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Ukrainian fighters have destroyed combat vehicles belonging to the invading Russian army, including Kamaz and UAZ vehicles with the use of kamikaze drones. Footage of the burning military vehicles were shared by the Russian military personnel.

The biggest attack on Russian soil since the Second World War continues as waves of attack drones continue to fall on Russian oil refineries, military bases, and security services. At least 60 drones were spotted over not less than seven Russian regions overnight on March 13, with at least seven more in a morning wave, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced. A major oil refinery is ablaze in Ryazan, military bases were targeted in Voronezh, and an FSB building was damaged in Belgorod as multiple waves of drones continue to fall in regions across Russia. A missile threat was also reported by the Governor of Kursk Oblast. The waves of drones are a continuation of attacks on March 12 that saw Russia deal with at least 25 drones over nine regions that struck at least two oil facilities. A Russian Air Force base in Buturlinovka and a military airfield in Voronezh were targeted in the mass wave of air strikes, an informed source told NV on March 13. It is believed that the strike was organized by Ukraine’s security service with other representatives of the Defense Forces, the source told NV. The consequences of the attack are still being clarified. Part of the city of Voronezh was blocked, including the Southwest Market, after a drone attack, while another community in the region was left partly without electricity. Some districts in Buturlinovka are experiencing power outages following a drone attack, local outlet ASTRA reported. Major oil refineries in three Russian regions were the main targets of the overnight attack organized by the Ukraine, a source told NV. “Our task is to deprive the enemy of resources,” he said. Large oil refineries in Ryazan, Kstovo of Nizhy Novgorod Oblast, and Kirishi of Leningrad Oblast – all among Russia’s five largest – were targeted in the mass drone attack, he said. The attacks are a continuation of a series of special operations against enemy refineries that the Ukrainian army had previously launched, the source said. “We are systematically implementing a well-calculated strategy to reduce the economic potential of the Russian Federation,” the source added. “Our task is to deprive the enemy of resources and reduce the flow of oil money and fuel that Russia directs straight to the war and the killing of our citizens.” “This work will be continued,” pledged Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence.

Russian authorities are blocking the evacuation of civilians in the Belgorod region, where a raid by Russian volunteers continues. Panic is growing among residents, according to sources in Ukrainian intelligence. According to the sources, the Russian authorities are blocking the evacuation of the population in the Belgorod region. Security forces have surrounded the railway station, and panic is growing among residents. RBC-Ukraine received an interception of a conversation between residents from the direction of Shebekino, Belgorod region. "Karachansky was shot at and taxi drivers were shot at, I don't know how our people will get there. The railway station has been surrounded, that's it, no one is allowed to go there or back, I don't know, it's a nightmare. Let them get off near Prokhorovka," says a resident. Recently, dozens of Ukrainian drones were launched at regions across Russia, mostly targeting oil refineries in the Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Leningrad regions, all located hundreds of kilometers from the front line in Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had foiled an attempt by the Ukrainian army to attack its southern Belgorod region. Russia said earlier in the week it had beaten back attempted incursions into two southern regions which Ukraine said were staged by groups of anti-Kremlin Russian fighters not under Kyiv's control. Ukraine-based Russian opposition politician Illya Ponomarev claimed that the border village of Lozovaya Rudka, Belgorod region, was "under full control of liberating forces". The Ukraine-based Russian armed groups have made several cross-border raids since the full-invasion of Ukraine began. A full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin is now in its third year, with no signs that the biggest war in Europe since World War Two could end soon.

The shortage of ammunition and military equipment caused by delays in US aid could leave the current front lines in Ukraine very vulnerable. This could be exploited by Russian forces for a sudden breakthrough. The Institute for the Study of War said this. The Institute for the Study of War analysts said that Ukraine's prioritisation of areas of the front line which are most at risk from intense Russian offensives could create vulnerabilities elsewhere. The institute’s experts warned that Russian forces could take advantage of this to make a sudden and unexpected advance. A breakthrough could happen if the supply of weapons to the Ukrainian military continues to decline. They also noted that the fact that Russia retains the initiative along the entire line of contact increases the risks of such a development, allowing Russian military commanders to increase or decrease the intensity of operations on any part of the front line at their discretion. The Institute for the Study of War analysts stressed that Ukrainian forces are likely trying to mitigate the problems caused by the lack of ammunition and are identifying priority areas on the front line. However, military analysts are convinced that this has risks for the Ukrainian forces. On 12 March, the German news outlet Der Spiegel published an interview with unnamed Ukrainian commanders who stated that almost all Ukrainian units and formations are suffering from a shortage of ammunition and military equipment. Der Spiegel noted that Ukrainian units can only hold their current positions if Russian troops do not use their full capacity to attack. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, warned that there is a threat of Russian units advancing deeper into Ukrainian formations in certain areas of the front line.

