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Ukrainian rocket "Lengthy Neptune" handed the assessments and profitable fight use at 1000 km – Zelensky
Ukrainian rocket "Lengthy Neptune" handed profitable assessments and fight use at a distance of 1 thousand kilometers. New help packages from companions had been additionally mentioned.
Senator Mark Kelly mentioned he was eliminating his Tesla Mannequin S after billionaire Elon Musk referred to as the senator a "traitor" on his social media platform X for visiting Ukraine simply days after the U.S. paused army assist to Kyiv.
“I’m right here in Washington driving to work for the final time in my Tesla,” Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, mentioned in a video posted on X on March 14.
"After I purchased this factor, I didn’t assume it was going to turn out to be a political challenge. Each time I get on this automobile within the final 60 days or so, it jogs my memory of simply how a lot injury Elon Musk and Donald Trump is doing to our nation," he mentioned within the video.
Musk, proprietor of SpaceX and now head of the U.S. President Donald Trump's new Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), referred to as Kelly a "traitor" on X on March 10 in a thread of the senator's journey to Ukraine, which included visits with officers and embassy workers, in addition to nurses, volunteers, and troopers.
Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut who used to work with Musk's SpaceX, swiftly replied, criticizing Musk’s stance.
"Traitor? Elon, for those who don't perceive that defending freedom is a fundamental tenet of what makes America nice and retains us secure, perhaps you must depart it to these of us who do," he wrote on March 10.
Alongside together with his video saying that he was ditching his Tesla on March 14, Kelly wrote, "I purchased a Tesla as a result of it was quick like a rocket ship. However now each time I drive it, I really feel like a rolling billboard for a person dismantling our authorities and hurting individuals. So Tesla, you’re fired!"
"New experience coming quickly," he wrote.
The Musk-Kelly change got here amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a heated argument within the Oval Workplace earlier this month.
Because the Trump workforce appears to carry a swift finish to the battle in Ukraine, it has more and more put strain on Kyiv, together with briefly pausing army assist and intelligence sharing, whereas up to now making little calls for of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Night time assault of the Russian Federation affected two districts of Kyiv area: penalties proven
On March 15, the occupiers shelled the Kyiv area, damaging seven non-public homes within the Bila Tserkva district and a gazebo within the Yahotyn district. There is no such thing as a details about casualties.
The destiny of Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories was mentioned with the U.S. through the talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky informed journalists on March 14.
Zelensky's feedback come days after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire put forth by the U.S. through the negotiations in Jeddah. Russian President Vladimir Putin positioned calls for with the intention to start talks on a doable ceasefire that included ensures to not mobilize or practice new troops, nor obtain army support throughout from the West.
Beforehand, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Ukraine-U.S. talks included discussions about potential "territorial concessions" as a part of a negotiated settlement with Russia.
In response to Zelensky, discussions of the territories weren’t a part of the assembly's agenda. He reiterated that Ukraine won’t acknowledge any occupied territories as a part of Russia below a possible future peace settlement with Moscow.
"The American facet goes into particulars. For instance, the town of Enerhodar… You may't simply say: right here's the (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy) Plant, and the town is separate. I imagine that the problem of territories is essentially the most troublesome one after the problem of creating a ceasefire," Zelensky stated.
Management over the nuclear plant in occupied Enerhodar was mentioned throughout U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump stated.
The most important nuclear plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy Plant within the metropolis of Enerhodar, has been below Russian occupation since 2022. Whereas the ability stays below Russian management, it isn’t at present producing electrical energy.
Ukraine and its allies have repeatedly urged Russia to withdraw its troops from the plant. All through its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian energy grid attributable to Russian assaults on the nation's vitality infrastructure.
Russian forces at present occupy roughly 20% of Ukraine, from the place experiences of systematic repression, torture, and compelled deportations usually emerge.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
Air protection shot down 130 Shaheds out of 178 launched by the enemy in 13 areas of Ukraine
On the night time of March 15, air protection forces repelled a large assault. 130 UAVs have been destroyed, 38 imitation targets didn’t attain their targets. There’s destruction of infrastructure in 6 areas.
