Monday, March 24. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,125.
Russia's Attacks on Ukraine
Kyiv. Three people, including a 5-year-old child, were killed in a massive drone attack by Russian forces on Ukraine's capital in the early hours of March 23. Ten others were injured in the prolonged onslaught, which lasted some five hours, with drones striking residential buildings and cars, causing damage across the city.
Sumy region. A Russian missile attack on the provincial capital city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on March 24 injured in 88 people, including 17 children.
Donetsk region. Over the past three days, Russian shelling and systematic attacks across the eastern oblast, or province, killed 7 civilians and injured 15 others.
Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed four Russian helicopters in an operation in Belgorod, Russia, more than 30 miles from the Ukrainian border. The strike, which targeted Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport choppers, was carried out using U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), according to Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. The Russian government has yet to comment on the losses.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on March 24 that he expects a revenue-sharing agreement on Ukrainian critical minerals to be signed soon. The deal is being worked out in discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the U.S. delegation also met with Russian officials, with a focus on brokering a ceasefire in the Black Sea region. Trump stated that, beyond mineral deals, the U.S. is exploring the possibility of American companies taking control, and perhaps ownership, of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022, citing U.S. expertise in energy infrastructure.
Russia's central bank has privately warned the Kremlin that the U.S. and OPEC might trigger a sharp drop in oil prices, reminiscent of the 1980s plunge that contributed to the Soviet Union's collapse. The document, which was seen by Reuters, was prepared for a February meeting led by Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. It cites the risk of oversupply in the market, noting that OPEC's oil reserves have reached record levels, on par with Moscow's total exports. If key producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, unleash their excess capacity, global supply could surge by 5 million barrels per day, potentially undermining the Kremlin's budget, which is built around a $70-per-barrel oil price.
The analysis points to a historical precedent: the aftermath of OPEC production cuts in the 1970's that kept oil prices high until the cartel reversed course, opening the taps and driving prices down to $10-$15 per barrel by 1985. That shock triggered a financial crisis in the Soviet Union, which helped bring about its eventual collapse. A similar move today, whether driven by the U.S. or OPEC policy unfavorable for Moscow, could strain Russia's economy just as the Kremlin is managing war expenses while under Western sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump underscored the geopolitical leverage of lower oil prices, arguing that driving them down could force Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
The European Commission has reinforced its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity by rebuking a statement by U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff that echoed the Kremlin's claims, that its 2022 referendums in Ukraine's occupied territories represent the will of residents. In a briefing on March 24, European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper stressed that these so-called referendums were entirely falsified, conducted under duress, and have no legitimacy. The European Union underscored that only Ukraine has the right to set the terms of any peace talks, while reaffirming that discussions about Ukraine must include Ukraine.
Culture front.
On March 21, photography exhibit Beyond the Silence opened in Lviv, in western Ukraine, bringing into focus the realities of war, occupation, censorship, and human resilience across Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, and Myanmar. Launched after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the project captures the raw realities of conflict through images, videos, and installations by 12 international photographers. The exhibit, highlighting how different nations face common struggles, comes to Ukraine after shows in Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Cambodia.
The volume of English-language books published in Ukraine surpassed Russian-language books for the first time in 2024. Overall, 14,500 book titles were released, with a print circulation exceeding 34 million copies. While Ukrainian-language books dominated the market with over 12,000 titles and 31 million copies, English-language publications reached 377 titles with a combined print run of 923,000 copies, well above the total print run of 351,000 copies for the 472 Russian-language titles published.
The Ukrainian book Behind Blue Eyes has been shortlisted for the Best Book Design from all over the World 2025 competition held by the German foundation for book design. The book features photographs taken with disposable cameras by Ukrainian children in frontline and liberated areas, paired with personal stories and reflections. Created by Readellion Publishing in collaboration with designers Mariia and Volodymyr Havrysh (Havhav Bureau), the book highlights the resilience of children in conflict zones. The work was recognized for its content's emotional impact at Ukraine's Book Arsenal festival in December 2024.
By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani
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