Moscow announced a pause in negotiations with Ukraine

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the negotiation process to end Russia’s war against Ukraine is currently on hold. He explained that diplomatic contacts have paused because the United States is now focused on other priorities.

“There was a pause in the negotiations regarding Ukraine. Americans have other preferences, and we understand that,” Peskov said.

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Axios that Ukraine believes the war should end as soon as possible and that there is no time for “philosophy” in negotiations. He warned that the Russian side could try to return to its original positions in talks simply to buy time for its troops on the battlefield.

According to Zelensky, Kyiv agreed to a U.S. proposal to hold another round of negotiations, though it is still unclear whether a direct meeting with Russia will take place. Earlier, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow had invited Zelenskyy to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and claimed Russia would guarantee his safety if he agreed.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that Kyiv is open to a direct meeting with Putin to discuss key issues such as ending the war, Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. However, Zelenskyy ruled out holding negotiations in Russia or Belarus, calling the invitation to Moscow a political maneuver by those who are not genuinely interested in ending the war.

Ukraine reportedly strikes an oil hub in Russia

Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil facility in southern Russia overnight on March 15, targeting the Tikhoretsk oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai, according to Russian Telegram media channels.

The facility, located near the Black Sea, is considered one of the largest oil logistics hubs in southern Russia. It forms part of a major oil infrastructure complex that includes a large depot and terminal used to store and transport fuel and petroleum products.

Videos and photos shared by residents on social media appeared to show large flames rising from the direction of the pumping station following the reported strike. The reports could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate information about the extent of the damage or the specific infrastructure targeted.

The reported attack comes just three days after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) allegedly targeted the same facility’s infrastructure, causing a significant fire there.

Ukraine has increasingly carried out deep strikes on military and industrial facilities in Russia and in Russian-occupied territories, primarily using domestically developed drones. The campaign has focused heavily on oil and gas infrastructure, which provides a key source of revenue for Moscow’s war effort.

A day earlier, Ukraine also struck the Afipsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai, sparking another large fire, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

Russia hit a checkpoint near Chernihiv: one soldier killed and five injured

A Russian drone strike hit a checkpoint near the village of Novoselivka, Chernihiv Oblast in the Kyselivka community on the afternoon of March 15, killing one Ukrainian soldier and injuring several others, local authorities reported.

According to the Chernihiv City Military Administration, the attack resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries among Ukrainian service members. A police officer was also wounded in the strike.

Chernihiv City Military Administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi said that explosive devices dropped from the drone were still detonating at the scene.

“Unidentified explosive devices dropped from the UAV are still detonating; the appropriate services are working at the scene,” Bryzhynskyi said.

Later updates reported that five service members were injured and taken to medical facilities in Chernihiv for treatment. The injured police officer suffered a concussion.

A Russian drone targeted an ambulance vehicle

wo medics were killed in Kharkiv Oblast after a Russian drone struck a special emergency medical vehicle transporting wounded people, according to Ukraine’s emergency medical services.

The Kharkiv Center for Emergency Medical Assistance and Disaster Medicine said the attack deliberately targeted personnel who were carrying out rescue work and were unarmed.

The victims were identified as doctor Dmytro Andriiovych Kolesnyk and emergency medical technician Oleh Viktorovych Zhuravlev.

“As a result of this attack, our colleagues — our doctors, people who saved the lives of others every day — were killed,” the center said in a statement.

Colleagues described the two medics as heroes who continued fulfilling their duty to help others until the very end.

The Center for Emergency Medical Care emphasized the deliberate attacks of Russian terrorists on those who go to save lives and do not have weapons.