Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] A complete ceasefire in Ukraine could be achieved “very soon.” US President Donald Trump said this on March 21, speaking to journalists in the Oval Office of the White House.
“I think that very soon we will achieve a complete ceasefire, and then we will reach an agreement,” he said.
Not exactly the same as imminent — more hopeful than guaranteed, it seems to me. But still considerably better than they had before.
According to him, a ceasefire has already been achieved in some areas of the front.
Trump also added that negotiations on the division of territories between Moscow and Kyiv are taking place “right now.”
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on March 20, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov announced that consultations between Russia and the United States would take place on March 24 in Riyadh.
On March 18, US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that Moscow and Washington would need to work out some details on the ceasefire in Ukraine during upcoming talks.
On March 18, during a conversation with Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he supports a peaceful settlement in Ukraine and is ready to carefully work through possible options. At the same time, it is imperative to take into account the need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, as well as Russia's legitimate security interests. The leaders agreed on the need to stop mutual strikes by the parties to the conflict on energy facilities. The head of the Russian state gave the military the corresponding order.
Nevertheless, the Kiev regime has not stopped attacks on Russian energy facilities. As the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov noted, this indicates Kiev's unwillingness to end the armed conflict and the lack of negotiability of Vladimir Zelensky and his team.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22.50 The number of victims as a result of the attack on Zaporizhia has grown to five people. One person died. This was reported by the head of the Zaporizhia OVA Ivan Fedorov. "The attack by Russians on Zaporizhia took the life of one person. Rescuers have just pulled the body of a woman from under the rubble of a destroyed house," he said. According to Fedorov, three people wounded as a result of the shelling are in serious condition, two are in moderate condition. Doctors are providing them with all the necessary assistance.
21.57 Russian troops attack Zaporizhia. Three casualties are known. This was reported on the evening of March 21 by the head of the Zaporizhia OVA Ivan Fedorov. According to him, private homes and multi-story buildings in the city were damaged. Detailed information is being established.
21.12 Defense forces destroyed the Russian BM-27 Uragan multiple launch rocket system heading to the firing line. This was reported by the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which published a video . It is noted that thanks to the adjustment of the operators of the 14th separate regiment of the SBS UAS, the Ukrainian rocket artillery delivered a precise strike with a cluster warhead. The Uragan's ammunition detonated. According to preliminary data, two invaders who were part of the system's crew were destroyed.
20:58 Germany's allocation of an additional three billion euros in military aid to Ukraine increases the overall volume of support and makes its planning possible, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
19.48 Drones attacked the Engels airfield in the Saratov region of the Russian Federation on the night of March 20. Satellite images of the aftermath of the strike appeared online, published by a Radio Liberty project called Schemes.
17:55 Ukraine maintains "logical relations" with the UN, but does not view the organization as an alternative to a military contingent or security guarantees. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel in Kyiv.
17.29 At least two crew members of a Tu-95MS bomber were killed in an attack on the Russian strategic aviation airbase Engels in the Saratov region. This was reported by the Telegram channel Krymsky Veter, which published a photo of the liquidated Russians.
17.24 At the attacked Neftetrans oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya (Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation), the third oil tank exploded . Eyewitnesses reported this on March 21, according to the TG channel ASTRA. It is noted that thick smoke poured out, and black pieces flew into the air. The interlocutors claim that the facility is completely on fire. According to sources, firefighters no longer have control over the fire.
17.02 Since the beginning of the day, 68 combat clashes have occurred on the front in 11 directions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the details in the operational summary.
16:38 Law enforcement officers have eliminated 5 more schemes for evading mobilization and illegal travel abroad by men of draft age. As a result of complex measures, 10 organizers of transactions offering their services for 5-13 thousand US dollars have been detained in different regions of Ukraine. This was reported by the SBU on March 21.
16:31 Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system with ammunition in one of the key eastern directions of the front. This was reported by the operational-strategic group of forces (OSGV) Khortytsia.
15.57 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Czech President Petr Pavel visited Moshchun in the Kyiv region on the anniversary of its liberation from Russian occupiers. The leaders honored the memory of the Ukrainian defenders who died during the defense and liberation of Moshchun in 2022. This was reported on the website of the head of state.
