Ukraine – 3/23/23 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak and Robert Homans
March 23, 2023
Russian Orthodox Church Accused of War Crimes in Ukraine
In a speech to the Lithuanian Parliament, Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, accused the Russian Orthodox Church of war crimes in Ukraine.
Ukrainska Pravda reported on Bartholomew’s remarks -
Details: The patriarch explained that the Russian authorities use the church as an "instrument for their strategic objectives".
Quote: "The church and the state leadership in Russia cooperated in the crime of aggression and shared the responsibility for the resulting crimes, like the shocking abduction of the Ukrainian children…."
Our interreligious dialogue has to focus on ways to resist and neutralize the capacity of the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate to undermine unity and to theologically legitimize criminal behaviour."
Kirill Gundyaev, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, blessed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
News From the Battlefield
“Reporting From Ukraine” describes recent fighting around Avdiivka, not far from Donetsk City. Russia has been trying to encircle Avdiivka from the north and south but, according to “Reporting From Ukraine,” regular Russian troops suffered heavy losses in tanks and infantry to the north of Avdiivka, and the forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic suffered losses in the south, when they launched attacks without artillery support. Reporting From Ukraine believes that the Russian attacks around Avdiivka are in danger of failing, similar to Russian attacks around Vuhledar, just to the south.
The Latest Denys describes a possible Ukrainian seaborne drone attack against a Russian Navy ship in the harbor of Sevastopol, Crimea. He also shares a tactical map apparently showing the disposition of Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine. If this map is accurate, it confirms other reports that Ukraine is increasing its strength around Bakhmut.
3/23/23 Sitrep (my comment in bold face)
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon March 22 to 12:00 noon March 23, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Thursday March 23
11:54: Ukraine submited a request to Finland for an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, – Helsingin Sanomat
· According to the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, citing its own sources, it is about a request for trilateral talks between Finland, Ukraine and the United States on these combat aircraft.
08:03 US President Joe Biden will discuss support for Ukraine with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to the office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
00:51: South Africa says it will have to consult with Russia over a warrant for Putin's arrest, as the Russian president plans to attend the BRICS summit, which will be held in South Africa, in August 2023.
· "We will study the provisions of our legislation, we will probably hold discussions in the cabinet, as well as with our colleagues in Russia, to determine how to proceed," said South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor.
· It should be remembered that between the 13th and 15th of June 2015, Omar al Bashir, the former President of Sudan who stood accused of engaging in atrocities in Darfur, had visited South Africa while being subjected to an ICC arrest warrant. After briefly detaining Bashir, the South African Government allowed him to leave.
00:20: Lithuania wants to stop issuing citizenship to Russians and Belarusians.
· The relevant bill was adopted in the first reading by the Lithuanian Sejm.
· In addition to the ban on citizenship, Lithuania may suspend the acceptance of applications from Russians and Belarusians for temporary residence in the country, as well as the issuance of visas at its centers abroad.
00:06: Ukraine uses 4-7 thousand artillery shells a day - said NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
· At the same time, according to him, the consumption of shells exceeds the volume of production of ammunition in the West.
Wednesday March 22
22:46: The World Bank predicts that Ukraine will need $411 billion to rebuild its economy.
· Ukraine will need $14 billion just for reconstruction and restoration this year. About 22% of the needs are occupied by transport, for housing – 17%, for energy – 11%, but for agriculture – 7%.
· The total amount has risen sharply compared to the $ 349 billion estimate published last September.
22:25: Prince William secretly visits Rzeszow military base near the Ukrainian border, Sky News.
· The publication reports that Prince William met with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and British and Polish servicemen to learn about the support they provide to Ukraine.
21:56: The U.S. suggests that the Russians today deliberately struck civilians in Zaporizhia.
· This was reported by CNN with reference to the statement of the coordinator of the US National Security Council John Kirby.
· "Obviously, this is a Russian scenario - to strike civilian infrastructure and not pay attention to avoiding strikes against civilians," Kirby said.
21:25: The Council of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) has extended the ban of the Russian and Belarusian national teams from international competitions for the 2023/24 season.
· "Based on the risk assessment, the IIHF board determined that the return of the national teams of Russia and Belarus is not yet safe," the statement said.
