April 20, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Helen Regan, Sana Noor Haq, Leinz Vales, Matt Meyer, Elise Hammond, Tori B. Powell and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 10:01 PM ET, Thu April 20, 2023
21 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
12:04 p.m. ET, April 20, 2023

Russia releases new recruitment video in latest push to boost military

From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova and Rob Picheta

The Russian Ministry of Defense published a new recruitment video Wednesday in its latest attempt to convince Russian men to abandon civilian life and join the war effort.

The advert appears to mock men for wasting their time working as security guards, taxi drivers and personal fitness trainers. It ends with a shot of armed men in military uniforms with white smoke behind them and a large caption: "You're a real man. Be one."

The ad also advertises the monthly salary one can earn by signing a Russian military contract, starting at about $2,510.

Since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, propaganda videos have played a key role in Moscow's efforts to recruit fighters. Videos posted on social media and aired on Russian TV try to appeal to Russian men through the narratives of patriotism, morality and upward social mobility.

Russia's efforts to shore up its forces: Moscow's latest recruitment push comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law creating an electronic conscription registry which aims to make draft dodging harder.

During Russia’s partial mobilization last September, men dodged the draft by leaving their registered addresses, not signing for draft letters and warning their family and co-workers from doing the same for them.

Fears of a new mobilization: When the Russian parliament approved the law Wednesday making the country's conscription program more efficient and harder to evade, it spurred fears more citizens may soon be mobilized to fight in Ukraine.

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence said Saturday the law signals Putin is gearing up for a long conflict ahead.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has characterized the law as an unremarkable streamlining of Russia’s biannual conscription process.

2:59 p.m. ET, April 20, 2023

1 dead and 3 wounded after Russian attack in Chernihiv border area of northern Ukraine

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

One woman has died and three people were wounded after Russian troops attacked the border area of Chernihiv, Ukraine’s Operational Command North said on Thursday.

According to Operational Command North, troops attacked Halahanivka, a border village in the Chernihiv region four times between 11 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) and 11:15 a.m. local time (4:15 a.m. ET) “probably from a 120-mm mortar.”

“As a result of the shelling, three local residents were wounded,” Ukraine’s Operational Command North said.

“One of them received shrapnel wounds to the head. The woman died in the hospital.”

The Operational Command also said there were also two attacks in the area of Hremiachka a border village in Chernihiv region, but added there were no reported casualties among the local population or damage to civilian infrastructure. 

8:56 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

NATO membership for Ukraine will be "high on the agenda" at alliance's summit in July, Stoltenberg says

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

The topic of Ukraine’s NATO membership and security guarantees will be “high on the agenda” at July's NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, the military alliance’s chief said on Thursday.

Answering questions from reporters during a news conference in Kyiv, Jens Stoltenberg said that he recognizes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will “raise the issue of membership, of security guarantees” at the summit.

“Ukraine’s future is in NATO. All allies agree on that,” Stoltenberg said, adding that the main focus of the alliance now is “to ensure that Ukraine prevails.”

The official said that he expects NATO allies to “agree to further strengthen NATO's package for Ukraine” at the July summit.

Asked about Friday’s meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, which Stoltenberg will be attending, he said he expects NATO allies “will make new announcements on concrete military support to Ukraine.”

9:06 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

Ukraine’s "rightful place is in NATO," alliance chief says

From CNN’s Alex Hardie and Zahid Mahmood

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talks during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talks during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine's “rightful place is in NATO,” during his first visit to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Stoltenberg said he had discussed a “multiyear support initiative” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which would help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era equipment and doctrines to “NATO standards.”

This would “ensure full interoperability with the alliance,” Stoltenberg added.

NATO has been a key ally of Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, distributing military aid and bolstering Kyiv's defenses in the face of Moscow's relentless attacks.

The NATO chief said on Thursday that since last February, the alliance's allies have "delivered more than 150 billion euros ($164 billion) of support, including 65 billion euros ($71 billion) of military aid."

“Allies are now delivering more jets, tanks and armored vehicles,” Stoltenberg added. “NATO stands with you today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes.”

Zelensky echoed Stoltenberg's calls to reaffirm ties between Ukraine and NATO, saying his visit is a sign the alliance is ready to start a new chapter with Kyiv.

“Ukraine which is standing strong and sees its future of full liberation and liberating our land from the Russian occupier,” he said on Thursday.
“This visit by the Secretary General is the first since the start of the full-scale war. We treat this is as a sign that the alliance is ready to start a new chapter in its relations with Ukraine and new decisions.”

Zelensky added there is “no objective barrier” to political decisions on inviting Ukraine into the NATO alliance, after Finland's accession reignited calls from Kyiv to join.

“Now that the majority of the NATO populations and the majority in Ukraine support our entry into their alliance.”

“It is impossible to imagine security in the North Atlantic space without it.”

Zelensky went on to say Ukraine wants to know when they “will be in NATO.”

“We need something more than the kind of relationship we are having now,” Zelensky said. “We will be in their alliance, we believe that is a guarantee of Ukraine’s security and a concrete guarantee.” 

“But while we await the membership and are not a member, we want to have very specific guarantees of security approved in Vilnius if there is an opportunity to do that then we will be ready on our side.”

CNN’s Victoria Butenko and Zahid Mahmood contributed to this post.

8:13 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

NATO chief visits Bucha, Ukrainian town scarred by alleged Russian war crimes

From CNN’s Alex Hardie

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a joint news briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a joint news briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20. (Alina Yarysh/Reuters)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the Ukrainian town of Bucha on Thursday morning, a year after shocking images of strewn civilians' bodies shed light on the horrors of Russian occupation.

The alliance's chief said he was “deeply moved” by what he saw there.

Russian atrocities continue against the Ukrainian people today and those responsible must be held to account."

The town of Bucha, which is just north of Kyiv, has become synonymous with Russian atrocities and alleged war crimes.

Some context: Stoltenberg's visit to Ukraine is his first to the country since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Even though Ukraine is not a member of the alliance, the bloc has played a critical role in supporting Kyiv, donating military aid and hosting refugees throughout the conflict.

7:48 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

Switzerland expands Russia sanctions list, adding Wagner group and Russian news agency RIA

From CNN's Jessie Gretener

Switzerland is extending its list of sanctions relating to Russia to include the Wagner private military group and state news agency, RIA, as Western allies hit the country with bans designed to isolate it from the global economy.

In a statement on Thursday, the Swiss Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) justified that it is sanctioning the Wagner group for “their active involvement in Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine” and RIA for its “dissemination of pro-government propaganda and disinformation.”

“Switzerland is adopting the sanctioning of these two organizations and thus strengthens the effect of the EU (European Union) measures,” the EAER statement outlined.

Switzerland broke its neutrality status quo shortly after Russia’s war on Ukraine began by adopting the EU's sanction package against Russia. On Wednesday, Swiss President Alain Berset said the country is taking the implementation of sanctions “seriously” and is “doing everything that can be done in order to enforce them.”

Switzerland also updated its stance on broadcasters RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic, which the EU placed under a broadcasting and advertising ban on April 10. The EAER said the broadcasting of the two channels would not be banned in Switzerland; however, advertising on the two channels is now forbidden.

Some context: Russia showed surprising resilience to unprecedented Western sanctions in the first year of the war. However, cracks started to appear after President Vladimir Putin last month conceded that the restrictions could deal a blow to the country's economy.

The sanctions have also contributed to Russia's military decline, cutting off access to certain military systems needed to operate weapons.

CNN's Hanna Ziady contributed reporting.

7:40 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN staff

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is in Ukraine on his first visit to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, as members of the alliance provide critical support to Kyiv amid the war.

Here are the latest developments:

  • Stoltenberg in Kyiv: The NATO secretary general arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, visiting the Wall of Remembrance to pay homage to fallen Ukrainian soldiers. The bloc has distributed crucial military aid to Kyiv and hosted refugees.
  • Moscow-NATO relations: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Thursday that preventing Ukraine from joining NATO is one of Russia's key goals, after Finland's recent accession to the alliance reignited calls from Kyiv to join.
  • Fighting in the east: Moscow unleashed 30 attacks in the town of Vulhedar, where chaotic scenes of Russian troops struggling to gain ground have emerged in recent months. Further north, one person was killed in the town of Kostiantynivka.
  • Wikimedia Foundation lawsuit: A Moscow court fined the Wikimedia Foundation — which owns Russian-language Wikipedia — 1.5 million rubles ($18,380) for refusing to remove information on Ukraine, it's the latest in a string of lawsuits against the platform.
  • Leopard 2 tanks: Denmark and the Netherlands have jointly agreed to donate 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine. They are seen as a vital, modern military vehicle that would strengthen Kyiv’s forces because they are fuel efficient, and have relatively low-maintenance demands compared to other models.
  • Russian war crimes: Powerful and horrific testimonies were shared with House Foreign Affairs Committee members at a hearing about Russian war crimes Wednesday, as some lawmakers work to rally continued support for Ukraine.
9:07 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

Kremlin reaffirms goal of barring Ukraine from NATO, as alliance’s chief visits Kyiv 

From CNN’s Anna Chernova and Alex Hardie

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, center, visits Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, center, visits Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Russia reiterated on Thursday that preventing Kyiv from joining NATO is one of its key goals, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visits Ukraine on his first trip to the country since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine's accession to the alliance would “pose a serious and significant danger to our country, to the security of our country,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Earlier this month, the Kremlin warned it would scale up forces near Finland after the Nordic nation joined the alliance — more than doubling NATO's land border with Russia.

Finnish and Swedish public support for joining NATO skyrocketed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, also reigniting calls from Kyiv to join.

CNN's Tara John contributed reporting to this post.

6:39 a.m. ET, April 20, 2023

Moscow court fines Wikimedia Foundation $18,000 over information related to war in Ukraine

From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood 

A Moscow court has fined the Wikimedia Foundation – which owns Russian-language Wikipedia – 1.5 million rubles ($18,380) for refusing to remove information on Ukraine, state media TASS reported on Thursday.

The article which the foundation was fined for includes information about fighting around Okhtyrka in the Sumy region in Ukraine that took place between February to March 2022, some of the information according to authorities was false, TASS reported.

Judge Timur Vakhrameev, who oversaw the case said the foundation was guilty under part 2 of article 13.41 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation by failing to delete the information as instructed by the Russian Federation, TASS said.

During the hearing, the Wikipedia Foundation attorney asked the court to dismiss the case and not fine the company, saying prosecutors did not state which part of the article was not true, TASS also said.

More on Russian court fines: The foundation was fined 2 million rubles ($24,500) last Thursday for declining to remove an article called "The Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region," TASS reported.

In April 2022, it was fined 5 million rubles ($61,250) for refusing to delete an article about Bucha, the destruction of a hospital and theatre in Mariupol and the manufacture of gunpowder, TASS said.

The company was also fined 2 million rubles ($24,500) in February 2022 for publishing information about the deployment locations of three RF military units, according to TASS.

There have been debates in Russia about banning Wikipedia. Asked about the possibility of shutting down the website in the country, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said last week that a Russian alternative needed to be developed first due to concerns about the “inaccuracies, distortions,” and “historical and factual errors” on Wikipedia."

CNN's Anna Chernova and Olesya Dmitracova contributed reporting.