Here is the summary of key events as of Thursday, March 27.

Fighting

• Russian forces conducted a significant drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, causing injuries to nine people and substantial damage, according to emergency services and Ukrainian officials.
• A drone attack by Russia also caused fires in the central city of Dnipro, with no immediate casualties reported, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak.
• The mayor of Mykolaiv, a port city in southern Ukraine, reported emergency power outages following an attack by Russian drones early on Wednesday.
• Ukrainian military forces intercepted 56 out of 117 drones launched by Russia.
• A Russian military court sentenced 12 members of Ukraine’s Azov regiment, known for defending the city of Mariupol, to prison terms ranging from 13 to 23 years on terrorism and related charges.
• Russian state TV journalist Anna Prokofieva was killed, and her cameraman Dmitry Volkov was seriously injured by a mine allegedly placed by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Belgorod region.

 Ceasefire

• Ukraine and Russia accused each other of violating a truce on attacks against energy facilities, brokered by the United States, following separate agreements to pause strikes in the Black Sea and on energy targets.
• Senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Ihor Zhovkva stated that Russia had targeted at least eight Ukrainian energy facilities since March 18, the day Moscow claimed to have halted such attacks.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that Russia was adhering to President Vladimir Putin’s order to refrain from attacking energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian military denied Russian allegations that it conducted strikes on energy facilities in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well as in occupied Crimea.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Washington communicated to Kyiv that the truce agreements with Russia were effective immediately after their announcement. However, the Kremlin insisted that the Black Sea ceasefire would not take effect until a sanctioned Russian bank regained access to SWIFT, a condition European leaders rejected unless Russia withdrew from Ukraine.
• Speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Zelenskyy expressed hope that the US would pressure Russia into a complete ceasefire despite Russia’s conditions for the Black Sea truce.

I want to highlight France’s efforts in helping us defend against Russian strikes. In particular, your “Mirages”—combat aircraft made in France—have performed very well. I am particularly grateful for them—they have already become a part of our air shield and are helping us… pic.twitter.com/ccHbSvWTKM

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленский (@ZelenskyyUa) March 26, 2025

• The Kremlin reported ongoing intensive communication with the US, expressing satisfaction with the development of a pragmatic and constructive dialogue yielding results, according to spokesperson Peskov.
• The US will consider Russia’s demands following its agreement in principle to a US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine in the Black Sea, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Rubio indicated that US officials would endeavor to understand Russia’s position and present it to President Donald Trump for a decision.
• Trump suggested in an interview that Russia might want to end its conflict with Ukraine but acknowledged potential delays from Moscow.
• The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, under Russian control in Ukraine, could resume operations months after a ceasefire, but restarting all six reactors would take over a year, stated UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi.
• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock praised US mediation but cautioned against trusting Putin, warning against dialogue tied to new demands from Russia.
• UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that an agreement on Black Sea navigation ensuring civilian protection and safeguarding infrastructures “will significantly aid global food security and supply chains.”

Military Aid

• French President Macron announced an additional two billion euros ($2.15bn) in military aid for Ukraine, accusing Russia of manipulating recent limited ceasefire deals.
• NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged the US and Europe against unilateral security actions amid tensions regarding the alliance’s future and differing views on Russia. Rutte also stated that trust in the US administration persisted despite a journalist’s inclusion in a group Signal chat among national security aides.
• Rutte emphasized that normalization of relations with Russia will be prolonged, citing a complete lack of trust.
• European officials, unnamed, indicated a shift from deploying troops to Ukraine to seeking alternative security measures, citing political and logistical challenges and potential opposition from Russia and the US.

Economics

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Fox News that Ukraine might sign an economic agreement next week; President Trump is prepared to impose additional sanctions on Russia if necessary.
• Following a tense meeting last month in the Oval Office between US and Ukrainian leaders, relations between Kyiv and Washington are “back on track,” stated Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine’s president.
• Italian heating company Ariston Holding regained control of its Russian subsidiary after President Putin reversed his decision to seize it in response to Western sanctions.