April, 27

The military offensive of the Russian Federation (hereinafter: Russia) continues across the frontlines. Despite large-scale hostilities, the Russian army has failed to concentrate its efforts on one particular direction and therefore its attacks have become less effective. This has provided Ukrainian troops opportunities to launch successful counterattacks.

Military objectives, critical infrastructure and settlements continue to be subjected to shelling. According

to reports, Russian troops have increased the use of cluster munitions in their attacks.

The Russian military shelled a hospital in Severodonetsk in the Luhansk oblast killing one woman. The hospital was targeted in a previous attack but had remained intact until now.

Since the beginning of the invasion, 102 educational institutions, including schools, kindergartens, and universities, have been destroyed. An additional 1412 educational institutions have been damaged.

Settlements located on the frontlines of the offensive, including Chuhuiv, Mariupol,and Avdiivka, have been targeted by shelling.

The bridge crossing the Dniester estuary in the Odesa oblast has been subject to shelling for the second consecutive day.

The unrecognized breakaway region of Transnistria continues to see destabilization efforts. It is assumed that the Russian special services that are controlling the security situation in Transnistria are engaged in the destabilization of the region, since Transnistrian strategic facilities, such as TV and radio transmission towers, were damaged. It will allow the Russians to mobilize the local population to strengthen army units and possibly take part in the attack on Ukraine from Transnistria. In order to contain these efforts, Ukraine has shelled the Russian command post located on Zmiinyi Island.

Despite the Russian offensive and ongoing hostilities, no significant changes have taken place on the front lines in the Zaporizhzhia oblast.

The Russian army continues to terrorize residents and steal cultural property located in the territories it occupies.

Russian forces are reported to have illegally exported vegetables from the Kherson oblast to Crimea. Furthermore, farmers in the oblast have been forced to agree to give up large parts of their upcoming harvest to the Russian forces.

60 orphans have been moved from Kherson to an unknown location. The children are feared to have been deported to Crimea or Russian territories.

Russian forces are reported to have continued to conduct so-called filtration measures in the Kherson oblast seeking to identify combatants and pro-Ukrainian individuals. Further filtration camps continue to be set up in Mariupol and similar practices have been introduced in the Zaporizhzhia oblast in territories under Russian control.

The Russian military administration is moving forward with its plan to organise a referendum deciding on Kherson oblast’s independence or accession to Russia. Residents of the oblast organised a rally on Wednesday 27 against Russia’s plans and in support of Ukraine. The rally was violently dispersed with tear gas and stun grenades.

According to Russian media sources, Russian officials are planning to organise a referendum regarding the full annexation of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic in May.

The political leadership of Russia continues to use increasingly militarized rhetoric when speaking of the situation in Ukraine. President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, made a statement emphasising that intervention by any country in Ukraine would be taken as a direct threat to Russia triggering immediate response. The president’s statements reiterated the already existing anti-European and anti-American rhetoric claiming that western nations have turned Ukraine against Russia, hence justifying the military operation. Furthermore, the president repeated claims of Ukrainian laboratories preparing biological weapons and alluded to the potential use of nuclear weapons. Claims related to the existence of such laboratories were echoed by the Russian Investigative Committee.

Russian sources have disseminated statements and articles voicing a heightened risk of World War III due to the arms deliveries provided to Ukraine by European nations and the United States.

Russian officials have emphasized that they will do everything possible to liberate Ukraine from Nazism.

President Vladimir Putin’s speech delivered in the meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has been published on the president’s website and is being spread across the Russian media landscape. In his speech, President Putin highlighted Russia’s role as one of the founding countries of the United Nations and underlined that according to the United Nations Charter, all nations are equal regardless of their size. The president also underscored that Donbas is a breakaway region fighting for its legitimate right to self-determination and Russia’s support for the so-called People’s Republic of Donbas thus conforms with international law.

Russian sources are disseminating official statements claiming that the so-called special military operation in Ukraine is in full conformity with the United Nations Charter.

Russian media has published articles regarding breakthroughs achieved in negotiations held on March 29- 30 in Istanbul. According to Russian sources, the breakthroughs have however been watered down due to Ukraine’s unconstructive position regarding reaching a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the conflict. Based on Russian reports, Ukraine is unwilling to negotiate on questions related to Crimea, Sevastopol, and the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.

Russian officials maintain that the Russian army had nothing to do with the atrocities committed in Bucha and continue to dismiss all evidence presented on the war crimes committed by its forces in Ukraine.

The media in Russia have continued promoting positive images of Russian troops providing humanitarian

aid to civilians suffering from the hostilities perpetrated by the Ukrainian army.

The Security Council of Russia convened a meeting on the security of Russia’s southern regions on Wednesday. In his remarks, the secretary of the Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, spoke about the crimes committed by the Ukrainian army and the need to fight Nazism in Ukraine.

Russian media sources have spread various articles and posts regarding foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, approximately 16 military units consisting of mercenaries representing 50 countries are currently fighting in Ukraine.

Russian authorities have launched administrative proceedings against Russian citizens publicly speaking against or discrediting the Russian army.