THE RUSSO-UKRAINE WAR BRIEF
Day 1105
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. In June 2023 I began providing a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 70 sources daily, which formed the basis of the script. While the Podcast no longer exists I have continued to make this Brief available for my followers here on Substack for those who wish to keep up with the news from the war.
All the latest news on the Russo-Ukraine War 6 days per week
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 08:00 on Mar 4 stated that day 1105 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine had begun.
The situation on the line of combat remains tense in some sectors. Ukrainian defenders continue to actively counteract the Russian aggressor, causing them significant losses in personnel, equipment and technology. Exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continuing to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deeper into the territory of Ukraine.
During the past day, 101 combat engagements took place.
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 56 air strikes, used 2,638 drones and fired approximately 5,000 artillery shells across the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilians.
Air Force Daily Report
65 ENEMY UAVS SHOT DOWN, 32 DRONES FAILED TO REACH THEIR TARGETS (LOCATIONALLY LOST)
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On the night of Mar 4, 2025 (from 7:00 p.m. on Mar 3), the enemy attacked with 99 Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones of various types from the directions: Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As of 09:00, it has been confirmed that 65 Shahed attack UAVs and drones of other types have been shot down in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv and Odessa regions.
32 enemy drone simulators — lost in location (without negative consequences).
As a result of the enemy attack, the Odessa, Sumy, and Donetsk regions suffered.
Combat Operations in the Kursk Sector, Russian Federation
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Mar 3 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast.
Geolocated footage published on March 2 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in northern Novaya Sorochina
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
There have been no major changes to the combat environment in this area since our last report.
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Pokrovsk Sector : Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction.
Geolocated footage published on March 2 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the fields southeast of Udachne (southwest of Pokrovsk).
Velyka Novosilka Sector: Russian forces recently advanced near Velyka Novosilka.
Geolocated footage published on March 3 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in southeastern Pryvilne (northwest of Velyka Novosilka).
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
There have been no major changes to the combat environment in this area since our last report.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
AFU conducted a precision strike on Russian army command post in Donetsk region.
On Monday, March 3, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted a precision strike on the command post of the 98th Guards Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces in the village of Kalinina, Donetsk region. Censor.NET reported with reference to the press center of the General Staff.
As a result of the strike the command and control system of the occupation forces was disrupted, which significantly complicated the coordination of the actions of the military units (subunits) of the airborne division.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to deprive the enemy of the ability to operate effectively on the battlefield, methodically destroying its command and logistics structures, the command emphasized.
"This operation is another step towards the destruction of the aggressor's military potential and the liberation of Ukrainian land. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will not stop until the occupation army loses its ability to wage war," the statement said.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukraine plans to produce more than 2.5 million combat drones in 2025.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that this year Ukrainian manufacturers plan to produce more than 2.5 million combat drones.He said this during a press conference, Censor.NET reports.
"Drones are another very important innovative element of our development, where Ukraine has built the infrastructure from scratch. Today we produce the world's largest number of combat drones. Last year, we produced more than 1 million. This year, our goal is to produce more than 2.5 million combat drones for our Armed Forces," Shmyhal said.
He emphasized that more than 500 Ukrainian companies are working on these products.
Rescuers extinguish fires caused by Russian attack on Odesa.
"Russia attacked Odesa with attack drones. Critical infrastructure and residential buildings were damaged. Fires broke out at several addresses, which firefighters quickly extinguished, Censor.net reported citing State Emergency Services
The firefighting was complicated by the repeated air raid alert. Psychologists from the State Emergency Service were working with local residents," the rescuers wrote.
It is noted that more than 80 rescuers took part in the aftermath of the attack, and 17 fire trucks were used. 4 people were injured.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Nothing major to report.
RELATED INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Trump halts Military Aid to Ukraine After Clash With Zelenskyy.
President Donald Trump ordered a pause to all military aid to Ukraine, turning up the heat on Volodymyr Zelenskyy just days after an Oval Office blowup with the Ukrainian president left the support of his country’s most important ally in doubt, Bloomberg reported on Mar 3.
