Timeline: day 31 of Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression
Today, March 26, Russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for 31 days. We're reporting all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What is today?
Key points.
On March 25, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 12 enemy air targets: 3 planes, 1 helicopter, 3 drones, and at least 5 cruise missiles. According to British intelligence, Ukraine's air defense leaves the occupiers virtually no chance of successful airstrikes.
Total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 26.03:
- personnel – 16,400;
- tanks – 575;
- armored combat vehicles – 1640;
- artillery systems – 293;
- MLRS – 91;
- air defense means – 51;
- aircraft – 117;
- helicopters – 127;
- automotive equipment – 1131;
- ships / boats – 7;
- fuel tanks – 73;
- UAV of operational and tactical level – 56;
- Special equipment – 19;
- OTKR / TRK rocket launchers – 2.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the occupiers have destroyed at least 59 religious buildings in Ukraine. The vast majority of them are Orthodox churches, but mosques, synagogues, Protestant churches, etc. have also been destroyed. Every day, barbarians who flaunt their spirituality to the public destroy two churches in Ukraine a day.
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova stated that Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland had set up an investigative group to investigate Russia's crimes. According to her, the Lublin Triangle of Justice will methodically deprive Russia of a sense of impunity.
Adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Markian Lubkivskyi told CNN in an interview that the militants of the Russian private military company Wagner planned to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. According to him, the conspiracy was confirmed by Ukrainian special services and special forces guarding the president.
Today the National Guard of Ukraine celebrates its 8th anniversary. Since the beginning of the war in 2014, and then the full-scale invasion this winter, they were among the first to repel the enemy. We are proud of our soldiers!
On the Day of the National Guard of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded servicemen who showed personal courage and dedication in repelling Russia's armed aggression against our state.
Humanitarian corridors
According to the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, 5 humanitarian corridors are expected today. Evacuation of people is planned from 6 settlements: Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk, Popasna, Hirske, and Nyzhnie. As of 9 o'clock, 40 people from Toshkivka have already been taken away.
French President Emmanuel Macron initiated an "unprecedented humanitarian operation" for Mariupol in cooperation with Greece and Turkey: "There were specific discussions with the mayor of Mariupol. We are doing this transparently with President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian authorities. And then we'll negotiate with the Russian side. I will have a new conversation with Putin within 48 hours to clarify the details."
16:00 – About 600 people were evacuated in the Luhansk region and 160 tons of aid were delivered. The head of the Luhansk regional state administration Serhii Haidai reported about it:
100 people were taken out of Rubizhne by buses and 40 by their personal vehicles. From Severodonetsk, 70; from Lysychansk, 150.
- Popasna has been waiting for a long time for the humanitarian corridor, and finally, 50 Popasna residents are already safe. 104 people were taken out of the Hirske Community.
- We managed to take all the people out of the boarding school in the urban-type settlement of Nyzhne. The Russians fired on this boarding school several times.
- 300 people were evacuated along the Severynivka-Bilohorodka humanitarian corridor. People are provided with medical and other necessary assistance.
In total, all ten humanitarian corridors, opened on March 26, worked. All evacuation buses from Mariupol reached Zaporizhzhia, leaving more than 4,000 people, said Reintegration Minister Vereshchuk.
Peaceful atom
The European Organization for Nuclear Research is suspending cooperation with Russia and Belarus.
20:15 – The Russians once again fired on a nuclear research facility in Kharkiv, said the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation.
Who's coming to Ukraine?
About financial aid, weapons, and volunteer fighters
1,500 Strela anti-aircraft missiles and 100 MG3 machine guns from Germany have already arrived in Ukraine. This was reported by German media.
And Britain will provide Ukraine with anti-battery systems, and Turkey will deliver another batch of Bayraktars, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
18:30 – Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov says that the top US leadership, President Joe Biden, Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken today had no objections to the list of weapons needed by Ukraine. "I spoke about the Stingers in November, and we were told, 'Oh, Stingers, it's impossible. There's not even a talk about it today. It's just a matter of logistics.'
The Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is helping Russia deport Ukrainians. They admitted this on their own website.
News from partners
At the railway station in Vilnius at the Moscow-Kaliningrad train station, a loudspeaker announces the war in Ukraine: "Dear passengers of the 29 Moscow-Kaliningrad train! Today, Putin is killing civilians in Ukraine. Do you agree with that?" Banners with the same text were also placed at the station.
And yesterday in Warsaw there was a large-scale action in support of Ukraine with the slogan "Peace, Save Ukraine." Hundreds of participants gathered in the center of the Polish capital to remind of Russia's crimes against the Ukrainian people and simply fell to the ground. This is exactly what Ukrainian cities look like, where the bodies of the dead lie simply on the streets.
Poland also noted who owns Kaliningrad. A few weeks ago, Japan renamed the "Russian" Kurils its sovereign lands. And now talks about the return of Russian-stolen territories have begun in Poland. Thus, the former commander of the Polish ground forces, General Skszypczak, reminded on one of the radio stations that the Kaliningrad region has been under Russian occupation since 1945: "Now it would be worth reminding about it. We have the right to claim this territory, which is occupied by Russia," he said.
The Czech Minister of Defense refused to go to Hungary because of the Hungarian position in Ukraine.
To get rid of dependence on Russia, EU countries will create a platform for joint gas procurement. It will be open to the Eastern Partnership countries, including Ukraine, according to the conclusions of the European Council. The EU plans to fill gas storage facilities across the Union as soon as possible.
Hackers Anonymous published 28 GB of information after hacking the Central Bank of Russia. Among the published information are hundreds of audit opinions and data on bank owners. Hackers claim to have gained access to "secret agreements" of the Central Bank.
On Saturday morning, a group of Czech activists staged a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic and doused the entrance to the building with artificial blood:
Keanu Reeves is with us:
And the photo below is today's Dusseldorf. The whole civilized world supports Ukrainians in the struggle for freedom!
It seems that the opening of the second front is planned. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have entered the area of responsibility of the "Russian peacekeeping contingent" in Karabakh. In addition, from March 24 to 25, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces struck 4 Bayraktar-TB 2 UAVs at Nagorno-Karabakh units near Furukh settlement. Martial law is reported to have been imposed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Danilov, commenting on the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, said that the opening of other fronts that would distract Russia from our country would help Ukraine. "If Transnistria, Georgia, and everyone today were engaged in the return of their territories … Moreover, I can say that Poland has not yet officially made claims to the Kaliningrad region. It would definitely help us, because it would be something for them to do, besides destroying our towns and villages, killing our children and women," Danilov said.
Curious news: Journalists made mistakes in one of their articles about the war in Ukraine. They called Ukrainian bread, not "palyanytsia," but "rusni-pyzda." An amendment to the article later appeared: "The original version of this story misstated the Ukrainian word for flat bread was incorrectly indicated. It is "palyanytsia," not "rusni-pryzda."
But the original mistake is the truth.
What's in Russia?
An action is planned for Sunday in the medieval Mordor in Khabarovsk. For each "Bandera" thing burned, the participants will be given scarce sugar.
Russian lies
Sergei Savostyanov, a Moscow City Duma deputy from the Communist Party, dreams of extending a "special demilitarization operation" to the Baltic states, Poland, Moldova, and Kazakhstan."
Mordor has decided to hold military exercises in the disputed Kuril Islands, according to Reuters. The exercises began a few days after Russia and Japan terminated all peace agreements in the area.
What about Belarusians?
Russian invaders continue to actively use the transport network of the Republic of Belarus. There is an increasing number of military cargo air transportation from the territory of Russia.
Sanctions on the aggressor!
The United States is preparing sanctions against Russian companies that supply technology to the military and intelligence.
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions that will damage Russia's defense industry and limit its ability to compensate for UAV losses. In total, the list of sanctions includes 65 individuals and legal entities. Among them is the Russian company Kronstadt, the main manufacturer of the Russian Orion drone and other UAVs widely used during the war with Ukraine.