Russia proposed constructing a drone manufacturing unit in Belarus with an annual capability of 100,000 items.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko appoints new authorities forward of his seventh “inauguration.”
Belarus cracks down on the unemployed amid workforce shortages.
UN consultants urge Belarus to finish the incommunicado detention of political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski, after two years of him being hidden from the general public eye.
Belarus drops out of the highest 20 international arms exporters, SIPRI report finds.
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Russia proposes to construct drone manufacturing unit in BelarusRussia has proposed to construct a drone manufacturing unit in Belarus able to producing 100,000 drones yearly, the press workplace of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko reported on March 6.
Deputy Head of the Russia Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin made the supply throughout a gathering with Lukashenko at a navy exhibition in Minsk, the press workplace mentioned. The drones will reportedly be constructed utilizing Russian licenses.
“It’s crucial that Belarus has its personal (drone) manufacturing amenities, which might strengthen each its economic system and nationwide safety,” Oreshkin mentioned.
“We’re able to construct the plant. We assure: you wouldn’t be capable to construct it in Russia the way in which you may construct it right here,“ Lukashenko mentioned in response.
The announcement doesn’t specify whether or not the plant will produce navy drones. Yury Kozarenko, a member of the Russian delegation, mentioned that drone manufacturing in Belarus may contribute billions to Belarus’s GDP, as drones are additionally utilized in agriculture, logistics, and training.
A staunch Kremlin ally, Lukashenko has repeatedly claimed that Belarus wants to organize for warfare and adapt to fashionable warfare. The Belarusian Protection Ministry reported on Nov. 15, 2024, that it was creating navy drones domestically. By the top of 2025, the Belarusian navy is predicted to have “a variety of fight drones,” together with a 30-kilometer vary “Chekan-V” and “Peacemaker” with a reported 10 kilogram warhead and a 100 kilometer vary, in response to the Head of Software and Growth of the Unmanned Aerial Techniques division of the Belarusian military, Mikhail Bransky.
At the moment, Russia makes use of round 100 to 200 Iranian-developed Shahed-type kamikaze drones in its day by day assaults on Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine’s navy intelligence company (HUR), mentioned on March 3. Russia plans to extend the variety of drones and websites from which drones will likely be launched, he added.
Since July 2024, Russian drones have crossed into Belarusian airspace with growing frequency. A few of them have crashed within the neighborhood of residential areas, though to date with out inflicting casualties.
Minsk has by no means publicly objected to Moscow over these incursions, and native authorities have a tendency to hide incidents and supply no remark.
Lukashenko appoints authorities earlier than official ‘inauguration’Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, not but formally inaugurated as president following the Jan. 26 sham presidential elections, has appointed a brand new authorities, naming Alexander Turchin because the nation’s new prime minister.
Lukashenko started his seventh consecutive time period as president amid widespread repressions and in an environment of concern, human rights activists report. The Belarusian autocrat maintained his grip on energy by brutally suppressing nationwide protests that engulfed the nation following fraudulent 2020 presidential elections.
Turchin, the brand new prime minister, was appointed on March 10, after beforehand serving as head of the Minsk regional govt committee. He’s underneath EU, U.Okay., Swiss and Norwegian sanctions over the suppression of mass protests in 2020.
Following the appointment, Turchin informed reporters that Belarus wouldn’t see any “important course correction,” including that his strategy could be considered one of “evolution with out revolutions.”
His predecessor, Raman Halouchanka, was transferred to the place of head of the Belarusian Nationwide Financial institution. Whereas saying the appointment, Lukashenko referred to as for the financial institution and the federal government to “discover widespread floor” when it comes to financing the economic system.
Analysts say the appointment of Halouchanka will weaken the financial institution’s financial coverage, as the previous prime minister lacks a background in finance.
Lukashenko has beforehand ordered authorities interventions within the economic system, and was pressured to subsidize struggling state-owned enterprises.
Inflation dangers are mounting, in response to Beroc, the nation’s main impartial financial suppose tank. In 2024, inflation was reined in to five.2% with the assistance of heavy authorities regulation of client items pricing. If the restrictions have been to be relaxed, inflation would speed up to 6-8%, consultants imagine.
