Civilian death toll rises. On March 18, the Russian troops launched a heavy artillery attack on towns in Bucha area, in Kyiv region. Seven civilians were killed in Makariv. Five more were wounded and taken to hospital, Kyiv region police said. The attack destroyed residential houses, commercial and administrative buildings.
On March 18 in Kharkiv, a Russian air strike hit a six-story university building and two residential houses nearby. One person was killed, and 11 were injured. One person remains under the rubble.
Russia hits ammunition depot in Ivano-Frankivsk region, claims first use of hypersonic missiles. Russia’s military claimed the first use of a hypersonic missile system Kinzhal to destroy an underground arms depot in Western Ukraine.
Spokesperson of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuriy Ihnat confirmed the strike on warehouses storing missiles and aviation ammunition in Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Ukraine’s military had not identified what type of missile was used, he added. Ammunition continues to detonate. Casualty report will follow.
In 23 days, Russia conducted 1,403 air raids and 291 missile strikes on Ukraine, General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said. Russia’s military primarily targeted industrial infrastructure, schools, hospitals, cultural heritage sites, churches, and densely populated neighborhoods in Ukrainian cities and villages.
Russia uses talks to ready for attacks. Russia might be using talks with Ukraine and a decline in the war’s intensity to bolster its positions ahead of new attacks, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said.
One third of Ukraine’s economy shut down. About 30 per cent of companies suspended operations in Ukraine, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said during the national TV marathon. He quoted earlier tax return data.
Explaining Ukraine podcast. Mariupol, the martyr city
The world should talk about Mariupol, a 500-thousand city now exterminated by the Russian army. No electricity, water, food, heating, connection, no possibility to bury the dead. “Aleppo and Srebrenica combined,” says Ukrainian analyst Oleksandr Sushko. We continue our “Explaining Ukraine” podcast by sharing our analysis of the Russian invasion and Ukrainian resistance. Hosts: Volodymyr Yermolenko, analytics director at Internews Ukraine, and Tetyana Ogarkova, in charge of international outreach at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre. Listen to the podcast.
Ukraine in Flames #9. Hennadiy Chyzhykov – Will international companies do business with Russia?
Ukraine in Flames #9. Natalia Jaresko – – Will international companies do business with Russia?
Ukraine in Flames #9. Oleksii Mykhailenko – Will international companies do business with Russia?
