/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 1519, Part 1 (Thread #1666)

[New post can be found here](/r/worldnews/comments/1su4xkt/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/)

An article about Prince Harry trying to convince Trump to aid Ukraine https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/24/ukraine-war-briefing-trump-bristles-at-prince-harrys-passionate-plea-for-ukraine

Stanimir Dobrev said yesterday that if severstal is not making money in the steel industry (inside russia), then nobody is. A bit of confirmation: >MMK remained unprofitable in Q1 2026, pressured by weak demand and prices. MOSCOW, April 23 (Reuters) - Russian steel group MMK remained unprofitable in the first quarter amid falling sales and production due to weak demand in Russia, the company said. The company, controlled by businessman Viktor Rashnikov, posted a loss of 1.37 billion rubles in January-March 2026, compared to a loss of 25.5 billion rubles in the fourth quarter and a profit of 3.1 billion rubles in the first quarter a year earlier. Revenue decreased by 18.6% to 129.025 billion rubles, reflecting lower sales and prices. EBITDA fell by 54.6% to 8.6 billion rubles. Free cash flow was negative at 14.41 billion rubles. [https://archive.is/lyeJz](https://archive.is/lyeJz)

>Wow...the balance in the 🇷🇺 treasury accounts has dropped to 3.840 trillion. THAT'S THE LOWEST IN 3 YEARS!!!! It's noteworthy that in December the balance was 12 trillion rubles, and now it's 3.84 trillion!!!!! [https://bsky.app/profile/savonianfella.bsky.social/post/3mk5qi2yehc2k](https://bsky.app/profile/savonianfella.bsky.social/post/3mk5qi2yehc2k)

>The outflow of funds from 🇷🇺 Russian banks continues. In April, 495 billion rubles were withdrawn from banks. Since the beginning of the year, cash outflow has amounted to 546 billion rubles. The population is losing confidence in the Russian banking system. [https://bsky.app/profile/savonianfella.bsky.social/post/3mk5lydabxs2k](https://bsky.app/profile/savonianfella.bsky.social/post/3mk5lydabxs2k)

> Russia: “Another major oil storage facility in Russia caught fire due to a drone attack.” 👉 Gorky oil pumping station in the Nizhny Novgorod region > “At least two of the station's four 50,000 cubic meter storage tanks, part of the Transneft system, are burning, Reuters sources said. > The Gorky pumping station, located 50 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod, pumps oil for export to the port of Primorsk on the Baltic Sea" 50,000 cubic metres is about 315k barrels of oil or ~3% of russian daily production. They probably aren't full. https://bsky.app/profile/prune602.bsky.social/post/3mk6hwoiad22n

>REPO came in at 4.48 trillion rubles, up slightly since last week. Still a massive, system-shaping amount. Banks turned around and bought 258 billion rubles worth of bonds. [https://bsky.app/profile/ukrainewarpod.bsky.social/post/3mk54strbns2u](https://bsky.app/profile/ukrainewarpod.bsky.social/post/3mk54strbns2u) >Should the Bank of Russia ever try to raise rates, it will cause banks enormous losses given their 4.5 trillion ruble exposure to REPO. The Bank will therefore continue to lower rates even if inflation increases. [https://bsky.app/profile/ukrainewarpod.bsky.social/post/3mk543hzzrs2u](https://bsky.app/profile/ukrainewarpod.bsky.social/post/3mk543hzzrs2u)

Deep state has a negative update on Kostyantinivka. It's long, with more negative details at the link. > The enemy is actively trying to infiltrate the city, using a large number of infantry. The most significant infiltrations and attempts at accumulation are being recorded in the private sector on the south-eastern outskirts of Konstantinovka. The dense development of the private sector allows them to hide in ruins and buildings, which complicates the strike and search operations for Ukrainian pilots. The corresponding zone is becoming increasingly dangerous the further it goes, as the steady accumulation of the enemy and his entrenchment there will allow him to infiltrate deeper into the city, which is already happening in isolated, but fortunately unsuccessful attempts. https://t . me/DeepStateUA/23432

>The electronic budget system shows a 7.15 trillion ruble deficit as of 21 April 2026 [https://bsky.app/profile/prune602.bsky.social/post/3mk5cvnfiw222](https://bsky.app/profile/prune602.bsky.social/post/3mk5cvnfiw222)

> Russian police officers beat a double-amputee war veteran and forcibly restrained his wife during a mistaken house raid in the Tula region last week, according to the pro-Kremlin media outlet Regnum. Authorities later attempted to pressure the family into dropping their complaint. The victim, Sergey Zadeyev, lost both his legs fighting in Moscow’s war against Ukraine and is registered as a first-degree disabled veteran. > The 15 April raid was reportedly part of a “preventative” police sweep targeting Roma residents following a stabbing the previous weekend, despite the suspect in that case already being in custody. According to Zadeyev, officers climbed the fence of the family’s home searching for its previous owner, twisted his wife’s arms behind her back, and struck the veteran in the face and kicked him when he tried to intervene. When the family identified Zadeyev as a combat veteran, officers reportedly mocked them, saying “that doesn’t mean that nobody can touch him”. > After the family visited a hospital to document their injuries and filed a complaint, an official they believed to be the officers’ superior called to apologise and ask them to drop the matter. An Investigative Committee official went further, suggesting the officers had merely “overdone it”, and then threatened to file criminal charges against Zadeyev for resisting and insulting officers if the family proceeded. > The Investigative Committee has since opened a preliminary inquiry into the officers for abusing their authority, while simultaneously noting the victims’ conduct “may also show signs of violation”. The Interior Ministry confirmed the raids took place, describing Zadeyev as a resident who “behaved inadequately” and required police intervention. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2026/04/22/russian-police-beat-up-double-amputee-war-veteran-after-breaking-into-his-home-by-mistake-en-news

New threads from ChrisO\_wiki 1/ Russia's economic crisis is deepening, with mass layoffs at public sector organisations and heavily indebted state corporations. It's a further sign of the severe strain on the Russian government's finances caused by the Ukraine war, and is a major political risk for Putin. ⬇️ [https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5iq6gd5l2p](https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5iq6gd5l2p) [https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/2047217270137434508.html](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/2047217270137434508.html) 1/ Complaints about Internet blocks from Russian Instagram celebrities are obscuring a host of other problems, many caused by the Ukraine war, argues journalist Anastasia Kashevarova. Her long list highlights the increasingly severe difficulties faced by Russia's population. ⬇️ [https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5koifedv2p](https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5koifedv2p) 1/ Russia's growing economic and social problems, exacerbated by the government's own policies, are causing even loyal pro-Putin commentators to warn of a looming crisis. Yuri Baranchik warns that people are increasingly blaming the government for making their lives worse. ⬇️ [https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5nhoukrc2c](https://bsky.app/profile/chriso-wiki.bsky.social/post/3mk5nhoukrc2c)

> 🔥⚡️Operators of the “Birds of Magyar” eliminated three Russian air defence systems, including two Tor-M2 systems and one Osa in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. > 💥 Additional strikes targeted fuel tanks, locomotive and logistics depots in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Video has some follow up and includes drones dodging two air defence missiles launched by the targets. Some annoying cuts but overall excellent video. https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3mk63rf7tyk2k

**The estimated total russian war losses from 24.02.22 to 23.04.26 inclusive are as follows****:** * personnel - approximately 1 322 550 (+1 100); * tanks ‒ 11 888 (+3); * armored fighting vehicles ‒ 24 441 (+5); * special equipment ‒ 4 134 (+2); * vehicles and fuel tanks ‒ 91 127 (+202). * artillery systems ‒ 40 574 (+58); * MLRS ‒ 1 752 **(+3)**; * air defense assets ‒ 1 351 (+1). * aircraft ‒ 435; * helicopters ‒ 350; * UAVs (operational-tactical level) ‒ 253 430 (+1 941); * cruise missiles ‒ 4 549. * warships and boats ‒ 33; * submarines ‒ 2. Source [https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/total-russian-combat-losses-in-ukraine-as-of-april-23-2026](https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/total-russian-combat-losses-in-ukraine-as-of-april-23-2026) Russia grows weaker every day. Slava Ukraini!

The loan is official. Of note €60B of the €90B is earmarked for defense, the remaining economic. https://xcancel.com/defenceu/status/2047295979469025296?s=46&t=atIpeQGVIhaOOydeLGsHZw

[Kyiv honors fallen stand-up comedian and soldier Artur Petrov | New Voice of Ukraine](https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukrainian-soldier-and-comedian-artur-petrov-laid-to-rest-in-kyiv-50601239.html) > Kyiv has paid final respects to Ukrainian stand-up comedian and serviceman Artur Petrov, who was killed on March 18, 2026, while evacuating wounded soldiers in Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kharkiv Oblast. > Petrov served in the 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. The farewell ceremony with military honors was held at Maidan Nezalezhnosti near the Independence Monument. He was buried at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. Mourners brought fresh flowers to honor the defender. > Petrov joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in April 2025. Before the war, he worked as a television scriptwriter and performed stand-up comedy for more than seven years. He took part in popular TV projects, including Rozsmishi Komika, GoodNightClub, and Komik na Milyon. He is survived by his wife, Kateryna Yablinska, and two children.

