Ukraine in brief:
The 51st day of the heroic opposition of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion continues.
The situation has not changed significantly in all directions during the current day. Russian occupation troops continue to launch missile strikes on industrial and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and is trying to launch an offensive in some areas. Airstrikes on the city of Mariupol continue. The partial blockade of Kharkiv continues.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy tried to storm Mariinka but was unsuccessful.
In violation of the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the occupiers in the temporarily occupied territories continue to oppress the rights of Ukrainian citizens. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy violate the rules of warfare, carry out sabotage on the territory of Ukraine, steal or threaten physical violence, and take away motor vehicles and civilian clothes from residents.
To suppress Ukrainian resistance, the russian occupiers are filtering and searching for people involved in military service.
In some settlements, the enemy is trying to imitate elections and illegally appoint “local governments” from among residents loyal to the occupying power.
Northern oblasts
Kyiv
In Kyiv, three railway stations and one library were renamed after russia.
Kyiv Oblast
According to the Head of the Kyiv Military Administration, on April 15th, the russian military struck three targets in the Kyiv Oblast. The threat of rocket attacks on the city and the Oblast remains, so residents of Kyiv Oblast are asked to wait for their return.
As of April 15th, more than 900 bodies of civilians have been found in Kyiv Oblast. The bodies of 40 people were found during the exhumation of the second mass grave in Bucha. 95% of those killed were shot with a sniper or small arms. During the war, more than 350 bodies were removed from Bucha. International traffic routes and Oblast roads are being cleared in Kyiv Oblast. US congress members visited Kyiv, Bucha, and Borodyanka.
Zhytomyr Oblast
Today in Zhytomyr, they said goodbye to Vasyl Honcharuk, a serviceman of the 95th Assault Brigade, who died on April 6th in Kharkiv Oblast.
According to the decision of the extraordinary meeting of the executive committee of the Zhytomyr City Council, a commission was set up in Zhytomyr to inspect the destroyed and damaged buildings. More than 200 anti-trafficking seminars have been held for internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking employment.
Chernihiv Oblast
Russian occupation troops fired at the Senkivka border checkpoint for the second time today. It’s what the city of Chernihiv looks like after the invasion of the russian army.
Residents independently have rebuilt the bridge between two villages in Chernihiv Oblast.
Sumy Oblast
There are air raid alerts. On April 14th, the russian military shelled the urban-type settlement of Velyka Pysarivka.
Today, the Ukrzaliznytsia Railways Company opened the Kyiv-Nizhyn section for train traffic. It is possible to run trains from the Sumy Oblast to Kyiv from now on.
Eastern oblasts
Kharkiv Oblast
The russian military continues to kill civilians in Kharkiv Oblast. Yesterday the invaders fired on buses in Kharkiv Oblast. Seven people were killed, and 27 were wounded. The russians are shelling housing estates and critical infrastructure facilities.
The most difficult situation today is in Izium, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are holding back the enemy. The AFU destroyed the russian Ka-52 helicopter over the territory of Kharkiv Oblast.
Donetsk Oblast
Kramatorsk
The russians launched a missile strike on the industrial area. The situation remains tense, especially given the sporadic missile strikes that are impossible to predict. There is no information about the victims. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and Territorial Defense Forces are preparing to confront the enemy. The Mayor constantly informs residents about the work of branches of the Ukrposhta Ukrainian Post Office, pharmacies, shops, and other institutions of the city. Evacuation of people by buses continues. Volunteers distribute humanitarian aid, including the targeted support for bedridden people.
The coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Initiative Active Community in Kramatorsk helped send evacuation buses and carried out the distribution of humanitarian packages. More than 60 food packages were distributed over the past day.
Pokrovsk and Pokrovsk Raion
Explosions from enemy shelling were heard in the Pokrovsk community. Several houses were damaged as a result of the shelling. There is no information about the victims. The terrorist state continues to bombard towns and villages along the entire front line. During the day, Avdiivka, Mariinka, and Ocheretyne came under fire. In Avdiivka, a residential building and some city infrastructure facilities were damaged.
A house in Krasnohorivka caught fire during the shelling, and the State Emergency Service has been working since the morning. The AFU repel the onslaught of the enemy. Representatives of the Territorial Defense Forces units and the police keep watch in the community. The utility companies on the territory of the Pokrovsk community operate as normal.
An extraordinary session of the City Council was held in Pokrovsk. The first issue on its agenda was the appeal of the Pokrovsk City Council to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine regarding the liquidation of pro-russian political parties whose activities are aimed at eliminating the independence of Ukraine, violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The deputies also approved the target program “Promoting the activities of the volunteer formation of the Pokrovsk city territorial community for 2022.”
The local authorities continue to provide and equip the air-raid shelters. The shelters are supplied with containers and long-term storage products. Local authorities distribute food products and hygiene kits among the representatives of vulnerable populatio groups at the distribution points.
The sowing of early cereals and legumes continues in the rural areas of the Pokrovsk community. Coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Initiative Active Community is a member of the volunteer formation of the Pokrovsk community, responsible for the channel on YouTube Pokrovsk: public resistance www.youtube.com/channel/UCGmw0W.
Mariupol
Fierce fighting continues in the city. The russian occupation troops do not stop advancing. The command of the Ukrainian Marine Brigade asks the Ukrainian authorities to unblock Mariupol as soon as possible.
Locals say that the russian occupation troops have begun the process of exhuming bodies that had previously been buried in the yards of the residential houses. In addition, the occupiers forbid the burial of people killed by them. They have put a guard in each yard who does not allow locals to bury the dead.
Ukrainian intelligence has recorded 13 mobile crematoria in Mariupol, so it can be assumed that the russian occupation forces are trying to conceal their war crimes in every possible way.
Luhansk Oblast
The russians have fired at Kreminna with heavy weapons. The shelling did not subside all night and continues to this day. One person was killed, and five were injured.
The towns of Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk, Popasna, Girske, Zolote, Orikhove, and Novotoshkivka were fired at 26 times with mine-throwers, artillery, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
Southern oblasts
Zaporizhzhia Oblast
The situation in the Oblast remains tense. In the units of the russian army, the number of so-called “refusers” is growing: russian soldiers refuse to go into combat. At the same time, the enemy is trying to fortify their positions, replenish stocks of weapons and military equipment, ammunition, fuel, and oil, and conduct intelligence operations with uncrewed aerial vehicles.
Russian occupiers continue shelling the settlements, destroying civilian infrastructure, and killing civilians. An air alarm is on almost the whole day in the Oblast.
Vasylivka
The russian occupiers have fired artillery at the city of Vasylivka. Residential buildings in the city center and the private sector were damaged. The grocery store was destroyed, and the depot at the Tavriysk railway station was damaged. One person was killed, and five were injured.
Sewage treatment stations were also damaged due to shelling by the occupier forces. The administrative building where the laboratory was located was destroyed, and the power supply at the pumping station was disrupted. However, major water treatment plants were not damaged.
As of now, it is impossible to estimate the total amount of damage and carry out repair works, as all roads to the facility are mined.
Melitopol and Melitopol Raion
Melitopol continues to be under the control of the russian occupiers, who are trying to empower their authorities in the city and are actively campaigning.
The russian military forces have dispersed their equipment near the village of Pryazovske, in the fields on the Novovasylivka side. The machinery had entered the settlement; after that, the russian soldiers were breaking into the homes of civilians with searches.
Locals report numerous abductions of civilians in Melitopol Raion. Cases of cooperation with the occupiers are becoming more frequent. The State Bureau of Investigation in Melitopol initiated 18 proceedings: 16 for treason and 2 for collaboration.
Tokmak
Tokmak Mayor Ihor Kotelevsky has resigned in order not to cooperate with the occupiers, but he remains in the town and is helping residents. Volodymyr Volvach has been appointed the acting Mayor. The agreed humanitarian corridors do not work.
