HOT NEWS

1. In the occupied Crimea, in the village of Perovo near Simferopol, a fire broke out on the evening of April 6. This was reported by the Crimean Wind Telegram channel.

At the same time, local residents say in the video that "something is exploding." According to the occupiers’ Ministry of Emergency Situations of Crimea, "a building in operation burned down at night on the territory of the Pivdenna poultry farm, which has been inactive for ten years." 20 firefighters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and 5 units of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire. The Pivdenna poultry farm, which used to supply Crimea with chicken eggs, was closed by its owner, Ukrainian businessman Oleg Bakhmatyuk, in 2013. The occupation authorities did not comment on the explosions heard by the locals.

2. A video appeared on the Crimean telegram channels, in which men in uniform can be seen and heard shooting from machine guns in the courtyard of a multi-story building.

It happened on April 6 in the village of Novofedorivka, Saksky region. The sounds of the shots triggered the alarms of cars parked nearby. Oleg Kryuchkov, the occupation "Advisor to the Chairman" of Crimea, said training is being held in Novofedorivka.

3. The Russian military is preparing for the defense of occupied Crimea. Since the beginning of 2023, the occupiers have built new defensive structures.

This is evidenced by satellite images analyzed by the journalists of the Scheme and Krym.Realii projects. For example, a double line of trenches was installed immediately behind the administrative border, in the Russian checkpoint "Armyansk" and in Perekop Isthmus. Journalists estimated that at least 7 kilometers of trenches have been dug on the beaches near Yevpatoria. Defense structures actually cut off the Kerch Peninsula. The so-called "dragon's teeth" stand in two rows on the very shore. This may indicate that Russia has already begun to prepare for a possible offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

POLITICAL PRISONERS

4. Citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych, illegally convicted in Crimea, stopped her hunger strike. Her father, Bronislav Danylovych, informed Krym.Realii about this on April 6. According to her father, the illegally convicted activist ended her hunger strike in exchange for treatment.
5. Political prisoner Amet Suleymanov is doing well morally, said lawyers Emil Kurbedinov and Edem Semedlyaev, who visited the Ukrainian political prisoner in an isolation cell in occupied Bakhchysarai on April 6. Emil Kurbedinov in a comment to Suspilne. Krym said that Amet perfectly understands that this is another test. As for his health, the condition is unsatisfactory. Emil Kurbedinov also noted that Amet Suleymanov will be transferred to the pretrial detention center in Simferopol and then to prison in the Russian Federation. On April 5, citizen journalist Suleymanov, who was under house arrest due to a heart condition, was taken into custody and taken to a detention center. The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced him to 12 years in a high-security prison.
6. Three years ago, in occupied Crimea, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the public initiative "Iftar for a prisoner" appeared. Iftar is dinner breaking the fast during fasting. This time, residents of the Dzhankoy region collected parcels for the political prisoners in the Novocherkassk pre-trial detention center.

UKRAINE'S CRIMEA POLICY

7. The de-occupation of Crimea can only take place after the liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This opinion was expressed by Ivan Stupak, an expert at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future and a former SBU employee.
8. From the rhetoric of the Crimean collaborators, it is clear that they feel the loss of Russia, so they are taking their relatives and fortunes out of the peninsula. People's deputy of Ukraine and deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Akhtem Chiygoz thinks so. He said shared his thoughts with Apostrophe TV.
9. In the Ukrainian news over the last week, the top topic was the struggle of the pro-Russian church to exist in Ukraine. Channel 5 journalists decided to ask representatives of the UOC MP a marker question: whose is Crimea?

UKRAINE ABOUT CRIMEA

10. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, announced 12 steps to the de-occupation of Crimea, which also includes an item on the comprehensive "Detoxification" program. He announced this on his Facebook page.
11. Advisor to the President's Office Mykhailo Podolyak believes that Ukraine will de-occupy Crimea in a very short time - in 5-7 months. He told about this in an interview with Radio Svoboda. According to him, Russia does not have enough resources to keep its status. The advisor also suggests that 2023 will be a difficult year for the temporarily occupied peninsula.
12. In the Office of the President of Ukraine, the condition of negotiations regarding Crimea with Russia was named. Ukraine is ready only if the Armed Forces fulfill their strategic tasks and reach the borders of the peninsula. Deputy Chairman of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Sybiga stated this in a comment to the Financial Times. Sybiga noted that the option of liberating the temporarily occupied Crimea by military means is not excluded. According to the Financial Times journalists, the words of Sybiga can help Western politicians who doubt Ukraine's future victory in the war with Russia and fear nuclear escalation.

THE WORLD ABOUT CRIMEA

13. The draft law on security in the Black Sea region was submitted to the US Senate. The document talks about the importance of this region for the national security of the States, especially against the background of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It envisages more active and decisive actions in the American foreign policy towards the Black Sea region, including the strengthening of coordination between the USA, NATO, and the European Union, as well as the strengthening of economic ties between the States and the states of the Black Sea region. The document requires 180 days after its adoption to present an interagency strategy for increasing US military aid and coordination with NATO and the EU, deepening economic ties, strengthening democracy and economic security, and strengthening security assistance with the countries of the region.
14. The decision on the liberation of Crimea should be made by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, as head of state. However, in this matter, he should take into account the will of Ukrainians. This was stated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Tagesschau reports. The diplomat also added that the US and many other allies have pledged to help Ukraine protect its sovereignty and independence. "This includes a counteroffensive that will probably begin in the coming weeks," the US Secretary of State emphasized.
15. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that "for the sake of peace in the world" Ukraine should cede the Crimean peninsula to the aggressor country of Russia. He believes that this could end a full-scale war. This was reported by Le Figaro. At the same time, da Silva noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot seize the territory of Ukraine."

"Perhaps we will discuss Crimea. Zelenskyi cannot want everything either. The world needs peace. We must find a solution," the Brazilian leader said.