Ukraine's drone wing says it has killed at least 12 officers and injured 15 others in a strike on a command post for Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi confirmed the attack yesterday in occupied Donetsk, and said Ukrainian forces used FP-2 drones manufactured by the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point.
He said the command post hit in the attack is responsible for sabotage operations, building intelligence networks, recruitment, carrying out terrorist attacks and arson, and coordinating Russian proxy forces. The drones can carry up to 100kg payloads and are used for medium-range strikes.Moscow is yet to comment on the attack.
This comes as the European Union formally approved a €90bn (£78bn) loan to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia, ahead of an informal summit of the bloc's leaders in Cyprus which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will attend.
The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs for the next two years.
Key Points
- No gains for Russia as Ukraine holds ‘strongest’ frontline position in a year, says Sybiha
- Russian drone attack kills 3 and injures 10 in Dnipro
- Longer Iran conflict could make it harder for Ukraine to secure missile defences, says Zelensky
- Ukraine asks Turkey to mediate war and host Zelensky-Putin talks
- Zelensky says Russia ceasefire unlikely until Iran crisis ‘closed’ - Watch
- Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there's a precondition
Watch: Prince Harry arrives in Kyiv for surprise visit
05:23 , Arpan RaiEU formally approves Ukraine loan and sanctions package against Russia
05:02 , Arpan RaiThe European Union formally approved on Thursday a €90bn (£78bn) loan to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia, ahead of an informal summit of the bloc's leaders in Cyprus which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will attend.
The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs for the next two years. Economists had said Ukraine would start to run out of money by June if the EU loan was not disbursed by then, requiring deep cuts to public services.
"We are on our way to Cyprus with good news," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.
"While Russia doubles down on its aggression, we are doubling down on our support to the brave Ukrainian nation enabling Ukraine to defend itself and putting pressure on Russia’s war economy,” she said.
Zelensky says Ukraine does not need 'symbolic' partial EU membership
04:41 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of a partial EU membership for his war-hit nation.
Germany and France have proposed limited ”symbolic” or ”associate” EU membership for Ukraine as part of a peace deal, which would grant some benefits but exclude voting rights or full access to shared budgets.
“Ukraine does not need symbolic membership in the EU,” Zelensky said, speaking to reporters on his presidential WhatsApp chat on the way to Cyprus.
“Ukraine is defending itself and is definitely defending Europe. And it is not defending Europe symbolically – people are really dying,” he said.
Zelensky added that Ukraine is defending "shared European values" and therefore saying the country deserves full membership in the 27-strong bloc of countries.
Ukraine says it killed 12 FSB officers in an attack on command post
04:29 , Arpan RaiUkraine's drone wing says it has killed at least 12 officers and injured 15 others in a strike on a command post of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Donetsk region on Wednesday.
Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi confirmed the attack yesterday and said Ukrainian forces used FP-2 drones manufactured by the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point.
The drones can carry up to 100kg payloads and are used for medium-range strikes.
The operation, during which operators carried out "eight precision strikes on the target," was conducted by the Unmanned Systems Forces together with fighters from the 1st Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard's Azov Brigade, the statement from Brovdi read.
He said the command post hit in the attack is responsible for sabotage operations, building intelligence networks, recruitment, carrying out terrorist attacks and arson, and coordinating Russian proxy forces.
Prince Harry, on visit to Kyiv, tells Putin to 'stop this war'
04:01 , Arpan RaiPrince Harry made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and called on Russia's president Vladimir Putin to end the war – a week after a massive Russian aerial attack on the country – and on US president Donald Trump to show leadership to help resolve the conflict.
By convention, the British royal family do not speak out on political matters, although King Charles and other senior royals have regularly voiced their support for Ukraine.
But Harry, on his third visit to the country since the war began, used far more explicit language than any of his relatives have done previously.
"President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing. There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course," Harry said in a speech to a Kyiv security forum.
He called on Washington to do more to bring about an end to the war.
"This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations," he said.
"Europe has stood up in profound ways," said the British Army veteran who served in Afghanistan.
"The task now is to match endurance with speed, solidarity with scale, and commitment with consistency,” he said.
Russian diplomats say new EU sanctions are 'economic blackmail'
03:53 , Arpan RaiRussian diplomats have denounced the latest European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow in connection with its invasion of Ukraine, saying the new measures lacked UN legitimacy and infringed the rights of third countries.
Russian news agencies quoted a statement by diplomats at Russia's mission to the European Union as saying the measures were meaningless without a decision from the UN Security Council.
"We would like to remind you that only sanctions imposed by the decision of the UN Security Council are legitimate," state news agency TASS quoted the statement as saying.
"All others are unilateral coercive measures, and essentially — arbitrariness and aggression that contradict international law and the UN Charter."
RIA news agency said the statement accused the EU of restricting exports of specific goods to a number of countries cooperating with Russia and said this was "resorting to economic blackmail and extraterritorial application of sanctions".
