Ukraine says its forces have retaken territory in an operation using only unmanned robots and drones, the first time this has happened in the course of the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian soldiers surrendered when confronted by army robots after an advance "carried out without infantry and without losses on our side".
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
Zelensky said Ukraine has carried out 22,000 missions using unmanned systems in the past three months, saving potentially thousands of lives.
“This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life," he added.
Earlier, Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar indicated that he would end Budapest's refusal to allow the EU to loan €90bn to Ukraine, and that he would urge Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war.
Key Points
- Four killed and dozens injured in attack on Dnipro
- Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
- What are the robots being used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield?
- Zelensky: We survived the winter - but next winter we must be ready for anything
- Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
- Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
Orban's defeat could unlock €90bn in support for Ukraine, EU official says
04:28 , Shweta SharmaA political shift in Hungary could unlock up to €90bn in support for Ukraine and inject fresh momentum into Kyiv’s long-stalled bid to join the European Union, according to the bloc’s enlargement chief.
Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos described the election defeat of long-serving Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban as a “big win for Europe”.
“I expect, personally, that this will have a positive effect on the accession process,” she said.
Hungary under Orban had effectively blocked the funding package, tying its veto to a dispute with Ukraine over a damaged pipeline carrying Russian oil – a move that frustrated other EU leaders.
“With the €90 billion, we can cover the financial needs of Ukraine in 2026 and 2027,” Kos said
UK to send £752m payment to Ukraine
03:58 , 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."
Ukraine joining EU is not achievable in immediate term, says Merz
03:00 , Alex CroftAs we earlier reported, Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz held a press conference on after a meeting in Berlin on Tuesday morning.
We can now bring you more lines from Merz, who announced plans to cooperate with Ukraine on drone and battlefield data technology.
He also urged Kyiv to push forward with reforms with an eye to joining the European Union in the future.
Merz said joining the EU would be a strategically important step, but added that it was not achievable in the immediate term.
Comment | The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
02:01 , Alex CroftAs the long, dark night of Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end this weekend, it wasn’t just the jubilant crowds crammed onto the bridges across the Danube that had a song in their heart. There are few political events about which you can reach for a quote from 1970s soul band Hot Chocolate – but today, “Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie”.
For “the dictator”, as he was known in Brussels, has gone. Hungary has certainly won, Europe has won, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have lost their fifth-columnist ally on this continent, and Nigel Farage has lost a source of ideological inspiration.
But the biggest sigh of relief – at the sheer size of Peter Magyar’s election landslide – must have been in Kyiv. Cliche or not, we shouldn’t hesitate to call the end of Orban as a game-changer for Ukraine.
In recent years, Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have conducted their astonishingly successful resistance to the Russian invasion with bravery, solidarity and ingenuity – and in spite of a shortage of funds. The EU has long had a massive €90bn ready to lend to them – to pay for armaments, soldiers’ wages, and just to keep going – but the arrangement has been vetoed by the most stubborn and intractable of EU member states.
The Independent’s associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:
Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
01:02 , Alex CroftUkraine is facing a major conscription crisis, just as Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a protracted conflict in the Middle East will hamper its efforts to combat Russia’s invasion.
Earlier this year, Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, admitted that Ukraine has 2 million draft-dodgers and hundreds of thousands more who are absent without leave (awol).
The Independent has spoken to Ukrainians on the ground about the reality of the situation, just as pressure mounts elsewhere for the war-torn country. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has shifted its focus from Ukraine to the conflict with Iran, while peace talks have stalled, and Vladimir Putin has launched his spring offensive.
Sam Kiley reports:
Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
Kremlin admits internet restrictions are disruptive for Russians - but says they are necessary for security
Wednesday 15 April 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has spoken out about internet restrictions, admitting they had caused disruption for many Russias but declaring that they are necessary for security reasons.
The restrictions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted, did not represent a return to the past.
Moscow has tightened its control over the internet since the start of its war in Ukraine in February 2022, blocking messenger apps and virtual private networks (VPN) used to bypass online censorship, and shutting down the mobile internet.
Peskov suggested that some of the measures were temporary in nature and would be lifted once it was safe to do so.
Others were related to tech companies not complying with Russian law, he said.
