Newsletter 18/04/2024
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Zelensky: Ukrainian defense industry will produce ten Bohdana howitzers this month
"The share of our own production is constantly increasing. The state signs serious, long-term contracts with our enterprises, which provide predictability, the ability to employ people and attract investment. This month our industry will produce ten Bohdana self-propelled howitzers for the first time, and more will follow in May and later," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Telegram.
EUR 1.5M in three days: Slovaks rally behind arms fundraiser for Ukraine
To support the Czech initiative to aid Ukraine, which the Slovak government refused to join, Slovak organizations launched a fundraising campaign called "Ammunition for Ukraine," which raised nearly EUR 1.5 million in just three days.
German arms maker announces delivery of Iris-T system to Ukraine in several weeks
German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck is visiting Kyiv on Thursday, accompanied by a business delegation consisting of the heads of defense enterprises that produce weapons systems for Ukraine.
Ukraine needs $42B in budget support this year - IMF
Ukraine needs at least $42 billion in international aid for budget support this year in the context of Russia's ongoing war.
Syrskyi and Umerov get acquainted with new models of weapons, equipment produced in Ukraine
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov have familiarized themselves with new models of weapons and military equipment made in Ukraine.
War
War update: 71 combat engagements on front lines in past 24 hours
In the past 24 hours, 71 combat engagements took place on the battlefield in Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled most enemy attacks in the Bakhmut, Novopavlivka and Avdiivka sectors.
British Intelligence analyzes activity of Russian Black Sea Fleet after replacement of commander
“On 01 April 2024, a Grigorovich class guided missile frigate undertook weapons handling activity at the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) facility, Novorossiysk port. Modern Russian warships such as the Grigorovich class frigate have vertical launch systems for firing cruise missiles at sea and land targets. Such missiles have historically been reloaded in Sevastopol, Crimea. The BS has largely withdrawn its ships and submarines from Sevastopol further eastwards to Novorossiysk. Since the removal of the BSF commander in March 2024, the fleet has been the least active since the war began,” The British Ministry of Defense reported this on X.
Defense
Denmark allocates DKK 200M in support of Ukraine’s defense industry
Denmark will support Ukrainian defense industry manufacturers and allocate DKK 300 million (about USD 43 million) in assistance to Ukraine’s private sector.
Society
European Commission allocates additional EUR 10M to support researchers from Ukraine
The extra funding will enable at least 50 additional researchers, including doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, who were forced to flee Ukraine to continue their work safely on research projects at universities, companies, research centres and other institutions based in the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It will also allow the researchers to access training, skills and career development opportunities. Specific support will be available for organisations hosting the researchers and those fellows relocating with their families.
Fact check
“But in Israel…” Iranian missiles and Russian propaganda
Ukrainians, who have been suffering from Russian massive shelling for more than two years, do not need to explain how important an effective air defense system is. In this context, the effective military support provided by the USA and other countries to Israel during the attack naturally attracted attention. Predictably, it is compared to how the partners deal with the issue of strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities for an infinite amount of time and carefully (so as not to provoke Moscow!).
It is naive to think that Russian propaganda is not trying to influence this Ukrainian discussion. However, our task is not only to repel Russia’s informational attacks, but also to effectively convey our own arguments to Western audiences, primarily to the United States.
Video
Strike on Dzhankoi: General Staff shares footage of missile launch
On the night of April 17, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed four S-400 launchers, an air defense control center, three radar station, and an airspace surveillance equipment "Fundament-M" in Crimea.