Russia-Ukraine war. Timeline of events, March 16-17

🔘 Joe Biden has called Putin ‘a bloody dictator and a real thug’.

🔘 According to the German Ministry of the Interior, as of Thursday, the German police has registered 187,428 refugees from Ukraine.

Photo: Situation in Ukraine as of March 17 from the British Ministry of Defense

In Ukraine:

🔘 Honored Artist of Ukraine actress Oksana Shvets has died during a rocket attack on a residential building in Kyiv

🔘 The fourth round of talks between Ukraine and Russia on ending the war are hard, Podolyak has said, stressing that fundamental issues for Ukraine are inviolable.

🔘 350,000 Mariupol residents continue to hide in shelters and basements from continuous shelling – Mariupol city council. On average, Russian troops drop 50 to 100 air bombs on the city per day, the city authorities say. According to preliminary estimates, about 80% of the city’s housing stock has been destroyed and almost 30% cannot be restored. About 30,000 people were able to leave Mariupol by personal transport.

Photo: Fire in Kyiv after new shelling – UNIAN

In the world:

🔘 The European Space Agency has declared it impossible to further cooperate with Roscosmos on the Russian-European ExoMars mission.

🔘 Europe must increase defense investment to be ready for possible high-intensity armed conflict – Macron.

🔘 Swiss banks hold up to $213 billion of Russian capital and sanctions on Russia provide a rare opportunity to recognize these assets – Reuters.

🔘 Council of Europe suspends trade relations with Belarus

🔘 Czech Republic can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine – Czech PM

🔘 The Minister of Culture of Italy declared its readiness to restore the drama theater in Mariupol:

🔘 Shelling of Donetsk by Tochka-U should be investigated – UN Deputy Secretary General

Photo: A large market in Kharkiv is on fire – UNIAN

In Russia:

🔘 McDonald’s restaurants in Siberia continues to operate as usual under the guidance of GiD and does not raise prices, the franchisee company said in a statement.

🔘 The Liberal Democratic Party submitted to the Russian Duma a bill on the state monopoly on sugar amid rush demand

Video: Panic buying of sugar in Russian stores due to a rise in price and instructions not to sell more than 5 kg per person — Nexta live

🔘 The Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli has announced the suspension of investments and restrictions on the operation of enterprises in Russia.

🔘 The head of the Russian Defense Ministry Shoigu wrote a letter to the Minister of Culture of Russia Olga Lyubimova and asked to “exclude from the cultural agenda of the Russian Federation” Vladimir Zelensky and Ukrainian producer Alexander Rodnyansky (“Stalingrad”, “Leviathan”, “9th Company”, “Dylda”).

🔘 The coordinator of the anti-war movement “Spring” in Moscow was attacked by unknown people. He was guarded at the house and beaten

Video: Unidentified people painted the front doors of activists against the war in Ukraine — Lentach

🔘 53 people have died over the last 24 hours as a result of the shelling in Chernihiv. Another 15 people were killed and 25 injured as a result of a night attack on the Merefa school and cultural center in the Kharkiv region.

🔘 Zelensky has addressed the Bundestag today. In his speech, the President of Ukraine said that the country would definitely join the EU. Zelensky also mentioned that Russia is the Berlin Wall, and a country which is trying to destroy the whole nation in the center of Europe.

🔘 Adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine Arestovich has called for a guerrilla war to be carried out on the railways of the territory occupied by Russia. He stated that the Russian army is experiencing problems with the supply of troops with fuel and ammunition, and the destruction of the railway lines will further reduce the supply.

Video: Russian truck with soldiers is ambushed in Kharkiv region

 

Situation in Ukraine:

🔘80-90% of Mariupol has been bombed, said the Deputy Mayor Sergey Orlov in an interview with Forbes Ukraine. “Not a single building is left undamaged. All are either destroyed or damaged”.

Photo: Destruction in Mariupol – UNIAN

🔘In the coming weeks, a meeting between Putin and Zelensky may take place, after the work on the agreement is completed, adviser to the head of the presidential office Podolyak has announced.