The EU adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine after Slovakia and Hungary dropped their opposition to the move following the resumption of flows through the Druzhba oil pipeline.
The EU had initially aimed to adopt the package to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
PHOTO ESSAY: AP photographer chronicles Chernobyl’s painful legacy of silence, sacrifice and danger
03:00 , Alex CroftEfrem Lukatsky, a Kyiv-based photographer for The Associated Press, was living in the city on April 26, 1986, when the explosion and fire struck the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, about a two-hour drive away. He has visited the plant and the “exclusion zone” around it dozens of times. He recalls the disaster that has haunted him and Ukraine for 40 years.
------------
It began with whispers at work.
There was no official announcement about the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant when it happened in 1986 — only fragments of information passed quietly among colleagues.
I was in my late 20s at the time and was a specialized underwater welder for a Kyiv institute that sent me to offshore platforms and classified military bases across the Soviet Union.
See the photos and read Efrem’s piece here:
PHOTO ESSAY: AP photographer chronicles Chernobyl’s painful legacy of silence, sacrifice and danger
In pictures: Russian attack on Dnipro blowing huge hole in apartment building
02:00 , Alex Croft
Donald Trump hits back after Harry’s impassioned Ukraine speech
01:15 , Alex RossDonald Trump has said the Duke of Sussex “is not speaking for the UK” after Harry told the US to honour its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict.
Responding to the speech Harry made during a surprise visit to Ukraine, the US president told reporters: “I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure. I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry.”
“But I appreciate his advice very much,” he added.
Mr Trump went on to ask: “How’s he doing? How’s his wife? Please give her my regards.”
Harry delivered a lengthy, impassioned speech at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday, saying he was “not here as a politician” but as “a soldier who understands service” and a “humanitarian”.
In a rare input on global matters, the King’s youngest son turned his attention to the US – although he did not mention Mr Trump by name – urging the “American leadership” to “honour its international treaty obligations” in its “enduring role in global security”.
Harry said: “The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.
“This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America, to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations – not out of charity but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”
Turkey trying to revive Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Erdogan tells Nato chief
01:01 , Alex CroftTurkey is making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyiv said it had asked Turkey, a Nato member, to host a leaders' level meeting with Russia. Ankara has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Erdogan said we were engaged, as Turkey, for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with peace, and that we are working to revive negotiations and start talks at leaders' level," the presidency said in a readout of the meeting.
The Turkish president also told Rutte that maintaining transatlantic ties was "indispensable", but that Ankara expected European Nato allies to take more responsibility for transatlantic security, the presidency said.
"Erdogan said Turkey was working to end the Ukraine-Russia war through negotiations and reach lasting peace, just as it is trying with regards to Iran," the presidency said in a separate statement.
Watch: Zelensky says Russia ceasefire unlikely until Iran crisis ‘closed’
Friday 24 April 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftZelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is 'right signal'
Thursday 23 April 2026 23:01 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was "the right signal under the current circumstances".
Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine "can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient."
“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
Thursday 23 April 2026 22:02 , Alex CroftAcross the Chernobyl exclusion zone, a radioactive landscape too dangerous for human life, the world’s wildest horses roam free. Przewalski’s horses – stocky, sand-coloured, and almost toy-like – graze an area larger than Luxembourg.
This desolate territory was created on 26 April 1986, when an explosion at the Ukrainian nuclear power plant sent radiation across Europe, forcing the evacuation of entire towns and displacing thousands. It remains the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Four decades on, Chernobyl (Chornobyl in Ukraine) remains too dangerous for humans. Yet, wildlife has moved back in. Wolves now prowl the vast no-man’s-land spanning Ukraine and Belarus, and brown bears have returned after more than a century. Populations of lynx, moose, red deer, and even free-roaming dogs have rebounded.
Read more here:
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – wild animals are thriving like never before
EU warns Venice Biennale it will terminate funding after allowing Russian participation
Thursday 23 April 2026 21:00 , Alex CroftThe European Commission has sent a letter to organisers of the Venice Biennale informing them of its intent to terminate or suspend a 2 million euro grant in funding after they allowed Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year's event.
"There is only one ongoing grant, this is of 2 million for the next three years and this is the one we aim to terminate or to suspend," an EU Commission spokesperson told reporters.
The Biennale had 30 days to respond to the EU's letter, the spokesperson added.
After Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian artists and institutions were excluded from major European events, including the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
World must not grow numb to Ukraine conflict, says Prince Harry
Thursday 23 April 2026 20:01 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard more from Prince Harry, who is making a surprise visit to Kyiv today.
The Duke of Sussex has warned “the world must not grow used” or “numb” to the conflict in Ukraine as he insisted he was speaking in the war-torn country not as “a politician” but as a “soldier who understands service”.
Harry, in an address to the Kyiv Security Forum during a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, said: “I am not here as a politician.
“I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences.
“Because what is happening here is not simply a war about territory. It is a war about values. About sovereignty.
