Timeline: day 55 of Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression
Today is April 19. russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for almost eight weeks. We're reporting on all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
Photo by Reuters
Today is April 19. russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for almost eight weeks. We're reporting on all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What about today?
Key points
In an evening address on April 18, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it could already be stated that the russian military had begun the "battle for Donbas."
In the east and south, russian troops are attacking a little more deliberately than before. They are looking for weaknesses to enter with the main forces. But, as President Zelenskyy stressed, let them not hope that this will help. The liberation of our entire territory is only a matter of time.
"We will defend ourselves. We will fight. We will not give away anything Ukrainian, and we do not need anything that doesn't belong to us. I am grateful to all our fighters, to all our heroic cities in Donbas, Mariupol, as well as to the cities of the Kharkiv region that are being held. Defending the fate of all of Ukraine, restraining the forces of the invaders. Rubizhne, Popasna, Zolote, Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk, Kramatorsk, and all of them that have been with Ukraine all these years and forever," the President said.
Although Kyiv announced yesterday the beginning of a new russian offensive, experts still do not think so, according to the New York Times. According to them, the offensive may begin in the coming days. At the same time, experts believe that russia, although it has greater potential than Ukraine, may waste it on Donbas. "I think that with any result in Donbas, the russian army will be exhausted. The offensive will be less decisive than it seems now," said Michael Coffman, head of russian research at the CNA Institute.
In the last 24 hours of April 18, the Air Defense Forces and the Land Forces destroyed 7 air targets of the russian occupiers:
- 1 aircraft (Su-30 fighter);
- 4 UAVs (operational and tactical level);
- 2 cruise missiles.
In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the defenders of Ukraine repulsed 7 enemy attacks and destroyed ten tanks, eighteen armored units, eight vehicles, one artillery system, and an enemy mortar.
According to the available updated information, the losses of russia's 126th Coast Guard Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet amount to 75%. The 810th Separate Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet lost 158 servicemen killed, about 500 wounded, and 70 people missing. A significant number of servicemen of these brigades wrote reports refusing to participate in the so-called "special operation."
Estimated losses of russian troops on the 55th day of the war against Ukraine:
During the entire war, the Armed Forces of Ukraine sent 8 russian generals and 16 colonels to hell! However, high-ranking soldiers will be roasted there in cauldrons for executioners and war criminals.
Almost one and a half million internally displaced persons have been officially registered in Ukraine, the head of the Ministry of Social Affairs Marina Lazebna said on the telethon. Payments for them began on April 8, 250,000 Ukrainians have already received the money. To recap, the amount of these payments is 2,000 hryvnias for adults and 3,000 hryvnias for children or adults with disabilities. According to the UN, there are more than seven million internally displaced persons in Ukraine. That is, payments go to about one-seventh of those who have left their homes.
The Verkhovna Rada has registered a draft law proposing to celebrate Europe Day instead of Victory over Nazism Day on May 9.
Humanitarian corridors
Today, April 19, unfortunately, there are no humanitarian corridors. Iryna Vereshchuk, the Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, said: "Intensive shelling continues in Donbas. Mariupol: the russians refuse to provide a corridor for civilians in the direction of Berdiansk. We continue difficult negotiations on the opening of humanitarian corridors in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions."
Who's coming to Ukraine?
About financial assistance, weapons, and volunteer fighters
Last weekend, the United States sent four planes to Ukraine with weapons from a new package of military aid. Another arrived at the border with Ukraine on Monday, Jen Psaki said at a briefing at the White House today.
The new package includes for the first time:
Eighteen latest generation 155-mm howitzers,
- 40 thousand artillery shells,
- 200 armored personnel carriers M113,
- 11 Mi-17 helicopters,
- 100 armored multi-purpose vehicles.
- 300 drones Switchblade.
Japan will hand over suits and masks of nuclear, biological, and chemical protection, as well as drones to Ukraine, the country's Ministry of Defense said.
Assistance to refugees and those who help them
The United States has extended the right of Ukrainians whose visas have expired to stay and work in the country, according to the New York Times. This is a TPS temporary protection program. Ukrainians in the United States can apply to participate in the program. We are talking about 60 thousand Ukrainians. Applications from them will be accepted on Tuesday, i.e. today. At the same time, the United States acknowledges that a legal channel for Ukrainian migrants fleeing the war has not yet been established, although Biden promised to start accepting Ukrainians in late March. Moreover, Ukrainians who are currently awaiting entry to the Mexican border will not be able to participate in the TPS program.
News from partners
Diplomats from the EU, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, the Vatican, Moldova, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are again working in Kyiv. A total of 16 diplomatic missions. This is stated in the message of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Biden rejects the proposals of US Senator Koons, who calls for sending troops to Ukraine, the United States is not going to wage a war against russia, Psaki said.
