France proposes new sanctions to target Russian disinformation, election interference

France is asking the #EU to impose new sanctions to target Russian disinformation and election interference around the world, Bloomberg reported on April 24, citing a draft proposal from #France.

The proposal "would target those responsible for threatening the stability, security or #sovereignty of EU member states or third countries by undermining elections, the rule of law, facilitating acts of #violence or do so through the use of information manipulation and interference," Bloomberg wrote.

The governments of #Belgium and #Czechia also warned earlier in April that Russia was operating a disinformation and interference network targeting the upcoming EU parliamentary election.

https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-france-proposes-new-sanctions-to-russian-disinformation-election-interference/

#RussianAggression #propaganda #elections #disinformation #ElectionInterference #StopRussianAggression

Bloomberg: France proposes new sanctions to target Russian disinformation, election interference

The proposal "would target those responsible for threatening the stability, security or sovereignty of EU member states or third countries by undermining elections, the rule of law, facilitating acts of violence or do so through the use of...

Russia planning to disrupt #GlobalPeaceSummit in Switzerland

We have precise intelligence information, specific data that Russia not only wants to disrupt the peace summit, but also has a specific plan how to do it, how to reduce the number of participating countries, how to act to ensure that there is no peace for even longer,"

Kyiv will share Russia's plans with diplomats and intelligence agencies of allied countries, according to Zelensky.

"And together we must counteract this, we must work in unity for a just #peace,”

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-russia-planning-to-disrupt-global-peace-summit-in-switzerland/

#RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

Zelensky: Russia planning to disrupt global peace summit in Switzerland

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 24 that Ukraine has precise intelligence information that Russia is preparing to disrupt a global peace summit set to take place in Switzerland in June.

Microsoft says Russian #disinformation campaign targeting US #elections has begun

U.S. officials have said that #Russia engaged in a widespread campaign of digital disinformation and hacking in the past two presidential elections, with particular effort dedicated to the 2016 election.

The governments of Belgium and Czechia also warned earlier in April that Russia was operating a disinformation and interference network targeting the upcoming EU parliamentary election.

According to the Microsoft report, Russia's campaign to sow disinformation in the U.S. has begun in earnest over the past month and a half but has yet to reach the height of previous efforts.

One of the more common methods is for Russia to spread fake "whistleblower" narratives, which are then picked up by U.S. media outlets.

"Ultimately, after the narrative has circulated online for a series of days or weeks, U.S. audiences repeat and repost this disinformation, likely unaware of its original source," Microsoft said.

The focus of the new campaign is to spread "divisive content," including criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine, the Microsoft report said.

https://kyivindependent.com/microsoft-says-russian-disinformation-campaign-targeting-us-election-has-begun/

#ElectionInterference #propaganda #disinformation #CyberAttacks #CyberWarfare #RussianAggression

Microsoft says Russian disinformation campaign targeting US election has begun

The focus of the new campaign is to spread "divisive content," including criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine, the Microsoft report said.

#DoubleTap attack. Understanding one of Russia’s cruelest tactics in Ukraine

Hitting a building, waiting for first responders and the media to arrive, and hitting the same place again to target those who came to put out the fire, help the victims, or document a potential war crime is a well-honed tool of Russia in its wars.

This ruthless and illegal military tactic is called a "double-tap" attack.

Having used #Syria as a "testing ground" since 2015, Russia started #terrorizing Ukraine with "double-tap" attacks following the full-scale invasion. Those attacks have grown more frequent in recent weeks.

https://kyivindependent.com/double-tap-attack-understanding-one-of-russias-cruelest-tactics-in-ukraine/

#WarCrimes #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

‘Double-tap’ attack. Understanding one of Russia’s cruelest tactics in Ukraine

Hitting a building, waiting for first responders and the media to arrive, and hitting the same place again to target those who came to put out the fire, help the victims, or document a potential war crime is a well-honed tool of Russia in its...

Russia fires 10 times more shells, uses 300 aircraft than Ukraine

Delays in U.S. assistance to Ukraine have already had a direct impact on the battlefield, contributing to the loss of the key front-line city of #Avdiivka. Amid the escalating situation on the eastern front, Zelensky said that "Ukraine will lose the war" if the U.S. Congress fails to approve military aid.

As Moscow intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the spring, the shortage of air defense systems in Ukrainian cities and villages is being felt more acutely.

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-14/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Zelensky: Russia fires 10 times more shells, uses 300 aircraft in Ukraine only

Russia is firing shells at a ratio of around 10:1 to those of Ukraine and has 30 times more aircraft, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with PBS NewsHour published on April 16.