17:38: Sweden's parliament approves the country's accession to NATO by a majority, says Aftonbladet.
· According to the publication, an actual decision was made after voting in parliament with a result of 269 "for" and 37 votes "against".
17:18: Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in the EU summit, which will take place on March 23-24 in Brussels, via video link.
· This is stated in the letter of invitation of the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
· "Since our last meeting in February, we have worked to urgently expand the production and supply of ammunition in Ukraine," Michel wrote.
16:27: Politicians from the U.S. Republican Party in the U.S. Congress have called on Biden to hand over DPICM cluster munitions to Ukraine.
· The letter was published on the website of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
· Politicians point out that the White House's unwillingness to hand over such projectiles and other assistance "is reflected on the battlefield in Bakhmut and elsewhere in Ukraine."
NATIONAL
Thursday March 23
08:48: The President of Ukraine signed the Law on compensation for damage and destruction of certain categories of real estate objects because of hostilities, terrorist acts, sabotage caused by military aggression of the Russian Federation (No. 7198).
· People will receive a housing certificate, which will indicate the amount of compensation that they can use to purchase new housing within five years.
· The main financial source will be the arrested assets of Russians, reparations.
08:31: Commander of the Land Forces Colonel-General Alexander Syrsky on the situation in Bakhmut:
· "The main forces of the Russian Federation in this direction are representatives of the Wagner PMC. Sparing nothing, they lose considerable strength and exhale. Very soon we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we once did near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balaklia and Kupyansk."
07:16 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
· the Russians continue to conduct offensive operations in the Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinsky and Shakhtarsky directions, while others are defending,
· Last day, units of the Defense Forces repulsed 83 attacks by Russian troops in the eastern sector of the front.
· In the settlements of Reshetylivske, Chumatske and Kostiantynivka of the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhia region, Russians bypassed the houses of local residents and warned of the need to stay in safe places with a ban on leaving their homes,
· The above-mentioned may indirectly indicate the attempts of the Russian military to make it impossible for the local population to observe the planned transfer of their manpower and equipment by the Russian troops to the line of contact.
· In one of the military units stationed in South Ossetia, active work is carried out with conscripts to sign contracts and further participate in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine,
· It was established that in the period from March 1 to March 10, more than 50 Russian conscripts signed the contract. Without receiving proper combat training, they were sent to the temporarily occupied Melitopol of the Zaporizhia region.
· During the day, Ukrainian aviation struck the anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian Federation, as well as 12 strikes on areas of concentration of Russian personnel and military equipment, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· And Ukrainian units of rocket troops and artillery hit 1 control point, 3 areas of concentration of Russian personnel, ammunition depot and 1 electronic warfare station.
Wednesday March 22
23:44: The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has protected the guarantee of a pension, which is the main source of subsistence, in the amount not lower than the subsistence minimum.
· Recall that from January 1, 2023, the subsistence minimum per person per month is set at UAH 2,589.
20:32: Evening address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
· "We will definitely respond to the occupier for every blow to our cities. Today's Russian strikes on Zaporizhia, a night attack on the Kyiv region...
· All Russia's strikes will receive both a military, political and legal response. Russia is losing this war. There is no subject in the world who would not feel it right now. Everyone already understands this.
· And every Russian killer must understand that an arrest warrant is the best thing that can happen to him."
19:16 Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on March 22:
· "During the day, the enemy launched a missile strike on Zaporizhia, as a result of which 2 Russian missiles hit a residential multi-storey building, there are dead and wounded among civilians.
· The invaders also carried out more than 30 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems."
· The enemy also launched 41 air strikes. In particular, the occupiers used 21 Shahed-136 UAVs from the Bryansk region of the Russian Federation, 16 of these drones were shot down.
· As a result of the strikes of enemy UAVs, the Russians hit the territory of the dormitory of the professional college in Rzhyshchiv in the Kyiv region, there are dead and wounded among civilians, as well as damaged a civilian critical infrastructure facility in the Zhytomyr region."
· The fiercest fighting continues in the southern and northern parts of Bakhmut, and the enemy also conducted offensive operations in the Avdiivka direction in order to establish control over Avdiivka and Marinka."
· In the village of Vesele of the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporozhye region, on the territory of the kindergarten building, Russian occupation forces set up a military hospital."
· "The Russian criminal authorities continue measures to forcibly passport the population of the temporarily occupied and occupied territories of Ukraine.
· Thus, in the settlements of the Kherson region, the Russian occupation so-called "authorities" threaten local residents from April to stop paying a pension in the absence of a Russian passport."
· "During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system, as well as 12 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers."
18:10: A criminal group headed by the ex-head of the State Property Fund, which illegally seized more than 500 million hryvnias, was exposed in Ukraine — the SAPO.
· According to the SAPO, today the former head of the State Property Fund Dmytro Sennychenko was notified of suspicion.
· As a result of the actions of the criminal organization for the period from May 2020 to October 2021, JSC "Odessa Portside Plant" and JSC "UMCC" lost financial resources and received losses in the amount of about UAH 500 million.
17:54: OKKO and Come Back Alive handed over the first SHARK reconnaissance complex to the army as part of the OKO for OKO initiative (OKKO is a chain of gas stations, and OKO in Ukrainian is eye)
· "We are grateful to our clients who joined the initiative and together with us every day helps to strengthen the army. While the accumulation of funds for another 3 out of 25 complexes continues, and the rest are in the works, we are already working on a new project together with "Come Back Alive", comments Vasyl Danyliak, CEO of OKKO.
16:59 Operational Command North: Ukrainian military shot down a Russian DRONE "Orlan-10" in the north.
14:43 Spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Colonel Yuriy Ignat: Appropriate measures will be taken against Telegram channels that report on the movement of enemy missiles, or UAVs. With their information, they help the enemy identify the weak points of air defense.
Mordor - russia
Thursday March 23
11:14 Military Intelligence: The widely announced "big" Russian offensive did not bring significant results to the Russian troops
· According to Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the general bravado of Russians was more based on disinformation and a general reassessment of their own capabilities. In reality, they were faced with the inability to conduct an offensive in several directions at the same time.
09:50 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Belgorod.
Wednesday March 22
23:50: AFP journalists have published footage of Russians destroying a residential building in Bakhmut.
18:28: Russian telegram channels publish a video of an alleged night drone attack on a bay in Sevastopol in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
· Currently, the authenticity of this video has not been confirmed, we are waiting for official information.
16:12 Conflict Intelligence Team: Russia restores of some of the oldest T-54 and T-55 tanks and sends them to Ukraine. A railway train with these tanks was spotted in the west of the Russian Federation.
· Analysts also studied satellite images from the city of Arsenyev, Primorsky Krai, where the 1295th Central Base for Reserve and Storage of Tanks is located and where T-54s were stored. From July to October, at least 191 tanks left the base, but the figure could be much higher.
14:20: Institute for the Study of War: Wagner's PMC risks losing most of its mercenaries as prisoners six-month military contracts expire.
· Analysts believe the Kremlin likely deliberately authorized the release of proactive pardons to "encourage more Wagner prisoners to leave after their contracts expired to further undermine Wagner's strength."
12:34: Russia and China are getting closer together and see each other as an opportunity to "reshape" the world order, says White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby.
· During a meeting in Moscow, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping exchanged toasts "for the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of Russia and China."
· Kirby believes that this should not be given much importance because they are more a sign of co-dependence than a true partnership.
KHARKIV
Thursday March 23
09:45 Kharkiv RMA: Last day, Russians shelled the border settlements of Kupyansk, Chuhuiv, Izyum and Kharkiv districts of the region
· In the village of Cherneshchyna, the building of the temple was damaged and grass was occupied in the open area. In the village of Vilcha and the village of Vovchansky hamlets, at least 4 residential buildings were damaged. In the village of Vilkhovatka, a private house was destroyed, another 2 were damaged.
Wednesday March 22
22:09: Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Ukrainian servicemen undergoing treatment in one of the medical institutions of the Kharkiv region.
· "Also, many thanks to the medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the support of our heroes and every life saved," the president wrote.
21:41: Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Ukrainian military, who distinguished themselves during the defense of the Kharkiv region.
