Twenty-fifth day of Ukrainian people’s heroic fight against the russian military invasion.

About us: The “Active Community” Initiative was launched by activists of the “Republic” Institute after Euromaidan (2014), which focused on the activation and engagement of Ukrainians in the decision-making process. 2025 goal is to activate and engage at least 1% of citizens in the decision-making process and promote reforms in Ukraine on a systemic basis for the well-being of the Ukrainian communities. Today we operate in 30 communities in Ukraine.

Ukraine in Brief:

Twenty fifth day of Ukrainian people’s heroic fight against the russian military invasion.

There have been no substantial changes in defensive force action's status, position, or nature in the past 24 hours. The defenders of Ukraine reliably stand their ground in areas and lines under their control.

Considerable losses among the top brass and senior staff of rf armed forces’ military formations and units have been confirmed. 

There are signs of preparations for the invasion of the territory of Ukraine among the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus. The national defense forces are ready to fend off. 

In the Polissya area, the enemy attempts to consolidate on the objectives expecting reserve reinforcements to its formation and preparing for an ambush on the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.

The aggressors have renewed aerial reconnaissance, airstrikes, and shellings of positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

No active advancement has been registered in the Chernihiv Oblast. Our defenders dealt a strike to invaders’ positions. Having sustained multiple losses, the enemy is forced to fall back to a defensive position and is placing mines in the area.

There have been no active offensive actions of the invaders in the Kharkiv Oblast. The enemy tried to establish control over the city of Izyum but lost the combat capacity of its units and was stopped. 

Large-caliber artillery positions have been identified on the Belgorod Oblast nearby the State border of Ukraine.

Enemy’s primary efforts in Donetsk's direction have focused on assaults at Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, and Popasna. The aggressor tried to break through the defense lines of the Ukrainian military in the area of Verkhnyotoretske, but the attempt was unsuccessful and resulted in losses.

The blockade and shellings of the hero city of Mariupol continue.

There has been no active offensive action in the Mykolayiv Oblast; the enemy has switched to defense. 

The Kherson Oblast is occupied.

Northern Oblasts

Kyiv

The russians continue to shell the capital. In the Sviatoshynskyi Area, the shell hit a yard near a ten-story apartment building. The house was damaged, cars in the yard burned down. 5 people were injured.

After the curfew, Kyiv continues to live in wartime. The city's infrastructure is working. Communal workers, transporters, doctors, and rescuers are on duty. All utilities are provided.

Kyiv Oblast

The most active hostilities are in the Bucha District. Makariv is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but still constantly under enemy fire. The russian military is also shelling Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel, and Moshchun.

The enemy shelled the village of Novi Petrivtsi, Vyshhorod District.

On the second day of the full-scale war, the russians occupied Ivankiv, Dymersk, and Polissya communities. Since then, there has been no electricity, water, heating, or communication. In Dymer, the occupiers appointed their head of the community. In Demydiv, there is a threat of flooding the village due to the dam's destruction of the Kyiv reservoir.

The enemy blocks Slavutych. The staff of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Pant (NPP) was partially rotated. Some of the people who were on the territory of the temporarily occupied station for 23 days were evacuated. To replace the evacuees, 46 volunteer workers went to the Chernobyl NPP to perform their duties and ensure the enterprise's operation.

Zhytomyr Oblast

At night there were air alarms. In one of the villages of the Korosten District, the russians were hit with missiles and destroyed an industrial building. Zhytomyr, for the second time, received Starlink equipment. 

Sumy Oblast

For a week in a row, the occupiers fired "hail" at the suburbs of Sumy with artillery. On March 18th, in the temporarily occupied Trostyanets, russians threw grenades at civilians. Two died.

The UN delivered the first humanitarian convoy to Sumy Oblast. There is medicine, water, ready meals, equipment for repairing plumbing systems.

Chernihiv Oblast

The occupiers continue to shell Chernihiv and Nizhyn chaotically. According to the governor of the Chernihivska oblast, the russians agonize over numerous defeats and target civilian infrastructure and residential neighborhoods.