Fighters of the Freedom of Russia Legion consider their main mission to be the "march on Moscow" aimed at liberating the Russian Federation from the president Vladimir Putin, according to Newsweek. In a comment to the material, one of the volunteers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, Alexei Baranovsky, with the call sign "Lutik," stated that the fighters intend to eventually carry out a "march on Moscow" for "liberation of Russia from Putin." "We may not be able to pull it off now, but that is our overarching mission," he said. Baranovsky noted that the operation of the rebels to break through the Russian border is related to the so-called presidential election in the Russian Federation. "We may not be able to stop the federal election, but we can disrupt the regional votes, so we are doing what we can by bringing this 'air of freedom' to at least some parts of the country" he explained. According to Baranovsky, insurgent formations want to activate the frightened internal opposition in Russia. "As citizens of Russia, we decided that we also want to take part in this election—and this is our way of getting our voices heard. We are voting for an armed resistance to the Putin regime, for an uprising, a revolution," he said, calling on all Russians to join volunteers in the fight against the dictator. On March 12, the Russian Volunteer Corps together with the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Siberian Battalion broke through the border with Russia and took control of several settlements, including in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. In addition, according to RBC-Ukraine, Russians complained about drone attacks for two nights in a row. Putin commented on the events in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, blaming Ukraine for this. Putin linked the border breakthrough by volunteers with alleged failures on the front and plans to disrupt the "expression of the will of citizens" in the so-called presidential election in the Russian Federation. Russian volunteers announced strikes on Russian military positions in Belgorod and Kursk. Residents of these cities were urged to evacuate.

French President Emmanuel Macron has brought up the idea of sending NATO soldiers into Ukraine because members of the US-led bloc are plotting to divide up the country, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Macron first suggested two weeks ago that when it came to NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine, no option should be off the table, but was publicly disavowed by most NATO members. He has since argued that France might send its own soldiers should Russia “break through to Kiev or Odessa.” “All these statements that Macron and other NATO politicians make, about the possibility of introducing contingents or some kind of paramilitary units into the territory of Ukraine, are related to the partition of what they see as the remnants of Ukraine,” Zakharova said at a press briefing in Moscow. Territorial aspirations help explain why Kiev has not been invited to join the bloc yet, Zakharova argued. This would require all NATO members to recognize Ukraine’s borders, and not all of them are willing to do so, she added. She said that they are ready to occupy and partition Ukraine. The “moral preparation” of the population in both NATO countries and Ukraine is already underway, Zakharova said, with some politicians speaking about such an outcome openly. “All this is happening, as usual with NATO members, under a false flag. They talk about countering Russia, but are in fact starting to divide the remains of Ukraine between themselves,” she said, adding that this should serve as a warning to those who “entrust their fate to NATO.” As for Paris, Zakharova said, French troops invaded Russia in the early 19th century and again in the early 20th. “France would do well to remember how that ended.”

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has laid out the details of the so-called Russian Peace Formula, which would require the capitulation of Ukraine, "payment of all due compensations to Russia" and "adoption of an act on the reunification of the former territories of 'Ukraine' with the Russian Federation" in return for Russia ending hostilities. Medvedev stated that to achieve so-called "consensus with the international community", Ukraine must declare "complete and unconditional surrender", "conduct demilitarisation", "dismiss all constitutional authorities" and "immediately hold elections for a temporary parliament". He also claimed that Western countries recognise the "Kyiv political regime as a Nazi junta" and that there was a need to conduct a "forced denazification programme encompassing all authorities" under United Nations supervision. In addition, the Provisional Parliament of Ukraine will have to adopt a law establishing a procedure for compensation for damage caused to regions of Russia, as well as injured citizens and families of dead Russians. In addition, one of the conditions of peace in Ukraine will be the loss of its global legal personality and a ban on joining military alliances without the consent of the Russian Federation. Medvedev he also proposed that Ukraine admit defeat in the conflict and surrender unconditionally. The final points of this formula imply the recognition of the entire territory of Ukraine as the territory of Russia and the adoption of the act of reunification with the Russian Federation, as well as the recognition of this act at the United Nations. “This could be Russia's mild peace formula. It's a compromise, right? I think that based on it we can seek a benevolent consensus with the international community, including the Anglo-Saxon world, to conduct productive summits, counting on the mutual understanding of our close friends: the Western partners,” he finally stated

