[Breitbart] Slovakia has delivered the remaining nine of the 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets that it promised to Ukraine, the Slovak Defense Ministry said on Monday.
The ministry said the warplanes were transported overland for security reasons in a “complicated logistics operation.” The first four were flown from Slovakia to Ukraine by Ukrainian pilots on March 23.
“We are doing the right thing,” Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said in a statement.
On March 17, the Slovak government approved a plan to give Ukraine its entire fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 planes, becoming the second NATO member to answer Ukraine’s plea for warplanes to help defend against Russia´s invasion.
Slovakia grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance expertise. Neighboring Poland and the Czech Republic, both NATO members, stepped in to monitor Slovak air space.
Replacements for the MiG-29s are unlikely to arrive for another year. Slovakia previously signed a deal to buy 14 U.S. F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, but delivery was pushed back two years with the first aircraft to arrive in early 2024.
The United States has offered Slovakia 12 new military helicopters as compensation for the fighter jets given to Ukraine. Under the offer, Slovakia would pay $340 million for the Bell AH-1Z attack choppers in a deal worth about $1 billion. U.S. foreign military financing would cover the other $660 million.
Check rides, after the volcano dusting?
[Jpost] The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the objective of the exercises and inspections was to bring the Pacific Fleet to the highest degree of combat readiness.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 22:01 Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have banned the import of Ukrainian grain and some agricultural products from Ukraine. More details in the material Stab in the back .
21:55 The United States will allocate $ 20 million to strengthen control over the use of American aid by Ukraine, said USAID administrator Samantha Power. According to her, the United States wants to help Ukraine increase the transparency of its budget.
21:29 Two former prisoners from Wagner PMC told Russian human rights activists about their crimes in Ukraine. More about this in the material Terrible Confessions of the Wagnerites .
21:23 Russia has switched to a strategic defense operation. Its task now is to hold the occupied territories, with the exception of two districts, Budanov said in an interview with NV. He also noted that the counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is going according to plan, but the details of its implementation will not be disclosed. “In short, it will be amazing and fast,” added the head of the GUR MOU.
20:41 Budanov said in an interview with NV that he knows the name of the Russian who executed the Ukrainian military man from the resonant video: "Who he is, we know ... Somehow it happened that almost all of those who did such things, where do we it was clearly known, they don't exist anymore, so I don't think this person will be an exception." The head of the GUR added that such cases are rare.
20:04 The office of the Prosecutor General announced that it was checking information about the murders of children by mercenaries of PMC Wagner under Article 438 of the Criminal Code - a violation of the laws and customs of war.
19:23 Lavrov claims that Russia is allegedly interested in the "conflict" in Ukraine to end as soon as possible.
19:12 NATO is changing its defense concept after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, writes The New York Times. So, if earlier the alliance allowed the occupation of the territories of member countries until the allied forces came to the rescue, now this will not happen. NATO is moving away from a strategy of deterrence, will increase troops on the eastern border, increase defense spending and set clear guidelines for all members in the event of war.
18:36 Zelensky said in an evening video message that he had held preparatory meetings for the next meeting in the Ramstein format: "We expect solid decisions that will correspond to the prospects on the battlefield. Enough ambitious prospects, which we are bringing closer with all our might. And we are bringing closer not only for ourselves - not only for Ukraine, but for our entire anti-war coalition."
18:17 Representatives of Ukraine and Turkey will discuss the problems that have arisen with the implementation of the grain agreement, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense. At the invitation of Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Improvement, Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov will visit Turkey tomorrow.
17:46 The Russians fired at Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region, one person was injured, the mayor of the city Alexander Sayuk said. Five private houses, four- and five-storey buildings were damaged.
17:12 At least 50 vessels with Ukrainian grain are blocked by Russia in the Black Sea, Borrell said: "The consequences of this war are affecting us all. Russia is once again blocking 50 ships with urgently needed grain in the Black Sea. The EU supports the efforts of the UN and will continue to promote exports through Corridors of solidarity that made it possible to deliver 25 million tons of grain to the world."
In turn, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink accused Russia of trying to stifle the Ukrainian economy and slow down the flow of food instead of complying with the terms of the grain deal.
16:38 During his visit to Iraq, Kuleba met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country Fuad Hussein, thanked him for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, discussed Zelensky's peace formula and the export of Ukrainian grain.
16:07 Kazakhstan and Armenia are probably helping Russia bypass sanctions, Spiegel writes. These countries have significantly increased their imports of goods from Germany and have significantly increased supplies to the Russian Federation. For example, Armenia quadrupled its exports to Russia over the course of two years, to about $2.5 billion. Moreover, the deliveries included not only traditional fruits, nuts and cognac, but also high-tech goods, including machinery and electronic equipment.
Similar dynamics is observed with Kazakhstan. The changes in trade flows are so massive that EBRD analysts are already talking about a Eurasian bypass.
15:53 The G7 countries will keep the price ceiling for Russian oil at $60 per barrel, despite calls from some countries to reduce the price cap, Reuters writes citing a source. According to one of the Western officials, Russian oil is sold at a discount of about $30 against Brent.
15:28 Latvia has banned ten citizens of the Russian Federation from entering the country who are associated with the sentencing of oppositionist Vladimir Kara-Murza, the Foreign Ministry said.
14:55 Two former mercenaries of PMC Wagner from among the prisoners told the human rights project Gulagu.net about the war crimes they committed at the front on the orders of the command. Former prisoner from the Saratov correctional colony No. 13, Azamat Uldarov, and his "colleague" from the Voronezh IK-1, Alexei Savichev, were pardoned by Putin's decree after participating in the war as part of the Wagner PMC. According to them, Prigozhin personally orders executions of the civilian population and approves of the brutality.
So, according to Savichev, after the February exchange of prisoners in the Bakhmut area, when the journalists left, the mercenaries were ordered to ambush and shoot all civilians over 15 years old. Then, from 20 to 24 people were shot, of which about ten people were teenagers. “There is an order to clear the house. Who was there doesn’t matter. If you don’t follow the order, they reset you,” the former mercenary added.
Uldarov, in turn, said that when the Wagnerites entered Soledar and Bakhmut, they killed children: “I followed the order with this hand, killed the children. women, men, pensioners and children, including small five-year-olds. According to the ex-commander of the Wagner unit, he killed not only peaceful Ukrainians, but also liquidated "his own".
In addition to the execution of the civilian population, former mercenaries told about the explosion of a pit with more than 50 wounded prisoners and other terrible stories.
14:42 On April 17, Russia blocked inspections of ships in Turkish territorial waters for the second time in nine months, so the grain initiative was in jeopardy, the Ministry of Infrastructure said. The agency reported that since November 2022, under various pretexts, Russians have been sabotaging and delaying inspections, which has already led to a reduction in exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets by 15-18 million tons.
Since April, Russian representatives of the SKC have been trying to interfere in the activities of Ukrainian ports and exporters, imposing their own criteria for determining specific vessels participating in the Initiative. Thus, the Russian side is trying to establish control over the number of the loaded fleet and the directions of its work, which is another attempt to dictate its policy to the whole world, the ministry stressed.
14:29 Zelensky held a regular meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander. Among other things, the participants of the meeting considered the issue of providing the Defense Forces with weapons and ammunition, in particular, their own production, analyzed the state of fulfillment of contracts with Ukrainian manufacturers and the prospects for increasing the production of all types of missiles and ammunition. In addition, we continued to consider the issue of manning and equipment for the newly created brigades.
14:00 Energoatom preliminary estimated the damage from Russian aggression at 32 billion hryvnia. We are talking about the property and infrastructure of the Zaporozhye NPP and other separate divisions of the state enterprise, damaged or destroyed by the occupiers.
13:57 The SBU exposed a network of six pro-Kremlin Internet agitators, among which was the leading engineer of the aviation security unit of the state-owned enterprise Antonov. The attacker was detained in Kyiv.
