Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
WAR BULLETIN
March 15, 10.00 EST
Russian troops continue to use civilian infrastructure for firing positions, deploy weapons and military equipment. They shelled residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv. As a result of the rocket attacks, two high-rise buildings in Podilsky and Svyatoshinsky districts were damaged.
There is a high probability of provocations aimed at involving the Belarusian side into the war against Ukraine.
As of the morning of March 15, 2022, 97 children were killed and more than 100 wounded. 400 educational institutions were damaged, 59 of them were completely destroyed. At least 28 buildings of spiritual significance have been damaged.
WAR ROOM
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 15.03 were approximately:
personnel - more 13500,
tanks ‒ 404,
APV ‒ 1279,
artillery systems – 150,
MLRS - 64,
anti-aircraft warfare systems - 36,
aircraft – 81,
helicopters – 95,
vehicles - 640,
vessels - 3,
fuel tanks - 60,
UAV operational-tactical level - 9.
Data are being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.
The twentieth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian military invasion began. Status, position and nature of actions of the defense forces without significant changes.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are inflicting devastating blows on groups of troops and the rear infrastructure of the occupiers. During the past 24hrs, four helicopters, one plane and a fighter shot down an enemy cruise missile were hit by a group of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The groups of the occupying forces involved in the offensive did not have significant success in all areas of advance. The main efforts continue to be focused on maintaining the occupied borders.
The enemy continues to launch missile and bomb attacks on critical infrastructure. Uses a network of health care facilities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to treat wounded personnel.
Also, the invaders continue to insidiously use civilian infrastructure to equip firing positions, deploy weapons and military equipment.
According to the available information, due to the inability to maintain the functioning of institutions and organizations to ensure the livelihood of settlements in the temporarily occupied territories of ORDLO (certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts), the occupiers are forced to suspend the mobilization of communal workers.
The moral and psychological state of the enemy remains low, which leads to the refusal of servicemen of the Armed Forces to carry out the orders of the command. Also, according to available information, mobilized residents from the occupied territory of some districts of Luhansk region are sent to replenish the losses of active units of the Russian occupation forces involved in hostilities in Ukraine.
The enemy is trying to capture Mariupol. Ukrainian soldiers successfully repulsed the attacks of the invaders. The total losses of the enemy amounted to about 150 people, 2 tanks, 7 infantry fighting vehicles and one armoured personnel carrier. After the losses, the occupiers stopped the offensive and retreated.
Artillery and aircraft inflicted fire damage on the accumulation of military equipment and enemy columns on the advance routes. According to the available information, as a result of the artillery fire, 12 units of motor vehicles were destroyed.
The battalion tactical groups from the 336th Separate Marine Brigade and the 11th Separate Assault Brigade also suffered.
No signs of preparation for a naval landing operation were found in the Black Sea and Azov operational zones. The state, position, and nature of the actions of the defense forces have not changed significantly. Ukraine's defense forces continue to successfully resist the occupiers.
During the day, the enemy did not conduct active offensive operations, focused on replenishing current losses, recruiting mercenaries from other countries, and resolving problematic issues related to the logistical support of the occupying forces operating in Ukraine. Information on the organization of mercenary training centres in Smolensk, Russia, and Gomel and Bobruisk, Belarus, has been repeatedly reported.
In the Volyn direction, the enemy keeps the group guarding the Ukrainian-Belarusian state border. At the same time, there is a high probability of provocations aimed at involving the Belarusian side in the occupation forces.
In the Polissya direction, the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to break through the defenses of our troops in the direction of Guta-Mezhyhirska, Lyutyzh. At the same time, the occupiers were unsuccessful in capturing Makarov.
In the northern direction, the enemy is trying to increase the group, to organize logistics to resume the offensive on Chernihiv.
In the Slobozhansky direction, the main target of the enemy remains the encirclement of the cities of Sumy and Kharkiv.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, the occupiers did not succeed in the Lysychansk district, suffered losses, and withdrew. In the area of Rubizhne, the enemy is trying to gain a foothold on the western outskirts of the city. Continues assault on the western and eastern outskirts of Mariupol with the support of aircraft and artillery. In the South Bug direction, the enemy is not taking active action, trying to hold previously occupied positions.
