Ukraine – 4/25/23 Sitrep
By: Bohdan Chomiak & Robert Homans
April 25, 2023
Proposed New Position for Tucker Carlson
Minister of Information in Viktor Orban’s Government in Hungary. Carlson has originated several shows from Hungary, and he is an unabashed Orban admirer. He’d fit right in.
Note from Graham: I believe that Tucker Carlson is one of the few people of integrity in the news business, along with Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi and Alex Berenson. I believe, with Berenson, that he is simply wrong in thinking that Ukraine is not worth defending. He is right concerning some of the facts about this war, such as neocon involvement in getting it started, biolabs and such. But Ukraine is nontheless in the moral right and worth defending.
The Russia we see today is the Russia the defense against which NATO was formed. It's OK with me if Tucker is wrong in this. He is right on so much else, and speaks out when others are afraid. Which is apparently what got him fired.
Tucker has hosted Alex Berenstein speaking on Covid. FWIW, per the infographic below, Telegram is a major news source here in Ukraine. Though I cannot find it now, yesterday I read and translated a piece to the effect that following instructions from the WHO Ukraine has extended its Covid emergency through June. They encourage people to get vaccinated, and claim that about 35 million doses have been administered, with half the country receiving a first dose. If I find it again I’ll post the link. Here it is.
News From the Battlefield
Ukraine Crosses the Dnieper – Ukraine’s lodgment on the Left Bank of the Dnieper is bigger than most people thought. Both “Reporting From Ukraine” and the Latest Denys cover it. According to both sources, Ukraine now controls a section of the Left Bank approximately 22km wide.
It seems that Ukraine was able to move across the low-lying islands downstream from Kherson City. There are bridges connecting the islands but, since the Antonovskiy Bridge was destroyed, there is no bridge connecting the islands with the Right Bank of the Dnieper.
What happens next:
· If Ukraine can take and hold Oleshky, a town on the Left Bank inland from the river, it will give them a springboard to mover further inland into Russian controlled Kherson Oblast.
· From Oleshky, Ukraine may be able to provide supplies to partisans that have been operating around Melitopol and Tokmak for the entire war, creating a kind of abscess inside Russian controlled territory, and threaten Russian resupply routes throughout southern Ukraine.
· Ukraine can also go north and launch a pincer movement against the Nova Kahovka Dam. This would prevent Russia from releasing water from the reservoir behind the dam, and it would also allow Ukraine to close off the North Crimea Canal, cutting off Crimea from most of its surface water supply.
· Ukraine can move to the southwest against the Kinburn Spit, a piece of land sticking out into the Black Sea at the Mouth of the Dnieper. This would open up Mykolaiv one of the largest ports in Ukraine, for grain exports and as a major re-supply source.
Keep in mind that Ukraine may be able to do all of this, with the objective of weakening Russian defenses without committing large numbers of troops and armor in a conventional offensive, thus saving ammunition, supplies and, most importantly, lives.
Missiles and Drones – Lots of news yesterday, from both Denys and Reporting From Ukraine, including:
· According to “Reporting From Ukraine,” Ukraine has tested its ballistic missile system, the Hrim-2, capable of hitting the Kerch Bridge. The Hrim-2 is not covered under the Biden Administration’s prohibition on hitting targets inside Russia.
· Last night there was a naval drone attack against the Headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Harbor. Russians claim the drones were all destroyed. However, footage appears to show at least 1 ship being hit. Denys provides detailed coverage on how the drones got through the harbor entrance.
· Two fixed wing drones ended up crash landing in a suburb of Moscow. These were fixed wing drones, many of which are financed by former President Poroshenko. Denys provides details.
Bakhmut – According to both Denys and the Institute of the Study of War, Russia seems to have stalled.
The Russian Giant of Lilliput
Seems like the Giant is angry from being poked in the eye by its former republics. Kyrgyzstan announced its intention of dropping the Cyrillic Alphabet. Armenia announced that its intention to join the International Criminal Court. In retaliation, Russia has banned dairy imports from both countries. The U.S. State Department should provide financing for a Ukrainian organization who mission would be to come up with ways to annoy Russia and, at the same time, the U.S. should compensate Kyrgyz and Armenian dairy farmers.
