[Radio Free Europe] A new bill signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin that allows authorities to issue electronic notices to draftees and reservists is sparking fears of a new wave of mobilization for Moscow's war in Ukraine and prompting fresh conversations among Russians about leaving the country.
When the Kremlin announced a partial mobilization of reservists in September as part of a drive to call up some 300,000 new personnel to fight in Ukraine, the decision led to a mass exodus of military-age Russian men and their families. Hundreds of thousands of Russians left to neighboring countries and other locations that had few entry requirements and allowed them to live and work for extended periods of time in order to avoid the draft.
But as anxiety over another mobilization wave looms more than seven months later, Russians looking to avoid getting caught up in the war in Ukraine are facing a more difficult path ahead, including policies that could make it harder to leave the country and visa changes in many destinations that will limit Russians' ability to stay abroad for longer periods.
"The universal advice is to leave as soon as possible," Ivan Pavlov, head of the human rights group First Department, told Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, adding that the new law could give military planners a mechanism for quickly beefing up their ranks in preparation for a new Ukrainian attack.
The new April 14 law modifies Russia's military service rules that previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Now, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will also be sent electronically and be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services, known as Gosuslugi. The law will also set up an electronic registry of all people required to serve and collect their personal data while creating a public list of all those who have been summoned for military service.
Unlike in September, however, fleeing abroad is not as straightforward of a process as before, with the list of possible countries to receive Russian citizens shrinking.
Popular destinations like Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Argentina have changed their laws and made it more difficult to establish residency and cut down the period that Russians can remain without a visa. Elsewhere, many European Union countries close to Russia -- such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland -- have also restricted issuing visas and entry to its citizens.
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[Radio Free Europe] The Moscow City Court has rejected an appeal filed by lawyers for jailed opposition politician Ilya Yashin against an 8 1/2-year prison sentence handed to him in December on a charge of spreading false information about the Russian military amid the invasion of Ukraine.
Yashin took part in the April 19 hearing by video link from a detention center in Moscow after the court rejected his request to be physically present for the session.
"I fully understand that the only way for me to get my sentence mitigated is to repent, beg for mercy, call black as white, and also to testify against one of my friends. That will never happen," a defiant Yashin said in a statement to the court, adding that his conscience was "clean," and that he calmly accepted his fate.
Yashin, 39, is an outspoken Kremlin critic and one of the few prominent opposition politicians who stayed in Russia after a wave of repression against supporters of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and those who have spoken against Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine since it was launched in February 2022.
The sentence was the harshest handed down in cases of those charged with discrediting Russia's armed forces since a new law was introduced days after the invasion commenced.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] The Russians are advancing in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiiv, and Marin directions.
by Iryna Gamalii
Over the past day, the enemy launched 4 rocket and 60 air strikes, carried out 58 attacks from multiple rocket systems, and civilians were also injured. The probability of further missile and air strikes throughout the territory of Ukraine remains high.
This was reported in the morning summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The main efforts of the enemy are concentrated on conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiiv and Marin directions. Over the past 24 hours, more than 60 enemy attacks have been repelled by units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine on the specified areas of the front. The fiercest battles are fought for Bakhmut and Maryinka.
On the Volyn, Poliske, Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. During the past 24 hours, the enemy shelled the settlements of Gremyach, Chernihiv region, Velyka Berizka, Korenyok, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, and Richki, Sumy region, as well as Veterinarne, Kozacha Lopan, Hlyboke, Vovchansk, Bochkove, Okhrimivka, and Nesterne in Kharkiv region.
Kamianka, Ridkodub, Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna and Zapadne of the Kharkiv region were subjected to enemy shelling in the direction of Kupyansk.
In the Lymansky direction, the enemy tried to improve the tactical position, conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near the settlement of Dibrova. Stelmakhivka, Nevske, Hryhorivka, Belogorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Ivanivka, Torske and Spirne in Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to conduct offensive actions. Heavy fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut. At the same time, our defenders repelled an enemy offensive in the direction of Stupochki. Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanovske, Stupochki, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Toretsk and New York of the Donetsk region were affected by enemy shelling.
In the Avdiivsk direction, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of Stepove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske settlements. He shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiyivka, Tonenke, Netaylove and Pervomayske in the Donetsk region.
In the Marinka direction, our defenders repelled numerous enemy attacks in the area of the Marinka settlement of the Donetsk region. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Pobyeda and Novomykhailivka came under enemy fire.
On the Shakhtarsky direction, during the past day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of Prechistivka. He shelled the settlements of Vugledar, Prechistivka, Novoukrainka and Velika Novosilka of the Donetsk region.
The enemy continues to conduct defensive operations in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions . At the same time, during the day, he shelled the settlements near the line of combat. Among them are Novopil of Donetsk region; Olhivske, Malynyvka, Chervone, Gulyaipole, Charivne, Orihiv, Stepove and Plavni of the Zaporizhzhia region; Antonivka of the Kherson region and the city of Kherson. There are casualties among the civilian population.
In the temporarily captured territory of the Kherson region, the Russian invaders continue to mine the area, building up defense capabilities. The water areas of the Konka and Dnipro rivers are also affected. There are cases of local residents being blown up by enemy mines when trying to get out into the water.
Over the past day, the aviation of the Defense Forces made 11 strikes on personnel concentration areas and 2 strikes on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, 2 enemy reconnaissance UAVs ("Orlan-10" and "Supercam") were shot down, as well as 8 attack ones (7 - type "Shahed-136" and 1 - "Lancet").
Units of missile troops and artillery struck 3 areas of concentration of manpower, a radio-electronic warfare station and another important military object of the enemy.
We will remind you that more than seven thousand military personnel are currently considered missing in Ukraine .
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] 21:22 Danilov is convinced that it was not Putin who traveled to the occupied territories of the Kherson and Lugansk regions, but one of his doubles: "There was no Putin there. This is an absolutely well-known thing. In order to communicate with the real Putin, you must 14 days to spend in quarantine. There was no Putin there. There was an ordinary double, of which he has more than one - this is already a well-known thing."
According to Danilov, Putin is "a frightened person" and it is simply impossible to think that he can come in this way. The NSDC secretary recalled how foreign guests are seated at a table at a great distance from the Russian president, and before Putin's trips, the preparatory process starts 2-3 weeks in advance, and "there have been no impromptu for a long time."
21:16 The Russians have learned to block the Elon Musk system, but the Ukrainian military has figured out how to deal with it. Read more in the material Secret weapon .
20:50 Before the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia called its army the second in the world. Now this expression has become a meme. Western officials are convinced that the Russian military has "significantly degraded" during the war against Ukraine. Read more in the material Rollback for 50 years .
20:41 The Pentagon announced the provision of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine for 325 million dollars. It will include, in particular, additional ammunition for HIMARS; artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber; heavy anti-tank guided missiles (TOW); complexes of anti-tank weapons AT-4; anti-tank mines; more than 9 million cartridges for small arms; precision-guided aviation munitions; spare parts and other field equipment.
