Key messages on Russia's war against Ukraine. As of 11.00, 13 April

1. WAR SITUATION

Russia’s original invasion plan aimed in particular at simultaneous seizure of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa has failed. Currently, the Russian troops are being regrouped in order to support the offensive operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, most notably the city of Mariupol, with the aim to move the front line to the administrative boundaries of those two regions, and to make another attempt to seize the city of Kharkiv. A large-scale ground operation is expected:

Following military defeats on the ground, Russia has withdrawn its forces from the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions. It was not a “good-will gesture”, as stated by Kremlin; it was the result of Ukrainian military actions. In other areas, the Russian troops are being regrouped and replenished in order to renew the advance into Ukraine’s territory;
134,500 new conscripts are expected to join Russia’s army as a result of annual spring conscription, which started on 1 April. From 4 April to 23 May, Russia holds a military meeting with reservists: the hidden mobilization may take place of about 60 thousand people;
Russia fires missiles (almost 2,000 as of 10 April, including hundreds to the residential areas), attacks with aviation, tanks and artillery, and sends subversion and reconnaissance groups (>600 members of such groups were detained since the start of war as of 4 April);
Russian warships shell the coast line. Ukraine’s coast is now temporarily blocked by Russia. Amphibious landing to the Odesa region remains possible;
Russia has air advantage, which it actively uses by attacking military positions and civilian objects and infrastructure, killing dozens of civilians daily, bombing Ukrainian airports;
Russian troops and illegal armed formations stationed in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova demonstrate readiness for the offensive operations against Ukraine;
Several towns are temporarily occupied (including Kherson, Berdiansk, Melitopol and Izium). Some continue to be attacked and besieged on the ground, with severe damage to residential areas and numerous casualties among civilians (Kharkiv, Mariupol, Mykolaiv);

Russian troops actively mine vast areas of Ukraine even while retreating, including with anti-personnel mines. Demining of the liberated territories will take months to complete;

In the Black Sea, floating Russian mines seized by Russia in Crimea in 2014 and released in 2022, pose the gravest security threat to all vessels;
Russia organizes cyber-attacks (120 since the start of war, as of 2 April) through the specialized hacker groups affiliated with the Federal Security Service and the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and fake news campaigns aimed to sow panic in Ukraine and cut off Ukrainian citizens from the official information sources.
There are no places left in Ukraine without an overt military threat, be it shellings or infiltration of sabotage groups, members of which continue to be detained in all regions;
According to rough estimates of Ukrainian experts, the cost of month of war for Russia amounts to 610 bln USD, which is comparable to Russia’s frozen assets abroad;
Three mutual exchanges of captives took place between Ukraine and Russia, the most recent one on 8 April (12 Ukrainian military and 14 Ukrainian civilians).

The territory of Belarus is actively used by Russia for its military purposes:

Missiles are launched from the territory of Belarus, airfield and rail networks are used for transportation of Russian personnel, cargo, ammunition, and fuel;

Direct engagement of Belarus armed forces remains probable. On 11 March, the Russian aircrafts entered Ukraine’s air space and shelled three villages in Belarus located on the border with Ukraine. This was a false flag operation, aimed at providing pretext for Belarus direct engagement into Russia’s war;

Lukashenka’s regime shares responsibility with Kremlin for its war against Ukraine. At the same time, only 3% of Belarus residents support joining this war.

Despite significant military advantage, Russia failed to reach its key goals:

Ukraine did not surrender in three days, as Kremlin was expecting. Kyiv as a political and military command centre remains intact, the Russian troops were withdrawn from it;
No big cities with the only exception of Kherson were taken. Ukraine managed to establish defense and counter-attack. Dozens of towns and villages were liberated in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Sumy regions. Russian troops regroup and attempt to control the already captured positions;
No one greets Russia in Ukraine. In the towns temporarily under control of Russian troops, the Ukrainian population is actively protesting against them. Anti-Russian demonstrations continue until now despite intimidations and hunt by the Russian occupiers for activists, journalists and local authorities (in the town of Melitopol alone, ~100 people were kidnapped). In the city of Kherson, Russian occupiers attempted to establish another fake “people’s republic”: both local residents and local authorities rejected this stage show;
Aggressive war against Ukraine has only confirmed that Russia is the most serious threat to European security. Finland and Sweden started considering joining NATO in the next few months, which would run totally contrary to putin’s goals related to the NATO on Russia’s borders when he took the decision to attack Ukraine.

Kremlin attempts to conceal truth about war and real losses of the Russian troops in Ukraine:

Russia is regularly trying to shift responsibility for its war crimes to Ukraine, delivering fake stories and false allegations (as was the case for instance on Kramatorsk railway station fired by the Russian “Tochka-U” missile on 8 April);
Afraid of mass anti-war protests, the Russian authorities block social networks, intimidate media, introduce censorship, high fines and imprisonment up to 15 years for delivering true information about the war started against Ukraine;
Russian troops use mobile crematoriums and mass graves for those killed in actions;
There are reports on failed parachutes of Russian pilots shot down by Ukrainian defenders. This may indicate the deliberate actions by the Russian command to prevent their capture and evidence about war crimes;
The Russian authorities do not inform soldiers’ families on their fate;
As of 27 March, seven Russian high-ranking officers were known to have been killed in Ukraine, including major generals and lieutenants generals. The Russian side had acknowledged the death of only one of them;
Still, the truth cannot be hidden. On 9 March, Russia recognized the use of conscripts. On 21 March, one of Kremlin’s propaganda media published the information that the Russian authorities have admitted the loss of 9,861 in manpower and 16,153 wounded (this information was subsequently deleted from the web-page). On 25 March, Russian military officials stated the loss of 1,351 in manpower and 3,825 wounded;
On 31 March, Russia has blocked extension of the mandate of the OSCE SMM, which could shed additional light on Russia’s war and crimes against Ukraine;
On 8 April, the Russian authorities banned 15 NGOs in Russia, including “Human Rights Watch” and “Amnesty International”;
According to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, 20 Ukrainian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the full-scale war by Russia.

