Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [KavkazUzel] The court in Essentuki placed in custody two traffic police officers in Kabardino-Balkaria, Mukhamed Khanikov and Musa Kanukoev, suspected of systematically accepting bribes from truck drivers at the Urukh weight control post in North Ossetia.
According to the investigation, two traffic police inspectors for Kabardino-Balkaria Mukhamed Khanikov and Musa Kanukoev, deputy head of the territorial department of Rostransnadzor for the North Caucasus Federal District Murad Makiev, two of his subordinates Alexander Khamatov and Oleg Kibirov, as well as three more civilians Yuri Alborov, Levan Makiev and Khasb Khachetlov were included into a criminal group whose goal was to systematically receive bribes from truck drivers passing the Urukh weigh control post in North Ossetia. Cars were allowed through for bribes without checks, even in the presence of obvious violations.
All eight are charged with Part 5 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ( “Receipt of a bribe by a group of persons”, provides for up to 12 years in prison - note of the "Caucasian Knot" ). The investigation believes that the criminal group was created by the deputy head of the territorial department of Rostransnadzor for the North Caucasus Federal District, Murad Makiev, Sledkom reported on April 17 on its website.
The investigation petitioned the Essentuki City Court to arrest two traffic police inspectors for Kabardino-Balkaria and two employees of Rostransnadzor. “One suspect was detained for two months, three others for one month and 30 days,” Interfax quoted the court’s press service as saying on April 17.
There were no comments from representatives of the suspects.
The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that on August 9, 2023, a police investigator was detained in Nalchik for accepting a large bribe. On July 19, 2022, it became known that the head of the migration department was suspected of extorting a bribe of 100 thousand rubles.
More on this story from yesterday [Regnum] Russian woman Veronika Ermilova, whom the RTL publication recorded as the mistress of the missing German billionaire Karl-Erivan Haub, told IA Regnum that she knows the businessman, but has not seen him for a long time. The woman lives in Moscow with her husband and child and is still shocked by the work of German journalists who did not bother to check the information. The woman said that journalists from Germany reviewed spy action films and invented a new “James Bond” working for Russia.
According to Veronica Ermilova, she really knows Haub, and even knows members of his family. Many years ago, an event agency where a woman worked organized an event for a billionaire in Russia.
“He was our client. I then lived in St. Petersburg. Our agency organized business events for him. I saw his family too. Therefore, when I saw the news, I didn’t even understand how to react. It's all funny. But what surprised me more was that no one even bothered to check the information and figure it out. The terrible power of the media,” Veronica told IA Regnum.
Ermilova stated that she has not been working for a long time, but is doing housework. The woman noted that she had been married for many years.
“My husband wasn’t even jealous, because this is a purely German story. Some kind of nonsense that is difficult to believe. German journalism produces these fakes that he is an FSB agent. They came up with James Bond, who works for Russia. They came up with some kind of spy action movie. They probably grew up watching these films. It’s unpleasant, of course, to see your photographs that were stolen from my page,” said Veronika Ermilova.
The former director of the German holding Tengelmann Group, billionaire Karl-Erivan Haub, disappeared on April 7, 2018, a month after his 58th birthday. He participated in preparations for the Patrouille des Glaciers ski race, taking place near the Matterhorn mountain. Karl-Erivan Haub was an experienced athlete and often participated in such competitions. A week after the billionaire disappeared, his family announced there was no hope of finding him alive, but the search was resumed after the glacier melted to discover the man's remains. No traces could be found. After his disappearance, serious financial disagreements arose between the billionaire's relatives. Haub was officially declared dead by a decision of the Cologne district court in May 2021.
In May 2023, information appeared that Karl-Erivan Haub was allegedly caught on Moscow video camera recordings in 2021. Rumors quickly spread about the discovery of a billionaire who disappeared several years ago in the Alps. The media claimed that Haub lives in the Russian capital with a woman named Veronica, who is 20 years younger than him.
According to journalists, the billionaire allegedly called his mistress a few days before his mysterious disappearance and their conversation lasted about 60 minutes. The media claimed that Veronica ran an agency in St. Petersburg that organized skiing, hiking and mountaineering-related activities. Allegedly, in May 2009, the girl and Karl-Erivan Haub traveled on the same train from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The tickets were issued by one person, but they traveled in different compartments. The woman was even suspected of having connections with the FSB, but no evidence was provided.
Karl-Erivan Haub was born on March 5, 1960. He was a co-owner and chief executive officer of the Tengelmann Group holding, which includes the OBI supermarket chain, which is well known to Russians. Karl-Erivan took over his father's position in the company, and the billionaire's younger brother took over the leadership of the American division of the Tengelmann holding.
#3
^ That explains the flaming fuselage and cartwheeling into the ground...I guess
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2024 7:16 Comments ||
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#4
'Dropped Cigarette'?
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
04/19/2024 8:22 Comments ||
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#5
^Really bad cabbage fart.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/19/2024 8:55 Comments ||
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#6
Figuring out what the hell is going on based on limited information and deliberate lying is always a challenge. A couple data points:
one of Putin's Tu-22M3 strategic bombers
A tell that I have noticed when the Daily Mail/GCHQ is trying to sell a story is "Putin's whatever". It's not a Russian bomber or a Russian Aerospace Forces plane, it's one of Putin's own personal strategic bombers.
The crash site is some 250 miles from the closest border with Ukraine.
Seems a bit far from the border for a Ukrainian shootdown, but then again, it is a supersonic plane.
For the moment, color me skeptical of both stories.
Answer hazy. Ask again later
#10
We'll see how soon the Russian media goes silent on the story. If all quiet by next week, it was a cockup by the RU military.
Kind of like Crocus City Hall went 'dark' fairly quickly in the RU media, other than photos of flowers and people crying.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
04/19/2024 11:07 Comments ||
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#11
#10 We'll see how soon the Russian media goes silent on the story. If all quiet by next week, it was a cockup by the RU military.
Kind of like Crocus City Hall went 'dark' fairly quickly in the RU media, other than photos of flowers and people crying.
Russian media in no way went dark with stories about Crocus, and they have stuck to their narrative that the shooters were in the pay of Ukrainian special services.
#12
Further shots here:
https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1781176954000949699
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/19/2024 11:26 Comments ||
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#13
The Ukraine folk on X were saying.... a Modified S-200 rocket steered by a radar on a blimp that at it's height had full line of site coverage to 50 miles away from the crash site. They said the missile hit the plane and it limped on for another 1/2 hour before it crashes.. It is "x" or "twitter" so factor that in.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] During the day, 71 combat clashes were recorded.
by Ivanna Kapustyanska
The seven hundred and eighty-fifth day of large-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against our state continues. During the day, 71 combat clashes were recorded.
In total, the enemy launched 6 missile and 63 air strikes, fired 41 salvo rockets at the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are wounded among the civilian population. High-rise and private buildings, as well as other infrastructure objects, were destroyed and damaged.
On the Volyn and Poliske directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. No signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were detected.
In the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage and intelligence activities, carries out shelling of populated areas from the territory of the Russian Federation, increases the density of mine-explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine. The enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Orlivka settlements of the Sumy region; Vovchansk and Strelecha, Kharkiv region. More than 20 settlements, including Naberezhne, Kremskyi Bugor, and Mykolaivka of the Chernihiv region, were hit by artillery and mortar fire from the enemy; Klyusy, Bilopylla, Brusky, Sumy region; Veterinary office, Kozacha Lopan, Gatishche, Kharkiv region.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) actions, however, it carried out an air strike in the area of the settlement of Borov, Kharkiv region. About 20 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Sinkivka, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka of the Kharkiv region.
On the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks in Terna and Yampolivka settlements of the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the defense of our troops. The enemy also carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of Nevske, Luhansk region. More than 10 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling, among them Makiivka, Nevske in Luhansk Oblast and Terny¸ Torske in Donetsk Oblast.
In the direction of Bakhmut, our soldiers repelled 17 attacks in the areas of settlements of Belogorivka, Luhansk region; Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Novy, Ivanovske, Klishchiivka of the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to improve the tactical position. The enemy carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of New York, Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar of the Donetsk region.
