Russia-Ukraine war updates for March 19, 2022
Russia launches hypersonic missiles to strike a Ukraine arms depot
Russia said it has used hypersonic Kinzhal, or Dagger, missiles to destroy a weapons depot in Ukraine’s western Ivano-Frankivsk region, Reuters reports.
It was the first time Russia had deployed its hypersonic Kinzhal system since the start of the war, Russia’s Interfax news agency said.
Defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a briefing that the underground depot hit by the Kinzhal system on Friday housed Ukrainian missiles and aircraft ammunition. Reuters said it was not able to independently verify Konashenkov’s comments.
— Terri Cullen
No major changes in fighting over last 24 hours, Ukrainian authorities say
A man walks on a shell-damaged street in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 18, 2022.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Ukrainian authorities have not observed any comprehensive shifts in front-line areas over the past 24 hours, according to an advisor to Ukraine’s presidential office.
Reuters reports that Oleksiy Arestovych said in a video address Saturday that fighting was ongoing. They cited the cities of Mariupol, Mykolaiv and Kherson as among the hotspots where Russian troops were on the offensive.
— Sam Meredith
Ukraine military orders 38-hour curfew in southern city of Zaporizhzhya
Ukraine’s military has ordered a 38-hour curfew in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya, starting at 2 p.m. London time on Saturday and ending early on Monday.
“Do not go outside at this time!” Deputy mayor Anatoliy Kurtiev said, according to Reuters.
— Sam Meredith
Ukraine hopes to open 10 humanitarian corridors on Saturday
Injured civilians from Mariupol, receive treatment in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on March 18, 2022 as evacuations from Mariupol continue amid Russian attacks.
Stringer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said the country hopes to evacuate citizens via 10 humanitarian corridors from cities and towns on the front line of Russia’s invasion.
A corridor had been agreed for the besieged city of Mariupol, Vereshchuk said, according to Reuters. Previous attempts to secure safe passage for civilians under a temporary ceasefire have mostly failed, with Russia and Ukraine blaming one another.
It has been reported roughly 350,000 people are sheltering in the southeastern city of Mariupol, with no access to food or water.
— Sam Meredith
UN reports 2,149 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion
Handout image shows an apartment building after a rocket strike, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine March 18, 2022.
National Police of Ukraine | via Reuters
The United Nations has reported 2,149 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion over three weeks ago, with 816 killed and 1,333 injured.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights believes the actual figures are likely considerably higher, particularly given intense hostilities in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions in recent days.
Most of the civilian casualties recorded so far were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, the U.N. said, including shelling and…
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