Volodymyr Zelensky has called Vladimir Putin a “truly global threat” after the deadliest Russian air bombardment this year killed at least 18 people across Ukraine.
Russian forces fired at least 700 drones and missiles across Ukraine on Thursday as Ukrainian officials acknowledged that vital stocks of advanced interceptors are running low.
Eyewitnesses said they saw two missile attacks near their home and saw flashes lighting up the night sky, forcing them to flee.
European Council president António Costa described Thursday's strikes as "yet another horrendous attack" while people slept in their homes.
It came as Zelensky was visiting the Netherlands to receive the International Four Freedoms Award. There, he said: “Today, this is definitely not unprecedented. Putin knows exactly what he's doing. Exactly. And who he resembles.
"And he's rightly compared to Nazis, he has the same expansionist ambitions, he wants to decide the fate of nations.”
He went on: “Russia has carried its war ideas as far as Syria and Africa. This is a truly global threat."
Key Points
- Death toll in attack on Ukrainian cities soars to 16
- Twelve-year-old killed as Russian missiles hit Kyiv overnight
- UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
- Kremlin says drone plans for Ukraine are pulling Europe deeper into war
- Nato pledges $60bn in military aid to Ukraine as Zelensky pursues more arms deals
Romanian defence ministry says radars caught Russian drone breaching air space
06:30 , Shweta SharmaRomanian radar systems caught a drone breaching its national airspace during a Russian overnight attack on neighbouring Ukraine before losing contact southeast of the border village of Chilia Veche, the defence ministry said on Friday.
Romania, an EU and Nato state, shares a 650km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine and has had drones breach its airspace and fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly since Russia began attacking Ukrainian ports across the Danube river from the country.
Russia sentences Pole who fought for Ukraine to 13 years in prison camp
06:15 , Shweta SharmaA court in Russian-controlled Luhansk sentenced a Polish citizen to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony for participating in armed conflict on the side of Ukraine, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said on Thursday.
The 47-year-old Pole, Krzysztof Flaczek, arrived in September 2024 in Ukraine, where he began participating in combat operations after receiving training, it said.
Russia said he received financial compensation for fighting for Ukraine. He was detained by the Russians in November 2024.
"Taking into account the position of the state prosecutor, the court sentenced the militant to 13 years of imprisonment to be served in a maximum-security penal colony," prosecutors said.
Flaczek had been tried by a court in Russian-controlled Luhansk, one of four Ukrainian regions which Moscow claimed as its own in 2022 in a move Kyiv and the West rejected as an illegal land grab.
Russian courts have sentenced several western Europeans for fighting for Ukraine, including two Britons.
Ukrainian PM says she feels optimistic of US support after visit
05:45 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko left Washington on Thursday describing her talks with top US officials as “very supportive”, amid waning attention on Russia’s war as the focus has shifted to Iran conflict.
She said treasury secretary Scott Bessent backed Kyiv’s position on maintaining pressure on Russia in an interview with Reuters.
In her only interview during the visit, Svyrydenko said she urged US officials not to weaken, waive or delay sanctions imposed on Moscow after its full-scale invasion, stressing their importance in limiting Russia’s war capacity.
“I think Secretary Bessent stands with Ukraine,” she said, adding that US counterparts understand the need to tighten sanctions and prevent circumvention.
Svyrydenko also reiterated Kyiv’s stance that any peace deal with Russia must include firm security guarantees and a clear reconstruction plan.
“I dream that this war will end,” she said, “but with proper security guarantees and a recovery plan that allows Ukrainians to live the life they deserve.”
Russia warns Finland and Baltic states it may invoke ‘self-defence’ over Ukraine drone strikes
05:30 , Shweta SharmaRussia has warned Finland and the Baltic nations that Moscow reserves the “right to self-defence” if Ukrainian drones strike using their airspace.
Russian Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu issued the warning to Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Sergei Shoigu, who was Russia’s defence minister at the time of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, pointed to incidents where drones crashed in Finland and the Baltic states during Ukrainian strikes on Ust-Luga, a key Russian deep-water port in the Gulf of Finland.
He said that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia have been launched through the Baltic states via Finland.
"This could occur in two scenarios: either Western air defence systems are extremely ineffective… or the states in question are deliberately allowing their airspace to be used, meaning they are actively complicit in the aggression against Russia," he said.
"In the latter case, under international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter regarding the inherent right of states to self-defence in the event of an armed attack comes into effect."
It comes a day after Moscow warned that Europe’s support for Ukraine’s drone capabilities could bring "unpredictable consequences," and said these countries have become part of Kyiv's "strategic rear."
The Baltic states have denied these accusations as false.
Deadliest Russian aerial attack in months kills 18 in Ukraine
05:00 , Shweta SharmaA Russian attack on Thursday with more than 700 drones and missiles across Ukraine has killed at least 18 people in what local officials said was the deadliest attack in months.
Officials said nine people were killed in the southern port city of Odesa, five in the central city of Dnipro, and four, including a child, in the capital, Kyiv.
In Russia, Moscow said a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people, including a child, in the southern Krasnodar region.
The attacks follow a brief ceasefire over Orthodox Easter last weekend, with both sides accusing each other of hundreds of violations.
In Kyiv, air raid sirens woke residents at around 2.30 local time on Thursday (23.30 GMT Wednesday), with explosions heard shortly afterwards.
Russia should not be the winner of the Iran war, German minister tells US
04:30 , Shweta SharmaIt is not in the interest of the United States that Russia is the winner of the Iran war, German finance minister Lars Klingbeil said on Thursday in Washington.
"It's not in our interest and it cannot be in the interest of the United States," he said in a joint statement with the finance ministers of Ukraine and Norway on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund spring meetings.
Klingbeil said the Russian economy is growing thanks to the Middle East conflict and is making a profit from the energy situation.
"All the meetings here are about the question of what's happening with the war in Iran, and I think it's really important that we show solidarity with our friends in Ukraine," Klingbeil said.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant loses off-site power
03:59 , Shweta SharmaUkraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power for around 40 minutes before being restored on Thursday evening, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
The cause of power loss is not yet known, the IAEA said in a post on X.
EU set to release €2.5–2.7bn to Ukraine after reforms
03:54 , Shweta SharmaThe European Union is expected to disburse between €2.5bn and €2.7bn to Ukraine after its parliament completed key reforms last week, according to EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos.
Speaking in Washington alongside Ukrainian finance minister Serhiy Marchenko, Kos said the EU would also move ahead with a €90bn loan package following Hungary’s election, which saw prime minister Viktor Orbán voted out of power.
