Timeline: day 57 of Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression
Today is April 21. russia's military attack on Ukraine has been going on for fifty-seven days. We're reporting on all the current news. The article will be constantly updated.
What about today?
Key points
During the current 24 hours, the troops of the Joint Forces successfully repulsed 9 enemy attacks.
Ukrainian defenders destroyed:
- 1 anti-aircraft missile system
- 1 tank
- 1 artillery system
- 10 armored units
- 2 units of special engineering equipment
- 2 units of motor vehicles and an enemy ammunition depot.
Air defense units shot down 1 cruise missile and 3 Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles in the skies of the Ukrainian Donbas.
To date, 21,000 orcs have gone to the other side!
Yesterday, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Danilov said that the escalation on the front line in eastern Ukraine was not the beginning of the "last and decisive battle" for Donbas, but an attempt by the russian army to "test the strength" of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
He added that russia had reserves to attack for another 3-4 weeks. "russia is a big country, there are a lot of people and not much intelligence," the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council stressed.
In addition, Danilov promises that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will strike at the Crimean bridge as soon as they have such an opportunity. "If there is an opportunity to do so, we will definitely do it," he said, noting that russia's Kerch Bridge uses reinforcements to transport its army.
russia has not yet launched a large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine, the American Institute for War Studies confirms the words of the head of the NSDC Oleksii Danilov. Analyzing the events of April 20, experts do not see a massive offensive. As before, there is an assault on some settlements, there is progress for russia in Rubizhne, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk. At the same time, in the Zaporizhzhia region, the local offensive toward Huliaipole and Temuvannia did not succeed. "russian forces continue to build the logistics and command infrastructure needed for a major offensive. They have not achieved any major breakthroughs and do not demonstrate the ability to attack simultaneously and successfully in many areas," the experts of the Institute wrote.
CNN, citing a senior US Department of Defense official, writes that there are currently 82 russian battalion tactical groups in Ukraine. In the last week alone, an additional 17 BTGs have entered Ukraine.
We must not underestimate the enemy. But in any case, Ukraine will survive and we will definitely win!
"Right now is the historic moment when we can develop maximum speed in joining the European Union," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a new address.
"The European Union will be on your side in rebuilding Ukraine. We have a strategic idea on how to speed up the process. You are fighting not only for the future of Ukrainian children but also for the fundamental values of Europe," said European Council President Charles Michel on April 20 during a visit to Kyiv.
russia, meanwhile, has rejected a UN Secretary-General's proposal for an "Easter Armistice" in Ukraine. "The position of the Moscow Fuhrer was voiced in a few hours at the Security Council," said the representative of Ukraine to the UN.
Humanitarian corridors
Yesterday, the occupiers disrupted the "green corridor"; tank battle and artillery shelling began. But despite this, four evacuation buses still managed to leave Mariupol. The evacuation of women, children, and the elderly will continue today.
Today the population will also be evacuated from Vysokopillia, Novovoznesenske, and Myroliubivka of the Kherson region.
Ukraine's talks with russia
russia's aggressive war against Ukraine can end in the direct talks between the two heads of state, and the Ukrainian side's position in these talks must be strong, well-thought-out, and legally sound. Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized this on a telethon.
Meanwhile, russia insists on Belarus joining as a party to future agreements with Ukraine and one of the guarantor states, said Oleksii Polishchuk, director of the second CIS department at the russian Foreign Ministry. "Moscow does not just assume Minsk's participation in the agreement. We directly insist on the connection of Belarus as a party to future agreements and one of the guarantor states. This will ensure balance within the 'club' of such countries," he said. Having a puppet state as a guarantor of Belarus is like having russia as one of the guarantors.
Who's coming to Ukraine?
About financial assistance, weapons, and volunteer fighters
The G7 finance ministers, together with the international community, announced additional financial assistance to Ukraine, amounting to $24 billion.
