Russo-Ukrainian War, day 761: The restoration of Ukraine’s Dnipro hydroelectric power plant will take years

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Meet “”Liutyi,”” Ukraine’s homegrown drone behind strikes on Russian oil refineries. Ukraine’s domestically produced Liutyi unmanned aircraft has been behind precise strikes on Russian oil refineries up to 800km inside Russia.

Inside Russia’s “”Special liberation operation””: how expat rebels raid Putin’s borderlands. Adopting the Kremlin’s euphemism for its Ukraine invasion, Russian rebel battalions have launched a 10-day ‘special liberation operation of Russia from Putin’ in Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, asserting they have seized villages, destroyed military equipment and diverted Russian forces from the front

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Military

Frontline report: Russians advance 1 km towards Chasiv Yar, employing scorched earth tactics. The village of Ivanivske, standing between Russians and Chasiv Yar town, has been leveled to the ground, while the Ukrainians’ goal is to slow the Russian advance before the new defense line along the canal is ready.

ISW: Russian seizure of Chasiv Yar would be more operationally significant than the Russian seizure of Avdiivka. However, “Russian forces will not take Chasiv Yar rapidly if they can take it at all,” according to the ISW’s latest report

Russian night drone attack injures 11 in Mykolaiv. The downed drones over Odesa cause fire on a power facility, causing power outages.

Russia’s Kuibyshev oil refinery lost half of its capacity after the last drone attack – Reuters. The refinery was responsible for 1.34% of Russia’s total oil refining capacity, having processed 3.687 million tons of crude oil last year. It was among at least nine refineries hit by Ukraine’s drones.

As of 25 Mar 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 437390 (+640)
    • Tanks: 6887 (+11)
    • APV: 13183 (+25)
    • Artillery systems: 10877 (+22)
    • MLRS: 1018
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 726 (+3)
    • Aircraft: 347
    • Helicopters: 325
    • UAV: 85392 (+29)
    • Cruise missiles : 2010 (+18)
    • Warships/boats: 26
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 14454 (+47)

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine reportedly shot down two Russian “unique” Zircon missiles — Defense Express. The wreckage will allow experts to assess the technology and capabilities of this Russian hypersonic missile.

Ukraine’s Naval Forces claim possible hit on Ivan Khurs ship. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Naval Forces, said that the Russian landing ship Ivan Khurs might have been hit in addition to the landing ships Yamal and Azov during a recent attack on Sevastopol.

Military Intelligence: Russian large landing ship Yamal sustains critical damage. On 23 March Ukraine’s military reportedly hit large landing ships Yamal and Azov, a communications center and several infrastructure facilities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, the city in Russian-occupied Crimea

International

Macron says attack in Russia carried out by IS group, warns against accusations of Ukraine. The French president also cautioned Russia against any “exploitation” of the attack (on Ukraine), stating that it would be “cynical and counterproductive for Russia to try to turn this context against Ukraine.”

US House Speaker Johnson to bring Ukraine aid vote “after Easter”. US House Speaker Johnson commits to holding a vote on Ukraine aid bill after Easter recess, a Republican Representative states. Congressional Republicans have been delaying aid to Ukraine for months, which eventually benefits Russia on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency signed a Memorandum with the Danish Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO). The memorandum comes as the new Agency is gradually taking over all defense procurement as part of the reform of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

Russian envoy refuses to attend Polish Foreign Ministry after missile breaches Polish airspace. Despite being summoned, the Russian ambassador to Poland refused to attend a meeting at the Polish Foreign Ministry on March 25, amid demands for explanations following a missile breaching Polish airspace during Russia’s major attack on Ukraine.

Humanitarian and social impact

Restoration of Ukraine’s Dnipro hydroelectric power plant will take years following Russian missile attack. The machine hall was destroyed, and a new one should be constructed, while some equipment should be manufactured from scratch. It is expected to take at least two years.

Over 215K consumers have no electricity in Kharkiv due to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure. Some 401 settlements in Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kherson oblasts were without power due to Russia’s combat operations, the Ukrenergo press service reported.

Mayor: Russian ballistic attack on Kyiv injures 7 people, hit sports facility in city’s center district. Russian troops hit Kyiv with two ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s military said the type is being determined

New developments

Drone attack disables two power units at power plant in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. The Novocherkasskaya Power Plant, the largest thermal power plant and the 2nd most powerful power plant in the Rostov Oblast, reportedly came under drone attack overnight into 25 March.

Read our earlier daily review here.