Putin's nuclear bunker and new attempts to eliminate Zelenskyy: Highlights on war in Ukraine as of March 20

Author

Olexandr Zakharov

The twenty-fifth day of the war against the Russian occupiers continues in Ukraine. This day has been quite eventful for business, politics, and economics. has compiled a digest that will help you to know the situation in Ukraine.

The major developments of the day are:

The armed forces of Belarus are preparing in the following 1-2 days to directly invade the territory of Ukraine. An attack is possible in the Volyn direction, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready to fight back, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. Such an offensive "will be a fatal mistake for Alexander Lukashenko," the headquarters warned. Ukraine called on the Belarusian military, who had previously expressed complete unwillingness to fight with Ukraine, not to follow criminal orders.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

The invaders are parachuting new terrorist groups into Ukraine in order to eliminate the Ukrainian leadership, the Main Intelligence Directorate reports. On March 20, ready groups of militants began to arrive in Ukraine. Key "targets" of mercenaries are:
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak;
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

All previous attempts ended in failure and the elimination of terrorists.

Photo: Getty Images

Vladimir Putin is preparing an underground city in the east of the country in case of a nuclear war, as evidenced by government flights on March 17, 2022. This assumption was made by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine in 2005-2010, Army General Mykola Malomuzh in an interview with OBOZREVATEL.

Economy

Photo: halliburton.com

Already four of the world's largest oilfield services corporations — the "big four" Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughesb, and Weatherford are phasing out their activities in Russia over the sanctions. The last of the four, Halliburton, officially announced its withdrawal today.
The largest manufacturer of pumping equipment in the world — the Danish company Grundfos — temporarily halts production in the Russian Federation and will not accept orders from Russia and Belarus. It also donated 2 million euros to help Ukraine.
Australia will provide Kyiv with at least 70,000 tons of thermal coal to enhance energy security.
Australia has imposed a ban on the export of alumina and aluminum to Russia. This will limit the possibilities of the Russian producers of aluminum that is one of the most important components of Russian exports. Australia supplied 20% of Russia's demand for alumina.
The French government has frozen the funds of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in the amount of 22 billion euros. The funds can be used to restore the economy of Ukraine.

Politics

The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians (93%) believe that Ukraine will be able to defeat Russia in the war, according to the results of a survey by the Rating sociological group. At the same time, signing a truce with Putin without withdrawing troops from Ukraine is unacceptable, according to 89% of respondents. Ukrainians now call Poland, Lithuania, Great Britain, and the USA the most friendly countries, and call the Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, Turkey, France, and Slovenia friendly. At the same time, the Russian Federation and Belarus are definitely enemies for 98% and 84% of Ukrainians, respectively.

On the night of March 20, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to suspend the activities of 11 political parties for the period of martial law. The list includes frankly pro-Russian and left-wing parties that also take pro-Russian positions or even are on the side of the invaders, for example, like Volodymyr Saldo in Kherson:

Photo: Wikipedia

Opposition Platform —For Life;
Party of Shariy;
Nashi (Ours);
Opposition Bloc;
Left Opposition;
Union of Leftists;
Derzhava;
Progressive Socialist Party;
Socialist Party of Ukraine;
Party "Socialists";
Volodymyr Saldo Bloc.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with CNN stressed that any compromises related to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine are impossible. He also warned that he was ready to personally talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the failure of negotiations could lead to World War Three.

Business

Photo: Pixabay

The Ministry of Health has banned the use of 39 medicines in Ukraine, the manufacturers and applicants of which have a legal address or work in Belarus. Similar medical products are produced by Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies.
The ban on selling alcohol in regions where hostilities are taking place and areas close to them is a reasonable decision, but in the rest of the territory it is senseless and harmful, says Danylo Hetmantsev, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Taxes and Finance. He stressed that such a ban stimulates the underground sale of vodka and corruption and takes away from the state an excise tax that it needs today so much.

Ukrainian companies are learning to work during wartime and support their employees.

The least affected by the military crisis are:

IT sector;
production and agriculture;
sales sector;
transport and logistics.

Leadership in the number of job offers during wartime is held by Kyiv—42.3% of active vacant positions are offered in the capital. In the top wanted are sellers and cashiers, bakers, and drivers.

Context.

Earlier we reported about the battle casualties of the Russian invaders as of March 20, 2022—they are provided daily by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We also provided up-to-date information about the Russia-Ukraine war as of March 20, 2022, on the 25th day of the active Russian invasion.