Ukraine in Brief:
The 55th day of the Ukrainian people’s heroic struggle against the russian military invasion goes on.
The russian invaders persistently deal missile and bomb strikes against civil and military facilities on all the territory of Ukraine.
There has been no enemy activity in the north of Ukraine. Evacuation by the railroad of damaged military equipment of enemy’s Eastern Military Command units from the territory of belarus onto that of russia continues. Russia’s military forces keep using the airfield network on the territory of belarus to deal airstrikes against civil infrastructure facilities on our land.
A partial siege of Kharkiv remains. The invaders attempt to deal fire damage to Ukrainian military detachments and critical infrastructure. The enemy tried an offensive and assault to the south from Izyum. The attempt went unsuccessful. The russians sustained losses and were forced to retreat to previous positions.
A counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Maryinka, Donetsk Oblast, dealt losses to the enemy making it retreat.
Fighting continues in the Mykolayiv Oblast near Oleksandrivka with no success for the enemy, who nevertheless attempts to reach the administrative limit of the Kherson Oblast and continues shelling population centers.
Northern oblasts
Kyiv
17 diplomatic missions resumed their operation in the capital. At this time, some of the Kyivites have been returning home, and there are 2 120 000 of them in the city now, the Kyiv city mayor informs. He further reminds the residents not to rush into the capital if a safer place to stay is available.
Kyiv Oblast
After the invasion, the Oblast is restoring itself: bridges are built, population centers cleared up, and utility services resume. Mine-clearing works are going on daily in the Oblast. Some 508 UXOs were rendered safe by specialists on April 18th.
Zhytomyr Oblast
The Ukrainians go on volunteering. Women of different walks of life in the Oblast gathered together since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion to make meals for defenders from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
According to the President of Ukraine’s directive, another military administration, the Narodychi Village Military Administration, has been established as of April 18th with Narodychi Village Council Secretary at its head.
A Korostyshiv resident has been handed a suspicion in collaboration with the enemy: he would re-post messages from russian internet communities extolling actions of the aggressor country in banned social media groups. In Korosten, they plan to rename streets whose names are related to russia. Proposals are to be sent to the e-mail of the Korosten City Council. A commission is assessing the damage from russian missile strikes in the village of Stavyshche, Brusyliv community.
Chernihiv Oblast
The Oblast is coming back to life. A sowing campaign has been launched. Parallel to that, Ukrainian services and volunteers carry out restoration works, clearing areas from land mines and rubble. Multiple buildings – about 2000, many of them private houses and tower blocks – have been damaged in the Oblast since February 24th. Power supply has been restored to almost all of the Chernihiv Oblast.
The Ukrainian intelligence identified the name of the russian general in charge of disastrous airstrikes of the Oblast: volodymyr kravchenko, lieutenant general, commander-in-chief of 11 air force and air-defence army of eastern military command, russia armed forces.
Sumy Oblast
The Oblast is restored after the combat action. A joint detachment from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine’s Inter-regional Rapid Response Centre has arrived. Emergency works on the sites of residential building structures destroyed by enemy airstrikes have started today. At the same time, the chair of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration advises against returning families with children and retired persons who had left the Oblast.
Eastern oblasts
Kharkiv Oblast
The intensity of shelling of Kharkiv has increased. Residential neighborhoods in Kharkiv are the primary target for the russians. They use MRLs from a distance of 35-40 km. The Dergachiv and Chuhuyiv raions are also being shelled. The shelling of Kharkiv today has left three dead and 16 wounded.
The russian invaders prevented a Ukrainian humanitarian convoy with essentials from reaching Borova. The invaders engage in the forced mobilization of the residents of the temporarily occupied Izyum.
Donetsk Oblast
The russian army has focused efforts on breaking through the defense of Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Kramatorsk
The situation remains tense. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the Territorial Defense Forces are preparing to meet the enemy. Russian troops again struck at the city’s industrial area. The destruction and casualties are not officially reported. Local authorities continue to eliminate the consequences of yesterday’s shelling.
