continue to destroy the infrastructure of cities, creating the preconditions for deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue step by step to liberate the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in all directions.

Work of the TD “Azov”together with the AF of Ukraine next to Moschun Kyiv region. Pontoon crossing of the russians was not successful. Their vehicle drowned.

 “Moshchun, Kyiv region. The Russists’ daily attempts to build pontoons were unsuccessful, and now their equipment (along with some Russian soldiers) is floating in the Irpin River. We will gather it in the summertime!)".

According to the Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Olexiy Arestovych, currently to deblock Mariupol in military way is impossible, now the ways to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe politically and diplomatically are used.

According to Arestovych, near to the city groups of the Ukrainian Army are fighting hard to the north of Volnovaha. There are predominating forces of the enemy. “We do not speak about deblocking Mariupol now, they would fight there themselves”, he said.

Other groups are located about 100-120 km from Mariupol. Even if they broke the defense of the enemy there, they would not commit 120 km in the bare field under the shelling of russian aviation from Crimea and Rostovsjka region, he cited.

Besides, next to the city the enemy created the strong air defense – aviation and on the land. According to Arestovych, there were attempts to provide air support, “and they were not successful, to put it mildly”.

“That’s why currently there is no military solution on Mariupol. And not only me who shares this opinion but also militants”, the Advisor to the Head of PO said.

According to him, there is a political diplomatical solution of resolving the situation in Mariupol now, a humanitarian catastrophe in the first place.

This is a number one topic for the President Zelenskyy and Presidents of many other countries, Arestovych cited. “They managed to move the situation that the russian army has opened a corridor for the city exit. Unfortunately, they do not let the humanitarian convoy into Mariupol. According to our data, more than 40000 citizens have already left the city”, he said.

Arestovych assures the defense forces of Mariupol hold successful defense. “There are many examples in the world history when armies were holding the defense for months even in more despaired situations”, he cited.

“We will not surrender Mariupol!”, the Advisor to the Head of PO summed up.

A nine-storey building, a shop and an administrative building came under fire in Avdiivka today, reported the Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko. According to preliminary information, there are two people killed and three wounded.

The occupiers did not allow humanitarian aid to be transferred through some of the “green corridors”. In particular, this is the case with the town of Izyum - informed the Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Synehubov.

“We decided to build logistics centres in the settlements nearby, and then deliver them to the residents with the help of volunteers,” Synehubov said.

Russian occupiers have released the head of the Velikoburluk community, Viktor Tereshchenko, the head of the Kharkiv regional state administration, Oleh Sinegubov, has reported.

"I just had a conversation with him, he is now in hospital. Victor Mykolayovych is doing well, standing up for the community and defending national interests," said Sinegubov.

Russia has sent training units to the city of Izyum, which were partially destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Alexei Arestovich, an adviser to the head of the President's Office.

Some of the Russian cadets-occupiers were captured, some fled.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with US President Joe Biden about the war in Ukraine. No one will benefit from the conflict, the Chinese leader confirmed.

In particular, Xi Jinping stated that conflicts and confrontations similar to Russia's war against Ukraine are not in anyone's interests.

"The Ukrainian crisis is something we do not want to see," he said.

Morning March 18 militants of the aggressor country shelled neighborhood of Natalivka village Zaporizhzhya district Zaporizhzhya region using volley fire systems. Preliminary there are killed and injured ones, the General Prosecutor Office informs.

The last fight of the Heroes Team.

March 8, the teams of the separate mechanized brigade of Romana the Great destroyed six pieces of the enemy’s vehicle.

The occupiers were pushed away and finally during a counteroffensive the Ukrainian Army liberated from the occupiers one very important town of Kyiv region – the village Makariv.

An enemy’s anti-tank managed missile affected a Ukrainian T-64BT where military ammunition detonated, and lives of a senior sergeant Sergiy Vasich, a senior soldier Vitaliy Parhomuk and a soldier Oleg Svynchuk ended.

The President assigned the titles of Heroes of Ukraine (posthumously) to those brave defenders.

The Ukrainians helped to block 1500 enemy’s recourses with the help of Telegram chat bots. Users inform about enemy’s actions at our territory and discovered propaganda and disinformation.

It is possible thanks to the Telegram channel StopRussiaChannel MRIYA and a Telegram bot.

Since the channel was created, 150 000 participants have joined it. They have sent more than 3,2 mln complains to different inform resources of the occupiers.

People continue to be rescued from the rubble of the Mariupol Drama Theatre destroyed by Russian occupiers. No information about casualties - Mariupol City Council.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed the advanced command post of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Southern Military District, probably together with several generals. This area was in charge of the Occupied territories of Ukraine - Arestovych.

On 18 March, around 16:00, shelling caused a fire in a one-storey warehouse with varnish and paint products in Sumy on an area of over 6,000 sq.m. There are no casualties or victims, the State Emergencies Service.

Ukraine will lose up to 35% of GDP in 2022, according to the methodology of the International Monetary Fund, based on preliminary losses in the event of military conflicts.

Hromadske journalist Victoria Roschina is probably being held captive by Russian occupiers - Hromadske reports.

Near Trostyanets, Sumy Region, our defence forces have destroyed a convoy of enemy equipment - Ukrainian Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As of today, on the Right Bank [of Kyiv], the enemy has been stopped for almost 70 kilometres, which makes it impossible to carry out fire, except for rocket fire. On the Left Bank it has been stopped - Deputy Chief of Staff of the Command of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Gruzevych has reported.

The official website of the Centre for National Resistance has been launched in Ukraine. The main purpose of the website sprotyv.mod.gov.ua is to support and coordinate all those willing to fight for Ukraine's liberation from the occupier.