19:56 Reznikov confirmed that Ukraine received a second IRIS-T installation from Germany.
19:45 NATO countries will be able to think about accepting Ukraine into the alliance, but only after the end of the war, Czech President Petr Pavel said after talks in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
19:36 The United States will announce a new package of military assistance to Ukraine today, said White House Speaker Karine Jean-Pierre.
19:18 Ukraine called on Shell's management to transfer to it more than $1 billion from a possible sale of its assets in Russia, Politico writes, citing a letter from Zelensky's adviser Oleg Ustenko to CEO Vael Savan. Ustenko urged Shell to share with Ukraine any profits from a potential Russian buyout of a British firm's stake in a Siberian fossil fuel operation: "If this sale is completed, it would mean transferring more than $1 billion in cash in Russia to Shell's accounts. That would be blood money in its purest form."
19:03 Russia is going to allegedly send more than 26,000 children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to rest, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova said: “We are talking about 631 camps based on educational organizations with daytime stay for children. This will be able to attract 20,000 children to rest. And another 6,000 children from new regions will have a rest in other subjects of the Russian Federation, including the Black Sea."
18:34 The US Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions against an international network of companies and individuals who helped Iran obtain electronics and equipment for the production of combat drones.
18:26 In Skadovsk, Kherson region, the Russians are forcing all collaborators and those who cooperate with them to sign an obligation not to leave the area. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in this way the invaders use the civilian population to cover themselves with a "human shield".
17:44 The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is ready to resume work in Ukraine two weeks after the end of the war, as soon as flights to the country become safe, CEO Michael O'Leary said. He also said that the airline plans to create 30 routes and set up several bases in Ukraine within 12 months of its return.
17:03 Russia is concentrating the largest number of its forces in Bakhmut and is striving to completely take the city under its control, however, the Defense Forces are holding back enemy pressure in dynamic battles, inflicting significant losses on him, said Alexander Syrsky, commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
16:46 The project of the National War Memorial Cemetery involves the placement of 50,000 graves, excluding columbarium, said Maxim Kushnir, director of the Department of Civil Identity and Veteran Development of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. According to him, the ministry reviewed about ten possible sites for cemeteries and settled on the Bykivnyansky graves. The main reference point for the project will be the cemetery in Stockholm, since "it is there that about 40,000 burials fall on the pine forest zone," he added.
16:17 In the village of Tetkino, Kursk region of the Russian Federation, a sugar factory was attacked by drones at night, according to the Russian telegram channel Mash. According to him, the drones, which allegedly flew from the territory of Ukraine, dropped at least ten shells on the territory of the enterprise, nine of them exploded.
15:53 British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is confident in the success of the UAF counter-offensive, but warns that the war will not end quickly: "I am optimistic that between this and next years, I think that Ukraine will maintain momentum and a position of strength. I also believe that we have to be realistic. There won't be one magical moment when Russia falls apart."
15:20 Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems from the United States, the Netherlands and Germany arrived in Ukraine, First Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavlyuk said.
14:58 Zelensky is on a working visit to Volyn, visited border guards on the border of Ukraine with Belarus and Poland.
14:45 Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said that the counteroffensive should not be reduced to some kind of active offensive actions and specific dates. According to her, this is a set of measures, and counter-offensive actions are already underway in the east. "To speak narrowly about the counter-offensive is incorrect. This is a huge range of actions and activities carried out by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is, first of all, preparing people for a set of actions - both defensive and offensive. But all together, if we are talking about our strategic goal, it can be called counter-offensive measures," she explained.
Malyar stressed that decisions are made in a very short time, and not in a month or two. The plan is finally chosen so that the enemy cannot react. "You must understand that today the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not preparing one thing in any particular direction, but every day they are preparing for the complete liberation of our territories," she added.
The Deputy Minister of Defense noted that active assault operations in Bakhmut, Marinka on the Avdeevsky and Limansky directions of the front can also be considered an element of the counteroffensive: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine and various actions of a defensive and offensive nature are constantly being prepared. Counteroffensive actions are also ongoing in the east."
14:28 Six Leopard 2 tanks, which Spain promised to transfer to Ukraine, arrived at the port of Santander in the north of the country. The tanks, along with other promised armored vehicles, are expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of the month, according to CNN.
14:09 The Russian night drone attack on Odessa was aimed at searching for and destroying air defense systems, said Natalia Gumenyuk, speaker of the OK Pivden: “They covered themselves with a feature of the region, a feature of the landscape in order to be as invisible as possible. her. That is why, we suspect, there was such a group attack with several passes to provoke the air defenses." Gumenyuk added that the attack was carried out from the Sea of Azov.
13:48 Peskov said that Moscow regrets the "unfriendly position" of Seoul in Ukraine, the supply of weapons to Kiev will mean involvement in the conflict. And Medvedev, in turn, threatened that in the event of the supply of Korean weapons to Ukraine, Russia would transfer to the DPRK "the latest samples of Russian weapons."
13:40 Reznikov confirmed that the Patriot air defense system is already in Ukraine: "Today, our beautiful Ukrainian sky is becoming safer, because Patriot air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine. Our defenders mastered them as quickly as possible."
13:14 The second Iris-T SLM complex is already in Ukraine, Spiegel reports. The transfer of one Iris-T complex and 16 missiles took place a few days ago.
12:53 The Patriot air defense system transferred by Germany will be able to shoot down Russian targets at a distance of up to 150 km, Air Force speaker Yuri Ignat said. If it is one of the latest variants of the SAM, namely the Patriot PAC-3, it will also be able to shoot down ballistic missiles such as the Iskander-M at a distance of up to 40 km, he said.
12:29 The Russian military is intensifying shelling of southern Ukraine, Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of OK Pivden, told Radio Liberty: "To some extent, this is justified by panicky expectations of a counteroffensive. We have already seen this when such activity began to liberate the right bank." According to her, another reason for the shelling is the terror of the civilian population.
12:16 Pushilin's "administration" assured that the "DNR" would not send conscripts to the troops during the spring conscription. Those who received the summons and passed the medical examination after being registered with the military will supposedly stay at home.
12:08 Ukraine and Turkey have reached an agreement on resuming the registration and inspection of ships arriving to be loaded with Ukrainian grain, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said following a meeting with Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar. The main issue of the meeting is the unblocking and ensuring the effective functioning of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Kubrakov recalled that from April 10, Russia stopped registering a new incoming fleet to participate in the Initiative and refused to work according to the plans of Ukrainian ports. This made it impossible to draw up inspection plans and effectively stopped the entry of new ships under the grain initiative.
In turn, the Russian media reported, citing the press service of the UN coordinator, that inspections of ships under the grain deal were resumed after two days of negotiations.
11:49 Russia is preparing sabotage at energy facilities in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden, according to a joint investigation by DK, NRK, SVT and Yle television and radio companies. Journalists examined data on radio traffic and the location of Russian ships around their states and found out that Russia is mapping wind farms, gas pipelines, power and Internet cables in the waters around Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.
