News Feed
- Sunday, March 27; 21:49 Kiovan aikaa.
Zelensky: ‘I told Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol they can leave the city, they refused’.
Zelensky spoke to Russian journalists on March 27 and described a horrific situation in Ukraine’s besieged city Mariupol. He said Ukraine’s defenders refused to leave behind injured and dead comrades and civilians. There are heaps of dead bodies of military and civilians on the streets of Mariupol with no way to bury them due to constant shelling and airstrikes. The city is being constantly shelled by Russian forces.
- 20:54
General Staff: Russian forces may damage insulation structures of Chornobyl nuclear power plant.
The Russian military reportedly uses old and substandard ammunition, which can detonate even during transportation. The ammunition is often transported through the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
- 20:36
Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash loses yet another extradition trial, has until March 30 to appeal.
Firtash, who has lived in Austria since 2014, faces extradition to the U.S., where he is charged with corruption. On March 16, a Vienna Regional Court for Criminal Matters denied to reconsider his case on admissibility of the extradition.
- 20:25
UN: Russia’s war in Ukraine kills at least 1,119 civilians, injures 1,790.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as of midnight on March 26, Russia’s full-on war in Ukraine killed or injured at least 2,909 civilians. The office believes that the actual numbers are much higher.
- 20:00
Zelensky gives interview to Russian media. Russia bans its publication.
The interview, which Zelensky gave via videoconference to four Russian non-governmental media outlets, is bound to be published today. The Russian government called upon the media to not publish it and said those who interviewed Zelensky will be investigated.
- 19:34
Over 40 big international companies choose to stay in Russia.
The list, compiled by the Yale School of Management, includes Acer, Lenovo, Auchan, Decathlon, Raiffeisen Bank, and other companies.
- 19:01
Ukraine, Russian delegations to meet in Turkey by end of March.
According to lawmaker David Arakhamia, member of Ukraine’s peace talks delegation, the two sides will meet face-to-face between March 28 and March 30.
- 18:50
Over 10,000 hectares of forests on fire in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone due to war.
The fires threaten to contaminate Ukraine, Belarus, and other European countries, says Ukrainian Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova. It is nearly impossible to control or put out fires as Chornobyl is occupied by Russia, she added.
- 18:40
Russia fired record number of missiles, Ukraine’s air defense shot down most of them.
According to the Russian investigative journalist project The Insider, Russia fired at least 70 missiles against Ukraine on March 26. Only eight hit their targets, the rest were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense.
- 18:28
Canada ready to provide more oil, gas, uranium to countries previously dependent on Russian supplies.
Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said that his country is committed “to help as much as we can in terms of displacing Russian oil and gas.” Canada will export an extra 200,000 barrels of oil and an additional 100,000 barrels of natural gas.
- 17:49
Turkey says the world ‘cannot burn bridges’ with Russia.
“If everybody burns bridges with Russia then who is going to talk to them at the end of the day,” said Ibrahim Kalin, Turkey’s presidential spokesman. However, he added that Kyiv needs more support.
- 17:20
Hungarians place 300 pairs of shoes to commemorate victims of Mariupol Drama Theater shelling.
The shoes were placed near the existing memorial commemorating the massacre of Hungarian Jews. Mariupol City Council wrote, citing witnesses, that around 300 people were killed after Russia shelled the theater used as a bomb shelter.
- 16:57
Macron warned against calling Putin a 'butcher.'
“I wouldn’t use terms like that because I’m still in talks with President Putin,” French President Emmanuel Macron said during an interview. Prior, U.S. President Joe Biden called the Russian President a “butcher,” a “murderous dictator” and “a pure thug.”
- 16:49
People rally against Russian invasion in occupied Kherson Oblast.
According to Suspilne news outlet, people gathered for a peaceful rally in Kakhovka in Kherson Oblast, holding Ukrainian flags. A rally against the Russian occupation also took place in Kherson. According to the local media outlet Most, Russian troops used rubber bullets against protesters.
- 16:29
Bennett: Israel stands with Ukraine, works on ‘advanced field hospital.’
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke to reporters at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem. He said that the hospital that Israel set up in western Ukraine has already treated over 500 patients.
- 15:50
UK to provide 3 million pounds to Ukrainians involved in academic research.
According to the British government, Ukrainian nationals involved in academic research will be assisted if they choose to continue their work in the U.K. “The U.K. will also not fund any new collaborative projects with Russia through its research and innovation organizations,” the statement reads.
- 15:42
Energy Ministry: Russia must be removed from IAEA for 'nuclear terrorism.'
According to Olena Zerkal, advisor to Ukraine’s Energy Minister, Ukraine is working to remove Russia from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Russia has occupied two Ukrainian nuclear power plants – in Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was previously shelled by Russia.