The United States plans to open the first foreign factory in Australia for the production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System for reactive salvo fire systems. The ammunition will be directed to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, informs The Wall Street Journal. The source notes that Lockheed company plans to hire six Australian engineers to prepare and launch production. The decision was made because the US defense industry cannot meet demand and quickly replenish rocket stocks. "The rapid consumption of munitions in Ukraine and the Middle East—from missiles to artillery shells—has strained the ability of the U.S industrial base to meet demand and replenish depleted stocks. The Biden administration is seeking to develop multiple production lines across allied nations for critical weapons, though that isn't easy," writes Wall Street Journal. Australian officials note that the first batch of 12 GMLRS rockets is planned to be tested by the end of 2025, and by 2030 the country expects to produce thousands of ammunition annually. Obstacles to the implementation of the plan may include a shortage of personnel, transportation difficulties, and a deficit of necessary production components. Rocket production is planned at a military base on the outskirts of Sydney. The publication emphasizes that this is the first plant outside the US to produce such weapons. GMLRS rockets are manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. They are equipped with a satellite guidance system and can hit targets up to 80 km away. On March 12, the United States announced a new package of assistance to Ukraine worth $300 million. Among other items, it includes artillery shells and GMLRS rockets for HIMARS. Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis, stated that Ukraine needs not 40 but 400 HIMARS launchers to win the war against Russia. Previously, the US tested new rockets for the HIMARS rocket artillery systems.

NATO is ready at a high level to send 300,000 soldiers to Poland.This was said by the Deputy Chief of the Polish General Staff, Karol Dymanowsky. "American soldiers have been stationed in Poland for a long time - several thousand of them. They train with us regularly. Remember that the United States and other allies also support us in other areas: in the air, at sea, in space, and in cybersecurity," he said. Asked whether it is possible that the number of American troops in Poland will increase to 100,000, he said that this is a realistic scenario. "This is an assumption of NATO's latest plans, which were approved at the political level at the last summit in Vilnius. Until now, there were 40,000 soldiers at NATO headquarters, now there are 300,000," Dymanowski said. He added that "the soldiers will arrive in the country under threat even before the war starts." According to him, there are various ready-made scenarios to "adequately respond to aggression." Nato maintains eight battle groups across eastern Europe, aimed at acting as an initial frontline defence in the event of a Russian invasion. Four are in the Baltic states and Poland, and these were supplemented by the creation of four more in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia after the attack on Ukraine. Germany said this month it would contribute a brigade of troops to defend Lithuania, where the country leads a 1,000-member battle group, although it emerged that the bulk of the extra 3,500 Berlin intends to contribute would be based on its own soil, ready to move farther east if needed.

The work of at least half of the production of the Lukoil-Nizhnyohrodnaftorgsintez oil refinery in the city of Kstovo was stopped due to a drone attack. The reason was the failure of the AVT-6 crude oil processing plant, according to Reuters. As previously reported, a drone attacked Lukoil-Nizhnyohrodnaftorgsintez, which is in the city of Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, on March 12. Anonymous Russian sources in the industry told the newspaper that as a result of the attack, the main oil processing facility AVT-6 at Lukoil-Nizhnyohrodnaftorgsintez was damaged. According to them, this means stopping at least half of the production at the plant. According to industry sources, Lukoil-Nizhnyohrodnaftorgsintez processed about 15.8 million tons of Russian oil per year, or 5.8% of the total volume of oil processed. The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is behind this, according to sources in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to sources, the attack on the refinery in the city of Kstovo, the Nizhny Novgorod region, was organized by military intelligence. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries are becoming more and more systematic. So, recently a drone attacked one of the largest oil refineries in Yaroslavl. RBC-Ukraine's sources also reported that the Security Service of Ukraine drones hit the oil refinery in Tuapse, causing a massive fire. In addition, Ukrainian drones successfully worked on the Ust-Luga Oil oil terminal. Fuel is processed there, which, in particular, is supplied to the Russian army. Ukraine and Russia have often used drones to strike critical infrastructure, military installations and troop concentrations in their more than two-year war. Kyiv has concentrated fire on Russian refineries and energy facilities in recent months.

Fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps will make efforts to ensure that no sham elections of Russian president Vladimir Putin take place on the territories bordering Ukraine. Russian Volunteer Corps Commander Denis Nikitin said this in an interview with UP. Pidsumky media outlet. "I believe that the fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps will do everything to ensure that there are no elections in the areas bordering Ukraine. Perhaps this can be considered one of the goals of our current operation", he added. Nikitin said that Russian Volunteer Corps fighters can influence and show people that what is planned in Russia is not an election but a farce, and this is one of the political tasks of Russian volunteers. Nikitin also mentioned that after each similar operation, more and more Russians expressed the desire to join the ranks of the Russian Volunteer Corps. "Every such operation proves that it is possible and necessary to fight against the Putin regime exclusively with weapons. Not toothless actions like lanterns in the night sky or whatever the Russian opposition has been doing for the last 20 years. None of that works. The death of Alexei Navalny only convinced everyone of our righteousness. Only armed resistance. And the Russian Volunteer Corps shows what this armed resistance looks like, what a real struggle for the future of Russia looks like. A large number of people are watching us, seeing our successes, and finding the courage to join our fight", he added. Another group called the Sibir Battalion said on social media that "As promised, we are bringing freedom and justice to our Russian land." They called on the population in the areas where the battles were going on to leave those places. They also said that this is for security purpose. Recently, soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion have reported that they have crossed the Russian border. The military volunteer groups have posted an address online, and a video has appeared on Telegram channels purporting to show military personnel firing their weapons on Russian territory.

Any attempt to send Polish troops into Ukraine could end in a long-term occupation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned in an extensive interview with Russia 1 TV broadcaster and RIA Novosti. “If Polish troops enter the territory of Ukraine in order to, as they say, secure the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, for example, or in some other places to free up Ukrainian rear military units to participate in hostilities on the front line, then I think that Polish troops will never leave,” Putin said, according to excerpts from the interview. The deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia is “not unthinkable,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski claimed last week. He was commenting on a statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said late last month that he “cannot exclude” the possibility of soldiers from the US-led military bloc being sent to aid Kiev. Putin believes that Polish officials dream of returning “those lands that they consider historically their own, and which were taken from them by… Joseph Stalin, and transferred to Ukraine.” “They certainly want them back. So if official Polish units enter there, they are unlikely to leave,” he claimed. Putin said that Russia is technically prepared for nuclear war, and if the US sends troops to Ukraine, it will be seen as a significant escalation of the war. "From a military-technical point of view, we are ready, of course," said the 71-year-old Putin in response to a question about whether the country is truly prepared for nuclear war. Putin said that the US understands that if they deploy troops to Ukrainian territory, Russia will consider this a step towards intervention. "In the US there are enough experts in Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic deterrence. So, I don't think everything is rushing headlong here, but we are ready for this," Putin said.

During the battles for Avdiivka, the most modern German tank "Leopard 2A6" was captured by Russian soldiers. This is the first tank that Russia was able to capture out of 18 Leopard 2 tanks imported from Germany. According to BulgarianMilitary media outlet, some Ukrainian resources have acknowledged the loss. The German publication, Bild, also confirmed the loss. According to Bild, 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks delivered by Germany to Ukraine, and this is the first proven instance of a tank being captured by the Russians since the deliveries began. The Leopard 2A6 is one of the latest versions of the renowned German tank. Germany is currently developing the next two iterations – the Leopard 2A7, which has its customers mainly in the Hungarian army, and the Leopard 2A8, which remains somewhat of a mystery. However, Italy has expressed a strong desire to acquire hundreds of these units. Germany also plans to include the 2A8 version in its own army. According to Russian resources, the captured Leopard 2A6 is fully operational. The tank features side hatches, but the so-called cage atop the dome is notably absent. The grills on the side of the turret are designed to deflect some of the explosive force of an incoming anti-tank missile. These sources assert that the tank was seized while fighting near Avdiivka. According to Russian reports, the tank was ambushed by a small Russian platoon, an action that compelled the Ukrainian tank crew to abandon their vehicle. As reported by the German publication Bild, the German Ministry of Defense is deeply invested in monitoring the status of the Leopard tanks they delivered to Ukraine. German journalists claim that a significant portion of the total 18 tanks shipped to Ukraine required frequent repairs at specialized bases.

