Brief facts:
- Belarussian railroad workers spotted the deployment of military vehicles in direction to the border with Ukraine
- US President Biden has said that Russia’s possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine is a "real threat"
- Belarus has expelled most of Ukrainian diplomats
- Russian propaganda media accused Ukraine of attacking a few settlements in Belgorod region, Russia; Ukraine warned of another possible "false flag" provocation
Sources:
- Verkhovna Rada: the parliament of Ukraine and its social media (Facebook, Telegram)
- President Zelenskyy: the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his social media (Twitter, 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
- 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)
- Defense intelligence of Ukraine: the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (website, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
Latest news:
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Read more: Ukrainian Stugna vs U.S. Javelin – Longer Firing Range, Lesser Vulnerability to Detection by Enemy Sensors
23:54 US Department of State: the US government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. It was announced by the Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. He said, the assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources, and expressed the commitment to keep tracking the reports of war crimes, share the information about them and pursue accountability "using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions."
"Many of the sites Russia’s forces have hit have been clearly identifiable as in-use by civilians. This includes the Mariupol maternity hospital, as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressly noted in a March 11 report. It also includes a strike that hit a Mariupol theater, clearly marked with the word “дети” – Russian for “children” – in huge letters visible from the sky," Blinken specified.
23:31 Presidential Office: Ukraine hopes to soon return the captured Ukrainian soldiers from the Zmiinyi Island, exchanging them for Russian sailors, Iryna Vereshchuk said in an interview to "Suspilne" media.
"We have sailors, by the way, we have saved 11 sailors and are ready to give them back, just give our people back," Deputy Prime Minister Vereshchuk said.
There still is a problem, she noted. As it turned out, in addition to the 13 border guards, that were on the island when it was attacked, there are more people, 92 people in total. The official expressed hope to rescue them as soon as possible.
23:07 The Pentagon reports a breakdown in some units stemming from logistics and sustainment issues. This is one of the reasons why Russian troops are suffering low morale that could affect the outcome of the battle, according to the Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.
"We continue to see indications that the Russians did not properly plan for logistics and sustainment," Kirby said. "We know that they continue to have fuel issues across their force, and that they're still struggling with food," the official said during a news conference on March 22.
Kirby also noted the importance of morale for military effectiveness and cohesion. He noted that the Russians struggle with that, which "absolutely translates into potential military effectiveness issues." Thus, Ukrainian resistance exacerbates the Russian problems. Kirby said there are indications that Ukrainian forces are retaking some territory the Russians initially took.
According to the Pentagon, earlier in the day, one of the officials said on background that Russian forces in Ukraine are suffering cases of frostbite, which any US military leader would say is a symbol of a breakdown in unit morale and unit cohesion.
Another reason for frustration is the lack of progress of the invasion. After 27 days (as of March 22), Russian forces have expended a lot of munitions, and thrown a lot of forces into the fight, but still, they have not achieved any of the strategic objectives they set out to achieve.
22:28 Support Force Command: Ukrainian Armed Forced have seized an electronic warfare station of Russian occupiers.
Today, on March 23, the Ukrainian military have captured one of the most powerful electronic warfare systems of the Russian army, the "Krasukha-4" station. It is capable to detect and jam various radars in up to 300 km range.
"Now the installation will work in the right direction," the Support Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook.
General Staff: the Ukrainian Deminers Association has made a map depicting data on the total area of the potentially dangerous territory of Ukraine, which may contain explosives devices, as a result of the large-scale invasion of Russia.
The UDA: as of today, the need for humanitarian demining, in particular for non-technical surveys (IMAS 08.10), already amounts to at least 82,525 sq km of Ukraine's territory.
Taking into account the practical experience of humanitarian demining in Donbas in recent years, it can be estimated that Russia has already caused about $250 billion in mine action expenses to Ukraine. At least this much Ukraine will need for the humanitarian demining of all our lands, including the temporarily occupied ones.
Kharkiv city Council: since the beginning of the invasion, Russians have destroyed 1143 infrastructure objects in Kharkiv, 998 of them are residential buildings. It was reported by the Mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov.
21:24 Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov: Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has visited Kyiv today. He is the first foreign minister of defense to have come to the Ukrainian capital since February 24. The two ministers discussed the defense of Kyiv and Ukraine.
"The visit of my Lithuanian colleague is not just a gesture of support. We have very substantial assistance from Lithuania. Recall, it was the official Vilnius first to give us a shipment of Stinger [air defense missiles]. Even before the full-scale invasion. And this batch is being used for its intended purpose," Reznikov wrote on Facebook.
