Victorious news of 783rd day of war: Ukraine blackouts two Russian military plants, IMF predicts Ukraine's GDP growth this year

Substation that supplied power to military facilities destroyed in Bryansk

On the night of April 16, 2024, several military and industrial facilities in the Russian city of Bryansk lost power. This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).

According to the DIU, several military and industrial facilities in Bryansk experienced blackouts as a result of the destruction of a transformer at a 110 kW power substation. In particular, military unit No. 33149 (29th Separate Railway Brigade), as well as the 111th Military Plant (an engineering company) and the 192nd Central Military Plant (a supplier of railway equipment) were left without power.

"The enemy used these objects in the genocidal war against Ukraine," the DIU added.

Drone Army destroys 42 tanks and almost a hundred guns in a week

Over the past week, the Drone Army destroyed six Russian fuel depots, six air defense systems, 42 tanks, 97 guns, and more. This was announced by the Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, who released weekly data on the Drome Army’s "harvest.”

"Guns, tanks, armored combat vehicles. Drones at the front continue to hit Russian equipment. Losses for the week are shown in the graphic," he wrote. "Drones and technologies on the battlefield are our asymmetric response to the enemy's numerical superiority. We are working to ensure that there are more drones, ground robotic platforms, electronic warfare and other innovations in the army." 

Ukraine destroys Russian system that controlled the sky 700 km deep into Ukraine

Seven airplane-type drones hit a Russian long-range radar system in the Bryansk region. The media reported the information, citing sources in the Ukrainian Security Service (known by the acronym SBU). 

The modernized Nebo-U radar cost about $100 million and allowed controlling the sky 700 km deep into Ukraine. In particular, the system supported bombers attacking the Ukrainian border with drones and allowed detection of Ukrainian weapons.

Photo: Wikipedia/Vitaly V. Kuzmin

Lithuanian companies supporting Russia may be denied access to public procurement

On April 16, a bill amending the Law on Public Procurement was submitted to the Lithuanian Seimas. According to the document, companies that support Russia's war in Ukraine will not be able to participate in public procurement, LRT reports.

72 MPs voted in favor of the amendments, 2 voted against, and 3 abstained. 

"In the wake of the events, along with the Stop Russian Trade initiative, a bill was born that will oblige the government to provide a list of companies that support Russia and its regime. Thus, it will also limit their ability to participate in public procurement," said conservative Dalia Asanavičiūtė, the initiator of the changes. 

IMF expects Ukraine's GDP to grow by 3.2% this year

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Ukraine's economic growth to reach 3.2% this year and 6.5% in 2025. This is stated in the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, which was presented in Washington, Ukrinform reports.

According to IMF estimates, this year Ukraine's real GDP will be 3.2%. The Fund also revised the figure for the previous year and increased it to 5% (from 4.5%).

As early as 2025, IMF analysts predict that Ukraine's real GDP will grow to 6.5%. Inflation, according to the IMF, will decline from 12.9% in 2023 to 6.4% this year, and will rise to 7.6% next year.