Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest news

• Kremlin creates informational conditions for long-term occupation of Ukraine
• Russia restricts Black Sea fleet maneuvers due to drone threat - UK Intelligence
• Ukrainian National Guard troops destroyed Russian observation complex Murom
• Russia recruited 2,000 Nepalis for war against Ukraine
• Guerrillas find out how many Kh-32 cruise missiles Russia plans to produce within year

New aid to Ukraine and messages to Putin: Outcomes of Ramstein-format meeting

On March 19, the 20th anniversary meeting of Ukraine's allies in the Ramstein format took place at a US air base in Germany. They discussed the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces for weapons and announced new aid packages.

RBC-Ukraine's article describes the results of the twentieth Ramstein.

Ammo, air defense systems, F-16s and more: Ukraine's MoD summarizes 20th Ramstein-format meeting

Ammunition, air defense systems, F-16 fighters, as well as drones have become priority topics during the anniversary meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Finland allocates €30 mln for ammunition procurement under Czech initiative

The Finnish government has allocated €30 million for the purchase of ammunition as part of the Czech initiative. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Finland, Antti Häkkänen, according to his tweet.

"We discussed the issue of improving support for European defense and Ukraine with the commander of the Czech defense forces. In particular, we discussed the Czech initiative regarding ammunition. Finland will contribute €30 million to this initiative," he wrote.

Australia to return home surveillance aircraft providing support to Ukraine

Australia is going to repatriate a surveillance plane that helped protect the delivery of military and humanitarian goods to Ukraine. At the same time, Canberra denies that this is part of any wider reduction in support for Kyiv, according to The Guardian.

The Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, which has been flying regular threat-monitoring flights since it was sent to Germany in October, will likely end its current role within weeks.

The RAAF says the Wedgetail, based on the Boeing 737-700, is equipped with a long-range radar and can simultaneously track air and sea targets.

It was initially deployed in response to a US request.

Taurus for Ukraine: Pistorius says there are more important needs

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes that Kyiv's fundamental defense needs might be overlooked during the debates on supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles.

He noted that a sufficient quantity of artillery ammunition, long-range rocket artillery, and air defense are the truly urgent issues.

"The fact that confidential information from the meeting leaked out is part of this cacophony. Everyone is trying to assert themselves with their behavior, to play their own game," Pistorius said.

At the same time, he also warned against the harm in debates regarding Taurus.

"Above all, this discussion has been pushed to the extreme for several months now. It is the right of anyone who wants to do so. We should not have come to the point of ruling it out once and for all. However, I believe it must be understood that supporting Ukraine in other areas is more important," he emphasized.

Since beginning of March, Russia has launched 130 missiles, and nearly 900 bombs at Ukraine - Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that since the beginning of March, Russian terrorists have launched 130 missiles of various types, as well as almost 900 guided aerial bombs (UAVs) against Ukraine.

Russia uses drones, missiles, and anti-aircraft missiles against Ukrainians every day and every night. Only since the beginning of the current month, the enemy has used:

• 320 Shahed drones;
• 130 missiles of various types;
• almost 900 guided aerial bombs.

As Zelenskyy notes, Ukraine has proven that it can effectively shoot down enemy missiles and drones, as well as destroy Russian military aircraft. This allows thousands of lives to be saved and the Ukrainian economy to continue functioning.

"But we need more protection - a very realistic number of air defense systems that our partners have. The Patriots and other systems should do what they were created for, namely, protect life, not gather dust in storage. And I thank everyone around the world who understands this and helps us protect life. Russian terror must lose," the President notes.