Brief facts:

• in the Luhansk region, Russians used phosphoric bombs, banned by the Geneva Conventions
• over the past two days, artillery units of the Operational Command "North" have destroyed 80 vehicles
• Russian occupiers shelled journalists from the New York Times. The journalist Brent Renaud was killed, his two colleagues were injured, hospitalized
• Russians fired more than 30 missiles on the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv, a garrison city just 12km from the Polish border. According to Ukrainian officials, “foreign instructors” work at the Yavoriv military base, though the presence of foreigners at the time of the strikes is not specified

Sources:

• Verkhovna Rada: the parliament of Ukraine and its social media (Facebook, Telegram)
• Presidential Office: the Official website of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his social media (Facebook, Twitter, Telegram); advisers to the Office: Oleksiy Arestovych and Mykhailo Podoliak; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of Temporary Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk
• President Zelenskyy: the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his social media (Twitter, Facebook, Telegram)
• General Staff: the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• NSDC of Ukraine: the National Security Defense Council of Ukraine website and social media (Facebook, Twitter); Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC of Ukraine (website, Facebook, Telegram)
• Stratcom Centre: Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security of Ukraine – an establishment under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine – website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
• Defense intelligence of Ukraine: the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (website, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
• CinC AF of Ukraine: the official Facebook page of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Latest news:

Thank you for your attention! This feed is closed. But Defense Express has already started a new one. Find the latest news on Day 20th of the Russian invasion of Ukraine here.

23:48 General Staff on Facebook: "[Saying] 'The Second Best Army in the World' is a sham. The Russian occupiers are acting on the principle 'those not burned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine will drown on their own'." This way the General Staff, the Land Forces and the Territorial Defence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "thanked" the Russian Defense Ministry for the new trophies.

Read more: The Ukrainian Army Has Destroyed Russian military equipment worth $5 billion - Forbes

23:23

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine received the executive order from President Volodymyr Zelensyy to extend the martial law for 30 more days.

Defense Express memo: martial law was imposed in the first hours of the Russian invasion, on the morning of February 24.

23:12 Verkhovna Rada citing Fox News media: Fox News State Department Correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Monday.

"Earlier today, our correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while newsgathering outside of Kyiv in Ukraine," Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in her statement on Monday. "We have a minimal level of details right now, but Ben is hospitalized, and our teams on the ground are working to gather additional information as the situation quickly unfolds."

According to the updated information, the journalist got a comminuted fracture of both legs as the result of a Russian attack. He is in the emergency room right now.

23:07 Deputy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Yevheniia Kravchuk: "An extraordinary Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session has started in Strasbourg. Ukraine is represented by our Women's Diplomatic Battalion – 10 deputies from different parties. The main task of this session is to begin the procedure of complete exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe. This will be the first time in the history of this organization. If successful (and we see a consensus on this), it will be the first international organization to expel Russia from its membership."

22:23 Iryna Vareshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine: out of 10 humanitarian corridors, 7 worked. About 4000 citizens were rescued. 2028 people were evacuated from dangerous areas in the Kyiv region, including Hostomel, Nemishayevo, Vorzel, Dmytrivka, Peremoha settlements; 1780 people were evacuated from the Luhansk region. The occupiers continue to unreasonably block the humanitarian aid column on its way to Mariupol. Nevertheless, the way route was successfully used by 150 cars of residents of Mariupol to evacuate to safe areas in Ukraine.

Ukraine doesn't stop striving for the liberation of citizens, seized by Russians. Ivan Fedorov, the Head of the Melitopol city Council is still held captive. Still unknown what is happening to the Dniprorudne city Mayor Yevhen Matveev, who was kidnapped by Russian occupants. Emergency service rescuer Oleksii Danchenko is held captive in Hostomel.

Yesterday Russians conducted searches at the Head of the Melitopol city Council Serhii Pryima's place. Then he was taken by occupiers in an indefinite direction.

22:11 CinC AF of Ukraine: air defense systems of the Land Forces of Ukraine have taken down 45 Russian aircraft since the beginning of the invasion, Commander in Chief, General Valerii Zaluzhniy wrote on Facebook. These downed aircraft include:

• 19 jets
• 20 helicopters
• 5 UAVs
• 1 guided missile

Defense Express memo: note that the total amount of Russian aircraft losses is much higher and can be found here.

21:51 International Court of Justice: the ICJ in Hague will be ready to rule on the case against the Russian Federation on March 16. In a press release, the Court wrote:

"On Wednesday 16 March 2022, the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will deliver its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation)."

Update: Verkhovna Rada provides an explanation on the "provisional measure of protection" term:

A provisional measure of protection is the term that the ICJ uses to describe a procedure "roughly equivalent" to an interim order (which can be either a temporary restraining order or a temporary directive order) in national legal systems. These measures are designed to protect the rights of the parties pending the final decision in a dispute.