Volunteers continue to provide humanitarian aid to the population and help with the evacuation. The regional coordinator of the Voluntary Initiative “Active Community” in Kramatorsk coordinates the work of the humanitarian center in the city.
Pokrovsk and Pokrovsky Raion
During the past 24 hours, the occupiers attacked the settlements of Avdiivka, Marinka, and Krasnohorivka. Residential buildings, a church, an educational institution, communal infrastructure, and administrative facilities were destroyed.
The enemy fired rockets at the civilian population from multiple rocket launchers “Hrad”, tanks, and heavy artillery. Defenders of Ukraine repulsed the enemy’s attacks, and the occupier did not advance. Representatives of the Territorial Defense Forces are on duty.
The last day in the Pokrov community was peaceful. Utilities and businesses continue to operate on a full-time basis. Criminal proceedings have been instituted under Article 438 (violation of the laws or customs of war) and Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Yesterday medicines were delivered to Novohrodivka under the government program “Affordable Medicines” Provision of public shelters for the Intercession Community continues.
Bakhmut
The situation in the community is extremely tense. The President of Ukraine announced that the battle for Donbas had begun. Police officers are conducting intensive patrols of the community streets, and the State Emergency Service is also working in an intensified mode. Lead the community on the ground and work to meet the community’s needs. https://www.facebook.com/rada.bakhmut/posts/715179589835567
The VI “Active Community” coordinator advises on receiving humanitarian aid and evacuation of city residents.
Volnovakha
The shelling does not stop in Volnovakha, village Velykanovosilka, Khlibodarivska community. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) restrain the offensive and resist the russians. Local authorities say people need to be evacuated.
Two children were killed, and one was injured in the occupied village of Donske. The children exploded as they played on the burned-out orc technique. Residents can enter the occupied territories and can only leave for russia.
People are preparing for Easter. The VI “Active Community” coordinator held a master class for children of migrants, “Easter Basket,” in Cherkasy Oblast. From the beginning of the shelling, Jan and his family were forced to leave Volnovakha.
Mariupol
Russian occupiers are trying to establish control in Mariupol and bomb the city with heavy bombs. According to preliminary data, they want to level the Azovstal plant, where civilians are hiding.
Luhansk Oblast
The russians continue a powerful offensive in Luhansk Oblast and massively shell settlements. Street fights continue in several districts of Popasna and Rubizhne. The enemy suffers heavy losses in staffing and equipment. Despite the difficult situation, local authorities are trying to evacuate people and bring humanitarian aid to the cities.
Southern oblasts
Zaporizhzhia Oblast
The concentration of occupation forces in the Oblast continues. Fighting is going on in Polohy Raion. To improve the tactical situation, the occupiers are trying to conduct offensive operations in the direction of Pokrovske – Huliaipole. The enemy does not stop shelling civilian targets.
As a result of the use of multiple systems of volley fire and other means of artillery destruction by the occupiers, residential buildings in Huliaipole, the village of Stepne, and the village of Malokaterynivka are damaged. The russians also once again shelled the town of Orikhiv and the village of Preobrazhenka. As a result of the shelling, there are victims, including one child. Power supply to settlements was disrupted.
Cases of damage to citizens by shells and mines left behind by the occupiers are becoming more frequent. So, in the Polohy area, two men exploded on the russian mines. The victims were seriously injured. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) demining team continues to work actively and destroy dangerous ammunition.
As of the morning of April 18, traffic between Berdyansk and Zaporizhia is closed. In the Vasylivka direction, due to rains, the bypass road was heavily washed away. In the Orikhiv direction, traffic was stopped due to active hostilities. About 300 cars have already gathered on this road, which cannot continue.
As of April 18th, 155 cases of abduction of civilians by the occupying forces of the russia were registered in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 86 hostages have already been released; another 69 are in captivity. A police officer has been abducted in Tokmak over the past 24 hours. An inspector of the response group of the Berdyansk RVP, a senior police lieutenant, was illegally detained and taken away in an unknown direction. In the city of Melitopol, the occupiers abducted a SES officer.
