Ukraine Invasion: Part 39

[MagicFox]

38 filled up quick. Welcome all to 39 🇺🇦

I am always interested in the notion that the USA is "running out of ammunition", particularly 155-mm gun rounds; I doubt that it's all that likely, but I do like to observe who it is who says it. My own feeling is there may be a supply chain hiccup now and then, but the USA spends so much on armaments I don't really credit them running out; and then I look at who mostly seems to be being alarmist on the subject.

Some of them believe Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, some believe the California wildfires were started by Jewish space lasers, some probably believe in the Face On Mars....

(No, I couldn't read the whole article without signing up, and I didn't feel like signing up, so I may not be being fair. But the header gives a clue.)

I am always interested in the notion that the USA is "running out of ammunition", particularly 155-mm gun rounds; I doubt that it's all that likely, but I do like to observe who it is who says it.

There's a minimum level of war stocks that we have to maintain for contingencies. Only levels above that can be given to Ukraine. There was a recent deal with South Korea to supply 155mm shells to us, not for use in Ukraine. That frees up more stock to give Ukraine. We've also just started to draw on prepositioned stocks held outside of the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_reserve_stock

So, it's more complicated than the pundits would have you believe.

Language of Ukrainian defence.

I was watching coverage of a drone attack in Crimes and was struck by the word 'attack' by the BBC.

While technically correct the language gives the erroneous impression of Ukraine being a provocative aggressor in the conflict rather than engaging in a series of defensive actions.

My concern is that too much emphasis of Ukrainian counter offensive action being 'offensive' gives the impression they are taking Russian territory which is of course not the case. Crimes is a particular problem as it has been annexed for a number of years and there is a temptation to or the media to regard the peninsula as Russian implicitly

I think news articles should include plenty of mention of defense as we as offense to hammer down the point Ukraine is defending itself and territorial sovereignty is unambiguous

Another issue with media coverage is that with conflicts like Sudan editorial decisions need to be made about conflict reporting priorities. To my mind Russian attacks on Ukraine need editorial priority as this globally is a much more significant conflict. Prioritising Sudan in news feed may help demote the Ukraine war to just another conflict hot spot in a febrile world

Huge drone strike on Crimea: twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1652142767982931970?s=46&t=ZRiOqYBPJdwGCarjKNzCeQ

It's a fuel depot by the Sevastopol port that's been hit

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-28-2023

Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu promoted the Kremlin’s efforts to form a potential anti-Western coalition during a meeting of the defense ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in New Delhi, India. Shoigu stated on April 28 that the SCO meeting occurred against the backdrop of the establishment of a new multipolar world order, which the collective West is actively opposing.[11] Shoigu argued that the US and its allies are provoking conflicts with Russia and China and that the West is attempting to defeat Russia and threaten China through the war in Ukraine.[12] Shoigu invited SCO member states to participate in the 11th Moscow Conference of International Security and called on the SCO to develop a framework for exchanging military information, cooperation in joint military exercises, and the development of partnerships between the SCO and Russian-favored multilateral organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).[13]

Key Takeaways

• Russian forces launched a series of missile strikes against rear areas of Ukraine on the night of April 27.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed the appointment of Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov as the new commander of the Baltic Fleet following the transfer of former Baltic Fleet commander Admiral Viktor Liina to the Pacific Fleet.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree codifying conditions for the further large-scale deportation of residents of occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
• Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu promoted the Kremlin’s efforts to form a potential anti-Western coalition during a meeting of the defense ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in New Delhi, India.
• Head of the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill of Moscow defrocked a Russian Orthodox Church protodeacon who did not support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks near Kreminna and have made an incremental advance northwest of Kreminna as of April 28.
• Russian forces are increasing pressure against the T0504 Kostyantynivka-Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut highway.
• Russian forces continued routine indirect fire and defensive operations in southern Ukraine.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked Russian officials with developing Russia’s domestic drone industry likely as part of the Kremlin’s effort to gradually mobilize Russia’s defense industrial base (DIB).
• Russian occupation authorities continue to announce patronage programs with Russian federal subjects.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Defense Minister: Preparations for Ukraine counteroffensive (https://kyivindependent.com/defense-minister-preparations-for-ukraine-counteroffensive-at-final-stage/) at final stage.
Ukraine's preparations for an upcoming counteroffensive are "coming to an end" as the military undergoes training on Western-provided weapons, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on April 28, as cited by Ukrainska Pravda media outlet.

