Ukrainian troops withdraw in Donetsk.

Ukrainian troops withdraw in Donetsk; Russia thwarts border attacks... these are some of the notable news items in the Russia-Ukraine conflict update for the afternoon of March 19.

Russia thwarts border attacks by Ukraine.

Updating the situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, RT news agency, citing sources from the Russian Ministry of Defense , reported that on March 18, Ukrainian troops launched five attacks on the border villages of Demidovka and Prilesye in the Belgorod region. The Ukrainian operation involved 200 soldiers and 29 pieces of equipment, including five tanks. According to Russian authorities, all attacks were repelled, resulting in Kyiv losing 60 soldiers, at least one tank, three military vehicles, and seven other armored vehicles.

Russian artillery shelled Ukrainian positions. Source: Russian Ministry of Defense.

The Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of trying to create a negative context for the phone call between President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump. However, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Combating Disinformation, rejected this accusation.

Videos circulating online show Ukrainian tanks and several US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles crossing anti-tank barriers installed on the border with Russia. These vehicles were hit by artillery fire, while others struck mines and were attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The vehicles involved in the attack bore a white triangle emblem, which the Ukrainian army used in its raid on Russia's Kursk border region last August. Russia's Belgorod region borders Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv provinces. The Belgorod provincial authorities have repeatedly accused Kyiv's troops of attacking the area throughout the more than three-year conflict between the two countries.

Ukraine is making a massive withdrawal from Donetsk.

The Kyiv Independent quoted Ukrainian General Serhii Naiev, commander of a Ukrainian tactical group, as saying on March 18 that Kyiv forces had withdrawn from a frontline area in Donetsk, in the east of the country, to preserve troop numbers and improve defensive operations.

He further explained: "This allows us not only to preserve our forces but also to improve our defensive capabilities. Russia is suffering losses, and we can act more effectively." It is unclear which area of ​​the Donetsk front line the general was referring to.

Russian troops intensify their attack on Ukrainian fortifications. Source: TASS

Anonymous sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the withdrawal began in February and involved units stationed in the Dachne, Zelenivka, and Andriivka areas, north of the village of Velyka Novosilka. Ukrainian soldiers stationed in these locations withdrew to avoid being surrounded in what is known as the "Korakhove pocket".

Currently, a Ukrainian military spokesperson has declined to comment on the information.

Russia halts attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

The TASS news agency recently reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy sites immediately after a phone call with US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said.

The Kremlin statement said: "President Putin supported President Trump's idea of ​​Russia and Ukraine jointly halting attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. The President issued appropriate orders to the military."

"The Russian president also gave a constructive response to President Donald Trump's idea of ​​implementing the previously discussed initiative concerning maritime security in the Black Sea," the statement said, adding that the leaders also agreed to begin negotiations on the matter.

President Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call on March 18 to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine in an effort to promote peace .

The Kremlin leader emphasized that any agreement must be sustainable and long-lasting, addressing the root causes of the crisis while also taking into account Russia's legitimate security interests.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/chien-su-nga-ukraine-chieu-193-linh-ukraine-rut-lui-o-donetsk-378942.html