Here is the latest update on Saturday, March 23, 2024:
Violence erupted as Russia launched drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and leaving over one million without power. The attacks targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station suffering significant damage from eight Russian missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, emphasizing the impact on people’s daily lives and appealing for air defense systems from Kyiv’s allies. Ukraine’s ground forces commander warned of Russia’s buildup of over 100,000 soldiers for a potential summer offensive.
On the political and diplomatic front, the Kremlin declared that Russia now considers itself to be “in a state of war” with Ukraine, a shift from their initial classification of the conflict as a “special military operation” in 2022. Russia’s FSB security service announced the arrest of seven Moscow residents connected to a pro-Ukraine militia accused of incursions into Russian border regions. China’s special envoy for Ukraine acknowledged a significant gap between Moscow and Kyiv in peace talks but stressed the importance of negotiations. Additionally, the European Commission announced plans to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus to hinder their ability to finance the war and sell grain obtained from Ukraine.