⚡️Slovak, Czech presidents arrive (https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-czech-presidents-arrive-in-ukraine-for-joint-visit/) in Ukraine for joint visit.

⚡️Interior Ministry: Another child in Uman found dead (https://kyivindependent.com/minister/)after Russia's April 28 mass strike.
The authorities discovered that another child was killed in Russia's April 28 mass strike on Uman, raising the death toll of children to five, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on April 29.

⚡️German minister: Ukrainian soldiers start training (https://kyivindependent.com/german-minister-ukrainian-soldiers-start-training-on-leopard-1-tanks/) on Leopard 1 tanks.
Over 100 Ukrainian service personnel have started training on Leopard 1 battle tanks this week, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Spanish publication La Vanguardia.
The delivery of 80 Leopard tanks of the older model will begin in the second half of 2023, the minister said in an interview published on April 28.

⚡️Ministry: Ukraine receives (https://kyivindependent.com/ministry-ukraine-receives-1-25-billion-grant-from-the-us/) $1.25 billion grant from US.
According to Ukraine's Financial Ministry, the money will be used for paying pensions and salaries to Ukrainian emergency and healthcare workers, and social payments, including payments for internally displaced persons.

Belarus Weekly: Number of political prisoners in Belarus reaches 1,500 (https://kyivindependent.com/belarus-weekly-number-of-political-prisoners-in-belarus-reaches-1-500-likely-higher/), likely much higher

Kate Tsurkan: One war, multitudes of pain
(https://kyivindependent.com/kate-tsurkan-one-war-multitudes-of-pain/)This one is for anyone suffering “survivor’s guilt.”

⚡️National Resistance Center: Russia plans (https://kyivindependent.com/national-resistance-center/) to forcibly relocate children from Russian-occupied Horlivka, Donetsk Oblast.

⚡️Oil depot on fire (https://kyivindependent.com/head-of-russian-occu/) in Sevastopol, head of Russian occupying authority in Crimea claims drone attack.
A fire that broke out at a fuel storage tank at the Kozacha Bay in Russian-occupied Sevastopol, Crimea was caused by a drone attack on April 29, the head of the illegal Russian occupation government in Sevastopol, claimed on Telegram.

⚡️Le Monde: France approves Framatome's involvement in Russia-led construction of nuclear reactors in Hungary (https://kyivindependent.com/france-reportedly-greenlights/).

⚡️Ukraine sends a note to Polish Embassy, EU Representative Office on 'unacceptable' trade restrictions of Ukrainian grain (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-lashes-out-at-poland-eu-for-categorical-unacceptability-situation-concerning/).

⚡️Kherson prepares (https://kyivindependent.com/kherson-prepares-evacuation-plans-in-case-of-mass-shelling-of-region/) evacuation plans in case of mass shelling of region.
Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin stated on April 29 that due to increased attacks in Kherson Oblast and throughout the country, he ordered means of evacuation to be prepared for larger numbers of people.
He said that safe routes out of the region have already been identified, along with temporary housing for people.

