🇷🇺🇺🇦Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry
▫️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
💥High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 12 military assets of Ukraine.
▫️2 command posts of Ukrainian troops in Gusarovka and Andreevka, 3 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration in Arkhangelovka, Kramatorsk and Selidovo, and 6 strong points of nationalist formations near Popasnaya were hit.
▫️The strikes destroyed over 150 nationalists, 5 multiple rocket launchers and 8 armoured vehicles.
▫️Also, 1 Osa-AKM anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed near Yazykovo.
✈️💥Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 73 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 2 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots near Shevchenko and Komar in the Donetsk People's Republic.
💥During the day, Missile troops struck 4 command posts, 1 ammunition depot and areas of enemy's manpower concentration in Novaya Dmitrovka and Vysokiy.
💥Russian air defence means shot down 1 Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter near Koroviy Yar. Also, 2 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over Izyum and Novobogdanovka.
📊In total, 140 aircraft and 106 helicopters, 498 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,397 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 261 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,038 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,244 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing
@mod_russia_en
Update 1:
🗓 Top News Today
🚀 Sarmat, land-based intercontinental ballistic missile, was successfully launched from a silo at the Plesetsk state testing cosmodrome (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/993) in Arkhangelsk Region.
💥 Missile troops and artillery (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/984) hit 1,053 Ukrainian military infrastructure assets. Among them: 31 command posts, 6 fuel depots, 910 strong points and areas of enemy's manpower concentration, as well as 106 artillery firing positions.
💥 High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/995) hit 12 military assets of Ukraine. 2 command posts of Ukrainian troops in Gusarovka and Andreevka, 3 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration in Arkhangelovka, Kramatorsk and Selidovo, and 6 strong points of nationalist formations near Popasnaya were hit.
◽️ Selected National Guard of Ukraine casualty figures (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/987) obtained from actual Ukrainian documents have been published. They disclose significant casualties among military personnel of the military unit 3018 (by March 29, 2022).
❗️ Russian Armed Forces open humanitarian corridor (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/997) for evacuation from Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for humanitarian purposes only.
📹 Video of the Russian Armed Forces carrying out their tasks during the special military operation continues to be published: it shows the combat work of Su-34 crews (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/990) and the work of Bal coastal missile system crews (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/989) from the Black Sea coast.
◽️ Russian servicemen found the headquarters of territorial defence (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/988) unit in Kherson school.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine
@mod_russia_en
Update 2:
🇷🇺🇺🇦Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry
▫️Units of the Russian Armed Forces and the Lugansk people's militia have taken full control of Kremennaya, which had been turned into a stronghold by Ukrainian nationalists.
▫️As a result of the rapid and coordinated actions of the assault troops, severe destruction of urban infrastructure and residential buildings was avoided.
✈️💥Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces struck 20 areas of concentration of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment near Shnurki, Novonikolaevka and Aleksandrovka during the night.
💥Missile troops and artillery hit 1,001 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 58 command posts, 162 Ukrainian artillery firing positions, and 771 strong points and areas of concentration of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment in Mayaki, Dibrovnoe, Mazanovka, Dolina Krasnopol'e, Velikaya Kamyshevakha, Chervonoe, Vernopol'e, Pashkovka, Dmitrovka, Novaya Dmitrovka, Vysokiy, Chernoglazovka, Slatino, Zolochev, Partizanskoe, Aleksandrovka and Shevchenkovo of Nikolaev region.
💥Russian air defence means destroyed 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Berezovaya, Brazhkovka, Verkhnetoretskoe, Debrovka, Izyum, Kalinovka, Kiselevka, Lozovaya, Novobogdanovka, Novoalexandrovka and Chuvakovka. Also, 1 Tochka-U tactical missile was shot down near Donetskoe.
📊In total, 140 aircraft and 106 helicopters, 511 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,410 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 262 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,046 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,259 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing
@mod_russia_en
Close Quarter Combat—Rescuing a Russian Armoured Personnel Carrier whilst under enemy fire
The damage is assessed towards the end of the operation (shown).
Russian special operation in Donbass entered new phase
The Russian President Vladimir Putin said defiantly on Monday that the western sanctions have proved to be “ineffective” in meeting their objective. In his words, “They (US and EU) expected these sanctions to rapidly produce a devastating effect on Russia’s finances and economy, sow panic in the markets, bring about a collapse in the banking system and create major shortages of goods in shops.”
“However, we can already say in all confidence that this policy has failed in Russia. The strategy of unleashing an economic blitzkrieg has been ineffective. Moreover, the sanctions affected those who initiated them. I am referring to higher inflation and unemployment and the worsening economic outlook for the United States and European countries, as well as the declining living standards of Europeans and the depreciation of their savings.” (Kremlin website)
All indications are that the contingency planning that Russia had worked out to pull through a severe sanctions regime is paying off. The ruble’s recovery has been absolutely astounding. The US President Biden had boastfully redacted that he’d turn ruble into “rubble” but the exact opposite happened. In the immediate aftermath of sanctions, the Russian currency plunged to 121.5 ruble per dollar and things looked dire enough. But it has since surged all the way back to where it was before Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began — around 80 ruble per USD in mid-April. Ironically, ruble turned out to be the best performing currency in March!
Putin noted that consumer prices have “grown considerably in Russia over the past six weeks, by 9.4 percent,” and people have “felt the impact on their family incomes.” He announced a decision “to adjust all social benefits, pensions and wages in the public sector, in accordance with inflation.” Russia can afford it, as in the first quarter of this year, “we are witnessing a record level of budget surplus.”
In comparison, it is a dismal scene in the US with inflation touching a 40-year high — 8.54% for March — that is going to get only worse if the conflict in Ukraine continues. Worse still, this scenario may upset Biden’s green energy plan. As for Germany, the largest EU economy, this year’s inflation is expected to touch double figures.
Interestingly, Russia is enjoying a “robust trade surplus” and in the first quarter of the year, current account surplus exceeded $58 billion, “setting a historical high. Foreign cash is returning to the banking sector and household deposits are growing.” Indeed, the factors behind the ruble roaring back are self-evident.
It seems the EU has sensed that Russia is putting back together amazingly well the pieces of life in an environment of extreme isolation from the West. The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has admitted publicly that “With regard to financial sanctions, of course, you can always go further, but we have already reached the limits of what we can do. We did everything we could.”
Indeed, there has been a shift of emphasis from sanctions in both Brussels and Washington. While Brussels is now more into the humanitarian aspects of the Ukraine crisis to tarnish Russia’s image, Washington is concentrating on defeating Russia militarily or at least prolonging the conflict as long as it can. The rhetoric has risen to a crescendo.
The angst and desperation in the European mind is apparent in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s uncharacteristic outburst that “Russia must not win this war.” But it is also quite apparent that there is no consensus within the EU to impose oil embargo on Russia. Hungary has openly warned that it will oppose any EU sanctions on Russian oil or gas. Simply put, the West is running out of options to stop Russia on its tracks.
The real aim of much of the rhetoric and grandstanding in Washington is to divert attention from the crushing defeat in Mariupol, where patiently and diligently, the Russian forces have entrapped the neo-Nazi battalion and its western advisors (including Americans) from NATO countries. The final operation to take control of the massive Azovstal complex where the militants and foreigners are entrapped (which is spread over some 11 square kms) has begun today. (See my blog Battle for Mariupol is ending, NewsClick)
The NATO countries stand exposed if the western military officers are nabbed and put on display. Russia has warned that they will not be treated as POWs and may have to stand trial. Conceivably, episodes like the “Bucha killings” and the sinking of the Russian flag ship Moskva in the Black Sea may be repeated to distract attention.
Going forward, the decisive part will be the Battle for Donbass, which has just begun. The outcome will determine the contours of any peace settlement. As this stand, Russian forces have a distinct edge in their numerical strength and vastly superior firepower as well as the advantage of terrain — largely open spaces where tanks and heavy armour can be deployed and large scale manoeuvring is possible, which is a strong point for Russian armies traditionally. Again, compared to the earlier part of the Russian campaign, the logistics are in their favour both in terms of supply lines from the Russian hinterland and in their ability to interdict reinforcements from reaching the Ukrainian forces.
While the operations in Donbass are under way, it is entirely conceivable that Russian forces may start preparations to take control of Odessa, which is necessary to cut off the NATO warships from accessing Ukraine and to secure the entire northern coastline of the Black Sea. In this regard, Mykolaiv and Kherson are the new post-Mariupol focal points in the southern axis.
The strategic importance of Mariupol should not be overlooked — other than that it is the port-head that connects the resource-rich Donbass with the world market. Mariupol is one of the world’s biggest natural harbours. For Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the Sea of Azov provides seamless basing facility. Crimea’s security will never be assured without Mariupol rejoining Donbass.
Most significantly, the Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, the richest man in Ukraine, who owns Azovstal, told Reuters yesterday that he intends to rebuild Mariupol. The oligarch (worth $10 billion in personal assets per Bloomberg) must have meant it. What lends a touch of mystery to his wishful thinking is that President Volodymyr Zelensky had once recently suspected him of being complicit in an alleged Russian-backed coup to overthrow his government.
Of course, Russia has had extensive networking with the Ukrainian elites, in fact, almost all the Ukrainian oligarchs have had business and personal connections with the Moscow elite. Most foreign observers who are new kids on the block are unaware how fast and smoothly Moscow would energise those dormant contacts once the conflict gets over and a political transition ensues as surely as the daybreak after a long dreadful night.
Update 3:
MoD Russia, [2022-04-21 12:46 PM]
🇷🇺🇺🇦Briefing by Russian Defence
Ministry
▫️The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
💥During the day, 14 Ukrainian assets were hit by high-precision air-based missiles.
▫️The strikes hit 1 command post, 2 ammunition depots, 2 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 2 nationalist strongholds near Popasnaya.
▫️Ammunition depots were destroyed in Shnurki and Slavyansk and the Ukrainian Armed Forces' manpower and equipment were also hit in Cherkasskoe and Aleksandrovka.
▫️Up to 120 nationalists, as well as more than 30 armoured vehicles and cars, were destroyed.
✈️💥Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 64 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 17 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration near Krasnyi Liman and Drobyshevo, as well as 2 missile and artillery weapons depots near Zaporozhye.
💥Missile troops and artillery hit 450 enemy assets during the day. Including: 14 command posts, as well as 429 strong points and areas of manpower and military equipment concentration in Velikaya Kamyshevakha, Chervonoe, Pashkovo, Novaya Dmitrovka in Kharkov Region.
💥Russian air defence means shot down 1 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle near Yasnoe, Donetsk People's Republic.
📊In total, 140 aircraft and 106 helicopters, 512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 254 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,422 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 266 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,051 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,274 units of special military vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the operation.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing
@mod_russia_en
“Now there is an expansion of the flanks and, most importantly, the cover of the main advanced group, which cleans and liberates this sector of the plant,” says one of the special forces soldiers.
Update 4:
MoD Russia, [2022-04-21 4:25 PM]
🗓 Top News Today
🇷🇺 Report by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1008) to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin on the liberation of Mariupol.
💥 Missile troops and artillery hit 1,001 military assets of Ukraine (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1004). Among them: 58 command posts, 162 Ukrainian artillery firing positions, and 771 strong points and areas of concentration of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment in Mayaki, Dibrovnoe, Mazanovka, Dolina Krasnopol'e, Velikaya Kamyshevakha, Chervonoe, Vernopol'e, Pashkovka, Dmitrovka, Novaya Dmitrovka, Vysokiy, Chernoglazovka, Slatino, Zolochev, Partizanskoe, Aleksandrovka and Shevchenkovo of Nikolaev region.
💥 During the day, 14 Ukrainian assets were hit by high-precision air-based missiles (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1015). The strikes hit 1 command post, 2 ammunition depots, 2 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 2 nationalist strongholds near Popasnaya.
❗️ The Kiev regime has prepared in advance another sophisticated provocation (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1023) to discredit the Russian Armed Forces before the international community in Voskresenskoe, Nikolaev Region. At the instructions of the AFU command, information and psychological operations specialists staged filming of "acts of looting" allegedly committed by Russian servicemen against civilians: fighters of the 191st Battalion of the 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade dressed in Russian uniform and using vehicles with a "Z" sign demonstrated looting of private homes and making photos and videos of their outrages on mobile phones.
◽️ Selected National Guard of Ukraine casualty figures (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1007) obtained from actual Ukrainian documents have been published. They disclose significant casualties among military personnel of the military unit 3029 (by March 29, 2022).
📹 Footage of Russian Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems striking Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1003) has been released, as well as video of the consequences of a missile strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a peaceful civilian (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1011) enterprise in Tokmak in Zaporozhye Region.
◽️ Surrendered AFU servicemen are being treated in hospitals on LPR territory (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1012). AFU servicemen described conditions of detention (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/1010) and their attitude to torture on the Ukrainian side.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine
@mod_russia_en