Jewelry brand Tiffany refused to buy Russian diamonds.
Russia will be left without bananas. Suppliers from Ecuador cannot deliver goods by sea due to sanctions.
Life considering hostilities
The Ukrainian pair of figure skaters reached the finals of the world championship: Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin without preparation, under a new melody and in training form became 16th among 31 pairs. Nazarova managed to leave Kharkiv at the beginning of the war, and Nikitin spent more than three weeks in the city under constant shelling by Russian troops.
The Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine recommends a new fact-check bot PEREVIRKA (VERIFICATION). This is a lifeguard from fake news, unverified information, outright lies, Russian propaganda. Just send the bot news, get an answer in a few minutes. Try https://t.me/perevir_bot
Draft notices at checkpoints will no longer be issued. "Now the mobilization is no longer going on like this, although it really took place at the beginning of the war," said Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesman for the General Staff. He added that it was illegal.
Let's have bread! Despite the war, the sowing campaign has already started in 11 regions of Ukraine. Last year at this time it has not started in any. This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
UIA plans to resume flights outside the country on planes that were abroad at the time of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Kyiv and region
Today, hundreds of Slavutych residents marched in the city center to protest with Ukrainian flags, according to photos posted on the Slavutych City Council's Facebook page. "Dear citizens of Slavutych, the mayor calls at 9:00 to go to the city square with Ukrainian symbols to show those who came, our position," the statement said. City residents sing the anthem and shout pro-Ukrainian slogans.
Kyiv Region Police have detained bandits who shot at civilians in Velyka Dymerka. On March 13, two criminals with machine guns stole a car and shot dead two civilians on the way. Then the police promptly detained one of the shooters, a 29-year-old resident of Velyka Dymerka. The second shooter was detained the other day in Brovary. A 30-year-old formerly convicted native of Bohdanivka was hiding from the police and was waiting for police with a grenade in his pocket.
21:30 – The mayor of Slavutych Yurii Fomichev stated that the city was again occupied by the Russian army. Slavutych Mayor Yurii Fomichev said the city was occupied by Russian troops. According to him, when the occupiers began shelling residential neighborhoods, the city authorities decided "not to hide behind civilians." However, three orcs have already been killed.
18:00 – The enemy fired on Boiarka in the Kyiv region. According to preliminary information, four people were injured, including a minor child.
In the Kyiv region, sabotage and reconnaissance use civilian clothes and stolen cars, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warns. "The occupiers do not stop trying to enter the capital. That's why sabotage and reconnaissance groups are disguised, using stolen civilian clothes and cars."
As of 7 p.m., the Horde was driven 35-70 kilometers from Kyiv, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
In Donbas, joint forces operation troops have repulsed nine enemy attacks and destroyed occupiers' equipment in the past 24 hours. In addition, the Ukrainian military destroyed:
- up to 170 Russian servicemen;
- 17 units of armored vehicles;
- 11 units of motor vehicles;
- eight tanks;
- three enemy planes;
- three Orlan-10 drones.
The armed forces captured a sniper from ORDLO. The so-called "Bagira" – Irina Starikova – shot Ukrainian prisoners in 2014. According to one of the volunteers, she has the blood of at least 40 people on her hands, including civilians.
UN observers have received information about mass burials in Mariupol. One of these "mass graves" contained about 200 bodies. Some evidence was obtained from satellite images.
In the Luhansk region, the enemy is targeting food warehouses, damaging a total of 10 residential buildings per day. Serhii Haidai, the Head of the Luhansk Regional State/Military Administration, told about it. According to the leader, three people died as a result of these shellings.
17:00 – Ворог обстрілює Донеччину забороненими касетними боєприпасами. Цього разу з ракетної системи залпового вогню "Торнадо-С" росіяни обстріляли житловий сектор Красногорівки. Ворог використав заборонені касетні боєприпаси, які впали посеред вулиць. Національна поліція попереджає: не наближайтеся до таких боєприпасів. Вони можуть здетонувати будь-якої миті, протягом 40 годин після обстрілу.
