March 21, 2023

960 Russian troops killed in 24-hour period

Ukraine Defense Ministry

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 21.03.2023 were approximately:

personnel ‒ about 166570 (+960) persons, 

tanks ‒ 3552 (+15), 

APV ‒ 6879 (+10), 

artillery systems – 2586 (+9), 

MLRS – 507, 

Anti-aircraft warfare systems ‒ 270,

aircraft – 305, 

helicopters – 290, 

UAV operational-tactical level – 2167 (+7),

cruise missiles ‒ 907,

warships / boats ‒ 18,

vehicles and fuel tanks – 5428 (+12),

special equipment ‒ 266 (+1).

The russian federation continues its armed aggression against Ukraine, focusing its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts within their administrative borders. The adversary continues its offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mar’inka, and Shakhtars’ke axes. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut and on Avdiivka axis.

The russian aggressor continues to use its usual tactics of terrorizing the civilians, shells residential areas and critical infrastructure.

During the day of March 21, the adversary launched 4x missile and 24x air strikes, more than 30x MLRS attacks.

The threat of enemy strikes across Ukraine remains.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes in the operational situation, no formation of offensive groups of the adversary were found. The russian leadership continues to use the infrastructure of the republic of belarus to train its troops. The adversary maintains its military presence in the border areas. During the day of March 21, the enemy shelled the vicinities of settlements of Khrinivka, Mykhal’chyna Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast), Atyns’ke, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Pavlivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Basove, Kozacha Lopan’, Strilecha, Hlyboke, Vovchans’k, and Velykyi Burluk (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup’yans’k and Lyman axes: the adversary continues its attempts to break through the Ukrainian defense. The enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards the settlements of Masyutivka, Novoselivs’ke, Bilohorivka, and Verkhn’okam’yans’ke. The invaders fired artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Kup’yans’k, Krokhmal’ne, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors’ke, Spirne, and Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the enemy continues its offensive operations, but is losing its offensive potential. The adversary keeps trying to capture the city, suffering major casualties, losing significant amount of weapons and military equipment. Ukrainian defenders are repelling numerous round-the-clock attacks of the occupiers in the vicinities of settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, and in the northern part of Bakhmut. Vasyukivka, Min’kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Chasiv Yar, Kurdyumivka, Ozarianivka, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast), among others, came under enemy fire.

Avdiivka, Mar’inka, and Shakhtars’ke axes: the adversary conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of settlements Novobakhmutivka, Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais’ke, Mar’inka, and Pobjeda. To no success. The vicinities of Lastochkyne, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Tonen’ke, Heorhiivka, Nevel’s’ke, Krasnohorivka, Mar’inka, and Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast) came under enemy fire.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the adversary is defending. The enemy shelled the vicinities of settlements near the line of contact, including: Novopil’ (Donetsk oblast), Ol’hivs’ke, Malynivka, Chervone, Charivne, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), as well as Antonivka and the city of Kherson.

The russian federation does not give up its war of aggression, despite the numerous casualties. It is constantly taking actions to replenish its losses in manpower. For example, one of the military units stationed in Krasnodar Krai (russia) is actively working with its conscripts to get them to sign contracts. The servicemen who agree to sign the contracts are expected to be deployed to Ukraine in August 2023.

During the day of March 21, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strikes on the concentrations of the invaders, while Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 1x ammunition depot, 2x anti-aircraft missile systems, 1x radar station, and 1x other important enemy target.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

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International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
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