[IsraelTimes] North Korea confirms for the first time that it sent troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.
US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence officials have said North Korea dispatched about 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia last fall. But North Korea hadn’t confirmed or denied its reported troop deployments to Russia until today.
Leader Kim Jong Un decided to send combat troops to Russia under a mutual defense treaty, the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party says in a statement.
It cites Kim as saying the deployment was meant to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.”
“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” Kim said, according to the statement sent to state media.
In March, South Korea’s military said North Korea sent about 3,000 additional troops to Russia earlier this year, after its soldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine fronts suffered heavy casualties. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs assessed that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 4,000, though US estimates were lower at around 1,200.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22.01 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the issue of Crimea's status is not part of the negotiations with the United States to end the war in Ukraine. He said this in an interview with CBS News.
Lavrov emphasized that this issue has supposedly already been resolved, and Russia, they say, is not negotiating the integrity of its territory.
21.39 Intense fighting continues in the Pokrovsky direction – Russian troops have stepped up their assaults, but continue to suffer significant losses. This was reported by DeepState analysts.
The most difficult situation remains in the areas of Elizavetovka, Tarasovka, Staraya Nikolaevka, Lisovka, Uspenovka, as well as in the areas of Shevchenko-Peschanoe and Kotlino-Udachnoye.
19.44 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire only if Western support for Ukraine ceased. The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said this in an interview with the CBS News television channel.
The presenter recalled that Kyiv accepted the US proposal for a complete ceasefire on March 11, but Moscow put forward additional conditions.
"No, these are not preconditions," Lavrov replied. "These are lessons we have learned at least three times when we concluded agreements similar to the one we are discussing now," he added, referring to the preliminary ceasefire agreements in Minsk.
Lavrov again stated that in order to achieve a new ceasefire, the West must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.
18:56 EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is convinced that the ban on Ukraine's accession to NATO makes it easier for Russia to plan its next aggression. He stated this at Platform X.
"Russia demands "no NATO" for Ukraine not because it fears a NATO offensive against Russia from Ukrainian territory, but because it fears that NATO will defend Ukraine during the next Russian aggression. The demand for "no NATO" for Ukraine makes it easier for Russia to plan new aggression," the European Commissioner explained.
18:36 Fighters of the 12th special forces brigade of the Azov NGU captured three Russian soldiers in the Toretsk direction. This was reported by the press service of the unit.
Russian attack aircraft from the Toretsk direction "drove" into the defenders' captivity on scooters.
18:17 Since the beginning of the day, 69 combat clashes have already occurred on the front; fighting is still ongoing in three directions of the front, most of all in Pokrovsky.
17.32 On April 27, President Volodymyr Zelensky heard a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky on the situation in specific areas of the front.
"Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky reported on the situation at the front. The situation remains difficult in many areas. By the middle of this day alone, there have been almost 70 Russian assaults on our positions. The fighting continues. The occupier continues to attempt offensives. I am grateful to each brigade, to all our soldiers who are defending Ukrainian positions and demonstrating the resilience that Ukraine needs. Most of the fighting is in the Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, Limansk and Kursk areas. Our military continues active defensive actions in certain areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions," Zelensky noted.
15.19 Three people were killed in Konstantinovka as a result of another shelling by the Russian army on April 27. This was reported by the head of the Donetsk OVA Vadim Filashkin.
"New victims in Konstantinovka: three killed, four wounded," he noted.
14.00 Russia continues to recruit foreign mercenaries for the war against Ukraine. From April 2023 to the end of May 2024, more than 1,500 foreigners were recruited in Moscow. This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defence.
According to British intelligence, the largest number of volunteers came from South and East Asia (771 people), followed by the former Soviet republics (523 people) and African countries (72 people).
Analysts believe that recruitment of foreigners in Russia is unsystematic. Most volunteers agree to sign contracts for money and the prospect of receiving Russian citizenship.
13:43 The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US leader Donald Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis had a special spirit that will inspire new ideas to end the war, Polish President Andrzej Duda said.
