A summary and translation of the top stories about the Russia-Ukraine war from a morning program on Russia's state TV Channel One, from NewsGuard.

Ukraine disrupted the evacuation from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, the Russian Defense Ministry said

The humanitarian operation at Azovstal was cynically disrupted by the Ukrainian authorities, our National Defence Control Center said. Nationalists and foreign mercenaries refused to lay down their arms and use the open corridor. An order from Kiev never followed.

Russia has guaranteed life, security, and medical care for everyone who decides to surrender. According to the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic, in just two days, only five servicemen left the territory. But yesterday, it was possible to evacuate more than 100 civilians from the area near Azovstal. They were taken to a safe place.

Kiev does not care about its military, in the same way that nationalists do not care about civilians. And here's confirmation of that. It became known that weapons and firing points are located in hospitals in Slavyansk and Lysychansk. Epidemiological disaster is possible in Nikolaev. There are no utilities, central water supply is turned off, people collect water from rivers, ponds and abandoned wells. Meanwhile, the militants are handing out weapons to everyone.

Mikhail Mizintsev, Head of the National Defense Control Center, said: "Against the backdrop of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, territorial Defense militants carry out mass uncontrolled distribution of weapons and medicines that contain drugs to the local population, conduct punitive raids in order to identify any signs of pro-Russian views among local residents. All suspects are detained and taken away in an unknown direction. During these violent raids, nationalists forcibly seize valuable property and food ostensibly for the needs of the territorial Defense."

Famous journalist Gonzalo Lira Lopez disappeared in Kharkiv

Gonzalo Lira Lopez is an American journalist with Chilean Heritage, who has spoken about Kiev's crimes against civilians. Recently he worked in Kharkiv, but on April 15, his communications stopped. According to media reports, his phone is still receiving messages and someone is even reading them, but there have been no replies. The Chilean Foreign Ministry has already started searching for the journalist.

In one of his recent articles on his blog, Lira said he could be kidnapped by the Ukrainian SBU. Until April 15, his blog was updated daily — very often articles criticized the Kiev regime.

"Violent criminals were released from Kharkiv prisons — they were given uniforms and weapons — and they are actively preventing the evacuation of civilians. Because of these criminals, it is now impossible to leave Kharkov. Not because of the Russians, but because of the thugs of the Zelensky regime. The Zelensky regime is using civilians as human shields. That is why here, in Kharkov, everyone is trapped," the journalist wrote.

Said Scott Ritter, a military analyst and UN weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998: "Gonzo [Lira] said any disappearance of more than 12 hours should be treated as if something bad had happened to him. It's been five days. If this had been a New York Times reporter disappearing in Russian controlled territory, it would be headline news — especially if a Chechen hunter killer' team had taken credit for his death. But with Gonzo — silence."

Gonzalo Lira is one of the few Western journalists who spoke honestly about what is happening in Ukraine (rare courage in the current realities). He often exposed falsehoods about Russia and our military and tried to convey to the world the truth about the crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the civilian population.

Ukrainian militants planned to blow up a building under the guise of Russian and Lugansk fighters

The Ukrainian propaganda factory is working at full capacity. More confirmation of this was discovered by the Lugansk People's Republic military. The militants were preparing a provocation — they were going to blow up one of the buildings, but in such a way as to blame our fighters and the Lugansk fighters (a military uniform was found in the house, not at all similar to the Ukrainian one).

The terrible truth about the atrocities of the radicals is drowning in a stream of lies. In the West, it is somehow not customary to talk about this, but it has long been important to talk about what evil the defenders of Donbas have been fighting against. They fight selflessly: they have something to fight for, people to fight for.

The Russian Defense Ministry published footage of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system in operation

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published footage of the Smerch multiple launch rocket system in operation. Information that was received from the scouts confirms that ammunition, equipment, and weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently located in a camouflaged airfield.

The combat mission of the "Smerch" is to destroy the warehouses. The footage shows the preparation and rocket launch. It hits right on target, as always. The delicate accuracy of the strike is confirmed by intelligence. After firing, the launchers take up new positions.

Dozens of bodies of civilians found in a Mariupol hospital

Terrible footage from Mariupol. We have previously said that Ukrainian radicals are establishing firing points in hospitals. In yet more confirmation of this, military investigators found dozens of bodies of civilians in one of the city's hospitals.

Our Investigative Committee is conducting a criminal case, in which the main defendants are the military of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are known for their cruelty. The command of the unit often ordered subordinates to fire at residential buildings and infrastructure facilities. Recently, the commander of the Marines was eliminated, and more than a thousand soldiers surrendered.