In the Avdiyiv direction, our defenders repulsed 11 attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Pervomaiske settlements of the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to dislodge our units from the occupied lines. The enemy also carried out airstrikes in the areas of Semenivka and Selidove settlements of the Donetsk region. About 10 settlements, including Ocheretine, Novobakhmutivka, and Umanske of the Donetsk region, were hit by artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Novopavlivskyi direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Novomykhailivka and Urozhaine settlements of the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried 12 times to break through the defenses of our troops. The enemy also carried out airstrikes in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropol, Vodyane, Vugledar settlements of the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements came under the artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers, among them Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Orihiv direction, the enemy, with the support of aviation, attacked the positions of our defenders 3 times in the Staromayorsky area of the Donetsk region; Robotino, Zaporizhzhia region. About 20 settlements, including Chervone, Biloghirya, Shcherbaki, Pyatikhatka of the Zaporizhzhia region, were hit by artillery and mortar fire.
In the Kherson direction, the enemy does not give up its intention to dislodge our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper. Thus, during the day, with the support of aviation, he carried out 7 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our troops in the area of the settlement of Krynka, Kherson region. About 20 settlements, including Tyaginka, Ivanivka, Novotyaginka, and Ponyativka of the Kherson region, were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck 9 areas where enemy personnel were concentrated.
Units of the missile forces damaged 1 personnel concentration area and 1 munitions depot of the occupiers.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:04 Ukraine has begun negotiations on a security treaty with the Czech Republic, the Presidential Office reported.
22:00 The G7 countries are considering $300 billion of frozen assets of the Russian Federation as collateral for loans to Ukraine, said Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis. According to him, discussions are still ongoing, but a decision should be made in the first half of the year.
21:39 Ukraine is launching mass production of an analogue of the Chinese DJI Mavic drone, Forbes writes. According to the publication, already in the summer the Ukrainian army may receive the first batches of the domestic analogue of the Chinese UAV. It was developed by a Ukrainian company that has been mass-producing drones for various purposes since 2017, in particular copter-bombers. The design of the UAV is resistant to damage, it can be repaired and serviced in the field. The most important advantage of the Shmavik is its protection from enemy electronic warfare. The drone kit costs about $3,500.
20:46 The Netherlands is not the only state that is ready to buy the Patriot system for Ukraine, Kuleba said.
20:18 Switzerland will allocate more than 5 billion euros for the restoration of Ukraine until 2036, the country’s government reported. The phased approach assumes that support for Ukraine until 2028 will amount to about 1.5 billion euros.
20:06 In Germany, two men were again arrested, suspected of planning sabotage on behalf of the Russian secret service. The German publication Der Spiegel reports, citing the German prosecutor's office, that those arrested tried to undermine Berlin's support for Ukraine. Read more in the article Spies from the "DPR" in Germany.
19:58 Ukraine may receive six more Patriot air defense systems, Scholz said. According to him, six systems can be supplied by NATO partners, and Berlin has already decided to transfer one more. "We have heard about seven additional systems. One of them is ours, and we hope to find six more in the NATO context, and I have again used this opportunity in many negotiations to make this point," the chancellor said.
19:07 Ukraine has new models of drones that can fly over a distance of more than 3,000 km and reach Russian Siberia, writes The Economist.
18:25 Law enforcement officers detained a Polish citizen who wanted to help the Russian Federation commit an attempt on Zelensky, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported. According to the investigation, the suspect, on his own initiative, established contact with the command of the Russian Armed Forces and announced his readiness to work for Russian military intelligence. His tasks included collecting and transmitting information about the security of Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland. This was, among other things, to help the Russian intelligence services plan an attempt on Zelensky’s life during his stay in the country. The Russian special services agent was identified and detained on Polish territory.
17:58 The first F-16 fighter with trained Ukrainian pilots will arrive in Ukraine before the end of spring, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said.
17:19 Kiev must provide itself with soldiers, Stoltenberg said: “It’s not for me to go into details, but I am sure that Ukraine will make the necessary decisions to mobilize the required number of people.”
17:04 If a shortage occurs in the energy system during the repair campaign at power plants in the spring and summer, schedules for limiting industrial consumers will be applied, said the head of Ukrenergo Vladimir Kudrytsky. He explained that in the Ukrainian energy system, after large-scale attacks, a repair campaign has already begun at power plants, including nuclear ones, and an increasing number of generating capacities will need to be taken out for repairs, so shortages will arise from time to time. It will be covered by imported electricity, and if it is insufficient, restriction schedules for industry may be applied.
16:56 The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution dedicated to the death of Navalny. PACE stated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of Putin as president of the Russian Federation and calls on other European countries and observers to sever all contacts with him, “except for contacts with humanitarian goals and goals aimed at peace.”
16:27 Ukraine received the first decision on the purchase of Ukrainian weapons for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the expense of its Western partner - Denmark, said the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industry Alexander Kamyshin. According to him, we are talking about approximately $28 million, which are provided for in the new aid package from Denmark.
The minister emphasized that the Ukrainian defense industry has already developed so much that the state budget cannot load manufacturers with orders at maximum capacity: “The capabilities of the Ukrainian defense industry are about 20 billion dollars. At the same time, Ukraine has only 6 billion for the purchase of weapons. Roughly speaking, only a third of all the machines that exist in the country - because there is not enough money to provide the rest with orders."
According to Kamyshin, the best way out of this situation is to convince partners who are ready to buy weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to do so in Ukraine. For this purpose, a global fundraising campaign ZBROYARI was launched, the goal of which is to raise $10 billion for the production of Ukrainian weapons this year. Money from Denmark is the first contribution within this platform.
15:59 In the border Novgorod-Seversky district of the Chernihiv region, the Russians targeted with drones a civilian car of a bakery that was delivering bread - the driver was injured, the store premises were damaged, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.
15:20 Russian diesel fuel exports fell by a quarter in April due to drone attacks, and oil refining rates are near an 11-month low, Bloomberg writes.
14:54 Chechen authorities said that Palestinian refugees will be employed at the Chechenavto plant, which produces so-called “jihad machines,” Russian media write. The Russian army uses these vehicles in the war in Ukraine.
14:16 In April, ten Bogdan self-propelled guns will be produced in Ukraine for the first time, and from next month this figure will increase, Zelensky said following a daily report on the security situation. According to him, the share of domestic production is constantly growing, the state concludes with Ukrainian enterprises “serious, long-term contracts that provide predictability, the opportunity to recruit people and attract investments.”
In addition, the president heard reports from the commander-in-chief and intelligence agencies, who reported on the results of the strike on Russian targets in Crimea. “We are still waiting for final data, but it is already clear that the occupiers suffered painful losses. Also, according to intelligence reports, after our actions in the Black Sea, Russia is moving ships, including Caliber carriers, to the Caspian Sea,” Zelensky added.
13:52 As a result of a missile attack in the Dnieper region, an infrastructure facility and an enterprise were damaged, and two fires are still ongoing, said the head of the Air Defense Forces Sergei Lysak.
13:38 Ivano-Frankivsk was the enemy’s main target during today’s night attack, said Air Force spokesman Ilya Yevlash. According to him, the Russian suicide bombers flew along standard routes and tried to bypass air defense in hard-to-reach areas. They also tried to bypass Ivano-Frankivsk and attack the city from different sides. They also walked in a line to make it more difficult to hit them.
13:10 As a result of the successful operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Dzhankoy military airfield in Crimea on April 17, four S-400 air defense missile launchers, three radar stations, an air defense control center, as well as Fundament-M air surveillance equipment were destroyed or critically damaged. The number of enemy aviation targets hit or destroyed and the number of casualties among Russian army personnel is being clarified, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported.
13:03 In the Rostov region, drones attacked the Kamensky chemical plant, the opposition Russian publication Astra reported. According to sources, the enterprise was attacked by three UAVs - all of them were shot down, but one fell onto the territory of the plant, damaging the administrative building. The Kamensky plant is one of the largest chemical enterprises in the south of Russia. In particular, they produce fuel for rocket engines there.
Astra also reported that on April 17, the village of Borovko, Klimovsky district, Bryansk region, was shelled - three servicemen from Chechnya were wounded, and there were no casualties among civilians.
12:39 The Russians launched a missile attack on the Dnieper region. According to preliminary information, two people were injured and there were several fires, said the head of the OVA, Sergei Lysak.