⚡️Zelensky: Some countries (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-some-countries-promises-of-aid-didnt-pan-out-as-pledged/) 'let down' Ukraine with aid promises.
Since the full-scale invasion, some countries promised aid to Ukraine but failed to deliver in a timely manner, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Nordic media outlets.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

An engine based on German technology stolen nearly 20 years ago was found in the Shahed-136 drones sold by Iran to Russia, — CNN citing Britain's Conflict Armament Research (CAR)

⚡️I will insist that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU begin before the end of the year, — the president of the Czech Republic

Great Britain has already trained 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers

The US Department of Defense has signed a $4.8 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to produce high-precision GMLRS missiles for the HIMARS MLRS.
According to Defense News, it is planned to expand the production of GMLRS M30 and M31 missiles from 6 to 14 thousand annually.
In addition, Lockheed Martin is actively working on creating an ER GMLRS missile with an increased flight range of up to 150 km.

The USA is installing sensors on the territory of Ukraine capable of recording radiation activity and determining the location, force, and consequences of a possible nuclear explosion, including a "dirty" bomb. The New York Times writes about this with reference to a group of experts from the National Nuclear Security Administration under the US Department of Energy.
According to the publication, "the goal is to ensure that if Russia detonates a radioactive weapon on the territory of Ukraine, its responsibility for this will be proven."

Ukraine and the Czech Republic will jointly produce light attack aircraft F/A-259, — the president of the Czech Republic at a conference in Kyiv
Currently, six key joint production projects have been prepared on the basis of Ukrainian and Czech companies. In particular, for the repair of T-64 and T-72 tanks.

Ukraine is preparing about 40 combat kayakers abroad to force the Dnipro, — Bild.
According to the publication, when forcing the river, the Armed Forces intend to use small operational special forces in kayaks.
And since January, Ukraine has been actively purchasing special equipment for this and engaging specialists.

Greek sources report the transfer to Ukraine of the S-300PMU1 air defense system, which was previously located on the island of Crete

The EU plans to limit exports to countries that resell goods to Russia, — Financial Times.
The publication, with reference to its sources in Brussels, notes that the European Commission is not satisfied with the supply of manufacturing components, including those for ensuring the military potential of the Russian Federation.
According to the publication's interlocutors, the European Commission is discussing a mechanism limiting the supply to countries of a small list of such goods through which important components can get to Russia and be used in the war against Ukraine.
It is intended first to develop a legislative framework for determining the list of such goods and countries but not to disclose it. The nations will then be notified that appropriate action will be taken against them. And already at the third stage, specific goods and countries will fall under export restrictions.

Germany offered to produce 250,000 artillery shells, which is a quarter of the million 155-mm ammunition that the EU plans to produce for Ukraine, — Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Data on the production of oil, gas and condensate in Russia were hidden by decision of the government.
"The publication of official statistical information is suspended until April 1, 2024, starting with data for March and the first quarter of 2023," the order says.

The Russian Federation refuses to return the deported 14-year-old girl to Ukraine, she is planned to be tried, — Ombudsman
"Just think about the cynicism: a mother in Ukraine is looking for her child, and the Russians, knowing this, invent some kind of court — so as not to bring her back to Ukraine.”

Dnipro.... A private house that no longer exists. The deceased mother and 2-year-old daughter. 🙏

Live: Ukraine Telegram

🌾 The European Commission has agreed with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria to lift the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. This includes the purchase of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower.

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov says that the first 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzer from Denmark have arrived in Ukraine. The country has promised to deliver all 19 of its CAESARs.

Now, in Russia, treason will be punishable by life imprisonment - Putin has signed a law.

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Russia to pay €129 million to Georgian citizens who suffered from Russia's 2008 invasion. Most of this amount is to be paid to at least 23,000 people who were unable to return to their homes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Ukraine and the Czech Republic have prepared six projects for the joint production of weapons and ammunition, training aircraft and tank repair with the possibility of full production work on Ukrainian territory - Petr Pavel

Ukrainian hackers got access to a russo-iranian conference and reminded them that they will be held accountable for their aggression against Ukraine.

