Russian drones and missiles flying past the Chernobyl nuclear power plant risk causing a major accident, Ukraine’s top state prosecutor said, as the country prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1986 disaster on Sunday.
Prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko revealed that Ukraine detected at least 92 drones within a 5km radius of the plant’s radiation shield since July 2024. Thirty-five Kinzhal hypersonic missiles have also been detected within 20km of the facility or the Khmelnytskyi plant, he said.
“Such launches cannot be explained by any military considerations. It is evident that the flights over the nuclear facilities are carried out solely for the purpose of intimidation and terror,” Kravchenko said.
The Russian military, he said, was likely using Chernobyl as an attack route for drones to try to bypass dense areas of Ukrainian air defence coverage.
He added that deliberate flights were “at least extremely irresponsible and indicate a complete disregard... for the safety of civilians not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe”.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has repeatedly warned that military activity near such sites risks a nuclear accident. In February last year, an object identified by Ukraine as a long-range Russian attack drone struck the Chernobyl facility, piercing the radiation containment shield.
Key Points
- Smoke from Tuapse refinery fire billows hundreds of kilometres after strikes
- EU decision on €90bn loan to Ukraine could come within 24 hours
- Apartment building collapses in Russia after Ukrainian drone attack, governor says
- Druzhba pipeline ready to operate as Zelensky seeks €90bn loan
Watch: Zelensky says Russia ceasefire unlikely until Iran crisis ‘closed’
06:10 , Arpan RaiKremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there's a precondition
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
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
05:25 , Arpan RaiEU prepares finalisation of €90bn loan for Ukraine after Orban hurdle removed
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
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
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
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
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'
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
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
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.
Recap: Zelensky seeks summit with Putin
Wednesday 22 April 2026 11:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv seeks to reinvigorate stalling peace talks.
"We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in comments to reporters.
He added that Ukraine would be ready to consider any place other than Belarus or Russia for a meeting with Putin, which Zelensky has long sought to try to hasten a resolution of the more than four-year war.
Belarus is a close ally of Russia and allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Sybiha did not say how Ankara had responded to the proposal.
"We addressed the Turks specifically," he said. "But if another capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organises such a meeting, we will go."
EU sanctions Russian firms linked to propaganda and misinformation
Wednesday 22 April 2026 10:30 , Shweta SharmaThe European Council has imposed sanctions on two Russian organisations accused of spreading propaganda and disinformation from Moscow.
The measures, announced on Tuesday by the European Council, target media platform Euromore and the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad (Pravfond).
The Council stated that Pravfond's "legal and analytical output is systematically used to reinforce key Kremlin disinformation points."
EU sanctions Russian firms linked to propaganda and misinformation
Ukraine says some Russian missiles fly near Chernobyl, risking major accident
Wednesday 22 April 2026 10:00 , Shweta SharmaRussia has repeatedly launched drones and missiles on a flight path near the disused Chernobyl nuclear plant during attacks on Ukraine, elevating the risk of a major accident, Ukraine's top state prosecutor told Reuters.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko detailed the previously unreported Russian military activity near Ukrainian nuclear sites in written remarks, as Ukraine prepares to mark Sunday's 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Apart from the decommissioned Chernobyl power station, Ukraine has four nuclear power plants, including Europe's largest, which lies in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and has been occupied by Russian forces since soon after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Both the Chernobyl site and western Ukraine's two-reactor Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant have been on the flight path of Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles since the invasion, Kravchenko said.
Thirty-five Kinzhals have been detected at various distances within around 20 km (12 miles) of the Chernobyl facility or the Khmelnytskyi plant, he said. Of those, 18 passed within around 20 km of both sites on the same flight, he added.
"Such launches cannot be explained by any military considerations. It is evident that the flights over the nuclear facilities are carried out solely for the purpose of intimidation and terror," he said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog said it frequently reported about military activity in the vicinity of nuclear power plants and attacks on electrical substations that are key to nuclear safety.
"IAEA Director General (Rafael) Grossi has repeatedly expressed deep concern about the risks and dangers of these military activities for nuclear safety and security," it said.
