Here is the situation as it stands on Saturday, April 8, 2023:
Fighting
- A missile fired from Ukraine was shot down over the Black Sea town of Feodosia in Russian-controlled Crimea, the Russian head of Crimea’s administration said.
- Russia has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, endangering a key Ukrainian supply route, in its push to secure control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the United Kingdom’s defence ministry said.
- Ukraine described the situation in Bakhmut as “difficult” but said it was holding out despite Russia’s numerical superiority.
- Russia is focusing its offensive in the eastern cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka, using air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponised drones to launch multiple attacks, according to Ukraine’s military.
Diplomacy
- Secret documents with details of the United States and NATO plans to help prepare Ukraine for a spring offensive against Russia leaked on Twitter and Telegram.
- Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said the leaked documents contained “fictitious information” designed to sow doubts about the planned operation.
- In a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said any negotiations on peace in Ukraine must be centred on a “new world order” and take into account “Russia’s interests”.
- Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova will visit India on Monday and seek humanitarian aid and equipment to repair energy infrastructure damaged during Russia’s invasion, the Hindu newspaper reported.
- Russian investigators have charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported, citing an unidentified source.
- Ukraine has rejected a suggestion from Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who proposed Kyiv give up Crimea to end the war with Russia. Moscow invaded Crimea and annexed it in 2014.
Economics
- Russia threatened to bypass a UN-brokered grain deal unless obstacles to its agricultural exports were removed, while talks in Turkey agreed removing barriers was needed to extend the agreement beyond next month.
- Ukraine can resume exporting electricity after a six-month gap, given the success of repairs carried out after repeated Russian attacks, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said.
- The Russian rouble tumbled to its lowest levels against the dollar and euro in a year amid a foreign currency crunch in Moscow and the sale of Western businesses in Russia.
Weapons
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is planning to visit Canada in the coming weeks to seek supplies of ammunition and armoured vehicles, the Globe and Mail reported.
