Ukraine Invasion: Part 39

[MagicFox]

38 filled up quick. Welcome all to 39 🇺🇦

So proud of Singapore. Thank you.

I find this rather reassuring. There are a number of what-ifs, some of them unpleasant, but it looks like actual damage from shelling won't be as catastrophic as one might think.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-26-2023

Key Takeaways

• Russia appears to be continuing a deliberate depopulation campaign in occupied areas of Ukraine in order to facilitate the repopulation of Ukrainian territories with Russians.

• Competition among Russian private military companies (PMCs) is likely increasing in Bakhmut.

• The Kremlin continues measures to codify conditions for domestic repression.

• Comments made by Russian officials and prominent voices in the Russian information space continue to highlight a pervasive anxiety over potential Ukrainian counteroffensive actions.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping explicitly recognized Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, stating that mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are foundational to Ukrainian-Chinese relations in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

• The Kremlin is likely attempting to reassure Armenia that it is a reliable partner despite the fact that the war in Ukraine is limiting Russia’s ability to play a larger role in mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

• The Kremlin may attempt to use conscripts to maintain peacekeeping operations in Nagorno Karabakh and preserve relations with Armenia and other Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states.

• Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.

• Russian forces made gains within Bakhmut and north of Avdiivka.

• Russian milbloggers continue to argue amongst themselves about Ukrainian activity along the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.

• Russian authorities have started sending military registration summonses that include threats of “restrictive measures.”

• Russian sources claimed that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) prevented an attempted attack in Crimea.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Italian President voices support (https://kyivindependent.com/italian-president-voices-support-for-ukraine-joining-eu-as-soon-as-possible/) for Ukraine joining EU 'as soon as possible’.

⚡️Official: Russia initiates large-scale resettlement (https://kyivindependent.com/official-russia-initiates-large-scale-resettlement-of-its-minorities-to-ukraines-occupied-territories/) to Ukraine's occupied territories.
Russia has initiated large-scale resettlement of its Russians and the country's minorities to Ukraine's occupied territories while continuing to forcibly deport local populations, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on April 26.
According to Maliar, people from poor and remote regions of Russia are being brought to Ukraine's occupied territories and provided "every possible support" from the occupation authorities, including housing, employment, and loans for developing businesses.

Russia tries to conceal its dwindling nuclear stockpile (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-tries-to-conceal-its-dwindling-nuclear-stockpile/)

⚡️CNN: White House 'welcomes' Zelensky-Xi call (https://kyivindependent.com/cnn-white-house-welcomes-call-between-zelensky-and-xi/), expresses caution regarding Chinese peace plan.
While U.S. officials welcomed the April 26 phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, they also expressed caution regarding whether it will lead to a "meaningful peace movement," CNN reported.

⚡️Spain reminds Lula that lasting peace for Ukraine (https://kyivindependent.com/spains-leadership-remind-lula-that-lasting-peace-for-ukraine-must-respect-its-sovereignty/) must respect its sovereignty.

⚡️Italian correspondent wounded, Ukrainian fixer killed in Kherson Oblast (https://kyivindependent.com/italian-correspondent-wounded-his-ukrainian-fixer-killed-in-kherson-oblast/).
La Repubblica correspondent Corrado Zunino was injured and his fixer Bohdan Bitik was killed in a Russian attack on Kherson Oblast, the newspaper reported on April 26.
According to la Repubblica, Zunino and Bitik were "most likely" ambushed by Russian snipers.

⚡️Russian, Belarusian, Chinese intelligence try to recruit Lithuanian citizens (https://kyivindependent.com/media-russian-belarusian-chinese-intelligence-tried-to-recruit-lithuanian-citizens/).
The annual report of Lithuania's State Security Department revealed that Russian, Belarusian, and Chinese intelligence agencies tried to recruit Lithuanian citizens, LRT wrote April 26.
According to the report, "not a single attempt" was successful. Additionally, five Russian intelligence officers "working under diplomatic cover" were expelled.

⚡️Zelensky: Xi Jinping voices (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-xi-jinping-voices-words-of-support-for-grain-deal/) 'words of support' for grain deal.

