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Rocket strike on Kramatorsk – 52 people died
On April 8, russian army carried out one of its most brutal airstrikes: missiles were sent to a train station in Kramatorsk, where several thousand people were. According to inaccurate data, 52 people died and another 109 were injured. These are not final figures, local authorities are sure that the quantity of suffered will grow. People planned an evacuation from Kramatorsk at this station. Now the station is closed.
The strike was carried out by the “Point-U” missile system. These are in the service of both the russian and Ukrainian armies. Knowing this, russian propaganda immediately stated that Ukraine was bombing by its own people, despite the fact that Kramatorsk is under Ukrainian rule, not the occupiers. A Pentagon spokesman also said that the strike was carried out by russia. Now, in their opinion, the russian army is organizing an offensive on the city and will try to capture it. To do this, use the 18th Motorized Rifle Division, consisting of three motorized and armored regiments.
In addition, russian army has a new commander. The offensive on the territory of Ukraine will be led by General Oleksandr Dvornikov, who previously had experience of operations in Syria. His priority is to improve coordination: it is believed that this problem did not allow russia to quickly capture Ukrainian cities. The main goal is to achieve at least some success by May 9.
Bombing of civilian objects
In the last few days, Russia has not reduced the intensity of shelling of Ukrainian cities and civil infrastructure. In particular, the attack on Myrhorod in Poltava region and the shelling of Odessa. British intelligence has confirmed that the russians are actively shelling non-military facilities, including oil depots and other critical infrastructure. This poses serious obstacles to the recovery of Ukrainian business as well. According to various data, sowing will be reduced by 20% only due to lack of fuel.
At the same time, russians do not abandon attempts to gain a power in eastern Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense, now some troops are regrouping in the Belgorod area to direct a new offensive on Kharkiv.
Airstrike, missile and MRL damage
Luhansk region:
- As a result of the shelling, residential buildings and warehouses were destroyed, and fires broke out. A woman was killed in Lisichansk, five were wounded in Zolote.
Kharkiv region:
- During the day, Russian troops inflicted 50 strikes on the city, fires broke out, incl. in multi-storey residential buildings, houses were destroyed, pets died. As a result of the shelling, an accident occurred on the gas pipeline. Prohibited cluster munitions were used.
- As a result of the shelling, hospital buildings, dispensaries, residential buildings and commercial buildings were damaged. On the outskirts of the city, a repair team of Kharkovoblenergo was blown up by a mine, 2 people were hospitalized.
Donetsk region:
- 2 missiles with cluster munition hit the railway station. 52 people died, 5 of them were children, and 109 are listed as wounded, 16 of them are children.
- 5 houses were hit. 5 people died, incl. family of 4 people, 2 more injured.
- Residential facilities, schools, a kindergarten, a hospital were damaged, gas supply was disrupted. 2 more people were injured.
Kropyvnytskyi region:
- Missile attack from the Black Sea, damaged critical infrastructure.
Odessa region:
- Missile attack from the Black Sea, damaged critical infrastructure.
New laws
Russia:
- [Response to the sanctions] The government submitted to the State Duma a draft law on the abolition of a number of visa preferences for citizens of most European countries
- [Restrictions Removal] From April 11, the Bank of Russia will allow citizens to receive cash not only in dollars, but also in euros from their foreign currency accounts or deposits opened before March 9, 2022, if they have not yet chosen the established limit for receiving cash currency.
- [Restrictions Removal] From April 11, 2022, the Bank of Russia cancels the commission for the purchase of foreign currency through brokers, which was previously set at 12%
- [Support for the economy] From April 1 until the termination of the circumstances that caused the violation, the Central Bank will refrain from applying enforcement measures for violation of the rules of organized trading by trade organizers, central counterparties and clearing organizations – clearing rules, subject to the obligatory notification of the Bank of Russia about the fact and the reasons for their violation. violation no later than 3 working days from the date of violation
- [Support for the economy] By its decree, the government again gave tour operators a delay until the end of 2022 to fulfill obligations to tourists who purchased tours abroad before March 31, 2020 and were unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic
- [Response to the sanctions] At a meeting on April 8, the government supported a bill that provides for the right of companies to stop sending correspondence and paying dividends to their shareholders who do not contact them for a long time.
Video of russian prisoners
- 04/05/2022 – Russian POW contract soldier says that his unit was tasked with getting from Belarus to Kyiv in 5 days and capturing 3 bridges in Kyiv. Surrendered on the 40th day of the war. Indicates the facts of looting, theft of equipment, jewelry.
- 04/05/2022 — Russian POW paramedic says that he was taken prisoner after he, who was assisting a wounded soldier of the RF Armed Forces, was abandoned by command. He points out that many soldiers “chased big money”, and later “feeling freedom, they even burned houses”.
- 04/08/2022 — POW from the so-called. The “DNR” claims that the Russian Federation promises the inhabitants of ORDLO “salvation from the Nazis”, but in fact they are using them as “cannon fodder”.
Alternative loss estimates
- According to a BBC publication, 20% of the confirmed dead reported by Russian local authorities are officers.
- According to the DailyMail publication, more than 7k corpses of Russian soldiers are in the morgues of Ukraine.
- According to an AbcNews publication citing US officials, Russia lost 15-20% of its military power during the war against Ukraine.
- During an interview with the British television channel Sky News, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “significant losses” and that this is a “huge tragedy” for the Russian Federation.