Drones are flying in the Belgorod region. It’s said that two of the three hit their target, the power plant in the village of Nezhegol, Shebekinsky district.
[this implies that Ukraine is actively targeting Belgorod just inside the Russian border]

🇺🇸🇷🇺 The U.S. Central Command said that Russian warplanes have been regularly provoking U.S. aircraft in the skies over Syria. Russian fighter jet pilots behave as if they want to engage in combat.
Russian pilots are dangerously intercepting American F-16s, getting too close to the aircraft and entering airspace controlled by the coalition and the United States. To avoid incidents, there are special communication channels, but the Russians have stopped recognizing incidents and sometimes do not even communicate. Since the beginning of March, Russian aircraft have violated the so-called conflict avoidance protocols 85 times.

During the identification of the bodies in Uman, it became known that five children were killed, not four as previously thought. These are two boys (one and a half and 16 years old) and three girls (8, 11 and 14 years old), the police said.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said that his country is considering "various options" when it comes to providing Ukraine with lethal weapons to counter full-scale Russian aggression.

❗️An explosion at an oil depot in Sevastopol destroyed more than 10 tanks with oil products. Their total capacity was almost 40 thousand tons. The oil products were intended for the needs of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Andriy Yusov, a representative of the DIU, called the explosion "God's punishment for Uman."

🔥 An oil depot is on fire in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. The "Russian governor" announced a drone attack. According to him, there were no casualties.

Washington Post Telegram

Pace of U.S. tank delivery to Ukraine draws fire in Senate

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/04/27/abrams-tanks-ukraine/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)President Biden and his senior military advisers were rebuked Thursday by senators exasperated by what they claimed is the glacial pace at which his administration is moving to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine, whose leaders say they need such weapons for a highly anticipated counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Angus King (I-Maine) directed their frustration at Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who as the head of the U.S. European Command oversees much of the Pentagon’s effort to train and equip Ukraine’s army. King told the general he is worried that Ukraine will not have enough firepower to counter Russian troops this summer and that the American tanks should be staged in Poland now so Ukrainian forces can use them as soon as they complete a training course expected to begin next month under the supervision of U.S. soldiers in Germany.

• The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and other entities for their role in the “wrongful detention” of Americans.

• Bakhmut and Maryinka remain at the center of hostilities, Ukraine’s military said early Saturday. Russian forces are on the defensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, it said.

Donated MiG jets will not give Ukraine air superiority against Russia
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/27/mig-fighter-jets-ukraine-russia/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)KYIV, Ukraine — When Poland and Slovakia announced their plans to donate up to 30 MiG fighter jets to Ukraine, it was hailed as a breakthrough in getting Kyiv ever more sophisticated weaponry and as a sign that Eastern European nations were prepared to be bolder than the United States or NATO allies in Western Europe.
For the Ukrainian pilots who fly it, the Soviet-designed MiG-29 is an “old friend” — a fighter that lacks the flash and capabilities of newer jets but nonetheless has played a critical role. “It’s ridiculously fast,” said Moonfish, a Ukrainian pilot who has flown close to 60 sorties, all in the MiG-29, and spoke on the condition that only his call sign be used for security reasons. One time, Moonfish said, he needed to “escape from Russian missiles.” “The MiG,” he said, “carried my ass out of danger.”

The WSJ piece is interesting and having written in glowing terms about the MiG-29 top speed (nice to have) they do also go on to mention the real problem the Uk AF MiG-29s are facing - the lack of a long range radar/long range missile combination that would allow them to take on the Russian Mig-31/R-37M force on anything like equal terms.

Not quite sure what "the west", generically, envisage supplying, if anything, that solves that particular problem.

The Russian Federation refuses to return the deported 14-year-old girl to Ukraine, she is planned to be tried, — Ombudsman
"Just think about the cynicism: a mother in Ukraine is looking for her child, and the Russians, knowing this, invent some kind of court — so as not to bring her back to Ukraine.”

Poor girl must be terrified and her mother absolutely distraught. No words.

