New head of Operational Command 'North' and Xi Jinping's intentions to talk to Zelenskyy: highlights of the day

Xi Jinping's intentions to talk to Zelenskyy

Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The conversation is likely to take place after his meeting with Putin in Moscow, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources.

The new head of Operational Command 'North'

Major General Viktor Nikolyuk has resigned from the post of head of Operational Command "North". He will be replaced by Brigadier General Dmytro Krasylnykov. Until now, he was the deputy commander of OC "North". Prior to that, Krasylnykov commanded the 34th battalion of the Kirovohrad Oblast's territorial defense, which was later reorganized into the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.

After the outbreak of full-scale war, he was awarded the Order of the Golden Star for preventing the Russians from advancing deeper into Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Krasylnykov was also awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for his command of the Ukrainian military for several days repelling the occupiers' attacks and preventing the Russians from advancing on Kharkiv from Luhansk Oblast.

Moldovan origin of Matsieyevskyi

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova stated that Oleksandr Matsiyevskyi, who was shot by the occupiers after saying "Glory to Ukraine!", was a citizen of Moldova.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the murder of the Moldovan citizen and noted that this act can be qualified as a war crime and a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

Ukrainians' desire to return Crimea

64% of Ukrainians surveyed believe that Ukraine should try to liberate the entire territory, including Crimea, even if there is a risk of reduced Western support and a risk of a longer war.

In contrast, 24% of Ukrainians surveyed are more inclined to the option that in exchange for the liberation and protection of all territories including Donbas (but excluding Crimea), Ukraine could refrain from military action on the peninsula.

UOC-MP reluctant to leave Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) does not intend to move out of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, its abbot, Metropolitan Pavlo (Lebid), has said.

He noted that he would not mind a visit to the monastery by a commission set up to investigate possible violations of property use. Pavlo also said that the UOC-MP plans to "defend its rights to the last" and urged its supporters to do so.

Privatization of seaport

The State Property Fund held an auction for the sale of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Commercial Sea Port. The winner offered UAH 220 million ($5.952 million).

The government says that in recent years, the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi port has shown significant losses. In 2019-2021, the losses ranged from UAH 23.5-28.5 million ($636K-771K). In January-September 2022, the port also suffered losses of UAH 2.9 million ($78,500).

Extension of "grain deal"

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that Russia is not against the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative after its expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days.

The official noted that in the future, Russia's position will be determined by the situation with Russian agricultural exports, including bank payments, logistics, and ammonia supplies via the Togliatti-Odesa pipeline.

The situation at the front

The General Staff said that the Russian occupation forces continue to focus on conducting offensive actions on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarsk axes. They continue to try to reach the administrative border of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Fighting continues in Bakhmut.

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, the Ukrainian military has already killed 159,800 Russian troops during the full-scale war. On March 12 alone, Russia lost 710 of its soldiers, eight tanks, 16 artillery systems and other equipment.

New consequences of aggression

On March 13, in the village of Posad-Pokrovske, Kherson Oblast, four pyrotechnicians of the State Emergency Service and a civilian were injured by Russian explosives. The civilian died and the pyrotechnics were hospitalized. The occupiers also continued to shell Ukrainian settlements, killing civilians, among others:

• they shelled the village of Kutsurubska community in Mykolaiv Oblast, killing a man and a woman. In addition, a 7-year-old child was hospitalized, and two other people were injured;
• the village of Znob-Novhorodske in Sumy Oblast was shelled. As a result, one person was killed;
• the towns of Avdiyivka and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast were shelled. One person was killed and seven others were wounded.