Sydney Hromada

· Apparently, hundreds of trucks from Russia and Belarus were unable to leave the European Union by the deadline of 16 April.
In the last hours before the deadline, the queue on the Polish-Belarusian border stretched for 80 kilometres on the Polish. Some drivers had been waiting for more than 30 hours and there was practically no chance of leaving leave before the end of the day of the 16 April. [8:21am 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· More than a million Ukrainians have returned home during the war with Russia
Although many millions of Ukrainians fled their homeland since Russia started its full-on invasion of Ukraine, however, recently quite a number have started to return. So fat the number of Ukrainian citizens who have returned since 24 February has reached
a total of 1,060,000. [11:06am 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The Cabinet of Ministers supported the National bank of Ukraine’s (NBU) proposal to nationalise 26 billion hryvnia of assets of Russian banks withdrawn from the Ukrainian market. The decision of the National Security and Defense Council and the President’s signature are awaited.
According to the decision of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), the State will expropriate highly liquid assets of such Russian banks as “MR BANK” (“subsidiary” of SBERBANK) and PROMINVESTBANK. Specifically, it relates to funds in the savings account with the NBU, in the correspondent accounts of banks, loans from state-owned companies and liabilities of the parent structures of these banks.
In addition, confiscated will be government bonds, ie the State, as represented by the Ministry of Finance, will no longer owe anything to Russian banks. Certificates of deposit will also be expropriated, ie the National Bank will not refund them either.
[12:16pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation Elvira Nabiullina expects significant economic problems in the second or third quarter.
Sanctions have primarily affected the financial market, “but now they will increasingly affect the economy,” she said.
“The main problems will be related to restrictions on imports and logistics of foreign trade, and in the future there will be restrictions on exports,” – added the Chairperson of the Central Bank. [12:49pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· UKRPOSHTA (Ukraine Postal Service) imposes restrictions on the brand “Russian warship, go …**** * ” due to huge speculation. Ukrainians have bought almost half a million copies of the special postage stamp issue: “Russian warship, go…** **** ” in 5 days since its launch.
Circulation was 1 million units printed and it is not planned to reprint it, according to the national postal service Ukrposhta.
And because of the hype surrounding the now legendary issue, some people began to resell it at highly inflated prices.
Therefore, in order to avoid speculation and to get the issue to as many people as possible, Ukrposhta imposed restrictions on its sale by limiting the number of copies a person can buy.
“Some people are starting to sell their purchased stamp and first issue first cover envelope with the stamp at highly speculative prices. For example, you can already buy an envelope with a US$ 1,000 stamp on Ebay.” [1:40pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]
[Comment: if you have not bought one yourself as yet, you may miss out – this issue is already an historic collector’s item]

· Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the number of applications for bankruptcy has fallen from 1,100 in February 2022 to 16 in March and April in total.
This situation is connected in particular with the complicated work of courts in the regions where hostilities are taking place.
However, the procedure for initiating bankruptcy proceedings has not changed since the imposition of martial law. [2:08pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the withdrawal or suspension of foreign companies in Moscow created risks for 200,000 people.
According to western experts forecasted results for Russia in 2022, they expect that unemployment in Russia may more than double and exceed 9% for the first time in 10 years. There are about 2 million jobs are at risk as an effect of the sanctions
being imposed. [2:24pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Russia has blocked from its citizens the Human Rights Watch website.
On April 8, the Russian Ministry of Justice closed its HRW office in Russia, as well as 14 other foreign NGOs, including Amnesty International, the Carnegie Endowment, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. [2:35pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The GUR told how Russia is forcing its “refusniks” to fight in Ukraine.
The Central Intelligence Unit of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine states that the number of official “refusals” among Russian servicemen is growing, and the military leadership presses men into fighting in Ukraine by threatening their relatives, ceasing payments to them and charging them with offences [3:22pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv].