⚡️Zelensky: 2,279 people (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-2-279-people-returned-from-russian-captivity/) freed from Russian captivity.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a total of 2,279 Ukrainians have been returned to their homes from Russian captivity, Zelensky said in a video address on April 26.

⚡️NYT: Ukraine in possession of almost all NATO-promised vehicles (https://kyivindependent.com/untitled-33/).
NATO military commander General Christopher Cavoli said on April 26 that nearly all the combat vehicles promised to Ukraine by NATO allies have been delivered.
“Over 98 percent of the combat vehicles are already there. I am very confident that we have delivered the material that they need and we’ll continue a pipeline to sustain their operations as well,” said Cavoli, according to the New York Times.

⚡️US commander confident (https://kyivindependent.com/untitled-34/) ahead of Ukrainian spring counteroffensive.

⚡️ WSJ: Surge in Russian oil prices (https://kyivindependent.com/wsj-surge-in-russian-oil-prices-tests-western-sanctions/) tests Western sanctions.

Russian oil prices increased due to demand from India and China, testing the viabiIity of Western-backed sanctions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
If the trend continues, prices could soon hit $60 a barrel. This price would surpass the limit that the U.S. and its allies have put on Russian crude exports.

⚡️Update: 1 killed, 23 injured (https://kyivindependent.com/update-1-killed-23-injured-in-russian-attack-on-mykolaiv/) in Russian attack on Mykolaiv.
Russian April 27 missile strike on Mykolaiv killed one civilian and injured 23, including a child, according to Ukraine's Southern Command

The Kyiv Independent will soon launch a new weekly newsletter, “War Notes from Illia Ponomarenko,” with war updates from your favorite defense reporter.
Subscribe here. (https://mailchi.mp/kyivindependent/warnotes)

⚡️Mayor: Collaborator killed (https://kyivindependent.com/mayor-collaborator-killed-in-melitopol-explosion/) in Melitopol explosion.
A local collaborator Oleksandr Mishchenko was killed in an explosion in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, exiled Mayor Ivan Fedorov reported on April 27.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

🪖 Currently, Russia is using about 369,000 personnel and approximately 5,900 units of heavy weapons in the war against Ukrainian troops, — Military Media Center.
According to the latest data, Russia sent up to 48 brigades and 122 regiments to hostilities against Ukraine; the occupying forces numbered about 315 formations.

The Norwegian ambassador in Moscow was informed today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation that 10 Norwegian diplomats in the embassy in Moscow have been declared persona non grata in Russia, said Ragnhild Simenstad, press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

The Slovenian government has delivered 20 Valuk armored personnel carriers to Ukraine under complete secrecy: the Slovenian portal 24UR citing its sources. Transportation to Ukraine was completed this week.

🇨🇿 The Czech Republic imposed sanctions against the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, for supporting the war against Ukraine. He was banned from entry and financial transactions through Czech structures, and also Kirill's assets in the country will be frozen.

❗️ Skynex air defense complexes are already on combat duty in Ukraine, — the Prime Minister of Ukraine.

Russian representatives refused to approve the movement of ships to/from seaports of Ukraine along the grain corridor and related food cargoes by sea, — Navy of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation has stopped publishing data on oil production in the country, – Russian Interfax, citing a report on industrial production in the first quarter of 2023.
Previously, the agency provided monthly production data with and without gas condensate, but statistics are missing in the current report. Rosstat did not comment on her exclusion.

The Norwegian ambassador in Moscow was informed today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation that 10 Norwegian diplomats in the embassy in Moscow have been declared persona non grata in Russia, said Ragnhild Simenstad, press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

Reznikov on the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces: the longer the enemy does not know about it, the more successful it will be

In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the Minister of Defense also made several other statements:

▫️ The counterattack will come unexpectedly, and for you too. This is the meaning of a military operation — no one should know that it has begun. Therefore, you should not wait for a counterattack and overestimate the bar.

▫️ Air defense will remain priority #1. The security of the sky is the country's survival: the ability to produce food, pay taxes, and replenish the budget used to maintain the army.