Kremlin says Hungary's new leader wants pragmatic dialogue with Russia
Tuesday 14 April 2026 23:01 , Alex CroftWe heard earlier from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow satisfied that the new leader of Hungary, pro-EU Peter Magyar, wants to engage in pragmatic dialogue with Russia.
It comes after Peskov said on Monday that Moscow is looking forward to “continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership”.
"We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest," he said, adding that Russia was not sure what the stance of the new leadership would be.
Watch: Who is Hungary’s new leader, and what does this mean for Europe and US?
Tuesday 14 April 2026 22:03 , Alex CroftBoris Johnson condemns 'timidity' in helping Ukraine after visiting the country for TV show
Tuesday 14 April 2026 21:02 , Alex CroftBoris Johnson has hit out at the "delay" and "timidity" in helping Ukraine after travelling through the country unprotected during a 72-hour trip for a documentary.
The former prime minister travelled beyond the capital Kyiv to the so-called "kill zone" near the city of Zaporizhzhia where he witnessed first-hand the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The 61-year-old said Ukraine can and will win the war, but that "we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges" to the country, PA reports.
Mr Johnson said: "The Ukrainians are fighting the same war against the same drones that are being sent against civilians by the same alliance of tyrannies.
"We have spent four years psalming platitudes and telling them that their fight is our fight.
"On the basis of what I have seen, we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges, and to give them the help they need.
"The Ukrainians can win and will win.
"But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.
"We are right to say that the Ukrainians are fighting for all of us - so why the hell are we still short-changing them?"
Mr Johnson's three-day trip is the subject of a feature-length documentary film for Channel 5, produced by Soho Studios and Two Rivers Media.
Boris Johnson: Into The Kill Zone will show him alongside Ukrainian soldiers visiting locations including a secret drone base and makeshift bomb factory that is hidden inside abandoned cottages.
Ukraine secretly launched rockets into space twice during the war, official reveals
Tuesday 14 April 2026 20:00 , Alex Croftukraine has carried out two previously undisclosed space‑intelligence missions during the war with Russia, a senior lawmaker revealed in an interview with RBC‑Ukraine.
According to MP Fedir Venislavskyi, operatives from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency launched carrier rockets from Ukrainian territory on two separate occasions, reaching altitudes of more than 100 kilometres in the first mission and 204 kilometres in the second. Both launches were recorded by technical monitoring systems.
Venislavskyi said the operations were not experimental tests but real wartime missions overseen by former military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. He described the launches as unprecedented for a country engaged in active conflict, saying they demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to counter hostile systems operating in space.
The lawmaker also said Ukraine possesses missiles capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometres away at hypersonic speeds, noting that such systems are being used in combat but are primarily intended for “extraordinary operations”.
In pictures: Germany and Ukraine hold wide-ranging governmental talks in Kyiv
Tuesday 14 April 2026 19:01 , Alex Croft
Damaged Druzhba oil pipeline will be operational by the end of April - Zelensky
Tuesday 14 April 2026 18:00 , Alex CroftThe damaged Druzhba oil pipeline will be operational by the end of this month, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
A dispute over the pipeline has led Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban to veto a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan from the European Union to Ukraine for as long as flows via Druzhba remain suspended.
It has been one of the critical disputes between Budapest and Kyiv in recent months - and one which could become easier for Kyiv to handle following the election of pro-EU Peter Magyar as the new Hungarian prime minister.
Mr Zelensky said that Kyiv's relations with a new government in Hungary should be built on pragmatism and mutual respect, after the centre-right Tisza party won Sunday's election by a landslide.
Nearly 209,000 Russians killed in Ukraine war – report
Tuesday 14 April 2026 17:01 , Alex CroftThe identities of at least 208,755 Russian soldiers have now been confirmed, a new investigation by Russia’s Mediazona and BBC Russian service showed.
A fresh list of 2,553 Russian soldiers has been added to a running list of casualties in a new update in late March.
The confirmed death toll now includes over 76,300 volunteers, 23,400 recruited prisoners, and 18,400 mobilised soldiers, the report said.
A total of 7,003 officers have also been confirmed to have been killed.
The actual figures of casualties suffered by Moscow is likely significantly higher, the media outlet noted.