The US is pausing all current military aid to Ukraine until Trump determines the country’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace, according to a senior Defense Department official, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
The official said all US military equipment not currently in Ukraine would be paused, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland.
US military aid to Ukraine suspended according to Polish border reports.
The Trump administration halted military aid to Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on March 4, citing Polish border reports, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Several media outlets reported earlier that U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered the suspension of military aid, including the aid that was already on its way to Ukraine.
"Today we have no reason to believe that these are just words. Reports coming from the border, from our center in Jasionka, confirm the statements of the American side," Tusk said.
Tusk called the situation "an emergency" and insisted on full mobilization and concentration of joint efforts to resolve it.
"The situation is serious and requires special concentration from the government. We will make decisions that will require the full solidarity of the state and your (Ukrainian) ministries," Tusk said.
"The days and weeks are coming when it is absolutely necessary to stop empty discussions, prestige disputes, coalition disagreements, because we will have to make decisions in a mode that is, in a sense, extraordinary," he added.
According to Pawel Wronski, Polish foreign ministry spokesperson, the U.S. has not consulted with any of its NATO allies about suspending military aid to Ukraine.
The suspension of U.S. military aid followed a spat between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump in the Oval Office last week. The argument between two leaders also resulted in the failure to sign a minerals deal.
Since the meeting, some U.S. officials and Republican lawmakers have escalated their criticism of Zelenskyy, with some even suggesting he should resign.
Ursula von der Leyen announces ReArm Europe plan to boost European defense capabilities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented on March 4 the ReArm Europe plan aimed at strengthening the defense capabilities of the continent's countries, the Kyiv Independent reports.
The announcement comes amid seismic geopolitical shifts as U.S. President Donald Trump upends Washington's long-standing policy on Ukraine and Russia while casting doubt on his commitments to transatlantic security.
"The real question in front of us is whether Europe is prepared to act as decisively as the situation dictates, and whether Europe is ready and able to act with speed and with the ambition that is needed," von der Leyen said.
The plan consists of five points designed to increase defense spending, as well as defense procurement and production.
The first step is to unleash the use of public funding for defense at the national level. The European Commission is proposing to activate the National Escape Clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, which would allow member states to significantly increase their defense spending without triggering the excessive deficit procedure.
If member states would increase their defense spending by 1.5 percent of GDP on average, this could create close to 650 billion euros ($684 billion) over a period of four years, according to von der Leyen.
The second point is a new instrument that will provide 150 billion euros ($158 billion) of loans to member states for defense investments "to spend better and spend together."
"We're talking about pan-European capabilities domains like, for example, air and missile defense, the artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, but also to address other needs from cyber to military mobility, for example," von der Leyen said.
According to von der Leyen, with the new equipment, member states can significantly increase their support for Ukraine and provide military aid for it immediately.
The third point of the plan is aimed at increasing investment in the defense sector. The European Union will therefore introduce additional opportunities and incentives for member states to decide whether they want to use cohesion policy programs to increase defense spending.
The last two areas of action consider mobilizing private capital by accelerating the Savings and Investment Union and through the European Investment Bank, von der Leyen said.
The ReArm Europe plan could mobilize close to 800 billion euros ($842 billion) of defense expenditures for a "safe and resilient Europe," the president added.
"Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities," she said. "This is a moment for Europe and we are ready to step up."
Zelenskyy has no intention of apologising to Trump, but is ready to sign fossil fuel deal.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no intention of apologising to Donald Trump or expressing regret over what had happened in the Oval Office, as the US president's entourage has repeatedly demanded. BBC Ukraine reports, citing its own sources in the government.
Zelenskyy, who was criticised in the White House and then received a reception of honours in the UK, did not appear to be overwhelmed - at least not in public.
"If we do not keep our spirits up, we will let everyone down," he said.
He praised Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron's four-step plan to end the fighting in Ukraine, which will be worked on by the UK, France and other countries before being presented to the US.