15:53 Ukraine views the next meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia as bilateral. Contacts with Russians are not envisaged. This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhyi at a briefing. This was his response to the statement by US Presidential Special Representative to Ukraine Keith Kellogg that the Americans will send teams to Saudi Arabia for indirect negotiations with Ukraine and Russia.
15.33 A car with Russian officers exploded in the temporarily occupied city of Skadovsk in the Kherson region. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense.
15.28 At night, Russian military attacked Berislav with FPV drones. As a result of the strike , five police officers were injured , they were diagnosed with concussions and debris wounds, their lives are not in danger. A police service car was destroyed.
14.53 Currently, a list of countries ready to send military contingents to Ukraine has already been formed. The issue is being discussed at the level of the General Staffs regarding numbers and locations. This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhyi during a briefing.
14:01 Russian invaders are trying to reach advantageous heights in the Orekhov direction in order to create a threat to Zaporizhia and other populated areas. This was stated by the spokesman for the Defense Forces of the South, Vladislav Voloshin, on air at the telethon. According to him, the enemy is trying to reach a line from where it will be able to fire large-caliber artillery at the eastern and southern suburbs of Zaporizhia.
13.59 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed doubts in Brussels about the large number of meetings of various formats regarding Ukraine. According to him, they have not yet led to progress, reports Polish TV channel TVP Info.
13.43 Russian invaders attacked three cities in the Donetsk region, resulting in civilian casualties. The head of the Donetsk OVA Vadim Filashkin reported in more detail .
13.05 On Friday night, the Russians attacked civilian infrastructure in Odessa and five other regions of Ukraine, but at the same time cynically lied that they were observing agreements with the United States. The corresponding conclusion can be drawn from the statement of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a briefing.
12:29 After another Russian massive attack on Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on partners to increase pressure on Russia. He wrote about this on Telegram .
12:25 In 2025, the number of appeals and cases of rights violations during mobilization events by TCC workers increased, and this trend continues. This was stated by Ombudsman Lubinets.
"In total, over these 2.5 months, we have received more than 40 individual appeals regarding violations in the Kharkiv region: refusal to admit lawyers, use of force, weapons and other special means, refusal to accept documents and other violations," he said.
The human rights ombudsman also noted that at least three videos have recently been posted in the media where cyclists are hit by a car, and then people in uniform use force and these cyclists are put into cars.
"I would like to note that such actions are unacceptable and require a response," Lubinets said.
12:03 The Russian attack on the gas transportation system (GTS) in Sudzha is one of the first information operations aimed at accusing Ukraine of disrupting the ceasefire. This was reported by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) of the National Security and Defense Council Andriy Kovalenko.
1 1:41 In Kiev, law enforcement officers detained a 19-year-old young man who, on orders from Russian special services, tried to set fire to a bank branch in the Dniprovskyi district of the capital. This was reported by the National Police.
11:20 The leaders of the EU countries did not agree on 5 billion euros for ammunition for Ukraine. Bloomberg reported this yesterday, citing sources. Italy and France spoke out against it, believing that work still needs to be done on the initiative, the sources claim.
10:16 The Security Service detained a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Ternopil, whom the Russians recruited to blow her up along with explosives near the local police department.
Russian special services "noticed" the girl when she was looking for quick money in Telegram channels. In order to attract her to cooperate, the Russians "hacked" her phone. They blackmailed the girl and threatened to leak explicit photos of the minor on the Internet.
09:55 At night, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 214 Shahed-type attack drones and various types of drone imitators. Air defense forces shot down 114 Russian drones, 81 drone imitators did not reach their targets (location was lost)
The Russian attack affected Odessa, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy and Kyiv regions.
09:30 Russia, with the aim of discrediting Ukraine, shelled the Sudzha gas metering station in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation with artillery; the Defense Forces were not involved. This was stated by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"The Russian Federation is stepping up its discrediting campaign against Ukraine. Thus, the enemy accused our Defense Forces of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station. These accusations are unfounded," the statement said.
The military recalled that, in particular, last summer the station in Sudzha was bombed with guided aerial bombs, and three days ago the Russians again hit it with guided bombs.
09:20 Czech President Peter Pavel arrived in Ukraine on a visit, in particular he visited Odessa, which was under a massive drone attack by Russia on the night of March 21. The Ukrainian and Czech sides discussed key issues of shipping safety, demining and the restoration of Ukraine.
08:35 Russian troops launched 47 drones at Kiev at night. Air defense forces on the approaches to the capital shot down 27 drones. The rest were lost or left the airspace.