"It is in the interests of Poland and the Poles that this war ends with a just peace, which will also give us a guarantee of peace, so that we can truly develop peacefully, without fear of being attacked," he stressed.
13.05 Air defense destroyed 48 Russian missiles and almost 800 drones in a week. Among the downed targets were ballistic and cruise missiles. This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Over the past week, Ukrainian air defense destroyed 841 targets:
31 Kh-101/Kh-55SM cruise missiles;
7 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles;
6 Kalibr cruise missiles;
4 guided aircraft missiles Kh-59/69;
442 Shahed-type attack UAVs;
114 reconnaissance drones;
237 UAVs of other types
11:46 The Russian army is preparing to integrate the use of motorcycles during offensive operations in Ukraine in the summer and fall, according to a report by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts say Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate the use of motorcycles into offensive operations in Ukraine this summer and fall to neutralize the capabilities of Ukrainian drones.
10.20 At night, as a result of Russian shelling, fires broke out at different addresses in Zhitomir. A warehouse building and dry grass were burning. Residential buildings, utility buildings and cars were also damaged. One person was injured.
09.44 At night, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 149 attack UAVs. Damages to 57 UAVs have been confirmed in the east, north, south and center of the country. 67 enemy drone imitators have been lost.
The enemy attack damaged Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Donetsk, Sumy and Cherkasy regions.
09.16 At night, Russian troops attacked Odessa region with attack drones. A three-story residential building and cars were damaged in Odessa district. A 35-year-old local resident was injured.
08.57 A man was killed and a 14-year-old girl was injured in an enemy drone attack in Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk region. This was reported by the head of the OVA, Serhiy Lysak.
"At night, the enemy once again sent drones to the region. 13 of them were destroyed by the defenders of the sky. But, unfortunately, there are also consequences. A man was killed in one of the attacks in Pavlograd. A 14-year-old girl was also injured. She is under medical supervision," he wrote on Telegram.
Two apartment buildings were damaged in the city. A fire broke out in one of the buildings.
08.36 Over the past 24 hours, 174 combat clashes have been recorded on the frontline. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the Kursk direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
07.45 As of April 27, 2025, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 948,640 people (+1030 per day).
4.20 The DeepState analytical project has refuted the statement of the Russian military leadership about the alleged complete "liberation" of the Kursk region and the expulsion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units.
The enemy has advanced in the Kursk region, but the Kursk operation is still ongoing. The Ukrainian military is tracking and striking Russian logistics, troop concentration areas and other objects.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Russians conduct mass training on mopeds and motorcycles.
The Russian military is developing tactics for the systematic offensive use of motorcycles.
The Russian army is preparing to integrate the use of motorcycles during offensive operations in Ukraine this summer and fall, according to a report by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts say Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate the use of motorcycles into offensive operations in Ukraine this summer and fall to neutralize the capabilities of Ukrainian drones. eh?
In particular, ISW analysts are focusing on a video published by the Russian Defense Ministry on April 26, in which servicemen from the 299th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division of the Russian Airborne Forces practice offensive and defensive tactics on motorcycles in groups of two or three people at a Russian training ground.
"The video suggests that the Russian military is likely developing tactics for the systematic offensive use of motorcycles and may be preparing to issue more motorcycles to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine," ISW said.
Pavel Shamshin, a spokesman for Ukraine's Kharkov group of troops, said Ukrainian intelligence had noticed enemy troops training their soldiers in motorcycle combat tactics, indicating that Russian troops are likely to increasingly use motorcycles in offensive operations in Ukraine this summer and fall.
According to the press secretary, motorcycles allow Russian soldiers to increase their speed and maneuverability, which is crucial for evading Ukrainian drone strikes, but the loud noise of a motorcycle prevents the driver from hearing Ukrainian drones approaching.
Recall that over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1,030 occupiers . Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army has lost 948,640 servicemen.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] The Ukrainian Armed Forces operation in the Kursk region continues.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military forces have stopped 15 Russian assaults in the Kursk direction.
Over the past 24 hours, 174 combat clashes were recorded at the front. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the Kursk direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the morning report on Sunday, April 27.
