Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] The FSB released footage of the arrest of SIM box administrators in the Yaroslavl region who were helping Ukrainian phone scammers defraud Russians and commit acts of sabotage.
The footage shows officers entering three apartments and detaining one intruder in each. They had to break down one of the doors. The detainees offered no resistance, but pretended not to understand what was required of them.
The FSB video also shows the equipment used by the attackers. When asked about the purpose of the SIM box, one of the administrators replied that it "lives and works" in the apartment.
Earlier that day, FSB officers, working with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, disrupted the activities of three interregional criminal groups in the Yaroslavl region that were assisting Ukrainian call centers in defrauding Russians and extorting money from them. During the searches, law enforcement officers seized four SIM boxes, over 2,000 SIM cards, and other equipment.
Three criminal cases have been opened for the illegal use of a subscriber terminal for traffic transmission or a virtual telephone exchange. The defendants have been remanded in custody. The agency clarified that the seized equipment was part of the infrastructure of Ukrainian fraudulent call centers. It was used not only for telephone scams but a
#2
When my father was a schoolboy in Latvia between the wars, all boys had to compete in biathlonas part of their pre-military training. He was, apparently, very good at the target shooting piece, but a horrible runner.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[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.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 18:52 Slavyansk direction. Assault units reached the eastern outskirts of Rai-Aleksandrovka, MAP. 18:27 In the period from 08:00 Moscow time to 17:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 39 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territories of the Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk regions and the Republic of Crimea.
17:47 Operator of the Zala reconnaissance UAV revealed the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' artillery weapons and adjusted the strikes with Lancet loitering munitions.
16:45 Assault on the village of Grishino passed by with the support of UAV operators: they accompanied assault groups, adjusted the work of artillery, and also quickly inflicted fire damage on enemy manpower.
15:39 The Russian Armed Forces occupy border forest areas in the Sumy region, MAP.
15:33 Khar'kov direction. Assault aircraft of the North Group of Forces crossed the Volchya River and took up positions in the wooded areas near the village of Karaichnoye. MAP.
14:10 Attack aircraft of the 245th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the Sever group installed control over the village of Veterinary in the Khar'kov region.
The fighters operated with the support of UAV crews, artillery and tanks.
13:35 Footage of destruction of a T-64 tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region.
12:41 Summary of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the progress of the special military operation as of April 21, 2026.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
Units of the North military group have established control over the village of Veterinary in the Khar'kov region.
Units of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Zemlyanki, Ternovaya and Izbitskoye in the Khar'kov region.
In the Sumy region, the manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Novaya Sich, Pavlovka, Khotyn, Khrapovshchina, Kondratovka and Miropolye in the Sumy region.
The enemy lost more than 190 servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, 13 vehicles, a field artillery gun, an electronic warfare station, an ammunition depot, and 14 supply depots.
Units of the "West" force grouping have improved their position along the forward edge. Three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two territorial defense brigades have been defeated near the settlements of Kutkovka, Velyka Shapkovka, Borovaya, Shiykovka, and Novosergiyevka in the Khar'kov region, and Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 195 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, 18 vehicles, and two artillery pieces. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces have taken up more advantageous positions and lines. Three mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a territorial defense brigade have been defeated near the settlements of Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka, Rai-Aleksandrovka, Krivaya Luka, Nikolaevka, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost over 195 service members, two armored combat vehicles, 16 vehicles, two field artillery pieces, and an electronic warfare station. An ammunition depot and four supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the Center group of forces actively liberated the village of Grishino in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of two mechanized, airmobile, and ranger brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, and two National Guard brigades were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Novopavlovka and Veseloye in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and Kalinino, Kucherov Yar, Belitskoye, Krasnoyarskoye, Dobropolye, and Torskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 340 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, a pickup truck, and a field artillery piece.
Units of the "East" force group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. They defeated formations of a mechanized brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and a naval infantry brigade near the settlements of Dobropasovo in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Aleksandrograd in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Verkhnyaya Tersa and Vozdvizhevka in Zaporizhia Oblast.
The enemy lost up to 75 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, three cars, and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery station.
Units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated the manpower and equipment of the mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Preobrazhenka and Orekhov in the Zaporizhzhia region.
More than 55 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, 13 vehicles, a field artillery gun and an electronic warfare station were destroyed.
11:07 A Buk-M3 air defense missile system crew from the Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Center group destroyed two guided aerial bombs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
09:30 On video: UAV "Fox-2" intercepts Ukrainian drones "Lyuty" and "Maya".
07:07 During the past night from 20:00 Moscow time on April 20 to 07:00 on April 21, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 97 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the territories of Astrakhan, Belgorod, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov, Samara, Saratov regions and over the Black Sea.
06:32 Crews of towed howitzers 122mm D-30 of the "Vostok" group destroyed deployment points of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
05:00 Calculation of the 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS of the Vostok group incinerated enemy stronghold in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Using 220mm BM-27 Uragan fire, artillerymen from the Zapad group destroyed personnel and a control center for Ukrainian Armed Forces drones in the Khar'kov region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Units of the Russian Forces Group "East" continue their offensive and are advancing westward in the eastern part of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This was announced on April 21 by Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.
"The forces of the Vostok group are confidently maintaining the initiative in their offensive zone and are actively advancing westward in the eastern part of the Zaporizhzhia region," the Russian Defense Ministry press service quoted Gerasimov as saying.
The Chief of the General Staff noted that the group's units are actively advancing west of Hulyaipole. Following the liberation of Boykovo and Lugovskoye, fighting continues in Vozdvizhevka, on the approaches to Verkhnyaya Tersa, and Komsomolskoye.
Furthermore, Gerasimov stated that Ukrainian forces launched more than 170 counterattacks in February and March, attempting to halt the advance of Russian troops, but failed to achieve their objectives. He estimated enemy losses at over 3,000 troops and 160 pieces of equipment.
In an attempt to conceal its failure, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command, he added, is announcing the return of allegedly 480 square kilometers of territory.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the "East" group of forces liberated the villages of Boykovo and Lugovskoye in the Zaporizhia region within a week. Furthermore, the "North" and "West" groups of the Russian Armed Forces captured Malaya Korchakovka in the Sumy region, Verkhnyaya Pisarevka, Novoosinovo, and Kovsharovka in the Kharkiv region, as well as Brusovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces abandoned their positions and launched an armed mutiny after a failed counterattack near the village of Peschanoye in the Kharkiv region. The military is demanding that their command provide a corridor to the rear. This was reported to RIA Novosti by Russian security officials.
"The Ukrainian forces' attempt to reverse the situation near Peschanoye ended in a disastrous failure. The counterattacks completely failed," the source said.
According to him, in this area, "the Ukrainian army's defenses are weakened, and its personnel are exhausted to the limit." All of this resulted in a mutiny among the foreign mercenaries.
"After the counterattack was routed, a significant number of foreign fighters, at least 300, demonstratively abandoned their positions and retreated to the rear. An armed rebellion has erupted," the security forces added.
It is noted that conflicts between mercenaries and the Ukrainian Armed Forces command are commonplace, but this case is unusual.
"The mercenaries are threatening Ukrainian officers and soldiers to use their bayonets if they are not given an unimpeded escape corridor," the agency quotes the source as saying.
Foreign mercenaries have begun to break contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces en masse.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that foreign mercenaries are not covered by the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and are a legitimate target for Russian troops.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