Defense Express memo: as a reminder, Ukraine submitted its application against Russia to the ICJ on February, 27. The hearings under Ukraine’s lawsuit against Russia in genocide case were commenced on March 7.

21:47 Ukraine NOW: a convoy of cars with humanitarian aid, which had left Zaporizhzhia for Mariupol, remained in Berdyansk. According to preliminary data, if a "green corridor” is opened tomorrow and a ceasefire is in effect, the humanitarian convoy will continue its movement to Mariupol, where 400 thousand residents still need help, says the Mariupol City Council.

21:33 Verkhovna Rada: the fourth package of sanctions was approved. This one is targets individuals and entities involved in the aggression against Ukraine, as well as several sectors of the Russian economy. It was announced on the Twitter page of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

20:56 Defense intelligence of Ukraine: Russian occupiers are aiming at agricultural machinery and undermining food security in Ukraine and the world, Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said on Facebook. The invaders try to jeopardize the sowing campaign and create a humanitarian crisis.

"The occupiers are deliberately destroying agricultural machinery in Ukraine. Systematic cases of such actions were noticed in Brovary district (Kyiv region), Melitopol district (Zaporizhia region), Pryluky, Nizhyn, Novgorod-Siversky districts (Chernihiv region). In a number of districts of the Kherson and Kharkiv regions.

20:35 Ukrinform media citing Operational and Tactical Group "East": Ukrainian forces repelled a series of Russian attacks, destroying numerous enemy vehicles and personnel. The information was posted on the military unit's Facebook page.

"As of 17:00 on March 14, Russian-occupation forces tried to break through the defense line of Ukrainian defenders in Donetsk direction, in the area of responsibility of the Operational and Tactical Group ‘East’. The offensive was repulsed, and the enemy lost up to 100 soldiers, 2 tanks, 3 infantry fighting vehicles, and 1 armored personnel carrier. After an unsuccessful attempt to break through our defense lines, the enemy retreated.

Thanks to the successful actions of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, an enemy who tried to go into the attack in Volnovakha direction was identified timely. As a result of the battle, 4 infantry fighting vehicles and up to two infantry platoons of Russian invaders were destroyed.

Also during the day, Ukrainian aircraft and artillery inflicted fire damage on clusters of enemy military equipment and columns. In particular, artillery fire destroyed the logistics column: more than 12 vehicles.

Having suffered losses, the battalion tactical groups of the 336th Separate Marine Brigade and the 11th Separate Assault Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces retreated."

19:55 The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen: 4th package of sanctions against Russia to be approved.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has informed President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky of the fourth package of sanctions, which can be approved by the Council of EU today by written procedure.

“Putin's war is becoming more brutal by the day. I just informed President of Ukraine Zelensky of the 4th package of sanctions. The EU is with the Ukrainian people,” von der Leyen posted on Twitter.

The official noted that the EU had supported Ukraine with a €1.2 billion macro-financial assistance package and €500 million in humanitarian aid.

Zelensky also underscored the importance of sanctions pressure on Russia.

“Discussed with President of the European Commission von der Leyen the EU’s support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression. Increasing sanctions pressure on Russia is important. We also appreciate significant financial assistance. Ukraine continues to move towards membership in the EU,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.

19:40 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed brilliant combat work footage of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, which continue to defend Mariupol.

19:25 Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov: Russian invaders bomb 600 houses, 50 schools in Kharkiv.

About 600 houses, 50 schools, healthcare facilities have been destroyed as a result of the enemy shelling of Kharkiv.

"About 600 houses have been destroyed in Kharkiv due to constant shelling of the city by the Russian army... These houses cannot be restored, so people actually lost their homes. Moreover, 50 schools, a number of healthcare institutions, including maternity hospitals have been bombed in Kharkiv," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot via videoconferencing, the press service of the Kharkiv City Council posted on Telegram.

According to Lightfoot, the main task now is to save people's lives and end the war, and the U.S. position is very important in this matter. Terekhov underscored the need to close the sky over Ukraine and stop the bloodshed.

19:00 Estonia’s Parliament adopts resolution urging to close sky over Ukraine.

The Parliament of the Republic of Estonia has adopted a resolution calling on UN member states to close the sky over Ukraine.

"The Parliament of the Republic of Estonia has adopted a resolution calling on UN member states to close Ukraine's sky to protect it from the Russian aggressor. This is the first decision taken by the parliament of the country which is EU and NATO member. It is difficult, responsible, and honorable to be the first," Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk posted on Facebook.

18:55 Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko: 99 people, including 35 children, evacuated from Avdiivka.

99 people, including 35 children, were evacuated from the town Avdiivka, Donetsk region, which is currently shelled by Russian invaders.

