Monday, March 25

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A woman holds a poster during a protest by families of Ukrainian prisoners of war on March 24, 2024 in Kyiv. Relatives and friends of the soldiers came to draw attention to the military who are still in Russian captivity. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Ukraine confirms striking 2 large Russian landing ships in occupied Crimea. Ukraine struck two Russian Ropucha-class landing ships, “Yamal” and “Azov,” in occupied Crimea in the late hours of March 23, Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed on March 24.

Zelensky: Russia launched nearly 190 missiles, 140 drones at Ukraine in last week. Russia launched close to 190 missiles, 140 Shahed drones, and 700 aerial bombs at Ukraine over the last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 24.

Southern Command: Russia almost doubled FPV drone attacks. Russian forces deployed 234 FPV drones in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts over the past day.

Naftogaz: Ukraine’s gas supply not impacted by Russian strike. The facility, operated by Naftogaz’s subsidiary Ukrtransgaz, will require repairs to its surface infrastructure, but the attack did not impede its operations due to the gas being stored deep underground, Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov noted.

Mayor: Russian attacks destroy thermal power plant, all substations in Kharkiv. He also said that the electricity supply has been restored for approximately 40% of Kharkiv residents. Meanwhile, heating has been restored in 60% of the buildings, and almost all of them have water supply.

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Polish Operational Command: Shooting down Russian missile over Poland posed risk to civilians. The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine and decided not to down the it.

Border Guard: Polish farmers completely block Ukrainian trucks at 2 border crossings. About 500 trucks are stuck in line at three border checkpoints amid Polish farmers’ ongoing blockade to protest against EU’s cheap Ukrainain food imports that they say prompt unfair competition, State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on March 24.

Naftogaz: Energy facilities in western Ukraine suffer damage during Russia’s overnight attack. A number of energy facilities in western Ukraine had suffered damage during Russia’s major overnight strike targeting critical infrastructure, state oil and gas monopoly’s CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov said on March 24.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms striking 2 large Russian landing ships; Russia launches major attack on energy system

Ukraine struck two Russian Ropucha-class landing ships, “Yamal” and “Azov,” in occupied Crimea in the late hours of March 23,  Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed on March 24. The attack also hit some Black Sea Fleet infrastructure in Crimea and a Russian military communication center, the Ukrainian military said.

Photo: Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

Human cost of war

3 injured in attack on Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces fired at a residential building at 9.30 a.m. injuring two women. The attack was followed by an airstrike in the same district an hour later which injured a 70-year-old man.

General Staff: Russia has lost 436,750 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. This number includes 990 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on March 24.

Crime of crimes: Is Russia trying to destroy the Ukrainian nation?

International response

Senior US lawmaker anticipates Ukraine aid bill to be brought to the floor after Easter. The Republican who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Michael McCaul, said on March 24 that he anticipates Speaker Mike Johnson to introduce a Ukraine aid bill after Easter, even though it may pose a risk of losing support for a leadership vote against him.

Warsaw to ‘demand explanations’ from Moscow after Russian missile entered Polish airspace. The Russian cruise missile entered Poland’s airspace for 39 seconds, Jacek Siewiera, chief of Poland’s National Security Bureau, said on X on March 24. He also said the NATO allies had been briefed about yet another violation of the NATO border by a Russian cruise missile.

Media: Hungarian FM says ending Russia-Ukraine war in Hungary’s fundamental interest. Ending the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible and initiating peace talks is in Hungary’s fundamental interest because the war “brings the nightmare of a third world war closer” each day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on March 24.

In other news

ISIS releases bodycam footage of Moscow terrorist attack. The ISIS footage shows the gunmen recording themselves as they pursue people through the lobby of the Crocus City Hall, firing at them from close range with assault weapons.

ISW: Russian officials propose more anti-migrant policies in response to Moscow shooting. Russian State Duma lawmaker Mikhail Sheremet suggested implementing restrictions on migrant entry into Russia in response to the March 22 Crocus City Hall attack. Sheremet claimed that Western intelligence agencies were potentially exploiting migrants to orchestrate terrorist activities within Russia, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment.

Russia charges 4 people over Moscow terrorist attack. Russia has indicted four men in relation to the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in a Moscow suburb on March 22 that left at least 137 people dead.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Asami Terajima, Oleg Sukhov, Alexander Khrebet, Lili Bivings, Dominic Culverwell, and Olena Goncharova.

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