Press digest – Ukraine
35th day of heroic resistance of Ukraine against Russian military invasion
Every morning, starting March 17, a nationwide minute of silence has been declared throughout Ukraine at 9:00am Kyiv time.
“We will remember the Ukrainians who gave their lives, all the military, civilians and children” (c) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
DESTRUCTION AND LOSSES
📌 Photo of the day
📌 According to the UN, 10.4 million Ukrainians had to flee the war and leave their homes. Due to the brutality and cynicism of the Russian occupiers, who are destroying homes, schools and hospitals, 6.5 million became internally displaced and 3.9 million left Ukraine. Mostly women with children, as well as the incapacitated and the elderly.
⚠️ Withdrawal of units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from the territory of Kyiv and Chernihiv regions continues. By all indications, the enemy is regrouping units to focus the main efforts on the East. “Withdrawal of troops” is a deception and a misconception about the refusal of the occupiers from the plan to surround the city of Kyiv. Probably, rotation of separate divisions is carried out.
📌 At midnight, Ukraine was covered with sirens – there were airstrikes in a number of cities. Air defense worked effectively in Kyiv. In the Khmelnytsky region, locals reported explosions.
📌 Russia mines the Black Sea using naval mines seized from Ukrainian military depots in 2014, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Thus, Russia wants to discredit Ukraine in front of international partners.
📌 In Velyka Bilozirka, the Russians placed military equipment between residential buildings. In Melitopol, the occupiers have equipped checkpoints on the outskirts of the city and strengthened the bypass regime. Also, they continue to rob and detain people.
📌 On the morning of March 30, the Russian occupiers fired on a residential area of Lysychansk. According to preliminary data, there are no victims. However, the rocket hit the playground and miraculously did not explode.
📌 The head of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration Vyacheslav Chaus said that the reduction of activity in the Chernihiv direction promised by the Russian side is not observed. Russian troops roamed the city of Chernihiv all night and struck at the city of Nizhyn. Civil infrastructure facilities are destroyed.
📌 On March 30, Russian troops again fired on the Saltivka district in Kharkiv. Damaged houses, shops and other civilian infrastructure.
Author of the photo: Aris Messinis.
📌 In Mariupol, the Russian occupiers fired on a building with a Red Cross mark. “This is one of the greatest crimes of the war. Such crosses mark places where wounded, civilian or humanitarian cargoes can be found,” Azov reports.
📌 Adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Denysenko said that after the liberation the city of Irpin now remains dangerous for residents. Russian troops mined most of the city during the retreat. Sappers find mines even with the bodies of the dead. According to preliminary data, up to 300 civilians and up to 50 soldiers were killed during active hostilities in the city.
📌 According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the movement of Russian troops along the state border of Ukraine with the Republic of Belarus is noted. At the same time, the occupation forces continue to accumulate in the area of the Chornobyl
NPP, the Shelter facility and the Exclusion Zone in general. Thus, the movement of mixed columns of enemy vehicles from the Ivankiv in the direction of the Chornobyl NPP was recorded.
📌 An detonation took place in the Russian city of Belgorod due to neglect of safety rules and violation of the requirements for transportation of ammunition, Russian media reported.
📌 The State Emergency Service reported that 15 people died after a missile strike on the Mykolayiv Regional State Administration. 14 bodies were rescued from the rubble, another died at the hospital. The analysis of blockages continues. Since the beginning of invasion of the Russian troops in the Mykolayiv area as of March 30, 134 people, among them 6 children died.
RUSSIAN CONTEXT
⚠️ Reparations to be paid by the Russians for the damage and losses inflicted on Ukraine in the full-scale war that Russia launched on February 24.
⚠️ In order to justify their criminal actions, the Russian military carried out a provocation. They set up their armored personnel carrier at the Ukrainian border checkpoint, then blew it up, and then burned the Ukrainian border checkpoint on the border with Russia.
⚠️ Countries that sold weapons to Russia during 2015-2020: France and Germany are in the lead.
