April 20, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Andrew Raine, Travis Caldwell, George Ramsay, Jack Bantock, Laura Smith-Spark, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, April 21, 2022

What we covered

The Ukrainian Air Force has added about 20 operational aircraft to its fleet because of an influx of spare parts, a senior US defense official said, adding they have more aircraft now than they did three weeks ago.
Ukrainian forces are continuing to resist Russian attacks in the southeastern port city of Mariupol. A Ukrainian commander told CNN the situation at a steel plant, one of the last sites still under Ukrainian control in the city, is "critical," as hundreds of civilians take shelter inside.
The Russian defense ministry said Wednesday that it had conducted a test launch of its intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat, adding that it landed in the “designated area in Kamchatka."
Meanwhile in the east, Ukrainian forces have repelled numerous Russian attempted advances in the crucial Donbas region amid Moscow’s increased shelling and attacks in the area, UK defense intelligence said.
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5:58 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Zelensky says discussions with European Council president were “substantive”

From CNN's Hira Humayun

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his discussions with European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday were “substantive” regarding the EU’s support of Ukraine.

During his nightly address posted to social media Wednesday night, Zelensky said he and Michel discussed specific ways the EU can help Ukraine, regarding providing aid —particularly defense, finances and sanctions.

"Another great topic of our discussion is our advancement toward integration,” Zelensky said.

“We have already proved that Ukrainian state and civic institutions are effective enough to withstand a war ordeal,” Zelensky added, “We have already been doing for the defense of freedom on the European continent so much that it hasn't been the other nations' lot to do.”

Michel and Zelensky also discussed specific steps to restore Ukraine after the war, and how the EU and Ukraine can work together to diminish threats from Russia regarding food, energy and safety in Europe and the rest of the world.

“To resume export of Ukrainian agrarian products and to disable Russia's blackmailing with energy resources — those are top priorities for everyone on the continent,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky said after Michel and his team visited Borodianka in the Kyiv region, they “made a very correct conclusion: there cannot be peace without justice.”

The Ukrainian president said he also discussed strengthening sanctions with Michel.

“At present European Union is working on the sixth package of sanctions,” Zelensky said, “We discussed this matter with Charles Michel today. We are making sure that it is truly painful for the Russian war machine and the Russian state in general.”

He added that in all negotiations, he has emphasized that sanctions are not needed as an end in itself, but as an “instrument to make Russia seek peace.”

4:29 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Biden is processing horrific images out of Ukraine "with sadness" and "fear for the people," White House says

From CNN's Sam Fossum

Responding to pleas for help from Ukrainian forces besieged in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House continues to urge Russian forces to "guarantee safe passage" for civilians.

"We have certainly seen these cries for help, and these asks for help. We will we certainly urge the Russian government to do the right thing, guarantee safe passage for any civilians or others who wish to leave the city," Psaki told CNN's MJ Lee.

Asked about how US President Joe Biden is processing the horrific images coming out of Ukraine, Psaki said he is doing so in a way similar to many other America

"The President is processing these images as many Americans are with or with sadness with, you know, fear for the people of Ukraine, for the families, for the children for innocent civilians who are at risk," Psaki said.

She added: "This conflict is consuming a great deal of his time as, as much as he is working on a range of other priorities here."

5:54 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

It's Wednesday night in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN Staff

Evacuees wait to board a bus to leave Mariupol, Ukraine, on Wednesday, April 20. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Ukrainian forces are continuing to resist Russian attacks in the southeastern port city of Mariupol. A Ukrainian commander told CNN the situation at a steel plant, one of the last sites still under Ukrainian control in the city, is "critical," as hundreds of civilians take shelter inside.

Mariupol's mayor called on residents of the besieged city to evacuate along a corridor as the city faces heavy Russian bombardment.

Some 120,000 people remain trapped in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.

“According to our information, they are keeping 120,000 people in besieged Mariupol. Crimes that are happening there are far more scary and large scale than in Borodyanka,” Zelensky said while speaking alongside European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv.

Here are more of the latest headlines from the Russia-Ukraine war:

Mariupol evacuation corridor "did not work as planned": Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said an evacuation corridor from the besieged city of Mariupol "did not work as planned" Wednesday, providing few details but promising to resume efforts Thursday. "Due to the lack of control over their own military on the ground, the occupiers were unable to ensure a proper ceasefire. Also, due to the inherent disorganization and negligence, the occupiers were unable to provide timely transportation of people to the point where dozens of our buses and ambulances were waiting," she said. The mayor of Mariupol had called on residents of the city to evacuate along a corridor announced earlier in the day by Vereshchuk, including three assembly points.
Zelensky says Ukrainian forces don't have enough "serious and heavy" weapons to defeat Russia in Mariupol: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the country's forces don’t have enough "serious and heavy" weapons to defeat the Russian army in the southeastern port city of Mariupol. He outlined two potential ways to end the standoff in the city: “First, it involves serious and heavy weapons […] at the moment we don't have enough of these weapons to free Mariupol. The second path is diplomatic. So far Russia hasn't agreed to this.”
US unveils new round of sanctions against Russia: The United States on Wednesday unveiled its latest round of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, this time targeting a key commercial bank and “a global network of more than 40 individuals and entities led by U.S.-designated Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev.” In a news release, the US Treasury Department said it was also targeting “companies operating in Russia’s virtual currency mining industry, reportedly the third largest in the world,” noting it was the first time they have “designated a virtual currency mining company.”
US Treasury and other finance ministers walked out of G20 meeting with Russia: Finance ministers from multiple nations walked out of a closed-door G20 session in Washington, DC, on Wednesday when the Russian delegate began his prepared remarks, a person familiar with the session said. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen participated in the walkout, as did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with other European and Western officials who were participating in the meeting, the source said. Ahead of the meeting, US officials had said Yellen would not participate in certain sessions of the gathering that included Russia.
Russia has added 17 battalion groups in Ukraine in the last week: Russian forces have added 17 battalion tactical groups (BTGs) in Ukraine over the past week, with four more BTGs in just the last 24 hours, a senior US defense official said Wednesday. Altogether, the US assesses that there are now 82 BTGs inside of Ukraine. Out of the four BTGs added in the last 24 hours, three of them have “gone into the east” into the Donbas area, the official added.
European Council president after visiting Ukraine: There are "no words" to explain what I feel: European Council President Charles Michel said that there were "no words" to explain what he feels after visiting Ukraine on Wednesday, adding that Russia "must be punished" for the events unfolding in the country. "There are no words in order to explain what I feel, not as the President of the European Council, but as father, as a human being. These are atrocities. These are war crimes. It must be punished. It will be punished. They must pay for what they have done, there and in many other cities and other locations in Ukraine," Michel said in a news conference in Kyiv.
IMF says Ukraine estimates it needs $5 billion per month to keep economy functioning: Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance has estimated it will take $5 billion a month to keep the economy functioning, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Wednesday. “We have been engaged very closely with the Ministry of Finance on the estimates they have provided or what would be necessary to retain the functioning of the economy over the next three months and they came up with the number of $5 billion a month,” she said.
Germany will phase out Russian oil imports "by the end of the year": Germany will phase out Russian oil imports "by the end of the year," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Wednesday. “Germany will completely phase out Russian energy imports,” Baerbock said. Oil imports “will be halved by the summer” and phased out entirely and “at 0 by the end of the year,” she added. Speaking at a news conference in Riga with Baltic Foreign Ministers, Baerbock reiterated that coal imports would be phased out by the end of the summer. Gas imports would be phased out over a longer timeframe, she added.
80% of Luhansk territory is under Russian control: Serhii Haidai, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said 80% of his region's territory is under Russian control. If Ukraine doesn’t resist, the official said, “Russia is certainly not going to stop here and will push further on.” Speaking to CNN’s Becky Anderson from an undisclosed location, Haidai concurred with the Russian characterization that the second phase of the war has begun, but cautioned that it is not yet a “complete and total invasion.”
Russian military carries out intercontinental ballistic missile test: The Russian defense ministry announced Wednesday that it had conducted a test launch of its intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The missile was fired from a silo launcher at 3:12 p.m. Moscow time at the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region of northern Russia toward the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east. The US was notified ahead of the missile test and tracked it closely. “Such testing is routine, and it was not a surprise,” said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.

3:30 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Norway sends air defense system along with 100 anti-air missiles to Ukraine

From CNN’s James Frater and Benjamin Brown

Norway has donated a Mistral air defense system to Ukraine, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said Wednesday.

The air defense system is “an effective weapon” and “will be of great benefit to Ukraine,” the minister said.

Norway is providing Kyiv with around 100 Mistral missiles and a small number of launch units, according to the defense ministry.

The Mistral system was being phased out by the Norwegian military, “but it is still a modern and effective weapon that will be of great benefit to Ukraine,” Gram said.

The weapons had already been sent out of Norway, the ministry said.

Norway had previously donated a total of 4,000 anti-tank missiles and several types of protective equipment as well as other military equipment, according to the ministry.

5:54 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Woman who escaped Mariupol recounts being trapped in city for 45 days: "It was like living in a nightmare"

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Tatyana Burak survived 45 days in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol before escaping to safety in Lviv with her husband.

Both Burak, who is an English teacher, and her husband were injured. She said her home was bombed and destroyed.

Burak described her experience in Mariupol to CNN's Ana Cabrera, saying "it was like living in a nightmare."

