Date—March 31, 2022

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Announcements

1. The Russian side is ready to declare a “silence regime” for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol. Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, announced: “The Russian Armed Forces, exclusively for humanitarian purposes, from 10:00 on March 31, 2022, announce a “silence regime” and open an additional humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians and foreign citizens from Mariupol to Zaporozhye (with an intermediate point in Berdyansk)”. (Source: Meduza).

2. The next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in video format on April 1. (Source: In Features).

War

1. The Pentagon is ready to confirm reports from CNN and NBC sources that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have full information about the real state of affairs in the war with Ukraine. This was announced at a briefing on March 30 by the official representative of the US military department, John Kirby. At the same time, he noted that he tries to be careful in his statements, since the Pentagon “does not have access to all the information that [Putin] received, or to every conversation that he had.” In turn, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said that, according to the United States, Putin feels cheated by his military leadership and that his advisers are afraid to tell him the whole truth about the failures of Russian troops in Ukraine and the severity of sanctions on the Russian economy. This view is also shared in Europe. (Source: Meduza).

Opinions

1. Evgeny Dikiy, director of the Antarctic Research Center, Aidar veteran: “I will not hide it, I took it extremely badly. If this is really done by agreement of the parties, then, in my opinion, this is a big mistake of our command. Exit from those two directions where we have the greatest successes, and they, on the contrary, have the maximum losses. And at the same time, there is no agreement on a complete ceasefire. That is, if there was a complete, comprehensive ceasefire, this is one story. But here in two directions where the occupiers have the hardest time, and we have the greatest success, they are allowed to withdraw. And if I understand correctly, the concept of “an agreement on withdrawal” means that when they leave, they are not shot at from the sides, and in this way they are allowed transfer resources, transfer forces to those areas where, on the contrary, and so our situation is worse than that of the Russians, namely to the Donbas and to the south. Under Kyiv and Chernigov means that it will become even worse for the heroic defenders of Mariupol, who are already barely holding on with their last strength. What will become even more difficult in the Luhansk region and there will be more chances for the invaders to keep the occupied Kherson, to which, in general, our troops have already approached, throwing them back from Mykolaiv. That is, of course, I would not do this in the middle of a war. Either a complete ceasefire, or excuse me, we are already at war, so we are at war. But such interim agreements, in my opinion, are much more beneficial for Russia than for Ukraine.” (Source: Current Time).

2. “I think about 200-300 people died. Many died under the rubble. And this takes time. 50% of the city was destroyed, and no one dismantled the rubble, and there are 100% people there,” said the Mayor of Irpin Alexander Markushin. He also estimated the number of military dead: “Unfortunately, 16 fighters from our territorial defense were killed, 29 were in the hospital. didn’t give up the small town.” From the first days of the war, Irpin, located to the northwest of Kyiv, became a key battlefield for the capital. On February 25, the Ukrainian military blew up a bridge across the river to stop the advance of Russian tanks towards Kiev. Thousands of civilians evacuated from the city, risking falling under fire. The Russian Defense Ministry continues to assert that they do not fire on civilians and civilian objects. On March 28, the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the release of Irpin. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the Russian army is still in parts of the city, but is retreating. The almost destroyed city was awarded the title of “Hero City”. Mayor Markushin urged local residents not to return to their homes for at least a month, as it is not safe – the city is constantly under shelling. (Source: Current Time). 

Military Help

1. Vladimir Putin banned state authorities from using foreign software “at critical information infrastructure facilities.” The corresponding decree, signed by the President of Russia on Wednesday, has already entered into force, but the ban itself will be introduced from the beginning of 2025. Prior to this, government agencies and government customers are prohibited from purchasing foreign software without the consent of the relevant departments. The decree also states that the government of the Russian Federation in the next six months should ensure the creation of a research and production association that will develop domestic software for critical information infrastructure. Such objects include, in particular, telecommunications networks and automated control systems that are used by government agencies in the areas of defense, industry, healthcare, transport, communications, finance and energy. (Source: Svoboda). 

Invasion Damage

1. AFP: Russian troops have started to leave the Chernobyl nuclear power plant: “Chernobyl is one of those places where [the Russians] start moving some of their troops, [they] leave the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and go to Belarus. We think they are leaving. But I can’t say that they’ve all gone already.” (Source: Meduza).

2. The governor of the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, Vyacheslav Chaus, said that attacks by the Russian army did not stop on March 30, despite Moscow’s promise to reduce the activity of hostilities in this direction. According to the head of the region, as a result of shelling that continued all night, residential buildings, infrastructure, library buildings and shopping centers were damaged. (Source: BBC).

Foreign news

1. Ukrainian diplomats asked the authorities of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to close land borders with Russia and Belarus. This was announced by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andriy Deshchytsia: “I think that if such a decision is made, then there will be no need to wait for the decision of the European Union – we will completely block any supplies to Russia.” He added that Ukraine is also asking the Polish authorities to close the Polish-Belarusian border.  (Source: Ukrinform).

Refugees

1. The number of refugees who arrived in Russia from the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, as well as from other parts of Ukraine, has exceeded 500 thousand people. This was reported with reference to emergency services and TASS with reference to law enforcement agencies. In total, more than 529 thousand people crossed the border, including more than 107 thousand children. 37 thousand people arrived in Russia in the last 24 hours. (Source: Meduza).