20:53 Ukraine NOW: Russian troops have stolen the last ambulance of a local hospital in the temporarily occupied Trostianets city of Sumy region. Now local women are forced to give birth at home. On top of that, the occupiers made several strikes at the hospital itself.
20:35 Center for Countering Disinformation: Russia has activated the military provocation plan.
As Russian propaganda media claim, a State of Emergency was implemented in a few villages in the Belgorod region due to the "explosions of shells that came from Ukraine's direction." According to these sources, there are "injured people that are receiving treatment."
The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine recalled that such provocations attempts had been spotted previously. In the situation of a complete failure of military operation in Ukraine, Russia is plotting the deliberate shelling of its own cities to justify a military mobilization. Such a "false flag" operation is meant to create a pretext for imposing martial law and starting a large-scale mobilization of civilians to the Russian army.
The Center warned that provocations of this kind could result in many casualties among civilians for maximum impact.
20:15 Mariupol city Council: Russians fired on the Kuindzhi Art Museum, where the originals of world-famous artists were kept. The building of the museum was destroyed. The works of Arkhip Kuindzhi himself had been removed before the that happened. Still, there were many artworks of other Ukrainian artists kept in there: the originals by Ivan Aivazovsky, Mykola Hlushchenko, Tetyana Yablonska and more. "The fate of these is currently unknown," the city council wrote on Telegram.
The museum fund consisted of about 2,000 works in total.
20:04 Reuters media: Sweden to provide Ukraine with 5,000 more anti-tank weapons. The new military aid provision was mentioned by the Swedish Defense Minister, Reuters reports referring to the TT news agency.
Sweden has already sent 5,000 anti-tank weapons earlier, along with other military materiel to Ukraine.
19:42 The Wall Street Journal: US President Biden will announce a new package of sanctions on more than 300 deputies of the Russian parliament. The new sanctions are to be officially announced this Thursday following Biden's meeting with the EU and NATO members in Brussels. This is what US officials told the Wall Street Journal.
The coming sanctions package will target 400 individuals, including 328 lawmakers and Russian elites.
The sanctions will be announced in coordination with the European Union and members of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, the US officials said. One source also noted, that planned sanctions packages frequently are postponed, reworked or narrowed before being finalized and published.
18:35 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted the Operational information as of 18.00 23.03.2022 regarding the russian invasion:
The defense forces continue their defensive operation against the russian invaders, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.
russia, having disrupted all terms of the offensive operation, continues to consider the possibility of encircling certain groups of troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to issue further ultimatums during the negotiation process. At the same time, the russian occupiers, in violation of international humanitarian law, do not stop artillery fire, missile and air strikes for deliberate destruction of urban infrastructure, and chaotic mining and destruction of agricultural machinery threatens the beginning of the sowing campaign in some regions of Ukraine.
In Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna and the Tavriya direction, the enemy's actions did not change.
In the Slobozhansky direction, in the city of Vovchansk, the occupiers, demonstrating a kind of "humanitarian mission" of the russian federation, organized a demonstration of so-called "humanitarian aid" to local residents under the personal signature and passport of a citizen of Ukraine.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhia region, the enemy, due to problems with logistics, is trying to replenish fuel reserves by seizing it from the civilian population and farmers.
Ukraine's defense forces continue to defend Ukraine both on the ground and in the air, gradually liberating it from the russian occupiers.
17:45 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to the French Parliament, said that Ukraine expects leadership from the French state and politicians, which will lead Russia to seek peace.
"We are grateful to France for the help. We are grateful for the efforts of President [Emmanuel] Macron, who has shown real leadership. We are constantly communicating with him, coordinating some of our steps. Ukrainians see that France also values freedom, as it has always been. And you protect it. You remember what freedom, equality and fraternity are. Each of these words is filled with power for you. Therefore, we expect from you, from France, from your leadership, that you can make Russia look for peace, to end this war against freedom, against equality, against brotherhood, against everything that made Europe united," Zelensky said.
He said the Ukrainians expect the French leadership to restore territorial integrity and adopt "a long overdue historic decision on Ukraine's full membership in the EU."
"If among those present there are those who doubt, then your people are already confident, like all other peoples of Europe," the president said.
Zelensky also asked the French Parliament for more help and support for Ukraine.
