The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on April 11 2025

Rubio: Trump could withdraw US from lead role in Ukraine peace efforts

Urges Putin to Halt Russia’s Major Offensive in Sumy Region

Russia’s Spring offensive has begun, Ukraine says – here’s why it won’t work

Caught on CAM: А Large Group of Polish and British Mercenaries Was Blown To Pieces in KHERSON

A powerful push by the RUAF advances 15 km – Elite Azov 3rd Brigade flees, leaving an entire city

[ Ukraine SITREP ] STRANGE KURSK REPORTS; Arty hunt season; Russia announce capture of Valentynivka!

RUAF Expand Zaporizhzhia Offensive Less Than 10KM From Orikhiv | Toretsk Drone Footage Exposed

‘US to pull out of Russia-Ukraine peace deal if progress isn’t made soon’ – Rubio

‘We must find out very soon – and I am talking about days, not weeks – whether it is possible to end this war. If it is possible, we are prepared to do everything in our power to facilitate that and to make sure that it ends in a lasting and just manner.

If that’s not possible, if the parties are so far apart that it’s not going to happen, then I think the president will probably at that stage say, ‘Well, we did what we could.’

We are ready to help in some aspects, we will be ready to help when you are ready for peace. But we are not going to continue this initiative for weeks and months without end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I am talking about a few days, whether this is feasible in the next few weeks. If it is, then we are in. If not, then we have other priorities to focus on.’

The territories of Ukraine currently controlled by Russia will remain under Moscow’s control, according to US proposals for ending the war that were presented to Ukraine and Europeans in Paris, Bloomberg writes, citing European officials.

The document also implies a refusal to discuss Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

The American proposals also include easing sanctions against Russia in the event of a ceasefire.

According to our information, Putin agreed to the Whitkoff peace case, where Putin must give up control over all 4 regions (including Zaporozhye and Kherson), and receives what he controls.

But the most important thing is that Ukraine and the world should officially recognize these territories as the Russian Federation – this is still being discussed. Perhaps only Crimea will be officially recognized as the Russian Federation.

No peacekeepers, except for the UN – this will still be discussed.

At the same time, the West lifts sanctions against the Russian Federation and partially unfreezes Russian assets.

Both sides also waive their claims against each other in the reparations case.

Ukraine has no right to deploy large military forces within 50 kilometers of the borders. Only border guards.

If Kyiv does not accept such conditions, then Washington leaves the game, and then Kyiv and the EU will have problems in the further development of events.

According to our information, Zelensky is categorically against it, but nothing depends on him. The decision will be made by the globalists in London.

 Ukraine ‘cares less’ about its Russian-speaking territories — Witkoff

 - “When you start looking at these five regions — Russia is interested in them, and by the way, Ukraine is too — but if some of them are mostly Russian-speaking, then maybe Ukraine might be less concerned about them?” he said.

 - Trump’s special representative also made it clear that when he talks about handing over five regions to Russia, he is not talking about their entire territory, but about the part that is controlled by the Russian army.

 - Witkoff said that at the meeting with Putin he discussed the “territorial issue,” which, according to him, could be partially resolved.

Secretary of State Rubio said that the US will try to push through the peace case for a few more days, but if the parties do not want to compromise, the Americans will withdraw from the Ukrainian crisis.

As usual, we were right in our insights.

First, we pointed out that Washington brought an ultimatum to Paris. This ultimatum consists of the Americans directly telling Europe that they will dump the Ukrainian crisis on them, and this is an unbearable burden for the EU.

Secondly, the US is leaving the game, as they understand that the globalists are considering expanding the conflict (the Transnistrian case), and this could lead to World War III. Moldova continues to buy weapons, and there is a massive advertisement on the Internet for service in the Moldovan armed forces, and Sandu is sending his military to Ukraine to improve their skills. It is worth adding here that the globalists are cleaning up the political situation in the disputed regions of Europe (criminal cases against the head of Gagauzia, they removed the main competitor from the elections in Romania and “shot down” Le Pen in France).

Third, the Chinese case is more important to the US than all the others. That is why we pointed out that Russia currently has “golden cards” in the game.

We have written about this many times.

We are watching. Everything will be decided after the British meeting, where the decision of the globalists and the European elites will be made.