In Sweden, fearing a possible war with Russia, the population began to prepare for general defence. "Sud Ouest" published information about this. “Canned food, portable filters for drinking water, first aid kit and radio. These are what the government recommends to keep in reserve," the information stated. Even experts have called to collect 3 months of food reserves. Charlotte Petri, the head of the Swedish Emergency Situations Agency, said that the concept of total protection is to prepare the population to live independently in crisis conditions. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service warned Sweden of “increased threats” from Russia after the country officially became the 32nd NATO member ending decades of neutrality in the wake of war in Ukraine. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer long border with Russia, joined NATO on April 4, 2023, after Russia began its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The Nordic country's NATO membership drew military threats from the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing the West of “dragging” Finland into a military alliance and creating a rift between Moscow and Helsinki. According to the Finnish authorities, since joining the Western military alliance, Russian operations against the country have increased sharply. Finnish Security and Intelligence Service warned that the same development may await Sweden. “We have to be ready,” Finnish Security and Intelligence Service’s acting head Teemu Turunen told Swedish local broadcaster SVT Nyheter. “You should never underestimate the capabilities of the Russian intelligence service. They are skilled and we must be ready,” he added. Sweden’s accession to Nato is proof that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has failed, secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. “When President Putin launched his full-scale invasion two years ago, he wanted less Nato and more control over his neighbors,” the Norwegian politician said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has commented on the breakthrough into Russia's Belgorod and Kursk oblasts by volunteer soldiers from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion fighting for Ukraine. He believes this is an attempt to disrupt the elections and "get a bargaining chip" for an exchange of territories in possible negotiations. Putin said these in an interview with Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies Russia 1 and RIA Novosti. "Nevertheless, the raiders’ main goal, and I am sure of it, is to disrupt the presidential election in Russia, or at least somehow interfere with the normal process of expressing the will of the citizens. That's the first thing. The second is the information effect, which I have already mentioned. But the third is, if they succeed in getting some opportunity, some advantage, some bargaining chip in a possible future negotiation process: they will say we will give this back to you, but you will have to give that back to us", Russian president added. On the other hand, Putin said, such attacks are supposedly taking place "amid Ukraine's failures on the front" and are designed to have an "informational effect". In addition, Putin claims that there are foreign mercenaries among the volunteer soldiers. "The enemy attempted to launch attacks along the state border line, primarily with sabotage and reconnaissance groups – the latest report from the General Staff indicates that there are up to 300 people, including foreign mercenaries," Putin explained his train of thought. Earlier, volunteer soldiers from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion fighting for Ukraine reported that they had entered the Russian border area and posted a message about it. A video showing the purported presence of military personnel on Russian territory and gunfire was posted on various Telegram channels.

Russian media reported that the Ryazan oil refinery was attacked by a long-range kamikaze drone, the Liutyi, on the night of March 13. There is very little information about this drone. Currently, there is not much information about this drone. According to Defense Express, it is only known that the range of this drone is up to 1000 kilometers and the weight of the warhead is 75 kilograms. Outwardly, it may resemble the Bayraktar TB2, but this is only at first glance. Because, judging by the size of the engine, the Liutyi is much smaller. Earlier, Defense Express pointed out that this drone looks more like an intermediate version between Bayraktar TB2 and PD-2 from UkrSpecSystems. This drone, in particular, was shown in November 2023. At that time, Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries Hanna Hvozdiar showed a photo of this drone. Before that, the images were published by Ukroboronprom. The Focus journalists saw two inscriptions on them: "Liutyi 02", probably the name, and an inscription in Church Slavonic "Az vozdam". The drone also shows the coat of arms of Ukraine, stylized as a bird. Earlier, according to Defense Express, Liutyi was probably spotted during an attack on an aircraft factory in Taganrog on March 9, 2024. And during a strike on a strategically important metallurgical plant in Lipetsk in late February 2024. On the night of March 13, drones attacked an oil refinery in Ryazan, Russia. Eyewitnesses reported a fire. There are also reports of injuries. It is worth noting that this is the second night in a row that drones have attacked facilities in Russia. On the night of March 12, drone flights were recorded in some regions. An oil depot and a refinery were hit. At the time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that it had spotted 25 drones and allegedly prevented the attack

