19:04
Ukrainian government: “Tensions between the Russian army and Donbass separatists, including gun battles”
In the areas of Donbass occupied by the Russians, tension is growing between the departments sent by Moscow and the local separatist militias: there have even been cases of gun battles between the two theoretically allied military forces. This was reported by the governor of the Mykolaiv region Vitaly Kim, which speaks of a shooting in Nova Kakhovka. The Ukrainian source is of course unverified and to be evaluated with caution, but there is no doubt that the “special military operation” for the liberation of the eastern regions of Ukraine is less and less popular in the Russian-speaking community itself.
Tweets from the advisor to the president and chief Ukrainian negotiator reinforce the reconstruction Mikhailo Podolyak, which refers to forced conscription in the Donbass for all males between 18 and 60 years (but with the plan to go down to 17 years), also the result of a “dissatisfaction” of the Russians with the contribution of local militias. These recruits, Podolyak reports, are then sent to the front line without training and without adequate equipment, becoming “slaughter fodder” sent ahead to identify Ukrainian positions, he continues. “The illusions about the Russians have vanished among the residents, when Ukraine frees them, peace will return,” he concludes.
Russia continues to forcibly mobilize residents of the occupied Donbass, all men between the ages of 18 and 60. Even thugs or connections with the local “administration” do not save from the draft, because Russian curators are dissatisfied with the implementation of the plan. (1/3)
– Mikhail Podolyak (@Podolyak_M) April 17, 2022
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18:51
Kuleba: “Terrible situation in Mariupol, the city no longer exists”
“The situation in Mariupol is both terrible at the military level that heartbreaking“. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this in an interview with the American network Cbs. “The city no longer exists, what remains of the Ukrainian military and a large group of civilians are effectively surrounded by Russian forces. They continue to fight, from the way the Russians are behaving in Mariupol it seems that they have decided to raze the city to the ground at any cost ”.
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18:44
Medvedev: “The Russian default can lead to the default of Europe”
The vice president of the Security Council and former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, warns that “Russia’s default could lead to Europe’s default. Anti-Russian sanctions can cause hyperinflation in Europe, ”he adds, quoted by the government agency Tass.
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18:42
Governor Zaporizhzhia: “The Russians kidnapped my 16-year-old son”
The head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, Oleg Buryakreported that their 16-year-old son Vladislav has been kidnapped by the Russian army. The news is confirmed by the head of the regional military administration, Zlata Nekrasova.
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18:36
Zolote (Lugansk) bombed: two dead and four wounded
Russian forces bombed the city of Goldin the Lugansk region, causing two deaths e four injured. The head of the Lugansk regional military administration Sergiy Gaidai wrote on Facebook. “The bullets went through an apartment building, two floors were destroyed. At least two civilians were killed. Four other people sustained injuries of varying severity, ”said Gaidai, underlining that Russian soldiers intentionally targeted civilians. “This is the deliberate killing of people. There are only residential houses nearby, ”he recalls.
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18:31
Israeli ambassador to Moscow summoned by the Russian government
The Israeli ambassador to Russia Alex Ben Zvi was summoned today to the foreign ministry in Moscow. The Israeli media reported it. The convocation – according to the same sources – is linked to the condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the decision of the Foreign Minister of Tel Aviv, Yair Lapid, to vote in favor of the suspension of Moscow from the UN Human Rights Council.
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18:03
Von der Leyen: “The visit to Bucha was a real horror”
The visit to Bucha, the city on the outskirts of Kiev that was the scene of the massacre of civilians, “further encouraged me to support Ukraine and to do everything possible to counteract the brutal e unjustified aggression by Russia “. This was stated by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in an interview with the German weekly picture on sunday. “It was a real horror to see the reality of the war. The mass grave in the church of Bucha, many, many body bags, the street where people were killed indiscriminately, the houses bombed, the cars burned, ”she said.
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18:01
Kuleba: “Mariupol may be a red line in negotiations”
In an interview with the American network Cbs Newsthe Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba he said there have been no recent diplomatic exchanges between Moscow and Kiev at the level of foreign ministries. “After Bucha, it became particularly difficult to talk to the Russians. But, as President Zelensky said – he added – the “terrible” situation in Mariupol “may be a red line” in the negotiations. “The only contacts are negotiation teams that include representatives from different institutions and members of Parliament. They continue their consultations at expert level, but there has been no high-level interview, ”he explained.
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17:58
“The mayor of Kyrylivka was kidnapped: he refused to collaborate with the Russians”
Another Ukrainian local administrator was kidnapped by Russian soldiers: Ivan Maleev, mayor of Kyrylivkaa coastal town in the region of Zaporizhzhia (southeastern Ukraine). This was stated by the regional military administration of Zaporizhzhia, cited by the state agency Ukrinform. Maleev had previously refused to cooperate with the occupiers. According to the local publication from the nearby town of Melitopol, Russian military vehicles surrounded the village and troops rounded up the inhabitants house by house.
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17:53
Premier Kiev: “In Mariupol there is no water, food or electricity”
The city of Mariupol it remains under Ukrainian control, but its residents are suffering: “They have no water, food, heating, electricity. They ask all our partners to support them and help put an end to this humanitarian catastrophe ”. This was stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmihal in an interview with the US network Abc News.
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