Photo : President of Ukraine
Photo : President of Ukraine
By Rosemary Kurian and Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 31 March, according to The Kyiv Independent Zelenskyy commemorated the second anniversary of the liberation of Bucha. He stated that “...this is a war to prevent anyone from daring to become a beast towards others,” at a flag raising ceremony conducted at the Memorial to the Defenders of the Bucha Community. He was joined by other Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, Head of the President’s Office, Denys Shmyhal, the Prime Minister, Rustem Umerov, the Defence Minister, Oleksandr Syskyi, the Commander-in-chief, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Parliament Speaker, and Ihor Klymenkom the Interior Minister. The suburb of Bucha near Kyiv was occupied by Russian troops soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a mid-March counterattack by Ukrainian troops liberated the suburb. However, post liberation, mass graves and proof of Russian war crimes were discovered, making Bucha a symbol of atrocities committed by Russia. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 1,400 civilians were killed in Bucha.
On 31 March, according to Al Jazeera, Russia escalated its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, killing two people. One attack was in the Lviv region where a building caught fire, killing one. According to Ukrainian energy operator DTEK, 170,000 homes have been suffering from power outages. Several thousands are suffering from power outages in the Odesa region of Ukraine. Following a Russian shelling last week, the largest power plant in the northeast Kharkiv region, the Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant, was completely destroyed post Russian shelling. In his Easter message, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President, urged the country to persevere through defence and aversion to death.
On 31 March, according to The Kyiv Independent, Zelenskyy wished Ukrainians following the Georgian calendar on account of Easter. He stated that the day must remind everyone that they “will not allow darkness to win.” Easter was celebrated by Ukraine’s Catholic, Protestant and Greek Orthodox Christians on 31 March, while the Orthodox Christians will observe Easter on 5 May. He stated that “there is not a day or night when Russian terror does not try to break our lives,” pointing at the Russian attack on the night of Easter using 11 Shahed drones, 14 cruise missiles, a Kh-59 guided missile, and an Iskander-M ballistic missile.
On 30 March, according to RFERL, Zelenskyy stated that if the US fails to support Ukraine with military aid, the former’s forces will be forced to retreat “in small steps”. In an interview with The Washington Post, Zelensky stated that the lack of American support would mean “no air defence, no Patriot missiles, no jammers for electronic warfare, (and) no 155-mm artillery rounds”. He added that if the frontline remains stable, Ukrainian forces could train new brigades to prepare for a counteroffensive. However, if Russia breaches the front line, Ukraine’s major cities will be under threat. Zelensky has been conducting rounds of interviews with the western media to urge the US Congress into approving the “critically important” aid for Ukraine. The Senate had last month passed USD 60 billion as part of a supplementary spending bill as aid, however, Mike Johnson, the Republican US House Speaker, failed to bring the bill up for vote in the House with a slim Republican majority, who rather wanted spending on US border security. Russia has launched multiple attacks targetting Ukrainian energy grid, causing widespread destruction and disruption of key services for civilians.
On 30 March, Reuters reported on Zelenskyy report on massive missile and drone attack by Russia on Ukraine’s thermal and hydro power plants in the central and western Ukraine. Stressing on the attacks, he demanded for more air defences from the west citing the increasing damage to critical infrastructure. On the same, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s Prime Minister confirmed on the damages of six energy facilities. He said: “Again, the attack was directed both against electricity generation facilities and against its distribution system.”
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 31 March, according to CGTN, Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, signed a decree ordering a routine spring-time conscription campaign. He called upon 150,000 citizens for their statutory military service, according to a Kremlin document.
On 31 March, according to TASS, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of the Belgorod Region Region of Russia announced that a Ukrainian shelling attack that hit “the village of Dunaika in the Graivoron district” caused the death of a woman. He added that damage due to the attack was caused to four houses, one auxiliary structure, three cars, as well as a gas pipeline and a power transmission line, causing various disruptions for civilians.
On 31 March, according to Sputnik, Russia carried out a strike using long-range precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, on targets within the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and facilities of gas production. The Russian Defence Ministry announced that the strike had caused disruption of “enterprises of the defence industry on the production and repair of weapons, military equipment and ammunition” in Ukraine, hitting all intended targets. The Ministry listed the losses faced by Ukraine, that included “300 servicepeople, two armored combat vehicles, two light verhicles, as well as a reconnaissance and electronic warfare station” in the Avdeyevka and Kupyansk regions. Further, nine counterattacks from Ukraine were repelled in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The Ministry listed out the losses faced by Ukraine in the vicinity of the DPR and Kherson regions.
On 31 March, according to TASS, Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) announced that three militants accused of plotting attacks in Dagestan in southern Russia had been detained, from Makhachkala and Kaspiysk. The NAC’s investigation discovered automatic weapons and a home-made explosive device. They noted that during the counter-terrorism operation, no civilian or law enforcement personnel had been harmed.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 29 March, France 24 reported on the interview of Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Defence Minister. Lecornu announced the government’s decision to supply old armoured vehicles and new surface to air missiles to Ukraine. The move comes as Ukraine faces increased strikes from Russia in its western (Lviv) and northeastern region. He added: “We are also developing remotely operated munitions in a very short timeframe, to deliver them to Ukraine starting this summer.”
On 29 March, Politico reported on Romanian government report on discovery of debris from a drone crash on an island in Danube River located near the Ukraine border. In a statement, Romania’s defence ministry stated on identifying fragments which is expected to be from a drone in an agricultural field in the Great Brăila Island. According to Marcel Ciolacu, Romania’s Prime Minister, it was a first occurrence and no casualties were recorded.
On 29 March, Anadolu Agency reported on Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister interview comment on warning of a “new era of war.” He stated that it was a critical moment after World War II and the coming two years would be a decider. Tusk stressed on the continuity of support to Ukraine and need for the “strong alliance with the US.” On the agricultural dispute he raised concerns over his need to prioritise Poland’s “fundamental interest.” He added: “…I argued that the idea of free trade with Ukraine needs to be remodeled. I want a fair agreement with Ukraine on this matter.”
References
Pavel Polityuk, “Ukraine says Russian drone, missile attacks damage power facilities,” Reuters, 30 March 2024
“Two killed as Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” Reuters, 31 March 2024
“Zelensky on Easter Sunday: 'There’s no night or day when Russian terror doesn’t attempt to ruin our lives',” The Kyiv Independent, 31 March 2024
Nate Ostiller, “Zelensky commemorates 2nd anniversary of liberation of Bucha,” The Kyiv Independent, 31 March 2024
“Putin signs decree on spring military conscription,” CGTN, 31 March 2024
“Woman killed in village in Belgorod Region as result of Ukraine’s shelling attack,” TASS, 31 March 2024
“ Russian Aerospace Forces Hits Ukrainian Energy Facilities, Gas Infrastructure,” Sputnik, 31 March 2024
“ Three militants detained in counter-terrorist operation in southern Russia — NAC,” TASS, 31 March 2024
“Ukrainian Forces Will Have To Retreat Without U.S. Aid, Zelenskiy Says,” RFERL, 30 March 2024
“France to deliver old armoured vehicles, new missiles to Ukraine,” France 24, 31 March 2024
CLAUDIA CHIAPPA, “NATO’s Romania finds likely drone debris on its land near Ukraine border,” Politico, 29 March 2024
Jo Harper, “Polish PM warns of new era of war: 'Next 2 years deciding everything',” Anadolu Agency, 29 March 2024