Key Events in the Russia-Ukraine War: Day 1,120 Recap
On day 1,120 of the Russia-Ukraine war, drone attacks by Russia resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Amidst ongoing hostilities, partial ceasefire discussions unfolded between U.S. President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, with military aid from Germany announced and a prisoner swap completed.
On March 20, 2025, significant events unfolded in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, marking day 1,120 of the war. In the Sumy region, Russian drone strikes damaged two hospitals, resulting in the death of a 29-year-old man and injuries to three others from an attack on a residential building. Additionally, drone attacks near Kyiv injured a 60-year-old man and damaged several houses, as reported by regional authorities and Governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
In Dnipro, the Ukrainian state railway, Ukrzaliznytsia, faced two attacks on its power system, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to a 30-day pause on assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The second attack resulted in four injuries. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, remarked, “Russia is attacking civilian infrastructure and people – right now.”
The Kremlin indicated its defense units had halted a drone offensive on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, claiming to have intercepted seven of its own drones following talks between President Trump and President Putin, which aimed to establish a limited ceasefire. In response, Ukraine’s military downed 72 out of 145 Russian drones launched overnight, with 56 drones lost due to electronic warfare, as detailed by President Zelenskyy.
President Zelenskyy highlighted the substantial threat from Russia, stating that over 1,300 guided bombs and 66 long-range strike drones were deployed against Kyiv since the ceasefire discussions began. Russian authorities boasted the destruction of 57 Ukrainian drones, while claiming Ukraine’s actions aimed to undermine the ceasefire.
The day saw casualties on both sides, with at least one Russian soldier killed and four injured due to Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod. Five Ukrainian soldiers received prison sentences of up to 17 years in a Moscow court for their role in operations within Russia’s Kursk region.
On the diplomatic front, President Trump and President Zelenskyy discussed a partial ceasefire, with Zelenskyy requesting additional air defense support, which Trump pledged to arrange. The U.S. administration has shifted focus from rare minerals negotiations with Ukraine towards creating a peace resolution. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy accused Putin of dismissing the full ceasefire offer, emphasizing Ukraine’s communication with European leaders amidst the crisis.
Additionally, the German government announced a $3.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine, following previous hesitations. A significant prisoner exchange occurred, with 372 soldiers swapped between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. Moscow returned 175 soldiers and 22 seriously injured personnel in the transaction, while Ukraine released the same number of prisoners.
The events of March 20, 2025, underscore the continuing intensity and complications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly regarding military aggression and diplomatic efforts for peace. Despite attempts at a ceasefire, attacks on both civilian infrastructure and military targets persist, revealing ongoing tensions and the need for robust international mediation to facilitate a durable resolution.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
