Russia-Ukraine war updates: Russia says NATO is preparing allies for war
These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war for Thursday, March 28, 2024.
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- Russia’s Foreign Ministry says NATO activity in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea area is aimed at preparing the allies for conflict, which creates additional risks for Russia’s security.
- Russia attacked Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv with aerial bombs on Wednesday for the first time since 2022, killing at least one civilian and wounding 16 others, local officials have said.
- The governments of Poland and Ukraine are meeting in Warsaw for talks they hope will help defuse a dispute over grain imports that has caused mass protests by farmers, but a top Polish official said a breakthrough was unlikely.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says he arrived in New Delhi to advance Kyiv’s vision of a path to peace in Ukraine and strengthen ties with India.
Here’s what happened today
We’re closing this blog soon, but before we do, here is some of what happened today:
- Russia’s Investigative Committee claims it has uncovered evidence that the Crocus concert hall gunmen were linked to “Ukrainian nationalists”.
- The White House has described Russia’s allegation as “nonsense”, reiterating that it was clear that ISIL was “solely responsible” for the attack in Moscow.
- One person has died during a Russian attack in Kherson, the Ukrainian governor of the region said.
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says he discussed arms supplies to Ukraine during his meeting with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed combat General Oleh Ivashchenko as the new head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
- Kyiv has asked its Western allies for air defence supplies at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council following a series of Russian missile attacks on critical infrastructure.
What’s behind Macron’s ‘hardened stance’ on the Russia-Ukraine war?
Soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron sought to help resolve the conflict diplomatically.
During the war’s first summer, Macron said it was important that Moscow was not humiliated and that a European security order including Russia should be established.
But since last year, Macron has been drastically shifting towards what has been described as a hawkish foreign policy.
At a conference in Paris last month, the French president said a deployment of Western troops to fight Russia on the ground in Ukraine should not be ruled out, a suggestion that angered Russian President Vladimir Putin and was dismissed by Ukraine’s main backers.
While speaking in Prague on March 5, Macron declared that Europeans can’t be “cowards” when countering Moscow.
What explains Macron’s shifting posture?
Read our full piece here.
Ukraine’s SBU arrests two for allegedly attempting to send information to Russia
Ukraine’s intelligence agency (SBU) says it has arrested two people who were allegedly trying to provide information to Russia to support its attacks on Ukrainian military and energy targets.
It said it foiled someone from attempting to join the paratroopers unit as a chaplain, where he hoped “to collect data on weapons, work plans and combat operations” to send to Russia.
In a separate statement on Telegram, the agency also said it had arrested a 22-year-old who had been recruited to undertake reconnaissance on an army hospital and power plant in the Dnipro region.
Both face life in prison under Ukrainian laws against treason and collaborating with the enemy.
Russian military plane crashes into Crimean port
A Russian military aircraft crashed into the sea off the Crimean port of Sevastopol, the Russian-installed governor of the region said.
Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the pilot ejected his seat and was picked up by rescuers.
Earlier, Russian Telegram channels reported that a Russian Su-35 fighter jet had crashed near Sevastopol, but it remains unclear what caused the incident.
Russia’s accusation is ‘nonsense’, says White House
The White House has described Russia’s allegation that Ukraine was involved in the attack on a Moscow concert hall as “nonsense”, reiterating that it was clear that ISIL was “solely responsible.”
In a briefing to reporters, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the US had passed a written warning of an attack to Russian security services, one of many provided in advance to Moscow.
One person killed in attack in Kherson, governor says
One person has died during a Russian attack in Kherson, the Ukrainian governor of the region said.
“In Kherson, the Russian occupiers fired at a taxi. Unfortunately, the driver of the car died from his injuries on the spot. My condolences to family and friends,” Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram.
He added that two passengers, a 36-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, were injured in the attack and were taken to the hospital.
Russia says it has found evidence linking Moscow attack to Ukraine
Russia’s Investigative Committee says it has uncovered evidence that the gunmen who killed more than 140 people in an attack on Crocus concert hall last week were linked to “Ukrainian nationalists”.
In a statement, it said the attackers had received significant amounts of cash and cryptocurrency from Ukraine.
“As a result of work with the detained terrorists, an examination of technical devices seized from them and analysis of financial transactions, evidence of their links with Ukrainian nationalists has been obtained,” the committee said in a statement.
This comes after the Russian Security Service (FSB) director Alexander Bortnikov said Kyiv was directly connected to the attack.
Ukraine has strongly denied it had anything to do with the attack.
