(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:
There will be no ruins in Ukraine – this is our goal – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
12 April 2023 – 22:27
Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!
I just took part in a meeting of a special format of support for Ukraine – financial. This event takes place in Washington and brings together the finance ministers of strong democracies – our partners, the European Commission, heads of international financial institutions: the IMF, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The theme is primarily recovery. Recovery of our country after hostilities.
I thanked the partners for helping us maintain the stability of Ukraine, our financial stability. And I urged them to be more active so that Ukraine could be more active in reconstruction, in returning normal life to Ukrainians.
There will be no ruins in Ukraine. This is our goal. And this will be quite concrete proof of the complete defeat of the terrorist state.
Especially since the world knows the solution – regarding the assets of Russia, Russian officials, oligarchs who got rich while their state was becoming a terrorist… All these assets should be used to compensate for the losses of those to whom Russia brought pain and suffering. Russian assets must go to recovery after aggression. The war should be the most costly for the aggressor exactly. And we do everything for this.
I am grateful to the partners who support us.
I met today in Kyiv with the delegation of the U.S. Senate – a bipartisan delegation.
I informed them about what is happening now on the battlefield and about our capabilities.
As always, we demonstrated that our relations with America in the supply of weapons, in financial support are completely clean, completely transparent. The partners have a complete vision for every cent and every weapon.
And it is important that no artificial manipulations spoil our trust.
Of course, I was pleased to hear from our guests from the United States very positive words about Ukraine and what we manage to achieve together in the defense against terror.
It was very emotional and honorable for me today to congratulate our young police officers and rescuers of the State Emergency Service on the completion of their education. More than 3 thousand young people – professional and patriotic – are now joining those who are already defending the safety and normality of life.
They will work, in particular, in those regions where it is most dangerous. According to the distribution, they will serve in the frontline regions, in the border regions – in Kharkiv and Sumy regions. There are also those who will fight in our new assault brigades.
I thank everyone who has chosen this path of direct help to people right now.
Without the conscientious work of the State Emergency Service and the police, it is simply impossible to imagine a normal life, it is impossible to save many people. This, in fact, is what constitutes the essence of their work – direct help to people.
I believe that today’s graduates of educational institutions of the MIA system will live up to human expectations.
By the way, I would like to celebrate such our defenders – such our rescuers, in particular from Nikopol. Major Artem Shuldyakov, lieutenant Fedor Zayakin, senior sergeant Vasyl Muzychenko, junior sergeant Vitaliy Bulkin, employees of the State Emergency Service. Thank you, guys, for saving Ukrainians after Russian missile attacks!
I would also like to mention the police crews – “white angels” who save our people in the Donetsk region, carry out evacuation, deliver humanitarian aid, resuscitate the wounded…
I thank policeman Hennadii Yudin from Avdiivka for saving the children, paramedic Vasyl Pipa, one of the “white angels” on the Maryinka frontline. They have already saved hundreds of our people, including seriously wounded ones.
I would also like to thank Volodymyr Perepelytsia, an explosives technician of the National Police, who works for demining in the Kherson region, and works very efficiently. Thank you!
And one more thing!
Today, our country traditionally celebrates the Day of Rocket and Space Industry Workers. The industry that has always ensured glory for Ukraine. And I’m sure that it will ensure it in the future!
I am grateful to everyone who preserved this potential of ours. Our current level of integration into international relations, our level of strength – both state and society – which Ukraine deserves, the level of our people – all this will enable Ukraine to participate in the development of outer space on an equal footing with advanced states, and our business – on an equal footing with advanced companies.
But first – we will win! In particular, thanks to Ukrainian missiles.
Glory to all our warriors who are now in combat!
Thank you to everyone who helps Ukraine!
Thank you to everyone who protects our people and protects Ukrainian life!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is a machine translation of the Ukrainian MOD’s most recent operational assessment:
Operational information as of 18.00 11.04.2023 regarding the Russian invasionGlory to Ukraine! The four hundred and twelfth days of large-scale armed aggression of the Russian federation against our state continue.
During the day, the enemy struck 1 missile and 10 air strikes, fired more than 18 from volley jet systems.
The probability of the task of missile and aviation strikes remains high throughout Ukraine.
Despite numerous losses in technology and live power, the enemy continues to focus on the offensive in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyevsky, and Marjin directions – more than 50 enemy attacks were repulsed during the day.