Having failed to make Ukraine surrender after a “Blitzkrieg”, Russia started searching for fake pretexts to “justify” its war of aggression:

Despite Russia’s false allegations, Ukraine has neither intention, nor steps taken aimed at creation of nuclear weapon. This was confirmed by IAEA Director General on 4 March;
Various Russian officials falsely accuse Ukraine of non-existent biological or chemical weapons. This was dismantled by the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs as well as UN Member States at the UN SC briefings on 11 and 18 March;
Russia’s claims that Ukraine needs to be “demilitarized” sound even more absurd, looking at the numbers of troops, heavy weapons and aircrafts sent by it to invade Ukraine.

Ukraine has activated its right for self-defense according to the UN Charter Article 51. We continue to fight and we will win:

Ukraine’s Armed Forces fight Russia’s Armed Forces, inflicting devastating blows to them. More than 110,000 Ukrainian citizens joined the territorial defence units. Nearly 40,000 volunteers from dozens of countries are joining Ukraine’s International Legion;
Following the failure of initial invasion plan and partial withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine, Russia pursues “hidden” mobilization, searches for mercenaries and private military companies, sends troops from the occupied parts of Georgia to replenish losses;
The Russian troops are suffering heavy losses. As of 13 April, they constitute about 19,800 personnel, 158 aircrafts, 143 helicopters, 132 UAVs, 739 tanks, 1,964 armored vehicles, 358 artillery systems, 115 MLRS, 64 anti-aircraft systems, 7 vessels/boats;
Nearly 600 Russian militaries remain captive in Ukraine. The moral and psychological state of the Russian troops remains low. More and more Russian soldiers refuse to go to war. Russia’s Ministry of Defense updated the contracts for military personnel, adding a provision establishing criminal liability for refusing to participate in the so-called «special operation» in the territory of Ukraine (before that, criminal liability was envisaged for refusing to participate in a war);
Attacking Ukraine, Russia is exhausting its stocks of missiles. Its military-industrial complex has to work 24/7 to replenish them;
Over 20 Russian military enterprises were forced to suspend their activities in whole or in part due to shortage of parts and components, as well as rising prices due to sanctions, including the research and production enterprise «Vimpel» (production of aircraft missiles) and the only Russian tank company «Uralvagonzavod»;
95% of Ukrainian citizens (as of 5 April) are convinced that we will win this defensive war against Russia. 91% of Ukrainian citizens reject Russia’s narrative that “Russians and Ukrainians are one people”. Mayors of Ukrainian towns reject Russia’s proposals to surrender despite intimidations and atrocities committed by the Russian occupiers;
On 19 March, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine took the decision to suspend during the martial law any activity of several political parties, linked to Russia;
On 9 April, Ukraine imposed a full trade embargo against the Russian Federation. This will decrease Russia’s revenue for 6 bln USD per year.

Russia’s irresponsible actions pose the gravest nuclear and chemical contamination threats:

On 4 March, the entire Europe was put on the brink of nuclear disaster, when the Russian troops began shelling the largest in Europe Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. It remains seized by Russian military (up to 500 military personnel and 50 military vehicles are stationed now). Representatives of “Rosatom” are also present;
From 24 February to 31 March, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was under control of the Russian troops. A lot of laboratory equipment and archives were destroyed or stolen. The full impact is now being assessed. The Russian military have twice damaged the power line, which could lead to the leak of radiation (both times, the Ukrainian repair teams restored it). During the occupation of the exclusion zone, fires were recorded in natural complexes and abandoned villages affecting the area of about 10,287 ha;
On 10, 26 and 28 March, Russian troops fired facilities of Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, which contain nuclear material and an experimental reactor;
On 20 March, the site of PJSC «SumyHimProm» was shelled, which caused ammonia leakage from a 50-ton tank. On 5 and 9 April, a cistern with nitric acid was damaged by Russian shelling in the town of Rubiznhe, causing its leakage and danger to local residents;
Russia’s nuclear-deterrence forces remain on alert. Threats by nuclear war continue.

2. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Faced with military defeats, losses of personnel and vigorous resistance, the Russian troops began indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities with missile strikes and heavy artillery. Being aware that it will not be able to win this war, Russia deliberately destroys Ukraine’s economy:

Since the start of war, Russia has sent hundreds of missiles to the residential areas;
Documents and maps seized by Ukrainian troops from Russian prisoners of war, as well as intercepted communications, confirm that bombardments and shelling of residential areas have deliberate character;
Extensive environmental damage is also present, as water supply and sewage systems and communications are targeted, port infrastructure along the coasts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is attacked, and nature and biosphere reserves and national nature parks have suffered significant losses;
The number of civilians killed by Russian troops exceeds military losses. In the liberated towns and villages, Ukrainian servicemen continue to find dead civilians, killed with their hands tied in dozens by Russian army;
While retreating, Russian troops plant mines in the previously seized Ukrainian territories, leaving them even in the children toys;
There is evidence of civilians being forcibly transferred to the territory of Russia and Belarus from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. From Mariupol alone, 31,000 people have been trafficked to the filtration camps and further to the Russian territory and parts of Ukraine, temporarily occupied by Russia.

Humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. The Russian troops commit war crimes which need to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice. We expect international community to condemn these war crimes and contribute to bringing Russia to justice:

The residential areas of such cities as Kharkiv, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, and many others, are intensively shelled, leaving daily dozens of innocent civilians killed and wounded;
On 8 April, Russian missile attack of Kramatorsk railway station left 57 people dead and 109 wounded. Almost 4,000 civilians including children and women were at that moment at the station, trying to evacuate from the war zone. Following this attack, many civilians took the decision not to evacuate, which would further put their lives under risk;
The worst situation remains in the besieged city of Mariupol, which is now almost destroyed. Nearly 130,000 civilians remain in blockade without water, heat, electricity, and communications. The number of civilians who lost their lives in Mariupol due to Russian attacks and blockade is estimated to reach 10,000. There are reports that the Russian occupiers began destroying evidence of their crimes in Mariupol, burning the bodies of Ukrainian citizens killed by them in mobile crematoria. On 11 April, the Russian troops used a poisonous substance against Ukrainian military and civilians in the city of Mariupol, its origin is currently being assessed;
In the liberated town of Bucha, hundreds of civilians were found, murdered by the Russian troops during occupation. According to some reports (to be officially verified during investigations), almost 90% of victims had bullet wounds, not shrapnel ones, meaning that they were not random collateral casualties of war, but killed deliberately, on purpose. 403 bodies have been taken by the law enforcement agencies for examination. As of 13 April, 163 of this number have already been identified. In the towns of Borodianka and Hostomel located close to Bucha, hundreds of civilians more went missing, were killed or wounded. The massacre committed by the Russian military demonstrates real hatred towards Ukrainians and represents war crimes. Ukraine’s investigative task forces work on recording them and identifying all those involved;
The UN OHCHR recorded 4,450 confirmed civilian casualties in Ukraine: 1,892 killed and 2,558 injured (as of midnight 11 April). The OHCHR believes that the real figures are considerably higher. In the Kyiv region alone, as of 10 April the Ukrainian authorities found 1222 dead civilians who lost their lives during Russia’s occupation;
According to UNICEF, the war in Ukraine has led to the displacement of 4.5 mln children – more than half of the country’s estimated 7.5 mln child population, including 2 mln children who have crossed into neighbouring countries as refugees and 2.5 mln who are now internally displaced inside Ukraine. In some occupied towns along the front line, the Russian troops force children to go to school, using them as a human shield;
Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine is investigating crimes committed by Russia during the full-scale invasion including the killing 191 children and injuring over 349 (as of 13 April). The data on children killed and injured in Mariupol is being established;
196 healthcare facilities and 300 kindergartens were destroyed or damaged by the Russian troops. 84 educational institutions were entirely destroyed and 844 more were damaged (as of 12 April). Roads, airports and bridges, fuel stations and oil refineries, food warehouses and water reservoirs continue to be targeted. >7,000 residential buildings and 59 religious buildings were damaged or destroyed. More than 66,000 applications for compensations of the property damaged by the war were submitted by Ukrainian citizens (as of 11 April);
According to the UNHCR, 11.7 mln (>1/4 of the total population) people have fled their homes in Ukraine: 7.1 mln people were internally displaced, and 4.6 mln left the country;
Many towns occupied by the Russian troops were nearly destroyed by their attacks;
Faced with logistical challenges, Russian troops began pillaging local residents and robbing humanitarian convoys. The Russian army in Ukraine has been ordered to «switch to self-sufficiency». Kremlin-sanctioned looting, which has recently been decriminalized and actually legalized in Russia. The huge scale of looting by Russian soldiers and officers was revealed in the liberated towns of the Kyiv region;
The main efforts are now focused on establishment of humanitarian corridors, which are regularly violated by the Russian troops. Nine humanitarian corridors in operation on 12 April allowed the evacuation of 2671 people, including 208 from Mariupol. Regretfully, no humanitarian corridors are planned for 13 April (in the Zaporizhzhia region, the occupiers blocked evacuation buses, and in the Luhansk region they are violating ceasefire).

We need further humanitarian assistance. According to the UNHCR, 13 mln Ukrainian citizens are estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian assistance across the country:

A number of steps have been taken to simplify the procedure of delivery of humanitarian assistance through the state border of Ukraine for the period of duration of martial law;
According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, as of 31 March Ukraine received >163,000 tons of humanitarian aid;
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) are currently operating as logistics headquarters. We are grateful to our partners and expect a more active involvement of international organizations in humanitarian aid, including establishment of humanitarian corridors blocked by the Russian troops, ensuring delivery of humanitarian relief to the medical facilities, and provision of critical food supply to the civilian population;
The UN Flash Appeal for Ukraine requested 1.14 bln USD to support the initial 3 months of the response to help six million of the most vulnerable in Ukraine. As of 12 April, donors raised 682.9 mln USD or 59.9% of the funds requested. In addition, UNHCR appealed for 550 mln USD to support Ukrainian refugees fleeing neighboring countries;
We expect the ICRC to request from Russia the lists of Ukrainian citizens forcibly transferred to Russia’s territory, in particular from Mariupol.