“We continue to evacuate people from frontline towns. Today, 99 people were taken out of Avdiivka, which has been under Russian fire yesterday and today. Thirty-five children are among the evacuees. We are saving Ukrainians from the Russian invasion!”

18:50 An adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Denysenko: Only Mariupol remains encircled by enemy.

Currently, only the town of Mariupol, Donetsk region, remains encircled by Russian troops.

"Only the town of Mariupol remains encircled. As for all other cities, they are not completely encircled. Kharkiv defends itself. As for Kharkiv, we launched a small counterattack at night in Izium area. We repulsed the enemy a little bit, we destroyed several units of equipment. That is, we continue to defend ourselves, we continue to repel the enemy as much as possible in the current situation," Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Denysenko said on the air of Ukrainian TV channels.

At the same time, he believes that the Russians will continue their attacks because "obviously, Putin gives instruction to destroy civilian infrastructure, to destroy, in fact, any infrastructure that exists in Ukraine."

He assured that Ukraine would defend itself and repel the Russians from their positions.

Denysenko also expressed hope that civilians would be able to leave Mariupol currently shelled by the invaders.

In addition, Denysenko believes that the reserves of the Russian army are depleting.

18:45 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Operational information on 18.00, 14.03.2022 regarding the Russian invasion.

The nineteenth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion continues.

Occupying troops continue offensive operation against Ukraine.

The main goal of hostilities on the territory of our State by the enemy has not been achieved. Receiving repulse and incurring losses, the occupying forces are increasingly forced to turn to defense and surrender to Ukrainian defenders.

In most areas, when trying to move forward, the enemy faces resistance from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civil resistance from the local population.

Without much success, the enemy continues to launch missile and bomb strikes by aircraft, destroying military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Uses high-ammunition and indiscriminate munitions in residential areas of large cities, defiantly ignoring the rules of international humanitarian law.

Given the current situation, the invaders have strengthened the protection of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border by units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

The occupiers are trying to seize settlements near the city of Izyum.

The Defense Forces continue to conduct a defense operation within the Southern, Eastern and Northern Operational Zones.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, demonstrating mass examples of heroism, courage and high professionalism, successfully destroy enemy troops.

Once again, we urge you to trust only verified sources of information, remain calm and believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Let's win together! Glory to Ukraine!

18:10 An adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Oleksiy Arestovych: Invaders designate JFO area, Mariupol, Mykolaiv as main targets.

Russian troops have designated the zone of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO), the cities of Mariupol and Mykolaiv as main directions of their operational efforts

This was stated by Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office from a briefing.

“Now we can say that the enemy has settled a decision on the main directions of their operational efforts. These are, first of all, the JFO zone, the city of Mariupol, and the city of Mykolaiv,” the official said.

At the same time, according to Arestovych, the situation in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions has become somewhat calmer as the enemy is redeploying part of its forces to the southern or eastern parts of Ukraine.

18:00 The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine: In the Mykolaiv Oblast border guards found several killed Russian soldiers’ bodies.

As they inform on Facebook page, apart from the bodies some military equipment was found as well, including an RPG, several RPG rockets and printed call signs of the enemy army officials.

17:40 Balkan Observer: Russian drone landing in Romania.

An unmanned aerial vehicle, most likely of Russian origin, was found in the Romanian municipality of Dumitra, just over 100 kilometrs south of the Ukrainian border.

However, according to images circulating on the Internet, the "model" is actually a Russian Orlan-10 drone, used to gather intelligence and spot targets.

Orlan-10 drones are exclusively Russian-made and have been used continuously in Russia's aggression against Ukraine since 2014.

Earlier, Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic said a military drone, which apparently flew out of Ukraine's combat zone and across the territory of three European NATO allies before exploding in the urban area of the Croatian capital, was armed with an explosive device. No official confirmation followed that the UAV belonged to Russia.

17:10 The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov’s message to Ukrainians on the occasion of the Ukrainian Volunteer day: We will overcome everything.

In his message, the Minister of Defense also mentioned that Ukraine is a big family and in this tough time Ukrainians may quarrel but will stand firmly for one another. Full post below:

17:00 The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba calls for boycott major companies refusing to leave Russian market.

Kuleba addressed the issue at an online briefing on Monday, March 14:

"Putin has in fact ruined the investment climate, business climate, and Russia's reputation as a business partner. As of this morning, 209 Western companies have completely withdrawn from the Russian market and ceased cooperation with Russian partners. Another 378 partly limited their work. We are dissatisfied with this, we know these companies, we know their maneuvers, tricks, and attempts to remain in the Russian market in one form or another, so we will be pressing them," Kuleba said.

16:50 The Ukrainian Ground Forces posted footage of a new captured Russia’s radar station and communication center.

"A wonderful gift on the occasion of the Ukrainian Military Volunteer Day. The Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine captured Russia’s radar station and communication center. Now we will track the enemy at a distance of 150 km. Glory to Ukraine!”