4/25/2023 Sitrep
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon April 24 to 12:00 noon April 25, 2023
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
RASHISTS = russian Facists/all russian invaders
INTERNATIONAL
Tuesday April 25
11:47 AM: The EU has allocated another one and a half billion euros of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
11:19 AM: The Polish foreign minister said that the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia is under discussion. According to him, the package of sanctions will be introduced no earlier than the second half of May.
· Zbigniew Rau expects that the 11th package of sanctions will include personal restrictions against representatives of the Russian justice system and "those who are responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children."
09:54 AM: The Intelligence Directorate, in coordination with the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducted a successful rescue operation to evacuate civilians from battle-torn Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
· 87 citizens of Ukraine were evacuated from the zone of armed conflict, mostly aviation specialists - pilots, technicians and members of their families. Citizens of Georgia and Peru were also evacuated.
· In total, 138 citizens were rescued. Among them are 35 women and 12 children.
9:41 AM: M1 Abrams tanks, which will arrive in Germany from the United States in the coming weeks to train Ukrainian troops, will not be sent to Ukraine to fight.
· "These tanks will be intended only for training. These are not the upgraded tanks that will later go to Ukraine," Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder said.
8:00 AM: Recently introduced changes to the Twitter platform help authoritarian regimes spread their propaganda.
07:59 AM: Chinese Ambassador to the European Union Fu Tsung said that the EU should build relations and develop cooperation with China without taking into account Beijing's position on the "crisis in Ukraine". The diplomat said this in an interview with the Chinese edition of The Paper.
7:58: The United States managed to agree with both sides of the armed conflict in Sudan on the immediate declaration of a ceasefire throughout the country, - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
12:30 AM: A counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is expected in the west in late May and early June, predicts former CIA director and former commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan David Petraeus.
· "In late May, early June, there will be a terribly strong offensive from the Ukrainians. Most likely in the south. Probably, it will be approximately the district of Melitopol. And they will try to break the land line of communication that Russia has established along the southeastern coast of Ukraine connecting Crimea," he said during a speech at the Bush School in Washington.
Monday April 24
11:41 pm: In suitcases abandoned near the Russian Embassy in the United States, there were personal belongings, no explosive devices and nothing suspicious, the diplomatic mission said.
11:15 pm: NATO plans to hold a meeting of its defence ministers on May 10 in Brussels, the press service of the Alliance said.
· The report says that the decision to hold the meeting was made during a video conference, which was attended by the heads of defense agencies of NATO member countries and Sweden.
10:55 pm: Police cordoned off roads near the Russian embassy in the United States.
· According to media reports, an unidentified woman left two suitcases there. Sappers began to examine the abandoned items.
10:35 pm: India has stopped paying for Russian oil on time due to Western sanctions, the country's oil and gas minister Pankaja Jaina has said.
· According to him, the delay "sometimes" happens if raw materials from Russia are supplied at a price above the limit set by the G7 countries at $60 per barrel.
9:55 pm: The Russians may launch an offensive on several frontlines with improved weather conditions in Ukraine.
· This was stated by the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council at the White House Kirby in an interview with Voice of America.
· "And we don't know exactly where and how they [Russians] are. they will, but we want to ensure that Ukrainians can better defend against it," Kirby said.
8:10 pm Foreign Affairs: Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are in favor of security guarantees for Ukraine before NATO membership.
· "Now is the time for the Alliance to chart a clear and credible path to Ukraine's membership, if and when Kyiv wishes and when conditions allow. Until then, we must be ready to provide security guarantees," Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki, Petr Fiala and Eduard Heger said.
7:01 pm The Jerusalem Post: A terrorist driving a car drove into a crowd of people was shot dead in central Jerusalem.
· According to preliminary information, 5 people were injured. A 50-year-old man is in very serious condition.
5:26 pm: Providing Ukraine with modern combat aircraft, including the F-16, will be the best investment this decade in the security of the European continent.
· This was stated by Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU.
· "There are no rational arguments why Ukraine cannot get modern Western-type combat aircraft, and I am convinced that this decision will be made," Kuleba said.