I agree wholeheartedly. Ukrainers are defenders. It is not helpful to adopt the language of implicit language of aggression when describing Ukraine's efforts to dislodge the Russian invaders from illegally occupied territories.

I wish there was a way to ensure Ukraine stays in the headlines.

Great graphical account of Russia's increasing layered defences in Ukraine and the implications on Ukraine's offensive:

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UKRAINE-CRISIS/COUNTEROFFENSIVE/mopakddwbpa/index.html

I have just seen on Twitter a simple one line post Khadrov died. Has anyone heard this or is it not true

Fingers crossed it is true!

That's a good article on fixed defenses, blueshoes. Mick Ryan makes a good point that they don't always work to a defender's advantage.

I think a lot of the outcome will come down to the morale of the mobiks that have to defend against the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Bit late today

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-29-2023

Key Takeaways

• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to withdraw Wagner forces from Bakhmut if the Russian military command fails to provide more ammunition to Wagner mercenaries.
• Prigozhin also continued his efforts to convince the Kremlin to go over to the defensive in eastern Ukraine.
• Prigozhin offered the position of First Deputy Commander of Wagner forces, possibly sarcastically, to former Russian Deputy Defense Minister for Logistics Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev who was reportedly dismissed from his position on April 27.
• Ukrainian forces attacked an oil storage facility in Sevastopol reportedly with a wave of Mugin-5 UAVs on April 29.
• Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Svatove-Kreminna line.
• Russian forces made limited gains in Bakhmut and continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces conducted a sea-based missile strike against the command post of the Ukrainian Kherson Group of Forces. Ukrainian officials have so far not confirmed this claim.
• The Russian MoD continues to pursue measures to expedite the conscription process and increase the difficulty of evading summonses.
• Russian occupation authorities and border area officials have expanded security measures and filtration efforts likely in anticipation of increased Ukrainian partisan activity in support of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive.

(Got a feeling that Putin's fighting for his life and doesn't realise it. Prigozhin is becoming more and more influential with his fingers in a lot of pies).

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Czech President visits (https://kyivindependent.com/czech-president-visits-idps-in-dnipro-pledges-support/) IDPs in Dnipro, pledges more humanitarian aid.

⚡️Rescue operations complete (https://kyivindependent.com/rescue-operations-complete-in-uman-after-russian-missile-strike-kills-23/) in Uman after Russian missile strike kills 23.

⚡️Prigozhin threatens (https://kyivindependent.com/prigozhin-threatens-to-pull-wagner-out-of-bakhmut-if-not-given-munitions/) to pull Wagner out of Bakhmut if not given munitions.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of private Russian army Wagner Group, threatened to abandon his positions next to Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast if he doesn’t get more supplies from the Kremlin.
Prigozhin reportedly told Telegram-based outlet WarGonzo that he sent a letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu with his ultimatum, supposedly giving Shoigu until April 28 to decide.

⚡️Pelosi: Democracy (https://kyivindependent.com/pelosi-democracy-must-prevail-in-ukraine/) must prevail in Ukraine.

⚡️Zelensky: 'We won't delay (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-we-wont-delay-the-offensive-despite-lack-of-f-16/) counteroffensive' despite lack of F-16 jets.
"It would help a lot... But we understand that we will not delay this," he said.

⚡️EU Commission expects (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-commission-may-ukrainian-grain-on-ban-import-on-may-2/) Ukraine's grain import to resume on May 2, allowing ban on five products.

⚡️Air Force: Russia shells (https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-russia-shells-ukraine-with-recently-made-missiles/) Ukraine with recently made missiles.
Russia reportedly uses missiles manufactured last fall or winter to strike Ukraine, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on April 29.