Marchenko said Ukraine’s $52bn financing gap for 2026 would be covered once the EU loan is in place, though discussions are ongoing over how to bridge a projected shortfall in 2027.
Part of a high-level delegation attending the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Marchenko noted that the EU has already covered nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial needs. However, uncertainty remains over whether other major governments will step up support.
“If Ukraine fails, it means all of our partners will feel this,” he said. “We cannot give even the slightest chance of failure.”
Ukrainian drone attack kills 2 including 14-year-old, Russia says
03:00 , Alex CroftA Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse killed two people, including a 14-year-old girl, injured seven, and sparked a large fire, Russian officials said on Thursday.
Tuapse is one of Russia's major southern ports, serving as an oil product export hub and also handling dry bulk cargo such as coal and fertiliser. It is also home to a major oil refinery of the same name owned by Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer.
Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of the Krasnodar region, said that an unidentified adult woman had been killed in what he called a massive attack by Ukrainian drones on Tuapse in addition to the teenager.
Drone fragments had damaged 24 private houses, six apartment blocks, two educational facilities and a music school, he added.
The Ukrainian military later said it had struck two oil depots in Russia-occupied Crimea and infrastructure in Russia's southern port of Tuapse, Kyiv's drone forces commander said on the Telegram app.
Photos show damage after Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, as residents take shelter
01:29 , Alex CroftResidents surveyed the damage and took shelter Thursday following a Russian strike on a residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine.
This is a photo gallery curated by photo editors for The Associated Press:
Photos show damage after Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, as residents take shelter
Zelensky issues fresh call for severe pressure on Russia
Friday 17 April 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has issued a fresh call to Kyiv’s allies to maintain economic pressure on Russia and deliver promised assistance to Ukraine promptly.
The Ukrainian president’s pleas followed Moscow's latest attacks on Ukrainian cities, that killed at least 15 people.
"Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions," Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.
"Pressure on Russia must work. And it is important to fulfill every promise of assistance to Ukraine on time."
Oil tanker accused of being part of Russia's shadow fleet leaves French waters after fine
Thursday 16 April 2026 23:01 , Alex CroftAn oil tanker boarded by the French Navy in March, accused of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, has left French territorial waters after the owner of the ship paid a fine, authorities said.
Mozambique-flagged Deyna, which French president Emmanuel Macron said belonged to the shadow fleet - the network of Russian vessels that allowing Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions - had been seized on 20 March with help from British allies.
French authorities have not disclosed how large the fine paid by the company was.
Watch: Ukrainian army shares footage of attack on Russian missile systems
Thursday 16 April 2026 22:01 , Alex Croft💥 One more gap in the enemy shield.@1usc_army operators eliminated a “Buk” system.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 16, 2026
Each loss reduces air defense density, exposing more targets and compounding systemic vulnerability. pic.twitter.com/SLbjIJMsN8
Full report: Zelensky to receive international prize honoring his and Ukraine's courage and resilience
Thursday 16 April 2026 21:00 , Alex CroftUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was being awarded the prestigious International Four Freedoms Award at a ceremony Thursday for his and his nation's courage and resilience in resisting the full-scale invasion launched more than four years ago by Russia.
The honor was bestowed by the Roosevelt Foundation that was created in 1982 to present awards honoring the Four Freedoms outlined by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address — freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
“We pay the highest tribute to the unwavering courage and enduring perseverance of the Ukrainian people and to the steadfast and resolute leadership of their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” Hugo de Jonge, chair of the foundation, said Thursday.
Read the full report:
Zelenskyy to receive international prize honoring his and Ukraine's courage and resilience
EU to provide 2.5 billion euros to Ukraine after parliamentary reforms
Thursday 16 April 2026 20:02 , Alex CroftThe EU expects to disburse 2.5 billion euros to 2.7 billion euros (£2.3 billion) to Ukraine after its parliament completed necessary reforms last week, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said on Thursday.
Kos, speaking at an event together with Ukrainian finance minister Serhiy Marchenko, said the EU would definitely deliver a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine following the Hungarian election that swept its president Viktor Orban from power.
Marchenko told the event that Ukraine's financing gap of $52 billion in 2026 will be covered once the EU loan became available, but said his government was still in discussions about closing the expected gap in 2027.
Ukraine working to launch Tribunal for Russian aggression in Ukraine
Thursday 16 April 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has been in the Netherlands today, where he said he is working to launch the Tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“It is important that Russia is held accountable for this aggression – legally and in practice,” he wrote on X after a speech at the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony, where he was awarded on behalf of Ukraine for its bravery.
“And that Russian war criminals do not enjoy normal life, but face fair sentences. This is necessary. Just as it was necessary after the Second World War,” he said.
The Ukrainian president continued: “This is what we are doing here in Europe, here in the Netherlands. We are working to launch the Tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – and I thank you for your help. We are working to ensure that the international legal system is firm and uncompromising toward Russian war criminals.”
Russia has attacked Ukrainian railway facilities 600 times this year - Kyiv
Thursday 16 April 2026 18:01 , Alex CroftRussian forces attacked Ukraine's railway logistics more than 600 times since the start of the year, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said in televised comments on Thursday.
The month of April has already seen 65 attacks so far, Mr Kuleba said.
Nato pledges $60bn in military aid to Ukraine as Zelensky pursues more arms deals
Thursday 16 April 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftNato allies are looking to provide Ukraine with around $60bn (£44bn) in military and security assistance in 2026, the alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte said in a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Berlin.
The critical assistance would be delivered in addition to the €90bn (£78.2bn) loan package agreed by the European Union and would focus on priority needs, Rutte said.
“We must focus funding on the priorities – air defence, drones and extended-range ammunition. These are the big priorities,” the Nato official said.
The aid from Nato is timely as Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said the top diplomatic priority is securing allies' help to buy and build more air defence systems.
Zelensky is also championing joint weapons production agreements, including for drones and missiles, while pushing for the European Union to move quickly on providing the promised loan.
Ukrainian drones strike Liberia-flagged tanker in Black Sea, Russia says
Thursday 16 April 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftRussian investigators said Ukrainian drones had struck a Liberia-flagged oil tanker in the Black Sea and that its captain, a Turkish national, had been hospitalised with injuries.
According to Russian officials and media reports, a major overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea port of Tuapse killed two people, injured seven, and sparked a large fire on Thursday.
A 14-year-old girl was among the dead, they added.