Berlin and Kyiv sign deals on mineral resources and energy security
Tuesday 14 April 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftBerlin and Kyiv have signed deals to boost cooperation on mineral resources and energy security, the economy ministry has announced.
German economy and energy Minister Katherina Reiche and her Ukrainian counterpart signed tje Memorandums of Understanding during government consultations in Berlin on Tuesday.
The two countries also agreed to establish a new working group on economic and trade issues, and adopted a joint declaration to deepen bilateral ties and support Ukraine's resilience amid Russia's ongoing war.
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the war in Ukraine
Tuesday 14 April 2026 15:57 , Alex CroftThe 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.
Speaking in 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 Kyiv is the clear victim in the conflict.
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.
Read our full report here:
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Five killed in Russian attack on Dnipro
Tuesday 14 April 2026 15:27 , Alex CroftThe death toll of a Russian attack on the Dnipro region has now risen to five.
We earlier reported that four had been killed and 25 injured. The death toll rose to five after a 40-year-old man died in hospital, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk military administration Oleksandr Hanzha said.
“These are the consequences of the enemy attack on Dnipro,” Hanzha said.
Those injured had sustained blast injuries, shrapnel wounds, lacerations and fractures, he said.
Ukraine strikes Russian drone storage with SCALP missiles
Tuesday 14 April 2026 14:59 , Alex CroftUkraine has struck drone storage facilities with SCALP cruise missiles - known as Storm Shadow missiles in the UK.
Guided aerial bombs were also used in the attack on a Russian-controlled part of Donetsk region overnight, its military said.
Ukrainian strike drones also hit Russian ammunition depots in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, the general staff said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
"Enemy losses and the extent of the damage are currently being assessed," it said.
Spain not planning review of EU's gas phaseout plans
Tuesday 14 April 2026 14:35 , Alex CroftSpain is not planning to review of the EU’s plans to progressively ban imports of Russian gas from the start of next year, energy minister Sara Aagesen told reporters on Tuesday.
On Monday, the CEO of Italian energy group Eni, Claudio Descalzi, was quoted by Italian news agencies as saying the bloc should reconsider those plans as it was unclear how it could replace 20 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas from Russia.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
Tuesday 14 April 2026 14:15 , Alex CroftUkraine-Germany drone deal could become largest in Europe, says Zelensky
Tuesday 14 April 2026 13:54 , Alex CroftWe can bring you more lines from Zelensky and Merz’s press conference earlier.
Ukraine and Germany discussed a European anti-ballistic missile program and also a comprehensive bilateral drone deal, Zelensky announced.
He said that the drone deal could become the largest in Europe - and the teams had already started working on concrete details.
Ukraine joining EU is not achievable in immediate term, says Merz
Tuesday 14 April 2026 13:34 , Alex CroftAs we earlier reported, Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz held press conference on after a meeting in Berlin on Tuesday morning.
We can now bring you more lines from Merz, who announced plans to cooperate with Ukraine on drone and battlefield data technology.
He also urged Kyiv to push forward with reforms with an eye to joining the European Union in the future.
Merz said joining the EU would be a strategically important step, but added that it was not achievable in the immediate term.
Comment | The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
Tuesday 14 April 2026 13:15 , Alex CroftAs the long, dark night of Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end this weekend, it wasn’t just the jubilant crowds crammed onto the bridges across the Danube that had a song in their heart. There are few political events about which you can reach for a quote from 1970s soul band Hot Chocolate – but today, “Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie”.
For “the dictator”, as he was known in Brussels, has gone. Hungary has certainly won, Europe has won, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have lost their fifth-columnist ally on this continent, and Nigel Farage has lost a source of ideological inspiration.
But the biggest sigh of relief – at the sheer size of Peter Magyar’s election landslide – must have been in Kyiv. Cliche or not, we shouldn’t hesitate to call the end of Orban as a game-changer for Ukraine.
In recent years, Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have conducted their astonishingly successful resistance to the Russian invasion with bravery, solidarity and ingenuity – and in spite of a shortage of funds. The EU has long had a massive €90bn ready to lend to them – to pay for armaments, soldiers’ wages, and just to keep going – but the arrangement has been vetoed by the most stubborn and intractable of EU member states.
The Independent’s associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:
In pictures: Firefighters battle Odesa blaze
Tuesday 14 April 2026 12:55 , Alex Croft
Four killed and dozens injured in attack on Dnipro
Tuesday 14 April 2026 12:37 , Alex CroftA Russian strike on Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed four people and injured 25, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
Some 21 people have been hospitalised and 10 are in a serious condition, regional governor said on the Telegram messaging app.
We’ll bring you more on the attack as it comes in.
Zelensky discusses crucial PURL initiative with Rutte
Tuesday 14 April 2026 12:18 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte about the PURL initiative, a programme which allows the procurement of US-made military equipment, including missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
Kyiv is “preparing updates” on the initiative which are set to be shared in due course, he said.
“It is important that we all coordinate and strengthen one another. Strength for air defense is our key priority, and people’s lives must be protected,” the Ukrainian president added in a post on X.
We spoke with @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte about protection of our skies, the PURL initiative that enables us to receive missiles for Patriot systems, as well as the key security challenges currently facing everyone in the world. It is important that we all coordinate and strengthen…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 14, 2026
Zelensky: We survived the winter - but next winter we must be ready for anything
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:57 , Alex CroftZelensky says Kyiv is interested in the assistance of German companies in helping restore and recover Ukrainian energy infrastructure that has been targeted by Russian drones and missiles.
“Ukraine has survived the winter, despite constant Russian attacks, and the brutakl tactic of combining Shahed-drones, missiles and cruise missiles.
“Before next winter, we should be ready for anything,” he adds.
He thanks Germany for supporting efforts to peace, adding that Russia “needs to hear this signal and feel that they need to make a choice in favour of peace”.
Zelensky continues: “Therefore sanctions against Russia must continue, pressure against Russia must be maintained, and all the support for Ukraine that is necessary must continue.”
Zelensky: Europe needs to be able to sustain its own security
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:50 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing now from the Ukrainian president, who starts off by warning that Russia is not planning to scale down its destabilisation goals in Europe and Ukraine.
He thanks the German government for the three agreements “of various kinds” he says were signed today.
These included an agreement on on air defence and missiles, Zelensky adds.,
“We are hoping to get to the point where everything critical for our security is manufactured in Europe, and our technology, military and political capabilities should be sufficient to secure Europe, secure every country in Europe,” he says.
Zelensky adds that the cooperation between Berlin and Kyiv has reached a “meaningful level”.
Zelensky and Merz speaking to media in Berlin
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:46 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing now from Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz, who are speaking to reporters in Berlin.
In his introductory remarks, the German chancellor says Europe is ramping up sanctions and trying to “increase the pressure” on Russia.
This includes targeting Russian military development and Russian shadow fleets of ships, he says.
Zelensky says he is pleased after a “special and meaningful” meeting with the German government.
Stay with us as we bring you the Ukrainian president’s comments as they come in.
Kremlin admits internet restrictions are disruptive for Russians - but says they are necessary for security
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:27 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has spoken out about internet restrictions, admitting they had caused disruption for many Russias but declaring that they are necessary for security reasons.
The restrictions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted, did not represent a return to the past.
Moscow has tightened its control over the internet since the start of its war in Ukraine in February 2022, blocking messenger apps and virtual private networks (VPN) used to bypass online censorship, and shutting down the mobile internet.
Peskov suggested that some of the measures were temporary in nature and would be lifted once it was safe to do so.
Others were related to tech companies not complying with Russian law, he said.
Italian PM says economic pressure is 'most effective weapon' to push Moscow towards peace
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:11 , Alex CroftItalian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been speaking about sanctions on Russia while in Verona, on the sidelines of wine fair Vinitaly.
She said that sanctions, exerting economic pressure on Russia, are the most "effective weapon" for pushing Moscow towards peace in Ukraine.
We’ll bring you more lines from Meloni as they come in.
Kremlin says Hungary's new leader wants pragmatic dialogue with Russia
Tuesday 14 April 2026 11:02 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who says Moscow satisfied that the new leader of Hungary, pro-EU Peter Magyar, wants to engage in pragmatic dialogue with Russia.