A map of the capital's working businesses has appeared in the Kyiv Digital app. Now there are already 400 businesses on the map. Businesses willing to do so can add their own company - KCSA.

Several European countries at once expelled Russian diplomats on 18 March. These are Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Air Force Command of the AFU:
- Enemy aircraft are changing tactics because they are suffering enormous losses.
- When new data are confirmed we will have "jubilee" - 100 downed planes (out of 450 the enemy was preparing for the beginning of the war), and by helicopters we have already reached this figure (there were 250 in total).
- Our strike aircraft and artillery are successfully working on their air defences, about fifty have been destroyed and several managed to be captured.

"I am confident, that by attacking us, Russia will destroy everything it has achieved in the past 25 years and will return to the "bad 90s. But now without freedom, without the creative desire of millions of people to work for the development of their state. That will be the price of war against Ukraine for Russia", - Statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As of 15:00, 560 vehicles - 2,288 citizens, 53 buses - 1,725 citizens - have left the Sumy region through the humanitarian corridor - Dmytro Zhyvytskyy, Sumy Region State Administration.

There are no official humanitarian corridors in Kyiv region today. No civilians are being evacuated in the region at the moment - the Kyiv RMA.

News from Chernihiv Region from the Army's Operational Command North:
- Today, an enemy Torn SIGINT and a BTGr command and observation post near Chernihiv were destroyed.
- Over the past 24 hours, Chernihiv defenders repelled two attempts by the Russian military to advance. The Kremlin army once again suffered losses in both equipment and personnel. In particular, it is known that enemy BMPs, a tank and a Tiger were destroyed. Other enemy losses are being specified.
- Units of the AFU hit the enemy's artillery, resulting in minus two enemy batteries, which will no longer be able to inflict damage on the city.
- Near one of the region's population centres, Ukrainian defenders targeted a large amount of equipment and personnel who had been carrying out a rotation. The "rotation" of orcs to the Otherworld was successful!
- Local residents confirm that the Russian soldiers continue to flee, abandon their equipment and are unwilling to go into battle.

Five buses with evacuated Mariupol residents are already on their way from Berdyansk to Zaporizhzhya. There are about 500 people in total. The Mariupol City Council has said that all necessary aid, from food and medicines to accommodation, is waiting for them in Zaporizhzhya.

Synchronisation of the Ukrainian energy system with the European one has improved Ukraine's supply security by giving us access to new sources of electricity. The biggest need for our energy system is green corridors to repair damaged lines as a result of Russian army attacks, to bring electricity back to more than a million Ukrainians. Ukrainian repair teams are working to do this every day, even where the hostilities continue - Ukrenergo.

Former deputy head of State Property Fund suspected of treason. He passed to occupiers information on location of AFU military and equipment - Office of the Prosecutor-General.

More than 273,000 households in Ukraine have lost access to gas and heat as a result of hostilities - head of the National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz Yuriy Vitrenko has said.

Zelenskyy: The EC's conclusion on Ukraine's application for EU membership will be ready within a few months.

An evacuation convoy of buses from Zaporizhzhya has arrived in Berdyansk. A petrol truck with fuel for private cars used to evacuate Mariupol residents has also arrived. After refueling, the private cars in convoy will go to Zaporizhzhya - deputy head of Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said.  

Diplomats and public officials from Russia and Belarus are banned from entering the European Parliament. "There is no place in the House of Democracy for those who seek to destroy the democratic order" - the head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola said.

Humanitarian corridors start operating in Sumy Region, UN humanitarian convoy welcomed in region - Regional State Administration.

The Ukrainian Ministry for Foreign Affairs is working to increase pressure on Russia, in particular insisting that Russian propaganda media, which undermine democracy and poison public opinion, be shut down. Dozens of countries have restricted broadcasting of Russian channels - MFA.

In Kyiv, the enemy has damaged 36 residential buildings, five private estates, 6 schools and 4 kindergartens since the start of Russia's full-scale aggression. Facades, balconies and windows of 55 houses were damaged.

Since the start of the invasion 222 people have been killed in the capital, including 60 civilians. The death toll includes 4 children. There have been 889 wounded, including 241 civilians. These included: 18 children, 3 ambulance drivers, 1 ambulance doctor - KCSA.

“From the beginning of the full-scale break in, the russian troops killed ruthlessly 109 Ukrainian children. Empty children pushcarts at the Rynok Square today are a symbol of lives of those angels who protect the sky over Ukraine now instead of  worlds decisive actions”, Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyy said.

During March 17, 28 shelling Lugansk region towns facts have been registered. There are victims among civilians as a result. The enemy’s shelling affected private houses and multi-stored buildings in Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Popasna.

Summary from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 12:00 March 18:

- Russian occupiers continue their offensive operation against Ukraine. Such strategical tasks as the defeat of the Ukrainian Army groups at the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk regions remain not fulfilled.

- Due to the fact almost all missiles ammunition and some other types of ammunition are spent, a decision to transfer the russian military economic complex companies engaged in “Kalibr” and “Smerch” production to transfer for 24 hours functioning was taken.

- In Volyn, Polissya, and Siverskiy directions there are no essential changes. The enemy is focused upon fortification of the occupied borders.

- In Lugansk direction the enemy activated fights in Rubizhne territory, succeeded partially. In Donetsk region there were no active fights supported by the enemy.

- In Tavriisky direction the enemy tries to set a strict police regimen at the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson region towns. In Pivdennobuzjkyy direction there were no active actions of the occupier.

State Border Service informed about the status of western borders. The longest queue is at the point “Shegyni” at the border with Poland.

Kuleba and Podolyak responded to the thesis of the western politicians that the war is Putin’s guilt, not the russians’ guilt.

European politics propose to nominate Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for Nobel Peace Prize.