A hospital was set up in a former hospital in the Lugansk Republic

Our doctors work with the doctors of the Lugansk People's Republic. Patients are not divided into friends and foes. People are being brought back from the brink of death, including members of the Ukrainian military. When they come around, they admit that they thought they would be subjected to torture and humiliation in captivity. And, actually, the opposite is true.

Vladimir Chepikov, a Ukrainian soldier said, "I was ridiculously scared. If it weren't for the Russian army, I would have died of blood loss. I am so grateful to the Russian army."

China does not accept unilateral sanctions, Xi Jinping says

China is against unilateral sanctions and double standards. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about this today in his address to the participants of the Asian Economic Forum on Hainan Island.

"We are against unilateral sanctions and do not intend to pursue a policy aimed at forming blocs and intensifying confrontation. All countries are on the big ship of a common destiny. To overcome the stormy waves and sail towards a brighter future, they must work together. Trying to throw someone into the sea is unacceptable. In today's world, any one-sidedness is doomed for failure. Any pressure, severing of ties, cutting off supplies is doomed for failure," Xi Jinping said.

Russia asks militants and foreign mercenaries at the besieged Azovstal plant to lay down their arms

Russia has once again invited nationalists and foreign mercenaries who are staying in Azovstal to cease hostilities and lay down their arms from 2pm today. The Russian Armed Forces are guided by humane principles. After all, the Ukrainian authorities have not taken any action to save the military personnel of their own country. And the commanders of the armed formations are not ready to surrender without an order from Kyiv, fearing a military tribunal.

This was announced by the head of our National Defense Control Center Mikhail Mizintsev. He particularly stressed once again: To everyone who lays down their arms, our country guarantees the preservation of life, complete security, and the provision of medical care. Russia has already confirmed its humane attitude towards prisoners of war. All this has been said more than once yesterday, when Russia declared a period of silence. Buses and ambulances were ready for those who were at Azovstal.

No one came out along the humanitarian corridor. But our military evacuated more than 100 civilians, who were not on the territory of the plant itself, but in houses located nearby. They are all being helped now.

In areas under shelling by Ukrainian militants, people are forced to hide in basements

There is no life, only survival — no medicine, no food. And a chilling habit of not flinching from nearby explosions was developed. The Russian military and volunteers come to the rescue, bringing humanitarian supplies. Russian football fans also sent a car with essential items.

Residents say that they have been fighting to survive not only for the past two months. The Kiev regime has oppressed the Russian-speaking population for the past eight years as much as it could. One resident, Valeriya Norchenko, said: "We are not people to them. Since 2014, we have had to lay barbed wire around us. We have had to throw bombs. Here we have defective people. We're not people at all."

Russian humanitarian aid arrives in various Ukrainian regions

The path, of course, is not safe — the radicals can open fire at any moment. In one district, the passage of a column is monitored from the air with the help of an air balloon. According to reports, a group of saboteurs was spotted in the forest thanks to the air balloon.

Every day, the Russian military defending Donbass show resilience, courage, and professionalism

Private Vasily Shpilchin was involved in the liberation of a town. He discovered the militants, who had been tasked with preventing our troops from reaching the station, which was controlled by the nationalists. Shpilchin destroyed the radicals and their equipment. As a result, the militants who occupied the station were left without fire support and they retreated.

Lieutenant Colonel of the Medical Service Khazbi Makoev was so shell-shocked during an attack that he lost consciousness. But as soon as he regained consciousness, he organized the evacuation of the wounded from the field hospital. He provided first aid to a total of 120 soldiers during fierce fighting.

In Kherson, which was liberated from Ukrainian gangs, a replica of the Banner of Victory was raised

In Kherson, our soldiers raised a replica of the Banner of Victory. They had hoisted it over the Reichstag in 1945. One of the main symbols of the Great Patriotic War has returned to the city memorial complex. And the residents acknowledged that they has been waiting a long time for this to happen. So far, many are afraid to speak openly about what they really feel—years of living in fear has taken its toll.

One resident, Natalia, said: "We want the banner to be here, I want my grandson to learn Russian, Russian history and know victory. We support this. And many of us here support this."

Another resident, Sergei said: "I specifically came to look at the eternal flame, at the flag that was raised on the flagpole. The red flag is the flag of victory. For me, this means liberation from what has been on this territory for 30 years,"

Another symbol that Ukraine tries to forget is the eternal flame. In Kherson, it had been extinguished. This saved gas. It was turned on twice a year. The new administration ordered that the fire must always burn.

The West calls for peace in its rhetoric, but in reality it pumps Ukraine with weapons

Its rhetoric calls for peace, its actions incite war. Such is the contradictory West, ready to pump Ukraine with new weapons without stopping.

Romania now wants to change its legislation so that it is possible to legally donate weapons from state reserves to Kiev. Norway sent another 100 missile systems. Britain promised to send new artillery. Germany shrugs its shoulders: its own reserves are practically depleted, but there is a way out — Kiev can buy everything it needs from German defense reserves, and Berlin will compensate for the costs later.

The United States is not excluded from this. Lockheed Martin Corporation, a manufacturer of attack drones and anti-tank Javelins, has begun negotiations with the Pentagon to increase military supplies. However, according to the CNN channel, the US is worried about who will actually get the weapons. Deliveries are increasing, but in the end, they can't be responsible for them.

What happens to weapons that are sent to Ukraine? The US doesn't really know.

CNN reported: "Because the US military is not on the ground, the US and NATO are heavily reliant on information provided by Ukraine's government. Privately, officials recognize that Ukraine has an incentive to give only information that will bolster their case for more aid, more arms and more diplomatic assistance."

One source told CNN, "We have almost no information in the fog of war."CNN reported: "Everything drops into a big black hole, and you have almost no sense of it at all after a short period of time."

UN Security Council Members yet again failed to reach an agreement on any points of dispute

This irresponsible behavior can, in fact, only mean one thing: the West needs Ukrainians like cannon fodder. The First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, was forced to say this at a meeting of the Security Council. It was yet another meeting that yielded no results. There was a fundamental refusal to hear about Kiev's crimes and complete disregard for Moscow's arguments. The sad truth, it turns out, is that financial gain for the West is more important than the fate of people.

Polyansky also said that biologists in Kharkiv, linked to America's military industrial complex, carried out experiments on people. Polyansky said: "The US scientists from a laboratory in Merefa, Kharkiv region were testing potentially dangerous biological drugs in the regional, clinical psychiatric hospital No. 3, between 2019 and 2021. Persons with mental disorders were selected for experiments on the basis of their age, nationality, and immunity status."

The Ukrainian army used heavy artillery in Donbas

There are reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are shelling areas of the Donetsk Republic. Civilians are suffering. Yesterday alone, eight people were injured. The Petrovsky district of Donetsk, Gorlovka, Yasinovataya and a number of other settlements are under fire again. The situation is turbulent in the Lugansk People's Republic: There were three attacks in the past day. The Ukrainian army used heavy artillery. Shells were also fired from the Smerch multiple launch rocket system. Several buildings were damaged in Pervomaisk, including an art school, a children's sports complex, the city administration, and the pension fund administration.

The Ministry of Defense showed rare footage from the Su-34 combat mission

Both day and night, under any weather conditions, even the most difficult ones, our pilots carry out combat missions on Su-34 fighter-bombers. Rare footage was provided by the Ministry of Defense. First, there are comprehensive preparations: It is crucial to check the systems operations, refuel the aircraft, equip them with weapons of destruction, and secure these under the wing. The fighter bombers also carry air-to-ground guided missiles. The footage shows how these are launched in dense clouds. All the strikes are exceptionally accurate. The pilots fly with heavy overloads. But they always do their job well.

Volunteers help residents in the liberated cities of the Lugansk People's Republic

Volunteers have an important mission these days. They distribute food and medicine to people in the liberated towns and villages. Life is not normal in areas, where fighting was still going on quite recently. There is no gas, no water, no electricity. Nationalists left behind devastation when they retreated.

Infrastructure, which retreating nationalists tried to destroy as much as possible, has yet to be restored.

One resident said, "We shut ourselves away at home, lit a candle, and sat. We waited, we knew nothing ... Of course, it was very hard, but we'll live." A volunteer, Kirill Gubarev said, "In the first few weeks, people really wanted bread because there was a time, in the first two, three weeks after the fighting, when there was no bread at all."

New heroes, who carry out tasks in the special military operation to protect the Donbas, are named

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Lysenko along with an engineering and intelligence group under his command discovered nationalists, who were mining the access points to the town. They began fighting and, despite the superior forces of the enemies, defeated them.

The operational actions of Sergeant Denis Kaimakov, the commander of the crew of a rocket artillery platoon, made it possible to change the balance of power in the clash with the radicals, as a result, our military went on the counteroffensive.

A tank brigade led by senior lieutenant Abdu-Uali Zhusupov did not allow the militants to escape encirclement. About 100 nationalists attempted to break through, but their counterattack was stopped.

Washington sent four more planeloads of weapons to Ukraine

The delivery is part of a $800 million batch of military assistance, which the United States promised Kiev last week. The package contains a large number of shells and missiles for anti-tank systems, as well as howitzers. They were handed over to Kiev for the first time. The Pentagon said that in the coming days they will send their instructors who will show the Kiev security forces how to use the new equipment. Master classes will be held outside of Ukraine for certain members of the military, who will then pass on the knowledge to others.

The American publication The New York Times confirms that the Ukrainian army uses cluster munitions against civilians

While the American authorities are fuelling the situation by pumping weapons to Ukraine, their media has suddenly begun to see clearly.

Kiev security forces, it turned out, are far from innocent: They quietly use prohibited weapons and target civilians. For us, of course, this is not news. Moscow has repeatedly spoken about the crimes committed by Kiev, only the West has stubbornly ignored all the evidence.

The paper published an article about an attack on the town Gusarovka near Kharkov. The article said that a cluster munition which landed next to Yulia Doroshenko's house was not fired by Russian forces. Based on evidence reviewed by The New York Times, it is very likely to have been launched by the Ukrainian troops who were trying to retake the area.

The paper acknowledged two important facts: First, the Ukrainian army fired at civilian areas for almost a month. Second, they did this using weapons that inflict damage on the maximum number of people in civilian areas.

There are reports of new shelling by Ukraine in Belgorod

Alarming reports are now emerging from the Belgorod region about new shelling from the Ukrainian side. The shells exploded in a village located about 10 kilometers from the state border. This was confirmed by the governor of the region. At the moment, we know there was one victim and destruction.

New details emerge about an operation to take control of the Ilyich plant in Mariupol

According to Eduard Basurin, Deputy Head of the people's militia of the Donetsk People's Republic, Colonel Vladimir Baranyuk, the commander of the 36th brigade of marines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was eliminated during the attempt to break through the plant.

The Donetsk Republic forces then stopped the radicals from breaking out of the encirclement. About 50 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated and 42 surrendered.

The very next day, more than a thousand marines, who were left without a commander, including 162 officers, voluntarily laid down their arms. They were in a disastrous situation at the plant. Their food and ammunition had almost run out and many were wounded. How Kiev thought they were going to break through is not very clear. Another deception by the Ukrainian command, which led the military to certain death.

Twenty-five civilians in the Donetsk People's Republic suffered from shelling by Ukraine

Shells are exploding in Donbas again. Another 25 civilians were injured in the Donetsk People's Republic by shelling from Ukraine. Among the wounded was a child. The Petrovsky District of Donetsk came under fire in the morning. The night before, Gorlovka was under fire. Over the past day a total of seven settlements were targeted. Areas of the Lugansk Republic were shelled nine times in the last 24 hours alone. Two women were injured and houses were damaged.

These images, shared by our Ministry of Defense, show the aftermath of the strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian troops fired a Tochka-U missile at a civilian facility, a farm in the village of Tokmak in Zaporozhye. The images show how powerful the blow was. The owner of the farm said that the concrete slabs shattered like a house of cards. Buildings and structures belonging to a private agricultural business have been completely destroyed and it is impossible to restore them.

Residents in liberated areas spoke about what the Ukrainian radicals have done

Residents spent the night in basements, buried loved ones in the yards and were afraid to go out of hiding and onto the street for food and water. Residents of the now liberated territories have spoken about what the Ukrainian militants did. The radicals fired indiscriminately. They kicked people out of shelters. The nationalists left behind a complete devastation. There was no gas, water and electricity.

Maksim Gigoriev, a member of Russia's Civic Chamber, said: "Local people told us that the Ukrainian military attacked here and other areas. There was no military sense in this, there weren't any units of the Lugansk People's Republic here, which means they specifically fired at the homes of civilians."

New names of heroes who tenaciously and courageously liberate territories from nationalists

Yevgeny Komarov, a senior driver of the automobile battalion, delivered ammunition to the military and came under enemy fire. Despite multiple shrapnel wounds, he brought the car to a safe zone. Our fighters received ammunition in a timely manner and continued their offensive.

Thanks to the decisive actions of Senior Lieutenant Vadim Gavrikov and the tank platoon under his command, one of the settlements was liberated from the gangs. Long-term firing points used by the radicals were destroyed.

A howitzer artillery platoon under the command of Sergeant Nikolai Mikhailov identified and hit the position of nationalists, armed with anti-tank guided missiles, grenade launchers and small arms.

In the liberated Berdyansk, the Russian military helps residents to improve their lives

There is a new life in the liberated Berdyansk without the shelling and atrocities that were carried out by radicals before our military arrived. The nationalists were kicked out of there at the very start of the special operation to protect Donbas, and this became a turning point in the city's history. Local residents acknowledge that they really wanted Russia's support. Our fighters continue to help residents improve their lives.

A local resident, Victoria Pahomova, said: "We are so happy that, finally, our motherland came for us, came to rescue us. We suffered so much during this time. You can't even imagine."

Local residents say this is a new chapter in the history of the city.

There are still problems with getting money and medicine, but strategic businesses in Berdyansk have not stopped working. At a bakery, flour is now delivered from Russia through a humanitarian corridor. The National Guard has secured safety in Berdyansk since the first day of its liberation from bandit groups.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported new provocations by neo-Nazis

Our Defense Ministry said that new provocations were prepared by Kyiv forces in an attempt to discredit our army. According to the Head of the National Defense Control Center Mikhail Mizintsev, neo-Nazis laid mines on a car overpass in the city Konstantinovka, which is a major Donetsk railway junction. In the near future, the bandits want to destroy the overpass and blame our military for destroying important civilian infrastructure. The Western media will immediately repeat yet another fake story, according to Mizintsev.

Our military department also has data about the militants mining a dam on the Uglegorskaya TPP (thermal power plant) reservoir. In the event of an explosion, several areas and approximately 15,000 civilians could be under threat of flooding.

Last night, Ukrainian users actively posted videos on social media, showing flashes and explosions. Users wrote that the Russian armed forces were responsible for the attacks. According to the people who took these videos, the last major oil refinery in Ivano-Frankivsk was destroyed. Videos also appeared from Krivoy Rog, Kharkov and Zhitomir. According to reports, several districts of the Ukrainian capital are without electricity.

Earlier our Ministry of Defense said that if attempted acts of sabotage from the Ukrainian side do not stop, there will be retaliation. Strategic centers will be hit, including in Kyiv.

A network of call centers was discovered in Berdyansk: callers, pretending to be bank employees, tricked Russians

There have been interesting discoveries in the territories liberated from Ukrainian bandit groups. In Berdyansk, a network of call centers was uncovered, where Ukrainian callers tried to scam people in Russia. Unfortunately, a lot of people became victims of the scam. Callers pretended to be from a bank's security service. It was revealed that this network is connected to the SBU and the controversial Ukrainian oligarch, Kolomoisky.

The Russian Defense Ministry published documents about atrocities committed by Ukrainian nationalists during the Great Patriotic War and in the post-war years

They committed crimes against their own people—civilians. The reports were published in a special section on the ministry's site. The materials show that the Banderites, who tried to pass themselves off as the Red Army, tortured and killed women, children, and elderly people with particular cruelty. Moreover, no matter how much Ukrainian nationalists claim that they fought against the Nazi invaders, the documents confirm that they served the occupiers from the very start of the war.

Every day, the Russian military shows courage and bravery during a special operation to defend the Donbas

Daniil Postnikov's advance team prevented an ambush by Ukrainian saboteurs. Some of the militants laid down their weapons, including a gun spotter. During the interrogation, he revealed the location of his artillery division, which was quickly destroyed.

Ruslan Mansurov's team went into a battle with two armed formations. The militants failed to contain the attack. More than 35 pieces of equipment and a large number of enemy manpower were destroyed.

Senior Lieutenant Arseniy Pavlov identified saboteurs, who were preparing an attack. During the battle, he sustained an injury from shrapnel, but he still continued to fight and protect his comrades. As a result, all the nationalists were destroyed.

Missile cruiser "Moskva" sank while being towed

According to the Ministry of Defense, "Moskva" sank during a storm. Due to serious damage to the hull, the ship lost its stability and capsized. Earlier, our Defense Ministry reported that ammunition exploded on the ship, starting a fire. The Ministry of Defense said that the crew was evacuated to other ships of the Black Sea Fleet.

Neo-nazis trapped civilians in a monastery in the Donetsk People's Republic

"Neo-Nazis have blockaded over 450 civilians, including children, women with babies, elderly people and critically ill patients on life-support, as well as cancer and insulin-dependent patients, in the Nikolo-Vasilyevsky monastery in the Volnovakha district of the Donetsk People's Republic. The monastery and the only road leading to it are constantly shelled from mortars and heavy machine guns. People were killed and wounded. It is practically impossible to deliver vital medicines, food, and essentials to the monastery, as well as to evacuate people," said Mikhail Mizintsev, Head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation.

Also, according to our Ministry of Defense, three new radical battalions are being trained in Kharkov. They are made up of prisoners who served sentences for grave crimes in correctional facilities. These groups blocked the city from the south side so that people were unable to leave the dangerous territory.

The U.S. will deliver a new batch of military aid to Ukraine worth hundreds of millions of dollars

The Pentagon has revealed what kinds of weapons and how many Kyiv will receive from Washington as part of a new military aid package. This includes: another batch of Mi-17 helicopters, three hundred attack drones, 200 armored personnel carriers, as well as howitzers, radars for direct guidance, and mobile radar stations.

It should be noted that some of the weapons are being provided to Kiev for the first time, which means the Ukrainian military will still need to be trained to use them. The Americans are not planning to do this in Ukraine. They are going to send representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine abroad.

The new package is estimated at $800 million. Under Joe Biden's administration, Washington has already allocated more than three billion to help the Kiev authorities. At the same time, the forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's republic and our military have found that weapons that the West pumps into Ukraine, as well as ammunition and training manuals, have been abandoned in the liberated settlements.

More than 1.000 Ukrainian soldiers laid down their arms yesterday

The number of people who have surrendered to our military and the Donetsk and Lugansk People's militia is growing by the day.

The Kiev forces often abandon their own people when they start to flee from their posts, as was the case with fighters in Mariupol, who were stationed in Mariupol at the Ilyich plant. Yesterday, more than 1.000 Ukrainian soldiers laid down their arms in the largest group that has raised the white flag since the start of the special operation in Donbas.

A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: "During the retreat, I was wounded, I was abandoned by my own people, left to bleed out, after 30 minutes I saw the servicemen of the DPR. They gave me a cigarette, ... they took me to a car that took me to the hospital, I was very surprised that this was all being done, since I am an enemy for them. They're providing everything possible, medicines, all the essentials, the doctors are doing their job. ... It's a sin to complain and there's nothing to complain about, so why criticize them."

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation showed the work of anti-tank missile systems

The self-propelled "Shturm-S" and portable "Fagot" are not only used to combat enemy armored vehicles, they are also capable of hitting low-flying air targets. Our military department said that during this attack enemy tanks, long-term firing points and other engineering structures were destroyed.

Distinguished Russian fighters receive awards, right on the front line

The Russian military has acted decisively and courageously in the fight against the neo-Nazis. The fighters received the Order of Courage, the Zhukov, and "For Courage" medals. The state awards were presented by the commander of the troops of the Central Military District, Colonel-General Alexander Lapin.

Russian manufacturers manage to make sanctions work in their favor

The so-called collective West is trying to strangle the Russian economy with sanctions. But Russian entrepreneurs are seeing this as a chance to develop their own business. They're setting new tasks, looking for and finding partners, expanding. Import substitution is gaining momentum in a variety of industries, from catering to beauty and designer clothes.

Orphans from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics will be welcomed in Moscow

Next week, children who have been left without parents will be brought to foster families in the Moscow region.

Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children's Rights, "A process was developed for transferring children from the LNR and DNR under temporary guardianship to families. ... What is important to me, is that these families will be selected for specific children, we will not select children for families."

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that there is a new planned provocation by the Kiev regime

Our Ministry of Defense warned that the Kiev authorities are preparing a new provocation. They plan to stage the incident in the city of Irpen. Western journalists will spin the fake news to discredit the Russian military.

Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia's National Defense Control Center, said: "The Kiev authorities, under the patronage of the countries of the collective West led by the United States, continue to collect pseudo-evidence of Russia's culpability. To this end, a curfew and complete blockade of the city Irpin is being put in place from 06:00 on April 12, 2022 to 09:00 on April 15, 2022, while entry during this period will be allowed only to representatives of law enforcement agencies and 'unspecified' volunteers. It has been reliably established that this period of time will be used by Kiev to carry out a provocation with the organization of cynical staged filming and further promotion of the fake by the Western media."

Our embassy in the United States has reacted to statements from the State Department, which allege Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine. These statements are unfounded, the Russian diplomats stressed. They also emphasized that our armed forces do not have chemical warfare agents and all stocks of chemical weapons were destroyed back in 2017.

Channel One presenter Irina Kuksenkova spoke about who protected her during the shelling of Mariupol

Irina Kuksenkova was injured while filming a report in the industrial zone of Mariupol. She was preparing a report about the work of our military, and it was they who heroically shielded her during the shelling from the gangs.

The troops received prompt medical assistance: the wounds were light, someone was barely hurt. Kuksenkova said: "A big thank you. I wish them good health so that they can quickly return to service. They themselves said they want this very much. People need to know what our Russian army is like. There is such a spirit of unity, of brotherhood, of sticking together."

A woman holds a child next to Russian soldiers in a street of Mariupol on April 12, 2022, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, while Russia's President makes a defiant case for the war on Russia's neighbor. - *EDITOR'S NOTE: This picture was taken during a trip organized by the Russian military.* Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Decisive actions, bravery, and courage allow Russian servicemen to fulfill their duty

The Russian Ministry of Defense released the names of new heroes. Among them are Corporal Mikhail Krylov. He discovered a unit of Ukrainian saboteurs, who were preparing to attack our convoy. Krylov was one of the first to fight them. The corporal hampered the actions of the neo-Nazis with intense fire and ensured that main forces were deployed. Even when he was wounded, he continued to attack the radicals. The enemy was defeated.

Ukraine's Security Service released a photo of Viktor Medvedchuk in handcuffs

The story about the detention of Viktor Medvedchuk, the head of the Opposition Platform – For Life party, has developed. According to reports, a new photo of him in handcuffs was distributed by the Security Service of Ukraine.

Vladimir Zelensky announced that Medvedchuk was taken into custody as a result of a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine. And now it has become clear why. A few hours later, the Ukrainian president recorded a video message, though not to his people, but to our country. He offered to exchange the Medvedchuk for Ukrainian prisoners of war. Medvedchuk is not at war and has not yet been convicted of anything.

Every day, Russia opens humanitarian corridors for refugees from Kharkov and Mariupol

Humanitarian corridors operate from 10 am. Moreover, according to our Ministry of Defense, Russia is ready to organize safe routes and evacuate citizens in other directions as soon as possible. In the meantime, those who manage to escape from the hands of neo-Nazis are being placed in the Russian regions.

About a thousand refugees from Ukraine, including 300 children, were welcomed in Tatarstan alone. Humanitarian aid — essential items and, for children, toys — are being collected. Refugees recall with horror how, until recently, they were hiding from shelling and how they were used as human shields by the radicals.

Armed Forces of Ukraine continue shelling the Lugansk People's Republic with phosphorus and cluster shells

Fighters of the Lugansk People's Republic step by step, village by village, are pushing back Ukrainian units to prevent this from happening again. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, not sparing civilians, continue shelling, including with the use of banned weapons — phosphorus or cluster bombs, and they leave anti-personnel mines on the ground.

The Eternal Flame in Kherson was lit for the first time in a while

Local residents carry flowers to the memorial that commemorates the unparalleled courage of the Soviet soldiers, who died for the liberation of the city during the Great Patriotic War.

People say that various reasons have been given for the extinguishing of the Eternal Flame, including, they say, to save gas. But the truth is that in recent years people have not actually had the opportunity to honor the memory of those who fought against fascism. Now that the city is under the control of the Russian military, this is no longer a problem.

Eleven people were injured in the Donetsk Republic as a result of shelling by Ukrainian security forces.

Nine of the victims were residents of Mariupol. This was reported by the Joint Center for Control on the ceasefire. In total, our military has already evacuated 135,000 people from the city through humanitarian corridors. In the meantime, Russian troops and the Donetsk People's Republic forces continue to successfully advance in the area of the Azovstal factory industrial zone, where radical groups operate. Assault units have reportedly been trained for operations in complex industrial areas. Their task is to destroy the positions of the "Azov" gang, which is banned in Russia.

Channel One correspondent Irina Kuksenkova was injured during an attack by nationalists in Mariupol

As she was preparing for her next report, Irina and her colleagues came under enemy fire. Ira was injured. Operator Dmitry Kachurin and sound engineer Nikita Sevastyanov were not injured.

We wish Ira a speedy recovery and return to the office. And one more thing, which I cannot but mention: the injuries would have been much more serious if Ira had not been covered by the soldiers accompanying her, who actually took the brunt of the blow. They are now also in the hospital. We hope everything goes well with them. And thanks to them for being there at the right time.

Local residents share a conversation while sat on a bench on April 13, 2022 in Borodianka, Ukraine. Rescue workers are still removing rubble from the destroyed residential area after the withdrawal of Russian troops during their invasion of Ukraine. Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images

Every day, the Russian military shows courage and heroism on the front lines, standing up for civilians

The names of the new heroes include Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Garanin. The lieutenant colonel and his battalion restored the strategically important bridge which neo-Nazis had destroyed during their retreat. The group also cleared two high-explosive mines, all under continuous mortar fire. When one of Garanin's subordinates was wounded, the lieutenant colonel gave him first aid and continued to lead the personnel.

The EU plans to intensify the supply of weapons to Ukraine

This statement was made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, following an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also confirmed Berlin's intention to continue pumping weapons into Ukraine. However, the weapons that the West supplies to the Ukrainian security forces and gangs often end up in the hands of the Donetsk and Lugansk republic forces. The Armed Forces of Ukraine simply throw away the weapons when they retreat.

The Russian Ministry of Defense showed footage of a Ukrainian drone being destroyed

The crew of the "Admiral Essen" frigate of the Black Sea Fleet shot down the drone off the coast of Crimea. According to our Ministry of Defense, the drone gathered intelligence about the actions of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as coastal and ground positions of Russia's military equipment.

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations delivers more than a thousand tons of humanitarian cargo to Donbas and Ukraine

About 120 cars delivered essential supplies: food, bottled water, as well as furniture, especially, beds and bedding.

More than 700,000 refugees came to Russia during the special military operation

Humanitarian aid is now being collected for those who have already arrived in our country. Мore than 700,000 people have been welcomed in different parts of Russia. The stories of everyone who got out of this hell can leave no one indifferent. That is why now any support is like a cure for pain.

Eleven people were injured in the Donetsk Republic as a result of shelling by Ukrainian security forces.

Nine of the victims were residents of Mariupol. This was reported by the Joint Center for Control on the ceasefire. In total, our military has already evacuated 135,000 people from the city through humanitarian corridors. In the meantime, Russian troops and the Donetsk People's Republic forces continue to successfully advance in the area of the Azovstal factory industrial zone, where radical groups operate. Assault units have reportedly been trained for operations in complex industrial areas. Their task is to destroy the positions of the "Azov" gang, which is banned in Russia.

Channel One correspondent Irina Kuksenkova was injured during an attack by nationalists in Mariupol

As she was preparing for her next report, Irina and her colleagues came under enemy fire. Ira was injured. Operator Dmitry Kachurin and sound engineer Nikita Sevastyanov were not injured.

We wish Ira a speedy recovery and return to the office. And one more thing, which I cannot but mention: the injuries would have been much more serious if Ira had not been covered by the soldiers accompanying her, who actually took the brunt of the blow. They are now also in the hospital. We hope everything goes well with them. And thanks to them for being there at the right time.

Local residents share a conversation while sat on a bench on April 13, 2022 in Borodianka, Ukraine. Rescue workers are still removing rubble from the destroyed residential area after the withdrawal of Russian troops during their invasion of Ukraine. Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images

Every day, the Russian military shows courage and heroism on the front lines, standing up for civilians

The names of the new heroes include Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Garanin. The lieutenant colonel and his battalion restored the strategically important bridge which neo-Nazis had destroyed during their retreat. The group also cleared two high-explosive mines, all under continuous mortar fire. When one of Garanin's subordinates was wounded, the lieutenant colonel gave him first aid and continued to lead the personnel.

The EU plans to intensify the supply of weapons to Ukraine

This statement was made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, following an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also confirmed Berlin's intention to continue pumping weapons into Ukraine. However, the weapons that the West supplies to the Ukrainian security forces and gangs often end up in the hands of the Donetsk and Lugansk republic forces. The Armed Forces of Ukraine simply throw away the weapons when they retreat.

The Russian Ministry of Defense showed footage of a Ukrainian drone being destroyed

The crew of the "Admiral Essen" frigate of the Black Sea Fleet shot down the drone off the coast of Crimea. According to our Ministry of Defense, the drone gathered intelligence about the actions of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as coastal and ground positions of Russia's military equipment.

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations delivers more than a thousand tons of humanitarian cargo to Donbas and Ukraine

About 120 cars delivered essential supplies: food, bottled water, as well as furniture, especially, beds and bedding.

More than 700,000 refugees came to Russia during the special military operation

Humanitarian aid is now being collected for those who have already arrived in our country. Мore than 700,000 people have been welcomed in different parts of Russia. The stories of everyone who got out of this hell can leave no one indifferent. That is why now any support is like a cure for pain.

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