Russian bombing on Orthodox Easter Day. Kiev accused Moscow of hitting central Donetsk near the Transfiguration Cathedral and firing rockets that destroyed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael in Kushuhum
Slovakia has banned the import of Ukrainian wheat
Slovakia has “temporarily” banned imports of grain and other products from Ukraine. This was announced by the regional council. Poland and Hungary have taken a similar step in recent days. Last Thursday, Slovakia banned the processing of stored Ukrainian wheat and flour made from it due to the presence of pesticides.
The UN demands the immediate release of Kara-Murza
The UN is demanding the “immediate” release of Russian opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for high treason for his criticism of the war in Ukraine.
Putin praises the relations between the Russian-Chinese army. Beijing ready to strengthen strategic communications
Vladimir Putin praised ties between the Russian and Chinese armies, while the Chinese defense minister told the Kremlin leader Beijing is ready to “further strengthen strategic communications between the two armies”.
China has become Russia’s strongest supporter since invading Ukraine last year, and the visit of Li Shangfu – the first by a Chinese defense minister since the war began – underscored political ties between Moscow and Beijing following President Xi Jinping’s trip to Moscow in the last month.
Sources, EU is preparing new aid package for Ukrainian wheat
The European Commission is preparing a new aid package that could reach €75 million from the CAP crisis reserve to ease pressure on grain prices in countries bordering Ukraine. This is what is gleaned from sources close to the dossier. The issue of the ban on Ukrainian wheat announced by Poland and Hungary over the weekend to protect their producers will be on the table of today’s Special Committee on Agriculture.
Putin meets Shoigu at Pacific Fleet naval exercises
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu about the Russian fleet’s ongoing naval exercises in the Pacific. The final phase of the drills will begin tomorrow and will include rocket attacks using electronic devices, Shoigu announced. In a video released by the Kremlin, Putin said he was satisfied with the first phase of the exercises, which took place “at a very high level”.
Moscow sentences dissident Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison
The Moscow court has sentenced dissident and anti-Kremlin Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison. The tax office reports it. Vladimir Kara-Murza was put on trial for high treason for his criticism of the war in Ukraine, among other things. Kara-Murza had suffered two attempted poisonings in 2015 and 2017. Kara-Murza has been sentenced to the prosecutor’s request for 25 years in a high-security prison, the Judicial Commission chaired by Judge Sergei Podoprigorov said in a statement to Interfax. Kara-Murza was found guilty of high treason, “spreading knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces and collaborating with an organization undesirable in Russia”. Kara-Murza’s defense said it would appeal the verdict. Kara-Murza, who has Russian and British citizenship and studied at Cambridge University, was arrested in April 2022 and charged with spreading false information about the Russian military in Ukraine. He was later charged with “high treason” for a series of public speeches in which he criticized Kremlin policies and the war in Ukraine. Kara-Murza’s sentence, the Guardian notes, is the longest sentence ever imposed on a political opponent of Vladimir Putin, as the Kremlin tightens its crackdown on dissent. In a final speech in court last week, Kara-Murza struck a defiant tone, refusing to ask the court for an acquittal and saying he supported everything he had said. “I only blame myself for one thing – said Kara-Murza, 41 years old and 3 children –. I could not convince my compatriots and politicians in democratic countries enough of the danger that the current Kremlin regime poses to Russia and the world.
Moscow, the West is sacrificing it to its political interests
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin believes Ukraine has become a “consumable” for Western politics, especially for the Anglo-Saxons. Ria Novosti reports it. “Unfortunately, this country has become a tool, especially for the Anglo-Saxons, who aim to build a configuration of international relations that is beneficial to them and maintain the old hegemony,” he stressed.
Fire at Belgorod power plant, possible drone attack
A fire has broken out at a power plant in Belgorod, a Russian town not far from the Ukrainian border. Media in Kyiv report about it by posting some videos on social media. According to Ukrainska Pravda reports, the cause could be the drone attack. News of the fire was also confirmed by local Russian governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who stated that no civilians were involved.
Tokyo protests against Russian exercises in the Pacific
Japan’s chief of cabinet Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday that Tokyo had protested to Russia over its military drills around the disputed Hokkaido islands. Matsuno also said Russia has informed Tokyo that it will conduct missile exercises around the disputed islands from April 18 to 22. The Guardian reports on it.
