It has been the 1117th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.
What happened in Ukraine today:
Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 6 pm:
The Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back the advance of russian occupiers. They are taking necessary measures to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory. On 16 March, there were 81 combat clashes.
Communities in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, such as Medvedivka, Karpovychi, Yanzhulivka, Vovkivka, Rozhkovichi, Komarivka, Baranivka, Shalyhyne and Dmytrivka, suffered from enemy artillery and mortar fire.
Towards Kharkiv, there were four combat clashes near Vovchansk, one battle is currently underway.
Towards Kupiansk, russian occupiers are trying to break through Ukrainian defenses near Zahryzove, the combat clashes are ongoing.
Towards Lyman, the invading army carried out ten attacks on Ukrainian positions near Balka Zhuravka, Ivanivka, Yampolivka and Hryhorivka. Two combat clashes are ongoing.
Siversk, one enemy assault was repelled by Ukrainian defenders near Verkhnekamianske.
In the Kramatorsk, Ukrainian defenders repelled an enemy attempt to advance near Orikhovo-Vasylivka.
Towards Toretsk, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight enemy assaults near Toretsk and Druzhba, four battles are still ongoing.
Towards Pokrovsk, russian invaders made 21 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their occupied positions in the vicinity of Sukha Balka, Oleksandropil, Novotoretske, Yelyzavetivka, Svyrydonivka, Promin, Serhiivka, Kotlyne, Uspenivka, Nadiivka, and Andriivka. The defense forces are holding back the onslaught and repelling 20 enemy attacks, one battle is still ongoing.
GAB airstrikes hit Bahatyr, Serhiivka, Pokrovsk, Novoukrainka, Sukhyi Yar, Novoolenivka, and Nova Poltavka.
Towards Novopavlivka, the enemy tried seven times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian defenders near Rozlyv. Three clashes are still ongoing.
Towards Huliaipole, the invader, supported by assault aircraft, is attacking in the vicinity of Novopol. The enemy also hit Huliaipilske with unguided air missiles.
Towards Kherson, the Russian military made four unsuccessful attempts to attack the positions of Ukrainian units, suffering losses.
Towards Kursk, there were 11 clashes, three of which are still ongoing. In addition, the enemy carried out 21 air strikes, dropping 32 guided bombs, and also carried out 150 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.
In the remaining directions, there are no significant changes.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that russia carried out hundreds of attacks in the past week. 1020 strike drones, almost 1360 guided aerial bombs and more than 10 missiles of various types were launched.
Zaporizhzhia RMA reports that russia attacked Zaporizhzhia oblast with 289 drones of various modifications. This was reported by the .
Recent war events in the east of Ukraine
Kharkiv oblast
Frontline
The General Staff reported that towards Kharkiv, there were four attacks near Vovchansk, Kamianka and towards Kutkivka, as of 16:00 one battle is underway. The russian federation carried out an airstrike on Udy.
Towards Kupiansk, the russian occupiers tried to break through the Ukrainian defense eight times in the areas of Petropavlivka, Bohuslavka, Lozova, Zahryzove and towards Kupiansk, currently one battle is ongoing
The RMA reported that towards Kharkiv, the enemy stormed the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine eight times in the vicinity of Vovchansk and towards Petrivka.
The defense forces repelled the enemy’s assault actions near Zahryzove, Lozova and Kopanky towards Kupiansk. There were four attacks by the occupiers.
Shelling
Three people were injured as a result of russian strikes on Velyka Shapkivka of Kindrashivka community; the wounded were hospitalized.
The RMA noted that a 56-year-old man was injured in Kupiansk. The russian federation dropped a guided air bomb. Also, as a result of another strike on Kupiansk, a residential building was destroyed — there were no injuries as a result of this strike.
Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that in Kupiansk, at least 15 households were damaged as a result of a russian strike at around 15:45. Previously, the russian army attacked the city of FAB-500 with UMPK.
The day before, at 23:25, as a result of shelling in Izium region, Balakliia city, a truck caught fire. According to the RMA, the roof and walls of a warehouse building were damaged.
At 23:18 in the city of Izium, Izyum region, the roof of a private house was damaged due to falling UAV debris.
At 23:00 in the town of Izyum, Izyum region, a UAV (previously Geran-2) hit a private house for the second time. A 76-year-old woman was injured.
At 21:52 in the town of Izium, structural elements of the destroyed house and grass on an area of 1 ha caught fire as a result of shelling. A 67-year-old woman died, two minors were injured.