13:44 Former US Navy soldier Sarah Beals hosted the Donbass Devushka channel, through which secret Pentagon documents were distributed, writes The Wall Street Journal. It was on her Telegram channel that the first four merged documents of the US Department of Defense first appeared, including an edited document on losses in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Beals herself told the WSJ that she co-administers the channel with 14 other people, but declined to name them. According to her, the post about the data leak was not published by her.
13:38 The Moscow City Court sentenced opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a strict regime colony. He was found guilty under articles on "fakes" about the Russian army, cooperation with an "undesirable" organization and "high treason."
13:16 The city council of Ternopil decided to terminate the right to use the land plot by the diocese of the UOC-MP.
12:49 The Armed Forces of Ukraine are taking part in the largest national exercise of the Swedish Armed Forces Aurora-23 in more than 25 years, which began on April 17. The exercise will be attended by the Land Forces, the Navy, the Air Force and the National Guard of the Swedish Armed Forces, together with international partners. 14 countries and about 26,000 military personnel are taking part in the exercises, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.
12:41 The United States expects the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive on April 30, Newsweek reports, citing secret Pentagon documents. Sources in the intelligence community told the publication that the data on the date of the offensive is based on the interception of telephone conversations and is likely to be true.
According to Newsweek, the total equipment needed for the nine brigades is 253 tanks, 381 mechanized vehicles, 480 motorized vehicles and 147 artillery pieces, as well as 571 armored HMMWVs.
12:33 Russia is probably increasing the production of Lancet-type drones, since in recent months there have been more such UAVs, Yuri Ignat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said. At the same time, he noted that the Ukrainian air defense had learned to counteract these Lancets, shoot down and set traps for them. "They often try to hit our air defense facilities with them - radar stations, launchers. There is still a danger. Therefore, we also need to increase the cover of our air defense, our armored vehicles against drones," Ignat added.
12:09 Head of the Ministry of Digital Development Mikhail Fedorov, in response to the latest rumors about the distribution of subpoenas in Dії, assured that such a service is neither in development nor in plans. Also, the comment appeared in the official telegram channel of Diya: "Our team digitizes public services to make your life easier. Diya is not a service for distributing subpoenas. Sleep well, we are not public services."
11:42 In order to stop the terror of Ukrainian cities from the air with Russian-guided bombs, Ukraine needs more missile defense systems and aviation with air-to-air missiles that can hit targets at distances of more than 100 km, Yermak said. "Destroying their aviation at distant borders will save civilian lives and infrastructure," the head of the President's Office stressed.
11:34 Reznikov apologized for comparing Ukraine's losses in the war with Russia with the death toll in the earthquake in Turkey: "I sincerely apologize to everyone in Ukraine or Turkey who was hurt by my comments in an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Razon. Ukrainians sympathize with Turkish people. We understand what it is like to bury thousands of innocent people, friends and neighbors. I am grateful to our Turkish friends for their unwavering support and strong stance on Crimea since the beginning of the Russian invasion."
11:26 Of the Ukrainian servicemen who returned after Russian captivity, 86% reported direct physical torture, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets said in an interview with the UP. He clarified that this figure coincides with the estimates of the UN international mission, which also confirms the facts of torture.
Lubinets noted that he could not disclose details about the types of torture that Ukrainian servicemen were subjected to, since the voicing of such information by the Ukrainian side leads to an even greater tightening of torture of prisoners of war remaining in the Russian Federation. "We are recording, we are accumulating information, including for the International Criminal Court. We do not name any details," the Ombudsman explained.
11:17 The United States, Britain, Canada, France and Japan have formed an alliance aimed at ousting Russia from the international nuclear energy market. The agreement was reached on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Japan. The five countries agreed that they would use the respective resources and capabilities of each state's civilian nuclear energy sectors to undermine Russian control over supply chains.
11:12 SBU detained the former "chief" of the Kherson railway station, who helped Russia transfer military trains to Ukraine. After the capture of the regional center, a local resident voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the enemy and joined the ranks of the local occupation "administration" of the Russian Federation. The detainee participated in organizing the transportation of military equipment, weapons and ammunition from the territory of the Russian Federation to Kherson, which was captured at that time.
10:53 The United States believes that Russia should pay for the restoration of Ukraine, and are discussing with allies how to get around legal restrictions on the use of frozen Russian assets, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. According to her, the United States has already begun to transfer to Ukraine the capital confiscated from Russian individuals, but so far cannot do this with the frozen state assets.
10:22 Over the past nine months, the Ombudsman's Office has received dozens of videos of probable executions of the Ukrainian military, Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets told the UP: "We do not publish them, of course. But all this accumulates. We open criminal proceedings. This is done by the Office of the Prosecutor General" .
"This is cutting off heads, genitals, ears, noses, limbs, phalanges on the hands, various videos that the Russian military themselves publicly record," he said. According to Lubinets, some of the criminals who carried out the executions were verified, and one of them was killed in a clash with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Ombudsman added that there is no effective mechanism for punishing Russian war criminals yet.
09:51 Slovakia has completed the transfer of all 13 MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, Defense Minister Yaroslav Nagy said.
09:36 The genetic DNA materials of the military, who serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as law enforcement officers, will be digitized and stored in a personal file. The appropriate equipment for the selection, digitization and storage of DNA samples has already been purchased, said the Minister of Reintegration Irina Vereshchuk. "Undoubtedly, during the war, this is very important. The genetic material of all our defenders should be stored in a single database of genetic traits. It is thanks to the availability of genetic samples that the identification process will be simplified. I hope that the relevant authorities will speed up the process of launching this procedure," she said.
09:03 The G7 countries agreed to better respond to the evasion of sanctions and the supply of weapons to Russia, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
08:35 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 17.
personnel - about 182,660 (+590) people liquidated,
tanks - 3660 (+3),
armored combat vehicles - 7087 (+4),
artillery systems - 2804 (+9),
MLRS - 538 (+0),
air defense systems - 285 (+1),
aircraft - 308 (+0),
helicopters - 293 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 2347 (+8),
cruise missiles - 911 (+0),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 5672 (+14),
special equipment - 328 (+2).
08:29 The Russian army continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions, actively using operational-tactical and army aviation. Bakhmut and Marinka remain at the epicenter of hostilities. During the day, the Defense Forces repelled more than 60 enemy attacks, the General Staff said in the morning report .
07:57 Danilov said in an interview with TSN that the Ukrainian side does not yet see signs of weapons made in China on the front. Thus, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council commented on the information of The Washington Post, citing secret Pentagon documents that China allegedly agreed to provide lethal assistance to Russia.
Danilov assured that as soon as the Chinese weapons are noticed, Kyiv will formally address Beijing, as was the case with Iranian drones, and also inform the Ukrainian society and the whole world. "But based on China's global issues, we do not see why it should now supply weapons to the Russian Federation. China's position is neutral - they do not support either side," he added.
05:01 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that the Russian command is reinforcing the PMC Wagner militants with modern means to capture Bakhmut. Analysts note that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation took this step even despite the obvious conflict with Prigozhin's group.
In particular, the mercenaries got modern T-90 tanks. Experts also noted that recently Prigozhin has become less likely to attack the Russian command. At the same time, the Wagner group returned 130 Ukrainian prisoners of war on April 16, which indicates that the PMC could carry out the exchange independently of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
03:19 G7 must prove to Putin that he will not achieve his goals in Ukraine, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock. She stressed that during the meeting in Japan, the G7 representatives will reaffirm and strengthen their commitments to support Ukraine. "Now it's about showing Putin our determination that he will not achieve his goals also because of exhaustion and fatigue," Burbock said.
00:37 Belgorod publics report that UAVs allegedly struck an electrical substation, part of the city was de-energized, rolling blackouts began. The region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported two fires "at civilian facilities."
