(Embassy of Ukraine in the USA WAR BULLETIN)
March 17, 6.00mp EST
Immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine are
among the key aspects of a peace agreement that could be signed as a result of negotiations
with Russia to end the war against Ukraine.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised to provide Russia with 40,000 militants
for the war in Ukraine.
During online meeting, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine called on the
world’s leading investment companies to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the
war.
Commander of the 3rd motorized infantry division of Russian forces colonel Igor
Nikolaev was killed in action.
Russian troops killed US citizen James Whitney Hill.
WAR ROOM
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian forces lost their offensive potential and were stopped in all directions. The enemy has
significant problems with logistics, continues to suffer losses. In some areas it blocks units of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine. Due to the fact that the enemy used almost the entire set of cruise
missiles “Kalibr” and mobile short range ballistic missile systems “Iskander” during the first twenty
days of the operation, the enemy continues to launch missile and bomb strikes on infrastructure and
housing neighborhoods of large cities using indiscriminate weapons.
The enemy continues to keep the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under siege. Russian aggressor
has moved to the total destruction of civilian infrastructure, housing and livelihoods, creating
preconditions for a deepening of humanitarian crisis in the city.
Units of the Russian armed forces in the Kherson region, police officers from the Krasnodar
Territory and the Russian-occupied Crimea have been detained. FSB task forces performs punitive
functions. The enemy is campaigning to involve the local population in the so-called “police”.
According to the available information, due to the inability of high-quality restaffing of the
occupying forces, the next wave of mobilization in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk
region will start on March 20 this year.
Aviation units of the 960th Assault Aviation Regiment of the 4th Army of the Russian Armed
Forces suffered significant losses. The moral and psychological condition of the flight crew is
extremely unsatisfactory. Cases of dismissal reports continue due to unwillingness to take part in
hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian defenders inflicted significant losses on units of the 252nd Motorized Rifle
Regiment of the Western Military District, which are fighting in the areas of Kharkiv and Izyum.
Up to 30 percent of personnel, weapons and military equipment were lost.
Commander of the 3rd motorized infantry division of Russian forces colonel Igor Nikolaev
was killed in action.
(https://bit.ly/3KYPpAt)
Operational information at 24.00
The twenty-second day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military
invasion continues.
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russian occupation forces continue offensive operation against Ukraine. The strategic goals of
defeating groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk
and Luhansk oblasts, and establishing control over the left-bank part of Ukraine have not been met.
The Command of the Armed Forces of the russian federation continues to take measures to
make up for the loss of personnel at the expense of foreigners. According to available information,
the russian occupiers have already picked up close
1,000 volunteers from the so-called army of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah.
The main requirement for foreign fighters is the experience of fighting in the city. At the same
time, according to available information, the above-mentioned militants do not intend to take part in
hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, but to use “business trips” as opportunities to get to European
countries.
The enemy did not carry out offensive operations in the Volyn direction. He continued to
strengthen the protection of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border by units of the Armed Forces of the
Republic of Belarus. There is a high probability of provocations by the special services of the
russian federation.
The enemy did not carry out active offensive operations in the Polissya direction, the main
efforts of the occupiers were focused on maintaining the previously occupied borders and carrying
out measures to prepare for a possible attack on Kyiv. At the same time, the losses inflicted on the
occupiers by Ukrainian defenders, the low morale and psychological condition of privates and
sergeants, as well as the lack of experienced commanders of tactical units make it impossible to
resume offensive operations in the near future.
In the northern direction, the enemy is trying to stay on certain borders, restore the combat
capability of units and replenish supplies. The occupiers continue to partially blockade the city of
Chernihiv and carry out artillery shelling of the city.
In the direction of Brovary, the enemy did not conduct active hostilities.
In the area of the city of Brovary, the occupiers periodically carry out artillery shelling of the
positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Slobozhansky direction, in order to resume offensive operations on the cities of Sumy
and Kharkiv, the occupiers are trying to replenish stocks of ammunition and fuel, and oil and are
forced to use the accumulated human reserves prematurely. In the direction of the city of Izyum, the
enemy is trying to resume offensive operations.
In the Luhansk and Donetsk directions, the enemy focused its main efforts on preparing for
the attack on Severodonetsk and the encirclement of Mariupol.
The enemy did not take active action in the Pivdennobuzsky direction. He moved on to the
defense and engineering of the occupied frontiers. He tried to regroup and replenish stocks.
The occupiers continue to try to detect and destroy the air defense system along the Black Sea
coast.
In the Black Sea, the enemy is trying to conduct demonstrations.
Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Some Syrian Mercenaries See Participation in Russian-Ukrainian War as a Chance for Further
Desertion and Illegal Migration to EU Countries.
On March 15, 150 mercenaries were sent to Russia from the Khmeimim military base (Syrian
Arab Republic) to take part in hostilities against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, weapons, military equipment and other resources
are planned to be transferred from Syria to Russia and Belarus in the near future to support the
Russian fascist forces. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised to provide Russia with
40,000 militants for the war in Ukraine.