Russia vetoes renewal of UN sanctions on N Korea
Russia has vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
China abstained from the vote, while the remaining 13 council members voted in favour.
But the move comes amid US-led accusations that North Korea has transferred weapons to Russia to use in its war in Ukraine.
Moscow and Pyongyang denied the accusations but committed to deepen military relations last year.
Ukraine, Poland discuss arms supplies and border issues
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says he discussed arms supplies to Ukraine during his meeting with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw.
“Today we spoke with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk about arms supplies to Ukraine, border issues, trade liberalisation, infrastructure development, energy, the restoration of Ukraine and European integration,” Shmyhal wrote on X.
“We signed a joint statement outlining current bilateral relations and future plans. We value our cooperation and Poland’s support.”
🇺🇦 🇵🇱 Today we spoke with Polish Prime Minister @donaldtusk about arms supplies to Ukraine, border issues, trade liberalisation, infrastructure development, energy, the restoration of #Ukraine and European integration. We signed a joint statement outlining current bilateral… pic.twitter.com/NNDAt4GPT4
— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) March 28, 2024
EU duty will hit European countries, not just Russia: Report
An EU plan to impose a duty on Russian wheat supplies will hit the European market, Sergey Dankvert, head of Russian agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, was quoted as saying by state-owned news agency TASS.
He added that the imposition of duties could lead to a loss of grain handling capacity, while Russia could divert to other markets the 2.5-3 million tonnes of grain it had been shipping to the EU.
Zelenskyy appoints new head of Foreign Intelligence Service
Zelenskyy has appointed combat General Oleh Ivashchenko as the new head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
“He is a professional who perfectly understands intelligence activities and our state’s current goals. During times of war, there are absolutely non-public matters that the Service must ensure quickly and efficiently,” the president wrote on X.
“Ukraine must prevail wherever Putin’s system attempts to gain an advantage.”
I have appointed combat general Oleh Ivashchenko as the new head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
He is a professional who perfectly understands intelligence activities and our state's current goals. During times of war, there are absolutely non-public matters that… pic.twitter.com/ZinPoSxlS5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 28, 2024
In case you’re just joining us
Let’s bring you up to speed.
- Ukrainian forces have shot down 26 out of 28 attack drones launched overnight by Russia, Kyiv’s military said.
- The governments of Poland and Ukraine are meeting in Warsaw to defuse tensions over the continuing farmers’ protests against Ukrainian grain.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has arrived in New Delhi to discuss Kyiv’s vision of the path to peace in Ukraine.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says there are no plans to attack NATO countries, but if the West supplies F-16 fighters to Ukraine, they will be shot down.
- Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov says Russian air defences have shot down two Ukrainian drones over the region bordering Ukraine.
France blocks fake Ukraine war recruitment website
French authorities have uncovered a website containing a fake recruitment drive for French volunteers to join the war in Ukraine, the defence ministry said.
The site has now been taken down by French services, a government source, who asked not to be named, told AFP without giving further details on the nature of the operation.
The site, which is now inaccessible, said 200,000 French people were invited to “enlist in Ukraine”, with immigrants given priority.
A link to the site – which resembled the French army’s genuine recruitment portal – had been posted on X, the French defence ministry said.
“The site is a fake government site,” the ministry said, also on X, “and has been reposted by malevolent accounts as part of a disinformation campaign”.
$10bn jet dispute to be heard in London, rules British court
The British High Court ruled that a $10bn battle between reinsurers and aircraft leasing companies seeking payouts for more than 200 jets stuck in Russia should be heard in London rather than Moscow.
Aircraft lessors, including Ireland’s AerCap AER N and US-listed Carlyle Aviation Partners CG O, are pursuing insurers for financial losses after the war in Ukraine grounded their jets in Russia.
Judge Andrew Henshaw ruled the cases should continue in London, saying that “the claimants are very unlikely to obtain a fair trial in Russia”.
Ukraine reiterates need for more air defences at NATO meeting
Ukraine has asked its Western allies for air defence supplies at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council following a series of Russian missile attacks on critical infrastructure.
The mission said Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov had briefed partners on the aftermath of the attacks and urged them to provide more equipment to block incoming barrages.
Moscow has previously described its recent attacks as part of a series of “revenge” raids in response to Kyiv’s attacks on Russian regions.
Today an extraordinary meeting of the #NATO–#Ukraine Council was convened at the initiative of Ukraine in response to Russia's missile attacks on 🇺🇦 critical infrastructure.