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:20 In Ukraine, an air alert was announced in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. This is evidenced by data online maps of the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation. 20:37 Video- There is no Nazism in Ukraine, the Kyiv authorities say, but what is this?
19:44 The crews of attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the zone of the NMD -video
19:40 APU equipment sinking in the mud: It is not yet possible to launch a counterattack.
Ukrainian militants are filming a video with military equipment buried in mud The armored personnel carrier sat down so deep that it could not get out.
18:37Ukrainians placed a mortar right in the courtyard of a private house, thereby they are attacking the entire district from the side of the RF Armed Forces -video
Once again we are convinced that the Ukrainian soldiers use civilian buildings as a cover
18:11 Wagners are dismantled dugouts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with precise blows -video
The work of a bunch of UAVs with artillery has long been a feature of this war. In this video, the vigilant eye of the “musicians” discovered the positions of neo-Nazis in a forest plantation. An artillery strike followed immediately.
"The lighter fell clearly into the dugout, an explosion! Eat! Explosion!" - the operator behind the scenes rejoices.
17:58 Ukrainian channel Legitimny writes that the Armed Forces of Ukraine not only hide the losses among their servicemen, but also do it in a completely barbaric way.
Military officials and functionaries of the Office of the President hide the losses in the Bakhmutov meat grinder using their favorite scheme: everyone whose bodies are not found is missing. Bodies are now in 90% of cases not taken out, but left on the battlefield or under a pile of stones and concrete.
17:50 “They shot in front of their daughter with a small child,” refugees from Artyomovsk talk about Nazi atrocities —video
After 80 years, the elderly are again experiencing the Nazi occupation and waiting to be rescued by the Russians. Everyone understands that the missiles are flying from the Ukrainian side. The Nazis kill civilians in order to write off their deeds to Russia.
"America started this war. She wanted to move into our Ukraine. And we don't want America, we want Russia."
16:59 Response strike: 132nd Brigade destroyed "NONU" near Avdievka -video
UAV operators of the 132nd Brigade (formerly the 3rd Brigade of the NM of the DPR) discovered a self-propelled artillery mount 120mm SAU 2S9 "Nona-S" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which fired at the positions of our fighters. The coordinates of the enemy were transferred to the artillerymen of the 132nd Brigade and the enemy installation was destroyed by return fire.
16:58 Psychwar: APU trying to show your combat power before the counteroffensive with the help of 2020 footage
. using old footage
Now the video on the left is flying through Ukrainian channels - it was actually filmed in March 2020. Then he was already ridiculed for his clumsy attempt to demonstrate combat power.
In any case, in all these videos, the picture is standard for any polygon, no huge power is yet visible.
Approximately the same shots are now being filmed by ours at their training grounds, where fighters are also preparing.
16:22 On the Zaporozhye front destroyed command of the Galician Nazis from the 125th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 102nd Brigade named after. Hauptmann Vitovsky
In the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka and Zaliznychnoe, the command posts of the 125th Lviv Terodefense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 102nd Ivano-Frankivsk Terodefense Brigade named after Hauptmann Dmytro Vitovsky were hit.
Dozens of militants from the Nazi command staff received tickets for the Express to Bandera.
The Galicians from the 125th and 102nd Terodefense Brigades act as detachments on the second line of the Zaporizhia Front, forcing the Cossacks to fight, torturing and killing those who disagree.
15:53 In the Zaporozhye region, law enforcement officers of the Russian Federation discovered prohibited ammunition previously supplied from NATO countries for use against the people of Donbass -video
The control of receipt and distribution was supervised by officers of the British army, which, however, did not prevent the Ukrainian military from embezzling and terrorizing the local population. More details in the story.
15:38 Meanwhile, mass graves of soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in full swing in Ukraine -video
The policy of the West “to fight to the last Ukrainian” is being steadily implemented
Unfortunately, the realization of the "stupefaction" of the population by the leadership of Ukraine comes to the Ukrainian resident only with the loss of his loved ones
14:55 Highlights of the the briefing Ministry of Defense of Russia:
- Assault detachments "Wagner" occupied two quarters in the northwestern and central parts of Artemovsk;
- Airborne Forces, aviation and artillery supported the actions of assault units in Artemovsk;
- In the Kupyansk direction, the actions of three Ukrainian DRGs were stopped;
- Russian troops destroyed more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers and a self-propelled gun of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Krasnoliman direction;
- Russian troops destroyed over 55 military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the US-made M777 artillery system in the Kherson direction;
- The RF Armed Forces destroyed the Armed Forces of Ukraine ammunition depot and a hangar with weapons and military equipment in the Zaporozhye region;
- The total losses of the enemy per day in the Donetsk direction amounted to over 270 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries;
- The Russian Armed Forces destroyed about 60 Ukrainian soldiers and the 152mm Msta-B howitzer in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions;
- The Russian Armed Forces hit 95 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in firing positions in a day;
- Air defense systems of the Russian Federation intercepted 3 HIMARS MLRS shells per day, destroyed four UAVs.
14:53 The next cars used by the Ukrainians to transport personnel were destroyed on the road to Artemovsk (Bakhmut) -video
14:33 A powerful bombing strike was carried out on enemy targets at the front -video
According to preliminary data, the footage shows the bank of the Oskol River in the Kupyansky direction
13:48 In Kherson, militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are under the threat of execution robbed local resident's garage
A resident of Kherson turned to the National Police of Ukraine, whose garage was surrounded by five militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 1.5 million hryvnias.
The woman stated that in her absence, the Ukrainians, under the threat of being shot, forced a neighbor to open the garage - from there they took out the Dnepr motor boat and the Honda HBF 40 outboard motor.
It is noteworthy that in early March, Ukrainian militants carried out a raid on boats and recorded their presence. According to them, no confiscation was planned, but apparently they changed their minds.
13:41 Podbytyy on the road to Bakhmut German APC Dingo
Previously burned armored vehicles "Dingo" have already met on the roadsides near Bakhmut.
12:48 The Ukrainian T-64BV tank and the Kozak-2 armored vehicle destroyed in the zone of the NMD -video
12:46 Meanwhile, the Kiev region is slowly sinking into the water -video
In the video, Brovary, a suburb of Kyiv.
Interestingly, the Bandera people are still laughing at the prophecy about the flood that should happen if the schismatics finally capture the Lavra?
11:47 Shots of the assault: "The Brave" destroyed mercenaries and captured the trenches
The assault group of the Central Military District of six people captured the stronghold of the enemy. Opornik found a reconnaissance drone in the forest. The detachment, under the cover of tanks, quietly approached the equipped positions of the militants. Attack aircraft crawled over a minefield for more than 500 meters, and then broke into the trenches - this was a complete surprise for the enemy.
Stormtroopers actively used grenades. Thanks to them, I managed to enter the defensive midfield.
“And there already, in the dugout, on experience. Grenades flew like snow. When our grenades ran out, we went down to them in the trench, saw their F-1 box. We started using them. In terms of shooting, we were not inferior to them in anything, ”said the fighter with the call sign Kisel.
11:46 Destroyed by loitering ammunition "Lancet" combat vehicle 122mm MLRS "Grad" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Bakhmut district
11:41 Police officers in the Chaplynsky District discovered another cache with ammunition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
A kilometer from Chaplynka, police officers found and seized 25 armor-piercing cartridges of 9 mm caliber, an F-1 grenade with a fuse and two fragmentation grenade launchers.
The ammunition posed a danger to the civilian population, so it was decided to destroy them with an overhead charge of TNT.
10:47Ukrainians burning equipment on the road to Bakhmut (Artemovsk) —video
10:46 Chubaty demonstrates the result of the fire impact of artillerymen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation at the location of the Ukronazis -video
09:48 Russian gunners destroyed the Nazis' bulwarks with precise blows -video
The fighters of the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the V group successfully worked out on the enemy stronghold in the Zaporozhye direction.
