April, 08-10

Recent hostilities have taken place primarily in the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv oblasts. These oblasts are also seeing the further concentration of troops of the Russian Federation (hereinafter: Russia).

Cities that have been targeted by Russian shelling include:

Dnipro – airport

Mariupol

Severodonetsk – residential houses, hospital, school building

Rubizhne – nitric acid depots

Popasna

The targeting of the railway station in Kramatorsk by Russian forces has been met with large-scale condemnation due to the station’s central role in civilian evacuations. Russian officials have reverted critique and responsibility back at Ukraine, stating that rocket was launched from the missiles system OTR- 21 “Tochka” on the territory of Ukraine.

Fierce fighting is currently taking place in Izyum in the Kharkiv oblast and in Rubizhne in the Luhansk oblast.

The Ombudsman for Human Rights in Ukraine, Lyudmyla Denisova, has made a statement claiming that Russian troops have used cluster munitions in the Kharkiv oblast. The use of indiscriminate weapons, such as cluster munitions, violates the provisions of international humanitarian law and has been banned by relevant conventions.

More than 1200 civilians have reportedly been killed in Kyiv since the beginning of hostilities. The figure is expected to increase as the Ukrainian State Emergency Service continues its search operations in the region.

Ukrainian officials are working to restore electricity and telecommunication networks in the Kyiv region.

An exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia took place on Sunday the 10^th. 26 Ukrainian soldiers were freed.

According to a recent survey, approximately 80% of Ukrainians are defending their country in one way or another. These efforts take the shape of, for example, financial aid, helping fellow citizens by volunteering, providing support in the dissemination of information, restoring critical infrastructure, and serving in the Territorial Defence units or joining the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

Several high-level political visits took place in Ukraine over the weekend. Out of these, the visit of the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was noted to carry significant weight. The Prime Minister was noted to have dedicated considerable time to seeing the central streets of Kyiv together with President Zelenskyy as well as engaging in discussions with residents. The Prime Minister expressed the commitment of the United Kingdom to financially support the post-war reconstruction efforts of Kyiv and the region thus taking patronage over the city.

Several European countries, cities, and companies have expressed their commitment to support the efforts to restore infrastructure in Kyiv, including the rebuilding of hospitals and theatres. The signs of commitment might speak for the further integration of Ukraine into the European Union (EU).

The visit of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to the war-torn suburbs of Kyiv followed by their clear statements regarding the ongoing conflict have been noted as strong signals of support for Ukraine.

The embassy of the Czech Republic to Ukraine has decided to return to Kyiv and the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine has resumed its work in the capital. These developments have been noted as gestures of support and regarded highly both within the Ukrainian general public as well as among policy experts.

Russian forces have continued to conduct reprisals targeting civilians in the territories it controls. Furthermore, Russian forces have sought to strengthen their grip on the information space of these areas. Examples of such attempts include dispersing a pro-Ukrainian rally in Kherson and organising a pro-Russian rally in Nova Kakhovka. Despite the efforts, the pro-Russia rally drew little support from residents.

Ukrainians detained in the so-called filtration camps near Mariupol are reportedly being told that Russian forces have besieged Kyiv and that the Ukrainian government has surrendered. In addition to the misinformation spread in the camps, detained individuals are also being forced to evacuate to the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.

Similar reports have come in from the Kherson oblast, where Ukrainian citizens have been directed to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or forcefully deported to Russia. According to recent statements by the Ombudsman for Human Rights in Ukraine, Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukrainian citizens who are being deported to Russia and residents of the occupied territories have been forced to take on Russian citizenship.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 4.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. 20% of Ukrainian citizens have been internally displaced.

Despite the introduction of the provision of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in EU member states, several countries receiving refugees are yet to approve domestic policies needed for the rolling out of the protective measures. Delays in processes have resulted in lags in the provision of, for example, medical assistants, psychosocial support, and integration assistance. In order to ease processes, joint communication campaigns are being designed.

Despite the continuation of hostilities, the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine estimates that 70% of agricultural land will be sown this season. Should hostilities end and the blockade imposed on Ukrainian ports by Russia be lifted, the threat of international food shortages is expected to abate.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, has proposed the establishment of research programs investigating the causes and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The envisioned programs seek to build bridges between Ukrainian and European researchers.

Representatives of different Christian denominations came together for a prayer for peace in support of Ukraine on Sunday. The prayer was held in St. Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv.

Russian officials continue to dismiss evidence regarding violations of humanitarian and human rights law committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. State officials and sources have in turn continued to spread information regarding violations alleged to have been committed by the Ukrainian army.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has issued a statement claiming that Ukrainian forces are preparing to carry out mass extermination of civilians living in the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic. According to the statement, Ukrainian forces are expected to divert the blame for the planned atrocities on Russian through information campaigns and falsified videos.

The Russian information space has seen several statements underscoring that the evidence related to the atrocities allegedly committed by Russia in Ukraine has been staged. For example, “exhumation of graves in the Kyiv oblast”.

Russian sources have continued to spread narratives comparing Ukraine and the Ukrainian army to ISIS. In addition, claims regarding the terrorist nature of Ukraine as a state, including its state leadership, continue to circulate.

Russia has dismissed and condemned statements made by EU representatives during their recent visits to Kyiv. According to Russian authorities, EU representatives have reiterated the stance of the United States of America and given voice to its attempt to defeat Russia in order to establish a US-led global hegemony.

Russian sources have presented Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Ukraine as proof of Ukraine’s degradation into a British project. According to Russian sources, the United Kingdom was the first country to spread information about the crimes allegedly committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, and the recent visit is yet another sign of the international information operation perpetrated against Russia.

     The above insights have been derived with the help of a search run on Semantrum (semantrum.net). The program enables the analysis of more than 900 Russian media sources.

Russian sources continue to disseminate information regarding rallies held in Germany against Russian speaking citizens in Hanover, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and Lübeck. The rallies are interpreted as those “showing the support of Russia’s policy pledged by citizens of Germany”.

Russian sources have deepened the narratives regarding attacks on Russian border guards in the Kursk oblast. Russian officials have made statements regarding a heightened level of threat of terrorism posed by so-called Ukrainian nationalists in the oblast.

Solo-demonstrations continue to be witnessed across Russia. Demonstrators are by and large detained.

Narratives regarding the large-scale support for President Vladimir Putin’s actions and policies towards Ukraine remain unchanged. Local authorities, labour unions, and religious congregations have publicly sided with state officials.

In his recent Sunday sermon, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’, Kirill, called on all Russians to rally around the Russian government.