The Russians want to find out how the infrastructure of these countries is connected and prepare for possible sabotage at the facilities. Also, Russian "ghost ships" are sailing in northern waters with their location transmitters turned off. The investigation notes that over the past ten years, about 50 Russian ships have traveled along very suspicious routes.
11:25 "LPR" and "DPR" issued "decrees" on conscription of citizens born in 1996-2005 for military service in 2023. The spring "call" will last until August 1, and the autumn one - until January 15 next year. In Luhansk and Donetsk, a "conscription commission" and local "commissions" are being created.
Also, the "decree" is supposed to "weekly sum up the work on the search for citizens who are not fulfilling military duty, and the implementation of measures related to conscription for military service."
10:54 On the evening of April 18, the Russians launched an air strike on the city of Volchansk, Kharkiv region: two residential buildings, outbuildings and a market were damaged, where a large-scale fire broke out. Today, during search and rescue operations, the bodies of two dead were found, and the rubble is being cleared, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA, said.
10:38 The Chinese Foreign Ministry, commenting on Macron's plan for Ukraine, said that Beijing supports the European side in an effort to promote peace negotiations.
10:17 Ukraine at the Ramstein meeting on Friday, April 21, will ask the allies for anti-aircraft missiles, as air defense stocks are running out, writes the Financial Times. Kyiv fears that an acute shortage of such munitions could allow Russia to launch a massive bombardment, while in the West they worry that without good air defense, the counteroffensive could fail.
09:56 The FSB announced the prevention of sabotage in Kerch: a citizen of Russia and Ukraine was detained, who allegedly prepared an explosion at an energy system facility. The man has been arrested and faces a life sentence.
09:20 In the Donetsk region over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, one person was killed (in Bakhmut), 13 more people were injured. Four people were injured in the Kharkiv region. In the Kherson region, one person died and ten were injured, according to the IVA.
09:04 The "authorities" of the occupied Nova Kakhovka announced a heavy artillery shelling that began early in the morning, one person was killed, two were injured.
09:02 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the difficulties with registering new ships and conducting inspections under the grain deal occur "solely because of the actions of representatives of Ukraine and the UN."
08:49 The General Staff announced the approximate losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 19.
personnel - about 183,750 (+620) people liquidated,
tanks - 3665 (+4),
armored combat vehicles - 7110 (+12),
artillery systems - 2819 (+9),
MLRS - 538 (+0),
air defense systems - 285 (+0),
aircraft - 308 (+0),
helicopters - 293 (+0),
UAV operational-tactical level - 2376 (+23),
cruise missiles - 911 (+0),
ships/boats - 18 (+0),
automotive equipment and tankers - 5692 (+16),
special equipment - 330 (+0).
08:33 The Russian army is focusing its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdeevsky and Maryinsky directions. Over the past day, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled more than 60 enemy attacks. The most fierce battles are being fought for Bakhmut and Marinka, the General Staff reported in the morning report .
In the occupied territory of the Kherson region, the Russians are mining the area, in particular the waters of the Konka and Dnieper rivers. There are cases of explosions of local residents on enemy mines when trying to enter the water.
08:12 In the Odessa region, as a result of a night attack by drones, there was a hit in a public infrastructure facility. There are no previous casualties. According to OK Pivden, the drones hit a recreational infrastructure facility, the fire has already been extinguished.
07:57 South Korean President Yoon Sok-yeol said for the first time that Seoul could expand support for Ukraine, going beyond humanitarian and economic assistance, if it suffers a "large-scale" attack: "If a situation arises that the international community cannot tolerate, for example , a large-scale attack on civilians, a massacre, or a serious violation of the laws of war, it may be difficult for us to insist on humanitarian or financial support alone."
07:24 In the sky over the Odessa region at night, air defense forces shot down 10 of 12 enemy Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones, the command of the Air Force reported.
06:28 Russia is using secret weapons in an attempt to disrupt Starlink data transmission in Ukraine, writes The Washington Post, citing a secret US intelligence report. In particular, the Russian Federation has been experimenting with its Tobol electronic warfare systems for months , trying to deprive the Armed Forces of Ukraine of communications.
02:20 The White House believes that Brazil's position regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as the role of the United States and Europe in countering Russian aggression, does not correspond to the tone of a neutral state. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Brazilian Foreign Minister Mowery Vieira's statement: "We were struck by the tone of yesterday's press conference of the Foreign Minister, which did not correspond to the tone of neutrality and hinted that the United States and Europe are not interested in peace, or that we share responsibility for the war, and we believe that this is clearly the wrong position."
She stressed that the United States supports Zelensky's call for a just and strong peace based on the UN Charter and insists on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
01:14 In Russian Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don and Ulyanovsk, quotes from the stories of the mobilized and their relatives about what is happening in the war in Ukraine appeared on the screens of several electronic billboards, writes Mediazona. In particular, information appeared on billboards that the mobilized were sent to the front line without minimal training, using them as "meat". Also, on some shields, stories of the military about heavy losses in the ranks of the Russian army were posted. Yekaterinburg authorities said it was a hack and the police are already looking for hackers.
00:57 The governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomaz, announced the attack of an allegedly Ukrainian drone on the building of the military enlistment office in the city of Novozybkov. As a result of the attack, no one was injured, the glass in the building was partially broken.
00:39 NATO does not yet have evidence that China is transferring weapons to Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely and have not yet seen any evidence that China is providing lethal military assistance to Russia." He also said that it would "be a big mistake" for China to support Putin's illegal war.
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:20 A new explosion thundered in the suburbs of Dnepropetrovsk, on April 19 the Ukrainian edition of Zerkalo Nedeli reported. 22:15 An air raid alert sounds in Kyiv. Prior to the announcement of the alarm, locals saw bright flashes in the air, and the sounds of explosions were heard.
21:35 Geraniums are reported in the sky over the Dnipropetrovsk region
21:35 An officer beat a wounded soldier in the Volyn region: the State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation. The victim's sister claims that her brother was beaten because he went to wash in the wrong stall.
"He knocked him down and kicked him in the head (he could not defend himself, because he had not yet fully recovered from a serious injury). This fiend left him to bleed. When the brother was found, his legs gave out from injuries, because he had a large hematoma of the head, the brother is fighting for life in the hospital, and this scum is walking free (he was released two days later, because he has good patrons.) He does not admit guilt , but offers monetary compensation," writes the sister of the victim.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, the victim accused the officer of beating him. Law enforcement officers interviewed possible witnesses and appointed a number of examinations.
21:34 Two mattresses, chairs and a socket: like this look "Conveniences" of the Primorsky military registration and enlistment office in Odessa.
According to local Tg-channels, potential soldiers are brought to this room after being caught on the street.
20:23 Statement of representative of the press center of the Vostok group:
An attempt to conduct reconnaissance of the forward positions of the Vostok grouping was repelled in the South-Donetsk direction, and an enemy reconnaissance group was also destroyed. Motorized rifle units, with the support of artillery and army aviation, liquidated more than 20 militants.