Lukashenko introduced the official appointments as the appearance of a “new era” in Belarusian management. Nevertheless, the federal government consists largely of the identical ministers, apart from Uladzimir Karanik, previously the chairman of one of many Regional Govt Committees, who was appointed deputy prime minister, and Kiryl Zalesky, the previous head of the Excessive-Tech Park data expertise growth initiative, who turned minister of informatization.
Political analysts don’t foresee any actual modifications, saying that generally, the appointments have been an “outdated system masquerading as new.”
Belarus cracks down on unemployed amid labor shortagesBelarusian authorities are trying to treatment the nation’s present labor shortages by focusing on the unemployed with a particular tax, impartial Belarusian media have reported.
Belarus in 2015 adopted a Soviet-style decree requiring working-age residents with out formal employment or revenue to pay an annual price of about $200. Dubbed “the tax on parasitism,” the measure sparked mass protests and was suspended in 2017. It got here into impact once more three years later, changing the direct tax with the duty to pay the complete price of family utilities, that are usually sponsored by the federal government. At the moment, the speed is 5 occasions greater for these thought of “parasites.”
In February 2025, Belarus’s Inside Minister Ivan Kubarkov introduced raids towards “deadbeats” — the working-age residents who haven’t been formally employed for a very long time, haven’t any declared revenue, and don’t pay taxes. The announcement adopted Lukashenko’s declare on Jan. 21 that it was essential to deliver extra unemployed individuals again into the labor market.
All through the primary weeks of March, Belarusians in Minsk have been summoned en masse to the employment administration and questioned relating to their sources of revenue. The exiled Belarusian information outlet Nasha Niva reported that summons have been delivered even to those that had left the nation many years in the past.
Belarus is grappling with a severe labor shortages: the state jobs database at present lists 188,700 vacant postings, a big quantity for a nation of 9.5 million with an estimated 4-4.5 million workforce. Healthcare alone faces a shortfall of 10,000 staff. As much as 57% of employers in Belarus reported experiencing a shortages of workers, in response to the impartial analysis heart rabota.by. The Eurasian Growth Financial institution foresees additional wage will increase in 2025, fueled by competitors over scarce labor.
The pure ageing of the inhabitants in Belarus is being exacerbated by the mass emigration of probably the most economically and politically lively inhabitants, the financial suppose tank Beroc stories. By varied accounts, between 300,000 and 500,000 Belarusians have left the nation since 2020, after that 12 months’s fraudulent elections triggered large protests and a subsequent crackdown on public protests.
On the identical time, former political prisoners aren’t being supplied jobs, and staff are being dismissed for supporting an opposition candidate in 2020. On March 3, Lukashenko reiterated his demand that individuals who participated in protests shouldn’t be employed, slamming them as “the enemies of the state.”
UN consultants demand to finish incommunicado regime on 2nd anniversary of Tsikhanouski’s ‘enforced disappearance’Sixteen United Nations human rights consultants issued an announcement on March 7 demanding that the Belarusian authorities disclose the destiny and whereabouts of former presidential candidate and political prisoner Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
The jailed activist, who sought to problem Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko within the 2020 presidential elections, has been held incommunicado for the previous two years.
Amongst Belarus’s 1,200 political prisoners, 9 leaders of the 2020 pro-democracy motion stay totally remoted from the skin world in what’s often called an incommunicado regime. The human rights group considers the regime to be a type of enforced disappearance that quantities to torture.
The UN consultants, together with Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances Gabriella Citroni, Particular Rapporteur on Belarus Nils Muižnieks, together with different consultants, urged Belarus to allow contact to be restored with Tsikhanouski and different opposition leaders, reminiscent of Mikalai Statkevich, Viktar Babaryka, Maria Kalesnikava and Maksim Znak.
“The enforced disappearance of Mr. Tsikhanouski and others is a blatant violation of worldwide regulation,” the consultants mentioned.
“These actions search to silence political opposition and instill concern.”
Whereas acknowledging that there had been releases of political prisoners in Belarus lately, the consultants famous that these had been selective and got here with situations to cooperate with regulation enforcement and propaganda.
Blogger and entrepreneur Siarhei Tsikhanouski is serving a nineteen-and-a-half 12 months time period in jail. Arrested in Might 2020, two months earlier than the election, he was charged with obstructing the general public’s electoral rights, organizing riots, and inciting hatred.
