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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 05.04.2023 Ukraine MOD 05 Apr 2023
• Russia's 'Barbaric' Logging Of Ukraine's Forests Will Have 'Catastrophic Consequences,' Kyiv Says RFE/RL 05 Apr 2023 -- Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar says Russian forces are carrying out "uncontrolled, barbaric" industrial-scale logging in Ukraine that will "inevitably lead to catastrophic consequences for the environment."
• Ukraine Loses Over 410 Military in Donetsk Direction in Past Day: MoD Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- Ukraine's military losses in the Donetsk direction over the past day amounted to more than 410 soldiers, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
• Ukraine Completes Preparation for Counteroffensive in Zaporozhye Region, Official Says Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- Ukrainian troops have completed preparation for a counteroffensive in the Zaporozhye Region, having accumulated military personnel, armored vehicles and ammunition in this direction, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Zaporozhye regional administration, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Minsk's Peace Plan for Ukraine Could Be Discussed If Clarifications Given: Kremlin Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- Minsk's peace plan for Ukraine could be discussed during the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko if certain points are clarified, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
• Russian Official Indicted by ICC Briefs UN Security Council VOA 05 Apr 2023 -- The Russian official charged alongside President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court for the alleged abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children said Wednesday that Moscow is "fully open" to cooperation in the interest of the children.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Finland becomes NATO member as Russia warns of "counter-measures" People's Daily 05 Apr 2023 -- Finland on Tuesday formally became the 31st member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ending its military non-alignment in the fastest accession procedure in record time. Meanwhile, Russia said it could be forced to take "counter-measures."
• Russia vows countermeasures against Finland's NATO membership People's Daily 05 Apr 2023 -- Russia will respond with "military-technical and other measures" to address the national security threats arising from Finland's accession to NATO, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
• Finland's NATO entry to increase risk of conflict in Europe: Russia Press TV 05 Apr 2023 -- Russia has denounced as "a dangerous historic mistake" Finland's membership in the NATO, saying the move would weaken security in Northern Europe and increase the risk of conflict.
• Russian Diplomat Not Ruling Out New START Doomed, Says Chances of Its Restoration Small Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- It is not excluded that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is doomed, with the chances of the agreement's restoration being little, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

Foreign Policy

• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, April 5, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Apr 2023
• Vladimir Putin received letters of credence from 17 foreign ambassadors President of Russia 05 Apr 2023 -- The President received letters of credence from 17 newly-appointed ambassadors of foreign states. As per tradition, the ceremony took place in the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.
• Putin raps US, EU envoys at Kremlin ceremomy, blames West for degraded ties Press TV 05 Apr 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday berated ambassadors of the United States and the European Union at a ceremony in Kremlin, blaming their countries for a dramatic deterioration in relations with Moscow.
• Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko President of Russia 05 Apr 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a meeting with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in the Kremlin.
• Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the General Debate 2023 Session of the UN Disarmament Commission, New York, 4 April 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Apr 2023
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin television programme, April 5, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Apr 2023
• Russia, US in 'Hot Phase of War' but Relations Should be Maintained, Russia's Top Diplomat Says Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- Russia is in the "hot phase of war" with the United States but It is necessary to maintain relations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday, adding that Russia still hopes that the United States will listen to the voice of reason and resume dialogue.
• Russia, US have passed Cold War stage, in 'hot conflict phase' now: Diplomat Press TV 05 Apr 2023 -- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says certain manifestations of hybrid war used by the United States and its allies against Moscow are completely unprecedented and did not exist during the Cold War.
• Russia Accuses US, EU of Lying About Sanctions Not Hampering Food Exports Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin has accused the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom of falsely claiming that sanctions they have imposed over the Ukrainian conflict do not curb Russian exports of food and fertilizers.
• Federal Court Orders Forfeiture of $826K in Funds Used in Attempt to Export Dual-Use High Precision Jig Grinder to Russia US Dept. of Justice 05 Apr 2023 -- An investigation into the attempted smuggling of a dual-use export-controlled item to Russia in violation of United States export laws and regulations has resulted in the forfeiture of approximately $826,000.
• Blinken Has 'No Doubt' U.S. Journalist Was Wrongfully Detained; Putin Refers To 'Deep Crisis' In Relations RFE/RL 05 Apr 2023 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he has "no doubt" Russia has wrongfully detained a U.S. correspondent for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), but that a formal determination must go through a process before a decision is announced.
• Iran, Russia agree on completion of Rasht-Astara Railway in May ISNA 05 Apr 2023 -- Iran's negotiations with Russia for financing completion of Rasht-Astara Railway will be finalized in May, Abbas Khatibi, deputy at Construction and Development of Transpiration Infrastructures Company informed.

News Reports

• Exclusive: Leaked Files Show China And Russia Sharing Tactics On Internet Control, Censorship RFE/RL 05 Apr 2023 -- Years before Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a "no-limits" partnership and the Kremlin launched a wide-ranging censorship campaign following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Beijing and Moscow were sharing methods and tactics for monitoring dissent and controlling the Internet.
• UK Flagship Aircraft Carrier to Be Deployed in Mediterranean to 'Deter' Russia: Reports Sputnik 05 Apr 2023 -- UK aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea this year to demonstrate the country's naval power and deter "Russian aggression," a British daily reported on Wednesday.