Russian military aggression threatens thousands of foreigners in Ukraine:

We regret that while they had been warmly welcomed in our country, nowadays Russian invasion put their lives at high risk;
Despite Russia’s propaganda, there is no discrimination based on the race or nationality, including when it comes to the crossing of the state border by foreign citizens;
Foreign journalists Brent Renaud and Pierre Zakrzewski were killed by Russian troops. Several more were wounded;
We call on all foreign governments to demand from President Putin that he immediately stops his war in Ukraine.

3. RUSSIA’S RESPONSIBILITY

Russia flagrantly violates international law, in particular:

Russian military vessels are blocking access and deliberately attacking civil ships along Ukraine’s shore in the Black Sea in violation of the international law of the sea. 94 ships remain blocked in the Ukrainian ports due to Russia’s illegal actions;

In violation of the International Convention of the Safety of Life at Sea, the humanitarian aid mission (the rescue ship ‘Sapphire’) was captured by Russian warships in the Serpent (Zmiinyi) Island area and moved to the occupied port of Sevastopol (released later). Two other Ukrainian civil ships were de facto pirated by Russian warships;
In violation of the Hague conventions on the Laws and Customs of War on Land, Russia continues to mobilize thousands of residents of the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The mobilization age on those territories was increased to 65 years. They are sent to the forward positions of the Russian troops as cannon fodder;
On 11 March, the UN OHCHR confirmed the use of cluster munitions by Russian troops in populated areas, incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles. They continue to be used: on 4 April, in the city of Mykolaiv alone, 10 civilians were killed and 61 wounded following Russia’s shelling with cluster munitions;
The white phosphorus bomb attacks by Russia become regular practice in Donetsk and Luhansk regions;
Human Rights Watch has documented several cases of Russian military forces committing laws-of-war violations against civilians in occupied areas of Ukraine, including repeated rapes, summary execution, looting and violent acts;
Russia uses civilians as hostages and human shield, with no food, water, electricity and communication. The taking of civilian hostages is a direct violation of Articles 3 and 34 of the Geneva Convention with regard to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
There is evidence of Ukrainian women and children being raped by the Russian soldiers. Rape is strictly prohibited by the Geneva Convention with regard to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;
24 Ukraine’s public officials have been kidnapped since the start of Russia’s war;
Russia attacks residential areas, air bomb shelters for civilians, medical infrastructure, and transport means used for medical, humanitarian and evacuation purposes;
The Russian troops use residential areas and civilian infrastructure for deployment of heavy weapons, putting them under severe risk;
According to the UNESCO, at least 53 Ukrainian historical sites, religious buildings and museums had sustained damage during Russia’s invasion (as of 1 April). The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine launched a portal with information on the destruction of cultural and historical monuments of Ukraine by Russian aggressors (166 as of 11 April). These materials will prove in the International Criminal Court Russia’s real goal, which is extermination of Ukrainian nation, culture, history and identity;
Russia’s activity on forcibly conscripting and mobilizing men from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is a violation of the international humanitarian law. The particular cynicism is the conscription of the citizens of Ukraine, who are passing through the humanitarian corridors and forcing them to combat against Ukraine;
Ukrainian military released in the exchange of prisoners of war testify that during their captivity the Russian side was regularly violating the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War;
According to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, as of 12 April the Russian occupiers are holding about 1,700 soldiers and civilians captive (more than 500 of them are women).

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (as of 13 April):

6261 aggression and war crimes have been already registered (of which 6081 for violating the laws and customs of war);
570 suspects among Russia’s military and political leadership were determined;
2848 crimes against national security are being investigated, of which 1876 on encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, 500 – state treason, 56 – sabotage.

Responsibility for Russia’s war against Ukraine lies with the entire Russian society, not only president Putin and his proxies. All of them must bear the consequences:

The decision to start a war of aggression was taken by Putin. At the same time, 81% of Russian citizens (as of 31 March, the number is growing) support this war and mass killings of Ukrainians. This is shared responsibility;
According to the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, recently the Kremlin’s propagandists began actively promoting narratives aimed at cultivating Russians’ hatred towards all Ukrainians;
Russian soldiers murder Ukrainian citizens, Russian journalists make propaganda, Russian officials and enterprises work to support Putin’s decisions. This is not a one man show;
European politicians and corporations drawing separating lines between Putin and “ordinary Russians” simply try to justify doing business as usual and making bloody money by trading with Russia even in the time of war, financed by such a business;
According to a case study conducted in March by Active Group and published on 16 March, 86.6% of Russians support the idea of Russian aggression against EU countries.

We welcome all steps made by the international institutions to bring Russia to justice, as well as statements made by the heads of state and government throughout the world, on Russia’s responsibility for war crimes:

On 26 February, Ukraine submitted its application against Russia to the International Court of Justice, requesting the Court to issue an order that Russia must cease its unlawful attack on Ukraine. Although Russia has notified the ICJ that it does not intend to participate in the process, this did not prevent the hearing. On 16 March, the ICJ ordered Russia to immediately stop the invasion, the order being binding under international law. Russia must comply immediately, as ignoring the ICJ will isolate Russia even further;
On 1 March, the ECHR decided to indicate to the Government of Russia to refrain from military attacks against civilians and civilian objects;
International Criminal Court Prosecutor opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. The ICC investigators visited Ukraine to collect evidence. 42 states have filed their appeals to the ICC in relation to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine;
According to the Office of Prosecutor General of Ukraine, six countries have opened criminal cases in relation to Russian war crimes (Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden);
On 30 March, the President of the UN Human Rights Council announced the appointment of three independent members of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, mandated to investigate violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, established by the UNHRC Resolution «Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression» of 4 March 2022;
On 11 April, French gendarmes arrived to Ukraine with the aim to assist Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in investigating the war crimes committed by the Russian troops;
All cases of violation of the provisions of international and international humanitarian law must be registered by the respective international bodies. Particular attention must be paid to Bucha and other towns of the Kyiv region, in which evidence of Russian war crimes must be collected as soon as possible.

4. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

The world supports Ukraine. We welcome that the foreign diplomatic missions are coming back to Kyiv. By continuing its war of aggression against Ukraine, and committing war crimes, Russia becomes increasingly isolated:

On 25 February, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe suspended Russia`s rights of representation in CMCE and PACE. On 16 March, Russia was excluded from the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership;

On 27 February, by a recorded vote of 11 in favour to 1 against (Russia), with 3 abstentions (China, India, UAE), the UN SC adopted a resolution calling on the UN GA Emergency Special session on Ukraine, effectively taking over the functions of the UN SC. On 2 March, the UN GA with overwhelming majority of votes (141 YES and only 5 NO, with 35 abstained) adopted the Resolution on Russian invasion to Ukraine;
On 3 March, Russia was suspended from the Council of the Baltic Sea States;
On 3 March, 45 OSCE participating States have invoked the Moscow mechanism for Russia’s war against Ukraine;
On 4 March, the UN HR Council adopted the Resolution «Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression» (32 YES, 2 NO and 13 Abstained)”;
On 8 March, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has condemned Russia’s military invasion into Ukraine and suspended Russia’s Observer status. This led to suspension of all joint activities with institutions located in Russia (including Joint Institute for Nuclear Research) and Belarus;
On 8 March, the OECD decided to suspend the participation of Russia and Belarus;
Russia and Belarus were banned from 90-95% world sport organizations (according to the estimates by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine);
On 10–11 March, the IMO Extraordinary Council Session deplored Russia’s attacks on commercial vessels and their seizures, demanding that Russia cease its unlawful activities;
On 17 March, the Danube Commission at its extraordinary meeting adopted the decision to suspend Russia’s representation;
On 17 March, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunication Administrations has indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus from membership;
On 24 March, the UN GA with overwhelming majority of votes (140 YES and only 5 NO, with 38 abstained) adopted the resolution “Humanitarian Consequences of the Aggression against Ukraine”;
On 24 March, the European Council in its conclusions on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine has demanded Russia to stop its military aggression in the territory of Ukraine, withdraw all forces, fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognized borders, and to guarantee safe passage for civilians with full respect to its obligations under the international law;
On 27 March, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) officially announced the closure of its offices in Moscow and Minsk. On 4 April, the EBRD has formally suspended access by Russia and Belarus to its resources;
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has suspended all technical cooperation with Russia until the ceasefire is implemented and peaceful resolution is adopted;
468 Russian diplomats were expelled throughout the world since 24 February;
On 31 March, the World Organization of Nuclear Operators (WANO) changed the operator for Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants from Moscow to Paris WANO Centre;
The UN SC rejected Russia’s demand to convene its meeting on 4 April for Russia to deliver its fakes on the war crimes committed by the Russian troops in the Kyiv region. Instead, the UK Presidency convened the meeting on 5 April: President Zelenskyy delivered a statement on Russia’s atrocities;
On 7 April, the G7 Foreign Ministers, in their joint statement, condemned in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in Bucha and a number of other Ukrainian towns, and stressed the necessity of further increasing the economic pressure inflicted on Russia and the Lukashenka regime in Belarus;
On 7 April, the European Parliament, in a resolution adopted with 513 votes to 22 and 19 abstentions, called for additional punitive measures against Russia, including “an immediate full embargo on Russian imports of oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas”, disconnection from SWIFT, ban on vessels and road freight, exclusion of Russia from G20 and other multilateral organizations such as UNHRC, Interpol, the WTO, and UNESCO;
On 7 April, the UN General Assembly resumed its 11th emergency special session, adopting the Resolution on suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council (93 countries voted in favor, 24 against and 58 abstained);
On 8 April, 46 States Party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention sent an open letter to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in which stressed that it is impossible for its 45th session to be held either in Kazan or under Russian presidency while the latter is destroying “outstanding universal value” in Ukraine.

Russia’s diplomatic and political isolation must continue:

We call our partners to follow our example (Ukraine has terminated diplomatic relations with Russia) and to expel Russia’s ambassadors immediately;
The international organizations must consider banning Russia’s membership for blatant violations of international law (as, for instance, the Council of Europe did) and dismissing Russian citizens from their Secretariats to eliminate Russia’s influence. Those organizations which do not have procedures for excluding members, need to introduce them;
We urge the contracting parties to major environmental treaties to suspend operation of such treaties in regard to the aggressor country and to terminate Russia’s membership in the governing and advisory bodies. Relevant appeals were sent to 13 UN conventions;
Countries, which support Russia’s actions in one way or another, should bear the consequences (Ukraine has recalled Ambassadors in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia for consultations following the unfriendly steps done by these countries);
Four online petitions were posted at the global web movement Avaaz (the number of signatures as of 13 April): on bringing Putin to international responsibility for crimes in Ukraine (1.748 mln people), on the ban of imports of Russian oil, gas and coal (1,011 mln people), on cessation of Russia’s war against Ukraine (by ~ 2.332 mln people) and on rejecting war and nuclear weapons (1.06 mln people).

Ending the war, launched by Russia, remains Ukraine’s key priority. Six rounds of Ukrainian-Russian negotiations were held on 28 February, 3 March, 7 March, 14–16 March, 21 March, and 29 March. At the last round of negotiations on 29 March, the Ukrainian side has officially presented its proposals on the new system of security guarantees for Ukraine:

an international treaty signed and ratified by all guarantee states (US, UK, France, China, and Russia as UN SC, as well as Turkey, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland and Israel are considered, with the possibility for other states to join). Such treaty would envisage an improved analogue of the NATO mechanism for consultations and legally-binding commitments to provide military assistance in the case of attack against Ukraine;
the international security guarantees will temporarily not cover the parts of territory temporarily occupied by Russia in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea;
all guarantee states will support Ukraine’s accession to the EU;
for the next 15 years, Ukraine and Russia will negotiate the status of Crimea, with the commitment in place not to use force to solve the problem;
the issue of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be discussed during the personal meeting of President Zelenskyy and president putin;
all proposals by the Ukrainian authorities will be agreed with Ukrainian society, through the referendum. If the continuation of the NATO course will be supported in the referendum, new negotiations will be held with the Russian side.

Despite atrocities and war crimes committed by the Russian troops in Ukraine, as well as Russia’s public statements, negotiations with Russia, as well as consultations with the possible guarantee states continue:

We are currently expecting Russia to provide written response to the proposals submitted by Ukraine on 29 March;
On 4 April, President Zelenskyy established with his Decree an official delegation of Ukraine to negotiate the draft Treaty on security guarantees for Ukraine;
Different guarantee states might have different security guarantees, this will be decided in the course of consultations. Seven of them (US, UK, Turkey, Poland, Germany, France and Israel) confirmed their readiness to meet and discuss the guarantees;
It seems Russia hopes to receive a major military victory in Donbas before taking a constructive stance on the negotiations. This will not happen.

5. ACTIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Ukrainian people are dying for the freedom of Ukraine and Europe. We strive for a full-fledged EU membership and expect further steps on it to be taken as fast as possible, in particular obtaining the candidate status for membership until June:

According to the polls, held on 1 March, 86% of Ukrainian citizens support joining the EU, and 76% support accession to NATO;
Majority (~71% according to the polls) of the EU citizens also support Ukraine’s membership;
On 28 February, President of Ukraine signed an official application for the EU membership for Ukraine within new urgent procedure. Ten EU countries have already supported it. Our application should be considered separately from Georgia and Moldova;
On 1 March, the European Parliament (637 votes pro, 13 votes contra, 26 abstained) adopted Resolution, calling on European institutions to work towards granting Ukraine the status of EU candidate country and imposing tougher sanctions against Russia;
On 10–11 March, the Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government adopted the statement on Russian aggression against Ukraine, in which “acknowledged the European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine, as stated in the Association Agreement”;
On 24 March, the European Council in its conclusions on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine has reaffirmed the Versailles Declaration, acknowledging the European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine.
On 1 April, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola stated during her visit to Ukraine that the EU recognises Ukraine’s European ambitions and aspirations to be a candidate country for accession;
On 8 April, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to Ukraine, handed over to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy a questionnaire for Ukraine to obtain the candidate status for membership, noting that while this process usually takes years, in the case of Ukraine it takes weeks.

We are grateful for the decisions already taken by our friends and partners. Some of them were unprecedented, such as EU providing 1.5 bln EUR to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (within the European Peace Facility) or neutral Switzerland freezing 8 bln EUR of Russia’s assets:

arms, military equipment, ammunitions and intelligence data sent to us by partners;
decisions taken by a number of countries to stop buying Russian energy resources, the main source of financing Russia’s war machine;
frozen assets and personal sanctions on Russian and Belarussian oligarchs and entities worth billions of EUR;
sanctions on the Russian defense sector;
the decision of Turkey to block the access of Russian warships to the Black Sea and readiness to maintain this ban until the end of the war;
introducing the ban on Russian aircrafts in the airspace and blacklisting of the Russian air companies, as well as the supply, leasing, insurance and maintenance of aircrafts;
humanitarian support provided for the citizens of Ukraine;
fuel supplies, including for the sowing campaign (Azerbaijan).

The unprecedented sanctions (nearly 6000 as of now) are of particular importance, isolating Russia’s economy and severely undermining its economic and financial capacities to continue aggression. Atrocities, which continue to be committed by Russia in Ukraine, confirm that sanctions must be further strengthened and expanded, as well as introduced by those countries which have not made this until now. The world has to stop buying Russian commodities, which continue to finance Kremlin’s war against Ukraine:

Western sanctions have frozen 350 bln USD in Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, about 60% of their volume. The US has banned the export of US dollars, and the EU has banned the supply of euro banknotes to Russia;
Russian currency (real exchange rate, not the official one) has drastically depreciated. Inflation in 2022 is expected 18 – 25%;
Russian companies go bankrupt. 27% (and the number is growing) of Russian companies has laid off employees;
Doing business with Russia becomes increasingly toxic, causing severe reputational and business losses. Over 600 companies have completely suspended or restricted their business ties with Russia. This process should continue, as Russia’s economy has entered a stage of rapid degradation, and soon the withdrawal of investments will be much more complicated;
The sanctions imposed on Russia’s main railway company, «Russian Railways», left Russia almost entirely without railway connection with the EU. Road traffic was banned by the sanctions as well: all Russian and Belarussian lorries will leave the EU until 16 April;
Payment systems Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Payoneer, MoneyGram, JCB, Paysera and transfer systems Western Union, Paysend, Wise completely stop working in Russia and stop all card transactions;
Experts estimate that about 3 mln Russian citizens will become unemployed;
Russia’s sovereign ratings are downgraded and revoked, leading to default on public debt;
Russia’s economy will face deep recession (decline 7 – 14% in 2022 is expected according to the different forecasts).

Half-measures are not enough. Hesitancy to impose comprehensive sanctions and supply heavy weapons to Ukraine will be taken by Russia’s leadership as a permission to procced with its war against Ukraine. Further actions need to be done immediately to stop Russia’s war machine:

complete trade and transport embargo on Russia, most notably on oil, gas, gold and minerals (according to the estimates by Bloomberg, due to high energy prices Russia may earn ~320 bln USD in 2022), with no exemptions or delay.
disconnect all Russian banks from SWIFT, first and foremost «Sberbank»;
full closure of ports for Russian vessels and ban for the ships under the EU member-states and US flags to come to the Russian sea ports;
no-flight zone over Ukraine to cease the shelling of civilians by Russia and ensure the safety of critical infrastructure such as Nuclear Power Plants;
strengthening Ukraine’s air and ground defense system, including by providing military aircrafts, MLRS, tanks, anti-ship weapons;
deprive Russia of the opportunity to use GPS in war;
refrain from making payments in Russian roubles for oil, gas and grain;
expanding sanctions to Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus;
preventing Russia from the use of crypto-currencies to circumvent sanctions;
monitor any attempts by Russia and Russian citizens to avoid sanctions, including through the third countries (Iran, Iraq etc);
expand sanctions to those richest people of Russia who are still free to finance Putin’s regime and war against Ukraine;
block the railway route between China and Poland in transit through Russia and Belarus;
ban of all Russian channels of propaganda broadcasting fakes on Russia’s war on Ukraine;

deputinizing the world: ending Putin’s influence in politics, diplomacy, business, sports, culture, research & other spheres;
encouraging private business to withdraw their investments, relocate production sites from Russia, and cut running contracts. Doing business in Russia and paying taxes to Russia’s budget must be stopped (the largest foreign companies paid 20.2 bln USD in taxes to the Russian government in 2020, nearly 1/3 of Russia’s annual military budget);
imposing a visa-regime for holders of Russian diplomatic passports, blocking new visas and residency permits and revoking existing ones for Russian officials and their families (in addition to the EC recommendations to recall EU citizenship for the sanctioned owners of the so-called “golden passports” provided to major Russian and Belarusian investors);
Prime Minister of Ukraine has officially appealed to the G7 countries regarding the status of Russia’s and Belarus’ membership in the IMF and all World Bank organizations;
excluding Russia from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and designating it on FATF’s black list without delay.

Russia continues to demonstrate that it understands only the language of force. Russia’s attack on Ukraine has shown that if NATO remains silent, the situation on the world stage will worsen. The war launched by President of Russia, must be stopped. It is not in the interest of Russian and Belarusian citizens:

We are grateful to the wide Ukrainian community abroad, which joined the Government of Ukraine in delivering the truth on Russia’s war in Europe;
Anti-war demonstrations held by citizens of many nations throughout the world demonstrate strong support to Ukraine in defending against Russia;
It is critical to keep informing Russian and Belarusian citizens on the aggressive war conducted without their consent against Ukraine by their leaders;
Russian and Belarusian people are protesting against attacking Ukraine.

6. ECONOMIC RECOVERY

One of Russia’s key goals in the war it has launched is to destroy Ukraine’s economy, to make us a “failed state”, which would not be able to resist Russia’s pressure and influence:

One month of war costs 10 bln USD for Ukraine’s state budget. In April and May, only half of regular income to the state budget is expected, the deficit will reach 5-7 bln USD monthly despite already made spending cuts;
Since the start of war, a major part of economic activity has stalled: nearly 30% of Ukraine’s enterprizes do not function and 45% more of them work only partially. Many industrial plants located primarily in eastern Ukraine suspended their work. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov disrupts Ukraine’s export, which has decreased in March by half compared to February;
According to the estimates by Prime Minister of Ukraine, the GDP of Ukraine has fallen by 35% in just one month of the war. The World Bank assesses that Ukraine’s economy can shrink by 45.1% in 2022;
Russian troops damage and destroy bridges and roads, attack agricultural equipment to prevent the sowing campaign. Due to the war, 30% of the sown area is unavailable;
Having taken control over all the hydrotechnical equipment of the North Crimean water channel, every day Russia robs Ukraine of water worth 1 mln USD;
The Ukrainian Government estimates that overall infrastructure and economic losses in Ukraine caused by Russia’s war, will exceed 1 trillion USD in the coming years.

The Russian war against Ukraine is a threat to global food security. Russia deliberately destroys agricultural infrastructure. Defending Ukraine also protects the world from hunger and famine.

Ukraine’s exports comprise about 10% of all wheat, 14% of all corn and 47% of all sunflower oil in the world;
Russian invaders are blocking Ukrainian ports (and foreign ships there) and deliberately destroying agricultural machinery;
As a result of Russia’s actions, food exports from Ukraine are partially suspended, as railway and roads remain the only viable, but limited routes (no more than 15% of the monthly volumes of exports in agrifood through traditional sea ways). If the war continues, Ukraine will not be able to supply the world with 6 mln tons of wheat and 15 mln tons of corn left over from the last harvest, and will not be able to fully sow and harvest this year;
This will cause a large-scale humanitarian crisis in the world in the near future. 400 mln lives in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia are at risk of unstable access to food, malnutrition and famine;
Notwithstanding Russia’s aggression, the sowing season has begun in 21 regions of Ukraine. Sowing can be carried out on 6 mln hectares of land (80% of the area covered in 2021);
On 1 April, Russia threatened the world with restrictions on its export of agricultural products to «unfriendly» countries, openly referring to food exports as another weapon.

We do our utmost to thwart Russia’s plans and to keep Ukraine afloat:

Ukraine’s business and industry outside the war zone continue working to support Ukraine’s economy. With support of the Ukrainian authorities, the relocation from the war zone continues: out of ~1500 which applied, 216 companies have completed it, of which 97 have already resumed operations in new locations, and 471 enterprises more are in the process of relocation;
The Ukrainian Parliament continues to adopt the laws aimed at supporting Ukrainian business in war time, including by cutting red tape, simplifying tax system, lifting import duties, insuring bank deposits etc;
Ukrainian citizens that fled from war into other regions of Ukraine register as IDPs and receive welfare benefits. The same applies for those who lost their jobs due to the war;
The Ukrainian authorities started preparing support to the spring sowing campaign where the current situation allows, including by ensuring state reimbursement for interest on loans to cover any expenses related to the agricultural activities;
The Ukrainian government established four funds: support to Ukrainian army and humanitarian assistance; restoration of destroyed infrastructure (3 bln USD received as of 4 April); re-launch of small and medium business; servicing external debt;
In the liberated territories, the Ukrainian authorities started assessing the damage done by the Russian occupiers, and further steps to restore the infrastructure and residential areas. On 10 April, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allocated 1 bln UAH for those purposes.

We are grateful for all financial and technical assistance urgently provided to Ukraine. This strengthens our resilience to Russia’s war:

On 7 March, the World Bank has mobilized an Emergency Financing Package of over 700 mln USD for Ukraine;
On 9 March, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced an initial EUR 2 bln resilience package of measures to help citizens, companies and countries affected by the war against Ukraine. The Bank has also pledged to do all it can to help with the country’s reconstruction, once conditions allow;
According to the decision adopted on 9 March, the IMF has provided 1.4 bln USD in Emergency Financing Support to Ukraine;
On 15 March, President Biden signed the bill with 13.6 bln USD to aid Ukraine and support NATO in Eastern Europe;
On 16 March, Ukraine joined ENTSO-E. This will significantly enhance our energy independence and prevent any blackmailing in this sphere from Russia and Belarus;
On 18 March, President of the EU Commission announced second disbursement of 300 mln EUR to Ukraine under the new emergency Macro-Financial Assistance programme;
On 21 March, the UAH/USD Swap Agreement for 1 bln USD in equivalent between the central banks of Ukraine and Poland came into force. It will increase Ukraine’s international reserves and macrofinancial stability;
On 24 March, the European Council agreed to develop a Ukraine Solidarity Trust Fund;
On 7 April, Canada announced additional 500 mln USD in 2022-23 to provide further military aid and up to 1 bln USD in new loan resources for Ukraine;
On 8 April, the Donor Conference for Ukraine in Warsaw raised 10.1 bln EUR in donations, loans and grants to support Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war following Russia’s invasion;
On 9 April, the UK Prime Minister announced during his visit to Kyiv 500 mln USD loan to Ukraine through the World Bank.

We need to restore Ukraine’s economy when we win. We will need further significant support by the world in rebuilding our country from Russia-brought destruction:

Establishment of the international fund with the capital of at least 500 bln USD;
Financial and technical support to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capacities and prevent any further attempts by Russia to launch a war in Europe;
Soonest possible access to the EU structural funds for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine (taken into account submission of the application for the EU membership);
Massive investments, grants and contributions to relaunch Ukraine’s economy;
Russia’s property, confiscated abroad as a part of the imposed sanctions, has to become a part of reparations by Russia to Ukraine.