Lithuania has handed over to Ukraine a consignment of heavy mortars worth tens of millions of euros. This was reported by BNS with reference to the Minister of Defense of the Baltic Republic, Arvydas Anušauskas. Also, according to the Minister, Lithuania handed over MANPADS, anti-tank weapons, grenades, ammunition, and machine guns to Ukraine.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that Israel would supply helmets and bulletproof vests to Ukraine's emergency services.
And Denmark will provide Ukraine with equipment to restore the water supply in the war-torn regions.
The IMF will help Ukraine cover its financial deficit of $15 billion, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. The funds must be received within three months.
The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez has arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Zelenskyy. It is reported that Sanchez flew to Poland, and from there he went by train to Kyiv. The exact date of the prime minister's arrival was kept secret for security reasons.
News from abroad
The Ukrainian Madonna now adorns a Catholic church in Naples. This painting was created by a Ukrainian artist in the image of a woman feeding a baby in the Kyiv metro.
Zelenskyy, Tikhanovskaya, and Ovsyannikova will receive the German Media Award for Freedom. This year's award is dedicated to the struggle for freedom in Eastern Europe, the Weimer Media Group reported. "Ukrainians, Belarusians, and russians are at the forefront of the fight against evil, war, and tyranny in Eastern Europe and are courageously defending their own freedom and ours. Words, deeds, great courage, and their life," explains the jury. Everything is clear, but what is Ovsyannikova with her PR "protest action" doing there?
Biden will make a statement Thursday morning on the situation around russia and Ukraine, the White House said. The speech is scheduled for 16:45 Kyiv time. Earlier, US President Joe Biden said at a meeting with the country's top military leaders that the Ukrainians in their ability and willingness to fight exceeded all his expectations.
Ukraine is on-trend. Lithuanian designer Laimės Kūdikis offers to paint Easter eggs like this for this Easter.
India has refused to accept a Japanese plane carrying aid to Ukraine. The plane was to deliver humanitarian aid to Poland's and Romania's neighboring Ukraine through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. India and the UAE are expected to be used as transshipment points. Here is an Indian movie with russian subtitles …
What's in russia?
russia is approaching a sovereign default, the Wall Street Journal reports. US bond regulators have announced that the kremlin has failed to meet its obligations to service russia's public debt. russia has offered creditors interest payments on dollar bonds in rubles. If russia does not pay the required amount by May 4, it will formally default. The total debt is $6 billion. We have already lost sight of these "default" prophecies, but it will happen.
russian lies
At a meeting with putin, shoigu lied to putin about the capture of Mariupol by russian troops. Note that our defenders continue to be in the city, destroying enemy military equipment. The other day, Azov and the Marines rescued half a thousand soldiers of the State Border Guard Service and the National Police in the port of Mariupol.
putin, in turn, called the implementation of "combat work" from Mariupol a "success" and congratulated shoigu. In addition, the dictator called it unsuitable to storm the Azovstal industrial zone in Mariupol and ordered to cancel it. For the kremlin dwarf, our soldiers were not to their liking. But the killing of thousands of civilians, including children, is his "most successful success."
Sanctions on the aggressor!
The United States has once again expanded the list of sanctions against russia. Thus, the list includes the Russian bank Transcapitalbank and a network of more than 40 individuals and legal entities led by russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev; his organizations are helping to evade Western sanctions.
Ireland supports the introduction of tougher sanctions against russia and Ukraine's accession to the EU, said Prime Minister Micheal Martin during a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
The action plan on sanctions against russia will be presented today at 5:30 p.m., the President's Office said. The document proposes:
- recognition of russia and Belarus as sponsors of terrorism, and the russian Armed Forces as a terrorist organization;
- a complete ban on the export of russian energy;
- expansion of sanctions against the financial sector of russia and Belarus;
- strengthening transport and insurance sanctions;
- expanding and strengthening trade embargoes and personal sanctions.
Binance cryptocurrency exchange will restrict access to users from russia. Opportunities for russians on the stock exchange will be limited, it is possible only to withdraw funds.
Life considering hostilities
All defenders and rescuers during the martial law and a year after its end will be able to be treated free of charge in medical institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. This decision, adopted by the Government of Ukraine on April 19, applies to servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Security Service, the State Border Guard Service, other military formations, police officers, and members of the rank and file.
