Monday, March 13

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A Ukrainian serviceman makes a “peace” sign as he heads toward the frontline city of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on March 11, 2023. (Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

Georgian PM calls on Ukrainian leadership not to ‘interfere’ in Georgian politics. Irakli Garibashvili called the appeals of Ukrainian politicians, including Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko and chief of the Servant of the People parliamentary bloc David Arakhamia, to stand with democratic values a “direct intervention” in Georgia’s internal politics.

Saakashvili claims he was poisoned, says he is ‘close to death.’ Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told Sky News he was poisoned in prison, adding that he is at risk of death. “I am in bed all the time, my bones are disintegrating and it gives excruciating pain,” he told Sky News.

SBU identifies soldier executed by Russia after saying ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ The Security Service of Ukraine reported on March 12 that the results of an investigation showed that the serviceman seen in a widely-shared video, executed by his captors after saying the patriotic salute “Glory to Ukraine!”, was Oleksandr Matsievskyi.

Belarus training grounds ready to host additional forces, Ukrainian top general says. The Commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces, Serhii Naev, stated that Belarus might be preparing to host additional forces from Russia. “Now there is information that tent camps were left in Belarus at four training grounds meant to host additional forces,” said Naev.

Military: Low risk of Russia invading Ukraine from Belarus. The risk of Russian forces launching a renewed ground offensive from Belarus against Ukraine is “low” at the moment, Lieutenant General Serhiy Naiev said on March 12.

Stand with the Kyiv Independent. Become a member today.

ISW: No confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. On March 11, Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesperson for the eastern grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that Russian forces lost more than 500 troops over the past day in Bakhmut. The casualties included 221 killed and 314 wounded, according to Cherevaty.

Ukrainian betting giant Parimatch suspends business due to government crackdown. According to a company statement posted on March 12, Parimatch is now “looking for a legal mechanism” to return all money to customers, as well as to suspend all partnership contracts and lay off employees.

Teenager injured in Mykolaiv Oblast following explosion. A 13-year-old boy from the village of Liubomyrivka has been injured after stepping on an unidentified explosive object, Mykolaiv Oblast police chief Serhii Shaikhet reported on March 13 on Telegram.

National Resistance Center: Partisans destroy railway track in Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast. Members of the Atesh partisan movement blew up the railway track between the occupied settlements of Abrikosivka and Radensk in Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast, the Ukrainian military’s National Resistance Center reported on March 12.

Ukraine war latest: Authorities identify defiant Ukrainian POW executed by Russians

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on March 12 confirmed the identity of a Ukrainian soldier executed by Russians after saying, “Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine),” a Ukrainian national salute.

Photo: Twitter

The human cost of Russia’s war

Police: Russia launches 48 attacks against civilians in Donetsk Oblast over the past day. The police said 15 communities, including Bakhmut, Konstyantynivka, and Avdiivka, came under Russian attack. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in his daily briefing that two civilians were killed and four were wounded over the past day.

Police: Man killed by explosion found in Kharkiv. The body of a 34-year-old man killed by an unidentified explosive object has been found near a garage in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, but the cause of death is still being established, the regional police reported on March 12, as cited by Interfax Ukraine.

Military spokesperson: 532 Russian casualties in Bakhmut area on March 12. Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Military Command, said on March 12 that during the past day, 239 Russian soldiers were recorded killed, and another 293 injured in the sector of the front line around Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

General Staff: Russia has lost 159,090 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. According to the report, Russia has also lost 3,466 tanks, 6,769 armored fighting vehicles, 5,348 vehicles and fuel tanks, 2,487 artillery systems, 493 multiple launch rocket systems, 259 air defense systems, 304 airplanes, 289 helicopters, 2,108 drones, and 18 boats.

International response

Red Cross visits Ukrainian POWs in occupied Donetsk and Horlivka. During the last month, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Ukrainian prisoners of war in occupied Donetsk and Horlivka, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated on March 11. The ICRC is now trying to reach prisoners in Luhansk Oblast.

Swiss President reiterates support for Ukraine arms ban. Swiss President Alain Berset reiterated his support for Switzerland’s ban on supplying Ukraine with Swiss-made weapons. “Swiss weapons must not be used in wars,” he told NZZ am Sonntag on March 12.

Media: Switzerland to dismantle outdated missiles instead of sending them to Ukraine. Switzerland is getting rid of outdated Rapier surface-to-air missiles that could have been used by Ukraine to shoot down low-flying targets, Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported on March 11.

Luxembourg sends 14 armored ambulances to Ukraine. Luxembourg has sent 14 armored ambulances to Ukraine, and they will soon arrive on the front line, Ukraine’s embassy in Belgium said on March 12 in a Facebook post.

Bild: Kuleba urges Germany to speed up ammunition supply, start pilot training. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed that the shortage of ammunition is Ukraine’s “number one problem” in its attempt to fight back Russian forces. The foreign minister added that German weapons manufacturers told him they were ready to deliver but were waiting for the government to sign the contracts. “So the problem lies with the government,” Kuleba said.

Zelensky speaks with new Czech president, asks for more military aid. Zelensky said that he discussed the front-line situation with former NATO general Petr Pavel, as well as Ukraine’s ongoing security needs.

In other news…

Police: Russia plans to organize riots to destabilize Moldova. Russian intelligence agencies are planning to destabilize the situation in Moldova through riots organized by Shor, a pro-Russian party, Viorel Cerneuteanu, head of Moldova’s National Police, said on March 10.

Lukashenko visits Iran to discuss bilateral relations. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Tehran, Iran, on March 12 to meet with Iranian leaders, according to Lukashenko’s official press service. They will reportedly discuss the countries’ bilateral relations with an “emphasis on trade and economic cooperation,” including industry, agriculture, transport, and logistics.

Want to get the news faster? Follow our website: kyivindependent.com.

Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Olga Rudenko, Sofiya Doig, Oleg Sukhov, Asami Terajima, Francis Farrell, Natalia Datskevych, Teah Pelechaty, Olena Goncharova, and Anastasiia Malenko.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider becoming our patron on Patreon or donating via GoFundMe. Start supporting independent journalism today.