At 20:58 in the town of Balakliia, Izyum region, fragments of a UAV (previously Geran-2) damaged a non-residential building.
At 20:35 in the town of Kupiansk, Kupyansk region, a private house caught fire as a result of shelling.
At 16:10 outside the village of Borova, Izium region, grass burned on an area of 1.8 hectares as a result of shelling.
At 12:06 in the town of Borova, Izium region, grass and reeds caught fire on an area of 2.8 hectares as a result of shelling.
At 12:00 in the village of Ivashky, Bogodukhiv region, shelling damaged the roof of a residential building.
At 11:10 in the village of Radkivka, Kupiansk region, a house and a garage were damaged as a result of shelling.
At 08:30 in the village of Vilcha, Chuhuiv region, a man was injured as a result of shelling. A passenger car was damaged.
Other
Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Lysenko joined the all-Ukrainian action and honored the memory of those who died in Mariupol Drama Theater on March 16, 2022, the institution’s Facebook page reported. Candles with the symbolic inscription “Children” were lit near the main entrance to the Kharkiv theater.
Donetsk oblast
Frontline
The General Staff reported in its morning briefing reports that russian troops continue to exert pressure towards Pokrovsk. The occupation army attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 36 times, in particular, near Sukha Balka, Aleksandropol, Novotoretske, Svyrydonivka, Promin, Nadiivka and Andriivka.
Ukrainian troops repelled 16 assaults by the russian army towards Lymansk. The occupiers attacked in the areas of Balka, Zhuravka, Ivanovka, Nadiivka, Yampolivka and Hryhorivka.
The crew of artillerymen of the Tsunami assault regiment of the Lut brigade works with a Soviet-designed D-30 cannon towards Toretsk. The fighters do not stop striking at the russian military. The intensity of the fighting has been increasing recently.
The Khortitsa Special Operations Command confirmed the destruction of the russian TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower system towards Pokrovsk. The russian army has been using such equipment at the front since the end of 2023, said Spokesman for Khortitsa, Viktor Tregubov. The day before, the 68th Jaeger Brigade reported that in February, the unit’s fighters destroyed a Tosochka near Pokrovsk. According to the military, this is the first confirmed case of a TOS-2 being destroyed.
Shelling
On the eve of the russian troops launched 3,798 strikes on the front line and residential sector. According to police data, the enemy shelled 8 settlements: the cities of Bilytske, Kostyantynivka, Lyman, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, the villages of Bahatyr, Ivanopillia, Komyshuvakha. 23 civilian objects were destroyed, including 15 residential buildings.
russians covered Rodynske with artillery, wounding a civilian, a private house and a garage were damaged.
In Bilytske, a civilian was injured as a result of an enemy drone strike. In Pokrovsk, the enemy damaged 2 apartment buildings and three private houses.
There are three wounded in Bahatyr, which the occupiers attacked with Grad MLRSs. In Komyshuvakha, a private house was damaged by a FAB-250 bomb.
russia hit Kostyantynivka and its surroundings with 9 FAB-250 bombs and a drone that damaged a private house.
Two bombs were directed by russian troops towards Ivanopillia, hitting a clinic, a shop, and 2 administrative buildings.
In Lyman, 7 private homes and 3 outbuildings were damaged by artillery shelling.
Yurii Tretiak, Head of the RMA, says that russian troops increased the number of killed or wounded, including children. In particular, on March 16, the police and the city administration identified two more people who died as a result of the shelling of Myrnohrad on March 14. About 3,500 people still remain in the front-line community.
Other
Three years ago, on March 16, 2022, the Russian military dropped an aerial bomb on the Mariupol Theater building, where more than a thousand residents were hiding from constant shelling. About 600 people died then, and another 400 residents of the city were injured. By the anniversary of the tragedy, 79 Ukrainian theaters have joined the action in memory of the victims of the strike – they will put the inscription CHILDREN in front of the central entrances and light lamps.
Luhansk oblast
The RMA reported that the enemy increased the number of artillery shelling to 34. It also used a multiple launch rocket system. It tried to hit Ukrainian fortifications from the air. It directed 131 drones towards Ukrainian soldiers. The enemy stormed near Balka Zhuravka, Nadiia and Belohorivka.
