Russia Uses Hypersonic Missile in Ukraine, 9 Killed in Shelling in Zaporizhzhia
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Three weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russia's defence ministry on Saturday, 19 March, reported the use of hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in Ukraine. Further, 9 people were reported dead after Russian shells hit Zaporizhzhia city's suburbs.
This comes even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for comprehensive peace talks with Moscow.
Meanwhile, in an almost-two-hour-long telephonic conversation with United States President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that a war is in no one's interest and that China and US should shoulder international responsibilities.
About 130 people so far have been rescued from the debris of the Mariupol theatre-turned-shelter that was bombed by Russian forces
Speaking at an event marking the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, Russian President Putin said sanctions will make Russia stronger
Ukrainian army regained control of 30 settlements near Kyiv on Friday
There have been 816 confirmed civilian deaths in the war, according to the UN
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has arrived in Delhi, is likely to discuss the situation in Ukraine with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
'US-China Should Shoulder Responsibilities': Xi Jinping Tells Biden
In an almost-two-hour-long telephonic conversation with United States President Joe Biden, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that a war is in no one's interest and that China and US should shoulder international responsibilities.
"Peace and security are the most valued treasures of the international community," Xi was quoted as saying by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
US Will Not Establish a No-fly Zone Over Ukraine: Pentagon Chief
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin told news broadcaster CNN that the United States with neither engage in hostilities in Ukraine nor establish a no-fly zone over the country.
"The President's been very clear about the fact that we won't have troops engaged in combat with Russia and Ukraine in order to affect or put into place a no-fly zone," Lloyd said.
Japan Prime Minister To Raise Ukraine Crisis in Meet With PM Modi
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during his visit to Delhi on Saturday, is expected to discuss the Russia-Ukraine situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kishida is on a two-day visit to India for the 14th India-Japan summit.
“Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine coincides with this trip, I’d like to emphasise the importance of international unity and confirm that Japan and India will work together on various issues,” Kishida said ahead of his visit.
Humanitarian Corridor Agreed in Luhansk Region
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaiday on Saturday said that a humanitarian corridor for evacuations in the region will be opened today.
"A humanitarian corridor has been agreed, we will try to evacuate people and bring food today. A regime of silence has been agreed for March 19, starting at 9 am," he wrote on Telegram.
In a First, Russia Claims Using Hypersonic Weapons Against Ukraine
Russia used its newest Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in Ukraine on Friday, 18 March.
"The Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a large underground warehouse containing missiles and aviation ammunition in the village of Deliatyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region," the Russian Defence Ministry has said.
Hypersonic missiles travel so fast they can evade detection by missile defence systems. Russia claims to have used these to destroy an underground military depot in western Ukraine.
38-Hour-Long Curfew Imposed in Ukaine's Zaporizhzhia
The southern city of Zaporizhzhia will be under a 38-hour curfew beginning at 1400 GMT on Saturday, after the Ukrainian military ordered people to stay home until early on Monday, the deputy mayor Anatoliy Kurtiev said.
Zelenskyy Pushes for 'Meaningful, Fair Peace Talks' With Russia
In a video address on Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said “meaningful, fair” peace talks were needed urgently. He warned Moscow that Russian losses will otherwise be so huge it will take generations to recover. “Negotiations on peace, on security for us, for Ukraine - meaningful, fair and without delay - are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes,” he said.
Have Destroyed 196 Ukrainian Aerial Vehicles, 145 Rocket Launch Systems: Russian Defence Ministry
"In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 196 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,438 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 145 multiple launch rocket systems, 556 field artillery and mortars, as well as 1,237 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed," Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Saturday.
Kremlin Has Been Surprised by Scale of Ukrainian Resistance: UK Intelligence Report
The UK Ministry of Defence, a report, said that the Kremlin has “so far failed to achieve its original objectives” and has been “surprised by the scale and ferocity of the Ukrainian resistance.”
“Russia has been forced to change its operational approach and is now pursuing a strategy of attrition. This is likely to involve the indiscriminate use of firepower resulting in increased civilian casualties, destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and intensify the humanitarian crisis,” the intelligence report warns.
40 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed in Mykolaiv
At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers were killed following a Russian air strike on an army barracks in the southern city of Mykolaiv on Friday, AFP reported.
The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Senkevich, said on Facebook on Friday that several villages in the region had been occupied and the city had been under heavy fire, calling it a “difficult day.”
Big Steel Plant in Sieged Mariupol Port City 'Lost' to Russians
In the besieged port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting for the Azovstal steel plant, one of the biggest in Europe, said Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, was quoted as saying by news agency AP.
"I can say that we have lost this economic giant. In fact, one of the largest metallurgical plants in Europe is actually being destroyed," Denysenko said.
Ukraine Loses Access to Azov Sea as Russia Sieges Mariupol
Ukraine's defence ministry has said that it has lost access to the Sea of Azov "temporarily," as invading Russian forces siege the major port city of Mariupol.
"The occupiers have partially succeeded in the Donetsk operational district, temporarily depriving Ukraine of access to the Sea of Azov," the ministry said in a statement.
9 Killed, 17 Injured in Russian Shelling in Zaporizhzhia
Nine people were killed and 17 wounded after Russian shelling targetted the suburbs of the city of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine on Friday, deputy mayor Anatoliy Kurtiev was quoted as saying by Reuters on Saturday.
UK Warns of ‘More Extreme’ Russian Actions in Ukraine
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned that the ongoing peace talks to end the Ukraine conflict could be a “smokescreen” for more extreme Russian military manoeuvres.
Stating that she is “very sceptical,” Truss told The Times newspaper in an interview, “What we’ve seen is an attempt to create space for the Russians to regroup. Their invasion isn’t going according to plan. I fear the negotiation is yet another attempt to create a diversion and create a smokescreen. I don’t think we’re yet at a point for negotiation.”
As per British intelligence, Truss shared, Russian President Vladimir Putin could turn to “more and more extreme actions”, adding “we’ve seen appalling atrocities already”, Al Jazeera reported.
Dozens Dead After Shelling of Military Barracks in South Ukraine
Dozens of soldiers were killed after Russian troops struck a Ukrainian military barracks in the southern city of Mykolaiv, witnesses told AFP on Saturday while a rescue operation was underway.
Seven Killed in Makarviv Near Kyiv After Mortar Attack by Russia
Local police in the town of Makarviv near Kyiv have said that at least seven people were killed and five others were injured after a mortar attack by Russian forces.
“As a result of enemy shelling of Makariv, seven civilians were killed,” local police said in a statement, Al Jazeera reported.
Used Hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) Missiles in Ivano-Frankivsk: Russia
Russia has said that it had used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles to destroy a large weapons depot in Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk, Reuters reported.
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