Molochansk
Molochansk Mayor Iryna Lypka has been removed from power and is being held captive by russian occupiers. The self-proclaimed “mayor” of Molochansk has not yet been presented. In the Molochansk community, the russian occupiers set up checkpoints on the way out of the city about a week ago. The Russians did not let anyone out of the community, went to houses and apartments, looking for and capturing members of the anti-terrorist operation and pro-Ukrainian activists. Phones are also checked.
The humanitarian situation in the occupied territories is quite difficult, especially with the withdrawal of cash and the food purchase. Local entrepreneurs are trying to help the vulnerable by giving them food for free. The humanitarian headquarters continues to operate in Tokmak.
Organized humanitarian corridors do not work. Many people want to leave, and there is a real need to increase the number of evacuation flights. But now, there is no such possibility because the russian occupiers are blocking the centralized export of civilians.
Kherson Oblast
Skadovsk
Kherson and Skadovsk continue to be occupied, and the situation is becoming tense. In the morning in Skadovsk, the russian military removed Ukrainian flags from the City Council building and the flagpole in the city center. They attached their tricolors.
Skadovsk City Council will not cooperate with the occupiers. As of today, no executive committee employee will work in the building under the enemy flag. Regardless of external circumstances, the city’s residents remain pro-Ukrainian.
Territorial Defense Forces patrol cities and villages. The Mayor regularly reports all news online. People stick together and join volunteering. Employees of the budget sphere of the Skadovsk community received salaries for the first half of April. Citizens who have arrived in Skadovsk can register as IDPs, which allows them to apply for assistance from the state.
Fewer and fewer stores continue to sell goods on bank cards. Cash in the city is declining, and getting it in a bank or store is becoming increasingly difficult. No branch of the bank plans to work tomorrow. Utilities continue to provide the necessary services. The hospital and clinic are operating normally.
The coordinator of “Active Community” in Skadovsk informs the city’s population about the situation, helps financially close and acquaintances, looks for opportunities to transfer humanitarian aid from other cities in Ukraine.
Odesa Oblast
Russian troops are trying to reconnaissance from the air over the Oblast. The Ukrainian military is defending the Oblast, and the air defense is working. Odesa Oblast Territorial Defense Forces strengthen important locations. Local authorities inform citizens that the situation in the area is under control.
People are united and actively help the military and IDPs. The coordinator of the “Active Community” in Odesa is involved in forming humanitarian aid.
Central oblasts
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
In general, the situation in the Oblast is controlled and stable. However, yesterday a russian missile hit a nonresidential building in the Synelnykove Raion.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the construction of protective fortifications continues. The fourth level of protection has already been completed in the Oblast. Demining of territories continues. Yesterday, the State Emergency Service sappers worked in an intensified mode in Kryvyi Rih Raion. Almost 160 shells were demined in Mala Kostroma.
Retired US Army General and 18th Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey recorded a video address in which he expressed his support for Dnipro and Mayor Borys Filatov. He called for help to raise funds for the TAPS Charitable Foundation. For more than 40 years of military service, General Dempsey was a participant in Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and Unbreakable Freedom – Philippines.
Local government and business representatives hold free caramel sweets weekly workshops. The main goal of this initiative is to create an entertainment program and provide psychological support to children who were forced to leave their homes with their parents due to the war.
The coordinator of “Active Community” in Dnipro is engaged in informing the population about the situation in the community and opportunities for IDPs. The communication coordinator of the Active Community went to Kharkiv to help the residents of the humanitarian headquarters.
Kirovohrad Oblast
The area and the city are quiet. There was a threat of a missile strike. Air alarms were sounded. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) protect the Oblast’s borders and military facilities. The Territorial Defense Forces are on duty at checkpoints and patrol the city with the police.
Five-year-old red-leaved oak saplings were planted in the Victory Park of Kropyvnytskyi. The new alley was created in honor of the unconquered Ukrainian hero cities. According to the press service, the Head of the Kirovohrad Oblast Military Administration, Andriy Raikovych, also took part in the action together with the citizens and IDPs. Also, he said that the oblast had received more than 102 000 IDPs since the beginning of the war. 45 500 are currently left in Kirovohrad Oblast.