- 14:57
Military Intelligence: Russia wants to split Ukraine into two.
According to Kyrylo Budanov, head of Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, Russia will try a “Korean scenario” by creating a separate political entity in the Russian-occupied regions.
- 14:13
Japan's three major banks suspend dollar transactions with Russia's Sberbank.
MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. will halt dollar transactions and money transfers with Russia’s largest financial institution Sberbank following U.S. sanctions.
- 14:04
CEO says Auchan won't pull out of Russia.
French retail chain Auchan CEO Yves Claude claimed that his company “is acting in the interests of civilians” and needs to provide food to people in both Russia and Ukraine.
- 13:30
Lawmaker says 89 businesses evacuated from war-affected areas to western Ukraine.
Danylo Hetmantsev, the head of the parliament’s finance and taxation committee, said on March 27 that 47 of these businesses have already resumed operations.
- 13:20
Sean Penn calls for Academy Awards boycott if Zelensky is not invited to speak.
The Oscar-winning U.S. actor, who is making a documentary about Russia’s war and helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland through his CORE foundation, told CNN that if the Oscars refuse to let President Volodymyr Zelensky speak about Russian aggression at the March 28 award ceremony it would be “the most obscene moment in all of Hollywood history.”
- 12:19
Proxy leader says Russian-occupied parts of Luhansk Oblast may be annexed by Russia.
Leonid Pasichnyk, the head of Russia’s proxies in the region, said on March 27 that a referendum on the annexation may be held soon.
- 11:55
Oil depot in Rivne Oblast completely destroyed by Russian missile strike.
Rivne Oblast Governor Vitaliy Koval told TV channel Espresso on March 27 that there had been no casualties as a result of the March 26 strike at the depot in the city of Dubno.
- 11:01
UK Defense Ministry: Russian forces focus on trying to encircle Ukraine's troops in Donbas.
Russian troops are attempting to advance from Kharkiv in the north and Mariupol in the south, the ministry said on March 27.
- 10:28
Politico: Russian brigade commander killed by his own troops.
Politico cited unnamed Western officials as saying that the commander of Russia’s 37th Motor Rifle Brigade had been deliberately run over by an armored vehicle and suffered grave injuries to both legs. Politico reported that this is an indication of discontent among Russian forces.
- 09:54
Ukraine's General Staff: 16,600 Russian soldiers killed since Feb. 24.
The General Staff said Russian troops had lost 582 tanks, 1,664 armored fighting vehicles, 294 artillery pieces, 93 multiple rocket launchers, 52 air defense systems, 121 aircraft, 127 helicopters. 7 boats, and 56 drones.
- 09:37
Mayor says 20,000-30,000 residents forcibly evacuated from Mariupol to Russia, Russian-occupied areas.
About 60,000 have been evacuated to Ukraine, Mariuol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said in a March 26 interview with news agency UNIAN. He said that 50% of the city’s 540,000 residents have left since Feb. 24.
- 08:50
139 children killed since Feb. 24.
As of March 27, 139 children were killed and more than 205 wounded amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to the prosecutor’s office, the majority of the childhood casualties occurred in the Kyiv, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Zhytomyr and Sumy oblasts.
- 08:17
Ukrainian military successfully repels seven Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk directions.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian soldiers have destroyed eight tanks, 11 units of armored and other military vehicles, and one mortar. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the military has downed one plane, 12 UAVs of various types and two cruise missiles since March 25.
- 07:36
Dozens of Ukrainian communities, monasteries move to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church leader, Metropolitan Epiphanius I of Kyiv, made the announcement via Twitter on March 26. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported earlier on March 25 that 28 communities in nine oblasts have officially switched from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- 07:15
Europe and Canada to team up with Global Citizen to support refugees.
On March 26, the European Commission and the Government of Canada announced the launch of a global campaign to raise funds in support of people fleeing the invasion of Ukraine, in partnership with international advocacy organization Global Citizen. An online fundraiser will take place on April 9. Check Global Citizen for updates.
- 06:58
Russian oligarchs are welcome in Turkey, Turkish foreign minister says.
According to Al Arabiya news channel, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on March 26 that Russian oligarchs are welcome to visit and do business in Turkey, provided they do not breach international law.
- 06:30
UK to provide humanitarian aid valued at 2 million pounds to encircled Ukrainian cities.
The British Foreign Office announced on March 26 that $2.6 million in critical food supplies will be delivered at the request of the Ukrainian government.
- 05:48
Zelensky awards Hero of Ukraine title to 15 soldiers, three posthumously.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bestowed the awards on March 26 to soldiers for their “personal courage and heroism shown in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
