07.04.2022, Moscow.
Rossa Primavera News Agency publishes a summary of events in Ukraine as of 5 p.m. on April 7.
High-precision airborne and sea-launched missiles destroyed overnight four depots with fuel and lubricants near the Nikolaev, Zaporozhye, Kharkov and Chuguev, from which Ukrainian groups of troops near Kharkov, Nikolaev and in Donbas were supplied with fuel.
The Russian Air Force’s operational and tactical aircraft hit 29 military targets in Ukraine. Among them: two command posts, a radar for target detection and targeting of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system near Kurakhovo, seven artillery batteries, a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition, and 10 strongholds and areas where Ukrainian military equipment is amassed.
Russian air defense forces shot down five unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of Novoselovka II, Chervonaya, Novogradovka, Ilovaysk and Khartsizsk.
A total of 125 aircraft, 93 helicopters, 413 unmanned aerial vehicles, 227 surface-to-air missile systems, 1987 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 218 multiple rocket launchers, 866 pieces of field artillery and mortars, and 1894 pieces of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation.
The Russian Investigative Committee has established that the explosion at an ammunition depot near Belgorod was caused by a Tochka-U rocket fired by Ukraine, the Investigative Committee said.
Russia has reliable information about Kiev’s preparation of new chemical provocations with the support of overseas handlers, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Liberation of the LPR and DPR
Units of DPR troops, continuing their offensive, completely mopped up the village of Sladkoye of nationalists.
As of April 7, 2022, on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, a group of DPR troops, with fire support from the Russian Armed Forces, liberated and established full control over 160 towns and villages, including Novogrigorovka (Volodarsky District), Pannovka, Suzhenka, Lugovoye, Sadovoye, Fedorovka, Kalchinovka, Nazarovka, Ukrainka, Respublika, Ksenovka, Novoromanovka, Sergeyevka, Starchenkovo, Peremoga, Priazovskoye, Shevchenko (Pershotravnevy district), Illichovskoye, Rybatskoye, Chervonoye, Shirokaya Balka. The mopping-up of Mariupol continues.
Kramatorsk is currently undergoing a mass evacuation of residents.
Mariupol
At the moment, combat is underway in the city, with Azov (organization banned in the Russian Federation) and other neo-Nazi fighters being driven to the sea in the port area and industrial zones.
The main combats in Mariupol have moved to the port of the city and the territory of the Azovstal plant – Basurin. “Regarding the situation in Mariupol, the central part of the city, we can say the main combat is over,” he added.
The DPR People’s Militia reports that the militants of Azov (organization banned in Russia) set fire to the control ship Donbass in the port of Mariupol. “After setting fire to the Turkish ship The Azburg, operating under the Dominican flag, the Ukrainian militants carried out another provocation. The employees of the 83rd Center for Information and Psychological Operations and nationalists of Azov (organization banned in Russia) set the Donbass control ship on fire. At present, there is an ongoing fire on board both vessels, and smoke is being observed. We do not rule out that in the near future Ukrainian and foreign media to discredit the Russian military will start distributing videos with the murdered crew members of the ships,” DPR People’s Militia.
Over the past 24 hours, from 08:00 a.m. on April 6 to 8:00 p.m. on April 7, 1355 people, including 148 children, were evacuated from Mariupol to Bezymyonnoye, Novoazovsk district. At present, they are in the evacuation centers, which was deployed by the DPR Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The names of streets and avenues in Mariupol will be returned their original names. Ukrainian nationalists changed the names of streets, banning the names of Soviet heroes. Protests and dissent from the local population were immediately blocked.
Situation in the LPR and DPR
The Head of the Russian Investigative Committee Aleksandr Bastrykin held a meeting in Donetsk concerning the investigation of Ukraine’s war crimes.
The enemy opened fire on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic using 220mm and 122mm BM-27 Uragan and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, 122mm barrel artillery and 120mm and 82mm mortars. Areas of 8 towns and villages of the republic were hit by shelling, the DPR People’s Militia reported.
Over the past 24 hours, three buildings and four civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged. The Ukrainian militants fired a total of 189 rounds of ammunition.
The Russian government is ready to allocate funds to equip schools in the LPR and DPR.
The DPR
The shelling of the Ukrainian army in the Petrovsky district, on Socialist Street, and Kuibyshevsky district, on Stepnaya Street, resulted in damage to houses. Details are being clarified.
The Ukrainian army attacked Zemlyanka in the Kirovsky district of Makeevka.
Artillery of the Ukrainian militants opened fire on residential buildings on Narodnaya, B. Belana and Franko Streets.
