Invading troops force locals to receive Russian passports in Zaporizhzhia region, threatening to take their children to Russia – General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported this on March 16.

It is noted that the Russian occupation authorities are assisted by the FSB.

“In the town of Tokmak, the Russian occupation authorities, together with representatives of the FSB, are threatening Ukrainians who refused to receive Russian passports with the deportation of their children to the eastern regions of Russia. The parents themselves are threatened to be taken to Vasylivka, Zaporizhzhia region,” the report says. 

The General Staff also says that Russia continues to export looted grain from Ukraine. In the city of Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region, a Russian self-propelled barge loaded with wheat was spotted leaving the seaport by tugs.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' missile troops and artillery struck 3 Russian control points and 2 personnel concentration areas

The Ukrainian Armed Forces also destroyed 2 radar stations and an enemy fuel and lubricant depot.

Moreover, Ukrainian aviation launched 7 strikes on the invading Russian forces' military positions. 

Over the last day, the Russian army launched 2 missile and 16 airstrikes on the territory of Ukraine

The enemy also fired 25 times from multiple launch rocket systems.

Near the state Ukrainian border with Russia and Belarus, the situation hasn't changed significantly, and no enemy offensive groups have been detected. 

At the same time, the Russian Federation continued shelling the entire border line with artillery and mortars: 2 settlements in the Chernihiv region, 6 more in the Sumy region, as well as 8 settlements in the Kharkiv region were attacked. 

The situation in other Ukrainian regions:

• In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the Russian enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of 5 settlements. 5 more localities came under artillery fire. 

• In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to storm the city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders repelled the enemy's attacks on 4 settlements of the Donetsk region. 9 towns and villages came under enemy fire.

• In the Avdiivka, Mariinka and Shakhtarsk directions, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of 4 settlements. 10 localities in the Donetsk region were subjected to shelling. 

• In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is defending itself. 16 towns and villages near the contact line were attacked. 

Germany handed over another military aid package to Ukraine, which included 155 mm artillery shells and projectiles for MARS II multiple launch rocket systems.