▫️At the moment, our main task with our partners is to provide us with spare parts, maintenance, repair, and ammunition for systems received from partners, from sniper rifles to tanks and HIMARS.

▫️Russia wants negotiations but does not know how to save face and end the war, so it is looking for options.

Colonel-General Mizintsev was removed from the post of Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.
This is the same general who ordered the Russians to drop bombs on the drama theater and bomb the maternity hospital in Mariupol. (may he rot. May he swallow pins).

❗️NATO countries have completed training and armed more than nine brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg

Ukraine is "working hard" to open its airspace for civilian aircraft, – French Transport Minister Clément Bon.

Poland confiscated the funds of the Russian embassy
Money from the accounts of the Russian embassy in Warsaw was blocked and withdrawn – the Russian ambassador has already complained about this. Currently, the funds have been transferred to the accounts of the prosecutor's office.

Many reports of Russian cruelty and torture of POWs.
https://war.ukraine.ua/articles/inhuman-tortures-and-executions-how-russian-war-criminals-violate-the-rights-of-ukrainian-prisoners-of-war/

There are some jaw dropping, horrifying images of new mass graves in Mariupol.

Ukrainian prisoner of war released from Russian captivity...

As of March, the Russian occupying forces have set up defensive positions at several reactor buildings of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, — Defense Intelligence

🥃 Time for Jameson Whiskey to sober up and stop serving Putin.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

In Russia, there are preliminary reports that MiG-31 fighter jet has crashed in the Murmansk region. Russian media are already publishing video.

China to send former ambassador to Russia as negotiator to Kyiv
China's Foreign Ministry has announced that Li Hui, the Chinese government's special representative for Eurasia, will be its envoy to Ukraine and "other countries." Li is a former Chinese ambassador to Russia, who held this position from 2009 to 2019.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not provide details on when Li will travel and what other countries he will visit, CNN reported. [the former ambassador to Russia?!]

On the evening of April 25, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fell ill on live television. After that, he began to cancel public campaign events, and information was spread on the Internet that he had a heart attack.
Erdogan's party and his spokesperson deny the president's serious condition. He is expected to participate in public events today, but so far only in video format.

Wreckage of an unidentified military object was found in northern Poland. According to Polish media, the object is an air-to-ground missile with inscriptions in Russian.

Ukraine has received 1,550 armored vehicles, 230 tanks and a large amount of ammunition, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said.

Washington Post Telegram

Russia can fund war in Ukraine for another year despite sanctions, leaked document says
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/26/russia-sanctions-impact-leaked-documents/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)U.S. intelligence holds that Russia will be able to fund the war in Ukraine for at least another year, even under the heavy and increasing weight of unprecedented sanctions, according to leaked U.S. military documents.
The previously unreported documents provide a rare glimpse into Washington’s understanding of the effectiveness of its own economic measures, and of the tenor of the response they have met in Russia, where U.S. intelligence finds that senior officials, agencies and the staff of oligarchs are fretting over the painful disruptions — and adapting to them.
While some of Russia’s economic elites might not agree with the country’s course in Ukraine, and sanctions have hurt their businesses, they are unlikely to withdraw support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an assessment that appears to date from early March.

Russia needs more troops but is wary of public anger, leaked documents say
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/27/russia-troops-ukraine-war-leaked-documents/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)Russian officials are scrambling to enlist hundreds of thousands more troops for the war in Ukraine without angering the general public, but recruitment plans being pushed by military leaders are raising alarm among other government officials worried about an increasingly critical labor shortage in the civilian workforce, according to classified U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Post.
In mid-February, President Vladimir Putin “reportedly backed” his military’s proposal to “quietly recruit” 400,000 additional troops throughout 2023 for the war in Ukraine, according to one intelligence document, part of a trove of classified information allegedly leaked on the Discord gaming platform.

In Russia, there are preliminary reports that MiG-31 fighter jet has crashed in the Murmansk region. Russian media are already publishing video.

