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LIVE UPDATES: OSCE Announces Closure of Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

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Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February in response to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which had been... 28.04.2022, Sputnik International

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LIVE UPDATES: OSCE Announces Closure of Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

04:36 GMT 28.04.2022 (Updated: 16:43 GMT 28.04.2022)

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February in response to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which had been suffering from an eight-year-long war, waged by Kiev.

Since the beginning of the operation, the Russian forces have eliminated 141 Ukrainian warplanes, 111 helicopters, 609 drones, 2,616 tanks and other armoured vehicles, 1,139 artillery pieces and many other military objects, according to Russian defence ministry data.

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Table of contents

New firstOld first

20:12 GMT 28.04.2022

US House Approves Bill to Allow Biden to Lend, Lease Military Euqipment to Ukraine, Other Eastern European Countries

18:40 GMT 28.04.2022

Ukraine Discusses Issue of Military Equipment Repair With Bulgaria

krainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov discussed cooperation on the repair of Ukrainian military equipment at Bulgarian production facilities, the presidential office said on Thursday.

"It is very important for Ukraine. I am sure that such cooperation will be beneficial for both Bulgarian companies and Bulgarian economy. And for us, quality and time are very important, because we fight every day," the office cited Zelensky as saying.

The delegation of the Bulgarian coalition cabinet headed by Petkov arrived in Kiev on Thursday. It also plans to visit the conflict-hit towns in the Kiev suburbs - Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpen.

18:39 GMT 28.04.2022

US Prepared to Deter Nuclear Aggression - Ambassador to Russia

The United States is prepared to deter nuclear aggression, Ambassador in Moscow John Sullivan told CNN.

"We are prepared to deter nuclear aggression against the United States as we have been for decades," Sullivan said.

18:38 GMT 28.04.2022

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives to testify during the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, hearing on State Department's budget on April 28, 2022 in Washington, DC - Sputnik International, 1920, 28.04.2022

Russia

Blinken: US Considering Possibility of Seizing Sanctioned Assets of Russian Government

28 April 2022, 18:25 GMT

18:04 GMT 28.04.2022

Guterres Says He, Zelensky Addressed UN Plan on Mariupol, Intense Talks Underway

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the UN plan on Mariupol discussed previously with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that intense talks were underway to make the proposal a reality.

"During my visit to Moscow, President Putin agreed in principle to the involvement of the UN and red cross in the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal plant in Mariupol. Today I and President Zelensky addressed the issue and, as we speak, there are intense discussions to move this proposal to make it a reality," he said at a press conference.

17:53 GMT 28.04.2022

Ukraine Expects $100Mln in Loans From Japan

The Ukrainian finance ministry said on Thursday that Japan had promised it $100 million in low-interest loans to help cover emergency expenses.

"The Japanese government will extend $100 million in preferential loans," the ministry said in a statement.

The money will pay for healthcare, social, humanitarian and other priority projects. Japan will also give Ukraine $42.3 million in grants to buy medical equipment, the ministry said.

17:47 GMT 28.04.2022

Air Defense System Activated in Russia's Belgorod Region, Blast Heard, Sputnik Correspondent Reports

An anti-missile defense system activated in the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday.

The correspondent reported that there was a loud blast around 14:40 GMT, and then a white trail of smoke appeared in the sky.

An air-missile defense system activated for the second time on Thursday. Earlier in the day, a Sputnik correspondent reported about an explosion in the southern part of Belgorod.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Thursday that the situation in the region remains difficult and the danger persists. However, he reassured citizens that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security.

17:47 GMT 28.04.2022

Pentagon Says About 55 Howitzers Delivered to Ukraine, Training Underway

More than 60% of the 90 howitzers recently committed to Ukraine by President Joe Biden have been delivered to the country, a senior US defense official said on Thursday.

"We would now assess that more than 60% of the M777 howitzers that were committed in both PDA [Presidential Drawdown Authority] seven and eight, so of the 90, have now been transferred to the Ukrainian military in just the last week," the official told a press briefing.

The official added that the United States is currently training a second group of more than 50 Ukrainians on how to operate the howitzers and the Q-64 mobile radar. It is expected to last for about a week.

17:46 GMT 28.04.2022

French Foreign Minister Slams Lavrov's Statement on Risk of Nuclear War as 'Exaggeration'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement on the risk of nuclear war are "exaggeration" and "rhetoric of intimidation," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.

On Monday, Lavrov said that the risks of nuclear war are now very significant and this danger should not be underestimated, while there are many who are willing to artificially inflate this threat.

"This is rhetoric of intimidation, these are exaggerated and unjustified statements that do not correspond to reality. This rhetoric is aimed at intimidating and deterring us. We must not give in to it," Le Drian said as aired by French broadcaster France 2.

16:42 GMT 28.04.2022

OSCE Announces Closure of Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

OSCE Chairman Zbigniew Rau and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid announced the upcoming closure of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, the organization said.

"This decision follows the lack of consensus at the OSCE Permanent Council on 31 March 2022 to extend the Mission’s mandate," the statement says.

"We have explored all possible options through political dialogue with participating States to achieve the renewal of the Special Monitoring Mission’s mandate, but the position of the Russian Federation left us with no choice but to take steps to close down the Mission," Rau said.

Earlier in the day, Russia called on the OSCE to investigate some cases of cooperation between its observers and the Ukrainian military. In mid-April, the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk banned the work of OSCE SMM.

16:41 GMT 28.04.2022

US Conducting Training for Ukrainians on M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, Official Says

he United States is conducting training of Ukrainian personnel on armored personnel carriers M113 outside of the country amid Russia’s special military operation, a senior US defense official said on Thursday.

"[T]here is some training that started yesterday as well, a five-day training for more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers on the M113, the armored personnel carrier, just to make sure they are familiar with how to use that system," the official said during a press briefing.

The United States is not the only country that offers training sessions for Ukrainians but the official refused to disclose those.

The Pentagon has repeatedly stated its readiness to conduct trainings for the Ukrainian military as needed and depending on the supplied military equipment.

M113 are arriving in Ukraine as part of the $800 million aid package announced by President Joe Biden last week. The package includes 18 155mm Howitzers, 40,00 shells, 300 Switchblade drones, 500 Javelin anti-armor missiles, 200 M113 armored personnel carriers and 16 Mi-17 helicopters, among other equipment.

16:08 GMT 28.04.2022

Pentagon: Biden's Request for $33Bln in Ukraine Aid Not an Escalation

President Joe Biden's request to Congress for an additional $33 billion in security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine is not an escalation to the conflict, a senior US defense official said on Thursday.

"Not all of that $33 billion is going to be dedicated to defense," the defense official told a press briefing. "I mean, it's worth $16 billion will be dedicated to the Defense Department's ability to continue to help Ukraine and again, you'll hear more from the Secretary about that later, but it's a continuation, it's not an escalation."

The defense official added that there is no change to Biden's policy to refrain from deploying US forces to Ukraine and there is no change to the US stance with respect to a no fly zone

15:34 GMT 28.04.2022

Romanian Defense Ministry Says No Transfer of NATO Military Equipment to Border of Ukraine

The Romanian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that there was no transfer of NATO military equipment to the border of Ukraine, but military exercises were being held in the country with the participation of allied countries.

Earlier, a video was circulated on social networks, in which a convoy of military equipment in Romania allegedly moves toward the borders of Ukraine and Moldova.

"We are reporting a new fake news posted on various online platforms in Romania and other countries that promotes the idea that a convoy of US military vehicles will move from Romania to Ukraine. On Wednesday, April 27, US vehicles escorted by special vehicles of the military police of the Romanian army left for the Babadag firing range to carry out the previously planned shooting with the Romanian soldiers and allies," the Romanian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry confirmed that US military equipment was visible in the video, but it had been deployed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base since the beginning of this year.

"The training activities conducted by the military personnel of the allied countries stationed in our country, as part of measures to strengthen the security of NATO's eastern flank, are relevant, therefore, such convoys of military equipment belonging not only to the United States, but also to Belgium, France, Italy, the UK or Portugal can be often observed during trips between bases and joint training facilities," the defense ministry added.

15:20 GMT 28.04.2022

Biden Says We are Not Attackin Russia, We are Helping Ukraine to Defend Itself

The United States is not attacking Russia, but is helping Ukraine defend itself, President Joe Biden said on Thursday, after asking Congress for $33 billion in new assistance for Kiev.

"Despite the disturbing rhetoric coming out of Kremlin … we're not attacking Russia. We're helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression," Biden said.

14:20 GMT 28.04.2022

NATO Spends $8Bln in Military Support of Ukraine, Set to Provide More

NATO allies have poured at least $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine, with the outlook to continue the support, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"NATO allies have also stepped up their support to Ukraine and up to date NATO allies have pledged and provided at least 8 billion US dollars in military support to Ukraine. And we see the importance of further stepping up our support to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference in Brussels with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

In a move intended to show unity in the European Union and NATO, Stoltenberg was invited for the first time to meet the members of the Conference of Presidents, one of the governing bodies of the European Parliament.

13:20 GMT 28.04.2022

Austria's OMV Says Will Not Open Swiss Account to Pay for Russian Gas

Austrian energy company OMV has no plans to open an account in Switzerland to pay for Russian gas supplies, it is currently looking for a solution that does not breach the sanctions imposed by the European Union, the company told Sputnik on Thursday.

"The claim published by the Financial Times newspaper that OMV will open an account in Switzerland to pay for gas supplies is certainly false. We have analysed Gazprom's request for payment methods in light of the EU sanctions and are now working on a solution that complies with the sanctions," the company said.

In early March, OMV announced that it was suspending future investments in Russia due to the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, the head of the multinational company Alfred Stern said that Austria cannot completely phase out Russian gas as this would incur major consequences for the country.

12:17 GMT 28.04.2022

White House: Biden to Unveil Plan to Seize Russian Businessmen's Assets to 'Aid Ukraine'

10:35 GMT 28.04.2022

Some Polish Regions Left Without Gas Due to Sanctions Against Novatek - Interior Ministry

Several dozen municipalities of Poland were left without gas due to sanctions imposed by the Polish government on Russian gas producer Novatek's subsidiary, Novatek Green Energy, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Pawel Szefernaker said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Poland imposed sanctions on 35 companies and 15 individuals who work in the country, including Gazprom and Novatek.

"We are doing everything possible to resume gas supplies to the municipalities, to which gas was supplied by the Russian company that was placed under sanctions," Szefernaker said.

The interior ministry was unable to inform local governments in advance about the imposition of sanctions against Novatek Green Energy, since decisions on companies included in the sanctions list "were made behind closed doors," Szefernaker noted.

Another deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, said that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki would soon announce the decisions that allow Polish companies to take control of the gas networks in municipalities, where Novatek Green Energy was previously involved in supplies.

09:39 GMT 28.04.2022

Ukraine is Backed by US in Preparing Cyber Provocation Against Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry Says

09:37 GMT 28.04.2022

Moscow Says Calling on Ukraine to Attack Targets in Russia to Lead to Harsh Response

Further calls on Ukraine to strike targets in Russia will lead to a "harsh response" by Moscow, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"I would like Kiev and Western capitals to take seriously the statements of the Ministry of Defense of our country that further provocation of Ukraine to strike Russian targets will necessarily lead to a harsh response from Russia ... We do not recommend further testing our patience," Zakharova told a briefing.