March 24, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Helen Regan, Seán Federico O'Murchú, George Ramsay, Sana Noor Haq, Adrienne Vogt, Melissa Macaya, Maureen Chowdhury, Meg Wagner and Jason Kurtz, CNN

Updated 12:19 p.m. ET, March 25, 2022
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12:19 p.m. ET, March 25, 2022

Zelensky says European sanctions on Russia were "a little late"

From CNN’s Hira Humayun

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the European Council in a video posted to Facebook late Thursday night March 24.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the European Council in a video posted to Facebook late Thursday night March 24. (Ukrainian Government)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European Council members for putting sanctions on Russia — but said “it was a little late.”

In his address to the European Council posted to Facebook late Thursday night, Zelensky said if the sanctions had been preventative, there was a chance Russia would not have gone to war.

“You blocked Nord Stream 2. We are grateful to you. And rightly so. But it was also a little late. Because if it had been in time, Russia would not have created a gas crisis. At least there was a chance,” he told the council.

Zelensky told member states: "The Russian military does not see what dignity is. They do not know what conscience is. They do not understand why we value our freedom so much. This is what determines how the country will live."

He said Russia has already destroyed 230 schools, 155 kindergartens and killed 128 children in Ukraine. 

“Whole cities, villages. Just to ashes. Nothing remains,” he said, “The Russian military killed journalists. Although they saw the inscription "Press" on them. They may not have been taught to read. Only to kill.”

In his address, Zelensky thanked member states for their support but stopped short of thanking Hungary, calling on Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to “decide already” on its treatment of Russia.

“You hesitate whether to impose sanctions or not? And you hesitate whether to let weapons through or not? And you hesitate whether to trade with Russia or not? There is no time to hesitate. It's time to decide already.” 
8:57 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

Workers at Chernobyl power plant are being put at risk by Russian shelling in a nearby town, IAEA says

From CNN’s Sahar Akbarzai 

A Maxar satellite image shows the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on March 22. 
A Maxar satellite image shows the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on March 22.  (Maxar Technologies)

Russian shelling near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has prevented personnel from rotating to and from the plant, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Rafael Mariano Grossi. 

Ukraine’s regulatory authority told the IAEA on Thursday that shelling was endangering ‘the homes and families of those operational personnel that ensure the nuclear and radiation safety" of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The background: Last month, Russian forces seized control of the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, and held staff hostage, according to Ukrainian officials.

Thursday's news comes just days after workers at the power plant were able to finally rotate shifts and go home after working for nearly four weeks without a change of shift.

Need for rest and rotating: Grossi had said earlier that Chernobyl staff must be able to rest and rotate, stating this is a "vital element for safe and secure nuclear power operation.” 

But the Russian bombardment of the city of Slavutych, where many of the nuclear plant workers live, has put the personnel at risk, the IAEA said. 

Slavutych is located outside of the exclusion zone that was put in place after the 1986 disaster.

8:17 a.m. ET, March 25, 2022

Ukraine likely conducted a successful attack against Russian ships, US assesses

From CNN's Oren Liebermann

The US has assessed that Ukraine likely did conduct a successful attack against Russian ships in Berdiansk, according to a defense official. It's unclear, however, what type of weapon or weapons were used in the attack.

The assessment echoes a similar statement from the British Ministry of Defence, which said that Ukrainian forces have attacked “high-value targets” in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including a landing ship and ammunition depots at Berdiansk. 

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine said they destroyed a landing ship docked at the Berdiansk port on the Sea of Azov. Video from the city showed plumes of smoke pouring out of the dock area, as well as multiple explosions. 

On Friday Ukraine’s armed forces named the Russian ship they said they attacked and destroyed in Berdiansk as the "Saratov." In earlier reporting, the ship was named as the "Orsk."

This post has been updated with new information from Ukrainian officials.

12:08 p.m. ET, March 25, 2022

Ukrainians provide new details on Russian warship in Berdiansk they claim they destroyed

Ukrainian armed forces on Friday have now identified a large Russian landing ship that they said they destroyed at the port of Berdiansk in southern Ukraine the day before.

The port, which had recently been occupied by Russian forces with several Russian warships in dock, was rocked by a series of heavy explosions soon after dawn on Thursday.

Social media videos showed fires raging at the dockside, with a series of secondary explosions reverberating across the city.

The Ukrainian armed forces on Friday named the ship as the "Saratov." In earlier reporting, the ship was named as the "Orsk."

