The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) captured by Russia had been executed between December 1, 2023, and February 29. Reports of torture and killings of Ukrainian POWs in Russian captivity have been widespread. The OHCHR documented cases of executions of Ukrainian POWs in groups, with some being killed while hors de combat. Ukrainian soldiers released from captivity confirmed the inhumane treatment and torture of POWs in Russian custody. The report also mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Russian POWs by Ukrainian forces in transit places.
In a successful strike, Ukraine announced that the landing ship Konstantin Olshansky of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet had been hit by a Neptune missile. The vessel’s damage was still being determined following the attack. Ukraine intensified its attacks on the Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea, targeting several ships and forcing Russian forces to redeploy. The Konstantin Olshansky, a ship seized by Russian forces during the annexation of Crimea in 2014, was destroyed by Ukraine’s Neptune missile as it was originally supposed to be used by Ukraine. The attack also damaged some Black Sea Fleet infrastructure in Crimea and a Russian military communication center.
Russia launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine between March 21-25, targeting the country’s critical infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 190 missiles, 140 Shahed-type drones, and 700 aerial bombs pounded Ukraine in the past week. The UK Defense Ministry warned that Russia may have to deploy its new 44th Army Corps to Ukraine to sustain its operations, affecting its expansion plans in other parts of the country. Ukraine’s defense forces reported that the number of injured in Russia’s March 25 attack on Odesa had risen to 10 people.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov without giving a specific reason for the dismissal. Danilov had served in the position since October 3, 2019, and had been actively involved in the imposition of sanctions since 2021. Zelensky thanked Danilov for his work and announced that he would be transferred to another direction. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the current chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service, was appointed as Danilov’s replacement. Meanwhile, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine stated that it had caught FSB saboteurs attempting to blow up a railroad in Poltava Oblast.
NATO is reportedly considering the option of shooting down Russian missiles that approach its borders, as stated by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna. Poland had to scramble fighter jets to protect its airspace during a recent Russian drone and missile attack. Russian missiles have previously entered Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine, leading to heightened tensions. In a daring move, Russia was reported to have defied U.N. sanctions by supplying North Korea with oil, likely in exchange for weapons. The trade between Russia and North Korea further escalates tensions in the region and challenges the effectiveness of international sanctions on North Korea.
The Financial Times reported that Russia had initiated an “arms-for-oil” trade with North Korea, violating U.N. sanctions. Satellite images showed North Korean tankers sailing to and from Russia’s Vostochny Port with their tracking responders disabled, indicating illicit oil transfers. North Korea has become a major weapons supplier to Russia, providing missiles and artillery shells, which have been used in attacks on Ukraine. Russia’s use of North Korean missiles against Ukrainian targets has been confirmed in several incidents. The trade between Russia and North Korea poses a significant challenge to the international sanctions regime on North Korea and further complicates the security situation in the region.
