Here are the major updates for day 1,121 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

An overview of significant events on March 21:

Combat

• Following a Ukrainian drone attack that caused a significant explosion and fire at a military airstrip in Engels, Saratov, Russia’s government declared a state of emergency. Reuters reported that multiple structures were damaged and the Ministry of Health in Saratov stated that 10 people were wounded.
• According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces destroyed 132 Ukrainian drones during an overnight assault on six regions, including 54 in Saratov.
• Kyiv’s air force announced that 75 out of 171 Russian drones launched at Ukraine were shot down, and 63 disappeared due to electronic warfare.

• Russian drones killed two people and wounded 10, including four children, in the Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi. Regional Governor Arkadyi Raikovych also stated that residential buildings suffered damage.
• Odesa’s Black Sea port in Ukraine was targeted by Russia, causing injuries to three people and damage to an apartment building and a shopping center, Governor Oleh Kiper stated.

Ceasefire

• Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, announced that Russia and the US will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the resumption of the Black Sea initiative and other potential aspects of a ceasefire agreement.
• Peskov also accused European countries of plans to “militarize” and become a “war party” instead of seeking peace, referring to a recent meeting of European military chiefs in the UK.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov stated that ceasefire talks are scheduled to take place on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Grigory Karasin, the Russian Senate’s international affairs committee chairman, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the head of Russia’s FSB security service, will attend the meetings.
• Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to sabotage peace efforts, citing Kyiv’s attacks on an oil depot in the southern Russian village of Kavkazskaya.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed meetings in Saudi Arabia with the US. “Our technical teams will be there,” Zelenskyy said.

Politics and diplomacy

• President Zelenskyy visited Oslo for discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
• Zelenskyy informed the European Union that Moscow continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy system despite President Putin’s agreement with the US to halt attacks.

• During talks with EU leaders, Zelenskyy requested at least €5 billion ($5.43bn) for the procurement of artillery shells.
• In response to former US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to control Ukraine’s energy facilities, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not negotiate the ownership of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
• Zelenskyy called Hungary’s vote against Ukraine’s EU membership “anti-European.” Although he didn’t mention any names, it was Hungary that opposed Kyiv’s accession to the EU.
• Trump announced that the US would soon sign a minerals deal with Ukraine. The White House previously stated that Washington had moved beyond the agreed-upon deal and was focusing on a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.