Zelenskyy said he was ready to fulfil one of Donald Trump's demands - to sign a minerals agreement that would give the US access to some of Ukraine's natural resources.
In addition, despite all the pressure after three years of war, despite all the demands of the White House, which - rightly or wrongly - has the power to protect or leave his country without help, on Sunday night Zelenskyy showed firmness in his decisions.
The BBC report went on to say Zelenskyy does not intend to apologise to Trump or express regret over what had happened in the Oval Office, as the US president's entourage has repeatedly demanded. Even the head of NATO urged Zelenskyy to find a way to reset relations with the American leader.
France - Europe should unite all possible means to replace US aid to Ukraine.
On the morning of March 4, it became known that US President Donald Trump had ordered the suspension of all US military aid to Ukraine in order to force Kyiv to demonstrate a "good faith commitment" to peace. Censor.net reported.
One U.S. official told CNN that the consequences of the suspension of U.S. military aid will be felt in some time. Perhaps a few days or weeks. However, as soon as the stockpiles of weapons and armaments begin to run out, the country will face serious consequences.
According to journalist Ostap Yarysh, the US decision to suspend aid to Ukraine will primarily affect the supply of missiles to air defense and ammunition for HIMARS and artillery.
The Economist article says that the US decision to suspend aid to Ukraine will lead to more casualties and destruction. The critical elements, the newspaper writes, are weapons, their repair, air defense missiles, the Starlink system, and, perhaps most importantly, intelligence sharing.
Later, The Economist wrote that there is currently no official order from Donald Trump to suspend military aid to Ukraine.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said that Paris and Europe should "unite all possible means" to help the United States to help Ukraine.
He said this in a speech to French MPs on Tuesday, Le Monde quoted him as saying.
The head of the French government noted that France and Europe should "combine all possible means to replace, as far as possible," American military aid to Ukraine, which was suspended by the Donald Trump administration.
"The supply of American aid is coming to an end, as entire trains that were loaded for Ukraine have been stopped and have not been able to reach their destination," Bayrou said.
He said that Ukraine needs ammunition, "a certain amount of intelligence systems" and access to "networks and communications."
"It will force us to rethink our model, our priorities, and to look differently at a world that we thought we knew and that we now find is more dangerous than we imagined, and comes from those we thought were our allies," the French prime minister said.
MILITARY & TECH
Belfast factory to supply 5,000 missiles to Ukraine.
The Thales missile factory in Belfast is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine, BBC reports citing announcement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The deal is worth up to £1.6bn and will involve recruiting 200 additional staff. Thales is a French-owned company which is one of Europe's biggest arms manufacturers.
The order is for Thales Martlet lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) which Ukrainian forces are already using.
The Prime Minister announced the order as he laid out a four point plan to "reach peace and defend Ukraine".
East Belfast MP and DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the order is "hugely significant" given the "turbulence" in international relations and the acknowledgement of the "skill and ingenuity" of the Thales team.
A £162m contract announced in September last year saw 650 LMMs supplied to Ukraine as an initial order to ramp up production, with the first deliveries in December.
The new order is much bigger: it is worth an initial £1.16bn with the potential for around a further £500m of work to be added in collaboration with a Ukrainian industry partner.
The partner firm will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the missiles in Ukraine.
Robinson said there is no point talking about international principles and values "if you're not prepared to stand up for them".
"We're giving the tools to make sure a sovereign country has the ability to stand against an international aggressor in Russia, a country that decided to walk over the border, destroy cities, villages and towns and kill civilians," he said.
Robinson added that the defence spend is "encouraging" for the industry and the Northern Ireland economy.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is the largest contract ever received by Thales in Belfast.
The Defence Secretary John Healey said the deal would "help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks and help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting".
The contract has been placed by the MoD's procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support on behalf of the Ukrainian Government.
It will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) after a deal signed last year to allow Ukraine to draw on £3.5bn worth of support from UKEF to spend with UK industry.
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