⚠️ Belarus continues to freely provide its territories for the deployment of Russian military units. Belarus also provides the Russian invaders with the opportunity to use the network of medical institutions on its territory, — the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
⚠️ Pro-Kremlin media are actively spreading the fake that the Ukrainian authorities are using the synagogue in Uman as a gathering place for the military to take part in hostilities. The purpose of this fake is to turn Israel against Ukrainian authorities. It is also possible that the fake will be used as a distraction from the probable provocation of the Russian military to shell the Jewish cult site in Uman and further accuse Ukraine of it.
DEFENSE UPDATES
📌 Estimated losses of the Russian Federation Army in Ukraine:
📌 A number of Russian media stated that the Russians had captured two fighters of the Azov Ukrainian Regiment. However, this is a fake of Russian propaganda. Unharmed servicemen recorded videos from Kharkiv to the occupiers.
📌 The National Police of Ukraine has exposed almost 500 saboteurs since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, said the head of the National Police Igor Klimenko.
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS AND EVACUATION UPDATES
📌 On March 29, 1,665 people left through the three agreed humanitarian corridors – 936 left Mariupol, 729 – residents of Zaporizhia region (Berdyansk, Melitopol, Energodar, Vasylivka, etc.).
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS AND EVACUATION UPDATES
📌 On March 28, 881 Mariupol residents were evacuated from Berdyansk, they are already in Zaporizhia. Also, 2,350 people arrived in Zaporizhia by their own vehicles, most of them from Mariupol.
📌 In Vasylivka, the occupiers blocked columns of evacuation buses and trucks with humanitarian aid which were sent in the morning to Berdyansk, Melitopol and Energodar.
📌 During the negotiations in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side conveyed a demand to the Russian side on the obligation and urgency to open humanitarian corridors to Ukrainian cities in the biggest humanitarian crisis – Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, hot spots of Kyiv region.
📌 On March 30, during evacuation of residents of Lysychansk, a bus came under fire from the Russians. Fortunately, no one was injured. A total of 260 people were rescued from the city during the day.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s daily statements
📌 Ukraine compensates citizens for every meter of lost real estate. Starting on March 29 Ukrainians can apply through the state digital application Diia. In a week, also there will be the opportunity to do it offline – in the centers of administrative services.
📌 Defense of Ukraine is the number one task, and everything else is derived from it. The Armed Forces, intelligence, and all those who joined the defense are the only guarantee of Ukraine’s survival today. As a nation. As a state.
📌 Ukraine is ready to negotiate and will continue the negotiation process. To the extent that it really depends on Ukraine. There can be no compromise on sovereignty and our territorial integrity.
📌 The issue of removal of sanctions on Russia cannot even be raised until the war is over. Until Ukraine returns everything it deserves, and until Ukraine restores justice. On the contrary, sanctions should be strengthened. A team of experts, both Ukrainian and international, has already begun work to assess the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed on Russia. On the Ukrainian side, this is coordinated by the head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak, and on the international side by US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.
📌 The Russian troops made attack on Mykolayiv very insidiously, in the morning, just at the beginning of the working day. This next act of the Russian so-called “denazification” of Mykolayiv took place in the morning after the anniversary of liberation of the city from Nazi invaders. Mykolayiv residents remember the day of March 28, 1944.
📌 Within the program of Ukraine’s reconstruction, we involve partner countries, leading companies, and the best specialists to guarantee the speed and quality of state reconstruction.
📌 With the support of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the government, educational institutions and NGOs are creating the Ukrainian Global University (UGU). A network that aims to bring together Ukrainian students, fellows, researchers and teachers to educational institutions around the world, as well as new scholarships and postdoctoral programs.
PUBLIC AND BUSINESS SUPPORT
📌 From the first day of the war, the World Central Kitchen has been working on the border of Ukraine and Poland to help refugees, preparing more than 200,000 servings of food a day. Chef Jose Andres, the founder of WCK, has been feeding people in hot spots for over 10 years.
📌 Hollywood actor Sean Penn visited Lviv to personally help organize his charity programs for refugees.
📌 Maybe the legendary rock band Scorpions have changed their hit. Instead of the original text “I follow the Moskva down to Gorky Park“, Scorpions soloist Klaus Maine sang differently: “Now listen to my heart, it says – Ukraine.”
