Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN March 16, 13.00 pm EST
Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
WAR BULLETIN
March 16, 13.00 pm EST
President Zelenskyy: We have already become part of the anti-war coalition. But we have to move on and create new tools to respond quickly to stop the war. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. And it would be fair if it ended in a day, in 24 hours. Today the world does not have such tools.
The wars of the past have prompted our predecessors to create institutions that were supposed to protect us from war, unfortunately they don’t work. We urgently need new institutions, new alliances that must be efficient.
We offer to create an association – U-24. UNITED FOR PEACE. A Union of responsible states that have the strength and conscience to stop conflicts immediately. Provide all necessary assistance in 24 hours – weapons, sanctions, humanitarian support, political support. Everything necessary to preserve peace quickly and to save lives.
Ukraine now https://www.facebook.com/president.gov.ua/videos/328538592578059/
WAR ROOM
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24.02 to 16.03 are reported to be:
· personnel – about 13800
· tanks – 430
· APV – 1375
· artillery systems – 190
· MLRS – 70
· Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 43
· aircrafts – 84
· helicopters –-108
· vehicles – 819
· boats/vessels – 3
· fuel tankers – 60
· UAV operational-tactical level – 11
· special equipment – 10.
Operational situation
The twenty-first day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian military invasion began.
According to the results of the previous day, due to the actions of the air defense of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, three planes (two of them – Su-34) were destroyed. In addition, one helicopter, three operational-tactical UAVs, and two cruise missiles were shot down. Additional information is currently being clarified.
Air Force aircraft continued to launch missile and bomb strikes on ground targets. Nine airstrikes were carried out on columns of equipment and clusters of occupying troops.
The occupying forces continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on the infrastructure and densely populated areas of Ukrainian cities.
The enemy continues to bear losses on retreats in certain areas. The main efforts of the occupiers are focused on consolidating and maintaining previously occupied borders and defense areas.
Russian fascist forces continue strategic offensive operation against Ukraine. The goals of defeating the groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and establishing control over the left-bank part of Ukraine were not achieved.
The enemy is trying to move additional reserves of the Eastern Military District.
Due to heavy losses in the south, the command of the aggressor country’s armed forces refused to strengthen the grouping of troops in Polissya with additional reserve units from the 5th Combined Arms of Russian Armed Forces.
The enemy did not carry out offensive operations in the Volyn direction. Air reconnaissance with the use of the Orlan-10 UAV was noted.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus plan to rotate units that cover the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
The enemy is trying to resume offensive operations in the direction of Vyshgorod. During the day the enemy tried to advance towards Kyiv. Russian operation was unsuccessful. The enemy moved on to defense.
The enemy was stopped in the northern direction.
Russian fascists are trying to gain a foothold on the achieved frontiers, they are regrouping troops and trying to restore the combat effectiveness of their units.
The enemy does not abandon attempts to capture the city of Chernihiv, however, does not conduct active offensive operations. Russians are regrouping troops and are trying to organize logistics. In doing so they have no success.
In the direction of Brovary there is a movement of small groups of occupiers’ equipment within the occupied area of the settlements Bohdanivka and Velyka Dymerka.
Air reconnaissance of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is carried out with the use of UAVs “Orlan-10”.
In the Slobozhansky direction, Russian fascists are trying to gain a foothold on the occupied frontiers, regrouping troops and replenishing stocks of ammunition and fuel.
The enemy continues to blockade the cities of Sumy, Lebedyn and Okhtyrka with no active offensive actions. Russian fascists continue unsuccessful attempts to block Kharkiv.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, as a result of assaults in the Popasna area, the enemy suffered losses and was forced to withdraw for regrouping.
In the area of Severodonetsk, the occupiers conducted reconnaissance by fighting, had no success, trying to gain a foothold on the eastern and western outskirts of the city of Rubizhne. At the same time, according to available information, on March 15, enemy aircraft fired on the positions of their troops near the village of Smolyaninovo.
In the Volnovakha direction, Russian Fascists are trying to develop an offensive in the direction of the settlement of Velyka Novosilka.
In the Kryvyi Rih direction, the enemy is trying to resume the offensive in the direction of the settlements of Velyka Kostroma, Mala Kostroma and Kryvyi Rih. As a result of the fire damage inflicted by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy was stopped, suffered losses and retreated to unfavorable borders.