"We need a lot of help and support so that freedom does not lose. It must be well armed: tanks, anti-tank weapons, aviation, air defense. We need all this. You can help us. I know you can. So that freedom does not lose. Peace should support it with sanctions against the aggressor. Every week a new package of sanctions. French companies should leave the Russian market, Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin and others, should stop being sponsors for the Russian military machine. Human values are more expensive, than profit on blood," the head of state said.
17:10 U.S. President Joe Biden has said that Russia’s possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine is a "real threat". He said this on Wednesday, before boarding the presidential helicopter, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.
“I think it’s a real threat,” Biden said, when asked by reporters about a threat of chemical attack.
As Ukrinform reported, the permanent representatives of the United States, Albania, France, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the United Nations issued a joint statement exposing Moscow in lies regarding the development of "biological weapons" in Ukraine.
15:50 Mayor of Irpin Oleksandr Markushyn wrote this on Telegram: On March 22, Russian troops used phosphorus munitions in their attack on the town of Irpin, Kyiv region.
“Late in the evening on March 22, the Russian invaders used banned phosphorus munitions over the northwestern outskirts of Kyiv. The approximate area of destruction is Hostomel-Irpin," he wrote.
Markushyn stressed that the use of such weapons against civilians is a crime against humanity and a violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
15:27 Vladyslav Nazarov, Officer of the Operational Command "South": Missile attacks from enemy ships on the Odesa coast do not hit their targets and are intended primarily to intimidate residents.
"The enemy fired five missiles from the Black Sea, but none of them hit the target," he posted on Telegram.
According to him, as of March 23, the situation in Odesa is stable and under control, the enemy continues to exert psychological pressure on the civilian population of the region, shelling the coastal strip. Ukraine’s air defense system and other units of the Armed Forces take measures to prevent enemy naval landings.
14:45 The Belarusian Foreign Ministry: The Belarusian authorities have decided to expel some Ukrainian diplomats and close the Consulate General of Ukraine in Brest.
"The Ukrainian embassy will continue to work in Belarus in the 1+4 format, that is, the ambassador and four employees," the BelTA state agency reports with reference to press secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Anatoly Glaz.
Earlier, Minsk said that eight out of 19 employees of the Ukrainian embassy were "cadre members of the national intelligence services."
Ukraine will not leave unanswered the reduction of the staff of the Ukrainian embassy in Minsk and the closure of the consulate of Ukraine in Brest, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) Oleh Nikolenko has said.
"We consider such actions of Belarus as another unprovoked unfriendly step towards Ukraine. Ukraine will not leave Belarus's actions without a proper response, which we will report additionally," Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.
14:00 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted the Operational information as of 12.00 23.03.2022 regarding the russian invasion:
The group of defense forces continues to conduct a defense operation in certain areas.
No active actions of the enemy were detected in the Volyn direction. The return of some units of the republic of belarus to permanent locations is partially confirmed. At the same time, the Lukashenko regime continues to maintain a significant group of troops near Ukraine's state border.
In Polissya, the occupiers are trying to gain a foothold on the achieved frontiers, regrouping after the losses. The invaders tried to advance into the area of the settlement of Teterivske, however, due to limited forces, they were unsuccessful and were forced to withdraw. Air reconnaissance is underway, air defense equipment is being built up and approaches to the positions of their troops are being mined.
In the Sivershchyna, due to an unsuccessful attempt to blockade Chernihiv, the enemy is trying to recover from significant losses and organize logistical support for its units. In the Brovary direction, the occupiers are continuing engineering work, mining the infrastructure and civilian objects. The enemy continues to hold checkpoints on the routes of logistics in the areas of settlements Novy Bykiv, Losynivka, Velyka Doroha, Monastyryshche, Berestovets, Prokhori, Talalaivka, Makeyevka.
In the Slobozhansky direction, units of the russian occupiers are concentrating their efforts on blocking the cities of Kharkiv and Sumy and restoring the loss of personnel.
As a result of the fighting in the Izyum direction, the Ukrainian defense forces destroyed up to 60 percent of the personnel and military equipment of the occupation units.
In the Donetsk direction, the aim of the armed forces of the russian federation remains to establish control over Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Popasna, Verkhnotoretske, Mariinka and Mariupol. The enemy is unsuccessful, incurs losses, tries to increase the group by transferring additional forces to the Izvarino area and carrying out the forced mobilization of the civilian population of the so-called "republics" in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas.
No significant changes were detected in the Tavriya direction. In the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in the area of Dzhankoi, the arrival and concentration of personnel and military equipment of the armed forces of the russian federation was recorded.
In the South Buh direction, the enemy is not taking active action, strengthening the engineering equipment of the positions.
The enemy is demoralized, has significant losses and significant problems with their replenishment, as well as logistics.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine in some areas are conducting a stabilization operation, restraining the advance of the enemy, in some areas forcing the enemy to withdraw.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues to cover ground forces and important infrastructure facilities, repel concentrated air strikes by the enemy.
13:25 The Ministers of Transport of the Baltic States and Poland called on the EU to ban the transport of goods by road to Russia and Belarus, as well as the transport of goods from these countries.
According to Lithuanian Minister of Transport Marius Skuodis, the appeal also calls on EU countries to ban Russian and Belarusian ships from entering ports throughout the EU.
"Today, I signed a joint appeal by three Ministers of Transport of the Baltic States and Poland to the EU authorities and other colleagues calling for a pan-European ban on road transport to / from Russia and Belarus, while prohibiting ships from entering EU ports," Skuodis said on social networks.
"EU action is needed here and now. We hope that the heads of state and government of the EU, who met in Brussels on Thursday, will not hesitate," Skuodis added.
Earlier, activists in Lithuania and Poland protested against the transport of goods by road between the EU countries and Russia. Lithuania is coordinating with other countries in the region an initiative to ban Russian and Belarusian ships from entering their ports. However, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said it would be better to take a decision as a whole in the EU, as this would close the possibility of legal disputes.
12:48 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky address to the Parliament of Japan:
"Russia has used more than a thousand missiles and a countless number of air bombs against the peaceful cities of Ukraine. Russian troops have destroyed dozens of our cities, and some of them have been burnt to ashes," he said.
Zelensky stressed that in many cities and villages that came under Russian occupation, people cannot even bury the dead, they have to bury them directly in the yards of destroyed houses.
According to the head of state, Russian invaders have already killed thousands of Ukrainians, including 121 children.
He also noted that about nine million Ukrainians had been forced to flee their homes, escaping Russian troops.
"Our northern, eastern and southern territories are being emptied because people are fleeing this deadly threat. Russia has even blocked the sea for us, the usual trade routes, showing some other potential aggressors of the world how to put pressure on free peoples by blocking navigation," Zelensky added.
12:00 The Operational Command North: Territorial defense forces destroy invaders' “Tigr” vehicle in Chernihiv region.
Territorial defense forces have destroyed a Russian Tigr special purpose armored vehicle in the Chernihiv region.
"It is not by accident that the Chernihiv region is called the land of partisan glory, because people are defending their land together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The resistance forces of Sivershchyna and local patriots managed to destroy a Russian “Tigr”. Enemy losses are being specified," the statement said.
11:55 The President of Poland Andrzej Duda: Russia-NATO founding act no longer in force.
The Russia-NATO Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security concluded in Paris in 1997, has ceased to exist, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said.
"It must be loudly said that the Russia-NATO act has ceased to exist... Russia has shown that it does not consider itself bound by it. NATO must also stop mentioning the 1997 act, its provisions and any obligations arising from it," Duda said during a briefing in Bucharest on Tuesday.
11:30 Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Synehubov: Russian forces shell Kharkiv 32 times.
Over the past 24 hours, Kharkiv was shelled 32 times, as a result of which the Northern Saltivka area suffered the most, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Synehubov has said.
"The invaders lost the war for Kharkiv, so the only thing left for them is to strike from long distances. There were 32 such strikes in one day. The defense headquarters noted the increased activity of the enemy in the use of multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) - 280 times and tank strikes - nine times," Synehubov said on his Telegram channel.
He said that on March 22, the invaders launched rocket attacks on Lozova for the first time, as a result of which at least 8 civilians were injured (of which 4 were in grave condition).
According to Synehubov, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not allowing the enemy to advance in the direction of Izium.
"In the latest attacks, the enemy lost about 400 personnel and dozens of pieces of equipment," he said.
11:25 An adviser to the Head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podoliak is to ask partners to provide Ukraine with air defense systems, cruise missiles.
Ukraine asks international partners to take four steps to save Ukrainian citizens: provide modern air defense systems, cruise missiles or ammunition for multiple rocket launchers, impose an oil embargo and total closure of ports for Russian ships.