09:09 "Rookie" T-80BVM destroyed three strongholds of nationalists in the Ugledar direction
Russian fighters, despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, are moving forward in the east of Ugledar. Tankers knock out Ukrainian nationalists who have taken refuge in the forest on the outskirts of the city from their positions and cover motorized riflemen.
This tank is a "rookie". The Ugledar direction is the first one in which it performs combat missions, but the crew is already experienced. They have more than 10 destroyed enemy tanks on their account.
Tankers work mainly at night. Firstly, it is easier to go unnoticed, and secondly, the T-80BVM is equipped with the modern Sosna-U system, which can recognize a target in pitch darkness.
"At night, you can work in forest belts. The enemy is visible and the technique that radiates heat. We work with cumulative shells. High-explosive fragmentation. Now guided missiles. The range is up to five kilometers," the fighter with the call sign "Thunder" explained.
The main goal is to strengthen the nationalists, who are located in the so-called "coal gathering" stations, from where the enemy can see everything in full view.
“In such buildings, the enemy has strongholds and also spotters of their artillery. Work goes on emerging and suddenly emerging goals. This is the military equipment of the enemy. Armored vehicles and manpower,” said the commander of the T-80BVM tank with the call sign “Filin”.
This T-80BVM has been in this direction for a little over a month, but it already has three destroyed strongholds and several knocked out enemy infantry fighting vehicles. Our fighters say that this tank has already become a real headache for the nationalists.
08:20 Russian fighters are conducting a counterbattery fight, striking at nationalists from the installation of the MLRS "Tornado-G" -video
“With the help of our sound reconnaissance units, we determined the coordinates and immediately inflicted a combat defeat on the enemy,” shared a military man with the call sign “Fringe”.
08:18 Pope recently urged us to come to terms with such.
The Nazi comparison of the fires of war with church terms actually smacks strongly of Satanism.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:58 Over the past day Representationreportedabout seven facts of firing by the VFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made five attacks from the MLRS, artillery 155mm and 122mm.
On Gorlovsky two artillery attacks from 122mm artillery. By releasing 35 units of various ammunition.
Under enemy fire were the areas of four settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), the capital city of Donetsk (Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Aleksandrovka, Staromikhaylovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the wounding of two civilians in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk.
Seven residential buildings were damaged in Petrovsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, Staromikhaylovka and Oleksandrivka.
Damage to civil infrastructure facilities was not recorded.
A total of previous artillery attacks were recorded from the VFU side in 24 hours.
22:00 Ukrainian brilliant crews managed at the training ground, to run one Leopard 2 onto another and rid him of the tower. Without arrivals and missiles.
21:57 Video- The arrival of a very powerful bomb (apparently, FAB-1500 with UMPC) on a military target in Orekhov, Zaporozhye region.
21:42 Video- The BBC filmed the Vushnikov cemetery in Dnepropetrovsk.
21:26 Video- The destruction of a Ukrainian heavy boat in the Zaporozhye region by the arrival of Lancet 30 kilometers from the line of contact.
21:14 Video- Battle of the Pskov paratroopers with Vushniks from the first person.
20:58 The Armed Forces of Ukraine failed the counterattack near Artyomovsk due to impassability: on April 12, 20 km north-west of Artyomovsk, between Privolye and Minkovka, a convoy with equipment of the 67th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine came under attack from Russian artillery.
- According to the Military Chronicle, Ukrainian units were ordered to reconnoiter the positions of the Russian Armed Forces northeast of Orekhovo-Vasilevka, but they did not take into account the weather and soil conditions, which caused at least two BMPs to get stuck in the mud.
Three more HMMWV armored vehicles from the convoy stopped on the road, where they were discovered by the operator of the Orlan-30 drone by the characteristic white crosses and tactical stripes on the hull.
After clarifying the coordinates for the accumulation of Ukrainian equipment, the Hyacinth-B guns of 152mm caliber and heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1A Solntsepyok of 220mm caliber worked out.
As a result of the strike, the infantry fighting vehicles of the Ukrainian army stuck in the mud were destroyed, and the infantry was forced to withdraw.
After an artillery strike on the convoy with equipment to evacuate the survivors, units of the 21st motorized rifle battalion of the 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were sent, but the convoy with the equipment of the evacuation group was seen in the fields, after which attack aircraft worked on it. As a result of two strikes, at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers were destroyed, about 30 more were seriously injured and are listed as missing.
20:27 Video- The most common drop on the heads of the airmen from the copter.
20:16 Video- Destruction by employees of Russian 1st Tank Army Ukrainian self-propelled guns in the Kupyansky direction.
19:43 Video- T-80BVM destroyed a Ukrainian observation post in one of the skyscrapers of Ugledar. The houses there are stuffed with artillery spotters, observers, optics and other things.
19:26 Video- The capture of the Ukrainian trenches with the support of artillery in the forest belt near Kremennaya.
18:55 Video- In the Yaroslavl region, the National Guard detained an extremist who called for support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
18:33 Video- T-90S of Stavropol tankers on the front end.
18:12 Video- Exclusive Wagner dismantled the dugouts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with precise blows.
The work of a bunch of UAVs with artillery has long been a feature of this war. In this video, the vigilant eye of Wagner operators discovered the positions of neo-Nazis in a forest plantation. An artillery strike followed immediately.
"The lighter fell clearly into the dugout, an explosion! Eat! Explosion!" - the operator behind the scenes rejoices
17:39 Video- "12 people came out, and we are four"
An employee of PMC "Wagner" told how he and his comrades captured 12 Ukrainians in Artemovsk.
According to him, the Ukrainian Nazis during the retreat abandon their own colleagues, even if they were not wounded. They promise to return for them, "but it's too late." As a result, among the abandoned nationalists, discontent towards their own is growing.
As the fighter said, once he, along with three other employees of the Wagner PMC in Artemovsk, persuaded such abandoned Ukrainian militants to surrender.
"I said to them: 'Brothers, give up, why do you need to die? You have families, children at home.' [There] were 12 people, and we were four. They said they were surrendering, I told them to throw off their weapons and body armor," said an employee of the Wagner PMC.
17:06 Tanker driver junior sergeant Alexander Stolyarov, as part of a car column, performed the combat task of delivering fuel and lubricants to units of Russian troops fighting the Ukrainian Nazis for the settlement.
While moving in a place of limited free maneuver, the convoy was attacked by militants. The lead and trailing machines were immobilized. Alexander, in the conditions of incessant fire, realizing that a projectile hitting a car with fuel would lead to a powerful explosion capable of destroying a large amount of manpower and equipment, took the car out of the artillery attack zone.
Having driven to a safe distance from the convoy, junior sergeant Stolyarov discovered two nationalists who made an attempt to get in a car with fuel and blow it up. Having assessed the situation, Stolyarov destroyed the militants with aimed fire from small arms.
Thanks to the courageous and decisive actions of Alexander Stolyarov, the courage and heroism shown, the tasks set to provide the group with fuel and lubricants were completed in full.
16:41 Video- The interaction of the units of the Central Military District and the 4th Brigade in storming the position (a detailed video of the enemy’s position in the Kremensk direction led to success. A group of six people (most of the mobilized) stormed the position on which there were seven enemy personnel. The assault went without losses of personnel of the RF Armed Forces (one wounded) losses of the enemy seven KIA.
16:29 Video- The head of the NBC Defense Forces, Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, presented state and departmental awards to servicemen who especially distinguished themselves during the NMD.
The awards were presented to servicemen who showed courage, heroism, courage, high professional and personal qualities during a special military operation. Among the awards are the Order of Courage, the insignia of the Order of St. George - the St. George Cross of the IV degree, the medal "For Courage" and the medal of the Russian Ministry of Defense "For Diligence in Performing the Tasks of the NBC Protection".