It comes after Peskov said on Monday that Moscow is looking forward to “continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership”.
"We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest," he said, adding that Russia was not sure what the stance of the new leadership would be.
Russian drone attacks hospital in Kherson, injuring five
Tuesday 14 April 2026 10:33 , Alex CroftA Russian drone has attacked a hospital and civilian vehicle in the Tsentralnyi district of Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson , Ukrainian authorities said.
Four of the hospital’s employees and a 62-year-old man were injured in the attack at 9am local time (7am BST), according to military administration officials in the region.
The 62-year-old, a local resident, was diagnosed with a shrapnel wound to the head, concussion, a blast injury and a closed traumatic brain injury, and was rushed to hospital where his condition was assessed as moderate.
Officials believed a Molniya-type drone was used to carry out the attack - a low-cost kamikaze drone designed for tactical strikes behind front lines.
Zelensky lands in Berlin for Merz meeting
Tuesday 14 April 2026 10:11 , Alex Croft
Zelensky to meet Norwegian PM after Berlin trip in diplomatic whip-round
Tuesday 14 April 2026 09:58 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Norway on Tuesday and meet prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, the presidential office said.
Mr Zelensky is currently on a visit to Berlin, where he is meeting German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
Tuesday 14 April 2026 09:54 , Alex CroftRussia launches large attack on Odesa ports and civilian targets
Tuesday 14 April 2026 09:23 , Alex CroftRussia has launched a heavy attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, attacking infrastucture and civilia targets.
Odesa’s Izmail port was attacked and a civilian Panama-flagged vessel damaged, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
Kyiv’s deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russian forces are “once again deliberately striking critical infrastructure and logistics in the Odesa region”.
In the surrounding region, a car repair shop was destroyed and a blaze due to caused by the strikes consumed two passenger buses and seven cars, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.
Six private houses also came under attack, with their roofs damaged. An ambulance was also damaged, Kiper said, adding that no one was hurt in the attack. Regional prosecutors said 51-year-old man was hospitalised.
Merz to host Zelensky in Berlin on Tuesday
Tuesday 14 April 2026 09:08 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the German government said.
Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has already been welcomed by German counterpart Boris Pistorius.
What are the robots being used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield?
Tuesday 14 April 2026 08:49 , Alex CroftOver the past several months, Ukrainian forces have been increasingly deploying agile, remote-controlled armoured vehicles to carry out critical tasks and to protect personnel in hazardous operations.
The army uses these "robots on wheels," which resemble miniature tanks, as it grapples with a soldier shortage in a conflict now spanning over three and a half years.
These versatile machines are capable of ferrying essential supplies, clearing dangerous mines, and evacuating both the wounded and the deceased.
Announcing the operation on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ratel, TerMIT, Ardal, Rys, Zmiy, Protector, Volia, and our other ground robotic systems have already carried out more than 22,000 missions on the front in just three months.
In other words, he said, lives were saved “more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous area instead of a warrior”.
Russian forces are also known to use robots on the battlefield.
“It cannot fully replace people,” said the commander of a platoon of the 20th Lyubart Brigade, who goes by the call sign Miami. “I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human it’s (sometimes) far too dangerous.”
The robotic vehicles are mostly made by Ukrainian companies and range in cost from about $1,000 (£739) to as much as $64,000 (£42,279), depending on their size and capabilities.
Power restored at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after 13th outage
Tuesday 14 April 2026 08:34 , Alex CroftPower at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been restored after it was lost for the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The power was restored through the Ferosplavna-1 330 KV Power Line, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
As we earlier reported, the IAEA said it was the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the plant had lost all off-site power supply. Even though it has been shut down since the start of the war, the plant needs power to maintain cooling systems.
The Russia-appointed management of the occupied plant later said power had been restored via one line.
Watch: Vance says support for Orbán was ‘right thing to do’ despite loss
Tuesday 14 April 2026 08:30 , Arpan RaiHungary's Magyar to undo Orban's damage and allow EU loan to Ukraine soon
Tuesday 14 April 2026 08:15 , Arpan RaiThe incoming Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar has said his country will end its long-standing opposition to the European Union’s €90bn loan for Ukraine.