17:00 – The enemy shells Donetsk with prohibited cluster munitions. This time, the Russians fired on the residential sector of Krasnohorivka from the Tornado-C missile system. The enemy used banned cluster munitions that fell in the middle of the streets. The National Police warns: don't approach such ammunition. They can detonate at any time, within 40 hours after the shelling.
18:20 – in Mariupol, the occupiers forcibly removed in an unknown direction medical staff, patients, and other Mariupol residents who were hiding from enemy shelling in the basement of a medical facility. It is known that there were approximately 700 people on the territory of the hospital. But exactly how many Mariupol residents were deported is still unknown.
Zaporizhzhia region
Over the past 24 hours, the defenders of the Zaporizhzhia region eliminated 20 occupiers, wounded 40, destroyed an armored personnel carrier, a tank, 3 cars, and a 120-mm mortar, and damaged the self-propelled howitzer of the occupiers.
In Melitopol, the occupiers began hunting for those who do not want to surrender to the invaders. Thus, representatives of the Russian commandant's office gather the heads of condominiums and offer to report on "where the fascists live." The term "fascists" includes all those who do not agree that Melitopol is Russia, keep or display the flag or coat of arms of Ukraine, as well as those who consider the Ukrainian government the only legitimate one.
In addition, the occupiers plan to hold a paid rally in support of "Russian authorities" in the central square of Melitopol. It is known that the promised payment for participation is 1200 rubles. All those who want to "earn extra money," thus betraying their homeland, will have to keep the Russian occupation flag and "sincerely" enjoy the video cameras.
Svitlana Zalizetska, a journalist with RIA-Melitopol, said that the occupiers had released her father. The Russian military abducted and detained a 75-year-old man for three days.
17:30 – Russian troops entered Kyrylivka, Zaporizhzhia region, local authorities refused to cooperate with the occupiers.
Kherson region
The mayor of the temporarily occupied Kherson, Ihor Kolikhaiev, does not rule out that Russian criminals may hold a "referendum" in the Kherson region by force. He noted that the occupiers are not interested in creating the "Kherson People's Republic." It is more profitable for them to join Kherson to some ORDLO or the occupied Crimea.
But there is also good news: the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated Novovorontsovka in the Kherson region.
Kherson residents, unfortunately, didn't see any signs of implementation of Lubkivskyi's plan by the end of the day.
86 settlements of the Kherson region are without electricity and without water. Almost 6,000 residents were left without gas supply, according to the Kherson Regional State Administration.
In addition, in the settlements of the Kherson region, there is an increase in terror of the local population by the occupiers. Homes are searched to identify ATO/JFO members, servicemen, volunteers, and their families. There are numerous cases of abduction of women and torture of local residents.
Kharkiv region
The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the eastern suburbs of Kharkiv: Vilkhivka, and Mala Rohan!
Despite the constant shelling, a cultural event is planned for today in Kharkiv. "We are organizing a concert in a relatively safe place as part of the Kharkiv Music Fest. Do you remember Winston Churchill's statement about how he was brought the country's budget during the war? 'Where are the funds for culture?' He was told: 'The war is going on, what culture?!' To which he said: 'If there is no culture, then why are we fighting?' That's how it is with us," said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
17:30 – East Air Command claims that a Russian military plane was shot down southeast of Kharkiv.
22:00 – The occupiers continue to terrorize people in the Kharkiv region. On March 26, in Balaklia, occupiers detained Deputy Mayor Serhii Poltorak and Oleh Bludov, Head of the Civil Protection and Law Enforcement Department. This was announced by the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleh Sinehubov.
There is information that the mayor Ivan Stolbovyi was also detained, and he and his family have not been contacted for the second day. Unfortunately, Mykola Sikalenko, the head of the Tsyrkunivka community, is still being held captive by the occupiers.
Volyn region
21:00 – Yurii Pohuliaiko stated that a drone was shot down an air defense 10 km from the city. But it is possible that it could be a rocket. The information is being clarified.
