As the war enters its 781st day, major developments include:
This is the situation as of Monday, April 15, 2024.
finding
- Ukrainian military commander Colonel Oleksandr Shirskiy said on Sunday that Russian forces aim to capture the city of Chasiv Yar by May 9, and that the Russian military is aiming to capture the city of Chasiv Yar by May 9, and that the Russian military is aiming to capture the city of Chasiv Yar by May 9, and that it is important to take control of the eastern highlands, where Russia has focused its attacks. He said he was ready for battle.
- The fall of Chassiv Yar, west of the shattered city of Bakhmut, comes as Kiev faces a slowdown in Western military aid and Russia This would be a sign that the military is gaining momentum on the battlefield.
- Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute think tank in Philadelphia, told X that Chasif Yar is likely to be a significant battle. “Chasiv Yar is located on high ground that can be defended. If Russia takes it, [town]potentially increasing the speed of advance deep into Donetsk. [region] “It's part of the anticipated summer offensive,” he said.
- Separately, on Sunday, debris from a downed Russian missile fell on a village on the outskirts of central Ukraine's Dnipro city, injuring 12 people, regional governor Serhiy Lysak announced.
- Lysak also said that Russian forces used artillery in 11 attacks on the town of Nikopol. The town of Nikopol is a frequent target as it is located opposite the Russian-owned Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He said four people were injured.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians in a speech Sunday night: But recently, especially on the Donetsk front, this has become difficult. ”
politics and diplomacy
- President Zelensky on Sunday condemned Iran's drone and missile attacks on Israel, saying that like Iran, it needed the support of its allies to fend off threats from the air.
- President Zelenskiy again called on the US Congress to approve a major aid package that has been blocked for months by political wrangling.
- U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he would try to pass aid to Israel this week, but did not say whether the bill would also include aid to Ukraine or other U.S. allies.
- Russian Copper Company (RCC) and Chinese companies are trading new copper wire disguised as scrap to avoid taxes and the impact of Western sanctions, Reuters exclusively reports.
weapons
- Zelenskiy said Germany would provide Ukraine with U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems and air defense missiles at a “critical time.”
- “I am grateful to the Chancellor for the decision to supply Ukraine with additional Patriot systems and missiles for existing air defense systems,” the president said after a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
- Ukraine's leader said last week that 25 U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems are needed to protect the country from Russian attack.