According to preliminary information, no damage or casualties were reported on the territory of Kiev.
08:20 Over the past 24 hours, 166 combat clashes were recorded on the front. In the Pokrovsk direction alone, Ukrainian defenders stopped 53 assault actions by Russian invaders.
07:39 The press service of the State Emergency Service published photos and videos of large-scale fires as a result of the Russian drone attack on Odessa on the evening of March 20.
Large-scale fires broke out, a shopping center and stores were burning, and a multi-story building was damaged.
According to preliminary information, three teenagers were injured," the rescuers noted.
07:15 As of March 21, 2025, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 900,800 people (+1,330 per day).
01:17 Hungary has proposed creating a "buffer zone" between Russia and the European Union's defense structures, said Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs Janos Bocka. He noted that the creation of such a zone is only possible by agreement between the United States and Russia, otherwise Ukraine will remain a conflict zone. The politician also warned that any actions by the United States or the EU in Ukraine without Vladimir Putin's approval "are in themselves a source of conflict."
00:48 Czech President Petr Pavel said during a press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu in Chisinau that as a result of the negotiations, Ukraine may have to make certain compromises, including territorial ones.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Ukrainian Armed Forces repel Russian attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance 15 times near the settlements of Zelenoe Pole, Elizavetovka, Udachnoye, Preobrazhenka, Bogdanovka and Andreyevka. One combat clash continues.
Since the beginning of the day, 68 combat clashes have occurred on the front. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an operational report on Friday, March 21.
In the Kharkov direction, the enemy once attempted to attack in the Volchansk area.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy twice attempted to advance in the areas of Peschanoye and Kruglyakovka. The enemy's advances were successfully repelled.
In the Liman direction , 12 armed clashes occurred in the areas of the settlements of Kopanki, Novomikhaylovka, Novoye, Zelenaya Dolina, Yampolovka, Torskoye and Ivanovka. Four armed clashes are ongoing.
In the Seversky direction, our defenders repelled one enemy attack in the Belogorovka area. One armed clash is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy attacked three times in the areas of Chasovy Yar, Andreyevka and in the direction of Predtechino. The Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled all attacks.
In the Toretsk direction, the invaders attacked 13 times in the areas of Dachnoye, Druzhba and Toretsk. Four clashes are still ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy attempted to advance 15 times near the settlements of Zelenoe Pole, Elizavetovka, Udachnoye, Preobrazhenka, Bogdanovka and Andreyevka. One combat clash continues.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, the aggressor attacked five times in the areas of Constantinople and Dneproenergiya. One combat clash continues to this day.
In the Gulyai-Polye direction, our defenders repelled one attack in the Novoselki area.
In the Dnieper direction, the enemy once unsuccessfully attempted to attack the positions of our troops.
In Kursk region our defenders are repelling one attack of the invaders. At present 13 clashes have been recorded there.
Let us remind you that Russia's losses have exceeded 900 thousand killed and wounded since the beginning of the war. In just one day on March 20, more than 1,300 Russians were killed.
[EngMilRu] From 15 to 21 March 2025, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 13 group strikes by high-precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, which damaged infrastructure of military airfields, the assembly workshop, storage and training sites of strike drones, ammunition depots as well as temporary deployment areas of nationalists and Ukrainian armed formations.
Over the past week, units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to eliminate AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.
As a result of the decisive actions, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation liberated Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina.
Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles strikes, and artillery hit manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an air assault brigade, a naval infantry brigade, and two territorial defence brigades.
In Kharkov and Belgorod directions, units of two mechanised brigades and two assault regiments of the AFU were hit.
During the week in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces, the AFU losses amounted to over 2,295 troops, 16 tanks, and 58 armoured fighting vehicles. Russian troops destroyed 130 motor vehicles, 30 field artillery guns, six ammunition depots, and five electronic and counter-battery warfare stations.
The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the three mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, an assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,670 troops, 19 armoured fighting vehicles including a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and seven U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers. The enemy lost 44 motor vehicles, 28 field artillery guns, ten EW stations, and 11 field artillery guns.
The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian units engaged formations of five mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, mountain assault brigade, an assault brigade, an airmobile brigade, a drone brigade of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades.