GB, it will take 10 years to demine the country
De-mining Ukraine will likely take at least a decade. The British secret service wrote it in its daily update on Twitter. “Every day – according to the Ministry of Defense in London – Ukraine continues to receive reports of civilian casualties from landmines. The Kherson and Kharkiv regions, previously occupied by Russia, suffered the most. When spring comes and the number of people engaged in agriculture increases, the risk of mine accidents will increase.” The intelligence service stressed that since the start of the all-out invasion, more than 750 landmine victims have been recorded among Ukrainian civilians. Every eighth victim is a child.
G7 to tighten sanctions on Russia
The G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan reaffirmed their “full support for Ukraine” and agreed to “tighten” and circumvent sanctions against Russia and to prevent “arms supplies from third countries to Russia”.
Another Russian attack on Sloviansk, 4 dead
Four people died in Sloviansk in Donetsk region (east) after a Russian attack launched yesterday, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko announced, the Kyiv Independent reported. Yesterday’s casualties come on top of the 15 dead, including a two-year-old child, and 24 wounded in a rocket attack by Russian forces on the city last Friday.
Moscow killed seven British mercenaries
Russian authorities have announced that at least seven British “mercenaries” have died in an attack on a stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the past few hours. “Using unmanned aerial vehicles, Russian intelligence officers located fortified positions in a forested area,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on its website, adding that later, “under the protection of tanks, soldiers of the assault unit climbed more than 500 meters over landmines to reach enemy positions.” “. “Russian soldiers – the statement said – used a large number of F-1 shells, neutralized a group of seven British mercenaries and captured the fortress of the Ukrainian Armed Forces”.
Kiev, yesterday dismissed 60 Russian attacks in Donetsk
Ukrainian armed forces repelled 60 Russian attacks yesterday in the direction of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine: the General Staff of the Armed Forces in Kiev announced this, UNIAN reports. Russian forces have launched 25 rocket attacks on the cities of Zaporizhia, Kamyshevahka (Zaporizhia region) and Snigirevka (Mykolayiv) in the last 24 hours, as well as 42 airstrikes. In addition, the Russians carried out 46 multiple-missile system attacks against Ukrainian military positions and civilian infrastructure, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
GB, 750 dead and wounded by mines, more than 90 children
Since the invasion of Ukraine began, mine blasts have killed or injured more than 750 civilians, including more than 90 children (1 in 8): it will likely take at least a decade for the entire country to be mined. This is what the British Ministry of Defense writes in its Daily Intelligence Update. According to the report published on the Internet, civilians are killed by mines every day in Ukraine: the Kherson and Kharkiv regions are hardest hit, especially the areas previously occupied by Russia. With the arrival of spring and the increase in people working in agriculture, the London experts conclude the risk of civilian accidents from landmines will also increase.
Slovakia sent all 13 promised MiG-29s to Kiev
Slovakia has delivered all 13 promised MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Slovakia’s Defense Ministry said on its website today, according to Portal news agency. Slovakia joined Poland in pledging the planes in March to help Ukraine fight Russian forces and delivered the first four jets last month.
Kiev, we do not recognize the presence of Chinese weapons at the
front
“To date, we see no evidence of the presence of Chinese-made weapons on the front lines. As soon as this happens, we will immediately inform society and the world, but we do not see why Beijing should supply arms to the Russian Federation,” said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.
Fighting still fierce in Bakhmut
Russian forces launched what the Ukrainian military called “unsuccessful attacks” on the outskirts of Bakhmut, while heavy fighting continues in the besieged city. “Heavy fighting is taking place in Bakhmut,” said the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army. “The enemy launched unsuccessful attacks near Khromove and Ivanivs’ke”, in the suburbs on the outskirts of Bakhmut. These recent actions indicate an attempt by Moscow to encircle the Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut. Despite claims that Russian forces are advancing, geotagged footage from CNN shows Ukrainian fighters holding positions in the city center. “Despite heavy losses, the Russian Federation does not give up plans to occupy our territory,” the General Staff said. “The opponent continues to focus their main efforts on offensive actions in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar’yinka.”
