Attack on the power grid, SBU aviation center and military aid from the UK: highlights for March 22

Massive shelling of the Ukrainian energy system

At night and on the morning of March 22, Ukrainian energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine came under massive Russian attack. There were casualties. Air defense forces shot down 92 air targets out of 151.

The shelling caused damage in Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions. There were emergency power outages, and in some regions, schedules were introduced.

In Kharkiv, the Russians tried to hit absolutely all the power facilities that supply the city. In addition, the Russians hit Ukraine's largest hydroelectric power plant, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia. Blackout schedules were introduced in four regions of Ukraine. Due to the shelling of the Ukrainian energy sector, Zaporizhzhia NPP is on the verge of a blackout. A total of 5 people were killed in the enemy's attacks, including in Khmelnytskyi and Zaporizhzhia. About 30 others were injured.

Military assistance from the UK

The UK will provide a new military aid package worth £60 million (about $75.5 million). One-third of this money will be spent on air defense systems to “help preserve the Ukrainian sky”. In addition, London will provide new surveillance drones to support the Defense Forces.

UN office disrupts aid organization

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine has accused the Ukrainian office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) of disrupting the organization of international aid.

Representatives of specialized associations, small and medium-sized farmers, and other stakeholders have reported that the FAO is not implementing, not fully implementing, or is not implementing some of the international aid projects for the war-affected regions on time.

SBU Aviation Center

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the creation of an Aviation Center to be operated by the Security Service of Ukraine. According to the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, the Aviation Center of the Security Service of Ukraine was created at the suggestion of the SBU itself. The institution will be responsible for protecting the sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, preventing and solving offenses against the peace and security of mankind, etc.

The US opposes strikes on Russian refineries

The Financial Times, citing three unnamed sources, reported that the United States has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refining infrastructure, as these strikes could raise world oil prices and provoke retaliation.

Washington is also allegedly concerned that if Ukraine continues to strike Russian facilities, Russia could retaliate by attacking the energy infrastructure on which the West relies.

At the same time, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Office, called the information published by the Financial Times “fictitious”.

Shooting in the Moscow region

Unidentified persons in camouflage opened fire in the concert hall of the Crocus City Hall music center in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region. Later, a fire broke out there.

According to the propagandists, three people in camouflage broke into the concert hall and opened fire on the crowd. After that, they threw a grenade or a firebomb, which started a fire.

According to Russian resources, about 40 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in the attack.

Johnson wants to resign

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green has initiated the resignation of US House Speaker Mike Johnson. This happened against the backdrop of outrage over the public funding bill. Green's proposal is to be considered within two legislative days. However, this will happen after the House returns from recess on April 9.

According to her, the bill destroys the majority in the House of Representatives. It does not take into account the border issue, allowing “people in every one of the 160 countries in the world” to “invade” the United States. Johnson himself refused to comment on the motion filed against him.

Other important news

• Germany plans to allocate €300 million for a Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
• Power engineers managed to launch part of the equipment at the Dnipro hydroelectric station despite significant damage after Russian shelling.
• Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, announced that she has been diagnosed with cancer. According to her, she is in the early stages of treatment and feels well.
• In March, about $9 billion in aid is expected from various international partners, said MP Roksolana Pidlasa.
• Ukraine opened the fourth recruitment center for the Armed Forces in the last two months - it started working in Poltava.