Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:32 Zelensky in an evening video message said that today the Ukrainian Armed Forces “carried out the right strike against the occupier in Dzhankoy, at the airfield.” The President thanked the soldiers for their accuracy and Syrsky’s headquarters for organizing the operation.
22:24 Stoltenberg said that NATO countries have a sufficient number of air defense systems that can be transferred to Ukraine: “The reality is that we have enough systems that we could supply significantly more to Ukraine when it comes to air defense in general, as well as when it comes to Patriot batteries, and that's exactly what we're working on."
22:05 The Washington Post writes, citing a secret document from the Russian Foreign Ministry, that Russia was developing a plan to weaken Western opponents, in particular, it wanted to use the war in Ukraine to “create a world order free from American domination.” The publication notes that the document for the first time provides official confirmation of what many in the Russian elite call a hybrid war against the West.
21:38 Biden promised to sign Johnson’s bills if they are supported by the US Congress.
21:07 Ukrenergo warned that on April 18 from 8:00 to 22:00 controlled restrictions on energy supply to industrial consumers may be applied - evenly for business and industrial enterprises in all regions of Ukraine. The reason is Russian massive attacks on Ukrainian power plants, as well as cold weather, which resulted in increased electricity consumption. Ukrainians are asked to consume electricity sparingly.
20:13 Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson unveiled his bill to help Ukraine in the amount of $60.84 billion. Of this, more than $23 billion will be used to replenish American weapons stockpiles. The document, in particular, obliges the US President to transfer ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, and also strengthens oversight through personal monitoring and provides for an agreement on the return of funds for economic support to Ukraine from the United States. It is also expected that the assets of the Russian Federation will be confiscated to cover these expenses.
19:38 Ukraine could cross one of Russia’s “red lines” for the potential use of nuclear weapons, writes the American magazine Newsweek. We are talking about a drone attack on the over-the-horizon radar 29B6 Container, located near the city of Kovilkino in Mordovia. This system is part of the reconnaissance and warning system for aerospace attacks. The drone attacks on Russian radar may have crossed one of Moscow's red lines for the potential use of nuclear weapons - "thwarting a nuclear response," according to the wording of a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin in 2020.
19:20 Zelensky said that he had a telephone conversation with Jens Stoltenberg on the eve of an extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, which will take place on April 19 at the level of defense ministers. We discussed Russian attacks and the status of implementation of initiatives to supply shells.
18:29 Russian exports to China in March decreased by 16% compared to the same period last year - this trend has been observed for the first time since mid-2022, writes Bloomberg. According to the publication, the reason for this reduction is the US threats to impose sanctions against banks and enterprises suspected of facilitating Russian aggression against Ukraine.
18:23 Mike Johnson announced that he will bring the issue of assistance to Ukraine and Israel to a vote of the House of Representatives on Saturday, April 20.
17:42 The Czech initiative to provide Ukraine with ammunition can provide 1.5 million artillery shells within a year, said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. According to him, Prague can already transfer 500 thousand ammunition to Kyiv.
17:27 Stoltenberg said that he will hold the NATO-Ukraine Council at the request of Zelensky on Friday, April 19. At the meeting, assistance to Kyiv will be discussed, in particular the supply of air defense and shells.
16:58 The Netherlands will transfer three more F-16 fighters to the Romanian center for training Ukrainian pilots, writes Reuters. Since November 2023, the Netherlands has already delivered eight fighters to Romania, and promised to provide 18 of them for training Ukrainian pilots.
16:36 Germany has launched an initiative to find additional air defense systems for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have already addressed this issue to their EU and NATO partners, as well as third countries, said speakers from both ministries.
16:30 In Chernigov, the number of deaths as a result of the Russian strike has increased to 16 , search and rescue operations continue, the State Emergency Service reported.
15:47 2000 units of short-range electronic warfare created by Ukrainian developers were transferred to the front, said the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Mikhail Fedorov. According to him, short-range electronic warfare, in particular “trench” electronic warfare, provides targeted protection for military personnel and their positions, armored vehicles, and evacuation vehicles. It jams Russian FPV drones, drop drones, and reconnaissance drones.
14:52 Russian public pages write that as a result of the Ukrainian strike on the airfield in Dzhankoy, three S-400 launchers and a radar were destroyed. 22 people are listed as missing. The reception and repair point for military equipment was also hit. According to public information, the attack was carried out by two MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
14:43 Russia wants to isolate Kharkov and make it uninhabitable, writes Bloomberg. According to the publication's sources, the increase in the number of bombings is intended to make the city uninhabitable and provoke a mass evacuation of residents. According to their assessment, Russia does not have the resources to capture the city in the near future. Kharkov Mayor Igor Terekhov told The Guardian that without American help, Kharkov risks becoming “a second Aleppo.”
14:34 In Chernigov, the number of deaths as a result of a Russian missile attack has increased to 14, another 61 people were injured , including two children, the State Emergency Service reported. Search and rescue efforts continue.
14:26 This morning, drones of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense attacked an aircraft plant in Russian Tatarstan. The target was the aircraft plant named after. Gorbunov in Kazan, where the enemy produces and repairs Tu-22M and Tu-160M bombers, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing sources in the special service.
13:40 On April 17, GUR drones attacked the 590th separate radio engineering center of military unit 84680, located in the Russian city of Kovilkino in Mordovia, Ukrainskaya Pravda reported, citing intelligence sources. The distance from the Ukrainian border to the site of the destruction is about 680 km. Local residents on social networks publish videos showing a column of smoke at the site of the Container radar after being hit by a UAV. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of a drone over Mordovia.
13:21 In Chernigov, the number of deaths as a result of the Russian missile attack has increased to 13, another 61 people were injured , including two children, the State Emergency Service reported. There are probably still people under the rubble of the partially destroyed building. Search and rescue efforts continue.
13:15 In Germany, the whereabouts of 161 Ukrainian children have been established - they were wanted as forcibly moved to temporarily occupied territories or deported to the Russian Federation and Belarus, the National Police reported.
12:37 On the night of April 17, the Russian military airfield in Dzhankoy was subjected to a fairly powerful attack. Local residents say that the explosions occurred even before the air raid warning was announced, and as a result, a large-scale fire started at the airfield. Formally, the 39th helicopter regiment of the 27th mixed aviation division of the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District of Russia is based at the airfield, but it is also often used by Russian attack aircraft. The Russians also turned the airfield into a logistics center and military base. About what could have been destroyed during the strike, see the material Strike on the airfield in Dzhankoy .
12:24 In Chernigov, more than 50 victims are already known, of which three are children, and 11 are dead , the President’s Office reported. The rescue operation is ongoing, and there may be people under the rubble. Russia launched three missile attacks on the city center - an eight-story building was destroyed, four high-rise buildings, a hospital, a higher education institution, and dozens of cars were damaged. The head of the Chernigov OVA, Vyacheslav Chaus, said that Russia hit the city with three Iskander cruise missiles.
12:13 GUR warns that Russia is preparing another information special operation, in which it will accuse Ukrainian special forces of allegedly using Western weapons in Sudan. To achieve this, Russian propagandists plan to publish in the media, in particular Libyan, custom-made publications and fabricated photographs of supposedly captured American weapons, which were previously captured in Ukraine by Wagner PMC mercenaries. The Kremlin will also focus on the fact that elite Ukrainian special forces are taking part in combat operations in Africa during the war in Ukraine itself.
12:02 The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of one drone over Tatarstan and another over Mordovia. Russian public pages write that a drone was shot down in the sky over Yelabuga in Tatarstan. The drone flew towards the special economic zone of Alabuga and the enterprise of TAIF Group of Companies, the largest Russian holding company that controls most of the oil and gas refining industry of the republic. Employees of the enterprises were urgently evacuated.
11:44 In Chernigov, 11 dead and 22 injured are already known, and reports of at least three missing people have been reported, said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Igor Klimenko. There are still people under the rubble, and the search and rescue operation continues. Among the dead is a police lieutenant.
11:36 In the morning, the Russians attacked infrastructure in the Odessa region with a missile; no casualties were reported, the Southern Defense Forces reported.
11:32 In the Russian Samara at the Kryazh airfield on April 17, a Mi-8 transport helicopter, which the Russian army used to transport weapons and personnel to the war in Ukraine, was destroyed, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported. The cost of a helicopter of this type can range from 10 to 15 million dollars.
11:27 The death toll as a result of the Russian strike on Chernigov has increased to ten, 20 people were injured. The rescue operation is ongoing, Zelensky said. Civil infrastructure buildings and dozens of vehicles were damaged.
