UKRAINE WAR BRIEF DAILY DRAFT
For: 2024-04-28
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. 28 stated that it was day 795 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
During the past day, 88 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 32 missile strikes, 64 air strikes, and 60 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.
More than settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts came under enemy fire.
Ukrainian missile forces struck 1 command post and 2 radar stations
Commander-in-chief speaks of very difficult situation at the front
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Sirsky, made a statement on the afternoon of April 28 on the state of affairs at the front.
The statement said the situation on the front was exacerbated by the fact that the enemy was trying to seize a strategic initiative and break through the front line, focusing the main efforts in several directions, where he created a significant advantage in strength and means.
“The enemy is actively attacking along the entire front line, in some directions — has tactical success. There is a dynamic change of situation, individual positions pass « from hand to hand» several times during the day, which creates a mixed understanding of the situation.”
— Colonel-General Oleksandr Sirsky
The most difficult situation is in the Pokrovsky and Kurakhiv directions, where fierce fighting continues. The enemy in these directions involved up to four brigades, trying to develop an offensive west of Avdiyivka and Marinka, making his way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhova.
Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, preserving the lives and health of our defenders, withdrew to new positions west of Berdychiv, Semenivka and Novomikhailovka.
In general, in these areas the enemy has achieved some tactical success, but the operational advantage could not be gained. Ukrainian troops inflict maximum losses on the enemy, both in personnel and in 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 16x concentrations of enemy troops.
On the night of Apr. 28, the enemy attacked with 4 "Shahed-131/136" type attack UAVs from Cape Chauda - Crimea, S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile from the Belgorod region. - the Russian Federation and 5 unmanned aerial vehicles of an unknown type from the occupied Kherson region.
As a result of combat work by anti-aircraft missile units and calculations of mobile fire groups of the Air Force, all four "shaheds" were destroyed in Kyiv region, Vinnytsia region, Khmelnytskyi region and Kirovohrad region. One unmanned aerial vehicle of an unknown type was destroyed by the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Mykolaiv Oblast.
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 13 assaults, with air support, in the vicinity of the settlements of Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), Stel’makhivka and Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). unsuccessfully trying to improve its tactical position.
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Nevs’ke, Serebryans’ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) andTerny, (Donetsk oblast) where the occupiers attempted to breach Ukrainian defensive lines.
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 8 Russian attacks, supported by aviation, in the vicinities of Spirne, Vyimka, Novyi, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (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 35 attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Novokalynove, Keramik, Umans’ke and Netailove (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 Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, west of Pobjeda and Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast), where the invaders, with air support, made 17 attempts to breach Ukrainian defence.
Orikhiv axis: The enemy conducted 2 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: The enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations in this area. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to consolidate their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
ATACMS Allegedly Hit russian Air Defense in Temporarily Occupied Crimea
Russian Telegram channels report strikes on Cape Tarkhankut, there has been no official confirmation from either russia or Ukraine. Defense Express reports.
Russian Telegram channels reported that on the night of Apr. 28, Ukraine allegedly launched ATACMS missiles at Crimea, which landed on Cape Tarkhankut. According to russians, an air defense unit was hit here. They also assume that Ukraine is preparing a special operation to destroy Crimean bridge, so it is hunting for air defenses across the peninsula.
Neither Ukraine nor Russia has officially confirmed this strike. According to russians, the attack on the air defense unit was allegedly carried out by ATACMS missile with a cluster warhead.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Nothing to report.
THE HOME FRONT
DTEK reveals how many times russians attacked Ukrainian TPPs so far
DTEK executive director Dmytro Sakharuk revealed that since the beginning of the full scale invasion, russian invaders have attacked Ukrainian thermal power plants (TPPs), which are civilian infrastructure,180 times. Ukranews reported.
"If we count from the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the occupiers have already fired at our thermal power plants almost 180 times. This attack, on April 27, was, in fact, the fourth major after the attacks on March 22 and 29 and April 11. We are now analyzing the consequences of this attack, the damage is serious. Four stations suffered quite significant damage," Dmytro Sakharuk said.
On the night of April 27, Russia attacked four thermal power plants, and several civilians were injured.
RUSSIAN WORLD
Russia to issue electronic call-up notices and restrict travel abroad from 1 November
On 27 April, the Russian government issued a decree outlining the rules for the operation of two electronic databases: the Unified Military Registration Register and the call-up notice register linked with it.
Call-up notices will be issued electronically in Russia as of 1 November 2024, and travel abroad will be restricted for those liable for military service. Meduza reports.
This decree has been in the works since the spring of 2023, when Russia adopted several amendments on electronic call-up notices.
The military registration register will launch on 1 November 2024 and will contain detailed records of persons liable for military service. Citizens will receive notifications regarding being included in the register and any changes made to it (for example, the issuing of a call-up notice) via the Gosuslugi [government services – ed.] portal.
Call-up notices will be posted in the call-up notice register and the person liable for military service will receive a notification on the Gosuslugi website; a paper notice will also be issued and sent to the address where they are registered. No later than seven days later, the call-up notice will be deemed served, and the related restrictions will automatically be imposed.
