23.04.2022, Moscow.
Rossa Primavera News Agency publishes a summary of events in Ukraine as of 5 p.m. on April 23.
Russian Defense Ministry:
- During the night, high-precision airborne missiles of the Russian Air Force hit 11 military facilities of Ukraine. Among them: 7 strongholds and places of concentration of manpower and military equipment. As a result of the strikes, the enemy suffered losses of up to two companies of personnel, 25 armored vehicles and vehicles. Three missile and artillery weapon depots were also destroyed near the village of Chervonnoye.
- During the night, the Russian Air Force’s tactical and army aviation hit 66 Ukrainian military facilities. Among them: three command posts, 58 areas of concentration of manpower and Ukrainian military equipment, as well as three rocket and artillery weapons depots in the areas of the villages of Aleksandrovka, Komar and Bogatyr.
- Rocket and artillery troops carried out 1,098 fire tasks during the day. As a result of the strikes, three Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters at the site near the village of Chuguev, three Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile systems on the outskirts of the village of Barvenkovo, 16 weapons and military equipment depots, as well as 33 control posts of Ukrainian units were destroyed. 919 strongholds and areas of accumulation of manpower and military equipment, as well as 124 firing positions of Ukrainian artillery were hit.
- Russian air defense assets in the area of Novaya Dmitrovka, Kharkov region, shot down an airborne Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian air force. Also during the night, fifteen Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed, including one Bayraktar TB-2 over the village of Novaya Zarya in the Nikolayev region.
- In the vicinity of Chernobayevka, a detachment of Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile launchers shot down two Tochka-U tactical missiles and three projectiles of multiple-launch rocket systems in the air.
A total of 141 aircraft, 110 helicopters, 538 unmanned aerial vehicles, 261 surface-to-air missile systems, 2,471 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 274 multiple rocket launchers, 1,075 guns of field artillery and mortars, and 2,311 special military vehicles have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation.
Russian Defense Ministry:
- As of March 29, 2022 alone, more than 860 servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine refused to follow the criminal orders of their commanders and voluntarily left their military units.
- The largest number of desertions was confirmed in the military unit 3056 (16th separate battalion, Kherson) – 152 people. Also a large number of deserters was noted in the military unit 3014 (84 persons), military unit 3033 (82 persons) and military unit 3030 (79 persons).
- Thirty-seven servicemen refused to follow orders and left the military unit 3057, which includes the Azov punitive detachment (organization banned in the Russian Federation).
Southern direction
According to unconfirmed information, the Russian Armed Forces began to shell fuel depots and military facilities in Odessa. There were four explosions. Also, social media reported a rocket that fell on a residential building. There is a fire. There is no information about casualties. Details are being clarified.
Liberation of the LPR and DPR
During the joint operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR and the LPR to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, a group of DPR troops continues to liberate towns and villages in the Donetsk People’s Republic that were previously under the control of the Ukrainian army.
DPR People’s Militia (PM): Over the past 24 hours, our servicemen eliminated 56 Ukrainian nationalists, destroyed one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles and two armored personnel carriers. One infantry fighting vehicle, one 122mm BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system and one truck were captured.
167 towns and villages are currently under the control of the DPR. Mariupol has come under full operational control of a group of DPR and Russian Armed Forces troops, while the remnants of the Nazi paramilitary fighters are hiding in the catacombs of the Azovstal industrial zone.
Mariupol
Another 167 people were evacuated from Mariupol to Bezymyonnoye. During the day on April 23, between 08:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., 167 people, including 23 children, were evacuated from Mariupol to Bezymyonnoye in the Novoazovsk district. At present, they are in an evacuation assistance point, which has been deployed by the DPR Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The units of the DPR PM are securely blocking the perimeter of the Azovstal plant.
Allied forces have fully liberated residential areas of the city of Mariupol, but fighters of the Ukrainian army and nationalist units of Ukraine still remain at the Azovstal plant. For reasons of humanity, the Allied Forces command opened up several corridors for civilians and Ukrainian fighters to leave. Despite this, as of today, the leadership of the encircled militants has not taken advantage of this offer.
Therefore, the attacks on the enemy on the territory of the plant continue, and the perimeter of the plant is securely blocked in order to prevent the Ukrainian army from breaking through.
The territory of Azovstal in Mariupol has been shelled with artillery and bombed by aircraft all day long. The cannonade can be heard many kilometers away from the plant.
Mariupol has begun to rebuild the seaport. Today, the first employees will arrive at the Mariupol seaport, who will begin to restore order, organize administrative work and the subsequent restoration.
DPR PM, “Today, at the request of Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister I. Vereshchuk, the Russian side organized a humanitarian corridor and provided transport to evacuate civilians from Mariupol. This peaceful action was disrupted by Ukrainian nationalists, who opened fire from the territory of the Azovstal plant with mortars at the announced gathering place for citizens near the Port City shopping center on Shevchenko Boulevard. Thanks to the professional actions of the Russian servicemen who ensured the security of the gathering place, it was possible to get all the people gathered out from under fire and prevent another civilian casualty. One of the servicemen who rescued women and children was wounded.”
Situation on the territory of the LPR and DPR
The enemy opened fire on the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic using 122 mm BM-21 “Grad” multiple rocket launcher systems, 122mm barrel artillery, 120 mm and 82 mm mortars. Areas of six towns and villages of the republic were hit by the shelling.
According to the DPR representative office in the Joint Centre for Ceasefire Control and Coordination, 12 houses were damaged. The Ukrainian militants fire a total of 175 rounds of ammunition.
The DPR
More than 3,700 customers remain without a power supply in the DPR. As a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk People’s Republic, 47 transformer substations, two boiler houses, two educational facilities, one hospital and more than 3,700 household customers were left without a power supply.
The Ukrainian army attacked the Petrovsky district of Donetsk, injuring a child. As a result of the shelling, a child was wounded in Udaltsova Street and a house building was damaged on Safonova Street. Details are being clarified.
The Ukrainian army shelled Makeevka and Yasinovataya. As a result of the shelling of the village of Zemlyanka near Makeevka, a house building on Chelyuskintsev Street was damaged. In Yasinovataya, a house on Lesnaya Street and a house on Yasinovatskaya Street were damaged. Infrastructure and the railway track between Yasinovataya-Zapadnaya and Yasinovataya-Gorka stations were damaged as a result of the shelling. Repair and restoration work will begin as soon as the situation allows.
The Ukrainian army attacked Zaitsevo. Houses on Kondratenko Street were damaged as a result of the shelling.
The Ukrainian army shelled Yelenovka. Houses on Krupskaya Street were damaged as a result of shelling.
The Ukrainian army shelled the village of Dolya, a gas pipeline was damaged. As a result of the shelling, a house on Victory Street was damaged and a gas pipeline was damaged. Details are being clarified.
The LPR
The Ukrainian fighters opened fire on the territory that is under the control of the LPR twice in the past 24 hours. This was reported by the representative of the republic in the Joint Centre for Ceasefire Control and Coordination.
There is information about two attacks on the towns of Pervomaisk and Novoaidar using 152mm and 122mm artillery (17 shells) and BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher systems (6 missiles) undertaken by the Ukrainian army.
A man was wounded during the shelling of Novoaidar town by the Ukrainian army.
Armed units of Ukraine shelled Zolotoye-5 with 120mm artillery.
Liberated territories
In the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, previously liberated by a group of DPR troops, 14 civilians wounded as a result of the Ukrainian army’s shelling received medical assistance.
The DPR authorities continue to carry out priority activities aimed at restoring the social and humanitarian sphere.
In Privolnoye, work was carried out to launch the base station, in Mariupol, the fiber-optic communication lines of the radio and television transmission center were restored, and the identified damage to the fiber-optic communication line between Mangush and Mariupol was repaired.
In addition, the employees of regional energetic commision repaired high-voltage lines Telmanovo-Pavlopolskaya, Zorya-Pavlopolskaya, Pavlopolskaya-Mariupolskaya, Kasyanovka-Gorkovatoe, Novoignatyevka-Novognatovka, and Talakovskaya and Kasyanovka substations. A total of 1,040 meters of lines were restored.
Pensions and social benefits were paid in 11 towns and villages.
Employees of the DPR Ministry of Health continue to receive citizens in the liberated territories. More than 1440 patients received qualified medical aid.
Rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the DPR inspected more than 8 hectares of liberated territory and found 819 explosive objects. In Mariupol, humanitarian aid consisting of 10,827 kits was distributed to the population.
24 tanks of liquid gas were delivered to Bakhchevik and Zakharovka, and 36 to Sartana.
54 tons of water were delivered and distributed in Mariupol.
More than 5 tons of bread was produced in the liberated territories.
Outdoor trade was organized in Mariupol, Blagodatnoye and Vladimirovka.
District administrations continue to receive reports on the problems and needs of the population in the liberated settlements.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the DNR military commandant’s office check the passports and ensure protection of public order in all liberated towns and villages.
Political situation
The Holy Fire descended in Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Another mediator, the UN Secretary General:
On April 26, the UN Secretary General will arrive in Moscow, where Putin and Lavrov will hold talks with him.
On April 28, the UN Secretary General will fly to Kiev for talks with Zelensky.
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded explanations about the Russian plans to establish full control over Southern Ukraine have access to Transnistria. The Moldovan ministry said in a statement that it “took note of the statements of the Russian Defense Ministry representative” and “expressed deep concern about the statements made by the Russian official.”
An overwhelming majority of Chinese support Russia in the events in Ukraine.
75% of Chinese believe that supporting Russia is in China’s interests (40% expressed moderate agreement and 35% strongly agreed with this thesis).
61% of Chinese believe that Russia should be given moral support, while 16% suggest supplying Russia with weapons.
In contrast, 13% of Chinese citizens suggest condemning Russia’s actions and 9% suggest supplying weapons to Ukraine.
About 60% of people in China believe that the government should mediate in ending the conflict.
The researcher concludes, “Ultimately, the data obtained indicate the influence of a generally pro-Russian information environment in China.”
Russian Embassy in Latvia, “We are extremely indignant about the decision of Ogre City Council to dismantle five Soviet memorials located on the territory of the municipality. We are convinced that this venture has no moral, historical or even more legal basis.”
Liberated territories of Ukraine
Russian engineers cleared a number of towns and villages in the Kharkov region of unexploded ordnance fired by the Ukrainian army. Russian field engineers go on a mission at the request of local residents who ask to clear residential areas from mines. The situation is assessed on the spot, after which the demining team proceeds to clear the area. If the ammunition can be transported, it is loaded into a vehicle equipped with sand decking and armor plates. Then the dangerous objects are taken to the site, placed in trenches and detonated with TNT charges.
The Russian flag was hoisted over the administration building of Primorsk, Zaporozhye region.
Sanctions
Malaysia will consider any request from the Russian side for supplies of semiconductors and electronics, Bala Chandran, the country’s ambassador to Russia, told RIA Novosti. Malaysia, he said, is one of the biggest exporters of semiconductors, with an annual volume of $8.7 billion.
Medvedev, “The European Commission has allowed payment for gas in rubles and believes that the decree of the Russian president may still be applied by European business. We appreciate the consistency and adherence to principles of our European partners. Especially taking into account the fact that, according to the IMF’s recent data, Europe will be able to do without our gas for no more than 6 months. But seriously, they won’t last a week.”
The US and the EU are discussing the steps for limiting oil imports from Russia. Negotiations between Washington and Brussels are discussing ways to “strike as hard a blow as possible” to Russian oil profits. One option is to abandon Russian black gold altogether. But US officials fear this would result in upsurge of oil prices and increased Kremlin revenues.
The EU is considering three options to restrict oil imports from Russia – Bloomberg.
The first is a complete ban (embargo).
The second is setting a ceiling price.
The third is the creation of a payment mechanism to retain the proceeds that Russia has received since the start of the special operation.
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has compiled a list of manufacturers whose products can be imported into Russia as parallel imports (without the permission of the rights holder).
Electronics: Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Sony, Siemens, HP, Huawei, Lenovo, Intel, Electrolux, Miele, Siemens, Dyson, X-Box, Play Station, Nintendo.
Cars: Land Rover, Jeep, Jaguar, Chrysler, Bentley, Cadillac, Tesla, Volvo. Plus accessories – metal structures and products from Mahle, Cummins, Wabco gauges and units, Gates drive belts and hydraulics, Continental, Michelin, Goodyear and Bridgestone tires. Also on the list are automotive engines from Cummins, Deutz, Kubota, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Toyota, Volvo and Scania. Industrial equipment Caterpillar, Siemens, etc.
Gray imports will not affect furniture, with the exception of seats for transport and jewelry. The Industry and Trade Ministry regarded jewelry as being of no strategic importance and Russian manufacturers will be able to replace goods of foreign brands.
US farmers expressed their anxiety over rising fertilizer and fuel prices. Rising prices for fertilizer, fuel and equipment could cause long-term problems for the US agriculture industry, said dairy farm owner Chris Pollack. Pollack believes that this year is going to be very expensive for farmers. Fertilizer now costs twice as much as it did last year. Fuel is twice as expensive as it was a year ago. The price for some chemicals has risen dramatically, up to three to four times.
“The oligarchs who are losing their yachts and the people who are tightening their belts have little sway over the Kremlin. In Russia, with average citizens, Mr. Putin has grist for a loud ‘I told you so’ about the West’s purported longing to bring down Russia,” The New York Times wrote in its editorial “Can Sanctions Really Stop Putin?”
Transit through Ukraine continues to decline. Gazprom is supplying gas for transit through Ukraine in line with European customers’ requests – 48.6 million cubic meters as of April 23, the company said.
Britons have started giving up keeping pets more often amid rising costs of living, Sky News TV channel reported.
Supermarkets across the UK have set limits on the amount of vegetable oil per customer due to supply chain problems caused by the Russian Federation’s special operation in Ukraine. According to the BBC, Tesco is allowed to sell three bottles of oil per customer, while Waitrose and Morrisons have set a limit of two bottles.
Slovak Prime Minister Heger, “Slovakia will pay for Russian gas in the second half of May, as before, in euros. That is our plan.”
Ukraine
Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea Konstantinov, “Ukraine is not at all independent in decision-making; it lost its political subjectivity long ago. However, neither Europe that stands behind its back has it. If there’s anyone to negotiate peace with, it’s the USA. And it seems that the USA is not ready for a compromise yet. Moreover, today there is not even a subject for negotiations. So the operation in Ukraine will generally not be quick, but its goals must be achieved in full. Because if Ukraine is not demilitarized and denazified, we will constantly be under threat of even greater and deadlier aggression from this territory.”
Ukrainian resources publish a list of upcoming deliveries of heavy weapons:
Estonia – 9 D-30 howitzers;
USA – 18 + 72 M777 howitzers;
Canada – 4 M777 howitzers;
Czech Republic – 20+ DANA and DANA M2 self-propelled artillery vehicles;
Slovakia – 18 Zuzana self-propelled artillery vehicles;
Poland – 20+ Gvozdika self-propelled artillery vehicles;
Netherlands – up to 24 self-propelled artillery vehicles PzH 2000;
France – 12 CAESAR self-propelled artillery vehicles;
Belgium – up to 24 M109A4BE self-propelled artillery vehicles;
United Kingdom – AS-90 self-propelled artillery vehicle;
Poland – BM-21 Grad MLRS;
Czech Republic – RM-70 MLRS;
USA – M142 HIMARS MLRS;
Pope Francis, “I cannot do anything that would jeopardize higher objectives, which are an end to the war, a truce or at least a humanitarian corridor. What good would it do for the pope to go to Kyiv if the war continues the next day?”
The head of Naftogaz Yuriy Vitrenko threatens Europe to cut off Russian gas transit, “According to our data, a third of the volume of gas exported from Russia to the EU through Ukraine will be lost if the occupation forces do not stop disrupting our stations on the recently occupied territories.”
Western countries
Canada has supplied Ukraine with 155mm towed M777 howitzers and ammunition. A total of four of Canada’s 37 howitzers were supplied.
The Finnish parliament voted to join NATO. The vote was declaratory in nature. An official decision to join NATO has not been made yet.
The Netherlands plans to supply Ukraine with a “limited number” of 155mm PzH2000 self-propelled howitzers, the country’s defense minister said, adding that Germany will help with personnel training and logistics.
Slovakia supplied T-72M1 tanks to Ukraine. Photos of T-72M1 tanks supplied to Ukraine from Slovakia have appeared on the web.
The Czech Republic started supplying to Ukraine self-propelled howitzers 2C1 Gvozdika. A convoy with heavy weapons was spotted in Olomouc.
Germany has split on the issue of supplies of heavy weapons to Ukraine. According to a poll conducted by Insa Institute commissioned by Bild newspaper:
- 50% of German citizens polled oppose heavy weapons shipments to Ukraine.
- 43% support the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that there is a “realistic possibility” of Russian forces winning in Ukraine. According to Sky News, referring to Western intelligence analysis that Russia could succeed in the war in Ukraine, Johnson said, “I think the sad thing is that that is a realistic possibility.”
The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have called on NATO to station combat-ready divisions in their countries. This is said in a joint statement of prime ministers of the three countries. It is said that they need a stronger presence of land, air and naval forces of the organization.
Details of such a possibility will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of NATO countries in Madrid. Besides, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia intend to continue increasing their defense budgets to at least 2.5% of GDP. The countries will also continue cooperation in the procurement of MLRS.
German cultural figures have written an open letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz with a request not to supply weapons to Ukraine and to seek to stop the war through negotiations, the Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported. The signatories criticize the pressure on the chancellor, from whom increased military support for Kiev was demanded. “Regardless of success, the price of prolonged military resistance will be new cities and villages destroyed and new casualties among the Ukrainian population,” the signatories say.
They claim that NATO now risks nuclear war with Russia. And they call for negotiations with Russia. Journalists, political scientists, writers, musicians, lawyers, economists and even theologians signed the appeal, which will also be sent to the Bundestag. Among the signatories is famous composer Konstantin Wecker.
Russian airplanes will be transferred to the GLONASS system as soon as possible – Director General of Roscosmos Rogozin.
Zakharova, “Polish, British, US, Canadian, and other ‘instructors’ have been herding neo-Nazi militants for years. They are not instructors at all. They are special services of NATO countries.”
Zakharova, “Obviously, the original US plan was to put economic pressure on Russia to make it completely reconsider its legitimate security interests. It didn’t work. Now the US is moving to use WMD, in fact, to play behind the red line. If this happens, the casualties will be incalculable. And each of them is on the conscience of the US strategists in the offices of the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon, and on the conscience if anything is left of it, of their puppets in Kiev.”
Tinkov intends to sell his stake in Tinkoff and withdraw from all Russian assets – RBK. Oleg Tinkov is in talks to sell his stake in TCS Group (owns Tinkoff Bank, Tinkoff Insurance and other assets), RBK reports citing sources. “He [Tinkov] wants to withdraw completely from Russian assets,” the source said. Tinkov’s family trust owns 35% of TCS Group, he is the largest shareholder and de facto controls the company’s operations.
Governor of Kursk region Starovoit, “Today the border crossing point in Glushkov district of Kursk region was again shelled from the side of Ukraine using mortars. As a result, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of the Russian Federation premises caught fire. Our border guards and military are keeping the situation under control. There are no injuries or fatalities.”
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
