Ukraine Daily

Wednesday, 20 April 2022

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers on the front line with Russian troops in Luhansk Oblast on April 11. (AFP/Getty Images)

Pentagon: Ukraine has received additional aircraft and aircraft parts to increase fleet size. Without going into detail, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Ukraine has received additional fighter planes and spare parts from other countries, not including the U.S., to expand Ukraine’s air capabilities and to help it get more planes in the air.

Ukrainian military regains control of Marinka, Donetsk Oblast. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the Armed Forces launched a counter-offensive and drove out Russian troops from the city, which is less than 10 kilometers west of Donetsk. Marinka was last controlled by Ukraine in mid-March.

76 Ukrainians return home as part of prisoner exchange with Russia. This number includes 60 servicepeople, including 10 officers, and 16 civilians, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on April 19. She did not say how many Russians were exchanged under the fifth prisoner swap.

UK Intelligence: Ukraine repels multiple Russian assaults, heavy Russian shelling continues along frontline. According to the latest British Defense Ministry intelligence update, Russia is struggling to make significant progress as its advances are stifled by environmental, logistical and technical challenges, combined with the resilience of the highly-motivated Ukrainian armed forces.

Zelensky: ‘If we had access to all the weapons we need, which our partners have, we would have already ended this war.’ President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls in his nightly address that Ukraine’s partners send it the weapons it needs to defend itself against Russia, saying, “it is unfair that Ukraine is still forced to ask for what its partners have been storing for years.”

Luhansk Oblast governor: Evacuation continues despite constant shelling, heavy fighting. Governor Serhiy Haidai said that evacuating residents from Kreminna, a town recently seized by Russia, is now impossible, efforts continue to help people from other settlements to flee the war. The official added that up to 70,000 civilians still remain in Luhansk Oblast, where Russia has begun a major offensive.

US believes Russia will target supply routes into Ukraine to delay military aid. A U.S. defense official said that Russians might not strike moving convoys, but they could target infrastructure like railroads, bridges and roads, CNN reports. However, the official said attacks would not stop shipments entirely as there are simply too many.

Ukraine’s Air Force: Nine Russian aerial targets destroyed. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, air defense units shot down one airplane, one helicopter, one missile, and six UAVs on April 19.

Russians prepare to hold ‘pseudo-referendum’ in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s intelligence warns that Russia is preparing “referendums” in occupied parts of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts to proclaim “republics” similar to what happened in Russian-occupied Donbas in 2014.

Ukraine’s UN envoy: Half a million Ukrainians deported to Russia. Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the UN Security Council meeting on April 19, that more than 500,000 Ukrainians were “forcibly transferred” to Russia, including 121,000 children. According to Kyslytsya, citizens of Ukraine are sent to Russia’s “economically depressed regions,” in particular, the northern regions and the island of Sakhalin. He said they receive documents banning them from leaving Russia for two years.

Azov says Azovstal plant bombed, almost completely destroyed. Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment Sviatoslav Palamar told RFE/RL that Russia is dropping “super-powerful bombs” on Mariupol’s steel plant and “a lot of people” are under the rubble. The city council said more than 1,000 civilians are hiding in underground shelters of Mariupol’s main metallurgical plant, where reportedly the last remaining Ukrainian defenders are holding out against Russian forces.

General Staff: Russia has lost 20,800 troops in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia also lost 802 tanks, 2,063 armored personnel carriers, 1,495 vehicles, 386 artillery systems, 132 multiple launch rocket systems, 67 anti-aircraft defense systems, 150 helicopters, 169 aircraft, 76 fuel tanks, 158 UAVs and 8 boats since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24.

Kubrakov: Russia has destroyed $100 billion worth of infrastructure in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Russian troops have destroyed up to 30% of the country’s infrastructure, according to Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. More than 300 bridges have been destroyed or damaged, more than 8,000 kilometers of roads need to be repaired or restored, as well as dozens of railway bridges.

Russia proposes new surrender ultimatum to Ukrainian forces in Mariupol. Russia’s defense ministry said not a single Ukrainian soldier laid down their weapons after an earlier ultimatum, prompting Russia to renew its surrender demands. “Russia’s armed forces, based purely on humanitarian principles, again propose that the fighters of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries cease their military operations from 2 p.m. Moscow time on April 20 and lay down arms,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

87% of AmCham Ukraine members ready to join Ukraine’s post-war recovery. According to a survey published on April 19 by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, 41% of its member companies are fully operational, 50% continue to work partially, 29% of member companies have relocated within Ukraine, and 19% have relocated outside Ukraine.