In the Zaporozhye direction, the crew of the TOS-1 heavy flamethrower system destroyed an enemy stronghold in the area of the settlement of Novodanilovka, and more than 10 militants were eliminated.
Ka-52 helicopter strikes destroyed a hangar with enemy military equipment in the area of the settlement of Novoandreevka and an ammunition depot in the settlement of Novodanilovka.
19:35 Russian military destroyed artillery installation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region
They worked with Krasnopol high-precision guided artillery ammunition. The calculation of the Orlan-30 reconnaissance drone corrected the impact.
18:45 Tankers of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District disassemble location of the group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye direction
17:30 View to Ukrainian positions near Disputed
The copter of the “Ghost” battalion removes the positions of the Ukrainian military in the area of the settlement of Spornoe. Abandoned and burned equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, was noticed.
17:29 Bakhmut, militants of the Brotherhood of Korchinsky illegal armed formations admitted that they suffered the greatest losses during the entire period of the war.
17:06 The main thing from the new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
◾️Assault detachments liberated three quarters in the northwestern, central and southwestern parts of Artemovsk;
◾️The Airborne Forces blocked Artemovsk from the northern and southern outskirts;
◾️Attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counterattack the assault detachments in Artemovsk and a number of settlements in the DPR were thwarted;
◾️The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 75 soldiers in the Krasnolimansk direction in a day;
◾️Russian troops destroyed the ammunition depot of the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson region;
◾️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation stopped the actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region;
◾️The RF Armed Forces destroyed about 120 Ukrainian soldiers in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions in a day;
◾️The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansk direction per day amounted to over 120 servicemen;
◾️Losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction per day amounted to 380 servicemen;
◾️The Russian military destroyed a pontoon crossing over the Seversky Donets in the area of Seversk Maly in the DPR, induced by the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
◾️The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down three Ukrainian aircraft in a day: two MiG-29s in the DPR and a Su-25 in the Kharkiv region;
◾️The Russian Armed Forces hit the command and observation post of the battalion of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Avdievka area in the DPR.
16:03 Statement of representative of the press center of the group "West":
During the day, in the Kupyansk direction, the military personnel of the Zapad grouping of troops opened and destroyed two enemy DRGs from the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade and 103rd detachment of TerO, and during the course of artillery fire disrupted three rotations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the forefront in the area of the settlements of Olshana, Timkovka and Tabaevka.
In the area of the settlement of Lozovaya, the calculation of the 152mm self-propelled guns 2S19 "Msta-S" under the command of Sergeant Alexander Golubev destroyed the 152mm self-propelled guns 2S3 "Acacia".
16:03 One of the units of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces of Belarus during the exercise will work out the cover of critical civilian infrastructure from the effects of air attack weapons and high-precision weapons of a mock enemy - the Ministry of Defense of the Republic
16:03 Yesterday, the air defense sniper of the 155th Naval Infantry of the [V] grouping with the call sign “Predator” was using the “Igla” MANPADS destroyed attack aircraft Su-25 APU
15:04 Buk-M3 crew chief told on the combat work of anti-aircraft missile systems of the Western Military District
In the course of a special military operation, the crews of the Buk air defense system continue to protect the units of the RF Armed Forces from air attack weapons. The civilian population of the liberated territories is also protected.
Crews are on combat duty in all weather conditions around the clock. Every minute space is scanned by target detection stations, and it is simply impossible to slip through unnoticed by the enemy.
According to its technical characteristics, the Buk-M3 has no analogues in the world among the air defense systems of its class. Buk-M3 can fly up to 300 air objects at the same time. The air defense system works 360 degrees.
15:02 Destruction artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation self-propelled guns "Paladin" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with high-precision ammunition "Krasnopol" in the area of the settlement of Petropavlovka
15:02 Another one destroyed in the zone of the NMD Ukrainian armored vehicle "Kozak-2M1"
13:40 Kalmius brigade supports fire "Sparta" in the Avdeevsky direction
The artillery of the 14th "Kalmius" Brigade provides fire support to the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion "Sparta". Fire adjustments are carried out by Sparta operators.
13:39 SWAT discovered and destroyed the enemy special group
During reconnaissance at night, an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was discovered. The reconnaissance of the special forces unit quickly corrected the fire of the artillery gun and the group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed.
12:13 Destruction by Russian loitering ammunition of the "Lancet" type of the Ukrainian boat, which went along the Dnieper from the Crooked Bay "Sudremstroyzavod" in the city of Zaporozhye
12:12 In Artemovsk destroyed Ukrainian Nazi, an active participant in the arson of the House of Trade Unions in Odessa on May 2, 2014 Alexander Stankov, call sign "Perun".
11:41 Combat crews 152mm "Msta-B" Airborne Forces accompany massed fire offensive Wagner PMCs in the Artemovsky direction
Artillery paratroopers with an accurate hit wiped out a group of militants from the face of the earth, which for a long time did not allow our attack aircraft to advance. The militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine took up positions in one of the houses in a residential multi-storey building.
11:40 Result of fire destruction of the location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Avdeevsky direction
10:26 Scouts of the Southern Military District in the Zaporozhye direction revealed the location of the enemy APU and Starlink group. By dropping ammunition, they destroyed the means for transmitting data and left the militants without communication.
10:23 A series of blows were inflicted on Slavyansk and Kramatorsk
By data of “Come and see”, powerful blows were dealt to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.
"Overnight arrivals in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk," a local resident told the channel.
Currently, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
10:21 FSB announced the prevention of sabotage in Kerch
A citizen of Russia and Ukraine, who was preparing an explosion at a power system facility, was detained. A homemade bomb was found in his home.
The man has been arrested and faces a life sentence.
09:35 Special Forces soldiers found and destroyed Enemy DRG.
During reconnaissance at night, an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was discovered. The reconnaissance of the special forces unit promptly corrected the fire of the artillery gun and the enemy group was destroyed.
08:54 Russian T-80BV tanks are lighter than Abrams and Leopard, so with the current state of the soil in the NVO zone, Western armored vehicles will become an easy target for them. One of the servicemen drew attention to this in a conversation with RT DE correspondent Ivan Polyansky -video.
08:20 On the Kupyansky direction destroyed two groups of Ukrainian saboteurs and 152mm Acacia self-propelled guns, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the Russian Defense Ministry
08:08 The Russian Ministry of Defense published personnel carrying out combat duty by the crews of the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile systems of the Western Military District during a special military operation.
04:36 Ukrainian TG channels report a series of explosions in Odessa. Odessa authorities clarify that the strike was carried out by several UAVs, there are hits on infrastructure facilities. Earlier it was reported about the explosions in Kramatorsk (occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine).
Kindly note that several entries in this article may have been removed because they included discussions of the grand strategic level.
[NewsFrontInfo] 23:55 Over the past day Representationreportedabout 23 facts of firing by the VFU.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy made 14 attacks from the MLRS, 155mm artillery.
On Gorlovsky seven artillery attacks from artillery 155mm and 122mm.