Aviation, missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces struck four areas of personnel concentration, a UAV control point and two artillery weapons of the Russian troops.
There were four attacks by the invaders in the Kupyansk direction. The defenders repelled the enemy's assaults near Novaya Kruglyakovka and Zagrizovoye. In the Liman direction, the enemy attacked 22 times. They tried to penetrate our defenses near the settlements of Nadiya, Grekovka, Novoye, Novomikhaylovka and in the direction of Serebryanka.
In the Seversky direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers successfully stopped three attacks by Russians in the areas of the settlements of Belogorovka and Verkhnekamyanskoye. In the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked 13 times in the areas of Chasovy Yar, Kurdyumovka, Stupochki, Predtechnoye and Belaya Gora.
In the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 29 attacks in the areas of Druzhba, Leonidovka, Krymskoye and Toretsk. In the Pokrovsk direction, the defenders stopped 68 assault actions of the Russians near the settlements of Sukha Balka, Elizavetovka, Novotoretskoye, Promen, Lisovka, Dachenskoye, Udachnoye, Uspenovka, Preobrazhenka, Kotlyarovka and Andreyevka.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks last day near the settlements of Privolnoye, Dneproenergiya and Rozliv. In the Orekhov direction, Russian troops stormed the positions of the Defense Forces four times near the settlements of Stepovoye, Malaya Tokmachka and Malye Shcherbaki.
In the Dnieper direction, the defenders successfully stopped one enemy attack. In the Kharkov and Gulyai-Polye directions, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions yesterday.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the Kursk direction. Over the past 24 hours, the Russians carried out 20 airstrikes, dropping 37 guided bombs, and carried out 296 attacks. Ukrainian defenders stopped 15 assaults by the invaders.
Let us recall that on April 26, the military reported to the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, that the last settlement in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation had been "liberated."
Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated 1,030 occupiers . Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army has lost 948,640 servicemen.
[EngMilRu] The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
The Sever Group of Forces in Belgorod direction have engaged manpower and hardware clusters of a mechanised brigade, a tank brigade, two air assault brigades, and a territorial defence brigade close to Zapseleye, Yunakovka, Proletarskoye, Novodmitrovka, and Sadki (Sumy region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 75 troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, 14 motor vehicles, and six artillery guns. One fuel depot was destroyed.
The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation along the front line. Russian troops engaged two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades near Senkovo, Proletarskoye, Vyssheye Solenoye, Novy Mir, Kupyansk, Kupyansk-Uzlovoy (Kharkov region), and Kirovsk (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 235 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. One U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire station and eight ammunition depots have been neutralised.
Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops engaged six mechanised brigades of the AFU and a special forces brigade near Konstantinovka, Katerinovka, Alekseyevka-Druzhkovka, Belaya Gora, Malinovka, Dyleyevka, Pleshcheyevka, Yablonovka, and Ilinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 troops, a tank, five armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and a field artillery gun. One electronic warfare station and four ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian forces damaged four mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, and two national guard brigades near Mirolyubovka, Bogdanovka, Udachnoye, Ulyanovka, Novoekonomicheskoye, and Kotlyarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost more than 425 troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and two artillery guns.
Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of a mechanised brigade, an airmobile brigade, a jaeger brigade, and a naval infantry brigade near Otradnoye, Komar, and Volnoye Pole (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy's losses amounted to up to 140 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and three artillery guns. Two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were eliminated.
The Dnepr Group of Forces hit units of a coastal defence brigade of the AFU and a territorial defence brigade near Novopavlovka (Zaporozhye region) and Kazatskoye (Kherson region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles. One electronic warfare station and two ammunition depots were neutralised.
Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged infrastructure of military airfields, a workshop producing UAVs, ammunition depots including those storing U.S.-manufactured HIMARS rockets as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed forces in 168 areas during the day.
