Putin's visit to Mariupol and a Russian strike on a house in Zaporizhzhia: today's highlights
Russian propagandists reported that Putin visited the temporarily occupied Mariupol at night; Russia struck a house in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing three people. We have collected the key news for today.
Putin's visit
On March 19, Russian propaganda outlets disseminated information and video that Russian President Vladimir Putin had arrived in the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast.
The propagandists wrote that Putin inspected several facilities in the city and talked to local residents. He allegedly arrived in Mariupol by helicopter. He drove a car around several districts of the city, making stops.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin came to Mariupol at night because the darkness hides the situation in the destroyed city.
Russian shelling of a house
On March 19, Russian occupation forces shelled a residential building in Kamianske, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. As a result, three people were killed and two others were injured.
The Regional Military Administration said that the Russians carried out shelling using a Grad multiple rocket launcher system. Two of the wounded are already receiving medical care.
Deaths of soldiers in Chernihiv Oblast
Four servicemen were killed in an accident at the 169th Desna training center named after Prince Yaroslav the Wise in Chernihiv Oblast. The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an internal investigation.
The training center did not disclose any further details, but at the same time wrote that “the causes and circumstances are being investigated”.
Briefly about other news
- The Republic of South Africa has said it is aware of its legal obligations regarding the arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He may visit the country in August;
- A drone crashed in the Tula region of Russia. At the same time, the authorities of the Kursk region reported shelling of border settlements, no one was injured;
- In the afternoon of March 19, Russian occupation forces fired artillery at Bilozerka, Kherson Oblast. The attack resulted in a casualty;
- Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked why Russia did not start a full-scale war in 2014. He replied that at the time, Russia allegedly wanted to resolve the situation in Donbas peacefully, and also did not yet have hypersonic weapons;
- The lack of explosives complicates Europe's efforts to produce weapons for Ukraine. This could delay the increase in shell production for three years, the Financial Times writes.