Closing summary
It is coming up to 4pm in Kyiv and in Moscow and our blog is closing shortly. Here is a summary of today’s events:
Iran tipped off Russia about the possibility of a major “terrorist operation” on its soil ahead of the concert hall massacre near Moscow last month. Three sources have told Reuters that Iran – a diplomatic ally – shared intelligence with Russia about the upcoming attack.
Russia has attacked the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv oblast, injuring a 27-year-old woman
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has discussed drone production and a project to build an integrated electronic warfare control system with military and government officials.
A Russian court on Monday extended the pre-trial detention of US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who faces 15 years in prison on charges of spreading “false information,” according to her employer. In 2022, Kurmasheva edited a book titled, “Saying No to War” – a collection of interviews and stories from Russians opposed to Moscow’s campaign against Ukraine. Her employer has called her imprisonment “outrageous” and said she had been locked up “simply because she holds an American passport.”
France’s top diplomat has said China must speak clearly to Russia over its war in Ukraine. “We expect China to send very clear messages to Russia,” said Emmanuel Macron’s foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, after meeting his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing. “We are convinced that there will be no lasting peace if it is not negotiated with the Ukrainians. “There will be no security for Europeans if there is no peace in accordance with international law.”
Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries are pushing up the cost of crude oil to near five-month highs.
Ukraine’s air force shot down two out of three Russia-launched Shahed drones on Sunday night, the Ukrainian military said on Monday. The general staff did not provide additional details.
That’s it from me, Donna Ferguson, and the Ukraine blog. Thanks for following along.
President Zelenskiy has been handing out ‘Golden Star Orders’ – the highest military decoration in Ukraine – and Crosses of Military Merit to servicemen and families of deceased soldiers who are receiving the titles and honours poshumously.
He posted on X:
There is no state power without the personal power of its people. There is no national pride without people you can be truly proud of when they are next to you, when they are your brothers-in-arms. It is an honour for the state to have such warriors. I am grateful to each of them. I am grateful to the mothers and fathers of Ukrainian Heroes for having raised such sons. I am grateful to our people and warriors for preserving Ukraine’s independence.
Today, I presented Golden Star Orders to the best Ukrainian warriors.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 1, 2024
There is no state power without the personal power of its people. There is no national pride without people you can be truly proud of when they are next to you, when they are your brothers-in-arms. It is an… pic.twitter.com/RCkJvcQuDo