· Back to the USSR: Russian forces that occupied the township of Henichesk in the Kherson region, erected a monument to Lenin. They also hoisted the Russian flag and the soviet red flag. [3:52pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has released a contact number for the Russian military personnel who want to surrender.
The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry noted that Russian servicemen are turning to the Ministry enquiring how to surrender and not become Russian “cannon fodder” in Ukraine.
A contact number was provided with the request to spread the word as much as possible in Russia and among their Russian servicemen. [4:46pm 2022 Kyiv]

· Global investors are withdrawing funds from China after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
· Global funds and companies are cutting back on investment in China for fear of government interference and the risk of sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In March alone, global funds began issuing and selling more than US$ 7 billion worth of shares in Hong Kong, as well as US$ 14 billion in Chinese public debt over the past two months, and reduced their credit stocks.
“Markets are worried about China’s ties with Russia – it’s scaring investors, and you may notice that risk aversion has been evident since the beginning of the invasion,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. “Everyone was selling Chinese bonds, so we’re glad we didn’t buy them.” [5:31pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Putin awarded honorary title to Russian brigade, which committed atrocities in Bucha, for “exemplary actions The Putin awarded the 64th Brigade, which occupied Bucha in the Kyiv region in March, the honorary title of “Guardsman for exemplary actions” during the war against Ukraine. ”. [It has been established and documented that this unit purposefully
killed civilians, children and raped women.]
The brigade is a unit of the 35th All-Military Army of the Eastern Military District and its standard base is in the Khabarovsk Territory of Russia.
Podolak, a member of the Ukrainian negotiation team stated: “While someone is debating whether the crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine can be called genocide, the Russian Federation continues to laugh in the face of the world.” [6:23pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

President Zelensky: The battle for Donbas has begun, the generals of the Russian Federation are acting more cautiously.
Zelensky stated that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time: a very large part of the entire Russian army is now focused on this offensive.
“No matter how many Russian soldiers are expelled there, we will fight. We will defend ourselves. We will do it every day. We will not give anything Ukrainian, and we do not need someone else’s.” [11pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Russia will not be able to replenish missile reserves, so now Russia in effect is “demilitarising itself” – President Zelensky
“Russian forces are not slowing down the use of missiles against Ukraine. Although they should have realised that it will be extremely difficult for them to replenish their missile stockpile especially now in the face of existing sanctions. Without imports, they cannot even do that.
And when all the loopholes used to circumvent sanctions are closed, and when even tougher sanctions are imposed, restoring Russia’s missile capabilities will be unrealistic.
That is, Russian missile strikes lead to only one thing – missile self-demilitarisation of the Russian Federation.” [11:02pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The former vice-president of Gazprombank and his family were found dead in Moscow
A source in the Russian law enforcement agencies said that Gazprom Bank Vice President Vladislav Avaev, his wife and underage daughter were found dead in Moscow.
All died from a gunshot. [11:36pm 18-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The US Presidential Administration has dedicated two commemorative coins from the “Historical Moments” series to Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The White House in a souvenir shop presented a commemorative coin dedicated to the historic address of Vladimir Zelensky to the US Congress on March 7, 2022.
Zelensky’s speech is considered exemplary as a wartime leader, and it is on a par with the legendary speeches of Winston Churchill during World War II.
Proceeds from the sale of the coin will be used entirely for humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. ” [9:49am 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· In Russia, the pension savings of Russians will used to recapitalise banks.
The Kremlin says such a measure is being introduced to ensure the financial stability of Russia’s banking system.
The previous time the Russian government resorted to having to use the money from the National Welfare Fund to re-capitalise banks during the financial crisis of 2008-2009.
The National Welfare Fund which is used as part of the mechanism of funding the pensions of Russian, will now be used to fund to help fund the Russian government’s deficit by buying government debt issues. It is estimated that the amount of funds that could be used up for this purpose could total some US$10 billion (one trillion rubles). [9:50am 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson delivered part of his Easter address in Ukrainian on Sunday.
In his Easter greeting, mostly in English, Johnson said that for Ukrainians, Christ’s message of hope, the triumph of life over death, and the triumph of good over evil applies more this year than ever before.
“Be strong and have courage in your heart, you are all who trust in the Lord,” Boris Johnson said in Ukrainian.
Traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs can also be seen in the video posted on the official Twitter account of the British Prime Minister.
[11:45am 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· EU sanctions have hampered the supply of equipment for bakeries in Russia
Up to 90% of all bakeries in Russia work on European equipment, the import of which was banned by the EU – stocks of components and consumables for equipment from large manufacturers will be enough for several months.
The dependence of bakery industries in major cities of the country on imported equipment, primarily imported from the EU, reaches 80-90%, in the regions – 50-70%, said the executive director of the National Baking Union Rustam Aidiev.
The EU has banned the import of this equipment under the fifth package of sanctions adopted on April 8. [11:49-17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· The EU is allocating another € 50 million in humanitarian funding to support people affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
· Of this total and amount of 5m euros is designated for Moldova to assist with refugees arriving from Ukraine.