· "Thank you to each of you for the victory that you bring every day, for the independence that you ensure, and for the sovereignty that you defend," the president wrote.
21:10: Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered the award "Hero City of Ukraine" to Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov.
· "We held a meeting on the situation in the Kharkiv region: the restoration of the de-occupied territories of the region, the arrangement of fortifications, the reconstruction of infrastructure and the provision of assistance to the affected residents," Zelenskyy wrote.
DONETSK
Thursday March 23
10:48 Donetsk RMA: In the middle of the night, Russians shelled Kramatorsk and the outskirts of the city - at least 3 houses, boiler houses and garages were damaged
· 2 people died in Avdiivka. The city suffered an air missile strike - 3 missiles targeted the territory of the AKHZ. At least 7 houses were damaged in the Ocheretyn community.
· 4 residential buildings and an economic building in the city of Chasiv Yar were damaged, and isolated shelling took place in the Toretsk and Soledar communities. Under the fire of the Russian Federation were Torskoye, Zarichne, Yampil and Terny, Seversk and Serebrianka.
10:25: Institute for the Study of War: Russia slows down the pace of the attack on Bakhmut, instead stepping up in the Avdiivka area.
· As a result of March 21 and 22, the Russians made little progress in the south of Bakhmut, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted counterattacks on the southwestern and northwestern outskirts of the city.
· At this, analysts believe that the activation of Russian troops in new directions is unlikely to greatly affect the battlefield, since in general the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine is approaching its climax.
09:02 Donetsk RMA: On March 22, Russians killed 2 residents of Donetsk region — in Avdiivka,
· Another 4 people in the region were injured.
00:54 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region.
Wednesday March 22
18:44: Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video from Donetsk region, where he visited a local gas station during a visit to the frontline positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction.
14:52: Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the social and security situation in the Donetsk region.
· "I heard the report of the military command on the state of the operational situation in the area of responsibility of the operational-tactical group "Lyman".
· Separately, they discussed the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of water and electricity. We considered the financing of health care institutions that were moved from the temporarily occupied territories," the President wrote.
13:37: Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment after injuries in the east of the country.
13:14: Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the forward positions of the Ukrainian military in the Bakhmut direction.
· "I have the honor to be here today and reward our heroes. Shake hands and thank for protecting the sovereignty of our state," the president wrote.
13:11 British intelligence: The Armed Forces launched a local counterattack in the Bakhmut direction.
· Analysts believe that this is an attempt to ease the pressure from the H-32 highway, which the Armed Forces receive supplies. At the same time, it is reported that fighting around the very center of the city continues, and Ukrainian defense remains under threat from the encirclement from the north and south.
ZAPORIZHIA
Thursday March 23
07:00: A strong explosion sounded in the temporarily occupied Melitopol.
· This was announced by the mayor of the city Ivan Fedorov.
Wednesday March 22
20:55: The rescue operation after the Russian missile strike in Zaporizhia is completed, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
· "Rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine pulled 6 people out from under the rubble and eliminated the fire in 2 high-rise buildings.
· 34 people were injured. 29 were hospitalized, including 3 children. Unfortunately, one person died in the hospital," Klymenko wrote.
18:58 press service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: The number of victims of today's missile strike by Russians on Zaporizhia has increased to 34.
16:32: According to the latest data, 32 people were injured in a strike on a high-rise building in Zaporizhia: 27 of them, including three children, were hospitalized. Rescue work continues at the site, the State Emergency Service said.
15:43: Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat: Russia struck a residential area of Zaporizhia with rocket artillery, probably a Tornado-S.
· "It flies extremely fast: from start to hit a second actually. If it is possible to inform, then it is done. If there is no possibility, then there may be such terrorist attacks by the enemy," he said.
15:29: As a result of a missile strike on a residential building in Zaporizhia, 21 people (including 2 children) were hospitalized, of which one person died in hospital, the State Emergency Service said.
· As of 2:00: , a fire in two partially destroyed nine-story buildings had been extinguished. SES units rescued 4 people.
14:56: The flag of Ukraine remained unscathed after a missile strike by Russian terrorists on Zaporizhia.
14:29: A gas leak began in a damaged high-rise building in Zaporizhia, Suspilne reports.