Enemy aircraft continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Sumy and Donetsk oblasts, actively using the airfield network of the Republic of Belarus and the occupied Crimea.
In the Black Sea operational zone, warships shelled the coast in the areas of the settlements of Lebedivka, Sanzheika, Zatoka and Bilenke.
The Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine draws the attention of military experts, bloggers and active users of social networks to the inexpediency of IMMEDIATE demonstration of the consequences of hostilities, trophies, and other information that may be used in future defense operations.
Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Russian authorities are not paying compensation for the killed in action troops from so called LPR, DPR. In addition to that Russian fascists are burning bodies of their own soldiers to hide the number of losses in Ukraine.
In the temporarily occupied Luhansk, a point of extradition of the dead “mobilized” in the region was opened in the “Kopiyka” store. The so called “police” of the Russian occupation army hands over the bodies. Only death certificates and burial permits are issued to relatives of the victims. There are no documents on where, how and under what circumstances they died.
Relatives are told that there is no compensation for the deaths of those mobilized from the so called “LPR” and “DPR”. Even Russian passport is not an argument. In comparison, relatives of the officially killed Russians were promised a payment of 12 million rubles. Such actions, are provoking unrest among the local population, however, so called “police” of the occupiers does not take into account these sentiments.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region, forced recruitment continues. Locals are grafted to the 1st Army Corps of Occupiers. The vast majority of “recruits” are sent to the hottest spots without proper training. They are mostly used on the front lines to clear obstacles and dig trenches. There is an extremely low level of provision and nutrition. Losses among “recruits” are 70-80%.
To hide the real number of human loses, Russian fascists are using the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant to burn the corpses of local “recruits” and volunteers from Russia. The exact number of burned bodies is unknown.
Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine
On shelling of civilian objects
Russian fascist fighter fired on Chernihiv residents queuing for bread. At least 10 people died on the spot. The number of victims is being clarified.
In the morning, a “Caliber” cruise missile was shot down 500 meters from the OKHMATDIT National Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. When the wreckage fell, the attic and the upper floors of one of the houses were hit.
This is the third attempt to destroy this children’s hospital since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Airstrikes and rocket attacks on cities and civilian objects are evidence of the selective direction of hostilities against civilians, another crime of the Russian army against humanity and a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
The commission of these crimes is possible as long as the skies over Ukraine are open.
Please, NATO, establish a no-fly zone in the skies of Ukraine, stop the killing of peaceful Ukrainians by bombs and missiles of the terrorist state.
Russian terrorists are massively abducting civilians
Russian terrorists are massively abducting civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Yesterday, the armed Russian military kidnapped activist Vitaliy Shevchenko for organizing a rally in Berdyansk after a protest. Several other activists were also detained.
In the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region, the occupiers broke into the city council and took away 5 employees in an unknown direction, among them Dmytro Gapchenko, the business manager of the Bucha city council. Russian terrorists confiscated and discarded their passports, and people under the barrels of machine guns were taken out of the council building. The workers were later released.
In the Kherson region, Russian fascists abducted Skadovsk Mayor Oleksandr Yakovlev and his deputy Yuri Palyukh. Mayor was released later.
In the city of Mariupol, Russian criminals continue to detain staff and patients, as well as residents of surrounding houses – 400 people in the basement of the Regional Hospital for Intensive Care. Militias set up firing points on the floors of the institution, people are used as a “living shield” from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The taking of civilian hostages is a direct violation of Articles 3 and 34 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
“I call on the international community to use all means of sanctions against the terrorist state of the Russian Federation to stop the military invasion of Ukraine and the immediate return of all civilian and military hostages.” stressed the Commissioner.
Situation with minors in Ukraine
Today, 1.5 million children have already left Ukraine due to the fighting of the aggressor state.
So far, it has not been possible to evacuate 37 children from the orphanage in Polohy, Zaporizhia Oblast, who are in a bomb shelter.
Military medic Olga Semidyanova from Manganese city, Dnipropetrovsk region, was killed in battles with the Russian invader. She has 12 children left. Olga was awarded the heroine’s mother prize for giving birth to six children and taking the same amount from an orphanage.
For the past 24hrs, 80 people were injured in Mykolayiv region, including two children.