The AFU lost up to 1,615 troops, two tanks, and seven armoured fighting vehicles including three U.S.-made M-113 armoured personnel carriers during the week. Russian troops eliminated 34 motor vehicles, 14 field artillery guns, two Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 multiple rocket launcher systems, six field ammunition depots, and two electronic warfare stations.
The Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU, a naval infantry brigade, and a national guard brigade.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 3,235 troops, 30 armoured fighting vehicles including two Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, three M-113 armoured personnel carriers, and two U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicles. Russian elements engaged 46 motor vehicles, 26 artillery guns, and three electronic warfare stations.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Three mechanised brigades, two motorised infantry brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, a naval infantry brigade, and three territorial defence brigades were defeated.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,040 troops, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, and 21 field artillery guns including four Western-made guns.
The units of the Dnepr Group liberated Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region) as a result of active actions.
Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, a mountain assault brigade, and four coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The AFU losses amounted to more than 510 troops, 32 motor vehicles, and six field artillery guns. Nine electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots have been eliminated.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down a MiG-29 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force in a dog fight.
Over the past week, air defence units have destroyed 28 JDAM guided bombs and seven U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles as well as 1,113 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, including 536 outside the special military operation.
??In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy lost 658 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 47,719 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,420 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,530 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,788 field artillery guns and mortars, 33,187 units of support military vehicles.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region.
Units of the Sever Group of Forces hit formations of two mechanised brigades, an air assault brigade, a naval infantry brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Gogolevka, Gornal, and Oleshnya.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Guyevo as well as Alekseyevka, Basovka, Belovody, Varachino, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka, Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Ivolzhanskoye, Loknya, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Novaya Setch, Novenkoye, Obody, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region).
Over 240 Ukrainian troops, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and eight mortars have been neutralised during the day. Three AFU servicemen surrendered.
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to: more than 69,120 troops, 400 tanks, 322 infantry fighting vehicles, 289 armoured personnel carriers, 2,210 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,503 motor vehicles, 568 artillery guns, 52 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 120 EW stations, 18 counter-battery warfare radars, ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.
The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:37 Russian Orion strike drone continues to dominate border areas, destroying Ukrainian occupiers’ equipment —video. 20:55 Destruction of a Ukrainian armored vehicle and the position of Ukrainian Armed Forces drone operators in the Toretsk direction —video.
20:23 Russian Ministry of Defense:
From 16:50 to 17:10 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the territory of the Belgorod region.
19:35 Servicemen of the 77th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the "Southern" group of troops shot down Ukrainian hexacopter "Baba Yaga" and destroyed the enemy's combat armored vehicle.
17:57 ZALA Lancet systems prevent Ukrainian Krab self-propelled howitzers from reaching combat positions —video.
17:26 Arrival of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' air traffic control system in the settlement of Berestok in the Konstantinovsky direction —video.
16:50 Drone operators of the Zapad group of forces destroyed a group of militants of the nationalist battalion Azov in the area of the settlement of Nadiya in the LPR —video.
16:22 During aerial reconnaissance in the Sumy region, our UAV operators noticed a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who fled from the Kursk border area. The enemy used a bush for camouflage —video.
15:00 Ukrainian military tried to escape from the territory of the Kursk region, but was spotted by Russian UAV operators.
13:55 From March 15 to 21, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted thirteen group strikes with high-precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, which resulted in the destruction of the infrastructure of military airfields, assembly shops, storage and training sites for operators of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots, as well as temporary deployment points of nationalists and Ukrainian armed formations.
13:25 In the special operation zone took place award ceremony for servicemen of the motorized rifle unit of the Center group of forces.
13:00 From 10:00 to 11:00 Moscow time by air defense systems on duty destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the territory of the Belgorod region.
12:47 FPV drone operators of the reconnaissance battalion of the "Southern" group of troops destroyed three UAV control points in the area of the settlement of Grigorovka.
12:30 The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case in connection with the explosion of the Sudzha gas distribution station by Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen.
11:50 The crew of the engineering system "Zemledeliye" of the "West" group remotely mined the rear area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The engineers helped to disrupt the enemy's rotation in the Khar'kov region, -video.
11:20 Ukrainian Armed Forces using a drone inflicted strike on Valuysky District. A civilian was injured.
In the village of Babka, a drone was suppressed by the electronic warfare system, and as a result of its detonation on the ground, a man was injured. The victim with a mine-explosive injury and a blind shrapnel wound to the back was taken by passing transport to the Urazovskaya Central District Hospital. Hospitalization was not required, treatment will continue on an outpatient basis. In addition, the GAZelle was cut by shrapnel.