Ukrainian militants attacked the Mayorskoye checkpoint in Gorlovka along Artemovskoye Highway. The infrastructure of the border facility was damaged.
As a result of the shelling from the positions of Ukrainian militants in Aleksandrovka on Gorkogo Street, a fire broke out in a house.
The artillery of the Ukrainian army attacked Yasinovataya, houses on Chkalova Street were damaged. As a result of the shelling of the Ukrainian army in Yasinovataya, on Babushkina Street, a house was damaged, and a civilian was wounded. Also in Yasinovataya there were reported hits in the area of the railway station. According to preliminary information, there are casualties. As a result of the shelling in Yasinovataya 7 transformer substations and 1,444 household customers were left without electric power. Repair and restoration work will begin as soon as the situation allows.
The LPR
LPR servicemen, supported by the Russian Army, took an important Ukrainian army’s stronghold near the village of Novotoshkovsky under control, opening the way to the strategically important town of Lisichansk occupied by the Ukrainian militants.
Kiev military has shelled the small town of Donetskiy with 152 mm artillery since the beginning of the day. At 13:55, they fired seven shells at the town.
Liberated territories.
As a result of Ukrainian army’s shelling of the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, previously liberated by a group of DPR troops, 36 people were wounded.
On April 6, pensions were paid to 706 recipients in the liberated towns and villages of Staroignatievka, Svobodnoye, Volnovakha, Novogrigorovka and Volodarskoye. The DPR authorities continue to carry out priority measures aimed at restoring the social and humanitarian sphere.
Telecommunications workers in Volodarskoye and Mangush installed equipment and launched the 3G connection, and in Volnovakha – 4G connection. Donetsk – Mariupol communication line was restored near Berezovoye.
The DPR Ministry of Health continues to receive citizens in the liberated territories. In Mariupol, 132 patients were provided with necessary consultations and medical assistance.
The DPR Ministry of Transport allocated five buses to evacuate people from the liberated territories, and launched an intercity bus on the route Donetsk Yuzhny bus station – Granitnoye via Starolaspa, Novolaspa and Staroignatievka.
The Donetsk railroad specialists replaced 318 meters of rails at Volnovakha railway station, restored the roof of the electric control post-1, repaired the diesel generator at the railway station and the traction substation, which made it possible to connect the railway infrastructure, social facilities and the executive authorities to the power supply.
Sappers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Donetsk People’s Republic inspected almost 23 hectares of the liberated territory. 1,451 explosive objects were neutralized.
The district administrations continue to receive statements about the existing problems and needs of the population in the liberated towns and villages.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the DPR Military Commandant’s Office check the passports and ensure the protection of public order in all liberated towns and villages.
Political situation
The dollar is less than 77 rubles, the euro is less than 83 rubles.
Russia’s reserves blocked by the West can be considered stolen – Russian Finance Minister Siluanov.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Franca condemned the West for the sanctions:
Not only are they illegal in terms of international law. But these sanctions can also exacerbate the economic consequences of the conflict and negatively affect the supply chains of essential goods such as food and basic raw materials.
These sanctions benefit a small number of States and hurt the vast majority of countries, mostly developing countries, which are more reliant on food imports. These countries generally do not have the financial capacity to tolerate restrictive measures.
Brazil’s main concern is to ensure the continuity of supply of fertilizers needed for local agricultural businesses and food security not only for Brazil, but also for the whole world.
Lukashenko, “There can be no negotiations without the participation of Belarus. If you have involved us in these negotiations, especially the Western countries, the position of Belarus should naturally be voiced during them. We are not suggesting that we are put in the same basket with Russia, no. We proceed from the fact that this war is beyond our country’s borders. <…> There can be no separate agreements behind the back of Belarus. And I am absolutely convinced and know that Russia understands this position.”
Lavrov about the new draft agreement submitted by Ukraine:
Ukraine has already violated the main provisions of the Istanbul agreements, “Yesterday the Ukrainian side presented its draft agreement to the negotiating group. It clearly deviates from the most important provisions of the document signed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation D. Arakhamia at the meeting in Istanbul on March 29 this year”.
The blurring of the status of Crimea and Sevastopol, “In that document the Ukrainians clearly stated that the future security guarantees of Ukraine do not apply to Crimea and Sevastopol. Yesterday’s draft omits this clear statement and instead proposes vague wording about some kind of ‘effective control’ as of 23 February this year.”
Ukraine puts unacceptable conditions on the meeting between Putin and Zelensky, “In addition, there is the idea that the problems of Crimea and Donbass should be brought to a meeting of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, President Zelensky has repeatedly stated that such a meeting is possible only after the cessation of hostilities. Surely at the next stage the Ukrainian side will ask for the withdrawal of troops and will pile up new preconditions. This plan is understandable. It is unacceptable.”