The occupiers are preparing provocations for Easter. According to preliminary information, they plan to shell the temples of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Enerhodar, Dniprorudne
The Zaporizhzhia NPP, the cities of Enerhodar and Dniprorudne, are still captured and controlled by the russian military. However, all power units of the Zaporizhzhia NPP are serviced by Ukrainian personnel. Workers rotate. Formally, the invaders do not interfere in the operation of the plant, but its staff still has to coordinate all technical decisions with the russian military commander. In addition, another team of Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation representatives arrived at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
Russian propaganda is widespread in the occupied cities, and they also spread disinformation there. The occupation authorities of Enerhodar introduced a new “principal” to the staff of Enerhodar Gymnasium № 2. In Dniprorudne, the invaders also set their own rules. A curfew has been imposed on the NPP employees from 11 pm to 5 am, and they are required to receive special passes. Violators are threatened with imprisonment in the cell block.
Melitopol and Melitopol Raion
The invaders actively createу Cossack squads in Melitopol. The russians brought marginals from Crimea and attracted local collaborators to do this. One of the traitors was identified. It is Maksym Bachurin, and his wife is a member of the local branch of the Shariy Party (pro-russian political party).
The russian invaders dismantled a memorial plaque from School No. 4, which was dedicated to Yevhen Kyrychenko, a graduate of the school and a member of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. The occupiers are beginning to use local youth for their propaganda purposes.
A captive soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) was taken to the Melitopol Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Hospital under the escort of the russian military. The war prisoner was tortured, after which he attempted suicide. Doctors had to operate on the soldier at gunpoint. After the operation, the russian military took the war prisoner away to an unknown destination.
New collaborators were found in the village of Kostiantynivka. Two women agreed to collaborate with the invaders and were appointed school principals.
Kyrylivka
Residents of the resort village of Kyrylivka report that the invaders began digging trenches around the village and installed Grad MLRS at the recreation centers. In addition, according to locals, the occupation forces were stationed in the villages of Lyubymivka and the Green grove of Vasylivsk Raion.
Kherson Oblast
Skadovsk
Russian occupation troops continue to provoke and threaten the homes of journalists, activists, and families of the former Anti-Terrorist Operation fighters, breaking into their homes. Checkpoints of the russian orcs are set up on all sides. The flag of russia still hangs in Skadovsk.
The mayor continues to work online. However, there has been no news from the mayor or the city authorities in recent days. People volunteer, get involved in cleaning the city, and prepare for Easter. They try to hold on and keep going. The situation is still tense and alarming. Many young people are leaving the city.
The drug exchange began to operate. Banks and ATMs in the city do not work. Food products are limited. Volunteer assistance is available for the elderly and single people. The bakery continues to operate.
The coordinators of the “Active Community” All-Ukrainian Initiative have compiled lists for the elderly in the city and prepared food packages for them.
Mykolaiv Oblast
At night, the enemy shelled Mykolaiv from artillery; as a result, a fire broke out in a residential building and a warehouse of a store on the Kherson Highway. Two missiles hit the zoo.
Water trucks arrived from Odesa to Mykolaiv. They will stay in the city for a week to bring water from wells to the population. People also received a supply of drinking water from Odesa.
Central oblasts
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
At night, the russians opened mass fire from multiple rocket launchers and tube artillery at settlements in the Kryvyi Rih Raion: Zelenodolsk, Marianske, Velyka Kostromka, and others. It caused the destruction of private houses and the apartment sector buildings. There are no casualties.
A “sleeper” sabotage group of russian FSB agents consisting of 3 residents was exposed in Dnipro. The group was formed in 2015. Under the supervision of special enemy services, they carried out sabotage and reconnaissance activities in the Oblast. Recently, the enemy stepped up their work and ordered to intensify the monitoring of the critical and military infrastructure and set fire to the premises of patriotic public organizations. Among the last tasks of the saboteurs was to penetrate the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces and obtain data on the functioning of the headquarters of the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
More than 135 000 migrants in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast are registered as IDPs. Almost 34 000 are children, and 27 000 are people with limited mobility and people over 60.
Dmytro Chernyshov, Regional Coordinator of the “Active Community” All-Ukrainian Initiative in Dnipro, informs the Oblast’s population about the activities of the Dnipro City Council for the population. Dmytro Tverdokhlib, Communication Coordinator of the Active Community in Dnipro, helps the local population in Kharkiv as a volunteer.
Kirovohrad Oblast
Kropyvnytskyi
The situation in both the city and the Oblast is quiet. There were no air raid alerts. The AFU guard the borders of the Oblast and the military facilities. Territorial Defense Forces units keep watch at checkpoints and patrol the city with the police.
The staff of the Emergency Medical Center and the Kropyvnytskyi City Council donated their one day’s earnings to the Ukrainian army. Physicians transferred 396 thousand hryvnias, and employees of the City Council donated 362 thousand.
A charity event, “Easter Good,” has started in the Pryyutivka community. As part of the action, the hosts will be able to share the Easter cake with Ukrainian defenders and IDPs.
Kropyvnytskyi children made handicraft items for the Polish fair to support the fighters. Those things will be sold at the Easter Fair in Poznan. All proceeds will go to the AFU needs.
“Good coffee” – a charity event under this name is held in the cafe “Vanil” in Kropyvnytskyi. All proceeds from coffee sold before 11 a.m. are given to volunteers. In this way, they support the “Territory of Success” humanitarian center, which helps IDPs. They manage to donate about a thousand hryvnias every day.
The coordinator of the “Active Community” All-Ukrainian Initiative works at the Humanitarian Center (sorting food products, clothing, children’s toys, and unloading bags of potatoes, sugar, and flour), and consults IDPs and assists them in obtaining clothing and food.
Poltava Oblast
There were three air alarms during the day. Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches in the Poltava City Council and at the residence of Mayor Oleksandr Mamai. The criminal proceedings concern corrupt acts of the city authorities, which are not disclosed. (https://poltava.to/news/65751/ )
For the past 24hrs, Poltava police checked more than 930 vehicles and 3060 suspects. 12 of them were sent to police units to be checked for involvement in cooperation with the enemy.
The pilot from Poltava oblast shot down a Russian plane, 2 Mi-24 helicopters, and prevented the landing of enemy troops. He held the title of Hero of Ukraine.
A mobile clinic has opened in Poltava to provide medical care to IDPs.
IDPs who live in the city and have an IDP certificate can receive assistance from the Red Cross in Silpo vouchers for UAH 2200. The head of this organization in Poltava, Iryna Plyusnina, told about it.
In Poltava, development classes are held free for children and youth. This week they are dedicated to Easter.
Collection for the purchase of feed for animals remaining in Sumy and Kharkiv or evacuated to Poltava continues. Immigrant animals continue to be received in the Poltava Oblast. This time camels from Kharkiv’s Feldman Ecopark were transported to the Ecopark in Kovalivka. Five local organizations created an informal Poltava Volunteer Association. The Poltava Battalion of Indifferent People, ZMIST, Center for Strategic Communications, Helpgroup, and City Lab distributed various areas of volunteer activity.
Coordinator of VI “Active Community” advises IDPs on humanitarian aid and Red Cross vouchers.
Western oblasts
Lviv Oblast
At the initiative of Poland, a modular town was opened in Lviv for people who lost their homes due to the war. The town consists of 88 houses, bathrooms, showers, a dining room, a medical center, and a shop. Currently, three more such towns are being built in the city.
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
The situation in the Oblast is stable. City officials have promised to step up police patrols of the city’s streets during the Easter holidays. Pre-Easter fairs are opening in the community to support local producers.
The coordinator of VI “Active Community” in Ivano-Frankivsk has found sponsors who make 8 Easter baskets for internally displaced children. She agreed with the business that they would donate Easter cakes for baskets. On Thursday, after classes with the children, it is planned to give them Easter baskets for the holidays.
Rivne Oblast
The general situation was relatively calm, and there was one air alarm. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) patrol the border with belarus. Representatives of the Territorial Defense Forces are patrolling and on duty at checkpoints.
The Head of the Rivne Oblast Military Administration briefly said on his page that the night in the Rivne Oblast was peaceful, and the borders with belarus were not violated. The situation is under control. (https://www.facebook.com/100051812558464/posts/534792494924498/)
Mobile brigades for IDPs have started their work in five districts. (https://www.facebook.com/100051812558464/posts/534980998238981/)
Citizens are united. They help the volunteer headquarters financially and intangibly. Rivne Oblast is actively preparing Easter baskets for the defenders and IDPs. Easter cakes are baked in the communities and handed over to the frontline.
Zdovbytsia
The general situation is calm. One siren went off at night. Representatives of the Territorial Defense Forces are guarding the checkpoints. Local MPs and volunteers make tactical first aid kits and send them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Volunteers continue to help IDPs and weave nets for the AFU.
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi
Khmelnytsky housing cooperative announced the “Easter basket for a soldier” charity initiative. The goal is to collect and send Easter cakes, Easter eggs, dairy, and meat products to the defenders. A Khmelnytsky restaurant, “October,” provides food for IDPs free of charge. Volunteers help with the products. Every day the restaurant serves more than half a thousand people.
For the first time, communal work took place in Khmelnytskyi. Several hundred residents and IDPs cleaned up the city at three locations. 25 enterprises have already moved their production facilities to Khmelnytskyi Oblast, said the Head of the Oblast Military Administration Serhiy Gamaliy. Currently, within the framework of the program of the evacuation of production facilities of enterprises to safe areas, the Oblast Military Administration has processed 228 applications for business relocation. The corresponding database of accessible locations, warehouses, and premises is formed. More than 420 facilities have been registered and are ready to provide their space, and this list is constantly growing.
Kamianets-Podilskyi
A City Council session was held to address critical issues of community life. It was decided to redistribute and allocate funds for Territorial Defense Forces, military needs, financial assistance to those in need, and salaries for cooks who constantly cook dinners for the people sheltered in Kamianets. Food for IDPs is provided mainly by humanitarian aid. 83 460 lunches have already been cooked, with a daily delivery of about 4000 portions.
Over the past 24hrs, 98 IDPs have registered in the city. About 9000 people have already received IDP certificates.
The city shipped aid to Kyiv, the Territorial Defense Forces, and the Department of Education to feed the IDPs and assist the newly arrived. Partners from Kutna Hora (Czech Republic) continue to support Kamianets and provide assistance. The city received a load of food, clothing, and hygiene products.
According to the Mayor Mykhailo Positko, on Easter holidays, on Saturday and Sunday, municipal buses will provide transportation free of charge for everyone. The coordinator of the Active Community initiative took part in the unloading of humanitarian aid from the friendly country with further redistribution for those in need to other cities.
Chernivtsi Oblast (Bukovyna)
Everything is calm in the Oblast: police officers are intensively patrolling towns and villages. The Vernissage Cultural Center in Chernivtsi hosts an exhibition and sale of fine and decorative artworks: money from the sale will be directed to the needs of the AFU. In Bukovyna, the UN refugee agency will help IDPs by implementing a large-scale financial support program with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Zakarpattia Oblast
An initiative in support of IDPs took place in Uzhhorod. People walked around the city with suitcases. Suitcases as a symbol of what the lives of millions of Ukrainians fit into, the rumble of their wheels as a symbol of forced relocation due to the war, were used today at rallies in Uzhhorod.
Valentyna Stefano Confectionery works for free for the “Owl’s Nest” Center and the patrol police.
All the city’s premises are offered for the needs of IDPs. From the first days of the war, a four-story office space in Uzhhorod that was not equipped enough became a real home for 200 Ukrainian IDPs. There are sleeping places, and for several days now, the kitchen has been working at full capacity in the Shelter called “I will help”:
Last modified: 21 Квітня, 2022
