April 25^th, 2022

1. A humanitarian corridor in Mariupol was open again

The leadership of the Russian Federation once again confirms the previously opened and permanently operating for the 36th day (from March 21, 2022) round-the-clock humanitarian corridor from the Azovstal metallurgical plant for the evacuation of civilians (workers, women and children), whose alleged presence in the underground structures of the plant is publicly announced by the Kiev authorities.

At the same time, the Armed Forces of Russia and the formations of the Donetsk People's Republic from 14:00 (Moscow time) on April 25, 2022 unilaterally cease any hostilities, units are withdrawn to a safe distance and ensure the withdrawal of the specified category of citizens in any directions they choose.

The actual readiness of the Ukrainian side to launch a humanitarian operation is indicated by raising white flags around the perimeter or in certain directions of Azovstal.

The Russian Federation publicly and officially declares that there are no obstacles to the exit of civilians from Azovstal, except for the principled decision of the Kiev authorities themselves and the commanders of nationalist formations to continue to hold civilians as a "human shield".

If civilians are still at the metallurgical plant, then Russia once again categorically demanded that the Kiev authorities immediately give the appropriate order to the commanders of nationalist formations for their release.

This statement will be continuously brought to the Ukrainian formations at Azovstal via radio channels at intervals of every 30 minutes.

Through operational communication channels, this statement is immediately brought to the Ukrainian side through the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk. It looks like that she does not distribute such information.

Meanwhile, Kiev once again staged a faked video describing civilians staying underground of Azovstal plant. Strange that they are joyful, well-nourished, clean and very good clothes, many small girls and boys used female lipstick. The basement is also very clean and has full electric light. But in reality, there are no water, electricity and food in the underground bunkers of the plant. It is not Azovstal. It is a humanitarian aid distribution center located without mentioning specific date and place of its location.

2. Evacuation of refugees: general figures

Despite the obstacles created by Kiev, over the past day, without the participation of the Ukrainian authorities, 16,838 people were evacuated to Russia from dangerous areas of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, including 1,402 children, and in total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 951,329 people have already been evacuated, of which 174,689 are children. The state border of the Russian Federation was crossed by 124,517 units of personal motor transport, of which 1,746 per day. it was possible to evacuate 143,631 civilians and 341 foreign citizens from Mariupol, as well as to carry out the safe withdrawal of 1,844 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who surrendered. Humanitarian corridors have been opened at Azovstal plant April 19-23, 2022 from 14:00 to 16:00. Nobody used them

In the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, more than 9.5 thousand temporary accommodation facilities continue to operate, which are fully equipped with all necessary property, they provide places for rest and hot meals. Individual work is carried out with arriving refugees, they are provided with qualified medical and psychological assistance.

There are 2,752,552 requests have been received from foreign and Ukrainian citizens of them in the database from 2,129 settlements of Ukraine.

Ukrainian nationalists continue to hold 90 foreign citizens from 5 countries hostage as a "human shield".

3. Humanitarian aid distribution

The federal executive authorities, together with the subjects of the Russian Federation, various public organizations and patriotic movements, continue to accumulate

More than 22 thousand tons of humanitarian aid, Including basic necessities and food packages, have been collected at the collection points.

Since March 2, the Russian Federation has already delivered 14,528.9 tons of basic necessities, food, medicines and medical products to Ukraine, 888 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including seven in the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, Kharkov and Kherson regions over the past day, during which 207.5 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred to the civilian population.

On April 23, 2022, seven humanitarian actions are held in Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Kharkov and Kherson regions, during which 559.2 tons of basic necessities and food are transferred to the population.

4. Situation at the Black Sea

76 foreign vessels from 18 countries continue are still blocked in seven Ukrainian ports. The threat of shelling and high mine danger created by official Kiev in its internal waters and territorial sea do not allow vessels to freely enter the open sea. Every day from 08:00 to 19:00 (Moscow time), the Russian Armed Forces open a humanitarian corridor at the Black Sea, which is a safe lane for ships moving in a south-westerly direction from the territorial sea of Ukraine with a length of 80 and a width of 3 nautical miles. Detailed information on the functioning of the maritime humanitarian corridor is transmitted daily every 15 minutes via VHF radio on 14 and 16 international channels in English and Russian.

In turn, the Russian Federation is taking a full range of comprehensive measures to ensure civil navigation in the waters of the Black, Azov and Mediterranean Seas.

There remains a danger to navigation from the drift of Ukrainian mines torn from their anchors along the coast of the Black Sea states. So far, several of them have been destroyed at sea.

5. Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine

As of April 22, the USA has committed more than $4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including approximately $3.4 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24.

On April 21, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to an additional $800 million tailored to meet critical Ukrainian needs for today’s fight as Russian forces launch a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine.  This authorization is the eighth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

As of April 22, United States security assistance committed to Ukraine includes:

• Over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
• Over 5,500 Javelin anti-armor systems;
• Over 14,000 other anti-armor systems;
• Over 700 Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• 90 155mm Howitzers and 183,000 155mm artillery rounds;
• 72 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
• 16 Mi-17 helicopters;
• Hundreds of Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles;
• 200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
• Over 7,000 small arms;
• Over 50,000,000 rounds of ammunition;
• 75,000 sets of body armor and helmets;
• 121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• Laser-guided rocket systems;
• Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels;
• 14 counter-artillery radars;
• Four counter-mortar radars;
• Two air surveillance radars;
• M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
• C-4 explosives and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing;
• Tactical secure communications systems;
• Night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders;
• Commercial satellite imagery services;
• Explosive ordnance disposal protective gear;
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment;
• Medical supplies to include first aid kits.

6. Situation on the battlefields

High-precision sea- and air-based long-range weapons on the northern outskirts of Kremenchuk destroyed fuel production facilities of an oil refinery, as well as storage facilities for oil products to supply military equipment of Ukrainian troops.

During the night, 6 enemy assets were hit by high-precision air-based missiles. Among them: 3 strong points and areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment, as well as 3 ammunition depots in Barvenkovo and Novaya Dmitrovka in Kharkov Region.

Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit 56 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 2 command posts and 53 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 1 fuel storage facility near Novaya Dmitrovka.

Up to 160 nationalists, as well as more than 23 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars, were destroyed.

Missile troops carried out 19 strikes during the night. Destroyed: 4 command posts of the nationalists, including the 81st Separate Airborne Assault Brigade and the 110th Territorial Defence Brigade, and three ammunition depots. 21 areas of Ukrainian manpower and military equipment concentration were hit.

Up to 240 nationalists, as well as more than 28 armoured vehicles, artillery mounts and cars, were destroyed.

Artillery units carried out 967 fire missions during the day. Destroyed: 33 command posts, 929 strong points, areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 5 missile and artillery weapons and ammunition depots.

Russian air defence means shot down 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Mezhurino, Balakleya, Borodoyarkoe, Nevskoe in Kharkov Region and Vysokoe and Chernobaevka in Kherson Region.

In addition, Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon system shot down 1 Ukrainian Tochka-U missile and 18 rockets of a multiple-launch rocket system over Chernobaeka.

Written by Vladimir P. Kozin