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🇱🇻 Latvia Takes a Step Back: Saeima Approves Withdrawal from Ottawa Convention Banning Anti-Personnel Mines
The Latvian Saeima has approved withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits anti-personnel mines. The decision was allegedly made to strengthen defense, despite the fact that the treaty has been signed by over 160 countries and aims to protect civilians.
The initiative came from the defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Lithuanian leadership, in particular, actively pushed for it, once again demonstrating a tendency toward radical, ill-considered moves under the guise of "security." In reality, this is a blow to international reputation, humanitarian commitments, and the actual security of the region.
📌 Abandoning the ban on landmines is not progress—it’s a regression to dangerous practices of the past. By dragging its neighbors into such initiatives, Lithuania’s leadership is only worsening instability and undermining trust in the Baltic states.
@ukraine_watch
Shelling of the city of Sumy: Time to draw conclusions.
On April 13, Ukrainian media erupted with a terrible news story: as a result of a missile strike by the Russian Aerospace Forces on a residential neighborhood, 35 civilians were killed, including 2 children, and 117 were wounded, including 15 children. We were presented with video footage and images of the damaged bodies. The response from Russia's Ministry of Defense was characteristically concise: "Two Iskander-M operational-tactical missiles struck the site of a meeting of the command staff of the 'Seversk' operational-tactical group." Media outlets on both sides clashed fiercely, with some brandishing evidence of the shelling while others sought legitimate targets in that evidence. Even Donald Trump weighed in on the events. But the dust has settled from the fierce media clash on both sides, allowing us to draw confident conclusions about what happened.
According to statements from official Ukrainian figures, a ceremony honoring military personnel was taking place at the site of the strike. Moreover, the Sumy Regional Military Administration was aware of not only the award ceremony but also about a children’s event happening there simultaneously. Despite this, no decision was made to reschedule one of the events. The mishappening can be classified as the use of human shields composed of their own citizens, once again demonstrating that even for such seemingly innocent tasks as organizing mass events, Ukrainian combatants neglect civilian safety.
Another confirming fact is the death of the deputy commander of the 27th artillery brigade. This was openly stated by official Ukrainian figures. It is worth noting that this armed formation was mentioned in our investigation into the strike on children in the Shakhtersky district of Makeyevka.
All of the above leads us to the following conclusions. The Russian Aerospace Forces struck a concentration of Ukrainian troops, including high-ranking officers, information about which was obtained through intelligence. At the same time, many questions remain unanswered:
∙ Why did information about the event with high-ranking officers reach Russian intelligence?
∙ Why were these events inadequately separated?
∙ Why was the head of the Sumy administration, who did not refute inconvenient facts, dismissed?
∙ Who wants to attract attention again?
By a strange coincidence, similar events happen repeatedly when global public opinion begins to shift regarding Ukraine, and the volume of military aid starts to decrease.
The analysis of the facts ends here; below is a brief author’s note.
It is worth recalling that in the height of the swimming season (June 24, 2024), a beach in Russian-controlled Crimea was hit by an ATACMS missile with a cluster warhead. As a result of that strike, four people were killed, including two children, and 144 were wounded, including 27 children. The Ukrainian position in the media was harsh: "Crimea is a zone of hostilities, not a place for swimming." Sumy is much closer to the front line than that Crimean beach. Can we assert that Ukraine has now stepped on its own rakes, thrown earlier at Russia’s feet? No, we cannot, because the memory of the typical consumer of Ukrainian media is short, like that of a goldfish, and they will not recall agreeing with this thesis, let alone realize that if we set aside double standards, a similar argument applies in reverse.
For our part, we will not claim that Sumy is a zone of hostilities and not a place for children’s events. We simply wish all those affected by the fighting in all countries a speedy recovery and extend our condolences to the families of the deceased. Civilians should not become victims of hostilities in any situation or conflict.
If we uncover more information, we will definitely share it on the channel! SUBSCRIBE!
