UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-03-29
Slava Ukraini! Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily much of which ends up in the script. I will make this Draft available here for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
INSIDE UKRAINE
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its situation update at 06:00 on Mar. 29 stated that it was day 765 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 59 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 16 missile strikes, 131 air strikes, and 128 MLRS attacks across the positions of our troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
Ukrainian missile forces struck 1 concentration of troops, 4 command posts, 4 air defense systems, 2 artillery systems, and 1 ammunition depot
Air Force Daily Report
The Ukrainian Air Force in its situation update at 06:00 stated that during the previous day it launched air strikes on 14 concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment.
On the night of March 29, 2024, the enemy launched a powerful strike on the objects of the fuel-energy sector of Ukraine, applying different types of missiles and UAVs:
A total of 99 air strikes were recorded:
60 Shahed 136/131 UAVs launched from -Akhtarsk, Kursk region (Russia);
3 X-47m2 kinzhal “hypersonic” missiles (from three fighters Mig-31k - ryazan region (Russia);
2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles (TOT Crimea);
9 X-59 cruise missiles (from nine SU-34 - Belgorod region);
4 Iskander-K cruise missiles (Kursk region (Russia);
21 X-101 / X-555 (from eleven tu-95 MS strategic bombers - Engel 21s (RF).
Ukrainian Defence forces countered with anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force and Land Forces, mobile fire groups, radio-electronic combat means of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As a result of anti-air combat, 84 air targets were destroyed:
58 Shahed UAVs
17 X-101 / X-555 cruise missiles
5 X-59 cruise missiles
4 Iskander-K cruise missiles
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi on the situation at the front.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a new interview that the need for mobilising 500 thousand military personnel has greatly lessened. He also discussed the situation on the front line, stating that if there is an advance, Kharkiv will become a fatal city for the Russians.
Syrskyi acknowledges that the situation on the front line is indeed difficult but not unmanageable.
"We not only are on the defensive but also move forward in different directions every day. Recently, the number of positions we have recaptured exceeds the number of lost positions. The enemy has not managed to advance significantly in strategic areas, and his limited territorial gains are of little tactical importance. We are monitoring this situation," Syrskyi stated.
According to him, the current situation remains tense on certain fronts as the occupiers are increasing their efforts, have numerical superiority in personnel, and continue to use the tactic of mass assaults despite significant losses.
Syrskyi also said that the enemy had significantly increased aviation activity, using guided aerial bombs (KABs) and heavily deploying mortars and artillery. Just a few days ago, the enemy's advantage in fired ammunition was about 6:1. However, according to him, the situation with artillery has been equalised on certain front sections, immediately impacting the overall front. Besides, Ukrainian soldiers have an advantage in using drones effectively.
"The enemy continues to carry out offensive operations on a wide front, trying to reach the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions at any cost and pushing us back on the left [east] bank of the Dnipro in the Zaporizhzhia region," said Syrskyi.
The current Ukrainian goal according to the army chief, is to prevent the loss of territory, exhaust the enemy to the maximum extent, inflict the greatest possible losses on them, and form and prepare reserves for offensive actions.
According to Syrskyi, the process of rotating military units on the front line has already begun. He added that this allows for fully restoring not only the technical readiness but also ensuring rest and recovery for servicemen.
"We need people to ensure this process. That is why I would like all men of military age in Ukraine to realise that Ukraine's survival depends on their will and actions," Syrskyi said.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also commented on the statement made earlier by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the need to mobilise about 450-500 thousand people for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. According to Syrskyi, after reviewing internal resources and specifying the combat composition of the Armed Forces, this figure was significantly reduced.
"We expect that we will have enough people capable of defending their motherland. I am talking not only about the mobilised but also about volunteer fighters. It is necessary to take into account the fact that people are not robots. They are exhausted, physically and psychologically, especially in combat conditions," says Syrskyi.
About Russian statements and reports in Western media that Russia might attempt to seize Kharkiv again, Syrskyi comments that the military cannot ignore any information about enemy preparations for offensive actions. However, if Russia dares to take such a step, it will be fatal for them.
"We are carrying out a whole complex of works on the fortification of territories and positions, installing a complex system of fences, and planning the use of our troops in the event of such actions. We already have the experience of combat operations in the Kharkiv region. We managed to liberate most of the Kharkiv region. It was then that the large-scale collapse of the Russian front took place. If the Russians move there again, Kharkiv will become a fatal city for them," he said.
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the Kup’yans’k, Lyman, and Bakhmut axes, in the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kup’yans’k axis: The enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations in this area. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their positions.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 6 attacks near Terny (Donetsk oblast) plus Bilhorivka (Luhansk oblast)
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13 attacks near Chasiv Yar, Noyi, Klishchiivka and Andriivka and (Donetsk oblast).