Chernihiv is suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe. There is no electricity or heat in the city. Most of the population is without gas. The situation with the water supply is critical. Russian war criminals raided a base hospital on the outskirts of the city. The windows were broken in the medical institution, so patients were forced to stay in cold rooms.

Eastern Oblasts

Kharkiv Oblast

During the night, the Russians hit Kharkiv several times. As a result of the shelling near the Kharkiv Tractor Plant, 2 civilians were killed, including a 9-year-old child. The Armed Forces of Ukraine went on the counterattack in some areas.

Donetsk Oblast

Bakhmut

There is no military action, but the situation is tense. Residents of Popasna, Rubizhne, and Severodonetsk continue to evacuate to Bakhmut. Bakhmut prepared for a meeting of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Police officers are conducting intensive patrols of the community streets, and the State Emergency Service is also working in an intensified mode. Public utilities are operational.

Kramatorsk

The situation remains alarming. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are preparing to meet the enemy. Territorial Defense Forces continue to patrol the city. Communal establishments function, the evacuation of citizens continues, humanitarian aid arrives, and is distributed among those who need it. People continue to volunteer for the sake of the city.

Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk District

The occupiers continue to shoot at civilians in Avdiivka. As a result of the shelling, civilians and police officers were killed and wounded. Another resident died from the russian bombardment in Novoselivka. Two people got injured in Orlivka.

After the shelling, the 6 kW electric power transmission line in Hnativka was damaged. Restoration work has been partially completed. Pyrotechnicians continue to detect and eliminate explosives after the shelling in Pokrovsk on March 18th. The territory of Hnativka is being examined for the presence of explosive devices.

Residents continue to work to eliminate the consequences of the recent shelling. Today 213 people, including 52 children, were evacuated. This includes 73 people (17 children) from Avdiivka, 43 people (6 children) from Verkhnotoretske, 22 people (7 children) from Ocheretyne.

The evacuation train to Dnipro continues to operate. There is diesel fuel, gas, and 95 octane petrol in Pokrovsk gas stations. 

Mariupol

Street fights have been going on in Mariupol for the last 6 days. The occupiers control most of the Left Bank, 16-23 districts, and territory further to Freedom Square. They forcibly evacuate people from the occupied territories and take them to Russia.

Yesterday, March 19th, the russian occupiers dropped bombs on the Art School №12 in the Left Bank district of Mariupol, where about 400 Mariupol residents were hiding. Today, russia fired at Mariupol from four warships.

"Azov" destroyed the GRU (The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) Special Forces from the Kabardino-Balkaria Republiс military unit. 

Southern Oblasts

Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Occupants continue to shell positions with mortar launchers, tanks, helicopters, and powerful rocket systems. They receive fierce resistance back.

There are recorded cases of the russian military stopping and not letting in the humanitarian convoy. Russian terrorists spread letters with proposals to turn to occupation administration. They promise citizens to cancel credit debts and entrepreneurs – benefits for their businesses. Such cases are documented in Berdiansk, Melitopol, Vasylkiv, and Polohivskii Districts.

Russian terrorist troops continue to violate international conventions on war principles openly - cases documented of occupants using Ukrainian army uniforms to do subversive and discreditable actions. The russian military also violates international humanitarian law by covering using IDPs for shelling Ukrainian positions. Occupants stop civilian convoys and form their own armored vehicles convoy in the forest close to the humanitarian corridor.

Occupants use “Grads,” “Nona,” and tanks to shell the Ukrainian army, infrastructure objects, and civilian houses.

There are problems with cell networks in temporarily occupied communities and partly with water and gas supply. There is a lack of food products and medicine as russian occupants prevent the supply of humanitarian help. Such a situation occurs in Mykhailivka, Polohy, Huliaypole, Rozivka, and other cities.

Zaporizhzhia

In Zaporizhzhia, there ware incidents during the curfew on March 19th. One of the cars didn’t stop on police and Territorial Defense Forces demand. One of the shots got into the car’s trunk, of the car where two men were hidden. The criminal proceeding was put into force. Local authorities ask citizens to follow curfew rules. Zaporizhzhia gets ready to accept new refugees from Mariupol and other occupied cities.

