[Korrespondent] 23.57 The European Union is considering an entry ban for Russians who participated in hostilities against Ukraine. According to expectations, the relevant initiative will be presented at the European Council meeting in June. This became known from the statement of the EU High Representative Kaia Kallas, published on the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
22.18 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he discussed with Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the military command the issue of additional motivation for the Ukrainian military.
In particular, it was about staffing units and additional funding for the army.
"We also spoke in detail today with Defense Minister Fedorov - together with the military command. There are things that need to be done to motivate our military more - both in terms of staffing units and additional funding for the army," Zelenskyy noted.
20.57 On Tuesday, Russian troops fired a drone at the territory of an agricultural enterprise in the Chernihiv region. The attack damaged agricultural machinery and buildings, the press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported.
"Today afternoon, a UAV hit was recorded in the Novgorod-Siverskyi district. Agricultural equipment and buildings were damaged," the report said.
19.59 The EU Council has decided to impose sanctions against two additional entities responsible for Russia's hybrid activities, including information manipulation and disinformation. The press service of the European Council reported this.
The Euromore platform, which operates within the pro-Kremlin information infrastructure as an unofficial media resource, was added to the sanctions list. According to the EU, it disseminates and reinforces Russian narratives aimed at a European audience, regularly questions the legitimacy of EU institutions and justifies Russia's war against Ukraine.
Restrictive measures were also imposed against the Fund for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Abroad. The EU notes that this structure is a key state-funded instrument of Russian external influence and propaganda.
18.54 Russian oil companies are cutting oil production due to drone attacks on oil ports and refineries and after the suspension of supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, Reuters reported, citing five industry sources.
17.55 Russia has updated its military plans and continues to adapt its war strategy. Ukraine is preparing appropriate actions in response President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram.
17.43 In Kharkiv region, Russian troops attacked Bogodukhiv twice with drones in one day. According to preliminary data, there are five victims. This was reported by the regional prosecutor's office.
Thus, at about 12:40, the Russian armed forces launched an attack on the city of Bogodukhov. It has been previously established that a Molniya type UAV was used for the attack. As a result of the attack, residential buildings and utility rooms were damaged. Two women aged 84 and 47, as well as an 18-year-old girl, were injured.
At about 2:30 p.m., the occupiers struck the city again. This time, the center of Bogodukhov came under fire. Again, a Molniya type UAV was used in advance. As a result of the attack, two women suffered shrapnel wounds. They were hospitalized.
17.39 Smoke from fires in oil tanks at the Tuapse Oil Refinery has spread for more than 300 kilometers and has already reached Stavropol, Radio Liberty reports, citing a NASA Worldview satellite image.
17.22 Since the beginning of the current day and as of 16:00, Russian aggressors have organized 91 attacks on 10 front lines, which significantly exceeds Monday's figures. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this in an operational summary.
16.59 Russian troops fired multiple rocket launchers at Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast. Five people were injured as a result. This was reported by the head of the Sloviansk city military administration, Vadym Lyakh.
"At 1:50 p.m., the enemy struck Sloviansk again. MLRS hit the road surface in the central part of the city," Lyakh noted.
16.39 An organized criminal group, which included employees of the local CCC, has been neutralized in Odessa. This was reported by the SBU and the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office. CCC employees "extorted" money from citizens in a service van, into which the victims were dragged by force.
15.45 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has suspended the head of the Odessa regional CCC after a scandal involving shooting and extortion of a bribe. This was reported by the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Head of the Main Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been instructed to conduct an internal investigation.
15.08 Law enforcement officials detained servicemen from one of the district CCCs and SPs of the city of Odessa. This was reported by the Odessa Regional CCC and SP.
In turn, Suspilne, citing sources in the SBU, reports that eight representatives of the Peresypsky CCC and one precinct officer were detained in Odessa. According to them, these employees demanded $50,000. There were no deaths or injuries.
14.14 In Poltava region, a double terrorist attack in the city of Kremenchuk was prevented, which was prepared by a minor on behalf of the Russian Federation. The SBU reported this. A 17-year-old student of a local lyceum worked for the enemy. He came to the attention of racists when he was looking for "easy money" in Telegram channels.
13.29 Drones from the Alpha Special Operations Center of the SBU hit the Samara oil station in the Samara region of the Russian Federation. Interfax-Ukraine reports this, citing a source in the special service.
At the Samara station, high- and low-sulfur oil from different fields is mixed to form the Urals export grade.
13.05 The Ukrainian army continues to hold positions in the Luhansk region. This was stated by the spokesman for the Third Army Corps, Oleksandr Borodin, in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine.
Earlier, Russian media reported that today the Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov again announced the alleged full control of Russian troops over the territory of Luhansk region.
