March 17, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan, Travis Caldwell, Seán Federico-O'Murchú, George Ramsay, Ed Upright, Adrienne Vogt, Maureen Chowdhury, Aditi Sangal and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 12:02 a.m. ET, March 18, 2022

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1:59 a.m. ET, March 17, 2022

Putin calls pro-Western Russians "national traitors"

From CNN's Seán Federico-O'Murchú and Sarah Dean

An image on a computer screen of Vladimir Putin holding a meeting on measures to provide social and economic support to the regions. Most of his speeches concerned Ukraine and the "fifth column" inside Russia. (Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has clamped down on any dissent since the invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday blasted pro-Western Russians by calling them “national traitors” in a televised address.

“The West will try to rely on the so-called fifth column, on national traitors, on those who earn money here with us but live there. And I mean ‘live there’ not even in the geographical sense of the word, but according to their thoughts, their slavish consciousness,” Putin said.

These people "cannot live without oysters and gender freedom," he added.

The term "fifth column" usually refers to enemy sympathizers and originated during the Spanish Civil War.

The Russian leader, whose forces have become bogged down in Ukraine and whose country is facing economic disaster due to Western sanctions, has often blamed Western influences for what ails his country.

He has systematically curtailed LGBTQ rights in Russia. Last week, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, a Putin ally, said the Ukraine conflict was an extension of a fundamental culture clash between the wider Russian world and Western liberal values, exemplified by expressions of gay pride.
Putin has enforced blind loyalty from Russian media and earlier this month signed a censorship bill into law making it near impossible for international news organizations to accurately report the news in or from Russia.
Despite the clampdown, a Russian state television journalist on Monday protested the invasion of Ukraine during a live news broadcast on the tightly controlled Channel One network.
His economy is on the verge of default. On Wednesday, Russia said it had ordered the $117 million in interest payments it owes Wednesday to be sent to investors. But because the funds used to make the debt payments came from Russia's frozen foreign assets, it remains unclear whether investors will receive their money.
President Joe Biden, in a shift in the US position, on Wednesday said the Russian leader was a “war criminal.” It was the harshest condemnation of Putin's actions from any US official since the war in Ukraine began three weeks ago.

Watch:

Putin speaks out against Russians with Western mentality - CNN Video

1:56 a.m. ET, March 17, 2022

1 person killed after debris from downed missile hits Kyiv residential building

From CNN's Sophie Jeong and Yulia Shevchenko

A fire broke out in the apartment building in Kyiv's Darnytsky district on Thursday morning after it was hit by debris from a downed missile, Ukrainian authorities said. (Ukrainian State Emergency Services)

One person died and three others were injured after debris from a downed missile hit a residential building in Kyiv on Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine's state emergency service said it received a report of a fire and damage to a 16-story apartment in the Darnytsky district of the capital at 5:02 a.m. local time.

Some 30 people were evacuated as rescue operations continue, according to an initial report from Ukraine’s state emergency service. (Ukrainian State Emergency Services)

The blaze was later extinguished, the service said.

According to initial information, 30 people were evacuated from the site as rescue operations continue, the service added.

1:32 a.m. ET, March 17, 2022

Japan's Defense Ministry says it spotted 4 Russian warships, possibly taking troops to Ukraine

From CNN's Emiko Jozuka in Tokyo

An Alligator-class Russian landing ship carrying military vehicles passes through Japan's Tsugaru Strait. (Japan Ministry of Defense)

Four Russian warships passed through the Tsugaru Strait in northeastern Japan between Tuesday and Wednesday, possibly transporting troops and combat vehicles to Ukraine, Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"Japan’s Ministry of Defense will continue to monitor the situation and movements of the Russian army with a high sense of caution," the ministry said on its official Twitter account.

A Russian Ropucha-class landing ship sails through Japanese waters. (Japan Ministry of Defense)

The Tsugaru Strait connects the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean and is located between Japan's two largest main islands, Honshu and Hokkaido.

Some context: A public intelligence assessment released Tuesday by the UK Ministry of Defence said that due to heavy losses suffered in Ukraine, Russia was redeploying forces from as far away as "its Eastern Military District, Pacific Fleet and Armenia."

Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Russian Ropucha-class landing ships, such as this one, were possibly transporting troops and combat vehicles to Ukraine. (Japan Ministry of Defense)

This Ropucha-class landing ship was one of four Russian military vessels spotted sailing through waters off Japan. (Japan Ministry of Defense)

12:50 a.m. ET, March 17, 2022

Analysis: Why Ukraine's battle for survival may be far from over

Analysis from CNN's Stephen Collinson

Another day of horrific civilian carnage in Ukraine underscored the desperate need for a ceasefire — and explained why an end to the barbaric war may still be far away.

Russian forces Wednesday escalated their assault on soft targets, which prompted President Joe Biden to call Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal.

The fate of hundreds of people sheltering in a theater in the coastal city of Mariupol is unknown after a Russian barrage slammed into a building flanked with the word "children" on the ground to ward off attacks. Another bombardment hit a swimming pool in the same city used as a shelter.

There are too many attacks for this to be anything but a deliberate Russian strategy of trying to bomb Ukraine into submission one civilian at a time. This assault designed to cause maximum pain and destruction is likely to further deepen the schism between the two countries and make it harder to find an accommodation to end the killing.

Yet the appalling humanitarian disaster unfolding in Ukraine — and the possibility that thousands of innocent lives could be saved — make it imperative for Kyiv and Western nations to try to come to some accommodation with Putin, as bitter as that may be. But even then: Will the Russian leader ever accept it?

Read the full analysis:

Analysis: Why Ukraine's battle for survival may be far from over

12:00 a.m. ET, March 17, 2022

It's 6 a.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

The fate of hundreds of people sheltering in a bombed theater in the southern coastal city of Mariupol is unknown while new satellite images show that constant bombardment is causing significant destruction across Ukraine.

Here's the latest:

Biden labels Putin a "war criminal": US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" on Wednesday. Biden’s designation reflects a shift from the administration’s previous stance. Officials, including Biden, had previously stopped short of saying war crimes were being committed in Ukraine, citing ongoing investigations into whether that term could be used.
Zelensky says Russia has crossed "all the red lines": Asked in an NBC interview on Wednesday if a chemical attack by Russia would be a red line that would prompt the US to become more actively involved in combat, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "I believe that Russians have already crossed all the red lines when they started shelling civilians." Russia has already killed more than 100 children, Zelensky said, adding: "I don’t understand the meaning of red lines. What else should we wait for? For letting Russians kill 200, 300 or 400 children?"
On the ground: A senior adviser to Zelensky on Wednesday claimed the Ukrainian army is beginning to counterstrike Russian forces. "Ukrainian army is beginning a counterstrike on a number of active directions. This fact is drastically changing the dispositions of the sides," adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in a statement released on Telegram.
Civilian deaths: Russia is resorting to the use of older, less precise weapons that are less militarily effective and more likely to result in civilian casualties, according to an intelligence update from Britain's Ministry of Defence. It comes as Zelensky said evacuation corridors failed Wednesday because the Russian military did not stop shelling. Zelensky said 10 people died when Russian forces fired at civilians standing in line for bread in the northern city of Chernihiv.
Zelensky's address to Congress: The Ukrainian President told US lawmakers "we need you right now" in a historic speech that invoked tragedies in American history like the Pearl Harbor attack and 9/11. His virtual address came as the US faced pressure from Ukraine to supply more military assistance.
US pledges $800 million more in aid: President Biden announced $800 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine during remarks from the White House on Wednesday. This brings the total to $1 billion in aid announced in just the last week. The package will include anti-tank missiles and more of the defensive weapons that the US has already been providing, including Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, officials familiar with the plans said.

11:34 p.m. ET, March 16, 2022

Russia resorting to older weapons more likely to cause civilian casualties, UK Defense Ministry says

From CNN's Hira Humayun and Josh Campbell

Russia is resorting to the use of older, less precise weapons that are less militarily effective and more likely to result in civilian casualties, according to the UK Ministry of Defence's latest intelligence update Thursday.

Due to the delays in "achieving their objectives and failure to control Ukrainian airspace," the ministry said Russia has probably “expended far more stand-off air launched weapons than originally planned,” leading them to resort to weapons that are less militarily effective.

