March 9th, 2022
1. Classified Ukrainian instructions
Russia's Ministry of Defence has made public documents confirming preparation by Kiev authorities of an offensive operation in Donbass scheduled for March 2022 (see slides attached below).
The release includes images of six pages. Written in the Ukrainian language and bearing the traits of official paperwork, they appear to be classified papers of the Ukrainian National Guard.
2. Ukrainians flee en masse as major cities encircled
Ukrainian ultra-nazi formations continued to prevent too many Ukrainians trapped in a number of engulfed cities to leave them and escape abroad. Around 5 mln persons wish to go to the Western Europe and more than 2 mln civilians prefer to move into Russia and Belarus. The other explanation of civilians’ blockade is that president Zelensky ordered total mobilization of male Ukrainians from 18 to 60 years old.
3. Attacks on ChNPP
Ukrainian nationalist forces attacked a substation and the power lines which provide the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) with electricity, Russian deputy defence minister Nikolai Pankov said. The Ukrainian side avoids the organization of repair and restoration work. The International Atomic Energy Agency sought to ease fears by indicating in a pair of tweets that it sees "no critical impact on safety" at the plant despite the loss of power. It added that heat load of spent fuel storage pool and volume of cooling water at this NPP is sufficient for effective heat removal without need for electrical supply. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko assured that the mothballed plant, which produces no power of its own, has the capability to maintain power independently using onsite diesel generators.
4. Military operation is underway
During March 9th interceptor-bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 49 military targets. Among them: 2 command posts, 6 radar stations, 4 ammunition and fuel depots and 37 sites containing weapons and military equipment.
From February 24th, 2022 total 2786 military facilities in Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.
Destroyed were: 953 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 101 multiple rocket launch systems, 351 field artillery and mortars, 718 special military vehicles, 93 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Elimination of the Ukrainian Air Force. By the beginning of the special operation, the Ukrainian armed forces had up to 250 active combat aircraft and helicopters. The Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 89 combat aircraft and 57 helicopters on the ground and in the air. Part of the Ukrainian aircraft flew to Romania and does not participate in hostilities. 90 percent of the Ukrainian military airfields have been disabled. There are no trained Ukrainian pilots of the first and second class left.
Destruction of the Ukrainian air defense systems. During the special operation, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 137 S-300, Buk M-1 and S-125 anti-aircraft missile systems. This is more than 90 percent of the long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems in service. 81 Ukrainian air defence radar stations were destroyed. This led to the loss of combat control of aviation and air defence of Ukraine. At present, the air defence system is incapable of providing significant countermeasures to Russian aircraft.
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
