Victory Chronicles
-DAY 397

KEY TAKEAWAYS TODAY

Above: Graduating officers of the National Guard Military Academy attend a ceremony for the 9th anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine at a World War II museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 24, 2023. (National Review)

Above: Yesterday, the so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church controlled by the Moscow Patriarch may have held its last service at Pechersk Lavra, the 11th century Kyivan-Rus cave monastery  overlooking the Dnipro River in Kyiv. Ukraine has terminated the lease agreement which legally allows the Moscow Patriarch to occupy premises.  They have until March 29 to vacate. The Russians have vowed to put up a fight and have appealed to their parishioners to protect them.  On the other hand, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, tasked with trying to keep the Moscow monks from taking historical treasures, said that, little by little, they are packing up and leaving. 

Above: UK Ministry of Defence

• Kremlin threats to move tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus are part of an ongoing scaremongering campaign, ostensibly provoked by the UK’s plan to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine. In fact, Putin had been trying to find a way to move nukes into Belarus before 2022. For those who believe that Moscow might actually use the nuclear option, Belarus is worrying since it borders not only Ukraine, but also the Baltic states and Poland. The Guardian looked at the realistic expectations of such a deployment, noting that Mosocw has been building a nuclear weapons storage facility in Kaliningrad for seven years that has yet to receive the goods.  Meanwhile, Ukraine issued a statement that contained an appeal to the Belarusian people to stop the steady Kremlin takeover of their county.
• Both leading US Republican and Democratic senators sent a letter to President Biden urging the US to work with the International Criminal Court and noted that funds for cooperation have been earmarked in the 2023 budget.  While a vocal minority of House representatives have been making a lot of noisy nonsense about withdrawing support for Ukraine, overall, US popular and political will to support Ukraine remains strong.
• The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on March 24 that Moscow elites are competing for government funding to “restore” occupied territories but actually plan to use the money for their own interests. It is understood the money is really in exchange for propaganda narratives about great mother russia rebuilding projects. URC further reported that the Kremlin may be destroying infrastructure in occupied cities to blame it on Ukrainians and that top Kremlin officials have plans to construct “dummy” infrastructure to simulate investment in rebuilding efforts.
• In ISW’s abbreviated Sunday edition, it looked at Moscow’s apparent conviction that it will take Ukraine given enough time. Putin remains steadfast in his belief that he will win through a protracted conflict in which mighty Russia wins by force and/or the West abandons Ukraine. The on-going attacks on western Luhansk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka make no sense in a strategic military context. ISW calls these attacks not only pointless but actually harmful to Russian preparations for upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensives.

General Staff’s Daily Video Digest with English subtitles

GENERAL STAFF DAILY ENEMY LOSSES

Above: Reuters

General Staff on Facebook

Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces estimated enemy losses since February 24, 2022 (with daily additions)

• Liquidated personnel, 171,160 (+610)
• Tanks, 3,595 (0)
• Armored personnel vehicles, 6,953 (+6)
• Artillery systems/MLRS, 2,638/523 (+7/1)
• Anti-aircraft warfare systems, 277 (0)
• Aircraft/helicopters, 305/291 (0)
• UAV operational-tactical level, 2,216 (0)
• Cruise missiles, 911 (0)
• Warships/boats, 18 (0)
• Vehicles and fuel tanks, 5,493 (+7)
• Special equipment, 285 (+3)

GENERAL STAFF CIVILIAN MISSILE STRIKES

Above:  The Donetsk Governor published on Telegram pictures of Vuhledar, Donetsk, showing what happens when Russia World is nearby. (Donetsk Oblast Administration)

Glory to Ukraine!
The 397th  day of the Russian large-scale invasion has begun.

• Over the past 24 hours, the enemy has launched 2 missile and 23 air strikes, fired 38 salvo rockets at the positions of our troops and the civilian infrastructure of populated areas.
• The probability of launching missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high, because the enemy uses terror tactics.
• During the past 24 hours, the enemy shelled the areas of the settlements of Novovasylivka, Ukrainsk, Seredyna-Buda, Bachivsk, Esman, Atynske, Bilopylla, Volfine, Myropilske and Pokrovka of the Sumy In Kharkiv Oblast, more than 15 districts of settlements were affected by fire. Among them are Lobanivka, Mali Prokhody, Liptsi, Strelecha, Staritsa, Ohirtseve, Milove, Petro-Ivanivka and Ridkodub.
• On the Kupyansk and Lymansk directions during the day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Synkivka, Bilogorivka, and Vesely. He carried out artillery shelling in the areas of Kupyansk and Tabaivka settlements of Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Makiivka, Nevske, Dibrova and Bilogorivka in the Luhansk region, as well as Kolodyaz, Siversk, Spirne and Viymka in the Donetsk
• In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy continues its assault on the city of Bakhmut, which is held by our defenders, as well as in the Bohdanivka and Ivanovka districts of the Donetsk region. He shelled more than 20 settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Oleksandro-Shultine, Ozaryanivka, Severny and Toretsk.
• On the Avdiyiv and Maryinsk directions, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka and Maryinka. More than 15 settlements, in particular, Paraskoviivka, Novokalynove, Krasnohorivka, Kamianka, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske and Maryinka of the Donetsk region, were subjected to numerous enemy shelling.
• In the Shakhtarsky direction, the enemy shelled the areas of Pobyeda, Novomykhailivka, Vugledar, Prechistivka and Velika Novosilka settlements in Donetsk
• The enemy continues its defense in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Fired more than 30 settlements, in particular, Olhivske, Chervone, Charivne, Orihiv of the Zaporizhzhia region; Respublikanets, Odradokamyaka, Tomarine, Novosilka, Olhivka and Sadov of the Kherson region and the city of Kherson.