Russia fulfilled its obligations, but Ukraine used it for another provocation, “I would like to remind you that after Istanbul in response to realism in the Ukrainian position the Russian armed forces conducted a de-escalation on the direction of Kiegov and Chernihiv as a goodwill gesture and stimulation of movement towards an agreement. In response, there was a provocation in Bucha, which was immediately used by the West to announce a new batch of sanctions, as well as atrocities against Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian neo-Nazis.”
Ukraine refuses from the obligation, earlier included into the draft agreement, to coordinate its military exercises with Russia, “One more principle issue: in the document, signed by D. Arakhamia it is clearly stated that in the context of the neutral non-aligned non-nuclear status of Ukraine any military exercises with participation of foreigners shall be held only with the consent of all guarantor states, including Russia. However, in the draft treaty that arrived yesterday this unequivocal provision was also changed. Now we are already talking about the possibility of conducting exercises with the consent of most of the guarantor states without any mention of Russia.”
Ukraine is incapable of being negotiated, “Such incapacity has become chronic. It characterizes Kiev’s true intentions, its policy of dragging out and even derailing the negotiations by deviating from the understandings reached. We see it as a manifestation of the fact that the Kiev regime is controlled by Washington and its allies, pushing President V. A. Zelensky to continue hostilities”.
Russia will continue to insist on its demands as well, “Despite all provocations, the Russian delegation will continue the negotiation process, promoting our draft agreement, which clearly and fully outlines all key positions and demands.”
Russian Security Council: US IT companies’ multibillion-dollar spending on cybersecurity is payback for arrogance and refusal to cooperate with Russia and China.
Liberated territories of Ukraine
The liberated territories of the Zaporozhye region and the entire Kherson region are switching to trade in rubles. This was announced by Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister Muradov. This should contribute to the restoration of normal economic activity in the Northern Black Sea region. Also restored the unified economic complex, which previously existed between the Crimea, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
The public council of Energodar elected Andrey Shevchikach as head of the city administration. Loyal to Ukraine Orlov has been dismissed as mayor, according to Energoatom’s press service. Russia’s entrenchment in southern Ukraine continues.
Sanctions
Tokyo will not impose an embargo on coal supplies from Russia, even if other countries decide to do so, because of the risk of higher prices, the Japanese newspaper Mainichi reported, citing sources. The volume of coal imported from Russia to Japan is about 15% of the total volume.
Japanese Government Secretary General Matsuno said that the intention of the Russian Federation to “implement further countermeasures” in response to the sanctions imposed by Tokyo is “shifting responsibility for the situation to the Japanese side, which is extremely unreasonable and unacceptable.”
The US and allies will seek to eventually deprive Russia of any revenues from oil and gas exports – The White House.
Disney is completely suspending the distribution of its films in Russian cinemas as of today.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry on the possibility of paying for Russian gas in rubles, “We will have our first payment obligation to Gazprom at the end of May, and the details of a technical solution are being worked out now so that we can pay, Hungary’s energy supply is safe.”
Belarus will fulfill obligations to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on loans in Belarusian rubles.
Chinese companies have started buying coal and oil in Russia for yuan – Bloomberg.
Brian Deese, economic adviser to the US president, warned New Delhi against cooperation with Moscow. Otherwise, the consequences would be “significant” and “long-term.” “There are certainly areas where we have been disappointed by both China and India’s decisions,” in the context of the conflict, Deese said.
Oil embargo is not part of fifth EU sanctions package against Russia – Borrell.
Tehran agreed to unblock its $7 billion in assets frozen in foreign banks at Washington’s request – IRNA. What is left is to unblock Iranian oil shipments to world markets, primarily Europe.
The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a “total embargo” on energy imports from Russia, to be reviewed if Russia’s position on Ukraine changes. This is a declarative resolution with no legal consequences in terms of sanctions.
Ukraine
Kiev hopes to receive “reparations” from Russia by the end of the summer – the head of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine Denis Malyuska. In fact, we are talking about robbery – the transfer to Ukraine of assets of Russia frozen in the West.
A draft law on banning geographical names related to Russia, its history and prominent figures in Ukraine has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada.
Zelensky appeared via video link in front of the Greek Parliament. Zelensky’s already scandalous speech (many Greek MPs boycotted the parliament session) turned into an even bigger scandal when two Azov (organization banned in Russia) fighters together with Zelensky appeared in front of the parliament. There are Greeks in the ranks of Azov (organization banned in the Russian Federation).