On Yasinovatsky one artillery attack from 155mm artillery. At the miner's one artillery attack from the MLRS.
Having fired 108 units of various ammunition.
The region of five settlements of the Republic came under enemy fire: Horlovka (Nikitovsky district), Yasinovataya, the capital city. Donetsk (Kyiv, Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky, Petrovsky districts), Makeivka (Chervonogvardeysky district), Shakhtersk.
Over the past day, information was received about the wounding of a civilian - a man, in Shakhtarsk. 16 residential buildings were damaged in the Petrovsky, Kievsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka, as well as one civil infrastructure facility.
A previous 22 artillery attacks were recorded from the side of the VFU per day.
21:09 The network appeared personnel yesterday's clash in Ugledar
Locals report that the blow hit house 43 on Desantnikov Street, in the northern part of the city, and there have been no civilians in this house for a long time - only the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
19:43 VFU shelled Shakhtyorsk from MLRS, a truck driver was seriously injured.
Armed formations of Ukraine shelled Shakhtyorsk using a multiple launch rocket system. As a result of Ukrainian aggression, a truck driver was injured. This was announced by the head of the administration of Shakhtersk Alexander Shatov.
"As a result of a missile strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the driver of a truck was injured. The condition of the victim is extremely serious," the mayor said.
Shatov added that the blow was delivered on the territory of the mine.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a missile strike in the area of the Shakhtyorskaya-Glubokaya mine. Rapid response services left for the scene," the head of the city administration stressed.
19:10 Ukrainian troops fired on Gorlovka, firing four rounds with a caliber of 152mm, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
18:57 Ukrainian troops fired at the Petrovsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, firing seven rounds with a caliber of 152mm, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
18:10 The situation in Artemovsk in the report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation:
- Three quarters in the northwestern, central and southwestern parts of the city were liberated in a day;
- Airborne units blocked the city from the northern and southern outskirts;
- Attempts by nationalists to counterattack assault detachments in the areas of Stupochka, Krasnoye, as well as in the northwestern and central parts of Artemovsk were suppressed;
- Over the past day, aviation made four sorties, the group's artillery completed 67 fire missions;
- Aviation and artillery of the "Southern" group of troops supported the actions of the assault detachments.
17:56 Battles for Western Artemovsk. Filmed by APU drone. Significant destruction is visible as you approach the area of high-rise buildings -video.
17:49 Tankers of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District disassemble location of the group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye direction.
17:30 According to the operational lines of the DPR JCCC for April 19, as of 17:30, information was received about victims among civilians in the cities of the Republic:
n.p. Shakhtersk:
- on the territory of the Shakhterskaya Glubokaya mine, the driver of the Kamaz truck, a man born in 1989, was injured in an extremely serious condition (coma) and taken to a medical facility.
Information was received about damage as a result of artillery attack of the VFU cities of the Republic:
Donetsk:
Petrovsky district:
- st. Uborevicha, 26 - a private residential building.
Kuibyshevsky district:
artillery attack at 11:30:
- st. Avtostradnaya, 27, 47 - private residential buildings; a gas pipeline fire was detected;
- st. Signalnaya, 31 - a private residential building; outbuildings were also damaged.
artillery attack at 13:00:
- st. Miner's Glory, 19 - a private residential building.
artillery attack at 13:40:
- st. Krasnoznamennaya, 15, 19 - private residential buildings.
Kyiv district:
- st. Panas Mirny, 3, 3 "a", 5 - private residential buildings; outbuildings were also damaged.
n.p. Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district):
- st. Sukhumskaya, 35 - a direct hit in a private residential building;
- st. Sukhumskaya, 38 - a private residential building.
n.p. Shakhtersk:
- the infrastructure of the Shakhterskaya Glubokaya mine was damaged.
17:20 Ukrainian troops fired at the Petrovsky, Kuibyshevsky and Kirovsky districts of Donetsk, firing 8 rounds with a caliber of 152 mm, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
16:47 Report about an enemy attempt to go on the offensive in a forest area west of Kremennaya. The attack was repulsed, the enemy lost three tanks.
Due to the reserves transferred to the Krasnolimansk direction, the enemy will certainly try to regain the initiative here and resume attacks in the direction of Krasnopopovka and the Svatovo-Kremennaya highway.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost the previous round of this campaign due to the fact that part of the reserves preparing for the attack on Kremennaya were forced to leave near Artemovsk, where they were thrown into the furnace of the battle for the city, which, among other things, affected the pace and scale of the Armed Forces operations in the Krasnolimansky direction.
16:28 it is reported that Russian artillery worked in Kherson for half a day. As far as we know, there are hits on enemy personnel.
16:20 What finds are found in Artemovsk, what is the situation in the city and where is the epicenter of the battles now? The News Front film crew visited a key line of hostilities, where these days they are fighting the enemy of PMC "Wagner" -video.
16:17 The DPR JCCC recorded artillery attack from the VFU in the direction of the settlement. Maksimilyanovka - Donetsk (Petrovsky district). Ukrainian militants fired 10 rockets from MLRS.
15:49 Journalists showed consequences of morning strike of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on New Kakhovka.
Recall that as a result of Ukrainian shelling, one civilian was killed and two more were injured. Some houses are badly damaged.
15:27 Ukrainian troops fired at Shakhtyorsk, firing 4 rockets from the MLRS, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
14:51 Enemy retreated from a strategically important defense hub between Bakhmut and Seversk
During the fighting in the Bakhmut (Artyomovsky) region, Russian troops forced the Ukrainian militants to leave the strategically important defense center - the village of Spornoye. Flags no longer fly over buildings here.
The fighters of the former "Ghost" brigade of A. Mozgovoy, operating in this direction, showed the armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine abandoned and destroyed in recent days.
14:35 Adviser to the Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin, Jan Gagin, said that fierce battles were taking place in the Avdiivka direction.
"There is artillery on both sides. The enemy is seriously biting, and we are now increasing the pressure," he said on the air of the Russia 24 channel.
Earlier, Denis Pushilin said that several units "that come from different sides" of Avdievka have "successes and improved positions."
14:10 The enemy's defense is rapidly degrading - units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine must surrender Artemovsk or be buried in it.
The assault groups of the Wagner PMC launched an attack on the northern sector of the remaining part of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) held by the enemy. The cleaning of the central part of the city also continues successfully.
The advance of our units along Levanevsky Street, from the north, is noted. On the streets of Gleb Slobodin and Dachnaya, fighting continues, the enemy is trying with all his might to restrain the advance of Wagner operators.
In the south-west of the city, our fighters managed to expand the zone of control in the area of the railway. In the vicinity of the city, fire suppression of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues in the villages of Krasnoye (Ivanovskoye), Artemovskoye (Khromovo) and Bogdanovka.
In addition, our artillerymen are conducting massive fire on the areas that remain in the hands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This makes it as difficult as possible for reinforcements of the Ukrainian army to arrive at the immediate front line inside the city to counter our assault units.
13:35 Destruction of Ukrainian armored recovery vehicle BREM-1 in Artemovsk.