Whereas in jail he was given a further 18-month sentence for allegedly disobeying the penal colony administration. His legal professionals and household haven’t obtained any details about him since March 2023.
Belarus drops out of prime 20 international arms exporters, SIPRI report findsBelarus has dropped out of the world’s top-20 arms exporters, in response to a report by the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute (SIPRI) revealed on March 10.
Shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus rapidly turned a significant arms exporter, rating eleventh globally. Between 1999 and 2006, the nation reportedly earned an estimated $1 billion by promoting off the arsenal it inherited from the collapsed empire, prompting the U.S. Congress to move a movement, which required annual reporting on Belarusian arms exports.
Belarus had remained within the twentieth place since 2019 regardless of a 37% decline in exports. In the meantime, its arms imports, coming solely from Russia, grew by a 3rd. In recent times, Serbia, Vietnam, and Uganda have been the highest patrons of Belarusian weapons.
Belarusian arms offers have drawn scrutiny, with a number of media investigations carried out into Lukashenko’s shut circle of businessmen, Alexander Zingman and Oleg Vodchits, for facilitating arms gross sales to African international locations.
On March 7, the pinnacle of the navy authorities of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, was in Minsk to debate arms provides, the exiled Myanmar Mizzima Information Media reported.
Belarus backed Russia in its aggression towards Ukraine however has abstained from sending its troops to the battlefield. Specialists attribute Lukashenko’s reluctance to an awesome anti-war consensus domestically, which could trigger large unrest in Belarus whereas not offering a lot assist to Russia on the entrance line.
AFU: enemy losses elevated by 1180 troopers, 2 tanks and 15 BBMs
In accordance with the Basic Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of March 15, 2025, Russian troops misplaced one other 1180 troopers. 2 tanks and 15 armored fight automobiles have been additionally destroyed.
Russian troops attacked a residential space in Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with ballistic missiles injuring at the very least 12 individuals, Governor Serhii Lysak stated. Two boys, aged 2 and 15, are among the many wounded.
Explosions in Kryvyi Rih had been reported nearly instantly after the Air Drive stated on March 14 that Russia had launched missiles.
The Russian assault broken 4 condo buildings and 4 homes together with an undetermined variety of enterprise amenities.
Six individuals had been hospitalized, Lysak stated.
The complete penalties of the assault are but to be decided. Emergency service employees are presently engaged on website.
Final week, Russia struck a lodge in Kryvyi Rih, killing six individuals and injuring over 30 others, together with kids.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, stays a frequent goal of Russian missile assaults. With a inhabitants of about 660,000, it’s the second-largest metropolis in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, situated roughly 70 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the closest entrance line.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
In Chernihiv, the hearth was localized after the aggressor's strike on a residential high-rise constructing
In Chernihiv, terrorists hit a nine-story residential constructing, the hearth has been localized. A automotive caught hearth within the parking zone, however there have been no casualties among the many residents. Emergency companies are working on the scene, and an operational headquarters has been deployed to get rid of the results of the strike.
Key developments on March 14:
Ukraine's Normal Employees on March 14 denied claims that Ukrainian troops had been encircled in Kursk Oblast amid Russia's ongoing offensive within the area.
The Normal Employees stated that Russia had been reporting an alleged encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast "for political functions and to place stress on Ukraine and its companions."
The assertion got here after U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration held "productive discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 13, throughout which he urged him to "spare" surrounded Ukrainian troops.
"At this very second, hundreds of Ukrainian troops are utterly surrounded by the Russian navy, and in a really dangerous and weak place," Trump wrote, with out offering any proof.
Talking throughout a gathering of Russia's Safety Council, Putin claimed on March 14 that some Ukrainian troops "are blocked" within the embattled Russian area.
Following Trump's remarks, he stated that Ukrainian troopers should give up in Kursk Oblast.
Neither Trump nor Putin supplied proof that Ukrainian troops are at present surrounded at any location.
"The items have regrouped, moved to extra favorable protection traces and are finishing their assigned duties in Kursk Oblast," the Normal Employees stated. "There isn’t a menace of encirclement of our items."