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the Avdiivka, Novopavlivka, and Orikhiv axes, in the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Semenivka (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast) The enemy, supported by aviation, made 22 attempts to break through the defence of Ukrainian troops in that area.
Orikhiv axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Robotyne,northwest of Verbove, and north of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast)
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Kherson axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to maintain their positions. Over the past day, the enemy carried out 2 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
UK Intel Assess Ukrainian Mar. 24 Strike on Russian Black Sea Fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence in its Mar. 29 Intelligence briefing offered assessment of a series of strikes on Mar. 24 throughout The Sevastopol area of occupied Qirim.
The Ukrainian Air Force carried out a series of strikes throughout Crimea, mainly in the Sevastopol area. The main target building was highly likely the Black Sea Fleet Communications Centre. Analysis of satellite imagery shows that one building was structurally damaged, including partial roof collapse, while two other buildings were damaged by the explosion. The main target building was highly likely the Black Sea Fleet Communications Centre.
Additionally several Russian vessels including two large Ropucha-class landing ships and one Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship were damaged, along with port infrastructure.
Due to strikes of this nature, Russian vessels of higher value, which would ordinarily use Sevastopol’s port infrastructure were forced to relocate to alternative port facilities further east. Despite Russia’s attempts to limit its losses, Ukraine continues to demonstrate success in diminishing the BSF’s ability to project power in the region.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Ukrenergo: Ukraine’s power grid withstood Russia’s nighttime assault on power plants
Despite Russia’s March 29 nighttime attack on power plants, Ukraine’s power grid remains balanced, according to a statement by Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo’s press service. The massive assault damaged thermal and hydroelectric power plants, as well as 330 kV high-voltage lines. Following the attack, electricity consumption was only limited in the Kryvyi Rih area, where emergency blackouts have been implemented since nightfall.
Last night, Russia launched 99 missiles and drones in a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy sector, targeting thermal and hydroelectric power plants in central and western regions. Ukrainian air defenders downed 84 of these air targets. The assault caused serious damage to facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Chernivtsi oblasts.
Ukrenergo has warned that an increase in consumption could lead to emergency blackouts in the eastern and Dnipro River regions by evening.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russian diesel fuel exports by sea suffer 25% decrease over week
Last week, from Mar. 17 to 24, Russian ports exported 703,000 tonnes of gas and diesel, a 25% decrease compared to the amount shipped the week before that. Enkorr reported citing data from A-95 Consulting Group.
"Sea supplies have decreased for the third week in a row due to reduction in production at Russian refineries due to planned repair work and attacks by Ukrainian drones."
Since the latter part of February, shipments from the biggest export diesel terminal, Primorsk, have been decreasing. There was a 44% decrease in the amount of diesel and gas oil shipped for export from the Baltic port last week, to 295,000 tonnes. Through a pipeline that is connected to the refineries at Kirishi, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod, diesel fuel is brought into the Primorsk terminal. On 12 March, the latter was attacked, resulting in the cessation of half of the primary processing capacity.
Distillate shipments from Black Sea ports are maintained consistently. At the same time, the weekly export of gas oil and diesel from the Tuapse port has decreased by 50% since the refinery's production was stopped in response to the UAV attack in late January. April is predicted to see a decrease in the diesel supply from the port of Novorossiysk, the biggest Black Sea port.
Russia claims to have found connection between concert hall attackers and "Ukrainian nationalists"
Russia's Investigative Committee (IC) has said it received "evidence" that the attackers of the Crocus City Hall concert hall were linked to "Ukrainian nationalists" Russian propaganda outlets dutifully report.
The report indicates that such "evidence" was found during "work with the detainees and examination of technical devices seized from them, and analysis of information on financial transactions".
The IC stated that the perpetrators allegedly received funds from Ukraine.
Russian Orthodox Church calls invasion of Ukraine "holy war"
The World Russian People's Council led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has adopted an "order" that refers to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "holy war" and states that "the entire territory of present-day Ukraine should be included in the area of Russia's exclusive influence". The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has historically been linked to the Moscow Patriarchate, has dissociated itself from such statements. Radio Liberty reports.
In it, the war in Ukraine is described as "a new stage in the national liberation struggle of the Russian people against the criminal Kyiv regime and the collective West behind it, which is being waged in the lands of Southwestern Russia", and from a "spiritual and moral point of view", it is "a Holy War in which Russia and its people, defending the single spiritual space of Holy Russia, fulfil the mission of the Restrainer, who protects the world against the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West, which has fallen into Satanism". [The Restrainer is mentioned in 2 Thess 2: 6-7 as holding back the Antichrist until the end times – ed.]
The document also explains the concept of the Russian world (Russky Mir), describing its boundaries as wider than the state borders of "both the current Russian Federation and the great historical Russia".