A day before the ship's explosion, a lengthy news report on the Russian state-controlled international TV network, RT, had featured what they said was a Russian warship named "Orsk" which is the class of landing vessel as the "Saratov" — a class known to NATO as "alligator." 

The Russian Ministry of Defense has made no official comment about the explosion.

In a statement, the Ukrainian armed forces said: "In the Azov operational zone, according to updated information, a large landing ship "Saratov" was destroyed during the attack on the occupied Berdiansk port. Large landing ships "Caesar Kunikov" and "Novocherkassk" were [also] damaged. Other losses of the enemy are being clarified."

Several Russian ships had been unloading military equipment at Berdiansk in recent days, according to reports from the port by Russian media outlets.

The United States said that Ukraine likely did conduct a successful attack against Russian ships in Berdiansk, according to a defense official, though it is unclear what type of weapon or weapons were used in the attack. It echoes a similar statement from the British Ministry of Defence, which said that Ukrainian forces have attacked "high value targets" in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including a landing ship and ammunition depots at Berdiansk.

Analysis of videos uploaded on Thursday showed that one Russian naval vessel left the port soon after the explosions.

RT is state-controlled Russian media and is considered a mouthpiece for the Kremlin. It has been under international sanctions since the beginning of the month.

This story has been updated with new information from Ukrainian officials.

CNN's Andrew Carey, Tim Lister, Celine Alkhaldi, Olga Voitovych and Gianluca Mezzofiore contributed reporting to this post. 

7:15 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

Ukraine tells the US it needs 500 Javelins and 500 Stingers per day

From Zachary Cohen and Oren Liebermann

A Ukrainian soldier holds the FGM-148 Javelin, an American-made portable anti-tank missile at a checkpoint near Kharkiv on March 23.
A Ukrainian soldier holds the FGM-148 Javelin, an American-made portable anti-tank missile at a checkpoint near Kharkiv on March 23. (Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty Images)

Ukraine has updated its extensive wishlist of additional military assistance from the US government in the past several days to include hundreds more anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles than previously requested, according to a document provided to CNN that details the items needed. 

The Ukrainians have submitted similar lists in recent weeks, but a recent request provided to US lawmakers appears to reflect a growing need for American-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles — with Ukraine saying it urgently needs 500 of each, daily.  

In both cases, Ukraine is asking for hundreds more missiles than were included in a similar list recently provided to US lawmakers, according to a source with knowledge of both requests. 

The new list comes as the Ukrainians have claimed they face potential weapons shortages amid an ongoing Russian assault – prompting some pushback from US and NATO officials who stress that more military aid is already going into the country. 

By March 7, less than two weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and other NATO members had sent about 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 anti-aircraft missiles into Ukraine. 

Since then, NATO countries, including the US, have kept the pipeline of weapons and equipment flowing, even as Russia has threatened to target the shipments.

The last of a US $350 million security assistance packaged approved in late-February arrived in Ukraine within the last few days, a senior defense official said, while the next two packages totaling $1 billion have already started to arrive.

US President Joe Biden said Thursday that “armor systems, ammunition and our weapons are flowing into Ukraine as I speak.” The defense official said it would be “multiple flights over many days” to get the equipment to Eastern Europe before it enters Ukraine at multiple land border crossings. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the United Kingdom announced they would ship 6,000 more missiles, including anti-tank and high explosive weapons, to Ukraine, along with about $33 million in financial backing for the Ukrainian military.

The list provided to CNN details several other urgent needs, including: jets, attack helicopters and anti-aircraft systems like the S-300. 

Two types of Russian-made jets are listed in the document, including one designed to provide close air support for troops on the ground. Ukraine has asked for 36 of each aircraft, according to the list provided to CNN. 

Some lawmakers in Congress believe the US should provide Ukraine with the weapons they’re requesting as quickly as possible. 

Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, visited Poland and Germany last weekend to meet with civil society organizations helping Ukrainian refugees who’ve arrived in those countries as well as US troops stationed abroad helping with humanitarian efforts. 

Rosen said her biggest takeaway from the trip was the “sense of urgency,” on the ground. 

“They need all the tools to not just survive the war, but to win the war, so whether we provide them air to ground missiles, drones, all the military support,” Rosen told CNN.

5:40 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

Ukrainian forces make gains east of Kyiv while intense combat reported north of capital

From Tim Lister, Paul Murphy and Oleksandra Ochman

There’s been heavy fighting in several directions around Kyiv Thursday, according to official Ukrainian accounts and social media videos geolocated by CNN. 