Once again, educational institutions came under fire from the Russian occupiers: a preschool in Severodonetsk and a secondary school in Kharkiv. As a result of the bombing of a school in Kharkiv, the building was almost destroyed.
To date, bombings and shelling have damaged more than 400 educational institutions, 59 of which have been completely destroyed.
The actions of the Russian Federation violate the right to life of children guaranteed by Article 6 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and prove that Russia is a terrorist state and its political and military leadership criminals.
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Russian forces continue their strategic offensive operation against Ukraine but have failed to achieve their goal of reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and establishing control over the left-bank part of Ukraine.
The enemy is trying to move additional reserves of the Eastern Military District.
Russia is trying to resume offensive operations in the direction of Vyshgorod. During the day Russian forces tried to advance towards Kyiv. It was an unsuccessful attempt and they switched to defense.
Russian troops are regrouping troops and trying to restore the combat effectiveness of their units.
However, they continue with their attempts to capture the city of Chernihiv by regrouping their troops and better logistical support; their attempts were rebuffed.
Russian forces continue to blockade the cities of Sumy, Lebedyn and Okhtyrka.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya, as a result of assaults by Ukrainian personnel, Russian forces suffered losses and were forced to withdraw for regrouping.
In the Kryvyi Rih direction, Russia is trying to resume the offensive in the direction of the settlements of Velyka Kostroma, Mala Kostroma and Kryvyi Rih. As a result of the fire damage inflicted by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was stopped and suffered losses.
Russian aircraft continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Sumy and Donetsk regions, using the airfield network of Belarus and the occupied Crimea.
In the Black Sea operational zone, warships shelled the coast in the regions of Lebedivka, Sanzheika, Zatoka and Bilenke.
(https://www.facebook.com/100069073844828/posts/276715491307577/?d=n)
State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Russian forces made another attempt to capture Rubizhne, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Luhansk region. Extensive casualties and damage to homes was reported in Severodonetsk, Rubizhne and Lysychansk during the night.
Russian shelling has continued along with attacks on civilians (including shooting at convoys and capturing areas where evacuations were planned).
(https://www.facebook.com/100064736946785/posts/333705168797379/?d=n)
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
Over 16 thousand people (13,000 Ukrainians and 3000 foreign nationals) entered Ukraine on 15 March. In total, approximately 273,000 men have returned to support Ukrainian Armed Forces.
(https://www.facebook.com/DPSUkraine/posts/296854635886747)
Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Russian forces damaged 117 hospitals; 7 of them were totally destroyed.
Despite the military actions, the Ministry of Health has supplied 7 new angiographs to hospitals, and are now providing installation and preparing for the launch of the equipment.
18 ambulances were delivered to Kharkiv. The cars are part of a humanitarian aid that was transferred to the Kharkiv region from Denmark.
POLICY
President of Ukraine
Address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the US Congress
I am proud to greet you from Ukraine, from our capital – Kyiv. From a city that is under missile and air strikes by Russian troops. Daily. But it does not give up. And it didn’t even think to give up for a single minute! Just as dozens of other cities and communities in our country, which found themselves in the worst war since World War II.
I have the honor to greet you on behalf of the Ukrainian people, brave and freedom-loving people. For eight years they have been resisting the aggression of the Russian Federation. They sacrifice the best children – sons and daughters to stop the full-scale Russian invasion.
Now the fate of our state is being decided. The fate of our people. It is being decided whether Ukrainians will be free. Whether they will preserve their democracy.
Russia has attacked more than just our land and our cities. It went on a brutal offensive against our values. Basic human values. It threw tanks and planes against our freedom. Against our right to live freely in our country, choosing our own future. Against our desire for happiness. Against our national dreams. Just like yours, ordinary people of America. Just like those of everyone in the United States.
I remember your Rushmore National Memorial. The faces of your prominent presidents. Those who laid the foundations of America. As it is today. Democracy, independence, freedom and care for everyone. Everyone who works diligently. Who lives honestly. Who respects the law.
We in Ukraine want the same for ourselves. All that is a normal part of life for you.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Americans!
In your great history you have pages that will allow you to understand Ukrainians. Understand us now. When it is needed most.
Remember Pearl Harbor. Terrible morning of December 7, 1941. When your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Just remember that.
Remember September 11th. A terrible day in 2001, when evil tried to turn your cities into a battlefield. When innocent people were attacked. Attacked from the air. In a way no one expected.
