The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, defined the assault on the industrial area of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol as “inappropriate” and ordered it to be canceled. The president, however, asked to isolate the area so that “a fly does not fly”. Putin explained the cancellation of the assault on Azovstal with the desire to save the lives of Russian soldiers; and he has assured that he will guarantee life and dignified treatment for the Ukrainian soldiers who surrender.
“I consider the proposed assault on the industrial zone inappropriate. I order it to be canceled,” Putin said in a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to Russian news agency Tass. “This is the case where we have to think (ie we always have to think about it, but even more so in this case) about preserving the lives of our soldiers and officers. There is no need to climb this catacomb and crawl underground along these industrial structures. “, added the Russian president. “Close this industrial zone so that a fly does not fly there.” And Shoigu replied in the affirmative.
US President Joe Biden will announce new provisions for Ukraine. The presidential office did not provide more details, but a few hours earlier the CNN television network assured that the United States government he was preparing a new $ 800 million package in military aid. This would bring about $ 3.4 billion in military assistance that the United States has provided to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24.
11:03Russian court fines Google for “falsehoods” on YouTube
In Russia, a court fined Google for YouTube’s “falsehoods”: Google (of Alphabet Inc.) was fined 4 million rubles (about 60,000 euros) for not deleting what it calls “false” information about its ‘special operation’ in Ukraine. In particular, Google was fined for distributing unreliable data on Russian military losses and civilian casualties during the invasion of Ukraine on YouTube.
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10:48Moscow, 1001 military targets hit overnight
Russian missiles and artillery hit 1,001 military targets in Ukraine overnight, the defense ministry in Moscow said. Among the targets hit, 162 shooting positions. According to the ministry, Russian forces and pro-Russian separatists have also taken full control of the city of Kreminna in the eastern sector of the country.
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10:47Kiev calls for the release of civilians and wounded soldiers from the Azovstal steel plant
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has launched an urgent appeal on Telegram for the Russians to allow a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians and wounded soldiers from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. According to Vereshchuk, 1000 civilians and 500 soldiers were wounded inside the facility. “They must all be able to get out of Azovstal today. I urge world leaders and the international community to focus their efforts on Azovstal: now is the key point and moment of the humanitarian effort.”
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09:51Putin, Mariupol’s release is a success
“The end of the operation to free Mariupol is a success”. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said this to his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, after having ordered him to stop the assault on the Azovstal site, which will still remain under siege so that no one can escape.
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09:31Putin has ordered to cancel the assault on the Azovstal steel plant
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, called the assault on the industrial zone of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and ordered to cancel it. The president, however, asked to isolate the area so that “a fly does not fly”. Putin explained the cancellation of the assault on Azovstal with the desire to save the lives of Russian soldiers; and he has assured that he will guarantee life and dignity to the Ukrainian soldiers who surrender.
“I consider the proposed assault on the industrial zone inappropriate. I order it to be canceled,” Putin said in a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to Russian news agency Tass. “This is the case where we have to think (ie we always have to think about it, but even more so in this case) about preserving the lives of our soldiers and officers. There is no need to climb this catacomb and crawl underground along these industrial structures. “, added the Russian president. “Close this industrial zone so that a fly does not fly there.” And Shoigu replied in the affirmative. -
09:22Kiev police: “9 corpses found in Borodianka, some tortured”
The bodies of nine civilians, some “with the marks of torture”, were found in Borodianka, a city near Kiev: the police of the Ukrainian capital announced this. Borodianka was, according to Kiev, the scene of “massacres of civilians” during the month of March, when Russian forces occupied the city. “There were two 35-year-old men in a pit and a 15-year-old girl next to them,” said local police chief Andrii Nebytov. “In another, the police discovered the bodies of six people: four men and two women”, probably “residents of the city”. “The Russian army has deliberately killed civilians who have not resisted them.”
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09:01The Danish and Spanish premieres have arrived in Kiev
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrived in Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was announced by the Spanish government.
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08:24Kadyrov, “by today” the Azovstal steel plant will be controlled by the Russians
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is confident that by today the Russians will have complete control of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. “Before lunchtime, or after lunch, Azovstal will be completely under the control of the forces of the Russian Federation,” he said in an audio message broadcast at dawn and relayed by Reuters news agency. Kadyrov already on Tuesday had foreseen the inspection of the steel mill within a few hours.
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07:24Air raids to clear the way for the Russian ground offensive
The Russian bombings are trying to destroy the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense to offer air cover to the advance of the troops in eastern Ukraine: British military intelligence notes this in its latest update on the situation on the ground.
“Troops are advancing from bases in Donbass towards Kramatorsk, which continues to suffer persistent missile attacks. The high levels of Russian air activity continue” because Russia “seeks to provide close air support to its offensive in eastern Ukraine, to suppress and destroy Ukrainian air defense capabilities “. -
07:19Successes achieved by May 9 will determine the pace of operations, British intelligence says
Moscow’s likely desire to show “significant success” ahead of the traditional May 9 parade, when Moscow celebrates victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, will likely determine “how quickly and with what violence” the Russians attempt to conduct operations in Ukraine on the eve of that date: this is the forecast of British military intelligence in its latest update.
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03:26Trudeau, Canada will send heavy artillery
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Canada will supply Ukraine with heavy artillery to respond to the Russian offensive in the east of the country. During a press conference, Trudeau said the decision to send heavy artillery to Ukraine comes following the request of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Trudeau did not provide details on the shipment of that military equipment, which he framed “in the context of an illegal war by Russia”. Trudeau noted that Canada is responding directly to Ukraine’s main demand “at this stage of the war,” in which Russia is attempting to gain control of much of the country’s east. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted Wednesday that Ottawa and Washington are working “to ensure that Putin’s regime pays the full cost of its brutal war” and that Ukraine is victorious. Canada’s decision to send heavy artillery to Ukraine comes after talks between Trudeau, the president of the United States, Joe Biden and European leaders.
The world’s democracies will not stand idly by in the face of continued Russian aggression and war crimes. Today Canada and a number of our democratic partners walked out of the G20 plenary when Russia sought to intervene. pic.twitter.com/J67gU810sO
. Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) April 20, 2022
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02:30Twenty Ukrainian fighters are back in business thanks to spare parts from the West
The Ukrainian aviation added about 20 operational aircraft thanks to the influx of spare parts. This was reported by CNN, citing US defense sources. Although it was not specified which country supplied the parts, the United States and other countries worked “to get the parts needed for maintenance.” Currently, Ukraine has more planes than three weeks ago. According to CNN, the United States has pledged to send 16 Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine, but the administration refused to be involved in the transfer of Mig-29 from another country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly asked for Soviet-era Mig-29 Fulcrum fighters that Ukrainian pilots already know how to fly. On Wednesday, the official Twitter account of the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the news, stating: “Ukraine has not received any new planes from partners! With the assistance of the US government, it has received spare parts and components for the restoration and repair of the armed forces aircraft fleet, which will allow more aircraft to be put into service “.
Officially
Ukraine did not receive new aircraft from partners!
With the assistance of the US Government, @KpsZSU received spare parts and components for the restoration and repair of the fleet of aircraft in the Armed Forces, which will allow to put into service more equipment.. Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) April 20, 2022