In Volynsky, Polissya, Sieversky and Slobozhansky directions, the operational situation is without significant changes. Certain units of the territorial troops of the Russian Federation continue to be in the territory of the Belarusian Republic. Also, the enemy continues to hold certain units in the border areas with Ukraine in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, continuing the engineering equipment of the area. During the day, the occupiers fired on the settlements of Bleszna, Kamyanska Sloboda and the Gremiach of the Chernihiv region; Wolfine and Katerynivka of the Sumy region, as well as Veterinarian, Deep, Gatishche, Vovchansk, Zibine, Volohivka, Ohrimivka, Chernyakivka, Commissarove, Beets and Dovzhanka in Kharkiv region.
In the Kupyan direction, enemy shelling was carried out by the settlements Kolodyany, Kamyanka, Topoli, Krasne First, Ridkodub, Novomlinsk, Dvorichna, Kindrashivka, Pishchane and Berestov, Kharkiv Oblast, and Novoselivsky in Luhanshchyn.
In the Lyman direction during the day, the enemy led unsuccessful offensive actions in the area south of the White and Spirny. Makiyivka, Nevske, Belorivka of the Luhansk region and Yampolivka, Torske and Spirne – Donetsk were attacked by artillery.
In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to lead offensive actions, tries to take full control of the city of Bakhmut, fierce fighting continues. During the day, the enemy led unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of the village of Bogdanivka. Defense forces repulsed about 20 enemy attacks on the front. Nikiforivka, Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Orykhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkov, Markov, Bakhmut, Khromove, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivsky, Stupochki, Predtechine, Alexandro-Shultine, Kurdyumivka, Ozaryanovka, Druzhba, suffered from enemy shelling, Toretsk and New York of the Donetsk region.
In the Avdiyevsky and Mariinsky directions, the enemy led offensive actions
in the districts of Avdiyivka, Pervomaisky, Nevelsky and Marinka, he was unsuccessful. The fiercest fighting on this part of the front continues behind Marinka, where more than 15 enemy attacks have been repulsed. At the same time, the enemy was shelled by the settlements of Novokalinove, Orlivka, Avdiyivka, Tonenke, Severny, Pervomaiske, Netailove, Karlyivka, Krasnyvka, Georgyivka, Marjinka, and Pobed Donetsk region.In the Shakhtar direction during the day, the enemy did not carry out offensive actions. He fired on the settlements of Novomikhailovka, Shakhtar, Novoukrainka, Velyka Novosilka, Vugledar and Prechistivka in the Donetsk region.
In the Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the enemy continues to conduct defensive actions. He fired on settlements near the battle line. Among them – Vremivka, Novopil of the Donetsk region; Novosilka, Olgivsky, Malinovka, Red, Gulyaipole, Charming, Little Tokmachka, Orihiv of the Zaporizhia region; Golden Balkans, Kachkarivka, Berislav, Kozatske, Burgunka, Ivanivka, Mykilske, Dniprovsk Region of Kherson and the city of Kherson.
The enemy continues to use medical facilities of temporarily occupied territories for its own purposes. Thus, the building of the primary health care center in Novopskov and the paramedic-midwife point of Kryakivka, in Luhanshchyn, is used by the occupiers as a military hospital. At the same time, in Kryakivka, in order to increase the number of beds, the invaders additionally deployed a tent camp.
Only representatives of the Russian occupation forces can receive medical care in these civilian medical institutions.During the day, the Defense Forces aircraft struck 13 times in the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers. Also shot down 2 enemy UAVs type “Orlan – 10”.
During the day, missile and artillery units affected 4 areas of concentration of live force, weapons and military equipment, as well as 2 stations of enemy radio control.Support the Armed Forces! Let’s win!
Glory to Ukraine!General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
This is about as close as one gets and still walks away!
Divine intervention
🎥 35th Marines Brigade pic.twitter.com/WHf7cLPyfV
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 12, 2023
Close up:
Here’s a lucky 🇺🇦 soldier pic.twitter.com/M3OvydM3LR
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) April 12, 2023
Tallyho!
Ukrainian Su-25 destroys the invaders in the east of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/5zTwC9LO5A
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) April 12, 2023
Lord, guard and guide the men fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Mary C. D. Hamilton (1915)
Bakhmut:
Bakhmut. The battle continues.
