UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-04-04
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.
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. 4 stated that it was day 771 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 65 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 6 missile strikes, 85 air strikes, and 88 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 4 concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1 artillery system, 1 radar station, 1 electronic warfare station, 1 UAVs control post, 1 other important target
Air Force Daily Report
The Ukrainian Air Force in its situation update at 06:00 stated that during the previous day it launched air strikes on 1 anti-aircraft missile system and 14 concentrations of troops
On the night of April 4, 2024, Russia attacked Kharkiv region with 20 Shahed type UAV’s from the Kursk region (Russia).
As a result of anti-aircraft combat by mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, 11 strike drones were destroyed.
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 1 assault in the vicinity of the settlement of Andriivka (Luhansk oblast) [near the border with Kharkiv oblast] unsuccessfully trying to improve its tactical position.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 5 attacks near Terny (Donetsk oblast)
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian Defence Forces repelled 14 enemy attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, southeast of Vyimka, 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 Defence Forces repelled 15 enemy attacks,supported by aviation in the vicinity of the settlements of Berdychi, Umans’ke,Yasnobrodivka, Pervomais’ke and Nevel’s’ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces continued to hold back the enemy in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka, southeast of Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). The enemy made 22 attempts, with air support to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations in this area. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their positions.
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 7 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
4 killed, including first responders, 12 injured in Russian attacks on Kharkiv
Russian strikes on the city of Kharkiv killed at least four people and injured 12 in the early hours of Apr. 4, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram The Kyiv Independent reported.
Among the casualties were three Emergency Service workers who were on the scene for rescue efforts in response to an earlier Russian attack, as well as one civilian. According to local police, the civilian was a 69-year-old woman.
In total,12 individuals were reported injured as a result of the drone strikes, including an Emergency Service worker, a policeman, and a nurse. All victims are receiving medical assistance.
Russian drones hit the city at around 1 a.m. local time, damaging several homes and a 14-story high-rise building. As a result of this strike, a 33-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman were wounded.
Once again, employing terrorist tactics Russia struck the same location a second time with two more drones at 1:55 a.m killing three Emergency Response workers who were called to the scene following the first attack. - such strikes are referred to locally as a “double tap”
Photos courtesy Ukrainian State Emergency Services
RUSSIAN WORLD
While Ukraine Suffers Ammunition Shortage, russia Obtains Weapons From EU
Despite the sanctions, russia receives hundreds of European rifles and guns every month.
The Kremlin imported nearly a thousand firearms from the European Union in February 2024, avoiding sanctions. It turns out that the use of branded duct tape helped identify one of smuggling routes. The Insider reports.
According to the Federal Accreditation Service, russian companies issued documents to import 159,220 rounds of ammunition and 1,338 small arms in February. 957 units were imported to bypass sanctions.
ATA Turqua (Turkey), Sabatti (Italy) and Bergara (USA) hunting rifles make up a significant part of imports [these weapons are often sought after as sniper weapons]. The largest shipment was 500 Austrian 9mm Glock 17 Gen5 pistols, which are in service with police and special forces in dozens of countries around the world.
Identification of one of the smuggling routes became possible by analyzing a video advertising of German Sauer 404 carbine, the packaging of which bore the branded duct tape of Armeria Piovanelli, Italian gun store, providing clues to the entire supply chain.
Other companies implicated in the scheme include C.D. Europe S.r.l., an Italian company; Luxembourg Beretta Holding
Reproduction of the complete supply chain through customs documents showed that Turkish ammunition and Italian guns reach russia through various channels, in particular Kazakhstan companies. Barrett MRAD rifles, which are used by military snipers are among the imported weapons. They have a high aiming range and are capable to pierce body armor.
russian companies, associated with arms imports, own a significant part of imported cartridges and small arms. It seems that the circumvention of sanctions is systematic and these weapons supply occupiers at the frontline. Here is a list of russian importing companies that receive the relevant armaments:
- Russky Orel LLC;
- Kolchuga LLC;
- Orel LLC;
- Smart Systems, LLC;
- Test-weapon LLC;
- Fort LLC.
One wonders what sort of animal sportsmen are hunting in Russia that requires ammunition designed to penetrate body armour?
Ukraine announces it will strike deeper into Russia
Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine stated on Apr. 4 that following strikes on Tatarstan on Apr. 2 [some 1250 km from the Ukrainian border] that Ukraine’s radius of action will increase. RBC-Ukraine reports.
These (referring to strikes on oil refineries and a factory in Tatarstan - ed.) are good results, and we are all pleased with them. I believe that similar joys will come in the future. And their radius will expand," said Yusov.
Ukrainian strikes have taken out at least 10% of Russia's oil refining capacity – NATO
NATO believes that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's oil refining infrastructure have significantly affected Russia's fuel market and incurred additional financial costs. Ukrainska Pravda reported citing NATO officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source noted that Russia significantly increased its petrol imports from Belarus in March and has imposed a six-month ban on petrol exports to stabilise domestic prices. In addition, Moscow has not ruled out increasing crude oil exports, as it cannot refine it in sufficient quantities.
"The strikes have likely taken out over 10% of Russia's refining capacity, possibly over 15%. And depending on the extent of the damage, repairs could take a considerable time and involve considerable costs," the NATO official added.
Russian propaganda spread a fake story about Zelenskyy purchasing a royal mansion in Britain.