11:05 Russian Ka-52 with ATGM burned an enemy armored fighting vehicle on the Belgorod border.
The enemy remains active in the border area despite losses.
10:51 In absentia taken out sentence of Georgian citizen who trained mercenaries and participated in military operations on the side of Ukraine
The evidence collected by the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation was found by the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic to be sufficient to sentence (in absentia) Georgian citizen Mikhail Kamkhadze. He was found guilty of committing crimes under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict) and Part 1 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (training a mercenary, as well as his use in an armed conflict).
9:51 Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled civilian infrastructure in Nova Kakhovka
"As a result of the shelling, the gas pipeline was damaged, gas supply to five subscribers of an apartment building was cut off. Three bandages were applied," reported in the Administration of Novaya Kakhovka District.
9:46 Armed Forces of Ukraine continue terror of the civilian infrastructure of the left bank of the Kherson region
Yesterday afternoon, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired 38 rounds from barrel artillery at populated areas of the Kherson region of the Russian Federation:
During the night, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued artillery terror in the Kherson region, firing a total of 20 rounds from barrel artillery. The following were subjected to shelling: Kakhovka, Kozachi Lagerya, Korsunka, Proletarka.
8:45 Around 07.10 Moscow time by air defense systems on duty destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
8:15 Special forces soldiers have discovered another use of heavy Baba Yaga drones by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which tried in every way to expose the movement points of the Russian Armed Forces soldiers and drop ammunition on them.
The special forces unit quickly passed on information about the drones to their comrades from the 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade, who promptly destroyed them in the air, depriving the Ukrainian militants of expensive and important equipment, as well as the ability to adjust fire,video.
7:44 In the DPR in 24 hours three civilians suffered wounds from drone attacks. One of them died.
On the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway, Ukrainian drones attacked two civilian vehicles - one man was killed, one was injured.
In Kurakhovo, a civilian was blown up by an explosive device.
In total, more than fifty munitions were dropped on civilian targets in the DPR in one day.
7:07 During the past night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 43 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles:
- 34 UAVs over the territory of the Volgograd region,
- four UAVs over the territory of the Rostov region,
- four UAVs over the territory of the Kursk region,
- one UAV over the territory of the Belgorod region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Mikhail Zakharov
[REGNUM] On the night of March 20-21, videos appeared on the Internet of a huge flame at the Sudzha gas measuring station (GIS), which was visible for tens of kilometers - even from Kursk.
Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, but the facility itself was significantly damaged. And this was not an accidental fire - the facility was deliberately hit from the Ukrainian side.
THEY TRIED TO BLAME RUSSIA
The details of the incident were soon published by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD RF). According to our military department, the Ukrainian troops attacked the GIS at approximately midnight, and their blowing up of the facility was deliberate and purposeful.
In addition, they explained that Sudzha had been under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since August 7, 2024, and all this time the Ukrainian side had been using the civilian facility for military purposes as one of its “safe” logistics points.
On the afternoon of March 21, it became known that the Investigative Committee of Russia (IC RF) opened a criminal case regarding the attack on the GIS, classifying the explosion as a terrorist act.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian side, as usual, tried to shift the blame to Russia: allegedly, our troops "themselves fired" at the station in order to conduct some kind of " discrediting campaign." At least, this is what the Telegram channel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says.
It is Ukraine that is the obvious culprit of the explosion at the gas measuring station in Sudzha, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on March 21. “ The actions of the Kiev regime are well known to everyone from numerous media reports. Corresponding footage is also being published,” the Kremlin spokesman added, calling Kiev’s claims that Russia itself shelled the GIS “absurd.”
THERE WILL BE NO TRANSIT
The Sudzha GIS is located right on the border of the Kursk region with the Sumy region of Ukraine. Until recently, a large — and the only after May 2022 — corridor for Russian gas supplies to Europe passed through it. Back in October last year, it was reported that Gazprom was supplying 42.1 million cubic meters of blue fuel per day through the Sudzha gas metering equipment.
However, from January 1, 2025, the transit was stopped, because the application for it was zero, as evidenced by the data of the operator of the Ukrainian GTS. At the same time, the pipe was under pressure, it contained gas that remained after the suspension of transportation - it burned with that same bright torch as a result of the attack.