Kremlin says drone plans for Ukraine are pulling Europe deeper into war
Thursday 16 April 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftEuropean plans to step up drone supplies to Ukraine are dragging those countries deeper into a war with Russia, the Russian defence ministry said.
The ministry said it believes governments in a number of EU countries have decided to increase the production and supply of drones to Ukraine, a move Moscow views as a step that is escalating the conflict.
It published a list of factories and enterprises in several European countries it alleges manufacture drones or drone components, and gave their addresses, including sites in Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel and Poland, among others.
"The European public should not only have a clear understanding of the true causes of the threats to their security, but also be aware of the addresses and locations of Ukrainian and joint enterprises producing UAVs and components for Ukraine within their own countries," it said.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, said in a subsequent post on X that the list published by the military amounted to a list of potential targets for Russia's armed forces.
"When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next. Sleep well, European partners!" he said.
Ukrainian drone attack kills 2 including 14-year-old, Russia says
Thursday 16 April 2026 15:31 , Alex CroftA Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse has killed two people, including a 14-year-old girl, injured seven, and sparked a large fire, Russian officials said.
Tuapse is one of Russia's major southern ports, serving as an oil product export hub and also handling dry bulk cargo such as coal and fertiliser. It is also home to a major oil refinery of the same name owned by Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer.
Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of the Krasnodar region, said that an unidentified adult woman had been killed in what he called a massive attack by Ukrainian drones on Tuapse in addition to the teenager.
Drone fragments had damaged 24 private houses, six apartment blocks, two educational facilities and a music school, he added.
The Ukrainian military later said it had struck two oil depots in Russia-occupied Crimea and infrastructure in Russia's southern port of Tuapse, Kyiv's drone forces commander said on the Telegram app.
Watch: Defence Secretary announces biggest ever package of UK drones going to Ukraine
Thursday 16 April 2026 15:01 , Alex CroftKremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Thursday 16 April 2026 13:59 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has declared that it was “never friends” with outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as it braces for a new era of relations with Budapest following his landslide loss to a pro-EU candidate.
Mr Orban, who enjoyed warm relations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a persistent thorn in Ukraine’s side as it sought financial backing for its war effort from a divided Europe, was swept aside by Peter Magyar and his centre-right Tisza party.
What the future holds for the Russia-Hungary relationship is unclear, but in light of Mr Orban’s collapse in public support, Moscow now appears to be distancing itself and playing down the loss of its most influential ally in the European Union.
“We were never friends with Orban,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to The Guardian. Hungary’s official designation is as an “unfriendly country”, he added, explaining that Russia therefore did not congratulate Mr Magyar on his election win.
Read our full report:
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Oil tanker accused of being part of Russia's shadow fleet leaves French waters after fine
Thursday 16 April 2026 13:27 , Alex CroftAn oil tanker boarded by the French Navy in March, accused of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, has left French territorial waters after the owner of the ship paid a fine, authorities said.
Mozambique-flagged Deyna, which French president Emmanuel Macron said belonged to the shadow fleet - the network of Russian vessels that allowing Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions - had been seized on 20 March with help from British allies.
French authorities have not disclosed how large the fine paid by the company was.
Zelensky issues fresh call for severe pressure on Russia
Thursday 16 April 2026 12:55 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has issued a fresh call to Kyiv’s allies to maintain economic pressure on Russia and deliver promised assistance to Ukraine promptly.
The Ukrainian president’s pleas followed Moscow's latest attacks on Ukrainian cities, that killed at least 15 people.
"Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions," Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.
"Pressure on Russia must work. And it is important to fulfill every promise of assistance to Ukraine on time."
Watch: Zelensky says countries must coordinate as Iran war drives up costs and risks in Europe
Thursday 16 April 2026 12:22 , Alex CroftZelensky to accept freedom award in Netherlands on behalf of Ukraine
Thursday 16 April 2026 11:50 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky is in the Netherlands on Thursday where he will acceot the International Four Freedoms Award, which has been given to him and the Ukrainian people to honour their courage during four years of war with Russia.
The awards are named after US president Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 speech outlining four fundamental human rights: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
In January, the Roosevelt Foundation said it had granted the award to Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people in "recognition for their courageous struggle for our freedom and democracy under exceptionally difficult circumstances”.
"They are battling for the security of all Europe and defending, with their lives," it added.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and prime minister Rob Jetten will attend a ceremony in the historic southern town of Middleburg.
Moscow strikes Ukrainian production facilities in massive overnight attack
Thursday 16 April 2026 11:35 , Alex CroftMoscow has said a massive overnight attack on Ukraine had struck production facilities for cruise missiles and drones.
The attack also hit energy targets which it said supplied Kyiv's armed forces, Moscow added.
The attack, it said, was a response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets inside Russia. A major Ukrainian overnight drone attack on Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse killed two people, including a 14-year-old girl, injured seven, and sparked a large fire, Russian officials and media reported earlier on Thursday.
Ukrainian officials said the overnight Russian attack was the deadliest assault so far this year on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities overnight, killing 16 people, including a 12-year-old child, and wounding scores, in drone and missile strikes.
Southern cities in Ukraine left without power after Russian attack
Thursday 16 April 2026 11:18 , Alex CroftUkraine's southern city of Mykolaiv and other settlements in the region have been left without power following a morning Russian attack on energy infrastructure, local officials said on Thursday.
The city of Kherson in the neighbouring region also suffered a power outage, a local official said, adding that the cause for the blackout was being investigated.
We’ll bring more on the attack as it comes in.
Full report: Russian missiles and drones bombard Ukraine at night, killing at least 16 people
Thursday 16 April 2026 10:46 , Alex CroftRussia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 80 others in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two weeks, officials said Thursday.
Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilians, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Thursday on X.
At least four people were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old, with more than 50 others injured, Sybiha said.
Nine people were killed and 23 injured in the southern port city of Odesa, three were killed and around three dozen injured in the central Dnipro region, and one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia in the south.
Russian missiles and drones bombard Ukraine at night, killing at least 16 people
Photos shows Russian drone heading for Ukrainian apartment
Thursday 16 April 2026 10:15 , Arpan Rai
Zelensky says Putin 'betting on war' as 100 injured in overnight attacks
Thursday 16 April 2026 09:45 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia should not get any sanctions relief after an overnight attack killed 15 people and left at least 100 injured.
The US has eased sanctions on Russia's oil trade since the war with Iran disrupted global energy markets.
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions. Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with the same full force,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Zelensky said at least 19 ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles, were used by Russia in the overnight barrage. “Most of the ballistic missiles targeted Kyiv. 636 drones and some of the missiles were shot down,” he said.
Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions. Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with… pic.twitter.com/jHsZjsgXt9
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 16, 2026
Ukrainian cities of Mykolaiv, Kherson without power, local officials say
Thursday 16 April 2026 09:28 , Arpan RaiUkraine's southern city of Mykolaiv and some other settlements in the surrounding region were without power following a morning Russian attack on energy infrastructure, local officials said on Thursday.
The city of Kherson, in the neighbouring region, was also without power, a local official said, adding that the cause for the blackout was being investigated.
Kremlin says drone plans for Ukraine are pulling Europe deeper into war
Thursday 16 April 2026 09:15 , Arpan RaiEuropean plans to step up drone supplies to Ukraine are dragging those countries deeper into a war with Russia, the Russian defence ministry said.
The ministry said it believes governments in a number of EU countries have decided to increase the production and supply of drones to Ukraine, a move Moscow views as a step that is escalating the conflict.
It published a list of factories and enterprises in several European countries it alleges manufacture drones or drone components, and gave their addresses, including sites in Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel and Poland, among others.
"The European public should not only have a clear understanding of the true causes of the threats to their security, but also be aware of the addresses and locations of Ukrainian and joint enterprises producing UAVs and components for Ukraine within their own countries," it said.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, said in a subsequent post on X that the list published by the military amounted to a list of potential targets for Russia's armed forces.
"When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next. Sleep well, European partners!" he said.
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Thursday 16 April 2026 09:06 , Arpan RaiBritain has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth millions of pounds, as senior ministers engage in a series of high-level international meetings.
The aid comes as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In Washington DC, chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £752m payment to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with Yulia Svyrydenko, the Ukrainian prime minister.
The payment, part of a larger £3.36bn loan, is earmarked to procure essential military equipment, including long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
Ms Reeves said: “This funding will help deliver the military equipment Ukraine needs as it defends itself against Russia’s unprovoked war.
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
16 killed in Russia's worst attack on Ukraine this year
Thursday 16 April 2026 08:41 , Arpan RaiRussia unleashed its deadliest attack so far this year on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities overnight, killing 16 people, including a 12-year-old child, and wounding scores, in drone and missile strikes, officials said this morning.
Fires burned out of control in parts of the capital, sending black smoke billowing into the night sky, as firefighters struggled to control multiple blazes. The morning saw residents and emergency crews cleaning debris scattered around heavily damaged buildings in the city.
Four people, including the child, died in Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Nine people were killed in Odesa, and two in the southeastern city of Dnipro, where Russian attacks set residential buildings ablaze, according to regional officials.
Air force units shot down or neutralised 31 missiles and 636 drones, but 12 missiles and 20 drones hit in the 24 hours to 7am (0500 GMT) on Thursday, the air force said.
Deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said rescue operations were ongoing and the toll could rise.
Zelensky says Putin 'betting on war' as 100 injured in overnight attacks
Thursday 16 April 2026 08:27 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia should not get any sanctions relief after an overnight attack killed 15 people and left at least 100 injured.
The US has eased sanctions on Russia's oil trade since the war with Iran disrupted global energy markets.
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions. Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with the same full force,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Zelensky said at least 19 ballistic missiles, as well as cruise missiles, were used by Russia in the overnight barrage. “Most of the ballistic missiles targeted Kyiv. 636 drones and some of the missiles were shot down,” he said.
Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions. Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with… pic.twitter.com/jHsZjsgXt9
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 16, 2026
In photos: Deadly attack on Ukraine leaves 15 dead, 90 injured
Thursday 16 April 2026 08:08 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine says it downs 31 missiles, 636 drones in Russian attacks over past 24 hours
Thursday 16 April 2026 07:53 , Arpan RaiUkraine's air force downed or neutralised 31 Russian missiles and 636 drones in attacks at the country over the past 24 hours, it said this morning.
"During this period, the enemy launched two waves of combined attacks on Ukrainian territory, using ground-based and air-launched missiles, as well as attack drones," the air force said in a statement on Telegram.
Overall, it detected 703 Russian aerial targets, it added.
Death toll rises to 15 in Russia overnight attacks on Ukraine
Thursday 16 April 2026 07:30 , Arpan RaiAt least 15 people have been killed and 90 have been injured in Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian cities overnight, according to foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
“The attack primarily targeted civilians. At least 4 people were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old child, with over 50 more injured, 8 killed in Odesa, 3 killed and three dozen injured in Dnipro, 1 killed in Zaporizhzhia,” he said.
He said that Russian attacks in the past 24 hours involved almost 700 drones as well as dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles.
“Such attacks cannot be normalised. These are war crimes that must be stopped and their perpetrators held to account. We urge the international community to take immediate action. All decisions required to increase pressure on the aggressor must be unblocked now,” he said.
Sybiha said delaying sanctions on Moscow or aid packages for Ukraine was “immoral, counterproductive, and dangerous”.
Over the past day and night, Russia carried out a massive terrorist attack against Ukraine with almost 700 drones, dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) April 16, 2026
The attack primarily targeted civilians.
At least 4 people were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old child, with over… pic.twitter.com/Wkd7jh7E5w
Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat, says Kremlin
Thursday 16 April 2026 07:11 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has declared that it was “never friends” with outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as it braces for a new era of relations with Budapest following his landslide loss to a pro-EU candidate.
Mr Orban, who enjoyed warm relations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a persistent thorn in Ukraine’s side as it sought financial backing for its war effort from a divided Europe, was swept aside by Peter Magyar and his centre-right Tisza party.
What the future holds for the Russia-Hungary relationship is unclear, but in light of Mr Orban’s collapse in public support, Moscow now appears to be distancing itself and playing down the loss of its most influential ally in the European Union.
“We were never friends with Orban,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to The Guardian. Hungary’s official designation is as an “unfriendly country”, he added, explaining that Russia therefore did not congratulate Mr Magyar on his election win.
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Russian attack damages port infrastructure in Odesa
Thursday 16 April 2026 06:53 , Arpan RaiRussian overnight missile and drone strikes at Ukraine's southern city of Odesa damaged port infrastructure facilities, its regional governor said this morning.
Facades and windows of at least three high-rise buildings, a dormitory and nearby buildings were also damaged, Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.
The attack triggered fires at certain infrastructure sites, he added.
Drone debris falls at port in Russia's Tuapse, official says
Thursday 16 April 2026 06:43 , Arpan RaiDrone debris fell on the territory of enterprises at a port in the city of Tuapse in Russia's Krasnodar region, a local official said this morning.