Russia rejects ceasefire for civilian evacuation. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, told the Security Council on April 19 that calls for Russia to establish humanitarian ceasefires “merely point to an aspiration to provide Kyiv nationalists breathing room to regroup and receive more drones, more anti-tank missiles and more MANPADS.” As Russia launches its major offensive in eastern Ukraine many residents remain trapped in war zones without a safe way out.

The Guardian: Russia deploys up to 20,000 mercenaries for offensive in eastern Ukraine. Citing a European official, the Guardian reported that Russia is employing mercenaries from Syria, Libya and elsewhere through the Wagner Group for its new offensive in Donbas. According to the official, the mercenaries have no weapons or armored vehicles and are being used as “a mass against the Ukrainian resistance.”

The human cost of Russia’s war

Prosecutor General’s Office: Russia’s war kills 205 children, wounds 367. At least five Ukrainian children have been injured in Russian shelling in the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s Prosecutor’s Office reported on April 19. The true figures are thought to be higher since they do not include child casualties in the areas where hostilities are ongoing and in temporarily occupied areas.

Two employees of Kharkiv Zoo shot dead by Russian troops. In a video address posted on Facebook by the Feldman Ecopark Zoo, two zoo workers who stayed behind to take care of zoo animals despite constant shelling were found dead with bullet wounds barricaded in a bathroom on the premises of the zoo. The employees had been missing since March.

Police says over 1,000 civilians killed by Russian troops in Kyiv Oblast. Most of them have been shot by the occupiers, Kyiv Oblast Police Chief Andriy Nebytov said on April 19. This number includes more than 420 bodies of civilians found in Bucha, a town just northwest of Kyiv. Bodies continue to be found in the oblast, Nebytov said.

Truck driver killed by landmine in Irpin. Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn reported the incident on April 19. He once again urged residents to refrain from returning to Irpin, a satellite city northwest of Kyiv, before it’s completely demined.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor: Russian shelling kills 3 people in Kharkiv on April 19. Oleh Synehubov said that 16 people had been injured. Kharkiv has been shelled by Russian multiple rocket launchers, according to the official.

International response

Canada sanctions Putin’s two adult daughters, 12 others. The newest round of sanctions also targets the wife of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Maria, and a number of Russian oligarchs and their family members, according to a release from Global Affairs Canada.

South Korea sends 20 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. As part of a $30 million aid package, on April 19 South Korea sent first aid, defibrillators and other goods Ukraine requested. The aid is in addition to a $10 million package sent in March and the South Korean government is considering sending additional aid.

Lithuania bans public display of Russian ‘Z’ symbol. The Lithuanian Parliament also voted to ban the black and orange ribbon of St. George and other symbols expressing support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Netherlands to send heavy weapons, including armored vehicles, to Ukraine. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on April 19 that he had called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced the arms supplies “as Russia begins a renewed offensive.”

France says embargo on Russian oil ‘necessary.’ Bruno Le Maire, France’s economy minister, said on April 19 to local media that French President Emmanuel Macron was trying to convince his European partners to stop Russian oil imports, but without success so far.

Scholz says Germany will continue arming Ukraine but Berlin’s capacity ‘almost exhausted.’ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that weapons that are already familiar to Ukrainian soldiers should be supplied, while his government will work with manufacturers to make it possible. Scholz said he agrees that “Russia may not win this war,” and his government will help Ukraine obtain anti-tank and air defense weapons.

Biden, Johnson, Trudeau to send more artillery to Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden said his country will supply Ukraine with more artillery. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will be sending heavy artillery and promised to provide more details soon, while U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers in London that “(Ukrainians) need support with more artillery, that is what we will be giving them.”

AeroVironment drone manufacturer to donate over 100 unmanned aircraft systems to Ukraine. The U.S. based company announced that it will provide unmanned aircraft systems and operational training services to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and territorial defense forces amid the ongoing war against Russia. The donation is separate from other AeroVironment systems already being provided to Ukraine by the U.S. Government.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Asami Terajima, Alexander Query, Oleg Sukhov, Sergiy Slipchenko, Olena Goncharova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Olga Rudenko, Toma Istomina, Lili Bivings and Brad LaFoy.

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