Military Situation Update: March 28, 2025, 15:56 UTC

I. Air, Missile, and Drone Activity

• Immediate Threats & Alerts (as of 15:56 UTC):
  • Fast-moving aerial target detected on the border of Sumy Oblast (UA Air Force, 15:25 UTC).
  • Air raid alert specifically issued for Sumy city (UA Air Force, 15:27 UTC).
  • Ongoing Russian reconnaissance UAV activity reported in Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian air defense countermeasures are engaged (UA Air Force, 15:30 UTC).
  • Air raid alert ended across Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Zaporizhzhia OVA, 15:48 UTC).
• Claimed Russian Strikes (New Claims - Verification Required):
  • Poltava Oblast Airfield: Russian sources (Dnevnik Desantnika, 15:49 UTC) claim UAV strikes targeted a military airfield, hitting ammunition depots, a repair base for MiG-29s (allegedly supplied by Poland), and destroying two Su-24 aircraft.
• Claimed Russian Drone Operations:
  • RU MoD (15:28 UTC) released footage claiming FPV drone strikes by the "Rubikon Centre" eliminated Ukrainian personnel and hardware in the Kursk border area.

II. Border Situation (Kursk/Belgorod/Sumy/Kharkiv)

• Belgorod Oblast Border Section (RU Territory):
  • Russian Claims: A Russian UAV operator ("Moisei" via Dva Mayora, 15:47 UTC) claims ongoing fighting and reports alleged Ukrainian losses for the day in this sector: 1 Tank, 1 Artillery piece, 1 Mortar with crew, and 1 UAV crew. Requires verification.

III. Frontline Activity Highlights

• Kharkiv Direction (Kupyansk Area):
  • Head of Kharkiv OVA (Syniehubov, 15:50 UTC) reported a Russian artillery strike on Kupyansk. The attack resulted in fires affecting a private house, garage, and associated structures over an area of 200 square meters. Emergency services are responding; the threat of further shelling persists.

IV. Strategic & Geopolitical Developments

• Sudzha GIS Strike Fallout & Information Operations:
  • Russian MFA spokesperson Zakharova and associated milbloggers continue to assert British and French involvement (specialists, satellite data, command from London) in the strike on the Sudzha Gas Measuring Station (GIS) (Voenkor Kotenok 15:27 UTC, Rybar 15:54 UTC, Dva Mayora 15:55 UTC).
  • New Russian claim added: The Sudzha GIS facility was allegedly already attacked by Ukrainian forces during their withdrawal from Kursk Oblast on March 21 and is now "practically destroyed" following the latest strike (Dva Mayora, 15:55 UTC).
• Ceasefire Prospects & US Position:
  • Ukrainian sources (Tsaplienko, 15:47 UTC) report US Secretary of State Rubio stated Russia agrees to a ceasefire, but emphasizes the proposed terms are likely Russian-favorable and require careful analysis. This adds nuance to Rubio's earlier statement (mentioned in 15:26 UTC summary) linking a timeline to actions by all parties.
• Moldova/Gagauzia Situation:
  • The Head (Bashkan) of the Gagauz autonomy in Moldova, Evgenia Gutul (considered pro-Russian), has been arrested for 20 days (TASS, 15:51 UTC), correcting earlier reports of 30 days.
  • Russian sources (Dva Mayora 15:32 UTC, Colonelcassad 15:52 UTC) frame the arrest as political repression by Moldova's pro-Western government against a popular pro-Russian figure ahead of parliamentary elections, citing her previous engagement with Russia (Putin meeting, Promsvyazbank deal, language proposal) and opposition to potential Moldova-Romania unification.
  • The Gagauzian government has stated it will continue its work despite Gutul's arrest (TASS, 15:52 UTC).
• Ukrainian Diplomatic Response:
  • The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson (Heorhiy Tykhyi) publicly dismissed Putin's suggestion of a temporary UN-led administration in Ukraine, offering a counter-proposal for UN administration in Vorkuta, Russia (RBC-Ukraina, 15:46 UTC).

V. Ukrainian Internal Developments

• Mobilization Policy Update:
  • Individuals previously classified as "limitedly fit" for military service must undergo a repeat medical evaluation (VKL) by June 5, 2025.
  • Failure to comply will result in being declared wanted for violating military registration rules, effective June 6, 2025. Penalties include fines starting from 17,000 UAH (RBC-Ukraina 15:29 UTC, Operatyvnyi ZSU 15:39 UTC). (Adds specifics to previous update on system changes).
• Anti-Corruption Measures:
  • The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office announced that suspicion has been served against four leaders within a military unit in Lviv (two deputy commanders, two company commanders).
  • They are accused of organizing a scheme (July 2024 - March 2025) allowing seven contract soldiers to avoid military service to work at private auto repair shops in exchange for kickbacks from their official salaries.
  • Searches reportedly uncovered significant amounts of cash (EUR, USD, PLN), phones, and other evidence. The suspects have been detained (Office of the Prosecutor General, 15:45 UTC).
• Russian Information Operations (Internal Ukrainian Focus):
  • Russian sources (RVvoenkor via Operatsiya Z, 15:43 UTC) are promoting narratives about alleged "military lawyers" in Kyiv and other cities assisting Ukrainian men in evading mobilization encounters with TCC personnel, sometimes involving physical confrontation or staged incidents (e.g., false bomb threat near Holosiivskyi TCC). This narrative aims to portray internal dissent, corruption, and resistance to mobilization within Ukraine.