3/12/24-3/13/24 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

3/12/24-3/13/24 Update, day 748-749 of Russian invasion.


Belarus/Western Border:

Another pair of UA journalists were reportedly detained in Poland by law enforcement after filming the transfer of RU freight traffic into the country. Their cameras were seized, and the reporters were banned from the Schengen zone for 5 years.

Polish farmers near the Dorohusk checkpoint have decided to let the lorries heading to Ukraine pass through the Yahodyn checkpoint, but they will not halt their blockade of vehicles leaving Ukraine.

The EU approved the extension of favorable trade agreements with Moldova, and is reviewing the existing UA free agricultural trade agreement, following Polish protests.

The EU is expected to submit a proposal for quantitative restrictions on grain imports from Russia and Belarus next week, amid protests by European farmers and calls from UA to take this step.

Up to 5,000 people in Bratislava, the Slovakian capital, have protested against the government's policies and in support of Ukraine.

In addition to the commitment to purchase 300,000 artillery shells for Ukraine under a Czech-led initiative, Prague has received preliminary approval to purchase an additional 200,000 shells that can be bought by countries that have joined the initiative. This is some 500k/800k previously reported as available.


Kyiv/ Central Ukraine:

22 Shahed drones were launched overnight, of which 17 were intercepted.

15 Members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were suspected of working under cover for the FSB, with 4 members detained, including a senior figure in the Kyiv church.

Zelensky signed the proposed law allowing for free storage of reproductive material for 3 years in the event of a servicemembers death.

UA is seeking to recruit more border guards to defend the UA/RU border.

UA reports that fortifications requires more then just earthworks, but also efforts to intercept drones and aircraft. its also noted that the spring thaw is making groundwater more abundant, and slowing progress.

RU attacked Kryvi Rih with missiles overnight, hitting a 9 story building and causing 39 casualties.

Following a linguistics survey in UA, the majority of surveyed Ukrainians — 66% — are in favor of eliminating the Russian language from official communication, and 84% believe that there is no oppression of the Russian-speaking population.

UA is reportedly planning on mass producing Unmanned Ground Vehicles, for the purposes of medevac, demining, and remote weapons platforms.

UA amended the draft law on mobilizing prisoners, with a new section allowing for parole of active convicts if they serve in the ZSU. Currently, legislation prohibits mobilization of convicts or people with a criminal record, even at their own request.

Per UNESCO, UA will require over $1 billion USD to restore its scientific infrastructure, having lost over 1400 labs.

Reportedly 92% of Ukrainians regularly donate to support the ZSU or IDPs, and 33% have recurring donations. 38% of the UA population abroad also reportedly donates.

A woman in kropyvnytskyi made headlines for sheltering some 72 hamsters left by IDPs across ukraine.

As of January 2024, 4.9 million Ukrainians who fled their country due to the war are living abroad. Between 1.4 and 2.3 million people may remain outside Ukraine permanently per the Center for Economic Strategy. The overwhelming majority of refugees are women and children.


Sumy/Chernihiv/Kharkiv city region:

UA supported Russian Free Legion fighters raided into Tetkino yesterday, as well as locations closer to Kharkiv. It appears that the RU defense here was meager, although very limited footage has emerged, and the RDK fighters are still contesting the small village. This is widely believed to be timed to embarrass Putin around the RU presidential elections, and the presence of additional UA drones here may give the raiding party more staying power then the summer raids last year.

RU dropped an incendiary grenade in the chernihiv border region.

UA drones struck several targets in Belgorod city, including an FSB office.

RU shelled several villages in the Sumy region with Shaheds, killing at least 2 and wounding 8.

RU is spreading disinformation campaigns that the 117th TDF brigade is training children as fighters.


Kupyansk/ E Kharkiv:

RU launched 4 assaults between Kupyansk and Tabaivka, with no observed results. It continues to appear that RU has rotated most of its forces here closer to Kreminna and Lyman.

RU again shelled the residential districts of Kupyansk, this time with an aerial bomb.


Kreminna/Lyman:

RU launched 7 assaults towards Terny and the Zherebets river valley over the last day, with no reported gains. UA strikes and drones have targeted RU long range heavy artillery in this area, as RU airstrikes target the main highway, some 2 km away.



