Russian Digest 4/13

Top daily stories I'm keeping an eye on

1. The Biden administration is moving to significantly expand the intelligence it is providing to Ukraine’s forces so they can target Moscow’s military units in Russian-occupied Donbas and Crimea, part of a shift in U.S. support that also includes a new security assistance package with heavier weaponry. via WSJ

2. An immediate investigation needs to be conducted over Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russian forces

   State Duma deputies are going to organize Russian language courses for children who were forcibly evacuated to Russia from the territory of Ukraine, said Liliya Gumerova, Chairwoman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture.

   «Many of the children do not speak Russian sufficiently to master our general education program. During the summer period, specialized department will organize courses. University and high school students and counselors will be involved in this work,» she said.

   Earlier it was reported that the Ministry of Education of Russia was preparing agreements with the «LDNR» on sending the orphans brought in from Ukraine, including the occupied territories, to Russian foster families. It is not specified whether it's a question of temporary custody or adoption.

   «We have a lot of work underway to develop international agreements that will make it possible to send children to Russian foster families. I would like to note that at present we have prepared the first two drafts of such agreements, and [they] are already being reviewed by legal experts in the Ministry of Education,» says Larisa Falkovskaya, director of the Department of State Policy for the Protection of Children's Rights.

   In the near future, the necessary documents will sent to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the guardianship authorities of the «LDNR.» via The Insider

   3. Russian ship “Moskva” has gone and F*** itself.

   Ukrainian defenders attacked the flagship of the Russian fleet missile cruiser Moskva. This is reported by volunteer Serge Marco.

   “The cruiser Moskva has just been hit by two Neptune missiles. It's worth it, it's on fire. And the sea is stormy. Tactical flooding is required, apparently, ”he wrote.

   Update:  The head of the Odessa Regional State Administration, Maxim Marchenko , confirmed the Neptune missile attack on the Russian cruiser Moskva.

   “They confirmed that the Moskva missile cruiser today went exactly where our border guards sent it on Snake Island! The Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea inflicted very serious damage on the Russian ship. Glory to Ukraine!” he said. via InfoResist

   The Black Sea Fleet Flagship, the Atlant-class guided missile cruiser Moskva, was one of the two ships that seized Snake Island on February 25, in the now famous incident in which Ukrainian border guards told Russian naval forces ,"Russian warship, f***k you...!" when told to surrender. via Jerusalem Post

   4. Authorities in the island country of Jersey froze assets valued at more than $7 billion that are suspected of being connected to Roman Abramovich, the latest financial fallout for that Russian oligarch as a result of the Ukraine war.

   States of Jersey Police also executed search warrants Tuesday at locations in Jersey suspected to be connected to Abramovich’s business activities, according to a statement by the Law Officer’s Department in that country. via CNBC

   5. Operation “Godfather” has come to an end

   Naturally, I am not familiar with the details of this special operation, but something tells me that Ukraine conducted a multi-move move much better than Putin. Cornered Putin is narrowing the room for maneuver.

   End of Operation "Godfather"