16:40 Luhansk Regional Military Administration Head Serhii Haidai: Mobile network down in part of Luhansk region.

The mobile network is out of service in a part of Luhansk region due to the deliberate interference by Russian invaders.

“A part of Luhansk region has lost its mobile network. Russians did that. We are working to address the issue,” the official wrote on Telegram.

He asked locals who still had electricity and access to the Internet to remove Wi-Fi passwords so that others could log in and get in touch with their loved ones.

"Be patient! The orcs will retreat! Temporarily occupied territories, do not believe the Russians, do not serve them, do not betray Ukraine! Hold on! Let’s help each other!” emphasized Haidai.

16:30 The National Guard of Ukraine: The battle for Ukrainian Mariupol continues, despite the fact that the city is being sieged.

For the past 24 hours soldiers the Azov Special Operations Detachment have destroyed Russia’s MRAP “Typhoon”, 4 armored personnel carriers, 2 LMVs “Lynx”. In addition to that, a lot of infantry were eliminated, including 17 Russian GRU Armed Forces personnel.

16:10 The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky: While invaders are on our soil, we must beat them as best we can.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Ukrainian people to beat and chase away the Russian invaders, defend every inch of Ukrainian land, and support each other.

The statement came in his latest video address to the nation.

“Now that the invaders are still on our soil, we must beat them as best we can. Chase them away as best we can. Defend the cities. Defend the villages. Defend every meter of our land and every part of our heart. Ukrainian heart. Ukrainian soul. Help each other! Support each other! Keep up the defense! Defend the state!" urged the president.

He noted that Russian troops continue to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure, attack our cities in the regions of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, in the south and east.

15:50 Energoatom: Russians blow up part of munition stocks at Zaporizhia NPP.

The Russian forces blew up part of their munition stocks on the site of the seized Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant.

That’s according to NNEGC Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator:

"Russicst idiots blew up part of the ammunition at the site of the Zaporizhia NPP near the ruins of the training center and Power Unit 1. And they plan to continue carrying out detonations at the largest nuclear facility in Europe," Energoatom said.

It is noted that before the explosions went off, the staff left their working places.

"What other terror attacks are needed for resolute action by partners, including the IAEA?" the operator added.

As previously reported, Energoatom had warned of the invaders' intentions to blow up ammunition at the Zaporizhia NPP.

15:20 The Guardian: Squatters occupy Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion.

In a message to Russian oligarchs, the squatters said: “You occupy Ukraine, we occupy you.”

The squatters said they were invoking the spirit of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary. They said they would not leave the property willingly and planned to barricade themselves in if police or bailiffs try to remove them. In a statement sent to the Guardian, the squatters said the invasion of Ukraine was the latest in a long line of human rights abuses by Putin’s government, including the bombing of Syria and mistreatment of LGBT people.

15:10 The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents state awards to 247 service members.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented state awards to almost 247 Ukrainian service members, 26 of them posthumously.

The decree to that effect, No. 131/2022, has been published on the website of the head of state.

According to the report, the awards were given "for personal courage and selfless actions shown in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath."

The president awarded the defenders with the orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, "For Courage", Danylo Halytsky orders and medals "For Military Service to Ukraine", "For Impeccable Service", "Defender of the Fatherland."

15.00 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Enemy set up camps for mercenaries from Syria in Rostov, Gomel regions.

The enemy has set up camps to accommodate and train mercenaries from Syria near the Ukrainian border in Rostov (Russia) and Gomel (Belarus) regions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this on Facebook – Ukrinform reports.

Russian troops, following the criminal orders of the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation, continue the offensive operation against Ukraine. However, to date, the main tasks of defeating groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reaching the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and establishing control over the left bank of Ukraine have not been fulfilled.

Russian invaders continue to accumulate reserves on their territory to wage war against Ukraine. They are forming detachments of mercenaries who are ready to carry out the criminal orders of Russian commanders for a reward. According to available information, mercenary recruitment centers were opened in Syria, where more than a thousand people have been recruited in recent days, and about 400 people have already arrived in Russia. Camps for their accommodation and training have been set up near the Ukrainian border in Rostov (Russia) and Gomel (Belarus) regions.

14:55 The Land Forces of Ukraine: Russian invaders ambushed by Ukrainian military.

Units of the Ukrainian Land Forces have ambushed Russian forces, destroying another batch of enemy equipment and seizing ammunition. The press service of the Land Forces of Ukraine posted this on Telegram:

14:50 The Minister of Foreign Affairs or Moldova Nicu Popescu: Most Ukrainian refugees flee to Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania.

Over 1.6 million Ukrainians crossed the Polish border as of March 11, according to the UN refugee agency. More than 195,000 fled to Slovakia, 173,000 left for Romania, and over 24,000 Ukrainians have entered Hungary. Outside of the EU zone, over 328,000 refugees have arrived in Moldova.