🎥 @DPSU_ua pic.twitter.com/9508t2C96X
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 12, 2023
Daily routine of the 1st Mechanised Battalion, 3rd Assault Brigade in Bakhmut. pic.twitter.com/EiPnz9lOdv
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) April 12, 2023
Two orcs captured in Bakhmut. Lucky guys! pic.twitter.com/3YQfq6RYUa
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) April 12, 2023
Updates on Bakhmut from Ukrainian soldiers, Bakhmut Demon: "They're trying to break the defence, but we're not surrounded"
Sniper Speaks: "Five assaults on the Road of Life today, but we are holding."https://t.co/nni7h99ExZhttps://t.co/KfFyBMomNM pic.twitter.com/HxOdjDr7NZ
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) April 12, 2023
Here are Dmitri’s translations of both Bakhmut Demon’s and Sniper Speaks’ posts:
The 3rd separate assault brigade at work in Bakhmut. pic.twitter.com/Tk9DcC078Y
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 12, 2023
Incendiary ammunition reportedly used in the area of Bakhmut by Russian forces on Ukrainian positions.
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 12, 2023
Avdiivka:
The destruction of a Russian T-72 in the Avdiivka direction. pic.twitter.com/dJkmmb1wh7
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 12, 2023
Here’s Dmitri’s response to those asking him to translate the Russian in the beheading video into English:
Some ask to translate comments of Russians under the brutal beheading video that surfaced today. But what's the point? We've been seeing their reactions to similar events for over a year now, they're always the same. A few people will say it is terrible, the majority will quietly…
— Dmitri (@wartranslated) April 11, 2023
Some ask to translate comments of Russians under the brutal beheading video that surfaced today. But what’s the point? We’ve been seeing their reactions to similar events for over a year now, they’re always the same. A few people will say it is terrible, the majority will quietly approve of it, and those who are vocal will be saying it’s fake/they deserve it.
If someone is still not aware, Russia is a savage state with lots of fucked in the head nazi people and their quiet supporters. Only a small fraction are genuinely adequate. This country promotes criminals to kill foreign people and sets barrier troops so the convicts couldn’t retreat. It shells indiscriminately, poisons and murders internally and abroad. Even its street culture is absolutely fucked up if you take off the rose-tinted glasses of a tourist. None of this is new to those who are familiar with this country.
If Russia was strong enough and Ukraine was too weak, this would have been happening anywhere else.
The only question is, how many videos like these need to surface for Ukraine to be provided EVERYTHING it needs to stop this antichrist.
The answer to his question is, unfortunately, far too many.
Poland’s Prime Minister gets it:
The Evil Empire has been reborn in the East. Russian barbarians threaten not only Ukraine. They threaten all of Europe and the whole free world. This is no mere incident, no coincidence, no maniac’s impulse. Putin has been building his Evil Empire for 23 years, in preparation for…
— Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) April 12, 2023
Reuters reports that the World Bank is going to help finance rebuilding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure:
WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) – The World Bank on Wednesday said it would finance $200 million to help fix Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure, with partners and others to provide another $300 million in additional funding as the project expands.
The $200 million grant will be used to make emergency repairs to Ukraine’s transition transformers, mobile heat boilers and other emergency critical equipment, the World Bank said in a statement. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Susan Heavey)
The Guardian reports that Secretary of Defense Austin met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Smyhal this morning:
Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, met with the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, at the Pentagon today to discuss Washington’s support for Kyiv in the face of Russia’s invasion.
The two leaders “discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery, and training for the Ukrainian armed forces”, according to a readout of the meeting by Pentagon press secretary, Brig Gen Pat Ryder.
The pair also “agreed on the importance of ensuring accountability of security assistance”, he said.
Shmyhal, in remarks reported by CNN, repeated Kyiv’s requests for F-15 and F-16 fighter jets and longer-range missiles directly to Austin.
“We will win this war,” Shmyhal was quoted as saying in English, “but to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support.”
And here’s the transcript from the Department of Defense:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Hosted Bilat Meeting With Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine at the Pentagon
April 12, 2023Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of UkraineSECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. It is indeed an honor to host you here at the Pentagon again. I last welcomed you here about a year ago, just after Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of your country.
Since then, Russia’s cruel war of choice has killed thousands of Ukrainians, both troops and innocent civilians. And Putin’s war has driven millions more Ukrainians from their homes.
Russia chose aggression, but Ukraine chose to fight back. And your brave forces won the battles of Kharkov, Kyiv and Kherson. And with President Biden’s leadership, the United States has supported Ukraine’s fight for freedom every step of the way.
We’ve surged tens of billions of dollars in security assistance. Together with our allies and partners, we have delivered HIMARS and howitzers, NASAMS and IRIS-Ts, Strykers and Leopards and many other systems. And that make — that has made a clear and direct difference on the battlefield.