Experts have already begun assessing the consequences of this terrorist attack, but it is still unclear how soon the facility will be repaired — and how recoverable it is. In a commentary for IA Regnum, Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and the National Energy Security Fund, notes that the GIS could have been repaired. According to him, the night fire occurred on the linear part of the gas pipelines, which is relatively easy to repair.
"It would be possible to simply replace the damaged sections within a few weeks. Like when there are gas pipeline ruptures, accidents, the linear part is replaced. If only there was a desire," the expert says. However, there are other, less optimistic opinions of specialists, and it is too early to name specific dates.
But it is unlikely that there is much interest in repairing the GIS, Yushkov believes: Russia does not need this measuring station for domestic gas supply, and Ukraine does not intend to pump gas through this gas pipeline.
But why then did Kyiv need to destroy the gas infrastructure?
According to Igor Yushkov, this, on the one hand, could be a signal from Slovakia and Hungary, which are demanding that Ukraine resume gas transit, threatening either not to extend Russian sanctions at the EU level or to block European aid to Ukraine from Kyiv.
However, it is significant that Ukraine is blowing up energy infrastructure after literally the day before it declared that it also supported the idea of stopping strikes on such facilities, he notes.
According to the expert, Zelensky's team does not benefit from stopping the military actions; they benefit from the current situation, when the US and the Europeans " have had a bit of a falling out ". It turns out that Ukraine, on the one hand, can constantly make promises to the Americans, continuing to receive aid from them, and on the other, ask Europe for more aid - after all, the US allegedly abandoned Kiev.
“Plus, you can also blame Russia for this, saying that it was Russia itself that blew up the gas pipeline, that it was a provocation on the part of Russia, and so on,” Yushkov continues, speaking about the reasons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strike on Sudzha. “And, accordingly, you kind of pushed all this onto Russia, and on the other hand, you kind of disrupted the peace talks.”
A number of experts also express the opinion that the attack on Sudzha could have been carried out by radicals from the national battalions who refused to obey the Kyiv authorities, in particular the remaining core of Azov*, which currently staffs a number of Ukrainian units. It is no secret that the nationalists who got out of hand often acted at their own discretion, not listening to direct orders from Kyiv politicians.
What these Ukrainian “irreconcilables” are like is well known to the Americans, who have no illusions about the ability of this “contingent” to negotiate.
After all, it was during Trump's last term that the Americans officially recognized Azov* as extremists, terrorists, and even anti-Semites. And before the start of the SVO, all contacts with Azov were prohibited for American official bodies. The situation changed in 2022.
Since then, Azov has already been disbanded, but its core remains "in business." Zelensky plans to appoint the certified Nazi, Azov commander Andriy Biletsky, as commander of the 3rd Army Corps. Another National Battalion member, Denis Prokopenko, is about to be appointed commander of the 12th Army Corps of the National Guard.
This nationalist elite does not care a fig about the higher command and may well act in its own interests. Which, however, does not change the state of affairs that Russia is talking about: Kyiv cannot be trusted. And it is absolutely unimportant whether the undermining of "Suja" was sanctioned from above, or whether it was the result of arbitrary action by individual units.
THE POLITICAL DIMENSION OF SUJA
Indeed, the attack on Sudzha occurred at a time when the leaders of Russia and the United States are actively working together to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian crisis. Let us recall that after a conversation with the head of the White House Donald Trump on March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave our military an order to immediately cease any strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days.
It should be noted that earlier, despite all assurances from Kiev about the desire to cease fire, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya in Krasnodar Krai on the night of March 19, just a few hours after Putin and Trump spoke. The attack caused a major fire at the energy infrastructure facility.
As Dmitry Peskov stated on March 21, the Kiev regime’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including the blowing up of the Sudzha GIS, clearly demonstrate the price of assurances from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team about Kiev’s desire for peace.
"Therefore, everyone can see how much one can trust Zelensky's word and the word of other representatives of the Kiev regime," Peskov noted. "This, by the way, is something we have repeatedly warned our interlocutors about."
Our military department also said that what happened at the GIS was a deliberate provocation by Kiev. “ It should be considered in the general series of recent strikes on the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation in order to discredit the peace initiatives of the US President,” the Russian Defense Ministry explained.