⚡️BBC confirms identities of 21,700 Russian soldiers (https://kyivindependent.com/bbc-confirms-identities-of-17-000-russian-soldiers-killed-in-ukraine-in-13-months-of-the-war-2/) killed in Ukraine in 14 months of the war.
Using open sources, BBC Russia, together with Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, established the names of 21,700 Russian soldiers who had been killed in the war in Ukraine. The media carry out a name-by-name count of the dead.

⚡️Politico: Finance minister says Ukraine will need another $20 billion (https://kyivindependent.com/politico-finance-minister-says-ukraine-will-need-another-eu18-billion-in-2024/) in 2024.

⚡️ Southern Command: Fire at oil depot in Sevastopol is Ukraine’s ‘preparation’ for counteroffensive (https://kyivindependent.com/southern-command-fire-at-oil-depot-in-sevastopol-is-ukraines-preparations-for-counteroffensive/).
According to Ukraine's Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk, the large fire that occurred at an oil depot at the Kozacha Bay in Russian-occupied Sevastopol on April 29 is Ukraine’s “preparation” for the awaited counteroffensive.

⚡️Prosecutors: Russia has killed (https://kyivindependent.com/prosecutor-generals-office-russia-has-killed-at-least-477-children-injured-955-since-feb-24/) at least 477 children, injured 955 during invasion.
The casualty rate among children is expected to be higher, as the current count does not include data from Russian-occupied territories or where hostilities are ongoing.

⚡️Zelensky holds (https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-holds-call-with-macron-discusses-military-needs/) call with Macron, discusses military needs.

Low count day.

~unconfirmed~

The Russians admitted that on September 24, 2022, two HIMARS missiles from the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed the headquarters of the 37th motorized rifle brigade of the RF Armed Forces in the village of Novovoznesenskoye, Kherson region.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the extension and expansion of the grain agreement in a telephone conversation with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the office of the UN Secretary General said.

Russian oil still fuels Europeans' cars, but now thanks to India, – Bloomberg.
According to Kpler analysts, India may become the largest supplier of petroleum products to Europe in April.
The country buys record volumes of cheap Russian oil, processes it into fuel, and sells it at a premium.
This month, India will be able to send about 360,000 barrels of oil products daily to Europe. More than Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the country will buy more than 2 million barrels of Russian oil daily.
On the one hand, the EU needs alternative diesel fuel sources after cutting off the flow from the Russian Federation.
On the other hand, the publication notes that the demand for "Moscow" barrels is growing and the competition between European oil refineries, which do not have access to cheap Russian oil, is intensifying.

Cases of collective refusal of the occupiers to participate in hostilities have become more frequent in the Mariinka region

In Perm, Russia, the Motovilikha Plant, which manufactures artillery and multiple rocket launchers, is on fire.

The European Union is considering giving member states more time to balance their budgets if they invest in ramping up munitions production, a priority after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, — Bloomberg, citing EU officials.

A group of experts from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic is going to Ukraine to collect evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian Federation for the ISS — the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands. [grim job]

This week, Russia attacked Ukraine with new missiles, said Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"The remains that were found during the extreme strikes indicate that these are fresh rockets, they were also manufactured in the fall, and there are winter versions of spare parts.
The pace of production is not high because this is a high-tech weapon, and it is not produced quickly. But, unfortunately, they continue to manufacture it," Ignat stressed.
The analysis also showed that the "stuffing" of the rockets is imported, only metal and markings are in the missiles from Russia.
"There are tens of thousands of high-tech parts; Russia certainly cannot manufacture them. Unfortunately, it can get them through third countries through smuggling. That is why sanctions pressure on the terrorist state is necessary at all levels," he added.

Panic is spreading in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol after yesterday's large-scale fire at the oil depot, — General Staff.

The Russians are far from seizing the "road of life" in Bakhmut, which supplies food, medicine, weapons, and other things necessary for the military and civilians, said Serhiy Cherevaty, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. in an exclusive comment for ZN.UA.

Of course, China pursues its interests, but it can still help establish peace in Ukraine, — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Melnyk in an interview with Morgenpost.

