Emergency shutdown: a part of Kherson stays with out electrical energy
An emergency energy outage has been recorded in Kherson. A part of the Central district of the town is de-energized, specialists are working to remove the issue.
U.S. particular envoy to the Center East, Steve Witkoff, who not too long ago emerged as a number one determine in negotiations concerning Russia and Ukraine, revealed insights into ongoing ceasefire talks between Moscow and Washington.
In an interview on March 21 with American far-right political commentator Tucker Carlson, Witkoff overtly parroted Russian propaganda and agreed with a lot of the Kremlin's speaking factors, additional casting doubt on whether or not Ukraine can count on to achieve a ceasefire on its phrases.
"I believe the most important subject in that battle are these so-called 4 areas, Donbas, Crimea … and there's two others," Witkoff mentioned, apparently referring to partially Russian-occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia oblasts, and Crimea, absolutely occupied by Russia since 2014.
"They’re Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums the place the overwhelming majority of the individuals have indicated that they need to be beneath Russian rule," Witkoff added in English, omitting the circumstances surrounding Russia's sham referendums "at gunpoint" in occupied Ukraine.
Following the beginning of Russia's all-out struggle, Moscow occupied elements of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts in 2022 by killing hundreds of individuals and destroying cities and cities.
The identical occurred in Ukraine's east, the place Russia additional superior in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, a portion of which it held since 2014.
In September 2022, Russia annexed the 4 Ukrainian oblasts following sham referendums at gunpoint rejected by the worldwide neighborhood as null and void. In movies revealed on-line, the vote was secured by the Russian navy and beneath duress.
Within the occupied areas, Russian forces systemically terrorized Ukrainian civilians with abductions and killings, committing struggle crimes reminiscent of rape and torture. Russia continues to constantly erase individuals's Ukrainian idand prosecutes opponents of enforced Russification whereas additionally forcibly conscripting males to combat within the Russian military.
Ukraine continues to regulate regional capitals Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with the later being liberated in November 2022. Following the liberation of the regional capital, hundreds of individuals took to the streets in celebration, whereas hundreds of others who have been compelled to depart have been in a position to return house.
On the liberated territories, various Russian torture chambers have been discovered.
Equating Ukrainian Russian audio system to Russians who help the struggle and utilizing language as a solution to justify its struggle towards Ukraine is a standard theme of Russian propaganda.
In keeping with Witkoff, the issue round Russian-occupied oblasts is the Ukrainian administration's resistance to political fallout in case "the world (would) acknowledge that these are Russian territories."
"Can (President Volodymyr) Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? That is the central subject within the battle," Witkoff mentioned.
Witkoff additionally claimed that Ukraine will maintain presidential elections. His assertion got here after Carlson echoed a Russian narrative, saying that Moscow considers Zelensky "not elected" and, due to this fact, "can't signal any form of treaty."
Witkoff alleged that Ukrainian management had "largely conceded that they aren’t going to be a member of NATO" however added the dialogue is open on whether or not Ukraine might have a level of NATO-member safety from the U.S. and European nations.
Witkoff added that Russia "100%" doesn't need to wage a struggle in Europe or "take up Ukraine" absolutely.
"(Russia's) reclaimed these 5 areas. They’ve Crimea, and so they've gotten what they need. So why do they want extra?" Witkoff added, not mentioning that Russia had made related claims of not invading Ukraine previous to its full-scale invasion.
Witkoff empathized that Trump is concentrated on reviving their relationship with Putin over the course of peace talks.
"Who doesn't need to have a world the place Russia and the United States are doing collaboratively good issues collectively?" he mentioned, mentioning the prospect of doing enterprise as standard with Russia with "power insurance policies within the Arctic," promoting pure gasoline to Europe and collaborating on AI.
"That could be a difficult scenario, together with struggle and all of the components that led as much as it. It's by no means only one individual," Witkoff added.
Witkoff downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin's function within the full-scale invasion.
On the subject of a partial ceasefire that will halt strikes towards infrastructure and moratorium on maritime hits within the Black Sea, Witkoff claimed that they’re "going to be applied within the subsequent week or so."
Witkoff additionally mentioned that Putin claimed to have prayed for "his good friend" Trump in an area church after an try on Trump's life in July 2024 and gave Witkoff a commissioned portrait of Trump as a present for the U.S. president.
"That is the form of connection that we've been in a position to reestablish (with Russia) by way of a easy phrase referred to as communication, which many individuals would say I shouldn't have had as a result of Putin is a nasty man. I don't regard Putin as a nasty man," Witkoff added.
"This is perhaps the stupidest factor I've ever seen," right-wing commentator Richard Hanania posted on X (Twitter) together with this phase of the interview.
With out face-to-face conferences: the media realized how the "oblique negotiations" between Ukraine and Russia will happen
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will meet in Saudi Arabia to debate a ceasefire, however there might be no face-to-face assembly. They are going to focus on a ceasefire at sea and safety of infrastructure.
Voice of America (VoA) journalists sued the Trump administration on March 21, accusing it of unlawfully shutting down the U.S.-funded community that for many years has equipped information all over the world.
