Russia “strikes back” today. This might be a response to successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
Zelensky: over 60 "shaheds" and nearly 90 different missiles targeted at power plants, power lines, a hydroelectric dam, residential buildings 1/
This is the largest combined attack on the Ukrainian power system since the beginning of the full-scale invasion: Ukrenergo
100s of thousands of homes are in blackout 2/
Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Donetsk are in blackout and being stabilized
There are interruptions of internet and water supply in multiple regions 3/
-Russia hit the Dnipro hydroelectric power plant. There is a major fire but no threat of a dam breach.
Ukrhydroenergo reported two direct missile hits on the plant. One part is in a critical condition and unlikely to be repaired, Ukrhydroenergo director Ihor Syrota 4/
Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down 92 out of 151 missiles and drones - Air Force.
Ukraine and Russia trade massive missile attacks. This might appear related to Moscow attack, but it is not.
I am in Kyiv and have just woken up (5am) by two loud explosions
Earlier tonight Ukraine successfully hit Sevastopol with multiple missiles 1/
The Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol that hosts the Russian Black Sea fleet has been confirmed by Russian state media. There are dead and injured.
Ukrainian media report that UK made storm shadows hit a communication center of the Russia fleet 2/
This night Russia launched multiple missiles across the entire Ukraine. It is too early for videos of the damage, but explosions and interceptions are reported across the country. The attack continues
Russia used 14 strategic bombers at once, 2 warships, and drones 3/
Margarita Simonyan: “it is no ISIS, they are all Ukrainians”.
What doesn’t it mean for Russia, Ukraine and the region? 1/
As I said earlier, Putin has no choice but to blame Ukraine. Otherwise he admits his incompetence to prevent the attack, weakness to be unable to respond, and a strategic failure of invading Ukraine instead of focusing on other, real issues for Russia. He will loose power. 2/
Putin might not have a choice but to blame Ukraine for the terrorist attack in Moscow. He might not be successful, though, because the facts point to Islamic radicals.
This is why:
1. The Russian law enforcement’ve shown suspects 1/
They claim one of them is from Tajikistan. None of them are Ukrainians or have lived in Ukraine
Ukraine has explicitly denied involvement in the attack and ISIS has claimed responsibility. 2/
US officials have told media that the claim of responsibility by the Islamic State appears to be credible.
Three days before the attack the U.S. warned Russia about a possibility. Putin dismissed the warning as “blackmail” 3/
Recently at the US Embassy in Geneva, Tetiana Pechonchyk from ZMINA spoke about the mistreatment of Ukrainian civilians by Russians in occupied territories. Her story is the grim reality of Russian "peace" in Ukraine. 1/
Human Rights Center ZMINA documents human rights abuses during the last 10 years, starting from Crimea in 2014
Now they concentrate on conducting field missions to the liberated areas to document enforced disappearances, torture and deportation 2/
Their last report presented in Geneva is about the torture chambers in the city of Kupyansk, a city in Kharkiv region, close to the Russian border. ZMINA spoke with many victim survivors and interviewed 30 people
A new Ukraine drone ops showcases stark capabilities: incredible precision and resilience to jamming and air defense.
The drone launched hundreds of miles away hits an oil refinery spot on 1/
Details: SBU drones strike three oil refineries in Russia on March 13th: Ryazan, Kstovo in the Nizhny Novgorod oblast, and Kirishi in the Leningrad oblast.2/
SBU source: We work to a plan to cut Russia's wealth. We must stem the flow of oil wealth they pour straight into war and killing Ukrainians 3/
Pope says Ukraine should find courage to raise a white flag and negotiate with Russia. But negotiation requires leverage, otherwise it is a surrender
This leverage is Crimea. By annexing it, Putin has crowned himself a prince of Tavria. If Crimea is lost, Putin is dead 1/
Yet, attacking Crimea requires longer range missiles. Ukraine's been asking the West for weapons that can strike Kerch bridge and meaningfully threaten the land connection Russia grabbed when it invaded in 2022. These requests've hit a brick wall of "deescalation" 2/
Ironically, the fear of escalation invites escalation and prolongs the war. As long as Ukraine doesn't have a credible threat over Crimea, Russia will not negotiate in good faith, because Ukraine has nothing to put on the table 3/