Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN April 11, 6.00 p.m. EST
WAR BULLETIN
April 11, 6.00 p.m. EST
Russian forces continue to partially block the city of Kharkiv, firing from multiple rocket launchers, artillery and mortars.
Russia is preparing another offensive. The occupiers concentrated tens of thousands of soldiers and a huge amount of equipment to try to strike again.
President Zelenskyy: occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol.
If Ukraine receives the necessary weapons in time, it will win – Andriy Yermak.
Denis Shmyhal discussed Ukraine’s support in overcoming the consequences of aggression and increasing sanctions against Russia during an online meeting with members of the United States Congress.
Mykhailo Podolyak: Ukraine’s position in negotiations with Russia will depend on our success on the frontline
WAR ROOM
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russia does not abandon plans to fully capture the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblast.
Russian forces continue to partially block the city of Kharkiv, firing from multiple rocket launchers, artillery and mortars.
In the area of the city of Izium, the Russian occupiers are trying to keep the borders that were captured earlier.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, Russian troops tried to attack the city of Siverodonetsk, but were unsuccessful. During the Popasna attack, they used the Tochka-U tactical missile system. Attempts to advance deep into Ukraine defences to improve the tactical situation were unsuccessful.
Russian forces are carrying out assault operations in some areas of the city of Mariupol.
In the South Buh direction, the Russian occupiers are trying to improve the tactical situation and gain a foothold on the administrative borders of the Kherson region. There are many cases of desertion in enemy units.
Russian occupying troops are trying to carry out measures of information and psychological influence on the people of Kherson city and the oblast. To do this, they distribute information bulletins containing distorted information about the course of hostilities, substantiate the so-called “special military operation” of the Russian occupiers, impose on citizens of Ukraine registration of social benefits, including pensions in accordance with norms and rules established in the Russian Federation, disseminate information about Russian telegram channels in which allegedly “reliable” information is published.
In order to quickly replenish the losses of its troops, the occupation authorities announced another wave of mobilization of men under 65 in Luhansk. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation conduct raids on utilities and factories to identify conscripts and forcibly send them to military registration and enlistment offices.
At the same time, in Alchevsk, with the beginning of hostilities, more than 300 people among the mobilized locals lost their lives. More than 1,200 people have been brought to a hospital in Donetsk since the beginning of the large-scale war.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
The threat of Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Mariupol.
Representatives of the so called DPR occupation administration are already openly threatening to use chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military defending Mariupol at Azovstal factory.
Russian media are spreading the statement of Eduard Basurin, one of the leaders of the so-called “People’s Militia of the DPR”, that there is no point in storming the Azovstal underground fortifications in Mariupol. It is advisable to close all exits and use chemical weapons.
Forced deportation of Ukrainian citizens to the Russian Federation, filtration camps, rape of children and adults in the occupied territories. On Radio Svoboda, she spoke about the crimes of the Russian military against Ukrainian citizens, which are recorded daily by the Office of the Commissioner.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
The enemy continues to fire at nitric acid tanks in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
Today, as a result of artillery shelling in the village. Mykhailivka, Pokrovsky district, 30 houses were damaged.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine
On April 11, 9 humanitarian corridors were agreed in Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.
POLICY
President of Ukraine
The 47th day of the Russian-Ukrainian war, this shameful invasion that is gradually wiping Russia out of international relations, is coming to an end. Invasion that makes it more and more toxic every day. Now it is only a matter of time before the Russian army with its own actions and war crimes forces everyone in the world to renounce all ties with the Russian Federation.
Security work is underway in the northern regions of our country, from where the occupiers were expelled. First of all, it is mine clearance. Russian troops left behind tens if not hundreds of thousands of dangerous objects. These are shells that did not explode, mines, tripwire mines. At least several thousand such items are disposed of daily.
The occupiers left mines everywhere. In the houses they seized. Just on the streets, in the fields. They mined people’s property, mined cars, doors. They consciously did everything to make the return to these areas after deoccupation as dangerous as possible. Due to the actions of the Russian army, our territory is currently one of the most contaminated by mines in the world. And I believe this should also be considered as a war crime of Russian troops. They deliberately did everything to kill or maim as many of our people as possible, even when they were forced to withdraw from our land. Without the appropriate orders, they would not have done it.
