Developments in the conflict. Continued attempts by the Russian army to cordon off large cities and to airdrop forces. . Intelligence data on preparations for Russian landing in Odesa and fighting continues to take place in Kherson. At the same time, attempts to reach Kyiv from the south-west continue, but today Ukrainian forces recaptured Makariv – a key town in this area. Combat operations continue around military airfields in Hostomel and Vasylkiv, close to Kyiv. During the night air strikes were carried out on Kharkiv using vacuum bombs, while Zhytomyr was hit by cruise missiles. Other cities and towns are under rocket fire. One of the most famous architectural monuments of eastern Ukraine was destroyed in Trostianets (Sumy region) – the estate of L. Koenig where P. Tchaikovsky once worked. Rumours on the preparation for a missile strike on St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv are circulating. Ukrainian troops have in turn taken over part of Horlivka (a town in the CADLR, one of the key towns under the control of the “DPR”). In general, the front line in the Donetsk region is well fortified without any reported breaches to date. Today the Ministry of Defence of the RF has officially recognised 498 Russian casualties. It is the first time that casualties are reported by RF since February 24th.
In turn, Ukraine authorities report 15 times more Russian casualties.
INFORMATION SPACE. The Russian army continues to try to destroy Ukraine’s telecommunications capabilities. On March 2nd, several TV towers were struck by missiles, including in Lysychansk. It is likely that the goal is to prevent Ukrainians from accessing the news to spread panic among the population. Starlink equipment is currently being deployed in Ukraine, with the objective of maintaining satellite communications in the events of large-scale interruption of telecommunications. In Russia itself and in the territories of Crimea and the CADLR under its control, large-scale propaganda of flag-wavers (‘hurrah- patriots’) is unfolding. An order was introduced in Crimea today for all local councils to adopt resolutions in support of the actions of Putin. The narrative “Kherson is ours” is spreading, despite the city not fully yet under Russian control. In Kemerovo region in Russia, the authorities ordered for the name of the region – Kuzbass – to be written in official documents with the Latin letter ‘Z’. The letter has become a symbol of this military campaign, known as the sign painted on Russian military equipment. D.Pushylin, head of the “DPR”, urged citizens to display the letter ‘Z’ on their cars. A few days ago, a pro-Russian rally took place in Serbia, where participants also painted ‘Z’ on their cars. A propaganda narrative is spreading according to which the CADLR provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainians turning to them en masse.
