Ukraine-Russia war latest: Two Nato members report Russian drones entering their airspace as power station hit

Ukraine’s military is using remote mines and unscrewed aerial systems (UAS) to successfully halt Russia’s advance on the ground, according to the UK’s ministry of defence.

In an intelligence update on Wednesday, it said, outlining an increase in mechanised assaults by Russia: “On 17 March 2026, Russia’s 6th Tank Regiment conducted a mechanised assault on the Pokrovsk axis in eastern Donetsk oblast.

“On 19 March 2026 in western Donetsk oblast, Russian forces launched a near battalion size assault of 500 personnel and up to 100 armoured and all-terrain vehicles, and motorcycles towards Lyman.”

It added: “In this case, open source indicates Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps used remote mines and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to successfully intercept and halt Russia’s advancing convoy. Three days later there was a further failed follow-up mechanised assault on the Lyman axis.”

The UK’s ministry of defence has provided an update on “an increase in mechanised assaults” by Russian forces along the frontline in Ukraine.

“The observed uptick in Russian mechanised assaults is likely due to an improved weather window,” it said in a statement on X on Wednesday.

“Russian assaults were enabled by foggy conditions which hinder visibility and reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian reconnaissance and UAS operations. This is combined with improving ground conditions for cross country manoeuvrability.

“These recent mechanised attacks are likely to be opportunistic and are not consistent with a wider sustained offensive by Russian forces.”

He has previously shrugged off Russian drone incursions into Nato airspace, saying: “So what?” and declared: “Ukraine is not an independent country.”

On Tuesday, Trump, who has enjoyed a close relationship with Orban, announced: “I was proud to endorse Viktor for reelection in 2022 and am honoured to do so again.”

The conflict in the Middle East has led to strengthening Russia which is working to prolong the war in the region, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

“The geopolitical situation has become more complicated due to the war against Iran, and unfortunately, this is emboldening Russia. But the fundamental circumstances have not changed,” he said, speaking in his address.

Zelensky said Russia “continues this war and its destabilisation of Europe, supports the Iranian regime with intelligence, and thereby prolongs the war in that region, while also preparing for new conflicts in the coming years”.

“This threat of constant war across the map must be stopped,” he said.

A drone flew into Estonian ‌airspace from Russia early on Wednesday morning and slammed into a ​chimney at a local power ​station, the Baltic country’s Internal ⁠Security Service told public broadcaster ​ERR.

There were no reports of ​injuries or damage to the power station, Estonian authorities said.

It follows two drones entering Latvian airspace in the same approximate time period.

Myanmar’s military is using Russian intelligence and imported weapons to gain an edge on the battlefield against rebel forces, according to experts monitoring the growing ties between Yangon and Moscow.

Russian weapons in the hands of Myanmar’s military have been used to “devastating effect” against not just rebel targets but also civilian sites like schools and hospitals, said Ian Storey, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

Moscow is also offering airpower and battlefield tactics it has gained from its war against Ukrainian forces.

“The death toll has been appalling,” he told Al Jazeera.

The Myanmar generals have also adopted Russia’s “meat assaults” tactics and are reportedly throwing waves of infantry at their enemy’s defensive lines without consideration for the casualties, he said.

“The junta has copied Russian tactics, using conscripted soldiers in human wave attacks against rebel forces,” Storey said.

Russian ⁠air ‌defence units ‌have downed 389 ‌Ukrainian ⁠drones overnight, including over ‌the ​Moscow region, officials at the Russian defence ministry said.

A fire has broken out at Russia’s ⁠Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga following a drone ⁠attack, the governor ​of Leningrad ⁠region ‌said on Telegram this morning.

Alexander Drozdenko said the fire was being tackled and that 33 drones have been shot down over the north-western region of Russia.

He said ‌no one ​has ‌been reported injured due ⁠to ⁠the attacks.

A Ukrainian soldier fighting near the city of Lyman in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region has said Russian forces have intensified assaults in recent days but failed to achieve a breakthrough, despite increasing bombardments and repeated ground attacks.

Lyman’s complete capture is one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s main strategic goals.

Russian troops had earlier sought to isolate Lyman by targeting logistics routes before escalating their offensive, according to the soldier, who gave only his call sign King, in keeping with the rules of the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian units repelled initial assaults, destroying advancing Russian columns and inflicting significant losses in terms of both armoured vehicles and personnel, he said.

In response, Russian forces have increased airstrikes on the town, including the use of powerful glide bombs.“The situation is tense, but not critical,” King said.