The day of the war at a glance
Ukraine reports successes near Kyiv – Germany supplies more rocket-propelled grenades
03/23/2022, 10:09 p.m
Fierce fighting is raging around Kyiv. According to their own statements, the Ukrainian side succeeded in recapturing several places. Germany announces additional arms deliveries to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia only wants to deliver gas in exchange for rubles. The 28th day of the war at a glance.
Klitschko: Russian troops pushed back near Kyiv
According to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the Ukrainian armed forces have been able to push back the Russian army in several areas near the capital. Klitschko said there was fighting in the northern and eastern suburbs of Kyiv. “The small town of Makariv and almost all of Irpin are already under the control of Ukrainian soldiers.” This information has not yet been independently verified. Irpin borders Kyiv to the east, Makariv is around 50 kilometers west of the Ukrainian capital.
There was heavy artillery fire in Irpin and Lyutish, north of Kyiv, according to journalists from the AFP news agency. A Ukrainian news agency spoke of the possible encirclement of Russian troops in Irpin and two other towns. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the Nyvky district was hit by Russian artillery pieces, AFP reporters reported. According to the city administration, four people were injured.
Front section near Kyiv flooded
In defending the capital, the Ukrainians are apparently taking measures that are as unusual as they are effective: In the north-west of Kyiv, open barrages at the mouth of the Dnieper tributary Irpin triggered widespread flooding, as current satellite images show. The apparently planned approach creates a natural bulwark in the swampy river valleys around 30 kilometers from the center of Kiev. The flooded flood plains severely restricted the Russian army’s room for maneuver on the front in front of Kyiv. Heavy war equipment has to retreat to solid roads in the region.
Zelenskyj calls on French companies to leave Russia
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President solicited further support against the Russian war of aggression. He made video addresses to the French National Assembly and Japanese MPs in Tokyo. Selensky appealed to French companies to leave Russia and stop financing a war. Among other things, he mentioned Renault. In the evening, the automaker announced that it would suspend its industrial activities in Russia because of the war in Ukraine. The measures affect production in Moscow. Japan called on Selensky to continue to pressure Russia in Asia. According to Zelensky, a trade embargo against Russia is needed.
Germany supplies more weapons to Ukraine
Additional support for the Ukrainian army comes from Germany, among others. The Ministry of Defense wants to supply Ukraine with 2,000 more rocket-propelled grenades from Bundeswehr stocks for defense against Russia. Minister Christine Lambrecht’s department requested this from the Federal Security Council, according to information from the dpa.
According to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Germany is currently also supplying other Strela anti-aircraft missiles. “The other Strela deliveries are on their way,” said the Green politician in the Bundestag. Ukraine has received 500 Strela anti-aircraft missiles from Germany so far. Originally there was talk of up to 2700. The general debate in the Bundestag was also dominated by the war in Ukraine and the billion-euro modernization of the Bundeswehr announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz admits mistakes after Selenskyj’s speech
The Chancellor now considers it a mistake that there was no further debate after the speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Bundestag. The waiver of a debate enforced by the traffic light coalition was “not right”, said Scholz in an interview with “Zeit”. Despite calls from the Union in particular for a debate without any interruption, the Bundestag had gone over to the agenda.
Russia only accepts rubles for gas supplies
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin caused further unrest with an economic move. For gas deliveries from Russia, customers in Germany and other EU countries, among others, would have to pay in rubles in the future, he explained. The announcement promptly strengthened the Russian currency, which is under massive pressure. He asked the government and the central bank to introduce the new system “within a week”. In addition, Putin indicated that other Russian exports could also be affected by the switch to rubles.
NATO plans to double combat units on eastern flank
One day before its special summit on the Ukraine war, NATO announced that it would continue to strengthen its eastern flank. The alliance wants to send twice as many combat units to its eastern flank as before. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the heads of state and government wanted to decide on new battlegroups for the member states of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia at the special summit in Brussels. So far there are such multinational units in Poland and the three Baltic States.
Lavrov: US is dragging out negotiations
In the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian sides about a possible end to the war, there is still no prospect of an agreement. “The talks are tough, the Ukrainian side is constantly changing its position,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He held the United States primarily responsible for this: Washington “apparently wants to keep us in a state of military action for as long as possible.”
Kremlin special envoy Chubais resigns
Meanwhile, Putin lost a close adviser. The Russian President’s special representative for relations with international organizations, Anatoly Chubais, announced his resignation. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the ex-reformer, who was always counted towards the liberal camp. However, he did not give a reason. It was said in his circle that Chubais had resigned in protest against the war in Ukraine and had left Russia. He is the most senior figure in Russia to resign since the invasion of Ukraine.
Kremlin party deputies can only leave Russia with permission
Members of parliament from the Kremlin party United Russia are now only allowed to leave the country with a special permit. This must be granted by parliamentary group leader Vladimir Vasilyev, said the party’s deputy general secretary, Alexander Sidjakin, of the Ria Novosti state agency. However, the group made this decision months ago, he said. Only members of the Duma from United Russia are affected and not all of the almost two million party members.
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