The US is aggravating the Ukraine conflict by continuing to support Kiev financially and suggesting a course of action on the ground, the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has said. Washington’s rhetoric about the need to pour more money into Kiev to help it attack Crimea signals America’s direct participation, Antonov told reporters on Wednesday in response to an earlier statement by CIA Director William Burns. Additional funds would allow Ukraine to conduct more “deep penetration strikes in Crimea,” continue targeting the Russian Black Sea fleet and eventually “regain the offensive initiative,” Burns told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. “The situation has reached a point where some high-ranking US officials are saying: we need to help Ukrainians ‘strike deep in Crimea.’ In other words, the direct involvement of the United States in the conflict has been officially recognized,” Antonov stated. He went on to warn that the direct participation of Ukraine’s Western backers in the conflict is “a dangerous course, fraught with the most unpredictable consequences,” not only for the security of the US, but for the whole world. The CIA director’s appeal came as the US is struggling to approve a new $60 billion aid package amid persistent complaints from Ukrainian authorities about a lack of munitions on the front lines. While that funding is stalled in Congress, the White House announced a smaller $300 million military aid injection for Kiev, the first this year. According to Antonov, with this new package the US administration “confirmed the constancy of its disastrous course of prolonging the military conflict in Ukraine.” “The United States does not want to understand the simple truth that no American weapon will stop Russia’s special military operation Its use will only lead to an increase in casualties among ordinary citizens of the post-Soviet republic,” he said.

In the morning of March 14, the Graivoroy district of the Belgorod region of Russia opened fire from the territory of Ukraine. The Russian press reported on this. It is said that one of the shells fell into the forensic examination building. The population was warned to go to shelters. The governor of Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that one person was injured as a result of the shooting. He also said that three cars were damaged and several houses were damaged. A warning was issued about the missile safety in the Belgorod area. It should be noted that on March 13, the "Free Russian Legion", the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion, which are part of the Ukrainian army, warned that they would again enter the territory of Belgorod and Kursk and conduct an operation. They demanded the provincial administration to evacuate the local population.

On March 14, the "Free Russian Legion", which announced that it had entered the territory of Russia's Kursk region, blew up and destroyed two ammunition depots belonging to the Russian army in Tetkino village of the region. The images were shared on the telegram channel of the legion. Legion fighters also released a video of the destruction of two armored fighting vehicles belonging to the invading Russian army on the border. It should be noted that on March 13, the "Free Russian Legion", the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion, which are part of the Ukrainian army, warned that they would again enter the territory of Belgorod and Kursk and conduct an operation. They demanded the provincial administration to evacuate the local population. Currently, it is said that the shooting continues in Kursk and Belgorod regions.

A strong fire broke out in a high-rise building under construction in the Tver region of Russia. The Russian press reported on this. The cause of the fire was the ignition of one of the heating devices in the building. The fire quickly covered the entire building. It is said that there are no casualties.

Russia can likely keep fighting in Ukraine at the current scale for two to five more years, the Wall Street Journal reported , citing military experts. This ability comes despite sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's defense industry. Russia’s ability to churn out tanks, missiles, and shells has surprised the West and heaped further pressure on Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal said. Russia has ramped up spending, with defense now accounting for over 21% of the federal budget, significantly higher than in 2020. It is predicted that this share will increase in 2024 to more than 29%. Russia also found ways to work around sanctions, acquiring Western components through intermediaries. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in December that Russia was producing 17.5 times as much ammunition, 17 times as many drones, and 5.6 times as many tanks as it did before the war. A senior NATO official stated that Russia can likely sustain its war effort at the current scale for two to five more years, and at least two European military intelligence agencies share this belief, the Wall Street Journal said. “The central bank’s analysis also shows that much of the increase in defense-related output was in low-tech products, such as fabricated steel, rather than more sophisticated items, like semiconductors, for which Russia is reliant on foreign suppliers,” the article said. Some analysts question Moscow’s production boasts. Russia’s output figures, for instance, don’t differentiate between newly produced armored vehicles and old models brought out of storage and refurbished, the publication said. “They are hyping up the numbers,” said Michael Gjerstad, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Based on a review of satellite images before and after the start of the war, in 2023 Russia brought out at least 1,200 old tanks from storage, Gjerstad said. Therefore, Russia produced 330 new tanks in 2023 at the very most, though the true figure is likely to be half that number, he said. Russia has also dipped into reserves of old artillery ammunition, the journalists said. The stockpile now stands at around 3 million rounds, much of which is in poor condition, the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based think tank, said. Russia’s domestic ammunition production isn’t sufficient to meet its needs for waging war in Ukraine, meaning Moscow will grow more dependent on foreign allies, the analysts said.