The lawsuit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an government order to intestine funding for U.S. Company for World Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Earlier, RFE/RL sued the USA Company for World Media (USAGM) over the termination of grant funding, arguing that the step violates federal legal guidelines and the Structure.
The lawsuit was introduced towards the USAGM and Kari Lake, who works as Trump's particular adviser there, by six VoA reporters along with a world non-profit and non-governmental group Reporters With out Borders and unions representing federal workers, journalists, and overseas coverage staffers within the U.S.
"Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant on this company and American taxpayers shouldn't need to fund it," Lake mentioned as she introduced the cuts on March 15.
On account of the transfer, greater than 900 full-time community workers had been positioned on indefinite depart and 550 contractors had been terminated from their jobs, NPR reported.
In keeping with NPR, a minimum of two unnamed reporters who filed a go well with is likely to be compelled to return to their residence counties if USAGM shouldn’t be operational, the place they face danger of prosecution.
Trump's crackdown towards RFE/RL and VoA has been celebrated by Russian propagandists, who lengthy noticed free media as their important menace.
Two individuals had been injured, two enterprises had been broken in Nikopol as a consequence of Russian artillery strike
Russian troops shelled Nikopol within the Dnipropetrovsk area, injuring two males aged 57 and 71. Two enterprises had been broken, each victims had been hospitalized.
Artur Shybalov, former cameraman and editor at PTV UA channel, who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. was killed preventing in Russia's Kursk Oblast on March 13.
His mom Tetiana Shybalova introduced his loss of life in a Fb put up on March 20.
"You had different plans to your life. You needed to make films and write books," Shybalova wrote. "You'd labored and studied for it. However you discovered it unimaginable to cover and never settle for the problem."
Shybalova added that her son is survived by his spouse and kids.
Shybalov's older brother Yevhen Shybalov, journalist, former soldier who returned from Russian captivity in 2022, wrote on his Fb web page that Artur was mobilized shortly after turning twenty-five.
"I’ve by no means admired and been so pleased with my brother as I used to be throughout these sadly brief months of his service within the airborne assault troops," he added. "He didn’t hesitate to place down the digicam and take up arms. Another habits would have been undignified."
On his Fb web page, Shybalov wrote in 2024 that he dreamed of being a author since childhood. He additionally posted a screenshot with "the primary official refusal to publish" his textual content from a Ukrainian publishing home.
In his final put up on Feb. 6, Shybalov revealed footage of troopers sitting in opposition to cement partitions and wrote: "For everybody who’s anxious about me. Deep trenches and dependable cellars one way or the other defend (us)."
In line with the Institute of Mass Data, Sybalov turned the 101 individual on the checklist of media staff killed by Russia.
The US plans to satisfy with Ukraine earlier than negotiations with Russia in Saudi Arabia – media
A US technical staff will meet with Ukrainian officers in Saudi Arabia earlier than discussions with the Russians. In case of progress, one other assembly with the Ukrainian staff is feasible.
At the least 6 individuals had been killed and 36 others injured in Russian assaults throughout Ukraine over the previous day, regional officers reported on March 22.
Ukraine’s Air Power intercepted 100 of 179 Russian drones launched in a single day, together with Shahed-type assault drones. One other 63 drones reportedly disappeared from radars earlier than reaching their targets, doubtless appearing as decoys to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.
Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile items, digital warfare methods and cellular hearth teams repelled the assault.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a household of three had been killed within the Shakhed drone assault on town of Zaporizhzhia in a single day, together with a 14-year-old woman and her dad and mom, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Twelve extra individuals had been wounded.
"Russia has as soon as once more killed a 14-year-old little one in Zaporizhzhia with a Shakhed. Russia should cease all strikes," wrote the top of the President's Workplace, Andriy Yermak, on March 22.
Two individuals had been killed in Kostiantynivka and Fedorivka in Donetsk Oblast as a consequence of Russian shelling, Governor Vadym Filashkin mentioned. 9 extra individuals had been wounded. In whole, Russian forces shelled the settlements 22 instances on March 21.
In Kherson Oblast, one individual was killed and fourteen had been injured as Russian forces shelled residential areas, and social services, in accordance with Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 14-year-old boy was wounded in a drone assault close to Mezhova, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. Russia additionally attacked Marhanets with Grad a number of rocket launchers, heavy artillery and drones, damaging native entreprises and residential homes.
Russia additionally shelled Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Kyiv oblasts over the previous day, in accordance with native authorities.
British intelligence defined the aim of Putin's decree on "legalizing" Ukrainians within the occupied territories
Putin's decree forces Ukrainians who do not need a Russian passport to depart the occupied territories by September 10, 2025. That is a part of the Russification coverage to destroy Ukrainian id.
Russia has misplaced 902,010 troops in Ukraine because the starting of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the Common Workers of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on March 22
The quantity consists of 1,210 casualties Russian forces suffered simply over the previous day.
In keeping with the report, Russia has additionally misplaced 10,403 tanks, 21,609 armored combating autos, 41,425 autos and gas tanks, 24,944 artillery techniques, 1,327 a number of launch rocket techniques, 1,111 air protection techniques, 370 airplanes, 331 helicopters, 30,338 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov
