Russian invasion of Ukraine: tanks and rocket attacks on the cities. Breaking news

The satellite recorded a mass grave in the Russian-occupied village of Manhush, less than 20 kilometers from Mariupol. Journalists of "Skhemy" (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) received  satellite images showing the probable place of mass burial.

Police have published more photos from the site where AN-225 "Mriya" was destroyed. Specialists-criminologists and firefighters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine inspect the place and collect material evidence. In addition, police’s mine clearance specialist detect and dispose of unexploded ordnance dropped by Russian occupiers at the airport.

SES continues to clear our land of deadly enemy munitions. Today, they eliminated Russian FAB-500 and FAB-250 bombs from Chernihiv and the surrounding areas.

General Staff: The Armed Forces of Ukraine liquidated the commander of the First Motor Rifle Regiment of the Second Motor Rifle Division of the First Tank Army of the Western Military District of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Mezhuyev. Two members of the same unit, Colonel Kharitonov and Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, were also seriously injured and are being treated in Moscow.

General Staff: The occupiers are trying to mobilize men in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region. In addition, a so-called "referendum" is planned for May, 1 in the occupied part of Kherson region. And in the period from May, 2 to May, 10 the occupiers are planning to hold a "census". Locals are prohibited from moving between settlements. The shelling of Mykolaiv continues in the Southern Buh direction, the enemy is trying to improve its tactical position and get closer to the city, but has no success.

79 residents of Mariupol, who managed to leave the city through humanitarian corridor yesterday, have already arrived in Zaporizhzhya, the Mariupol City Council reports. Here they were met and provided with comprehensive support and aid.

Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of the Kryvyi Rih Military Administration: The humanitarian corridor from the Kherson region agreed at the government level did not work today. Our ambulances and buses were detained at the occupiers' checkpoint after Osokorivka near Kavun (Watermelon monument). V.V. Marchuk, the head of the Novovorontsov amalgamated territorial community, who was previously agreed with the Russians as the head of the column, was detained. There are ongoing negotiations to release him.

Here is what planes that were shot down in Slonozhanshchyna, as reported by Roman Donik, look like.

The Security Service of Ukraine has published another recording with a captured "mobilized" member of the so-called L/DPR. The men consider themselves "slaves" of the Russian occupiers, saying that they are digging trenches for them and eating their leftovers. In addition, the Russians are mocking them and constantly threatening them.

Today, several more Russian planes were shot down in Slobozhanshchyna: Su-35, Su-34, two Ka-52, two Su-25 and one UAV, according to a well-known volunteer Roman Donik. As he explains, such a high number is associated with constant air strikes on the Armed Forces: "Until now, we have not seen the intensity and frequency of attacks of such degree."

Zelensky thanked Joe Biden for the new aid package for Ukraine.

The moment MANPADS hit the occupier’s helicopter Ka-52 “Alligator”. The work of the air defense unit of National Guard in the Zaporizhzhya region.

The bombing and shelling of the territory of Azovstal is happening right now, reports the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol. Fighting is also currently taking place in the area of the tram depot, which is located at a considerable distance from the plant.

Broadcast of the Yermak-McFaul Group's plan presentation to strengthen sanctions against Russia.

Today more than 100 people left the Luhansk region, and many more on private transport, said the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration. He added that a free evacuation from Rubizhne and Lysychansk is planned tomorrow.

Zelensky gave an interview to the Russian media outlet Mediazona. In it, journalists asked when, in his opinion, Ukrainians’ attitude towards Russia will begin to change and whether he is ready to come to Moscow in the future.

Press conference of Zelensky and the Prime Ministers of Denmark and Spain following their visit to Kyiv.

The world's largest payment system, UnionPay, has suspended cooperation with sanctioned Russian banks. The head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov explained that now Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, VTB and many other banks will not be able to issue a common card of the two payment systems, Mir and UnionPay.

Joe Biden also announced that ships under the Russian flag would be banned from entering American ports. The United States has also announced a new program to support refugees from Ukraine who want to move from Europe to the United States.

US President Joe Biden has announced a new $800 million military aid package to Ukraine, which will include artillery systems, howitzers, tactical drones and ammunition. The United States will also provide $500 million in financial support to Ukraine.

Bellingcat has published a map of damage to the civilian population of Ukraine caused by the Russian occupiers. The way the map works is explained in the publication.

Today, the air defense unit of the National Guard in the Zaporizhzhya region destroyed occupiers’ helicopter Ka-52 “Alligator” with MANPADS.

The broadcast of Joe Biden's press conference at the White House has begun. He is to announce a new aid package for Ukraine.

The United Kingdom will continue to send air defenses, long-range artillery and shells to Ukraine, states Defense Minister Ben Wallace, according to The Guardian.

Germany is researching what additional services and ammunition will be needed for its Marder infantry fighting vehicles so that Ukraine can use them, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, Reuters reports.

Air defense units of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces shot down a Su-25 attack aircraft and an Orlan-10 drone of the occupiers today. The military used Stinger and Starstreak, portable air defense systems, for this purpose.

Russians want to hold a "referendum" in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region to "mobilize" Ukrainians. Adviser to the Head of the President's Office Oleksii Arestovych named three ways out of this situation.

Ukrainian Ground Forces published a video of Russian occupiers' machinery, damaged by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian intelligence names two Russian war criminals belonging to the highest command staff who shelled towns and villages in Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

Operational Command "Pivden" reports that Russian warships have arrived at the site where the cruiser "Moskva" sank and are conducting search operations there.

Marvel comics leave Russia. The company will suspend the sale and validity of licenses to publish its comics starting this summer, according to BBC.

More than 100 people died in Popasna since the beginning of the war due to the shellings, the Head of the Region Military Administration Serhii Haidai informed. There are still 2500 residents remaining in the city.

The Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez visited Borodyanka. Sanchez said on his Twitter page that he is shocked by the horrors and atrocities of Putin's war.

Conmovido al comprobar en las calles de Borodyanka el horror y las atrocidades de la guerra de Putin.

No dejaremos solo al pueblo ucraniano. pic.twitter.com/OfEIa9oOTC

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 21, 2022

The Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has prolonged the martial law for 30 days - until May 25th.

The MPs of the former "Opposition Platform For Life" created the new parliament group "Platform For Life and Peace" - the MP of the "Voice" party Yaroslav Zheleznyak. The group will be led by Yuriy Boyko.

Ukrainian intelligence published a list of servicemen of the 228th artillery brigade of the 1st tank army of the Western military district of the Russian Armed Forces that had committed military crimes in Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

Ukraine made the sixth exchange of prisoners of war. 19 people return home, 10 servicemen and 9 civilians - the Minister of Reintegration Iryna Vereshchuk informed. There are wounded among them, they will now get full treatment.

The Air Assault servicemen in Donetsk region destroyed the aircraft of the enemy SU-25, the so-called immortal "Rook", with the shot from the anti-aircraft missile system "Stinger".

The former top manager of "Novatek" Sergei Protosenya, his wife and daughter were found dead in Spain - Telecinco informs. The wife and 18-year-old daughter were found in the rooms of the villa with knife wounds. The body of Protosenya himself was found in the garden with the signs of asphyxiation, the knife and the axe were found near him.

Great Britain imposed new personal sanctions on 26 companies and persons including the former MP Illya Kyva and the Russian lieutenant-colonel Azatbek Omurbekov who was called "The Butcher of Bucha" for his atrocities in Kyiv region.

The former Ukrainian MP Illya Kyva asked for political shelter and citizenship in Russia, the Russian media inform.

Russia withdrew most of its ships of the Black Sea Fleet to Sevastopol. Numbers of the ships were painted over to hide their origins, Krym.Realii informs.

Due to the missile strike on Zaporizhzhya the windows in four train cars of the train number 119/120 Zaporizhzhya-Lviv were smashed by the debris and the explosion wave. No one was injured, the train is on its route, Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways Operator) informed.

The Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the AFU Yurii Halushkin urged the servicemen of the Territorial Defense on the deoccupied territories to return weapons for storage.

After Estonia Latvia has also officially recognized military crimes of Russia in Ukraine a genocide.

"Azov regiment" shot the Russian tank with "V" mark in Mariupol. The defenders say that the divisions that had committed atrocities in Bucha were transported to the city.

The servicemen of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Black Zaropozhtsi destroyed several more tanks of the the enemy. Watch video via link.

Russia closes the general consulates of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in Saint-Petersburg and the consulate of Latvia in Pskov. The employees of the consulates were announced persona non grata by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Zaporizhzhya occupants shelled two infrastructural facilities with missiles, no injured - Military Administration of the city.

93th Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" shot down an occupants' aircraft near Izyum, Kharkiv region.