The Kyiv Independent

2022-04-17 02:27:56 Zelensky: 'The situation in Mariupol remains as severe as possible, just inhuman.'

President Zelensky said in address there are only “two ways to influence” the situation in Mariupol, “either Ukraine’s partners give it all the necessary heavy weapons” needed to break through the siege of Mariupol, or a “negotiation path,” involving international partners. Open / Comment

2022-04-17 02:12:26 Joint Forces Operation: Ten Russian attacks repelled, multiple units of Russian equipment destroyed.

According to the JFO, Russia lost 15 tanks, three artillery systems, 24 armored vehicles and 10 other vehicles on April 16. Air defense systems shot down four UAVs and two cruise missiles. Ukraine’s Air Force also reported it shot down one plane, one helicopter, five unmanned aerial vehicles, and six cruise missiles. Open / Comment

2022-04-17 01:26:07 Nearly 1,500 people evacuated from hot spots on April 16.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, 1,381 people traveled from Mariupol and Berdiansk by their own transport to Zaporizhzhia, including 170 people from Mariupol. Despite constant shelling, 68 people were evacuated from the cities of Severodonetsk, Rubizhne and Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast. Open / Comment

2022-04-17 01:13:09 Russia alleges most of besieged Mariupol cleared of Ukrainian forces.

A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said on April 16 that Russian troops had surrounded about 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers that had remained near the Azovstal metallurgical plant and that “their only chance to save their lives is to voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender.” The claims have not been independently verified. Open / Comment

2022-04-17 00:43:29 Historic loss of flagship deals humiliating blow to Russia’s naval power

Missile cruiser Moskva, the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship, sank following what Ukraine claims was a strike by the Neptune coastal defense missile accepted in service in 2021.

This Russian catastrophe will leave a mark in history textbooks. Open / Comment

2022-04-16 23:58:53 Bloomberg: Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich visits Kyiv, seeks to revive Ukraine-Russia peace talks.

According to Bloomberg, Roman Abramovich met with members of the Ukrainian delegation. Oligarch’s spokesperson denied his visit to Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that Abramovich represents Russia during peace talks. Open / Comment

2022-04-16 22:37:27 General Staff: Russia postpones military rotation in Syria due to war in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s General Staff added that due to a lack of troops, the Russian military command has been working to recruit the military reserve force to sign short-term military contracts – from 3 months to up to a year. Open / Comment

2022-04-16 21:29:06 Forbes: Assets of Russian oligarchs frozen in France are worth $920 million.

Forbes calculated that the 31 real estate objects that are owned by eight Russian oligarchs are worth more than the initial French estimates of under $620 million.

Of this sum, Roman Abramovich owns a third, including a mansion on the French Riviera, formerly owned by British King Edward VIII. Open / Comment

2022-04-16 21:08:50 Denisova: Russian-controlled proxies conscript kids to fight against Ukraine.

According to Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova, Russian proxies in the occupied parts of Donbas conscript 16-17-year-old children.

Denisova says several deaths among teenagers on the battlefield are already confirmed. Open / Comment

2022-04-16 20:19:08 Lviv court arrests pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk without bail.

On April 12, Ukraine’s Security Service captured the fugitive Kremlin-linked politician. Vladimir Putin’s right-hand man in Ukraine escaped from house arrest in late February following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Medvedchuk’s Opposition Platform party was banned in Ukraine in March. Open / Comment