Ukraine: Russians ‘pound’ Kyiv and Odessa amid diplomatic ‘tug-of-war’

LAST UPDATE: 15.33

A diplomatic “bra de fer” between Moscow and Kiev in the last hours, with the Kremlin submitting a proposal for neutrality of Ukraine based on a “Swedish or Austrian model” and the Ukrainian side rejecting it and asking for full security guarantees.

In particular, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov He said that “some formalities for agreements with Ukraine are nearing completion with the neutral regime for Kyiv being seriously considered.”

According to RBC, however, there are other important issues, including the use of the Russian language in Ukraine and freedom of speech, the security of citizens in eastern Ukraine, and the rights of Ukrainian-speakers in Ukraine.

“Peace talks with Ukraine are not easy,” Lavrov said. he added that there is hope for a compromise.

“I am guided by the assessments given to us by our negotiators. They say that the negotiations are not easy for obvious reasons. However, there is some hope of reaching a compromise,” he said.

At the same wavelength and the announcements from Kremlinwho reported that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are discussing “a neutral Ukraine on the model of Sweden and Austria”. “It is an option that is being discussed at the moment and which can be considered a compromise option,” said Dmitry Peshkov, a spokesman for the Russian presidency.

Leaks from the Ukrainian side, however, indicated that there was no agreement on a “Swedish or Austrian model”, while the Ukrainian negotiator Mikhail Podoliak tweeted that the “Ukrainian model of security guarantees” is on the table.a strict agreement with guarantor countries that will have a clear legal commitment to actively prevent aggressive actions against Ukraine“.

For his part Volodymyr Zelensky “In a new message, the peace talks are continuing” to lead to a just agreement for Ukraine that includes security guarantees that will protect it from future threats, “he said. to make a concession to Moscow, implying that Kyiv does not rule out the possibility of Ukraine abandoning its bid to join NATO, something that Russia considers casus belli. As he said in a videotaped message, the positions of the two sides in the negotiations now sound more realistic.

Cruise missiles hit Kyiv

In the field, four “Cruz” missiles hit the northwest of Kiev in the early hours of Wednesday and while in the Ukrainian capital there is a curfew until 7 am on Thursday.

The Russian rocket attacks continue on Wednesday morning. At least three loud explosions were heard in the western part of Kiev and many columns of thick, black smoke appeared in the sky. At present the local authorities have not announced a report of victims.

According to Ukrainian media, a 12-storey apartment complex in the central Shevchenkivsky district of Kiev was hit. Two people were injured in the blow, while 35 were released. A very loud explosion was heard in the east of Kiev at noon.

Aftermath shows Massive Explosion in Kyiv City.#UkraineRussianWar #RussiaUkraine #Ukraine #Russia #UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/HvVWjjXqVz

– UKRAINE LIVE 🇺🇦 (@defensesentinel) March 16, 2022

Moment of projectile explosion in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/LtMefkCq67

– lato (@ lato24_) March 16, 2022

❗️ As a result of overnight shelling, there was a collapse in an apartment building in #Kyiv.

According to preliminary information, two people were injured and 35 people were evacuated. Rescuers are still working at the site. pic.twitter.com/5LD9OztepA

– NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 16, 2022

“Hammering” in Odessa, fears of landing

“The Russian occupiers have begun bombarding the Ukrainian coast in the Odessa region from the ships,” Interior Minister Anton Geraschenko’s adviser said overnight, confirming that Russian pressure in the region was becoming increasingly suffocating.

According to information from the local authorities, in two areas west of Odessa, at least 90 shells were fired, while bombings took place by air and sea.

The first reports speak of at least two injured. The Kyiv Independent also reports that Russian warships bombed the Ukrainian coast in the Odessa region.

** BREAKING **

Russian Landing Ships seen heading towards Odessa, today. Now on Naval News. This is fluid, but may update as we learn more. https://t.co/ZB1oAiOThd

– HI Sutton (@CovertShores) March 15, 2022

In addition, satellite images showed 14 ships of the Russian fleet sailing to the city of Odessa, among them a 120-meter amphibious ship, the Pyotr Morgunov. “We can no longer guarantee the safety of anyone,” said the city mayor.

Residents fear the landing of Russian troops, while in the Sea of ​​Azov remain strong forces of the Russian Fleet.