The first restriction concerns travel abroad and will take effect as soon as the draft notice is deemed to have been served. If a conscript fails to report to the military enlistment office within 20 days, they will also be banned from registering as a business owner, conducting real estate transactions, driving a car, and taking out loans.
Those liable for military service can currently leave Russia because the military enlistment offices and the border service do not have an information-sharing agreement. With the launch of the register, those who have received a call-up notice will not be able to leave Russia until they report to the military enlistment office. They will also not be able to apply for a foreign passport.
NEWS WORLDWIDE
Two Ukrainian servicemen murdered in Germany - Russian suspect in custody
A 57-year-old Russian man detained in the case of the murder of two Ukrainians in the German city of Murnau is currently in custody. An investigating judge issued an arrest warrant at the request of the prosecutor's office. This was reported on Sunday by the police of South Upper Bavaria, BR24 reports.
Police stated that late on Saturday night, April 27, two people were found with serious stab wounds outside a shopping center. By the time emergency services arrived, one of the victims, a 36-year-old man, had already died. The second victim, a 23-year-old man, was resuscitated on the spot and taken to the hospital. However, he also died from his severe injuries.
According to a police spokesperson, the offender initially fled. In the course of search operations, the 57-year-old suspect was detained in his apartment near the crime scene.
According to police, the alleged perpetrator is a Russian citizen. Both victims were Ukrainians and lived in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen neighborhood. It is unclear whether the three men knew each other and whether a dispute arose in connection with Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.
UNN later reported, citing Ukrainian member of parliament Oleksiy Honcharenko that the two Ukrainians were Ukrainian servicemen. They were undergoing rehabilitation at a local clinic.
Polish Foreign Ministry hopes US ATACMS decision will finally convince Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Russia
The transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine by the United States should push Germany to send Taurus missiles to Kyiv, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said, Onet.pl reports.
"I hope the chancellor is inspired by the events of the last few days. The United States has supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles - the famous ATACMS with a range of 300 kilometers," Sikorsky said.
He also expressed hope that Scholz understands that this will be a response to a sharp escalation by Russia. Sikorsky noted that the Russians have already cut off 70 percent of Ukraine's power generating capacity.
The Polish Foreign Minister also pointed out that when the facts change, we, politicians, change our minds.
Sikorsky recalled that during a trip to Washington immediately after the Russian invasion, he told representatives of the U.S. Treasury that it was necessary to confiscate Russian assets. At the time, they replied that this would never happen, that it was impossible. And now the United States has changed its mind, agreed to the confiscation of Russian assets and is playing a leading role in this matter.
Kuleba: Putin is a political animal that smells fear
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview on CNN called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a political animal that feels fear" and urged his partners to firmly believe in Ukraine's victory and not to show fear, as Putin becomes more aggressive when he feels it.
Our partners need to have a firm belief that Ukraine's victory is achievable. And secondly, the absence of fear of Putin. Because Putin is a political animal that smells fear. And when he hears it, he becomes more aggressive. If he senses the strength that, for example, the Congress has just demonstrated, he will be forced to back down
Dmytro Kuleba — Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Commenting on the adoption of the military and financial aid package for Ukraine by the Congress, the Minister emphasized that whatever the cost of supporting Ukraine today, the cost of Russia's victory will be much higher.
The whole world should remember that any delay in providing assistance to Ukraine is offset by the courage and sacrifice of the fallen soldiers. These are living people, and their lives have a price. Everything we have lost since the fall until now, we have lost because our soldiers did not have enough weapons
He added that in any case, Ukraine is not going to give up.
Our army will receive new soldiers and officers, because the survival of the nation, the survival of a sovereign state, is at stake. And we remember our history: those who refused to fight for Ukraine with arms in their hands at the beginning of the 20th century, when we lost our independence, then became victims of Stalin's repressions, genocide, and Russification. We know what will happen if we lose, and that is why we will continue to fight.
MILITARY & TECH
Ukraine gets cruise missiles from Italy
UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps disclosed Italy’s delivery of Storm Shadow/SCALP EG stealth cruise missiles to Ukraine, alongside contributions from France and the United Kingdom. Defence Blog reports.
Shapps made the announcement during his visit to the MBDA UK production site, where British Storm Shadow missiles are assembled and modernized.
While Italy’s government has not officially confirmed the transfer of these missiles to Ukraine, some Western experts speculate that the exchange occurred without a formal announcement.
Italy’s initial procurement of Storm Shadow missiles dates back to 1999, with unofficial reports suggesting the acquisition of 200 units over the years. The revelation of Italy’s involvement in supplying these advanced munitions to Ukraine adds a new dimension to the geopolitical landscape, signaling broader solidarity among NATO allies in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
In addition to Italy’s involvement, Minister Shapps outlined plans for the United Kingdom to invest in accelerating Storm Shadow missile production. These investments aim to expand manufacturing capacities, ensuring both the UK and Ukraine possess the capability to deliver devastating strikes with these precision-guided weapons.
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