The Russian Defense Ministry announced on April 16 that mercenary units belonging to the private military company Wagner had gained control of two more neighborhoods in the northwest and southeast of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, according to Reuters. As of the evening of April 16, there was no information about Ukraine’s response.
Earlier, the British Ministry of Defense on April 15 said that Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from some areas in the city of Bakhmut before a new Russian attack.
Also on April 15, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern military command, said that the Ukrainian and Russian troops fought fiercely in Bakhmut, but Kyiv’s forces continued to hold on.
“The bloodiest battles not seen in recent decades are taking place right in the heart of the city… Our soldiers are doing everything in fierce and bloody skirmishes. aimed at weakening [the enemy’s] ability to fight and demoralizing them. Day by day, in every corner of this city, our forces have succeeded in that.” quoted Cherevatyi as telling 1+1 TV channel.
Ukraine conducted 11 attacks, shot down Su-25?
In a military update on the morning of April 16, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that in the previous 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force had carried out 11 attacks on a concentration of Russian troops and equipment and 3 attacks. attack on the positions of the Russian anti-aircraft missile system. The Ukrainian Air Force also shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft, according to the military update.
Many of Ukraine’s allies in the EU are skeptical of the counter-offensive operation
Ukrainian artillery and missile forces also attacked three areas of concentration of troops and equipment, a Russian artillery concentration area, a radar station, two electronic warfare (EW) systems, a anti-aircraft missile systems and an ammunition depot, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Also in the previous 24 hours, Russia launched 6 missiles, conducted 28 airstrikes and 38 rocket system attacks against Ukraine, according to the military update.
Russian forces are focusing their efforts on conducting attacks on the cities of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in the Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military repelled more than 60 Russian attacks in those directions in 24 hours, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the mission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination on Ukraine’s war crimes-related issues on the morning of April 16 said that the Ukrainian armed forces had fired a total of 20 shots. rockets from multiple rocket launchers towards the city of Donetsk at dawn on the same day, according to TASS news agency.
Russian guided bombs are effective in the Ukraine battlefield
In addition, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov on the evening of April 16 announced that in the previous 24 hours, Russian air defense systems intercepted 10 rockets belonging to the high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS, made by the US) production) and the Smerch multiple launch rocket system, and shot down four Ukrainian drones, according to TASS.
Italy transfers self-propelled artillery M109 155 mm to Ukraine?
La Republica newspaper reported on April 16 that Italy had delivered dozens of refurbished US-made M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine.
Italy plans to deliver a total of 60 M109 cannons to Ukraine “in the near future”, according to La Republica , citing unnamed sources. M109 cannons and ammunition have been donated to Ukraine by several Western countries, including the US.
Earlier, The Washington Post on April 12 reported that Ukraine’s counterattack was delayed due to many factors, including weather, slow delivery of equipment and lack of ammunition.
US stops weapons aid to Ukraine until counterattack?
To launch an all-out counterattack, Ukrainian military units need more heavy equipment, armored vehicles and training, according to The Kyiv Independent .
Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners
Ukraine said on April 16 that the two sides had conducted the latest exchange of prisoners on the occasion of the “great Easter”, Reuters reported. According to Ukraine’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, Kyiv has taken back 130 Ukrainian citizens. The number of people returned to Russia was not immediately announced.
Mr. Yermak said the exchange of prisoners had taken place in several stages over the past few days. Those returned to Ukraine include military personnel, border guards, members of the National Guard, sailors and other non-military individuals.
This is the second major prisoner exchange in the past week. On April 10, Russia and Ukraine said they had carried out a large prisoner exchange with 106 returned to Russia and 100 transferred to Ukraine.
Poland and Hungary ban Ukrainian grain imports, Kyiv unhappy
Poland and Hungary ban imports of Ukrainian grain
Poland and Hungary have decided to ban imports of grain and other commodities from neighboring Ukraine to protect the domestic agricultural industry, after prices plummeted due to oversupply across the region.
The Polish and Hungarian governments made the announcement on April 15. Ukraine expressed regret over Warsaw’s decision, saying that “resolving various problems by unilaterally drastic actions will not promote a positive solution to the situation”. according to Reuters.
