April 17, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Mike Hayes, Jack Guy, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 0214 GMT (1014 HKT) April 18, 2023
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10:14 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow the latest Ukraine news here or read through the updates below.

8:53 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

US House approves resolution condemning Russia's downing an Air Force drone last month

From CNN's Haley Talbot

The US House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution Monday that condemns and holds Russia accountable for its aggression in downing a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea in March. 

The vote was 410-0.

For context: A Russian fighter jet forced down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea on March 14 after damaging the propeller of the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to the US military.

The Reaper drone and two Russian Su-27 aircraft were flying over international waters over the Black Sea when one of the Russian jets intentionally flew in front of and dumped fuel on the unmanned drone several times, a statement from US European Command said.

9:17 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

2 Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders detail killing children and civilians in Ukraine

From CNN’s Sarah Dean, Uliana Pavlova and Josh Pennington

This screengrab shows two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders.
This screengrab shows two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders. (Gulagu.net)

Two Russian men who claim to be former Wagner Group commanders have told a human rights activist that they killed children and civilians during their time in Ukraine. The claims were made in video interviews with Gulagu.net, the founder of a human rights organization targeting corruption and torture in Russia.

In the video interviews posted online, former Russian convicts Azamat Uldarov and Alexey Savichev — who were both pardoned by Russian presidential decrees last year, according to Gulagu.net — describe their actions in Ukraine. CNN cannot independently verify their claims or identities in the videos but has obtained Russian penal documents showing they were released on presidential pardon in September and August of 2022.

Uldarov, who appears to have been drinking, details how he shot and killed a 5 or 6-year-old girl. He called it: “A management decision. I wasn’t allowed to let anyone out alive, because my command was to kill anything in my way.”

According to Gulagu.net, the testimonies were given to founder Vladimir Osechkin over the span of a week. It said Uldarov and Savichev were in Russia when they spoke.

 Describing his motivation for the interview:

“I want Russia and other nations to know the truth. I don't want war and bloodshed," Uldarov said, describing his motivation for the interview. "You see I'm holding a cigarette in this hand. I followed orders with this hand and killed children.”

 Uldarov said in the cities of Soledar and Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, Wagner mercenaries “were given the command to annihilate everyone.”

“There is a superior over all the commanders — it's Prigozhin, who told us not to let anyone get out of there and annihilate everyone,” he said, referencing the Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. CNN has previously reported on former Wagner fighters making similar claims.

At one point in the interview, Savichev described how they “got the order to execute any men who were 15 years or older," and getting orders to "sweep" a house.

“It doesn’t matter whether there is a civilian there or not. The house needs to be swept. I didn’t give a f**k who was inside,” he said.

“Whether a hut or a house, the point was to make sure that there wasn’t a single living person left inside. And you can condemn me for this. I will not object. It’s your right. But I wanted to live, too,” he said.

Savichev described how Wagner fighters who did not follow orders were killed.

When asked about the men and the contents of the 1.17-hour-long video, Prigozhin said he had not yet had the "technical ability to watch the entire video.” Prigozhin shared this Q&A from an interview he did with the Russian online newspaper Mash.

However, he added, in his response on Telegram: "Regarding the execution of children, of course, no one ever shoots civilians or children, absolutely no one needs this. We came there to save them from the regime they were under."

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, tweeted Monday: "Russian terrorists confessed to numerous murders of Ukrainian children in Bakhmut and Soledar. Confession is not enough. There must be a punishment. Tough and fair. And it will definitely be. How many more crimes like these have been committed?"

6:14 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

Intense fighting continues in Bakhmut while Russia meets with Brazilian officials. Here's what else to know

From CNN staff

A Ukrainian serviceman operates a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut, on Sunday.
A Ukrainian serviceman operates a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut, on Sunday. (Sergey Shestak/AFP/Getty Images)

Heavy fighting is ongoing in and around the contentious eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, said the Ukrainian military’s General Staff.

Moscow is interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine "as soon as possible," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after meeting with Brazil's foreign minister.