Some servicemen were awarded with a valuable gift - personalized edged weapons.
Igor Kirillov noted that the Russian servicemen of the NBC protection troops act courageously, steadfastly and worthily fulfill their duty to the Fatherland, and also wished them good health, success and good luck in their difficult service.
16:12 Video– Artillery of the 132nd Donetsk 1st Army Corps brigade destroyed the Ukrainian 1200 mortar Nona-S
15:51 Soledar direction. Situation as of 15.00 April 17, 2023
- Fierce fighting continues in the central part of Bakhmut. Assault detachments of PMC "Wagner" are fighting for control over the railway station, most of the territory of which has been liberated.
“Nevertheless, Ukrainian formations are trying to counterattack and hold back the advance to the western outskirts. A little north of the railway station, the Wagnerites drove the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of the area of the Artemovsky elevator.
- On the northern outskirts, PMC assault detachments have entrenched themselves on one of the sections of Kraynaya Street and are attacking Ukrainian strongholds on Pobedy Street.
Also, Russian units broke through from School No. 3 to the south along Levanevsky Street, approaching the garages in the Poselok area.
- To the north of Bakhmut, where Russian paratroopers hold positions, positional battles are going on. Artillerymen of the RF Armed Forces delivered an accurate blow to the position area of the brigade-artillery group of the 56th Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade in Malinovka and destroyed the firing point.
- To the south of Seversk, the crews of the Stugna anti-tank systems were deployed to the strongholds of Ukraine. At the same time, part of the forces of the 10th Brigade will be transferred to a new position area from April 17 to 23.
- At Belogorovka, after several unsuccessful attacks and retreat to the starting lines, the RF Armed Forces were able to break through the defenses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine south of the village. Now intense clashes are taking place on the southeastern outskirts of the settlement.
At the moment, the assault on Bakhmut continues. There are no signs of a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces, despite the fact that more than 80% of the city has already passed under Russian control.
- In the vicinity of Bakhmut, the forces of the National Guard in the amount of 100 people were deployed, and the arrival of volunteer units from the Sumy region is also expected.
Given the onslaught of the "Wagnerites" in the city center and the approach of assault groups from the north, the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a high degree of probability will withdraw forces to prepared positions on the southwestern outskirts.
- The Tchaikovsky-Korsunsky triangle is an elevation relative to the areas from which Russian units are attacking, which makes it a more convenient frontier for defense.
15:45 A square named after Vladlen Tatarsky appeared in Artemovsk. attended to fighters PMC "Wagner."
15:24 Rare footage of both the impact of the sun and its consequences. In this video it is shown how several combat units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine burned down.
15:00 Summary Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation (04/17/2023)
- In the Kupyansk direction, assault and army aviation strikes, artillery fire from the "Western" group of troops hit the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Dvurechnaya, Timkovka, Tabaevka and Berestovoye of the Kharkiv region.
- Also, in the areas of the settlements of Sinkovka, Kislovka, Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka, Luhansk People's Republic, the actions of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were stopped.
The losses of the enemy per day in this direction amounted to 35 Ukrainian servicemen and the Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.
- In addition, in the area of the settlement of Kupyevakha, Kharkiv region, Ukrainian radar stations for all-round visibility and targeting P-18 and 36D6 were destroyed.
- In the Krasno-Limansky direction, air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems of the group of troops (forces) "Center" hit enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Terny, Grigorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic and Chervonaya Dibrova of the Luhansk People's Republic.
More than 70 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer were destroyed.
- In the Donetsk direction, assault detachments over the past day captured two quarters in the north-west and in the central part of the city of Artemovsk.
- Airborne troops, operational-tactical, army aviation and artillery of the Southern Group of Forces supported the actions of assault units in this area and fettered enemy actions on the flanks.
- Aviation made 22 sorties. The artillery of the "Southern" group of troops completed 54 fire missions.
- As a result of the strikes, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit in the areas of the settlements of Bogdanovka, Chasov Yar and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The total losses of the enemy per day in this direction amounted to over 270 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, seven armored combat vehicles and five vehicles.
- In the South-Donetsk and Zaporizhia directions, strikes by operational-tactical and army aviation, artillery fire of the Vostok group of troops defeated enemy units in the areas of the settlements of Vuhledar, Velyka Novoselka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Zagornoye, Malaya Tokmachka and Kamenskoe Zaporozhye region.
– In the area of the settlement of Novomikhailovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, the activities of the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group were stopped.
During the day, up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickup trucks and one 152mm Msta-B howitzer were destroyed in these areas.
- In addition, in the areas of the settlements of Novodanilovka and Novoandreevka of the Zaporozhye region, an ammunition depot was destroyed, as well as a hangar with weapons and military equipment of the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Kherson direction, over 55 Ukrainian servicemen, three vehicles, a US-made M777 artillery system, as well as 152mm Akatsia and 122mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers were destroyed as a result of fire damage.
- Operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery of groups of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation defeated 95 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, manpower and equipment in 123 districts in a day.
Air defense intercepted three HIMARS rocket launchers.
- In addition, four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Verkhnetoretskoye, Vasilyevka, Krapivnitskoye of the Donetsk People's Republic and Holaya Pristan, Kherson region.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the following have been destroyed: 407 aircraft, 228 helicopters, 3,764 unmanned aerial vehicles, 415 anti-aircraft missile systems, 8,699 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,086 combat vehicles of multiple launch rocket systems, 4,606 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 9,552 units of special military vehicles.
14:32 Statement by the head of the press center of the Center group
- In the Krasno-Limansky direction, artillery units of the "Center" group of forces inflicted fire damage on temporary deployment points, strong points and an ammunition depot of the enemy.
The air defense crew of the Russian group destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- In the Yampolovsky section, a platoon on armored combat vehicles of the 25th Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made attempts to regain lost positions. As a result of fire damage by cannon artillery of the "Center" grouping, the enemy suffered losses and was thrown back to previously occupied positions.
In the Chervonodibrovsky sector, forces and means of reconnaissance revealed the movement of the assault group of the 95th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Army aviation delivered a missile strike, the enemy suffered losses in manpower and equipment.
14:19 Video- A powerful bombing strike was carried out on enemy targets at the front.
According to preliminary data, the footage shows the bank of the Oskol River in the Kupyansky direction
13:55 Compatriots, orlovtsy! We are strong!
The senior gunner of the 108th Guards Airborne Regiment with the call sign "Platon" sends greetings to fellow countrymen from the front -video.
13:28 Video- The defeat of the tower, which usually has surveillance equipment and more, from the T-90M guided weapon system
13:15 Video- Footage of the work of the Russian loitering ammunition.
UAV-kamikaze "Lancet-3" on the right bank of the Kherson region destroyed the M777 howitzer, from which criminals from the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region
12:58 Shots of the assault: "Brave" destroyed the mercenaries and captured the trenches -video.
- The assault group of the Central Military District of six fighters captured the enemy stronghold, he was found in the forest by a reconnaissance drone. The detachment under cover of tanks imperceptibly crept up to the positions. Attack aircraft crawled over a minefield for more than 500 meters, and then broke into the trenches.
- Stormtroopers actively used grenades. Thanks to them, I managed to go into the defensive midfield.
"And there already, in the dugout, on experience. Grenades flew like snow. When our grenades ran out, we went down to them in the trench, saw their F-1 box. We started using them. In terms of shooting, we were not inferior to them in anything, ”says a fighter with the call sign "Kissel."
12:44 Video- Marinka, tank strikes on the Armed Forces of Ukraine and again the arrival of the FPV drone, the car is intact.
12:20 Video— Azovstal in Mariupol
12:04 Video Aviation hits Avdievka
Recently, the work of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Avdeevsky direction has noticeably increased. Aviation strikes more and more often, flying closer and closer to the city, the capture of which is so necessary for Donetsk to finally begin to live at least relatively calmly.