· Durov along with a number of other Russia-related billionaires are reluctant to have FORBES call them Russian citizens, focusing on foreign citizenship: the trend has been growing in recent months. [1:47pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Bulgaria has banned Russian-flagged vessels from entering their Black Sea ports as part of expanded EU sanctions.
The ban was made effective as from 3:00am 16 April. [1:47pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Nearly all the team and trainers of the football of the club “Prykarpattya” from Ivano-Frankivsk joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. [3:34pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Dozens of foreign architectural firms left Russia after the Russia invaded Ukraine. [3:41pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· European Commission President: “Ukraine can win, and Putin will definitely be punished”.
The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen went on to state: “Putin is responsible for this war, he ordered the invasion and pulls all the strings”. [5:58pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Ports of all EU countries have stopped servicing Russian ships as of 17 April 2022. Earlier some countries with coastlines on the Black Sea banned Russian ships from entering their ports, [4:08pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· Production of Russian anti-aircraft missiles have paused, factory workers are stood down or sign up to war.
According to Ukrainian intelligence information the production facilities of the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (JSC UMZ, Ulyanovsk) have been effectively shut down. ZGRK “Tunguska”).
“The reasons for the critical state of production – the lack of a large number of components and electronic components in the manufacture of military products. Until recently, the main supplier of the Russian military-industrial complex was Germany. But with the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, any cooperation was terminated, ” the intelligence stated.
Factory workers are given a choice: go on unpaid leave or sign a contract with the armed forces to take part in the war in Ukraine. [4:15pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

·
The Czech city of Ostrava wants to donate to Ukraine serviceable trams, which are put up for sale by Dopravní podnik Ostrava.
Also, according to the city’s mayor Matsura, the city wants to send buses and firefighting equipment to Ukraine as another gift. All necessary documents are currently being prepared.
The transport company is currently offering 20 T3 tram cars and six T6A5 tram cars for sale at a starting price of 2.3 million koruna [~AUD$138,000].
Some trams are still running in the city or have already been taken off the routes, but are in working order, others, for example, after the accident or have minor defects. [4:42pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

·
Russia’s bankruptcy is just a matter of time: Head of EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen considers Russia’s bankruptcy to be only a matter of time.
The head of the European Commission, who previously was Germany’s Defence Minister, noted that all member states “who can (provide some weapons) must provide them quickly, because only then will Ukraine be able to survive in its fierce defense
struggle against Russia.”
She does not consider the five packages of political sanctions imposed by the EU so far to be lenient, as they are penetrating the Russian economy more and more every week. Von der Leyen cited statistics: exports to Russia fell by 70 percent; 700 Russian aircraft lost their licenses due to lack of spare parts and software updates; hundreds of large companies and thousands of experts refuse to cooperate; and according to current forecasts, Russia’s gross domestic product will fall by 11 percent. [6:57pm 17-4-2022 Kyiv]

· India has changed its mind to buy helicopters in Russia: they will make them themselves’
India has decided to cancel plans to purchase 48 Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Russia which are produced in Kazan, a city in southwestern Russia. Instead the government has decided to support the “do it in India” government initiative.
According to sources, India is actively working on the nationalization of the defense sector and has recently suspended or canceled a large number of import contracts.