Air defence systems destroyed a guided JDAM aerial bomb and two U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS projectiles, two S-200 surface-to-air missiles redesigned to hit ground targets, and 124 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 661 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 53,945 unmanned aerial vehicles, 605 anti-aircraft missile systems, 23,064 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,553 MLRS combat vehicles, 24,168 field artillery guns and mortars, and 34,654 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 21:04 Signalmen of the 75th Guards Command Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army of the Vostok group provide reliable communications between the forward units and the command in the South Donetsk direction.
The task of communications specialists is to organize and maintain communication channels for the management of units in the shortest possible time.
To move around, military personnel use maneuverable buggies equipped with electronic warfare systems.
20:53 255th Motorized Rifle Regiment destroys a stronghold of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Pokrovsk direction —video.
20:20 20th Army destroyed a robotic ground platform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Liman direction —video.
19:36 Ukrainian occupier failed to escape from Sudzha —video.
18:45 The Russian Armed Forces, having made a passage for FPV drones in the protective net, immediately launch a drone and search for a target. They don’t have to search for long —video.
18:08 West of Artemovsk, the Russian Aerospace Forces have guaranteed the destruction of enemy personnel and equipment —video.
17:29 UAV crews of the 90th Guards Tank Division of the Center group of forces are working off piloting skills at a specialized training ground in the rear area of the SVO zone.
To conduct the training, a special obstacle course was built, including imitation narrow windows, doorways and a hangar, a model of an infantry fighting vehicle with open doors at the rear, as well as a dugout of a simulated enemy.
During the training, the serviceman must fly through all of the listed elements, simulate the defeat of the enemy and finish the runway with a successful dive from a height of about 150 meters.
16:51 Destruction of enemy manpower and air defense forces in the Khar'kov direction —video.
16:27 105th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the LPR People's Militia: Our troops are moving forward near Dzerzhinsk
To Russian fighters succeeded in clearing out the Komsomol microdistrict and also enter the northern part of Shcherbinovka.
15:58 Frontline soldier broadcasts:
We cleared Zhuravka and entered Loknya. Sumy direction.
15:22 Destruction of a Ukrainian Armed Forces pickup truck near the border of the Kursk region —video.
14:35 Servicemen of the North group of troops destroyed three heavy UAVs "Baba Yaga" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Khar'kov region.
13:10 Drone operators of the 1st Guards Tank Army of the West Forces Group burned an American M-777 howitzer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Khar'kov region —video.
12:35 Summary of Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation as of April 27, 2025
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
– Units of the North group of forces in the Belgorod direction inflicted damage on concentrations of manpower and equipment of the mechanized, tank, two airborne assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Zapselye, Yunakovka, Proletarskoye, Novodmitrovka and Sadki in the Sumy region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 75 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, fourteen cars and six artillery pieces. A fuel depot was destroyed.
- Units of the "West" group of forces improved the situation along the front line. They defeated formations of two mechanized, airmobile, assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and three territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Senkovo, Proletarskoye, Vyssheye Solenoye, Novy Mir, Kupyansk, Kupyansk-Uzlovaya in the Khar'kov region and Kirovsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 235 servicemen, two combat armored vehicles, six cars and four field artillery pieces. A US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery station and eight ammunition depots were destroyed.
- Units of the "Southern" group of troops occupied more advantageous lines and positions. They inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a special forces brigade in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Katerinovka, Alekseevo-Druzhkovka, Belaya Gora, Malinovka, Dyleevka, Pleshcheyevka, Yablonovka and Ilyinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The losses of the Ukrainian armed formations amounted to 250 servicemen, a tank, five combat armored vehicles, six cars and a field artillery gun. An electronic warfare station and four ammunition depots were destroyed.
- Units of the "Center" group of forces improved their tactical position. They defeated the formations of four mechanized, ranger, assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two brigades of the National Guard in the areas of the settlements of Mirolyubovka, Bogdanovka, Udachnoye, Ulyanovka, Novoekonomicheskoye and Kotlyarovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 425 servicemen, a tank, two armored combat vehicles, six cars and two artillery pieces.
- Units of the "East" group of forces continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense. They inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of the mechanized, airmobile, and ranger brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the marine brigade in the areas of the settlements of Otradnoye, Komar, and Volnoye Pole of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy's losses amounted to 140 servicemen, three combat armored vehicles, four cars and three artillery pieces. Two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were destroyed.
