March 19, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Luke McGee, Jeevan Ravindran, Joe Ruiz, Adrienne Vogt and Emma Tucker, CNN

Updated 12:05 a.m. ET, March 20, 2022
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5:18 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Zelensky calls for negotiations on peace "without delay" in latest video message

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a video message early Saturday morning March 19.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a video message early Saturday morning March 19. (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky/Facebook)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for negotiations on peace "without delay" and warned that otherwise Russia's losses would be "huge." 

Speaking on Saturday, Zelensky said that "negotiations on peace, on security for us, for Ukraine -- meaningful, fair and without delay -- are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes," in his latest video message. 

"We have always insisted on negotiations. We have always offered dialogue, offered solutions for peace," he said. "And I want everyone to hear me now, especially in Moscow. It's time to meet. Time to talk. It is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine."

"Otherwise, Russia's losses will be so huge, that several generations won't be enough to rebound," Zelensky added. 

5:13 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Putin tries to justify war on Ukraine at Moscow rally, but TV glitch cuts off broadcast

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech at a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea on March 18 in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech at a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea on March 18 in Moscow. (Alexander Vilf/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his justification for the invasion of Ukraine at a rally in Moscow on Friday, where his speech was abruptly cut off on the state TV broadcast in what the Kremlin described as a technical error.

Tens of thousands of people waved the Russian flag at the national stadium as they took part in celebrations commemorating the eighth year of Russia's annexation of Crimea -- which is deemed illegal by the Ukrainian government and not recognized in the West.

Speaking from a stage in front of a banner that read, "For a world without Nazism," Putin said Russia "will definitely implement all our plans" in Ukraine.

Read the full story here.

3:31 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

UK Defense Ministry: Russia has been "surprised by the scale and ferocity" of Ukrainian resistance

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Civilians practice moving in groups at a military training exercise in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine on March 11.
Civilians practice moving in groups at a military training exercise in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine on March 11. (Alexey Furman/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Russia has so far been "surprised by the scale and ferocity" of Ukrainian resistance and has been "forced to change its operational approach," the UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence update on Saturday.

"The Kremlin has so far failed to achieve its original objectives" and "is now pursuing a strategy of attrition," the ministry said. "This is likely to involve the indiscriminate use of firepower resulting in increased civilian casualties, destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and intensify the humanitarian crisis."

Grip on media: Amid the invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reinforced his control over the country's media, the ministry said. "The Kremlin is attempting to control the narrative, detract from operational problems and obscure high Russian casualty numbers from the Russian people," the ministry said.

3:28 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Analysis: Why the US has allowed so few Ukrainian refugees

Analysis from CNN's Zachary B. Wolf

Refugees fleeing conflict make their way to the border crossing with Poland on March 9 in Krakovets, Ukraine. 
Refugees fleeing conflict make their way to the border crossing with Poland on March 9 in Krakovets, Ukraine.  (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia's invasion, with most going to neighboring Poland.

But only the smallest trickle — about 690 — have come to the United States as refugees since last October. That means essentially no Ukrainians of those 3 million who left since the war began have come to the US.

Why haven't more been allowed? It's a story of red tape and the broken immigration system, which the Biden administration, despite a desire to welcome refugees, has been unable to change.

"I will welcome the Ukrainian refugees," President Joe Biden said from the White House on March 11.

But it is not currently possible for American families to sponsor Ukrainian refugees. Multiple sources have told CNN the administration is discussing ways to help Ukrainian refugees join family members already living in the US.

That's something Poland's President has been pushing for; last week he asked Vice President Kamala Harris to speed up and simplify the procedures allowing Ukrainians with family in the US to come here.

It takes years to become a refugee in the US. The process takes so long because of the processing and screening time that's required — leaving limited, typically time-consuming options for Ukrainians seeking to enter the US.