Smolin community is restoring housing for IDPs. The next step is to restore the premises of the outpatient clinic. As a result, about 40 people will be able to get accomodation.
Coordinator of the All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community” in Kropyvnytskyi works at the Humanitarian Center for IDPs (sorting food, clothing, children’s toys, unloading bags of sugar and flour). He also conducts interviews with IDPs who have arrived at the Humanitarian Center with young children. He provides psychological support and assistance in obtaining baby food, hygiene items, fruits, and vegetables. The coordinator is also preparing a joint event with the staff of the Department of mass events of the Oblast library for youth named after Eugen Malanyuk. Next week, this will be an Easter event for IDPs – children and their parents.
Poltava Oblast
Poltava police check 13 people for involvement in cooperation with the enemy. Law enforcement officers inspected more than 1100 vehicles and more than 2400 suspects last night. 113 000 IDPs have applied for registration, and 89 000 have already received IDP status.
The Oblast is ready to place IDPs in children’s camps. Many health camps plan to accommodate IDPs. The vast majority of them are not equipped with heating, so the accommodation will be possible only when the weather is warm.
More than 4 million trees were planted in three weeks. Currently, forestries have planted 775.3 hectares of forest. The spring planting campaign continues as part of the President’s “Green Country” program.
Poltava
There were two air-raid alarms in Poltava. Shooting training is held in the city. The Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Poltava is investigating the case of treason against 16 people. Among them are officials and law enforcement officers. Since the beginning of the war, investigators have opened 15 criminal proceedings for treason and collaboration.
Mayor Oleksandr Mamai met with a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross to discuss projects and programs implemented jointly in Poltava.
Poltava community assists with housing, food, and belongings of the Territorial Defense Forces and IDPs. Residents join the volunteering to help pack and distribute things. In Poltava, five sites were selected to construct housing for IDPs.
The coordinator of Active Community in Poltava is preparing for Easter by preparing events for a holiday to support the displaced.
Western oblasts
Lviv Oblast
Twice an air alarm sounded. Lviv paratroopers have liberated several other Ukrainian settlements from occupation, according to the Public Relations Service of the 80th Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
Employees of the Highways Service in Lviv Oblast have joined the financial support of the AFU. In addition to the military fee, they will additionally transfer 10% of salaries to the needs of the military.
More than 2000 people from other oblasts of Ukraine were settled. According to official data, since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 313 000 people have settled in the Lviv Oblast.
105 people registered as IDPs in the Unified Information Database. About 35 000 of them are children. 22 000 people crossed the border at all checkpoints in the Lviv Oblast every day.
Local authorities have approved a comprehensive program to support and develop agriculture adapted to martial law. The program contains four main areas, for which a total of over 22 million hryvnias will be allocated. The program is aimed exclusively at small farmers and agricultural producers.
Drohobych
Some 8.5 thousand IDPs have applied to the Social Protection Department for IDP certificates. 80% of them have also requested targeted support from the government.
A mass tree-planting action titled The Victory Wood will be held in the Oblast. The National Distinguished Capella Trembita cast has changed from their on-stage costumes into volunteer vests to meet and greet IDPs descending from evacuation trains, advising where food, medicines, and lodging can be found.
The city has paid the last tribute to the defender of Ukraine today. Active Community Coordinator has initiated collaboration with School No. 16, which hosts about 200 IDPs. She held meetings with the schoolmaster and staff to agree on IDPs involvement in the focus groups that the Active Community intends to launch to survey challenges IDPs are facing. Participation of several volunteers in the survey has also been discussed. Besides that, the activist has also agreed with partners to arrange an art therapy session for IDPs on April 20th. Olena, Active Community Coordinator, also provided logistical assistance to individuals who had purchased tactical scissors and needed them to be transported into Ukraine.