According to residents of the devastated city of Mariupol, the Russian invading forces began exhuming the bodies of civilians buried in the yards. This new level of “clearance” was announced by Mariupol residents who are still in the blocked city.

Moreover, Russian forces in the city forbid the burial of people killed by them. In each yard they put their own sentry, who does not allow Mariupol residents to their own land for their deceased relatives or acquaintances. It is not known why the exhumation is taking place, and where the bodies are being sent is also not known.

Given that Ukrainian intelligence unit has recorded 13 mobile Russian crematoria being used in Mariupol by the Russian forces, it is possible to assume that the Russian forces are trying in every way to remove all traces of their war crimes in our city, the Mariupol City Council stated.

EARLIER:
The military intelligence of Ukraine has repeatedly established the use by Russian forces of mobile crematoria in the Chernihiv region (north of Kyiv).

The operation of Russia’s mobile crematoriums was also recorded in the township Novoyadari, Luhansk region. [see report of 13-4-2022 Ukrinska Pravda, Kyiv]

RUNNING NEWS UPDATES from 28-2-2022 (sourced directly from Ukrainian news UKRAINSKA PRAVDA [TRUTH OF UKRAINE], Kyiv, Ukraine.

___________________

·      Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko welcomed Poland’s decision to bring forward by several months 

the abandonment of coal purchases from Russia and Belarus. 

This will be ahead of the EU’s abandonment by several months.Halushchenko has praised Poland for setting the example of 

a decisive and consistent policy: “This is a really bold step, given the structure of coal consumption in Poland”. [2:14pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

·      Italian ports are closing access to Russian ships from Sunday April 17 [Easter Sunday].

This ban will also apply to ships which have changed their flag of origin since 24 February. Ships currently in Italian ports will 

have to leave immediately after “completion of current commercial activities”. [5:45pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

Russia has forced all its companies to exit from Western exchanges

·      Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a directive requiring all Russian companies to delist from foreign exchanges

 and place their shares on Russian ones.

More than 30 depository receipts of Russian companies, including GAZPROM, ROSNEFT, and LUKOIL, are traded in the US 

and EU markets.

The directive requires that the circulation of depository receipts on foreign exchanges cease within 10 days. Companies will be 

given five working days to take the necessary steps to terminate their depository receipt agreements. Some exceptions may 

apply for shares already issued outside the country. [6:09pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

·      France freezes estates of Abramovich and other oligarchs by almost $ 1 billion 

According to FORBES magazine France has frozen 41 properties due to sanctions against Russia and estimated them at 

US$ 620 million, but in reality the value of the property is approaching US$ 1 billion. Notably,  31 of the 41 properties are 

owned by 8 Russian oligarchs.

    French authorities estimates the value of  all frozen assets at US$ 620 million. However, FORBES considers the value to be understated. Its estimates of just the  31 properties of the 8 oligarchs’ assets to be valued at more than $ 920 million based on reports for the Billionaires of the World list and the history of purchase prices. The estates of the following oligarchs were blocked:

Roman Abramovich: frozen real estate is estimated at $ 340 million. He owns the estate of Château de la Croë of 

               32,000 sq. ft. on the French Riviera, which has 12 rooms and a swan-shaped bath, formerly owned by British King Edward VIII.

In addition, in the Caribbean territory of Saint Barthelemy, France, the oligarch owns a 70-acre Gouverneur estate with 

          bungalows and several tennis courts and swimming pools. The Le Lurin estate was also frozen by the French authorities.

Victor Rashnikov: the frozen estate has an estimated value of US$ 200 million. Through his daughter Olga, he owns the  

           16-room Villa Nellcôte estate on the Riviera. Three properties on Villa Nellcôte have been frozen by French authorities.

