Victory Chronicles-DAY 1111

Ukraine’s military recaptured more territory near the Donetsk regional town of Pokrovsk, while Russian forces increased pressure on Ukrainian units in the Kursk region that Kyiv’s forces had invaded in August, the UK’s daily Defence Intelligence dispatch said in a March 10 update.

The dichotomy of offensives coincide with Ukraine having also liberated areas in the hotspots of Torestsk and Chasiv Yar, both of which are in the Donetsk region. They also are transpiring as the U.S. reportedly limited intelligence sharing data to allow Kyiv to defend itself.  

Britain’s t dispatch also stated that combined Russian and North Korean troop units have intensified attacks on Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region from the west, north, and east. 

About 12,000 North Korean troops were sent to recapture lost territory there while losing 4,000 in combat, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. Up to 2,000 more are expected to join the fight as South Korea’s intelligence has been monitoring their movements and is alarmed about their modern warfare experience.

Despite this, Ukrainian forces maintained control over an area of approximately 300 square kilometers (115 square miles).

Meanwhile, Russia reduced the intensity of ground assaults on other front lines compared to late 2024 and earlier this year.

Near Pokrovsk, where key Russian units were positioned, Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks around the towns of Pishchane, Udachne, and Shevchenko, as well as near the T-05-06 logistical route.

“Opportunities for Ukrainian counteroffensives were improved by the reduced number of ground offensives carried out by Russia,” the report stated.

SIPRI: Russia’s arms exports nosedive 47 percent since full-scale invasion. Russia’s arms exports sunk 47 percent in 2024 compared to 2022, when Moscow launched  its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a March report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global spending on arms transfers and international security..

The decline stems from Russia prioritizing weapons production for its own military, the impact of restrictive measures imposed by Ukraine’s allies, and increased pressure from on countries purchasing Russian arms, the report states.

Since 2022, Western sanctions have targeted Russian banks, energy exports, and dual-use goods, further restricting Moscow’s arms trade.

Over the past five years, Russian arms exports have decreased by 64 percent, reducing the country’s global market share to 7.8 percent. Between 2018 and 2022, Russia supplies arms to 47 countries, but by 2024, that number drops to 33.

Russian aerial attacks kill two civilians, injure 23 in Donetsk region. Russian forces struck multiple cities in the Donetsk region on March 9, killing two civilians and injuring 23, according to Ukrainian emergency services. In Kostiantynivka, Russian aircraft bombed residential areas, setting fire to a store. Rescuers quickly extinguished the blaze and transported an injured man to a hospital.

In Druzhkivka, Russian forces targeted a residential district, injuring 12 civilians. Among them, a woman became trapped in her apartment. Emergency responders used a ladder to reach her and provided access for medical personnel.

Overall, at least 22 civilians were killed the previous day on March 8 in the embattled easternmost region.

Explosion forces nine Russian soldiers to surrender near Pokrovsk. Soldiers from the 144th Center of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF)cleared Russian troops from an industrial building on the Donetsk regional Pokrovsk front and captured nine Russian prisoners of war, the unit’s press service reported.

For several days, First-person view drone operators broadcasted messages urging Russian troops to surrender. Using a loudspeaker mounted on a drone, Ukrainian forces offered them a chance to save their lives.

After they refused, a SOF unit infiltrated behind Russian lines, rigged the building with explosives, and detonated it.

“A powerful explosion convinced the enemy they should have accepted the offer immediately. Russian troops began waving a white cloth from the window of the damaged building, signaling their intention to surrender,” the SOF stated.

Shortly after, two groups of four and five Russian soldiers moved toward Ukrainian positions, some of them wounded.

Ukrainian special forces provided first aid to the prisoners of war and began evacuating them.

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces are collapsing the northern part of the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast following several days of intensified Russian activity in the area.
• The temporal correlation between the suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine and the start of Russia’s collapse of the Ukrainian Kursk salient is noteworthy.
• Reports about the extent of the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine continue to indicate that the suspension will likely affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia.
• Ukraine’s European allies continue to provide material and financial aid to Ukraine.
• Russia continues to showcase its deepening relations with American adversaries despite ongoing bilateral talks between the United States and Russia.
• Ukrainian forces advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy and Kursk oblasts and near Siversk, Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Robotyne.

Sgt. Hennadii Kernychnyi, call sign Viking, killed in combat in Kharkiv region. Sgt. Hennadii Kernychnyi, known by the call sign Viking, was killed Sept. 23, 2024, during a combat mission in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. He suffered fatal injuries in a Russian drone strike.

Kernychnyi was originally from Sloboda-Hulivska, Vinnytsia region. He graduated from the Bukovyna Military-Sports Lyceum and later trained as a beekeeper at the Mykhailovets Agrarian Lyceum. He earned a degree in agronomy from Podillia State University. Passionate about beekeeping and horticulture, he maintained bee colonies and a five-hectare orchard.

After completing his studies, Kernychnyi volunteered to defend Ukraine. He had fought since 2014 as part of the 8th Special Operations Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In 2019, he suffered a severe injury, leading to the amputation of part of his right leg. After rehabilitation, he adapted to a prosthetic limb and returned to service.

During Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Kernychnyi served as a reconnaissance officer and senior instructor at an instructor training center.

On Jan. 2, 2025, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Gold Star Order by presidential decree. “My son is my hero. I was very proud of him, I am proud, and I always will be. He was a true example of heroism, courage, honesty, loyalty, and bravery,” said Ruslan Kernychnyi, his father. Kernychnyi was buried in his native village. He is survived by his parents and brother.

*Hennadii’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

• Trump says US has “just about” ended pause on Ukraine intel sharing
• CNN: US representatives in Saudi Arabia will also meet with Russians
• Britain takes key role to help Ukraine in peace talks
• US Senator Graham to introduce new sanctions bill targeting Russia’s banking and energy sectors
• Ukraine seeks to persuade US to resume aid in high-stakes talks
• Russia’s arms exports plunge by 47% since full-scale invasion’s start, SIPRI reports