12:16 South Korea will provide $200 million worth of humanitarian aid to Ukraine this year as part of the promised package totaling $2.3 billion, Finance Minister Choi Sang Mokk said. He clarified that the remaining $2.1 billion will be provided in the form of long-term, low-interest loans through the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund starting in 2025. In addition, South Korea will donate $50 million each to the World Bank and the EBRD for their assistance projects to Ukraine.
12:01 Ukraine will receive another - already the fourth - Iris-T air defense system in the next few weeks, the head of the manufacturing company, Helmut Rauch, said during a visit to Kiev. “Three of our systems are already in Ukraine, and even more will be delivered this year. The next one is in just a few weeks,” he noted.
11:53 In German Bavaria, two agents were detained who worked for the Russian intelligence services and intended to carry out sabotage at military infrastructure facilities in order to undermine military support for Ukraine, writes Der Spiegel.
11:30 Trump the night before during a private dinner with Polish President Andrzej Duda in New York discussed the war in Ukraine and defense spending of NATO countries, the US presidential candidate's campaign said.
11:02 Kiev does not rule out that Russia will attack Ukrainian nuclear power plants, Zelensky said during an address to the countries participating in the meeting of the European Council. According to him, the Russian Federation destroyed almost all Ukrainian thermal power generation. The Russians are also hitting dams, hydroelectric power equipment and gas infrastructure. Moscow also does not refuse radiation blackmail, so it is possible that not only the infrastructure of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is under threat.
"This can only be stopped by the power of air defense - specific Patriot, IRIS-T, SAMP/T, NASAMS systems. Systems that are at your disposal. They are needed in Ukraine right now. They are needed so that Putin is deprived of the habit of relying on terrorist methods, and this, in particular, is your need for security,” the president emphasized.
10:55 In the Kherson region over the past 24 hours, 16 people were injured as a result of Russian shelling, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin. The Russian army shelled Mikhailovka, Berislav, Novotyaginka, Chaikino, Antonovka, Zmievka, Gavrilovka, Ivanovka and the city of Kherson.
10:48 In the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, as a result of Russian shelling, one person was killed in Selidovo, two more were wounded in Krasnohorivka, Pokrovsky district, said the head of the OVA Vadim Filashkin.
10:24 Following the summit, the EU called for speeding up the delivery of weapons and strengthening the air defense of Ukraine. "The European Council emphasizes the need to urgently ensure Ukraine's air defense and to accelerate and intensify the delivery of all necessary military assistance, including artillery ammunition and missiles," the statement said.
09:57 Syrsky said that he had a telephone conversation with the head of the European Command of the US Armed Forces and the Supreme Commander of NATO Allied Armed Forces in Europe Christopher Cavoli. He informed about the developments at the front and the urgent needs of Ukraine, in particular for modern air defense systems, artillery and ammunition, as well as heavy armored vehicles.
09:29 House Speaker Mike Johnson said that aid to Ukraine is now “critically important”: “This is a critical time, a critical time on the world stage. I could make a selfish decision and do things differently, but I’m doing what I think it’s right. I think that providing weapons to Ukraine is critically important now. I really think so.”
He also added that he “would prefer to send bullets to Ukraine than to American guys,” and believes in the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO. "I really believe the intelligence and the briefings that we have been receiving. I believe that Xi, Vladimir Putin and Iran are an axis of evil. I think they are coordinating their actions. I think Vladimir Putin would continue to march across Europe if If only he would be allowed. I think he could go to the Balkans. I think he could have a showdown with Poland or one of our NATO allies,” the speaker noted.
09:18 Air defense at night destroyed all 13 attack UAVs of the Shahed-131/136 type, which Russia attacked from Primorsko-Akhtarsk and from the Crimean Cape Chauda, the Air Force command reported. Drones were destroyed in Kherson, Dnepropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
09:15 In Chernigov, a search and rescue operation has been completed after yesterday's missile attack: 18 people were killed, 78 were injured. 37 people are undergoing inpatient treatment, said the head of the OVA, Vyacheslav Chaus.
09:09 German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck arrived in Kiev along with a delegation, German media write. The focus of his visit is Russia's massive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and emergency assistance to the country in these conditions, as well as German assistance in strengthening the Ukrainian economy.
09:04 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 18:
personnel - about 456,960 (+910) people,
tanks - 7196 (+3),
armored combat vehicles - 13,835 (+8),
artillery systems - 11,637 (+13),
MLRS - 1046 (+0),
air defense systems - 760 (+0),
aircraft - 347 (+0),
helicopters - 325 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 9284 (+5),
cruise missiles - 2093 (+0),
ships/boats - 26 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 15,618 (+31),
special equipment - 1915 (+5).
08:43 Over the past 24 hours, 87 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In particular, in the Bakhmut direction, 24 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of Belogorovka settlements in the Luhansk region, as well as Vyemka, Razdolovka, Chasov Yar, Novy, Kleshcheevka in the Donetsk region. In addition, the enemy tried 23 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops in the Novopavlovsk direction - in the areas of Vodyanoye, Krasnogorovka, Pobeda, Novomikhailovka and Urozhaynoye in the Donetsk region. Another 19 attacks were repelled in the Avdeevsky direction - in the Semenovka, Novobakhmutovka, Ocheretino, Novokalinovo, Yasnobrodovka, Netaylovo, Pervomaisky and Novoukrainka districts of the Donetsk region.
In the Kupyansky direction, the Defense Forces repelled four attacks in the Novosergeevka area of the Kharkov region; on Limansky - three attacks in the Nevsky district of the Lugansk region and Ternov, Donetsk region; on Orekhovsky - five attacks in the Staromayorsky district of the Donetsk region; on Kherson - three attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper.
08:30 In the morning, the Russians attacked the Ivano-Frankivsk region with attack drones, targeting critical infrastructure. All drones were neutralized, but fires started as a result of falling debris. No people were injured, said Svetlana Onishchuk, head of the OVA.
07:29 As a result of yesterday's missile attack on Chernigov, 18 people were killed and 77 were injured (including four children), including three people rescued from the rubble. 71% of the destroyed part of the building has been dismantled, rescue work continues, the State Emergency Service reported.
07:18 As a result of Russian shelling of Ochakov, Nikolaev region, on the night of Wednesday, April 17, four people were injured - all of them sought medical help yesterday during the day, said the head of the OVA Vitaly Kim.
07:13 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that at night air defense systems allegedly destroyed two missiles, 19 rockets, 16 UAVs and two small-sized balloons over the territory of the Belgorod region, three more UAVs over the Rostov region, one UAV was intercepted and three balloons were destroyed over the Voronezh region region.
05:17 Budanov said in an interview with The Washington Post that Russia is preparing for another large-scale offensive in June. In particular, the Russian army will try to completely capture the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. At the same time, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate recalled that the Kremlin has repeatedly set the task for Russian troops to completely capture Donbass, but this has not yet happened.
Budanov also said that Ukraine has its own plan, “aimed at reducing Russian potential. It covers many aspects, for example, military industry, critical military facilities, airfields, control posts.” In particular, Ukraine is planning new cross-border attacks by Russian volunteers, as well as new drone attacks.
“The purpose of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory is to show that Putin cannot protect the population from war within the country... When you sit, say, in St. Petersburg, and see the war only on TV, you will always support. But people start to get nervous when some object is attacked near their home,” the intelligence officer explained.
05:06 The G7 countries intend to keep Russian assets frozen until they obtain payment from Moscow for the damage caused to Ukraine, the finance ministers and heads of central banks of the G7 countries said in a statement.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Ukrainian Armed Forces fight off Russian attacks.
In the Bakhmut direction, our soldiers repulsed 17 attacks, in the Avdeevsky direction, 11 attacks were repulsed.
During the day, Defense Forces aircraft carried out strikes on 9 areas where Russian personnel were concentrated. Units of the missile forces inflicted a defeat on the area where the occupiers' electronic warfare personnel and ammunition were concentrated. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on April 18.
71 military clashes were recorded at the front during the day. In general, the enemy carried out 6 missile and 63 air strikes, and carried out 41 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas. Unfortunately, there are civilian casualties as a result of Russian terrorist attacks. Multi-storey and private houses, as well as other infrastructure facilities, were destroyed and damaged.
According to the General Staff, the operational situation in the Volyn and Polesie directions is without significant changes. No signs of the formation of offensive enemy groups were identified.
