Timeline: day 25 of Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression
Russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for twenty-five days as of today, March 20. We're reporting all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What is today?
Key points.
On March 19, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated two high-ranking Russian commanders: the deputy head of the Black Sea Fleet and the deputy head of the engineering troops of the Western Military District of the Russian Federation, said Denisenko, an adviser to the Interior Minister.
On Saturday, March 19, the enemy significantly reduced its presence in the Ukrainian sky. Therefore, unfortunately, the air defense today shot down only three helicopters of the Russian fascists. But the daily plan for disposing of Russian fascists in the air has not been fulfilled, the command of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports.
In total, as of this hour, in the past 24 hours, the irreversible losses of the Russian Horde reached:
- up to 50 infantry,
- 2 tanks,
- 2 armored personnel carriers,
- 1 MT-LB,
- 1 armored personnel carrier they left on the battlefield,
- several trucks.
"The wartime shows well the paucity of personal ambitions of those who try to put a party or career above the interests of the state," President Zelenskyy reported the suspension of the OPZZh party, Opoblok party, Partia Sharia party during martial law, and also socialist parties. The decision was made due to "some parties' ties with Russia."
The head of the 652nd group of Information and Psychological Operations of the Russian terrorist forces was severely reprimanded for his weak work in creating the so-called "Kherson People's Republic." The Kremlin leadership is not satisfied with the fact that due to popular opposition there is not even one relatively demonstrational image.
Today, our defenders shot down the Tochka-U missile. It could not bring death to our cities and villages.
The army will receive an additional 68 billion hryvnias to strengthen the fleet. Funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine will increase by UAH 67.56 billion. The relevant law was signed on March 20 by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The source of additional funds was an official loan from the United Kingdom to support the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces. With this money, Ukraine is going to buy two anti-mine ships from the British.
Humanitarian corridors
Reintegration Minister Vereshchuk announced the humanitarian corridors to be opened on March 20:
- Mariupol – Zaporizhzhia. Buses for Mariupol residents will be waiting in Berdiansk, and private cars leaving Mariupol will continue to refuel in the city. Transport from Manhush to Berdiansk and Zaporizhzhia is also organized for Mariupol residents.
- Bobryk, Tarasivka – Brovary.
- Borodianka – Bila Tserkva.
- Humanitarian aid will be delivered from Kharkiv to Vovchansk, Rohan, and Nova Rohan.
Iryna Vereshchuk summed up the day:
Out of 7 humanitarian corridors, 4 worked today. A total of 7,295 people were evacuated
Donetsk region: Mariupol – Zaporizhzhia: 3,985 people were evacuated
Kyiv region: Bobryk – Brovary: 2,000 people were evacuated; Tarasivka – Brovary: 1,310 people were evacuated; Borodianka – Bila Tserkva: evacuation was canceled
Kharkiv region: Kharkiv – Rohan: they managed to deliver humanitarian aid; Kharkiv – Mala Rohan: delivery of humanitarian aid disrupted
Assistance for Vovchansk, Kharkiv region: we lost contact with 6 people transporting humanitarian aid: 5 drivers, and 1 doctor.
Ukraine's talks with Russia
Switzerland is ready to act as a mediator or accept negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The President of the Confederation Ignacio Cassis stated this, speaking at a rally in Bern, which was held under the slogan "Solidarity with Ukraine, stop the war!" Cassis added that "Switzerland combines neutrality and humanitarian tradition."
Ukrainians in Poland can get free help from the county employment service or the voivodship labor market department. Assistance includes job search support, employment guidance, and counseling.
Who's coming to Ukraine?
About financial aid, weapons, and volunteer fighters
In the coming days, Ukraine will receive air defense systems and other weapons from the United States, said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov.
Australia has also announced new aid for Ukraine. The country will provide $21 million in military aid to Ukraine. Another $30 million will go to humanitarian aid. In addition, Australia has banned the export of alumina and aluminum ores to Russia.
A humanitarian train weighing about 14 tons arrived in Ukraine from Greece within the joint humanitarian initiatives of the Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant-General Serhii Naiev, noted that the cargo consists of various medicines, food, canned food, and clothing.
Assistance to refugees and those who receive them
Australia will provide temporary humanitarian visas to evacuated Ukrainians. They will be able to work and receive medical care in Australia for 3 years.
News from abroad
"It would be a mistake to normalize relations with Putin after the events in Ukraine." This was stated by British Prime Minister Johnson.
