Russian strike hit Ukraine’s largest dam, Kyiv says
Ukraine’s state hydropower company said today that a Russian strike hit the country’s largest dam, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia, but that there was no risk of a breach, Reuters reported.
“There is currently a fire at the station. Emergency services and energy workers are working on the spot, dealing with the consequences of numerous airstrikes,” said Ukrhydroenerho, which runs Ukraine’s network of dams.
Herman Halushchenko, the Ukrainian energy minister, said it was the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the recent past.
“The goal is not just to damage, but to try again, like last year, to cause a large-scale failure of the country’s energy system,” he wrote on Facebook, according to Reuters.
Key events
The eurozone summit has ended, and leaders are now discussing agriculture.
The Financial Times reported this morning that the US had urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.
In response to the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “this is a matter for the United States. We would prefer that the United States call on the Kyiv regime to abandon its essence, and above all terrorist activity against civilian targets and residential homes,” Reuters reported.
Maia Sandu, the Moldovan president, has reiterated calls for more aid for Kyiv.
“Ukraine needs to be provided with whatever it needs so it can resist the invasion and defend peace in Europe,” she said.
This morning, Russia launched over 90 missiles and 60 Shahed drones across Ukraine, hitting critical infrastructure. Their aggression knows no bounds. Ukraine needs to be provided with whatever it needs so it can resist the invasion and defend peace in Europe.
— Maia Sandu (@sandumaiamd) March 22, 2024
‘Mistakes are setting the course of the entire century,’ Lithuanian minister says
The Lithuanian foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has strongly criticised western policies toward Ukraine after the latest Russian strikes targeting Ukraine.
“We choked the weapons supply, we failed to provide enough air defence, and now we ask Ukrainians to sit on their hands while cruise missiles land on their families,” he said, adding: “Such mistakes are setting the course of the entire century. And there is no justification for any of this.”
We choked the weapons supply, we failed to provide enough air defence, and now we ask Ukrianians to sit on their hands while cruise missiles land on their families. Such mistakes are setting the course of the entire century. And there is no justification for any of this. pic.twitter.com/ILreho4v1R
— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) March 22, 2024
Ukraine’s defence ministry has shared data about the types of drones and missiles it says Russia had used overnight.
Overnight, Ukrainian forces shot down 92 of the 151 russian aerial targets.
The terrorist state attacked Ukraine with:
•63 Shahed UAVs
•12 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
•40 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles
•5 Kh-22 cruise missiles
•7 Kh-47 M2 (Kinzhal) aeroballistic missiles… pic.twitter.com/orRb9pSd5I— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 22, 2024
Ukrainian energy grid gets help from abroad
After Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine’s grid is getting urgent assistance from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, national grid operator Ukrenergo said, Reuters reported.
Russia is at war due to Western intervention, Kremlin spokesperson says
Russia regards itself to be in a state of war due to the West’s intervention on Ukraine’s side, the TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, Reuters reported.
EU to impose tariff on Russian grain
![Lisa O'Carroll](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/11/23/1290506292406/Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1e4c6bcff1d230feea02bb6ea7d8bcce)
Lisa O’Carroll
The EU is set to impose a tariff of up to 50% on Russia grain imports amid fears that the Kremlin could flood the bloc with cut cost wheat to destabilise the European market
The proposal, unveiled by the European commission president Ursula von der Leyen, follows a plea yesterday to EU leaders by Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to do something about grain “stolen” from occupied territories by the Russians.
“We propose the imposition of tariffs on these Russian imports to mitigate the growing risk to our markets and our farmers. They will reduce Russia’s capacity to exploit the EU for the benefit of its war machine,” she said.
But it is mainly intended to head off a potential illegal dumping of grain as the Kremlin seeks to weaponise as much as it can in its war against Ukraine.
‘Russian missiles have no delays’, Zelenskiy says, stressing ‘cost’ of postponed aid decisions
In a sharply-worded post this morning responding to Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said “Russian missiles have no delays, unlike aid packages for Ukraine.”
He added:
“Shahed” drones have no indecision, unlike some politicians.
It is critical to understand the cost of delays and postponed decisions.
Patriot systems must protect Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia; air defense is required to protect people, infrastructure, homes, and dams.
Our partners know exactly what is needed. They can definitely support us. These are necessary decisions. Life must be protected from these savages from Moscow.
This night, Russia launched over 60 “Shahed” drones and nearly 90 missiles of various types at Ukraine. The world sees the Russian terrorists’ targets as clearly as possible: power plants and energy supply lines, a hydroelectric dam, ordinary residential buildings, and even a… pic.twitter.com/5dX2fAMMiE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 22, 2024
Here are the latest images from Ukraine this morning.
More than 1 million without power in Ukraine following strikes
More than 1 million consumers across Ukraine were without power after overnight Russian air strikes on energy facilities, Reuters reported citing a top presidential official.
The strikes had affected around 700,000 residents in Kharkiv region, at least 200,000 each in the southern Odesa and southeastern Dnipropetrovsk regions and 110,000 in the Poltava region, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy head of the presidential administration.
‘Ukraine needs more air defence systems’, ministry says following strikes
After the latest round of Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine’s defence ministry reiterated a plea to the west for more air defences.
“Ukraine needs more air defense systems to protect our people and infrastructure from missile attacks. The world needs to defeat russian evil,” it said.
Overnight, russia attacked Ukraine with more than 60 Shahed UAVs and almost 90 missiles of various types.
The main targets for russian terrorists are energy facilities, including Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power plant, and apartment buildings.Ukraine needs more air… pic.twitter.com/f8s5qE88Cn
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 22, 2024
Russian strike hit Ukraine’s largest dam, Kyiv says
Ukraine’s state hydropower company said today that a Russian strike hit the country’s largest dam, the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia, but that there was no risk of a breach, Reuters reported.
“There is currently a fire at the station. Emergency services and energy workers are working on the spot, dealing with the consequences of numerous airstrikes,” said Ukrhydroenerho, which runs Ukraine’s network of dams.
Herman Halushchenko, the Ukrainian energy minister, said it was the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the recent past.
“The goal is not just to damage, but to try again, like last year, to cause a large-scale failure of the country’s energy system,” he wrote on Facebook, according to Reuters.
Kyiv says Russia launched mass strike on energy infrastructure
Ukraine said this morning that Russian drones and missiles targeted power plants, energy supply lines, a hydroelectric dam, and residential buildings.
Over 60 drones & nearly 90 missiles of various types, 🇷🇺 launched to attack Ukraine today
The targets were power plants & energy supply lines, hydroelectric dam, residential buildings, even a trolleybus
Every delayed decision to aid 🇺🇦 has consequences#RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/VW8v3lpg3H
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 22, 2024
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the blog, where today we will be looking at the latest updates from an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels and from Ukraine.
Send tips to [email protected].