Rivne Oblast
Rivne
The situation has been relatively calm with a couple of air raid alerts. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) patrol the border with belarus. The Territorial Defence Forces also patrol the area and man the checkpoints. The State Security Service of Ukraine discovered a communist party of Ukraine cell. The case is currently investigated under Article 436-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
(https://suspilne.media/228916-v-sbu-povidomili-pro-vikritta-oseredku-komunisticnoi-partii-na-rivnensini/).
The Rivne City Council has had its extraordinary session today to discuss and adopt decisions regarding enterprise and business relocation from the warzones and frontline areas to the Rivne municipal community. The MPs also voted to establish communal land plot rental rates to support business. The enterprises renting land from the city will have to pay the rental fee of 3% (not 5%-7% as it was before) of the statutory land valuation amount.
The Luhansk Oblast Clinical Oncological Centre is relocating to Rivne.
The citizens are united and assist volunteer centers in cash and in kind. The Rivne Oblast has been paying last tributes to its defenders today.
Active Community Coordinator in Rivne attended the meeting with representatives of the youth council and the youth space to discuss possibilities of carrying out activities at the premises of the youth space and activities for young IDPs to be carried out jointly with the Active Community next month.
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Kamyanets-Podilskyi
Air raid alerts went off several times. The AFU perform their duty as per the manning table. The Territorial Defence Forces patrol the checkpoints and strategic facilities. The municipal Education and Science Department has had a meeting to set up an education hub in the city to allow obtaining a profession, upgrading qualifications, mastering Ukrainian and English, or finding a kindergarten for kids.
The number of IDPs is dwindling: 97 were accepted and officially registered yesterday, but 15 to 20 of them leave the community each day. According to preliminary estimates, some 2.5 thousand IDPs have broken their long-term stay in the community to leave.
Online meetings of the city mayor with partner cities on aspects of cooperation in various sectors and humanitarian aid to the city continue. There are daytime master classes and games for children IDPs arranged at Evropeiskyi Square. The Active Community Coordinator participated in humanitarian cargo consolidation.
Chernivtsi Oblast (Bukovyna)
The situation in the Oblast is under control. Dozens of thousands of Bukovyna residents have joined the AFU, and hundreds of thousands more are engaged in volunteer activities.
Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration Chair Serghiy Osachuk has the following address for businesses: ‘The nation only exists when the economy is working. I call on entrepreneurs to proactively, with full efficiency, develop business projects and involve IDPs in these.’
More than 10 thousand IDPs have already received clothes, footwear, and other basics from the humanitarian center. The Oblast has already played host to some 80 thousand IDPs, of them 25 thousand children. Meanwhile, the area currently hosts more than 100 thousand IDPs, according to mobile operators. More than 60 enterprises have relocated from warzone areas to the Chernivtsi Oblast.
Active Community Coordinator looked for volunteers for the social kitchen. She also contacted Andriy, an activist from Skadovsk, to provide him with humanitarian aid and solve his lodging issues. Andriy’s young family had a long trip from the Kherson Oblast to Bukovyna, and they had to evade the enemy on the route. Now the family is safe.
Zakarpattia Oblast
The situation is calm. Pre-school education institutions and pre-school departments at secondary schools will resume operation starting on April 18th in Uzhhorod. For the duration of the martial law period, pre-school age internally displaced children who were 4 y.o. as of 1 October 2021 will be temporarily enrolled for training.
Uzhhorod City Council commission had a session today to identify an algorithm for renaming 58 community streets and squares named after russian personas.
An exhibition dedicated to 51 days of the war has been organized in Uzhhorod. Paintings by almost 40 artists have been placed on the railings of the pedestrian bridge. A patriotic mural adorns a building in Kolchyn. The idea of a glimpse of Ukraine on the wall had emerged quite some time ago. Local artists joined the process, and the local government did everything it could to support artists’ creative strife providing them with necessary materials.
Andy Kurzig, an IT company manager, who opened an office in Uzhhorod back in 2012, has purchased about USD10 thousand-worth of military equipment for his employees. The company staff is more than 280 from all over Ukraine.
Last modified: 26 Квітня, 2022