By order of the Kremlin, until 2028, citizens of 47 countries are prohibited from registering real estate in the so-called “lpr”. This is a list, as the occupiers say, of “unfriendly countries to Russia”. It includes Ukraine, almost all European countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, etc. The decree supplements the norms established in December last year. At that time, the registration of legal entities associated with foreigners “from unfriendly countries” was prohibited until 2026. A similar restriction applies to the state registration of the rights of such organizations to real estate.
russian occupation authorities have closed the entrance to Rubizhne in Luhansk oblast. The regional administration said that only owners of housing in the city who have russian-style documents can enter the city without a paper pass.
The invaders have closed the city of Rubizhne to entry. Passes are issued only with the permission of the local occupation administration and exclusively in paper form. To obtain a permit, you need to submit an application, a copy of your russian passport, and indicate valid reasons for the trip. These passes cannot be issued electronically. Without them, only those who have russian-style documents for housing within the city will be allowed to enter.
What is happening now in the north of Ukraine
Kyiv oblast
Mykola Kalashnyk, Head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration, informed that a fire broke out at a production facility in Fastiv region on the night of 16 March as a result of a russian drone attack. The alert in oblast was announced twice and lasted over 7 hours. There were no casualties among the local community.
This week, in Bila Tserkva, training began for social workers helping veterans adapt to civilian life. The initiative is part of the Life After Victory programme implemented by the Veterans for Peace NGO. The training will last for several weeks and involve nearly 130 community professionals.
Kyiv City State Administration announced that almost 12,000 appeals from the families of fallen Kyiv defenders were processed by Kyiv Military Hub specialists in 2024. Families can contact Kyiv Military Hub in person or remotely.
Six applications were submitted for the competition, including architects from Ukraine and the United States.
In Kyiv, Ukrinform presented a booklet about the Hero of Ukraine Vitalii Pliaka, a military pilot and lieutenant colonel of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine who was killed last March in Sumy oblast. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of russia, Vitalii participated in the breakthrough operation at Azovstal, during which helicopters delivered food, ammunition and medicine to the defenders of Mariupol and evacuated the wounded. As a member of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, he took part in the operation for the liberation of Kharkiv oblast, performing tasks on the front line and in the enemy’s territory.
Zhytomyr oblast
On 16 March, Zhytomyr joined for the second time the action to commemorate the people who were killed in the Mariupol Drama Theatre as a result of a russian bomb dropped on the theatre building on that day in 2022. As a reminder, the Mariupol drama theatre was a shelter for more than a thousand people who lost their homes during the bombing, and the townspeople wrote ‘CHILDREN’ in large letters on both sides of the building. It is known that around 600 people were killed and another 400 people inside the theatre were injured.
Sumy oblast
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that on 16 March, the russian army attacked two vehicles in Sumy oblast using drones. In Myropillia community, an FPV-drone struck a vehicle delivering bread, injuring a 48-year-old passenger. In Bilopillia community, a drone attacked a car, injuring a 31-year-old driver.
During night and morning, russians carried out 15 shelling attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in 49 explosions. The attacks targeted Sumy, Yunakivka, Myropilia, and Bilopillia communities.
The Regional Military Administration informed that as a result of strikes on Myropillia, one civilian was injured. The enemy attacked the community by MLRS (20 explosions) and carried out GAB airstrikes (11 explosions).
On the morning of 16 March, according to the Myropillia Village Council, due to the worsening security situation, residents of Zapsillia and Myropillia in Sumy oblast are asked to evacuate within two days.
Over the skies of Sumy oblast, Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners shot down 3 enemy Shahed-type UAVs. Since the beginning of the year, the region’s air defence units have eliminated 710 russian drones.
Throughout 15 March, russian forces carried out 62 shellings in Sumy oblast, with a total of 94 strikes recorded. The enemy used mortars (6 explosions), MLRS (13 explosions), artillery (22 explosions), conducted FPV-drone attacks (19 explosions), launched GABs (15 explosions), and dropped explosive devices from UAVs (17 explosions). Ten communities came under enemy fire: Khotin, Yunakivka, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Slobidka, Esman, Shalyhyne, and Seredyna-Buda.
Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that as a result of Russian shelling on 15 March, a private residential house was damaged in Seredyna-Buda community, while in Velyka Pysarivka community, a private house and a farm building were damaged.
The National Police of Sumy oblast announced that the White Angel crew evacuated seven more people from under shelling in Myropillia.
Аccording to Alyona Yatsyna, war correspondent and co-founder of Sumy-focused media outlet ‘Kordon. Media,’ security measures have been introduced for journalists working in Sumy oblast. She stated that to work in Sumy oblast, valid accreditation and an approved request for work from either the Operational Tactical Group ‘Kursk’ or ‘Siversk,’ depending on the zone where journalists plan to operate, are required.