During the recruitment, the mercenaries are promised that they will perform exclusively
police functions to restore order in the occupied territories, that is, purely police functions. But more
recently, information about direct participation in hostilities against the Ukrainian army has begun
to spread among mercenaries. This significantly reduced the “fighting spirit” of the Syrians.
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In addition, more than 30 militants, who were wounded in battles against the Ukraine’s
defenders, have recently arrived at the Khmeimim military base from russia. This fact has
negatively affected the moral and psychological condition of other mercenaries and has led to the
refusal of some of them to take part in hostilities. Cases of self-mutilation have even been fixed
among Syrian militants. Some mercenaries see sending to russia and belarus as a chance for further
desertion and illegal migration to EU countries.
(https://bit.ly/3KR2zPM)
Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine
Russia’s aggressor army is shooting civilians every day, cynically striking peaceful inhabitants
and civilian buildings.
Russian troops covered artillery fire on civilians who were on the street in the center of
Chernihiv. According to the available data, there are 4 dead, including US citizen James Whitney
Hill.
According to the results of the night shelling of the city of Merefa in the Kharkiv region 21
people died, 25 were injured, debris are still being dismantled. The school, the house of culture and
private houses were destroyed.
During the evacuation of people in the Bucha district in the Kyiv region, the occupiers fired at
the evacuation columns with tanks. One policeman was killed and another was injured. The same
situation occurred in Irpen, when a hail shell hit a police car.
Heavy artillery shelling of residential buildings in the village of Novi Petrivtsi, Kyiv region,
killed a two-year-old child and injured four grownups. As a result of the shelling, a high-rise
building was destroyed and neighboring houses were damaged.
In Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, the occupiers fired on a shelter for mothers with children,
where a large number of them were staying. Fortunately, they were not injured.
Every hour, the troops of the aggressor country commit war crimes and crimes against
humanity on the territory of Ukraine, ignoring the norms of all four Geneva Conventions of 1949.
“I call on the international community to take decisive action to deter the aggression of the
Russian Federation and to force the aggressor country to immediately cease hostilities on the
territory of Ukraine.
I appeal to NATO member states, every day the delay in closing the skies over Ukraine takes
dozens of civilian lives, children die every day! This must finally be stopped!” stressed Denisova.
(https://bit.ly/3COWsc2)
State Emergency Service
On March 17, at about 4:30 p.m. (Kyiv time), the SES received several reports of fires in the
Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv. Because of the Russian shelling of the Ukrainian capital, one
warehouse and two cars were caught on fire.
(https://bit.ly/36traer)
Mayor of Dergachi
Russian army fired cluster bombs at Kozach Lopan village of Dergachi district. The enemy
bombed the railway station, shops, pharmacies and other civilian buildings in the center of the
village.
Cluster bombs are a very dangerous weapon banned by the 2008 Dublin Convention.
Russians are using them to bomb Kharkiv, Dergachi, and many other cities in Ukraine.
(https://bit.ly/3IxpHBv)
POLICY
Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President
Immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine are
among the key aspects of a peace agreement that could be signed as a result of negotiations with
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Russia to end the war against Ukraine. But strategically, Ukraine wants to have a concrete
mechanism that will guarantee its security in the future.
This was stated by Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo
Podolyak in an interview for WP Wiadomości.
“Immediate ceasefire and immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine is one of the
key aspects of the peace agreement. There is no other way. However, the negotiations are a large-
scale process in which not only Russia and Ukraine are involved. Our partners also take an indirect
part. Because we don’t just have to sign a treaty. We want to develop a concrete mechanism that
will guarantee our security in the future,” underlined the Adviser to the Head of the President’s
Office.
Mykhailo Podolyak noted that the Ukrainian and Russian delegations are still defending their
positions at the talks, so it may take some time to agree on the disputed issues. Unfortunately, the
process is not as fast as we would like it to be.
“During this time, we must move closer to a peace agreement. First of all, taking into account
the interests of Ukraine, which has suffered enormous destruction by the Russian Federation,” he
stressed.
The Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office is convinced that after the signing of such
an agreement, Russia will have no choice but to begin the immediate withdrawal of its armed forces
from Ukraine.
“After the signing of the treaty, the Vienna Convention will enter into force for both parties. It
makes it clear that a peace treaty can be annulled if the belligerent states do not withdraw their
troops from the enemy’s territory. Therefore, any attempts to keep Russian soldiers on Ukrainian
land will be legally groundless,” he explained.
Mykhailo Podoyak noted that in order to prevent Russia’s another violation of international
law and treaties, Ukraine wants to spell out in detail a specific plan for the withdrawal of Russian
troops, legally verify it and gain the support of international partners.
“Besides, it is foreign states that will guarantee the fulfillment of conditions and Ukraine’s
security in the future. This will be a document that describes in detail the procedure in case of
repeated aggression by Russia. This is an innovative formula authored by President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, which can become the basis for creating a completely new security system in Europe,”
said the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office.
In his opinion, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that the entire architecture of
European security must be revised. That is why Ukraine wants to end this war with a new coalition,
so powerful that it will stop Russia if it wants to attack someone again.