11:47 Video- A report straight from the parts of Artyomovsk liberated by the Wagners.
11:33 Video- Soldiers of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of Russia fall asleep with a hail of APU-shnikov.
11:24 It's just that the slush hasn't ended yet, so the weather still has an impact on the course of hostilities and at the operational level. Yesterday, references to climatic weapons near Artemovsk were amused. Such a “climatic weapon” can be found every spring at this time -video.
11:07 German armored car Dingo destroyed near Artemovsk." In total, Germany transferred 50 such machines to Ukraine.
10:51 Paratroopers are already celebrating the second Easter on the front lines. But in their thoughts they are at home, with their relatives, at the common table. Faith helps to endure all trials, and there are no atheists in the trenches, say the soldiers of the winged infantry.video.
10:44 T-90MS. Work in the Kremensky forest against the enemy. On the way out, he used a "curtain" -video.
10:23 Video- Soldiers of the 132nd Brigade destroyed the enemy vehicle with the help of ATGMs
The calculation of the anti-tank missile system of the 132nd Brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps (formerly the 3rd Brigade of the NM of the DPR) caught an enemy vehicle that delivered ammunition to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The car was destroyed by a well-aimed shot.
10:04 Footage of the exact defeat of the opornik of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Avdeevsky direction -video.
09:53 Report of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the past week on the territory of the Kherson region:
— neutralized the fallen missiles;
— uncovered several caches of ammunition;
— seized 1.7 kg of vegetable matter and about two tons of illegal alcohol.
09:44 Kherson direction:
1. The Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region; yesterday, during the day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine released Aleshki 14 rounds from cannon artillery.
According to the settlement Novaya Zburyevka, eight rounds were fired from cannon artillery.
At the settlement of Staraya Zburyevka, nine rounds were fired from cannon artillery.
According to n.p. Peschanovka fired seven rounds from cannon artillery.
In the village of Krynki, they fired eight rounds from cannon artillery.
In the village of Rybalche, they fired six rounds from cannon artillery.
Eight rounds from cannon artillery were fired at the settlement of Golaya Pristan.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified. During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement. New Kakhovka, settlement Kakhovka, settlement Gornostaevka, settlement Vasilievka, firing a total of 42 rounds from cannon artillery. Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
2. At night, artillery fire in the area of the settlement Novodmitrievka was destroyed by MLRS 122mm BM-21 with ammunition loss of three dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
3. Yesterday artillery fire in the area of ??Romashkovo settlement destroyed a 120mm mortar with ammunition and the calculation of the loss of three dead soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, four were injured of varying severity.
09:04 Official summary of Representative offices of the DPR in the JCCC from 00:00 04/16/2023 to 00:00 04/17/2023
Over the past day, the Representation reported 15 facts of firing by the AFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 14 attacks from the MLRS, artillery 155mm and 152mm.
On Gorlovsky one artillery attack from 155mm artillery.
By releasing 80 units of various ammunition.
Under enemy fire were areas of four settlements of the Republic: Gorlovka, the capital city of Donetsk (Voroshilovsky, Kievsky, Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeevka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Yelenovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the death of a civilian - a woman, in the Voroshilovsky district of Donetsk.
Wounds of varying severity were received by seven civilians in the Voroshilovsky district of Donetsk.
A total of 14 residential buildings were damaged in Petrovsky, Kuibyshevsky and Voroshilovsky districts of Donetsk, Yelenovka, as well as eight civilian infrastructure facilities.
In the previous day, 34 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU.
09:03 Kyiv regime continues terror of the civilian infrastructure of the left bank of the Kherson region - emergency services
Yesterday, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired 60 rounds from cannon artillery at the settlements: Alyoshki, Novaya Zburyevka, Staraya Zburyevka, Peschanovka, Krynki, Rybalche and Golaya Pristan.
The artillery attack did not stop at night - the Ukronazis fired 42 rounds from cannon artillery at Novaya Kakhovka and Kakhovka, Gornostaevka, Vasilyevka.
08:27 Cleansing of Bakhmut: reportage of their hottest spot in Donbass -video
"Quarter after quarter, we clean up so that nothing remains in a day. At night, a woman came to us and said that hostages were sitting through the entrance. In the morning we tried to rescue them, but the Ukrainian soldiers shot two of the hostages. But we saved 4,"said the Wagner PMC fighter to iz.ru military enlisted officer Dmitry Astrakhan.
08:05 Frontline summary on the morning of 17.04.2023
In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian artillery shelled Orekhov, Novodanilovka, Malaya Tokmachka, Charovnoye, Gulyaipol, Malinovka and Olgovskoe. An uneasy lull continues on earth. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are regrouping.
On the Donetsk front, Russian units, with the support of artillery and aviation, continued assault operations in the city of Maryinka. No success. An attempt to advance in the Severny area was also unsuccessful.
After massive artillery and air strikes, Russian troops attacked Avdievka from the south of Opytny and the east from Krutaya Balka. The Armed Forces held their positions. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation shelled Novomikhailovka, Pobeda, Georgievka, Karlovka, Pervomaisky, Berdychi, Stepnoy, Keramik and New York. The Ukrainian army struck at Donetsk and Gorlovka.
PMC "Wagner" with the support of artillery and aviation continues assault operations in the southern, western and northern parts of Bakhmut. Insignificant progress only on the last of the named sites.
The ground attack of the Wagner operators in the direction of Khromovoye did not bring them a positive result. Russian artillery hit Dyleevka, Konstantinovka, Stupochki, Ivanovsky, Chasov Yar, Grigorovka, Novomarkovo, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Minkovka, Vasyukovka and Disputed. The Armed Forces of Ukraine continued strikes on the positions of the Wagner PMC in Bakhmut.
In the Luhansk direction, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with the support of artillery, again tried to attack near Belogorovka. This time without success. Similar actions in the area of Torskoy, Ternov and Nevsky - with the same result. Head-on battles in the Kolomyychikha area. Russian artillery struck at Stelmahovka, Berestovoye, Dvurechnaya and Novomlynsk.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] So far, only 40 bodies of representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces and NATO officers have been recovered from a bunker in the Lviv region of Ukraine after being hit by a Russian hypersonic missile "Dagger". This was stated by military observer Viktor Baranets in an article published by Komsomolskaya Pravda.
He noted that the shelter belonged to the reserve command post of the former Carpathian military district. About 200 officers and generals
...a plurality of generals? Is that usual?
died in the bunker, about 160 bodies still remain there. None of those in hiding survived.
According to a military observer, the bunker was invulnerable to conventional missiles, but the Kinzhal flying towards it could not shoot down air defense systems due to the enormous speed that the missile develops. In addition, the hypersonic projectile hits the target very accurately.
"The secret underground point instilled a sense of security in the "consultants." In fact, it was a joint command and control headquarters, it was very tightly covered by air defense systems, which further added to its "inhabitants" confidence in their safety. Moreover, under a multi-meter reinforced concrete cap, they considered themselves completely invulnerable," said Baranets.
He believes that this caused the officers to lose their vigilance: dozens of cars gathered at the entrance to the headquarters, and this allowed Russian intelligence to find him.
As REGNUM reported , the bunker was located at a depth of 120 meters. It was destroyed on March 9 after a diversion in the Bryansk region. The media noted that the consequences of the attack were a disaster for NATO forces in Ukraine.
After that, The New York Times noted that Russia has the ability to resupply its Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles with relative ease, “even though more missiles than usual were deployed in the March 9 attack.” According to the publication, air defense systems are not able to track these missiles because Russia originally developed the "Dagger" to overcome American missile defense systems. The projectile reaches speeds of Mach 10 (ten times the speed of sound) and beyond.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] Troopers will land in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from two US departments in charge of anti-Russian sanctions - the US Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Commerce. Officials are bringing "an offer you can’t refuse," blackmail by depriving them of access to "the most important markets" if Russia’s neighbors do not stop parallel imports of sanctioned goods.
