Category: World

Ukrainian forces killed almost 700 Russian troops utilizing distant mining in February 2026, most of it carried out by drones and floor robots.

Supply: Ukraine's Assist Forces Command

Element: Over the course of the month, engineering items within the Ukrainian navy killed 678 Russian troopers and destroyed 120 weapons and items of navy tools, in addition to 19 different Russian targets. The command defined that the majority mining operations are carried out remotely utilizing unmanned methods. This technique of deploying mines reduces the danger to Defence Forces personnel.

"Beforehand bomb disposal consultants have been pressured to work manually in harmful areas, however now unmanned methods allow duties to be carried out quicker, extra precisely and considerably extra safely," the Assist Forces Command stated. "Strikes on enemy tools and personnel are recorded in actual time, and all confirmed targets are entered into the Delta situational consciousness system, which ensures the objectivity and reliability of the info."

Engineer troops mine Russian navy logistics routes remotely, which, along with killing Russian troopers, helps to dam Russian forces' routes, the command stated.

Background:

• Final July it was reported that Ukraine had withdrawn from the Ottawa Conference, which bans the usage of anti-personnel mines.
• The Ministry of Defence has expanded the technical necessities for the manufacturing of mines deployed from UAVs with regard to units used to provoke explosive fees.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

European Commissioner for Power Dan Jørgensen has mentioned that the halt within the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline doesn’t pose a menace to the European Union's vitality safety and reiterated that the EU intends to totally part out Russian vitality imports.

Supply: European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, responding to a query from a European Pravda correspondent

Particulars: The EU has no intention of abandoning its plans to part out all Russian vitality imports, the commissioner careworn.

"We must also possibly begin by reminding one another why it’s that there's an issue with this pipeline. It's as a result of Russia has destroyed it. Let's not neglect that," Jørgensen mentioned in response to European Pravda's query.

He emphasised that there are not any considerations relating to safety of provide, as different sources exist.

"Having mentioned that, we have now despatched a really clear sign to Ukraine that we want to see a timeline on when this Druzhba shall be up and working once more," the commissioner famous.

"However let me additionally underline that the Fee does intend to place ahead a proposal to ban the import of oil from Russia," he added.

Jørgensen recalled that EU sanctions already prohibit member states from importing Russian oil, though two nations – Hungary and Slovakia – at present profit from exemptions.

Nonetheless, the EU will shortly suggest a full ban on Russian oil imports.

"We are going to put ahead a proposal to alter that. So all nations want to organize for this case," Jørgensen careworn. "We don’t need to purchase vitality from Russia sooner or later."

Background:

• As European Pravda has reported, Hungary and Slovakia initiated a dialogue on the Druzhba pipeline with the Council of the EU on 16 March.
• Hungarian Overseas Minister Péter Szijjártó has introduced on the sidelines of an EU Overseas Affairs Council assembly that Hungary will proceed its blocking stance till Ukraine restores the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed the view that reopening the Druzhba pipeline could be equal to lifting sanctions on Russia.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

US President Donald Trump stated on 16 March that he’s "not comfortable" with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially declining to ship navy gear to the Center East when the US-Israeli operation in opposition to Iran started.

Supply: European Pravda on the subject of CNN

Particulars: Describing the UK as his nation's "oldest ally", Trump famous that america had spent "some huge cash" on NATO and on defending Ukraine from Russia.

He added that he thinks that is "horrible" and he’s "not proud of the UK".

"I used to be very shocked with the UK as a result of the UK, two weeks in the past, I stated, 'Why don't you ship some ships over?' And he actually didn't need to do it," Trump instructed journalists.

Trump stated Starmer instructed him yesterday that he deliberate to fulfill his crew to resolve whether or not to hitch efforts to make sure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz.

Quote from Trump: "I stated, 'You don't want to fulfill up with the crew. You're the prime minister. You may make your personal – why do you need to meet together with your crew to search out out whether or not or not you're going to ship some minesweepers to us or to ship some boats?' I stated, 'You don't have to fulfill together with your crew.'"

Background:

• On 7 March, Trump criticised the UK for being sluggish to make selections, claiming that america and Israel had nearly received the conflict in opposition to Iran. He was commenting on the UK's choice to organize the plane provider HMS Prince of Wales for deployment to the Center East.
• Earlier than the beginning of the US operation in opposition to Iran, the UK had initially refused to permit Washington to hold out strikes from bases comparable to Diego Garcia and Fairford, citing worldwide legislation. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Keir Starmer later relented and stated he would grant the US entry to Diego Garcia for "that particular and restricted defensive objective".

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned that Ukraine's defence forces have thwarted a Russian offensive operation deliberate for March.

Supply: Zelenskyy's deal with on 16 March

Quote: "Ukraine's defence forces have disrupted a Russian strategic offensive operation that the enemy had deliberate for this March. Though assaults are fixed and assaults proceed, the depth of the assaults and the size of the confrontation will not be what the Russians had deliberate and never what their command had promised Russia's political management."