Ukrainian forces appear to have retaken territory to the east of the capital, reversing previous Russian gains. Social media videos geolocated by CNN showed Ukrainian troops along with some captured Russian armor in the small settlement of Lukyanovka, some 35 miles (or 55 kilometers) east of the capital. 

Russian forces moved into the district in the second week of March as they advanced from Sumy in the east, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported civilian casualties as the area was evacuated. 

On Thursday, social media video depicted the aftermath of heavy battles, with a Ukrainian soldier in Lukyanovka saying that “the operation was completed, with absolute success, we knocked out the enemy.” 

The soldier added that three Russian tanks and nine infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed and that Ukrainian troops were moving to surround Russian units in the nearby village of Peremoha and other settlements in the region. 

Remember: There’s no way to verify the soldier’s claims, but US officials reported earlier this week that Ukrainian forces were pushing back Russian units to the east of Kyiv. The Ukrainians appear to have advanced from the south.  

To the north of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported heavy rocket attacks by Russian forces against the contested town of Irpin. 

Drone footage geolocated by CNN shows widespread devastation, with fires raging among a jumble of abandoned vehicles. 

The mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, told CNN Thursday that the town had come under heavy rocket fire. He said he had just left Irpin and one of his team had been killed. 

“Now there is a big fight in Irpin between Ukrainian and Russian armies. It is very dangerous to be here.” 

He said that 80% of Irpin is controlled by the Ukrainian army but the Russians were using GRAD rocket systems against the town. 

The same assessment was given later by Vadym Denysenko, an adviser to the Interior Minister, who said combat continued in Irpin and the neighboring towns of Bucha and Hostomel, which have seen persistent and sometimes intense fighting since the first days of the invasion. 

8:50 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

Biden and European Commission president say they are "united in condemnation" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine 

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left), U.S. President Joe Biden (second left) and Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) speak with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (center), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (third from right) and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (second from right) before a G7 leaders' family photograph on March 24, 2022.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left), U.S. President Joe Biden (second left) and Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) speak with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (center), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (third from right) and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (second from right) before a G7 leaders' family photograph on March 24, 2022. (Henry Nicholls/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they are “united in our condemnation of Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine” in a joint statement from the two leaders Thursday evening. 

“We are united in our support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we are united in our resolve to defend our shared values, including democracy, respect for human rights, global peace and stability, and the rules-based international order,” the statement reads, before going on to list “transatlantic efforts to support the Ukrainian people.”

Among the efforts the leaders highlighted, Biden and von der Leyen said “the United States and the European Union are supporting the work of war crimes documentation experts who are gathering evidence on the ground in Ukraine,” in addition to outlining their efforts on issues like food security and humanitarian relief.

5:15 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

Biden says he will "discuss China" with European Council after being asked if he trusts the country

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal 

US President Joe Biden told reporters he would “discuss China” with the European Council before heading into a meeting with the group on Thursday.

After greeting President of the European Council Charles Michel, Biden was asked by a reporter if he trusts China.

“Yes,” Biden answered, before adding “well, we'll discuss China. I've spent some time with Xi Jinping and I hope we're gonna get the chance to discuss China.”

Biden also said unity between the United States and Europe was “the single most important thing that we can do to stop this guy who's, in our country, we believe he's already committed war crimes.”

5:28 p.m. ET, March 24, 2022

UK prime minister: There is evidence that Russia may be trying to get around sanctions on gold

From CNN's Alex Hardie in London

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the media during a press conference following a NATO summit on March 24.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the media during a press conference following a NATO summit on March 24. (Henry Nicholls/Pool/Getty Images)

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is evidence that Russia may be trying to get around the sanctions on their gold.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, Johnson said: “There is evidence that the Russians may be trying to get round — I mean the Russians are going to try to get round — the sanctions on their gold.”

The UK Prime Minister did not provide further details.

“We are taking steps to try to make sure there is no leakage, no sale of bullion into markets around the world,” Johnson added.

Earlier today the G7 leaders said in a joint statement: “We will continue to cooperate closely, including by engaging other governments on adopting similar restrictive measures to those already imposed by G7 members and on refraining from evasion, circumvention and backfilling that seek to undercut or mitigate the effects of our sanctions. We task the relevant Ministers in a focused initiative to monitor the full implementation of sanctions and to coordinate responses related to evasive measures, including regarding gold transactions by the Central Bank of Russia.”