In a way you could not stop it. Our state experiences this every day! Every night! For three weeks now! Different Ukrainian cities… Odesa and Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Zhytomyr and Lviv, Mariupol and Dnipro. Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death. For thousands of people.
Russian troops have already fired nearly a thousand missiles at Ukraine. Countless bombs. They use drones to kill more precisely. This is a terror Europe has not seen for 80 years!
And we ask for a response. For the response from the world. For the response to terror. Is this too much of a request?
To establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine is to save people. Humanitarian no-fly zone. Conditions under which Russia will no longer be able to terrorize our peaceful cities every day and night. If that’s too much, we offer an alternative.
You know what defense systems we need. C-300 and other similar systems.
You know how much depends on the battlefield on the ability to use aircraft. Powerful, strong aircraft. To protect your people. Your freedom. Your land. Aircraft that can help Ukraine. That can help Europe.
And you also know that they are available. But on land. Not in the Ukrainian sky. They do not protect our people.
“I have a dream” – these words are known to each of you. Today I can say: I have a necessity. The necessity to protect our sky. The necessity for your decision. Your help. And it will mean exactly the same thing. The same thing you feel. When you hear: I have a dream.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Friends!
Ukraine is grateful to the United States for its overwhelming support. For all that your state and your people have already done for our freedom. For weapons and ammunition, for training and funding, for leadership in the free world, which helps put pressure on the aggressor economically.
I am grateful to President Biden for his personal involvement, for his sincere commitment to the defense of Ukraine and democracy around the world.
I am grateful to you for the resolution, which recognizes all those who commit crimes against the Ukrainian people as war criminals.
However, now, in the darkest time for our country, for the whole of Europe, I urge you to do more! New packages of sanctions are needed every week. Until the Russian military machine stops. Restrictions are needed as regards everyone on whom this unjust regime is based.
We offer the United States to impose sanctions against all politicians in the Russian Federation who remain in office and do not sever ties with those responsible for the aggression against Ukraine. From State Duma deputies to the last official who lacks the morale to sever ties with state terror. All American companies must leave Russia, their market. Leave this market flooded with our blood.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Members of Congress!
Take the lead! If you have companies in the constituencies that sponsor the Russian military machine, keeping their business in Russia. You have to put pressure. So that the Russian state does not receive a single dollar, which it spends on the destruction of Ukraine. On the destruction of Europe.
All American ports must be closed to Russian goods and ships. Peace is more important than profit. And we must defend this principle throughout the world together.
We have already become part of the anti-war coalition. The great anti-war coalition, which unites many states, dozens of states. Those who reacted in a principled manner to President Putin’s decision – to Russia’s invasion of our state.
But we have to move on. We have to create new tools. To respond quickly! And stop the war. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. And it would be fair if it ended in a day. In 24 hours. So that evil is punished immediately. Today the world does not have such tools.
The wars of the past have prompted our predecessors to create institutions that were supposed to protect us from war. But… They don’t work. We see it. You see it. So, we need new ones. New institutions. New alliances.
And we offer them.
We offer to create an association – U-24. United for peace. A union of responsible states that have the strength and conscience to stop conflicts. Immediately. Provide all necessary assistance in 24 hours. If necessary – weapons. If necessary – sanctions. Humanitarian support. Political support. Funding. Everything necessary to preserve peace quickly. To save lives.
In addition, such an association could provide assistance to those who are experiencing natural disasters, man-made disasters. Who fell victim to a humanitarian crisis or epidemic.
Remember how difficult it was for the world to do the simplest thing – to give everyone vaccines. Vaccines against Covid. To save lives. To prevent new strains. The world spent months and years doing things that could have been done much faster. So that there were no human losses.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Americans!
If such an alliance, the U-24, had already been formed, I believe it would have saved thousands of lives. In our country, many other countries that need peace so crucially, that suffered inhuman destruction… I ask you to watch one video now. Video of what Russian troops did on our land. We have to stop this. We must prevent such things. Preventively destroy every aggressor who seeks to conquer another nation.
Please watch this video
https://www.facebook.com/100007211555008/posts/3032455393671483/?d=n
And in the end to sum it up.
Today it is not enough to be the leader of the nation.
Today it takes to be the Leader of the world. Being the Leader of the world means to be the Leader of Peace.