Kramatorsk/Bakhmut:

There has been an increase in RU drone activity towards Chasiv yar, along with airstrikes along the main road as UA drone strikes continue in the Bakhmut suburbs.

RU continues to push towards Bohdanivka along the road to Chasiv yar, contesting a field outside the town.

RU has reportedly increased its rate of CS/CN gas attacks towards Chasiv Yar as well.


Pokrovsk/Avdiivka direction:

RU has not made any observable gains past Orlivka in the last day, apparently having rotated out troops to other spots on the front.

RU launched an assault towards Pervomaiske to the SW of Avdiivka, but apparently took high casualties. 26 RU assaults were recorded in this region over the last day.

A pair of UA MI-8 helicopters were destroyed and one damaged following a long range RU strike in this area, highlighting the increased usage of high altitude and long range UAV recon on the RU side.


Donetsk/Luhansk/Occupied areas:

RU made minor gains to the W of Marinka over the last 2 days. 26 RU assaults were recorded in this area over the past day.

RU has reportedly transferred a new tank regiment to this area, as they seek to push to Novomykhailivka and beyond.

Per the ISW, RU units are frequently only about 30% equipped in Ukraine.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis:

RU shelled 14 settlements 243 times over the past day.

RU continues to attack towards Robotyne, although they are repelled due to UA defensive positions and artillery ammo. RU drone strikes are plentiful here,.

RU has actively deployed soldiers alongside the polling officials in occupied territories, and reportedly people who refuse to vote are detained. The number of security forces has tripled since the elections RU held in the occupied territories last year.

Per the UA National Resistance Center, about 70% of residents are not actively participating in elections, hence the increased RU repression.

Kherson:

RU attempted to dislodge UA defenders 3 time yesterday in Krynky. UA supporting fire continues to hold the line here, and increasingly tattered RU units are sent on assault.

UA is testing floating body armor for its naval forces, apparently capable of holding the soldiers body weight and also an additional 50 lb of gear. They function similarly to automatic life vests.

3300 square km of agricultural land was demined in Kherson and Kharkiv last year, and is now available for planting. UA is subsidizing 80% of clearance efforts, allocating some $52,000 for the purpose. Some 1000 sappers are working to demine Kherson, and its expected to take at least 2 more years.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

RU attacked Odesa with a missile over the day, but the missile crashed into the sea.

RU has reportedly increased its repression of the vocally and politically active Crimean Tatar population following international judgements against RU for said repression.


Russia:
UA Drones attacked the Novoshakhty oil refinery in Rostov, along with 3 other oil refineries across RU overnight in Ryazan, Nizhnygorod and Leningrad. Per bloomberg, UA has damaged sites responsible for 12% of RU oil processing capabilities.

An RU IL-76 heavy transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region following a bird strike on takeoff, killing 15 people aboard.

Vitaly Robertus, 54, Vice President of the Russian oil and gas firm Lukoil, has been found dead. He is the fourth Lukoil top manager to die since the beginning of the war.

General:

Over the last day UA forces conducted 9 airstrikes and RU forces 70 air strikes (including drones) and 37 MLRS strikes.

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:
980x troops (426,870 in total)
20x APC
5x Tanks
2x Air defense
33x Artillery (1x MLRS)
0x Aircraft
62x vehicles
21 x UAV

These costs amount to some $74.4 million USD, or $3.1 billion over the last 30 days.


Overseas:

The US is planning to open a GMLRS rocket plant in Australia to keep up with demand.

Austria has declared two RU diplomats persona non grata and expelled them from the country.

The US has announced a new $300 million aid package for UA which includes HIMARS missiles. This was stated by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. This apparently comes out of the remaining PDA funds.

The EU came to an agreement on a 5 billion euro military aid package for Ukraine, via the European peace Fund which finances military supplies.

The EU additionally proposed criminalizing RU sanctions evasion, with a sentence of up to 5 years in the EU.

Denmark announced its 16th package of military aid to UA, totaling $337 million USD, predominantly covering ammunition.

French President Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will come to Berlin on March 15 to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resolve differences regarding Ukraine.