– Units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated formations of the coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Novopavlovka in the Zaporizhia region and Kazatskoye in the Kherson region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 70 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, and three cars. An electronic warfare station and two ammunition depots were destroyed.
Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groups damaged the infrastructure of military airfields, a workshop for assembling unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots, including rockets for the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations in 168 districts.
Air defense systems destroyed a JDAM guided aerial bomb and two rockets from the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, two S-200 anti-aircraft guided missiles converted to fire at ground targets, as well as 124 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
11:58 Russian Ministry of Defense:
In the period from 08:20 to 08:45 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyedtwo Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
11:25 Russian Ministry of Defense:
At about 09:45 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed one Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle of the aircraft type over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
10:52 Criminal Kyiv regime continues shelling civilian infrastructure of populated areas of the left bank of the Kherson region
Yesterday, during the day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces released:
– Six rounds in the village of Bekhtery;
- According to n.p. Novaya Kakhovka three rounds;
- According to n.p. Kakhovka four rounds;
– Two rounds to the settlement of Velikiye Kopani;
– Two rounds in the village of Ol'gino;
– Four rounds in the village of Malaya Lepetikha;
- Five rounds to the village of Aleshki.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the villages of Kakhovka, Kazachi Lagerya, Korsunka, Proletarka, and Dnepryany, firing a total of 15 rounds from cannon artillery. Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being clarified.
10:15 Telegram channel «WarGonzo» Frontline report for the morning of 26.04.2025
- Zaporizhzhya Front. No significant changes in LBS. Exchanges of strikes with long-range weapons continue. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have traditionally built a defense relying on attack drones.
- Donetsk Front. Several attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counterattack, with the aim of seizing the initiative south and southeast of Bogatyr, have been repelled. Also, the Russian Armed Forces repelled a counterattack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Otradnoye area.
Russian troops continue to develop the offensive on Bogatyr. Fighting continues in Volnoye Pole, with tactical successes by the Russian Armed Forces. Also, the assault on the settlement of Kotlyarovka in the Dnepropetrovsk direction continues.
- Kursk region. Russian troops continue to clear Gornal and its environs, driving out the remnants of Ukrainian forces from the territory of Kursk region. Enemy drones are actively operating in the border area, striking, among other things, at rear areas. Also, the clearing of the territory of Kursk region in the Oleshnya area continues.
- Belgorod Region. It is reported that Popovka has been completely liberated from the presence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, fighting in this direction continues to be fierce.
08:30 During the past night from 23:00 to 04:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed and intercepted five Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles in the Bryansk region.
08:00 Calculation of the towed gun 152mm "Giatsint-B" of the artillerymen-paratroopers of the "Dnepr" group destroyed temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kherson region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Igor Ivanenko
[REGNUM] On April 23, the FSB reported the expulsion from Russia of former employee of the Moldovan Information and Security Service Dmitry Rusnak. According to the Russian special service, the agent arrived in 2024 with a "task to collect classified information about the plans of the Russian leadership" regarding the republic. The information was collected in the interests of Moldovan intelligence. And this is quite symptomatic.
Apparently, the political leadership of Moldova is seriously concerned about its own prospects in the context of the upheaval of the system of international alliances initiated by the new US administration.
It is no coincidence that in her last speech in the national parliament, President Maia Sandu stated: “Our faith in a fair world based on rules has been greatly shaken.”
Against the backdrop of the new "diplomatic revolution" started by Donald Trump, the Moldovan asset is clearly losing its significance due to Chisinau's great dependence on external players. And Sandu's patrons are increasingly frugal in their support, while neighbors are not particularly ceremonious with the interests of the Moldovan elites.
DISCREDITS ROMANIA
The leader of the presidential election race in Romania, sovereigntist candidate Geoge Simion, recently stated that if he comes to power, he intends to stop the practice of "facade visits" to Moldova. He insists on Bucharest ceasing its support for the current Moldovan authorities, since this is sponsoring "separatism and anti-Romanian sentiments" in the republic.