US: Russian forces kill 10 people in line for bread in Chernihiv

The US Embassy in Kyiv announced on its official Twitter account that Russian forces shot and killed 10 people standing in line to get bread in the city Chernihiv.

According to the US embassy, ​​”such horrific attacks must stop. We are considering all available options to ensure that those responsible for possible atrocities in Ukraine are held accountable.”

Mariupol: 400 people remain hostage in hospital

The Ukrainian staff considers the situation in Mariupol, a besieged port of strategic importance in southeastern Ukraine, in the Sea of ​​Azov, critical. The Russian military is trying to blockade Mariupol on its western and eastern borders, but has suffered “heavy losses,” according to the Ukrainian military.

The residents of Mariupol remain trapped due to the Russian bombing, while they do not have running water, electricity and heating.

Vadim Denisenko, an adviser to the Interior Ministry, said about 20,000 civilians had so far managed to leave Mariupol in private vehicles. However, according to Ukrainian officials, at least 200,000 are in urgent need of evacuation.

The question of whether a “humanitarian corridor” will be opened in Mariupol today to evacuate more civilians from the besieged port city in southeastern Ukraine remains open, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Verestsuk said today.

Russian forces are in control of a hospital, which they seized yesterday, Tuesday, in Mariupol and 400 staff members and patients are being held hostage in it, Verestsuk noted in today’s video with her statements.

The Russian troops opened fire from artillery positions on the territory of the hospital, he underlined.

Bombings in Kharkov

In Kharkov, Russian forces launched a new offensive overnight, killing two people and destroying two residential complexes. “As a result of the bombing of high-rise buildings in the Nemyshlyansky district of Kharkiv, many apartments in two residential buildings were destroyed,” Ukraine’s emergency services said in a statement this morning.

A school was also reportedly attacked around 3 in the morning with part of the building being destroyed. Emergency services in the Kharkiv region announced today that at least 500 residents of the city have been killed since the start of the Russian invasion.

Damage in #Kharkiv after another night of heavy Russian strikes on the citypic.twitter.com/IDaW8DSOdH

– marqs (@MarQs__) March 16, 2022

At the same time in area of ​​HersonissosRussian forces have not advanced on either Zaporizhia or Nikolaev.

Local company- and battalion-level attacks by #Russian forces northwest of #Kyiv on March 14-15 likely indicate the largest-scale offensive operations that Russian forces attempting to encircle Kyiv can support at this time. https://t.co/OcViMLUIYZ pic.twitter.com/yXUeOJTU1d

– ISW (@TheStudyofWar) March 15, 2022

Meanwhile, the UK Department of Defense issued its latest information report on the situation in Ukraine, saying that Russian forces “are struggling to overcome the challenges posed by the territory of Ukraine” and have stopped their advance.

A train station in Zaporizhia was hit

Meanwhile, the city of Zaporizhia, which had largely escaped Russian attack and is a refuge for people fleeing Mariupol, was targeted today, mainly by one of its train stations, according to local authorities.

“Zaporizhian civilian facilities have been bombed for the first time,” Regional Governor Oleksandr Staruk told the Telegram.

“Rockets landed in the area of ​​Zaporizhia-2 station. According to the first information, no one was killed,” he added, noting that another rocket landed in the botanical garden.

Zaporizhia is the destination of the humanitarian corridor for the hundreds of thousands of residents of Mariupol who want to leave their city.

The city is also close to a nuclear power plant that was bombed on March 4 and has since been occupied by Russian forces.

The population of Zaporizhia is deprived of water and food, having been hiding in shelters for days.

Ukrainian forces are counterattacking, says Pontoliak

Ukraine’s armed forces are launching counterattacks against Russian forces “in various operational areas,” Presidential Adviser Mikhail Pontoliak said in a Twitter message today.

“This radically changes the layout of the sides,” he added, without elaborating.

What’s going on right now. 1. Counteroffensive of the AFU in several operational areas. This radically changes the parties’ dispositions. 2. Russian journalists start quitting TV channels. 3. RF leaders are trying to find allies whose soldiers will be ready to die in 🇺🇦 fields.

– Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 16, 2022

Ukrainian General Staff: Russia lost 40% of the invading forces

The Russian military has lost about 40 percent of its troops in Ukraine since launching an offensive on February 24, the Ukrainian military said today.

According to a statement from the staff, these units were either completely eliminated or lost their operational capabilities.

No specific numbers are given in the announcement. Its content is impossible to verify independently.