Key developments on March 17:
- Russia claims seize of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine denies
- Ukrainian drones assault gasoline facility in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, governor claims
- Ukrainian long-range drone efficiently completes 3,000-kilometer take a look at, Zelensky says
- Territorial integrity, navy dimension, alliances — FM Sybiha units 3 'fundamentals' for potential peace talks
- Zelensky indicators regulation allowing Ukrainian troops to function overseas throughout martial regulation
- Seoul, Kyiv focus on switch of North Korean POWs to South Korea
The Russian Protection Ministry claimed Russian forces captured the Ukrainian village of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on March 17.
Ukraine's Southern Protection Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn denied the assertion.
Stepove, with a pre-war inhabitants of 118 individuals, is situated 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the villages of Pyatykhatky and Mali Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. All three settlements have been below Russian occupation in 2022 and 2023.
The Russian Protection Ministry claimed that its navy had taken management of Stepove. Nevertheless, Voloshyn informed the Kyiv Unbiased that Ukrainian forces didn’t lose floor within the Zaporizhzhia sector of the entrance line.
"It is a methodology of data warfare — the enemy claims that it’s there earlier than it has entered. I don’t affirm the data that Russia entered the settlements of Stepove, Mali Shcherbaky, or Shcherbaky and took them below management," Voloshyn mentioned.
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"Fierce combating continues on this space. The enemy is making an attempt to alter the configuration of the fight line in its favor. In whole, six fight engagements have been registered within the Orikhiv sector over the past day. The day earlier than yesterday, there have been 19," Voloshyn added.
In keeping with Voloshyn, since March, Russian forces have intensified their assaults in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. For the reason that starting of spring, there have been over 130 clashes within the Orikhiv sector alone.
The Ukrainian navy warned in fall 2024 that Russian forces have been ammassing in Zaporizhzhia Oblastin preparation for a southern offensive. Heavy fortifications have been constructed across the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia forward of the potential invasion.
The realm close to Stepove was the primary axis of Ukraine's southern counteroffensive in 2023, which led to the liberation of the settlement of Robotyne however achieved no main breakthrough.
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk
Ukrainian drones assault gasoline facility in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, governor claims
Ukrainian drones attacked a gasoline and vitality facility in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast on March 17, inflicting a fireplace, regional governor Igor Babushkin claimed.
"In a single day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces once more tried a large drone assault on services situated within the area, together with a gasoline and vitality advanced," Babushkin claimed.
Russia's Protection Ministry mentioned its forces had destroyed 13 drones over the oblast. Babushkin reported that fallen particles induced a fireplace on the facility, and one individual was hospitalized.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t independently confirm these claims.
Astrakhan Oblast is situated in southwestern Russia and borders Kazakhstan. The town of Astrakhan is sort of 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the entrance line in Ukraine.
Ukraine has more and more focused Russia's vitality and navy infrastructure to disrupt Moscow's warfare effort. In a single day on March 14, Ukrainian drones struck the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, igniting a gasoline storage tank.
Kyiv has targeted on hitting Russian refineries, oil depots, and protection business websites, aiming to restrict Moscow's potential to maintain its full-scale invasion.
Ukrainian long-range drone efficiently completes 3,000-kilometer take a look at, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on March 17 in his night handle {that a} Ukrainian long-range drone has efficiently accomplished testing, demonstrating its potential to fly 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles).
"There may be excellent news about long-range drones. Our drone has handed a 3,000-kilometer take a look at," Zelensky mentioned following a gathering of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the highest command and management physique for Ukraine’s protection and safety forces.
Kyiv makes use of long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, concentrating on navy infrastructure equivalent to airfields, oil refineries, and logistics hubs.
Throughout the assembly, members additionally mentioned a brand new long-range missile developed by Ukraine, the Lengthy Neptune.
"We are able to say that we’re happy with the outcomes of the strikes. However we have to produce extra missiles, extra drones, and we might be speaking about this with our companions this week," Zelensky mentioned.
Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk earlier mentioned that the Ukrainian Navy is the one construction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that makes use of the Lengthy Neptun missiles.