Limit on refugees: Last May, Biden raised the cap on US refugees from the very low 15,000 set by the Trump administration to 62,500 in 2021, in line with the recent past, and then raised it again to 125,000.

But those caps are far below ones from the 1980s, when the US welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees each year.

Read the full analysis:

8:25 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Norway rescue teams see "major damage" to US military aircraft that appears to have crashed

From CNN's Jonny Hallam

A US military aircraft that appears to have crashed in northern Norway on Friday with four people aboard during NATO exercises has sustained "major damage," according to authorities in the country.

The MV-22B Osprey aircraft, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) US military unit, was on a training mission in Nordland County, northern Norway, on Friday, the Norwegian Armed Forces said.

On Saturday, Bent Arne Eilertsen, Nordland police chief of staff, told public broadcaster NRK: "The rescue helicopter has made observations and sees major damage to the aircraft.
"At 2:15 a.m. local time Saturday (9:15 p.m. Friday ET) ground crews approach the area where the aircraft is located.
"What we have been told is that it is an American plane with Americans on board."

According to NATO: "Cold Response 2022 is a long-planned and regular exercise, which Norway hosts biannually. This year’s exercise was announced over eight months ago. It is not linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which NATO is responding to with preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory measures."

He said the rescue operation is being carried out in darkness and bad weather, meaning police and rescue crews must "enter the area on land" and use snowmobiles to reach the scene.

"Precipitation, avalanche danger, wind and darkness make such a rescue operation demanding," he said.

As of 2 a.m. Saturday (9 p.m. Friday ET), the Norwegian police have not had any contact with the aircraft, according to police.

Norway's Safety Investigation Authority and National Criminal Investigation Service will arrive in Bodø, north of the Arctic Circle, on Saturday to start their investigation at the town's airport. Due to the poor weather, they will most likely make their way to the crash site on Sunday, according to NRK.

The US Marine Corps thanked Norwegian authorities for the rescue operation, saying in a statement: "We are grateful for their efforts and will help them with this search and rescue in all possible ways.”
12:54 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Former tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov returns to Ukraine to fight: "You can't just watch"

Retired Ukrainian tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Retired Ukrainian tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, retired tennis pro Alexandr Dolgopolov was in Turkey — but was soon on his way home to his native Ukraine to join the war.

The former world No. 13 retired from the sport last year following a career that took him around the world. But he returned to Ukraine "because it's my home," he told CNN on Friday. "I've seen many sports people, singers, stay here and helping out — so why shouldn't I be here?"

Among the ranks of Ukrainian athletes fighting to defend their country are boxing champions Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, and boxing legends the Klitschko brothers — Wladimir and Kyiv Mayor Vitali.

"There are many normal people staying here — old people, children," Dolgopolov added.

"So I'm here. I'm going to help with what I can. If I need to fight, I'll fight."

While preparing for the trip, Dolgopolov had doubts about whether he was ready to kill or die, he said. But once Russia began targeting civilian infrastructure, "it became the business of every Ukrainian," he said. "You can't just watch how they shoot your people."

That sentiment is strongly felt across Ukraine — which is why Russia is facing such strong resistance, he said. "You must understand that almost every man here is ready to take a weapon and fight. How do you fight such motivated people?"
8:24 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

It's 6 a.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

Several residential buildings are destroyed by Russian military shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 18, 2022. 
Several residential buildings are destroyed by Russian military shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 18, 2022.  (Andre Alves/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Civilian casualties are growing as Russia continues its assault on several key cities in Ukraine. Here's what you need to know:

  • Hundreds likely still under rubble: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that 130 people have been rescued so far from a bombed theater in the city of Mariupol. Hundreds of civilians were taking shelter at the theater when it was bombed on Wednesday. Zelensky said rescue operations are continuing at the site, and hundreds of people likely remain under the rubble. Mariupol has been hit by constant shelling in recent days, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing concern about the situation to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
  • Zelensky's message: "It's time to talk," Zelensky told Russia in a video message early Saturday. "I want everyone to hear me now, especially I want them to hear me in Moscow," he said. "It’s time to meet, time to talk, time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine, or else Russia will face such losses that several generations will not be enough for it to rise back up."
  • Counteroffensive in Kyiv: Satellite images show the Russian military digging in, constructing protective earthen berms around its military equipment northwest of Kyiv. According to NATO officials, Russia's offensive to capture the capital has largely stalled. The Ukrainian army said Russia’s two main routes for attacking Kyiv have been blocked, and Ukraine launched a counteroffensive on Thursday aimed at gaining decisive control of the city's suburbs.
  • Other key cities: Lviv and Kramatorsk were also hit Friday by Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian authorities.
  • Biden and Xi speak: In a a 110-minute video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, US President Joe Biden laid out the consequences if China were to assist Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Xi said that both countries had a responsibility for ensuring peace. Afterward, Biden said the call "went well" — but the White House said it still had concerns China may provide support to Russia.
  • Missing US aircraft: A US military aircraft with four people aboard went missing on Friday during NATO military exercises in Norway, which NATO says is unrelated to its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Rescue teams reported late Friday that "discoveries were made" in their search, with ground crews headed for the scene. The US Marine Corps only said the incident was a "mishap," and that the cause was under investigation.

8:23 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

"Discoveries made" in search for missing US military aircraft in Norway

From CNN's Jonny Hallam

Norwegian rescue teams reported late Friday that "discoveries were made" in their search for a US military aircraft with four people aboard that went missing during NATO military exercises.

"At 9:27pm (4:27 p.m. ET), discoveries were made from the air in Gråtådalen in Beiarn," said a statement from the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC). "Due to the weather conditions, it is impossible to land onsite. The weather conditions in the area have been challenging and are expected to get worse."

The MV-22B Osprey aircraft, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) US military unit in Norway, was "out on a training mission in Nordland County, northern Norway on Friday," according to the Norwegian Armed Forces.

According to NATO: "Cold Response 2022 is a long-planned and regular exercise, which Norway hosts biannually. This year’s exercise was announced over eight months ago. It is not linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which NATO is responding to with preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory measures."

According to the JRCC statement, the aircraft "was reported missing at 6:26pm (1:26 p.m. ET) south of Bodø. The aircraft was heading north towards Bodø. The last known position was by Saltfjellet."

Ground crews coordinated by the police have been deployed to the scene, but they are not expected to reach the area for several hours, JRCC said.

JRCC said a rescue helicopter from the town of Bodø was deployed in the search, as well as a Lockheed P-3 Orion. Another Norwegian rescue helicopter was also sent from Ørlandet municipality, it added.

12:18 a.m. ET, March 19, 2022

Zelensky to Russia: "It's time to meet, time to talk"

From CNN's Yulia Shevchenko and Hira Humayun

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a video message early Saturday morning March 19.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a video message early Saturday morning March 19. (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky/Facebook)

In a video message early Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Russia: "It's time to talk."

"I want everyone to hear me now, especially I want them to hear me in Moscow. It’s time to meet, time to talk, time to restore territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine, or else Russia will face such losses that several generations will not be enough for it to rise back up," he said in the video posted to Facebook.

Pushing for negotiation: Zelensky said the Russian military's actions were worsening the situation for their own country, and that honest negotiations "without stalling" were the only way to mitigate the damage.

"We always insisted on negotiations," Zelensky said, "We always proposed dialogue and solutions for peace. Not just during the 23 days of invasion."

Civilian evacuations: The President added that 180,000 Ukrainians have been rescued through evacuation corridors to date, and that seven corridors were functioning in the country on Friday — six in the Sumy region and one in the Donetsk region.

Rescue work continues at the site of the destroyed theater in Mariupol. More than 130 people have been rescued, many of whom are injured, but there has not been any information released on casualties, he said.

"War must be stopped," Zelensky said. "The Ukrainian proposal is on the table."