Poltava region
In the Poltava region, law enforcement officers confiscated 11 enemy tanks from local residents, which "somehow" ended up in their possession after the Russian invasion. In addition to tanks, the trophies of Ukrainian caring owners were 2 armored vehicles, 8 machine guns, 9 submachine guns, 5 rifles, 10 pistols, about 4,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, 14 grenades, and about 200 units of other ammunition.
Zhytomyr region
In Zhytomyr, on Friday morning, March 25, Russian invaders fired at missiles at a military unit. After that, local law enforcement officers detained two fire adjusters, Mayor Serhii Sukhomlyn said in the evening report.
The region was also shelled in the evening: at about 6 pm, as a result of an artillery strike in one of the settlements in the Korosten district of the region, 1 residential building was destroyed, 4 residential buildings and 2 outbuildings were partially damaged. 6 rescuers and 1 unit of SES equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire and conducting search and rescue operations. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured.
Sumy region
Fierce fighting continues in three districts of the Sumy region. "The situation in the Sumy region remains tense, fierce fighting continues. This is Konotop, Sumy, Okhtyrka districts: the active phase of the fighting. As you know, some of our communities are under the control of the Russian occupiers, they are experiencing terror and genocide of Ukrainians," said the head of the region Zhyvytskyi in a video message on March 26. He added that hostilities continue in the Trostianets community, the shelling of the Sumy suburbs, and the bombing of Okhtyrka continue.
20:00 – The city of Trostianets in the Sumy region is liberated from Russian occupation! The 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade, the Territorial Defense, and local guerrillas managed to expel the "elite" of the Russian ground forces, the Kantemirov Panzer Division. After a series of setbacks, the Russian army fled Trostianets, leaving behind weapons, equipment, and ammunition that the 93rd Brigade will use to liberate other Ukrainian cities from occupation.
Currently, Trostianets is the largest city that was liberated by Ukrainian forces from prolonged occupation. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces! Glory 93 Kholodnyi Yar Brigade!
People's Deputy Honcharenko said that today our army in the Sumy region, in addition to Trostianets, liberated the settlements of Slavhorod and Krasnopillia!
Chernihiv region
In the afternoon, near the village of Vyshneve in the Chernihiv region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were struck by clusters of Russian equipment and ammunition depots. The information was confirmed by the North Operational Command. The fire in the warehouse lasted 5 hours, shells exploded. Among other things, they destroyed hostile means of electronic warfare, which suppressed the signal of state broadcasters. Ukrainian radio broadcasting resumed. The local population continues to resist Russian troops.
Western Ukraine
17:00 – Three powerful explosions from Kryvchytsi erupted near Lviv, said the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozytskyi. After the Russian rocket attack, the oil depot burns down. According to preliminary data, 5 people sought help from a rocket attack on Lviv.
19:00 – Andrii Sadovyi announced another blow to Lviv! The windows of one of the schools near the place of the airstrike were broken by a shock wave. No one was injured.
Mykhailo Podoliak reacted to the shelling of Lviv. "Lviv. Massive missile strikes. Another big Ukrainian city. With great historical value. Near the border. Embassies of many countries are inside the city. But the barbarians of Russia are not interested in anything: no history, no heritage, no foreign diplomatic missions. Will Europe continue to 'pacify'?" wrote the adviser to the Head of the Office of the President.
21:45 – In the Rivne region, a Russian missile hit the Dubno oil depot. This was stated by the head of the regional state administration Vitalii Koval. That is, the horde continues to systematically beat Ukrainian oil depots, destroying fuel reserves.
Despite numerous requests and a ban on the explosions in Lviv, a lot of Western media broadcast live. For the sake of likes and hype, foreign journalists are willing to risk human lives.
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On the night of March 27, Ukraine will switch to summertime. So don't forget to move the hands of the clock 1 hour forward. Even closer to the expected victory!
We will cope with it, Ukrainians!