Magyar said the decision on the loan “was already made in December” and the incoming Tisza administration “would like to be coherent” with previous commitments made.
He said EU leaders would be saved the trouble of having to regroup again in person to unblock the loan.
Magyar added that the decision on the loan’s clearance could be made even before his government takes office, but added that the country would not be able to contribute financially, blaming Orban’s outgoing administration.
“I will discuss with European leaders but I personally agree that Hungary should opt out, Hungary is in a very difficult situation," Magyar said. "We cannot take out even more loans, the Hungarian budget deficit has tripled since 2010,” he said.
Orban had initially agreed to allow the loan to go ahead but then changed his mind, saying Ukraine must first repair a pipeline carrying Russian oil through the country to Hungary.
Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
Tuesday 14 April 2026 08:05 , Arpan RaiUkrainian troops have withdrawn to new defensive lines near the settlement of Myropilske in Sumy Oblast, military officials said, citing Russia’s superiority in manpower and equipment.
“The situation in the area of the settlement of Myropilske in the Krasnopillia hromada in Sumy Oblast remains tense. As a result of intense fighting and the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment, units of the defence forces of Ukraine moved to new prepared defensive lines to preserve the lives of personnel, where they continue to hold the defence," said the 14th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, reported the Ukrainska Pravda.
However, the situation remains under control and the Ukrainian forces are ready for further action, the statement added.
Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
Tuesday 14 April 2026 07:50 , Arpan RaiHungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar has said he will tell Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine.
Magyar said everyone knows Ukraine is the victim in this war, breaking away Budapest’s continued silence on the war due to outgoing leader Viktor Orbán’s closeness to the Kremlin.
He added that he would not be calling either US president Donald Trump or Putin in the immediate aftermath of his election victory over Orbán, but would speak to his predecessor’s allies if they wanted.
“If [Putin] does [call], I will ask him to please stop the killing and stop the war. I think that would be a very brief discussion. I hope he will be forced to stop the war soon,” Magyar said in Budapest yesterday.
He celebrated the start of a “new era” in the country after the removal of Orbán, saying: “Our history is not written in Moscow, Brussels or Washington but on Hungarian streets.”
Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
Tuesday 14 April 2026 07:35 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country’s forces successfully retook land under Russia’s control using only ground robots and drones.
“The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” he said, without detailing the operation’s location and time.
He added that more than 22,000 missions using ground robotic systems have been carried out in the past three months.
“In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” he said.
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. 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… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
Tuesday 14 April 2026 07:22 , Arpan RaiAs the long, dark night of Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end this weekend, it wasn’t just the jubilant crowds crammed onto the bridges across the Danube that had a song in their heart. There are few political events about which you can reach for a quote from 1970s soul band Hot Chocolate – but today, “Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie”.
For “the dictator”, as he was known in Brussels, has gone. Hungary has certainly won, Europe has won, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have lost their fifth-columnist ally on this continent, and Nigel Farage has lost a source of ideological inspiration.
But the biggest sigh of relief – at the sheer size of Peter Magyar’s election landslide – must have been in Kyiv. Cliche or not, we shouldn’t hesitate to call the end of Orban as a game-changer for Ukraine.
In recent years, Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have conducted their astonishingly successful resistance to the Russian invasion with bravery, solidarity and ingenuity – and in spite of a shortage of funds. The EU has long had a massive €90bn ready to lend to them – to pay for armaments, soldiers’ wages, and just to keep going – but the arrangement has been vetoed by the most stubborn and intractable of EU member states.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses off-site power for 13th time, IAEA says
Tuesday 14 April 2026 07:10 , Arpan RaiUkraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant briefly lost its connection to the grid after its last remaining external power line went down, the UN's nuclear watchdog said this morning.
The IAEA said it was the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the plant had lost all off-site power supply. Even though it has been shut down since the start of the war, the plant needs power to maintain cooling systems.
The Russia-appointed management of the occupied plant later said power had been restored via one line.
Kremlin welcomes Hungary's new leader, says dialogue beneficial for Moscow and Budapest
Tuesday 14 April 2026 06:52 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has expressed its eagerness to foster ties with Hungary’s incoming leader Peter Magyar, saying it respected the choice of the Hungarian people and was ready to do business with the prime minister-elect.
