Amid the fighting in Ukraine defenders have been obtaining significant strategic successes — although not without devastation suffered by the civilian population. Now, a report has emerged that Russian forces (presumably accidentally) fired on at least one of their own positions in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. The incident apparently took place Saturday, March 26. According to head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai, “Ukrainian troops continue to drive the Russian army out of Rubizhne and Popasna, where the occupier partially managed to gain a foothold. Street fighting continues in some areas of these towns. In Popasna, the enemy tried to storm using artillery but suffered losses. The enemy fired mortars on its own positions.”
Ukrinform, a Ukrainian government information outlet, shared details of the incident. The Luhansk region of Ukraine is where Russian forces were recently reported to have fired on a nursing home, killing 56 people and forcibly relocating survivors of the attack. Russian personnel have also been reported to have forcibly moved tens of thousands of residents of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol to territory controlled by Putin’s side both inside and outside of Russia. Concurrent to these atrocities suffered by Ukrainians, Russian invaders are believed to have lost thousands of individual troops during this war, including multiple generals and over a dozen commanders, and their equipment losses have also been significant. Ukrainian defenders are believed to have actually added to the total number of tanks under their control since the start of the war, because their losses have been offset by the pace at which they’ve taken possession of operational tanks from Russia’s side. In one recent incident, a Russian soldier turned himself and his tank over to Ukraine in exchange for a promised financial reward and the opportunity to apply for Ukrainian citizenship after the war concludes.
⚡️ General Staff: Russian forces may damage insulation structures of Chornobyl nuclear power plant.
The Russian military reportedly uses old ammunition, which can detonate even during transportation. The ammunition is often transported through the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 27, 2022
In a recent Warsaw speech, President Joe Biden commented: “Notwithstanding the brutality of Vladimir Putin, let there be no doubt that this war has already been a strategic failure for Russia. Having lost children myself, I know that’s no solace to the people who’ve lost family. But he, Putin, thought Ukrainians would roll over and not fight… Instead, Russian forces have met their match with brave and stiff Ukrainian resistance. Rather than breaking Ukrainian resolve, Russia’s brutal tactics have strengthened their resolve. Rather than driving NATO apart, the West is now stronger and more united than it has ever been… In fact, Russia has managed to cause something I’m sure [Putin] never intended: the democracies of the world are revitalized with purpose and unity found in months that would have once taken years to accomplish.”
⚡️Zelensky gave an interview via videoconference to four journalists representing non-governmental Russian media on March 27.
The Russian government called upon the media to not publish the interview, and said those who interviewed Zelensky will be investigated.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 27, 2022