Tuapse is one of Russia's major southern ports, serving as an oil product export hub and also handles dry bulk cargo such as coal and fertiliser. It is also home to a major oil refinery of the same name owned by Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer.
Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of the Krasnodar region, said two children aged 5 and 14 were killed in what he called a massive attack by Ukrainian drones.
Unverified images published by Russian media on Telegram showed the night sky illuminated red from a fire in the area. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Ukraine says it downs 31 missiles, 636 drones in Russian attacks over past 24 hours
Thursday 16 April 2026 06:36 , Arpan RaiUkraine's air force downed or neutralised 31 Russian missiles and 636 drones in attacks at the country over the past 24 hours, it said this morning.
"During this period, the enemy launched two waves of combined attacks on Ukrainian territory, using ground-based and air-launched missiles, as well as attack drones," the air force said in a statement on Telegram.
Overall, it detected 703 Russian aerial targets, it added.
Photos shows Russian drone heading for Ukrainian apartment
Thursday 16 April 2026 06:17 , Arpan Rai
Death toll in attack on Ukrainian cities soars to 13
Thursday 16 April 2026 06:09 , Arpan RaiRussia unleashed missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities overnight, killing 13 people, including a 12-year-old child, injuring several dozens and badly damaging buildings, officials said this morning.
In Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people, including the child, had died. Seven people were killed in Odesa and in the southeastern city of Dnipro, where Russian attacks set residential buildings ablaze, the regional governor said two people were killed.
Klitschko said 45 city residents were injured. The city came under another attack early on Thursday, he said, adding that a drone, flying very low, slammed into an 18-storey building.
Ukraine's emergency services put the death toll in Kyiv at five.
Photos posted online showed fires burning out of control and smoke billowing skyward.
Klitschko said rescue teams had rescued a mother and child from a building in a central district where the ground floor was badly damaged. He also said missile debris had hit the sixth floor of an apartment building in the central Podil district.
Klitschko said a large fire had broken out in a building in a district in the north of the capital and four emergency medical workers were injured, while debris had fallen in several locations.
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Thursday 16 April 2026 05:51 , Arpan RaiBritain has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth millions of pounds, as senior ministers engage in a series of high-level international meetings.
The aid comes as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In Washington DC, chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £752m payment to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with Yulia Svyrydenko, the Ukrainian prime minister.
The payment, part of a larger £3.36bn loan, is earmarked to procure essential military equipment, including long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
Ms Reeves said: “This funding will help deliver the military equipment Ukraine needs as it defends itself against Russia’s unprovoked war.
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Kremlin says drone plans for Ukraine are pulling Europe deeper into war
Thursday 16 April 2026 05:29 , Arpan RaiEuropean plans to step up drone supplies to Ukraine are dragging those countries deeper into a war with Russia, the Russian defence ministry said.
The ministry said it believes governments in a number of EU countries have decided to increase the production and supply of drones to Ukraine, a move Moscow views as a step that is escalating the conflict.
It published a list of factories and enterprises in several European countries it alleges manufacture drones or drone components, and gave their addresses, including sites in Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel and Poland, among others.
"The European public should not only have a clear understanding of the true causes of the threats to their security, but also be aware of the addresses and locations of Ukrainian and joint enterprises producing UAVs and components for Ukraine within their own countries," it said.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, said in a subsequent post on X that the list published by the military amounted to a list of potential targets for Russia's armed forces.
"When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next. Sleep well, European partners!" he said.
Russia's Tuapse port area hit in Ukrainian drone attacks, governor says
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:59 , Arpan RaiAt least two children aged five and 14 have been killed and a number of enterprises in the area of Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse were hit in Ukrainian drone attacks, local governor Veniamin Kondratiev said this morning.
In his post on the Telegram messaging app, he also said several residential houses were damaged in the massive drone attacks on the region.
Nato pledges $60bn in military aid to Ukraine as Zelensky pursues more arms deals
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:42 , Arpan RaiNato allies are looking to provide Ukraine with around $60bn (£44bn) in military and security assistance in 2026, the alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte said in a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Berlin.
The critical assistance would be delivered in addition to the €90bn (£78.2bn) loan package agreed by the European Union and would focus on priority needs, Rutte said.
“We must focus funding on the priorities – air defence, drones and extended-range ammunition. These are the big priorities,” the Nato official said.
The aid from Nato is timely as Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said the top diplomatic priority is securing allies' help to buy and build more air defence systems.
Zelensky is also championing joint weapons production agreements, including for drones and missiles, while pushing for the European Union to move quickly on providing the promised loan.
Ukraine's new combat model pays off as Russia-held territory recaptured, says commander
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:21 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s defence minister has said its military is introducing a new model of operations integrating drone warfare with infantry activity, following successful operations in the south of the country.
Top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Kyiv's forces had regained control of nearly 50 sq km (19 sq miles) of its territory from Russia in March, building on its gains since the start of the year.
“A new model of warfare is being introduced, drone-assault units that combine aerial and ground unmanned systems with infantry into a single integrated system," the defence ministry said in a brief statement on Telegram.
“This approach has already produced results in the south, where since February a large area of territory has been liberated, precisely thanks to the use of these advanced units,” he said.
Syrskyi made his assessment of recaptured territory in a separate statement on Telegram. He also said that amid improved spring weather, Russian forces had stepped up offensive operations along almost the entire 1,200km (775-mile) frontline.
Three dead in major Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:15 , Arpan RaiRussian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities a short while ago, killing three people, including a 12-year-old child, injuring more than 20 and badly damaging buildings, officials said.
In Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people, including the child, had died. In the southeastern city of Dnipro, where Russian attacks set residential buildings ablaze, the regional governor said one person was killed.
"As result of the enemy attack on the capital, two people have been killed, a 12-year-old boy and a 35-year-old woman," Klitschko wrote on Telegram. "Ten residents have been injured. Six are being treated in hospital."
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital's military administration put the injury toll in the city at 18, including a child.
An air raid alert remained in effect in both Kyiv and Dnipro more than two hours after it had been imposed in the capital.
Klitschko said rescue teams had rescued a mother and child from a building in a central district where the ground floor was badly damaged.
He also said a missile had hit the sixth floor of an apartment building in the central Podil district.
Klitschko said a large fire had broken out in a building in a district in the north of the capital and four emergency medical workers were injured, while debris had fallen in several locations.
Netherlands to spend €250m on drones for Ukraine
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:04 , Arpan RaiThe Netherlands will spend €248m (£215m) on producing drones for Ukraine, Dutch defence minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius said.