           FORBES also found Rashnikov’s apartments in central Paris, which have already been frozen. They are located on the 

           same street as the Elysee Palace, which is now occupied by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Built in the 1890s, the villa has a swimming pool and crystal chandeliers, and is home to notable figures: in the 1940s 

           the Gestapo settled here during the Nazi occupation of France, and in 1971 it was rented by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

Alexander Ponomarenko: the frozen estate is estimated at US$ 176 million. It has two villas on the Riviera set out on a 

               property of 170,000 sq. ft..

Andriy Melnychenko: his frozen real estate has an estimated value of US$ 80 million. He owns Villa Altair in the Antibes, 

             France, which features a home theatre, wine cellar, sauna and swimming pool. Three other properties belonging to Villa Altair

            are frozen by the French.

Arkady Rotenberg: frozen real estate has an estimated value of US$ 62 million. He owns a 97,000-sq.ft. Villa Shoshana 

               estate on the Riviera. In 2014, he bought it for US$ 47 million.

Alexei Kuzmichev: frozen real estate has an estimated value of US$ 57 million. Kuzmichev owns the villa La Petite Ourse 

             on the coast of Saint-Tropez on the Riviera. The house has the same name as that of his already confiscated yachts 79-foot 

             La Petite Ourse and 54-foot La Petite Ourse II.

Vadym Moshkovych: frozen real estate has an estimated value of US$ 6 million. He owns an approx. 10-acre villa on the  

           Riviera in Nice, which he bought for US$ 3.6 million in 1998.

Gennadiy Tymchenko: the exact cost estimate is unknown. Through his wife, Elena, he owns two properties on the Riviera. 

         Tymchenko’s daughter Ksenia Frank-Tymchenko has two other real estate properties nearby, both are frozen.

      These houses are located on the same street as Le Club de Cavalière, a 5-star hotel and spa with a private beach, 

         which Elena owns through the French firm Sogeco. It also features Le Grand Coeur, a 4-star hotel and spa in the

          Alpine ski resort of Meribel. Both hotels are on the list of frozen property.

[8:03pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

·      Romania has banned Russian-flagged vessels from entering the Black Sea and Danube ports from April 17.

The prohibition applies applies to any vessels registered under the Russian flag, including those that have changed the

 Russian flag to the flag of any other country or changed their registration in Russia to registration in any other country

 after February 24.  [9:15pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

·      Ukraine may block transfers of about 200 billion hryvnias to Russia and Belarus of companies associated 

with those countries so that the money cannot be used to wage war against Ukraine.

This was announced in a broadcast of the United News by First Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin.

   He said that the National Police is monitoring the operations of companies related to Russia and Belarus, which pay 

the aggressor funds that can be used to wage war against Ukraine.

   Currently, the official said, the National Police has initiated additional financial control over about 7,000 companies with 

Russian or Belarusian registration, or Russian or Belarusian owners. [10:56pm 16-4-2022 Kyiv]

·      Hunger awaits the world if Russia does not unblock the ports of Ukraine – the UN

The New York Times points out that Ukraine’s storage facilities are overflowing with grain, which in an ordinary year helps 

to feed 400 million people worldwide.

     However, the supply chain has been disrupted by the war, and ports cannot function properly near the war zone.

     David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Program, believes that the problem of global food supply is to keep

 the southern ports of Odesa, the Black Sea, the South and Mykolayiv on the Black Sea coast threatened by Russian attack open.

     Beasley said he spoke by phone and expressed his concerns in writing, but the Kremlin did not respond to any of the UN’s concerns.

LOSSES OF UKRAINIAN DEFENCE FORCES

President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on 16-4-2022 the number of Ukrainian Defence force personnel killed in action 

against the invading Russian forces:

            Ukrainian Defence personnel:  between 2,500 and 3,000

            Wounded in action:  nearly 10,000 (many in serious or critical condition)

Ukrainian defence authorities estimate that the number of Russian forces personnel killed in action has passed    20,000.

       Losses of aircraft:                            163

       Losses of helicopters:                     144

       Losses of tanks:                               756

       Losses of armoured vehicles:    1,976