📌 Actress Mila Kunis, who was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, made an emotional speech from the Oscars: “Recent global events have made us feel devastated, but when you see the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, you can’t help but be touched by their resilience. One cannot help but admire those who find the strength to continue to fight in incredible darkness. “
📌 Georgian footwear brand Lalo expressed its support for Ukraine and created two pairs of shoes in the colors of the blue and yellow flag.
📌 Dutch sculptor and jewelry designer Bibi van der Velden made exclusive earrings in the form of blue-yellow alligators. The earrings were created by Bibi to support Ukrainian children and refugees who were forced to leave Ukraine due to Russian aggression.
📌 Slovakia awarded President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with the Oleksandr Dubcek State Prize. It is a Slovak symbol of freedom and hope.
📌 The French chain of sports stores Decathlon has announced the suspension of activities in Russia. Earlier, the brand has repeatedly stated its intention to continue doing business in the Russian market.
📌 Swiss building materials manufacturer Holcim has announced its intention to leave the Russian market.
📌 Following IKEA, Jysk also is closing its stores in Russia.
📌 International rating agency Fitch has revoked the ratings of 27 Russian banks and companies affiliated with them.
📌 Ukrainian students from Stanford and Massachusetts universities have jointly created a website that tracks companies that support Russia’s economy and finance the war.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT OF UKRAINE
📌 Great Britain is ready to be one of the guarantors of Ukraine’s security. Britain’s permanent representative of the UN, Barbara Woodward, said: “Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks to President Zelensky almost every day. We want to help end the war in any way we can, to ensure the withdrawal of Russian troops. And we will be happy to play this role if Ukraine asks, yes. ”
📌 The Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom Ben Wallace announced a donors’ conference to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
📌 The Parliament of Canada voted for a visa-free regime with Ukraine. Now the decision is up to the government. Canada also condemned the unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine by order of the Russian president as a clear violation of international law.
📌 The European Commission, together with Global Citizen, has launched a #StandUpforUkraine campaign to raise financial support for Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes. Join and learn about the details at the link http://ForUkraine.com.
📌 The Swiss Federal Office of Culture is taking urgent measures to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage. A financial assistance of 750,000 Swiss francs was provided for this. The Swiss government has also allocated 140,000 Swiss francs to set up a book collection in Ukrainian.
📌 Poland delivered more than 22,000 tons of diesel fuel for Ukraine.
📌 The Latvian Emergency Medical Service provides two ambulances and 200 stretchers for transporting people to Boryspil Hospital.
📌 A field hospital provided by the Netherlands in assistance to the Ukrainian military and people who have left their homes due to the war has been set up in Ukraine.
📌 On March 30, Rafael Mariano Grossi visited the IAEA Director General on a working visit to the South Ukrainian NPP. There was also a meeting with the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko. Highlights of the meeting:
🖇 After February 24, there are only two positions: one is correct and the other is distorted. The third is not given. This is especially true of nuclear safety.
🖇 The right position is guarantees, security and protection. This is what Ukraine is responsible for. And another position, a distorted position, is the shelling of nuclear facilities, the seizure of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plants.
🖇 The first and necessary condition for ensuring nuclear safety is the complete withdrawal of troops from the territories of the captured NPPs and satellite cities and their release from ammunition must be carried out.
🖇 Ensuring the security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, restricting Russian staff’s access to Ukraine’s files, blocking the participation of representatives of the Russian Federation in IAEA inspection activities, IAEA missions and services are paramount.
🖇 The Ministry of Energy counts on the support of the IAEA in the widest possible coverage of the potential danger that Russia poses to the whole world by capturing and shelling nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
🖇 By its actions on nuclear facilities in Ukraine, Russia has shown complete disregard for the key principles that ensure the development of nuclear energy, namely: safety, security and guarantees.
📌Tweet of the day
They have only equipment. At the maximum. We have people in addition to the equipment. Top-notch. They have only orders. To attack. To kill. To torture. And we have a real desire of millions of Ukrainians to win. To defend ourselves. To liberate our country…