Support the Armed Forces! United we will win! Glory to Ukraine!

KHARKIV-LUHANSK

Above:  Ukraïner made a video on the resistance in Kharkiv during months of enemy occupation last year.  It’s part of a collection called “De-occupation” in which the visual documentary team tells the stories of resistance in liberated cities. 

Map via ISW

• Russian forces are failing to make decisive advances along the Kupyansk-Lyman line despite using conventional units that act more cautiously, conduct reconnaissance, and use artillery.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk on March 25. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks near Hryanykivka (17km northeast of Kupyansk) and Synkivka (8km northeast of Kupyansk)
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Svatove-Kremmina line on March 25. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Dibrova (5km southwest of Kreminna), the Serebrianska forest area (10km south of Kreminna), Bilohorivka (11km south of Kreminna), Spirne (25km south of Kreminna), and Vyimka (26km south of Kreminna). Geolocated footage published on March 24 indicates that Russian forces made a limited advance near Kovalivka (10km southwest of Svatove) and Verkhnokamianske (21km south of Kremmina).

DONETSK

Above:  Ukraïner made a video on the resistance in Lyman during over four months of enemy occupation last year.  It’s part of a collection called “De-occupation” in which the visual documentary team tells the stories of resistance in liberated cities. 

Map via ISW

• Major war analysts are converging on the conclusion that the Bakhmut offensive is likely culminating. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense assessed on March 25 that the Russian offensive is stalling and that Russian forces may shift their focus to the Avdiivka and Svatove-Kreminna areas.
• Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty cautioned that the decrease in Russian ground assaults near Bakhmut needs further analysis and that Russian conventional forces may be used to back up Wagner to forstall culmination.
• Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander in Chief General Valery Zaluzhny spoke with the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff on Friday, stating that the situation in Bakhmut is stabilizing thanks to titanic efforts.
• Recent footage shows that Ukrainian forces remain able to drive on the Bakhmut-Chasiv Yar and Bakhmut-Khromove roads despite Russian artillery targeting. Russian forces do not have fire control over Ukrainian ground lines of communication around Bakhmut and Avdiivka as claimed by Russian sources.
• Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line on March 25. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks near Keramik (10km north of Avdiivka), Stepove (5km northwest of Avdiivka), Avdiivka, Tonenke (6km west of Avdiivka), Sieverne (5km west of Avdiivka), Pervomaiske, (11km southwest of Avdiivka) and Marinka.
• Russian forces continue to integrate irregular DNR forces into conventional Russian formations in the Avdiivka-Donetsk City area.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast on March 25. Ukrainian forces repelled Russian ground attacks near Vuhledar and Novomykhailivka (10km southwest of Donetsk City).

Above:  Map via ISW

ZAPORIZHZHIA-KHERSON-CRIMEA

Above:  Countries that were trapped under russo-soviet control are scattered with Moscow’s torture chambers and prison cells used to destroy political opposition. Pictured is one in Riga, Latvia, opened by the Russians in 1944. The mayor of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya, reported that over 500 Melitopol residents  are in torture chambers and thousands more in prisons. Mr Fedorov was himself held prisoner and tortured for four days in March 2022, before being exchanged for nine invaders.  Of Melitopol’s invincibility, Mr Fedorov said,  “After a year of occupation, the resistance cannot be stopped. Residents believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are doing everything possible to liberate both the Ukrainian land and our people from the enemy horde.”

How Kherson residents resisted Russian occupation

Above: A lady cleaning up after the invaders squatted in her apartment in Kherson recently found a receipt received during occupation.  The greeting on the bottom says, “I am a nation where the power of truth shall not be conquered” from a poem by Pavlo Tychyna. 

• Russian forces reportedly conducted a mass rotation of forces in Nova Kakhovka, Zaporizhzhia, which led Ukrainian military command to conclude that Russian forces had left the city and share incorrect information. The Ukrainian General Staff quickly corrected itself to say that Russian forces maintain positions in the settlement.
• The Melitopol mayor announced on Telegram that the Russian occupiers and local collaborators are deep into planning to run away to Crimea in the case of Ukrainian counteroffensive.  Of course, it’s all done in a propaganda soup as locals are indoctrinated with fake stories of the coming massacres of civilians done by Ukrainian nazis.
• International Atomic Energy Agency Head Rafael Grossi will travel to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant next week to assess the nuclear safety and security at the facility and emphasize the need to protect it.