"The DG has also repeatedly called for maximum restraint near nuclear facilities to avoid the danger of a nuclear accident."
Ukraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump and end war with Russia: report
Wednesday 22 April 2026 09:30 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian 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 ‘Donnyland’ tribute to Trump: report
Zelensky seeks summit with Putin
Wednesday 22 April 2026 09:02 , James ReynoldsUkraine asked Turkey to host a meeting between president Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv seeks to reinvigorate stalled peace talks.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine would be ready to consider any place other than Belarus or Russia for a meeting with Putin aimed at resolving the war.
Sybiha did not say how Ankara had responded to the proposal, in comments at a meeting with reporters on Tuesday that were cleared for release on Wednesday.
The Kremlin previously said it is willing to host Zelensky in Moscow, where the Ukrainian leader has said he will not go.
Nato criticises Russian and Chinese nuclear arms policies
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:51 , Shweta SharmaNato has criticised Russia and China over their nuclear policies, urging both to work with the US to improve stability and transparency ahead of a UN review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
In a statement, Nato’s 32 members underlined their "strong commitment to the full implementation" of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a cornerstone of global arms control since it entered into force in 1970.
The statement came ahead of a conference beginning next week at the United Nations in New York to review the operation of the treaty, against a backdrop of geopolitical instability including Russia's war against Ukraine and the US-Israeli war against Iran.
"Russia has violated crucial arms control commitments and employed irresponsibly threatening nuclear rhetoric. China continues to rapidly expand and diversify its nuclear arsenal without transparency," said the statement from Nato’s North Atlantic Council.
Nato members "strongly encourage the United States' pursuit of multilateral strategic stability," it said.
"Today, we face a Russia that has dropped out of all the important arms control agreements, that has been... developing all sorts of... nuclear delivery systems, and that is engaged in the largest war in Europe since 1945," Nato assistant secretary General Boris Ruge said.
China has dismissed Western criticism that its buildup of nuclear arms lacks transparency.
In pictures: Russia's Tuapse refinery after attack
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:31 , Shweta SharmaA massive fire at an oil refinery in Russia’s Tuapse has sent thick plumes of smoke drifting hundreds of kilometres.
Satellite imagery from NASA Worldview showed dark smoke from burning oil storage tanks spreading inland as far as the Stavropol region, some 300km away.
At least one person was killed, and another was injured after the second Ukrainian strike within four days that hit an oil terminal in the same area.
Visuals indicate extensive smoke from burning oil storage tanks, while Nasa's FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) project continues to detect active hotspots, suggesting the blaze remains uncontrolled, reported RBC Ukraine.
Two people killed in Russia's Syzran after Ukrainian drone attack collapses building, officials say
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:06 , Shweta SharmaTwo people were killed after part of an apartment building collapsed in the Russian city of Syzran after a Ukrainian drone attack, local emergency services said on Wednesday.
The RIA Novosti state news agency, citing local emergency services, said earlier that 12 people had been injured.\
EU imposes sanctions on two Russian entities it says are linked to disinformation
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:30 , Shweta SharmaThe European Council has imposed sanctions on two Russian entities that it said on Tuesday were linked to propaganda and disinformation from Moscow.
The sanctions were placed on media platform Euromore and the Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad (Pravfond), which the Council said in a statement makes "legal and analytical output (that) is systematically used to reinforce key Kremlin disinformation points."
Russian officials say the EU has repeatedly curbed freedom of expression by banning media which dare to challenge the EU's own perceptions of the world. Moscow denies that it spreads disinformation and says EU leaders are intentionally exaggerating the threat from Russia for their own political ends.
Euromore and Pravfond did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The designation subjects the entities to an asset freeze and bars EU citizens and companies from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them.
The EU has imposed sanctions on 69 people and 19 entities over Russian activities that it says "undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity."
Smoke from Tuapse refinery fire billows hundreds of kilometres after strikes
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:38 , Shweta SharmaA massive fire at an oil refinery in Russia’s Tuapse has sent thick plumes of smoke drifting hundreds of kilometres.