Japan demands from India a clear reaction to the war in Russia. India is currently neutral and ignores specific comments about Russia's criminal activities in Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had shaken the "foundation of the international order." He said India needed to respond clearly. To recap, India abstained from voting for the UN General Assembly resolution demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
The United States has confirmed Russia's use of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. This is the first known use of such missiles in combat, CNN reports.
The National Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ) has called on the EU to ban the broadcast of the Russian propaganda channel RTR Planeta in the European Union.
21:30 – Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang denies rumors that China is sending weapons to Russia. He said Beijing was trying to promote peace talks.
Six countries have already begun investigating Russia's war crimes, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said. These are Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden. Ukraine is working closely with them to speed up the exchange of information and evidence.
What's in Russia?
All-Russian tests began to be postponed in St. Petersburg schools due to paper shortages. The principals of some schools were advised to suspend them if it was not conducted electronically. Paper shortage: Finnish chemical company Kemira has stopped supplying bleach to Russia and Belarus. Due to this, the local manufacturer stopped issuing A4 sheets. Amid the situation, paper prices soared, often exceeding 1,000 rubles per pack.
What's heard about Belarus?
Russian military equipment is approaching the Belarusian border to try to enter Ukraine with some force. Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Vadym Denysenko said this on a single telethon: "In general, we understand where they go, how they go, we understand that the Russians don't give up the idea of making another attempt to storm the city of Kyiv. Well, we will fight them." He also called it an alarming signal that Belarusian diplomats had left Ukraine.
Three Belarusian banks have been sanctioned by the EU and disconnected from the SWIFT system. These are the Development Bank of Belarus, Bilagroprombank, and Dabrabut Bank.
Amid this, Russia has postponed the repayment of government loans to Belarus for 5-6 years. One can only guess what Lukashenko promised for this "service."
Russian lies
Russian media continue to spread fakes about the use of chemical weapons by the Ukrainian military. The Russian RIA Novosti declared that the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly store chemicals in one of the schools in the Mykolaiv region. It's an obsession with this mythical "chemical weapon."
Life considering hostilities
There will be enough food in Ukraine for this and the next years, said Rostislav Shurma, Deputy Head of the State Enterprise. "Stocks of wheat, corn, oil, basic products in warehouses, elevators are enough for 3-5 years because we have always exported 70-80% of this product. Therefore, we are definitely fed."
Pregnant women who have moved due to hostilities can receive medical care free of charge, the National Health Insurance Fund said.
Ukrzaliznytsia returns transit payments in non-evacuation trains as well as foreign trains. At the same time, domestic evacuation trains and intercity trains will remain free. "2.75 million Ukrainians and citizens of other countries have already been rescued by rail and taken to safety, and we will continue to do so, deliberately leaving all domestic evacuation trains free. It is a matter of honor for us because everyone should be able to protect themselves and their families, relatives, leaving the hottest spots in the safe cars of Ukrzaliznytsia," says Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, head of the passenger direction of Ukrzaliznytsia.
Another piece of news from the railways. The Darnytsia-Sviatoshyn railway train will operate in Kyiv: to make it easier to get to the right from the left bank. For example, to the Central station. The train is being launched, because the red metro line is still working with restrictions, and traffic between the shores is difficult.
Fare is 15 hryvnias, tickets can be purchased from the traveling cashier on board or in the Ukrzaliznytsia chatbot.
And Ukrainian drivers are now banned from using DVRs. Such restrictions will apply only during the war. This is necessary to prevent the disclosure of information to the enemy about the positions and movements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The ban applies in all regions of Ukraine.
From March 21, the Silpo chain will temporarily close stores in Kyiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv regions. 34 shops will not work in Kyiv, while 112 supermarkets will continue to operate. "Due to the war, we are rebuilding our logistics routes and adjusting supplies. As soon as we can fully provide supplies, we will immediately open stores," the Fozzy Group's press service said.
Homeowners who received migrants for free will receive about 450 UAH/month to compensate for communal services. This was announced by the Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksii Chernyshov. Payment can be made through local governments, the Prykhystok site, and later the service will appear in Diia.
Kyiv
The night passed relatively calmly, despite constant air alarms. The enemy refused to take active action and actively dug in, erected fortifications, trying to establish logistics. Fighting and shelling in Makariv, Bucha, Hostomel, Vorzel.
The invader is conducting chaotic shelling of social infrastructure and housing. The movement of the enemy was recorded in Vyshhorod and Brovary districts.
The Russian army almost completely lost the combined unit of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Kostroma Regiment. Only one occupier survived.
