Victory Chronicles-DAY 792

The Pentagon has revealed details of a new security assistance package for Ukraine, valued at $1 billion. The package includes missiles for air defense systems, ammunition for artillery systems, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. Specifically, it mentions RIM-7 and AIM-9M missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, small arms and ammunition for combating unmanned aerial vehicles, highly mobile artillery missile systems, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells, mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, logistics vehicles, and various support equipment. This aid aims to enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its front line, protect its cities, and resist Russia’s attacks. This announcement comes after US President Joe Biden signed a law providing $60 billion in additional funding for US national security needs, with a portion specifically allocated for Ukraine. The total estimated value of the military assistance package to Ukraine is $1 billion.

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The production of electronic warfare systems in Ukraine has increased by 40-50% since the Russian invasion began. Anatoliy Khrapchynsky, the Deputy Director General of Piranha Tech, a Ukrainian company specializing in electronic warfare systems, made this assessment. On the other hand, Oleh Donets, head of the electronic warfare/electronic signal intelligence department at the Brave1 state defense technology development cluster, disclosed that more than 50 manufacturers have joined the platform, primarily producing short-range electronic warfare equipment. The number of developments in this field has exceeded 100, with nine electronic warfare systems already tested and codified by the Ministry of Defense. 

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An expedition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine Humanitarian Project “ON SHIELD” recently took place in the Kyiv Oblast. The mission involved members of the CIMIC of the 120th separate brigade, the Regional Directorate of the Territorial Defense Forces “South,” volunteers from the Pavlohrad search and rescue dog unit “Antares,” and the Military History Center “Memory and Glory.” The group focused on areas where battles had occurred during the initial stages of the Russian invasion, as these locations still had some uncertainties. They utilized a new underwater drone to search the Irpin River. The search for missing Ukrainian defenders will continue as the General Staff of Ukraine reports.

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The operators of the 3rd separate regiment of the Special Operations Forces detected and destroyed an enemy Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system that was preparing to launch missiles during reconnaissance operations in one of the hottest areas.

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The United States reportedly provided an unspecified number of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in March 2024, some of which Ukraine has already used to strike Russian targets in deep rear areas. 

Western media reported that senior US officials stated that the United States secretly shipped an unspecified number of ATACMS with a range of roughly 300 kilometers to Ukraine in March 2024. A senior US official reportedly stated that Ukrainian forces have since conducted strikes with the ATACMS missiles against a Russian military base in occupied Crimea and an unspecified target east of occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast. Geolocated footage published on April 23 shows Ukrainian forces striking several radar systems for a Russian S-300 air defense system southeast of occupied Volnovakha (northeast of Berdyansk).

Ukrainian Mariupol Mayoral Advisor Petro Andryushchenko stated that Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions 10 times in Babakh-Tarama (immediately east of Berdyansk) on the night of April 23 to 24. It is unclear if either of these strikes is the strike to which the US official was referring, and Ukrainian military officials have yet to confirm a Ukrainian strike near Berdyansk. Ukrainian forces appear to have used ATACMS missiles in a strike against a Russian military airfield in occupied Dzhankoi, Crimea on the night of April 16 to 17 that reportedly destroyed or critically damaged four S-400 air defense launchers, three radar stations, an air defense equipment control point, and a Murom-M airspace surveillance system. US officials told Western media that the United States will include additional long-range ATACMS missiles as part of the announced $1 billion tranche of security assistance for Ukraine.

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Senior fighter Serhii Ahapov died on March 4, 2023, near the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. While performing his official duties, he was fatally wounded during an artillery attack by the occupiers. Shortly before, on February 15, the fighter turned 53 years old. 

Serhiy Fedorovych was born in the village of Preobrazhenka, Dnipro Oblast. He graduated from the 9th grade of a local school. He completed his military service. Then he entered the Dnipropetrovs’k Vocational School, specializing in artistic design. He was a talented artist, a master of Petrykivka painting, he also painted portraits, landscapes, not only with a brush but also with his fingers – on paper, glass, wood, walls. He painted a school in Preobrazhenka and a neighboring village. He was also engaged in interior painting – he painted people’s houses. He was written about in newspapers more than once. 

In his youth, he played the ukulele in an ensemble and a regular six-string for himself and his friends. He was a village barber, cutting hair mostly for men. He also loved sports, especially football. He supported Dnipro and Dynamo. He went to the matches many times and played in the village team in his younger years. He worked as an art teacher in schools, was a security guard, and before the war he joined Nova Poshta.

In early April 2022, Serhii joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to the front. He fought in the 53rd separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh. He was a driver of a mortar platoon of a mortar battery. He performed combat missions in the Donetsk Oblast.

Serhii, like many other fighters, was considered by his family to be “born in a shirt”. There were many situations when those around him died, and he remained unharmed. However, in the fall, near Bakhmut, he was seriously wounded. After surgery and treatment, he spent some time at home for rehabilitation. And then he returned to the front. His fighters-in-arms remember him as a very sincere, friendly, cheerful man, the soul of the company. He was generous and shared his last. 

The fighter was buried in his native village. Serhii is survived by his sister, relatives, friends, relatives and fighters-in-arms.

*Serhii’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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• The amount of European military support for Ukraine is equal to that of the United States
• Russia is lying about “Polish plans to annex part of Ukraine”
• Russia has at least doubled number of drones across war zone in Ukraine over past 3 months
• UK defense chief: Ukraine to increase long-range strikes in Russia
• Reuters: China harbors ship tied to North Korea-Russia arms transfers, satellite images show
• Politico: US accuses China of backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine