Expulsion of Russian diplomats from Germany, another air bomb in Belgorod: highlights of the day

Zelenskyy imposes new sanctions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted National Security and Defense Council sanctions against Russia. The list includes a number of Russian research and production companies, political parties, and citizens of Russia, Iran, Mali, and Switzerland.

In total, the list of individuals subject to sanctions includes 40 people and 382 legal entities.

Expulsion of Russian diplomats

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Germany has decided to "massively expel" Russian diplomats, and therefore Russia is expelling German diplomats in response.

︎According to BILD, 34 of the 90 German diplomats in Moscow are to leave the country.

Another aerial bomb in Belgorod

In the Russian city of Belgorod, where a Russian plane accidentally dropped a bomb the day before, another unexploded shell was found near residential high-rises. An emergency was declared in the city and local residents were evacuated.

Later, regional authorities said that the bomb had been removed from the residential sector, and people were gradually being returned to their apartments.

Ramstein 11 outcome

On April 21, the eleventh meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) took place in Germany. The United States announced that in the coming weeks it would begin training Ukrainian military personnel to use and maintain Abrams tanks.

At the same time, Washington was reluctant to talk about modern Western fighters.

The situation at the front

The Russian occupiers are focusing their main efforts on conducting offensive operations on the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka axes. Ukrainian defenders repelled about 40 attacks there over the last day. The fiercest fighting continues for Bakhmut and Maryinka in Donetsk Oblast.

In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter and four unmanned aerial vehicles over the last day.

Ukraine calls on partners to provide 10 times more weapons

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Melnyk called on partners to cross all "artificial red lines" and allocate 1% of GDP to supply weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine needs 10 times more military assistance in 2023 to end Russian aggression.

Mine explosions

The Ministry of Defense reported that 124 people have been killed by mines in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Among them are six children.

This was followed by a report of a new explosion: a 30-year-old civilian man was killed in Kherson Oblast as a result of an explosion on explosives left by Russian occupiers on the river bank.

Other news:

• Brazilian President Lula has responded to the invitation to visit Ukraine by sending his advisor;
• India suspends purchases of Russian weapons for fear of US sanctions;
• A "court" in Crimea sentenced a Crimean Tatar to seven years in prison for 500 UAH he allegedly transferred to the Dobrobat NGO;
• the Chinese ambassador said that former Soviet countries "have no status in international law". Estonia demands clarification;
• Ukraine asks G7 countries for special equipment to demine territories, including agricultural land;
• Ukraine will build up to 20 nuclear power units with small modular reactors;
• Stephen King invited Musk to give his blue tick on Twitter to the Serhiy Prytula Foundation.