"Our troopers are repelling the enemy's offensive and inflicting efficient hearth harm from all varieties of weapons."
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm these experiences.
Later within the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky advised journalists on March 14 that the Kursk operation "has accomplished its job." He stated that Ukraine was capable of stabilize the scenario close to Pokrovsk as nicely.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg SukhovUkrainian drones strike Russian gasoline amenities, air protection missile depot, supply claimsDrones launched by Ukraine's Safety Service (SBU) struck two gasoline compressor stations and a warehouse storing missiles for Russia's S-300/S-400 air protection programs, an intelligence supply advised the Kyiv Impartial on March 14.
The long-range drones focused gasoline compressor stations in Russia's Tambov and Saratov oblasts, based on the supply.
One other strike reportedly hit a missile depot close to the village of Radkovka in Belgorod Oblast, triggering a detonation of saved ammunition.
"The SBU carried out one other profitable particular operation on enemy territory, inflicting vital harm to Russia's funds and lowering its means to finance and maintain the warfare," the supply stated.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t independently confirm the claims.
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Ukrainian drones strike Tuapse oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, governor saysUkrainian drones struck the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai in a single day on March 14, setting hearth to a gasoline storage tank, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratiev stated.
"The world of the fireplace is greater than 1,000 sq. meters, and emergency providers are working," Kondratiev wrote on Telegram, claiming there have been no casualties.
Russian pro-government media outlet Mash reported that the fireplace was attributable to particles from a downed drone. Eyewitnesses reportedly heard a sequence explosions over a number of minutes.
The Kyiv Impartial couldn’t confirm the claims. Kyiv has not commented on the assault.
The Tuapse oil refinery, with an annual processing capability of 12 million tons, performs a key position in supplying gas to the Russian navy. Following an earlier strike, the power underwent an emergency shutdown in Could 2024.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
Putin nonetheless seeks management over Ukraine regardless of US peace efforts, WP experiencesRussian President Vladimir Putin has not deserted his maximalist purpose of controlling Ukraine, regardless of U.S. efforts to dealer a ceasefire, the Washington Put up (WP) reported on March 13, citing sources aware of categorized U.S. intelligence experiences.
Putin has a "long-standing need to revive ‘Mom Russia'" and stays decided to claim energy over Kyiv, one official stated commenting on the U.S. intelligence evaluation circulated amongst President Donald Trump's administration on March 6.
Some officers reportedly imagine that even when Russia agrees to a short lived truce, Moscow will use the pause to rearm, violate the settlement, and create provocations responsible on Ukraine.
Moscow views Trump as weak, missing a primary set of ideas, and probably open to manipulation, a European intelligence official advised WP, citing contemporary intelligence.
If a everlasting ceasefire is reached, Russia is prone to revert to the "hybrid" or non-military techniques it used to undermine Ukraine earlier than its full-scale invasion in 2022, the official added.
U.S. officers are reportedly cautious in assessing what peace phrases Putin may conform to, however see no indication that he has backed down from his demand to convey Kyiv into Russia's sphere of affect.
Ukraine, US talk about destiny of Russian-occupied territories, Zelensky saysThe destiny of Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories was mentioned with the U.S. through the talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky advised journalists on March 14.
Zelensky's feedback come days after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire put forth by the U.S. through the negotiations in Jeddah. Russian President Vladimir Putin positioned calls for with a purpose to start talks on a potential ceasefire that included ensures to not mobilize or prepare new troops, nor obtain navy help throughout from the West.
Beforehand, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Ukraine-U.S. talks included discussions about potential "territorial concessions" as a part of a negotiated settlement with Russia.
In line with Zelensky, discussions of the territories weren’t a part of the assembly's agenda. He reiterated that Ukraine won’t acknowledge any occupied territories as a part of Russia underneath a possible future peace settlement with Moscow.
"The American facet goes into particulars. For instance, town of Enerhodar… You may't simply say: right here's the (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy) Plant, and town is separate. I imagine that the difficulty of territories is probably the most tough one after the difficulty of creating a ceasefire," Zelensky stated.
Management over the nuclear plant in occupied Enerhodar was mentioned throughout U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump stated.
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The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov