Thursday, March 30
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A Ukrainian soldier and his girlfriend hug before she takes a train to Odesa, at the Kramatorsk train station on March 28, 2023. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
UK Defense Ministry: Ukraine pushes Wagner troops back from Bakhmut supply line. Ukraine’s military has likely pushed Russia’s Wagner Group fighters back from Donetsk Oblast’s 0506 route, which has become a critical supply line for Ukrainian defenders, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on March 29.
General Staff: Russian assault on Bakhmut continues with ‘partial success,’ Ukraine still holds the city. The Russian military has had “partial success” in its ongoing assault on Bakhmut, but the Ukrainian military still holds the embattled city, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on March 29.
Official: Russia trying to undermine trust in Ukraine’s decisions about Bakhmut. Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on March 29 that Russia is conducting a psychological operation to undermine Ukrainians’ trust in the leadership’s decisions regarding the defense of Bakhmut.
Air Force: Ukraine needs 4th-generation fighter jets, no time to waste. Ukraine urgently needs fourth-generation modern fighter jets, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on March 29.
Reznikov: Counteroffensive planned in several areas in spring. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview with Estonian television channel Err.ee that the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces is planning a counteroffensive in several areas in spring.
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Energoatom: IAEA chief arrives at Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has arrived at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine’s nuclear energy company Energoatom said on March 29.
Zelensky invites China’s Xi Jinping to Ukraine. “We are ready to see him here,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with the Associated Press published on March 29. “I want to speak with him.”
Putin admits sanctions may hurt Russia’s economy. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin admitted that Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine could negatively affect the country’s economy, as reported by the Russian state-controlled RIA Novosti agency on March 29.
Russia to launch drills of Yars ICBM systems. On March 29, the Russian defense ministry announced that strategic military training has begun with the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system, boasting a stated range of 11,000 kilometers.
National Bank of Ukraine revises GDP growth forecast for 2023. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) expects Ukraine’s GDP to grow by 1% in 2023, Forbes reported on March 29. The NBU originally forecasted a 0.3% growth in 2023.
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Ukraine’s state defense conglomerate UkrOboronProm transformed into stock company
The long-running drama over the reform of UkrOboronProm, Ukraine’s problematic state-owned defense production giant, is seeing a new round amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of the country.
Photo: Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
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The human cost of Russia’s war
Mine explosion kills 2, injures 2 in Kharkiv Oblast. Two people died and two were left injured from a mine explosion in Kharkiv Oblast, the State Emergency Service reported on March 29.
Governor: Russian shelling injures 3 in Podoly, Kharkiv Oblast. Three women, aged 70, 69, and 68, received shrapnel wounds as a result of the Russian shelling of Podoly village on March 29, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
Wallace: More than 220,000 casualties on Russian side. Over 220,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News, citing U.S. intelligence.
Opinions and insights
Yaroslav Azhnyuk: Why doesn’t Ukraine restrict use of the Russian Telegram app?
Almost every day, there is more news about restrictions on TikTok in Europe and the United States. Against this background, the silence in the Ukrainian media regarding Telegram is deafening.
Photo: Yaroslav Azhnyuk
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International response
Reuters: Germany to provide additional 12 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine. Germany has approved additional military aid for Ukraine worth 12 billion euros, Reuters reported on March 29. The aid package comprises 3.2 billion euros that will be distributed in 2023, as well as credit lines worth 8.8 billion euros that will be allocated between 2024 and 2032.
Media: Spain to deliver first Leopard tanks to Ukraine after Easter. Spain will send six out of ten Leopard 2A4 tanks it has pledged to Ukraine right after Easter, Spanish news outlet El Pais reported on March 29, citing its sources in the government.
Poland discusses creation of coalition to boycott 2024 Olympics over Russian participation. Poland is considering creating a wider coalition of countries to block the 2024 Olympics in Paris due a the decision by the International Olympic Committee not to exclude Russians and Belarusian athletes from the international sporting event.
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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Dinara Khalilova, Sofiya Doig, Toma Istomina, Francis Farrell, Teah Pelechaty, Kate Tsurkan, and Lili Bivings.
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