3:22 pm: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is taking active measures to evacuate our citizens from Sudan, where hostilities began on April 15 with the aim of a coup d'état.
· This was stated by spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Nikolenko.
· "A list of persons who have expressed a desire to leave the country has been formed, logistics routes and security aspects are being worked out," Nikolenko wrote.
2:41 pm: The Chinese Foreign Ministry assured that their country respects the sovereignty of the countries of the former USSR after the scandalous statement of the Chinese ambassador, — Reuters.
· Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye said that Crimea "was originally part of Russia," and the countries of the former USSR "do not have an effective status in international law."
· In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a press conference that China recognizes Ukraine as a sovereign state and a full member of the UN.
2:21 pm: The EU may transfer 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine during this year.
· This was stated by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna at a meeting of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.
· "I am confident that the European Union will be able to deliver a million rounds of ammunition during this year, which we agreed. Because Ukraine desperately needs it," Tsakhkna said.
1:59 pm: The EU and Ukraine have agreed to recognise and enforce each other's court decisions, according to the press service of the EU Council.
· "Today, the EU Council agreed to establish contractual relations with Ukraine within the framework of the Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters," reads the message.
1:50 pm: EU countries will seek a quick compromise on the procedure for the joint order of ammunition for Ukraine.
· This was stated by EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
· "I spoke with Kuleba about two ways (providing ammunition - ed.). The first is already being implemented. We have received requests for compensation in the amount of 600 million euros," Borrell said.
NATIONAL
Tuesday April 25
10:28 AM: SBU seizes assets of Marchenko in metallurgical giant of Ukraine for more than UAH 1 billion
· We are talking about Marchenko's corporate rights in JSC Zaporizhzhia Ferroalloy Plant. The decision concerns a 13.7% stake it owns through four offshore companies.
7:18 AM General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Last day, the Russians inflicted 6 missile and 62 air strikes, carried out 70 shelling with MLRS.
· The main efforts of the Russian troops continue to focus on conducting offensive operations in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinsky directions. Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine over the past day repelled 43 attacks in these sectors of the front. The fiercest fighting continues for Bakhmut and Marinka.
· To provide medical care to their wounded, Russian troops continue to actively use medical institutions in the settlements of the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· In particular, in the city of Khrustalny, the Russians deployed a military hospital on the territory of the city hospital.
· Aviation of the Defense Forces over the past day inflicted 9 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the Russian Federation, as well as 3 strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, Ukrainian defenders shot down 10 UAVs of various types - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· Over the past day, units of missile troops and artillery hit an anti-aircraft missile system and 2 stations of electronic warfare.
1:00 AM: The Prozorro system will now show information about the purchase of food, clothes and fuel - the Ministry of Economy.
· Now customers will report on goods and services in the amount of 200 thousand rubles. UAH, as well as works in the amount of UAH 1.5 million. It will also be possible to see the name of the customer, the subject of purchase and the unit price.
Monday April 24
10:15 pm: The court postponed consideration of the claim of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Preserve against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the expulsion of clergy and the transfer of property.
· According to the press service of the UOC, the claim was also denied. The next court hearing will be held on May 1.
8:43 pm: Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov has published information about our second collection for kamikaze aerial drones.
8:28 pm: As of 6 p.m., the Ukrainian military had destroyed nine enemy UAVs in the east and south of the country, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
7:26 PM: United24 posted on their resources information about our second collection for kamikaze aerial drones.
· The press service of United24 reported that the first drones are already heading to Ukrainian defenders in the Bakhmut direction.
6:25 PM General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
· During the day, the enemy inflicted 6 missile and 47 air strikes, carried out 25 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and critical infrastructure of settlements,
· The enemy focuses its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinsky directions - more than 30 enemy attacks were repulsed.
· The enemy continues to use the civilian infrastructure of temporarily occupied settlements for its own purposes, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
· In Holubivka, in the Luhansk region, Russians use one of the schools as a medical center to provide medical care to their servicemen.