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
In the Luhansk region, there was no settlement that wouldn't suffer from a Russian horde, Haidai reports.
Russian troops dropped bombs on an art school in Mariupol, where about 400 people were hiding, according to the Mariupol City Council. There is currently no information on the dead and injured. The building is destroyed, people remain under the rubble.
Residents of Mariupol who fled the Russian occupiers' bombing to Manhush and Melekino are starving to death. The occupiers don't approve of the "green corridor" and don't allow humanitarian convoys to enter, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
24 houses were destroyed by Russians in Rubizhne and Severodonetsk over the past 24 hours, and seven people were rescued.
56 are killed in Kreminna. On March 11, the Russian occupiers fired from a tank at a nursing home in Kreminna. Cynically and deliberately. They just adjusted the tank, put it in front of the house, and started firing," said Serhii Haidai, the head of the Luhansk Regional Administration. 15 people who survived were kidnapped and driven to the occupied territory to Svatove, to the regional geriatric care home. Haidai added that it's impossible to get to the place of the tragedy.
And today Haidai promised that Rubizhne in the Luhansk region will be cleared of Russians and occupiers from ORDLO. "A few days and Rubizhne will be completely Ukrainian. The occupier will not be helped by freshly mobilized cannon fodder. If you want to live, surrender!" Haidai warned.
Kharkiv and region
The occupiers of that day inflicted 38 artillery and mortar strikes and shellings from MLRS: the districts of Saltivka, Tsyrkuny, HTZ, and Derhachi.
In the morning, the Ukrainian military destroyed an attempt to infiltrate Kharkiv by Russian units of sabotage and reconnaissance groups. The occupiers opened fire with machine guns and small arms. But our fighters defeated the occupiers.
In the direction of Izium, the enemy tried to break through the defenses of our troops, but without success. In addition, the Ukrainian Army under Izium neutralized the colonel, deputy head of the engineering troops of the Western Military District of the Russian Federation.
Four orangutans, 9 chimpanzees, and 22 alpacas were evacuated from the Ecopark near Kharkiv. Some of the animals were taken by the Kharkiv Zoo.
Dnipropetrovsk region
The occupier Oleg Tsarev, who arrived in Ukraine with Russian troops, appealed to Yurii and Oleksandr Vilkul, who heads Kryvyi Rih, and offered them to "cooperate with the Russian army." Oleksandr Vilkul sent a traitor to the Russian warship.
Zhytomyr region
Standard night alarms. Missile strike on one of the villages of Korosten district. The industrial building was destroyed. There are no victims.
Sumy region
The shelling of the suburbs of Sumy has been going on for a week now, and this night was not without them. There was also an air alarm at night
Mykolayiv region
There were shellings of the city from Grad missile systems, air alarms. Fighting continues in the region. There is an evacuation from the liberated villages and the delivery of humanitarian aid. In some settlements, there is no heat and light.
Great news from the Mykolaiv region! The Ukrainian Armed Forces seized the latest command and staff vehicle of the Russian Army, which is an element of the automated command and control system. Along with the car, Ukrainian soldiers gained access to full information about the positions and forces of the enemy. A whole column of occupiers was destroyed, many trophy pieces of equipment were obtained.
Besides, in Mykolaiv, the city began dismantling billboards and kiosks to direct them to aid the Ukrainian army. Kim called on sellers and owners of kiosks to take all goods from there, otherwise, the products will also be sent to the army or to warehouses.
Kherson region
The night was restless, the sounds of explosions and shelling could be heard in the region. This information is being clarified. In general, the situation in the Kherson region is getting closer to critical. In most remote areas and communities where the occupiers are, it is almost a humanitarian catastrophe.
The number of places where Russians distribute their aid is increasing every day. All this is done while the occupiers are filming videos for cameras of Russian media.
In the Kherson region, the invaders are distributing leaflets with proposals to contact the occupation administration. Citizens are promised to cancel credit debts, and local entrepreneurs are given preferences in doing business.
Assistant of the collaborationist Volodymyr Saldo, who supported the occupation of Kherson, was shot dead in his own car in occupied Kherson.
Chernihiv region
Chernihiv is suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe. There is no electricity or heat in the city. A base hospital was shelled on the outskirts; patients are lying in cold rooms with broken windows.
The Russian military has shelled Nizhyn and continues the chaotic shelling of Chernihiv, Head Of Regional Military Administration Chaus said.
Vinnytsia region
77 fires in ecosystems have been extinguished by firefighters in the Vinnytsia region in the last 24 hours. As a result, more than 127 hectares of fertile soil were destroyed.