In the Seversky and Slobozhansky directions, the Russian Federation maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shells populated areas from Russian territory, and increases the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine. The enemy carried out air strikes in the areas of settlements in Orlovka, Sumy region; Volchansk and Strelka, Kharkov region. More than 20 settlements were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar shelling, including Naberezhnoe, Kremsky Bugor, Nikolaevka in the Chernigov region; Klyusy, Belopole, Bruski, Sumy region; Veterinary, Cossack Lopan, Gatishche, Kharkov region.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) operations, but carried out an air strike in the area of the settlement of Borov, Kharkov region. About 20 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, in particular, Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Stepnaya Novoselovka in the Kharkov region.
In the Liman direction, the Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Terny and Yampolevka, Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the defenses of our troops. The enemy also carried out an air strike in the area of the village of Nevskoye, Lugansk region. More than 10 settlements were damaged by artillery and mortar shelling, including Makeevka, Nevskoye in the Lugansk region and Ternitorskoye in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, our soldiers repelled 17 attacks in the areas of Belogorovka settlements in the Lugansk region; Verkhnekamennoye, Vyemka, Kalinovka, Chasov Yar, Novy, Ivanovskoye, Klishchievka, Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to improve the tactical situation. The enemy launched an air strike near the settlement of New York, Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Grigorovka, Kalinovka, Chasov Yar in the Donetsk region.
In the Avdeevsky direction, our defenders repelled 11 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, Berdichi, Pervomaiskoye, Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to oust our units from their occupied lines. The enemy also carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Semenovka and Selidovo, Donetsk region. About 10 settlements were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling, including Ocheretino, Novobakhmutovka, Umanskoye in the Donetsk region.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, the Defense Forces continue to restrain the Russians in the areas of the settlements of Novomikhailovka and Urozhaynoye, Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried 12 times to break through the defenses of our troops. The enemy also carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Krasnogorovka, Alexandropol, Vodyanoye, and Ugledar in the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire from the occupiers, including Krasnohorivka, Paraskoveevka, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region.
In the Orekhovsky direction, the enemy, with the support of aviation, attacked the positions of our defenders 3 times in the Staromayorsky area of the Donetsk region; Work in Zaporozhye region. About 20 settlements were shelled by artillery and mortars, including Krasnoe, Belogorye, Shcherbaki, Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye region.
In the Kherson direction, the Russian Federation does not abandon its intention to oust our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper. Thus, within 24 hours, with the support of aviation, he made 7 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our troops in the area of the settlement of Krynki, Kherson region. About 20 settlements were shelled by artillery and mortars, including Tyaginka, Ivanovka, Novotyaginka, Ponyatovka in the Kherson region.
Let us remind you that the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched a missile attack on a Russian military airfield in the city of Dzhankoy in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [KavkazUzel] The withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh makes it impossible for the Armenian population to return to the region and will negatively affect the prospects for a peace treaty, Russian political scientists emphasized. For Azerbaijan, the withdrawal of peacekeepers means the complete restoration of sovereignty and the absence of foreign military bases on the country’s territory, while an agreement between Moscow and Baku could be reached through a political compromise, Baku analysts believe.
As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, Russia has begun the withdrawal of peacekeepers from the zone of the former Karabakh conflict, Putin's press secretary said on April 17. On October 9, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that against the backdrop of the closure of peacekeeper observation posts, 25 guard posts were set up to guard weapons seized in Karabakh, including 14 posts jointly with the Azerbaijani military. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the activities of the peacekeepers would be adapted against the backdrop of the mass exodus of Karabakh residents from the region. The continued presence of peacekeepers in the region is contrary to the interests of Baku, Azerbaijani analysts pointed out.
The presence of peacekeepers in the region until 2025 is provided for by the 2020 trilateral agreement, although their functions may be adjusted, Russian analysts interviewed by the Caucasian Knot indicated in September.
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers was a failure of the settlement, believes Stanislav Pritchin, a senior researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies at IMEMO RAS. “The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers is a failure of attempts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Because without Russian peacekeepers, the Armenian population of Karabakh will never return. Theoretically, it was still possible to imagine that these people would return to Karabakh under the guarantees of Russian peacekeepers. Now the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent would mean “, that Karabakh is closed to Armenians. And this means that Azerbaijan, no matter how much it wants it, is assigned the status of a country that, if it did not expel itself, then did not do what was necessary to preserve the autochthonous population of Karabakh,” he told a Kavkazsky correspondent. node".
“Nothing good will happen for Armenia,” Pritchin suggested, expressing the opinion that the country is doing a poor job of solving the problems of Karabakh refugees.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ceased to existon January 1. By October 7, 2023, 100,632 internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh arrived in Armenia. The Armenian government is involved in the social issues of refugees.
For Russia, in his opinion, this is also not the best scenario. “Because the Russian settlement plan has not been implemented. It is unlikely that it will be implemented without Russia’s participation. With the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers, the possibility of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will close,” Pritchin concluded.
Alexander Karavaev, a researcher at the Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies (KISS), said that the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers came as a surprise. “Back at the beginning of April, there were no signals about the winding down of the mission. Although the peacekeeping mission ceased to be relevant since October 2023. Since then, Russia has been winding down the posts. But I know for sure that there were no hints from Azerbaijan that the mission should be completed And indeed, the extension could only be refused from May 2025. There were no complaints against the RMC after the migration of the Armenians. That is, the peacekeepers did not interfere with the Azerbaijanis in any way.
The withdrawal of the peacekeepers is unclear. The number of peacekeepers was already greatly reduced. There were no more than 1,500 people left, 50-60 armored personnel carriers. This will take some time. And during the withdrawal, a version of the reasons for the withdrawal of the peacekeepers will probably be heard. other objects from the peacekeepers to the Azerbaijani side,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
Previously, RMK had several tasks, the interlocutor indicated. "Surveillance, movement on roads, staff work on recording incidents and negotiations. All these tasks are irrelevant after the Armenian residents of Karabakh migrated to Armenia. By the beginning of the year, practically only one task remained - demining the territories. It was necessary to remove two layers of mining in almost 30 years of confrontation. Dense minefields on the former demarcation line.
In addition, mine scatterings that appeared during the 44-day war of 2020. And there was a humanitarian demining center under the peacekeepers. It will probably continue to work. they were accredited by the Azerbaijani demining agency," Karavaev explained.
How the positions of peacekeepers were located in the region after the Karabakh war in 2020 can be seen on the “ Map of the deployment of Russian peacekeepers ” prepared by the “Caucasian Knot ”.
The winding down of the Russian peacekeepers' mission will be gradual, he is sure. “The main question is about the demining center - will it remain,” Karavaev emphasized.
In his opinion, Azerbaijan will receive more benefits from the withdrawal of peacekeepers than other parties.
“In general, this will have neutral consequences for him. And even positive aspects. For example, the final transfer of control over 100 percent of the territory of Karabakh. There are no such advantages for Armenia. There are even risks for the security of Armenia in the sense that Russia is washing its hands of "The departure of the peacekeepers allows Azerbaijan to deploy in full force if the need arises for military pressure on Armenia. Armenia will have to follow the “road map” from Baku. But it is not interested in this. Perhaps Armenia will want to change its position. Externals can play on this actors. Armenia is now looking for new sponsors of its security in the person of the United States and France,” Karavaev explained.
In November 2023, France supplied Armenia with more than 20 Bastion armored vehicles as part of an agreement concluded in Paris in October of the same year. Components for these armored cars were also sent. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that this delivery strengthened Armenia's military potential, which could hinder the establishment of peace in the region. Baku analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated that weapons from France do not change the balance of power in the region and do not create real military threats to Azerbaijan.
At the beginning of December 2023, the French Senate announced that in 2024 a batch of 26 Bastion armored vehicles would be transferred to Armenia.
The head of the PolitRUS expert and analytical network, Vitaly Arkov, emphasized that the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh is actually valid until the end of 2025.
“However, the situation in the region has undergone changes after the well-known events of September 2023. Immediately after the Azerbaijani authorities restored full control over the Karabakh economic region, the issue of the continued presence of Russian peacekeepers in the region was also raised, but Moscow agreed with Baku’s request to extend their stay, since the issue was urgent the issue of peaceful coexistence between the residents of Armenian nationality remaining in Karabakh and the Azerbaijani administration of the region. Also, sapper specialists of the Russian peacekeeping contingent assisted their Azerbaijani colleagues in demining the territory, in particular, the Khojaly region,” he said.