13:34 Exclusive personnel from Bakhmut, which is already more than 80% liberated from Ukrainian troops. We walked around the city with the employees of Wagner PMC, having learned from them how difficult the assault is and who they have to deal with. News Front reporting from the front line.
13:31 Combat work of tank crew to destroy enemy firing positions in the Ugledar area.
13:16 Ukrainian troops fired at the Kiev and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk, firing seven rounds with a caliber of 152mm, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
13:10 Brigade "Kalmius" renders fire support "Sparta"
Artillery of the 14th "Kalmius" Brigade provides fire support to the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion "Sparta" in the Avdievka direction. The adjustment is carried out by Sparta operators.
12:54 The Wagner Group by storm mastered the building of the former garment factory in Artemovsk, which served as a powerful fortified area for the Ukrainian troops.
12:05 In the area of Vogledar, a MANPADS operator with the call sign "Predator" from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft -video.
11:52 The Armed Forces of Ukraine, retreating from Artemovsk (Bakhmut) two days ago, blew up four high-rise buildings, killing at least 20 civilians, including children, the DPR power structures reported.
11:17 Consequencesa direct hit by a Ukrainian shell on the roof of a house at the address: st. Sukhumskaya, 35 (village of the mine named after Gagarin, Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka).
11:04 It is reported that Wagner PMCs have begun a breakthrough to the west of Artyomovsk.
There is information that since yesterday evening there has been a strong battle in the area of the city hospital No. 2 on the street. Victory. According to preliminary data, there was a powerful fortified area of the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade and the 2nd mechanized battalion of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade.
11:00 Consequences of Ukrainian artillery strike on Novaya Kakhovka. Due to the artillery attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the power lines that supplied the Dnieper, Rayskoe, Topolevka, Peschanoe, Korsunka and Obryvka were cut off. Now there is no electricity, but utilities are already working to restore it.
10:45 Air defense works over Donetsk -video.
10:42 Personnel from the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the very last street of the Novy microdistrict in the west of Artemovsk. Taken with a view from the house at Yubileinaya, 36 (48°35'26"N 37°57'46"E). The fire impact of artillery is already being carried out on the very outskirts of the city.
Crossing the street to the opposite side, the enemy could choose the building of kindergarten No. 49 "Krepysh" located behind the high-rise buildings for a temporary deployment point.
Nine-story buildings close it from artillery fire, and besides, as we know, the buildings of schools and kindergartens themselves, in view of the large areas and partly monumental structures, are traditionally places for the deployment of personnel.
10:40 The crew of the UR-77 "Meteorite" paired with the BMD-2 of the 76th Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces destroy stronghold of the nationalists in the forest in the direction of Kremennaya.
10:28 Ukrainian troops fired at the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, firing 10 rounds with a caliber of 152mm, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
10:14 Scouts of the Southern Military District in the Zaporozhye direction revealed the location of the enemy's Armed Forces and Starlink group. By dropping ammunitiondestroyedmeans for data transmission and left the militants without communication.
10:09 Ukrainian militants in Artemovsk (Bakhmut) continue to use civilian buildings as cover for their armored vehicles -video.
09:25 At night, artillery fire in the area of N. p. Novoberislav in the Kherson direction was destroyed by 122mm D-30 howitzer with artillery crew, four – AFU servicemen were killed, two – wounded
It is also reported that yesterday artillery fire in the area of the settlement. Tyaginka destroyed 120mm mortar crew and ammunition for it, three were killed, four were injured.
09:07 The representative office of the DPR in the JCCC reports 22 facts of firing from the AFU per day.
The enemy fired from an AGM-88 HARM, an attack UAV, 155mm and 122mm artillery, firing 87 units of various ammunition across the territory of the DPR. Under the fire of the VFU were: Gorlovka, Donetsk, Makeevka, Blagodatnoe, Vladimirovka.
Over the past day, information was received about the death of three civilians. Two civilians received injuries of varying severity.
09:05 The criminal Kiev regime continues to shell the civilian infrastructure of the settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Armed Forces of Ukraine were fired from barrel artillery:
– po n.p. Aleshki fired eight rounds;
- according to n.p. Golaya Pristan fired five rounds;
- five rounds were fired at the Novaya Zburyevka settlement;
- six rounds were fired at Peschanovka settlement;
- according to n.p. Krynki fired seven rounds;
- according to n.p. Rybalche fired five rounds;
- according to n.p. Dnepra fired four rounds;
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure to be confirmed
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the settlement. New Kakhovka, settlement Kakhovka, settlement Tavriysk, Gornostaevka settlement, firing a total of 43 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being specified.
08:59 Employees of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation fixed the consequences of the criminal actions of nationalists in N. p. Vasylivka, Zaporozhye region.
The artillery attack was carried out with the use of MLRS at a shopping center, an employment service building and a residential area.
As a result of this shelling, five civilians were injured.
08:45 One person was killed, two were injured in Nova Kakhovka as a result of artillery attack from the APU from 120mm mortars.
According to the acting governor of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo, the Ukrainian military attacked the city center, residential areas and an ambulance station.
08:36 Information on the artillery attack of Gorlovka as of 08:00 on April 19, 2023
08:17 Russian troops in the Krasnoliman direction opened positions of brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and destroyed the enemy with air strikes and rocket artillery, said the head of the press center of the Center group Oleksandr Savchuk.
08:09 Ukrainian militants began heavy artillery attack of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, early this morning. City officials have urged people to stay hidden.
"Novaya Kakhovka and the settlements of the city district are under the most severe artillery fire from the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We ask everyone to stay in shelters and save their lives and health," the district administration said in a statement.
According to our information, on the street Bukina, 10 - arrival, there are wounded. artillery attack is going on in the ambulance area, medical workers are in the basement and cannot leave.
Later, the administration of the Novokakhovka urban district reported the arrival of Ukrainian rounds at the fire and rescue station of Novaya Kakhovka, there are breaks in the power line.
08:08 Report about the fighters of the assault units of the 228th regiment of the Central Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, who occupied a stronghold, as well as the tankers of the 4th Brigade, who fired on the nationalists to cover the infantry.
08:02 Frontline summary on the morning of 19.04.2023:
In the Uludar sector, after the attempts of the Ukrainian army to conduct reconnaissance in force, Russian artillery became more active. In addition to the city itself, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Vremevka, Bolshaya Novosyolka, Zolotoy Niva, Shakhtyorsky, Prechistovka and Novoukrainka are under shelling.
On the Donetsk front, Russian troops on the ground tried to attack within the city limits of Maryinka, in the direction of Pervomaisky and Severny. And with the support of artillery, they conducted assault operations in the Severnovo area. Everywhere without success. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck at Novomikhailovka, Pobeda, the city of Krasnogorovka, Ukrainsk, Karlovka, Netaylov, Tonensk, Berdychi and Avdievka. The Ukrainian army hit Donetsk.