Reports of that were doing the rounds 2-3 days ago, there have been a couple videos doing the rounds that claim to show the accident.

https://twitter.com/KramarenkoMari3/status/1651567211604000770 Ukrainian hackers accessed a secret meeting between Russians and Iranians to remind them that no one will escape responsibility for crimes against Ukraine. No translation available for this yet

Good overview of James Cleverley's speech on China: twitter.com/sophgaston/status/1651180865404256256?s=46&t=ZRiOqYBPJdwGCarjKNzCeQ

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-27-2023

Key Takeaways

• The Russian military command appears to be reshuffling the leadership of command organs associated with force generation, sustainment, and logistics.
• The three command organs that are reportedly receiving new leadership as part of this reshuffle are noteworthy because they are associated with managing aspects of Russian force generation, troop sustainment, and logistical oversight.
• Western officials expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to conduct a successful counteroffensive.
• Russian forces are reportedly using new tactics to complicate Ukrainian air defenses’ ability to detect Russian missiles.
• Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov appears to have launched a renewed campaign for national attention.
• Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani in New Delhi, India on April 27.
• Russian forces conducted defensive operations in the Kupyansk direction and limited ground attacks near Kreminna.
• Russian forces did not make any confirmed gains in or around Bakhmut but may be transferring additional reserves to the Bakhmut area.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• Russian forces are further militarizing the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to defend against possible Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.
• The Washington Post reported that leaked US intelligence documents state that Russian military leaders aim to enlist 815,000 soldiers while balancing concerns about critical labor shortages.
• Ukrainian partisans conducted three separate attacks in occupied territories on April 26-27.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️SBU: Russian soldier admits (https://kyivindependent.com/sbu-russian-soldier-admits-killing-ukrainian-pows-after-interrogations/) killing Ukrainian POWs after interrogations.
In a conversation intercepted by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), a Russian soldier admitted he has repeatedly killed Ukrainian prisoners of war by cutting their throats.
"People who are prisoners of war... there is no point in keeping them. Well, because we get all the information from them. There is no point in keeping them anymore… they need to be disposed of," the Russian serviceman said.

⚡️PM Shmyhal meets (https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-meets-pope-francis-in-vatican-invites-him-to-ukraine/) Pope Francis in Vatican, invites him to Ukraine.

⚡️14,000 Ukrainian troops trained (https://kyivindependent.com/uk-trains-ukrainian-troops/) in UK since start of invasion.

The Kyiv Independent launched its War Investigations Unit.
Our new unit consists of three top-notch Ukrainian investigative journalists who have already started creating documentaries aimed at uncovering crucial information, including the facts, names, and documents surrounding atrocities committed by Russia’s military during the war.

⚡️Guardian: UK business registered (https://kyivindependent.com/guardian-uk-business-allegedly-registered-to-russian-proxy-official-despite-sanctions/) to Russian proxy official despite sanctions.

⚡️Media: Erdoğan discusses (https://kyivindependent.com/media-erdogan-discusses-grain-deal-in-call-with-putin/) grain deal in call with Putin.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke about the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin during a call on April 27, Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reported.
According to Daily Sabah, the main purpose of the call was to discuss the inauguration of the the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, a joint Turkish-Russian project.

⚡️PACE: Russia's forced relocation of Ukrainian children shows evidence of genocide

⚡️Putin signs decree allowing (https://kyivindependent.com/putin-signs-decree-deporting-ukrainians/) deportation of Ukrainians from occupied territories.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the deportation of Ukrainians in occupied territories who refuse to take Russian citizenship, Russian state media reported on April 27.

⚡️US to impose (https://kyivindependent.com/us-to-impose-additional-sanctions-against-russia-iran-for-detaining-its-citizens/) additional sanctions against Russia, Iran for detaining its citizens.

⚡️Denmark confirms (https://kyivindependent.com/denmark-confirms-sighting-of-russian-ship-near-nord-stream-pipeline-days-before-explosion/) sighting of Russian ship near Nord Stream pipeline days before explosion.
A Russian SS-750 specialized vessel, which carries a submarine on board, was photographed close to the location of the Nord Steam pipelines that were sabotaged in September 2022.