"Dear partners! It takes 4 steps not to see our dead kids' eyes or not to smell burned Mariupol in your dreams. 1. Modern air defense, if you can’t close the sky 2. Cruise missiles or shells for heavy rockets 3. Tough oil embargo 4. Closed ports for Russian ships around the world," Podoliak wrote on Twitter.
11:10 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces keep destroying russian occupiers.
“Russians will pay the price for every teardrop, for every orphan and bomb falling on Ukraine’s houses,” the post on Facebook says.
10:25 Latest British Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine as of 23 March 2022.
10:15 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted the total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 23.03, which were approximately:
personnel - about 15600,
tanks ‒ 517 units,
APV‒ 1578 units,
artillery systems – 267 units,
MLRS - 80 units,
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 47 units,
aircraft – 101 units,
helicopters – 124 units,
vehicles - 1008 units,
boats / cutters - 4 units,
fuel tanks – 70 units,
UAV operational-tactical level – 42 units.
special equipment – 15 units.
Data is being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.
10:00 Spokesman for the Odesa Military Administration Serhiy Bratchuk: Ukrainian Army eliminated Russian commander who wanted to storm Odesa.
Ukrainian defenders have destroyed Colonel Aleksei Sharov, commander of the Russian army's 810th Marine Brigade. He commanded infantry who wanted to storm Odesa but were eliminated near Mykolaiv and Mariupol.
Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Odesa Military Administration, said this in a statement posted to Telegram.
"Our military has destroyed the commander of the Russian marine brigade. This will be done with anyone who is trying to rape Ukrainian women and to kill our children. And there's no excuse for them," Bratchuk said.
09:40 The Head of Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus: Invaders bomb bridge across Desna River in Chernihiv.
Russian invaders destroyed the bridge over the Desna River in Chernihiv, Suspilne has reported, the information was confirmed by the Head of Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus.
"In Chernihiv, the Russian military bombed the road bridge across the Desna River, which connected the city with Kyiv. Air bombs were dropped on the bridge, one of the spans fell. Evacuation flights moved along this bridge from Chernihiv and humanitarian aid was brought to the city," Suspilne said in its Telegram channel.
09:15 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted a video of destroying an ammunition depot of the Russian troops in the Luhansk region.
08:00 Operational information as of 06.00 23.03.2022 regarding the russian invasion.
The 28th day of the Ukrainian people's heroic resistance against russia's military invasion has begun.
The defense forces continue to conduct a defense military operation in the Eastern, Southern, and Northeastern directions.
In the Eastern direction the troops are operating in the Donetsk region, Slobozhansk, and Eastern part of the Tavriya operational districts. They are not giving the enemy an opportunity to renew their offence in the directions of Sloviyansk and, part of the forces, on the Lozova locality. They are restraining the advances of the enemy in the direction of Zaporizhzhya.
The combined forces are holding back the invader in the direction of the cities of Popasna and Kurakhove. They are also carrying out the circular defense of Mariupol.
In the North-Eastern direction, the defense operation continues in a designated operational zone. The main efforts are focused on covering the state border, holding back the enemy's offence in the area os Malyn.
In the Siversky region, a group of troops holds the defense of Chernihiv and holds back the advancement of the enemy in the direction of Kyiv.
In the South-East direction a defense operation is being carried out, as well as the support of troops' ground operations and individual units, and the defense of bases and seaports in the Black Sea operational zone. The defense of the city of Mykolayiv and Mykolayiv region continues.
Our defenders are holding back the enemy in the direction of Kryviy Rih and Novovorontsovska, conducting a stabilizing operation, and carrying out territorial defiance tasks.
Enemy's aviation carrying and missile strikes over the past 24 hours are more frequent.
The Air Force and Armed Forces of Ukraine are repulsing concentrated missile and air strikes of the enemy, covering important objects in Ukraine from the air, and grouping troops. Over the past 24 hours over 17 of the enemy's air targets have been hit (6 aircrafts, 5 UAVs, 1 helicopter and 5 cruise missiles). Additionally, the aviation of the Air Forces has made devastating blows to the accumulation of equipment and manpower of the enemy, and have damaged the enemy's cruise missiles.
On the territory of the russian federation, covert mobilization continues, with the aim of replenishing the personnel losses in the occupying group of troops operating on the territory of Ukraine. Military commissariats are making efforts to attract former servicemen to serve and sign the relevant contracts of former servicemen, and preference is given to those with combat experience.
On the territory of belarus the representatives of the opposition forces and concerned citizens who condemn the assistance of the current illegitimate government of the russian federation in the war with Ukraine, have partially disrupted the railway connection between republic of belarus and Ukraine.