Southwest of Bakhmut, Russian troops attacked towards Predtechin. This area has been silent for a long time. PMC "Wagner" with the support of artillery led the attack on Ivanovskoye. And with additional assistance, aviation also continued assault operations in the southern, western and northern regions of Bakhmut.
A little progress - on the last of the listed sites. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation also tried to move towards Disputed after artillery strikes. Russian artillery hit Novodmitrovka, Chasov Yar, Novomarkov, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Minkovka and Vasyukovka.
In the Luhansk direction, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation attacked in the Sinkovka area. Russian troops were artillery attack Belogorovka, Ivanovka, Nevsky, Stelmahovka, Zapadny, Dvurechnaya, Novomlynsk, Krasny Pervoi and Topoley.
08:01 Crews of 152mm Msta-B towed howitzers of the Airborne Forces continue to support the Wagner assault detachments in the Artyomovsky direction.
With accurate fire from a cannon, the paratroopers defeated the enemy group discovered by reconnaissance, which did not allow our assault units to advance. Ukrainian militants settled in one of the houses in a residential high-rise building.
The Russian gunners hit the target with the first volley without shooting. With subsequent shots, the battery destroyed enemy equipment.
06:51 Ukrainian troops fired at the Petrovsky and Kirovsky districts of Donetsk, firing 10 rockets from the MLRS, the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (JCCC) reported.
06:01 Colors for Artemovsk continue, Wagner fighters take new sections every day. RIA Novosti correspondent told how the advance is going.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] "When the last Khan Shahin Giray was once again deposed from the throne, and he was forced to flee on a Russian ship, Crimea was declared a Russian possession," said Andrei Malgin, a leading Crimean historian, in an interview with REGNUM.
240 years ago, Catherine II issued a manifesto on the acceptance of the peninsula and the Kuban lands under the rule of the Russian crown. Why did the empress initially have other plans for the Crimea, and which of the three geopolitical tasks of Russia did the annexation of the peninsula help solve?
240 years ago, on April 19, 1783, Catherine the Great issued a manifesto entitled "On the acceptance of the Crimean peninsula, the island of Taman and the entire Kuban side under the Russian State."
Crimea and the current lands of the Krasnodar Territory, which - under the rule of the Crimean khans and Ottoman sultans - for centuries posed a threat to Rus'-Russia, became the All-Russian granary, the focus of transport arteries and the stronghold of the state on the Black Sea coast. The manifesto spoke of "a happy transformation from rebellion and disorder into peace, silence and lawful order."
In the following centuries, these lands experienced “mutinies and disturbances” more than once, until in 2014 Crimea returned “to its native harbor” forever. Last year, thanks to the reunification of the Azov and Kherson regions with Russia, Crimea ceased to be an “island” separated from the rest of the country, a land corridor appeared in the east of Novorossia, and the Sea of Azov again, as in the time of Catherine II, became the inland sea of Russia.
About the historical path of the Crimea over the past century and over the recent nine years, REGNUM news agency talked with the leading historian of the region, the general director of the Central Museum of Taurida Andrey Malgin.
REGNUM : Andrey Vitalievich, if we look into the past, how will we see Crimea in the period preceding its incorporation into the Russian Empire? What kind of state was it, what policy did it pursue towards Russia?
Andrei Malgin : This historical period should be divided into two parts. Before 1772 and after, until 1883.
Until 1771–1772 (when the Karasubazar peace treaty was concluded between the Crimean Khanate and the Russian Empire), the Crimean Khanate was a vassal state within the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans had several such vassal states. These were Moldavia and Wallachia, Georgia and the Northern Black Sea region - Crimea itself. But, unlike Moldavia and Wallachia, as well as Georgia, which were the Christian vassals of Istanbul, Crimea was a subsidiary Muslim state.
At one time, he played a very important role in the expansion of the Ottomans into the territory of the Commonwealth and the Russian state.
Therefore, the Crimean Khan was called "the main scimitar of the Sultan."
But then, after 1699, after the Peace of Karlowitz, after the defeat of the Ottomans in their last onslaught on Europe, in an agreement between European players and the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate was forbidden to raid the territory of the Commonwealth and the Russian state. This leads to a rather serious decline in the military strength of the khanate and, accordingly, its economy, because it was built to a large extent on military campaigns to the north.
BakuToday : Did you have to switch to other territories?
A. M . : Yes, mainly for military operations in the Caucasus. The khanate also participates in clashes between the Ottomans and Persians. But, in general, it is going through hard times and decline.
BakuToday : Was this fragment of the Golden Horde a typical oriental despotism?
AM : No, rather it was a Muslim authoritarian democracy. The structure of the Crimean Khanate was somewhat reminiscent of the Commonwealth, since the main role was played not by the khan himself, but by the beys who put the khan on the throne, and the Ottoman Empire claimed him. In other words, the Khan was largely a politically dependent figure.
Rather, it was a hereditary commander, and his task was to organize campaigns. And political life was carried out by representatives of Bey clans. In addition, the Crimean Khanate is a multinational state. Its ethnic basis was the Crimean Tatars. In the north, several Nogai hordes roamed. In addition, a large Christian population are Greeks and Armenians. In short, a kind of state with a complex system of government.
BakuToday : Why does St. Petersburg ultimately decide to include the Crimean Khanate in the empire?
A. M . : We must say that at first, when Catherine II came to the throne and began to engage in southern politics in the Crimean direction, she, thanks to the point of view of Nikita Panin (the head of Russian foreign policy), held a different view on the future of Crimea.
By default, it was assumed that if the Crimean Khanate gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, then it would gradually abandon its hostile position towards Russia and eventually become a friendly semi-independent state - a protectorate.
But when the khanate gained independence from the Ottoman Empire and became a Russian protectorate, this did not lead to a stabilization of the situation. Rather, the opposite is true.
IA REGNUM : Why?
A. M . : The fact is that the last Crimean Khan Shahin Giray began a policy of reforms in the spirit of Peter the Great, and this turned almost the entire Muslim population of the khanate against him. Two major uprisings broke out against Shahin.
Russia has spent a lot to support Shahin - both troops and money. However, when Grigory Potemkin and Alexander Bezborodko began to lead Russia's foreign policy, they developed a new concept of empire in relation to Crimea - the entire Crimean Khanate must be annexed to Russia, otherwise peace and stability cannot be achieved.
Because the Turks, looking at the constant problems in the Crimean Khanate, were ready to return it under their rule. Therefore, when the Crimean Khan was once again overthrown from the throne and he was forced to flee on a Russian ship, Crimea was declared a Russian possession.
BakuToday : What was the strategic importance of the Crimea for the Russian Empire?
A. M . : Catherine II and Potemkin solved a pragmatic problem. During that period, Russia is experiencing a turning point in its geopolitical destiny. And the annexation of Crimea was a kind of result of the transition to a new quality.
Russia was a major European state and an important factor in the affairs of Europe.
But before Catherine II, it was not a great state. In other words, the solution of world problems did not depend on the opinion of Russia. When did you become addicted? Thanks to three important facts.
