War

Russia holds at least 20,000 Ukrainian civilians hostage. "The total number [of people] that the Russian Federation currently holds captive is simply insane. I can name the number of only those who have officially addressed me from among the relatives of civilian hostages held by the Russian Federation. This figure is more than 20,000. It is simply an incredible number of Ukrainian citizens whom Russia detained and is detaining for no reason in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights told the Ukrayinska Pravda online media outlet in an interview. According to him,…

As of mid-April 2023, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) received 337 reports on alleged war crimes in Ukraine. This follows from the response of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community to the parliamentary request of the conservatives, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Deutschlandradio. The information has been collected since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of last year. It is provided by Ukrainian refugees in Germany or citizens of Germany who stayed or now stay in Ukraine. BKA supports Ukrainian investigators, in particular, by collecting evidence and also purchasing and providing materials…

On Sunday, April 16, Russian invaders shelled Kherson and Beryslav. "They [Russian forces] continue to terrorize the entire Kherson region, hit peaceful settlements, strike schools, healthcare facilities, and critical infrastructure objects. Today, they shelled Kherson again. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Right now, Beryslav is under fire," Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, the head of the information policy department of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said during the national news telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to him, for security reasons, people did not gather in and around churches in the regional center. It is forbidden to visit cemeteries. As reported, Russian troops…

Ukrainian border guards have destroyed Russia's Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said this in a post on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "The enemy drone crossed the border and flew deep into Ukraine. However, its flight did not last long. The border guards turned the UAV into a pile of junk by hitting it with an automatic weapon," the State Border Guard Service said. The Ukrainian General Staff earlier said that from February 24, 2022 to April 16, 2023, Ukrainian forces destroyed 308 combat aircraft, 293 helicopters, and 2,339 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.

Ukraine will use existing and new weapons in all temporarily occupied areas so the expulsion of the invaders from Ukrainian soil is a matter of time. Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said this in a comment to the Rada television channel during the nationwide telethon, according to Ukrinform. "We will use the entire arsenal that we have at our disposal. The new weapons made by our representatives of the defense industry will also definitely be used. And it does not matter whether this is Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk regions, or other cities: we will…

The turbulent career of a Russian general colonel suggests intense tensions between factions in the Russian General Staff about Russia's military approach in Ukraine. The UK Defense Ministry said this in a new intelligence update published on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia's corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine. He was previously dismissed from the theater in January 2023. "Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file. His recent turbulent career suggests intense tensions between factions within the…

Two Russian submarines equipped with eight Kalibr-type cruise missiles are remaining on combat duty in the Black Sea. The relevant statement was made by Head of the United Coordinating Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces Natalia Humeniuk during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “The naval group [of Russia – Ed.] continues maneuvering but remains within its missile-safe area. Unfortunately, they can reach Ukraine’s territory from there. Hence, the threat is persisting. Two submarines equipped with eight Kalibr-type missiles are on combat duty,” Humeniuk told. In her words, a surface missile ship is likely to join the enemy’s…

On April 15, 2023, Russian troops attacked the Kherson region 70 times, having fired 419 projectiles. The relevant statement was made by Kherson Regional Military Administration Head Oleksandr Prokudin on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Russian troops used heavy artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aircraft. The city of Kherson came under enemy fire five times. According to Prokudin, Russian projectiles hit residential areas across the Kherson region’s settlements, a school and a state penal institution in the city of Kherson. As a result of Russian attacks, two persons were reported killed and two injured. Meanwhile, 61 more people were…

Last night, Russian invaders struck Zaporizhzhia region, damaging a church in Komyshuvakha. "Nothing sacred, even on the night of the Resurrection of Christ. The enemy launched a massive attack. In Komyshuvakha, a local church was damaged, in which, fortunately, service was not held. Nearby buildings were also destroyed," Yuriy Malashko, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, posted on Telegram. According to him, the enemy hit a park area in the regional center. The consequences of the damage from the blast wave are currently being established. Specialists immediately started their work. Read also: Enemy hits enterprise in Chernihiv region from…

In Bakhmut, Donetsk region, the Ukrainian border guards destroyed an assault group of Russian invaders. "Bakhmut. The Russian invaders ignore Easter and try to organize an attack. However, an enemy attempted assault on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ended with the elimination of their assault group," the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported and released a corresponding video. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine notes the accurate work of the mortar crew of the Luhansk border detachment in decimating the enemy. As reported, Russian troops continue to concentrate their efforts on conducting offensive operations in…