The opposition politician has been banned from entering the Republic of Moldova for several years for participating in events not sanctioned by the authorities. From his point of view, Sandu's government discredits the very idea of "unification of the two Romanian states" with its corruption and unprofessionalism.
In this regard, in Bucharest and Chisinau, both jokingly and seriously, they are asking the question: will Sandu remove Simion’s status as persona non grata if he suddenly becomes the head of Romania.
In the upcoming elections there on May 4, Sandu, by the way, tacitly supports the current mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. He represents the left-liberal party "Union for the Salvation of Romania", which enjoys the favor of the European bureaucracy.
This choice is contrary to the official alliance of the ruling PAS party in Moldova with the National Liberal Party of Romania. The latter's representative, Crin Antonescu, is also running for president and, according to most polls, ranks second in popularity ratings.
So, in the Romanian elections, the leader of Moldova is making a very risky bet. But what won't you do for the sake of Brussels' loyalty, since the financial stability of the Prut-Dniester republic directly depends on it.
The recently promised tranche of 1.9 billion euros by the European Union is currently being discussed with great enthusiasm in Chisinau. Moreover, 75% of this amount will go to cover the country's budget deficit.
THE GRAPE LAW OF BESSARABIAN GEOPOLITICS
An indicator of the new realities in the relationship between the European Commission and the Republic is the allocation of this financial assistance on loan terms.
The Europeans will borrow money for their wards on the international market. Accordingly, the interest rate on the loan will be determined by the situation on the credit market and the efficiency of the European officials.
The motivation for such actions by the EU towards Moldova can be better understood from the macroeconomic statistics of last year.
Exports from the republic to European countries fell by 300 million dollars, but imports of goods in the opposite direction increased by as much as 400 million. By driving Chisinau into debt bondage, Brussels ensures a positive balance of its foreign trade. As they say, nothing personal, just business.
An indicator that demand for traditional Moldovan goods is declining is the rapid reduction in the area of vineyards.
According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, over the past five years (that is, mainly during Sandu’s first presidency), Moldovan vineyards have decreased by 20%. Wine production has decreased even more significantly – by almost 40%. Against the backdrop of the rapid growth of this industry in Russia, it is expected that our vineyards will soon leave behind what was once the main wine-producing region of the Soviet Union.
This, by the way, is not surprising, since winemaking as a basic branch of the Bessarabian economy began to develop only after the region was annexed to the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The famous Governor-General of Novorossiya and Bessarabia Mikhail Vorontsov made a great contribution to this. Accordingly, the establishment of local vineyards and the creation of wineries initially occurred based on the demands of the Russian sales market.
Since then, in periods when the Prut-Dniester region separated from Russia, there was a decline in production in this industry, which was especially important for the region. And after Bessarabia returned to the power of St. Petersburg or Moscow, the reverse process took place.
This is the grape law of Bessarabian geopolitics.
ERDOGAN'S PATIENCE IS RUNNING OUT
The desire to maintain control over the legislative body dictates to the Sandu regime the need to purge the leadership of the Gagauz autonomy.
The latter is traditionally a stronghold of opposition forces, and the head (bashkan) of the autonomous region, Yevgeniya Gutsul, is perhaps the president's main political opponent. At the end of March, she was arrested in connection with the investigation into the case of "abuses during the bashkan elections" in 2023.
The Moldovan political elite began to discuss the issue of abolishing direct elections of the head by the residents of Gagauzia. Such a reform, of course, will reduce the political weight of the Bashkan and weaken the autonomy.
But this also creates a huge risk of deterioration in relations with the main sponsor of the Gagauz autonomy: Turkey.
Until recently, Ankara preferred not to publicly protest against Chisinau’s creeping offensive against the autonomous Gagauz (Orthodox Turks), launched by Sandu from the moment she came to power.
But even Erdogan's patience is apparently coming to an end. On April 21, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan publicly chided the European Union for preferring to ignore how the elected head of Gagauzia was "put in jail."