🔘Ukraine has requested satellite images from Japan. This is reported by the publication Nikkei. Japan uses satellites with a special radar that can receive high-resolution images at any time of the day and in any weather.

Video: Russian ships appeared on the horizon near the coast of Odessa

International response:

🔘 Germany does not have enough surplus defensive weapons to fully meet the needs of Ukraine – German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock.

🔘 NATO will not interfere in the conflict in Ukraine, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

🔘 The resolution on the creation of an unmanned zone over Ukraine was unanimously supported by the Lithuanian Seim.

🔘 Human Rights Watch urges the Ukrainian authorities not to publish videos with Russian prisoners of war – a statement on the organization’s website.

Photo: Burning school in Merefa – UNIAN

In Russia:

🔘 Car theft in Russia can be recognized as a serious crime. The project is being developed by the United Russia party. The reason is the expected shortage of spare parts for cars against the backdrop of the withdrawal of large companies producing components from Russia. Because of this, an increase in car thefts for disassembly and sale on the black market is possible, the party says.

🔘 Popular models of Apple laptops in Russian online stores have risen in price by 46-142%, the price of the best-selling iPhones has risen by 24-34% in three weeks, and tablets – by 13-34% – the result of a study of the Russian market by the Price.ru service

🔘 State employees across Russia will be gathered for rallies on March 18 in support of Putin and the war. The actions will also be dedicated to the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. It is reported by Kommersant, citing a source. The slogans are known: “For the World”, “For Russia” and “For the President”. It became known that Grigory Leps, the Hands Up group, Polina Gagarina, Timati and Lyube would have to perform at the planned concert. According to Kommersant, Putin is expected to attend the rally in Moscow.

🔘 There will be no default in Russia yet. This is reported by VPost, claiming that the Russian Ministry of Finance paid coupon income on Eurobonds maturing in 2023 and 2043.

Photo: Telegram bots appeared in Russia, which can be used to report Internet resources that share “illegal content” – Lentach

 

🔘The Ministry of Defense of Russia stated that yesterday Russian aviation did not strike in Mariupol, and the militants of the Azov battalion mined and blew up the drama theater themselves. On March 16, an airstrike was carried out on the building of the Drama Theater in Mariupol, in which, according to media reports, about a thousand civilians were hiding.

Video: Civilians of the besieged Mariupol hide in the building of the Mariupol Drama Theater – Nexta live

🔘 At night, Russian troops continued rocket attacks on Kiev and on the settlements of the Kharkov region. Another rocket was shot down over Kiev. Its wreckage fell on a residential building. One civilian was killed.

Situation in Ukraine:

🔘More than 7,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine so far, the New York Times reports citing US intelligence data.

🔘President of Ukraine Zelensky has published a new video message. In it, he announced Ukraine’s priorities in negotiations with Russia. They include ceasefire, guarantees of security, sovereignty and restoration of territorial integrity. The head of the country promised the Ukrainians, who lost their homes due to the war, that the state would restore everything at its own expense. He also appealed to Russian soldiers and called on them to either go home or surrender.

🔘The mayor of Melitopol, who was recently kidnapped by Russian troops, was released after being exchanged for nine Russian prisoners.

🔘 At night, Russian troops continued rocket attacks on Kiev and on the settlements of the Kharkov region. Another rocket was shot down over Kiev. Its wreckage fell on a residential building. One civilian was killed.

Photo: Consequences of a rocket falling on a residential building, shot down yesterday in skies over Kiyv – Real Kyiv

International response: 

🔘Slovakia has agreed to transfer S-300 and Strela-10M anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, but on the condition that NATO agrees to reimburse them.

🔘At the next NATO summit, a proposal to send a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine will be considered.

The United States has once again refused to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine at the request of Zelensky. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that this could turn into a world war three.

Photo: The Russian flag is removed outside the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg after Russia left the organization. — Medusa live

🔘The ECtHR said that the court suspends consideration of all complaints against Russia

🔘The Serbian state-owned airline Air Serbia has suspended flights to Russia.

