Ukraine's attack on Russian refineries and Defense Ministry's statement on mobilization: highlights for March 13

Attack on Russian refineries

On the night of March 13, the Security Service of Ukraine attacked three Russian oil refineries with drones — in Ryazan, Kstovo (Nizhny Novgorod region) and Kirishi (Leningrad region).

A law enforcement source told hromadske that these attacks are a continuation of a series of special operations against enemy refineries that the SBU had previously launched.

Plans to mobilize 500 thousand people

The Financial Times spoke with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which said that Ukraine plans to mobilize up to 500,000 people to the Defense Forces. Most of them are to replace exhausted soldiers at the front.

According to the FT, the number of Ukrainian soldiers at the front is currently estimated at 330,000. The rest of the newly mobilized soldiers are planned to be used to replace losses and cover other military needs, depending on the situation on the battlefield.

Later, the Ministry of Defense explained its words about the 500,000 people who are supposedly going to be mobilized. They called this number "general estimates" that may change depending on the development of the fighting and cannot be met immediately.

Russian attack on a high-rise building in Sumy

On the night of March 13, Russian troops shelled Sumy with Shahed drones. One of the drones hit a high-rise building, killing two people. The rescuers managed to save 10 people from the rubble, 8 of whom suffered injuries of varying severity. In addition, 30 apartments were damaged, 15 of which were destroyed.

As of the evening of March 13, the rubble was still being cleared. Earlier, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that three people could be missing.

€5 billion for weapons for Ukraine

EU ambassadors have given the green light to allocate €5 billion to purchase weapons for Ukraine.

According to Reuters, EU member states have been arguing for months over the European Peace Fund, which provides reimbursement to EU members for sending ammunition to other countries.

Changes in Ukraine's simplified trade with the EU

The European Parliament has amended the agreement on the continuation of trade liberalization with Ukraine. The decision of MEPs provides for stronger guarantees for EU farmers.

The deputies returned the document to the relevant committee of the European Parliament (which last week had already supported a similar decision) to start negotiations on amending the European Commission's proposal with the EU Council.

Other important news of the day

• The Defense Ministry will officially work with the DeepState project, which publishes maps of hostilities in Ukraine.
• Trump and Biden have passed the primaries. For the first time in almost 70 years, there will be a “rematch” in the US elections.
• A court in Moscow upholds the “verdict” against captured human rights activist Butkevych.
• Stefanchuk on the “reservation” for those with high incomes: “The cowardice tax has never worked before”.
• The Verkhovna Rada registers a bill to release convicts for contract service.