Kiev, «182,660 Russian soldiers killed since the beginning of the war»
Russia lost 590 men in the last day, bringing its ranks to 182,660 since the day Moscow attacked Ukraine on February 24. This was reported by the Daily Bulletin of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, just published on Facebook, with numbers that cannot be independently verified. According to the Ukrainian military report, Russian losses so far amount to around 182,660 men, 3,660 tanks, 7,087 armored vehicles, 2,804 artillery systems, 538 multiple rocket launchers, 285 anti-aircraft systems. Russian forces also lost 308 aircraft, 293 helicopters, 7,087 vehicles, 18 naval units and 2,347 drones, according to the bulletin, which states that the data is being updated due to the intense fighting.
Isw, Moscow aims to work more closely with Wagner
The Russian Ministry of Defense is attempting to work more closely with the Wagner Group to complete the capture of Bakhmut. This is reported by the American think tank Institute for the Study of War. This – it is said – despite the “clear tensions” between Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and the traditional institution of the Defense Ministry.
Maxi exercises are underway in Sweden, and Kiev is also taking part
The largest military exercises that the country has organized with its partners in the last 25 years are starting today in Sweden: Ukraine will also take part in the maneuvers called Aurora 23, as Ukrinform reports. Along with the Swedish and Ukrainian forces, there will be those of 12 other countries, for a total of 26,000 soldiers. The aim is to improve the troops’ ability to counteract a possible armed attack on the country. The exercises, which will end in May, will take place in different parts of Sweden and will involve the Swedish Army, Air Force, Navy and National Guard. In addition to Sweden and Ukraine, the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France are participating. “Training is a good way to strengthen our military capabilities. Therefore, conducting large-scale and sustained exercises is critical to building stronger defenses,” the Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement.
Read the analysis / NATO, what happens to the alliance once it has defeated Putin’s Russia? (by U. Traballi)
Prigozhin: Russia should declare that it has achieved its goals
Founder of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Russia could easily declare victory if it ended its more than year-long invasion of Ukraine today, arguing that its forces had captured a “huge chunk” of territory.
“The ideal scenario is to declare the end of the special military operation and to tell everyone that Russia has achieved what it set out to do,” he said in an article published by his intelligence service and on Telegram. It is now a matter of “holding onto the areas that we have already conquered,” he wrote.
Prigozhin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, later clarified his remarks. He said the main point was to underscore his support for “an honest fight and no deal after the fact” and to warn of the risk that what he called the “deep state” would hamper that fight.
Hungary and Poland block imports from Ukrainian farms
Hungary has joined Poland in announcing a halt to Ukrainian agricultural imports as duty-free imports from Kiev endanger Hungarian farmers. The suspension is in effect until June 30 “in the absence of substantial EU action,” Budapest’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. Poland has halted grain and other food imports from Ukraine to avoid an “agricultural crisis”, said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party yesterday.
Teenager killed in rocket attack in Mykolayiv region
Two teenagers were killed in a Russian missile attack on Snihurivka in the Mykolaiv region of south-eastern Ukraine, the local governor said on Telegram. Rocket attacks were also launched on Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions, with at least four reported injured. The centers of hostilities remain the Donetsk cities of Bakhmut and Mariinka.
The Chinese defense minister travels to Russia
China’s new Defense Minister General Li Shangfu will travel to Russia on Sunday for his first official overseas trip since his appointment in March. There he will meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, in the latest sign of close ties between Moscow and Beijing. Announcing the visit on Friday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the two ministers would discuss “the status and prospects of bilateral defense cooperation, as well as topical issues of global and regional security.” The war in Ukraine was not mentioned in the statement.
Read more / War in Ukraine because China can never play the role of mediator
130 Ukrainian prisoners returned in the Easter exchange
Army personnel, border guards, national guardsmen and sailors, including personnel captured in Bakhmut, Soledar, Zaporizhia and Kherson, were involved in the POW exchange held for the Orthodox Easter, said Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. “The essence of Easter is hope. This is exactly what the relatives of the prisoners felt. They’ve been waiting for her for so long,” Yermak said. Russia did not provide any information on the prisoner exchange. The previous major exchange took place on April 10, when 106 Russians and 100 Ukrainians were released. It was reported that many of the Ukrainians had serious injuries or illnesses.
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