🔘King Philippe of Belgium and his wife Matilda will host three families of Ukrainian refugees – Belgian TV channel RTBF.

🔘American chipmaker Qualcomm stops selling its products to Russian companies.

🔘President of Moldova Maia Sandu demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied Transnistria. On Tuesday, the PACE meeting recognized Russia as an aggressor country, and Pridnestrovie as an occupied territory of Moldova.

🔘Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said that the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine “does not benefit China.” He also did not agree with the accusations that China knew about the preparation of the Russian Federation for war and supported it.

Video: Ukrainian servicemen knocks out a Russian tank on the streets of Mariupol — Nexta live

In Russia:

🔘In Tomsk, a court has fined local resident Stanislav Karmakskikh 45,000 rubles (almost $470) for standing near a picket against the war in Ukraine and expressing “silent support.” He was found guilty under the article on discrediting the Russian military. It is reported by OVD-Info.

🔘Trades in Stock trading on the Moscow Exchange have been frozen since February 28 and the state has not yet announced when they will be open.

Video: In the Astrakhan region, a Soviet-era stele was demolished with the slogan “Peace has been defended! Let’s save the world!” Local authorities said the monument could not be restored. — Nexta live

Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter

One by one, diplomatic bridges between the United States and Russia are being set ablaze.

The latest bit of rhetorical demolition came when Joe Biden labelled Vladimir Putin a war criminal, a move that Russia said was “unforgivable”.

Mr Biden’s statement was an odd one, albeit not out of keeping for a politician who has a history of making monumental policy shifts in seemingly off-the-cuff remarks (see, for instance, his comments on gay marriage in 2012).

After initially telling a reporter he did not think Mr Putin was a criminal, he came back and reversed himself. If there had been an internal debate at the White House over how to handle the growing calls in Congress and the press to condemn Mr Putin in this way, the president settled it in an aside, not a set-piece speech.

This, of course, will make it harder for Mr Biden and his administration to work with the Russians going forward. Every concession or negotiated agreement, on whatever topic, will invite the rejoinder: How can you associate with a criminal?

Perhaps Mr Biden, in his comments, was simply acknowledging the new reality – that the world’s political order has irrevocably shifted, and there’s no going back to the way things were.

In South Ossetia, fighters of the 4th military base of the 58th army of Russia have been deployed to Ukraine. Part of the contingent of troops stationed in South Ossetia is transferred to the combat zone.

“Our guys are going to Ukraine to finish off the Nazis who are terrorizing their people. They are highly motivated, I have talked to many. They’re coming to avenge our brothers! There are relatives and friends of those who died in Ukraine. I myself feel the urge to go there! Guys, you are taking a piece of my heart with you! I wish your families endurance and patience! May you return alive and healthy with victory!”, this is how Kokoity commented on the video footage of the transfer of military personnel from South Ossetia to Ukraine.

🔘President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke via video before the US Congress. The head of Ukraine said that Russian troops fired about a thousand rockets and “countless” bombs into Ukraine. He asked to create a humanitarian no-fly zone over the country. So Russia will not be able to launch missile and bomb attacks on cities. If it is impossible to create a no-fly zone, Zelensky offered to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft systems, in particular, the S-300. The head of Ukraine said that all American companies should leave Russia and proposed the creation of the U-24 (United for peace) association, which would include states “having strength and conscience” to stop conflicts within 24 hours.

🔘“Today it is not enough to be the leader of the country, it is necessary to be the leader of the world who strives to establish peace. I don’t see the meaning of life if it’s impossible to stop death.” Zelensky said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the heads of the republics of the Russian Federation. Briefly about what Putin said:

– In the foreseeable future, the pro-Nazi regime in Kyiv could get nuclear weapons, the target would be Russia.

— Kyiv sabotaged the peaceful settlement of the crisis.

“The operation is going well, strictly according to plan.

– Kyiv’s attack on the Donbass and Crimea was only a matter of time, Russia prevented this.

– The strike by the Ukrainian troops “Point U” on Donetsk on March 14 was a bloody act of terrorism.

