UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-04-16
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.16 stated that it was day 783 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 104 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 16 missile strikes, 31 air strikes, and 79 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 2 artillery systems, 4 concentrations of troops, and 4 UAV control posts
Russia tries to compensate for the failures of ground operations by air strikes
Colonel Natalia Humenyuk, the head of the joint coordination press center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine said during a televised interview that:
“The enemy is once again gravitating to aerial devices and trying to detect our air defense systems. At night, groups of drones were quantitatively smaller and placed more compactly” Humenyuk said.
According to her, this suggests that the Russians have a certain lack of potential for shock drones, but are trying to keep terror systemic.
“Yesterday there was a ballistic missile attack in the direction of Kirovohradshchyna, and at night there was a small number of drone attacks” she added.
Earlier, the Defense Forces reported that enemy troops were rotating units in the south and shift directions assault actions to the east.
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 13 concentrations of troops, 2 anti-aircraft missile systems, and 1 command post.
On the night of April 16, 2024, the enemy attacked 9 Shahed UAVB’s from Cape Chauda (tot Ukrainian Qirim).
All nine were destroyed by mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine within the boundaries of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytsky, Poltava, Cherkasy and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
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 did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations in this area. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their positions.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 8 attacks near Terny and Tors’ke (Donetsk oblast) where the occupiers attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines.
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 33 Russian attacks, supported by aviation, in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, Spirne, Novyi, Ivanivskie, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
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 15 enemy attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Semenivka, Umans’ke and Pervomais’ke, (Donetsk oblast) where the invaders, with air support, attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions.
Novopavlivka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Vodyane, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). The enemy made 30 attempts, assisted by air support, to breach Ukrainian defense in that area.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy conducted 7 assaults on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors’ke (Donetsk oblast), north of Pryyutne, and southwest of Bilohir’ya (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 5 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defence Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Ukraine Hits Yuzhgidromash Factory with russian Invaders in Temporarily Occupied Berdiansk
On Apr. 15 the Defense Forces of Ukraine launched a missile attack on the location of Russian occupiers on the territory of the Yuzhgidromash plant in the temporarily occupied city of Berdiansk.
There were wounded Russian occupiers as a result of the hit. It is difficult to find information about the dead russian invaders in the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, because occupiers have not brought the bodies of their soldiers to the local morgue for a long time. Russian invaders are afraid of information leaks about their losses.
It is also known that no civilians were injured during the attack.
Although occupiers claimed to have destroyed all the missiles outside the city, local residents saw smoke on the plant's territory. Russians explained this by the debris of missiles that, according to their version, somehow reached Berdiansk on their own.
THE HOME FRONT
Ambassador: US delivered 7 powerful transformers to Ukraine
The United States Agency for International Development has delivered 7 powerful transformers to Mykolaiv. This was reported by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on Twitter, UNN reports.
“The port city of Mykolaiv has been repeatedly attacked by Russia. The U.S. Agency for International Development recently delivered 7 powerful transformers to replace equipment damaged by Russian attacks and the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant” - wrote Brink.
According to her, this helped provide electricity to more than 400 households in Mykolaiv.
Zelenskyy signs mobilization law: Effective May 16
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the draft law on mobilization No. 10449, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament). The draft law was sent to the President for signature on Apr. 16 and at 3:43 p.m. Zelenskyy signed it. The law will come into effect one month after the President's signature. RBC-Ukraine reports.
According to the new document, instead of conscription, basic military service will be introduced for a period of 5 months in peacetime and 3 months in wartime. Ukrainians under the age of 24 will be able to choose the year and period of basic service.
Also, basic general military training will be introduced. From 2025, it will become an element of education in educational institutions and will be conducted in universities of all forms of ownership.
Those recognized as partially fit have to undergo a second military qualification examination.
Servicemen who sign their first contract are entitled to compensation of 50% of the down payment on a loan secured by a mortgage.
Those who received a disability group II - III after February 24, 2022 (except for military personnel) must undergo a second medical examination to determine their fitness for service.
There will be restrictions on the right to drive for military service evaders. However, there are exceptions.
It is necessary to have a military registration document with you and show it at the request of a representative of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, a police officer, or the State Border Guard Service. It is required for the period of mobilization for all citizens aged 18 to 60 who are registered (or deregistered).
RUSSIAN WORLD
Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner names the category of prisoners of war that is most difficult to negotiate with Russia
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets stated that Russia is unwilling to negotiate the exchange of convicted Ukrainian servicemen, in particular from the Azov regiment, the 36th Marine Brigade, the 501st and 503rd battalions, who, according to Russia, have "aggravating circumstances," despite the fact that Ukraine has provided a legal mechanism for their repatriation reports UNN
“The most difficult category today is the convicted Ukrainian military. I think there are convicts from different units," Kononenko said. He noted that, in particular, Azov fighters and the 36th Separate Marine Brigade are among the prisoners of war who are the most difficult to negotiate with Russia. "This is Azov, but it is also the 36th Marine Brigade, and it includes the 501st Battalion, the 503rd Battalion, the first separate Marine Battalion”
— Oleksandr Kononenko, representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights
"This category is the most difficult to negotiate, because Russia, for its part, does not want to negotiate over military personnel who have what they call "aggravating circumstances." Although the Ukrainian state and our legislative body, the Verkhovna Rada, have adopted appropriate changes to the legislation on the possibility of repatriating Russian prisoners of war who have been convicted in Ukraine. That is, we have provided a legal mechanism," Kononenko said.