The meeting was held at NATO HQ at the level of Ambassadors. pic.twitter.com/h9LzUzmCwP
— UKR Mission to NATO (@UKRinNATO) March 28, 2024
Kremlin says Russia will ‘punish’ Kyiv’s government: Report
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia will punish all those responsible in Kyiv’s government for the actions taken against Russian soldiers, the state news agency TASS reported.
“All war crimes [committed] by the Kyiv regime are thoroughly documented,” Peskov said.
“We were well aware of these crimes. And, of course, we will make sure that those behind these crimes are duly punished”.
Earlier, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report about the treatment of prisoners during the Ukraine war.
The report found that at least 25 Russian servicemen had been executed away from the battlefield in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the report found “621 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention of (Ukrainian) civilians by Russian armed forces”.
Polish security agency investigating Russian espionage
Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) says it has carried out searches as part of an investigation into alleged Russian espionage with other European security services.
Poland says it has become a major target of Russian spies due to it being a hub for Western military supplies to Ukraine.
“Actions aimed at organising pro-Russian initiatives and media campaigns in EU countries have been documented,” ABW said in a statement, mentioning the website voice-of-Europe.eu, which it says published pro-Russian material.
It said searches were made in Warsaw and Tychy in western Poland on Tuesday, without elaborating.
‘We are close to a solution’, says Polish PM Tusk
Poland’s PM says Warsaw and Ukraine are closer to reaching an agreement regarding agricultural imports following intergovernmental talks.
“We are close to a solution,” Donald Tusk told a news conference.
“This applies to the amount of products that can flow into Poland, once we determine it, we are close to ensuring that transit does not disturb the Polish market.”
Kyiv targets Russia’s navy as Moscow’s forces inch ahead in eastern Ukraine
Ukraine launched a devastating missile strike against Russian military targets in the Crimean port of Sevastopol late on Saturday, further debilitating Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
The combination of a reported 40 Storm Shadow missiles, decoy missiles and drones damaged a communications centre, the Yamal and the Azov, two Ropucha-class landing ships, and other infrastructure, possibly including an oil depot.
The Yamal was especially badly damaged. Ukrainian military intelligence said it was listing to starboard with a large hole in its top deck two days later, and Russian crews had to keep pumping its bilges to keep the ship afloat.
The damage to the Yamal and the Azov reportedly left Russia with just three of its landing ships operational from an original fleet of 13 at the start of the war.
Read our piece on Ukraine’s military in full here.
Estonian official says defence spending must increase to counter Russia
The head of Estonia’s military says his country needs to double defence spending over the next two years to stockpile enough munitions to counter any possible Russian invasion force.
General Martin Herem said neither the threat of a nuclear response nor the prospect of significant casualties would deter Putin if he chose to attack.
“If you show your face over my border, the decisive victory must come very quickly: not by months and years, but days and weeks,” Herem said in an interview in Japan, where he met defence officials.
“If we really believe that it may come in three years, then we have to make decisions today.”
Earlier, Putin denied that Russia had any plans to invade a NATO member.
Russia, South Africa discuss Ukraine
Putin briefed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by phone on the situation in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin added the two leaders also discussed cooperation in energy and trade.
Russian air defences down drones over Belgorod, governor says
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov says Russian air defences have shot down two Ukrainian drones over the region bordering Ukraine.
“In the Belgorodsky district, an air defence system shot down two aircraft-type UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] as they approached the city. No one was injured in the attack, according to preliminary data,” the governor said.
He added that a fragment of a drone damaged a shed in Tavrovo.
Russia says NATO is preparing allies for conflict
NATO activity in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea area is aimed at preparing its allies for conflict with Moscow, which creates additional risks for Russia’s security, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said, the RIA news agency reported.
The ministry was commenting on Romania’s plans to expand a military airbase in Constanta.
Key events on day 763 of the war
It’s day 763 of the war, and here are some of the key developments:
- At least one person was killed and 19 injured after Russia attacked Kharkiv with what officials said could have been a new type of guided bomb.
- Ukraine’s air force chief Mykola Oleshchuk said Russia launched 13 Iranian-designed Shahed drones, 10 of which were brought down in Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv regions.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops in the northeastern Sumy region.
- Lyusya Shtein, a member of Pussy Riot and a former municipal deputy in Moscow, was sentenced to six years in prison in absentia after criticising the war.
- Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to speed up deliveries of warplanes and air defence systems following Wednesday’s Russian attacks.
Read our full list here.