With more than 1.6 million Ukrainians crossing into its territory as of Friday, according to UNHCR data, Poland has received by far the most refugees.

Nations directly to the west and south of Ukraine have also accepted large numbers of refugees. Since the invasion, more than 245,000 Ukrainians have entered Hungary, while over 195,000 have fled to Slovakia, according to UNHCR data Friday.

14.45 Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne: Australia, Netherlands initiate MH17 legal proceedings in international civil aviation body initiated after Moscow's refusal to resolve issue via talks.

Australia and the Netherlands are initiating legal proceedings against Russia for the 2014 downing of the passenger plane MH17, - it was announced in Canberra on Monday, March, 13.

"We have initiated the legal proceedings against the Russian Federation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to the downing the Malaysian airline in 2014," said Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Addressing a news conference with Attorney General Michaelia Cash, Payne said the decision was taken after Russia refused to negotiate on the matter.

She added that Moscow has so far refused to acknowledge and take responsibility for the incident.

"Today's joint action by Australia and the Netherlands is a major step forward in both countries' fight for truth, justice and accountability for this horrific act of violence, which claimed the lives of 298 victims, 38 of whom called Australia home" she added.

Payne accused Moscow of withdrawing from talks with Australia and the Netherlands in October 2020 and refusing to return despite repeated requests by the two countries.

"Today's joint action under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation is in addition to the Dutch national prosecution of four suspects for their individual criminal responsibility in the downing of Flight MH17," she explained.

Attorney General Cash said Moscow violated international law, citing a joint investigation with other partners that she said showed Russia was responsible for the passenger airline's downing.

"We call upon on the ICAO to hold Russia accountable for its crimes as Russia clearly serious breached the Chicago convention," she said.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by russia's forces over eastern part of Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

All the 298 people on board were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens. Multiple investigations showed that the plane was shot down with a Buk surface-to-air missile system from 53rd anti-aircraft brigade of the Russian armed forces, fired from a field in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists at the time.

14:30 Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense posted short video shows russia's murderous "truth" trying to conceal objective information by committing international crimes, including the bombing of TV towers, the murder and abduction of journalists in Ukraine.

14.15 Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 77 enemy aircraft, 90 helicopters

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny: The air defense units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already destroyed 77 planes and 90 helicopters of Russian invaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny said this on Facebook – Ukrinform reports.

"The guards of the Ukrainian sky destroyed 77 planes and 90 helicopters of the enemy. The air defense system, which they said did not exist, saves thousands of peaceful lives every day and night. Since the beginning of the open war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as of the morning of March 14, 259 missile strikes have been carried out on our territory, and 395 cruise missiles have been fired. Those who came to us with a sword will die from the sword," Zaluzhny said, adding that more than one "ghost" is hunting for enemies.

On March 13, Zaluzhny stated on Facebook that Ukraine had shattered the myth of the "invincibility" of the Russian army. The enemy suffers serious losses in military personnel and equipment.

13:30 Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko: One killed, six injured as remnants of rocket fall in Kyiv.

One person was killed and six others were injured after the remnants of a rocket fell on a road in Kyiv's Kurenivka district.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said this on Telegram, - Ukrinform reports.

"The enemy attacked Kyiv today. Early in the morning, a shell hit a nine-storey residential building in Obolon. According to updated data, one person died and ten were injured. About 70 residents were evacuated from the house," he said.

According to Klitschko, just recently the debris of a rocket fell on a road in Kurenivka. One person was killed and six were injured. An ambulance hospitalized two persons.

"The trolleybus, which was without passengers, was completely destroyed. The windows were blown out, the balconies of the surrounding houses and commercial premises on the ground floors were damaged. Rescuers and ambulance crews are working on the spot," he said.

11:45 Ukrainian general prosecutor’s office: Ninety children have been killed and more than 100 wounded in Ukraine since Russia invaded on 24 February.

“The highest number of victims are in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolayiv and Zhytomyr regions,” – said Ukraine’s general prosecutor’s office in a statement.

As of March 14, 2022, a total of 90 children were killed and more than 100 children were wounded in Ukraine due to the Russian armed aggression. Most casualties were recorded in Kyiv Region, Kharkiv Region, Donetsk Region, Chernihiv Region, Sumy Region, Kherson Region, Mykolaiv Region and Zhytomyr Region.

Yesterday two children were killed and two more children were wounded in Russia’s shelling on civil infrastructure facilities in Mykolaiv Region.

Due to bombardments and shelling, 379 educational institutions were damaged, and 59 of them were destroyed completely. Most destructions were reported in Donetsk Region (119 educational institutions), Mykolaiv Region (30), Sumy Region (28), Kyiv Region (35), Kherson Region (21) and the city of Kyiv (24).

