Cover photo: Vladimir Putin in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, March 18, 2023. From there, the Russian President traveled to Mariupol, according to the Tass news agency. HANDOUT / AFP
- Vladimir Putin traveled to Mariupol to challenge the international arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court on Friday, March 17, Russian media, including TASS, reported on Sunday. He would have arrived by helicopter from Crimea, where he was making a surprise visit to mark the ninth anniversary of Russia’s occupation of that Ukrainian territory. The port of Mariupol, on the Azov Sea in south-eastern Ukraine, has been occupied by Russian forces since May 2022.
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the UN announced the extension of Ukraine’s grain deal on Saturday. Kiev says it’s a 120-day extension, but Moscow says it only accepted 60 days.
- Two civilians were killed and ten others injured in Russian attacks using “cluster munitions”., Saturday afternoon in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of Donetsk region. “More than a hundred countries ban the use of cluster munitions, but Russia continues to use these weapons, which drop many smaller bombs and indiscriminately injure civilians,” Mr Kyrylenko denounced.
- French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna reiterated in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that “there aren’t any[vait] no taboo” about a possible delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. The head of French diplomacy was interviewed the day after the announcement of the delivery of thirteen Mig-29 fighters by Slovakia and four more by Poland.
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine is a “hugely important” decision, also estimated the French foreign minister. “Now no link in the chain can believe they will escape justice and that should be food for thought for many,” she continues. It is therefore a decision that can change the course of things. »
- Demonstrations in Moscow in front of the embassies of “unfriendly” countries. Pro-Kremlin activists protested outside the embassies of 20 countries deemed “unfriendly” by Russia on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of Crimea’s annexation.
- The Kremlin wants to expand conscription, according to the British Ministry of Defence. Accordingly the daily update from the UK Ministry of Defence, Russia is likely to expand conscription to increase its military strength. Legislative text would aim to change the draft age, which is now possible between 18 and 27, to make it applicable between 21 and 30.
- In the night from Friday to Saturday, 16 Russian drones attacked eastern UkraineUkrainian Air Force personnel told Telegram early this morning, adding that 11 of those planes were shot down “in the central, western and eastern regions.”
- Russian missiles hit a residential area in Zaporizhia without injuries, said Anatolii Kurtiev, member of the city council.
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