“About whether the principles that underpin our shared democracy still hold meaning.”
Ukrainian military shares video of troop shooting down missile
Thursday 23 April 2026 19:02 , Alex CroftTarget destroyed! pic.twitter.com/Ogw2vV2Dqe
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 22, 2026
Massive fire after Ukrainian strike on Russian oil station, says SBU
Thursday 23 April 2026 18:02 , Alex CroftUkrainian drones have struck the Gorky oil pumping station in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region overnight, an official from Ukraine's SBU security service said on Thursday.
Three oil tanks were damaged as a result of the strike and a massive fire broke out, covering an area of 20,000 square metres, the source said.
The station is an important part of Russia's oil transport system and supports the operation of main oil pipelines, the source added.
Prince Harry calls on Putin to halt war and 'prevent further suffering'
Thursday 23 April 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftPrince Harry has been speaking during his surprise visit to Kyiv.
Directly addressing Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Duke of Sussex said: “President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing.
“There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course.”
He also made reference to the “American leadership” but did not mention Donald Trump by name, saying it was a “moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations”.
Harry said: “The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.
“This is a moment for American leadership – a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations – not out of charity, but out of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”
Full report: Nuclear energy is having a global revival 40 years after Chernobyl
Thursday 23 April 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftThe 1986 Chernobyl disaster fueled global fears about nuclear power and slowed its development in Europe and elsewhere. Four decades later, however, there's a revival around the world, a trend that has been given a big boost by war in the Middle East.
Over 400 nuclear reactors are operational in 31 countries, while about 70 more are under construction. Nuclear power accounts for producing about 10% of the world’s electricity, equivalent to about a quarter of all sources of low-carbon power.
Nuclear reactors have seen steady improvements, adding more safety features and making them cheaper to build and operate.
Full report here:
Nuclear energy is having a global revival 40 years after Chernobyl
Russian-controlled court jails woman for buying Ukrainian war bonds
Thursday 23 April 2026 16:01 , Alex CroftA woman living in a Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine has been found guilty of treason and sentenced to 14 years in prison for buying war bonds to support the Ukrainian military, the court that convicted her said on Thursday.
The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia District Court said the woman had used a Ukrainian mobile app to purchase bonds worth 270,080 roubles ($3,600), and had been caught by the FSB security service.
It identified her only by the initial B, and said she was a Russian citizen. People living in parts of Ukraine that Russian forces have captured in more than four years of war have effectively been forced to take Russian citizenship if they want to retain access to healthcare, pensions and property rights.
Human rights group Memorial, which Russia this month branded an extremist movement, named the woman as 66-year-old Larisa Belyayeva, a doctor from the village of Lyubimovka.
Ukraine began issuing war bonds in February 2022, immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion, in order to fund its defence.
With reporting from Reuters
How will the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?
Thursday 23 April 2026 15:30 , Alex CroftA 90bn euro EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.
EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.
How will Europe lend the money?
The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.
Repayment
Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around 210bn euros that could be used for the repayment.
What will it cover?
The 90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get 45 billion euros in 2026 and another 45 billion in 2027. Each year, 28 billion euros will be for spending on military needs and 17 billion on general budget needs.
Watch: Seven people injured from Russian attack in Ukraine's Dnipro
Thursday 23 April 2026 15:00 , Alex CroftEU prepares finalisation of €90bn loan for Ukraine after Orban hurdle removed
Thursday 23 April 2026 14:30 , Arpan RaiEU ambassadors have approved the disbursement of a promised €90bn ($106bn) loan to Ukraine as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia after Hungary lifted its veto, the bloc's Cypriot presidency said.
The European Union's 27 member states are now expected to sign off on the deal by this afternoon, a spokesperson for the Cypriot presidency added.
The EU agreed last year on the loan to keep Ukraine liquid through 2026 and 2027. But Hungary then blocked the deal after Russia-friendly prime minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of sabotaging the transit of Russian oil through a pipeline damaged by Russian attacks.
The spat had also delayed the new sanctions against Russia, which the EU had initially aimed to adopt to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
The stumbling block was finally removed when Hungary's oil group MOL yesterday said it had been informed that the Ukrainian operator of the Druzhba pipeline was ready to resume crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia.
MOL said it expected the first shipments via the pipeline to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by Thursday at the latest. Both countries remain reliant on Russia for much of their energy.
Ukraine's prospects for receiving the loan had already improved when Orban lost Hungary's parliamentary election on 12 April. The leader of the winning party, Peter Magyar, has said he will no longer block the EU funds for Kyiv, though he is only expected to take power next month.
Russian drones kill one in attack on Zhtomyr region
Thursday 23 April 2026 13:59 , Alex CroftRussian drones attacked civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, killing one, the regional governor said on Thursday.
Governor Vitaliy Bunechko said that rescue workers, repair crews and law enforcement agencies were working at the site of the attack.
He shared the details about the attack on Telegram.
Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine to ‘remind the world’ about war
Thursday 23 April 2026 13:27 , Alex CroftThe Duke of Sussex has made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to “remind people back home and around the world” of the country’s war with Russia.
Harry was filmed by ITV News arriving at Kyiv railway station on Thursday morning, stepping off an overnight train from Poland and greeting people on the platform.
“It’s good to be back in Ukraine,” he said, according to the broadcaster.
The duke said he wanted “to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions”.
Read more here:
Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine to ‘remind the world’ about war
Ukraine asks Turkey to mediate war and host Zelensky-Putin talks
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:55 , Arpan RaiUkraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The development was shared by Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, saying that Ukraine is ready to meet Putin at any venue to end the war, except Belarus or Russia.
“We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals,” Sybiha said, speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
“We addressed the Turks specifically,” he said. “But if another capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organises such a meeting, we will go.”
On Friday, Sybiha told the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that Ukraine was ready to participate in any round of talks “regardless of format,” including meetings involving Zelensky, Putin, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, or US president Donald Trump.
Russian industrial facility catches fire after Ukrainian attack
Thursday 23 April 2026 12:22 , Alex CroftAn industrial facility in the Kstovo district of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region was damaged in a Ukrainian attack, regional governor Gleb Nikitin said on Thursday.
The facility caught fire overnight after being hit by debris from Ukrainian drones, he said.
Ukraine has previously targeted the Lukoil oil refinery located in the town of Kstovo.
Watch: Zelensky says Russia ceasefire unlikely until Iran crisis ‘closed’
Thursday 23 April 2026 11:49 , Arpan RaiTurkey trying to revive Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Erdogan tells Nato chief
Thursday 23 April 2026 11:17 , Arpan RaiTurkey is making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyiv said it had asked Turkey, a Nato member, to host a leaders' level meeting with Russia. Ankara has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Erdogan said we were engaged, as Turkey, for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with peace, and that we are working to revive negotiations and start talks at leaders' level," the presidency said in a readout of the meeting.
The Turkish president also told Rutte that maintaining transatlantic ties was "indispensable", but that Ankara expected European Nato allies to take more responsibility for transatlantic security, the presidency said.
"Erdogan said Turkey was working to end the Ukraine-Russia war through negotiations and reach lasting peace, just as it is trying with regards to Iran," the presidency said in a separate statement.
In pictures: Russian attack kills three in Dnipro, blowing huge hole in apartment building
Thursday 23 April 2026 10:44 , Alex Croft
Russian drone attack kills 3 and injures 10 in Dnipro
Thursday 23 April 2026 10:15 , Alex CroftUkrainian officials in the southeastern city of Dnipro are reporting a Russian drone attack that has killed three people and injured another 10, including two children.
The strike partially destroyed an apartment building, emergency services said, and triggered fires that damaged an administrative building, cars and a shop.
"The Russians directed drones at a residential area. When people and their families were sleeping in their beds," Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region council, said on Telegram.
The regional governor, Oleksandr Hanzha, writing on Telegram, said the body of another person was found in the ruined apartment building, bringing to three the toll of those killed.
Four people were being treated in hospital, including the two wounded children - girls aged 9 and 14, he said.
Officials posted photos of the aftermath of the attack, showing the apartment building with a gaping hole in its middle, wrecked balconies, broken windows, and shoes scattered on a lawn.
Earlier photos showed apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.
No gains for Russia as Ukraine holds ‘strongest’ frontline position in a year, says Sybiha
Thursday 23 April 2026 09:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s frontline position is now “the strongest” it has been in a year, the country’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, crediting its superiority in drone warfare and air defence.
“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Sybiha said.
He added: “For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities… [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”
A new analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War said that Russia made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March, the first time Moscow has made such little progress in two and a half years.
Longer Iran conflict could make it harder for Ukraine to secure missile defences, says Zelensky
Thursday 23 April 2026 09:15 , Arpan RaiUkraine could face increased risks in securing US anti-missile defences if the war in Iran goes on for an extended period of time, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned.
Speaking to CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine received limited numbers of such weaponry because US production was limited, but so far it had experienced no disruption in supplies or in provision of intelligence.
Zelensky said Ukraine was able to secure US weaponry through the PURL programme under which Nato countries can finance the purchase of weapons for Kyiv.
“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don't have this...with our European neighbours," Zelensky told CNN in English.
“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk."
The United States, he said, had supplied "only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.”
“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed...(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”
Ukraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump – report
Thursday 23 April 2026 08:45 , Arpan RaiUkrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region “Donnyland” to appeal to President Donald Trump’s ego and to get him “more on their side,” according to a report.
The moniker was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia’s territorial demands,” and was first mentioned “partly in jest” by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.
Donnyland, which is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, would appear to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.
Ukraine negotiators suggest renaming disputed region ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump
Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there's a precondition
Thursday 23 April 2026 08:30 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin can only meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday.
"The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment," TASS news agency quoted Peskov as telling Russian state television.
"The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements,” he said.
How will the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?
Thursday 23 April 2026 08:15 , Arpan RaiA €90bn EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.
EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.
How will Europe lend the money?
The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.
Repayment
Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around €210bn that could be used for the repayment.
What will it cover?
The €90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get €45bn in 2026 and another €45bn in 2027. Each year, €28bn will be for spending on military needs and €17bn on general budget needs.
One killed in Russian attack on civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine's Zhytomyr
Thursday 23 April 2026 07:48 , Arpan RaiRussian drones attacked civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, killing one, the regional governor said this morning.
Governor Vitaliy Bunechko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that rescue workers, repair crews and law enforcement agencies were working at the site of the attack.
Zelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is 'right signal'
Thursday 23 April 2026 07:45 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was "the right signal under the current circumstances".
Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine "can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient."
“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”
Druzhba oil flow to Slovakia resumes after pipeline repaired
Thursday 23 April 2026 07:41 , Arpan RaiSlovakia has started receiving crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline in the early hours today, the country's economy ministry said, confirming the end of a months-long outage after what Ukraine said was a Russian strike on the pipeline.
"The Economy Ministry informs that today at 2am (0000 GMT) the reception of oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline was resumed," a ministry statement said.
The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the most politically charged pieces of infrastructure in Europe since the halt in Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia in January.
Oil through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline started flowing on Wednesday, prompting Hungary to lift its veto on €90bn (£78bn) EU loan urgently needed by Ukraine.
Ukraine had said the halt was forced by the necessity to repair the pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia, meanwhile, accused Kyiv of dragging its feet.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian oil and gas and are trying to maintain supplies despite EU efforts to end Russian energy imports after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Seven injured in Russian attack on apartment building in Ukraine's Dnipro
Thursday 23 April 2026 07:30 , Arpan RaiA Russian air attack has triggered a series of fires in an apartment block in Ukraine's southeastern city of Dnipro, injuring seven people, including two children, in the early hours today, officials said.
Regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said five people were being treated in hospital, including girls aged nine and 14.
Pictures posted on line by the governor showed several apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.
Ganzha said fire also broke out in a store and a number of cars.
Turkey trying to revive Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Erdogan tells Nato chief
Thursday 23 April 2026 07:10 , Arpan RaiTurkey is making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyiv said it had asked Turkey, a Nato member, to host a leaders' level meeting with Russia. Ankara has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Erdogan said we were engaged, as Turkey, for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with peace, and that we are working to revive negotiations and start talks at leaders' level," the presidency said in a readout of the meeting.
The Turkish president also told Rutte that maintaining transatlantic ties was "indispensable", but that Ankara expected European Nato allies to take more responsibility for transatlantic security, the presidency said.
"Erdogan said Turkey was working to end the Ukraine-Russia war through negotiations and reach lasting peace, just as it is trying with regards to Iran," the presidency said in a separate statement.
Watch: Zelensky says Russia ceasefire unlikely until Iran crisis ‘closed’
Thursday 23 April 2026 06:10 , Arpan RaiKremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there's a precondition
Thursday 23 April 2026 06:05 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin can only meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday.
"The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment," TASS news agency quoted Peskov as telling Russian state television.
"The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements,” he said.
Railway worker killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine
Thursday 23 April 2026 05:54 , Arpan RaiA train driver was killed in Ukraine after Russia attacked the country’s railway in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Oleksii Kuleba said.
The attack targeted a sorting yard at the Zaporizhzhia-Live station in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and killed an assistant train driver.
The main driver was injured and is receiving treatment at a hospital, he said.
Kuleba called it “another proof of terrorism, Russia is at war against peaceful people, against those who were simply doing their job and keeping the country moving”.
Drones also targeted Ukraine’s main Black Sea port in the southern city of Odesa.
The strikes, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, damaged the infrastructure of the Odesa port, including berths, warehouses, railway infrastructure and port operators’ facilities, Kuleba said in a statement on X.
Watch: Dua Lipa funds pickup truck for medical battalion in Ukraine
Thursday 23 April 2026 05:25 , Arpan RaiEU prepares finalisation of €90bn loan for Ukraine after Orban hurdle removed
Thursday 23 April 2026 05:12 , Arpan RaiEU ambassadors have approved the disbursement of a promised €90bn ($106bn) loan to Ukraine as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia after Hungary lifted its veto, the bloc's Cypriot presidency said.
The European Union's 27 member states are now expected to sign off on the deal by this afternoon, a spokesperson for the Cypriot presidency added.
The EU agreed last year on the loan to keep Ukraine liquid through 2026 and 2027. But Hungary then blocked the deal after Russia-friendly prime minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of sabotaging the transit of Russian oil through a pipeline damaged by Russian attacks.
The spat had also delayed the new sanctions against Russia, which the EU had initially aimed to adopt to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
The stumbling block was finally removed when Hungary's oil group MOL yesterday said it had been informed that the Ukrainian operator of the Druzhba pipeline was ready to resume crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia.
