On Wednesday, March 22, the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian military reported of Russian occupation forces becoming increasingly active in Belarus, near the Ukrainian border. The city of Chernihiv has claimed that the invaders have been targeting hospitals and civilians, Ukrainian public media Ukrinform and UK’s BBC report.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces wrote in its report on the warfare situation in 24 hours to the morning of Wednesday, that Russian and Belarusian military vehicles were actively moving within the territory of Belarus and accumulating along the border with Ukraine.
On Wednesday morning, the Ukrainian defence operation continued in the country’s eastern, south-eastern and north-eastern directions.
In the eastern direction, the Ukrainian operational groups of troops weree active in such operational districts as Donetsk, Slobozhanskyi and Tavriiskyi, restraining the Russia’s advance towards Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian combined forces were holding back Russian invaders in the direction of Popasna and Kurakhove. In the east they were are also continued out the circular defence of long-besieged Mariupol.
In the north-eastern direction, the Ukrainian defence operation continued in the previous designated, operational zone. The main efforts of the defenders of the country were focused on covering the state border with Belarus, holding back the enemy’s offence near the town of Malyn.
In northern Ukraine, the defenders were also holding the defence of the city of Chernihiv and holding back the enemy’s advance towards the capital Kyiv.
In the south-eastern direction, the Ukrainian defence operation continued despite Russia having invaded new territories this week. The Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to defend bases and seaports within the Black Sea operational zone. The defence of the city of Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv Region in southern Ukraine continued.
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Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure continue
Chernihiv Mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko in an interview with Censor.net claimed that the Russian invaders were intentionally destroying civilians and infrastructure facilities and targeting hospitals with fire.
«The Russian military are targeting hospitals with fire. Is a hospital a military infrastructure facility too? It is important to understand what methods are used by Russia when conducting hostilities in Chernihiv. Their tactics is to intentionally destroy civilians and infrastructure facilities. It has nothing to do with the targeted fire on military infrastructure facilities,» Atroshenko told.
In his words, the death toll among civilians rapidly increased during the Russian invasion. Now there are 40 funerals per day taking place in Chernihiv.
«We have two base hospitals in the city with about 200 wounded in each of them. We bury about 40 people per day. Prior to the war, we buried an average of eight people per day. According to my estimates, about 50% of local residents left the city. Another 50% are staying, but, unfortunately, many people among those who are staying cannot take care of themselves,» Atroshenko noted.
Because of bombardment by Russian forces, Chernihiv has been left without water, gas, heat and electricity services, Ukrinform reports.
Situation in Mariupol remains inhumane
In the strategic south-east of Ukraine, Russian occupation forces continued the bombardment of the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol. Another 7 000 of civilians managed to flee the city on Tuesday, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that about 100,000 civilians remain in the besieged city of Mariupol with little food, no water, no medicine and under constant bombardment, BBC reports.
Zelensky has also claimed that a humanitarian convoy was captured by Russian forces and Ukrainian government workers were taken prisoner.
Watch the Ukrainian President’s latest video address: