March 31, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the now famous street in Bucha where his country’s forces destroyed a column of Russian armored vehicles that were charging toward Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

Zelensky posted a video on his official Telegram account recounting the fighting on February 27, 2022, in Bucha. The Ukrainian victory of destroying the Russian vehicles was short-lived, as it gave way to a brutal month-long occupation in the town.

Friday marks one year since Ukrainian forces liberated Bucha, ending that occupation, and Zelensky reflected on the fighting there during his visit.

The president's video shows the street shortly after it was liberated last year, flanked by damaged houses and littered with destroyed Russian military vehicles. More than 200 buildings had been damaged in the town, Zelensky said in his post.

CNN was among the first media outlets to gain access and visit the Kyiv suburb at this time, documenting the horrors there.

The video then shows Zelensky and Ukrainian leaders walking the street as it is now — clean, with refurbished houses. 

More on Zelensky's visit: The Ukrainian president spoke at a ceremony marking the anniversary of Bucha's liberation and toured the town speaking to residents.

“I talked to a resident of one of the houses, 85-year-old Hryhorii Zamohylnyi. He stayed in his house during the fighting and the occupation of Bucha,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

In the video, the Ukrainian president is shown speaking to an elderly couple.

“Little by little. Thank you so much for such a work, for returning (Bucha),” the woman says.

“Let the God give you health, let Ukraine prosper and flourish,” the man adds. “We are so grateful, all of us Bucha residents, for the work you did here."

Senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has rejected Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s calls for an immediate ceasefire while Russian forces continue to occupy Ukrainian territory.

Earlier on Friday, Lukashenko called for a freezing of “hostilities” in Ukraine, which the Kremlin rejected.

“It is necessary to stop hostilities and declare a truce that prohibits both sides from moving groups of troops and from transferring weapons, ammunition, manpower, and equipment," Lukashenko said. "All stopped, frozen."

The Kremlin said Moscow is aware of Lukashenko’s advice, adding it will “certainly be discussed” next week when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko are scheduled to speak.

Lukashenko also said he has intensified talks with Putin about deploying both tactical and strategic — more powerful — nuclear weapons to deal with threats from Ukraine’s Western allies, who he claims are planning a coup against him.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused the West of "preparing to invade" Belarus from Poland, and welcomed Moscow’s move to station Russian tactical nuclear warheads in Belarus, saying the weapons are needed to safeguard the country.

In an address to the nation Friday, Lukashenko said he has intensified talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about deploying both tactical and strategic – more powerful - nuclear weapons to deal with threats from Ukraine’s western allies who he claims are planning a coup against him.

“If necessary, not only tactical but also strategic nuclear weapons will be introduced into Belarus,” he is quoted as saying by state media BELGA in his first comments since Putin announced plans to complete the construction of a special storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by the beginning of July. 

He confirmed that Moscow has already transferred an Iskander short-range missile system, a device which can be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, to Belarus.

“Our converted planes can also carry a nuclear warhead. You heard from the President of Russia about joint plans to create the appropriate infrastructure on the territory of Belarus. I just want to clarify: the entire infrastructure has been created and is ready,” he said.  

Lukashenko stressed that Minsk and Moscow would make “every effort and use the means to ensure their sovereignty and independence,” against Poland and its “zealous” western neighbors who he accused of building up the “formation of certain regiments, banners, legions,” for a “subsequent coup in Belarus.”

“At the same time, the transfer of NATO troops to the east is proceeding at an accelerated pace. The grouping of the bloc in Poland and the Baltic countries alone today has more than 21,000 military personnel, 250 tanks, almost 500 armored vehicles, about 150 aircraft and helicopters. And this whole armada is defiantly training near the borders of Belarus and Russia. The question is the same: why?" he said.

In response, the Belarusian military has been instructed to “immediately restore sites” in Belarus where intercontinental ballistic missile systems with nuclear warheads were previously located. "If necessary, Putin and I will decide and introduce strategic nuclear weapons here. And they must understand this, those who are trying to blow us up abroad today from inside and outside. We will stop at nothing, protecting our countries, our states and their peoples," the Belarusian leader said, adding that he is “confident that these measures” will deter “overseas hawks and their satellites for a long time.”

President Biden was asked by CNN what his message to Russia is following the detainment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

This is the first time Biden has publicly commented on the matter since Gershkovich was accused of espionage by Russian authorities Thursday.

Asked later by another reporter if the US would expel Russian diplomats or journalists over the detention of Gershkovich, Biden said, "That's not the plan right now." 

Later on Friday, US Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “deeply concerned” about Gershkovich.

“I will state in unequivocal terms that we will not tolerate and condemn, in fact, repression of journalists and that we are absolutely concerned about any attempt to in any way stifle freedom of the press,” Harris said in a press conference with Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka.

CNN's Jasmine Wright contributed reporting to this post.

Ukraine will “punish every perpetrator” for the atrocities that happened in Bucha, the town just north of Kyiv where Russian forces allegedly committed war crimes last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Friday marks exactly one year since Bucha was liberated, which Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin recalls, "was the first time we all saw evidence of the unprecedented scale of the enemy's atrocities."

Here are the other headlines:

The Kremlin has ruled out a truce in Ukraine proposed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday.

“In the context of Ukraine, nothing changes. The special military operation continues because at the moment it is the only way to achieve the goals that our country faces,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in regular call with journalists.

Peskov said Moscow is aware of Lukashenko’s advice and said it will “certainly be discussed” next week, when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko speak during a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.

Earlier Friday, Lukashenko called for a freezing of “hostilities” in Ukraine.

“It is necessary to stop hostilities and declare a truce that prohibits both sides from moving groups of troops and from transferring weapons, ammunition, manpower, and equipment," Lukashenko said. "All stopped, frozen."

Accredited foreign journalists can continue to work in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, following the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

His comments came in response to a question regarding a Thursday article from the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal, which says: “The Biden Administration will have to consider diplomatic and political escalation."

“Expelling Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., as well as all Russian journalists working here, would be the minimum to expect. The U.S. government’s first duty is to protect its citizens, and too many governments now believe they can arrest and imprison Americans with impunity,” it said.

Peskov was asked “how likely” it is that Russian journalists and Russia’s ambassador will be expelled from the United States.

“All foreign journalists who have valid accreditation here can and continue their journalistic activities in our country. They don't face any restrictions and work fine,” Peskov replied.

“In this case, we are talking about espionage activities under the guise of journalistic activities. Since this journalist was caught red-handed, this situation is obvious,” he added.

The WSJ has categorically rejected those allegations, saying in a statement Thursday that it “vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter.”

Peskov continued: “In this regard, to demand the expulsion of all Russian journalists ... Well, the newspaper can do it, but this should not be the case. There is simply no reason for this. If there are any violations of the law, going beyond the scope of activities provided for by law, yes. But it would be absurd and wrong to restrict the rights of conscientious journalists.”

He once again reiterated he was unable to expand his “red-handed” accusation, saying: “We do not have detailed information, it is classified. The FSB is handling this.”

The White House has called the Russian espionage charge "ridiculous."

Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday. 

Golob told Zelensky that Slovenia will contribute to the post-war recovery of Ukraine, specifically the liberated city of Izium in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to the Slovenian government's Twitter account.

The Slovenian leader also discussed Ukraine’s path to joining the European Union and the NATO military alliance during a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, according to the Twitter account.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called for a freezing of “hostilities” in Ukraine, and warned that Russia would have to use the full force of its military if the West were attempt to use a hypothetical pause in the war to encroach on its territory. 

“It is necessary to stop hostilities and declare a truce that prohibits both sides from moving groups of troops and from transferring weapons, ammunition, manpower, and equipment, Lukashenko said in an address to the nation Friday. "All stopped, frozen."

But he warned Moscow would be obliged to use the “full power of its military-industrial complex and the army to prevent the escalation of the conflict – phosphorus ammunition, non-depleted uranium, and enriched uranium – everything must go into action if there is deception and even the slightest movement across the border of Ukraine is noticed.”

Lukashenko is a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with Russia amassing troops along the Belarus-Ukraine border in recent weeks.

The United States and its allies have expressed concern over the potential for further escalation in the conflict.