MOL said it expected the first shipments via the pipeline to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by Thursday at the latest. Both countries remain reliant on Russia for much of their energy.
Ukraine's prospects for receiving the loan had already improved when Orban lost Hungary's parliamentary election on 12 April. The leader of the winning party, Peter Magyar, has said he will no longer block the EU funds for Kyiv, though he is only expected to take power next month.
Ukraine asks Turkey to mediate war and host Zelensky-Putin talks
Thursday 23 April 2026 04:47 , Arpan RaiUkraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The development was shared by Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, saying that Ukraine is ready to meet Putin at any venue to end the war, except Belarus or Russia.
“We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals,” Sybiha said, speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
“We addressed the Turks specifically,” he said. “But if another capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organises such a meeting, we will go.”
On Friday, Sybiha told the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that Ukraine was ready to participate in any round of talks “regardless of format,” including meetings involving Zelensky, Putin, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, or US president Donald Trump.
No gains for Russia as Ukraine holds ‘strongest’ frontline position in a year, says Sybiha
Thursday 23 April 2026 04:40 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s frontline position is now “the strongest” it has been in a year, the country’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, crediting its superiority in drone warfare and air defence.
“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Sybiha said.
He added: “For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities… [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”
A new analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War said that Russia made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March, the first time Moscow has made such little progress in two and a half years.
Longer Iran conflict could make it harder for Ukraine to secure missile defences, says Zelensky
Thursday 23 April 2026 04:22 , Arpan RaiUkraine could face increased risks in securing US anti-missile defences if the war in Iran goes on for an extended period of time, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned.
Speaking to CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine received limited numbers of such weaponry because US production was limited, but so far it had experienced no disruption in supplies or in provision of intelligence.
Zelensky said Ukraine was able to secure US weaponry through the PURL programme under which Nato countries can finance the purchase of weapons for Kyiv.
“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don't have this...with our European neighbours," Zelensky told CNN in English.
“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk."
The United States, he said, had supplied "only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.”
“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed...(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”
Seven injured in Russian attack on apartment building in Ukraine's Dnipro
Thursday 23 April 2026 04:02 , Arpan RaiA Russian air attack has triggered a series of fires in an apartment block in Ukraine's southeastern city of Dnipro, injuring seven people, including two children, in the early hours today, officials said.
Regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said five people were being treated in hospital, including girls aged nine and 14.
Pictures posted on line by the governor showed several apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.
Ganzha said fire also broke out in a store and a number of cars.
Zelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is 'right signal'
Thursday 23 April 2026 03:00 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was "the right signal under the current circumstances".
Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine "can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient."
“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”
Implementation of our agreement with the European Union to unblock a €90 billion support package for Ukraine over two years is now effectively underway, as well as a new sanctions package against Russia over this war. The unblocking is the right signal under the current…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 22, 2026
Ukraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump and end war with Russia: report
Thursday 23 April 2026 02:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region “Donnyland” to appeal to President Donald Trump’s ego and to get him “more on their side,” according to a report.
The moniker was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia’s territorial demands,” and was first mentioned “partly in jest” by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.
Donnyland, which is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, would appear to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.
Read the full story:
Ukraine negotiators suggest renaming disputed region ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump
Pictured: Ukrainian troops prepare to fire on Russian positions on the frontline
Thursday 23 April 2026 01:00 , James Reynolds
Recap: Zelensky eyes summit with Putin in Turkey
Wednesday 22 April 2026 23:59 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky is keen to meet with Vladimir Putin in an effort to restart stalled talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, Kyiv’s foreign ministry said.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters on Tuesday that Ukraine has already asked Turkey to host a summit, but would be open to considering any place other than Belarus or Russia to meet.
“We addressed the Turks specifically,” he said. “But if another capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organises such a meeting, we will go.”
Ukraine is looking to reopen talks itself with American mediators tied up in the conflict in Iran. Zelensky has warned his country faces a “critical” shortage of missile interceptors as the war soaks up US resources and attention.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday that Turkey is making efforts to revive talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan relayed his intent to bring the leaders together, after Ukraine said it had asked Turkey to restart talks
How will the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?
Wednesday 22 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsA 90bn euro EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.
EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.
How will Europe lend the money?
The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.
Repayment
Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around 210bn euros that could be used for the repayment.
What will it cover?
The 90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get 45 billion euros in 2026 and another 45 billion in 2027. Each year, 28 billion euros will be for spending on military needs and 17 billion on general budget needs.
With Reuters
Chernobyl survivor reveals the disaster’s lifelong toll: ‘Not a single person is in good health’
Wednesday 22 April 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsForty years after the world’s worst nuclear accident, Petro Hurin continues to grapple with the devastating health consequences of his time as a “liquidator” at Chernobyl. His health, he says, has never been the same since he was dispatched to clear the site in the wake of the catastrophic explosion.