· Aviation of the Defense Forces during the day inflicted 6 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers. Also, 2 enemy reconnaissance UAVs of various types were shot down,
· During the day, units of rocket troops and artillery hit an anti-aircraft missile system and 2 stations of enemy electronic warfare.
6:11 PM: Police clearance certificate can again be obtained in Diia," says Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
· "No more manual data entry. Information will be automatically pulled up if your data is in the registers," Fedorov said.
5:55 pm: Ukrainian schools will switch to a 12-year education system in 2027, the Ministry of Education and Science said.
· "So far, we cannot talk about any acceleration of the transition to 12-year education, since the educational process should be consistent and continuous. In addition, such a transition requires significant financial resources, which are currently not provided in the budget," the ministry said.
4:56 pm: The Ukrainian national football team will not be removed from the Euro 2024 qualifiers, despite the ban on participation in tournaments where Russians or Belarusians are present.
· This was announced by the chairman of the Ukrainian Association of football Andriy Pavelko on Facebook.
· "I thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for its prompt response and clear explanation of the situation," Pavelko wrote.
4:40 pm: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas held a joint press conference after the talks.
· "We managed to discuss the whole range of issues that are relevant right now. First of all, our capabilities are at the forefront," Zelensky said.
4:18 pm: Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Zhytomyr.
· "If you look in terms of per capita, the assistance for our defense against Estonia is one of the largest in the world," the president said.
12:25 PM: There are 4 enemy ships on alert in the Black Sea: including 2 carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles, with a total salvo of up to 8 missiles.
· This was reported by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Mordor - russia
Tuesday April 25
8:46 AM: Sanitary aviation helicopter crashed in Volgograd region of the Russian Federation - Russian media
· The helicopter reportedly crashed while returning to base. There were no passengers on board, the pilot died on the spot.
Monday April 24
5:40 pm: Russian media published footage from the site of the drone crash in the Bogorodsky urban district in the Moscow region.
· The head of the Bogorod district Igor Sukhin against the background of the situation with the drone canceled mass events on May 9.
4:00 PM The Wall Street Journal: Iran delivered more than 300,000 shells and a million ammunition to Russia in six months.
· According to the publication, the weapons are supplied by Russian ships across the Caspian Sea.
· It is known that the last batch from Iran for Russia was sent in early March.
3:01 PM SBU press service: A "Wagnerian" who stormed the positions of the Defense Forces near Bakhmut will appear in court.
· According to the investigation, the attacker is a 23-year-old citizen of one of the Central Asian countries, who was serving a sentence in the Tyumen correctional colony of the Russian Federation for rape.
· The attacker is in custody. He now faces up to 10 years in prison.
1:15 pm: The SBU has served a notice of suspicion to the head of the Chechen parliament, Magomed Daudov, who is forming new units of Kadyrovites for the war against Ukraine.
· According to the investigation, during July-November last year, Daudov repeatedly personally visited the temporarily occupied Lysychansk, Popasna and Mariupol and met with the leaders of the newly created Kadyrov units.
· He was declared a suspect, but now the defendant is in Russia. Comprehensive measures are underway to bring him to justice.
KHARKIV
Tuesday April 25
09:59 AM Kharkiv RMA: A Russian strike with an S-300 missile on the very center of Kupiansk injured 10 civilians.
· Three of them were hospitalized, 7 had minor injuries and received assistance on the spot, 2 people remain under the rubble.
09:27 AM: Russians shelled the center of the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region with S-300s, the President's Office said.
· They hit the museum. There are people under the rubble, it is already known about more than 5 wounded.
DONETSK
Tuesday April 25
11:37 AM Donetsk RMA: Russians shelled Novoukrainka 5 times and Prechystivka 3 times. No one was injured.
· Also under fire were the Kurakhivska community, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, New York, Chasovoyarska and Illinivska communities, Yampil and Torske. Residential buildings and a school were damaged.
9:08 AM Institute for the Study of War: Russian advances in Bakhmut have stalled. The Russians continued ground attacks in and around the city but have made no territorial gains over the past two days.
· Regarding the situation in Vuhledar, a few days ago the Russians launched a series of large air strikes. However, ISW continues to believe that "Russian forces lack the combat power necessary for a meaningful offensive in the Vuhledar direction, especially while the battle for Bakhmut is underway."