France is not going to fight against russia either. "russia is here in Europe," said the French president. "Everything must be done to end this war, not by waging war, but by imposing sanctions on russia." On Macron's individual globe, Ukraine is probably somewhere in the Antarctic region. Emmanuel Macron added he called putin after the news about the tragedy in Bucha.
At the same time, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said he hoped to persuade European partners to impose an embargo on russian oil supplies. "I hope that in the coming weeks we will persuade our European partners to stop importing russian oil," Le Maire said. He added that French President Emmanuel Macron supports it.
By the way, a big video meeting between the main NATO allies will take place today. In particular, the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Canada, Italy, Poland, and Romania. Macron has already said that new sanctions against russia will be discussed.
The United States is currently exploring the possibility of recognizing russia as a sponsor of terrorism. This was reported to CNN by sources in the State Department. According to them, the process may take several weeks. Zelenskyy asked Biden to recognize this status of russia during a recent telephone conversation.
The United States also announced that the visit of a US government official to Ukraine will take place without prior announcement. US President Joe Biden has no plans to travel to Ukraine, but the White House continues to prepare for another high-ranking administration visit to Ukraine, which will take place without prior security announcements.
The United States has warned China with serious consequences if it supports russia, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. "Every responsible country in the world must clearly state to its own people, to the international community, which side it takes on issues that are fundamental," he said.
What's in russia?
Belgorod Governor Gladkov reports that there was alleged shelling by Ukraine. The village of Golovchyne, Grayvoronsky district, was affected. There's an injured woman.
Easter cakes are being sold in russia on the eve of Easter. Well, no comments.
What about Belorusians?
The Republic of Belarus continues to provide its territory for airstrikes on the territory of Ukraine and reconnaissance of objects on our territory. Moreover, Lukashenko himself, who allowed russia to use Belarusian territory as a springboard for attacks on Ukraine, complains that he is called an "accomplice of the aggressor." He also continues to emphasize that Belarus wants to be a participant in any talks on resolving the conflict. In addition, Belarus has demonstratively not included Ukraine in the recently published list of unfriendly countries. All these maneuvers only emphasize the cynicism of the Belarusian dictator. In fact, from the very beginning of the aggression, Belarus has been taking part in the war with Ukraine on russia's side.
russian lies
The Pentagon has renounced a fake from the russian Defense Ministry about russia allegedly shooting down a plane with military aid to Ukraine by their air defense forces. "I have not seen any reports indicating that Western weapons were shot down by orcs. I don't know anything about it and I haven't seen anything about it. There is no indication that they (the orcs) have struck at the aid content," the Pentagon said in a briefing on April 18.
The day before, Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for moscow's defense ministry, claimed that the horde had allegedly shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane near Odesa. This statement was actively spread by kremlin propagandists.
Sanctions on the aggressor!
Japan's new package of sanctions against russia, including a ban on imports of 38 goods, has come into force. The list includes beer and vodka, engine parts for ships, aircraft, cars, motorcycles, veneer, pinewood, and wood chips. Their total value when imported into Japan was 15 billion yen ($118 million). In fact, this is the first ban on the import of goods from russia.
"New Zealand is imposing sanctions on 18 russian financial institutions, including the Central Bank of russia and the National Welfare Fund, as well as several other major financial institutions in the country, which hold about 80% of the total banking assets of the russian federation," said New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. It is stated that the sanctions are intended to impose economic and political costs, in particular, for organizations that finance the continuation of the invasion of Ukraine.
Life considering hostilities
Soft toys "Javelins" and "Bayraktars" have appeared in Ukraine. The Kopitsa toy factory from Nizhyn started the production. The factory has published on the website a large selection of soft toys and pillows under the general category "Everything will be Ukraine." In the list, you can find strawberries in the shape of a heart, which have the inscription "I'm not a palyanytsia," pillows with Ukrainian symbols, the hero cities of Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv.
Yesterday Ukrzaliznytsia reported cases of passengers put off at the border due to a lack of passports. And today the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced crossing the border for Ukrainians with domestic IDs continues to be possible. This was stated by SBGS spokesperson Andrii Demchenko. "This applies to all citizens, regardless of the areas from which they come," he said.
In Ukraine, more than 30% of agricultural fields intended for wheat, barley, sunflower, and corn will remain unsown, the United Nations Office on Humanitarian Affairs reports. "The ongoing hostilities could cause a global food catastrophe: 36 countries depend on exports from Ukraine and Muscovy," the organization said.
At the same time, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotskyi states: There are no grounds for a sharp rise in food prices in Ukraine. According to Vysotskyi, prices are regulated for socially significant products: sugar, grains, flour, and oil. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture controls exports: basic products that are critical for domestic consumption are not exported without special licenses.
