A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. did more than $80 billion in business through its foreign military sales program. Included in that figure is about $24 billion in sales in Europe. Among purchasers was Poland, which purchased AH-64E helicopters in fiscal 2023. Image – US Department of Defense.
Political Developments
Should Donald Trump win re-election to the presidency, his administration would push Kyiv to accept territorial losses in exchange for peace, The Washington Post reported, citing sources close to the former president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back on the idea in an interview with POLITICO this week, saying, “If the deal is that we just give up our territories, and that’s the idea behind it, then it’s a very primitive idea.”
With support from 283 lawmakers, the Verkhovna Rada passed an updated mobilization law on Thursday. Ukrainian military officials have continuously underscored the need for hundreds of thousands of new recruits.
Russia is expected to launch its own mobilization push in the coming months to support upcoming offensives, though Andrey Kartopolov, head of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, said this week that “under no circumstances” would further mobilization occur, adding that the current pace of recruitment of contract soldiers is sufficient for Russia to continue operations in Ukraine.
Military Assistance to Ukraine
In 2023, the Defense Department set a record for sales of military equipment and hardware, especially among European partners and allies due to the war in Ukraine. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. did more than $80 billion in business through the foreign military sales system, including grant assistance.
The U.S. recently delivered a cache of seized IRGC weapons to Ukraine, CENTCOM announced on Tuesday. The U.S. seized the Iranian weapons — including 5,000 AK-47s and 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition — in December, with an original suspected destination of Yemen’s Ansar Allah, in violation of UNSC Resolution 2216.
Officials from Britain and France urged NATO allies to provide more support to Ukraine, warning that a lack of military contributions would enable a Russian victory in the war. “We are both absolutely clear: Ukraine must win this war. If Ukraine loses, we all lose. The costs of failing to support Ukraine now will be far greater than the costs of repelling Putin,” they said.
This week, an overwhelming majority of European Parliament members voted against approving funding for the Council of the European Union until at least seven Patriot surface-to-air systems can be delivered to Ukraine.
Reports suggest Greece may approve the transfer of 32 F-16C/D fighter jets to Ukraine, as well as 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft.
On April 9, the DSCA announced the approval of sustainment services for the HAWK air-defense systems in operation with the Ukrainian military. The proposed deal, worth $138 million, covers the integration of communications, overhaul of fire units, and other support, according to a press release.
BAE Systems signed an agreement with the U.K. Ministry of Defense to provide maintenance services for the 105mm L119 towed howitzers delivered to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government says it is running low on surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). Kyiv warned that Russia’s ongoing air campaign could deplete Ukraine’s air defense missile inventory. The Ukrainian government wants 25 more Patriot systems.
Ukraine has requested to buy sustainment-related articles and services for the HAWK Phase III missile system. The estimated total cost is $138 million. Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and the aerial capabilities of Russian forces.
Battlefield Updates
Ukraine has established low-cost sensor networks, paired with heavy machine guns, to help track and destroy incoming drone threats. This approach is necessary due to a lack of munitions for high-end air defense systems.
Eight civilians were killed and at least 10 were injured in two Russian drone strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The drones struck residential areas.
Separate Russian strikes overnight on Wednesday targeted the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant, the largest power provider in the Kyiv region. Centrenergo, the company operating the plant, said, “A black day in the history of Centrenergo. The scale of the destruction is terrible. Money can’t estimate it. This is the biggest challenge for us in the history of the company.”
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which is currently controlled by Russia, was hit in a drone strike. One of the reactor containment structures for the plant’s six nuclear reactors took at least three direct hits. Moscow blamed Ukraine for the strike, but Ukrainian officials didn’t comment on the incident. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency condemned the attack, and said any attacks against the plant “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.”
A shortage of artillery ammunition in Ukraine continues to hinder efforts on the battlefield. The head of U.S. European Command, General Christopher Cavoli, told lawmakers that Russia is currently outshooting Ukraine 5-1, and that ratio could grow to 10-1 in a matter of weeks. Ukrainian troops have had to ration their shells, and stalled U.S. aid has made it harder to replenish ammunition stockpiles.
“If one side can shoot and the other side can’t shoot back, the side that can’t shoot back loses. So the stakes are very high. They’re really dependent this year on us, Mr. Chairman. And without our support, they will not be able to prevail,” Gen. Cavoli said.
The Pentagon says it can’t block Russian access to the SpaceX Starlink satellite communications network. While SpaceX doesn’t do business in Russia, Moscow has utilized black markets to secure equipment needed to use the commercial satellite network in portions of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces.
A fire that broke out on the Russian missile boat Serpukhov was a result of a Ukrainian sabotage operation, the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) said this week. Ukraine has carried out a number of missions targeting vessels in the Black Sea Fleet, but Serpukov is based with the Baltic Fleet, demonstrating the reach of Ukraine’s security services.
The Ukrainian military has again attacked Russian forces with drones. An attack on April 5 has seen a barrage of drones that destroyed at least six Russian aircraft and badly damage eight others. Russia claimed it intercepted 44 Ukrainian drones.
Ukrainian military forces have intercepted additional drones attacking sites inside its territory. Kyiv said Moscow launched downed 24 Shahed-type attack drones. Ukraine’s military brought down half of these drones, as well as a single Kh-59 missile.
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