This is the state of affairs on Saturday, April 8, 2023:
Diplomacy
- Secret documents detailing plans by the United States and NATO to prepare Ukraine for a spring offensive against Russia leaked on Twitter and Telegram.
- Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said the leaked documents contained “fictitious information” designed to cast doubts on the planned operation.
- Meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said all negotiations for peace in Ukraine should aim at a “new world order” and take “Russia’s interests” into account.
- Russian investigators have accused Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage, the Russian news agency Interfax reported citing an unknown source.
- Ukraine has rejected a proposal by Brazilian President Lula da Silva that Kiev give up Crimea to end the war with Russia. Moscow invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014.
To fight
- Russia has seized the western bank of the Bakhmutka River, endangering a key Ukrainian supply route in its bid to secure control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the British defense ministry said.
- Ukraine described the situation in Bakhmut as “difficult”, but said it was holding out despite Russia’s numerical superiority.
- According to the Ukrainian military, Russia is focusing its offensive on the eastern towns and villages of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka, using air-to-air missiles, missile launchers and weaponized drones to launch multiple attacks.
Economy
- The Russian ruble fell to its lowest level in a year against the dollar and euro amid a currency crisis in Moscow and the sale of Western businesses in Russia.
Weapons
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal plans to visit Canada in the coming weeks to search for munitions and armored vehicles, the Globe and Mail reported.