“Drones play a crucial role on the modern battlefield. Ukrainians deploy them with incredible skill to repel the incessant Russian attacks," she said after meeting her counterparts from Nato countries and the alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte in Berlin yesterday.
“Thanks to the good cooperation with Ukraine, we are learning directly from this. This also offers opportunities for our business community," she added. The drones will be manufactured in the Netherlands and Ukraine.
Nato allies have already provided over $4.5bn in military equipment for Ukraine, according to data from the US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker released in February.
Twelve-year-old killed as Russian missiles hit Kyiv overnight
Thursday 16 April 2026 04:01 , Arpan RaiRussian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with missiles in the early hours today, killing a 12-year-old child, injuring several people, including emergency crew members, and damaging buildings, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
"As a result of the enemy attack, a 12-year-old child has been killed," Klitschko wrote on Telegram. "At the moment, 10 people are injured. That includes several medics."
Klitschko said rescue teams had rescued a mother and child from a building in a central district where the ground floor was badly damaged.
He also said a missile had hit the sixth floor of an apartment building in the central Podil district.
Klitschko said a large fire had broken out in a building in a district in the north of the capital and four emergency medical workers were injured, while debris had fallen in several locations.
Russian attacks also triggered major fires in the southeastern city of Dnipro, injuring five people, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha wrote on Telegram. Pictures posted online showed buildings ablaze.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city in the northeast, officials said two people had been injured in drone strikes.
US-Ukrainian investment fund can get second project in summer, says official
Thursday 16 April 2026 03:56 , Arpan RaiUkraine's deputy economy minister has said he expects the Ukraine-US joint reconstruction fund to approve a second investment project, likely in the energy sector, this summer, with a third project expected before the end of 2026.
Yegor Perelygin, part of a large Ukrainian delegation visiting Washington this week, told Reuters cooperation on the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund with the US International Development Finance Corp was going well, and discussions were underway about expanding its scope.
Perelygin said the fund played an important role as a "de-risking mechanism" to attract investment into the five key sectors: critical minerals, infrastructure, energy, telecoms and high tech, and emerging technologies.
“We think that we can use it as a centerpiece for funneling or taking more insurance-related mechanisms onto the market or supporting strategic off-take contracts," he said in an interview with Reuters.
Ukraine's energy sector was severely damaged during intense Russian attacks this winter, leaving Ukraine to rebuild some 3 gigawatts of power this year, Perelygin said, although he declined to estimate the associated cost.
Watch: Former MI6 chief and Rusi boss discuss Russia, Trump and the future of the West
Thursday 16 April 2026 03:00 , James ReynoldsJoin us as world affairs editor Sam Kiley sits down with former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger and Dr Rachel Ellehuus, director-general of The Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) and former Pentagon official, to explore the shifting global security landscape.
In this episode of World of Trouble, The Independent’s new expert-led discussion series, our panel unpacks the fast-changing global security landscape in a discussion entitled Shifting Alliances.
They delve into the strategic importance of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Nato’s future, and whether Europe has the strength and resolve to face the Russian challenge.
Former MI6 chief on Russia, Trump and the future of the West
Watch: Starmer rejects Lord Robertson claim government 'complacent' on defence
Thursday 16 April 2026 02:00 , James ReynoldsHow Ukraine ‘recaptured occupied territory using only robots’
Thursday 16 April 2026 01:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian forces retook occupied territory in an unprecedented assault using only unmanned machines, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, as he praised the country’s era-defining advances in frontline technology.
The president revealed in an address that drones have carried out more than 22,000 missions on the frontlines in three months - a major shift on the modern battlefield that he cast as key to protecting human life.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” the president said, referencing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in Kharkiv oblast last year.
Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian assault using only robots, says Zelensky
Ukraine's supply of US Patriot missiles 'couldn't be any worse'
Thursday 16 April 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s supply of US-produced Patriot missiles “could not be any worse” as the war in the Middle East impacts Ukrainian aid, the country’s president has warned.
Volodymyr Zelensky told German outlet ZDF that the air defence missiles were facing a critical shortage, with the Iran war reducing Ukraine’s chances of receiving foreign military aid.
“We are receiving (air defenses) slower than is possible, but we are receiving them,” he added.
Watch: Vance claims cutting Ukraine aid 'one of Trump administration's proudest achievements'
Wednesday 15 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsRecap: Cameroon says Russia has confirmed 16 Cameroonian soldiers died in Ukraine
Wednesday 15 April 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsCameroon this week confirmed the deaths of 16 of its soldiers fighting in Ukraine, following a notification from Russia.
The nation's foreign affairs ministry sent a memo to the Russian Embassy, acknowledging the fatalities among Cameroonian personnel serving in what Russia terms the "special military operations zone."
The ministry stated that "necessary arrangements" were being made to inform the families of those who died.
In a separate communication issued on the same day, the ministry also invited the relatives of six other Cameroonian nationals residing in Russia to attend a meeting regarding "urgent matters," though no further details were provided.
Read the full story:
Cameroon says Russia has confirmed 16 Cameroonian soldiers died in Ukraine
Recap: US cutting off Ukraine support ‘one of Trump’s proudest achievements’
Wednesday 15 April 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsJD Vance said that cutting Ukraine off from US support is one of his proudest achievements of the Trump administration.
The US vice president told a Turning Point USA rally in Georgia on Tuesday that he still backed the decision to end nearly all new weapons deliveries for Kyiv, leaving Europe to pay for vital aid instead.
"I still believe that, obviously, and it's one of the things I'm proudest that we've done in this administration is we've told Europe that if you want to buy weapons, you can, but the United States is not buying weapons and sending them to Ukraine anymore,” he said.
Referencing a clash with a Ukrainian-American over his push to withdraw funding for Ukraine, Vance added: “Being an American means caring about Americans first, and that’s the perspective we should be taking in his immigration policy”.
European countries have bought the vast majority of US weapons bound for Ukraine since Donald Trump took office last January.
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Wednesday 15 April 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsBritain has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth millions of pounds, as senior ministers engage in a series of high-level international meetings.
In Washington DC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £752 million payment to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The payment, part of a larger £3.36 billion loan, is earmarked to procure essential military equipment, including long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
Ukraine retook 50 sq km of land in March, army says
Wednesday 15 April 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine has regained control of nearly 50 sq km (19 sq miles) of its territory from Russia in March, its army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday.
He added that with the change of weather conditions, Moscow's forces have stepped up their offensive operations and were conducting them along virtually the entire 1,200-km front line.