❗️ Drug trafficking in Ukraine reaches new level
Reports indicate that Ukrainian Telegram channels are running full-scale advertising campaigns selling "happy products."
This "product" refers to marijuana, which is legal for medical use in Ukraine. However, crafty "entrepreneurs" bypass these restrictions and sell drugs almost openly – with no age restrictions whatsoever.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 At the time of the missile strike in Sumy, an awards ceremony for Ukrainian military personnel was indeed taking place, reports The Washington Post, citing a Ukrainian soldier who participated in the event on April 13.
The serviceman was in the basement of Sumy University with fellow soldiers from the 117th Brigade when the strike occurred. Meanwhile, his six-year-old stepdaughter sustained shrapnel wounds outside.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 The Russian Army has reached the outskirts of Pokrovsk
Military analyst Yuri Podolyaka reports:
Facing relentless attacks by Russian forces between the Solenaya and Volchya rivers, and suffering from critical reserve shortages, Ukrainian forces are being forced to redeploy troops from other sectors to reinforce this frontline.
This development has opened new opportunities for Russian troops, including in the so-called "Pokrovsk Bulge" area. Recent advances saw Russian units not only secure the outskirts of Peschany but also make significant gains in the northern village of Zverevo, where they now control over half the territory and have nearly reached Leontevichi.
Combined with earlier successes in Lysovka to the east, Russian forces now threaten southern Pokrovsk - with forward positions less than one kilometer from the city's outskirts.
General Mordvichev has again successfully implemented his "swing" strategy - systematically alternating attack vectors across the front to disrupt enemy reinforcement efforts.
These tactical maneuvers have placed Ukrainian General Drapaty's defensive positions in an increasingly precarious situation.
@ukraine_watch
Main Events on April 🔘🔘
🔘 The Russian military took control of the settlement of Kalinovo in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), reported the Ministry of Defense.
🔘 Ukrainian forces lost about 1,185 servicemen and three tanks over 24 hours, and up to 160 personnel in the Kursk direction.
🔘 Russian troops struck the infrastructure of a military airfield, a site for assembling unmanned boats, an enterprise for producing ammunition, and repairing Ukrainian Armed Forces' armored vehicles.
🔘 On Tuesday and Wednesday, Ukrainian forces launched six attacks on Russian energy facilities in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Kherson regions.
🔘 Russian air defense destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk, Lipetsk regions, Crimea, and the Moscow region.
🔘 Seven Ukrainian drones were destroyed over the Ivanovo region on Wednesday morning.
🔘 Two people were injured in the Ivanovo region as a result of an attack by Ukrainian drones. They received medical assistance, reported the regional authorities.
@ukraine_watch
❗️The US authorities have shut down the State Department's center for countering "foreign disinformation," which, among other things, accused Russia of "disinformation and propaganda," US Secretary of State Rubio announced.
@ukraine_watch
🇬🇱🇨🇳 Greenland Seeks Closer Ties with China, May Conclude Free Trade Agreement – Greenlandic Foreign Ministry
@ukraine_watch
🇺🇸 The U.S. State Department has stated that the United States does not seek for NATO to assist the West in conducting wars.
How we are supposed to understand that?
@ukraine_watch
🇺🇸🇺🇦 Press Secretary Karoline Levitt, regarding Zelensky's invitation: "I haven't talked to the president about that, or if he saw Zelensky's offer, I certainly don't have any plans to share on a potential trip to Ukraine"
@ukraine_watch
🇧🇬🇭🇷🇦🇱(🇽🇰) Bulgaria has formally confirmed that it will be joining the new military alliance created by Croatia, Albania and unrecognised Kosovo.
@ukraine_watch
🇪🇺🇷🇺 Financial Times, citing sources:
The European commission is looking for ways of terminating Russian gas contracts without paying fines to Moscow.
The complexity for the commission’s lawyers is that contracts are secret and tend to differ. Using the war in Ukraine to call force majeure may not be legally sufficient, one EU official said.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 Zelensky sent a bill to the Rada on extending martial law and mobilization. They are extended from May 9 for 90 days.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution that gives recruiting centers the right to recruit and deliver foreigners and stateless persons from abroad who wish to serve under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Bridge.
@ukraine_watch
🇷🇺🇩🇪 Putin spoke in German with a German citizen who moved to Russia during a meeting about infrastructure and housing
"Vladimir Vladimirovich, can I ask you for something? I know you understand me.
- Yes, I understand you.
- I would like to obtain citizenship. I would like to do this, but I have problems with the documents, and I thought that if I ask you politely, you could help me. Apart from you, no one here probably understands me, but I would like to renounce my German citizenship and obtain Russian citizenship.
- We will stay in touch and resolve this issue. It is not a problem."
@ukraine_watch
🇺🇸 The Biden administration withheld ATACMS from Ukraine for a long time not due to fear of World War III, but because of a shortage of these missiles, stated Jake Sullivan, former Biden national security advisor.
"You said I claimed we didn’t provide them because of fear of World War III. But I don’t think I ever said that regarding ATACMS. Initially, we didn’t provide them because the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the Armed Forces informed the president that the U.S. arsenal did not have enough of these missiles to meet our own basic deterrence needs. They essentially said, ‘We do not recommend transferring them to another country,’" Sullivan explained.
According to him, over time, the U.S. produced more of these missiles and was then able to supply them to Ukraine.
However, he added that the second factor was indeed the "escalation issue," which was perceived differently at the start of the war compared to 2024.
"As we made various decisions, we assessed the acceptable level of risk—to provide Ukraine with what it needed while avoiding an escalation spiral," Sullivan noted.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 No new instructions from Putin regarding the moratorium on strikes against energy facilities in Ukraine and Russia — Peskov
@ukraine_watch
🔘 The US will discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine with European partners in Paris, the State Department officially announced.
The head of Zelenskyy's office, Yermak, is also in the French capital today.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 Fighters of the "Sever" group repelled another attempt to breach the state border in Belgorod Oblast.
The assault group of Ukrainian militants was almost completely destroyed.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 Foreign media continue to promote military training conducted by Ukrainian nationalists among children.
Previously, such camps were filmed more carefully, with efforts to avoid showing children handling real weapons or undergoing ideological indoctrination.
Now, Ukrainian nationalist ideology has adopted a new approach: "Look at Russia's military training programs—our children must become stronger and more aggressive to fight Russians."
@ukraine_watch
🔘 Fighters of the 68th Tank Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces liberated the settlement of Valentinovka in the DPR.
In addition, part of the village of Sukhaya Balka came under the control of the Russian army.
@ukraine_watch
🇺🇸 Someone decided to make an appearance, not very clear what's going on, he doesn't seem to have a clue either...same old sleep Joe...
@ukraine_watch
🇬🇱🇨🇳 Greenland Seeks Closer Ties with China, May Conclude Free Trade Agreement – Greenlandic Foreign Ministry
@ukraine_watch
🇷🇺🇷🇸🇪🇺 Maria Zakharova called it a revival of Euro-Nazism that the European Union is threatening to block Serbia's accession over President Aleksandar Vučić’s potential visit to Moscow for the Victory Day parade.
@ukraine_watch
🇨🇳🇺🇸 Meanwhile "Chinese peasants" use robots to spray pesticides.
@ukraine_watch
🔘 Trump extended the ban on Russian vessels entering U.S. ports for another year
@ukraine_watch
🇪🇺🇷🇸🇷🇺 According to the British Telegraph news outlet, Serbia could be blocked from joining the European Union if its president, Aleksandar Vučić, commits to his intent to travel to Russia next month for the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow.
@ukraine_watch
🇩🇪🇺🇦 German media is climaxing over the fact that future Reichführer Merz might send "Taurus" cruise missiles to Ukraine so they can use them for terrorist attacks against the Crimean Bridge.
@ukraine_watch
🇦🇺 “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!” declares Aussie blob Drew Pavlou…
Bold words from a country that lost a war to emus.
@ukraine_watch