[ Ukrainian soldier awarded Hero of Ukraine title for spending 343 days at positions without break | Ukrainian Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/23/8031427/) > President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Gold Star on Captain Oleksii Mykhailov, alias "Botanik" (Nerd). Mykhailov, a service member from the 3rd Mountain Assault Battalion of the Zakarpattia unit – Ukraine's 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade – stayed in the contact zone for almost a full year without relief – 343 days in total. He arrived at the positions on 1 April 2025 and left on 8 March 2026. > "His combat record includes the Zaporizhzhia front, the defence of positions, some of the most difficult battlefield episodes, and 343 uninterrupted days at the positions. Under his command, the unit held its sector, repelled enemy assaults and retained its positions." > Oleksii, 37, is from Luhansk Oblast. He received the rank of officer while studying at V.N. Karazin National University in Kharkiv, where he completed military training. He joined the armed forces at the end of 2020 and later signed a one-year contract that was due to end in June 2022 – but in February, Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine began. > Not a single member of Oleksii's company is a career soldier. They are all former civilians. Yet during the defence of the Orikhiv front they have repelled every Russian assault and held every position. > Oleksii (alias "Botanik") said he had tried to make life at the front easier for his soldiers, as poor living conditions, lack of proper food and the unchanging surroundings put significant psychological pressure on them and can trigger minor conflicts. "To minimise this, I tried to rotate people – moving them from one position to another," he said. "And it helped." > Two of the soldiers died: one at the position itself (he lay down to have a rest after duty at an observation post and never woke up – his heart stopped), the other immediately after leaving the combat zone (he, too, lay down, on a bed in a village in the contact zone, and never woke up – he died of heart failure). Both were over the age of 50. > "Ideally an infantryman would spend a month in combat and a month recovering in a frontline village. But the way things are at the moment, this is completely unrealistic because we don't have enough people," Botanik complained. "I see my primary role as a commander as minimising personnel losses – ideally ensuring there are none at all," Botanik says. "But unfortunately in war, and in the infantry, that's not possible. As for my personal motivation, I don't want my loved ones, my daughter, to see what I see – explosions, bombs, destroyed villages, death. That's why I'm here." > After his combat deployment, Oleksii was granted leave – a "full" 15 days . He was home for his daughter's 10th birthday, and he gave her a bike and taught her how to ride it. Then he went back to his unit.

[Ukraine brings home over 2,100 kids abducted by Russia | New Voice of Ukraine](https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-brings-back-2-100-children-kidnapped-by-moscow-50602244.html) > Ukraine was able to bring home more than 2100 children abducted by Russia, 150 since the start of 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on April 22. > The President announced on his social media accounts that he had received a report from the Bring Kids Back UA team representatives Alexander Bevz and Maksym Maksymov regarding the initiative’s progress. “Overall, since the launch of Bring Kids Back UA, more than 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have been returned home. Of these, 150 have been returned since the beginning of this year,” he stated. > Zelenskyy discussed international support efforts with the Bring Kids Back UA team. > The President emphasized that, recently, and for the first time, the UN has classified the deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children as a crime against humanity. Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine is preparing for a ministerial-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels on May 11. > “We expect broad representation, concrete decisions, and practical support from partners,” he added.

F*** putin!

[Russia rapidly transfers major forces to Donetsk Oblast | New Voice of Ukraine](https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/15-trucks-of-russian-engineering-units-head-toward-donetsk-oblast-50602531.html) > A large movement of Russian army units from the Hulyaipole direction of Zaporizhzhya Oblast has been recorded, Center for the Study of the Occupation head Petro Andriushchenko reported on April 23, publishing the relevant footage. > The Russians are right now transferring a large number (over 15 trucks) of primarily engineering units towards the north of Donetsk Oblast," Andriushchenko stated. > Furthermore, the transfer of Russian assault and marine units was recorded in the direction of Mariupol – Novoazovsk district – Donetsk (the old Novoazovsk road), he said. > This transfer "took place hastily and secretly," Andriushchenko highlighted. > "The intermediate result this week is a more technical movement towards the north of Donetsk Oblast and additional manpower transfer to the Hulyaipole sector." > Another transfer of Russian soldiers was spotted in temporarily occupied Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Andriushchenko reported on April 19. Russian invaders were moving toward temporarily occupied Berdyansk and Melitopol. > The transfer lasted for nearly three days, according to him. > The Russians now view the Zaporizhzhya direction as their primary focus and are concentrating a significant amount of forces and equipment there, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi noted on March 15. The intensity of offensive operations in the Hulyaipole area is significantly higher compared to other directions, according to the commander-in-chief.

[🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/specialkhersoncat.bsky.social/post/3mk5skje3uk2i) > Footage shows the British Windracers ULTRA operating near the frontline in Ukraine. Capable of carrying 150+ kg and flying for up to 10 hours or 2,000 km.

[Lewi Whalberg | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/anno1540.bsky.social/post/3mk5vgdla422q) > News of the death of a serviceman from the Ternopil region - Petro Deykalo 🙏💔 > Petro Deykalo was from the village of Chabarivka. > He died💔 while performing a combat mission in the Sumy region. > He was 48 years old. > Since June 23, 2025, he has been considered missing > Eternal memory to the Hero!🙏❤️🇺🇦

[🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦‬ | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mk5wquxetk2d) > On the night of April 23, the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck a missile and artillery weapons depot and a material and technical support warehouse in the area of Sartana (temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region), a train with petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) in the area of Voznesenivka (temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region), a P-18 radar station in the area of Yevpatoria (temporarily occupied territory of Crimea), and an enemy UAV control point near Strilecha in Kharkiv region.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Russian forces have again deployed foreign recruits in high-risk assault operations, this time involving a group of Kenyan nationals, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR). According to HUR, several Kenyan citizens were killed while taking part in front-line assaults. One of them was identified by the “I Want to Live” project as Eric Mwangi Nyambura, born in 2003. [Read more](https://united24media.com/latest-news/russia-claims-it-got-invited-to-g20-in-the-us-who-will-represent-moscow-remains-a-mystery-18160)

❗️Yesterday, on April 22, the 🇺🇦Unmanned Systems Forces attacked the command post of the 🇷🇺FSB Special Forces Mobile Operations Directorate in temporarily occupied Donetsk. The command post was destroyed. 12 officers were eliminated, and another 15 were wounded. New age fragging. Give the enemy your commanders location so they can be drone swarmed. Seems like those reports of drone superiority in Donetsk was accurate. https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mk5tremhi22d

[NOELREPORTS | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mk5czs2los2u) > NASA FIRMS detected a fire on the Arabat Spit, an area used by Russian military units. The site was hit in 2023 by a Storm Shadow strike that killed Russian Interior Ministry colonel Serhiy Postovalov. #Ukraine

[NOELREPORTS | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mk5cv7mbrk2u) > NASA FIRMS detected a major fire at the Feodosia oil depot after renewed explosions overnight, with over half of its fuel tanks already destroyed in earlier attacks. #Ukraine

[NOELREPORTS | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mk5cqwj44s2u) > Ukrainian drones have struck the Novokuybyshevsk petrochemical plant in Samara region, igniting part of the facility. The regional governor confirmed industrial sites were targeted, with preliminary analysis pointing to a hit on a fuel additive production unit. #Russia

[NOELREPORTS | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mk5clzteoc2u) > Ukrainian drones have struck Kstovo, setting an oil facility on fire and likely hitting a storage tank, with possible impact on the Gorky pumping station in the pipeline network. FIRMS data shows an ongoing strong fire. #Russia [NOELREPORTS | BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mk5csfxjxs2u) > Ukrainian drones have struck the Gorky pumping station in Kstovo district, setting fire to at least one 50000 cubic meter oil storage tank. #Russia

What's the story behind the Druzhba pipeline? Why did Zelensky delay the repairs until after the Hungarian elections? Wouldn't it have been more advantageous to restore the flow as soon as possible, giving Orbán less reason to maintain his veto? And what does Orbán stand to lose politically if the pipeline stays out of service?

This is nuts! How in the world can they loose 1.3 mill people and nobody freaking out. And what do they even have to show for it. So sad.

Russia has lost 1,100 soldiers killed and wounded, 58 artillery systems and 202 vehicles and fuel tankers over the past day. **Source:** [Russian losses over past day: 1,100 soldiers killed and wounded | Ukrainska Pravda](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/23/8031393/) **Details:** The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 23 April 2026 are estimated to be as follows \[figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.\]: * approximately 1,322,550 **(+1,100)** military personnel * 11,888 **(+3)** tanks * 24,441 **(+5)** armoured combat vehicles * 40,574 **(+58)** artillery systems * 1,752 **(+3)** multiple-launch rocket systems * 1,351 **(+1)** air defence systems * 435 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft * 350 (+0) helicopters * 253,430 **(+1,941)** operational-tactical UAVs * 4,549 (+0) cruise missiles * 33 (+0) ships/boats * 2 (+0) submarines * 91,127 **(+202)** vehicles and fuel tankers * 4,134 **(+2)** special vehicles and other equipment. The information is being confirmed.

Go Ukraine. Destroy them all.

[Previous post can be found here](/r/worldnews/comments/1ssam5p/rworldnews_live_thread_russian_invasion_of/)