Particulars: Zelenskyy added that he and Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko have mentioned the implementation of regional resilience plans. In accordance with Zelenskyy, the federal government is working to make sure full funding for this, which largely will depend on Ukraine's companions.

"That is exactly why sanctions towards Russia are vital. Assist packages are vital. And European choices, together with the €90 billion in help that has already been accredited, should work. Europe's phrase should work in order that whatever the diplomatic state of affairs and no matter world challenges there are, our areas are ready for subsequent winter in the way in which the previous winter has taught us," he mentioned.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has instructed European Council President António Costa that the European Union can not place Ukraine's pursuits above these of Slovakia or Hungary.

Supply: Fico on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Fico held a 45-minute name with Costa on Monday 16 March.

Fico thanked Costa for devoting a considerable a part of the dialogue to the difficulty of "restoring the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline on Ukrainian territory".

"In a dialog with the President of the European Council, A. Costa, I emphasised that the EU can not prioritise the pursuits of Ukraine over the pursuits of EU member states comparable to Slovakia or Hungary," Fico mentioned.

He acknowledged that his authorities can not settle for the "unilateral and dangerous step taken by the Ukrainian president" with the purpose of halting oil transit.

Fico mentioned Slovakia expects EU establishments to "exert strain on the Ukrainian management to revive the stream of Russian oil, which we’re entitled to obtain till the tip of 2027".

"I additionally expressed dissatisfaction that the European Fee has up to now introduced no concrete proposals to cut back electrical energy costs, regardless of repeated requests from EU prime ministers and heads of state," he added.

Background:

• As European Pravda has reported, Hungary and Slovakia initiated a dialogue on the Druzhba pipeline with the Council of the EU on 16 March.
• Hungarian International Minister Péter Szijjártó has introduced on the sidelines of an EU International Affairs Council assembly that Hungary would proceed its blocking stance till Ukraine restores the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed the view that reopening the Druzhba pipeline can be equal to lifting sanctions on Russia.

Assist Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is because of arrive in Spain on 18 March for a go to.

Supply: Spanish information company EFE, citing sources within the Spanish authorities, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Zelenskyy is anticipated to be obtained by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at his residence, the Moncloa Palace.

This might be Zelenskyy's fourth go to to Spain because the starting of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Background;

• The go to is scheduled for the day earlier than the European Council assembly in Brussels on 19-20 March, to which Zelenskyy has been invited.
• As European Pravda beforehand reported, on the summit in Brussels, EU leaders hope to influence the leaders of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, to honour their preliminary promise to approve a €90 billion mortgage for Ukraine.
• Politico wrote that the EU has additionally devised a manner to supply Ukraine with €30 billion regardless of the veto by Hungary and Slovakia.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

The Russians used a drone to assault a lorry that was being loaded with grain within the Unhappy hromada in Sumy Oblast on Monday 16 March, killing the motive force. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Supply: Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Navy Administration

Quote: "One other loss in Sumy Oblast. A 40-year-old man was killed within the Unhappy hromada. He had gone there to load grain."

Particulars: Hryhorov reported that the Russians intentionally hit the cab of the lorry, the place the motive force was sitting , with a drone.

"After being hit, it caught fireplace. Sadly, the person was killed," Hryhorov stated.

He expressed his condolences to the household and family members of the deceased.

Background: Earlier, a Russian drone attacked a civilian man on motorbike within the Velyka Pysarivka hromada, and a 48-year-old native resident who sustained extreme accidents within the strike later died.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

One particular person was killed and two others had been injured in Russian assaults on Sumy Oblast on the morning of 16 March.

Supply: Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Army Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "An enemy drone attacked a civilian man using a bike within the Velyka Pysarivka hromada. On account of the strike, the 48-year-old native resident sustained extreme accidents… the person died." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]

Particulars: Two individuals had been injured within the metropolis of Sumy. The Russians struck the town's Zarichnyi district with a drone – civilian automobiles had been hit, and residential buildings had been additionally broken.

Hryhorov added that each one essential companies are working on the scene and help is being supplied to those that sustained accidents.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!

A person who was injured throughout Russian strikes on Kyiv Oblast on 14 March has died in hospital, bringing the demise toll from that assault to 6.

Supply: Mykola Kalashnyk, Head of Kyiv Oblast Army Administration

Quote: "Sadly, we’ve one other loss. A forty five-year-old man has died in hospital from accidents he sustained in the course of the large-scale enemy assault on the evening of 13-14 March. Docs fought to save lots of his life till the very finish, however they have been unable to save lots of him."

Particulars: Kalashnyk added that that is the sixth one that has died following that Russian assault on Kyiv Oblast.

Background: On the evening of 13-14 March, Russia carried out a large-scale mixed assault on Ukraine. The capital and Kyiv Oblast have been struck by ballistic and cruise missiles, in addition to numerous assault drones. On the morning of 14 March, 4 folks have been reported killed in Kyiv Oblast.

Help Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!