8:32 AM Donetsk RMA: On April 24, Russians killed 2 residents of Donetsk region - in Shakhtarske
· Another 13 people in the region were injured.
Monday April 24
9:36 PM DTEK press service: In a week, DTEK repaired power facilities damaged by the enemy in 72 settlements of Donetsk region.
· Since the beginning of the full-scale war, DTEK specialists have returned electricity to the homes of 4.3 million families in the region.
5:12 pm: There is extremely high activity of Russian aviation over the temporarily occupied Mariupol, said Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor.
· According to him, for several weeks there has been no such activity of Russian aviation over Mariupol and the region.
03:43 PM British Ministry of Defence: The fiercest fighting continues in the Donetsk region, where Russians are attacking the positions of Ukrainian troops in several directions at once.
· Active fighting continues in Bakhmut and on the outskirts, in Avdiivka and Marinka.
1:30 pm: Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut are not only conducting defensive actions, but also actively counterattacking.
· This was stated by the Commander of the Eastern Group of Forces, Colonel-General Alexander Syrsky.
· "This gives us the opportunity for several months to deter the enemy's offensive and not to increase the front in this direction, destroy its best units and gain time," Syrsky said.
12:07 PM Donetsk RMA: On April 23, it became known about 2 more people killed by Russians in the Donetsk region.
· Another 2 people in the region were injured.
ZAPORIZHIA
Tuesday April 25
10:59 AM Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in the temporarily occupied Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region.
10:09 AM Social Networks: Explosions heard in temporarily occupied Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region.
9:22 AM Zaporizhia RMA: Over the past day, Russian forces have carried out 111 strikes on 20 towns and villages on the contact line: 91 artillery shelling, 5 air strikes, 5 with MLRS and 10 attacks using UAVs.
· So far, there have been 11 reports of destruction.
DNIPRO
Monday April 24
9:21 PM Dnipro RMA: Russians shelled Marhanetska hromada of Nikopol district twice in a day with drones and heavy artillery.
· In the community, 2 private houses and an outbuilding were damaged. There are no casualties among the population.
KHERSON
Tuesday April 25
11:35 AM Social Networks: Explosions heard in Kherson.
11:04 AM Kherson RMA: Russians shelled peaceful settlements of Kherson region 61 times.
· The Russians attacked Kherson 6 times, firing 39 shells at the city. They hit the building of a public organization. A kindergarten in the Novooleksandrivska hromada was also hit. Four people were injured of varying severity.
10:12 AM Social Networks: Explosions heard in Kherson region.
Monday April 24
3:15 PM Social Networks: Explosions heard in Kherson.
KYIV
Tuesday April 25
10:18 AM Kyiv RMA: It could be loud in Kyiv region, - Kyiv OVA.
· Today, April 25, on the territory of Bucha district, work is being carried out on the destruction of explosive objects.
CHERKASY
Monday April 24
12:42 PM SBU press service: The Security Service detained an FSB agent who tried to get a job in a local government body in the Cherkasy region.
· At the direction of the enemy, the offender collected information about the locations and movements of the Defense Forces in the region.
· She was given a notice of suspicion for treason and justification of armed aggression of the Russian Federation. An investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://espreso.tv/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka
Tucker Carlson certainly missed the point on the conflict of the churches in Ukraine. He argued that Ukraine was repressing religion when in fact they were simply shutting down Russian spying missions within Ukraine. Shutting down the Russian Orthodox church is not about repression of religion since at the same time the government is supporting the Ukrainian Orthodox church.
I watched an interview with Carlson and Bret Weinstein which I thought was very well done. I find Carlson to be uneven in his reporting. He supported the Canadian truckers. He even did a video recently which I haven't seen suggesting that the US should invade Canada to restore democracy, a good bit of both humor and truth in my opinion. But his reporting on Ukraine is simply wrong. I don't watch enough to comment further.
Here's the link on Covid vaccinations in Ukraine.
https://babel.ua/en/news/93158-the-government-extended-the-quarantine-due-to-the-coronavirus-until-june-30-it-operates-throughout-the-territory-of-ukraine