The German federal government has officially confirmed the transfer of the second IRIS-T system to Ukraine.

Ukraine signed three contracts with the drone manufacturer Baykar as part of the international aviation exhibition Teknofest 2023 in Istanbul, — Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshyn.

Combat clashes between the Armed Forces and the Russian occupiers sometimes take place at distances of less than 50 meters, said the spokesman of the National Guard, Ruslan Muzychuk

Valerii Zaluzhnyi met with the Supreme Commander of the NATO Joint Forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli.
The military discussed the situation at the front, arms deliveries and training of Ukrainian servicemen

Live: Ukraine Telegram

Russian troops have almost completely captured Bakhmut, with a few blocks with high-rise buildings in the west remaining under Ukrainian control. The Russians have cut off the main exits from the city, so there are only dirt roads left to leave, which are constantly shelled. The occupiers are trying to advance in the area of Avdiivka and Maryinka, but to no avail. In all other areas, the Russians are defending themselves and preparing for a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Analyzing the situation at the front on the 430th day of the full-scale invasion: https://telegra.ph/In-Bakhmut-the-Ukrainian-army-controls-several-neighborhoods-while-the-rest-of-the-city-is-occupied-by-Russians-Ukraine-is-prepa-04-29

The Ukr government has banned the letters Z and V from individual license plates. Also, they cannot be used in words written in Cyrillic instead of the letters З, С, В and Ф.
📍This does not apply to state registration license plates for electric vehicles.

The rescue operation in Uman has been completed - 23 people have died. Twenty-two people were rescued from the rubble, and one died in the hospital. Among the dead are six children: three boys (one and a half, 16 and 17 years old) and three girls (8, 11 and 14 years old).

The International Judo Federation allowed representatives of Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions in a neutral status.

❗️Ukraine decided to boycott the World Judo Championships because Russians and Belarusians were allowed to compete under a neutral flag. The International Judo Federation allowed even those Russian athletes who are members of the Russian army to apply for the competition.

Ukrainian S-300 operator demonstrates the results of its work

Washington Post Telegram

Here is the latest from Ukraine (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/24/russia-ukraine-war-news/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_main):

• The Russian invasion of Ukraine spurred a steep increase in the defense expenditure of Western and Central European countries, with spending exceeding that of 1989, when the Cold War was drawing to a close, according to a new report.

• Russia accused the U.S. of violating its obligations by not issuing visas to journalists planning to cover Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s trip to the United Nations in New York, which began Monday.

• The Kremlin could end the Black Sea grain deal, which facilitates the export of Ukrainian grain, if the Group of Seven industrialized nations imposes a blanket ban on exports to Russia, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday.

• Ukraine has probably set up military positions on the eastern side of the strategically important Dnieper River in the Kherson region, the Institute for the Study of War said.

Russian mercenaries closely linked with Sudan’s warring generals
(www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/22/sudan-russia-wagner-group/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram)
Over recent years, Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group has established close ties with Sudan’s security forces and sought to exploit these connections to advance Moscow’s economic and military interests, including lucrative gold mining concessions and arms deals.

Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Inside Sudan, Wagner has previously provided equipment and training to the security forces, advised government leaders and conducted information operations, according to a leaked U.S. intelligence document seen by The Washington Post.

But the outbreak of intense fighting last weekend between forces led by rival Sudanese generals, which has rocked the country and killed at least 400 people, has presented Moscow and its Kremlin-backed mercenaries with an urgent dilemma. They have a great deal to lose if they back the wrong side.

Friday's Ukraine: The Latest podcast mentioned an article from a Russian language media outlet about why Putin hates Ukraine (and the west). I've found a link to it. It's pretty interesting historical background. It will load in Russian at first, then a minute or so later, the English translation will load.

How Putin came to hate Ukraine - An investigation into how the Russian president came up with the idea of a war with Ukraine