Ukraine war, day 763. Ukrainians claim to have repelled another Russian airstrike

UPDATE Budanov: Russia knew about the preparations for the terrorist attack at least since February 15

Russia was aware of preparations for a terrorist attack on its territory at least since February 15, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence services, Kyrylo Budanov, said on March 27, according to The Kyiv Independent.

According to him, Russia knew where the attackers would come from and through which two countries they would enter Russian territory.

“Don’t let them tell you stories that this (attack) came out of nowhere,” commented the head of the intelligence services.

UPDATE Zelenski makes a new appeal to the West to accelerate the delivery of F-16 and Patriot systems

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a new appeal to Western allies to speed up the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems after the deadly attacks in Kharkiv, reports AFP.

UPDATE Russia may have used a new “flying bomb” in the deadly airstrike in Kharkiv

Russia may have used a new type of remote-guided bomb in deadly airstrikes on the city of Kharkiv today, local officials said, according to Sky News.

The attack in northeastern Ukraine killed one person and injured 19 others, including three children and a baby, officials said.

European Union member states reached an agreement on Wednesday to extend duty-free agricultural imports from Ukraine for another year.

The compromise comes as EU farmers have protested against food imports from Ukraine, a war-torn country.

UPDATE SBU detained two FSB agents

Ukraine’s SBU security service said on Wednesday it had detained two agents of Russia’s intelligence agency, accused of passing on the location of sensitive military targets to enemy forces, according to Kyiv Post.

“The criminals tried to identify the locations of the Ukrainian troops, and then send the relevant coordinates to the occupants to adjust the airstrikes,” he said.

UPDATE EU ambassadors agree on a “new compromise” for the extension of the trade agreement with Ukraine

The EU ambassadors “agreed on a new compromise” for the extension of the trade agreement with Ukraine, ensuring a “balanced approach between the support given to Ukraine and the protection of EU agricultural markets”, announced the Belgian presidency of the EU Council on March 27, on https://twitter.com/EU2024BE/status/1773025099769156042.

UPDATE Poland doubles its support for Ukraine within the Czech initiative

Poland has decided to double its support for the Czech Republic’s initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on March 27 in Riga, according to The Kyiv Independent. The official did not provide a specific figure.

UPDATE Ukraine’s parliamentary commission rejects demobilization after 36 months of service without command approval

The Parliamentary Commission for National Security and Defense rejected the amendment on demobilization after 36 months of service without the approval of the Supreme Command in the General Staff in the new bill on mobilization, MP Oleksii Honcharenko said on March 27.

The commission for national security and defense of the parliament is also considering the option of demobilization after 36 months, but only if 18 of them were spent at the front, according to the deputy, he writes The Kyiv Independent.

UPDATE Russian attack in Mykolaiv. At least eight people were injured

At least eight civilians were injured after Russian forces struck the city of Mykolaiv on March 27, regional authorities said.

The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Senkevych, said that according to preliminary information, a ballistic missile may have hit the city.

Mykolaiv is located less than 60 kilometers from the southern front and is regularly attacked by Russian forces.

UPDATE A British general admits that the British army “couldn’t fight Russia for more than a few months.”

British General Rob Magowan admitted, during a commission meeting on March 26, that the British army “could not fight (with Russia) for more than a few months, because we do not have the necessary ammunition and equipment reserves”, reports The Kyiv Independent.

The striking admission was the latest warning from British defense and military officials that the country is not ready for armed conflict. Officials from other NATO countries echoed similar concerns.

UPDATE Ukraine will receive a $1.5 billion development loan from the World Bank

Ukraine will receive a $1.5 billion loan from the World Bank under the Growth Foundations Development Policy Loan (DPL) program, the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance announced on March 26, writes The Kyiv Independent.

Financing in the total amount of 1.5 billion dollars, supported by guarantees from Japan and Great Britain, will be granted through the Trust Fund of the World Bank (ADVANCE Ukraine). In total, Japan will guarantee $984 million and the United Kingdom will guarantee $516 million.

Ukraine will receive the loan by the end of March, the release states.

ORIGINAL NEWS:

The head of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, said that the Russians launched 13 Shahed drones overnight, according to Sky News.

Ten drones were shot down in Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv regions, Oleshchuk said.

“Anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups, electronic warfare equipment… were involved in repelling the air attack,” he explained.

The Ukrainian authorities have not yet announced whether there are any victims or damages as a result of the night attack.