Unsuccessful in the main areas, the occupying forces continue to launch missile and air strikes on civilians, civilians and critical infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law.
Security Service of Ukraine
The SSU detained a hacker who provided the occupiers with mobile communications in Ukraine. With the help of this collaborator: anonymously made phone calls from the Russian Federation to the invaders' cell phones in Ukraine; sent text messages to Ukrainian security forces and civil servants with offers to surrender and defect to the occupiers; transmitted commands and instructions to advanced groups of Russian invaders.
The SSU found that up to a thousand calls were made in a single day because of this hacker. A significant portion of them were from the top leadership of the enemy army.
https://www.facebook.com/100066507582416/posts/317695223790728/?d=n
POLICY
President of Ukraine
Responsibility for war crimes of the Russian military is inevitable - address by the President of Ukraine.
Another difficult day, which is still approaching our victory. Approaching peace for Ukraine.
As before, the enemy is confused. They did not expect such resistance. They believed in their propaganda, which has been lying about us for decades. They still can't recollect themselves. But they have already begun to understand that they will not achieve anything by war.
Their soldiers know this. Their officers are aware of this. They flee the battlefield. They abandon equipment. We take trophies and use them to protect Ukraine. Today, Russian troops are, in fact, one of the suppliers of equipment to our army. They could not imagine such a thing in a nightmare.
And I want to tell the Russian soldiers. Those who have already entered our land. And who are just about to be sent to fight against us.
Russian conscripts! Listen to me very carefully. Russian officers! You’ve already understood everything. You will not take anything from Ukraine. You will take lives. There are a lot of you. But your life will also be taken.
But why should you die? What for? I know that you want to survive. We hear your conversations in the intercepts, we hear what you really think about this senseless war, about this disgrace and about your state. Your conversations with each other. Your calls home to your family. We hear it all. We draw conclusions. We know who you are.
Therefore, I offer you a choice. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance. Chance to survive. If you surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated. As people, decently. In a way you were not treated in your army. And in a way your army does not treat ours. Choose!
Our brave defenders continue to inflict devastating losses on Russian troops. Soon the number of downed helicopters of Russia will reach hundreds of units. They have already lost 80 warplanes. Hundreds of tanks and thousands of other units of equipment.
In 19 days, the Russian army has lost more in Ukraine than in two bloody and years-long wars in Chechnya. For what? I am grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth. To those who fight disinformation and tell the truth, real facts to their friends and loved ones. And personally to the woman who entered the studio of Channel One with a poster against the war. To those who are not afraid to protest. As long as your country has not completely closed itself off from the whole world, turning into a very large North Korea, you must fight. You must not lose your chance.
The European Union has approved the fourth package of sanctions against Russia. The fourth - and I'm sure not the last.
We are working with partners on new restrictions that will be applied against the Russian state. Everyone who is responsible for the war. Everyone who is responsible for the destruction of democracy. Everyone who is responsible for repression against people. Everyone will get an answer. The answer of the world. And this is just the beginning.
Responsibility for war crimes of the Russian military is inevitable. Responsibility for a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe in Ukrainian cities is inevitable. The whole world sees what is happening in Mariupol. Kharkiv. Chernihiv. Sumy. Okhtyrka. Hostomel. Irpin. In all our cities.
All our partners are informed of the crimes of the invaders against civilians and local self-government in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. In the temporarily occupied areas. There will be an answer for that. Necessarily. For the disrupted humanitarian corridors. Necessarily.
During the day of March 14, 3,806 Ukrainians were evacuated from the cities and towns of the Kyiv and Luhansk regions.
Our convoy with one hundred tons of what is most necessary for Mariupol is still kept in Berdyansk. For three days already. But we will try. We will do everything to ensure that Mariupol residents receive food, water and medicine.
I provided full information about the actions of the invaders on the Ukrainian land in conversations with friends and partners of our state. Every aggressive action of the invaders only pushes the world to new sanctions.
I spoke with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. With President of Poland Andrzej Duda. Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel. We have 100% mutual understanding.
The conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Bennett was also important. As part of a negotiation effort to end this war as soon as possible. With a fair peace.