SBU strikes long range radar system in Russia’s Bryansk region
Ukraine's SBU State Security Service has hit a long-range radar in Russia's Bryansk region, which monitored the sky 700 kilometers deep into Ukraine a source in the SBU told Ukrinform
"This time, the Russians have one less modernized Nebo-U system, which helped the enemy detect Ukrainian weapons and supported bombers attacking the Ukrainian border with guided aerial bombs," the source said.
The $100 million radar was hit by seven kamikaze drones. SBU sources confirmed that the Nebo-U radar system no longer works and "probably turned into a colander."
Thanks to the destruction of this radar, the enemy had fewer opportunities to detect air targets along Ukraine's northern border.
"The radar blindness of the Russians will help our troops conduct reconnaissance, launch drones and use army aircraft more efficiently in this area," the source said.
This is already the second Nebo-U radar destroyed by the SBU's 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence. The first one was destroyed in Russia's Belgorod region. A Kasta-2E2 radar has recently been destroyed near the temporarily occupied Ukrainian city of Berdiansk.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
US House speaker plans separate votes on Ukraine and Israel aid this week
Speaker Mike Johnson told GOP lawmakers that he’ll try to pass four measures this week to send aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — each in separate bills, according to multiple Republicans in the private Monday meeting. Politico reports.
A fourth proposed bill, which is still being finalized, would include a package of related measures, including a lend-lease deal for military aid, a ban on TikTok in the U.S. and provisions to sell off assets seized from Russian oligarchs.
It's far from certain that Johnson would have the votes to bring the bills to the floor, given the procedural hurdles of Republicans' narrow majority that have vexed the speaker for months. Johnson would need near-unanimous support from his own conference to bring the whole package of bills up for passage, a procedure known as a rules vote, plus prior approval from a Rules Committee stacked with conservatives who may resist based on Ukraine aid.
If even a handful of conservatives oppose the rule vote, then Johnson would need Democratic support to move forward — and it's incredibly rare for the minority party to assist on those rules votes. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to comment Monday on whether he expected his caucus would support the package: "We're not going to come to any conclusion about process until we understand the substance."
Johnson has a looming threat to his speakership, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) vowing to force a vote to oust him. She said Monday that she hadn't made a decision on when to triggering that process, but that she's "firmly against the plan as it stands right now.” She called it "another wrong direction for Speaker Johnson."
"This is pure politics": Zelenskyy on Johnson's initiative to divide aid to Ukraine and Israel
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reacting to US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's plan to create four separate bills to help Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other national security priorities warned that dividing US aid into separate accounts for Ukraine, Israel and other countries is pure politics that ignores the lives of people dying in Ukraine every day. He emphasized that if Kyiv falls, it could lead to a war with NATO countries involving American soldiers. UNN reports.
“This suggests that this is not a security issue - it is pure politics. And this is, frankly, a disgrace to the world and a disgrace to democracy and to all those who only talk about democracy. If the Congress, after all that has happened, divides this aid into Israeli and Ukrainian aid, it means that this is a matter of elections in the United States. It's just pure politics, now that the whole world is saying how could Iran attack Israel? We should now populistically help Israel and forget what is happening in Ukraine. This means that no one cares how many people die in Ukraine every day. They care about their ratings”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
He emphasized that if Ukraine falls and there is a war with other NATO member states, and there is a war, then US soldiers will defend themselves and die.
“And Congress should not think about pushing these political issues of support in Ukraine. I think we should vote to help all countries whose lives depend on it” - Zelensky added.
The President emphasized that he had met twice with Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, who emphasized support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy: without the help of the United States, Ukraine has no chance to win
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy has said, during an interview with PBS on Apr. 15 that Ukraine has ten times less artillery ammunition than Russia and that without proper help from the United States, Ukraine will have no chance of winning the war.
“I tell you frankly, without this help we will not have a chance to win. You have to be much stronger than your enemy. Today the artillery projectile is 1 to 10. Can we stand like that? No. In any case, with these statistics, they will push us back every day. If we want to fight one hundred percent for what is under our control today, we must move from one to a comparison of numbers - 10-10”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
US will not to shoot down drones in Ukraine like it did in Israel
Yohn Kirby, US White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator, said on 15 April that the United States has no plans to directly engage in shooting down Iranian kamikaze drones in Ukraine, as it did during the recent Iranian attack on Israel.
The remarks come after the US and allies helped Israel reportedly repel 99% of drones and missiles during an Iranian attack on 14 April. This participation stood in stark contrast to the devastation to Ukraine’s power grid from a string of Russian missile and drone attacks this March-April amid a lack of air defense missiles caused by a delayed US aid package.
During the White House press briefing on 15 April, when asked why the allies can assist in shooting down Iranian drones over Israel but not provide the same support in Ukraine, Kirby said he knew this question would come up and explained:
“Different conflicts. Different airspace. Different threat picture. The president has been clear since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine that the United States is not going to be involved in that conflict in a combat role,” Kirby said.
Grumpy Here — The hypocrisy of the United States logic is astounding and abundantly clear to all of their allies and enemies alike. They continue to destroy their reputation internationally.
MILITARY & TECH
Nothing to report.
That’s it for today’s Draft folks if you would like to keep up with events in Ukraine daily please consider subscribing, its free!
Feel free to share this update with your friends. Heroyam Slava!