Satellite imagery from NASA Worldview showed dark smoke from burning oil storage tanks spreading inland as far as the Stavropol region, some 300km away.
Visuals indicate extensive smoke from burning oil storage tanks, while Nasa's FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) project continues to detect active hotspots, suggesting the blaze remains uncontrolled, reported RBC Ukraine.
Authorities in the Krasnodar region say firefighting efforts are still underway.
At least one person was killed, and another was injured after the second Ukrainian strike within four days that hit an oil terminal in the same area.
The first attack took place on 16 April and second followed on 20 April.
It's not the first time the port has been targeted. As many as two people were killed in a previous drone attack on Tuapse last week.
EU decision on €90bn loan to Ukraine could come within 24 hours
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:00 , Shweta SharmaEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said a decision on a crucial loan for Ukraine could come within 24 hours after the repair of a key pipeline was completed.
Ukraine needs around $52bn in external funding this year and could begin running short of money by June without fresh support.
EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said funding needs for 2026 are already secured, with the first tranche of the loan likely by late May or early June.
Volodymyr Zelensky called on the EU to unblock a €90bn loan after he said the Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia has been repaired.
The damaged pipeline has become a politically charged issue after Hungary's Viktor Orban refused to allow the EU loan to proceed until oil flows were restored. Election winner Peter Magyar has also called for flows to resume once the pipeline is operational.
Apartment building collapses in Russia after Ukrainian drone attack, governor says
Wednesday 22 April 2026 05:25 , Shweta SharmaPart of a residential apartment block has collapsed in the Russian city of Syzran after a Ukrainian drone attack, a local governor said.
Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said four people, including one child, have been rescued as search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Dua Lipa funds frontline pickup truck for Ukrainian medics
Wednesday 22 April 2026 05:15 , Shweta SharmaDua Lipa has funded the delivery of a vital new pickup truck to Ukraine’s medics on the frontline against Russia.
The British singer organised an event to raise money for Ukraine’s First Separate Medical Battalion by the UK-based Driving Ukraine project, a charity that delivers evacuation vehicles to the frontlines in Ukraine.
“The probability of Dua Lipa helping to raise funds to provide a vehicle for our unit is not high… but it is never zero,” Ukraine’s First Separate Medical Battalion wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you to Dua Lipa, Service 95 [the star’s digital platform], and Driving Ukraine for this powerful pickup truck for the First Separate Medical Battalion,” it added.
Her mother, Anesa Lipa, was also part of the humanitarian convoy which delivered the truck.“It will help us perform life-saving missions in the combat zone,” the post read.
The post was accompanied by a video showing a combat medic reclining on a vehicle, listening to Levitating, Dua Lipa’s 2020 hit, as medical supplies were loaded into the back.
“Hello. Dua Lipa joined the fundraiser and purchased a pickup truck for the First Medical Battalion. Goodbye,” Roman Hryshchuk, a Ukrainian politician, wrote on social media.
Italy summons Russian ambassador over TV host insults to PM Meloni
Wednesday 22 April 2026 04:45 , Shweta SharmaItaly summoned the Russian ambassador to protest against insults directed at prime minister Giorgia Meloni by a pro-Kremlin Russian television host, Rome's foreign minister said on Tuesday.
"I had the Russian ambassador... summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express formal protests following the extremely serious and offensive statements made by the host Vladimir Solovyev on Russian television," Antonio Tajani said on X.
In a one-minute segment, Solovyev swore in Italian, calling Meloni a "certified idiot" and worse.
In Russian, he added: "Meloni is fascist scum who betrayed her voters, having campaigned on completely different slogans. Betrayal is her middle name: she also betrayed (US president Donald) Trump, to whom she had previously sworn allegiance."
Meloni leads a right-wing government that has provided military and civilian aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion, but her coalition includes the League party, which has had close ties with the Kremlin.
She has recently fallen out of favour with Trump, previously a close ally, distancing herself from the war with Iran and openly criticising the US president for lashing out at Pope Leo.
Russia raises concerns over safety of its citizens in breakaway region due to strikes
Wednesday 22 April 2026 04:16 , Shweta SharmaRussia has warned that the safety of its citizens in Moldova’s breakaway Transdniestria region is under threat, with Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu saying Moscow is prepared to act if needed.
Transdniestria, a pro-Russian enclave that split from Moldova before the collapse of the Soviet Union, has existed in a fragile peace since a brief war in 1992. Tensions have risen in recent months as Moldova’s pro-European government increases pressure on the region.
In an interview with Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, Shoigu said more than 220,000 Russian citizens live in Transdniestria and their safety is at risk due to what he described as “irresponsible actions” by Kyiv and Chisinau.
He warned that Russia could use “all available methods” to protect its nationals, adding that “nothing should be ruled out”, though he expressed hope the situation would not escalate.
The remarks come after stalled talks between Moldova and Transdniestria, and fresh friction over Moldova’s move to bar entry to commanders of Russian “peacekeepers” stationed in the region, as well as plans to extend customs duties and VAT there.
Moldovan president Maia Sandu has pushed for EU membership by 2030, saying it could proceed even without resolving the Transdniestria conflict.
Druzhba pipeline ready to operate as Zelensky seeks €90bn loan
Wednesday 22 April 2026 03:59 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said the Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia has been repaired, calling on the EU to unblock a €90bn loan halted by an argument over the pipeline.
The oil flows are likely to start and the first shipment would be divided equally between Hungary and Slovakia, a source said.
The pipeline was damaged by a Russian attack in January, leading to a lengthy suspension of oil flows, which subsequently sparked a backlash from European Union members Hungary and Slovakia, which remain reliant on Russian oil imports via Druzhba.
They accused Kyiv of deliberately dragging its feet over the repairs, which it denied.
Speaking in his nightly video address, the Ukrainian leader called in turn for officials in Brussels to ensure the release of the funding: "There can now be no grounds for blocking it."
"The European Union asked Ukraine to repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, which the Russians had damaged. We have repaired it. We hope that the European Union will also implement the agreements."
Kremlin accuses Europe of planning to 'nuclearise and militarise'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has accused Europe of holding clear ambitions to "nuclearise and militarise".
Peskov was commenting on a Politico report that French and Polish leaders had discussed holding joint nuclear exercises.
France - the European Union's only nuclear power - is leading an effort to include allies in its nuclear deterrent. Peskov said such efforts do not contribute to stability on the European continent.
Ukrainian drones strike oil facility in Russia's Samara region
Wednesday 22 April 2026 02:01 , Alex CroftUkrainian drones have struck an oil dispatch facility in Russia's Samara region overnight, an official within Ukraine's SBU security service has told Reuters news agency.
The attack caused a fire the official said on Tuesday.
According to preliminary data, he added, it also damaged five tanks containing crude oil, each with a capacity of 20,000 cubic metres.
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
Wednesday 22 April 2026 01:01 , 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.
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – wild animals are thriving like never before
Zelensky: 'Made in Ukraine' i snow a high-value brand
Wednesday 22 April 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has continued singing the praises of Ukraine’s defence industrial complex.
“Today, Ukraine has 200 very strong defense companies, 30 of which rank among the world’s top. These include drones, artillery, armored vehicles, highly advanced demining drones, and ground robotic systems,” he says.
“We have built a strong defense-industrial complex. “Made in Ukraine” is now a high-value brand. I constantly emphasize to representatives of the private sector that the price of this product is not only money and technology, but also the lives of people who use our equipment.”
Here is a clip of his interview with United News:
Today, Ukraine has 200 very strong defense companies, 30 of which rank among the world’s top. These include drones, artillery, armored vehicles, highly advanced demining drones, and ground robotic systems.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2026
My task is not to lose Ukraine’s reputation. When we talk about security… pic.twitter.com/6sXQ3hoWJH
Russian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks
Tuesday 21 April 2026 23:02 , Alex CroftRussian interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in North Korea for talks on cooperation between the two allies, the ministry's spokesperson Irina Volk said early on Tuesday.
"Issues of cooperation between the two countries in the field of law enforcement will be considered," Volk wrote on Telegram. Pictures showed the minister being greeted on arrival in Pyongyang.
Russia and North Korea have forged closer relations since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and in 2024 signed a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" during a visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The pact includes a mutual defence provision.
Under the terms of the treaty, North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in western Russia's Kursk region after a large Ukrainian incursion.
Watch: Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze
Tuesday 21 April 2026 22:03 , Alex CroftTwo Russian shadow fleet tankers spotted crossing British waters - ICYMI
Tuesday 21 April 2026 21:00 , Alex CroftTwo sanctioned tankers, part of Russia’s shadow fleet, made transit through British waters on Monday, The Independent can confirm.
The AURA 1 and INA, two crude oil tankers, crossed into British parts of the North Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, according to MarineTraffic. The two vessels could be seen transiting around 60km apart from each other as they headed in opposite directions near the Hebrides as early as 7am on Monday morning.
AURA 1, flying under a Panamanian flag, departed from Russia’s Ust-Luga cargo port on 9 April and crossed into British parts of the North Sea on Saturday before 3pm, transiting through the Scottish isles as part of its passage to Port Said, Egypt. The tanker was one of the latest to be sanctioned by the Foreign Office (FCDO) on 24 February.
Two Russian shadow fleet tankers spotted crossing British waters
Germany and France propose limited 'associate' membership of EU for Ukraine
Tuesday 21 April 2026 20:01 , Alex CroftWar-hit Ukraine should only be granted limited “symbolic” benefits and some form of "associate" membership of the EU as part of a peace deal to end the war with Russia, according to German and French proposals.
Though Paris and Berlin have drafted their own suggestions for what a fast-tracked integration into the EU might look like for Ukraine, according to the FT, both fall some way short of Ukrainian hopes.
According to Germany’s proposal, Kyiv would be allowed to sit in on ministerial and leaders’ meetings but would not have voting rights and would receive “no automatic application” of the shared EU budget.
The French proposal, which would described Ukraine as a country with "integrated state status", would exclude Kyiv from EU farming subsidies.
Both say this status could be granted quickly to Ukraine once the war is over, and that it would be a stepping stone towards full integration into the bloc – a process that would still require Kyiv to navigate extensive bureaucratic hurdles.
A Ukrainian official told the FT that Kyiv was wary of watered-down membership being offered as a poor substitute for true EU member status, but accepted that some elements could be useful.
“We call it ‘shadow membership’,” the official said.
Reconsidering EU's phaseout of Russian energy imports would be 'huge mistake' - EU commissioner
Tuesday 21 April 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftReconsidering the European Union's planned phaseout of Russian energy imports would be a "huge mistake", EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen has said.
Mr Jorgensen’s remarks came during an event in Madrid on Tuesday.
"In my opinion, we should never again import as much as one molecule of Russian energy," he added.
Putin’s top general claims Russia has captured Ukrainian area the size of London this year
Tuesday 21 April 2026 18:02 , Alex CroftRussia's Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, claimed that Russian forces have captured 1,700 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory and 80 settlements since the beginning of this year.
Here’s all you need to know in just five bullet points:
Top general claims Russia has taken Ukrainian area the size of London
Russia ready to resume Druzhba oil flows when Ukraine 'ends blackmail', says Kremlin
Tuesday 21 April 2026 17:01 , Alex CroftRussia 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 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.”
In pictures: Russia attacks Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region
Tuesday 21 April 2026 16:30 , Alex Croft
Kremlin accuses Europe of planning to 'nuclearise and militarise'
Tuesday 21 April 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who has accused Europe of holding clear ambitions to "nuclearise and militarise".
Peskov was commenting on a Politico report that French and Polish leaders had discussed holding joint nuclear exercises.
France - the European Union's only nuclear power - is leading an effort to include allies in its nuclear deterrent. Peskov said such efforts do not contribute to stability on the European continent.