According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime has already violated the ceasefire proposed by the US with the attack on Sudzha. Now, the diplomat says, the question is how Washington will continue to manage the " crazed terrorist scum."
And another question remains: how in such a situation can Moscow in principle agree on anything with the Kiev regime, be it a cessation of strikes on energy facilities or a ceasefire? After all, Ukraine, even against the backdrop of an agreement to refrain from strikes on energy, is deliberately destroying infrastructure, and is also trying to present this as an " example of Russia's inability to negotiate."
THE FATE OF PEACE TALKS
As political scientist Dmitry Solonnikov said in an interview with IA Regnum, Kiev and the Western countries that support it have never taken any positive steps towards a real settlement of the military conflict, and the idea of limiting strikes is the Russian position.
“The task of Western Europe, Ukraine – now the US has left this coalition, but there are also supporters of this in the US – is to inflict a military defeat on Russia, if not now, then after some time,” says Solonnikov.
According to the expert, if the agreement that the United States is talking about is signed - and it is primarily needed by the United States and needed by Ukraine as a respite in the conflict - then after signing, the parties will most likely adhere to it.
“Again, not excluding frequent provocations, as is happening now on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia - despite the fact that military actions have ended and a peace treaty is being prepared, but shelling occurs periodically,” our interlocutor adds.
Until nothing is signed, Solonnikov notes, Ukraine will continue to conduct full-scale military operations against infrastructure inside Russia and in the border area. “Everything will continue as it was. Their position is to force a ceasefire, to demonstrate their capabilities to Russia, and no one has changed this scenario,” the expert continues.
"And then, if we talk about signing agreements, it is a question of pressure from the United States on both sides, both Russian and Ukrainian. As Donald Trump has already said, if our position is not agreed upon, we will apply the most severe sanctions," Dmitry Solonnikov sums up. "In fact, they can apply the most severe sanctions to both Ukraine and Russia if their position is not agreed upon. Therefore, they will continue to push."
The US response to Ukraine's ongoing strikes on Russian energy facilities should clearly demonstrate how likely President Trump's peace initiatives really are to be realized.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov inspected the Russian troop grouping “Center” and set tasks for its further actions. This was reported on March 21 by the Russian Defense Ministry.
"The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov inspected the progress of combat missions by the formations and military units of the combined arms army of the Center group of forces operating in the Red Army direction in the zone of the special military operation," the department reported.
It is specified that during the inspection, the Chief of the General Staff heard reports from the army commander, unit commanders and other officials on the performance of combat missions by Russian military personnel in the group’s area of responsibility.
“At the end of the work, the Chief of the General Staff summed up the interim results with the command of the Center group of forces and set tasks for further actions,” the statement said.
Gerasimov also presented state awards to the most distinguished military personnel during the liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), thanking them for their courage and valor in carrying out combat missions.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, earlier, on March 21, a crew of the TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower system of the Russian troop group Center destroyed a stronghold of Ukrainian formations in the Red Army direction with precise fire. It was noted that the strikes were carried out from a distance of 12 km.
[ZeroHedge] With losses stacking up -- including the sudden forfeiture of 500 square miles of territory once held in Russia's Kursk region -- Ukraine's military leadership announced on Tuesday that it's deploying machine-gun-equipped robots to the front lines. "The main task of ground robots is to reinforce our units and replace soldiers in the most dangerous areas," said the ministry.
News of the deployment of an unspecified number of these weapon platforms comes as Ukraine continues to struggle with recruiting and conscription. In February, Ukraine launched a new effort aimed at recruiting 18- to 24-year-olds. While it strikes Americans as odd, Ukraine does not draft those who are under age 25. The new recruiting campaign features bonuses roughly equivalent to $24,000, along with mortgage subsidies and free college education. Recruits also win the privilege of traveling abroad -- something that's currently denied to Ukrainian men between 18 and 60. Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian military's ongoing manpower crisis, robots are understandably appealing.
The Ukraine defense ministry touted the Lyut's versatility. "It is designed to perform a wide range of tasks in difficult conditions. In particular, to conduct surveillance and fire support of the actions of our units," the ministry said in its announcement, adding that the official adoption of the equipment comes after testing in "real combat conditions." Specifically, the ministry said the testing took place in Kursk. With Ukraine's diversionary gambit there having now evolved into a full-on failure, that isn't exactly confidence-inspiring.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