Mr Hurin was one of hundreds of thousands of individuals mobilised to clean up after the blast at reactor four of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine on 26 April 1986. The disaster unleashed clouds of radioactive material that spread across much of Europe, leaving a toxic legacy.
In the immediate aftermath, 31 plant workers and firefighters perished, primarily from acute radiation sickness. Since then, thousands more have succumbed to radiation-related illnesses, including various forms of cancer, though the precise total death toll and long-term health effects remain a subject of intense debate among experts.
Read the full story:
Chernobyl survivor reveals disaster’s lifelong toll: ‘No one is in good health’
Watch: Zelensky says Trump’s envoys visiting Putin and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
Wednesday 22 April 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump and end war with Russia: report
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region “Donnyland” to appeal to President Donald Trump’s ego and to get him “more on their side,” according to a report.
The moniker was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia’s territorial demands,” and was first mentioned “partly in jest” by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.
Donnyland, which is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, would appear to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.
Read the full story:
Ukraine negotiators suggest renaming disputed region ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump
Swimming row erupts as Norway refuses to host Russians and Belarusians
Wednesday 22 April 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsThe Norwegian Swimming Federation has declared it will not host international championships as long as World Aquatics (WA) permits athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete.
This decision, confirmed by the country's governing body President Cato Bratbakk, deepens a growing divide within the global swimming community.
The move comes after WA last week lifted neutrality restrictions, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in events with their national uniforms, flags, and anthems since 14 April. The global governing body also reinstated full membership rights for both nations.
Swimming crisis deepens as Norway refuses to host Russian and Belarusian athletes
Russia to stop Kazakh oil flows to German PCK refinery via Druzhba
Wednesday 22 April 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsRussia will stop the supply of Kazakh crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany from May 1, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday, forcing a major refinery near Berlin to make up the shortfall from elsewhere.
The move deals a blow to the PCK Schwedt refinery, which supplies most of the German capital's fuel and relies on Kazakhstan for about 17% of its supplies. It also adds to Germany's fuel supply concerns as the Iran war disrupts flows from the Gulf.
Novak said the move was due to "technical possibilities", offering no further explanation.
Kazakhstan's oil exports to Germany via Russia's Druzhba pipeline totalled 2.146 million metric tons, or around 43,000 barrels per day, last year, an increase of 44% from 2024, and 730,000 tons in the first quarter of 2026.
Three industry sources had told Reuters on Tuesday that Russia was set to stop oil exports from Kazakhstan via the Druzhba pipeline starting from May 1.
With Reuters
How will the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?
Wednesday 22 April 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsA 90bn euro EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.
EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.
How will Europe lend the money?
The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.
Repayment
Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around 210bn euros that could be used for the repayment.
What will it cover?
The 90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get 45 billion euros in 2026 and another 45 billion in 2027. Each year, 28 billion euros will be for spending on military needs and 17 billion on general budget needs.
With Reuters
Russia hopes Witkoff and Kushner will continue their Russia visits to talk Ukraine
Wednesday 22 April 2026 16:39 , James ReynoldsThe Kremlin said on Wednesday it hoped that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue to visit Russia to discuss a possible peace settlement for Ukraine, the state-run RIA news agency reported.
RIA cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that it was not yet known when the next such visit might take place.
Talks brokered by Washington between Ukraine and Russia to end Moscow's more than four-year war in Ukraine stalled after the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran, triggering waves of retaliatory strikes on numerous Middle Eastern states.
With Reuters
Zelensky looks to embed Ukraine deeper in Europe with defence agreements
Wednesday 22 April 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky goes on to say Ukraine is currently preparing new bilateral security agreements with countries in Europe.
Following visits to Germany, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands, he says he plans to reveal expanded security cooperation and a drone deal.
“Only with Ukraine’s security experience can Europe’s defence be truly reliable,” he says.
Zelensky says separately that he discussed the SAFE instrument and joint production with Spain, and thanked the country’s leadership for its ‘vital’ provision of HAWK and Patriot missiles.
I was briefed by Rustem Umerov following the second phase of his work with the Middle East and the Gulf region, as well as with other countries facing significant security challenges due to the war in Iran.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 22, 2026
Rustem held talks with representatives of India and Bahrain — and we… pic.twitter.com/0z4bkFmgyu
Turkey confirms plans to bring leaders together for peace talks
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:29 , James ReynoldsTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato chief Mark Rutte that Turkey is making efforts to revive talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan relayed his intent to bring the leaders together, after Ukraine said it had asked Turkey to restart talks
Zelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is 'right signal'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:05 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was "the right signal under the current circumstances".
Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine "can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient."