"Stand-off air launched weapons" are munitions fired from aircraft that are not in close range of a target.

Firing from a distance allows for the delivery of the weapon while minimizing possible harm to the aircrew from retaliatory attack.

9:43 p.m. ET, March 16, 2022

Satellite images show significant damage from military strikes across Ukraine

From CNN's Paul P. Murphy

Destroyed buildings are seen in Volnovakha, Ukraine. (Maxar Technologies)

The constant bombardment of military strikes is causing significant destruction across Ukraine, as seen on new Maxar Technologies satellite images.

Volnovakha: In southeastern Ukraine, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of Mariupol, much of the small city of Volnovakha lies in ruins — destroyed by military strikes. Where some buildings once stood, only scorched structures remain.

On Wednesday, Russian state media interviewed Russian-backed separatists from the Donbas region in the city, who claimed they had taken control of it from Ukrainian forces.

The roof of the city's train station looks like it's been punched in. Buildings northeast of it have their roofs knocked in too. The only evidence that some buildings ever stood near the central square is their charred walls.

On the northern side of Volnovakha, a church and an apartment complex have been devastated. Debris is seen covering the ground around them.

At a roundabout toward the northwestern side of town, nearly all of the buildings seen in the satellite image have sustained significant damage.

Self-propelled howitzers seen near Chernihiv, Ukraine. (Maxar Technologies)

Chernihiv: In a field about 10 miles (17 kilometers) northeast of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, more than a dozen Russian self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launch systems are seen.

Homes are seen burning in Chernihiv, Ukraine. (Maxar Technologies)

In eastern Chernihiv, a number of homes surrounding a roundabout are seen on fire.

Chernihiv Stadium has sustained significant damage. (Maxar Technologies)

In another satellite image, multipurpose sports venue Chernihiv Stadium has sustained massive damage to the stands and a huge impact crater is seen in the center of the field.

Artillery impact craters near a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Maxar Technologies)

Kharkiv: In northeast Ukraine, a number of houses near a large apartment complex are on fire in central Kharkiv. Further north of the city, a snow-covered field near the airfield at the Kharkiv Aircraft Manufacturing Company is dotted with impact craters.

9:54 p.m. ET, March 16, 2022

Biden on Putin: "I think he is a war criminal"

From CNN's Sam Fossum and Kevin Liptak

President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" Wednesday, a rhetorical leap that came as civilian deaths mount in Ukraine.

It was the harshest condemnation of Putin's actions from any US official since the war in Ukraine began three weeks ago. Previously, Biden had stopped short of labeling atrocities being documented on the ground in Ukraine as "war crimes," citing ongoing international and US investigations.

But on Wednesday, speaking with reporters at an unrelated event, Biden affixed the designation on the Russian leader.

"I think he is a war criminal," the President said after remarks at the White House.

The shift from the administration's previous stance came after an emotional address to Congress from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who aired a video showing Ukrainians suffering amid Russia's onslaught. Zelensky asked American lawmakers and Biden for more help defending itself, including a no-fly zone and fighter jets.

Biden responded in his own address a few hours later, laying out new American military assistance to Ukraine — including anti-aircraft and anti-armor systems, weapons and drones — but stopping short of acceding to Zelensky's requests.

Read more:

Biden on Putin: 'I think he is a war criminal'

9:45 p.m. ET, March 16, 2022

Zelensky adviser claims Ukrainian forces are starting to counterstrike Russian invaders

From CNN's Sam Kiley in Kyiv

A senior adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday claimed the Ukrainian army is beginning to counterstrike Russian forces in a number of directions.

In a statement released on Telegram, adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the "Ukrainian army is beginning a counterstrike on a number of active directions. This fact is drastically changing the dispositions of the sides."
The "Russian administration is trying to find allies whose soldiers would be ready to die on the field," Podolyak said.

Some context: According to a UK Ministry of Defence intelligence assessment on Tuesday, the Russian military is calling up reinforcements from across the country as it faces "continued personnel losses" in Ukraine.

The assessment said Russia was redeploying forces from as far away as "its Eastern Military District, Pacific Fleet and Armenia" and was increasingly tapping other sources of fighters such as "private military companies, Syrians, and other mercenaries."