Rebuilding Kyiv Oblast power plant possible but 'futile' without air defense

The Trypillia Thermal Power Plant was completely destroyed in a Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on April 11, leading to the total loss of #Centrenergo's generating capacity.

The Russian strike led to a large-scale fire in the turbine house of the plant. All of the plant's workers who were on the shift during the attack survived.

"We can restore everything," Hota said, but this will require the help of international partners, as equipment like turbines or transformers come from European countries.

"But without a sufficient number of missiles for anti-aircraft defense, it will, to put it mildly, be a futile affair," Hota added.

https://kyivindependent.com/trypillia-kyiv-oblast-rebuilding-futile/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #electricity #AirDefense #StandWithUkraine

Rebuilding Kyiv Oblast power plant possible but 'futile' without air defense, Centerenergo says

The Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in Kyiv Oblast can be restored with international help but this will be "futile" without more air defense, Andrii Hota, the chair of Ukraine's state energy company Centerenergo's supervisory board, told Voice of...

Russian soldiers kill 3 Ukrainian POWs

A video that purportedly shows Russian soldiers shooting three captured and unarmed Ukrainian servicemen in Kherson Oblast, the office announced on April 7.

The video was published on Russian Telegram channels on April 7, according to a statement by the Prosecutor General's Office released on Telegram.

Killing of POWs violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a #WarCrime.

The description of the video states the incident took place near Krynky village in Kherson Oblast.

In the video, several shots are fired by a Russian Armed Forces member at the unarmed and unmoving Ukrainian servicemen, according to the Prosecutor General's Office's statement.

https://kyivindependent.com/prosecutor-generals-office-russian-soldiers-shoot-3-ukrainian-pows/

#RussianAggression #murder #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

Prosecutor General's Office: Russian soldiers kill 3 Ukrainian POWs

The Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into a video that purportedly shows Russian soldiers shooting three captured and unarmed Ukrainian servicemen in Kherson Oblast, the office announced on April 7.

Ukrainian military intelligence denies involvement in drone explosion at #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

"The aggressor state once again endangers the nuclear facility," Yusov said. "Russian strikes, in particular false flag strikes, on the territory of the Ukrainian #nuclear power plant, as well as the deployment of troops and weapons there and mining of ZNPP facilities, have long been a well-known and constant criminal practice."

"Russia should withdraw troops from all #ZNPP facilities, only this will allow to restore compliance with all necessary international norms and control over an important nuclear energy facility."

https://kyivindependent.com/media-ukrainian-intelligence-denies-involvement-in-drone-explosion-at-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant/

#FalseFlag #RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

Media: Ukrainian military intelligence denies involvement in drone explosion at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

"Ukraine is not involved in any armed provocations on the territory of the illegally occupied nuclear plant," the spokesperson Andrii Yusov said, adding that Russian false flag strikes were a frequent occurrence.

Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defense systems to cover the country

"I will not tell you how many #Patriot systems we have. I can say that to cover Ukraine completely in the future, it is preferable to have 25 Patriot systems, with 6-8 batteries each," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine knows for sure how much it needs to repel the #Russian Federation's attacks," he said.

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-ukraine-needs-25-patriot-air-defense-systems-to-be-completely-covered/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine #AirDefense

Zelensky: Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defense systems to cover the country

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview for national television on April 6, called on international partners to provide Ukraine with modern air defense systems to defend against Russian attacks.

Russian use of prohibited chemical weapons has become 'systemic'

The tendency of Russian troops to use munition with prohibited chemicals grows and has become "systemic," the command of Ukraine's Support Forces reported on April 5.

Ukrainian forces recorded 371 cases of usage of munition containing prohibited chemicals over the past month, which is 90 cases more than during the previous one.

For such attacks, Russia primarily uses K-51 and RG-VO grenades, which are delivered via drones, according to the Support Forces.

https://kyivindependent.com/military-russian-troops-begin-to-use-munition-with-prohibited-chemicals-more-frequent/

#WarCrimes #RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine #ChemicalWeapons #Russia

Military: Russian use of prohibited chemical weapons has become 'systemic'

Ukrainian forces recorded 371 cases of usage of munition containing prohibited chemicals over the past month, which is 90 cases more than during the previous one.

Czechia warns Russia is trying to sabotage railways in Europe

Russia is actively trying to sabotage European railways by hacking into their signaling systems, #Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka said to the Financial Times (FT)

Russia has engaged in a variety of disruptive behavior toward Europe, often using its cyber capabilities to target civilian infrastructure.