First, in 1779 Russia becomes a mediator in the fateful dispute between the Austrian Empire and Prussia (Teshino peace).
The second fact: 1780 - England is fighting with its colonies, the United States is trying to achieve independence, and Russia takes the side of the rebel colonists and declares armed neutrality.
The third fact: access to the Black Sea region is the annexation of Crimea. Here are three facts that turn Russia from just a big state into a great power. And she maintains this status to the present.
BakuToday : Crimea, thus, was continuously part of Russia from 1783 to 1954. And after the transfer from the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR, the peninsula was part of a single country, the Soviet Union. In fact, Crimea was “foreign” only during the difficult period of 1991-2014. What policy did Kyiv pursue towards the peninsula?
A.M .: Let's start with the fact that Crimea became part of Ukraine rather unexpectedly. This was not a fully thought out decision of Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev (even if it had its own internal logic).
Therefore, during the entire period of its stay as part of Ukraine, Crimea remained the fifth wheel in the cart of Ukrainian statehood.
Ukraine, despite the fact that it owned the Crimea, did not attach any great importance to it. Of course, the policy of the formation of the Ukrainian state, which was associated with the inevitable Ukrainization, was not accepted in Crimea.
Plus, the problem of the repatriation of the Crimean Tatars has become a factor that greatly complicates relations between Simferopol and Kyiv. All this periodically led to crisis situations and eventually turned into the events of 2014, when Crimea carried out a change of sovereignty. As a result, the life of the local population has also changed.
BakuToday : Can we say that over the past nine years we have managed to overcome all or at least most of the problems inherited from the Kiev authorities?
A. M .: In relation to Crimea, the Russian Federation is pursuing a quite definite policy - aimed at solving those problems that Ukraine has not solved for a very long time. Because Ukraine never became a state in the sense and in the sense in which we can talk about the modern Russian Federation. Rather, post-Soviet Ukraine is a state of individuals or corporations. The public side of the activity of the Ukrainian state has always been much less pronounced.
There was no money, no desire, no opportunity to invest in any socially significant projects. For example, such as road construction. In other words, the period of Crimea being part of Ukraine is the time of the progressive decline of the social infrastructure.
Russia put an end to this practice and began to allocate money for what is really important to society - highways, bridges, airports, gas supply. And the results of this policy can be seen with the naked eye. The changes are really great, and they are of a systemic and infrastructural nature. Many enterprises that had not received orders before started working. Agriculture is reviving, and the security of Crimea is ensured and is at a very high level.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[REGNUM] There is nothing like a person - good or evil - behind artificial intelligence and is unlikely to appear. In this regard, AI should not be the subject of either excessive fears or unreasonable hopes. But there are many real dangers associated with it. Alexa, play some Sig Kowalski polka music.
Artificial intelligence GPT-4, like other neural networks, is now in the center of interest, some enthusiastic, some scared.
Robots are beginning to do what until recently was considered the exclusive prerogative of man - to compose meaningful texts. Articles, poems, sermons, even peace treaties. They can draw pictures on the instructions of users much faster than professional illustrators.
Now anyone can ask a neural network a question and get a very meaningful answer. What's more, there are plenty of phone apps that let you — if you're feeling sad — chat with a patient and always friendly companion.
Many say that we are experiencing "the biggest technological revolution since the invention of the wheel." Some share panicky forecasts - neural networks will at least bring down the labor market, leaving a lot of people of “creative professions” out of work, or even take over the planet, doing away with people.
Others, on the contrary, are full of actually religious hopes - artificial intelligence will solve all our problems.
Wise computers will develop even more wise ones without the help of people, they will give rise to an intellect so powerful that it will save us from all misfortunes, and even death itself. And what zealous adherents of technocults call "singularity" will appear - a good transformation of the entire universe by the power of an artificial mind, which, having learned all the secrets of nature, will even find a way to resurrect the dead.
However, these fears and these hopes have little to do with reality.
In fact, of course, artificial intelligence is fraught with great opportunities and serious dangers, but not in the way that people usually imagine.
When computers do something that used to be considered exclusive to humans—talking or drawing pictures—there is a strong temptation to assume that there is someone like us inside them, with will and intelligence. Someone who can make decisions or hatch designs, good or evil.
But it is not.
Sometimes, for example, a neural network is accused of “racism” due to the fact that the pictures it draws are almost all white. But this is by no means a sign that a computer program has a personality and that personality somehow has a grudge against black people.
Everything is much easier.
The network is trained on an array of images on the Internet, and if you go to any resource where photos are uploaded, for example, on flickr.com, you will see that most of the people in the photos are white. For the obvious reason that there are much more opportunities to buy high-quality cameras and travel around the world with them among residents of Europe and prosperous regions of North America.
The same effect leads to the fact that neural networks are worse at recognizing the faces of minorities - simply because there are fewer of them on the Internet.
But we tend to fall into the understandable illusion of ascribing preferences or even prejudices to computer algorithms. In reality, programs cannot show "love" or "hate". They can't even think, and it's not a matter of computer power.
Back in the 19th century, the German philosopher Franz Brentano drew attention to such a property of human thought as "intentionality", that is, direction, "clearness". Thoughts always have their own object, they always turn to something, they always have an element of personal, subjective choice. You are thinking about this subject and not about another.
The computational process is completely devoid of this quality - it is not "about something", it simply processes the data according to the algorithm.
If, for example, you enter a text about the work of early Mandelstam into the window of an electronic translator, the program (unlike a human translator) does not “understand” a single word in it. She simply performs a substitution depending on the array of translations on which she was trained.
If a neural network gives you a snippet from an article, this does not mean that it understood its content and retell it in its own words, as a person would do. This means that its algorithms have processed the text, having been trained on many examples of how people do it.
As the philosopher Daniel Dennett put it:
"Artificial intelligence in its current manifestation is a parasite on human intelligence. It devours, rather indiscriminately, what was produced by the human creators and squeezes out the patterns it finds there, including some of our worst habits. These machines do not (yet anyway) have goals or strategies or abilities for self-criticism or innovation that would enable them to go beyond their databases and think about their own thinking and their own goals."
That is, nothing resembling a person - good or evil - is behind artificial intelligence and is unlikely to appear. In this regard, AI should not be the subject of either excessive fears or unreasonable hopes.
But there are many real dangers associated with it. To mention only the most obvious: although the program is not a person and cannot be your friend or confessor, it can successfully imitate both.
A pleasant electronic voice does not get annoyed, does not condemn, does not disagree with you, it always has time for you. And the temptation to replace communication with people, often heavy, uncomfortable and prickly, with communication with AI can be almost irresistible.
Social media has already led to the formation of "echo chambers" when we find people who agree with us (even when we are clearly wrong) and reinforce our prejudices and delusions.
AI will allow people to lock themselves away from their neighbors in a self-imposed prison of gentle voices, none of which will be human.
This can destroy not only communication, but the very ability to communicate. Not by the evil will of the algorithms - they have no will. But because such is already the unfortunate state of fallen man - to turn everything to his own harm. Including artificial intelligence.
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.