EU ready to send Ukraine 90bn euro once Hungary gives green light
Wednesday 15 April 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsThe EU is ready to supply Ukraine with its promised 90 billion euro loan as soon as Hungary drops its veto after last Sunday's election, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Wednesday.
“The people have spoken. A new wind is blowing,” Kubilius said about the election that was convincingly won by Hungary's opposition leader Peter Magyar.
“In any case, we are ready to implement the loan as soon as we get the green light,” the commissioner said.
The defeat of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ukraine's harshest EU foe, could pave the way for the loan that Kyiv urgently needs to fund the war with Russia, and that was originally agreed on by all EU member states in December.
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Wednesday 15 April 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe incoming prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, said that he will ask Vladimir Putin to end the killing in Ukraine if he speaks with the Russian president.
Addressing a media briefing a day after his landslide election victory over nationalist Viktor Orban, an ally of Putin, Mr Magyar said he hoped Moscow would be forced to end the war soon and affirmed that Ukraine is the clear victim in the conflict.
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Nato's existence not guaranteed, says former chief
Wednesday 15 April 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsFormer Nato secretary general Jen Stoltenberg warned that the military alliance’s existence is not “a law of nature” and that there are no guarantees it will survive the next ten years.
Mr Stoltenberg told Denmark’s TV2 that Trump’s threats to withdraw from Nato must be taken seriously, urging European allies to show Washington the value of the bloc to the US.
"It is not a law of nature that we have NATO forever. It is not written in stone that NATO will survive the next ten years," he told the broadcaster.
“[The US has] something in NATO that Russia and China don't have: over 30 friends and allies,” he added.
Putin planning visit to China, says Kremlin
Wednesday 15 April 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that president Vladimir Putin will visit China, with dates to be announced in due course.
The president does not currently plan to meet the U.S. President Donald Trump there.
Peskov added that the Kremlin will announce the dates of the visit in due course.
China’s president Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov meanwhile that the two countries should work together to restore the authority of the UN and promote multilateralism in foreign affairs.
“It is necessary to strengthen multilateral cooperation, firmly support and promote multilateralism, jointly work to restore the authority and vitality of the United Nations, and closely coordinate and cooperate within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS to advance the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction,” president Xi said, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Wednesday 15 April 2026 14:00 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin has declared that it was “never friends” with outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as it braces for a new era of relations with Budapest following his landslide loss to a pro-EU candidate.
Mr Orban, who enjoyed warm relations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a persistent thorn in Ukraine’s side as it sought financial backing for its war effort from a divided Europe, was swept aside by Peter Magyar and his centre-right Tisza party.
Here’s how Hungary’s new leader could reshape support for Ukraine on the continent:
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Wednesday 15 April 2026 13:55 , James ReynoldsBritain has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth millions of pounds, as senior ministers engage in a series of high-level international meetings.
The aid comes as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In Washington DC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £752 million payment to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The payment, part of a larger £3.36 billion loan, is earmarked to procure essential military equipment, including long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
EU ready to send Ukraine 90bn euro once Hungary gives green light
Wednesday 15 April 2026 13:47 , James ReynoldsThe EU is ready to supply Ukraine with its promised 90 billion euro loan as soon as Hungary drops its veto after last Sunday's election, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Wednesday.
“The people have spoken. A new wind is blowing,” Kubilius said about the election that was convincingly won by Hungary's opposition leader Peter Magyar.
“In any case, we are ready to implement the loan as soon as we get the green light,” the commissioner said.
The defeat of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ukraine's harshest EU foe, could pave the way for the loan that Kyiv urgently needs to fund the war with Russia, and that was originally agreed on by all EU member states in December.
How Ukraine ‘recaptured occupied territory using only robots’
Wednesday 15 April 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian forces retook occupied territory in an unprecedented assault using only unmanned machines, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, as he praised the country’s era-defining advances in frontline technology.
The president revealed in an address that drones have carried out more than 22,000 missions on the frontlines in three months - a major shift on the modern battlefield that he cast as key to protecting human life.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” the president said, referencing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in Kharkiv oblast last year.
Here’s how it happened:
Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian assault using only robots, says Zelensky
The latest: Kyiv calls on Israel to block Russian vessel
Wednesday 15 April 2026 12:30 , James ReynoldsUkraine has called on Israel to detain a Russian vessel allegedly carrying grain taken from occupied Ukrainian territory, escalating a diplomatic row over alleged wartime looting.
The Russian ship ABINSK is loaded with 43,765.18 tonnes of wheat, claimed to have come from the occupied territories of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Yaresko and the SeaKrime project.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha raised the issue directly with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, warning that the vessel docked at Port of Haifa forms part of Moscow’s wider war effort.
Sybiha stressed that the “illegal export of stolen agricultural products” must not be allowed to continue.
Zelensky arrives in Norway to sign agreement to expand drone cooperation
Wednesday 15 April 2026 11:30 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky arrived in Norway on Wednesday and signed an agreement to strengthen their bilateral defence cooperation, including by producing Ukrainian drones in the Nordic country.
Zelensky said he discussed cooperation in the production and use of drones in detail with his Norwegian counterpart.
“Our experience is already being used in the Middle East and the Gulf. We are improving defense against 'shahed' drones, and we believe this should also be done in Europe,” he said.
Prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a joint press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky: “We can learn from the experiences that Ukraine is making in this hard-won fight against the Russian aggression.”
"It is crucial that we learn from these experiences," he said.
UK to send £752m payment to Ukraine
Wednesday 15 April 2026 10:45 , Shweta SharmaBritain will announce extra support for Ukraine worth millions of pounds on Wednesday as senior ministers hold a series of meetings with their international counterparts.
In Washington DC, chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm a £752m payment to Kyiv ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The payment, part of a £3.36bn loan, is intended to help pay for weaponry including long-range missiles, air defence systems and drones.
Ms Reeves said: "This funding will help deliver the military equipment Ukraine needs as it defends itself against Russia's unprovoked war.
"I am proud that the UK is a leading partner in providing vital support to Ukraine, and we will continue to step up to do more while keeping pressure on Russia."
Meanwhile, defence secretary John Healey will use a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) to announce the UK's biggest ever drone package for Ukraine that will see 120,000 drones delivered to the country.
The package will include long-range strike drones, reconnaissance drones, logistics drones and those with maritime capabilities, with many produced by UK-based companies.
Mr Healey said: "This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression."
