Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih kills 4, injures 44

The city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast faced a devastating attack on March 12, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread destruction. According to Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city's military administration, the Russian attack initiated a fire in a residential building, claiming the lives of three women and a man.

At least three missile strikes were recorded in the city, with one targeting a nine-story building and another hitting the roof of a five-story building. Rescue operations persisted until around 10 p.m. local time, with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak confirming that 44 people were wounded in the attack. Among the injured were at least 20 adults and nine children, including infants as young as two months old and eleven months old.

Tragically, one 47-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries in the hospital overnight on March 13. The aftermath of the attack left significant damage to residential buildings and shops, with walls, roofs, and windows affected.

Kryvyi Rih, home to approximately 660,000 residents, has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces since the onset of the full-scale war. The city endured a particularly severe attack in July 2023, resulting in six deaths and over 70 injuries.

In response to the March 12 attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the relentless nature of Russian aggression and the urgent need for continued support in protecting Ukrainian lives. Zelensky's message underscores the ongoing threat faced by Ukrainian communities and the imperative of sustained efforts to counteract the terror inflicted by Russian forces.

Putin dismisses peace talks 'just because Ukraine is running out of ammunition'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the idea of initiating negotiations with Ukraine solely due to the dwindling ammunition stocks in Kyiv, labeling such a notion as "ridiculous." Despite facing critical shortages in ammunition and facing delays in receiving military aid from the U.S. due to disputes in Congress, Ukrainian officials argue against halting the flow of weapons, asserting that doing so would only expedite Russian occupation.

Speaking in an interview with Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti and Russia-1 TV channel on March 13, Putin emphasized Moscow's readiness to engage in negotiations based on the current realities on the ground. However, he accused Kyiv and its Western partners of repeatedly reneging on promises made to Russia in the past.

Putin reiterated Russia's stance on the goals of the full-scale invasion, which include the so-called "demilitarization" and "de-Nazification" of Ukraine. Despite claims from Ukrainian officials regarding a 10-step peace formula, which includes a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, Moscow has rejected this proposal.

The Wall Street Journal reported on a document from unsuccessful peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022, indicating that Russian peace terms include severe restrictions on Ukraine's Armed Forces and a ban on joining military blocs like NATO. Such terms would effectively render Ukraine permanently vulnerable to Russian aggression.

Putin did not specify the exact "security guarantees" that Russia seeks in negotiations but reiterated Russia's insistence on its strategic objectives. As tensions persist and Russian forces continue to make advancements in eastern Ukraine, the prospect of meaningful negotiations remains uncertain, further complicating efforts to end the conflict.

Russian attack on Sumy killed two people, injured eight

The city of Sumy in Ukraine faced a tragic drone attack overnight, resulting in the loss of two lives and injuring at least eight individuals, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service on March 13. Rescue operations are ongoing as there may still be individuals trapped under the rubble. Earlier reports indicated three people were missing, and at least ten have been rescued.

The bodies of two residents were recovered from the rubble in the afternoon, though their age and gender were not specified in the report. The attack, conducted by a Shahed-type drone, caused significant damage to a five-story apartment building, with 15 apartments being damaged and another 30 destroyed.

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, as Russia also targeted other residential buildings in Ukraine. In Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a drone strike on a nine-story apartment building resulted in the deaths of five residents and injured 43 others, including children. Additionally, a bomb attack on a residential building in Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, claimed the lives of two individuals and wounded seven more.

These devastating attacks further underscore the urgent need for international action to address the ongoing conflict and protect civilians in Ukraine. The indiscriminate targeting of residential areas demonstrates the callous disregard for human life by those perpetrating these acts of violence.