Oorlog in Oekraïne #961 Zal de hulp er nu toch echt gaan komen?

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Husband of jailed Russian blogger signs up for Ukraine war to secure her release
Alexei Blinovsky reported to have joined unit popular with politicians and VIPs keen to curry favour with the Kremlin

When his wife, a prominent Russian Instagram influencer, was threatened with years of imprisonment over tax evasion charges, Alexei Blinovsky opted for what seemed the most viable means to secure her freedom in Russia today: he joined Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Months earlier, his wife, Yelena Blinovskaya, a former beauty queen turned famous self-help coach, made a last-ditch attempt to escape the country, but was arrested on the border with Belarus and charged with large-scale tax evasion.

On Tuesday, Blinovsky, who helped run his wife’s self-help business, was captured on film sipping tea alongside fellow soldiers near the frontline with Ukraine, trading his customary designer attire for khaki fatigues.

Blinovsky’s decision to join the war is merely the latest manifestation of a broader trend, wherein joining the fighting in Ukraine serves as a get-out-of-jail card for those deemed to have wronged the Kremlin.

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Why does Azov still not receive Western weapons?
Nonsense. That's the first word that comes to mind in the context of the current ban on the transfer of Western weapons to Azov.

Few people in Ukraine know about this, and almost no one speaks about it publicly. It's time to draw attention to this Kafkaesque situation and make it public.

Since 2017, a number of US Consolidated Appropriation Bills have contained the following amendment: "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to provide arms, training, or other assistance to the Azov Battalion."

In 2015, Congressman John Conyers Jr, a Democrat from Michigan, proposed this amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2016. The congressman made the proposal, noting that Foreign Affairs, as well as "other leading media outlets", had characterised the Azov Battalion as "openly neo-Nazi" and "fascist".

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Takeaways from the final day of jury selection in Trump’s historic hush money trial
Judge Juan Merchan swiftly moved through consideration of roughly 200 potential jurors to find a jury pool of 18 by midday Friday, swearing in 12 jurors and six alternates who will decide Donald Trump’s fate in the New York hush money case.

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Op zaterdag 20 april 2024 08:56 schreef Breekfast het volgende:
Een hele spannende dag vandaag voor Oekraïne, met de definitieve stemming in het huis van afgevaardigden in de VS over een steunpakket van 61 miljard.

Ik hoop dat de VS alles logistiek al zo hebben voorbereid dat als het pakket erdoor is, er heel snel wapens in Oekraïne aan zullen komen.

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Op zaterdag 20 april 2024 09:02 schreef halfway het volgende:

[..]
Een lening dus zodat ze wapens van de VS kunnen kopen.

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Dutch intelligence agency takes action against Russian hackers: report
“The Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) took action last year to restrict the digital freedom of movement of Russian hackers against the Netherlands and allies, including Ukraine. The service will continue to do so next year,” the MIVD wrote in its recent annual report.

According to the report, the Dutch intelligence agency sent intelligence to its Ukrainian counterparts regarding Russian cyber operations, enabling Ukraine to take action and stop leaks as a result. “This has contributed to the protection of Ukrainian government networks and vital infrastructure,” the MIVD noted.

“In addition, the MIVD shared intelligence and insights about Russian cyber operations with other partners and others, such as government services and the private sector… The MIVD itself has also disrupted Russian cyber operations,” the agency added.

“The threat from Russia is great,” MIVD Director, Rear Admiral Peter Reesink said in a press release regarding the recent report.

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Guardian: Half of British military defense fund for Ukraine remains unused
More than half of the U.K.'s 900 million pound (over $1 billion) military fund for Ukraine remains unused due to bureaucratic delays in handing out contracts, the Guardian reports.

The British Ministry of Defense manages a coalition of about nine countries called the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The IFU is a funding mechanism that was created in August 2022 and uses financial contributions from nine other countries to procure military equipment for Ukraine. Some of the other countries in the initiative include Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, and Lithuania.

The IFU has been criticized for its slow provision of weapons to the frontlines. Of the more than $1 billion that's been donated by Western countries over the last two years, of which $600 million came from the U.K., only about $500 million has been committed or spent.

Some British officials even admitted that some of the materials that were purchased would not reach Ukraine until Spring 2025.

Delays have reportedly been caused by a need to assess each of the massive numbers of defense companies that have received contracts. A spokesperson from the Ministry reportedly told the Guardian that "thousands of responses have been received from industry to IFU requirements, each of which has had to be individually reviewed."

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps is actively trying to recruit new countries to join the fund but the initiative's negative record for distributing cash appears to be deterring potential donors.

Delays in Western aid have become a major issue for Ukraine's military, especially as critical ammunition shortages continue to undermine advances on the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also called on international partners to expand provisions of air defense systems amidst increased Russian aerial attacks over the last few months.

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Russians destroy agricultural products on their way to Asia and Africa in Odesa Oblast port

Russian missile attack on the Pivdennyi (Southern) post in Odesa Oblast on the afternoon of 19 April destroyed containers with agricultural products which were supposed to be exported to Asia and Africa.

Source: press service of the Ministry of Restoration of Ukraine

Quote: "Two terminals specialising in shipping of agricultural products were struck in the Pivdennyi port. One of the terminals belongs to the world famous Singapore company Delta Vilmar, which has been operating in Ukraine since 2004 and also owns several plants for processing of agricultural products. These are over US$300 million of investments and almost 1,000 [people’s] jobs."

Details: The Ministry of Restoration notes that this is the 39th Russian attack on port infrastructure facilities in Odesa Oblast.

In total, 215 facilities, 153 means of transport and 8 civilian vessels were damaged and partially destroyed, and 26 civilians were injured.

Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had struck the Pivdennyi seaport on the afternoon of 19 April, hitting port facilities with missiles.

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Two suspects held in Poland after attack on Navalny ally in Lithuania
Two men have been detained in Poland on suspicion that they attacked Russian activist Leonid Volkov — an ally of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny — on the orders of foreign intelligence services, officials said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk later said on social media that the two Polish “assassins” are under arrest, as well as a Belarusian working for Russia who had ordered the Poles to “assassinate” a Navalny associate. He said the Poles were linked to extremist football fan groups.

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Op zaterdag 20 april 2024 09:35 schreef michaelmoore het volgende:

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Europa is te laks met hulp voor Oekraine en doet te weinig , ook zelf wapens en munitie maken gebeurt niet, Europa wacht tot de Rus de Balten en Moldova inpikt en doet dan nog niets
https://nl.marketscreener(...)n-te-halen-46473239/
De USA gaat met Trump ook niets doen ,
Tsjechie wil graag de vriend zijn van de Rus en is 1968 vergeten , Hongarije idem dito

nederland kan de helft van haar patriot systemen naar Oekraine sturen , maar doet NIETS
[..]

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NATO has air defense systems ready for Ukraine, Stoltenberg says
Announcements are expected “in the near future,” the NATO Secretary General said after Zelenskyy met with defense ministers.

BRUSSELS — NATO countries confirmed Friday they have available air defense systems that can be sent to Ukraine, the alliance's chief said.

Announcements are expected "in the near future," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the media after a virtual meeting between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO defense ministers.

The emergency meeting, under the format of NATO-Ukraine Council, was called by Zelenskyy two days ago amid Russia's escalating missile attacks against Ukrainian civilians. It comes just a day before a crucial U.S. congressional vote to decide whether to give Ukraine a $60 billion package of military aid.

"NATO defense ministers have agreed to step up and provide further military support, including more air defense. NATO has mapped out existing capabilities across the lines and there are systems that can be made available to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

"So I expect new announcements on air defense capabilities for Ukraine soon ... I expect concrete announcements in the near future based on the information that was shared with us," he added.

While the focus is on the Patriot system, "there are other weapons that allies can provide, including SAMP/Ts," the NATO boss said, adding: "Many allies who do not have available systems have pledged to provide financial support to purchase them for Ukraine."

NATO is also working with industry to ramp up production and to refurbish systems to make them operational and fit for purpose, he said.

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203mm shells of American production were spotted with Russians

^{American 203mm projectile. Source: Telegram channel "Ukrainian Informator"}

The Russian gunners were spotted with 203mm artillery shells of American production.

This was reported by the Telegram channel “Ukrainian Informant.”

The photo shows the ammunition and marked propellant charge “203-2S7.” Obviously, the projectile is designed to fire with a 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun.

The number 203 indicates that the shell received the name “Izdeliye 203.” Ammunition with this name was found in the Russian range tables, which were written in 2023.

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Strike on Zaporizhzhia: Russians attacked industrial infrastructure with missiles
Russian invaders during today's early morning air attack on April 20 targeted the industrial infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia with a missile strike. There were no casualties as a result of the enemy shelling, reports Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.

"Russian terrorist forces have once again launched rocket attacks on the industrial infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia," the official stated.

He added that the details of the enemy attack and its impact on the city are currently being clarified, and all consequences are being assessed. However, it is known that there were no casualties or injuries.

"There are no casualties," wrote the head of the Regional Military Administration in his Telegram.

Shelling of Zaporizhzhia region
Fedorov also provided an update in the morning on the situation regarding enemy strikes on the region.

"Throughout the day, occupiers struck Zaporizhzhia region 291 times. 7 settlements were under enemy fire," the official reported.

The adversary inflicted:
• 5 airstrikes on Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, and Novoandriivka.
• 32 UAV attacks of various modifications targeted Huliaipole, Levadne, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, Malynivka, and Novoandriivka.
• 2 MLRS shelling hit Levadne and Robotyne.
• 252 artillery strikes were carried out on the territory of Huliaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, Levadne, and Malynivka.

"There were 22 reports of housing destruction. Civilians were unharmed," the publication by the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration stated.

Russian air attack on Ukraine on April 20
Earlier, it was reported that on April 20, closer to dawn, alarms were sounded in various regions of Ukraine due to the threat of enemy air attacks, including the use of ballistic missiles and other means of attack from tactical aviation.

Around five in the morning, explosions were reported in Zaporizhzhia due to a rocket attack by Russian forces. Additionally, the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine reported on air defense operations in the region, particularly in the Odesa region. Later, an explosion in Odesa was reported.

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‘Ghostly’ city: How Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a toll on its own Belgorod region

Deserted streets, shuttered shops and silent restaurants. Damaged buildings and craters from missile strikes pockmarking the asphalt. Arrows on house facades signposting the nearest bomb shelters and stock of emergency supplies.

The once-tranquil city of Belgorod, some 25 miles north of Russia’s border with Ukraine, has been transformed into a kind of ghost town, its eerie silence interrupted by the regular wail of missile warning sirens – a reminder that the war raging in neighboring Ukraine looms ever closer.

Reporting from the region is complicated by media restrictions and government control over press freedom. Many Russians are afraid to speak openly for fear of prosecution.

Against that backdrop, residents of Belgorod have shared with CNN their struggle to navigate an uncertain future in the city, where everyday life has been irrevocably altered by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russia in February 2022. Conversations were conducted by phone and audio messages.

Belgorod has been the launch site for many rocket and missile attacks on Ukraine, and a key military hub for Russia’s invading forces. In 2023, after a year of strikes on its towns and cities, Ukraine changed tactics and expanded its operations more overtly onto Russian territory, putting Belgorod region firmly in its crosshairs.

In recent weeks, the Belgorod region has been subject to almost daily shelling and drone attacks. Russian authorities blame Ukraine and report having repelled the attacks, while also admitting destruction and casualties caused by them. The Belgorod region has borne the brunt of the war compared to more distant Russian regions, which have been relatively untouched.

The governor of Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on March 23 that 24 people had been killed and 152 injured in the span of less than two weeks.

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How a store manager from India ended up killed on the battlefields of Ukraine fighting for Russia

^{Asfan Mohammed, seen in a Russian military uniform, in an image provided by his brother, Imran. Mohammed Imran}

They opened the box on a Sunday in late March, getting their first look at Asfan Mohammed since he departed India for Russia four months earlier.

He was better dressed than when he’d left – a black suit, white shirt, tie and shoes replacing the casual attire he’d worn when family and friends saw him off.

But he had to be buried in line with his Muslim beliefs, so his body would need to be prepared; the neat clothes removed.

It was then Imran Mohammad, 41, saw the extent of what had happened to his 31-year-old brother while fighting for the Russian armed forces in Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“I saw holes on the back of his shoulder, his ribs right down till his lower back,” Imran told CNN.

“There were six to seven holes caused by a drone attack. It ripped through his body. There was internal damage. Two teeth were broken.”

And now this tight-knit family in Hyderabad, southern India was broken too. A husband, father and provider gone.

Imran’s business was also in ruins, rotted by neglect as he’d focused all his energies on finding out what happened to his brother on the battlefield of Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War.

Imran noted the time.

“I opened the box at 11 a.m. Sunday. When I saw his body for the first time, it hit me that he’s no more,” he said.

“My efforts to look for my brother, my two-month fight for my brother, came to a painful end. I wanted to react looking at his corpse, but I just couldn’t. I went totally numb.”

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