UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-04-21
Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. Since June 2023 I have provided a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 60 sources daily, much of which forms the basis of the script. While the Podcast is on hiatus I will make this Draft available here both on my own Substack and The People’s Media for those who wish to keep up with events on a daily basis.
INSIDE UKRAINE
ALONG THE CONTACT LINE
GSAFU Morning Report
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its situation update at 06:00 on Apr. 21 stated that it was day 788 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 115 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 15 missile strikes, 63 air strikes, and 109 MLRS attacks across the positions of our troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure.
At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
Ukrainian missile forces struck 1 command post, 2 concentrations of troops, 1 ammunition depot, 1 air defense system, 1 concentration of weapons and military equipment
Air Force Daily Report
The Ukrainian Air Force in its situation update at 06:00 stated that during the previous day they launched air strikes on 8 concentrations of enemy troops.
Russian radar and S-400 Triumph air defence system control centre destroyed by one of four HIMARS missiles.
Ukrainian troops hit a radar and other vehicles from the Russian air defence complex. According to Censor.NET, the radar and combat control centre of the S-300 or S-400 air defence system and other vehicles were deployed in a combat position. According to the video from the Ukrainian military, the occupiers' air defence was detected by a reconnaissance drone. The vehicles were located in a field near a forest plantation.
The shot probably shows an anti-aircraft missile illumination and guidance radar and, in particular, a mobile control centre on the truck chassis. At the same time, it is likely that the SAM launchers themselves were scattered at a distance from each other and camouflaged.
After detecting the enemy equipment, the Ukrainian command decided to destroy it. Fire damage to elements of the Russian SAM was carried out by GMLRS missiles from the US M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. Video below:
The Khortytsia operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the Kup’yans’k, Lyman, and Bakhmut axes, in the northeastern part of Ukraine. )
Kup’yans’k axis: The enemy carried out 4 assaults, with air support, in the vicinity of the settlement of Stel’makhivka (Luhansk oblast). unsuccessfully trying to improve its tactical position.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 assaults in the vicinity of Terny, (Donetsk oblast) where the occupiers attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines.
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 28 Russian attacks, supported by aviation, in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) Verkhn’okam’yans’ke,Spirne, Novyi, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).
Russians repeats Avdiivka tactics in Chasiv Yar
The UK Ministry of Defence in its Apr. 21 Intelligence Update reported that:
On 14 April 2024, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Syrskyi stated Russian forces intend to take Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine by 09 May 2024, the date of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Syrskyi stated that Chasiv Yar is a preliminary step towards the larger city of Kramatorsk.
On 18 April 2024, Ukrainian Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces commander noted Russian Air Force dropping 20-30 munitions per day. These are likely discharged by Russian Su-25 aircraft operating close to the line of contact and Su-34 operating at a stand-off distance using glide bombs. This is a concerted aerial bombardment and is a tactic repeated from the Avdiivka campaign.
Chasiv Yar town is heavily defended and situated on high ground. Russian ground forces have made only slow progress in the area.
AFU - Situation under control in Chasiv Yar
The Ukrainian military controls the situation in the town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region. However, the occupiers continue their assaults, according to the comments from Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group RBC-Ukraine reports.
"Chasiv Yar stands firm. The enemy is exerting pressure on the Bakhmut direction, including Chasiv Yar. The situation is fully under control, with no enemy presence in the city," said Voloshyn.
Russian assault groups are arriving in infantry fighting vehicles, launching attacks supported by both drones and artillery.
"Recently, aviation has become particularly troublesome, bombing both civilian infrastructure and defense positions with FAB and KAB bombs," he added. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions.
"Today, we are defending there (in Chasiv Yar). I wouldn't say the enemy has made any significant gains. And if we look at our defensive lines overall, wherever possible, we reinforce them. And we reinforce them constantly and quite significantly,"
The Tavria operational-strategic group
(Responsible for the Avdiivka, Novopavlivka, and Orikhiv axes, in the central-eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.)
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Oleksandropil’, Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Semenivka, Umans’ke, Yasnobrodivka, and Nevel’s’ke (Donetsk oblast) where the invaders, with air support, attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions.
Novopavlivka axis: Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where the invaders, with air support, made 25x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy conducted 4 attacks, with air support, on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors’ke (Donetsk oblast), Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
The Odesa operational-strategic group
(Responsible for Kherson, Qırım, (also known as Crimea) and the Black Sea.)
Kherson axis: Ukrainian defenders continue to maintain their positions. Over the past day, the enemy carried out 3 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defence Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
Ukrainian Navy confirms strike on Russian ship in Sevastopol
The Russian salvage ship Kommuna caught fire in the port of the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea due to the actions of the Ukrainian Navy on 21 April.
Captain 3rd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy, confirmed Ukraine’s responsibility to Ukrainska Pravda
"This event occurred upon direct involvement of the Ukrainian Navy. The type of damage caused to the ship is being specified but early reports say the ship is not ready to perform missions."
Pletenchuk explained that this vessel was not an attack ship but, despite its age [some reports claim the ship was launched in 1912 - making it the oldest serving ship in the Russian Navy], it served in the Russian Black Sea Fleet and was in working order.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
Perpetrators who shot two police officers in Vinnytsia captured in Odesa
On April 20, at around 02:00 in Vinnytsia region, two men opened fire on police officers who stopped them for a curfew check. Maksym Zaretskyi, a 20-year-old inspector of the patrol police response sector of the police department No. 1 (Bershad) of the Haisyn district administration, was killed, another was wounded and hospitalized in moderate condition. UNN reports.
The two suspects, a father and son from the Vinnytsia region, aged 52 and 26, were both members of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Thanks to the coordination of various services, authorities established the whereabouts of the defendants in the case of the murder. As it turned out, they were hiding in Odesa region. The criminals were detained with the force support of the KORD special forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced.
The suspects have been charged under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - Murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer in connection with the performance of his or her official duties. The sanction of the article provides for up to life imprisonment. The circumstances of the incident and the motives for the crime are being established.
“It doesn't matter who is wearing what clothes. In what condition and for what reason. There is no and no excuse for this crime. The shooters must be found and detained. They must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law”
— Ihor Clemenko, Interior Minister
No total blackouts expected in Ukraine
Despite Russia's ongoing attacks targeting energy generation facilities, there will be no total blackout Ukraine, according to Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"Unfortunately, there is no doubt that (the Russian strikes - ed.) will continue. Undoubtedly, the left-bank part of Ukraine is more vulnerable due to a number of reasons. Now a lot of experts claim there will be a blackout and total disaster. It's all lies. There will be no total blackout in our country," Galushchenko assured Ukrainians.
At the same time, according to the energy minister, Ukrainians need to prepare for various scenarios.
"Of course, it is better to be prepared for any developments. But together with energy repair teams, we are doing everything to ensure that these scenarios never materialize. And as the experience of the past year shows, we delivered on our promises," said the head of the Ministry.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia Issues Furious Warning After Ukraine Aid Bill
The Kremlin has reacted angrily to news that the U.S. Congress has approved an aid package for Ukraine, warning that it will lead to the "deaths of even more Ukrainians." Newsweek reports.
On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine after the potentially game-changing assistance for Kyiv languished in Congress for months, mired down by political infighting. Lawmakers also approved billions more in aid for other U.S. allies. The Senate will now vote on the package, before it heads to President Joe Biden for sign-off.
The decision "will make the United States of America richer, further ruin Ukraine and result in the deaths of even more Ukrainians, the fault of the Kyiv regime," Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said in remarks reported by Russia's state news agencies.
"The allocation of military assistance by the United States to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will aggravate the global crisis," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a post to messaging app Telegram.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said the approval of new aid to Ukraine was "Russophobic" and would exacerbate "the number of victims of this war."
"I cannot with all sincerity not wish the United States to plunge into a new civil war as quickly as possible," Medvedev said on Telegram.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners. Reuters reported.
The bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish U.S. weapons, stocks and facilities; $26 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, and $8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his thanks, saying U.S. lawmakers moved to keep "history on the right track."
"The vital U.S. aid bill passed today by the House will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger," Zelenskyy said on Twitter.
Biden, who had urged Congress since last year to approve the additional aid to Ukraine, said in a statement: "It comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia."
The vote on passage of the Ukraine funding was 311-112. Significantly, 112 Republicans opposed the legislation, with only 101 in support.
Grumpy Here — The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, where it will be recombined into one bill. The Senate had already passed a similar bill which the Republicans refused for months to bring to the floor in the house. U.S. leaders from Democratic President Joe Biden to top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it up for a vote. It is likely this new bill will be voted on in the Senate by mid week. President Biden has already stated he is ready to sign it.
US military aid could reach Ukraine within week after approval
US military aid worth around $61 billion could start arriving in Ukraine within a week after President Biden signs the long-delayed legislation, according to unnamed officials cited by the Washington Post.
With the House passing the aid package and the Senate set to vote on 23 April, the Pentagon has been urgently prepositioning weapons, ammunition, and equipment to expedite deliveries once Biden gives final approval.
“The Pentagon has a massive infusion of military aid for Ukraine ready to go,” unnamed US officials said, once a long-delayed funding measure clears the Senate next week and President Biden signs it into law.
One official told the WP some weapons systems could reach Ukraine’s battlefields less than a week after the bill is signed into law, depending on their storage locations.
The package will likely include vital air defense supplies to help counter Russia’s bombardment of civilian areas. The Pentagon previously warned delaying aid risked Ukraine losing more ground and suffering heavy losses against Russian forces.
MILITARY & TECH
Lithuania Transfers L-39ZA Albatros Attack Aircraft to Ukraine
On April 20, 2024, the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania announced that it is transferring a new package of military aid to Ukraine, and this time it will be the L-39ZA Albatros attack aircraft. Defense Express reports.
This event is interesting not only because Lithuania is officially transferring aviation equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the first time throughout the entire duration of the russian federation's war against Ukraine. Another interesting aspect here is also the type of aircraft being transferred.
The L-39ZA is a training-combat aircraft based on the L-39C, which can effectively be used as a light attack aircraft. It is designed for a combat load of 1100 kilograms and has four hard points where unguided rocket pods or bombs can be attached.
In addition, the armament of the L-39ZA also includes a 23mm double-barreled GSh-23L aircraft cannon with an ammunition capacity of 150 rounds.
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