Ukraine war briefing: Strike into Belgorod ‘destroys four Russian helicopters’

Russian missile attack injures 88 in Sumy, officials report; Saudi Arabia ceasefire talks to continue with nothing yet agreed. What we know on day 1,126

Ukraine’s special forces said on Monday they destroyed four military helicopters in Russia’s Belgorod region with Himars rocket systems. The special operations command published drone footage and announced: “Special operations forces in cooperation with the GUR of the ministry of defence, missile forces and artillery destroyed two enemy Ka-52 and two Mi-8 helicopters in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.” The strikes occurred at a concealed “jumping-off point” for Russian aircraft used in surprise attacks on Ukrainian forces, the group said. Ukrainian forces have since 18 March been striking across the border into areas of Belgorod oblast including the village of Demidovka, according to Russian and Ukrainian war watchers. Some claimed Ukrainian troops had managed to seize a small amount of territory in Belgorod. Their reports could not be verified.

A Russian missile attack hit a densely populated district including schools in Ukraine on Monday, wounding 88 people including 17 children, said officials in the city of Sumy. Many more children escaped injury as they had been evacuated to air raid shelters, said the regional governor, Volodymyr Artiukh. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Adrii Sybiha, said: “Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians.” Sumy is just across the border from Kursk oblast where Ukrainian forces have been holding Russian territory since August 2024.

As of Monday night no ceasefire partial or otherwise had been agreed between Russia and Ukraine despite Russian claims of the Ukrainians breaching one by attacking energy stations. After Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin on 18 March, the Russian president was said to have ordered a halt to such attacks for 30 days. However, talks involving the US, Ukraine and Russia adjourned in Saudi Arabia on Monday with no ceasefire as yet signed. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday evening that “since 11 March, a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table, and these attacks could have already stopped”.

It will be the Ukrainian and US delegations’ turn to meet on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. The talks in Riyadh appeared to have coalesced around the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Washington is supporting the idea of a Black Sea ceasefire deal – a major aim of Russia – before securing a wider agreement. Ukraine has inflicted heavy naval losses on Russia in the Black Sea, including sinking its flagship there and blowing up submarines and other vessels as well as crippling Russian bases – forcing Moscow to withdraw its navy from Crimea. Simultaneously, Russia has been unable to halt Ukrainian grain and other exports despite pulling out of what was known as the “Black Sea grain initiative” and returning to attacking shipping and Ukraine’s civilian port infrastructure.

A “massive targeted cyber-attack” hit Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia on Sunday, the company said, adding that it was working to restore its systems on Monday. The company said the attack did not affect train movements or schedules but disrupted its online booking system.

After reports surfaced that China might send peacekeepers to enforce any peace deal, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday: “Let me stress that the report is completely false. China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is clear and consistent.” China has provided Russia with trade earnings from oil and other natural resources, along with diplomatic backing, but says it has not given any weapons or sent any personnel. China is, however, on close terms with North Korea, which has sent troops to fight alongside the Russian army.

A Ukrainian artillery strike on Monday killed six people in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region, the region’s Russia-installed governor said. According to Russian reports, two of the dead worked for the Russian military-owned propaganda TV station Zvezda, which is internationally sanctioned; while another worked for state-aligned and internationally sanctioned Izvestia newspaper – part of a media group chaired by a rumoured mistress of Vladimir Putin who is also sanctioned. Russian authorities described the media employees as journalists and claimed they were deliberately targeted. There was no comment from Ukrainian officials.

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