According to Arkov, joint work on mine clearance can be continued. “The Russian side has all the necessary equipment and competencies, which makes it possible to detect and neutralize Soviet-made mines, which were massively used by the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army, faster than with Western equipment.”
The misunderstandings and fears that initially existed between residents of Armenian nationality and the Azerbaijani administration of Karabakh are thanks to professionalism Russian peacekeepers were removed, and life in the region began to proceed in a peaceful direction. Moscow considered the mission of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in this part of the documents concluded in November 2020 to be successfully completed and proposed that Baku begin a phased withdrawal of the group,” he said.
He does not rule out the possibility of the transfer of Russian peacekeepers from the territory of Azerbaijan to territories that have come under Russian control during a special military operation in Ukraine or their participation in localizing the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip.
Azerbaijani analysts pointed out the benefits for Baku from the withdrawal of peacekeepers
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the territory of Azerbaijan is due to a mutual decision of the top leadership of both countries, said Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev on April 17.
“The process has already begun, the ministries of defense of Azerbaijan and Russia are taking appropriate measures to implement this decision,” the Oxu.Az agency quoted him as saying.
The process of withdrawing Russian peacekeepers will stretch out and will be completely completed at the end of September this year, suggested military expert, reserve officer Adalat Verdiev.
“All equipment and manpower will be withdrawn. Russia will allow Azerbaijan to use the territory of the Khojaly airport, where the peacekeepers’ base was located in Karabakh,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
The withdrawal will be gradual and will last until September because during the three years of its stay in Karabakh, the Russian peacekeeping contingent brought and built a mobile town there, which has barracks, a hospital, a canteen, a kitchen, a bathhouse, sports facilities, construction equipment, even a church. It takes time to dismantle and load this equipment,” Verdiev explained.
The withdrawal of the peacekeepers was the result of a huge amount of work by Azerbaijani diplomacy and the right timing, said Ahmed Alili, director of the Caucasus Center for Political Analysis. “As a result, Azerbaijan has become the only country participating in the EU Eastern Partnership program that does not have a foreign military base on its soil. We will learn full information about this work after a long time,” Alili told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
The head of the Center for the Study of the South Caucasus, Farhad Mamedov, agreed with him. “The leadership of Azerbaijan patiently and steadily implemented the line for the complete restoration of sovereignty throughout the territory of Azerbaijan,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
Director of the Atlas Analytical Center Elkhan Shainoglu considers it possible to reach an oral agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan that in exchange for the premature withdrawal of peacekeepers, Baku should agree to become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. “But official Baku has a well-known condition: Armenia must sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Because Azerbaijan has close economic relations with other members of the Eurasian Economic Community. There are no such relations with Armenia. And Azerbaijan’s membership in the CSTO is impossible, since the country does not participate in military blocs, having become a member of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The Kremlin accepts this logic,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
Since the beginning of the withdrawal of the peacekeepers, there has been no clear explanation from Azerbaijani officials, noted political analyst, head of the East-West Research Center Arastun Orujlu. In his opinion, if the withdrawal of the peacekeepers was the merit of the Azerbaijani leadership, official Baku would not have missed the opportunity for its PR.
“It’s as if Baku doesn’t understand what’s going on. Moreover, a week ago, the Azerbaijani mine clearance agency made a statement that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will help clear the territory of mines, although mine specialists are needed for this work. One gets the impression that Baku did not expect such a quick withdrawal of Russian troops. But in any case, on the eve of the event, the Azerbaijani authorities were aware, since the column was moving through Azerbaijani territory, and Baku must have consent to this,” Orujlu said.
He believes that the presence of the military in the region was a negative factor in the forceful presence of one state in another. “I think Moscow used this factor to influence Azerbaijan and Armenia, preventing Baku from conducting peace negotiations. This was evident from the fact that Baku refused Western mediation and negotiations without intermediaries. I have no doubt about the negative impact of the presence of peacekeepers on the peace process “I don’t think that the withdrawal of the RMK will facilitate negotiations with Yerevan, since the presence of the Russian Federation in the region has never been limited to military force. Russia’s political influence and military threat remain,” he noted.
In his opinion, the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains under the control of Russia. “A peace treaty can be concluded on Russia’s terms. Russian influence on Baku and Yerevan is much broader than we think. Therefore, at least this year, I do not expect progress in the peace process and any signing,” the expert added.
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[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 100th Mechanised Brigade, as well as on the 31st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 3rd Assault and 63rd Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two pick-up trucks, one 152mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 152mm D-20 howitzers.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 30th, 56th, and 93rd Mechanised brigades near Vasyukovka, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 590 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and seven motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105mm M119 gun, two Nota electronic warfare stations, as well as one field ammunition depot were eliminated.
In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and defeated the units of the 68th Jaeger, 24th, 47th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artyomovo, Semyonovka, Netaylovo, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Seven counter-attacks of the 24th, 115th Mechanised, 71st Jaeger brigades, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled close to Novokalinovo, Novogorodskoye, Vodyanoye, Pervomayskoye, Berdychi, and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses included up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made 155mm M777 howitzer, and one 152mm D-20 howitzer.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, UK-made 155mm AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, as well as three field ammunition depots.
In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 36th Naval Infantry Brigade and 126th Territorial Defence brigades close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Zmeyevka, Nikolskoye, and Ivanovka (Kherson region).
One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the 15th Operational Brigade was repelled close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as two 122mm D-30 howitzers.
Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Russian Federation have been eliminated during the day: AFU Operational Command Centre North (Sever), two launchers equipped with illumination and targeting radar set of the S-300 air defence systems, an ammunition depot of the Donetsk Operational-Tactical Group, arms and fuel depots of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade, and engaged enemy manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.
Air defence systems shot down 251 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Tochka-U tactical missiles, and 33 Vampire missiles during the day.
In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 504 air defence missile systems, 15,801 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,945 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,111 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:01 Ukrainian troops opened fire from MLRS on the city of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region, the air defense system is working, said the chairman of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on sovereignty issues, the head of the Zaporozhye public movement “We are together with Russia” Vladimir Rogov in his Telegram channel. 19:50 Russian artillerymen destroyed a NATO-made electronic warfare complex in the South Donetsk direction.
Crews of 122mm D-30 howitzers of the 36th Combined Arms Army of the Vostok group of troops destroyed a NATO-made electronic warfare complex identified by UAV operators and an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which was located next to a camouflaged electronic warfare complex. Russian 36th Combined Arms Army was raised only within the last few months. 19:37 "Lancet" burned American howitzer M777 in the Avdeevsky direction.
Loitering ammunition delivered an accurate blow to an enemy artillery piece camouflaged in a forest belt.
18:55 Second hit. The Ukrainian Armed Forces at the blood transfusion station in Gorlovka almost killed everyone who was there at that moment. People managed to take cover after the first strike - this saved them, the Zvezda correspondent reported.
Near the station building there is a huge crater, presumably from a HIMARS shell. The shock wave demolished ceilings and broke out all the windows, including those in the houses across the street.
18:17 Explosions in temporarily occupied Zaporozhye.
17:47 Crews of T-72B3 tanks from a closed firing position destroyed Ammunition warehouse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region.
Tankers of the Dnepr group of troops reach the point and work with a canopy on enemy positions beyond the Dnieper. The distance to the target is more than two kilometers.
Firing adjustments occur in real time, with help from units equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles.
17:04 There is a report of a missile flying towards Chuguev (Khar'kov region).
16:55 Consequences of the artillery attack of Gorlovka by the Ukrainian Federal Unity -photo.
16:27 Avdeevsky direction: capture of SNT "Zarya" by Russian troops and breakthrough to the southern outskirts of Ocheretino, the situation as of 16.00 on April 18, 2024 is reported by Rybar.
Russian troops continue to build on their success north of Avdievka.
The Russian Armed Forces took full control of the Zarya SNT, advancing 2.5 kilometers to the north, catching on to the outskirts of Ocheretino near the Ocheretino-Tyagovaya substation. At the moment, fighting is taking place along Zheleznodorozhnaya and Franka streets in the south of the village, Russian troops are consolidating themselves on the front lines and tightening up logistics.
Such a successful advance was made possible thanks to a swift attack on the positions of the 115th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which, after suffering losses, was forced to abandon the held strongholds in the dacha village and retreat in the direction of Ocheretino.