— Many years of mockery of the inhabitants of Donbass could not be tolerated.

– All the tasks set in the special operation will certainly be solved.

– Putin compared the actions of the Kiev authorities with the attempts of the Nazis to allow as many victims as possible before the defeat.

– The appearance of Russian troops near Kiev and other Ukrainian cities is not connected with the desire to occupy Ukraine, Russia does not have such a goal.

– We will not allow Ukraine to serve as a springboard for aggressive actions against Russia.

– Western patrons are pushing Kyiv to bloodshed by supplying weapons and mercenaries.

– A network of dozens of laboratories operated in Ukraine, where military biological programs were carried out under the guidance and financial support of the Pentagon.

The West is trying to convince its citizens that their difficulties are the result of Russia’s actions, but this is a lie.

– If Russian troops stopped at the borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, this would not be the final decision, would not remove the threat to Russia

– In fact, both the US and the EU have defaulted on Russia.

– Trying to “cancel” Russia, the West tore off all the masks of decency.

Video: During his speech, Zelensky showed a video about how Ukrainian cities have changed since the beginning of the war – Ukraine 24/7

Situation in Ukraine:

🔘 Ukraine and Russia have made “significant progress” on a tentative 15-point peace plan, including a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops, subject to Ukraine’s neutrality and the adoption of some “limitations” on their armed forces. It is reported by Financial Time, citing sources.

Some of the points:

1. Armistice and withdrawal of Russian troops;
2. Declaration by Ukraine of a neutral status and a reduction in the size of the army;
3. Kyiv’s commitment to refuse to join NATO and not to deploy foreign military bases and weapons in Ukraine;
4. Multilateral agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine with the participation of the US, UK and Turkey;
5. Protection of the Russian language in Ukraine.
6. The main problems, according to the publication, are guarantees for the security of Ukraine and the status of the DPR, LPR and Crimea.

Video: Broken and burning equipment of the Russian troops at the Kherson airport after the attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine – UNIAN

🔘Senior adviser to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, said in an interview with the Financial Times that a prerequisite for the deal, one way or another, would be the return of the territories seized since the start of the invasion on February 24. We are talking about the southern regions along the Azov and Black Seas, as well as the territory to the east and north of Kyiv.

🔘After the publication of the Financial Time article, Mikhail Podolyak denied the settlement plan presented there, calling it “nothing more than a draft”

🔘Podolyak said that documents are being prepared for direct negotiations between Zelensky and Putin.

🔘Ukrainian media reports that the kidnapped mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, has been released from Russian captivity and is safe.

Video: Destruction in Kharkiv after shelling – UNIAN

In the world:

🔘The EU has connected Ukraine to its electricity grid. Now energy will flow from Ukraine to the EU and vice versa through the continental European energy system, instead of the Russian one. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the move would “keep light and warmth in homes during these troubled times.”

🔘This week, the United States will transfer military assistance to Ukraine for $ 1 billion. It includes 800 air defense systems, including various modifications of the S-300 systems, the Osa air defense system, 9,000 anti-tank systems, Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones, 7,000 small arms weapons, 20 million ammunition. Also, according to CNN, the States plan to significantly expand the list of sanctions against Russia, taking into account Zelensky’s proposals.

🔘NATO members share the opinion that the forces of the alliance should not be present on the territory or in the airspace of Ukraine – Secretary General Stoltenberg

🔘The International Court of Justice ruled that Russia should stop the military operation in Ukraine

Photo: Russian aircraft bombed the building of the Mariupol Drama Theatre. According to Ukrainian media, civilians were hiding in the theater – UNIAN

In Russia:

🔘Russian Senator Klishas said that now, instead of the ECtHR, Russians will be able to apply for protection of rights to the Russian Constitutional Court

🔘The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, announced that a large KAMAZ truck plant is facing a 40% reduction in production. 15,000 employees may be idle due to component shortages

🔘The Russian LDPR party plans to submit to the State Duma for discussion an initiative on a referendum to return the death penalty for the most serious crimes.