Berdyansk

On March 13th, russian occupation troops occupied Berdyansk port. Port employees are still not allowed to work. As of now, there is information about 5 ships that occupants stole. Some of them had a full load, and some were partially loaded according to custom documents. Locals in Berdyansk, as usual, made peaceful protests for Ukraine. Russian occupation troops prevented the protest using force. Video: https://cutt.ly/kSnwDX0

Enerhodar

Ivan Samoydiuk, First Deputy Mayor, was abducted. He was responsible for humanitarian aid that citizens were waiting for a couple of days. City Head Dmytro Orlov addressed Enerhodar citizens to gather near the city council to protest Ukrainian citizens' kidnapping and imprisonment. A lot of people gathered for the protest. Photo: https://cutt.ly/lSnwkBF. Russian Armoured personnel carrier (APC) approached protesters. Conflict occurred.

The russian military tried to capture several participants of the event and take them away in an unknown direction. Hundreds of people formed a thick wall and literally fought their compatriots from captivity. The occupiers began firing into the air. Video: https://cutt.ly/nSnwQcE

In addition, Enerhodar residents report that the occupiers had earlier removed the EU flag and hoisted the USSR flag instead. Photo: https://cutt.ly/NSnwULW

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)

Employees of Ukrenergo NJSC restored the 750 kV high-voltage line, which ensures the stable operation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Central Oblasts

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Former People's Deputy of Ukraine, and now a separatist Oleg Tsaryov called on the leaders of Kryvyi Rih to surrender the city to the russians was rebuffed.

The enemy was stopped in the direction of Kryvyi Rih. The enemy troops are consolidating their positions in the areas of the settlements of Mala Shesternya, Petrivka, Novovorontsovka, Vysokopillya, Arkhanhelske, Knyazhivka, Zahradivka, Krasnovka, Pryhirya (all settlements are part of the Kherson oblast). The russians used Grad multiple rocket launchers to shell the villages of Velyka Kostromka and Mala Kostromka (part of the Zelenodolsk Amalgamated Territorial Community). Residential houses, water supply systems, gas pipelines, and office buildings were damaged.

The Ukrainian warriors defend the oblast's borders, preventing the russian military from coming from Kherson to enter the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. So far, the russians have not been able to enter the oblast territory. A huge number of fortifications and hundreds of kilometers of anti-tank trenches have been built, the Defense Council works around the clock, and holds meetings twice a day.

The Security Service of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast detained several scumbags who allegedly demanded money from the population for defense purposes and then just pocketed the money. The police also arrested crooks who promised to arrange for the people to be evacuated to the western oblasts of the country.

The Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Head called on citizens to return to work and asked businesses to re-open their production facilities. There are enough food products in the stores, and the logistics have been worked out. The situation in the oblast is stable. A sowing campaign is also planned to start in the oblast. The Dnipropetrovsk Oblast received 12.5 thousand IDPs.

The planetarium has resumed its work in Dnipro, but only for IDPs with children who can visit this institution for free. Public transport operates in Dnipro; intercity buses also run in the oblast. Gyms open their doors again in the city.

Kirovohrad Oblast

Kropyvnytskyi

Two air raid alerts sounded here in the morning, warning the citizens of a potential missile strike on the Kirovograd Oblast. The service members defend the Oblast’s borders and guard military facilities. The situation is under control.

The Oblast is preparing a new batch of humanitarian aid to be dispatched and continues to strengthen its defenses and help those forced to flee from russian shelling.

In the Kirovohrad Oblast, entrepreneurs from other oblasts will be offered production sites. The Oblast is ready to support people who have been forced to quit their jobs and businesses due to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Head of the Oblast Military Administration met with the heads of the oblast communities to discuss the possibilities of economic support for IDPs. The districts of the oblast were given the task to mobilize the economic sphere and to use the free areas, which were initially planned for startups and industrial parks, for production facilities, projects, and processing capacities from the oblasts, which are currently "hot spots" on the map of Ukraine.