Moving along the railway, covered by forest plantations, Russian units bypassed the trenches dug by the enemy in Ocheretino from the rear and occupied part of the positions adjacent to the village without significant resistance.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces expected an offensive by Russian troops from the direction of Novobakhmutovka, but the Russian Armed Forces struck directly without flank attacks, carrying out only a few diversionary attacks in the direction of the village.
The enemy is urgently transferring reinforcements from the 30th and 59th Mechanized brigades, trying to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from breaking through into the central part of Ocheretino, which is located on a hill relative to Novokalinovo and Novobakhmutovka - from here it becomes possible to control the surrounding area.
15:49 They report on the further advance of the assault detachments of the Russian Armed Forces in Belogorovka.
15:15 The Russian Aerospace Forces are striking targets in the Sumy region with aerial bombs.
15:11 The number of those wounded during the artillery attack of the center of Gorlovka increased to nine.
14:55 The Russian Armed Forces gained a foothold in the southeast of Ocheretino and took part of the fortifications that covered the settlement from the south and east.
Also, a large fortification between Ocheretino and Novokalinovo may soon find itself in pincers. Assault groups have already entered Novokalinovo from the southeast and continue to advance.
14:40 Armed formations of Ukraine fired at the center of Gorlovka. They targeted the hospital and the blood transfusion station - they were damaged. This was reported by the head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin.
Eight civilians were injured, including a child (mild injuries). According to preliminary data, the enemy used HIMARS MLRS in the city. Information about the consequences of the artillery attack continues to arrive.
Also today, as a result of the detonation of an explosive object in the Kiev region of Donetsk, a man born in 1964 received a moderate injury.
14:26 The Russian Aerospace Forces launched an air strike with gliding bombs on targets in Khar'kov
13:50 The Russian Armed Forces were able to make significant progress in the settlement. Novokalinovo near Donetsk.
13:20 “Military Chronicle” reports that the bridgehead of Russian troops has expanded near Ocheretin. The movement comes from the direction of SNT "Zarya" to the west. Some units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are quickly moving to the industrial zone in the area of the former brick factory.
Taking into account the size of the village and the number of air bombs arriving at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the command of the Ukrainian army rightly fears that a breakthrough of Russian troops from the Ocheretino-Tyagovaya substation to the water utility in the east, and then to the west, may take place in the near future. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying with all their might to delay the advance of Russian troops, but the defense is gradually sagging.
12:47 Six civilians, including a child,woundedas a result of artillery attack of Gorlovka from Ukraine, the mayor of the city Prikhodko said.
12:35 Russian 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade of the Order of Suvorov, “trophied” another American M113 infantry fighting vehicle –photo.
12:30 Situation at the front as of 04/18/2024:
In the area of the village Vladimirovka Far Eastern warriors advanced significantly, captured two Ukrainian Armed Forces support units and gained a foothold. There is progress in the area of the settlement. Productive. In the village Fierce fighting is taking place in Novomikhailovka. The enemy clings to every house, but this does not last long.
In the area of the village Lugovskoe group "Vostok" stopped the actions of the engineering group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the area of ??the village Staromayorskoye, our fighters did not allow the enemy to strengthen their positions. In the area of the village Dorozhnyanka, the rotation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was disrupted.
Bomber aircraft and artillery destroyed: AS-90 self-propelled guns, nine mortars, three UAV control posts. The enemy suffered significant losses in manpower.
12:05 The crew of the 122mm howitzer D-30 of the Crimean paratroopers disrupted the night rotation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces infantry in the Zaporozhye region -video.
11:42 In the morning, the enemy recognizes the continued development of the success of Russian troops in the Ocheretino area and at Novokalinovo. The pace of progress is quite high.
11:40 The Center group of troops continues to carry out combat missions in the Avdeevsky direction in the zone of a special military operation.
Artillery fire and air strikesappliedfire defeat of 350 identified enemy targets, including 30 strong points, an ammunition depot, two command posts and more than 90 field artillery positions in the Solovyevo, Netailovo, Berdychi areas.
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to 330 military personnel. Two armored combat vehicles, three cars and a D-30 howitzer were destroyed, two unmanned aerial vehicles and a Hammer guided bomb were shot down.
11:05 In LPR found Ukrainian Armed Forces cache with French weapons.
Military personnel of the Russian Guard, together with the FSB, discovered a cache of ammunition and weapons in a destroyed production facility in the LPR. It contained more than 4,500 cartridges, including French-made ones, 27 hand-held fragmentation and smoke grenades with fuses (OF-37), RPG-26, RShG-2 grenade launchers and rounds for them.
10:45 Information comes from Ocheretino that our troops have entrenched themselves in the outskirts on the street. Ivan Franko in the first buildings.
10:40 Positions of Ukrainian troops near Urozhainy in the DPR are under constant fire from Russian troops. Prisoner of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yevgeny Pogrebnyak spoke about this.
10:26 A series of explosions are reported in Dnepropetrovsk. According to preliminary data, ballistic missiles are operating at Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities.
09:40 In the Svatovsko-Kremensky area, the enemy has become a little more active, said military expert, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the LPR NM Andrey Marochko.
“In the areas of the settlements of Terny, Torskoye and Chervonaya Dibrova, more intense actions by Ukrainian militants are observed, aimed at regaining lost positions. Artillery and small arms fire and the use of drones have increased. The militants of the 3rd assault brigade of the VFU are more active,” he wrote in the Telegram channel.
08:17 RF Armed Forces fought off two attacks and two counterattacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces assault groups at Ternov and Chervona Dibrova, and also improved the situation along the front line in the Kupyansk direction. This was announced by the head of the press center of the Western Group of Forces, Ivan Bigma.
08:14 Russian military personnel showed a downed heavy Ukrainian drone. The drone was hit by our fighters in the Avdiivka direction after sunset -video.
08:10 Frontline summary on the morning of 04/18/2024:
On the Zaporozhye front north of Verbovoy, positional battles are taking place. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to slow down the advance of Russian troops and prevent them from reaching the eastern outskirts of Rabotino. In Rabotino itself, the Russian Armed Forces are conducting assault operations; there are small advances inside the settlement. Long-range weapons are actively working on both sides.
Donetsk front. In Novomikhailovka, the Russian Armed Forces knock out the remnants of the Ukrainian garrison from the populated area. Encounter fighting continues in Georgievka. In Krasnogorovka there were assault operations by the Russian Armed Forces with the support of aviation and artillery, as a result of which Russian troops managed to advance within the city limits.
In the Victory area there are oncoming battles. There are advances south of Pervomaiskoye, towards Nevelskoye, where there are still positions of Ukrainian troops in the fields. Apparently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters in this pocket will soon be cut off from the supply of provisions and ammunition, after which the choice is poor: destruction or captivity. Encounter battles in the area of ??Netailovo and Umansky.
The Russian Armed Forces are trying to open the enemy’s defenses in this sector of the front. In the area of Semyonovka and Berdychi LBS there are no significant changes, fierce fighting continues. But to the north of Berdychi, the Russian Armed Forces continue to make their way to the outskirts of Novobakhmutovka and Ochertino, which further aggravates the already difficult situation of the Ukrainian garrison in Semyonovka and Berdychi.
Chasovoyarsk direction. Encounter fighting continues in the eastern suburb of Chasov Yar. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are bringing reserves here. There are also counter-fights in the Bogdanovka area. The LBS has not changed significantly, but the Russian Aerospace Forces and artillery are hitting Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in the city around the clock, which cannot but affect the quality of defense, and, importantly, the morale of the Ukrainian troops.
08:00 Personnel counterbattery fight in the Avdeevsky direction. Another Ukrainian Armed Forces howitzer was disabled by a Krasnopol hit.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gevorg Miryayan
[REGNUM] Russian peacekeepers are leaving the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, they leave ahead of schedule - almost a year and a half before the expiration of the peacekeeping mandate.
Armenian media report that troops are being withdrawn gradually - through the territory of Azerbaijan to Dagestan.
If you look at the situation pragmatically, there is nothing special, much less sensational, about the withdrawal of the peacekeepers.
“After Yerevan’s defeat in the 2020 war, Russian peacekeepers had to ensure the interests of the civilian population as much as possible. Mitigate humanitarian consequences and risks for Armenian residents.