Chernihiv oblast
Viacheslav Chaus, Head of the Regional Military Administration, reported that on 16 March, during an air raid alert, a ballistic missile, likely an Iskander, fell in the territory of Semenivka community. Additionally, the russians attacked the community with FPV-drones. There is damage in the community, including to Semenivka City Council building. The settlement is partially without electricity, and energy workers are working to restore power supply.
In the evening of 15 March, the enemy struck Chernihiv by drones. russian forces hit a five-storey building, destroying the top two floors (2 apartments were destroyed, and 12 were damaged). Additionally, two private houses in the city were damaged due to the russian attack.
The Regional Military Administration informed that throughout the night, efforts continued in Chernihiv to eliminate the aftermath of the Shahed drone attack and to clear the destroyed structures. A Sustainability Centre has been set up at the site. Specialists are inspecting the heating, gas, and water supply networks to reconnect the building to utilities as quickly as possible.
According to the North Operational Command, on 15 March, nine Shaheds, likely Gerbera-type UAVs, were recorded in Chernihiv. As a result of russian shelling, damage was reported to two enterprises, two apartment buildings, two private houses, seven buses, seven trolleybuses, and 21 cars. The information is being clarified.
Throughout 15 March, russian forces attacked three border communities in Chernihiv oblast: Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, and Snovsk. A total of 65 strikes were recorded. The enemy carried out mortar shelling (28 explosions), barrel artillery shelling (29 explosions), used FPV-drones (2 explosions), and dropped explosive devices from UAVs (6 explosions). According to Chernihiv Border Detachment, ten settlements came under enemy fire.
As of 17 February 2025, Chernihiv Regional Employment Service issued 1,331 referrals for socially useful work in the ‘Reconstruction Army.’ People were primarily involved in clearing destroyed buildings, repair and restoration works, setting up shelters, packaging humanitarian aid, manning Resilience Points, sewing clothes for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and weaving camouflage nets.
Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, reported that the enemy attacked Nikopol region about two and a half dozen times during the day. They attacked with kamikaze drones, artillery and Grad rocket launchers. The occupiers targeted the district centre, Marhanets, Myrove, Chervonohryhorivka and Pokrove communities.
Vinnytsia oblast
In the week from 10 to 16 March, 17 defenders from the Vinnytsia oblast were reported killed.
Kirovohrad oblast
Kropyvnytskyi commemorated the victims of the russian army’s air strike on a drama theatre in Mariupol on 16 March 2022.
On the square near the Marko Kropyvnytskyi Theatre, the word “Children” was laid out in candles.
Cherkasy oblast
Ihor Taburets, Head of Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, said that at night in Cherkasy oblast, defenders shot down 8 russian UAVs.
The “Cup of Generations” martial arts competition among military personnel and youth took place in Cherkasy. A total of 36 people took part in the competition.
Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia oblast
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in Orikhiv region, russian forces launched 5 attacks near Stepove and Zherebianky, while in Huliaipole region, they attacked near Skudne, Pryvilne, Vilne Pole and Novopil. Also, they struck Novopil, Novodarivka and Huliaipole by unguided aerial rockets and dropped KABs on Shevchenko.
Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia RMA, reported that due to a russian attack, 2 frontline villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast lost power, leaving almost 2,500 consumers without electricity. Energy workers will begin repairs as soon as the security situation allows.
The General Staff reported that on 15 March, the Defence Forces repelled 19 russian attacks in Huliaipole and Orikhiv regions. The russian military launched 15 assaults near Stepove, Piatykhatky, Shcherbaky, Zherebianky and Kamianske, and 4 attacks in the directions of Novopil and Novosilky.
Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, reported that on 15 March, russian forces carried out 438 strikes on 12 settlements in Zaporizhzhia oblast. 289 drone attacks of various types targeted Vilniansk, Kamianske, Piatykhatky, Stepove, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Charivne and Novodarivka.
Mykolaiv oblast
Referring to Mykolaiv RMA, on 15 March, the russian military attacked Kutsurub community twice by FPV drones, damaging a car in one of the strikes. At 4:31pm, russian forces shelled the community by artillery. There were no casualties reported.
Odesa oblast
Based on the information provided by the South Operational Command, during a russian drone attack on the evening of 15 March, Ukrainian air defence shot down 15 Shahed drones and other types of UAVs over Odesa oblast.
