Defense Ministry reports, Western statements, Kremlin actions
Russia continues its special operation in Ukraine. It’s day 48. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled the spring draft to the Armed Forces of the country. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation accused the Ukrainian side of evading the issue of ensuring the safe exit of foreign ships from Ukrainian ports. The ministry also warned that a group of French military and gendarmes had arrived on the territory of Ukraine. Their task is “to try to cover up Kyiv’s crimes against the DPR and LPR, as well as fabricate accusations against the RF Armed Forces.”
10:40 In the Lviv region, in the city of Stryi, a monument to a Soviet soldier was demolished. At the same time, shouts of “Yes” are heard on the video.
10:38 The Sberbank iOS mobile app is not available for download and update in the App Store. The reason is sanctions. At the same time, Sber reports that all previously installed applications are working, and there are no restrictions on their use. Removing installed applications is not recommended.
10:30 A draft law banning Russian music performed by Russian citizens and residents has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This applies to radio, cafes and public transport.
10:12 The next briefing of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation took place. It is reported that on April 11 in Mariupol at night, the remnants of Ukrainian troops, surrounded on the territory of the Ilyicha plant, unsuccessfully tried to escape from the city.
About 100 military personnel in armored vehicles tried to break through with a fight from the territory of the plant and leave the city in a northerly direction. This attempt was thwarted by air and artillery strikes.
In addition, three Ukrainian tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, seven vehicles and up to 50 personnel were destroyed. In addition, 42 Ukrainian servicemen voluntarily laid down their arms and surrendered.
9:58 Alexey Kudrin shares the forecasts of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development for Russia’s GDP for 2022. According to him, the official forecast of the decline will be more than 10%.
9:40 Former MK war correspondent, now an employee of Channel One, Irina Kuksenkova, was injured when she came under fire from nationalists in Mariupol.
9:28 The Ukrainian authorities intend to carry out the evacuation of civilians along nine agreed humanitarian corridors. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Reintegration of Uncontrolled Territories Irina Vereshchuk.
9:26 Alexei Kudrin, who was leaving for Israel, appeared at a meeting of the budget committee of the Federation Council with a report on the work of the Accounts Chamber.
9:15 At airports in the south and central part of Russia, the flight restriction regime has been extended. Now it is valid until April 19.
9:08 The Finnish company Nokia leaves the Russian market.
The Russian Defense Ministry also notes that a “network of foreign specialists in information and psychological impact on the population” is operating in Ukraine.
In the Belgorod region, railway tracks were damaged. The reason is unknown. In the same region, an increased level of terrorist threat was introduced from April 11 to April 25. Earlier this was reported in the Kursk, Voronezh and Bryansk regions.
Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer held talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Later, he told Austrian journalists that during the talks, the Russian president told him that Western sanctions were tough on the Russian Federation, but that the situation in the Donbass had to be resolved, despite the tangibility of the sanctions.
As Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev said, in the logic of the current confrontation, the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions should not be expected. The West “after the victory over Russia” will not want to lose dominance in the world.