The National Police warns of a new way of fraud. The frauds send an SMS with a message about the payment of material assistance to internally displaced persons.
Fraudsters provide a link to a site where you can allegedly apply for assistance: citizens are asked to enter personal data and a bank card number to credit money. In this way, people automatically pass on confidential data to attackers, and those who use the data misappropriate money. If you receive such a message, notify the cyber police: [email protected]
Kyiv region
Nine more people were found dead in Borodianka. Two graves with bodies killed during the occupation of the city were found by the police of the Kyiv region. In one grave are the bodies of two 35-year-old men and a 15-year-old girl, and in the other are the bodies of four men and two women. There are traces of torture on the bodies of some of those killed, police chief Andrii Nebytov said.
In Bucha, the occupiers destroyed the archive of Viacheslav Chornovil, his relatives say.
Donetsk and Luhansk region
The russians destroyed all food warehouses in Sievierodonetsk, said Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration. People receive food exclusively from humanitarian goods. Much of the destruction from the russians in the last 24 hours occurred in Rubizhne and Novodruzhesk.
The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine received an audio interception of a conversation between the occupiers, which refers to an order to kill all Ukrainian military prisoners of war in the Popasna district (Luhansk region). This is a blatant war crime, a violation of international law, and another striking example that the russian army is murderers, rapists, and looters, and by no means military.
russia is destroying civilians! On April 20, the russians wounded 5 civilians in the Donetsk region: 3 in Maryinka and 2 in Vuhledar. There is also updated information about 2 people killed earlier in Pavlivka and 3 more wounded: in Kramatorsk, Mariupol, and Lyman. In addition, one person injured in the Luhansk region received medical treatment in Bakhmut.
It is currently impossible to determine the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
A new 30-meter mass grave was found near Mariupol, said Mayor Vadym Boichenko. "Our locals said that today the russians dug 30 meters of mass graves near Manhush and brought bodies by truck, which they are trying to hide there," he said on the UA Together telethon.
13:30 – Currently, the russians control about half of Popasna, says the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhii Haidai. More than 100 people have died since russia's invasion of Popasna. The city still has more than 2.5 thousand residents. The russians are being "evacuated" from the occupied part of Popasna, i.e. people are being deported to Pervomaisk. "Street battles are going on without stopping, people live in bomb shelters, and they can't go outside because of the density of shelling. There are no surviving houses in Popasna. At present, only military doctors can provide medical care," Haidai wrote.
Haidai also denied the occupiers' information about the capture of Rubizhne. "For the third time since the beginning of the war: the russian Defense Ministry has again announced the 'liberation' of Rubizhne. The statement is fake again," Haidai wrote. He noted that this was the third such "liberation" by the occupiers of Rubizhne, based on russia's false reports.
In the afternoon, the russians fired at Svitlodarsk with фirborne leaflet propaganda, said the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko. As a result of the shelling, the roof of the high-rise building was damaged.
And in Mariupol, the russian equipment with the mark "V" has appeared, fighters of the AZOV regiment report. This means that the occupiers who committed atrocities in Bucha were transferred to the city: they killed, raped, and tortured civilians.
18:00 – Despite putin's statement about the alleged "order not to storm" Azovstal, "ruscists in Mariupol bombard the plant. The adviser to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko reports about it. According to him, the occupiers also opened fire in another part of the city, near the tram depot.
Kharkiv region
In Kharkiv, after a night of shelling on the Saltivka district, two high-rise buildings caught fire, as well as cars parked nearby, Suspilne reports.
Five residents of Kharkiv and the region were wounded in the russian shelling on April 20, the regional military administration said. No one was killed. Kharkiv residents are asked not to be on the streets without extreme necessity.
In Balaklia, Kharkiv region, wounded russian servicemen began to be placed in the city's polyclinic, despite the fact that a hospital for them was set up in the building of the local music school. The location of the occupiers in the city polyclinic indicates a significant increase in the number of wounded and problems with their subsequent medical evacuation.