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolayenko called Hungary’s readiness to buy gas for rubles “unfriendly”, “We consider the statement about readiness to pay for Russian gas in rubles as an unfriendly position with regard to our state. Such statements also contradict the consolidated position of the European Union, which refused in principle to satisfy the Russian whim.”
The mayor of Balakleya (Kharkov Region), Ivan Stolbovoy, who cooperated with the Russian military, left for Russia together with his family, the loyal Ukrainian head of the region Sinegubov said.
Countries that could be potential guarantors of Ukraine’s security have not yet provided their vision on the issue – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba.
Western countries
NATO will expand support for Ukraine, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – Stoltenberg.
Latvian Saeima sent the law on deprivation of citizenship for supporting Russia to the final reading. Deputies supported a bill to deprive Latvian citizenship of those who “support actions against peace, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes.” However, there is one nuance: only the holders of the second citizenship will be deprived of it with the permission of special services of the republic. The final reading is scheduled for April 21, after which the law will go to the president for his signature.
US Secretary of State Blinken stated that there is not a single potential scenario that does not involve Ukraine winning. The US is obviously determined to burn Ukraine in a war with Russia.
Russia has delivered nuclear fuel to Hungary for the Paks nuclear power plant bypassing Ukraine, the Hungarian foreign minister said.
The defense ministers of Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Georgia discussed cooperation in combating drifting mines in the Black Sea, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.
Politico: The Senate unanimously passed important legislation to revive a World War II program allowing President Joe Biden to more effectively send weapons and other supplies to Ukraine. Senators quickly rallied behind the proposal, known as lend-lease, as the Ukrainian military proved it could fight off Russian troops.
People in the town of Bucha near Kiev died at the hands of Ukrainian security forces, said Scott Ritter, an American military analyst and former UN weapons inspector in Iraq. Ritter said the Russian military had been in Bucha for several weeks. He stated that the residents of Bucha gave them eggs, milk, cheese, and the Russians gave them their dry rations, flour, salt, sugar, meat. Then the Russians left. Anyone who was involved in such interaction with the Russians is now considered a collaborator, the expert noted.
Scott Ritter added that the Ukrainian national police published an announcement that they were heading to Bucha on April 1 to purge and eliminate collaborators. He continued that there was video footage where the Ukrainian police, namely the Azov group (organization banned in the Russian Federation), proudly declares that they are going on safari. Those people were killed on April 1 by the Ukrainian national police, Scott Ritter added. After this statement, Ritter’s Facebook account (organization banned in Russia) was blocked.
Polish President Duda, “For many years, we in the European Union have heard voices saying that we must have a dialogue with Russia. Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, which was the first time Russia attacked Ukraine. Before that, Russia attacked Georgia. These attacks were unprovoked, they were very brutal attacks. And every time I hear that we need to have a dialogue with Russia. Dialogue with Russia makes no sense!”
The official statement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the events in Bucha and Irpen:
“The press images of the massacres from different parts of Kiev, including Bucha and Irpen, are horrific and disturbing in the name of humanity. We share the pain of the people of Ukraine. Targeting innocent civilians should not be tolerated in any way. Identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice through an independent investigation into the matter is our main expectation. Turkey will continue to work to end such shameful scenes for humanity and achieve peace immediately.” Russia has not been directly blamed.
Britain will supply Ukraine with Mastiff-type armored vehicles and Jakal reconnaissance patrol vehicles – The Times.
Turkey has decided to formally refer the trial over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to the Saudi judiciary.
Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, receives US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, who is visiting Northern Cyprus as part of a regional tour. Security, energy and Ukraine are on the agenda.
Liz Truss, British Foreign Secretary, “The age of engagement with Russia is over. We need a new approach to security in Europe based on resilience, defense, and deterrence.” According to the statement sent to CNN, Truss underlined that NATO cannot allow “security vacuums” at the alliance’s Eastern borders and should “rethink” support for countries “caught in the web of Russian influence” such as Georgia, Moldova, Sweden and Finland. Mentioning of Georgia and Moldova is understandable. But the Swedes and Finns when did they get caught in the web?
US unilaterally closes channel of communication with Russia where cybersecurity was discussed – Russian Security Council deputy secretary.
Stoltenberg in response to a request to comment on the killing of Russian prisoners by Ukrainian Nazis, “Then I would say that every report on potential violations of international law should be thoroughly looked into. And of course, any violation of international law and any war crime is always unacceptable. But I cannot comment on that specific video because I don’t know anything about that specific incident.”
Latvia has banned issuing initial temporary residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus until June 30, 2023.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested handing over to Ukraine weapons stored in the country since the time of Communist East Germany.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