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Wednesday 15 April 2026 10:00 , Shweta SharmaThe incoming prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, has said that he will ask Vladimir Putin to end the killing in Ukraine if he speaks with the Russian president.
Addressing a media briefing a day after his landslide election victory over nationalist Viktor Orban, an ally of Putin, Mr Magyar said he hoped Moscow would be forced to end the war soon and affirmed that Ukraine is the clear victim in the conflict.
Mr Magyar, the leader of the centre-right Tisza party, said he would not call the Russian president, but he has previously publicly recognised that he would need to hold talks with Putin and that Budapest would need to continue buying Russian oil and gas for the time being.
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian assault using only unmanned robots, says Zelensky
Wednesday 15 April 2026 08:30 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian forces retook occupied territory in an unprecedented assault using only unmanned machines, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, as he praised the country’s era-defining advances in frontline technology.
The president revealed in an address that drones have carried out more than 22,000 missions on the frontlines in three months - a major shift on the modern battlefield that he cast as key to protecting human life.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” the president said, referencing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in Kharkiv oblast last year.
Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian assault using only robots, says Zelensky
Ukraine targets Russian military trucks with autonomous 'Hornet' drones – video
Wednesday 15 April 2026 08:00 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian forces are striking Russian military trucks with a “Hornet”-type suicide drone equipped with an automated targeting system, a Ukrainian government–run platform said, citing a video.
The video, circulating on social media since Monday, shows the drone locking onto and hitting the vehicles, reportedly without manual guidance in the final moments of the strike.
The system is believed to use onboard targeting assistance, allowing it to track and maintain its trajectory even in the face of battlefield interference.
The Independent could not verify the authenticity of the video.
“Hornet” drones are typically linked to Ukrainian-developed FPV and loitering munitions produced by volunteer-led initiatives such as the Wild Hornets group, the news website launched by the Ukrainian government in 2022 to support the war effort, reported.
These compact, high-speed platforms carry explosive payloads and are designed to hit targets directly, including moving vehicles.
Newer versions increasingly feature elements of automated targeting, reflecting a broader shift in Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy.
Kyiv has focused on scaling up production while improving precision and resilience, particularly in strikes aimed at disrupting Russian logistics and supply lines.
Russia fired 300 drones and three ballistic missiles overnight
Wednesday 15 April 2026 07:45 , Shweta SharmaRussia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, firing more than 300 drones and three ballistic missiles, Ukrainian officials said, with port infrastructure in the south among the targets.
Ukraine’s air force said 324 drones were launched from Tuesday evening, with 309 shot down or neutralised.
All three missiles and at least 13 drones struck targets in nine locations, it said.
In the southeastern city of Dnipro, three people were injured and a nine-storey apartment block was damaged, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said, a day after a missile strike there killed five and wounded nearly 30.
In Cherkasy, four people sought medical help following a separate drone attack, while in Zaporizhzhia a 74-year-old woman was killed in shelling that also damaged nearby buildings and businesses.
Further strikes hit port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, damaging administrative and warehouse facilities, governor Oleh Kiper said.
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Wednesday 15 April 2026 07:34 , Shweta SharmaThe Kremlin has declared that it was “never friends” with outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as it braces for a new era of relations with Budapest following his landslide loss to a pro-EU candidate.
Mr Orban, who enjoyed warm relations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a persistent thorn in Ukraine’s side as it sought financial backing for its war effort from a divided Europe, was swept aside by Peter Magyar and his centre-right Tisza party.
What the future holds for the Russia-Hungary relationship is unclear, but in light of Mr Orban’s collapse in public support, Moscow now appears to be distancing itself and playing down the loss of its most influential ally in the European Union.
“We were never friends with Orban,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to The Guardian. Hungary’s official designation is as an “unfriendly country”, he added, explaining that Russia therefore did not congratulate Mr Magyar on his election win.
Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
Xi calls China-Russia ties 'precious' in current international context
Wednesday 15 April 2026 07:00 , Shweta SharmaChinese president Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly "precious" in the face of an international landscape intertwined with change and chaos.
During a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, Xi said the strong vitality and exemplary significance of the friendship treaty between the two countries stand out even more under such a backdrop.
He said foreign ministries from both countries would need to fully implement the consensus reached between him and Russian president Vladimir Putin, calling for strengthening strategic communication and close diplomatic coordination.
He also urged them to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between Beijing and Moscow to "stand higher, walk more steadily and go further.
"Xi touted the value of the two nations' ties, but he did not specify what he referred to as chaos and changes in the international context, as uncertainty still lingers about how long the Iran war would last.
Kremlin tells Russians internet shutdowns are temporary after crackdown ruffles elite
Wednesday 15 April 2026 06:31 , Shweta SharmaThe Kremlin told Russians on Tuesday that mobile internet shutdowns that have disrupted the lives of millions are temporary and will eventually be lifted amid anger in Moscow’s elites.
Authorities shut down the mobile internet in Moscow for nearly three weeks in March and regularly block it elsewhere, citing the risk of Ukrainian drones using it to guide attacks. The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor agency to the Soviet KGB, is in charge of internal security.
Meta's WhatsApp has been completely blocked and it has become extremely difficult to use the Telegram messenger service - which has long been Russians' preferred digital ecosystem - after both messengers were accused of not complying with Russian law.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "security considerations" dictated the need to take certain measures, but that they were temporary.
"It is clear that restrictions on internet access cause inconvenience for many citizens, but... once the need for these measures has passed, internet access will, of course, be fully restored and returned to normal," said Peskov.
It comes amid anger by businesses and bankers over losses because of the shutdown.
Several senior business-oriented current and former officials and bankers had reportedly lobbied president Vladimir Putin to moderate the crackdown.
Ukraine calls on Israel to detain Russian vessel with stolen wheat
Wednesday 15 April 2026 06:30 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has urged Israel to take action over a Russian vessel it alleges is carrying stolen Ukrainian grain.
Kyiv says the ship, ABINSK, was loaded via smaller vessels operating from ports in Russian-occupied territory, citing an investigation by a Ukrainian journalist.
Ukrainian officials argue the export of looted agricultural produce is helping to sustain Russia’s economy amid the war.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha raised the issue with his Israeli counterpart, calling for steps to prevent what Ukraine describes as illegal trade.
He stressed “that the illegal export of stolen Ukrainian agricultural products is part of Russia’s broader war effort. Such illegal trade with stolen goods must not be allowed.”
Ukrainian representatives had earlier appealed to Israeli authorities to block the vessel from docking, and have since asked that it be prevented from leaving port.
Israel has not publicly commented on the claims.