10:53 As of 10:40, there are already eight dead and 18 injured in Chernigov as a result of missile attacks. The search and rescue operation continues, the acting officer said. mayor Alexander Lomako.
10:28 In Chernigov, it is already known that at least four people were killed and five were wounded as a result of a missile attack, the acting commander said. mayor Alexander Lomako. According to him, in the area where the missiles hit, all communications were cut off - “so that there would be no even greater destruction.” At the same time, Lomako emphasized that social infrastructure facilities not related to critical infrastructure were attacked.
10:21 The Russians fired from the MLRS at Belopolye, Sumy region, one person was wounded. Apartment and private residential buildings, gas pipelines, and power lines were damaged. 746 subscribers were left without power supply, OVA reported.
10:17 The law on mobilization was published in the Voice of Ukraine publication; it will come into force on May 18.
10:10 The European Union will discuss strengthening Ukrainian air defense at a special summit on April 17-18. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, in an official invitation called on the heads of state and government to urgently step up military assistance to Kyiv. Zelensky will also join the summit via video link.
09:57 The Russians launched three missile attacks almost in the center of Chernigov. There are dead civilians and many wounded, said the head of the OIA, Vyacheslav Chaus.
09:36 Denmark has allocated a new aid package to Ukraine worth almost 295 million euros, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. The funds will be used to develop the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, in particular, to strengthen maritime capabilities, drones and missile production.
09:01 In the Kherson region over the past 24 hours, five people were wounded as a result of Russian shelling, said the head of the OBA Alexander Prokudin. Two high-rise buildings and 11 private houses, a store, a grain receiving plant, port infrastructure and a pig farm were damaged.
08:53 The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, after a secret briefing on the situation in Ukraine, called on Congress to immediately vote for assistance to Kiev. "At a classified briefing today, our committee was briefed on the critical need to provide military assistance to Ukraine this week. The United States must confront Putin's aggressive war now because the situation in Ukraine is critical," the statement said.
08:37 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of April 17:
- personnel - about 456,050 (+710) people,
- tanks - 7193 (+4),
- armored combat vehicles - 13,827 (+18),
- artillery systems - 11,624 (+15),
- MLRS - 1046 (+0),
- air defense systems - 760 (+1),
- aircraft - 347 (+0),
- helicopters - 325 (+0),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 9279 (+2),
- cruise missiles - 2093 (+1),
- ships/boats - 26 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 15,587 (+24),
- special equipment - 1910 (+2).
08:12 Over the past 24 hours, 68 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report . In particular, the enemy tried 20 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops in the Novopavlovsk direction - in the Krasnohorivka and Novomikhailovka areas of the Donetsk region. Another 19 attacks were repulsed in the Bakhmut direction - in the areas of the settlements of Verkhnekamenskoye, Vyemka, Belogorovka, Chasov Yar, Ivanovskoye, Kleshcheevka in the Donetsk region.
The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Kupyansk direction. In the Liman direction, the Defense Forces repelled nine enemy attacks in the areas of Ternov, Torskoye, Grigoryevka of the Donetsk region and Serebryansky forestry of the Lugansk region; in Avdeevsky - 11 attacks in the areas of the settlements Ocheretino, Novokalinovo, Berdychi, Semenovka, Netaylovo, Pervomaiskoye, Donetsk region; on Orekhovsky - four attacks in the areas of Staromayorskoye, Donetsk region, Rabotino and north-west of Verbovoye, Zaporozhye region; on Kherson - five attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper.
07:34 In the morning, the Russians fired artillery at Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk region - one person was wounded, a gymnasium, two private houses, and a power line were damaged, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak.
04:55 Russian public pages write about explosions and fire at the military airfield in Dzhankoy .
02:48 Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the federal budget for 2024, which includes funds for military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 1.6 billion Canadian dollars (about 1.16 US dollars). It is expected that they will be spent to support Kyiv within five years.
01:52 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning a visit to China, where he will express concern about Beijing’s assistance to Russia in the development of the military-industrial complex for the war against Ukraine, State Department Speaker Matthew Miller said. "What we've seen in recent months is that material has been moving from China to Russia to be used by Russia to rebuild that industrial base and produce the weapons that are showing up on the battlefield in Ukraine," Miller said, adding that Washington is "incredibly concerned about this."