⚡️Bulgarian Foreign Minister: Bulgaria faces (https://kyivindependent.com/bulgarian-foreign-minister-bulgaria-faces-unprecedented-increase-in-russian-hybrid-attacks/) 'unprecedented increase' in Russian hybrid attacks.
The increase in hybrid attacks is "aimed at undermining Bulgaria's stability and thereby (its) democratic values and processes," he said.

⚡️National Police Identifies (https://kyivindependent.com/national-policy-identifies-14-000-civilians-killed-since-beginning-of-full-scale-invasion/) 14,000 civilians killed since beginning of full-scale invasion. [not incl mariupol]

⚡️Russia launches another mass missile strike (https://kyivindependent.com/russia-launches-another-mass-attack-on-ukraine-killing-2-year-old-child/) on Ukraine, killing 2-year-old child.
Russian forces launched yet another large-scale missile strike against Ukraine in the early hours of April 28, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 23 more.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

Kuleba met with the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The parties discussed the possibilities of providing technical support to promote the export of food from Ukraine and supporting the development of the humanitarian program "Grain from Ukraine".

The Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament agreed to extend for another year the cancellation of EU import duties on Ukrainian exports to support the Ukrainian economy, the press service of the European Parliament.

Residents of Izium, Kharkiv region, complain about crows carrying landmines. This is reported by Status Quo.
"The situation is completely unexpected, of course, I would like to have specific confirmed observations and evidence. However, it is quite plausible!" – says Dmytro Strelkov, deputy head of the cultural and educational department of the Kharkiv Zoo.

From 150 to 200 Chechens are fighting on the side of Ukraine, they are the children and grandchildren of fighters who fought in the First or Second Chechen wars, – Politico.
According to journalists, the foreign volunteers agree that the Chechens are among the most dedicated and idealistic people in the struggle, as are the 200 Belarusians fighting for Ukraine, and far more than most Western and Latin American volunteers.

❗️Brazil refused to send ammunition to Germany for transfer to Ukraine
President Lula da Silva explained this by his unwillingness to "become a party to a military conflict."
According to him, German Chancellor Scholz asked him to send the tank shells bought in Germany in order to hand them over to Ukraine.

The Russian Federation is creating a hub in Türkiye through which it will sell gas to third countries, – Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ceremony of delivering nuclear fuel to the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu.

The Russian Federation is creating a hub in Türkiye through which it will sell gas to third countries, – Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ceremony of delivering nuclear fuel to the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu.
The platform, launched by the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will become a hub for defense tech companies to cooperate with the state and military as well as with investors, volunteer funds, the media and everyone who seeks to bring Ukraine's victory closer through technology.

Great Britain sanctioned Kherson collaborationist Vladimir Saldo. And in five months, he opened a company in London, — The Guardian.
Grainholding with an authorized capital of £1 million (about $1.2 million) was registered in November 2022.

Athletes from the Russian Federation will not be forced to speak out in writing against the war in Ukraine. This was stated by the president of the Association of International Olympic Federations of Summer Sports, Francesco Ricci Bitti, quoted by L'Equipe.

🇵🇱 Starting tomorrow, Poland will simplify the export of drones to Ukraine

🇬🇷 Greece has declared that it will not join the "unsustainable" ban on Ukrainian grain

The commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Neizhpapa, was arrested in absentia in Moscow for organizing an attack on the life of a Russian serviceman, reports the propagandist Russian publication RIA Novosti with reference to the Khamovnytsky District Court of Moscow.

A court in Norway sentenced the ex-commander of the "Wagner" PMC Andrii Medvedev, who is seeking asylum in the country, to 14 days in prison for violating public order and carrying an air weapon in a public place

China should better understand Ukraine's prospects – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the conversation between Presidents Zelenskyy and Xi Jinping.

Ukrainian air defense systems shot down 21 enemy missiles

Some news from the “normal” world: NASA has published photos of the Martian landscape taken from a space helicopter.

The Russian Federation is creating a hub in Türkiye through which it will sell gas to third countries, – Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ceremony of delivering nuclear fuel to the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu. The Russian Federation is creating a hub in Türkiye through which it will sell gas to third countries, – Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ceremony of delivering nuclear fuel to the first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu. The platform, launched by the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will become a hub for defense tech companies to cooperate with the state and military as well as with investors, volunteer funds, the media and everyone who seeks to bring Ukraine's victory closer through technology.

sorry this should read:

Ukraine has just launched BRAVE1 — a platform for kickstarting military innovations and developing cutting-edge defense technologies.