The final data are yet to be reported, as it is impossible to inspect certain areas, where active hostilities are underway.

11:15 Mayor of Kramatorsk: Oleksandr Honcharenko At least two people killed in Russia’s missile strike on Kramatorsk

The Russian military have launched a missile strike on the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk Region, killing at least two people.

The relevant statement was made by Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko on Facebook, - Ukrinform reports.

“The missile strike has hit Kramatorsk. According to the preliminary data, two people were killed,” Honcharenko wrote, posting a photo from the scene.

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile strikes on residential areas, killing civilians in Ukraine.

10:43 Support Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units destroy four enemy jets, three helicopters and one UAV

The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units have hit four enemy aircrafts, three helicopters and one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the past day.

The relevant statement was made by the Support Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, - Ukrinform reports.

Within one of strategic directions in Kyiv Region, a group of Su-35, Su-34 and Su-25 enemy aircrafts were attempting to launch missile and air strikes on the redoubts of Ukrainian defenders. While the fighter aircrafts of the Ukrainian Air Forces were conducting a positional air confrontation with the superior occupation forces, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units launched surface-to-air missiles on enemy air targets.

According to the preliminary data, three missiles hit enemy targets. In addition, three Russian helicopters and one UAV were also destroyed.

There is also good news from the Operational Command “North”, whose anti-aircraft defense units have hit one more enemy aircraft.

10:12 Pavlo Kuzmenko, Mayor of Okhtyrka: "Okhtyrka – its residential neighbourhood, residential houses – was bombed at night. At least 3 people died, others have not been found yet. Behind me, houses are burning. Unfortunately, we do not yet have any air defences – the whole country does not yet have such defences. People around the world are asking: defend the sky, close the sky over Ukraine. Those pilots who are bombing the town of Okhtyrka have to understand that they are killing civilians, and their children – the children of those bastard pilots, will burn in hell."

09:53 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has posted the new summary of total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 14.03. Find them in an infographics by Defense Express:

So far, the list of enemy's combat losses is the following:

Personnel - more 12 000,

Tanks ‒ 389 units,

APV ‒ 1249 units,

Artillery systems – 150 units,

MLRS – 64 units,

Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 34 units,

Aircraft – 77 units,

Helicopters – 90 units,

Vehicles - 617 units,

Boats / cutters - 3 units,

Fuel tanks - 60,

UAV operational-tactical level - 8.

Data are being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.

09:10 Kyiv City State Administration: The Antonov aircraft plant in Kyiv has been shelled by Russian forces, on Monday, March 14.

09:07 State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Nikolaev region: on March 14 at 06:00 as a result of a russian military air attack on Snigurovka five apartment houses on Zhovtneva street are damaged. Rescuers released six people from the rubble. One person died.

08:06 Ministry of defense of Ukraine: During the previous day, four aircraft, three helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (type is being clarified) were destroyed by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukrain.

07:44 Adviser to the Minister of Interior Anton Gerashchenko: An artillery shell hit a nine-story building in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi district, with no casualties.

07:37 United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Ruth Sherman in interview for the Fox News"There are two objectives that we have. One is to support Ukraine in every way we can and indeed since the Biden administration began, we have put $1.2 billion forward in security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against this horrible attack. And the second is to put enormous pressure on Vladimir Putin to try to change his calculus, to end this war, to get a cease-fire in the first instance, to get humanitarian corridors, and to end this invasion.

That pressure is beginning to have some effect. We are seeing some signs of a willingness to have real serious negotiations, but I have to say so far, it appears that Vladimir Putin is intent on destroying Ukraine. We need to help Ukrainians in every way we can".

07:12 The State Emergency Service of Ukraine: On March 14 at 02:40, as a result of a missile strike on administrative buildings in the Stavyshche, Zhytomyr region, 4 people were injured and 7 buildings were destroyed.

06:55 Vitaliy Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration: As a result of the air strike, the TV tower in Rivne region was damaged. Relevant services are working on the spot. Details are being clarified.

06:00 The Australian Government announces fresh sanctions on 33 Russian oligarchs, prominent businesspeople, and their immediate family members.

They include Roman Abramovich, Chelsea Football Club owner, Alexey Miller the CEO of Gazprom, Dmitri Lebedev Chairman of Rossiya, Sergey Chemezov Chair of Rostec, Nikolay Tokarev CEO of Transneft, Igor Shuvalov Chairman Vnesheconombank (VEB.RF) and Kirill Dmitriev CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

We strongly support recent announcements by Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of further restrictive measures against key Russian individuals.

04:55 Mariupol City Council: 2187 Mariupol residents died from Russian attacks. The occupiers dropped about 100 bombs on Mariupol, according to the city council. In at least 24 hours, the aggressor bombed a peaceful city 22 times. The occupiers are cynically and purposefully beating residential buildings, crowded places, ruining children's hospitals and completely destroying the city's infrastructure.

