Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine in March for the first time in last two and a half years. According to AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces recaptured 9sqkm last month as Moscow forces slowed down in the frontline gains.
According to ISW, Russia slowed due to Ukrainian counteroffensives and communication limits after “Russia’s ban on using Starlink terminals in Ukraine” and the Kremlin has also tried to restrict access to Telegram – which is popular among Russians fighting on the frontline.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s threat to leave Nato over its lack of support for his war in Iran “looks like Putin’s dream plan”, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has said.
The US president on Wednesday said that he was “seriously considering” withdrawing Washington from the military alliance as they “were not there for us” when he began his war in Iran.
The war in Iran has significantly diverted US attention from the war in Ukraine.
Elsewhere, Ukraine‘s military has rejected Russia‘s claim to have taken full control of the eastern
Six Ukrainian children to be reunited with families as US confirms return effort
Six Ukrainian children are set to be returned from Russia to their families, the White House said on 2 April, crediting efforts by first lady Melania Trump.
A further child is expected to be reunited with their family later this month, according to a statement from her office.
Ukraine has said that nearly 20,000 children have been taken to Russia and Belarus, where some have undergone military training and been compelled to fight against Ukrainian forces.
The first lady had previously written to Russian president Vladimir Putin in August 2025 addressing the situation of children separated from their families during the war. The White House said this marked the fourth occasion on which the first lady had helped secure such returns.
“Reunifying children with their loved ones in this region of the world remains one of the most important global issues today. I am encouraged that both sides remain committed to ongoing cooperation, raising the safety and well-being of children above this abhorrent war,” the statement said.
Train derails in Russia, injuring seven people
Seven people were injured when a passenger train carrying 412 people derailed in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region some 900km from Moscow, Russian officials said this morning.
It was not immediately clear why the train derailed.
Russia conducting large rolling aerial attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says
Russia is conducting a large rolling aerial attack on Ukraine since Thursday evening, Ukraine’s air force said today, adding that a large quantity of enemy drones were currently in Ukrainian airspace.
Air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on state television that Russia had launched over 400 long-range drones in the past 24 hours, as well as ten ballistic missiles which had primarily targeted areas near the frontline.
Zelensky offers Ukraine’s maritime expertise with Strait of Hormuz
President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday offered to provide Ukraine’s expertise in dealing with freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to countries considering how to keep the Strait of Hormuz open amid conflict in the Middle East.
Mr Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said foreign minister Andrii Sybiha had taken part in a virtual meeting devoted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, attended by about 40 countries.
“Ukraine has relevant expertise concerning sea waterways, concerning the defence and reopening of maritime traffic,” he said.
“If (our) partners are ready to act we will consider how we can strengthen them, how we can apply our expertise, knowledge and technological potential.”Mr Zelensky offered no further details.
Ukrainian forces have developed technology, including sea drones, that has enabled them during four years of war to score notable successes over Russian ships in the Black Sea and kept Moscow from controlling the waterway.
The president embarked last week on a tour of Middle Eastern countries as part of a drive to provide them with defence technology it has developed in four years of countering drones, many of them designed in Iran.
He said he was expecting a report on progress in the issue today from Rutstem Umerov, Ukraine’s top negotiator in talks on reaching a settlement to the war.
On Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said that Ukraine was already cooperating with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, and was also in contact with Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. The government team was also in talks on potential agreements with Turkey and other countries.
Russian territorial gains stall in Ukraine for first time in 30 months
Russian territorial gains stalled for the first time in last two and a half years as Vladimir Putin’s army recorded no territorial gain on the front line.
According to AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces recaptured 9sqkm last month as Moscow forces slowed down in the frontline gains.
The figure, however, excludes infiltration operations by Russia beyond the frontline.
Moscow has neither confirmed or denied the ISW data.
In pictures: Ukraine’s second largest city under day-long drone strikes
Russian forces maintain day-long drone barrage of Ukraine’s Kharkiv
Russian forces maintained a day-long barrage of drone strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, on Thursday, injuring at least two people, local officials said.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov posted reports on Telegram throughout the day and well into the evening, noting strikes in four city districts. One city official said there had been at least 20 impacts from drones.
Public broadcaster Suspilne reported new explosions in the city after 2am.Mr Terekhov said some of the strikes triggered fires and two people were injured in an evening attack, including an eight-year-old girl.
Reuters Television footage showed firefighters spraying water on a smouldering residence struck by a drone. Parts of the facade were badly damaged and furniture and fixtures in apartments were smashed.
Further south, in the city of Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said a Russian attack damaged a high-rise apartment building and a local business. No injuries were reported.
Over the border in Russia’s Belgorod Region, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 13 people were injured in a series of drone attacks, 11 of them in the village of Shebekino, just inside the border.
In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram that air defence units had downed a Ukrainian drone which was heading for the capital well after midnight. Two other drones had been intercepted on Thursday.
Russia warns citizens against travelling to dozens of countries
Russia has issued a stark travel warning to its citizens, advising them to avoid countries with extradition treaties with the United States, citing an increase in “Washington’s punitive justice” since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In a travel advisory, the Foreign Ministry cautioned that Russians risk lengthy prison sentences if handed over to the US.
It highlighted concerns that “with numerous extraterritorial sanctions targeting strategic segments of the domestic economy, many Russians, without even realising it, risk finding themselves in the crosshairs of American law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”
The ministry also alleged, without providing evidence or specific examples, that “US intelligence agencies often engage in fraudulent schemes to lure Russian citizens abroad with lucrative commercial or tourist offers,” leading to immediate detention upon arrival in a third country.
This advisory is specifically aimed at Russians who “have reasonable grounds to believe they may be subject to criminal prosecution by US authorities” or those appearing on US sanctions lists.
Ukraine already preparing for next winter, says Zelensky
Ukraine is already preparing for next winter and working to protect 245 facilities across the country from Russia.
In a post on social media, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Resilience plans have been approved across the country for every region. Road repairs are also underway after the winter. It is important – at the community level, at the level of regional authorities – not to lose time.
“Every important facility must be protected. There are clear tasks for the regions and major cities regarding alternative generation and the restoration of facilities. Government officials have now ensured the necessary resources and decisions to add cogeneration units to the system.”
Ukraine suffered its coldest winter in more than a decade this year, as Russia launched relentless attacks on its energy system and left Ukrainians without power for much of the winter months.
Russia suffered attacks on five strategic plants in March, Ukraine says
Ukraine hit five strategic plants and 10 oil refining facilities in March, its ministry of defence has said.
In an update of Thursday, it said Ukraine had carried out a series of large-scale strikes against Russia’s defence industry infrastructure, which spanned from occupied Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts to deep rear regions of Russia, including Leningrad Oblast.
“Each such strike on russia was part of a systematic effort to dismantle the enemy’s war machine.”
Source: independent.co.uk