"We look forward to continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters yesterday.
“We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest," Peskov said.
Peskov later told state TV it wasn't yet clear what the stance of the new Hungarian leadership would be, and that the Kremlin would not be congratulating Magyar on his win due to Hungary's formal designation as an "unfriendly country".
Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, ensured that his country continued to buy Russian oil and gas despite Moscow's war in Ukraine, allowed Russia to start work on building a new nuclear power plant south of Budapest, and often spoke out against sanctions on Russia while flatly opposing Kyiv's bid to join the 27-nation bloc.
Hungary's Magyar to undo Orban's damage and allow EU loan to Ukraine soon
Tuesday 14 April 2026 06:08 , Arpan RaiThe incoming Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar has said his country will end its long-standing opposition to the European Union’s €90bn loan for Ukraine.
Magyar said the decision on the loan “was already made in December” and the incoming Tisza administration “would like to be coherent” with previous commitments made.
He said EU leaders would be saved the trouble of having to regroup again in person to unblock the loan.
Magyar added that the decision on the loan’s clearance could be made even before his government takes office, but added that the country would not be able to contribute financially, blaming Orban’s outgoing administration.
“I will discuss with European leaders but I personally agree that Hungary should opt out, Hungary is in a very difficult situation," Magyar said. "We cannot take out even more loans, the Hungarian budget deficit has tripled since 2010,” he said.
Orban had initially agreed to allow the loan to go ahead but then changed his mind, saying Ukraine must first repair a pipeline carrying Russian oil through the country to Hungary.
Russian hardliners mourn Orban's electoral loss
Tuesday 14 April 2026 05:48 , Arpan RaiRussian hardliners cast Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary as a serious blow that would unlock EU funds for Ukraine to fight on against Russia for another year, but the Kremlin played down the outcome, saying it was ready for talks with Orban's successor.
Orban, Hungary's veteran nationalist leader who lost power on Sunday to upstart centre-right rival Peter Magyar after 16 years in office, was a welcome guest in Moscow, where he held talks with president Vladimir Putin as recently as November.
Magyar is more of an unknown quantity for Moscow. He has combined pro-EU and pro-Nato rhetoric with a public recognition that he will need to hold talks with Putin and continue to buy Russian oil and gas for now despite talk of diversifying and reviewing contracts.
Hardliners and war bloggers inside Russia were almost unanimous, however, that Orban's defeat was bad news for Moscow.
"Orban's defeat in the elections will have one consequence for us here in Russia. But it is a very significant one," said Andrei Medvedev, a blogger and journalist with a large following.
"Now... Ukraine will receive EU funds, and with them, the resources to wage war for at least a year. It goes without saying that the Ukrainian armed forces and numerous contractors will focus on further developing their drone systems and missile capabilities," he said.
Ramzai, another influential blogger, was equally gloomy.
"It is clear that Hungary will soon cease to block the adoption of anti-Russian sanctions and the EU’s multi-billion-euro support for Ukraine. Russia’s contracts for the completion of the Paks (II) nuclear power plant and for the supply of gas and oil will also be called into question," he said.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
Tuesday 14 April 2026 05:38 , Arpan RaiRussia and Belarus flags to return to World Aquatics events
Tuesday 14 April 2026 05:00 , Arpan RaiRussian and Belarusian athletes will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems, the sport's governing body said on Monday.
Competitors from both countries were banned from international events following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow describes as a "special military operation". Belarus has served as a key staging point for the invasion.
However, some of their athletes competed as neutrals in the Paris 2024 Olympics as the restrictions were eased.
In December, restrictions were lifted for Russian and Belarusian youth athletes.
World Aquatics said Russia and Belarus will also resume full membership rights.
Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
Tuesday 14 April 2026 04:52 , Arpan RaiUkrainian troops have withdrawn to new defensive lines near the settlement of Myropilske in Sumy Oblast, military officials said, citing Russia’s superiority in manpower and equipment.
“The situation in the area of the settlement of Myropilske in the Krasnopillia hromada in Sumy Oblast remains tense. As a result of intense fighting and the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment, units of the defence forces of Ukraine moved to new prepared defensive lines to preserve the lives of personnel, where they continue to hold the defence," said the 14th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, reported the Ukrainska Pravda.