The districts of Saltivka, HTZ, and Oleksiivka came under enemy fire. In the region, in Derhachi, Zolochiv direction, Chuhuiv district. "Reducing the intensity of the fire is a misconception. It is very difficult to predict the events of the occupiers. Therefore, we ask residents not to leave shelters without necessity," Sinehubov added.
Today, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office announced the suspicion of Lyptsi Village Council deputy Vadym Kudikov. At the beginning of the full-scale armed aggression, Kudikov betrayed Ukraine, cooperated with the occupiers, and took the position of the so-called "head of the Liptsy administration." In this "position," the traitor gave the occupiers access to the administrative buildings of Lyptsi and Hlyboke, told the troops of the invaders about the ways of moving through the territories, and handed over the locals who took part in the anti-terrorist operation / joint forces operation.
In Kharkiv, a russian shell hit a car: two people died. It happened on April 21 as a result of the shelling of the Kyiv district of Kharkiv; a russian shell hit a car, which burned down with people.
The russians shot volunteers who were carrying aid from the village of Shevchenkove, according to the Defense Intelligence. The russians completely isolate the occupied settlements from Ukraine, prohibit evacuations, and do not allow volunteers. In particular, all occupied settlements of Velykyi Burluk district, Kharkiv region are blocked today. Departure is possible only to the territory of the russian federation.
Kherson region
Warnings to the occupiers began to be spread in Kherson: "russian occupier and everyone who supports their regime. We're near. We're working in Kherson. The death awaits you. Kherson is Ukraine!"
South Operational Command reports: In the Kherson region, the occupiers have intensified preparations for the referendum. The date of imitation of the will of the people has been postponed to April 27. Trying to speed up the legalization of the occupying power, as always, they ignore all laws and regulations. The fact that the referendum is scheduled for the middle of the week on a working day further emphasizes that the will of the local population is not of interest to the invaders, and the result is known in the prepared scenario.
Meanwhile, the settlements of the region are under constant fire. The enemy tried to continue the assault around Oleksandrivka, but was unsuccessful. The reconnaissance unit of the OC South discovered and destroyed two hidden enemy observation posts.
In the village of Zolota Balka in the Kherson region, representatives of the russian occupation forces held a meeting with the local population, stating that there would be no more "green corridors" and forbidding people to leave the settlement. In addition, they warned that in the event of shelling of their positions by units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the russian invaders will begin shelling the village. The occupiers continue to patrol the apartments and conduct searches.
There are more and more rumors in the Kherson region about holding a "referendum" on joining russia. The region is under occupation, people are being kidnapped and freedom of speech is being suppressed. There are still no green corridors for medicine and food.
People are in despair. However, Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podoliak reassures Kherson residents. According to him, the government has a strategy for de-occupation. He stated this in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda:
"You can not even doubt that the state has a strategy to de-occupy all towns and villages in southern Ukraine. First is the army. Short and clear. Second, more than 90% of ordinary people in the occupied territories clearly declare their pro-Ukrainian position. Therefore, there will be no freezing of the conflict, there will be no temporary occupation, and there will be no fake 'Kherson People's Republic' or something like that. There will be only the Kherson region of Ukraine."
The deputy of the Kherson city council from the party of the mayor Ihor Kolykhaiev Illia Karamalikov is taken into custody. He is suspected of treason. The Kherson regional prosecutor's office reports about it. According to the investigation, Karamalikov collected and passed on information to russians about pro-Ukrainian politicians, activists, law enforcement officials, and participants in hostilities in eastern Ukraine. In addition, the suspect called on officials of the region to cooperate with the occupiers, organized the deployment of personnel of the russian military and assisted in the repair of their equipment.
Mykolaiv region
On the night of April 20 during the missile attack on Mykolaiv, the troops of the russian federation struck blow on an infrastructure of the Mykolaiv branch of the Suspilne broadcaster.
As a result of night attacks in Mykolaiv, one person died, and two more are wounded, the head of regional military administration Kim reported.