· A gas leak was recorded in a nearby high-rise building that was also damaged. The relevant services were called to the scene.
14:02: One person who was in serious condition died due to a blow to a high-rise building in Zaporizhia, city council secretary Anatoly Kurtev said.
· According to updated information, there are 25 people in hospitals. Three of them are in serious condition.
13:40: Currently, 18 victims are known due to a strike on a high-rise building in Zaporizhia, including two children aged 7 and 9, city council secretary Anatoly Kurtev said.
13:21 RMA: Two Russian missiles hit a residential high-rise building in Zaporizhia. All relevant services work on site
13:01: Zaporizhia. Right now, a Russian rocket hit a multi-story building.
12:51: Consequences of shelling of residential buildings in Zaporizhia by Russian terrorists.
12:13: Followers report that Russians hit a high-rise building in Zaporizhia.
DNIPRO
Wednesday March 22
23:02: The head of the Dnipropetrovsk RMA, Sergei Lysak, said that today the Russians attacked the Marganets community of the Nikopol district three times in a day.
· In Manganese, shells damaged an administrative building and two private enterprises. In one of the villages of the community there is a car and an outbuilding.
KHERSON
Thursday March 23
11:37: Aftermath of the night shelling of Kherson - RMA
· Residential buildings and a hospital in the city center came under Russian attack.
10:06 Kherson RMA: Russians attacked peaceful settlements of Kherson region 54 times.
· Residential areas of Kherson were shelled by the Russian military 5 times. Private and apartment buildings were damaged in the city. 1 person was killed, 2 more residents of the Kherson region were injured.
Wednesday March 22
23:30: In the Kherson region, the duration of curfew has been reduced. This was announced by the head of the Kherson RMA Alexander Prokudin.
· From March 24, it will start at 20:00 and last until 6:00.
20:45 Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Kherson.
18:03 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
14:21 Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Kherson.
13:51: In the Kherson region, near the village of Velyka Oleksandrivka, a man blew up on a Russian mine
· "Another tragic incident occurred in a forest belt outside the village. The 48-year-old victim lost part of his leg. The injured person was hospitalized," kherson RMA said.
12:40 Social Networks: Explosions heard again in Kherson
12:29 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, according to reports.
KIROVOGRAD
Thursday March 23
09:28 Social Networks: Explosion heard in Kropyvnytskyi
· 09:39: The explosion, which has just been heard in Kropyvnytskyi, occurred due to a gas explosion in a high-rise building on Yuri Kovalenko Street 5, building 2, - head of the Kirovograd RMA Andriy Raikovych.
KYIV
Thursday March 23
09:18 National police: 9 dead, 9 injured and another 20 people went to the hospital with minor injuries - these are the latest data on the victims of yesterday's attack by Russian drones on Rzhyshchiv
· According to him, that night the body of the commandant of the hostel, a woman born in 1966, who did not go down to the shelter during the air alarm, was taken out from under the rubble.
Wednesday March 22
20:40: As a result of a drone attack on Rzhyshchev in the Kyiv region, 8 people were killed, 4 people may be under the rubble, according to the State Emergency Service.
15:16: The number of deaths as a result of the missile attack on Rzhyshchiv as of 14:30 - 7 people, - speaker of the State Emergency Service in the Kyiv region Victoria Ruban.
· Rescuers continue to dismantle the rubble of the hostel.
15:01: Consequences of night attacks by kamikaze drones on a dormitory building in the Kiev region.
CHERNIHIV
Wednesday March 22
23:15: Operational Command "North" reported that as of ten in the evening, the Russians had once again shelled the border of Chernihiv region.
· 16 congregations were affected, probably from a 120 mm mortar, in the area of the village of Klyusy. Previously, no casualties or destruction were recorded.
KHMELNITSKY
Wednesday March 22
16:46: The SBU exposed an enemy bot farm in the Khmelnytsky region, through which fakes about the war in Ukraine were "dispersed", the SBU said.
· More than 2 thousand rubles. bots "dispersed" disinformation about the situation at the front and urged Ukrainians to evade mobilization.
· The pro-Russian cell was also engaged in discrediting the military-political leadership and units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://espreso.tv/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka
www.ubn.news