Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN April 12, 6.30 p.m. EST
Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations
WAR BULLETIN
April 12, 6.30 p.m. EST
Operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine detained Viktor Medvedchuk.
There is a high threat of enemy use of missile weapons on military and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine and the possibility of intensification of the occupation forces advance to the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to preliminary information, the occupiers may hold about 200 crew members of several ships that were blocked by the Russians in the port of Mariupol.
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine obtained a list of servicemen of the special unit of the Yastrub Rosguard of Nizhny Novgorod who committed war crimes.
Russian special services are planning a series of terrorist attacks to blow up residential buildings, hospitals and schools in Russian settlements – Kirill Budanov.
WAR ROOM
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Regrouping and relocation of enemy units to areas of concentration in the Slobozhansky and Donetsk directions continues. In order to prevent local residents from recording the movement of weapons and military equipment in the border areas of the Kursk, Bryansk and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation, under the guise of a high level of “terrorist threat”, the administrative-police regime was strengthened.
The enemy is accelerating the training of junior specialists in the eastern military district of the Russian Federation, mobilizing the Rosguard units and relocating additional troops to areas bordering Ukraine.
The Russian command is reviewing the terms of the contracts of Russian soldiers to legalize participation in hostilities outside Russia and to prevent them from being terminated.
There is a high threat of enemy use of missile weapons on military and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine and the possibility of intensification of the occupation forces advance to the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
In the Volyn and Polissya areas, the situation has not changed significantly.
Planned measures of operational and combat training of units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are being carried out in the Seversky direction. Some military units of this country continue to perform tasks to strengthen the Ukrainian-Belarusian section of the state border.
The partial blockade of the city of Kharkiv continues in the Slobozhansky direction. At the same time, the enemy continues to use artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers to destroy the residential areas of Kharkiv, Dergachi and Pyatihatki.
In the area of the city of Izyum, the occupiers regrouped units, replenished supplies and focused on maintaining the pontoon crossing over the Seversky Donets River. Air reconnaissance of the area with the use of UAVs continues. To strengthen the Russian Army in, separate units of the 1st Tank Army of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were moved to the area.
In the Donetsk direction, enemy troops continue the intensive use of aircraft and tactical missile systems.
During the day, the occupiers tried to improve the tactical situation in the areas of Popasna, Stepne, Rubizhne and Nizhne. They were unsuccessful.
Engineering units of the Armed forces of the Russian Federation are trying to restore the railway bridges in the area of Svatovo. The battle for Mariupol continues.
In the South Bug direction, the enemy is trying to hold the occupied territory, Russians conducted air reconnaissance with UAVs. In addition to that, the enemy was shelling Mykolayiv and Oleksandrivka from multiple rocket launchers.
In the Black and Azov Seas, enemy naval groups continue to carry out tasks to isolate the area of hostilities and reconnaissance.
Security Service of Ukraine
Operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine detained a Russian Spy, People’s Deputy of Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk. The detainee has family ties with Vladimir Putin. Russian President is the godfather of Medvedchuk’s youngest daughter.
“I thank all the SSU officers, in particular, investigators and counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine, who, following the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proved their professionalism and conducted this lightning-fast and dangerous multilevel special operation to detain MP Medvedchuk. No traitor will escape punishment and will be held accountable under the Law of Ukraine. This person will answer for all the todays crimes against Ukraine, which his personal actions led to, “- said the Chairman of the SSU Ivan Bakanov.
Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine obtained a list of servicemen of the special unit of the Yastrub Rosguard of Nizhny Novgorod, who committed war crimes against the people of Ukraine. Full list of the war criminals: https://bit.ly/3vdA1d1
“Russian special services are planning a series of terrorist attacks to blow up residential buildings, hospitals and schools in Russian settlements. In addition to that, their plan includes the launch of missile and bomb strikes on the city of Belgorod or one of the cities of Crimea, “said in a comment to press the Head of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Major General Kirill Budanov.
Prosecutor General’s Office
A mission of French experts will help investigate Russia’s war crimes. This was announced by Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova during a joint work with the foreign colleagues in Bucha, Kyiv region.
On April 10-11, 2022, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out artillery and rocket attacks on the cities of Krasnohorivka, Marinka, and the villages of Velyka Novosilka, Mykhailivka, Novogrodivka, New York, South and North.
In Krasnohorivka, the remains of a cluster munition found on the street detonated in the hands of a local resident – the man died on the spot. Two seriously injured men and a woman from the same village were taken to the Pokrovsky Hospital.
On April 8-11, 2022, the servicemen of the aggressor state shelled the cities of Lysychansk, Popasna, Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and the town of Komyshuvakha. A civilian was killed and two others were wounded by shrapnel. Apartments, private houses and vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The gas pipeline in Severodonetsk was cut off.
On 24 March 2022, aerial bombardment was carried out on a residential area in Okhtyrka. As a result, 15 residential buildings were destroyed or damaged. Significant damage was caused to critical infrastructure. According to preliminary reports, 20 people were injured and 1 person killed.
On the night of 10 April 2022, Russian servicemen shelled two districts of Kharkiv with prohibited cluster munitions PTM-1. As a result, a number of residential buildings were damaged.
In Shevchenkove village in Kyiv Region, soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces were killing civilians during the occupation. During inspection of the territory, the bodies of six citizens with gunshot wounds were found in the basement of a private home.
In March, Russian soldiers used small arms and artillery to shoot at a convoy of five vehicles carrying civilians at the exit from the village of Peremoha in Kyiv Region. The enemy attack killed four people, including a 13-year-old boy.
Also near the village of Havronshchyna in the Kyiv region, the occupiers shot at a civilian vehicle. The enemy attack killed 5 people, including two children aged 1 and 14. The bodies of the dead were buried by local residents next to the vehicle.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
On the territory of the Mariupol Sea Commercial Port, members of the crew of the dry cargo ship “Blue Star-1” under the Liberian flag were taken hostage by the military of the Russian Federation.
18 sailors who are citizens of Ukraine were taken to the temporarily occupied Donetsk.
According to preliminary information, the occupiers may hold about 200 crew members of several ships that were blocked by the Russians in the port of Mariupol.
The city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region is on the verge of survival.
According to city officials, there are now about 15,000 civilians in Izyum.
Due to the active hostilities and occupation of the territory, there is no light, no water, no heat, no communication. Medical facilities do not work, there is no medicine.
People are starving, because it is currently impossible to deliver food to them, and it is impossible to evacuate them from the city.
As a result of the exchange, which took place on April 9, Hanna Gavrilina, the head of the village of Gremyach in the Chernihiv region, was released after 20 days of captivity.
The occupiers detained the woman on charges of allegedly “working as a fire adjuster” for the Ukrainian military.
At first, Ms. Anna was taken to a tent camp, where she was kept in the cold for a week, almost without sleep, and threatened with reprisals during daily interrogations: she was beaten on the head with a lock, shot over the head, and threatened to shoot her knees.
Then the woman was taken to a pre-trial detention center in Kursk (Russia), where her hair was cut for expressing her pro-Ukrainian position.
Ms. Hanna spoke about one Ukrainian compatriot girl who tried to hang herself on a prison sheet because of torture.
The occupiers use children as spies and fire adjusters.
In Kharkiv, the Russians tried to recruit a minor through the Telegram so that the young boy could provide information about the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city for a monetary reward.
In the Luhansk region, two Russian servicemen personally offered a 16-year-old boy funds for information on the locations and routes of Ukrainian troops. They assured the boy that nothing would happen to him because he was a minor.
The Security Service of Ukraine reported that in both cases the minors did not have time to pass information to the occupiers.
In the temporarily occupied Melitopol of the Zaporozhye region, russian servicemen detain businessmen en masse, and release them only after paying “compensation”.
More than 800 students in the temporarily occupied city of Volnovakha are being forced Russians to study near the war zone.
In the occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian invaders are increasing forced mobilization.
POLICY
Prime Minister of Ukraine
Today is the 48th day of fighting of the Ukrainian people against the aggressor and the occupier. Struggles for our freedom. Struggles for our state. Struggles for the opportunity to live on our land.
Due to the toughness of the Ukrainian military, four regions have been completely liberated, and the country and the economy can function now to ensure our victory. On the economic, informational, and diplomatic front, we are exerting every effort to help the Ukrainian army defeat its enemies.
After the start of the full-scale war, the Government identified 9 key areas of work. We adapt our policies and strategies. We are retrofitting the rules to restart the economy and provide social support to the people.
The army is a key priority, so last week an additional UAH 33 billion was allocated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and an additional UAH 1.5 billion to the Security Service of Ukraine. UAH 19 billion will be spent on weapons. UAH 7 billion for the repair of equipment and weapons. UAH 5 billion – for the purchase of real property and personal protective equipment for the military. UAH 1.3 billion for operational support.
Also met with the leadership of the European Union in Kyiv. We have received a questionnaire that we have to fill out in order to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership. They started working on it. We expect that Ukraine will be able to receive such a status no later than June this year.
Formalized the decision on a full embargo on imports of goods from Russia. After the full-blown invasion, the flow of goods was halted, and it was important to officially consolidate it.
We support our people in the liberated territories. A sum worth UAH 1 billion has been allocated for the priority reconstruction of infrastructure in the liberated cities and villages of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Zhytomyr regions. We constantly send humanitarian aid, free things, medicines. In addition, today at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers decided to allocate an additional UAH 490 million for basic rehabilitation and normal operation of road infrastructure, including in the liberated areas.
We continue to distribute free food packages in frontline cities. The state buys products mainly from Ukrainian producers to load them with orders. For most items purchased from 30 to 80% of all necessary.
We support IDPs. 1 million people have already officially registered. They continued to apply for the monthly payment program until April 30. Separately today, a decision was made to allocate UAH 200 million to employers who hire workers from the number of IDPs. We are talking about the payment of UAH 6,500 for each new employee. More than 5,000 employers have already asked for compensation for the employment of displaced persons.
Successfully completed the heating season. 9 billion cubic meters of gas in storage. 1 million tons of coal in warehouses. We begin preparations for the next heating season.
In all regions, except Luhansk, a sowing campaign was launched. We help farmers. They have already been provided with preferential financing for UAH 3.5 billion. At today’s meeting of the Government, a decision was made to simplify the registration of agricultural machinery as much as possible. Hence to ensure the ongoing process of sowing and fieldwork.
An additional UAH 2.3 billion has been allocated today for the 5-7-9 program. We also reformatted this program. Now every entrepreneur can get a loan at 0% in the amount of up to UAH 60 million. Interest before the bank will be paid by the state. Restarting and restoring business is a necessary condition for the stability of our economy, so we help.
Finally, the business relocation program. More than 250 state-supported production facilities have already been relocated to other areas. Of these, 121 companies are already fully operational in the new location, others – are in the process of relocation. Another 430 productions are waiting their turn.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
Olga Stefanishyna during the speech at the conference on April, 11 in Vienna called on the Energy Community and European leaders to mobilize financial resources for the immediate reconstruction of the liberated territories, including the restoration of energy infrastructure and energy supply.
She noted the importance of the decision to synchronize Ukraine’s integrated energy system with the ENTSO-E continental European energy network, despite Russia’s full-scale hostilities against Ukraine. The official stressed that this was possible both due to a set of reforms that Ukraine has implemented earlier, and real political leadership in Europe.
Olga Stefanishyna underlined that Ukraine remains committed to implementation of the Green Deal in Ukraine. The Deputy Prime Minister paid special attention to the importance of expanding the embargo on energy resources from Russia.
ENERGY
Ministry of energy of Ukraine
Operation of the power system of Ukraine on April 12
Over the past 24hrs, electricity supply to more than 51,7 thousand consumers has been restored.
In particular, in Dnipropetrovsk region – 25 thousand consumers, Kyiv – 13,8 thousand, Kharkiv – 5 thousand, Donetsk – 4,8 thousand, Mykolaiv – 2,6 thousand, Zaporizhzhia – 500 consumers.
Gas supply was restored to more than 5,7 thousand consumers.
Ukrainian energy companies are making every effort to quickly restore energy supply to Ukrainian citizens.
However, in some areas, emergency recovery work is complicated or impossible due to the intensification of hostilities and the emergence of new damage.
As of April 12, more than 974 settlements in Ukraine remain without electricity, a total of about 725,9 thousand consumers.
More than 293 000 consumers remain without gas supply.
Deputy Minister for Energy for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitization Farid Safarov: Since the beginning of the war, we have recorded an average of more than 4,000 attempts of cyber attacks in the energy sector.
The teamwork of specialists from the Ministry, the State Special Communications Service, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity and the government’s CERT-UA computer emergency response team can prevent or repel most cyber-attacks on critical energy infrastructure.
The total number of cybersecurity events that have been recorded since the beginning of the war (in 47 days) is over 200,000. For comparison, there were about 900,000 in the past year.
The number of DDos attacks since the beginning of the war has been more than 50, compared to only 2 last year.
Also in the last week, there have been about 20,000 attempts to attack the infrastructure of the Ministry of Energy itself.
Most cyberattacks occur in the electricity sector.
