Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the frontline in Bakhmout region, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, to decorate fighters as pro-Russian separatists fight alongside the Russian army battling the city claims “almost surrounded”.
Washington will speed up delivery of the Abrams tanks it promised to deliver to Ukraine last January. Western heavy cavalry vehicles begin to arrive in Ukraine in view of a likely major ground offensive.
According to the regional military administration, four people were killed in a drone strike in Kyiv in the night from Tuesday March 21 to Wednesday March 22. Details on the location of this strike are awaited.
Here’s what to remember from the day.
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Our map shows the situation in Ukraine this Wednesday, March 22, 2023. | MAPPING WESTERN FRANCE See in full screen
Our map shows the situation in Ukraine this Wednesday, March 22, 2023. | MAPPING WESTERN FRANCE
Zelensky visits the front
“Donetsk region. Front positions of the Ukrainian military towards Bakhmout. It’s an honor to be there today and to adorn our heroes.”, said Volodymyr Zelensky in a message on Telegram this Wednesday, March 22, publishing a video of a movement on the front in the Bakhmout region. The journey takes place as pro-Russian separatists fighting alongside the Russian military claim the city for themselves “almost surrounded”.
In these images we see him in a hangar without protective gear, but accompanied by heavily armed bodyguards handing out awards to the soldiers, who are also armed and clad in riot gear. “You have a difficult but historic destiny to protect our country and give everything back to Ukraine, for our children.”he continued before paying tribute to the killed soldiers “in the east and in general in this war”.
American Abrams tanks will arrive in Kiev earlier than expected
The delivery of Abrams tanks, which Washington promised to Kiev last January, should accelerate. President Biden had confirmed this aid, specifying that the United States would buy 31 tanks under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and not under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows drawing on the stocks of the armed forces armies of Equipment in parks and for many already stored in Europe.
This delivery should be earlier because the United States has decided to stop shipping used tanks and no new tanks. It would be an older model, the M1-A1, instead of the M1-A2. The interest is that the delivery will be faster and will be in the fall of 2023. This acceleration occurs when the actual deliveries of main battle tanks (Spanish, Polish, Norwegian, etc.) have started.
Four dead in Russian drone strike in Kiev region
The regional military administration said four people were killed and seven others injured in a Russian drone attack in the night from March 21 to Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in the Kiev region. About 7 o’clock, “Four people died, two were injured and one person was rescued”announced the State Emergency Service (DSNS) via telegram.
The addition “There are probably four people under the rubble”. “More than twenty deadly Iranian drones” launched against Ukraine, “as well as missiles, numerous bombardments. It’s all just the last night of Russian terror.”condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Twitter “criminal strikes”.
One dead, 25 injured in Russian attack on apartment building in Zaporizhia
At least one person was killed and 25 wounded in a Russian attack on an apartment building in Zaporizhia, southern Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 22, the city’s mayor said. “Unfortunately, one seriously injured person died. According to updated information, 25 people are currently in the hospital., said Anatoly Kourtiev on Telegram. Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Moscow “Bombard the City with Bestial Ferocity”.
Russian Navy ‘repelled’ drone attack on Sevastopol
Russia has announced this “repelled” A drone strike on the port of Sevastopol this Wednesday, just four days after a visit by Vladimir Putin to that city in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow.
“The three planes were shot down”said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, noting that two of them were destroyed by two military wives.
The ICC is under attack by Russian “threats” following its arrest warrant for Putin
The Legislative Body of the International Criminal Court sentenced this Wednesday, March 22nd ” Danger “ from Russia against members of the International Criminal Court after it issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for war crimes “Deportation” Ukrainian children. The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties, which brings together the 123 member countries of the International Criminal Court, said that was the case ” Danger “ against the court and “Announced measures against the prosecutor’s office and judges involved in issuing arrest warrants in the situation in Ukraine”.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently No. 2 of the Russian Security Council, is used to making sensational statements by telegram to the judges of the International Criminal Court on the same day, according to Dutch media “Look up at the sky”in a nod to Russian batting skills.
According to Kiev, more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the February 24, 2022 invasion, many of them placed in institutions and foster families.
Russia wants to modernize the air defenses of the city of Moscow
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday that he plans to upgrade the capital Moscow’s anti-aircraft defenses this year as Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory increase. “This year we will complete the modernization of the Moscow missile defense system”said Sergei Shoigu, quoted by Russian news agencies.
According to him, two new air defense units will be trained and equipped with new generation S-350 air-to-surface missile systems. “At the same time, we will complete the construction of 621 military infrastructure for the needs of the Air Force”added the Russian minister.
For Moscow, the delivery of depleted uranium shells by the UK to Ukraine would be a “serious” aggravation of the conflict
London’s delivery of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine, recently mentioned by a British official, would represent a “serious aggravation” The head of Russian diplomacy warned of the conflict on Wednesday. “It’s a step towards further aggravation, serious aggravation” of the conflict, Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference in Sochi, southern Russia.
On Monday, British Deputy Defense Secretary Annabel Goldie hinted that Britain intends to supply Ukraine with shells “with depleted uranium”.
China has yet to “cross the line” for the US.
China not yet “crossed the line” which consists in supplying deadly weapons to Russia in the midst of the war in Ukraine, explained this Wednesday the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken. “So far we haven’t seen them cross that line”said the US Secretary of State in response to a question at a Senate hearing in Washington.
For several weeks, American diplomacy has been exerting intense diplomatic pressure on China to prevent it from shipping critical military equipment to Moscow. In mid-February, Washington announced that China was considering such an option, and there were reports of small shipments from Chinese companies to Moscow.
$411 billion is needed to restore and rebuild Ukraine
Ukraine will need $411 billion to recover and rebuild after the first year of conflict caused by the Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022, according to an estimate released this Wednesday by the World Bank (WB). , the UN, was published. the European Union and the Ukrainian government.
As the fighting continues, these organizations and institutions anticipate an immediate need of $14 billion as of this year to carry them out “critical and priority investments” to start rebuilding. The total of $411 billion is more than double Ukraine’s GDP in 2021, according to WB data. The previous needs estimate was $350 billion at the end of October.