Ukrainian drones strike oil facility in Russia's Samara region
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftUkrainian drones have struck an oil dispatch facility in Russia's Samara region overnight, an official within Ukraine's SBU security service has told Reuters news agency.
The attack caused a fire the official said on Tuesday.
According to preliminary data, he added, it also damaged five tanks containing crude oil, each with a capacity of 20,000 cubic metres.
Pope Leo calls for 'weapons to fall silent' in Ukraine and commends ceasefire in Lebanon - ICYMI
Tuesday 21 April 2026 15:00 , Alex CroftChernobyl survivor reveals the disaster’s lifelong toll: ‘Not a single person is in good health’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:32 , Alex CroftForty 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 more here:
Chernobyl survivor reveals disaster’s lifelong toll: ‘No one is in good health’
Hungary's Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
Tuesday 21 April 2026 14:00 , Alex CroftHungarian election winner Peter Magyar has called on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to reopen the damaged Druzhba pipeline as soon as it is functional, and for Russia to resume oil shipments through it.
Hungary's outgoing government, led by prime minister Viktor Orban, and Slovakia have been in a dispute with Ukraine over the suspension of Russian oil supplies over Ukrainian territory through the Soviet-era pipeline. Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
"If on the Ukrainian side the Druzhba pipeline is ready for oil shipments, then they should kindly reopen it as they had promised," Magyar told a news conference after the first meeting of his parliamentary group.
"And from Russia, we expect them to start feeding oil (into the pipeline) in line with the contracts, because this will not work without either."
The pipeline could open today, according to a report by Bloomberg, restoring oil flow between Hungary and Russia.
Russian troops seize control of two more Ukrainian villages
Tuesday 21 April 2026 13:31 , Alex CroftWe’ve had an update from Moscow’s Defence Ministry on the frontline situation in Ukraine.
Russian troops have taken control of two Ukrainian villages, Hryshyne in the eastern Donetsk region and Veterynarne in the northeastern Kharkiv region, the ministry said according to state news agencies.
The Independent is not able to independently verify the battlefield report, and Kyiv is yet to publicly comment on the claims.
We’ll bring you any further updates as soon as they come in.
Kremlin unaware of Russia's plans to halt Kazakhstan's oil exports to Germany
Tuesday 21 April 2026 13:02 , Alex CroftKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said he is not aware of Russia's plans to halt Kazakhstan's oil exports via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany starting from May 1.
"We will try to check it," Peskov told reporters in a daily update.
Three industry sources had earlier told Reuters news agency that Russia is set to stop oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting from May 1.
Watch: Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze
Tuesday 21 April 2026 12:31 , Alex CroftHundreds of firefighters still tackling fire in Russian Black Sea port
Tuesday 21 April 2026 11:29 , Alex CroftSome 246 firefighters are still tackling a fire at Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse more than 24 hours since a Ukrainian drone attack, local authorities have said.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Tuapse sparked a fire and killed at least one person on Monday.
Tuapse, one of Russia's major southern ports, is an oil product export hub that also handles dry bulk cargo, such as coal and fertiliser. It is home to a major oil refinery of the same name owned by Rosneft.
Russia's local consumer protection watchdog said on Monday it had advised residents against going out and open the windows.
Authorities have also reported an oil slick at sea following an earlier attack on port on April 16, when the terminal's infrastructure was damaged.
Ukraine police chief resigns after officers flee Kyiv mass shooting chaos
Tuesday 21 April 2026 11:01 , Alex CroftYevhen Zhukov, head of Ukraine's Patrol Police, resigned yesterday after a video circulated showing officers fleeing gunfire and leaving civilians unprotected.
Here is everything you need to know in five bullet points:
Ukraine police chief resigns after officers flee Kyiv mass shooting chaos
Russia to halt Kazakhstan's oil flows to Germany via Druzhba
Tuesday 21 April 2026 10:33 , Alex CroftRussia will stop oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting from May 1, three industry sources told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.
The sources also said that the adjusted oil exporting schedule has been sent to Kazakhstan and Germany.