The platform, launched by the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will become a hub for defense tech companies to cooperate with the state and military as well as with investors, volunteer funds, the media and everyone who seeks to bring Ukraine's victory closer through technology

Live: Ukraine Telegram

Russian officials want to "quietly" recruit more than 400,000 Russians for the war with Ukraine in 2023, mostly at the expense of contract soldiers from low-income families, according to secret US intelligence documents obtained by WP journalists.
The need for additional mobilisation may further alienate the public from Putin, so the Kremlin has decided to involve regional governors in conscription campaigns and continue to recruit men from Russian prisons.

🇲🇩 Moldova has joined the list of countries that support the creation of a special tribunal against Russia. This brings the number of such countries to 35.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Hungarian Army, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, has been suddenly dismissed by order of the Minister of Defense.
Media speculation suggests that the dismissal may be related to today's publication of a video showing French helicopters destined for Ukraine taking off at Gyor airfield in Hungary, despite official statements by Hungarian politicians that they will not allow EU weapons to reach Ukraine through their territory.

The new Czech president, Petr Pavel, and his Slovak counterpart, Zuzana Čaputová, came to Ukraine together.
On his official Twitter account, Petr Pavel posted a photo in front of a damaged house, probably in Borodyanka

Zaluzhnyi: At about 4 a.m., Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with Tu-95 strategic aircraft from the Caspian Sea.
The anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force of Ukraine, in cooperation with the air defense of other components of the Defense Forces, destroyed 21 of 23 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, as well as two operational and tactical UAVs.
The targets were destroyed in the areas of responsibility of the "Center" Air Command, "East" Air Command and "South" Air Command.

Washington Post Telegram

Ukraine’s Azov brigade races to rebuild ahead of fateful fight
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/26/azov-brigade-ukraine-war-recruits/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)KYIV, Ukraine — The Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for its tenacity during Russia’s siege of Mariupol, is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraine’s next major assault.
The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war.

U.S. asks Brazil to extradite alleged Russian spy who posed as student
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/27/spy-extradition-russia-brazil-illegal/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)The United States has asked Brazil to extradite an alleged Russian spy charged last month by the Justice Department with posing as a foreign student in Washington while carrying out espionage operations against the West, according to U.S. and Brazilian officials.

• Brittney Griner on Thursday held her first news conference since being released from a Russian prison in December, by turns tearful and upbeat as she spoke of her experience and her return to professional basketball.

- Russia rejected a U.S. consular request to visit detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich on May 11, its Foreign Ministry said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

• NATO has delivered 98 percent of “combat vehicles” promised to Ukraine, according to Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary general.

For those interested, Summary of Russian Sanctions here:

https://www.castellum.ai/russia-sanctions-dashboard?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Apparently Amnesty commissioned an external report about its claims that Ukrainian soldiers are breaking international laws in the way they fight.

Now they have hidden the report's findings.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/us/amnesty-international-report-ukraine-russia.html

Thanks, Ducks. That is a useful link. Interesting to see the weight of sanctions are overwhelmingly against Russia.

John Schindler on shells and WW1 parallels. He knows his WW1 in the East, is a bit full of himself and has done some less than perfect things, but goes on my worth paying attention to list.

It’s 1915 All Over Again (But Dumber) - by John Schindler (substack.com)

The military term for someone like John Schindler is a REMF. You'll have to google it. 😀

Sometimes they are sailing/flying a desk.

😱😁

His claim to notoriety was sending a picture of his penis to a woman that led to his resigning from the Naval War College.

I’m told that his books on Isonzo and Galicia on WW1 are good. The latter includes the fighting at Lemberg, which is Lviv.

Crikey.

Snowden critic resigns Naval War College after online penis photo flap [UPDATED] - "I had a great time there but it's time to move on," professor says on Twitter.

And has never served a day in the military. God protect us from civilian experts, especially those with impulse control challenges. Time to move on indeed.