The US Treasury almost simultaneously sends troops of officials to two post-Soviet countries that are (like Russia) members of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CSTO defense bloc. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Rosenberg, along with a group of officials from the US Department of Commerce, will visit Kazakhstan's Astana and Alma-Ata and the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek April 23-28. The United States Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce, we recall, are the departments that are responsible for imposing and enforcing sanctions.
If Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's February visit to Kazakhstan and Central Asia began with compliments to local leaders, now for the post-Soviet countries (which Washington suspects of conniving at parallel imports of sanctioned goods), the United States clearly has in store not a carrot, but a stick. The press service of the US Treasury announced the purpose of the visit of Rosenberg and her colleagues directly and unambiguously:
"U.S. Treasury Offers Clear Business Decision: Stay Involved in the Global Economy or Provide Material Support to the Russian War and Lose Access to the World's Most Important Markets."
It is reported that representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, together with colleagues from the EU and the UK, will hold a series of meetings with politicians and entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where, obviously, they will bring to the attention of Astana and Bishkek the threat to "deny access.”"
The threat of punishment voiced by US officials for maintaining parallel imports is quite serious, Mars Sariev, a Kyrgyz political scientist and public figure , told REGNUM . He recalled that Kyrgyzstan is cooperating with the International Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank (headquartered in Saudi Arabia) and other financial institutions that are somehow controlled by the United States.
"The task of the United States is to block the channels of access of sanctioned goods to Russia. As you know, now this flow goes through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," said Sariev.
Road transportation from Kazakhstan to Russia has tripled (and in a number of categories - 13 times), from Kyrgyzstan to Russia - doubled, Kommersant reported on April 17, citing data from the ATI freight exchange. SU.
The total volume of parallel imports (mainly through Kazakhstan, the countries of Central Asia and Belarus), according to the Federal Customs Service, by the end of last year had grown to 2.4 million tons of goods for a total of $20 billion. The intensity of the flow is such that in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan there is a shortage of warehouse space and infrastructure, the same Kommersant noted .
Russia's ally Belarus, due to obvious political reasons, is unlikely to become an object of “processing” by delegations of Washington officials, but Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are more accessible targets.
"The task of the Americans is that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan distance themselves from Russia. They are worried about the spike between Russia and China, and Central Asia is in the middle between these powers, points out Mars Sariev. — I think that even the recent events in Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan are not accidental either. The authorities of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are concerned because the US has a powerful financial leverage, but now is the time for these countries to decide and make a choice."
Countries that make money on parallel imports, in fear of secondary sanctions from the United States, are already tightening requirements for the transit of goods through their territories - Kazakhstan is an example of this. And, even experiencing problems with warehouse space, many businessmen are in no hurry to expand them, assuming that re-exports may stop.
Kyrgyzstan will be forced to comply with the conditions of the West, but it is not easy to control all sectors of the economy, Sariev notes in this regard. A large smuggling flow passes through the republic, and although the ban will be officially announced, it will be impossible to fully track the process, a Bishkek political scientist predicts.
“The flow of counterfeit goods came from China and will continue to come. Kyrgyzstan will announce the blocking of channels, but in reality, "gray traffic" will remain,” Sariev believes.
In their rhetoric addressed to Russia's Asian neighbors, the Americans are very actively speculating on the topic of secondary sanctions, but in practice there are practically no punishments, Stanislav Pritchin, a senior researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies at IMEMO RAS, told REGNUM . “The exception is the Kazakhstani branch of Sberbank, but Astana insisted that Sberbank sell its branch, after which the sanctions were lifted,” the source said.
"Now the Americans are trying to cut off opportunities to circumvent sanctions. Kazakhstan is doing better with integration into world markets, and with financial institutions, and it has a greater level of dependence on the West," the expert said." In Kyrgyzstan, this level is lower. For the most part, this applies to small volumes, such as transactions with Western countries. The banking system is not as highly integrated, but the SWIFT system is still used to exchange banking information. Trade with Western Europe is more limited than with Russia."
Both the financial structures and the authorities of the Central Asian states are blowing water and trying to avoid even the theoretical possibility of evading sanctions, Pritchin notes. At the same time, he stressed, if the requirements of the United States, which they put forward to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on parallel imports and cooperation with Russia, are met, this will hit the economies of the two post-Soviet countries in a colossal way.
“Nothing is offered in exchange. The Americans are trying to probe where and to what extent it is possible to reduce the financial cooperation of the Central Asian states with Russia, ” Pritchin stated.
On the one hand, given the transparency of transactions in the world and the fact that all dollar transactions are controlled by the United States, there is a risk of tracking all transactions and imposing secondary sanctions, the expert noted.
But on the other hand, if a blow is dealt to Kazakhstan's raw material export industries, counterparties and consumers in the West itself will suffer, Pritchin points out.
This applies, for example, to oil production. Kazakhstani oil, we note, also goes to the West, mainly through the pipes of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to the terminal in Novorossiysk, and CPC shareholders include the American Chevron and the Italian Eni. And, for example, the French Tolal, the British-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell and the American Exxon Mobil are involved in the project to develop Kashagan, the largest oil and gas field on the Kazakh shelf of the Caspian Sea. "Western companies are engaged in mining, and the main consumers are Western countries," Pritchin said.
"The same story for metallurgy: the plant in Temirtau is integrated into the world chains and supplies products of primary metal processing. Production chains will suffer," the expert added. The mining company and the largest steel plant in the republic in Temirtau (Karaganda region), we recall, belong to the transnational company ArselorMittal with its head office in Luxembourg.
Kyrgyzstan, which in 2021-2022 nationalized its largest gold mine Kumtor (formerly owned by the Canadian company Centerra), against this background, looks less dependent on Western capital.
"There is a constant game going on between the West and our Asian neighbors, and it is not entirely clear whether secondary sanctions can cause damage to the countries of the region in the same way as stopping cooperation with Russia," Pritchin continues. “There is a complex game being played, and the Americans are trying to exaggerate the threat, and the countries of Central Asia are trying to prevent sanctions," he added. The threat of political and economic pressure from American officials is quite real, but it is unlikely that Washington will go too far, which as a result will pinch its own finger, experts conclude.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] The RAF reported the interception and escort of three Russian military aircraft
The British and German air forces intercepted and escorted three Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on Friday, April 14, information about it was posted on the UK Air Force portal on April 17.
The statement said British and German Typhoons escorted the Il-20 and two Su-27s "through the Estonian flight information region before handing over to the Swedish Air Force's Saab Gripen fighters." At the same time, it is specified that this is a standard case, since Russian military aircraft fly over the Baltic Sea regularly. The professional and safe actions of the IL-20 crew are also noted.
As the Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly pointed out, military aircraft fly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters and do not allow violations of these rules.
Earlier it was reported that two air targets flying in the direction of the state border of the Russian Federation were spotted over the Baltic Sea on March 20. These targets were classified as two US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers. In order to prevent the violation of the state border of Russia, a Su-35 fighter from the air defense forces of the Western Military District was taken into the air.
In April 2023, the Russian Su-27 fighter was raised to escort the German Orion reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. Artemovsk.
The assault on the western part of the city continues. The most successful promotion is in the north-west of the city. The enemy consistently loses at least 2 city blocks per day. For the fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, FABs began to be used. The weather still makes it difficult for the enemy to counterattack. The flanks of the "Wagner" in Artemovsk are reinforced by units of the Airborne Forces.
Part of the Artyomovskaya grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city is still in the operational environment.
The RF Armed Forces continue to deliver concentrated strikes against targets in the Slavyansko-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
2. Avdiivka.
There are no significant changes south of the city. As before, fighting continues to the north of Vodyanoye and in Pervomaisky, near Nevelskoye.
