Oorlog in Oekraïne #959 Damn

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Russel Bentley, pro-Putin fighter and Russian propagandist from Texas went missing in Russian-controlled Donetsk

Russell Bentley, US citizen, who fought for pro-Putin forces in Russia’s war against Ukraine has gone missing, say the so-called police in Russian-controlled Donetsk (temporary occupied territory of Ukraine).

Russell Bentley, 63, who is married to a Russian woman and has a Russian passport, disappeared after an attack by Defense Force of Ukraine, according to reports. He was last seen in Donetsk on 8 April 2024 before moving in an ‘unknown direction’, and his current location is unknown.

Bentley has posted that he was ‘heading west with the “Liberators of Ukraine”. We may stop in Kryiv, we may stop on the English Channel. We may liberate the USA.’

A visitor to Cuba, in 1999 he escaped from a minimum security US facility where he was being held for drug trafficking, Daily Mail reports.

‘I didn’t have to dig a tunnel or take anybody hostage,’ Bentley said.

‘But I did escape from prison.’

He was later captured and put in a high security facility to finish his sentence.

He became a fighter for pro-Putin forces in 2014 after breaking up with his yoga-instructor girlfriend, though he spoke almost no Russian.

He sympathised with the Russian rather than Ukrainian side.

He has lived in Donbas – Russian-occupied Ukraine – ever since.

He called himself the information warrior and had worked for a media outlet affiliated with Sputnik, a Russian state media outlet.

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Russia recruits women from penal colonies to go to war
The Russians have been actively recruiting women from Russian penal colonies in search of additional human resources.

Source: Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC)

Details: Recruiters from the Russian Defence Ministry are primarily looking for medics and snipers and, optionally, women for assault units. Imprisoned women are promised money and the opportunity to come back home.

The NRC noted that imprisoned women are actively agreeing to the terms as they believe in the propaganda that they will come back home alive.

Quote: "However, a completely different situation awaits them in Ukraine, and many of them will go to hell instead of freedom."

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What if Putin Doesn’t Want Peace?
Calls for the U.S. to push Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war require assuming a peace-minded Russia that doesn’t exist.

As the Ukraine war rages for a third year, with casualties well into the hundreds of thousands, some Americans argue that the United States should pursue peace via negotiations, instead of helping Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion.

It’s a common position among the Republican Party’s dominant MAGA wing—for example, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) argued that military aid for Ukraine “should be totally off the table and replaced with a push for peace talks”—as well as the “anti-war” left, and some self-styled “realists.”

The underlying logic is that American support makes the Ukrainians overconfident—including in 2023’s costly and largely unsuccessful counteroffensive—and the U.S. doesn’t mind sacrificing an indefinite number of Ukrainians to hurt Russia. Therefore, weakening Ukraine by withdrawing aid would encourage them to pursue reasonable accommodation. In this vision, Ukraine concedes land Russia currently controls and formally promises never to join NATO, the U.S. guarantees it, and the violence finally ends.

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Minister to propose classing Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organization
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets (SDE) is to propose the Riigikogu declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organization, the minister said Thursday.

The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, but will not be designated in the same way under the plan.

Speaking to ETV politics show "Esimene stuudio," Läänemets said that the ultimate aim is to ban the Moscow Patriarchate's activities in Estonia.

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Soldiers backed with HMMWVs knocked invaders out of the houses in Krasnohorivka

Servicemen backed with HMMWVs knocked Russian invaders out of houses in Krasnohorivka.

Soldiers of the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade took part in the battle.

Now Krasnohorivka has become the epicenter of the Russian offensive in the Novopavlivka sector.

Russian invaders tried to gain a foothold in the houses on Vatutin Street in Krasnohorivka, Donetsk region.

У Кра�ногорівці бійці з HMMWV вибили окупантів з будинків [Квітень 2024]

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Cruise missiles hit invaders’ facility in Luhansk

In the temporarily occupied Luhansk, cruise missiles were launched at the invaders’ facilities.

At about 11:30 a.m., the missiles hit the area of the machine-building plant, where, according to preliminary data, Russian invasion forces were based.

“The strike was on the Luhansk machine building plant, that, according to preliminary data, is a Russian repair base,” said the sources of the operativnoZSU Telegram channel.

After the strikes, a fire broke out, accompanied by heavy smoke – a column of smoke appeared over the city after the explosions.

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Zelenskyy: 500 defence companies operate in Ukraine, other countries interested in Ukrainian weapons

At present, Ukraine has 500 defence industry companies employing almost 300,000 people.

Source: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the occasion of the Day of the Defence Industry Worker; the Ukrainian president's website

Details: Zelenskyy noted that there are currently 500 defence industry companies operating in Ukraine. Almost 300,000 people are involved in this priority production. In particular, they produce Ukrainian shells, guns, mortars, armoured vehicles, anti-tank systems, electronic warfare systems and much more.

Quote: "Other countries are already interested in our weapons and in cooperating with us. After all, without our strength there would be no full-fledged force of the EU and NATO. Ukraine will ensure security for itself and help others to maintain and preserve their security."

More details: Zelenskyy inspected the latest models of military equipment and weapons and listened to a report on their production volume and use at the front. The president and the manufacturers also discussed the issue of state orders for the presented samples and the opportunity of increasing production.

For reference: On 13 April 2022, two Neptune missiles developed and manufactured by Ukrainians destroyed the Russian missile cruiser Moskva. In honour of this event, a presidential decree last year established a professional holiday for employees of the Ukrainian defence industry.

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The European Parliament fined deputy Zhdanok 1,750 euros for connections with the FSB

Member of the European Parliament Tatiana Zhdanok, who is suspected of collaborating with Russian intelligence services, will not be paid five days of daily allowance totaling 1,750 euros for violating the Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament (EP). This was stated by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, Delfi reports.

Zhdanok was also banned from representing the European Parliament in the cooperation delegation, inter-parliamentary conference or any other inter-institutional forum until the end of this convocation. Metsola noted that Zhdanok did not appeal, so the decision is final.

In March 2024, the State Security Service (SSS) of Latvia began a criminal investigation against Zhdanok. It was related to her alleged collaboration with the FSB.

At the end of January 2023, the Bellingcat group and The Insider published an investigation based on data obtained as a result of the leak of Zhdanok’s email correspondence. The authors of the investigation claim that Zhdanok conducted active correspondence with Russian citizens and, at least since 2004, reported on her activities to employees of the Fifth Service of the FSB and requested money to organize events. That same year she became a member of the European Parliament.

Zhdanok denied accusations of collaboration with Russian intelligence services, but did not deny the authenticity of the correspondence. She also noted that hacking personal email without permission from law enforcement is identity theft.

The mandate of Member of the European Parliament Zhdanok expires this year. She was previously expelled from the European Greens faction after refusing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She herself stated that she “cannot be intimidated” and noted that maintaining contacts with people is “the direct responsibility of a politician.”

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In Switzerland, the far right initiated a referendum on neutral status
In Switzerland, the far right collected signatures to hold a referendum on the country's neutral status. Source: Bloomberg

This initiative, which involves a ban on any sanctions, was initiated by the far-right Swiss People's Party and activists. They seek to enshrine in the country's constitution a provision on permanent armed neutrality, which excludes participation in any military alliance.

The initiative also aims to block “participation in non-military coercive measures,” which includes sanctions.

Despite the collection of signatures, the vote may be delayed. Once the signatures are legally certified, the government and parliament must discuss the issue. Usually the entire process before holding a referendum takes several years.

It should be noted that this week the Swiss People's Party expressed concern about "deliberate attempts to undermine neutrality" after the country imposed sanctions on Russia. The party argued that this action undermined the international perception of Switzerland as a neutral country.

Let us remind you that in the elections in Switzerland, the right secured a good result with the help of populism and disinformation .

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Your questions about Trump’s trial, answered
When CNN asked for your questions about former President Donald Trump’s upcoming first criminal trial – for his role in hush money payments made before the 2016 election to women who said they had affairs with him – we got a flood of input. Not all of it was fit to print.

But there were a lot of legitimate and very thoughtful questions. Keep reading for a representative sampling, which helps explain the case, along with context from CNN’s reporters and coverage.

Most of the questions come directly from reader submissions, but for others, I’ve taken the liberty of simplifying multiple submissions into one question. Trump, by the way, denies having the affairs and has pleaded not guilty in the case.

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Eastern Europeans buy up property in the West as Putin steps up ‘war on nerves’
Agnes Marciniak-Kostrzewa’s phone won’t stop ringing. She’s been in the property business for 25 years, helping Poles to buy homes on Spain’s southern shores, but the past few months have been “really crazy.”

There are lots of reasons why people might trade the Baltic coast for the Mediterranean. More than three decades after the collapse of communism, Poles are richer than ever before. Many who started businesses in the early 1990s are now looking to retire. And remote work, ushered in by the pandemic, has allowed many to live more rootlessly and opt for warmer climates.

But several realtors told CNN that their clients are now citing another reason: Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the fear that the conflict could spread.

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Tankers with Russian oil are “stuck” at sea due to new US sanctions
Four ships carrying Russian oil and petroleum products were hit by new US sanctions due to ties to Iran. Source: Reuters

It shows the strengthening partnership between Moscow and Tehran amid Western sanctions and efforts by the West to counter the companies' complex scheme aimed at circumventing restrictions and increasing revenue for both countries.

Among the vessels hit by sanctions were fuel tankers carrying petroleum products, as well as a tanker that loaded Russian oil.

The large-tonnage vessel Anthea, which transported Russian Urals oil to Greece, is now anchored in the Suez Canal.

Another Elsa vessel, transporting fuel oil from Russian ports to Greece, is located off the coast of Singapore.

The third Hebe, loaded with fuel oil in Russian ports, is heading to the Suez Canal, but its final destination is still unknown.

The Baxter vessel, which transported oil from Novorossiysk to India, has been in the Arabian Sea since the beginning of April.

Sanctions jeopardize the use of these vessels, which could lead to a reduction in tonnage involved in the Russian oil trade.

The United States previously stepped up its efforts to restrict trade in Russian oil by imposing sanctions on state-owned shipping company Sovcomflot and fourteen oil tankers involved in transporting Russian oil.

After this, the Indian operator refused to buy Russian oil from sanctioned tankers.

Let us recall that most of the fleet of tankers that Russia uses to deliver crude oil stopped after the introduction of American sanctions . Tightening measures by Western regulators may be starting to have a noticeable impact on Moscow.

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Ukraine Russia war: BBC Russian journalist Ilya Barabanov branded 'foreign agent'

The Russian justice ministry has labelled two prominent journalists - BBC Russian correspondent Ilya Barabanov and science reporter Asya Kazantseva - as "foreign agents".

Barabanov has written extensively about Russia's war in Ukraine and the Wagner mercenary group. The BBC condemned the ministry's move against him.

"The BBC strongly rejects the decision," a BBC statement said.

The "foreign agent" label has very negative connotations in Russia.

The government has used it to marginalise not only critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine but also voices challenging other Kremlin policies, including prominent cultural figures, media organisations and civil society groups.

One of Russia's most popular novelists - Boris Akunin - was put on the list in January. He is a long-standing critic of President Vladimir Putin.

The term "foreign agent" recalls the Soviet-era campaign against "enemies of the people". "Foreign agents" have to identify themselves as such on social media and in other publications, and face burdensome financial reporting requirements.

Both Barabanov and Kazantseva are now living abroad.

Kazantseva signed an open letter from Russian scientists and science journalists demanding that Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine. She left Russia in January, saying she was being harassed by pro-war figures and seeing her lectures and book presentations cancelled.

The justice ministry accused Barabanov - now based in Latvia - of "spreading false information" about Russian government decisions and policies, and of opposing the war in Ukraine.

The BBC statement condemned the move, stressing that "the BBC has a global reputation as a trusted and independent source of news".

It went on: "BBC News Russian has been a vital source of accurate and impartial news to Russian-speakers for 80 years. We are incredibly proud of all our journalists and our priority right now is to support Ilya and all his colleagues to ensure that all are able to continue their jobs reporting on Russia at such an important time."

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Op zondag 14 april 2024 05:41 schreef Delenlill het volgende:

13 Apr: RUSSIANS LOSE 106 TANKS & AFVs, AND 1.5 KM OF THE GROUND! | War in Ukraine

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Op zondag 14 april 2024 09:59 schreef Mortaxx het volgende:

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Jeetje en dat terwijl ik overal juist lees dat de Russen aan de winnende hand zijn

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Op zondag 14 april 2024 17:44 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Ik hoop maar dat ze het zo doen, want anders zou het oneerlijk zijn tegen de Russen. Of zoiets.

[ x ]

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Op zondag 14 april 2024 18:14 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
De brug is al twee keer opgeblazen slimmerik.

Dit lijkt me gewoon een mogelijkheid een eventuele reparatie heel lastig te maken.

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A 12-year-old Ukrainian girl ran 5 kilometers on prosthetics at the Boston Marathon

Ukrainian Yana Stepanenko, who lost both legs during a missile attack by Russian troops on a train station in Kramatorsk, has taken part in the Boston Marathon.

The 12-year-old Ukrainian ran 5 kilometers on prostheses and demonstrated to the whole world the indestructibility of the Ukrainian people.

The girl, who uses prosthetic limbs, ran the marathon to raise funds for a modern prosthesis for veteran Oleksandr Ryasny, who lost his leg in the war.

The Boston Marathon is one of the most prestigious races in the world, the oldest of the marathons, which have been held annually since 1897.

A missile strike on the railway station in the city of Kramatorsk, Russian occupation troops struck on April 8, 2022.

Then the victims of the attack were 61 people, 121 were injured. Among the dead were seven Ukrainian children.

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Half of French youth ready to fight in Ukraine to defend France's interests, study finds
Half of the French youth would be willing to enlist in the military and fight on the territory of Ukraine if it were necessary to defend France's interests.

Source: Le Parisien, citing the results of a study conducted by the Institute for Strategic Research (IRSEM) and the Directorate-General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS), as reported by European Pravda

IRSEM and DGRIS are entities within the French Defence Ministry structure. The study’s results were published on 12 April, and the data was collected many months before.

The research was led by Anne Muxel who analysed a series of surveys, including a questionnaire conducted by Ipsos among 2,300 French people aged 18-25 in the summer of 2023.

Among the questions was: "If France's defence required its participation in the war in Ukraine, would you be willing to join to defend your country?" 51% of respondents, including both boys and girls, answered affirmatively, with 17% giving a very confident response and 34% answering "probably yes".

In a question not mentioning Ukraine, 57% of respondents expressed readiness to take up arms to defend France in the event of war.

About a third of respondents, 31%, are supportive of potential French military involvement in the war on Ukraine's side, whereas this figure is 17% among the 50+ age group.

62% of respondents believe it would be appropriate to reinstate compulsory military service, which France abolished in 1997.

French media note that data collection took place long before President Emmanuel Macron publicly stated that he does not rule out involving Western allies in Ukraine, sparking heated discussions and public objections from most European capitals.

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Border guards show how they destroyed two Russian BTR-82As in Bakhmut direction
In the Bakhmut direction, border guards of the 'Phoenix' unit destroyed two Russian BTR-82A armored personnel carriers using a Vampire attack drone.

The 3rd Border Guard Detachment named after the Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhen Pikus, reported this on Facebook and posted a video, according to Ukrinform.

Два БТР-82� знищили вночі прикордонники ударним дроном «Вампір»

"In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy once again tried to storm the positions of the border guards of the 'Revenge' Offensive Guard Brigade and the Defense Forces. Thanks to the work of the Vampire attack drone crew, the Russians' attempt to advance was stopped," the statement said.

Two armored personnel carriers were destroyed, one invader was killed and one was wounded.

As reported earlier, the Defense Forces destroyed five Russian tanks and 20 armored combat vehicles yesterday.

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The leadership disbands the core of the 67th Mechanized Brigade

Investigations have been initiated against unit commanders.

The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has launched the process of transferring all commanders and soldiers of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) of 67th Mechanized Brigade DUK to other military units. These fighters and commanders of DUK had formed the brigade and constituted its core fighting force.

The brigade’s press service reported, “The motives behind these actions are unknown to us. All attempts to halt this process and ascertain the reasons have been unsuccessful. Perhaps, some believe that dispersing DUK Right Sector fighters among various Armed Forces units will lead to the dissolution of DUK Right Sector.”

They further stated that numerous commissions are currently working within the brigade. These commissions are compiling lists of soldiers who have been defending Ukraine since 2014. Investigations have been initiated against unit commanders.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, there are suspicions that the 67th Mechanized Brigade DUK has abandoned positions near Chasiv Yar, resulting in Russian forces advancing to the town’s edge. The ongoing investigation reportedly revealed organization problems within the brigade, namely mistreat of mobilized soldiers, sending them first to hot spots and general separation from Right Sector members.

Ukrainska Pravda also spoke with a former soldier of 67th Mechanized Brigade and member of Right Sector, who said the root of the current problem lies in how volunteer units were integrated into the army, and arose when Sirsky took over the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “The brigade maintained some sort of autonomy under Valerii Zaluzhyi, but Oleksandr Sirskyi required order and discipline. They suddenly had to live according to military patterns, and commanders without necessary military rank were replaced. The volunteers saw it as the destruction of the movement, but in fact, it is a standardization.” the former soldier noted.

The leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has already created a new Facebook page of the 67th Mechanized Brigade, and removed Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) from its name. We’ll continue to follow the story and keep you updated.

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The Kremlin Decides to Buy a Population
Putin’s regime is now openly purchasing influence in neighboring countries.

A Russian bank, Promsvyazbank, is to start paying money to thousands of residents of Gagauzia, an autonomous region in Moldova. The bank is effectively an arm of the defense ministry — and therefore the Kremlin — and is run by the son of a former senior Russian spy. It is sanctioned in the West.

Gagauzia is carefully chosen. It is in the south of Moldova and has a history of separatist sentiment. The Kremlin might well be hoping to stoke that (just as its spies have fueled unrest in the country as a whole) and so cause headaches for the pro-Western Moldovan government as the country approaches presidential elections by December.

There is nothing covert about this. Russia is acting in the open. Evghenia Gutul, the pro-Kremlin governor of Gagauzia, signed an agreement during her visit to Moscow, which stipulates that all pensioners and public sector employees in the region can apply for a monthly payment equivalent to $100 (in a country where the average pension is $220.)

According to the plan, 25,000 out of Gagauzia’s 120,000 residents, who are mostly Orthodox Gagauz, a Turkic ethnic group, are eligible. The annual bill for the Russians would be about $30m.

They don’t need to go to Russia for that; they can apply remotely. To receive regular payments, Gagauz residents are offered so-called Mir cards issued by Promsvyazbank. The state-owned lender also operates in four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions. The agreement with Gutul was signed by Petr Fradkov, the bank’s chairman, and a son of a former director of the Russian foreign intelligence agency, the SVR.

Fradkov said that the agreement provides for cross-border payments, which is possible thanks to Mir — the Russian national payment system.

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Ukraine war latest: Russia aims to capture Chasiv Yar by 'Victory Day' on May 9, Syrskyi says
Key developments on April 13-14:
• Syrskyi: Russia set a goal to capture Chasiv Yar by 'Victory Day' on May 9
• Syrskyi: 'Situation on eastern front has significantly deteriorated in recent days'
• Germany to send additional Patriot air defense system, missiles to Ukraine
• Russia claims 10 Ukrainian drones downed in Krasnodar Krai
• Governor: Russian aerial bomb attack kills 1, wounds 2 in Donetsk Oblast.

The Russian military leadership set a goal to capture the town of Chasiv Yar, just west of the Russian-occupied Bakhmut, by May 9, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 14.

On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, a heavily militarized holiday marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Syrskyi's statement comes after his warning that the situation on Ukraine's eastern front "significantly deteriorated in recent days" as Russia has intensified its offensives in the east since last month's presidential election, which saw Russian President Vladimir Putin handily win another six-year term in office.

Russian troops are concentrating their efforts to break through west of occupied Bakhmut, Syrskyi said. He explained that they are trying to reach the Siverskyi Donets canal, an artificial waterway south of the river it’s named after, and seize Chasiv Yar – to advance further toward Kramatorsk agglomeration.

"The enemy's plans are being hampered by the heroic defense of our brigades, who have literally dug themselves into the ground, holding off the enemy's daily attacks," Syrskyi said.

Chasiv Yar is a nearly-emptied and heavily damaged town located around 10 kilometers (six miles) west of Bakhmut. Russia ramped up its offensive on Chasiv Yar after capturing Avdiivka, which lies about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southward, and its tempo of advance declined in early March. Russia sees Chasiv Yar as a crucial milestone for further advances toward Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, the Ukrainian military said.

About 800 people remain in Chasiv Yar, according to local authorities.

Earlier on April 5, Moscow's proxies claimed that Russian troops had entered Chasiv Yar's suburb, but Ukraine's military later refuted that statement.

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The Moscow-Beijing alliance is here to stay because partnering with China is the only way Putin can sustain his conflict with the West, think tank says
• Russia's growing partnership with China isn't going to fade, a think-tank director said.
• That's because Moscow's alliance with Beijing checks off three big goals for Putin.
• The West should consider enforcing economic sanctions on China as well, he said.

Russia's no-limits partnership with China is here to stay, as tying Moscow's economy to Beijing's is the only option Vladimir Putin has to sustain his war and his antagonism toward the West, according to Alexander Gabuev, the director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

In an op-ed for Foreign Affairs, the think-tank director pointed to Russia and China's economies becoming increasingly intertwined since Moscow began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The two nations scaled up their trade partnership to a record $240 billion last year, partly because China has snapped up key Russian commodities while the West has shunned trade with Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia has bought up huge amounts of Chinese goods as it becomes increasingly isolated from the global economy.

Russia is keen to keep its alliance with China, Gabuev said, as the partnership "emphatically" helps Russia with three of its goals: helping it win its war against Ukraine, helping its ailing economy, and helping the nation push back against the West for its support for Ukraine.

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More info: "Only one Russian soldier survived - Zhenya with the call sign "Gnome". That is, a burning tank is traveling with a dead crew inside.

Zhenya himself was able to get out, after which he, wounded, walked another 2 km to the evacuation point."-russianocontext

Source:https:// t. me /russianocontext/2763

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Translation: armored car. pumped up. as they scalded (created) - that’s how it stands. unable to move. but with air conditioning

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Translation: This is our (fucked) living space. (Fuck, fkn dirt.) Here is is... all the stuff, everythiiiing! 8 rifles, PM (i assume he means the gripstock of a manpad here, thats the only PM i know), personal stuff/clothes, documents.. absolutely everything.. right here

Here! It set the the NB (munition) on fire. The 5th incendiary.. at last it hit its goal.. the trench (dont understand).. we pulled out the munition- Woah! How they fkn go off!

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Fact check: Trump’s false and unsubstantiated claims about his Manhattan criminal case
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly made false and unsubstantiated claims while denouncing the Manhattan criminal case against him over his alleged falsification of business records related to a hush money scheme executed during the 2016 presidential election.

With Trump’s trial scheduled to start Monday, here is a fact check of some of Trump’s remarks.

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‘Their tactics have changed’: Russia’s bid to blow apart Ukraine’s power grid
For the past two winters, Ukraine has withstood a barrage of Russian airstrikes seeking to disable its energy infrastructure, plunge its citizens into darkness and use the freezing temperatures as a weapon of war.

Ukraine survived the assault thanks to Western air defense systems and energy-saving measures taken by its citizens, as families cooked on camping stoves and doctors performed surgery by flashlight.

While Ukraine weathered this winter’s storm, Russia has renewed its onslaught in recent weeks, striking Ukraine’s power grid with an intensity and in a manner not seen during more than two years of war.

“Their tactics have changed – unfortunately, not for the better for us,” Svitlana Grynchuk, Ukraine’s deputy energy minister, told CNN.

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Lithuania willing to allocate EUR 400,000 for purchase of metal detectors for Ukrainian schools
The Lithuanian government is ready to provide EUR 400,000 to support the Educational Security Service's project to equip Ukrainian schools with metal detectors.
This issue was discussed at a meeting between Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Lithuanian Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė, the ministry's press service reports.

"The head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that her country is ready to allocate these funds for the purchase of metal detectors for educational institutions," the statement said.

The Educational Security Service is already operating in 400 schools across Ukraine.

By the end of 2024, it is planned to scale the project to 2,000 schools.

As reported, Ukraine is implementing the project "Officers of the Educational Security Service" at the initiative of the state leadership and with the participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the National Police. The project was created to protect children during the full-scale war and to create a full-fledged security environment after the end of the war.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 11:09 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Jammer dat hier geen live camera van is. Dan kun je de hele dag turen naar totdat die doorbreekt.

[ x ]

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 19:01 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Anders gezegd: 'Tijd voor iedereen om maar atoomwapens te gaan ontwikkelen.'

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 19:08 schreef Perrin het volgende:

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Russia can do whatever the f*ck it likes because we are scared of escalation.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 20:34 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Ach, tot nu toe is elke gotcha die Poetin dacht uit te delen in zijn gezicht ontploft. Polen zet binnenkort wat Patriots aan de Oekraïense grens om het noord/westen te beschermen. Duitsland stuurt een nieuwe batterij. Als Frankrijk troepen stuurt zullen die ook wel een SAMP/T meekrijgen voor de eigen veiligheid. Tenminste, dat zou ik doen.

Het lekken van Harris' verzoek te stoppen met de raffinaderijen op te blazen en gelijk zeggen dat de VS niets te eisen heeft als ze niet helpen legt de druk bij Washington.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 19:01 schreef Ulx het volgende:
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Anders gezegd: 'Tijd voor iedereen om maar atoomwapens te gaan ontwikkelen.'

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 21:07 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Daar nu nog mee aan durven komen is wel weer heel erg zwak. Twee jaar terug had je misschien een punt als je voorzichtig wilde zijn, maar nu nog? Nu, na het vernietigen van de Zwarte Zeevloot en de halve Russische luchtmacht door Oekraïne? Om dan nog steeds te bibberen en te beven slaat helemaal nergens op.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 11:09 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Jammer dat hier geen live camera van is. Dan kun je de hele dag turen naar totdat die doorbreekt.

[ x ]

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Congress leaders reach agreement on aid to Israel and Ukraine, says Democrat Senator Schumer
The best way to send aid to Israel and Ukraine is to consider and pass supplemental to both countries in the House of Representatives, Schumer said

Leaders of the US Congress reached a consensus on aid to Israel and Ukraine in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden, reported ABC News with reference to the statement of the majority leader in the Senate, Democrat Chuck Schumer.

The senator hopes that "something can be accomplished to aid both countries" this week.

The best way to send aid to Israel and Ukraine is to consider and pass the Senate-approved national security supplemental in the House of Representatives that includes aid to both countries, Schumer stated.

Earlier, the leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives of the US Congress, Steve Scalise, said that amid Iran's attack on Israel, the House of Representatives next week will shift its previously announced schedule to consider the aid to Israel instead.

On the same day, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson confirmed that he would also consider aid to Ukraine. However, the details of this are still unknown.

After talks with the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, Johnson said that he supports giving Ukraine loans instead of grants and using Russian assets to pay for new aid. According to him, these elements could be part of the aid package.

"These are ideas that I think can get consensus," he said.

Late in the evening on April 13, 2024, the IDF press service reported that Iran launched drones from its territory towards Israel.

US President Joe Biden publicly stated that US forces helped Israel shoot down almost all drones and missiles launched by Iran.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iran's massive attack on Israel, urging to prevent a larger-scale regional conflict.

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The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a concentration of invaders near Krasnohorivka

Near Krasnohorivka, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit a concentration of Russian infantry trying to gain a foothold.

The Telegram channel of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group reported on this.

The enemy has recently been attacked within this village in Donetsk region using bombs and drones.

The first video from the military shows airstrikes on buildings, according to the Khortytsia operational-strategic group.

Russian invaders tried to set up their positions and gain a foothold, but they were discovered and defeated by Ukrainian defenders.

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Iran's attack on Israel could be bad for Russia's war in Ukraine
• Iran's attack on Israel could impact Russia's war in Ukraine.
• Iran is a key arms supplier and economic partner to Russia.
• A broader Middle East conflict could also boost China's regional influence at Russia's expense.

Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday is bad not only for the Middle East but also for Russia's war in Ukraine as new fault lines emerge between Moscow and Tehran.

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Russia Fired Commanders Amid Failure to Recapture Kherson Ground: Report
wo Russian commanders have been dismissed for failing to recapture southern parts of Ukraine that were lost during Kyiv's counteroffensive last summer, according to pro-Kremlin sources.

The commander of Russia's 18th Combined Arms Army (CAA), which has been fighting near Krynky, in the southern Kherson Oblast, was fired along with the commander of the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment, which had been fighting near Robotyne in the Zaporizhia Oblast, according to Russian military bloggers.

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Macron proposes a truce in conflicts during the Olympics
French President Emmanuel Macron wants a ceasefire in Ukraine for the duration of the Summer Olympics in Paris.

This is reported by BMF TV.

The truce concerns not only Ukraine but also the Gaza Strip, Sudan and other hot spots around the world.

“We will work on the Olympic truce,” the French president said.

It is also reported that Macron will ask Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with whom he is due to meet, to help him in this matter.

Earlier, Macron said that France would offer Russia a ceasefire in Ukraine for the duration of the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has previously said that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to participate in the games.

But this will happen only if they do not actively support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Russian railway line saboteur receives 14-year sentence for ‘collaboration’ and ‘justifying terrorism’

A Russian military court handed a Sverdlovsk region resident a 14-year prison sentence on Monday after finding him guilty on charges of “collaboration with foreign governments” and “justifying terrorism”, according to online news outlet Vechernie Vedomosti.

Vladlen Menshikov pleaded guilty to the charges and will serve the first four years of his sentence in prison and the rest in a prison colony.

Investigators accused Menshikov of placing jumper cables on a railway line in his hometown of Rezh in an unsuccessful attempt to derail a train carrying military equipment. Menshikov had been acting on instructions from the Freedom of Russia Legion, a Russian paramilitary group fighting alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the Russian military, they added.

Menshikov was arrested while attempting to fly to Belarus from St. Petersburg in September 2022. He was initially charged with sabotage, but this was subsequently amended to the more serious charges of collaborating with a foreign government and justifying terrorism.

Menshikov has in the past been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, even comparing the use of the pro-war Z symbol in Russia to the swastika, state-affiliated paper Kommersant reported.

One source told the newspaper that Menshikov aligned “with the views and beliefs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” and was himself planning to leave Russia to fight alongside Ukrainian forces.

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The Counteroffensive: A look at the Russian military's war dolphins
In a country at war, death is all around. But Pavel Goldin is focused on a particular kind of collateral damage: an aquatic mammal he's spent much of his life studying.

“Please report all known finds of dead dolphins!” reads a recurring post on a Facebook page he runs.

After locating a dead dolphin, Goldin performs a necropsy if the carcass is intact to try to determine the cause of death and learn more about how and why so many of Ukraine's dolphins are dying.

According to some estimates, 37,500 to 48,000 Black Sea dolphins died in the three-month period after the full-scale invasion started. This figure amounts to around 15-20% of the sea's total dolphin population and a death rate that is 10 times higher than before February 2022.

“The (Black Sea's dolphin) population simply cannot withstand that type of death rate,” explained Naomi Rose, an expert on marine mammals in captivity.

The ecological impact of the war highlights the vulnerability of aquatic animals to the bombings and mines that have become common along Ukraine's coastal areas.

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Jaw Dropping Poll Finds Republicans Trust Trump for Info on Russia-Ukraine More Than Twice as Much as Journalists Who Are Actually There
A stunning new poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Republicans trusted Donald Trump above all others when it came to getting accurate news about the war in Ukraine.

The CBS News/YouGov poll revealed that a whopping 79% of Republicans trust what Trump tells them about the conflict — a number that far exceeds the Pentagon or even journalists reporting from the war zone.

Sixty-percent of Republicans said they trusted the Pentagon for accurate info on Ukraine, while 56% trusted conservative media the most. Just 33% said they trusted journalists reporting from the field, and a paltry 27% trusted the State Department the most.

CBS reported that “Self-identified ‘MAGA’ Republicans almost entirely trusted Trump for information, and were especially opposed to aid — even more so than non-MAGA Republicans.”

A separate poll showed that just 31% of MAGA Republicans supported sending additional aid to Ukraine, while 69% did not.

Data also showed that Republicans and Democrats had wildly different views on aid to Ukraine. In a separate poll, just 26% of Republicans as a whole were in favor of additional aid, while 74% of Democrats favored it.

President Joe Biden asked Congress for another $95 billion in aid for allies that included Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Ukraine, in particular, would receive $60 billion if the foreign aid bill passes the House. It’s now up to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as to whether he’ll allow a floor vote on the bill.

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China Disguising Imported Russian Copper as Scrap to Avoid Sanctions – Reuters
China has begun disguising imported Russian copper wire as scrap metal to avoid taxes and the impacts of Western sanctions, Reuters reported Monday, citing customs data and anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Copper wire rod is mainly used for making power cables, while copper scrap is a mix of used products chopped into grain-sized pieces. According to Reuters, a Chinese intermediary is shredding newly imported Russian copper wire rod in the remote Xinjiang Uyghur region, which borders Russia.

Disguising new copper as scrap allows both Russia and China to profit from differences in trade tariffs, Reuters’ sources were cited as saying. The shredded metal is also harder to trace, making it easier to sell to Chinese manufacturers and keep doing business with buyers wary of Russian companies under Western sanctions, though there are no legal restrictions on buying metal from sanctioned Russian firms.

The Russian Copper Company, Russia’s third-largest copper producer, delivered at least 8,000 metric tons of copper wire rod to China in December, according to Reuters. The company was sanctioned by Western countries.

Customs data on Chinese imports of copper wire rod is not publicly available. However, Chinese customs data showed a mismatch of “significantly more” copper scrap imports from Russia since December, while Russian commercial data obtained by Reuters showed “negligible” Russian scrap exports to China.

In December, Reuters said China declared 6,500 metric tons of copper scrap imports while Russian data showed only 73 tons exported that month. In February, copper scrap imports reached 11,600 tons after averaging around 100 tons in 2021 and 2022, Reuters said.

Before December, Russia had never been a major seller of scrap copper to China.

“This scrap from Russia is de facto copper rod, but not declared as rod,” a Chinese manufacturing source was quoted as saying.

Russia’s Federal Customs Service stopped publishing trade data in April 2022 soon after Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

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Ukraine set to strike beyond front lines: Norway to provide updated F-16 fighter jets
The head of Norway's foreign ministry did not specify the number of aircraft. Norway is currently cooperating with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain

A coalition of fighter jet providers will deliver a "significant number" of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, equipped with the latest weaponry and capable of striking beyond the front lines, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated during a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The minister expressed his belief that Ukraine needs to strengthen its strike capabilities and deliver blows beyond the front lines.

"And this is one of the reasons why we are very happy to join the F-16 coalition, where we will be transferring Norwegian F-16s that have been updated and are in good shape," he said.

According to him, Norway, along with Danish and Dutch colleagues, is conducting training for Ukrainian pilots.

"And there may even be longer-range strike capabilities, which are now very important for Ukraine," he added.

Eide did not specify the number of aircraft but noted that Norway is currently cooperating with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.

"There will be a significant number. When you ask how many will come from Norway, I cannot tell you the exact number, because there are, in particular, aircraft that have been updated, in better combat shape, and some fuselages that can be used for repair in particular," he said.

Eide stated that he has experience in defense and knows that the F-16 is a very powerful platform and it all depends on how it is equipped.

"Because this is a very advanced technology platform, but the main thing is still the weapon system that can be hung on the platform. So together as a system, this will be a quite significant contribution. Therefore, the aircraft that will be airworthy will be with the latest weaponry," the minister said.

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Satellite images of the aftermath of a strike on a Russian facility in Luhansk have been released

The Planet Labs satellite recorded the aftermath of an air strike on the Luhansk Machine-Building Plant-100 used by Russian invaders in Luhansk.

The images were published by journalists of the Schemes program.

The photos were taken on April 14. They show damage to at least one building at the plant.

Using the videos released after the strike in Luhansk, the Donbas Realities project established that the company in question was targeted.

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Russell Bentley, Texan pro-Putin fighter and Russian propagandist found decapitated in Russian-controlled Donetsk

Texan Russell Bentley was found decapitated in Petrovskiy district of Donetsk (temporary occupied territory of Ukraine) at 10 AM, 14 April 2024.

Beside his beheaded corpse were found Bentley’s passport with registration in Donetsk, Makarov pistol, credit cards and his wallet.

He used to fight for the pro-Russian militia battalion “Vostok”.

Russell Bentley went missing on 8 April 2024.

Russell Bentley, 63, who is married to a Russian woman and has a passport from his adopted country, disappeared after an attack by Defense Force of Ukraine, according to reports. He was last seen in Donetsk on 8 April before moving in an ‘unknown direction’, and his current location is unknown.

Bentley has posted that he was ‘heading west with the “Liberators of Ukraine”. We may stop in Kiev, we may stop on the English Channel. We may liberate the USA.’

In 1999 he escaped from a minimum security US facility where he was being held for drug trafficking. I didn’t have to dig a tunnel or take anybody hostage. But I did escape from prison’, Bentley said. He was later captured and put in a high security facility to finish his sentence.

He became a fighter for pro-Putin forces in 2014 after breaking up with his yoga-instructor girlfriend, though he spoke almost no Russian.

He called himself the information warrior and had worked for a media outlet affiliated with Sputnik, a Russian state media outlet.

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Netherlands, Germany, Canada to send drones to Ukraine
Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada will supply Ukraine with drones, while Lithuania will allocate additional funds for first-person view (FPV) drone production, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on April 15 after a meeting of the countries' representatives.

The United Kingdom and Latvia co-lead the drone coalition, which was established in January to bolster Ukraine's drone arsenal. Seven countries, apart from the founding states, have joined the alliance, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark.

Germany plans to provide Ukraine with Vector 211 reconnaissance drones without specifying the amount, according to the Defense Ministry's statement.

Canada, in turn, will send 450 SkyRanger multi-mission drones, while the Netherlands, in collaboration with Denmark and Germany, will supply Ukraine with Heidrun RQ-35 reconnaissance drones worth 200 million euros ($213 million).

Lithuania will also allocate 3 million euros ($3 million) for the Ukrainian FPV drone production.

"The situation on the front line changes every day, the enemy continues to attack civilian facilities, especially energy infrastructure," Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko said during the meeting, adding that Ukraine needs "tools" to respond to these attacks.

"Time for discussion on the decisions is running out, we need it now," Chernohorenko said.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said that the drone coalition is waiting for new members to join and support this initiative.

Latvia previously announced that it would deliver 1 million euros ($1.1 million) worth of drones to Ukraine "soon."

"Latvia also plans to continue helping Ukraine further, and we are preparing the next defense aid package this month," Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said on April 4.

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The 72nd Mechanized Brigade repulsed a Russian offensive in the Donetsk region

The Ukrainian military stopped the armored offensive of Russian invaders in the east.

On April 12, Russians engaged T-62M tanks and light armored vehicles with infantry in the assault.

To neutralize the enemy, the defenders used FPV kamikaze drones and UAVs with ammunition.

The video of the liquidation of the invaders’ equipment and infantry was shown in a Telegram.

Soldiers of the Attack Drone Company “Bulava” of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians were working.

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Ukraine Strikes Russian Command Post in Crimea
Kyiv Post sources in Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that Ukrainian missiles struck a Russian command post on the Crimean peninsula with high-ranking Russian officers.

Ukraine’s defense forces have hit a Russian command post with high-ranking Russian officers in Russian-occupied Crimea, intelligence sources told Kyiv Post.

Explosions sounded in Crimea on Monday, April 15 in an air raid that lasted over two hours.

As reported by the Crimean Wind Telegram channel, Russian aircraft were scrambled to the Crimean city of Sevastopol.

https://t.me/Crimeanwind/57660

Vehicular traffic on the Crimean bridge was temporarily stopped.

Russian Telegram channels claimed that Ukrainian missile was shot down near the bridge.

Further updates to be provided when more information becomes available.

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Czech Michal Strnad becomes billionaire due to Russian-Ukrainian war
Bloomberg estimates his capital at $5 billion

Michal Strnad, a Czech citizen, has become a billionaire as a result of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. His father started a business in the 1990s repairing combat vehicles, and Strnad has continued to develop it by restoring the combat capability of Soviet tanks, according to Bloomberg.

Excalibur Army, the largest and most profitable asset of Czechoslovak Group, repairs old Soviet-era tanks, including those for Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Michal Strnad's business has experienced its highest demand since the end of the Cold War. Excalibur's revenue has tripled since 2021, reaching ¤1.73 billion.

Czechoslovak Group already has about 300 T-72 battle tanks on its books, at least a hundred of which have been sent to Ukraine. Production of large-caliber ammunition at CSG's enterprises has increased more than tenfold since the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, and the number of employees has almost tripled to 10,000 people at enterprises in eight countries.

Strnad, who is only 31 years old, has a capital estimated at about $5 billion, according to Bloomberg. In 2023, Strnad was listed on Forbes for the first time. The valuation of his assets doubled to $4.3 billion in 2024.

"Even if the war were to end tomorrow it would take years to replenish the empty stocks, not to mention the push to boost defense spending and ramp up production. I am confident there will be strong demand for a long time to come.," Strnad said in an interview with the agency.

Czechoslovak Group also manufactures its combat vehicles and civilian and military trucks. Strnad stated that the company's portfolio of orders will provide work for many years.

He is building new assembly plants in three European countries and plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in joint ventures with Ukraine to produce weapons.

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Commission endorses Ukraine Plan, paving the way for regular payments under the Ukraine Facility
Today, the Commission has adopted a proposal for a Council Implementing Decision that assesses positively the Ukraine Plan, Ukraine's comprehensive reform and investment strategy for the next four years. This important step paves the way for regular and predictable support to Ukraine under the EU's up to ¤50 billion Ukraine Facility. Financing under the Facility will help Ukraine to keep its administration running, pay salaries and pensions, provide basic public services, and support recovery and reconstruction while it continues to defend itself against Russia's aggression.

The payments will be disbursed subject to the implementation of the agreed reform and investment steps set out in the annex of the Council Implementing Decision. In addition, financial support under the Ukraine Plan will be made available under the precondition that Ukraine continues to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms.

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Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye hold negotiations regarding Black Sea shipping deal – Reuters
The Reuters news agency claims that Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye have been negotiating for two months on an agreement on the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, which was to be announced at the end of March.

Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The agency, citing four sources, claims that the agreement between Kyiv and Moscow has been ready and was to be announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 30 March, the day before the local elections in Türkiye.

But, the sources that spoke to Reuters said that "at the very last minute, Ukraine suddenly pulled out and the deal was scuttled". The reason for this step is unknown.

The draft agreement seen by Reuters envisaged Moscow and Kyiv providing security guarantees for merchant ships in the Black Sea, pledging not to strike, seize or search them if they were either empty or declared as non-military cargo.

"These guarantees do not apply to warships, civilian vessels carrying military goods (with the exception of maritime transportation agreed upon by the Parties within the framework of international missions)," the draft agreement says.

For both Ukraine and Russia, the Black Sea is an important route for delivering grain, fertiliser and oil to the world markets.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine's Black Sea ports by Russia in July 2022, Türkiye and the UN helped to establish the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

As part of the agreement, Ukraine was able to safely export almost 33 million metric tonnes of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea through the so-called Grain Corridor. However, in July 2023, Russia withdrew from the agreement, claiming that its requirements had not been met.

It should be noted that the Turkish side then advocated for the resumption of the grain corridor with Russia's participation, while Ukraine was able to establish its own route across the Danube River.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 23:43 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/15/7451379/
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Dit is toch helemaal niet nodig? Oekraïne heeft al een veilige route voor deze schepen door territoriale wateren van NAVO landen. En de laatste keer ging Rusland gewoon door met het bombarderen van Odessa. Ook hadden zij een schip geënterd door middel van een helikopter.

En tevens heeft Rusland nauwelijks nog een vloot over in de Zwarte Zee.

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Op maandag 15 april 2024 23:13 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://russiavsworld.org(...)-controlled-donetsk/
[..]

Ja, jammer

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 00:12 schreef Cilantro het volgende:
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Goede speech.

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Johnson makes his long-awaited move on Ukraine as House plans to vote on separate aid packages
Speaker Mike Johnson announced Monday evening the House will take up separate bills this week to provide aid for Israel and Ukraine, heeding demands from the far right to keep the issues separate as the threat of a vote to oust him from the speakership looms.

The long-awaited decision by Johnson marks a pivotal moment for the Louisiana Republican as he has faced intense pressure from his conference over how he would handle foreign aid to the key US allies.

Johnson predicted the House will vote Friday evening on the separate bills.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 13:26 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Vaag. In januari hadden een aantal Europese landen iets van 1000 raketten besteld. Wel goed om te weten dat daar capaciteit voor is.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 12:43 schreef BEFEM het volgende:
Lol, Raytheon zegt dat ze niet de maximale capaciteit gebruiken voor Patriots omdat ze niet genoeg bestellingen hebben

Deze wereld

Hup, bestellen die handel met heel Europa.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 14:28 schreef ExTec het volgende:

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Die hadden aangegeven dat als ze 24/7 gaan werken, er 1 per maand gemaakt kan worden.

Maar dan zal de prijs ook redelijk omhoog gaan. Ze zullen nu gewoon 8/7 werken, en 2 nieuwe ploegen oplijnen, incl. bv tarief voor s'nachts werken kan aantikken.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 14:31 schreef BEFEM het volgende:
Maar geld is geen probleem, capaciteit wel.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 15:33 schreef Ulx het volgende:
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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 15:28 schreef skysherrif het volgende:
Eindelijk wat goed nieuws.

Oekraine gaat mobiliseren en het lijkt er op dat einde deze week er toch nieuwe Amerikaanse steun komt. Hard nodig ook.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 15:39 schreef xpompompomx het volgende:

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Fingers crossed wat dat betreft. Vertrouw die maga-gristenen voor geen ene cent.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 15:21 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Ik denk dat ze wel robots gebruiken.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 15:58 schreef BEFEM het volgende:
Onder Johnson gaat het er nooit doorheen komen, onder een vervanger denk ik ook niet.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:02 schreef xpompompomx het volgende:

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Alles moet op alles gezet worden om te zorgen dat de democraten geen successen behalen en dat Trump genoeg materie heeft om campagne mee te voeren. Dat dat ten koste gaat van letterlijk duizenden mensenlevens en de buitenlandse geloofwaardigheid van dat land zal deze ekcte christenen aan hun vrome reet roesten.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:02 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Johnson is nu wel weg. Met wat geluk halen de Dems wat vertrekkende Republikeinen binnen en wordt het Jeffries.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:02 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]
Johnson is nu wel weg. Met wat geluk halen de Dems wat vertrekkende Republikeinen binnen en wordt het Jeffries.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:26 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Waarom mocht de vorige speaker moven?

Vanwege een motie van 1 van de 8 rep gekkies,

En wie stemde voor die motie?

De 8 rep gekkies, en alle dems. Voor de rest geen enkele republikein.

En die gekkies zeggen nu dus: deze wet ter stemming brengen, en er volgt een nieuwe motie.

En toen ze dems vroegen: als die komt, stemmen jullie hem dan weer weg?

Ja, zeiden ze.

Enfin, die christen eng-nek is en blijft een christen eng-nek, maar erg verbazend dat hij het niet onder stemming wil brengen, is dat natuurlijk niet.

Die dems, die permanent traantjes in hun ogen hebben omdat ze oekraine zo graag willen helpen, maar dat niet kunnen vanwege de evil reps, die zouden bv ook jonhson de garantie kunnen geven dat als de gekkies weer met die motie komen, ze daar niet voor zullen stemmen.

Maar tot zover dat ook de dems prima oekraine onderschikt maken aan plat partij belang.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:27 schreef skysherrif het volgende:

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ik vermoed ook dat ze dat doen.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 16:35 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]

Maar goed; ik heb geen wereldbeeld waarin de ene partij aldaar 'goed is' en de andere 'slecht', overeind te houden.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 18:11 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Wwarom moeten de Dems stemmen voor een speaker die die bezopen Hunter Biden commissie in het leven riep? Waarom verdiende McCarthy hun steun daarvoor?

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 19:31 schreef Discombobulate het volgende:
De boel staat op instorten. Is die nieuwe mobilisatie van Oekraïne al aan de gang?

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Increased activity at nuclear test site in northern Russia: expert

Active construction has been seen at a nuclear test site in northern Russia since last year, raising the possibility that Moscow is preparing for a fresh nuclear test, a Japanese expert on the Russian military said Monday.

Citing analysis of satellite images, Yu Koizumi, associate professor at the University of Tokyo, said a large-scale facility presumed to be related to nuclear testing appears to be almost complete at the site on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Sea.

Koizumi called the activities exceptional and said Russia could be preparing a subcritical nuclear test, which does not create an explosion.

He believes the move is "to intimidate European countries and the United States" over their support for Ukraine, which is at war with Russia.

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Russia plans 'false flag' attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Kyiv tells UN
The drone attacks against the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on April 7 and 9 were part of a "well-planned false flag operation by the Russian Federation," Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya said at a U.N. Security Council meeting on April 15.

The ZNPP reportedly suffered at least three direct strikes on April 7 and another drone attack at the plant's nearby training center on April 9. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called the strikes a "major escalation" in nuclear danger.

The Security Council convened on April 15 to discuss safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility. The plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022.

During the meeting, Kyslytsya said blame for the attacks and increased risks at the facility lies wit the Russian invasion and occupation.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 19:21 schreef Perrin het volgende:
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Biden: We Will Not Walk Away From Ukraine

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 20:01 schreef Ulx het volgende:
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Al die woke Russen met hun moderne westerse auto's zijn wel lekker fucked.

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Ukrainian intelligence officers strike Russian Strela missile system

Fighters with the active operations unit of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate have spotted and struck a Strela-10 short-range surface-to-air missile system of the Russian troops.

That's according to the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, Ukrinform reports.

Розвідники знешкодили ро�ій�ький ЗРК “�трєла 10�

"As a result of the attack, the Russian Strela is no longer firing - the system has been neutralized," the report reads.

As of April 16, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have already destroyed 759 Russian air defense systems and thousands of pieces of other enemy military equipment and weapons.

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Russia shifts reserves from Lyman to Chasiv Yar to bolster offense – National Guard spokesman
Ruslan Muzychuk, spokesperson for the National Guard of Ukraine, revealed that Russian forces have moved units from the Lyman direction to escalate offensive maneuvers toward Chasiv Yar
He disclosed this information on Espreso.

"The situation around Chasiv Yar is fluid. Our Defense Forces are tirelessly working to maintain control of all areas and prevent flanking attacks on Chasiv Yar. We've noticed the enemy relocating reserves, forces, and assets in this direction to gain ground and push forward along the frontline. However, our Defense Forces hold a strategic advantage, especially with fortified positions and the geography of Chasiv Yar," Muzychuk stated.

Muzychuk also noted that the enemy will strive to secure some measure of victory at Chasiv Yar.

"We've observed a reduction in enemy assault activity in certain areas. The transfer of reserves from the Lyman direction to Chasiv Yar indicates its crucial significance for the enemy. They'll exert maximum effort to achieve even minor successes," he added.

• On April 14, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, following two days of frontline operations, warned that the Russian Federation seeks to breach the defense west of Bakhmut, reach the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas channel, and capture Chasiv Yar.
• On April 15, Oles Malyarevich, deputy commander of the ACHILLES strike battalion of the 92nd brigade, affirmed that the Defense Forces are fully committed to preventing the capture of Chasiv Yar.

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A missile aimed at Ukraine crashes in Russia

A Kh-101 long-range cruise missile that was launched over Ukraine from a strategic bomber, crashed in Russia.

Militarnyi reports on this.

The air-launched missile crashed in the north of the Volgograd region. Photos of the wreckage with the characteristic shape of the Kh-101 hull and warhead were posted on social media and in the media.

The missile debris was found on Monday, April 15, in a field in the Yelansky district.

After being launched from a Russian bomber, the Kh-101 crashed and broke into several pieces after flying for some time.

SPOILER

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 20:22 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://global.espreso.tv(...)onal-guard-spokesman
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Met de ligging van Chasiv Yar, en een beperkt aantal aanvalswegen zal het erg moeilijk zijn voor Rusland om deze in te nemen voor "victory day" op 9 mei. Ik verwacht dus niet dat het gaat lukken.

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Zelensky says U.S. House Speaker Johnson supports Ukraine aid package
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, supports the Ukraine assistance package laid down in the relevant bill awaiting House approval.
That’s according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke in an interview with PBS, Ukrinform reports.

Zelensky said he had spoken with Johnson twice since the fall of 2023.

"He told me he was completely in favor of Ukraine receiving support," Zelensky said.

According to the president, all members of Congress, with whom he spoke convinced him that Congress would eventually pass the security assistance package to Ukraine, and that it was only a matter of time.

The head of state noted that Ukraine does not object to the idea of the assistance being provided in the form of a loan rather than a donation.

"It doesn't matter for us at this stage, we need to protect our people," said the president of Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the U.S. House of Representatives this week is expected to consider the foreign aid package, dividing it into four separate bills involving support for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, as well as other U.S. national security needs, as per Speaker Mike Johnson.

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 20:40 schreef Delenlill het volgende:
https://www.ukrinform.net(...)ine-aid-package.html
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laten we eerst vrijdag maar eens afwachten. En het is ook al weer bijna tijd voor een vakantie voor hun toch. Of volgende week of die week daar op start de volgende recess.

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Russians used a tank with a new “grill” near Krasnohorivka

Russian invaders in the Donetsk region used a tank with a metal canopy and electronic warfare to protect against drones.

It was spotted during the armored assault on Ukrainian positions near Krasnohorivka.

Serhii Sternenko, a volunteer and blogger, published the image of the enemy tank.

He noticed that so far, this type of defense has been effective on the battlefield.

The new type of “grill” that the Russians started installing on their tanks before the assault looks like a frame covered with metal sheets that covers the top and side projections of the combat vehicle from drone strikes.

SPOILER

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Op dinsdag 16 april 2024 20:47 schreef bianconeri het volgende:

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VS pol spam. Geen NWS oek-rus

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Borell on restoring Ukrainian power plants destroyed by Russia: Buying Patriots would be cheaper
On April 11, a large fire broke out in the turbine hall of the Trypilska TPP as a result of an attack by the Russian Federation

It would be cheaper to buy American Patriot air defense systems than to restore the Trypilska power plant destroyed by Russia, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said in an interview with Le Monde.

"In a year it may be too late. Before we talk about Ukraine's reconstruction, we need to prevent its destruction. It is cheaper to buy Patriot systems than to restore a power plant targeted by the Russians," said the head of EU diplomacy.

Borrell believes there is no point in comparing the efforts of France, Germany, or any other EU country – it is important to form a common position.

"The total number is important for me, but I fully understand that this amount is made up of very different concepts," he said.