Def Min-'Massive Strikes' Hit Ukraine Infra; Kremlin Rails Against Tanks

The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed that it has "carried out massive missile strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure", and that "a strike on Ukraine prevented supplies of weapons, including from NATO." The announcement this week of the provision of German-made main battle tanks to Ukraine by its allies has resulted in staunch criticism from the Kremlin. The Russian gov't has said it is an "extremely dangerous" plan that removes previous red lines.

• The Russian Embassy in Berlin stated the move “takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation.”
• Yesterday, British and German officials stated separately that Ukraine is likely to receive shipments of their tanks around late March/early April. There will almost certainly be significant Russian efforts to disrupt and destroy these shipments en route to the front line.