Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian security services, the FSB, to “to punish” pro-kyiv Russian fighters carrying out attacks in regions bordering Ukraine, calling them“garbage” and of “traitors”, Tuesday March 19. “We must not forget who they are, identify them by name. We will punish them in an imprescriptible manner, wherever they are”, warned the Russian president in a speech to officials of the FSB, the powerful security service which also controls the country’s borders. Follow our live stream.
The Russian army claims the capture of the village of Orlivka, a new advance in the east of the country. This capture comes at a time when the Ukrainian army is lacking men and ammunition due to the running out of American aid. The Russian Ministry of Defense specifies that it has also “improved his positions” in this area located northwest of the town of Avdiïvka, conquered by Moscow in February.
US ‘won’t let Ukraine down’, US Defense Secretary promises. This declaration comes despite the blocking of American aid in Congress due to the reluctance of Republican elected officials supporting former President Donald Trump. “We are determined to provide Ukraine with all the resources it needs to resist Russian aggression,” declared Lloyd Austin, in front of journalists.
Russia plans evacuation of 9,000 children from Ukraine border area. “We are evacuating a large number of villages, and we now plan to evacuate about 9,000 children due to shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine,” said the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region. He further indicated that in one week, 16 people had been killed and 98 injured in the region which has been the target of increased attacks since March 12.