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Czech Republic exposes a propaganda network in the EU called “Voice of Europe”
The Czech government has imposed sanctions on the Voice of Europe media outlet as part of Russia's information influence operation.
Viktor Medvedchuk, a confidant of Vladimir Putin, is involved in this. He has been promoting Russian interests in Ukraine for years, for which he is suspected of treason. In April 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine detained Medvedchuk. In September 2022, Medvedchuk was exchanged for the commanders of the units that defended Mariupol in the spring of 2022. Svidomi media reports.
Czech journalists have found that the Prague-based news portal Voice of Europe has been spreading narratives to persuade the European Union to stop helping Ukraine. The Czech Security Information Service (BIS) found that the pro-Russian propaganda network was conducting activities that "have serious consequences for the security of the Czech Republic and the EU". "The Voice of Europe campaigned against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
The media outlet is active on social media, such as Facebook and X, with over 180,000 followers.
The Czech Republic suspects Viktor Medvedchuk and his propagandist partner, Artem Marchevsky, are involved in this media outlet. Therefore, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has imposed sanctions on them.
According to Germany's Spiegel, Medvedchuk used Voice of Europe in several EU countries to "provide covert financial support to elected candidates in the European Parliament elections" and to "support propaganda activities" against Ukraine. The media interviewed right-wing populists and extremists, including the French National Rally, a representative of the right-wing extremist Belgian Vlaams Belang, and representatives of the German AfD.
According to the Czech daily Deník N, politicians from six European countries allegedly received money from the Russian network. These are politicians from Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Hungary. On the German side, politicians from the AfD received money but did not specify who exactly.
Zelenskyy to Speaker Johnson: Swift passage of aid for Ukraine by Congress is critical
Facing withering Russian bombardment and dwindling ammunition stocks, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the US House speaker to swiftly approve a stalled military and financial aid package for Kyiv.
In a phone call with US House Speaker Mike Johnson on 28 March, Zelenskyy stressed the critical necessity of rapidly passing the $60+ billion Ukraine assistance bill that has been held up for months by Congressional Republicans. Zelenskyy’s website reports.
The foreign aid package has been stalled since last fall due largely to opposition from the far-right Republicans in the US Congress, suspending military assistance that Kyiv badly needs to fight Russia. The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill, including $60+ billion for Ukraine, last month with bipartisan support, yet Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson made clear he wouldn’t give it a vote on the House floor, stating on 14 February that the House will not feel “rushed” to pass the package. Then Johnson had withheld the bill until the government funding issue was resolved, despite urgent requests from Kyiv.
The latest development in the saga was House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claimed commitment to bringing a vote on additional Ukraine funding to the House floor after the Easter recess, as Rep. Michael McCaul stated that Johnson is determined to hold the vote sometime after 9 April when Congress reconvenes.
US dismisses 'nonsense, propaganda' Russian concert attack claims against Ukraine
White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, dismissed as “nonsense” Russia’s allegations of Ukraine’s involvement in last week’s attack on Moscow’s Crocus City concert hall. The Guardian reported.
In a briefing to reporters on Thursday, Kirby said the US passed to Russian security services a written warning of an extremist attack on large gatherings in Moscow, one of many provided in advance.
“It is abundantly clear that Isis (Islamic State) was solely responsible for the horrific attack in Moscow last week. In fact, the United States tried to help prevent this terrorist attack and the Kremlin knows this.”
— John Kirby, US National Security spokesperson
He was speaking shortly after Russian investigators claimed they had uncovered evidence that the gunmen who killed more than 140 people in last week’s attacks were linked to “Ukrainian nationalists”.
Kirby described the Russian allegations as “nonsense and propaganda”, adding that the US had provided multiple advance warnings to Russian authorities of extremist attacks on concerts and large gatherings in Moscow.
The US passed, “following normal procedures and through established channels that have been employed many times previously ... a warning in writing to Russian security services”, he added.
MILITARY & TECH
Discussions about supplying Ukraine with Swedish Gripen fighter jets are ongoing
Pål Jonson, Minister of Defence of Sweden, in an interview with Kyiv Independent has confirmed that after Sweden’s NATO accession is finalised, it will not rule out the possibility of supplying Ukraine with its Gripen fighter jets.
Jonson stated earlier that Sweden would not be able to make a decision to supply Ukraine with its fighter jets until it joined NATO; this process was complete at the beginning of March.
"The discussions are ongoing, and they are held within the fighter jets coalition," Jonson responded when asked about the current stage of these discussions.
He noted that Sweden is also a part of this coalition which helps Ukraine receive the US-produced F-16 fighter jets and conduct the necessary training for pilots and staff.
That’s it for today’s Draft folks if you would like to keep up with events in Ukraine daily please consider subscribing, its free!
Feel free to share this update with your friends. Heroyam Slava!