04:30 Oleksiy Danilov, NSDC Secretary: The Russians are planning to land troops on the territory of Odessa and the Odessa region, but the Ukrainian military is ready to respond to this.

According to Danilov, the Russians will not be able to easily walk around the Odessa region, as they once planned to walk along Khreshchatyk.

“We understand what is happening there, and the situation there is under control. There is someone there to meet them. The way they were met in the Chernihiv, Kyiv region,” the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council emphasized.

03:13 Vitaliy Kim, Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration: In Melitopol, the Ukrainian Army has defeated and surrounded a Russian convoy consisting of 200 units of armored hardware.

"200 units of hardware in Melitopol, destroyed and surrounded – this is the best gift! Glory to the Armed Forces," wrote Kim.

Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Anton Gerashchenko, confirmed that the Russian convoy, along with the command headquarters set to attack Melitopol, had been destroyed by Ukrainian artillery outside Vasylivka, Zaporizhia region.

02:30 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky: The task of the Ukrainian delegation in the talks with Russian officials is to do everything possible to ensure that the Ukrainian and Russian presidents meet. This was stated by Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address to the nation.

"Now about the negotiations with the Russian Federation. Representatives of our countries’ delegations speak in video format every day. Our delegation has a clear task - to do everything to ensure a meeting of the presidents. The meeting that I am sure people are waiting for," Zelensky said.

He noted that such a meeting is "a difficult story," a difficult but necessary path."

And our goal is for Ukraine to get the necessary result in this struggle, in this negotiation work. Necessary for peace. And for security. So that we have guarantees - normal, effective. NOT like the Budapest ones and not like in our sky. So that Ukrainians could say: this is what works. These are the guarantees. It is necessary to talk," the president stressed.

01.15 US officials: Russia has asked China for military equipment since the start of the invasion

US officials say Russia has requested military equipment from China since the start of the invasion, - The Guardian repors citing Financial Times. This has sparked fears in the White House that China may decide to help Russia and undermine western efforts to aid Ukraine.

Another person told the FT that the US was “preparing to warn allies about the situation amid some indications that China may be preparing to help Russia”.

“Other US officials have also said there were signs that Russia was running out of some kinds of weaponry as the war in Ukraine approaches the start of its third week,” the FT report said.

In response to reports that Russia is seeking military equipment and other support from China, the Chinese embassy in the US said the priority right now is to ensure the situation does not escalate or get out of control, according to Reuters.

“The current situation in Ukraine is indeed disconcerting,” spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement.

Reuters is also reporting that China’s US embassy spokesperson said “I’ve never heard of that,” when asked about the request for military equipment from Russia.

00.42 US secretary of state Antony Blinken condemns recent Russian attack

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the US condemns Russia’s attack on the International Center of Peacekeeping and Security. The attack brought the fighting close to the Polish border and resulted in the death of 35 people.

We condemn the Russian Federation’s missile attack on the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Yavoriv, close to Ukraine’s border with Poland. The brutality must stop.— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 13, 2022

“The attack so close to a NATO member-country raised the spectre that the alliance could be drawn into the fight and was heavy with symbolism in a conflict that has revived old Cold War rivalries and threatened to rewrite the current global security order,” the AP wrote.

00.10 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Operational information on 24.00, 13.03.2022 regarding the russian invasion to Ukraine.

The eighteenth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion is coming to an end.

russian occupation forces continue the offensive operation against our state. They are trying to gain a foothold in the occupied positions and maintain the pace of the offensive in certain areas.

In order to increase the number of groups in the Polissya, Tavriya and Pivdennobuzhsky operational areas, the enemy is forming and moving strategic reserves to our borders.

There have been cases of mass refusals by russian servicemen to "travel to Ukraine" to take part in hostilities, despite promises of "war veteran" status, additional daily allowances and higher salaries.

Ignoring the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the russian occupiers continue to destroy stationary military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Thus, on March 13, missile strikes were carried out on objects in the settlements of Uman, Ivano-Frankivsk, Starychi with the use of strategic aircraft.

In addition, the launch of mobile short range ballistic missile system "Iskander" (SS-26 Stone) from the territory of Belarus continues.

In the Volyn direction, the enemy carried out demonstration operations by units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus along the State Border of Ukraine.

In the Polissya direction, units of the occupying forces carried out measures to restore combat capability and regroup troops, and improved logistics. In order to exclude the suddenness of actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy is actively conducting reconnaissance.

In the Northern direction, the enemy focused on regrouping, replenishing supplies, preparing to resume the offensive in the direction of Brovary.

In the Slobozhansky direction, the enemy is trying to gain a foothold on the achieved frontiers, regrouping troops and trying to resume offensive operations on the cities of Kharkiv and Sumy.