Theoretically, now is the time to speak publicly about all aspects of modern challenges and
openly assess the level of modern security contours. Do they cope with these challenges? Can they
protect European cities from the barbaric bombings that Ukraine is experiencing today? Will
Europe be able to finally get rid of the fear of the Russian Federation? It is obvious that the
countries that will be the new guarantors of security will undertake certain commitments. “In the
future, on the basis of today’s global crisis, a completely new alliance will be created, which will
ensure the security of the whole of Europe,” stressed Podolyak.
The Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office stated that Ukraine would not agree to
compromises that could damage its interests in any way. And it is not for the sake of such
compromises that Ukrainians are now dying on the battlefields willing to fight to the end.
“We are not Russia. We know how and will continue to have a dialogue with our society. And
we always hear our society. Unlike Russia, we can discuss any issues that should have been
discussed long ago, but we will not agree to any ultimatum,” he said.
Mykhailo Podolyak noted that despite the complexity of this process, Ukraine must hold
negotiations with Russia, as no one else wants to fight together with Ukrainians. Negotiations
during the war are just another frontline.
(https://bit.ly/3u3iMe1)
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Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister for Reintegration of Temporary
Occupied Territories
As of today, out of 9 planned humanitarian corridors 8 were operational.
800 private vehicles left Mariupol. Some people are leaving on foot. Over 2000 people
arrived to Zaporizhzhia. Temporary help centers are set up in Berdyansk. Tomorrow such centers
will be available in Manhush. Everyone who leaves on foot will be brought from Manhush to
Berdyanks on cars. A bus convoy with a fuel tanker from Zaporizhzhia to Berdyansk was stopped at
a Russian block post in Vasylivka and will continue on its route tomorrow. 10 additional busses will
be sent tomorrow.
Kyiv region: 20 busses (~160 people) left Borodyanka to Zhytomyr. 41 busses and 200
private vehicles (~1500 people) left Shevchenkovo and nearby villages to Brovary.
36 tons of humanitarian aid (food and medicine) arrived to Hostomel’, Bucha, Semypolky,
Markivtsi, Opanasov. Total number of people evacuated via green corridors today is approximately
- Humanitarian aid delivered today: ~40 tons.
The green corridor from Kharkiv to Vovchansk did not operate due to enemy fire. We
continue to negotiate green corridors to all blockaded cities.
Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal met with the President of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer. Politicians discussed the necessary organization
of collection and identification of enemy bodies. Ukrainian side emphasized that Russia has not
asked to organize the collection of their bodies. Prime minister of Ukraine urged Peter Maurer to
reach out to Russia to initiate this process.
In accordance with the international humanitarian law Ukraine created national information
bureau. The goal of this bureau is to collect and organize information about Ukrainian soldiers and
civilians that are captured, missing, or dead. Enemy forces have lost over 14 thousand troops.
Ukraine will compile the lists of dead and captured enemy soldiers. In the future, we plan to share
this information with our enemies through ICRC.
(https://fb.watch/bPl4oTnGUv/)
Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine
The categorical refusal is the alleged reaction of the terrorist country to the ban on the
continuation of any hostilities on the territory of Ukraine by the International Court of Justice.
Today, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that
Russia is not going to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice.
This is the official position of the aggressor country to continue the war with Ukraine.
Mass shelling, aerial bombardment of Mariupol, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Izyum, dozens
and hundreds of towns and villages in Kyiv, Sumy, Luhansk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv regions
will continue.
“All of Ukraine is on fire and in the blood of peaceful Ukrainians, our children because of the
ambitions of the president of the Russian Federation and his army of terrorists.
The world should not stand aside! After all, Russia’s aggression plans go far beyond the
territory of Ukraine!
The aggressor state must be stopped to save lives of millions of our children.
I call on the international community to press all the levers to force Russia to cease hostilities
on the territory of Ukraine.” stressed Denisova.
(https://bit.ly/3KNNlei)
ECONOMY
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held an online conference with
representatives of the world’s leading investment companies.
He said that the Russian army continues to bomb Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and
children.
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“Today the whole world is talking about the terrible situation in Mariupol. The situation is not
much better in Kharkiv, in the settlements around Kyiv. But Ukraine will never give up, will never
give up its independence. And the army of a non-NATO country has stopped and continues to fight
one of the largest armies in the world,” stressed Yermak.
Andriy Yermak also noted that after the end of the war, Ukrainians will rebuild their beautiful
country very quickly. To this end, Ukraine plans to raise funds from international partners, as well
as reparations to be paid by the Russian Federation.
He called on businesses to invest in the purchase of military bonds of the Ukrainian
government, and responsible companies that have already left or are leaving Russia – to refocus on
Ukraine in the future. Also, according to the Head of the Office of the President, it would be
appropriate to consider the creation of special funds or individual programs for the restoration and
reconstruction of Ukraine.
“The best answer to the inhumane acts we see now in our country will be the appearance of
the most modern buildings and enterprises on the site of destroyed buildings, where Ukrainians will
be able to work. And we hope that thanks to this, people who are now forced to leave Ukraine will
quickly return to their homeland,” underlined Yermak.
(https://bit.ly/3wgKKpm)