Russia's Wagner group moves deep into Bakhmut, Ukraine imposes new sanctions

According to the Guardian newspaper, on April 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that members of the Wagner military group had taken control of two more areas in the northern and southern suburbs of the city of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian soldiers near the city of Bakhmut. Photo: Reuters

"Fierce fighting is still going on, paratroopers are helping us hold back Ukrainian forces on the edge of Bakhmut. The enemy's forces inside the city are deliberately destroying infrastructure before retreating to slow down the Wagner Group's advance," the Russian Defense Ministry announced.

Also according to the Russian Defense Ministry, in the past 24 hours, the Russian army in Donetsk eliminated 315 Ukrainian soldiers, 2 armored vehicles and 2 self-propelled guns. In Luhansk, Russian forces caused Ukraine to lose another 60 soldiers, 2 artillery pieces and 3 vehicles.

Ukraine imposes new sanctions

According to Anadolu news agency, on April 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved sanctions against 438 individuals and 254 businesses from Russia and Belarus.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Pravda

The individuals added to Kiev's sanctions list include the daughter of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk. In addition, well-known Russian companies such as Yandex and Rambler, Belarusian Intermeh are also subject to sanctions by Ukraine.

This list of sanctions was issued by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, with a term of 50 years. The sanctions include: freezing assets, suspending the implementation of economic and financial obligations, blocking capital withdrawals from Ukraine...

Brazil supports China's position on Ukraine issue

According to Reuters, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Lula da Silva recently had discussions surrounding the Ukraine issue.

After meeting in Beijing, the two leaders agreed that dialogue and negotiations were the only way to end the conflict, and called on other countries to play a "constructive role" in finding a political solution to the Ukraine issue.

"Brazil believes that China's peace proposal demonstrates its seriousness in finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis. The international community needs to convince Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky that peace is in the interests of the whole world," said Brazilian President Lula da Silva.