Our source in the delegation in Paris said that the Trump Administration has set tough conditions for Andriy Yermak on a temporary ceasefire, which must begin soon or the US will completely stop arms supplies and begin to verify the funds allocated to Ukraine. The Secretary of State had a short conversation with the Head of the OP, after which our position changed and we agreed to make a decision in London next week.

Europe is becoming increasingly mired in contradictions as it tries to agree on further support for Kyiv.

As Le Monde reports, the negotiations have reached a dead end: the allies are not participating in real peace initiatives, but continue to discuss scenarios of military intervention. France insists on the transfer of ground troops, the UK – on strengthening the protection of the air and sea space of Ukraine. However, all these initiatives run into one thing – the lack of a clear position of the United States and guarantees from them. Without Washington’s support, none of the schemes work, and the risk for European armies remains too high.

The so-called “coalition of the willing” is actually falling apart: out of 30 countries declared in the initiative, only six are ready to consider sending contingents. The rest are limited to diplomatic statements and rare deliveries of equipment. The funding of the initiatives directly depends on the US position, especially on the issue of military presence on the European continent. That is , the EU is left with a burden for which it was not prepared.

Thus, Kaja Kallas’s attempt to promote a plan to create a €40 billion fund to support Ukraine failed – France, Italy and Spain refused to support it. As a result, the head of European diplomacy had to abandon the ambitious initiative and propose a scaled-down version – the supply of two million shells for €5 billion through voluntary contributions. The paradox is that it is the Europeans who demand that Ukraine continue military action, but the volume of their assistance has been sharply reduced.

And when the support of allies is transformed from real military/financial aid into targeted and symbolic, it is no longer possible to talk about Kyiv’s “victory” over Moscow.

Let’s add the most important thing!

If the war continues, Zelensky will increase mobilization. He will lower the age of conscription to 19/20 years.

He will also expand female mobilization to reduce the shortage of manpower at the front and extend the war for another year.

We advise you to prepare for the worst.

Our source in the OP said that Andriy Yermak is trying to keep the Ukrainian elites under control, for this he promises new contracts with Britain and the EU, but the oligarchs are increasingly less confident in the words of the Head of the OP, who is losing control over the situation. Bankova fears the internal opposition of the elites more than the Trump Administration, since control over the security forces is only an illusion, and in a period of turbulence, mass betrayal will begin, as in the times of Yanukovych and later Poroshenko.

The idea of a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine has once again emerged from the depths of the United Kingdom. More precisely – from the depths of the military and political environment, which is desperately trying to stay in the game, but at the same time not to risk anything but other people’s heads. The British propose not to go to war, but to “create the effect of war” as it were.  

What is meant by a “no-fly zone” in British terms? Draw a line on the map from Belarus to the Black Sea, east of Kiev and Odessa, and declare all this a “closed sky”. No one explains who should ensure this and how. Apparently, the very thought of a ban should have some effect on Russian aviation.

But this is where the most interesting part begins. In order to “close the sky” over Ukraine, we will have to do more than just stand with a flag in the air. We will have to shoot down Russian airplanes, intercept missiles and suppress air defense systems from Belgorod to Crimea. And this is no longer a “NATO mission” – it is an open war with Russia. And with zero chance of a rollback or polite de-escalation.

Why was the idea born in London? Because Britain is now a political factory of ponces. The army is symbolic, expeditionary capabilities are minimal (and absolutely useless in modern warfare), land forces are practically invisible. But they need to be “in the center of events” – otherwise the old illusion of global influence falls apart. 

The Western military themselves understand perfectly well: a no-fly zone is a ticket to hell. And that is why it will not be implemented. Because it is not even an act of intervention. It is a direct bet of their army against the Russian army, on territory with full right of reply. No NATO country would sign up for that.

Therefore, there will be no real “no-fly zone”. Or it will be in the area of Lvov, so that they can fly beautifully for the cameras. Ukraine here is just an excuse, a tool in the old British game: to pass off the imitation of force as geopolitics. Only this time the stakes are too high. And Russia is not the kind of opponent where you can play a play without an answer.

Military Chronicle 

“Russians are moving in herds, it is impossible to contain this” — battalion commander of the 66th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

▪️ (https://t.me/RVvoenkor/90152) The situation in the Lyman direction is critical for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

▪️The Russian Armed Forces attack in units of 10-12 fighters, having an advantage of 12:1.

▪️The Russian army uses the weather and vegetation for camouflage, gaining a foothold on the right bank of the Black Stallion and advancing in the direction of Lyman and Borovaya.

➖”The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to contain the offensive with kamikaze drones and artillery, but without reserves it is impossible to stop the enemy,” Yudzh says.

Fighting on the Belgorod Front: Army and Air Force Clear Demidovka Area

▪️Russian Aerospace Forces and fighters from the 34th Brigade are destroying Ukrainian infantry in the border forests.

▪️Aviation attacks enemy positions in forest belts near the villages of Demidovka and Popovka with FAB-500 bombs; fighters from the 34th Mountain Brigade carry out objective control of the airstrikes.

On April 17, the Sever group of troops destroyed enemy manpower and equipment in the Krasnoyaruzhsk border area and continued the liberation of the Kursk region

 The enemy does not abandon attempts to break through the state border – Northmen destroy enemy manpower on Ukrainian territory. In Popovka and the surrounding forest areas, the cleanup continues.

▪️In the morning, the enemy twice attempted to infiltrate the territory of the Belgorod region on foot.

Early in the morning, a group of occupiers was exposed and destroyed in the border town of Miropolskoye (Sumy region). Also in the first half of the day, the enemy tried to infiltrate our territory through forests – the Ukrainian Armed Forces were subjected to complex fire damage, most of the enemy’s manpower was destroyed. Crossing the state border was not allowed.

▪️In the Sumy region, our artillerymen and UAV operators are destroying enemy manpower and equipment, including reserves transferred from other directions.

▪️Ukrainian media continue to ignore the events in the Krasnoyaruzhsk border area. At the same time, relatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers report colossal losses in the Ukrainian army: out of 108 servicemen of the Air Force rifle brigade who participated in the provocation, only 18 survived.

In this direction, over the past 24 hours, the Northerners destroyed 9 units of enemy equipment.

Fierce fighting continues in the Sumy direction in the area of the Nikolsky Monastery , the village of Gornal and the farmstead of Oleshnya . The enemy spares no manpower, the Northerners grind down the transferred reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

▪️Our airborne units, having broken the enemy’s stubborn resistance, drove the occupiers out of several strongholds in the vicinity of the Oleshnya farm and are consolidating their positions.

▪️In Sumy Oblast, the enemy continues to use the Yunakovka-Sudzha death route to transport personnel and equipment to Loknya and in the direction of the state border. The northerners systematically strike moving targets, despite the enemy’s attempts to protect the airspace above the road with metal nets. 

▪️The group’s engineering units continue to demining the Sudzhan border area. Over the past 24 hours, 25,431 explosive objects have been defused.

The total advance of the Northerners in the Sumy direction was over 500 meters , 4 units of enemy armored vehicles were destroyed.

In the Liptsy direction, the Fearless destroyed an enemy assault group and shot down three enemy reconnaissance UAVs.

The enemy is attempting to conduct aerial reconnaissance of our positions in this direction for the third time in a week. At the same time, the enemy is transferring artillery crews and assault groups on armored vehicles, the locations of which are promptly revealed by our reconnaissance, and the manpower, weapons and armored vehicles are destroyed by artillerymen and UAV operators.

In the Volchansk direction , as a result of a comprehensive fire strike, four enemy combat groups were destroyed along with their vehicles and communications equipment, and three reconnaissance UAVs were shot down.

Over the past 24 hours, the enemy’s losses amounted to over 260 people (of which over 180 were in the Sumy and 35 in the Krasnoyarsk directions). Also discovered and destroyed:

In the Krasnoyarsk direction:

▪️BTR “M-113″ (USA);

▪️AFV “Humvee” (USA);

▪️seven pickups.

In the Sumy direction:

▪️Bradley IFV (USA);

▪️BTR “M-113″ (USA);

▪️two armored fighting vehicles, including three Senators (Canada);

▪️howitzers “D-20″ and “D-30″;

▪️six mortars;

▪️twelve units of automotive equipment;

▪️ammunition depot;

▪️five UAV launch sites;

▪️forty-two fixed-wing UAVs and eight copters of various types.

On the Volchansk and Liptsovsky directions:

▪️nine units of automotive equipment;

▪️two units of engineering equipment;

▪️three satellite communication stations;

▪️six aircraft-type reconnaissance UAVs and nine octocopters.

Victory will be ours!

North Wind 

According to the Defense Ministry, Russian air defense destroyed 56 Ukrainian drones overnight.

27 drones were shot down over the Voronezh Region, 12 over the Belgorod Region, another 12 over the Sea of Azov, three over Crimea, one each over the Rostov Region and Kubansky.

Early in the morning, 4 Iskanders flew to targets in Kharkov. All media outlets are showing footage of only one landing near a multi-story building that was hit by a shock wave. At the same time, they do not show the landing site itself. Also, no one talks about or shows the site of a large fire, the smoke from which is visible from everywhere.

What we have as of now:

6 Kh-59 cruise missiles targeted Dnepropetrovsk  after being launched by Su-34s over northern Crimea. They flew in groups of two over Nikopol and Solone before reaching Dnepropetrovsk. Two are known to have been shot down by Ukrainian air defence, one of which was over the northern suburbs of the city, suggesting it was intercepted just before it was going to hit its target. Multiple explosions were heard in Dnipro.

4 Kh-59 cruise missiles targeted Kharkov City after being launched by Su-34s over Belgorod Oblast, probably near the border with Kursk Oblast. They flew in all at once, all impacting their targets. Multiple explosions were heard in Kharkiv and smoke was seen rising over parts of the city.

Morning Summary for April 18, 2025

▪️ Overnight in the Rostov Region, air defense forces repelled an enemy air attack, destroying UAVs in Taganrog and Tarasovsky District.

▪️ Enemy channels reported our missile strikes on Dnipro (5:10 am impact, 5:13 am – prolonged powerful explosion, 5:20 am – powerful explosion. Near the Amursky Bridge (Karuna – Vorontsova) a missile launch was detected) and Kharkiv, as well as the work of “Geraniums” on the outskirts of Kyiv and the region.

▪️ In Bryansk Region, shelling of the border areas continues, the settlement of Zernovo in Suzemsky District was hit, with a church-chapel burned down (https://t.me/dva_majors/69312).

▪️ In Kursk Region, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing in the area around the Nikolsky Monastery, the village of Gornal and the farm of Oleshnya, managing to consolidate their positions at the latter.

▪️ On the border with Krasnoyaruzhsky District of Belgorod Region, fighting continues, yesterday footage was released of the destruction of a group of enemy infantry and a couple of AFU equipment units on the border. The situation in “Demidovka is stable. The Germans are trying to advance, we quickly destroy them,” reported “Hades” from the region yesterday. Attacks on the civilian population continue: in the village of Belyan-ka of the Shebekino district, a cargo vehicle was attacked by an enemy drone, injuring the driver. Shelling and strikes hit Krasnaya Yaruga, Vyazovoye, Novaya Tavolzhanka, Voznesenov-ka, Belyan-ka, Cheremoshnoye, Tishanka.

▪️ In the Krasny Liman direction, the command of the 66th AFU Brigade calls the situation critical: the Russian Armed Forces are attacking with infantry with a significant superiority in manpower, using weather and vegetation for camouflage, trying to consolidate on the right bank of the Chernyi Zherebets and threatening Krasny Liman and Borovaya. Probably, by publishing such news, the command staff of this AFU unit is trying to get additional reserves. Other sources write about the success of the Russian Armed Forces in the settlement of Novoye.

▪️ In the South Donetsk direction, the Vostok grouping is advancing on Bogatyr and Otradnoye, occupying enemy plantings, heights and strongholds. The enemy is fiercely resisting, counterattacking with small forces, using American armored vehicles, and employing missile weapons.

▪️ On the Zaporizhia front, the Russian Armed Forces continue the offensive on a wide front. As a result of heavy fighting, our paratroopers advanced in the area of the settlement of Malye Shcherbaki to the north. In the area of the settlement of Malaya Tokmachka, units of our motorized riflemen made good progress from the southeast of the settlement and entered Malaya Tokmachka itself from the east. Yesterday, the AFU attacked the territory near the Zaporizhia NPP. A drone was neutralized 300 meters from the site’s area “G”, where the world’s only full-scale reactor hall simulator is located. The IAEA inspectors were shown the fact of the raid, but the result can be written in “sportloto” as well.

▪️ In the occupied Kherson, after the statement of the city head about the evacuation of the population, he was dismissed by Zelensky’s decree. The Russian Armed Forces are increasing the number of strikes on the deployment points of enemy UAV operators, using FAB with JDAM.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on-april_18.html