12.59 Today, there are 200 strong Ukrainian defense companies, 30 of which are world-class. We are talking about "drones, artillery, armored vehicles, very cool mine-clearing drones, NRKs." ​​This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky on the air of the United News, the recording of which was published in his Telegram.
11.38 The Security Service and the National Police have blocked six new schemes for evading mobilization and detained the organizers of the deals. The SBU reported this on April 21. It is noted that for amounts ranging from 2 to 20 thousand US dollars, the dealers offered conscripts to avoid conscription through forged documents or helped them escape abroad outside checkpoints.
10.38 Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat said that the Russians can control the "Shaheeds" in real time. There have already been cases when the drone was purposefully directed by the operator at cars or mobile fire groups. He said this on the air of a telethon. According to him, most missiles and drones are programmed in advance - with specified routes, speed and flight altitude. However, the enemy is constantly improving its capabilities. In particular, Russian troops can use the so-called mesh network. Such technologies already allow the enemy to precisely attack moving targets.
10.29 On Tuesday morning, six regions of Ukraine experienced power outages due to new shelling by Russian invaders and bad weather. Ukrenergo reported this. Power engineers are doing everything possible to restore damaged lines and restore power to all subscribers as soon as possible.
9.57 As a result of Russian air strikes in Sloviansk, Donetsk region, an educational institution was destroyed, three people were injured. This was reported by the head of the Sloviansk city military administration, Vadim Lyakh. According to him, the enemy attacked the central parts of the city with FABs. The first time was on April 20 at 23:20, the second time was on April 21 at 05:50. The educational institution was destroyed. Three injured people are known. The woman was hospitalized, her husband and adult son were provided with outpatient care.
9.38 A railway line in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation near the location of a military unit was attacked by drones on the night of April 21. This was reported by the Astra Telegram channel, citing local residents. It is noted that a series of explosions were heard in Novocherkassk and surrounding settlements. In particular, a hit was recorded near the railway in the village of Persianivskyi, Oktyabrsky District. 1.6 km from the explosion site is military unit No. 22179, and 800 meters away was the repair and maintenance unit No. 3658 for a long time. It is currently unknown whether the latter is there now. Due to the attack at the Likhaya station, there was a significant delay in trains. The temporary suspension of traffic was confirmed by passengers in local chat rooms.
9.32 Air defense forces neutralized 116 of the 143 drones used by Russian invaders to attack Ukraine. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on April 21. 22 strike UAVs were hit at 17 locations, as well as the fall of downed ones (fragments) at 7 locations.
9.12 In Sumy, the number of people injured as a result of a Russian drone attack on the night of April 21 has increased to 15 people. This was reported by the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, Oleg Grigorov. According to him, among the injured are three children: girls aged 13, 15 and 17. They are hospitalized. Most of the injured are elderly people. All are provided with the necessary medical care.
8.56 On the front of the past day, 174 combat clashes between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and the Russian invaders were recorded. The Pokrovsky and Hulyaypil directions remain the hottest. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on April 21. Aviation, missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces struck 10 areas of concentration of manpower and equipment and three artillery pieces of the Russians.
8.13 Six people were injured in a Russian attack on the night of April 21 in Sumy. This was reported by the Sumy regional police. It is noted that at night the Russians attacked the population and civilian infrastructure of Sumy. Several strikes fell on a residential area at once. According to preliminary data, residential buildings were damaged: windows were broken, vehicles caught fire.
7.52 The Ukrainian Defense Forces killed and wounded 1,040 Russian occupiers over the past 24 hours, with the enemy's total losses in the war amounting to 1,320,310 people. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
06.01 The European Union has taken a decisive step towards providing Ukraine with 90 billion euros in financial support, starting the final legal procedure for approving the loan. As DW notes, the financing is close to actual approval. The issue of a loan for Ukraine was submitted to a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries without discussion, which usually indicates a preliminary agreement between the member states.
02.56 On the night of Tuesday, April 21, the Russian army massively attacked Sumy with drones. A fire broke out at the site of the hits. As a result of the strike in the Zarechny district of Sumy, high-rise buildings, infrastructure facilities and civilian cars were damaged. Another UAV hit the territory of a medical facility, said the head of the Regional Military Administration Oleg Grigorov.
As the head of the Sumy Military Administration Serhiy Kryvosheyenko informed, as a result of the night enemy attack on Sumy, four people were previously injured, including a 17-year-old child: she and two men were hospitalized.
00.59 Russian troops launched another strike on Kharkiv on the evening of April 20, there are casualties in the Kholodnohirskyi district of the city. The city authorities reported that the attack on the Kholodnohirskyi district was carried out using an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle. As a result of the attack, three casualties were reported. There is information about several damaged private houses - broken windows, damaged roofs.
Also, as reported by the head of the Kharkiv OVA, Oleg Synegubov, two people were injured as a result of an attack by an enemy UAV in the Osnovyanskyi district of Kharkiv. A private home and a fence were damaged.