Kyiv and region
The Rada proposes to create a National Memorial Complex of Genocide in Ukraine, War Crimes in Ukraine Committed by the Criminal Regime of russia. This is stated in draft law №7286, which was registered in parliament. According to the proposal of the authors of the draft, the museum complex should be located in Bucha. The complex will be financed from the state budget.
Meanwhile, Bucha continues to be cleaned of the effects of the occupation. Vokzalna Street in Bucha was cleaned of broken vehicles and the remains of hordes. Now you can see all the shot equipment of the horde in Bucha on the street Deputatska/Zavodska.
Donetsk and Luhansk regions
The Ukrainian Armed Forces twice stopped attempts by russian troops to launch an offensive near Avdiivka. As a result of artillery shelling, a civilian gas pipeline and several residential buildings were damaged, said Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
Units of the Zaporizhzhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade are waging protracted battles along the entire length of the front line of their area of responsibility. The occupiers regularly shelled the villages of Staromaiorske, Makarivka, Storozheve, Neskuchne, Vremivka, Pryiutne, Vyshneve, Malynivka, Poltavka, Novodarivka, Novoukrainske, Stepove, using tanks, Grad launchers, armored personnel carriers, infantry, and missiles. The Armed Forces are defending themselves, carrying out counter-offensive operations in some places with the support of tanks, missile launching systems, artillery, mortars, and armored personnel carriers, destroying enemy personnel and equipment. We believe in our brave warriors! We believe in the Armed Forces!
10:30 – The russians damaged a high-voltage line in the Luhansk region, which cut off 215 settlements. "The situation is critical; the light has disappeared almost throughout the region," said the head of the regional state administration Serhii Haidai.
Kharkiv region
After the night shelling, many houses in Kharkiv were left without windows. Also, some houses were destroyed on the upper floors. In the morning, the russians fired on the Saltivka district again and it got to the vegetable store. It is hoped that no one was there at the time.
Dnipropetrovsk region
The occupiers fired again at the Zelenodolsk community from Grad missile launchers. There is the destruction of houses. People were not affected. This was announced by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Adminstration Valentyn Reznichenko.
The mayor of Kryvyi Rih, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that Marianske and Velyka Kostromka had also come under artillery fire from the occupiers. There is the destruction of houses, but there were no casualties.
Kherson region
The mayor of Kherson Ihor Kolykhaiev wrote a letter to Zelenskyy asking him to give instructions on how to continue working under occupation (Kolykhaiev remained in Kherson). Given that the law allows officials that stayed to be declared collaborationists, Kolikhaiev believes that their work should be regulated. "Please provide clarification (recommendations) on the actions of the Kherson City Council as soon as possible… in case of attempts to establish the aggressor's power in the community, regional center, region by the russian military units, change the flag, introduce a 'ruble zone,'" Kolykhaiev wrote. Looking at the text of the letter, it is possible that the transfer of pensions, salaries to state employees, and social assistance for residents of the territories occupied by russia might suspend (or have already stopped).
The night assault on the positions of the Armed Forces in the Oleksandrivka district of the Kherson region was unsuccessful. The enemy has retreated, says the South operational command. It is reported that 28 occupiers and 5 units of russian equipment were destroyed, including armored, engineering, automobile, and UAVs.
Mykolaiv region
The enemy fired at Mykolaiv from artillery therefore there was a fire at the apartment building and a warehouse of the shop on the Kherson highway. By joint efforts of the departments 4, 2, and 3 of the state fire and rescue unit and the operational coordination center of the Main Directorate of the SES of Ukraine in the Mykolaiv regions, the fire was extinguished on the area of 200 sq.m.
In the Kherson-Mykolaiv direction the enemy doesn't stop attempts to move the positions to the borders of the Kherson region, and across the Mykolaiv region, the enemy strikes missiles.
Due to the clear response of the air defense forces, the missile was destroyed. The fire was opened by Uragan volley fire systems with cluster munitions prohibited by international conventions on Ochakiv, information from the South operational command says.
Odesa region
In the Black Sea Operational Zone, an enemy naval group of missile and landing craft has moved almost 200 km from our shores. However, Russian naval ships in the Black Sea continue to block shipping and are threatened by missile strikes. The landing is not ruled out, but it is unlikely, the South OC reports.
Chernihiv region
In Chernihiv, people have been waiting in line for weeks to obtain a death certificate. There are not enough employees to process all applications. After all, four times more people are currently buried in a month than in peacetime. In total, more than a thousand people were buried in Chernihiv during the fighting.
Western Ukraine
The wreckage of russian missiles that hit Lviv yesterday morning was found on the territory of the orphanage. This is a shelter where children from all over Ukraine are now accepted. There are no victims among orphanage staff or the wards.