Here's what else to know:

  • Attacks in Bakhmut: The Russian Ministry of Defense has said that "assault detachments" have captured two districts in the center and northwest of the embattled city of Bakhmut. It comes after the Ukrainian military said Russia launched "unsuccessful attacks" against the Bakhmut suburbs. The move suggests an attempt by Moscow to encircle Ukrainian soldiers within Bakhmut.
  • Kremlin critic gets 25-year sentence: Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent British-Russian human rights advocate and Kremlin critic, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Moscow City Court on Monday after publicly condemning Russia's war in Ukraine. The United StatesUnited Kingdom and Germany have all condemned the sentencing, among other countries. Kara-Murza said he is "proud" and stands "by every word I have spoken."
  • Detained American: US Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Monday, the US embassy said on Twitter. After the visit, the White House said it wants more frequent and routine access to the journalist.
  • Ukrainian grain: Ukraine has accused Moscow of threatening the United Nations-brokered Grain Initiative, saying ship inspections in Turkish territorial waters have been blocked for the second time on Monday, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure. Russia has maintained its position and said prospects for extending the grain deal have not been improving.
  • Russian oil: Moscow's oil exports have bounced back to levels last seen before it invaded Ukraine, despite a barrage of Western sanctions. According to the International Energy Agency, Russian exports of crude oil and oil products rose in March to their highest level since April 2020.
  • Meetings with Brazilian officials: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lavrov said Russia is "interested" in ending the conflict in Ukraine "as soon as possible" following a meeting earlier Monday with his Brazilian counterpart. Brazil's president said over the weekend that he discussed creating a group of countries willing to mediate talks between Russia and Ukraine with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
7:21 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

White House seeking more frequent and routine access to American reporter detained in Russia

From CNN's Maegan Vazquez

The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is shown in this undated photo.
The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is shown in this undated photo. (The Wall Street Journal/AP)

The White House wants for more frequent and routine access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia, following US Ambassador Lynne Tracy’s visit to see him earlier Monday. 

Tracy wrote in a tweet that she had visited Gershkovich – designated by the US as wrongfully detained – at Lefortovo Prison, marking “the first time we've been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago.”  

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the US is "certainly grateful" for consular access to the journalist.

"As I think you saw from the embassy in Moscow, he appears to be in good health. And considering the circumstances, in relatively good spirits," he said.

Kirby told reporters that the administration wants “to have regular and routine ability” for consular access “to see Evan and to talk to Evan.” 

“That’s the goal,” he said. ”It was good to see him today and, again, we want to make sure we can continue to do that.” 
3:53 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

UK investigating whether to sanction everyone involved in Kara-Murza's trial, minister says

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London

UK officials are investigating the possibility of sanctioning everyone involved in the trial of British-Russian Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell told said Monday.

Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he publicly criticized the Ukraine war.

Mitchell was speaking in the House of Commons after the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Alicia Kearns asked an urgent question on the sentencing, calling it a "farce."

British nationals are "not safe anymore to remain in Russia," Kearns said.

"This trial, Mr. Speaker, was conducted behind closed doors, no diplomats or observers were allowed in, the defense was not allowed proper time to prepare," Mitchell said, adding that the Russian ambassador has been summoned “and is expected to arrive shortly, "where we will be looking specifically at the issue of healthcare and medicine that it is available.
 “In the issue of sanctions, we have already sanctioned for the judge and the jailer under the Magnitsky propositions because they were involved in that case," the minister said.“And I have instructed officials to investigate the possibility of sanctioning everyone who was involved in this trial. And we expect, within the next week, to come forward with a package of further measures in this respect," the minister added.

 

3:28 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

Russian punk band frontman speaks out at concert in support of schoolgirl who drew anti-war picture

From CNN's Josh Pennington

The frontman of Russian punk band Naiv, Alexander Ivanov, spoke out in support of schoolgirl Masha Moskalyov, who drew an anti-war picture at school, at a concert in Moscow on Saturday.

Masha Moskalyova had been briefly placed in an orphanage after her father, Alexey Moskalyov, who was raising Masha alone, was charged with “discrediting the Russian military” for expressing anti-war sentiments 

Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with her name, Ivanov said, "Friends, I'm seizing this opportunity. I can't let it pass me by."

"This Masha Moskaleva case somehow won't let me go. Maybe because my daughter is the same age as her. She is 14, and Masha is 13. Friends, I want to urge you: Google this case, find out what happened there, and feel horrified at what happened to Masha and her family for the drawing she made in her art class," he said at the concert.

More on the case: In April 2022, Masha drew a picture of Russian missiles being fired at a Ukrainian family and wrote “No to war” and “Glory to Ukraine” during her art class, according to the Russian independent news outlet, Mediazona. Her school subsequently called the police.

2:19 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

Russia is interested in ending the Ukraine conflict "as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Lavrov says

From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, speaks during a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, right, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on April 17.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, speaks during a joint press conference with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, right, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on April 17. (Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia is "interested" in ending the conflict in Ukraine "as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday during a news conference with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Brasilia

Lavrov also thanked his Brazilian colleagues for the "excellent understanding" of the situation in Ukraine, and said Russia is grateful for Brazil's "desire to contribute" to the search for possible solutions.

The Russian foreign minister is also expected to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva today, according to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry’s schedule published online.

Ukraine has repeatedly said that peace in the conflict will only be achieved if Russia restores the country's borders and Kyiv takes back Crimea.

“Real peace means restoring the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. Real peace means a safe homeland for the targeted people in the Ukrainian Crimea,” Ukrainain Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an address last week to the Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest.

“I reiterated Brazil’s stance in contributing to a peaceful solution to the conflict, reminding President Lula’s manifestations in seeking the formation of a group of friendly countries to mediate the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,” Vieira said in a televised press conference. 

Vieira also highlighted Brazil’s stance against unilateral sanctions.

“Such measures, in addition to having the approval of the security council of the United Nations, also have a negative impact on the economy all over the world, and in particular in underdeveloped countries, most of whom haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic,” Vieira said. 

1:23 p.m. ET, April 17, 2023

Leaked US documents reveal both Ukraine and Russia hold mix hands for next phase of war

Analysis from CNN's Tim Lister

A Ukrainian service member is seen in a trench at a position on a front line near the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on April 10.
A Ukrainian service member is seen in a trench at a position on a front line near the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on April 10. (Oleksandr Klymenko/Reuters)

There are several significant takeaways from the leaked US documents about the course of the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian ground forces in the country are approaching exhaustion and there are few reinforcements available. Ukrainian air defenses are depleted, making any counteroffensive vulnerable to Russian air superiority.

And the United States does not expect the war to end this year.

The 53 documents reviewed by CNN provide a snapshot of capabilities and vulnerabilities as perceived by the US Defense Department in the first quarter of this year.

Snapshots are inherently risky: Circumstances change, as do resources and intentions. But the documents tend to confirm that Ukrainian forces are preparing for an offensive and that Russia is putting extensive effort into holding what it already has, while looking to aviation to blunt any Ukrainian attacks.

And if the Russians were unaware of the way the Ukrainian military would design its counteroffensive, the documents may have given them some useful indicators.

Russian brigades mauled: Several of the documents, which appear to date largely from February and March, tend to confirm that Russia has committed the vast majority of its army battalions to its war on in Ukraine. Despite the mobilization last autumn, which potentially added 300,000 soldiers to the Russian ranks, a significant minority of these battalions are described as “combat ineffective” — short of men and equipment.

One document says that 527 out of 544 available Russian battalions are committed to the operation, and 474 are already inside Ukraine. A substantial number are deployed in the south of the country — with an estimated 23,000 personnel in Zaporizhzhia and another 15,000 in Kherson. That suggests the Russians expect any Ukrainian offensive to target that region.

But in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, for example, 19 out of 91 battalions were adjudged as “combat ineffective.”

Russia still has vast inventories of hardware, but the documents suggest that some of the best has already been lost, and older, less reliable armor is being dusted off. One says that Russia continued to fall behind stated goals for replenishing equipment and personnel, and was incorporating “older, less accurate munitions systems.”

Open skies: While Ukraine’s ground forces may be in better shape than the enemy’s, especially once 12 new brigades mentioned in one leak are fully trained and equipped, its reliance on Soviet-era air defenses points to a growing vulnerability, according to the documents obtained by CNN. This in turn may give the Russian air force freedom of the skies to blunt any Ukrainian ground offensive.

One of the leaked documents detailed how Ukrainian stocks of Soviet-era medium-range air defense missiles were severely depleted. Ominously, it suggested that Ukraine had run out of munitions for the highly capable German-made Iris-T air defense system by February.

Ukrainian officials are constantly asking Western partners for more air defense weaponry and one document talks of a three- to six-month window in which to solicit further Western contributions.

Read more of the analysis.