Friday, March 21
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A view of a destroyed hospital building after a Russian drone attack on March 19, 2025 in Krasnopillia, Sumy Oblast. On the night of March 19, two Russian drones attacked a medical facility in Sumy region. Rescuers evacuated patients and staff to a shelter — a total of 60 people. (Pavlo Zarva/Kordon.Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
‘Berlin Wall is not an option’ — Zelensky warns against dividing Ukrainian cities by contact line. “There are regions, there are cities and towns that are cut off by one or another contact line, and if in some places you leave this line, you will simply leave these cities or towns without life; no one will return to half of the city,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said, comparing such cities to divided Berlin during the Cold War.
Western intel contradicts Trump’s, Putin’s claims on Ukraine’s encirclement in Kursk Oblast, Reuters reports. According to sources who spoke with Reuters, U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, briefed the White House, saying that while Ukrainian troops are facing intense pressure from Russian forces, they are not encircled.
Russia’s Engels air base ablaze after Ukrainian drone strike, Kyiv says. The Russian cities of Saratov and Engels were targeted in the heaviest drone attack against Saratov Oblast throughout the entire full-scale war overnight on March 20, Governor Roman Busargin claimed, reporting a fire at a local airfield.
Ukraine ‘destroys’ Russian command post in Belgorod Oblast, military claims. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia used the command post to plan and conduct combat operations against Ukrainian soldiers in Sumy Oblast.
Sudzha gas metering station in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on fire following multiple explosions. Explosions occurred at the Sudzha gas metering station (GMS) in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on the night of March 21, followed by a large fire, Russian media and Telegram channels reported.
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US to hold indirect talks in Saudi Arabia with Russian and Ukrainian representatives, Kellogg says. The March 24 talks will involve “shuttle diplomacy,” with Russian and Ukrainian representatives present in separate rooms.
US to sign minerals deal with Ukraine ‘very shortly,’ Trump says. “And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine,” Trump announced after signing an executive order to ramp up domestic minerals production.
Putin orders Ukrainians ‘without legal status’ to leave Russia, occupied territories by Sept. 10. Ukrainian citizens residing in Russia and Russian-occupied territories must leave by Sept. 10 or “regulate their legal status,” according to an official decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and published on March 20.
Shoigu claims Ukraine’s Constitution ‘obstacle’ to peace efforts, cites ban on territorial changes. Russia sees Ukraine’s Constitution as an “obstacle” to peace efforts as it does not permit territorial changes, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said on March 19, according to state-owned TASS news agency.
Zelensky arrives in Norway for talks with Norwegian PM. “I look forward to constructive discussions on how Norway can best provide assistance to Ukraine in both the short term and the long term,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Russia’s Engels air base ablaze after Ukrainian drone strike, Kyiv says
Russia’s Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast was successfully hit by Ukrainian drones overnight on March 20, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed for the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Astra/Telegram
Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko on why Ukrainians ‘don’t have to respect Pushkin’
In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, prominent Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko discussed why Ukrainians should not feel obligated to respect Russian literature
Photo: John Macdougall/AFP via Getty Images
Putin’s ‘ceasefire’ — Is Russia still bombing Ukraine?
Despite the announcement that the Kremlin agreed to a U.S.-proposed partial ceasefire against certain targets in Ukraine, Russian missile and drone attacks have continued.
Photo: Oleksandr Kasyanenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia injures 6, including 4-year-old child. The victims include a 61-year-old man, three women (aged 50, 54, 55), and a four-year-old boy, according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov.
Mass Russian drone strike against Odesa injures 3. The attack injured three people, including a minor, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said. The drone strike also caused a series of “powerful fires” and triggered emergency blackouts in three districts.
5 killed, 26 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day. Ukraine’s Air Force reportedly intercepted 75 of the 171 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones.
‘Massive’ drone attack on Kirovohrad Oblast injures 10, including children. Russia launched its “largest attack in recent years” on Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovohrad Oblast overnight on March 20, Governor Andrii Raikovych said.
2 injured after attempted terrorist attack in Ukraine’s west, SBU says. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched an investigation into an attempted terrorist attack after an explosion in downtown Rivne in Ukraine’s west on March 20, the SBU said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 899,470 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The number includes 1,400 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
International response
EU provides $1 billion in aid to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets. “With today’s payment of 1 billion euros, we are reiterating our steadfast commitment to Ukraine. We are helping the country’s economy stay on course and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by Russian aggression,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
EU should keep frozen Russian assets until reparations paid even if US returns funds, commissioner says. “G7 decision that those assets are not going back to Russia unless Russia pays for its damages is something which is already decided. And it’s important to stick with this decision,” EU Economy and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said.
$5.4 billion on ammunition for Ukraine ‘realistic’ goal, EU’s top diplomat says. The EU is working on providing Ukraine with 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) for ammunition, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said on March 20, as a much larger 40-billion-euro ($43 billion) package still lacks consensus.
Extending NATO’s Article 5 to Ukraine would test Russia’s peace intentions, Meloni says. “If Russia does not plan to invade its neighbors again, it is not clear why it should not accept security guarantees that are only defensive,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Hungary wants Ukraine as ‘buffer zone’ between Russia, Europe. “We do not see the security of Europe in the integration of Ukraine into defense systems, but we see the need for a buffer zone between Russia and European defense structures, which serves the interests of both Russia and Europe,” Hungary’s Europen Affairs Minister Janos Boka told the Financial Times.
EU considers cutting Ukrainian sugar imports after price drop, Reuters reports. The European Commission is contemplating significant cuts to Ukrainian sugar imports after complaints from EU producers about plummeting sugar prices, Reuters reported on March 20, citing information from three sources.
‘Putin will breach’ peace deal without security guarantees, Starmer says. “We know that because it’s happened before, and I am absolutely clear in my mind that it will happen again,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a meeting of military planners from 31 countries.
European leaders, Zelensky to meet in Paris next week to discuss Ukraine peace plan. French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Paris on March 27 to discuss the peace process in Ukraine.
In other news
Kharkiv’s Faktor Druk printing house fully restored after Russian missile attack. Russian forces struck the printing facility on May 23, 2024, killing seven people and injuring 21. The attack destroyed more than 50,000 books and vital printing equipment.
Russia hasn’t received requests from foreign companies seeking to return, Medvedev says. “No one has officially applied yet. So, they are informally probing the ground,” Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, claimed.
Ukraine’s first Prime Minister Vitold Fokin dies at 92. Following Ukraine’s declaration of independence on Aug. 24, 1991, Vitold Fokin became the country’s first prime minister and served until Oct. 1, 1992.
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March 21, 2025 16:02
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