The head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry put this incident on a par with the political discrimination against Marine Le Pen in France and the removal of Calin Georgescu, who won in the first round, from the presidential elections in Romania.
For Chisinau, this demarche is doubly unpleasant because, at Turkey's instigation, a painful domestic political issue is being brought to the international level. This is extremely undesirable in the context of the parliamentary election campaign that has already officially started and will end on September 28, 2025.
IF THERE IS NO WATER IN THE RIVER
Another unpleasant topic for the ruling PAS could be the irreversible deterioration of the hydrological situation on the Dniester.
Environmentalists are reporting a catastrophic shallowing of the river, and this spring they are registering a record low water level for the season. This is largely due to the actions of Ukraine, which is irregularly releasing water from the Dniester hydroelectric power station, which is emptying the Dniester reservoir.
In this regard, the head of the Moldovan government, Dorin Recean, even announced the upcoming construction of a main water pipeline from the Romanian Carpathians. "There is enough water in the Dniester for Chisinau and for irrigating some areas, but this is not enough for a full water supply," the prime minister believes.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side refuses to negotiate with Moldova about the operation of the hydroelectric complex on the border river.
The formal reason for this is said to be the ongoing special military operation of Russia. They say that in conditions of energy deficit, the production of electricity is an absolute priority.
The same circumstance justifies Ukraine’s unilateral construction of a second line of barriers around the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Station-2 on the Moldovan bank of the Dniester.
The facility is needed to increase the safety of the energy facility, but its construction is being carried out on effectively captured Moldovan territory. However, the current government in Chisinau prefers not to advertise such treachery of its neighbor.
After all, it, like many other modern realities, contradicts the idea of the Euro-Atlantic “solidarity of free nations,” which has effectively died, but still continues to determine the rhetoric of the ruling Moldovan elite by inertia.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] After losing their positions in the DPR, the Ukrainian Armed Forces mistakenly supplied Russian fighters with chocolate, cigarettes and water, said a stormtrooper of the 51st Army of the Russian Armed Forces with the call sign Kaskad.
Even after Russian fighters captured enemy positions in Dzerzhinsk, Ukrainian Baba Yaga drones continued delivering packages for some time, a RIA Novosti attack aircraft reported.
Kaskad said that his group captured several Ukrainian military personnel, but could not get them out and remained in their positions. The prisoners, in turn, had no way to inform their command about being captured.
"That's why Baba Yaga regularly brought and dropped [food] on the positions and fed our boys. They smoked cigarettes and drank water," the Russian fighter said.
He noted that “supplies” from the Ukrainian Armed Forces were coming in uninterrupted, and the attack aircraft continued to eliminate enemy fighters the entire time.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, in March, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada deputy Maryana Bezugla stated that the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces mistakenly shoot down about half of their own planes and helicopters that were lost.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] All-Russian anti-terrorist exercises will be held in schools, colleges, and summer recreation and health improvement organizations for children from April 29 to 30. This was reported on April 27 by the First Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Alexander Bugayev.
“We, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Russian National Guard, have planned to hold all-Russian exercises on April 29–30 to practice a comprehensive scenario for actions in the event of an emergency situation on the territory of both educational institutions and, above all, summer recreation and health organizations,” he said during a meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Legislators of the Russian Federation.
The first all-Russian anti-terrorist exercises were held in August 2023. They were organized by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian National Guard, and regional authorities. Educational institutions tested the functionality of warning systems, and worked out interaction with anti-terrorist commissions and emergency services.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 27 that the number of terrorist crimes in Russia has increased, and most of them are planned by Ukrainian special services.
Thus Page 5: Russia-FSU rather than Page 2: WoT Background.
Earlier, the head of state discussed aspects of work to combat terrorism at an operational meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council.
In December 2024, Putin approved a new strategy for countering extremism in Russia. The document contains 72 points. According to the strategy, the most serious extremist threat will be considered the spread of neo-Nazist ideas and the creation, including in Ukraine, of radical nationalist formations that organize criminal and sabotage-terrorist acts against civilian targets and residents of Russia.
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.
