Apr 28 Buongiorno! Up-date

Apr 28, 2022

Overnight developments…

European Commission announced it will suspend import duties on Ukrainian exports to EU for 1 year. It includes the “suspension of all EU anti-dumping and safeguard measures in place on Ukrainian steel exports” for one year.
President Zelensky has accused Russian special services of carrying out attacks in a breakaway region of Moldova.
Pentagon Press Sec - More than half of the howitzers promised to Ukraine have been delivered. US voting today on the ‘lend lease’ programme.
Major shake-up in Bulgaria, as the leading coalition partner - previously seen as dependent on the "pacifist" president Radev - took a clear pro-Ukraine stance today and attacked the president in "presuming that Russia will win this war, while we think Ukraine will win"
Switzerland vetoes German request to re-export Gepard ammunitions to Ukraine. According to Swiss media SRF, Switzerland said its neutrality does not permit providing arms for use in conflict zones, and Gepard tank’s ammunition was originally made in Switzerland.
French government seizes three Russian oligarchs' villas in the south of France. The list includes the property of Oleg Deripaska in Saint Tropez, Kirill Shamalov in Biarritz and Musa Bazhaev in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Russian media is claiming that Ukraine planned to invade Russia and annex the Kuban region.
Kyiv Independent - Defense Minister Reznikov: 'Extremely difficult weeks lie ahead.' Reznikov called on Ukrainians to prepare for several difficult weeks of hostilities with a large-scale offensive by Russian troops in the Donbas. “The enemy is already aware of its strategic defeat, but will still try to inflict as much pain on us as possible,” Reznikov said.
Ukraine World: Russia officially authorizes robbing Ukrainian farmers. Krasnoyarsk legislators permit "expropriation of the surpluss of last year's and this year's harvests of Kherson oblast farmers". -- very similar to during Stalin's "requisitions" of food which caused 1932-33 Holodomor.
Reuters - Canada's lawmakers voted to label Russia's acts in Ukraine as "genocide."

In the occupied Kherson region, Russians have created a prison camp on the territory of a pre-trial detention center where 300 Ukrainian activists and war veterans are being held. According to Ukraine's defense intelligence, people are interrogated, beaten and tortured there

Incidentally…we agree.

Woofers @NotWoofers

Sweden and Finland should submit their NATO applications on May 9 just to mess with the Russians.

Via Reuters - The man who evacuated 200 people from Mariupol in a battered red van, T. Balmforth, P. Zermayalia

As Russian forces tightened their siege of Mariupol and missiles rained down, Mykhailo Puryshev drove into the city six times last month to evacuate its citizens, somehow surviving despite his red van being all but destroyed.

Via DW - How Ukraine separatists are mass conscripting anyone of fighting age

Major recruitment drives were launched in the "Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics" just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. Locals tell DW how young men are living in fear or fleeing the region.

Students are forced to serve in the forces of the 'Donetsk People's Republic'

Via The National News - Ukraine special forces wreak havoc behind Russian lines, Thomas Harding

Ukrainian special forces operating behind enemy lines are hitting supply columns and hampering the Russian offensive, western officials have said.

Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, "Gas might be expensive, but freedom is priceless."

Kaja Kallas @kajakallas

15 years ago #OTD, Estonia was targeted by the first known cyberattacks against a whole nation. It was a wake-up call for many on how malicious actors can misuse cyberspace. Today, Estonia is a #cybersecurity heavyweight. 3rd globally and 1st in Europe. 🧵Some highlights: 1/6

NEXTA @nexta_tv

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of #Europe called for the creation of an international tribunal to investigate crimes committed by the #Russian leadership, as well as the use of confiscated assets of Russian oligarchs for the needs of #Ukrainian refugees.

Join us for EuroFile@6 as Scott and I talk with Ivana Stradner and Natia Seskuria about the latest developments in Ukraine, Transnistria and Georgia.

This will be something to discuss with Natia on Spaces.

Ben Hodges @general_ben

@gvineria Thanks for sharing this. You're right...it is time for clarity. Georgia's leaders should stand up and be very clear about whether or not they are standing with Ukraine and for democracy or are they willing to tolerate or ignore what the Kremlin is doing in Ukraine.

And possibly this as well.

Anders Åslund @anders_aslund

Observations on Russian events: 1. A couple of major fires or explosions in sensitive places every night. Who does it?! 2. Obvious fights among siloviki, seemingly mainly military versus FSB. Rumored or confirmed arrests in all major services. Unprecedented leaks.

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