But after Yerevan, within the framework of international documents on the initiative of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, recognized the Azerbaijani status of Karabakh, the peacekeepers found themselves in a legal vacuum,” Nikita Mendkovich, head of the Eurasian Analytical Club, told IA Regnum in a commentary.
In essence, Russian soldiers acted without a clear mandate on the territory of Azerbaijan recognized by the Armenian leadership.
“Russian peacekeepers are leaving Karabakh having completed their task: maintaining peace in the region, protecting civilians, including, sometimes, at the cost of their own lives,” writes Russian political scientist Alexey Mukhin.
The peacekeepers are leaving primarily because there is no one to protect - about 100 thousand Armenians have left Nagorno-Karabakh.
In Armenia, however, the withdrawal of troops is ambivalent. According to the head of the Analytical Center for Strategic Research and Initiatives (ACSIS) Hayk Khalatyan, the approaches of the Armenian authorities and Armenian society to this issue differ.
“The authorities, who have set a course for reconsidering relations with Russia and rapprochement with the West, are positioning the withdrawal of peacekeepers as proof of the decline of Russia’s influence in the region.
In this regard, the position of the power structures and experts close to them is close to the one occupied by Azerbaijan, whose actions contribute to reducing Russia’s influence in the region and ousting it from the South Caucasus,” Khalatyan told IA Regnum.
In turn, that part of the population that, due to the propaganda of pro-government and pro-Western resources, is confident that Russia is an ally of Azerbaijan and acts against Armenia, sees in the withdrawal of troops another proof that Russia defended the interests of Baku in the Karabakh conflict.
“Now, after, as a result of an agreement between the top leadership of Azerbaijan and Russia, the Russian “peacekeepers” are withdrawn ahead of schedule, but the armed forces of NATO member Turkey remain, which entered the region along the red carpet laid out for them by Russia, it is important that the #traitor (so the Armenian Soros they call Russia. - Ed.) did not forget to talk on all possible platforms about how “with the hands of Armenia the West is trying to oust Russia from the region,” writes one of the main pro-government telegram channels.
In fact, the traitor needs to be looked for not in Moscow, but in Yerevan.
“The transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan is exclusively the prerogative and desire of the current Armenian leadership, which for some reason is trying to hold Russia responsible for the actual loss of this territory.
Consistent actions and inaction of the Armenian leadership led to such a disastrous result for their country,” recalls Alexey Mukhin.
Not just to a disastrous result, but to the last act of the tragedy of the Armenian territory, adds Nikita Mendkovich: a region with a predominantly Armenian population and an uncertain status, which experienced a new war and a catastrophe that predetermined the exodus of Armenians from it.
“In this situation, the main loser is the Armenian people and the Karabakh Armenians,” the expert is sure.
According to Hayk Khalatyan, that part of the Armenian society that advocates normal relations with Moscow believes that the withdrawal of troops reduces the already meager chances of the Armenian population returning to their historical homeland in Nagorno-Karabakh. It deprives even the ghostly hope of historical revenge.
Although, to be fair, now it is appropriate for Armenia to think not about revenge, but about retaining what it has. And this is not an easy task, taking into account the fact that Nikol Pashinyan pursues not Armenian, but Western interests.
“The West's only interest in the region is to spark a long-term conflict. Destabilize the situation and force Moscow to scatter its forces,” comments Nikita Mendkovich. “And if now the Pashinyan regime starts a new confrontation without proper preparation, isolating itself from its main allies, it risks ending up in a deadlock. Which, among other things, will be fraught with the loss of a number of territories within the recognized borders of Armenia.”
The Armenians, according to the expert, can only hope that “Pashinyan’s government of national betrayal will not take these steps.”
Hayk Khalatyan predicts that the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers will be positioned by Pashinyan as a sign of Moscow’s weakness and will accelerate the processes launched by the Armenian government to withdraw Armenia from Russian integration structures in favor of rapprochement with the West.
At the same time, it must be taken into account that in the new geopolitical situation, Transcaucasia has turned into a secondary region, notes Nikita Mendkovich: Russia was able to enter Syria and other countries of the Middle East, as well as Africa. Military bases there are much more interesting and significant for our geopolitical interests, the expert adds.
However, we should not forget that the balance of power in the South Caucasus directly affects Russia’s national security. And this security must be ensured by all available means.
I can't think of a sight by the Germans more infuriating than not allowing the Russian Federation to participate in the commemoration of the liberation of German death camps, which the Soviet Army liberated.
[Regnum] The Russian embassy in Berlin was told that the German side considers the participation of Russian officials in commemorative ceremonies dedicated to the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp prisoners undesirable, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on April 18.
“The embassy in Berlin has received notice that it is undesirable for Russian officials to participate in commemorative events on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the liberation of death factory prisoners,” she said.
Zakharova also pointed out that Germany did not respond to Russia’s note demanding that the crimes committed by the Nazi occupiers in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War be officially recognized as genocide.
As Regnum reported, on January 27, 2024, the German MIG published a statement on the anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad, saying that Berlin recognizes historical responsibility for the crimes of German soldiers against the residents of the city. Germany, as a gesture of reconciliation, supported the modernization of the hospital in St. Petersburg, where many victims of the siege are treated.
In March, the Russian Embassy in Germany sent a note to the country's Foreign Ministry demanding that the blockade of Leningrad and other crimes of the fascist invaders during the Great Patriotic War be recognized as genocide. The Russian side emphasized that it sees a connection between reparations paid after the war and the restoration of justice for the victims of Nazism.
I registered my access to V Kontakte thru my rkka.org account, which is my own standalone mail server, which I use less and less. rutube.ru was registered through my gmail.com account.
The Russian Ministry of Defense only recently required me to download and activate their own SSL certificate to access their website, so security measures for access to Russian media are tightening.
Good for Russia, I guess.
[Regnum] Russian services have begun to warn users that logging into their accounts via Google or Apple ID will soon be disabled. In particular, the warning appears on the Liters book service.
“Starting April 22, access through Google account and Apple ID will be disabled. To maintain access to your account, please make sure your email and phone number are current and added to your profile,” the resource said when selecting “Other methods” when logging in.
A corresponding warning appeared on the VK Play platform, however, in addition to Google and Apple, the use of Twitch, Epic Games Store and Steam accounts is also unavailable there. The site offers a choice of authorization through Mail.ru, VK and Odnoklassniki email.
As Regnum reported, on July 31, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning registration on Russian websites using foreign email, which requires going through the appropriate procedure by phone number, through the Gosuslugi portal, using a unified biometric system, via email Russian services or using identifiers on Russian resources. Before this, the State Duma adopted the law, and the Federation Council approved it on July 28. The head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, explained that the changes apply only to sites that have user registration and authentication.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Viktor Lavrinenko
[REGNUM] The North Atlantic Alliance is ready to invest 160 million euros in the restoration of the old Russian military port named after Emperor Alexander III in Liepaja. If this money is really allocated, then the project that the Latvian authorities have been trying to launch for twenty years will finally get off the ground.
Almost from the very moment the republic joined NATO in 2004, Riga has been dreaming of turning Liepaja into a naval base for the alliance. But only now is this idea beginning to come closer to its implementation.
STRATEGIC LOCATION
The other day, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced that NATO had found money to modernize the old military port in Liepaja. According to him, there, in accordance with the already completed project, new berths will be built, supporting infrastructure will be created and work will be carried out to deepen the riverbed.
The plans were also confirmed by Prime Minister Evika Silina, who visited Liepaja on a working visit. “The decision taken to finance NATO in the amount of 160 million euros for the development of a military port in Liepaja Karosta will strengthen the defense capability of our country and will become a significant contribution to the economy of Liepaja,” the prime minister noted.
Karosta (translated from Latvian as “Military Harbor”) is a former port named after Alexander III. Its construction began in 1890.
Then they decided to turn Liepaja (then called Libava) into a first-class base for the Russian Imperial Navy, modeled on the British Portsmouth, the German Wilhelmshaven and Kiel, and the Italian Taranto.
Construction dragged on for eight years, and later the port of Alexander III was repeatedly subjected to various modernizations.
During the construction process, a well-equipped and weather-protected harbor for the largest warships of that time appeared in Liepaja, equipped with docks, repair shops, arsenals, warehouses and storage facilities. They brought a railway to it and protected it with powerful fortifications - forts bristling with numerous gun barrels.