This afternoon I met on Bankova Street with an expert group working on the creation of a special mechanism for pre-trial investigation and judicial review of all war crimes committed by the occupiers. We are working on a legal way to bring the occupiers to justice, which will be as effective and as fast as possible. In order not to wait for decades until all international legal procedures are completed, but to accelerate the onset of justice. I expect that the options for creating such a special mechanism will be presented in the near future.
Today, the occupiers issued a new statement, which testifies to their preparation for a new stage of terror against Ukraine and our defenders. One of the mouthpieces of the occupiers stated that they could use chemical weapons against the defenders of Mariupol. We take this as seriously as possible.
I want to remind the world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed. And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to the Russian aggression much tougher and faster.
The European Union has now begun discussing a sixth package of sanctions against Russia.
It is time to make this package such that even a word about weapons of mass destruction is no longer heard from the Russian side. An oil embargo against Russia is mandatory.
Any new package of sanctions against Russia that does not affect oil will be received in Moscow with a smile.
I spoke about the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia in my address to the parliament and people of the Republic of Korea.
This week I will continue this format of communication with partner countries. Tomorrow I will address the parliament and the people of the Republic of Lithuania.
By the way, Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė paid a visit to Ukraine today. I am grateful to her for the support, as well as to all the Lithuanian people.
The issue of punishing all those guilty of crimes against Ukrainians was also discussed today with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. The second important topic of our conversation was the strengthening of sanctions against Russia. We will continue to coordinate our steps to force the Russian Federation to seek peace.
I also discussed cooperation in the energy sphere with the Prime Minister of Norway. Expressed gratitude for the support of efforts aimed to force Russia to seek peace.
I also held talks with the Chairperson of the African Union, President of Senegal. Informed him about the current situation in Ukraine, about the global threats posed by the Russian invasion.
The key task both today and every day at this time is concrete defensive measures. A concrete increase in our ability to repel any attacks by Russian troops. I am dealing with this issue almost around the clock. I’m sure people see it, too. Just as they see that the military and technical capabilities of the enemy are still very high. Yes, Ukrainians are incomparably braver. Our Armed Forces are beating the occupiers with wisdom and well-thought-out tactics inaccessible to the Russian military.
But when it comes to the necessary weapons, we still depend on the supply, on our partners.
Unfortunately, we are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner. To completely destroy the enemy on our land. And to fulfill those tasks that are obvious to each of our people. In particular, to unblock Mariupol.
If we got jets and enough heavy armored vehicles, the necessary artillery, we would be able to do it. But…
We still have to agree on this. We still have to persuade. We still have to squeeze out the necessary decisions. I am sure that we will get almost everything we need. But not only time is being lost. The lives of Ukrainians are being lost. Lives that can no longer be returned.
And this is also the responsibility of those who still keep the weapons Ukraine needs in their armory. The responsibility that will forever remain in history.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
If Ukraine receives the necessary weapons in time, it will win – Andriy Yermak
Ukraine will be able to repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation if we are provided with the necessary weapons as soon as possible. This was emphasized by Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak in an interview for 60 Minutes on CBS.
According to him, first of all Ukraine needs heavy weapons, in particular artillery. Secondly, we need tanks, military aircraft. We need all possible weapons that will help close the Ukrainian sky.
The Head of the Office of the President noted that he has a profound and detailed dialogue with the American side, and stressed that US President Joseph Biden “has done more for Ukraine than anyone else.”
“But when you’re at war – we talk about it openly – you need more. And even that is not enough – we need everything as soon as possible. If we have it in time, we will win,” Andriy Yermak said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine
Denis Shmyhal discussed Ukraine’s support in overcoming the consequences of aggression and increasing sanctions against Russia during an online meeting with members of the United States Congress. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko. also attended the meeting.
Prime Minister stressed that Russia’s actions demonstrate that the aggressor seeks to kill as many civilians as possible, cause maximum damage to infrastructure and create a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
“To end the war, genocide and suffering of Ukrainians, we need further support from the United States, especially with greater military assistance and increased sanctions,” stressed Denis Shmygal.
We ask you to take urgent measures and introduce a complete blockade of all Russian banks and financial institutions, including Gazprombank, Bank of Moscow and Rosselkhozbank. We urge you to recognize Russia as a sponsor of terrorism, to impose sanctions on the assets of the Russian government and Russian state-owned enterprises in the United States, and to block Russian ships and shipping companies from accessing all U.S. domestic seaports,
Denis Shmygal stressed that Ukraine needs the voice of the United States in upholding a full embargo on key Russian goods: oil, gas, metals, minerals. Your actions today are crucial to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. The sooner you act, the more lives of innocent civilians will be saved. You can do it. Prime Minister thanked the United States for a number of important decisions to provide financial support to Ukraine.
On April 11, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė visited the liberated town of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region.
The heads of government could see the destruction inflicted on the settlement by Russian occupation forces.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė discussed the investigation of Russian war crimes and the intensifying of sanctions against the aggressor.
Denys Shmyhal called on Lithuania, together with other friends of Ukraine, to establish an alliance within the EU to push for tougher sanctions against the aggressor. In particular, the Ukrainian PM voiced the following important steps to end the war:
• introduction of a trade, economic and transport embargo against russia, especially on oil, gas, metals and minerals;
• freezing the accounts of all Russian and Belarus banks and major Russian and Belarus companies;
• disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT, first of all Sberbank;
• depriving Russia of the ability to use GPS during the war;
• preventing Russia from using cryptocurrencies to circumvent sanctions and close other loopholes that Russians are trying to use;
• expanding sanctions against Russian oligarchs who continue to fund the Putin regime and the war against Ukraine.
Adviser to the President of Ukraine
Mykhailo Podolyak: Ukraine’s position in negotiations with Russia will depend on our success on the frontline
In negotiations with the Russian Federation, Ukraine will do its utmost to end the war taking into account its national interests and to obtain reliable international guarantees to prevent such wars in the future. This was stated by Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview for the host of the TV channel “Ukraine 24” Tygran Martyrosyan.
“We have the Istanbul Communiqué, which clearly explains Ukraine’s position. It is unchanged. We want to get a formulaic solution: both the possibility of ending the war and preventing similar wars in the future. Because today’s situation has shown that Ukraine is left alone with an expansionist empire that invests a lot of money in military technology. And if it remains more or less in its current form, in a year or two it will invade someone’s territory again,” Mykhailo Podolyak said.
According to him, even when the aggressor continues to attack Ukrainian cities, negotiations must be held, because our state must use all the tools to end the war on its own terms and with the least losses among the civilian population.
At the same time, Mykhailo Podolyak reiterated that issues related to territorial integrity and sovereignty remain inviolable for Ukraine He also noted that Ukraine’s goal is not a bilateral peace agreement with Russia, which will not fulfill it, but multilateral security guarantees that will prevent a repeat of such a war against our state.
“We want to have a specific formula that Ukraine is sitting at the negotiating table, the aggressor country – the Russian Federation is sitting at the negotiating table, and next to Ukraine are the countries that will guarantee Russia’s commitment not to attack,” he explained.
According to him, Russia is now concentrating on the eastern direction – Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk – to prove to the world that it still knows how to fight. In view of this, as Mykhailo Podolyak noted, it is worth waiting for the situation in eastern Ukraine to unfold in the coming weeks.
“And if we can prove once again that the Russian army is a rudiment, a useless institution, then we will have a great opportunity to prove that Russia as a state must stop dictating any conditions in the world,” stressed the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The world is preparing to impose new sanctions on Russia. The European Commission is already working on the sixth package of restrictive measures against the aggressor state. Ukraine insists on expanding sanctions against the Russian energy sector, including an embargo on oil imports.
️ Sanctions
Canada has imposed sanctions on 33 Russian defense companies
The U.S. Department of Commerce imposes sanctions on three Russian airlines: Aeroflot, Azur Air and UTair
Croatia is expelling 18 diplomats and 6 administrative staff from the Russian embassy
️ Isolation of the Russian Federation
The European Commission has included 21 Russian airlines in the list of air carriers banned from flying in the European Union due to non-compliance with safety standards
Finnish state postal company Posti suspends postal service with Russia and Belarus
Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson is suspending its business in Russia
Employees of the Customs Administration of the State Revenue Service of Latvia banned 152 trucks with Russian and Belarusian license plates from entering the country
️ Russian criminals on the way behind bars
Germany to allocate 1 million euros to support the International Criminal Court, which investigates war crimes of the Russian army in Ukraine
Latvia allocates 100,000 euros for the work of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan, which investigates war crimes in Russia
French specialists arrive in Ukraine to help Ukrainian colleagues investigate Russian war crimes in Kyiv region
Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine
Since the beginning of martial law, 2,807 adults from nursing homes for the elderly, people with disabilities and psychoneurological boarding schools have been evacuated due to the threat to their lives and health from social institutions where they have been staying around the clock. The vast majority of residents have been relocated to other institutions where there is no active hostilities. 221 people were relocated abroad.
Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
The government has received more than 66,000 claims of damaged property through the digital application ‘Diia’.
Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food
Coordination Council for Logistics in Agriculture has been established In Ukraine. The Council will be chaired by Mykola Solsky, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food. The Council will prepare proposals and recommendations on: implementation of state policy in the field of transport, road management, development of transit potential and logistics; improvement of transportation logistics; reduction of costs for international and domestic transportation of goods; improvement of international transport monitoring; providing qualified logistics infrastructure staff.
ENERGY
Ministry of energy of Ukraine
Operation of the power system of Ukraine on April 11
Over the past 24 hours, power supply to more than 43,9 thousand consumers has been restored.
In particular, in Kharkiv region – 16 thousand consumers, Kyiv – 12,1 thousand, Donetsk – 7,2 thousand, Chernihiv – 4,5 thousand, Mykolaiv – 3,7 thousand, Zaporizhzhya – 400 consumers.
As of April 11, about 972 settlements in Ukraine remain without electricity, in total about 694,8 thousand consumers.
More than 296,000 consumers are left without gas supply.
Electricity
Ukraine’s energy system confidently maintains the balance of production and consumption, and works synchronously with ENTSO-E. Network frequency is maintained at the level of 50 Hz.
Atomic generation
All operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine produce electricity stably. The total current capacity of power units provides the necessary amounts of electricity for the needs of the country.
Radiation, fire and environmental conditions at the industrial sites of nuclear power plants and adjacent territories have not changed and are within current standards.
Zaporizhzhya NPP continues to operate in the power system of Ukraine. The current capacity of the Zaporizhzhya NPP power units is quite sufficient for supporting life-sustaining activities of the population and the operation of industrial facilities in Ukraine. The NPP operates in compliance with nuclear, radiation and environmental safety standards. On the territory of the industrial site and sanitary protection zone the ecological, fire and radiation condition is within the norm.
Gas transmission system
The company maintains operational and technological control over the Ukrainian GTS, fulfills its obligations to transport gas to consumers.
Hydroenergy
Currently, all hydro power plants within Ukrhydroenergo operate according to the dispatch schedule and fulfill their obligations to regulate the frequency and capacity of the country’s energy system.
GTS Operator of Ukraine
Gas TSO of Ukraine resumes gas supply in the Kyiv region
Gas TSO of Ukraine, in cooperation with the local distribution system operators, energy companies, and the Ukrainian military, resumes gas network operations on the territories of the Kyiv region liberated from the occupiers.
On April 11, Boyarka LPU employees returned to operation two GDSs, which supply gas to more than 10 thousand residents of Vorzel and Semypolky villages. Moreover, last week GTSOU employees resumed gas supply to residents of Makariv, Velyka Dymerka, and Dymer.
The time of the GDSs launch depends on the readiness of DSO networks, which significantly suffered due to hostilities in the Kyiv region. Restoration works in the area are underway.
The total number of GDSs disconnected due to military operations is 44 out of 1395. The most common reason for GDS disconnection is the damage to gas distribution networks of regional and city DSOs in Ukrainian settlements. Almost 2/3 of the disconnected GDSs are located in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
Naftogaz
Latest update on operation of Naftogaz Group enterprises as of 17:00 CET, 10 April