Russian special services behind March 11 explosions in Ivano Frankivsk

On March 11, 2025, an explosion occurred near the railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, involving two teenagers allegedly recruited by Russian special services. According to reports from Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) and National Police released on March 12, 2025, the incident was a terrorist attack orchestrated remotely by Russian operatives. The teenagers, aged 17 and 15, were tasked with transporting explosives to a designated drop-off point near the station. The SSU alleges that the Russian handlers detonated the device once the teens reached the location, killing the 17-year-old instantly and severely injuring the 15-year-old, who lost both legs and an arm. Two bystanders were also wounded in the blast.

The explosion was not preceded by any air-raid warnings, and initial investigations point to a calculated effort by Russian special services to eliminate the teenagers as witnesses after using them to carry out the attack. The SSU reported that the operatives recruited the teens through online platforms, exploiting their vulnerability without revealing the full nature of the mission. This incident marks a disturbing shift in tactics, with Russian forces reportedly employing local agents in covert operations within western Ukraine, far from the active frontline. The blast caused panic in the area, damaged nearby infrastructure, and prompted heightened security measures around Ivano-Frankivsk’s transportation hubs as authorities continue to investigate and warn of further such threats.

Russia reportedly retook Sudzha but Ukraine hasn't confirmed yet

Russian forces have recaptured Sudzha, a key Ukrainian-held town in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 13. The claim has not been independently verified, but Ukraine previously confirmed ongoing battles in the area.

Sudzha, located about 10 km from Ukraine's border, was seized by Ukrainian troops during their incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024. Now, reports from military analysts, including DeepState and ISW, suggest Ukraine may be withdrawing from the town.

Russian officials released video footage showing the destroyed town, though its authenticity is unconfirmed. Ukrainian official Andrii Kovalenko said Sudzha was "almost entirely destroyed" by Russian airstrikes.

Russia’s military also reported taking nearby settlements of Melovoi and Podol. Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged the "difficult situation" but vowed to hold defenses "as long as reasonable and necessary."

The loss of Sudzha comes as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and after Washington recently resumed military aid to Kyiv.

Russia is suspected of having killed five Ukrainian prisoners of war in Kursk Oblast

Russian forces allegedly executed five Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on March 13.

Lubinets cited a video circulating online that reportedly shows unarmed Ukrainian soldiers killed after being captured near the village of Kozacha Loknya. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the video.

Lubinets condemned Russia's "cynical disregard" for international law and said he had alerted the UN and Red Cross to document the suspected war crime.

The report comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk Oblast on March 12, where he labeled captured Ukrainian soldiers "terrorists." Ukraine has documented at least 177 POW executions by Russian forces since 2022, with the UN also reporting a sharp rise in such killings since August 2024.

Top Putin`s aide says that Russia opposes temporary ceasefire

The Kremlin prefers a long-term settlement over a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on March 13, calling the U.S.-proposed truce a "respite for the Ukrainian military."

His comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly arrived in Moscow for talks on the 30-day ceasefire proposed during negotiations in Jeddah on March 11.

Ushakov said Russian President Vladimir Putin would decide Moscow’s stance later on March 13. He also told U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that Russia sees the ceasefire as a tactical pause for Ukraine, not a step toward peace.

Ushakov added that both sides agreed Ukraine's NATO membership would be off the table in peace talks — a key Russian demand long opposed by Moscow.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham warned of new sanctions on Russia if it rejects the ceasefire, targeting Russian exports like oil, gas, and uranium.

Russia has previously dismissed any truce that would freeze current front lines, and nationalist voices in Russia continue to oppose the proposal.