Kupka said that Russia has made "thousands of attempts to weaken our (railway) systems" since the beginning of the full-scale war.

https://kyivindependent.com/ft-czechia-warns-russia-is-trying-to-sabotage-railways-in-europe/

#RussianAggression #RussiaIsATerroristState #Europe #railways #trains #StandWithUkraine

FT: Czechia warns Russia is trying to sabotage railways in Europe

Czech Transportation Minister Martin Kupka said that Russia has made "thousands of attempts to weaken our (railway) systems" since the beginning of the full-scale war.

NYT: Murder of Russian pilot in Spain bears similarities to earlier Moscow-linked killings

The pilot was shot six times in a parking garage in the city of #Villajoyosa on Feb. 13, according to the NYT. At the crime scene, law enforcement officers found shell casings from 9 mm #Makarov rounds, a weapon widely used in former Soviet countries, the newspaper reported.

Two men waited for Kuzminov in a car under the apartment building for several hours and ran over his body after shooting him, police officials said. They called the killers "clearly professionals," who quickly disappeared. The car was reportedly found burned miles away from the attack site.

It was a clear message. I will find you, I will kill you, I will run you over and humiliate you

https://kyivindependent.com/nyt-5/

#murder #RussianAggression #assassination #pilot #Spain

NYT: Murder of Russian pilot in Spain bears similarities to earlier Moscow-linked killings

The murder of Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine, is similar to previous attacks in Europe linked to Moscow, but no evidence of direct Kremlin involvement has emerged so far, the New York Times (NYT) reported on...

Ukraine has attack drones with range of over 1,000 kilometers, says Fedorov

A series of attacks in recent months have targeted oil refineries deep inside Russia. Multiple refineries reportedly lost capacity after the attacks and Russia is planning to reduce diesel exports from its Black and Baltic Sea ports in April to the lowest level in five months.

"Most of the drones that attacked Russian oil refineries have a range of 700 to 1,000 kilometers, but now there are models that can fly over 1000 km," Fedorov said.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-has-attack-drones-with-range-of-over-1-000-kilometers-says-fedorov/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #oil #refineries #drones #StandWithUkraine

Ukraine has attack drones with range of over 1,000 kilometers, says Fedorov

"Most of the drones that attacked Russian oil refineries have a range of 700 to 1,000 kilometers, but now there are models that can fly over 1000 km," Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

France to send Ukraine air defense missiles, armored vehicles

Paris will "unlock a new batch of Aster 30 missiles" for the SAMP/T MAMBA system, the French equivalent of the U.S. Patriot, in response to Ukraine's air defense shortage, Lecornu said on March 30.

"We are also developing tele-operated munitions in a very short time, to deliver them to the Ukrainians this summer," he said.

The package will also include hundreds of old but "still operational" armored vehicles.

"To hold such a large front line, the Ukrainian army needs, for example, our armored front vehicles: this is absolutely key for troop mobility,"

https://kyivindependent.com/france-to-send-ukraine-air-defense-missiles-armored-vehicles/

#RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #AirDefense #StandWithUkraine

France to send Ukraine air defense missiles, armored vehicles

Paris will "unlock a new batch of Aster 30 missiles" for the SAMP/T MAMBA system, the French equivalent of the U.S. Patriot, in response to Ukraine's air defense shortage.

Ukrainian Navy confirms Russia downed its own Su-27 aircraft over Crimea

"We can confirm that the aircraft belonged to Russia and that it was destroyed by their own forces," Pletenchuk said on television.

"They (Russian forces) were on alert and in heightened combat readiness. Then the human factor came into play," the spokesperson said.

Pletenchuk commented that "somebody really wanted to get a medal for shooting down a plane" and "didn't bother to figure out" whose aircraft it was. The spokesperson said that the pilot survived, confirming the claims of Russian authorities.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-navy-jet/

#FriendlyFire #RussianAggression #Su-27 #Crimea #downed #StandWithUkraine

Ukrainian Navy confirms Russia downed its own Su-27 aircraft over Crimea

Russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-27 fighter jet over occupied Crimea due to "heightened combat readiness," Ukraine's Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on air on March 29.

Polish official says NATO considering shooting down Russian missiles that approach its borders

NATO is reportedly considering the option of shooting down Russian missiles if they stray too close to its borders, #Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna said to the Polish media outlet RMF24 on March 26.

#Poland was forced to scramble its fighter jets to protect its airspace during Russia's drone and missile attack against Ukraine on March 24, when a Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds.

Russia's #ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreyev, was summoned by Poland's Foreign Ministry in response to the incident, but he rejected the request.

https://kyivindependent.com/polish-official-says-nato-considering-shooting-down-russian-missiles-that-approach-its-borders/

#RussianAggression #airspace #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

Polish official says NATO considering shooting down Russian missiles that approach its borders

Poland was forced to scramble its fighter jets to protect its airspace during Russia's drone and missile attack against Ukraine on March 24, when a Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds.

Warsaw to ‘demand explanations’ from Moscow after Russian missile entered Polish airspace

Poland will demand explanations from Moscow after a Russian missile violated the Polish airspace during the mass attack against Ukraine on the morning of March 24, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

Polish Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Pawel Wronski called on Russia to stop its “terrorist air attacks on the people and territory of Ukraine, to end the war and address the country's internal problems.”

Ukraine’s Air Forces said the Russian forces fired 29 cruise missiles and 28 Shahed loitering munitions, targeting eight regions in the west, center, north, and south of Ukraine. Of the total air targets fired across Ukraine, 18 cruise missiles and 25 Shahed drones were intercepted by the air defense, according to the report.

https://kyivindependent.com/poland-to-demand-explanations-from-russia-after-missile-aimed-at-ukraine-violated-polish-airspace/

#RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #missiles #Poland #airspace

Warsaw to ‘demand explanations’ from Moscow after Russian missile entered Polish airspace

The Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds, Jacek Siewiera, chief of Poland’s National Security Bureau, said on X on March 24. He also said the NATO allies had been briefed about yet another violation of the NATO border by...

Polish Operational Command: Shooting down Russian missile over Poland posed risk to civilians

Polish Armed Forces did not shoot down the Russian missile that flew into Poland’s airspace as it could have posed a risk to local civilians, Polish media RMF 24 reported on March 24.

The missile entered Polish airspace above the Lublin region for 39 seconds before flying back into Western Ukraine during Russia’s latest mass aerial attack. The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine and decided not to down it, the command said.

"The decision resulted from information from our radar systems. The assessment of the missile's trajectory, speed and altitude indicated that it would leave our airspace,"

https://kyivindependent.com/polish-operational-command-shooting-down-russian-missile-over-poland-posed-a-risk-to-civilians/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #airspace #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Polish Operational Command: Shooting down Russian missile over Poland posed risk to civilians

The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine and decided not to down the it.

Documentary - Destroy, in Whole or in Part

In this documentary, its author, investigative reporter Danylo Mokryk explores whether there is #genocidal intent in the actions of the Russian military and officials, as well as in Russian state propaganda.

He interviews several scholars whose views oppose one another. William A. Schabas, one of the most renowned scholars in the field, is a skeptic. Eugene Finkel has written an opinion piece stating that the Russian invasion was genocide back in 2022. Dmytro Koval emphasizes that one cannot fully understand Russia’s war in Ukraine if one doesn’t call it #genocide

It also features survivors and witnesses of Russian war crimes: a widow of a man killed in Bucha; a twin sister of a woman murdered in Skadovsk; a kid who had been deported to Crimea, and witnessed an attempt to russify Ukrainian children; and two people who had been detained during the occupation of Kherson

https://kyivindependent.com/destroy-in-whole-or-in-part/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

The Kyiv Independent

Anti-Kremlin militias' raid thwarts Russia's plans for potential new attack

The recent incursion into Russia by Russian #anti-Kremlin #militias made Moscow "change plans" on a possible new attack in Ukraine's northern sector.

Russian nationalist Denis Kapustin, the commander of the #Russian Volunteer Corps, said at a press conference on March 21 that the militias "stabilized the front" and "eased the pressure of Russian troops in certain areas."

Alexei Baranovsky, the Freedom of Russia Legion volunteer, claimed that anti-Kremlin forces had received intelligence about Russia's alleged plans to advance further into Kharkiv Oblast.

"The clashes (on Russia's territory) forced Russia to deploy additional reserves and withdraw its troops from their positions (in Ukraine) to relocate them to Belgorod Oblast," Yusov said.

https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-anti-kremlin-militias-raid-thwarts-russias-plans-for-potential-new-attack/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Military Intelligence: Anti-Kremlin militias' raid thwarts Russia's plans for potential new attack

The recent incursion into Russia by Russian anti-Kremlin militias made Moscow "change plans" on a possible new attack in Ukraine's northern sector, Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson of Ukraine's military Intelligence told the Kyiv Independent on March 22.