Poltava Oblast

The second batch of Starlink has finally reached the Oblast. The Starlink satellite network is a reserve option for our critical infrastructure facilities and defense.

Some 35 open-area fires registered in the Oblast in the past days have already led to the destruction of almost 70 ha of vegetation. 131 firefighters and 28 firefighting equipment have been involved in coping with the fires. The law enforcement detained seven individuals over dead woodarson. The ‘brave arsonists’ will now have to show their skills of public works for the benefit of Oblast’s defense and pay the fine of UAH6,150.

The aid headquarters works daily in Poltava, distributing foodstuffs, footwear, clothing, personal hygiene items, medicines, and toys. Poltava territorial community members are bringing all this. The IDPs who come to Poltava may apply for a food package and look for a garment for themselves or their kids or even toys.

Western Oblasts

Lviv Oblast

The local government and volunteers have booked almost 18,600 backup beds for IDPs. In the past 24 hours, five long-haul lorries with humanitarian aid left the Oblast for Mykolayiv, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Dnipro, and the village of Mytnytsia (Kyiv Oblast). The Sumy, Mykolayiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhya Oblast Military Administrations received aid by railroad. 

Doctors at Lviv First Territorial Medic Amalgamation carried out five transplantation surgeries using one heart and four kidney transplants from deceased donors. Fuel prices have dropped at Oblast petrol stations. Deadwood arsons destroyed more than 12 ha in the Oblast. The emergency staff had to deal with 88 individual fires.

 

Drogobych

There was an air alarm. The situation is under control. The City Department of Culture forms a list of events that can be visited in the community https://www.facebook.com/DrogRada/posts/4406820139419646 

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

Yesterday, russia launched missile strikes on the underground missile depots of the Ukrainian military in one of the oblast’s settlements. As of today, about 80,000 IDPs are registered in Prykarpattia. Local authorities are urging people to register under the new Cabinet procedure. It is this registration that makes it possible to receive state social benefits. Pre-registration in the IDP registers of the Ivano-Frankivsk community makes it possible to receive only humanitarian aid within several oblasts. For food security, local farmers are encouraged to grow crops that are not typical for them - spring wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, and vegetable crops. 30 enterprises have already moved to the region from the regions of active hostilities.

Rivne Oblast

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), russian military equipment is approaching the Belarusian border.

Rivne

The situation is relatively calm, and there were two air alarms. The AFU continue to patrol the border with Belarus. Territorial Defense Forces are on duty at checkpoints. The mayor of the Rivne community briefly noted that the night was relatively calm, despite the air alarm. People are united, helping volunteer headquarters. Enterprises operating in the Rivne community are gradually resuming their work. The community is ready to support entrepreneurs who need help with the evacuation of private enterprises. (https://www.facebook.com/rivnecouncil/posts/1361296117666261 ) In the city, one of the shopping and entertainment centers prematurely terminated the lease agreement with the clothing store Oodji, the brand that has operations in the Russian market. (https://suspilne.media/219520-u-rivnomu-trc-rozirvav-spivpracu-z-rosijskim-brendom /)

Khmelnytskyi Oblast

The area is calm. Khmelnytskyi Oblast had a farewell ceremony dedicated to two servicemen, Ivan Okhrimchuk and Ruslan Rahimov, who heroically died defending Ukraine. The ceremonies took place in the Slavutych community and Izyaslav.

Khmelnytskyi

The situation in the community is under control. The City Council organizes free Ukrainian language courses. The courses start on March 22nd and will be held twice a week in face-to-face and distance learning.

Chernivtsi Oblast

It is calm in Chernivtsi and the oblast. The AFU and other security forces create a reliable security structure. In Chernivtsi, on Theater Square, food was distributed to animals who, together with their owners, were forced to leave their homes due to the russian invasion. 140 children from three social and psychological rehabilitation centers of children of the Mykolaiv area were evacuated to the Chernivtsi Oblast.

Zakarpattia Oblast

The area is calm. Three Transcarpathians died in the battles for Ukraine. There will be a farewell ceremony tomorrow in Mukachevo and Drahiv.