"It was a horrible dream which thousands of people were dreaming at the same time and it had no end. So, we spent a lot of time in the hospital because we were wounded right at the beginning of this Russian onslaught and we were taken by our military doctors to the hospital and so we felt every single bomb, every single shell which was going to our city," Burak said.

Burak noted that early on in the war, she knew Mariupol was "doomed' and that Russian troops invaded the city with the notion that they were there to "liberate" Ukrainians.

"We understood there is nothing to be expected, that our city was doomed because these people came, as they said, to 'liberate us.' They didn't know what they were going to liberate us from, but they said that we were suffering and they came to liberate us. They liberated us from our homes, from our jobs, from the possessions of all our lives, from our family history. They liberated many thousands of people from their lives. They just — I don't know. They seem to be just crazy and insane," she said.

Burak said that soldiers asked her if she was "glad" they came, and that they were "surprised" that people were not expressing "signs of ultimate joy that they came."

She said that when they tried to tell them "our homes were destroyed by your shells, by your tanks, by your bombs, they just look at us and said, 'Okay. That's okay. We'll restore everything in two months. And your city will be even much better.'"

"So they just didn't understand what they were doing, or they were deliberately doing it just because they wanted to kill everybody," Burak continued.

Watch the interview:

3:00 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Mariupol evacuation corridor "did not work as planned," Ukrainian deputy prime minister says

From CNN's Nathan Hodge and Julia Presniakova in Lviv

Evacuees walk toward buses to leave Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 20. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said an evacuation corridor from the besieged city of Mariupol "did not work as planned" Wednesday, providing few details but promising to resume efforts Thursday.

"Due to the lack of control over their own military on the ground, the occupiers were unable to ensure a proper ceasefire. Also, due to the inherent disorganization and negligence, the occupiers were unable to provide timely transportation of people to the point where dozens of our buses and ambulances were waiting," she said.

The mayor of Mariupol had called on residents of the city to evacuate along a corridor announced earlier in the day by Vereshchuk, including three assembly points.

Vereshchuk gave no specifics about how many people assembled, but said, "tomorrow morning we will resume our efforts in the Mariupol direction. I appeal to our people in Mariupol: we will fight for each of you!"

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of Donetsk region military administration, said in remarks on television Wednesday that fewer people than expected boarded buses along the corridor.

"People gathered at those collection points, but few got on the buses," he said. "Now some of these buses are going on the route determined by the Russian Federation. As soon as they are in touch, we will immediately inform you which of the residents of Mariupol has reached the territory controlled by Ukraine. And we will understand how we will work according to the specified sequence in the next days."

2:40 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Russia has added 17 battalion groups in Ukraine in the last week, senior US defense official says

From CNN's Ellie Kaufman

Russian forces have added 17 battalion tactical groups (BTGs) in Ukraine over the past week, with four more BTGs in just the last 24 hours, a senior US defense official said Wednesday.

Altogether, the US assesses that there are now 82 BTGs inside of Ukraine.

Out of the four BTGs added in the last 24 hours, three of them have “gone into the east” into the Donbas area, the official added.

These BTGs are not all necessarily just infantry soldiers. They are “functionally arranged,” the official said.

“It’s also important to remember that some of these battalion tactical groups, we tend to think of them, and I think we all get used to talking about them as if they’re all infantry or something. They’re not, they're functionally arranged. Some are infantry, some are artillery, some are armor, mechanized, and so, I don’t know what the mix is here,” the official added.

2:42 p.m. ET, April 20, 2022

Zelensky says Ukrainian forces don't have enough "serious and heavy" weapons to defeat Russia in Mariupol

From CNN’s Eleanor Pickston and Anastasia Graham-Yooll

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a news conference with European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the country's forces don’t have enough "serious and heavy" weapons to defeat the Russian army in the southeastern port city of Mariupol.

He outlined two potential ways to end the standoff in the city: “First, it involves serious and heavy weapons […] at the moment we don't have enough of these weapons to free Mariupol. The second path is diplomatic. So far Russia hasn't agreed to this.”

“We don’t know when we can unblock Mariupol. And I say this openly, that all the boys in Mariupol want our victory, they want a free city, none of them are going to surrender to the enemy. This is their internal feeling, this is what they are,” he added, speaking alongside European Council President Charles Michel in Kyiv.

Zelensky also said that the “few thousand” Ukrainian civilians who fled the besieged city of Mariupol through evacuation corridors to Russian occupied territories is not currently known.

Thousands of civilians have successfully left Mariupol through corridors agreed upon with Russia, but “unfortunately a few thousand civilians went to Russian occupied territories, and we don’t know the fate of these thousands of people,” he added.

Ukraine is “ready for any format of swaps of our people for the Russian troops that they left behind, the bodies and the wounded that they abandoned here," he said.