Peace in your country does not depend anymore only on you and your people.
It depends on those next to you, on those who are strong.
Strong does not mean big. Strong is brave and ready to fight for the life of his citizens and citizens of the world.
For human rights, for freedom, for the right to live decently and to die when your time comes, not when it is wanted by someone else, by your neighbor.
Today the Ukrainian people are defending not only Ukraine, we are fighting for the values of Europe and the world, sacrificing our lives in the name of the Future.
That’s why today the American people are helping not just Ukraine, but Europe and the world to keep the planet alive, to keep justice in history.
Now I am almost 45 years old. Today my age stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating. I see no sense in life if it cannot stop death. And this is my main mission as the Leader of my people – great Ukrainians.
And as the Leader of my nation I am addressing President Biden.
You are the Leader of the nation, of your great nation.
Meeting of the President of Ukraine with Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
Main points:
Ø We are stepping up work to bring the invaders to justice. There must be an international tribunal. And it will be. For everything they did against Ukraine. Against our people. For every act of terrorism of Russian troops on the territory of our state.
Ø The Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine and law enforcement agencies have already started this work. The launch of the activity of the investigative group of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine is also important, which together with our law enforcement officers is already collecting all the evidence, collecting the facts of war crimes of the invaders on the territory of our state. So that they receive the legal answer – legal and concrete.
Ø I spoke with Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He is already in Ukraine, he has already started working. Therefore, the invaders will be responsible for all war crimes against Ukrainians.
Ø As of this morning, 103 children have been killed.
Ø A total of 400 educational institutions have been destroyed in Ukraine to date, the largest number is in the Donetsk region – 119.
Ø In Mariupol, the invaders seized a hospital, a regional intensive care hospital. Already damaged by Russian bombs. Patients and doctors are in captivity. Residents of neighboring houses were forced to go inside the hospital as well. More than 400 people are hostages! And the invaders are using the hospital as a firing position to shell the city.
Ø Today I signed an important decree on a nationwide minute of silence to honor the memory of all Ukrainians who died in our patriotic war. All those we lost because of the Russian invasion. Because of the terror committed by the invaders. Every morning at 9 am in the whole territory of our state we will remember the Ukrainians who gave their lives. All who fought. All military and all civilians.
Ø The losses of the invaders continue to grow. The number of killed enemy soldiers is already approaching 14,000. Tens of thousands of Russian servicemen were wounded. They have already lost more than a hundred helicopters. Soon there will be hundreds of lost planes. More than 400 Russian tanks were destroyed, plus several thousand units of other equipment.
Ø Eight years ago, on this day, the Russian state organized a fake “referendum” on the territory of our Ukrainian Crimea. Which it later used to justify the seizure of our territory. It was illegal. This was the destruction of the entire security architecture in Europe, which was created after World War II. But Russia went for it… If then the world had reacted at least half as it should react now and reacts… I’m sure we would have had neither this invasion, nor eight years of war in Donbas.
Adviser to the Head of Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksii Arestovych
Main points:
Ø Yesterday the Ukrainian army held tactical counter-attacks including 7 serious rocket, aviation and artillery strikes at the enemy’s positions. At least 3 airplanes, 1 helicopter and several missile rockets were downed by Ukraine.
Ø Russian forces used Iskander, two-thirds of which hit civilian targets – probably intentionally.
Ø The Russian Federation has exhausted its military resources, and its attempts to attract its forces from Syria and Libya, the Far East are not meeting much success.
Ø The enemy concentrates mainly on the Joint Forces Operations area, but yesterday they suffered losses in Izyum and Mykolaiv directions, while tactical battles started by them provide advantages to Ukraine.
(https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=780005292977049)
Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine
At 5:00 a.m. on 16 March, Russian soldiers fired rockets at civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhzhya, including the Zaporizhzhya-2 railway station. Two rockets damaged administrative and civilian buildings.
(https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/331465849016255)
On 16 March, at around 6 a.m., Russian armed forces, shelled a residential area in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the capital, hitting and severely damaging a 12-storey residential building, According to preliminary information, two people were injured and 35 were evacuated.
(https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/331500859012754)
Kyiv City Administration
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko met with a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross and its President Peter Maurer, who arrived in Kyiv. He thanked the representatives of the organization for the help they provide to Ukraine.