🔘The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has arrived in Ukraine and spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The purpose of the visit is to investigate the war crimes of the Russian army in Ukraine

🔘Commenting on Medinsky’s recent statement about the possibility of a Swedish or Austrian demilitarized model of Ukraine, a member of the Ukrainian delegation told Reuters that any model would require absolute, legally binding security guarantees.

🔘Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine very efficient. He again stated that the Russian armed forces only deliver precision strikes against military targets.

Video: Rocket attack on residential buildings in Kyiv. — Real Kyiv

🔘Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has promised to support refugees from Ukraine arriving to Georgia’s capital. Ukrainian families will be able to use the services of Tbilisi kindergartens for free, and will also receive the right to free travel on public transport.

🔘The Prosecutor General’s Office filed an application to the court to recognize Meta as an extremist organization – RIA Novosti

🔘“Oil tankers from all over the world, including those chartered by American companies, continue to export oil from Russian ports, an adviser to the President of Ukraine has said. He has urged the White House to restrict all trade in Russian oil by US firms”, The New York Times reports.

🔘Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Richard Sulik said that now the country receives Russian oil and gas in a larger volume than usual. According to Sulik, the EU plan to reduce the dependence of the community countries on Russian energy supplies over the next five years is real, and an immediate rejection of oil and gas from the Russian Federation for the Slovak economy would turn into a disaster.

🔘Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has stated that the country is ready to host a meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky.

🔘Switzerland has imposed sanctions against 197 Russians ( including Roman Abramovich and Konstantin Ernst) due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

🔘The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to exclude Russia from the organization. Yesterday, without waiting for a decision, Russia itself announced its withdrawal.

Photo: Shell hits residential building in Kharkiv – UNIAN

🔘Germany’s largest energy concern E.ON stopped buying gas from Russian companies

🔘BMW and Volkswagen are suspending factories across Europe. The reason is the lack of parts that were imported from Ukraine – Financial Times

🔘The IMF predicts global changes in the economic and political order after the end of the war in Ukraine. They assure that due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the whole world will feel the rise in inflation.

🔘NATO will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine in various directions – British Defense Minister

🔘 U.S. Authorities Consider Providing Ukraine with Advanced Guided Missiles to Fight Tanks and Artillery – NBC

Video: The leader singer of the Okean Elzy band sings in the Kharkiv metro where people are hiding from the heavy shelling of the city – Trukha

 

🔘 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview with the Russian RBC media agency, said that in the process of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine there are specific formulations that are ‘approaching an agreement’. Russia is ready to agree on those types of weapons in Ukraine that will not pose a threat to the Russian Federation. Lavrov also noted that the neutral status of Ukraine is now being seriously discussed in the negotiations, in conjunction with Russia’s demands for security guarantees.

🔘The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the Ukrainian delegation at the talks proposes to create an Austrian or Swedish version of a demilitarized state with its own army in Ukraine.

🔘Several cities and towns throughout Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Nikolaev, have been hit by missiles and artillery. This morning, 4 missile attacks on Kiev have already been carried out. The number of victims is still unknown.

Video: Rocket hits residential area in Kyiv – Real Kyiv

Situation in Ukraine:

🔘The Russian armed forces have launched a missile attack on a TV tower in Vinnitsa. TV broadcasts became unavailable. Earlier, on March 14, a television tower in Rivne was hit by a missile. Debris clearing was completed today. 21 people died.

🔘More than three thousand people were evacuated overnight from Mariupol to Zaporozhye – Governor of the Zaporozhye region Starukh.

Photo: A high-rise building damaged by a missile strike in Kyiv – Realny Kyiv

🔘The authorities of the city of Bucha report that Russian military personnel have captured employees of the local Rada and volunteers who helped local residents.

🔘Ukrainian media also report that one of the organizers of anti-Russian protests in the captured Melitopol was detained by the Russian military.

Photo: The situation in Ukraine on March 15 according to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

🔘The defense ministers of NATO countries, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, Ukraine and the European Union will hold an extraordinary meeting today to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its long-term consequences for NATO.

