Thursday, March 23. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 393.

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues and the war rages on, reliable sources of information are critical. Forbes gathers information and provides updates on the situation.

Zaporizhzhia. Two Russian missiles struck a residential high-rise in Zaporizhzhia yesterday, killing one civilian and injuring more than 30 others. Some of the victims are still receiving hospital treatment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack.

Kyiv region. A Russian drone attack in Rzhyshchiv overnight killed nine people, wounded seven more and destroyed portions of a dormitory. A building at a professional college also suffered damage and then caught on fire.

On a visit to the Bakhmut area of the Donetsk region yesterday, President Zelenskyy met Ukrainian soldiers and issued national awards to “our heroes.” Zelensky also visited a medical facility treating wounded Ukrainian military personnel.

Ukraine’s parliament passed two important bills on Tuesday. The first, which establishes a new process for granting Ukrainian citizenship, requires applicants to pass a mandatory examination on the country’s constitution and history and in language proficiency. The second requires the removal of all items that promote or glorify Russian culture within Ukraine’s borders. Each regional administration must implement the laws within six months.

Working in close cooperation with the charitable fund Save Ukraine, Ukrainian human rights officials repatriated 17 deported children on Tuesday. During its occupation of the Kherson and Kharkiv regions, Russia forcibly transferred these children deeper into occupied territory or to Russia itself. One young boy brought home reported that Russian supervisors claimed that their parents had abandoned them and beat those who expressed support for Ukraine with metal sticks.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with President Zelenskyy Tuesday during a surprise visit to Kyiv. Kishida visited Ukraine to show the world Japan’s strong support, its Foreign Ministry said. The two leaders then signed an upgrade to the Joint Statement on Special Global Partnership between Ukraine and Japan. Following a press-conference held later that day, Kishida announced that his country would allocate $30 million for the purchase of non-lethal weapons for Ukraine through NATO’s trust fund.

Sixty-five Ukrainian soldiers soon will complete military training at the Fort Sill Army Post in Oklahoma. Over the past 10 weeks, the troops have been receiving accelerated instruction in a program specifically designed for them to master Patriot anti-aircraft batteries. Before returning home, the troops will finish their training in Germany. Brig. Gen. Shane Morgan, Fort Sill’s commanding officer, praised the skill of the Ukrainian soldiers, who will operate a Patriot missile battery deployed to protect Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian creative business platform I Am U Are will present a fair at Skylight at Essex Crossing in New York City from March 24 to March 26. The fair will host more than 100 Ukrainian brands displaying ceramics, product design, fashion, accessories and books, as well as a photo exhibition curated by artist Masha Reva. The fair seeks to showcase established and emerging talent in Ukraine, including Bevza, Anna October, Ksenia Schnaider, Gorn Ceramics, the Gunia Project and Hutsul Authentica.

By Daria Dzysiuk, Alan Sacks