We’ve also expanded our training to ensure that Ukraine can synchronize its fires and its maneuver capabilities to advance on the battlefield.
And together, we also remain focused on accountability. And let me commend you for the unprecedented level of transparency that Ukraine has provided to ensure that our security assistance remains in the hands of Ukraine’s defenders.
Now, I’ll continue to convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate support for Ukraine’s urgent and long-term needs. And we’ll continue to swiftly deliver security assistance through procurements and from our own stocks as well.
We also remain committed to sustainment and to ensuring that your forces receive adequate spare parts and training for maintenance. At the same time, we will keep investing in our own defense industrial base to further ramp up production.
So, I’m confident that we will meet Ukraine’s defense needs through this spring and beyond. And as the president has repeatedly made clear, we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Mr. Prime Minister, Ukraine inspires the world every day with its courage and resilience. I want to thank you for your leadership and for making this trip.
I look forward to a great discussion. Over to you, sir.
PRIME MINISTER DENYS SHMYHAL: Thank you so much. Dear Mr. Secretary, dear colleagues, dear journalists, I thank the American people, President Joseph Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for their steady and continuous military support for my country, for our country.
We are grateful for America’s initiative and establishment of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which today includes more than 50 countries. USA is our biggest partner with regard of military assistance. So, once again, I want to say thank you for weapons that help us defend our land, especially for modern air defense systems for American tanks and for more vehicles, for artillery and light weapons.
Ukrainian soldiers have proven that they can master this in a short time and use them effectively on the battlefield. We will win this war. But to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support, more air defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars and ammunition for them. We also ask you for reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with long-range — longer-range missiles.
To defend ourselves and defend Europe, we need more heavy equipment but also aircraft. We sincerely applaud the decision of the U.S. to join the tank coalition and supplying us with Abrams tanks but also to provide Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles. For our counterattack to be successful, we require an increase in such supplies.
In a modern warfare, air superiority is crucial. That is why Ukraine is initiating the building of a new so-called fire — fire — fighter jet coalition and we are inviting the United States to become its most important participant. America can, once again, demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts.
Another important issue, accountability regarding American aid, is an absolute (rule ?) for us, and you mentioned this, Mr. Secretary. We constantly submit all necessary data and reports to the U.S. government, and we’ll continue to do so. We spent every dollar efficiently and transparently. Ukraine has accelerated the integration of the LOGFAS program into our military equipment control system. This allows donor countries to track new deliveries according to their state use.
Russian must — Russia must be defeated in Ukraine and our territorial integrity must be restored. That is the only guarantee for our lasting peace and this will be the best guarantee for security of whole Europe and the whole world.
And I, once again, thank the United States of America and the American people for their solidarity with Ukraine. Together, we will win. Thank you so much.
SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, everybody.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron tweets or TikTok videos, so here’s some adjacent material from the Ukrainian Army Cats and Dogs Twitter account:
Beautiful pic.twitter.com/N10LK3Uw2t
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 11, 2023
This dog is adored by tough guys from the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces#Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Leopard #CatsOfTwitter #CatsOnTwitter #RussiaisATerroistState #UkraineWarNews #UAarmy #Zelensky #UkraineRussiaWar️ pic.twitter.com/2n7eTsqVM4
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 11, 2023
Big and little #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Leopard #CatsOfTwitter #CatsOnTwitter #RussiaisATerroistState #UkraineWarNews #UAarmy #Zelensky #UkraineRussiaWar️ pic.twitter.com/Xbml2ujj79
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 11, 2023
1. Photo. A cat at the Ukrainian military base in Bakhmut. She was injured.
2. Photos. Ukrainian soldiers evacuated them and found a new family.
Happy story. pic.twitter.com/iD9SoZO2o9
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 11, 2023
Paratroopers #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Leopard #CatsOfTwitter #CatsOnTwitter #RussiaisATerroistState #UkraineWarNews #UAarmy #Zelensky #UkraineRussiaWar️ pic.twitter.com/nfNNrUHfnI
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 10, 2023
🥹#Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Leopard #CatsOfTwitter #CatsOnTwitter #RussiaisATerroistState #UkraineWarNews #UAarmy #Zelensky #UkraineRussiaWar️ pic.twitter.com/2DA3ZJ7UmV
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) April 9, 2023
Open thread!
War for Ukraine Day 413: A Brief Wednesday Night UpdatePost + Comments (40)