In the Izyum direction, as a result of active offensive actions of Ukrainian defenders, the enemy suffered losses in the area of the settlements of Topolske, Shpakivka, Donetsk and retreated.

In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, enemy units are trying to carry out assault operations, concentrating their main efforts on advancing in the direction of Severodonetsk.

Attempts to capture Mariupol remain unsuccessful.

In the South Bug direction, the enemy is trying to conduct raids and gain a foothold on the achieved frontiers.

Background:

February, 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine. A number of cities of Ukraine suffered a missile attack. Missiles hit several military facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro cities. In a few hours, martial law was imposed in Ukraine.

The war lasts for two weeks now. An impressive rundown of the first days of war was provided by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Here is an excerpt from his address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom:

"13 days of our defense.

On the first day at 4 am, cruise missiles were fired at us. So that everyone woke up - we, the children, all of us, living people, all of Ukraine. And we haven't slept since. We all took up arms becoming a large army.

The next day we fought off attacks in the air, on land and at sea. And our heroic border guards on Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea told everyone about the end of the war. Namely: where the enemy will go in the end. When a Russian ship demanded that our guys lay down their weapons, they answered him... As firmly as one cannot say in the parliament. And we felt the power. Great power of our people who will persecute the invader to the end.

On the third day, Russian troops openly fired at people and apartment buildings without hiding. Used artillery, air bombs. And it finally showed us, showed the world who is who. Who are great people and who are just savages.

On the fourth day, when we have already begun to take dozens of prisoners, we have not lost our dignity. We didn’t abuse them. We treat them like people. Because we remained human on the fourth day of this shameful war.

On the fifth day, the terror against us has already become outright. Against cities, against small towns. Ruined districts. Bombs, bombs, bombs, again bombs on houses, on schools, on hospitals. This is genocide. Which did not break us. It mobilized each and every one of us. And it gave us a sense of great truth.

On the sixth day, Russian missiles hit Babyn Yar. This is the place where the Nazis executed 100,000 people during World War II. 80 years later, Russia killed them for a second time.

On the seventh day, we realized they were destroying even the churches. Using bombs! Rockets again. They do not know the holy and great as we know.

On the eighth day, the world saw Russian tanks firing at a nuclear power plant. The largest in Europe. And the world began to understand that this is terror against all. This is a great terror.

On the ninth day, we listened to a meeting of NATO countries. Without the desired result for us. Without courage. That's how we felt - I don't want to offend anyone - we felt that alliances don't work. They can't even close the sky. That is why security guarantees in Europe must be built from scratch.

On the tenth day, unarmed Ukrainians protested everywhere in the occupied cities. Stopping armored vehicles with bare hands. We have become unbreakable.

On the eleventh day, when residential areas were already bombed, when everything was destroyed by explosions, when children were evacuated from a damaged children's oncology hospital... We realized: Ukrainians became heroes. Hundreds of thousands of people. Entire cities. Children, adults - all.

On the twelfth day, when the losses of the Russian army have already exceeded 10,000 killed, the general also appeared in this number. And this gave us confidence: for all crimes, for all shameful orders, there will still be responsibility before the International Court or Ukrainian weapons.

On the thirteenth day, a child died in Russian-occupied Mariupol. Died of dehydration. They do not allow food or water to people. They just blocked it - and people are in the basements. I think everyone hears: people don't have water there!"

The full address is available here.

Key points regarding the current state of warfare:

• Ukraine managed to establish the defense, Russian offense has stalled
• Belarus provides its lands to Russian troops and equipment; still hasn't joined the war directly
• Russia uses terroristic methods of war, shelling civilian facilities where there are no military facilities nearby, keeping cities in a full blockade, and sabotaging humanitarian corridors
• Humanitarian corridors: despite repetitive violations of ceasefire and shelling of evacuation transport, some of the humanitarian corridors work. According to the latest report, almost 13 thousand civilians were evacuated from hot spots of military action, mostly from the Kyiv region
• Russian army targets nuclear power plants; Chernobyl NPP and Zaporizhzhia NPP are seized by occupiers; military activities by Russian forces near power plant was described by Ukraine as nuclear terrorism
• Ukraine urges NATO to close the sky over Ukraine or at least provide air defense equipment
• Ukraine appealed for EU membership via an accelerated procedure. The EU Council summit concluded that such a fast-track application process is impossible, yet they stated that "Ukraine belongs to the European Union"
• Ukrainian citizens in the occupied cities rally against Russians; thousands of civilian volunteers join the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; the fighting has become a national struggle for survival
• Ukraine has had three rounds of negotiations with Russia; still, no significant progress towards ceasefire and peace, the main question, for now, is establishing humanitarian corridors for the supply of aid and evacuation of civilians

Read more: Day 18th of Ukraine's Defense Against Russian Invasion

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