Kherson oblast
Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson CMA, informed that at approximately 5:40pm, russian forces attacked a hospital in Kherson, damaging a service vehicle. There were no injuries reported.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on Antonivka, near Kherson, killing a man who was outside.
The RMA reported that a 60-year-old resident of Antonivka was wounded by a russian drone strike, suffering blast trauma and a shrapnel wound to his leg.
Relying on the information provided by the State Emergency Service, a russian drone strike caused a fire in a high-rise building in Kherson. An apartment on the 7th floor and a balcony on the 8th floor caught fire. Rescuers extinguished the flames. There were no casualties reported.
The Prosecutor’s Office added that russian forces attacked Zolota Balka in Kherson oblast by a drone, killing a woman and injuring a 70-year-old man.
The SES said that on the morning of 15 March, russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on Bilozirka, setting a truck on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.
The Prosecutor’s Office reported that at around 9:40pm on 15 March, russian forces dropped 2 KABs on Novooleksandrivka and Mykhailivka in Kherson oblast. Law enforcement authorities have opened a criminal investigation into russia’s war crimes.
According to the RMA, on 15 March, russian aviation struck Novooleksandrivka, injuring a woman. She was hospitalised in moderate condition.
Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, stated that on 15 March, 1 person was killed and 11 injured, including a child, due to russian attacks on Kherson oblast. The strikes damaged 2 high-rise buildings, 9 private houses, a garage and vehicles. 34 settlements in the oblast came under russian attacks.
Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine
Volyn oblast
The 1st Company of Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems received 10 BEZPEKA PRO BPK-8 VERESEN-T FPV drones, 10 VTX RuchFpv MAX Solo radio transmitters, 10 similar devices with an antenna, and 25 ELRS from Lutsk community.
Zakarpattia oblast
The RMA reported that in 2025, the regional budget has allocated UAH 1.8m to support soldiers who returned from the combat zone, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable categories in the oblast.
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
The RMA reported that art therapy classes were held at the Veteran PRO regional veterans’ space for women waiting for their relatives from the front.
Lviv oblast
The Garrison Church in Lviv hosted another ceremony to present the Order of the Hero’s Cross, an award established by the 24th King Danylo Separate Mechanized Brigade. This award is presented to families of fallen soldiers to honor their courage and fear.
A memorial tablet was unveiled in Strii region in memory of the fallen soldier Mykhailo Melnyk, sailor, sniper-reconnaissance shooter of the Reconnaissance Platoon. He was killed on 29 October 2024, during a combat mission on the left bank of Dnipro River in Kherson.
Ivan Pryymak, defender from Sheptytsk region, was awarded the Cross of Valor by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Currently, the sergeant from the village of Hlukhiv, Belz community, together with his comrades, is repelling the enemy near Kurakhovo.
Rivne oblast
Adaptive sports will be developed in Rivne oblast. A priority project for the oblast was chosen to support mental health. It is being scaled up in all communities. These are adaptive clubs Unrestrained, which were created for the recovery through physical activity of veterans, their families and people with disabilities who suffered as a result of the war. Currently, 8 such clubs are already operating in the oblast, and there will be 10 more.
Ternopil oblast
A new stamp City of Heroes. Mariupol dedicated to the anniversary of the tragedy of the air strike on the Mariupol Drama Theater was issued in Ternopil. Its author is Oleh Shupliak, a famous artist from Ternopil oblast. The surface of the stamp is covered with steel particles from Azovstal.
Khmelnytskyi oblast
474 active military personnel and veterans of Khmelnytskyi community will receive material assistance in the amount of over UAH 4m.
Chernivtsi oblast
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, awarded high state awards to national guardsmen from Bukovina. The awards were presented to families of the fallen Heroes. In accordance with the Presidential decree, soldiers Ion Olar and Mykyta Mironov were awarded with the III degree Order for Courage (posthumously) and Dmytro Tkachuk was awarded with the III degree Bohdan Khmelnytsky Order (posthumously).
International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
Mark Carney, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, assured of continued support for Ukraine and increased monitoring of sanctions against the russian federation.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his country is open to new proposals to support Ukraine and maintain a just and lasting peace.
US President Donald Trump has appointed General Kellogg as his special envoy to Ukraine. He will work directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leadership.
50 children from families of fallen defenders went on a 10-day vacation to Latvia thanks to the Howard Buffett Foundation, Ukrzaliznytsia, the Children’s Service and the Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia. The children will visit famous tourist sites, cultural and historical monuments, and will also take part in sports and entertainment events.
Materials compiled by Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia
Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova
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