Victory Chronicles-DAY 1132

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi says that recent updates to military training protocols have begun to show results, with a noticeable decrease in combat losses in March compared to previous months.

Gen. Syrskyi shared a crucial update on social media, highlighting key reforms in Ukraine’s military training and operations. The extension of the general military training course to six weeks, coupled with a mandatory adaptation period for new recruits in combat brigades, has led to measurable improvements. 

Syrskyi stated that these changes have contributed to a reduction in losses, with fewer losses recorded this month. However, he stressed that significant challenges remain. 

“These changes are delivering positive results…But there’s still work to be done,” Syrskyi said. In a March operational review, the general also outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities, including the formation of new army corps, logistics, and repair of military equipment. 

He also emphasized the importance of preparing military gear for the spring-summer season, reinforce protection of vehicles against FPV drones. Syrskyi also directed units to increase deployment of fiber-optic drones that are more resilient to Russian electronic warfare, and to accelerate efforts to reinforce brigades with trained personnel.

Ukraine Aims to Deploy 15,000 Ground Robots to Front Lines in 2025. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has set a target to deploy 15,000 unmanned vehicles or machines to the battlefield this year, as part of a rapid push to scale up to bolster its military capabilities ground robots.

In warfare, there are usually six types of such robots that are used. They are reconnaissance, bomb disposal, logistical, combat, patrol, and semi- to autonomous robots. 

The announcement was made by Hlib Kanevskyi, head of the Defense Ministry’s procurement department, as reported by Ekonomichna Pravda.

Unlike last year, Ukraine has already begun contract work, with the Defense Procurement Agency confirming that six contracts worth 100 million hryvnias (about $2.6 million) were signed in the second half of 2024. In the first quarter of this year, 31 contracts worth approximately 6 billion hryvnias (about $157 million) have been signed.

According to Kanevskyi, almost all robots will be domestically produced, as foreign models are significantly more expensive. Defense firms have also been required to improve and improve upon their designs throughout the fulfillment of contracts, to keep pace with fast-changing battlefield technology.

Russian drone strike hits military hospital in Kharkiv. A Russian attack drone struck a military hospital in Kharkiv on 30 March, wounding patients and medical staff and damaging several buildings on the campus. Despite the damage, the hospital resumed surgical operations the following day.

Ukrainian drone forces destroy Russian thermobaric launcher deep behind front lines. Ukraine’s drone forces say they have destroyed a Russian TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” heavy flamethrower system approximately 25 kilometers (about 15.5 miles) behind the front line.

In a statement released Sunday, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said operators from the Raid413th Battalion located the weapon system concealed in a tree line and carried out a precise strike. The geographic location of the operation was not disclosed.

The TOS-1A is a multiple rocket launcher that fires thermobaric munitions — weapons that use oxygen from the surrounding air to generate high-temperature explosions. The resulting blast wave that can range from 200 to 500 meters can destroy structures and inflict severe injuries or death. Russian forces have used the system in attacks on both Ukrainian military positions and civilian infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

• U.S. President Donald Trump expressed willingness to introduce additional sanctions targeting Russian oil and secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil if Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin does not make progress towards a general ceasefire, including a ceasefire for land warfare in the near future.
• A Russian diplomat provided additional details following Kremlin ruler  Vladimir Putin’s recent thinly veiled demand for regime change in Ukraine by having external parties establish a “temporary international administration” in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations.
• Russian forces struck a military hospital and civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv City on overnight on March 29-30.
• The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on March 30 that it will establish a Space Policy Department.
• Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk.

Ukrainian soldier is killed in first battle near Robotyne during his first combat mission. Andrii Nenchuk, a 32-year-old soldier, was killed on Aug. 24 during an intense Russian assualt near the village of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It was his first combat mission.

In solemn recollection of Nenchuk, who was born in the village of Nadychi in Lviv Oblast, and a man of quiet strength and deep compassion, he had earned a degree in psychology from Lviv’s Ivan Franko National University. 

His journey took an unexpected turn  when he answered the call to serve his country, joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine and having completed training in both Ukraine and Germany. 

He served in the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, where he spent his limited leisure time studying military science and the English language. His sense of duty and selflessness were evident in his words: “Mom, we were so looking forward to leave, but someone else needs it more. I’ll go when there’s time—others have families.” 

Nenchuk was known for his generosity, often sharing candy with comrades and helping equip fellow soldiers with support from friends and coworkers. His nephew Mykola called him “the wisest man” and said life would be lonelier without him. He was buried in his native village. Nenchuk is survived by his mother, brother, sister and extended family.

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

• Trump says he set Putin a ’psychological deadline’ for ceasefire
• Netherlands to allocate 500 million euros for Ukraine’s drone development drone 
• Representatives of six countries and EU to meet in Madrid to discuss achieving ‘peace through strength’ for Ukraine
• Hungarian foreign minister considers strikes on Russian energy infrastructure threat to Hungary’s sovereignty
• UK intelligence: Police vacancies in Russia surge over the past year
• Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion