Mstyslav Chernov's film about the first days of Russia's invasion of Mariupol is recognized as the best documentary at the Oscars 2024 in the United States
In the early hours of March 11th in Los Angeles, the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, took place.
"I wish I had never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities," said director Mstyslav Chernov from the stage.
Chernov, photographer Yevhen Malolietka, and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, who worked together on the film, were among the last international journalists to leave the Ukrainian city.
The film, created in cooperation with FRONTLINE, an American documentary studio, and the Associated Press, is a chronicle of the first 20 days of the full-scale invasion, told through the stories of people who witnessed and were victims of Russian atrocities. 20 Days in Mariupol shows how the Russians turned the city into ruins: bombing of a maternity hospital, shelling of residential buildings, mass graves, hiding civilians in basements, and the rescue of the authors from the besieged Mariupol.
The commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, spoke about important Russian targets that were destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Over the last day, 45 combat engagements took place in the operational area. Russia launched 25 airstrikes, 3 missile attacks, more than a thousand shelling, and 90 ‘kamikaze’ drone strikes.
Russia's total losses over the day amounted to 392 people in manpower (killed and wounded); 47 units in weapons and military equipment, not including UAVs. These include 1 tank, 10 armored combat vehicles, 8 artillery systems, 1 multiple launch rocket system, 1 anti-tank missile system, 2 air defense systems, 21 vehicles, and 3 units of special equipment. 352 UAVs of various types were neutralized or destroyed.
"The Defense Forces also destroyed four ammunition depots and three other important objects - a command post and dugouts," noted Tarnavskyi.
A rare Russian electronic warfare system Palantin-K was destroyed by the Defense Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.
This was reported by the head of the public relations department of the Tavria unit, Captain Dmytro Lykhoviy, Armyinform reports.
"On March 10, a rare Russian electronic warfare system Palantin-K and an RB-341V Leer electronic warfare station were hit - this is the work of the Tavria missile forces in the Zaporizhzhia sector," he noted.
Earlier in the operational area of the Tavria air defense system, the R330-Zh Zhitel and RB-341V Leer-3 electronic warfare stations were destroyed.
"Yesterday, our soldiers also destroyed a Buk-M2 surface-to-air missile system and a BM-21 Grad MLRS," the officer summarized.
The Palantin electronic warfare system entered service with the Russian army in 2019. The first case of destruction of the Palantin was recorded on February 15, 2023, also in the Zaporizhzhia sector.
By the summer of 2024, twelve Ukrainian pilots will be ready for combat missions on F-16 fighter jets, but there won't be enough aircraft for all of them
The New York Times reports.
It is noted that currently, the F-16 fighter jets are ready, while instructor pilots are awaiting at the new training center in Romania, established for training Ukrainian pilots in flying combat aircraft F-16.
“But there’s a catch: The Ukrainian pilots have yet to arrive, despite declarations last summer that the center would play a crucial role in getting them into the air to defend their country from increasingly deadly Russian strikes,” the article says.
At the same time, the article's authors emphasize that this does not mean Ukrainian pilots are not preparing. It is expected that twelve pilots - fewer than a full squadron - will be ready for combat sorties on F-16s by this summer after 10 months of training in Denmark, Great Britain, and the United States.
It is emphasized that by the time the pilots return to Ukraine, only six out of approximately 45 promised F-16 fighter jets will have been delivered by European allies.
The Hague court elected new leadership. The judge who issued the warrant for Putin's arrest became the head of the tribunal.
On March 11, 2024, the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) elected Judge Tomoko Akane as President of the Court at a plenary session. Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala was elected First Vice President, and Judge Reine Alapini-Gansu was elected Second Vice President. The term of office is three years.
In March 2023, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin. The ICC's decision is related to the war crimes of Putin and Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of illegally deporting the Ukrainian population, including children.