Part of the enemy missile got stuck in asphalt on Zentralnyi Avenue of Mykolaiv after yesterday's attack on the city, the spokesperson of OC South reported.
"South of Snihurivka there are occupied villages of the Mykolaiv region. It is difficult to say how many, but about 20. In some villages, even if there are no russian troops, they are occupied; the supply comes from the Kherson region. Part of the humanitarian cargo goes through the corridors we negotiate with them," Kim said.
Odesa region
Ukraine has further strengthened the border with Moldova in the area of self-proclaimed Transnistria to prevent the penetration of russian sabotage groups from there, said the spokesperson for the head of the Odesa Military Administration Serhii Bratchuk.
Zaporizhzhia region
In Enerhodar, ruscists are hunting for the personal data of pensioners. Pulling these data, the ruscists promise to distribute rubles to the residents of Enerhodar. The occupiers plan to use such data to hold a pseudo-referendum and to intimidate and terrorize citizens. To prevent this from happening, all existing lists of pensioners were destroyed in the system by the local branch of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. After that, the occupiers wanted to get lists of ZNPP pensioners, but these data were burned in the building during the russian terrorist attack on the station.
13:30 – The occupiers carried out two missile strikes on the infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia, according to the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. No one was injured. According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the blast wave and wreckage shattered glass in four carriages of the 119/120 Zaporizhzhia-Lviv train.
20:30 – UPD: As a result of today's missile strike on Zaporizhzhia, 8 people were wounded. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Two russian helicopters were shot down in the Zaporizhzhia region! Our Armed Forces are the best!
Dnipropetrovsk region
Yesterday, at about 9.30 pm, russian troops fired from multiple-rocket launchers at Zelenodolsk in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and a little later at the village of Velyka Kostromka. The mayor of Zelenodolsk said that, fortunately, people were not injured.
20:30 – The occupiers fired three missiles at the railway infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This was announced by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration Valentyn Reznichenko. No one was injured. The blow was in the Novomoskovsk district. The railway line and the catenary are completely shattered. According to Reznichenko, it is not yet clear whether it is possible to resume railway traffic.
UPD: Rocket strikes on the railway injured five people: two men and three women, said Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration. Everyone is in the hospital.
On the good side: more than 30 streets in Dnipro have been renamed. Now, instead of streets with russian names, there will be streets named after the 25th Sicheslav Brigade and the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade. As well as Chornobaivska, Irpinska, Hostomelska, Borodianska, Saltivska streets, Buchanska and Azovstal lanes.
Chernihiv region
An unexploded bomb was found at the home stadium of Chernihiv's Desna in Chernihiv, the head of the regional military administration reports. The projectile was identified as a FAB-500 aircraft bomb.
A monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya was demolished in Chernihiv today. The second object in Ukraine in a day.
Western Ukraine
The head of the Lviv Regional Department Maksym Kozytskyi said that a missile strike from the Black Sea was prevented in the Lviv region today.
A ton of Easter cakes was sent from Ivano-Frankivsk to Kharkiv. "Ukrzaliznytsia will deliver 1 ton of Easter cakes from Ivano-Frankivsk to Kharkiv. Then they will be handed over to the military," the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia reported.
The occupiers may plan to shell the railway infrastructure of the western regions of Ukraine, said the Center for Countering Disinformation. It is reported that pro-russian Telegram channels reported that russia had allegedly received a "complete and accurate list of coordinates of the railway bridges of Western Ukraine." In the same place, they write that "bridge will fall." However, such information has never been secret and this information can be just a throwaway to dispel panic in Ukraine.
Lviv joined the world's silent action for the dead Ukrainian children. 208 lamps were lit in the square near the monument to Taras Shevchenko.
Zhytomyr region
An obelisk to the "Shchors followers," which was to be dismantled six years ago, was removed in Berdychiv. Adviser to the mayor of Berdychiv Artur Ivanenko said that the obelisk would be sent to the museum. A viburnum bush was planted on the site of the mass grave under the obelisk as a symbol of Ukraine.