However, the situation remains under control and the Ukrainian forces are ready for further action, the statement added.
Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
Tuesday 14 April 2026 04:15 , Arpan RaiHungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar has said he will tell Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine.
Magyar said everyone knows Ukraine is the victim in this war, breaking away Budapest’s continued silence on the war due to outgoing leader Viktor Orbán’s closeness to the Kremlin.
He added that he would not be calling either US president Donald Trump or Putin in the immediate aftermath of his election victory over Orbán, but would speak to his predecessor’s allies if they wanted.
“If [Putin] does [call], I will ask him to please stop the killing and stop the war. I think that would be a very brief discussion. I hope he will be forced to stop the war soon,” Magyar said in Budapest yesterday.
He celebrated the start of a “new era” in the country after the removal of Orbán, saying: “Our history is not written in Moscow, Brussels or Washington but on Hungarian streets.”
Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
Tuesday 14 April 2026 03:57 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country’s forces successfully retook land under Russia’s control using only ground robots and drones.
“The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” he said, without detailing the operation’s location and time.
He added that more than 22,000 missions using ground robotic systems have been carried out in the past three months.
“In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” he said.
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. 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… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
Ukraine's inflation could spike due to war in Middle East, says central bank
Tuesday 14 April 2026 03:49 , Arpan RaiHigher oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East could raise inflation rates in Ukraine by 1.5 to 2.8 percentage points, Ukraine's top central banker has warned.
National Bank of Ukraine gGovernor Andriy Pyshnyi said the central bank would stick to its target of lowering inflation to 5 per cent in three years, using all available tools to ensure that goal was met.
"We're trying to walk on a razorblade," Pyshnyi said through a translator, noting prices have already started to rise.
When asked if the war would lead the bank to amend its economic forecasts, Pyshnyi said the bank has planned meetings for next week that will assess the full effect on Ukraine's economy.
The secondary effects of the war, including on fertilizer prices, would also be "quite significant”.
Pyshnyi is part of a large Ukrainian delegation attending the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in hopes of ensuring that Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year, remains on the agenda, despite the outbreak of a new war in the Middle East.
He welcomed the election results in Hungary, which saw president Viktor Orban swept from office, and said he hoped it would resolve delays in the European Union's €90bn (£78.3bn) loan to Ukraine.
Your Views | ‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis divides opinion among Independent readers
Tuesday 14 April 2026 03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIndependent readers have shared sharply divided views on Ukraine’s conscription crisis, reacting to a report from world affairs editor Sam Kiley on widespread draft dodging and rising strain on the armed forces.
Reporting from Izyum, in eastern Ukraine, Kiley’s report detailed the scandal of millions avoiding military call-ups – with hundreds of thousands of soldiers also absent without leave.
Many sympathised with those avoiding service, particularly men with families, describing it as understandable to fear a “one-way ticket” to the front. Some readers reflected on the psychological toll of the conflict, highlighting exhaustion among soldiers and the fear of being sent to the most dangerous areas with little chance of return – points also noted by Kiley on the ground.
Read your views here:
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‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis splits readers
Recap: Russia and Ukraine each accuse the other of violating Easter ceasefire
Tuesday 14 April 2026 02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneBoth Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire, which ran from Saturday afternoon until midnight (2100 GMT) on Sunday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military said it had recorded 10,721 Russian ceasefire violations during the truce, including 1,567 incidents of artillery shelling, 119 assault operations and 9,035 drone strikes. It said no airstrikes were recorded.
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that Ukraine violated the Easter ceasefire 6,558 times, Interfax news agency reported.
Watch: Who is Hungary’s new leader, and what does this mean for Europe and US?
Tuesday 14 April 2026 01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian forces take over Russian-controlled position using unmanned platforms in war 'first', Zelensky claims
Tuesday 14 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian forces ousted Russia from a position using exclusively unmanned platforms including ground systems and drones, Zelensky has claimed.
The Ukrainian leader said the takeover was a war first as he took to X to compliment Kyiv’s attacking technology.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he wrote.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side.”
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. 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… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