Information to be confirmed.
At the same time, based on the available information, russian and belarussian military equipment is being actively moved across the territory of the republic of belarus, and further accumulated along the Ukrainian border.
In certain areas, the enemy has been demoralized. Thus, during the storming of the city of Mariupol, in one of the special forces units that were involved in active hostilities, less than 10% of the personnel are prepared to continue to take part in the war, and the remaining personnel are either killed, wounded, ill, or demoralized.
Keep calm! We will win together! Glory to Ukraine!
The full link.
06:40 Air Forces Command of Ukraine spokesman Yurii Ihnat: Ukrainian Army destroys more than 100 enemy aircrafts.
On March 22, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed six enemy aircrafts, one helicopter, five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and five missiles.
The relevant statement was made by Air Forces Command Spokesman Yurii Ihnat, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“On March 22, 2022, the anti-aircraft defense units did not stop, having downed the 100th Russian aircraft, and caused the enemy significant losses in the air. The striking aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit ground targets: military vehicles and manpower in groups. Fighter jets were covering from the air and shot down two enemy cruise missiles,” Ihnat told.
05:00 Pentagon: Russian forces are short on food, fuel and winter gear.
A U.S. Department of Defense official said during a closed briefing at the Pentagon on March 22 that some Russian troops had been ‘taken out of the fight’ by frostbite due to a lack of warm clothes. The official also noted that Russian warships are running out of fuel. Nearly a month into the war, Russia’s advance on Ukraine has appeared to largely stall across multiple fronts as it struggles to achieve significant military objectives. The full link to the article is here.
03:10 The head of Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyi: Russian invaders shot dead a woman in Trostianets.
In the city of Trostianets, Sumy region, Russian invaders shot dead a woman in the street.
"Unfortunately, they [Russian invaders] are shooting people. A woman, who was just moving around the city on a bicycle, was shot dead," Zhyvytskyi said on his Telegram.
He also noted that it is dangerous to be in the streets in Trostianets.
01:24 Kono Taro, the Member of Japanese parliament: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking to the Parliament of Japan today, at 18:00 (GMT+9).
00:59 General Staff: operational information as of 00:00, 23.03.2022 regarding the Russian invasion. Key points:
- Russian occupation forces continue their strategic offensive against Ukraine. Due to the lack of success in the war with the Ukrainian people, the enemy proceeded to the total destruction of critical infrastructure; continues to carry out artillery shelling and missile attacks on residential neighborhoods, historic architectural monuments, schools, hospitals and civilian industries. In cities and villages that peacefully resist the occupying forces, they resort to looting and violence against civilians.
- The military and political leadership of the Republic of Belarus continues to provide comprehensive support to Russian troops –which includes the use of airfield and transport networks, particular health care facilities – and is a [Russia's] accomplice in crimes against the Ukrainian people.
- At the same time, there is a possibility of involvement of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war against Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation. Yet, according to available information, a large number of personnel and some commanders refuse to participate in the occupation against Ukraine.
- Throughout March 22, Ukrainian defenders repelled 7 enemy attacks and destroyed 7 tanks, 2 infantry fighting vehicles, 6 artillery systems and several vehicles, and seized 3 units of IFV-3. Air defense units hit enemy air targets, namely 2 UAVs, 4 jets and a "Tochka-U" missile. The losses of enemy personnel are about 100 people (data are being clarified).
00:00 Nexta media citing the Community of Railroad Workers of Belarus: a military vehicles echelon is moving towards Belarus-Ukraine border. It departed from Rechytsa, Belarus; the destination is Khoiniki, which is about 44 km from the border.
"In addition to covered wagons and tanks, the train includes: about 5 "Grad" MLRS vehicles, more than 15 "Ural" (tilt trucks) and combat tracked vehicles. There are no identification marks," the Community wrote on Telegram.
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 in his address to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Key points regarding the current state of warfare:
- Ukraine managed to establish the defense, Russian offense has stalled, in some directions Ukrainian military push back the invaders
- 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. Finally, the humanitarian corridor in Mariupol city worked out. Mariupol is currently in Russian blockade
- Russian army targets nuclear power plants; Chernobyl NPP and Zaporizhzhia NPP are seized by occupiers; military activities by Russian forces near the power plants were 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 four 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; the direct talks of presidents Zelenskyy and Putin are being considered
Read more: Day 27th of Ukraine's Defense Against Russian Invasion (Live Updates)
