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Russian large-scale drone attack on Kryvyi Rih caused mass fires

A Russian drone attack on Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, caused multiple fires and damaged business premises, an office building, warehouses, and six cars, but no casualties have been reported. According to Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, the attack occurred overnight, with emergency services swiftly responding to extinguish the fires.

"The enemy attacked the oblast with drones last night. This caused several fires in Kryvyi Rih, which were extinguished by firefighters. An office building, warehouses, premises belonging to a business, and six cars were damaged in the city," Lysak stated. The attack underscores the continued threat posed by Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian urban centers and infrastructure.

Russia is negotiating with the United States on gas supply to Europe - Russian Foreign Minister

Moscow is in discussions with Washington regarding the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream pipelines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia’s First Channel, as reported by The Moscow Times.

"There is a conversation about the Nord Streams. It will probably be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and make it not abandon Russian gas," Lavrov stated. He also claimed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Economy Minister Robert Habeck oppose the idea.

Russia rejects calls to return Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russia’s Foreign Ministry declared on March 25 that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is a Russian facility and will not be transferred to Ukraine or any other country. The ministry also dismissed the possibility of joint operation, claiming that ensuring the plant’s physical and nuclear safety under such an arrangement would be impossible. Moscow bases its claim on the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions, including Zaporizhzhia, in September 2022, following staged referendums where residents were forced to vote under coercion. Despite the Kremlin’s false assertion that 98% of the population supported joining Russia, the so-called referendums were recognized only by Russia and North Korea, violating both Ukrainian and Russian law.

Russian forces captured the nuclear facility early in the full-scale invasion. While the plant no longer generates electricity, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog continues to monitor the site, as it does with all Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have disconnected the plant from the national power grid multiple times. Moscow has ignored international demands to relinquish control, while Ukraine continues to assert its jurisdiction over the plant. Meanwhile, during a recent phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could assist in operating and possibly even owning Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

Russia seeks the lifting of US sanctions in exchange for a ceasefire in the Black Sea

Russia has declared that it will not comply with the Black Sea ceasefire unless the United States lifts sanctions on state-owned Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in the international trade of food and fertilizers. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin is demanding Washington restore Russian banks' access to the SWIFT system, lift restrictions on trade-related financial transactions, and remove sanctions on companies producing and exporting food and fertilizers. Additionally, Moscow wants restrictions lifted on maritime insurance, port services, and the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia. The U.S. previously refused similar demands when Ukraine and Russia agreed to a grain deal in July 2022. While recent statements from both Washington and Moscow suggest possible concessions to facilitate Russian agricultural exports, ISW analysts note that the U.S. has not explicitly linked its sanctions relief to Russia’s acceptance of the ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged the possibility of lifting some sanctions before Russia takes reciprocal steps in the Black Sea, though no firm commitments have been made. Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s official statements remain vague, leaving room for differing interpretations regarding sanctions, compliance, and enforcement mechanisms. The ambiguity in Russia’s demands and the absence of clear oversight measures raise concerns over potential disputes between involved parties, particularly regarding the conditions for lifting restrictions and ensuring adherence to the ceasefire terms.

ISW analysts stress that any meaningful sanctions relief for Russia would likely require cooperation from the European Union, adding another layer of complexity to negotiations.

Russian strike on Sumy on March 24 injured 108 people, including 24 children -update

The number of people injured in Russia’s March 24 missile strike on Sumy has risen to 108, including 24 children, according to First Deputy Mayor Artem Kuznetsov. The attack targeted residential areas and critical infrastructure, including a children's hospital.

At least 30 high-rise buildings, 15 houses, warehouses, offices, and medical facilities sustained damage, the regional military administration reported. The strike came as Russian and U.S. delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned of Russian forces massing near Ukraine’s northeastern border, signaling a potential escalation of attacks on Sumy Oblast. Sumy, located just 30 kilometers from Russia, has faced relentless assaults since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.