“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”
Implementation of our agreement with the European Union to unblock a €90 billion support package for Ukraine over two years is now effectively underway, as well as a new sanctions package against Russia over this war. The unblocking is the right signal under the current…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 22, 2026
Recap: Smoke spreads over 300km from Russian port on fire after deadly strike
Wednesday 22 April 2026 14:00 , James ReynoldsA large fire at an oil refinery in Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse has sent thick plumes of smoke stretching hundreds of kilometres, according to satellite imagery, after the second deadly Ukrainian strike within days.
Nasa Worldview images showed dark smoke from burning oil storage tanks spreading inland as far as the Stavropol region, some 300km away. The fire erupted following a series of Ukrainian strikes on the facility and surrounding oil infrastructure.
Ukraine’s Security Service said it first targeted the Tuapse refinery and port infrastructure on 16 April, with a second strike on 20 April, which hit an oil terminal and caused a massive fire. The strikes led to one fatality, while another man was injured.
According to Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, the fire was still burning as of late on Tuesday.
Germany aiming to grow military to nearly 500,000 personnel
Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsGermany set out a military strategy on Wednesday that sticks with a target of 260,000 active troops despite demands by senior military officials to raise total troop numbers more drastically in response to a widely perceived growing threat from Russia.
Speaking to reporters in Berlin, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin aimed for a military of 460,000 soldiers, a target set in 2025 that includes 200,000 reservists, while describing the strategy as a "living document".
"It is clear that automation and artificial intelligence will continue to impact our planning, how many troops we will need and with what qualifications", he noted. "Our ambition is and must be...to be Europe's strongest conventional military."
The country reintroduced a form of military service in January, which aims to rapidly increase the number of personnel by the mid-2030s.
The Bundeswehr had some 184,000 serving soldiers at the end of 2025.
BREAKING: Ukrainian 90bn euro loan 'has been approved by EU ambassadors', says Cyprus
Wednesday 22 April 2026 12:05 , James ReynoldsThe long-awaited 90bn euro loan to Ukraine has finally been approved by EU ambassadors, after Hungary removed its opposition.
The presidency of Cyprus made the announcement on Wednesday.
Hungary’s outgoing prime minister Viktor Orban signalled earlier this week he would be willing to lift his veto on the loan before leaving office if Ukraine was able to restore the flow of Russian oil to Hungary disrupted by damage to the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungary’s MOL Group oil and gas company said today it expects shipments to resume by Thursday at the latest.
Watch: Smoke spreads over 300km from Russian port on fire after deadly strike
Wednesday 22 April 2026 12:00 , James ReynoldsWoman and child killed by Ukrainian drone in Russia's Syzran, official says
Wednesday 22 April 2026 11:30 , James ReynoldsA woman and child were killed in the Russian city of Syzran after a Ukrainian drone attack caused their apartment building to partially collapse, the regional governor said on Wednesday.
Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, governor of the Samara region, said that two apartment buildings had been hit in the attack, something he called a crime against the civilian population.
"Two people - an adult woman and a child - have died in Syzran following an attack by an enemy drone," he said in a statement. "They were pulled from the rubble of the destroyed building's entrance. This is a tragedy we all share," said Fedorishchev.
Twelve people were injured in the attack, the governor said.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
UK facing most serious cyber attacks from Russia, Iran and China
Wednesday 22 April 2026 11:09 , Shweta SharmaThe most serious cyber threats facing the UK are now being carried out by hostile states including Russia, Iran and China, according to Richard Horne, head of the National Cyber Security Centre.
In a speech, Horne is set to warn that Britain is living through a “seismic geopolitical shift”, with the risk of large-scale cyberattacks rising sharply, particularly in the event of an international conflict.
Horne will say the NCSC is currently dealing with around four nationally significant cyber incidents each week.
While criminal activity such as ransomware remains common, the most serious threats stem from state-linked operations.
He is expected to highlight China’s highly sophisticated cyber capabilities, Iran’s use of cyber tools to target perceived opponents abroad, and Russia’s expansion of tactics developed during the war in Ukraine into wider operations across Europe.
Officials across Europe have already raised alarms over attacks on critical infrastructure, including power plants, dams and water systems in countries such as Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Norway.
Horne will warn that, unlike ransomware attacks, businesses may not be able to recover by paying off attackers in a conflict scenario, urging organisations to strengthen defences and fully assess their exposure before it is too late.
Russia ready to resume Druzhba oil flows when Ukraine 'ends blackmail', says Kremlin
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:06 , Shweta SharmaRussia is ready to resume oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia whenever Ukraine ends what Moscow called its "blackmail", the Kremlin has said.
Outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, and the Slovakian government, have been in dispute with Ukraine over the suspension of Russian oil supplies over Ukrainian territory through the Soviet-era pipeline.
Kyiv says the pipeline was shut down due to a Russian attack in late January. Volodymyr Zelensky said it would be put back into operation by the end of April.
"As things stand, you are aware that the Russian side remains technically ready. We have contractual obligations with Hungary. But following the start of the Kyiv regime’s blackmail, deliveries have been halted," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
"Everything depends on the Kyiv regime – whether they will open the pipeline and put an end to the blackmail.”
