Overnight drone attack, IMF deal worth over $15 billion: last night's highlights
Overnight, air defense systems were operating in a number of regions, Ukraine and the IMF reached an agreement on $15.6 billion in financial aid, and China said it was ready to deepen strategic cooperation with Russia regardless of the situation in the world. Here's what you may have missed from the previous night.
Overnight attack
In the early hours of March 22, the Russian occupiers launched a new attack on Ukraine. In Kyiv Oblast, shortly after midnight, the local administration warned of a threat of a drone attack, and at 1 a.m. it became known that air defense was operating in the region.
Air defense forces were also reported to be operating in Zhytomyr Oblast at around 2:20 am. And an explosion was heard in Khmelnytskyi at 2:30 am.
A civilian facility was damaged in Kyiv Oblast as a result of the attack. Three people have been reported dead, and another seven injured, including a minor. There is also damage in Zhytomyr Oblast.
Agreement with IMF for more than $15 billion
The Ukrainian authorities and the management of the International Monetary Fund have reached a staff-level agreement on a new four-year Extended Fund Facility program totaling about $15.6 billion.
These funds will be used to support the Ukrainian authorities in the areas of fiscal, external, price and financial stability, as well as to support the country's gradual economic recovery.
Deepening China's cooperation with Russia
During his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that China is ready to further deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership with Russia regardless of changes in the international situation.
Xi Jinping emphasized that Russia and China should "support each other in matters relating to each other's core interests and jointly resist interference in internal affairs by external forces."
Japan to allocate $30 million for non-lethal weapons
Japan has decided to allocate $30 million to supply non-lethal weapons to Ukraine. The country also intends to allocate another $470 million to restore Ukraine's energy and other industries. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized that Japan is committed to supporting Ukraine in the future.
Removal of property from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Ukraine's Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that property donated by citizens was being removed from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
A Radio Liberty correspondent said that on March 21, seminarians and clergymen were already packing up some things in the monastery, where they were checking the safety of cultural property. In particular, they are taking out books, bookshelves and personal belongings, sofas, furniture, sinks, etc.
Other news:
- The Belarusian initiative BYPOL says that the killing of a "foreign terrorist" by the security services in Belarus was staged to intimidate citizens.
- A married couple was killed in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, when their house was hit by a Russian shell. Another man was killed in Krasnohorivka.
- Amid the latest explosions in occupied Crimea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia's "most far-sighted rats" are already fleeing.
- A court in Germany ordered a man wearing a Z-shirt to donate 1,500 euros to help Ukraine.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a phone conversation with Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
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