US commander confident ahead of Ukrainian spring counteroffensive

Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in the central Russian city of Yaroslavl overnight on March 28, Telegram news channel Exilenova Plus reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 27 that President Volodymyr Zelensky's claims about Ukraine withdrawing from the Donbas region in exchange for security guarantees are untrue.

The denial comes amid reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had urged major businesses to make contributions to the state budget.

"As Putin continues his abhorrent attacks across Ukraine, my message is simple — there will be no let up in the U.K.’s support," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

The reopening of McDonald's restaurants — the first American fast food chain to enter Ukraine in the 1990s — is always met with great fanfare after Russia’s full-scale invasion forced the company to pause operations throughout the country.

The Kyiv Independent’s separate analytical unit, KI Insights, is excited to announce the launch of its podcast, Ukraine Insights — a show dedicated to unpacking Ukraine’s politics, security, economy, and international relations through in-depth, expert-driven conversations.

"The U.S. side is linking the entire situation to the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

As winter ends, fighting on Ukraine’s southern front is intensifying, and drones are leading the battle. The Ukraine’s 423rd Separate Drone Battalion, known as the “Scythian Griffins,” operates in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. With both sides preparing for a larger spring and summer campaign, the battle for Ukraine’s south is entering a new phase.

"The document lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investment, while also strengthening Ukraine's international role as a security donor," the Presidential Office said.

The two-day G7 gathering focused on Russia's war against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 102 drones overnight, of which around 60 were Shahed-type drones, the Air Force reported on March 27.