Our delegation also worked on this in negotiations with the Russian party. Pretty good, as I was told. But let's see. They will continue tomorrow.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has agreed on a package of decisions to support our economy. So that business works. So that people have jobs. Where security allows. Where people are ready for it.
First, we are starting tax reform. Instead of VAT and income tax we give a rate of 2 percent of turnover and simplified accounting. For small businesses - this is the first and second group of sole proprietors - we set a voluntary payment of a single tax. That is, if you can - pay. You can't - no questions asked.
The second is maximum business deregulation. We cancel all inspections for all businesses. So that everyone works normally. So that the cities come to life. So that life continues wherever there are no hostilities.
The only condition is that you ensure the normal operation of your business in the framework of Ukrainian law.
These are just the first two steps of our tax reform. To be continued.
And finally.
I have just signed a decree on awarding state awards of Ukraine to 234 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who showed personal courage and heroism in the fight for our land. For our independence. 59 of them posthumously.
May the memory of everyone who gave life for our state live forever!
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
The operational situation on the diplomatic front as of 09:00, March 15
On the 20th day, Ukraine fiercely resists Russia's armed aggression on all fronts, including diplomatic. Every day of the war against Ukraine makes Russians poorer. The fourth package of EU sanctions is already approved at the ambassadorial level. The new sanctions will deal another destructive shock to Russia's economy to oppress the Kremlin's military machine.
Sanctions
- The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives has decided to approve the fourth package of sanctions against Russian individuals and legal personalities. As well as certain sectors of the Russian economy;
- Japan has announced the freezing of active assets of 17 individuals from Russia. In total, Tokio has already imposed sanctions on 61 Russians for the war against Ukraine;
- The United States has imposed sanctions on 11 people working in the Russian defense sector. In particular, the restrictions apply to the heads of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Isolation of the Russian Federation
- Spain has confiscated a $ 140 million yacht owned by a Russian oligarch;
- The Korean Air company has suspended passenger and freight traffic to Moscow and Vladivostok;
- One of the largest US banks, Citigroup, will close its operations in several areas of the Russian market;
- The European Aviation Safety Agency has suspended the licenses of dozens of Russian airlines, including products, spare parts, appliances, and training centres.
Humanitarian aid
- The United Nations will provide an additional $ 40 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine;
- Since the beginning of the war, international partners have provided more than $ 50 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine;
- The British government has launched a special website "Home for Ukraine" for those who are ready to accept Ukrainians forced to escape from Russian armed aggression. 43.8 thousand people have already expressed their readiness;
- Russian criminals on the way behind bars.
On March 16, the UN International Court of Justice will terminate the case of Ukraine v. Russia on charges of genocide under the Genocide Convention.
General Prosecutor’s Office
As of the morning of March 15, 2022, 97 children were killed and more than 100 wounded due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zhytomyr regions suffered the most casualties. Every day at least 5 children are being killed by shelling.
As a result of bombing and shelling, more than 400 educational institutions were damaged, 59 of them were completely destroyed. Eleven medical institutions and three rehabilitation centers, including those for children with disabilities, were shelled. These figures are not final, given the lack of opportunity to inspect the sites where the aggressor country is conducting active combat operations and in the temporarily occupied territories.
https://www.facebook.com/100064585280174/posts/330701489092691/?d=n
The Russian Armed Forces, using means of warfare prohibited by international law, shelled residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv. As a result of the rocket attacks, two multi-story buildings in Podilsky and Svyatoshinsky districts were damaged, which led to the inflammation of apartments in these buildings. In Svyatoshinsky district the building burned from 1 to 16 floors. Rescue operations are currently ongoing at the scene of the fires. There is information about at least two deaths. The number of dead and injured is being specified. In addition, as a result of the shelling, a private house in the Darnitsa district and the facade of the subway station in the Shevchenko district of Kyiv were damaged.
https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/330772192418954
On March 15, 2022, the occupants launched a strike on Brovary, a shell damaged a bus stop. The day before, in the village of Velyka Dymerka, the Russian armed forces opened fire on civilians who were at a public transport stop - a woman was killed and a man was wounded. They also opened fire on civilians' homes, killing a man. Buildings of a private community were damaged. In Zavorychi, two men were fatally injured and a woman suffered shrapnel wounds due to the shelling by the military of the aggressor country. In Bucha, Russian soldiers fired at residential buildings, a 65-year-old civilian was killed in Vorzel, and a 75-year-old woman and a man died of wounds in Irpin.
https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/330785525750954
On March 15, 2022, at approximately 3:00 a.m., the Russian Armed Forces carried out another targeted rocket attack on the Dnipro International Airport. One person was wounded as a result of the shelling.
https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/330806535748853
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy fired on a column of civilians evacuated from Gostomel, Kyiv region. The driver of one of the buses was injured in the shelling. Also under fire in the column was a car with an injured couple. The woman died at the scene.
Yesterday, the armed forces of the Russian Federation fired at the settlement of Novi Petrivtsi, Kyiv region from the "Grad" multiple rocket launcher. A civilian was killed and another was injured. The massive attack by the occupiers damaged and destroyed the National Museum-Reserve "Battle of Kyiv in 1943", the church and other infrastructure.
Yesterday, Russian militants killed five residents of Donetsk: 2 in Avdiivka, 2 in Kramatorsk and 1 in Petrivskyi. Kharkiv is under mass fire again. As a result of the shelling near Gorkyi Park in the afternoon of March 14, a car of volunteers of the “Help Army” organization was hit. A 26-year-old boy was killed and a woman was seriously injured. During the night in Kharkiv, shells hit residential buildings and several commercial premises. 7 victims were rescued from the rubble.
According to preliminary information, 10 people died as a result of the bombing of Chernihiv by the occupiers. The shelling of civilians in Luhansk region does not stop. The destruction of infrastructure and the housing sector is catastrophic. Residents of Luhansk region do not have the opportunity to buy water, food, some do not have electricity and communication. Residents are forced to constantly hide in basements. Military aggressors fire on the streets, not allowing to leave the shelter.
In Kyiv, in the Podilskyi district, an ammunition hit a ten-story building. Due to this, the 1st and 5th floors caught fire. In the Svyatoshinsky district because of hit of an aircraft shell in the 16-storey building two persons died, 27 people were rescued.
The shock wave also damaged the ground floor of the Lukyanivska metro station.
https://www.facebook.com/denisovaombudsman/posts/502559001225377
The Russian occupiers are fighting against the objective coverage of their war crimes in Ukraine - they are killing and shooting at journalists. At least 35 journalists have already become victims by Russian militants.
Three were killed. The journalist Victor Dudar was lost during hostilities near Mykolaiv. Live cameraman Yevhen Sakun was killed in a rocket attack in Kyiv. Brent Reno, a USA citizen, video journalist and documentary filmmaker, was killed at a checkpoint in Irpin, Kyiv Region.
Many journalists were wounded by targeted enemy shelling. The armored car with marking of "press" of the Swiss journalist Guillaume Bricke during movement towards Mykolaiv was fired at by the Russian military. The journalist was injured.
Two journalists from the Czech edition of Voxpot, Maida Slamova and Vojtech Bogach, came under fire from Russian troops. Two Danish Ekstra-Bladet correspondents, journalist Stefan Weichert and photographer and reporter Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen, were shot.
Russian troops have attacked the British television group Sky News - chief correspondent Stuart Ramsey and his four colleagues were returning to Kyiv when they were ambushed. The bullet hit Ramsey in the back, cameraman Richie Mokler was rescued by a bulletproof vest, which was shot twice.
The enemy tried to destroy Kyiv, Lutsk, and Rivne TV towers under targeted fire, and seized TV towers and TV studios in the temporarily occupied cities. The actions of the occupiers are aimed at imposing Russian propaganda and ideology and suppressing all other information resources.
https://www.facebook.com/denisovaombudsman/posts/502565984558012
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
The Russian invasion is destroying churches, mosques, synagogues and religious schools in various regions of Ukraine. While Kremlin propagandists are cynically covering up their imperial ambitions with claims to "protect Orthodoxy," an aggressive attack by Russian troops is destroying Orthodox churches and other shrines in Ukraine's religious communities.
At least 28 buildings of spiritual significance (excluding adjacent buildings) have been damaged in at least six regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Chernihiv. The vast majority of them are Orthodox churches.