Newsletter 26/04/2024
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Today marks anniversary of Chornobyl disaster
On Friday, April 26, the world marks the 38th anniversary of the largest man-made disaster in human history.
On April 26, 1986, at 01:23, a powerful chemical explosion ripped through power unit 4 of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, obliterating part of the reactor unit and the engine room.
As a result of the blast, a fire broke out, spreading to the roof of power unit 3. Firefighters were tackling the blaze until 5:00. However, the fire was fully put out inside unit 4 only on May 10, after most of the graphite had burned out.
As a result of the disaster, a radioactive cloud was formed, covering the territories of modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, as well as the areas across many European countries, including Sweden, Austria, Norway, Germany, Finland, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, Lithuania, and Latvia. According to the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES), the accident was classified at level 7, which is the highest. READ MORE
Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine – Reuters
Spain has decided to send a small number of missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s defense intel posts video of Ka-32 military helicopter on fire at Moscow airfield
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry released a video of a Ka-32 military helicopter that went ablaze at the Ostafyevo airfield in Moscow.
That’s according to the GUR press service, Ukrinform reports.
"In the early hours of April 26, 2024, an enemy Ka-32 multi-purpose helicopter was destroyed at the Ostafyevo airfield operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow," the statement reads.
GUR noted that the Russian MoD mans the airfield jointly with Gazpromavia, which is part of Gazprom OJSC.
"The destroyed unit of aviation equipment was used by the aggressor state in the interest of the Moscow Aviation Center, in particular - to support the operations of the Russian invasion army," GUR emphasized.
As reported, on April 17, a series of explosions was reported in the vicinity of the Dzhankoy military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian strikes hit the S-400 air defense system and the command post of the Russian air defense regiment at the Dzhankoy airfield, according to verified reports.
Emergency evacuation at two Kyiv hospitals amid upcoming strike reports
Kyiv authorities have launched emergency evacuation of patients from two municipal healthcare facilities, one of them – a children's hospital, both located on Bohatyrska Street.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that ambulances had transported patients from two hospitals where evacuation was announced to other medical facilities.
City authorities is urgently launching the evacuation effort at two hospitals, one of which is a children's hospital, located on Bohatyrska Street. Since a video is being widely circulated on social media, where the enemy's attack on these healthcare facilities is actually announced. It is claimed that there are allegedly military servicemen based in these hospitals.
Bodies of 140 fallen defenders returned to Ukraine
In particular, it was possible to repatriate the bodies of 112 defenders who fought in the Donetsk sector, 20 fallen soldiers from the Luhansk sector, five bodies of defenders from the Sumy sector, two fallen soldiers from the Zaporizhzhia sector and one from the Kherson sector.
Ramstein meeting: Austin announces another $1B aid package for Ukraine
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the United States is providing another $1 billion defense aid package to Ukraine, which will include HIMARS missiles, artillery rounds, air defense systems, and other armaments.
Denmark boosts Ukraine military aid to by $630M
Denmark's government said on April 25 it was adding 4.4 billion kroner ($630 million) for military aid to its Ukraine aid fund as Kyiv pleads Western allies for more support against Russia's invasion.
War
UNICEF reports significant increase in number of children killed in attacks across Ukraine
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the confirmed number of children killed in attacks across Ukraine has increased by almost 40% this year compared to last year.
Defense
Zelensky to Ramstein meeting: “This is not just about the arms supply – you are deciding the fate of the world”
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed the members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group via video conference during a virtual meeting on April 26, emphasizing their role in preserving the world and calling for partners to supply long-range missiles, Patriot systems, ammunition, and other weapons.
Latvia, Ukraine to boost drone production
Latvia and Ukraine vowed an increase in the manufacture of drones, while Latvia is also set to provide Ukraine with a 250MW generator to the embattled nation as part of non-military support.
Norway allocates $13.7M for maintenance of Leopard tanks donated to Ukraine
Norway is allocating NOK 150 million ($13.7 million) for the maintenance of donated Leopard tanks in Poland.
Politics
Russia would struggle to continue fighting in Ukraine without China's backing, Blinken says
Speaking in Beijing following talks with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had "reiterated" serious concerns about China providing components that are "powering Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine".
Publication
Ukraine is Anticipating the Upcoming of a New Era for its Relations with Brazil
Brazil, which has until recently been associated primarily with carnival, football, coffee and TV shows, is currently confidently claiming a more prominent role in global politics.
The largest country in South America, Brazil ranks ninth in the world in terms of nominal GDP and gold and currency reserves. That country, with its rich and potent agricultural sector and huge deposits of various ores, minerals and uranium, can potentially evolve into South America’s largest economy.
There have been periods of rapprochement and estrangement in relations between Ukraine and Brazil, and now, as the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak put it, "we are standing at a crossroads where our two countries can start a new era of relations."