Fighting continues north of the city near Stepovoe and west of Krasnogorovka. The RF Armed Forces are improving their positions north of Krasnogorovka, but there is no talk of moving towards Keramik yet.
3. Ugledar.
The enemy tried to probe the line of defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, but did not achieve significant results, having suffered tangible losses. The front line has stabilized here since the March fighting, but there is potential for more fighting once the ground dries up.
Novomikhailovka and Pobeda have no changes.
4. Zaporozhye.
There are no significant changes.
The enemy shells Pologi and Vasilievka. The RF Armed Forces are shelling Orekhov and Gulyaipole, as well as enemy forces on the right bank.
There is an accumulation of enemy forces in the area of Zaporozhye, Orekhov and Gulyaipol. The RF Armed Forces are strengthening defensive positions.
5. Seversk.
There are no significant changes on the front line.
Fighting continues near Vasyukovka, Razdolovka, Veseloe, Controversial, Belogorovka.
There is an accumulation of enemy forces on the Seversky ledge in the interests of organizing an auxiliary counterattack to alleviate the situation of the Artemovskaya grouping.
6. Svatovo.
The RF Armed Forces continued their assault operations near Makeevka and in the direction of Nevsky. Fighting continued in the forest area west of Krasnopopovka and west of Kremennaya.
The Russian Armed Forces have occupied several strongholds of the enemy in recent days, but the changes are mainly tactical in nature. The transfer of enemy reserves through Kharkov, Chuguev and Izyum to the Krasnolimanskoe and Svatovskoye directions is noted.
7. Kupyansk.
The front has stabilized here. Fights are going on at Dvurechnaya and Sinkovka. There is no serious progress towards Kupyansk yet.
The enemy continues to prepare the city for defense. There is a transfer of reinforcements from Chuguev.
Shelling of border settlements in the Belgorod region also continues. The RF Armed Forces are attacking military targets in the Kharkov region and in the Kupyansk region.
In addition, Alexei Navalny is believed to be slowly poisoned in prison. Same for Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.
[CNN] Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian human rights advocate and Kremlin critic, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after publicly condemning Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Kara-Murza was initially detained one year ago, hours after an interview with CNN in which he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "regime of murderers."
He was on trial for criminal offenses that included treason, spreading fake news about the Russian army, and facilitating activities of an undesirable organization. Russia criminalized criticism of the military following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. The court said he would serve his sentence "in a strict regime correctional colony."
"Based on the results of the trial, for Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara-Murza, by partial addition of sentences, to be sentenced to a final sentence of imprisonment for a term of 25 years to be served in a strict regime correctional colony. The verdict of the Moscow City Court has not yet entered into force," a statement from the court read.
[ColonelCassad] Liberals are confused. How so, our accomplice was given 25 years in prison, and maniacs and pedophiles are given less. How so? For what?
Silly people do not understand that from the point of view of the state and society, this public now looks worse than maniacs and pedophiles.
Because maniacs and pedophiles are sick people who commit criminal offenses, and people like Kara-Murza are enemies who deliberately conduct their activities aimed at the destruction of society and the state, as well as openly collaborating with enemy countries and the Nazi regime in Ukraine.
And in this in terms of they represent a greater danger (especially in a war, where the enemy aims to destroy Russia within its current borders) than ordinary maniacs and pedophiles (which does not negate the need to lift the moratorium on the death penalty for maniacs and serial pedophiles).
And a quarter, this is not even a hint, but a signal that the time for half-measures and sentimentality is over. Now already. Looking back at this case, other representatives of the open fifth column, who are not yet in prison and have not dumped abroad for some reason, may also receive long sentences. I am sure that this is not the only "chetertak" that we will see. Both internal and external.
PS. To the heap. Speech Kara-Murza in Arizona calling for the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Under Stalin, this is immediately the 58th and at an expense.
PS2. The British passport of Kara-Murza does not work in Russia at all - the Russian Federation does not have agreements with Britain on the recognition of dual citizenship. So the Russian Federation is unlikely to be disturbed by the hysteria in London.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova , said that the publicist Vladimir Kara-Murza had no luck with the defenders. The Russian diplomat published such a statement in her Telegram channel.
"With such friends, there is no need for enemies," Zakharova wrote.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that if anyone had any doubts, the Anglo-Saxon, as they used to be called, women completely dispelled them. So, according to Zakharova, if the ambassadors of the United States and Britain have mastered the steps of the Moscow City Court, then they should refresh their memories of the steps of the Russian Foreign Ministry so that they remember what diplomats should do and what not.
As REGNUM reported, a criminal case of high treason against Kara-Murza was initiated in October 2022. On April 17, the Moscow City Court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a strict regime colony. The journalist is accused of treason and spreading fake news about the Russian army.
The court also imposed a fine of 400,000 rubles on the publicist and banned him from journalism for a period of seven years. Hearings are held behind closed doors. Kara-Murza pleaded not guilty. His lawyers asked the court for a full acquittal. The defense side intends to appeal against the sentence handed down to the publicist.
On April 17 , 40 diplomats from 25 countries arrived at the Moscow City Court for the announcement of the verdict , including diplomats from the United States, Great Britain , Canada, EU countries, as well as from Australia and New Zealand.
Posted by: Helmuth, Speaking for Sholugum4538 ||
04/18/2023 00:00 ||
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[NYT] Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the costliest conflict in Europe since World War II, has propelled the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into a full-throttled effort to make itself again into the capable, war-fighting alliance it had been during the Cold War. Vlad Putin, Sooper Genius
The shift is transformative for an alliance characterized for decades by hibernation and self-doubt. After the recent embrace of long-neutral Finland by the alliance, it also amounts to another significant unintended consequence for Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, of his war.
NATO is rapidly moving from what the military calls deterrence by retaliation to deterrence by denial. In the past, the theory was that if the Russians invaded, member states would try to hold on until allied forces, mainly American and based at home, could come to their aid and retaliate against the Russians to try to push them back.
But after the Russian atrocities in areas it occupied in Ukraine, from Bucha and Irpin to Mariupol and Kherson, frontier states like Poland and the Baltic countries no longer want to risk any period of Russian occupation. They note that in the first days of the Ukrainian invasion, Russian troops took land larger than some Baltic nations.
To prevent that, to deter by denial, means a revolution in practical terms: more troops based permanently along the Russian border, more integration of American and allied war plans, more military spending and more detailed requirements for allies to have specific kinds of forces and equipment to fight, if necessary, in pre-assigned places.
Mr. Putin has long complained about NATO encirclement and encroachment. But his invasion of Ukraine provoked the alliance to shed remaining inhibitions about increased numbers of Western troops all along NATO’s border with Russia.
The intention is to make NATO’s forces not only more robust and more capable but also more visible to Russia, a key element of deterrence.
"The debate is no longer about how much is too much," for fear of upsetting Moscow, "but how much is enough," said Camille Grand, until recently NATO’s assistant secretary general for defense investment, and now with the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Posted by: Helmuth, Speaking for Sholugum4538 ||
04/18/2023 00:00 ||
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#1
shed remaining inhibitions about increased numbers of Western American troops all along NATO’s border
#2
Years to develop. Many including USA troops in Ukraine. Going broke doing so. Unintended consequences beyond their comprehension. Zombie drudged troops. When reality has no meaning. Elites will just continue to bleed off the monies.
#5
The NYT is still telling us the Russians are losing. Sad state of affairs our journalism in this country is.
Posted by: Bill Greans6336 ||
04/18/2023 7:33 Comments ||
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#6
Forward defense was also the strategy adopted by NATO in the late 1970's. The German's didn't appreciate being occupied by the Soviets before NATO got its act together. Today Poland and the Baltics feel the same about the Russians.
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
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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.