The new port served the Russian fleet well for seventeen years. In particular, it was from here that the Second Pacific Squadron departed in 1904 and perished in Tsushima.
And then something happened that some experts warned about, who said that it was unwise to place such an important base so close to the western borders of the empire. World War I broke out and in 1915 Libau was captured by the Germans, who used the port for four years.
The domestic fleet returned to Libau in 1939 - already under the Soviet flag. But the Great Patriotic War began, and the disadvantages of Libau’s geographical position again turned against the Baltic Fleet.
Already on June 29, 1941, after a short but heroic defense, the city was taken by the Germans for the second time. Moreover, several warships that did not manage to evacuate from there in time were lost.
After the victory, the military port in Libau began to be used again for its original purpose. The former Soviet fleet was finally withdrawn from here in August 1994, and Karosta quickly fell into disrepair.
Ten years ago, Latvian Radio reported from an abandoned harbor. The correspondent said that Soviet white silicate brick alternates here with red brick, left over from tsarist times. The territory was in complete desolation.
THEY ARE AFRAID OF RUSSIAN WARHEADS
It turned out that Latvia was unable to raise the former port of Alexander III on its own - it does not have such resources. True, the headquarters, training centers and flotilla of the Latvian Navy are located in Liepaja, but they are very stunted, they do not need such a large harbor. Therefore, a proposal arose to give the port to a “rich relative” for his needs - let him restore order there.
This idea was first voiced back in 2005 or even earlier, that is, immediately after Latvia joined the alliance: with NATO funds, to rebuild in the deteriorating harbor all the infrastructure necessary to receive modern warships. For example, repair old ones and build several new berths, lay a fuel supply line.
The then mayor of the city, Uldis Sesks, assured that the arrival of the NATO fleet would contribute to the improvement of the regional economy: they say, NATO members will begin to pay port duties; they will need maintenance, food supplies and other services, and Liepaja will get rich from this.
In general, according to Seks, “if we could offer space for NATO ships in the unused areas of our port, that would be good.”
Ten years ago, the plan to turn Liepaja into an alliance military base was promoted by the then Minister of Defense and future President of Latvia, Raimonds Vējonis. He said that the city not only has a well-equipped harbor, but also a fairly large airport capable of receiving military cargo.
In addition, being located near the Lithuanian-Latvian border and not far from Ventspils (one of the important transit ports), Liepaja allows you to keep almost all the harbors of the region and the land arteries associated with them “at gunpoint.”
“We are working on how to transform our port in Liepaja into a base where NATO ships can regularly call. So that, in principle, it can be used as a reference point for operations in the Baltic Sea,” said the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic, Janis Sarts, now the head of StratCom, the NATO Strategic Communications Center in Riga, in 2015.
These plans alarmed the Liepāja Russians. Now the Russians in Latvia are downtrodden, intimidated, brought into submission and are afraid to say an extra word, but then, nine or ten years ago, they could still do something.
In 2015, the NGO “Liepāja Russian Community” (LRO) conducted a survey, the results of which revealed that the majority of Russian townspeople are strongly against the creation of a NATO base. Nine years ago, approximately 40 thousand Russian-speaking residents lived in Liepaja (about 35% of the city population), and 10 thousand of them were Russian citizens with Latvian residence permits.
Among them there are still quite a few retirees of the Soviet Navy - it is not for nothing that the Russian Navy holiday on July 27 is remembered and celebrated by many here.
Naturally, these people were not enthusiastic about the possible appearance of those in whom they still see a potential enemy. “Of ours, 91% are against the placement of a NATO base in Liepaja, and 52% are ready to take to the streets,” emphasized the chairman of the board of the LRO Valery Kravtsov, promising, if anything happens, to build a “human chain” in the way of foreign soldiers.
He explained the reasons for his concern: “If NATO is in Liepaja tomorrow, then tomorrow three or four warheads will be sent here.”
Interestingly, concern about the possible creation of a base was also expressed by the then mayor of neighboring Ventspils, Aivar Lembergs (by the way, Vējonis’s colleague in the Union of Greens and Peasants party), who repeatedly said that the appearance of alliance troops in Latvia on a permanent basis could be equated to an invasion.
Kravtsov and Lembergs were not alone in their concern.
A similar point of view was expressed by the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, deputy of the Seimas Janis Adamsons. He also warned that the appearance of NATO members from other countries would put Liepaja in the crosshairs of Russian precision weapons.
In addition, Adamsons pointed out another interesting nuance - if American soldiers are stationed in Liepaja, they will be outside the reach of Latvian justice.
“Few people know about the existence of an interesting agreement that when carrying out any special operations on the territory of Latvia, not a single US Army serviceman is subject to the jurisdiction of Latvian justice,” Adamsons emphasized in a conversation with the press.
Now all opponents of the NATO base in Liepaja have their mouths firmly shut.
Valery Kravtsov disappeared from public space. Lembergs, who repeatedly allowed himself to harshly criticize the foreign policy of Latvia, was finally placed in prison at the beginning of 2021 after many years of attempts to put him in prison (allegedly “for corruption”). True, he was released early, but now he tries not to speak out on such sensitive topics. Janis Adamsons, accused of “spying for Russia,” is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence. The threat of deportation loomed over Soviet retirees living in Liepaja.
IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY?
For a long time, the process of creating an Alliance base in Liepaja did not move forward due to a lack of interest on the part of NATO itself and the lack of proper funding. True, the local port is regularly used to unload heavy equipment arriving in Latvia for maneuvers, but this is not the same as building a permanent military base there.
The state tried to do some things on its own.
So, in 2015, we prepared a plan for the necessary work. In particular, Latvian experts came to the conclusion that a significant problem is the insufficient width of the channel leading to the harbor - only 50 meters. In this regard, as experts fear, ships standing in the port can be easily blocked.
As an alternative location for their placement, areas along the city beach have been proposed, but then berths will need to be built there.
At the end of 2016, the then Secretary of State of the Latvian Ministry of Defense Janis Garisons announced that a base would still be created in Karosta, Liepaja: “Our goal is to consolidate the entire military infrastructure in one place. This is a very long project that will require huge funds. In ten years, it would be possible to build piers, including for NATO ships.”
The Latvian public heard about this project for the second time in June 2020, when the Ministry of Defense announced plans to allocate 35 hectares of land for a military base in Karosta.
The ministry said that they want to concentrate there all the structures of the armed forces located in the city: the 1st regional security center, the naval surveillance and communications service, the naval squadron, the diving school, the headquarters of the 4th brigade of the Latvian territorial militia "Zemessardze", 44 1st Infantry Battalion "Nurse Guard", Army Medical Services Department and some other units. However, nothing was said about NATO funding even then.
And now, it seems, the process has moved forward.
If the words of government members about 160 million euros turn out to be true, then significant work can finally begin there. And if the allocated money is not enough for everything, the authorities will try to shake out the remaining amount from taxpayers.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Poland is not ready and does not have the capabilities to supply Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems for air and missile defense to Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Polish television on April 18.
“As you know, Germany set an example by transferring another Patriot system to Ukraine, and called on other countries to join this initiative. This time this does not apply to Poland, since we do not have enough Patriots to be able to share,” he said following a meeting of the European Council.
Donald Tusk added that the Dutch authorities, in turn, announced their readiness to allocate funds from their own budget for the purchase of one Patriot air defense system for subsequent transfer to Ukraine.
On April 18, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitry Kuleba, on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 diplomats in Rome, said that Kiev needs additional air defense systems, such as the American Patriot and the French-Italian SampT. According to him, only these systems are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles that the Russian Armed Forces use to attack Ukrainian military infrastructure.
As Regnum reported, on Thursday the head of the German defense-industrial company Deihl Defense Helmut Rauch said that Germany will soon transfer to Ukraine several IRIS-T SLM air defense systems with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
The Russian side has repeatedly called on Western countries to refrain from supplying weapons to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that any military cargo intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a legitimate goal of the Russian Armed Forces. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, in turn, noted that arms supplies will not change the course of the special military operation in any way, but will only deplete the resources of the countries participating in supporting Ukraine.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[KavkazUzel] The court in Essentuki placed in custody two traffic police officers in 
[Regnum] Russian woman Veronika Ermilova, whom the RTL publication recorded as the mistress of the missing German billionaire 
[KavkazUzel] The withdrawal of peacekeepers from 