On March 31, the English-language YouTube channel Sam Murphy (284 subscribers - ed.) posted a video claiming that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had allegedly purchased the Highgrove House mansion, formerly owned by King Charles III of the United Kingdom, for 20 million pounds. The video's author refers to six former mansion employees, who were dismissed after the change of owner, as well as Grant Harrold, the former butler to Charles III (2004-2011). Later, the video's information was shared on the English-language website London Crier. Russian media and Telegram channels then reposted it, referring to the allegedly British newspaper. Ukrinform reports.
This is a fake. There is no information in the British media about Zelensky's purchase of the mansion, and there are no official statements on the matter. The YouTube channel where the fake was published was created on February 5, 2024. There are only three videos on the channel, all of which are related to the royal family and were uploaded on March 31. The videos feature different voices. In the video about Zelensky, the speaker's pace is slower and the pronunciation is clearer. This confirms the video's focus on foreign consumers.
The website that reposted the video also turned out to be a fake. A domain checker service revealed that the domain was registered on March 26, 2024. It does not contain any information about the activities and owners. Instead of the names of journalists, materials are published under nicknames such as dennis.marshall10, alberto.young5. The site contains pro-Russian content. The "authors" likely simply copy materials from Russian Internet resources, as the site also contains news in Russian, which they probably forgot to translate.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Germany will immediately seek Patriot systems for Ukraine
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Apr. 4, following a conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, at the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting in Brussels that Germany will initiate an immediate search for all available Patriot batteries and other air defence systems not only among allies but also globally, in order to transfer them to Ukraine. They later issued a joint statement on Twitter
"I apologised for spoiling the festive mood - NATO's birthday (April 4), but I felt the need to immerse colleagues in the harsh reality of the residents of Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv," he said.
Finland to extend Russian border closure indefinitely
Finland has indefinitely extended the closure of its border with Russia and added several ports to its list of prohibited travel locations, the government announced on 4 April. Reuters reports.
Finland, which joined NATO recently, closed its 13 land border entry points with Russia late last year following a surge in migrant crossings from its neighbor. The Finnish government accused Moscow of deliberately directing undocumented migrants to its eastern border in an attempt to sow instability, a tactic often referred to as weaponizing migration, as a response to Finland’s NATO accession. Russia has denied these allegations.
In February, Finland announced that the border closures would extend until 14 April, but Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that Helsinki had not observed any significant changes in the situation in recent months.
“Finnish authorities see this as a long-term situation. We have not seen anything this spring that would lead us to conclude that the situation has changed meaningfully,” Rantanen said, according to Sky News.
Biden’s team quietly collaborates with House Speaker Mike Johnson to secure Ukraine aid
Aides to President Joe Biden have been privately working behind the scenes to ensure House Speaker Mike Johnson can put a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine up for a vote — and survive it politically. Politico reports.
The White House has maintained contact with Johnson’s office about Ukraine aid throughout Congress’s two-week recess, according to two administration officials. And while the president has publicly pressured House Republicans to pass the Ukraine aid package, he and his team have held off on aggressively attacking the speaker over the drawn-out process for getting it passed. Instead, they’ve sought to give Johnson breathing room as he leads a fractious GOP caucus with an ever-shrinking majority.
For all their frustration with the painstakingly slow pace in the House, administration officials are privately hopeful their approach could result in Congress starting to move on an aid package later this month.
What that final package looks like remains unclear. The White House provided little official pushback following Johnson’s interview Sunday night on Fox News Channel, when he floated the ideas of making some of the Ukraine aid a loan or repurposing some $300 billion in seized Russian assets. Democratic officials who have talked with the administration say that the White House has been deliberately private about whether it views either idea as realistic or likely to end up in a final deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took his message directly to Johnson in a phone call last week, adding later in a social media post that Ukrainian leadership recognizes “that there are differing views in the House of Representatives.” While the White House has closely coordinated with Zelenskyy on enacting the aid, the administration did not coordinate the call between the two leaders, according to a person familiar with the process who was granted anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss details.
MILITARY & TECH
Lithuania transferred 36 Antidrone systems to Ukraine
The GSAFU in its morning report on Apr. 4 reported stated that Lithuania had transferred 36 antidrone systems to engineering units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and stressed the intention of further support to Ukraine.
Pearson Engineering Receives Contract to supply Demining Equipment to Ukraine
Pearson Engineering announced on its official website that it had signed a contract with the UK`s Ministry of Defense to supply special equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to clear its land from mines and improvised explosive devices.On behalf of the country and the International Fund for Ukraine, the contract with Pearson Engineering was signed by Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S). This agreement is part of a maintenance support package worth more than £100 million announced in October 2023.
Today, Ukraine is the most mined country in the world. It is of vital importance for Ukraine to acquire the necessary equipment and components to address this issue.
"The contract includes the supply of multi-purpose vehicle interfaces that will allow armoured vehicles already in Ukraine to accept self-protection mine ploughs which have been gifted by the British Army and refurbished by Pearson Engineering," the company stated.
The company also claimed that this help would allow Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet to not only use mine ploughs to clear safe routes, but also to accept a wide range of other types of ground engaging equipment to defeat other types of natural as well as deliberate obstacles.
In particular, the company noted that MW370 remotely controlled mine clearance vehicles have already been delivered to Ukraine.
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