April 19, Tuesday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces have launched a full-scale offensive in an effort to take over the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy said, “We can already say that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they’ve been preparing for a long time. A significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.”
2.Independent media in Europe and Russia have reported that dozens of crew members died aboard the Russian cruiser Moskva, which sank in the Black Sea last week. The reports are raising doubts over Moscow’s claim that none of the crew died.
3.Japan has introduced an import ban on 38 products from Russia as an additional measure over the country’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s the first time Tokyo has imposed an import ban in connection with the conflict.