The Kyiv Independent

2023-04-18 08:17:05 Reuters: Chinese smartphones comprise more than 70% of Russian market.

Chinese smartphone sales comprised 70% of the Russian market, according to the Reuters article citing consumer electronics retailer M.Video-Eldorado.

Xiaomi and Realme brands took up the market space created by the exits of Samsung and Apple after the full-scale invasion. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 07:08:22 ISW: Prigozhin ‘seemingly regaining some favor’ with Putin due to feeble winter offensive in Donbas.

The Institute for the Study of War said the Russian private military company seems to be getting reinforcements, ammunition, and political recognition, in contrast to Putin's "previous efforts to expend Wagner forces and Prigozhin in Bakhmut" since January 2023. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 03:43:59 Prosecutor General’s Office records over 80,500 Russian war crimes, crimes of aggression in Ukraine.

Russian forces have committed 80,840 war crimes and crimes of aggression in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s all-out war, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on April 17. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 01:33:26 Russian forces attack 5 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces targeted the communities of Velyka Pysarivka, Bilopillia, Shalyhyne, Seredyna-Buda, and Hlukhiv, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration said on April 17. No casualties or damages were reported. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 00:08:05 Borrell: Russia blocking 50 ships with Ukrainian grain in Black Sea.

Russia has "once again" blocked 50 ships carrying "urgently needed" Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on April 17.

He added that the bloc would "continue facilitating exports through the EU Solidarity Lanes" on Ukraine-EU land borders, which "have brought 25 billion tons of grain to the world." Open / Comment

2023-04-17 23:41:00 Slovakia completes delivery of 13 MiG jets; no Chinese weapons found on the battlefield

Slovakia transferred all 13 pledged MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Slovak Defense Ministry said on April 17.

Meanwhile, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said in an interview on April 16 that Ukraine hasn't found any Chinese weapons used by Russian forces on the battlefield.

Photo: Getty Images Open / Comment

2023-04-17 23:25:35 Defense Ministry: Russia increases air strikes, artillery attacks on Bakhmut.

Russian troops have increased the intensity of artillery and airstrikes in the Bakhmut area, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar reported on April 17.

"The enemy simply razes the buildings and structures of Bakhmut to the ground," Maliar said on Telegram. Open / Comment

2023-04-17 22:48:58 Wagner ex-commanders tell Russian opposition media of their war crimes in Ukraine, Kyiv launches investigation.

Two former mercenaries of Russia's state-backed Wagner Group told Russian opposition media outlet Gulagu.net how they had allegedly killed dozens of Ukrainian civilians, including children, as well as prisoners of war when fighting in Donetsk Oblast.

"We were ordered to clean up and destroy everyone (in Soledar and Bakhmut). We came with 150 Wagner fighters killing everyone (on our way) - women, men, elderly, and children, including small, five-year-olds," Azamat Uldarov said in a video interview with Gulagu.net published on April 17.

Following the interviews, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office reported it had started investigating the alleged war crimes committed by the two ex-commanders. Open / Comment

2023-04-17 21:35:50 Estonia’s biggest charity helping Ukraine under audit after board finds Ukrainian recipients suspicious

Having emerged in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Glory to Ukraine has since been the largest charity helping Ukraine in Estonia.

The charity’s success brought its founder Johanna-Maria Lehtme a seat in parliament at the March election. But just days after the election, a public scandal erupted.

The advisory board of Glory to Ukraine raised questions about Lehtme’s work and announced an internal audit suspecting the misuse of funds by the charity’s two Ukrainian partners.

Credit: Karl-Erik Leik/Delfi Estonia Open / Comment

2023-04-17 21:15:50 What else did the U.S. intelligence leak reveal about the war in Ukraine?

Check out the third episode of our new video podcast “This Week in Ukraine” on YouTube, or all audio platforms, to find out.

Watch here

Listen here Open / Comment