Russia launched 172 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 94 drones, while 69 disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.
The number includes 1,740 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Since the media outlets' last update in mid-March, the names of 2,007 Russian soldiers have been added to the list of casualties. The most recent update marks a grim milestone for the project, which began with the start of the full-scale war in February 2022.
The Ukrainian operation appears to be aimed at diverting Russian forces as Moscow intensifies efforts to push Kyiv’s troops out of Kursk.
Over 20 drones targeted the city late on March 28, though most were shot down, according to regional Governor Serhii Lysak.
The sharp decline is primarily attributed to Ukraine halting Russian gas transit through its territory on Jan. 1 after the expiration of a 2019 transit agreement.
When an "unprecedented" cyberattack hit the computer networks of Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) on March 23, the company's staff gave up any idea of getting a good night's sleep for the foreseeable future. "Everyone is working around the clock. This is no joke," Anastasia Zolotaryova, Ukrzaliznytsia spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent
Key developments on March 28: * Russia intensifies assault in Zaporizhzhia, increasing pressure on Ukraine's southern positions, military says * Russia makes excuses to break ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes * EU preparing 17th package of Russia sanctions, EUobserver reports * UK, French military officials to meet in Ukraine to discuss troop deployment Russia
The news came a day after a Paris summit where a number of European countries moved forward with plans to send soldiers to Ukraine as part of a "reassurance force" in case of the ceasefire with Russia.
Work on a new round of EU sanctions against Russia has started and is “at a very early stage,” one of the sources told EUobserver. The European Commission is expected to present its proposals in early summer, another diplomat told the media outlet.
"The Russian side reserves the right, in case the Kyiv regime does not comply with this moratorium, of course, not to comply with it either," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
The U.S. has secured the data and ensured that it can be transferred "to any appropriate authorities," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund praised Musk as a "great visionary."
Russia launched 163 drones overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones, according to Ukraine's military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also listed China, India, Brazil, and South Africa among those he sees as potential participants.
"The Russians want to get as much of a head start or advance as much as possible in Zaporizhzhia Oblast," Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said.
"I think you have to make more progress on a technical level," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Putin suggested a transitional administration, overseen by the U.N. and several countries, could be formed in Ukraine to organize elections.
The number includes 1,860 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 26 attended the launch of a new nuclear-powered submarine named Perm, various Russian news outlets reported.
"If he himself (Zelensky) is illegitimate, then all the others are too," Putin claimed in an address on March 27.
Last February, a Ukrainian company commander going by his callsign Veter was ordered to send his people to reinforce another unit’s position over the next few hours. He was told that four National Guardsmen were holding the position on the other side of the village they were defending in
Key developments on March 27: * Russia preparing for new spring offensive in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, Zelensky says * ‘With or without the US’ — France, UK harden line over Ukraine at ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit * North Korea sent 3,000 more troops to Russia to offset Ukraine war losses, South
"This may only at first glance surprise some. It is a big mistake to believe that this is some extravagant talks by the new U.S. administration," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"The city of Kherson is a civilian city, it is not a battlefield. I believe that there should be a reaction from the United States, in actions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 27.
Kyiv believes that the Black Sea ceasefire applies to civilian shipping and Ukrainian ports, and does not apply to Russian warships, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.
U.S. President Donald Trump's stated goal of bringing a swift end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is looking evermore distant, with only two tentative partial ceasefires to show after several rounds of talks. Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March
"The decisions in our local life won't be made by the citizens of the aggressor states, but we'll decide by ourselves," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said after the March 26 vote.
"I can confirm that since this date, March 25... There have been no attacks on energy objects. Neither Russian attacks on our energy objects, or our attacks on Russian energy objects," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told the Kyiv Independent at a press briefing.
In the past seven and a half months, Russian losses have included 22,200 killed in action and 31,800 wounded. Ukrainian forces have also captured more than 940 Russian soldiers.
"We must look at the situation with our eyes wide open. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is preparing a new offensive, particularly in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Pyongyang has also reportedly supplied Moscow with more short-range ballistic missiles, 170 mm self-propelled howitzers, and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers.
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