Ukraine has additionally developed long-range missile-drone hybrids, such because the Palianytsia and Peklo fashions, that includes turbojet engines as options to cruise missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a goal of manufacturing a minimum of 30,000 long-range drones in 2025.
The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post
Territorial integrity, navy dimension, alliances — FM Sybiha units 3 'fundamentals' for potential peace talks
Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha outlined three key situations for future negotiations to finish Russia's warfare towards Ukraine in an interview with RBC-Ukraine revealed on March 17.
"I don't like this definition (pink strains). There are basic issues which might be non-negotiable, that can not be touched upon," Sybiha mentioned when requested what Ukraine's pink strains are in potential talks.
Sybiha confused that Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty are non-negotiable, reaffirming that Kyiv won’t ever acknowledge Russian-occupied territories as a part of Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyvoiced this stance again on March 12.
Regardless of this, the Trump administration has urged that Kyiv and Moscow should compromise on a peace deal, calling Ukraine's purpose of restoring its pre-2014 borders "unrealistic."
Russian forces presently occupy roughly 20% of Ukraine, the place reviews of systematic repression, torture, and compelled deportations proceed to emerge.
In keeping with Sybiha, the second key situation is Ukraine's proper to decide on its alliances. He emphasised that no nation ought to have a veto over Ukraine's NATO and EU aspirations.
Kyiv formally utilized to affix NATO in September 2022, and in 2024, the alliance declared Ukraine's path to membership "irreversible," although no formal invitation has been prolonged.
Sybiha additionally underscored that Ukraine's potential to defend itself should stay unrestricted, that means there will be no restrictions on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"Russia should be held accountable. These are all parts of a long-lasting peace," he mentioned.
On March 13, President Vladimir Putin mentioned Russia was keen to simply accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire however demanded ensures that Kyiv would halt mobilization, navy coaching, and international support deliveries — situations that might depart Ukraine susceptible to renewed aggression.
U.S. President Donald Trump is about to talk with Putin on March 18 to debate ending the warfare in Ukraine. Whereas Trump seeks to safe a deal, European allies and Ukraine warn {that a} rushed settlement with out safety ensures could fail to make sure lasting peace.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
Zelensky indicators regulation allowing Ukrainian troops to function overseas throughout martial regulation
President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a regulation permitting Ukraine's Armed Forces to be despatched overseas throughout martial regulation, in response to an official decree revealed on March 17.
The regulation goals to boost protection cooperation with companion nations, notably by enabling Ukrainian forces to take part in coaching and obtain navy gear, lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenkoexplained.
"This can enable us to draw worldwide help to strengthen Ukraine's protection quicker and extra successfully," Honcharenko posted on Telegram.
The laws permits Ukrainian navy models to be deployed to different nations for nationwide safety functions, together with repelling armed aggression, defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, and exercising the precise to self-defense below worldwide regulation.
The regulation doesn’t concern the deployment of Ukrainian troops for fight operations on Russian territory.
The choice to ship navy personnel overseas might be made by the president however requires approval from the Verkhovna Rada, the nation's parliament. Deployments might be topic to a proper request detailing the mission's aims, troop numbers, weaponry, and the situations of their keep overseas.
Zelensky vetoed the invoice in January and returned it to parliament with amendments clarifying the decision-making course of and making certain compliance with worldwide regulation. Lawmakers accredited the revised model in late February.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Seoul, Kyiv focus on switch of North Korean POWs to South Korea
Ukraine is negotiating with South Korea handy over two North Korean troopers taken prisoner by Kyiv, South Korea's Yonhap information company reported on March 17.
South Korean Overseas Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha mentioned the potential switch of the North Korean prisoners of warfare (POWs) in a cellphone name.
Cho famous that below South Korea's Structure, North Koreans are thought of South Korean residents, however the prisoners should categorical a need to relocate.
As much as 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk Oblast final fall to counter Ukraine's cross-border incursion launched in August 2024.
Ukrainian troops captured two North Korean troopers as POWs on Jan. 11.
President Volodymyr Zelensky beforehand reported that North Korean forces combating for Russia had suffered 4,000 casualties, with two-thirds of the losses being troopers killed.
Ukraine's navy intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, attributed the excessive losses to North Korea's lack of fight expertise and its use of human wave assaults with restricted gear.
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