🔘Polish Deputy Prime Minister Yaroslav Kaczynski called for an international peacekeeping mission to be sent to Ukraine after the meeting of the leaders of Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Ukraine in Kyiv.

In Russia:

🔘The Russian AvtoVAZ announced that it will send its employees on vacation for 20 days due to the crisis in the supply of spare parts and electronics.

🔘 The websites of Arbitration courts were hacked all over Russia. On the page of the sites, the text was published: “Putin is terrorist number 1”, “impeachment”, “free political prisoners”.

🔘A representative of the Russian company Gazprom told TASS that gas supplies for transit to Europe through Ukraine are proceeding as usual, and applications have dropped to 95 million cubic meters. m.

Photo: Satellite images of the consequences of the UAF strike on Russian helicopters at the airfield in Kherson

 

🔘Russian troops are slowly approaching Kiev, the fighting around the capital is intensifying. Residents are prohibited from leaving their homes for 35 hours, the mayor of the city has warned of a “difficult and dangerous moment”.

🔘Ukrainian President Zelensky will deliver a video address to members of the US Congress today.

🔘Recent satellite imagery shows that the Ukrainian military has destroyed at least three Russian military helicopters at Kherson Airport in southern Ukraine.

Main events of March 15:

🔘Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he does not expect his country to join NATO. Kyiv has always insisted on NATO membership. Russian President Putin called this intention unacceptable for Russia and later cited it as one of the main reasons for the military invasion of Ukraine.

🔘Negotiations by video between the delegations of Ukraine and Russia have been suspended and will continue on March 16. Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said that there are “fundamental contradictions” during the negotiations, but “of course, there is room for compromise”.

🔘President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered another video message. Here are the key points :

1. Russia has begun to voice more realistic positions at the talks, and they continue. Any war ends with an agreement.
2. The Russian army has lost equipment and hundreds more soldiers. Among the dead is another general.
3. The number of missiles that Russia has used against Ukraine already exceeds 900.
4. There are so many air bombs that it is impossible to keep count.
5. For Russia, the war will end in shame, poverty and many years of isolation. A cruel repressive system will treat the citizens of the Russian Federation inhumanly.
6. The Russian military is holding 400 people, including doctors and patients, “as hostages” in a hospital in Mariupol, the vice mayor said. After several days of siege, hunger has began in the city, there was no electricity, gas and water. On March 15, about 20,000 people were finally able to get out of there.

🔘According to the UN, in Ukraine during the 20 days of the war, at least 691 civilians were killed and 1143 were injured. The organization says that these are only documented victims, and their real number can be many times higher.

Video: Russian military shoots a civilian – Present Tense

In Ukraine:

🔘Ukrainian media reports that Russian warships fired on the coast near the village of Tuzla in the Odessa region.

🔘Zelensky signed a law banning information aimed at promoting Russia’s actions.

🔘Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that according to preliminary data, the restoration of Ukraine after the war with Russia will require $565 billion, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

International response:

🔘The PACE decided to expel the Russian Federation. Nobody voted against. Three abstained. The final decision will be made by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 17 March. PACE also officially recognized Pridnestrovie as the territory of Moldova occupied by Russia and urged to give Ukraine the means to protect the airspace

🔘Biden on March 16 is going to announce the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of more than $ 1 billion. – The Wall Street Journal

🔘The US Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Putin as a war criminal.

🔘Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will participate in the talks in Moscow on Wednesday, and will visit Ukraine on Thursday, March 17.

In Russia:

🔘At a charity concert of Russian rapper Oxxymiron in Istanbul, as part of the Russians Against War campaign, 20,000 dollars have been raised for refugees from Ukraine.

🔘The Kremlin has instructed the regional authorities to organize public actions in support of the Russian army and the war in Ukraine. Events can be held in the form of motor rallies, exhibitions on military topics or videos with residents who speak out in support of Vladimir Putin and military operations in Ukraine. It is also advised to hold flash mobs with participants lining up in the form of the letter Z. Officials and public figures are advised to put the letter Z on their avatars. — RBC

Photo: Kharkov after another night shelling – Trukha

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Follow the timeline of March 14-15 events here.