A 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.
It comes as the EU was expected to reach a decision on unblocking a €90bn loan for Ukraine within 24 hours, after Volodymyr Zelensky said the Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia had been repaired.
Zelensky earlier criticised the repeated visits made by Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin, saying it was “disrespectful” that they had not once travelled to Kyiv.
Chernobyl survivor reveals the disaster’s lifelong toll: ‘Not a single person is in good health’
Deadly Kyiv shooting fuels calls to legalise handguns for self-defence in Ukraine
Two Russian shadow fleet tankers spotted crossing British waters
Pope Leo calls for ‘weapons to fall silent’ in Ukraine and commends ceasefire in Lebanon
Key Points
- Smoke from Tuapse refinery fire billows hundreds of kilometres after strikes
- Zelensky says Trump’s envoy visiting Moscow and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
- Russia claims its forces took 1,700 square km of Ukraine so far this year
- Ukraine claims attacks on Russian warships in occupied Crimea
- EU set to unlock €90bn loan for Ukraine with Orban’s exit
- Germany and France propose limited 'associate' membership of EU for Ukraine
Smoke from Tuapse refinery fire billows hundreds of kilometres after strikes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'
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
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
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.
EU expects positive decisions on 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine on Wednesday
Tuesday 21 April 2026 10:00 , Daniel KeaneThe European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected "positive decisions" on the 90 billion euro ($105.94 billion) loan for Ukraine to be made on Wednesday.
"We expect some positive decisions tomorrow on the 90 billion loan. Ukraine really needs this loan and it's also a sign that Russia cannot outlast Ukraine," she told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers held in Luxembourg.
Zelensky says Trump’s envoy visiting Moscow and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 09:15 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the regular visits from US president Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow and not Kyiv were “disrespectful” at a time when peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stagnated.
Former real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have flown to Moscow several times and met Russian president Vladimir Putin as recently in January. In December, they spoke for four hours before the American diplomats toured the Russian capital.
A smiling Putin told Witkoff he was glad to see him and asked him about his and Kushner's walk around Moscow, which included a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.
They are yet to travel to Kyiv even once, however, having only hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.
“I consider their arrival is needed by them, not us... It's disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it's just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics... If they don't want to, we can meet in other countries," Zelensky said.
“We should not make the arrival of Jared and Wikoff some sort of special sensation because, first of all, we are in contact with them," Zelensky said in his interview to Ukrainian outlet ICTV.
“They are in contact (with us) over the phone, and it is over the phone that they express their desire to continue communication and negotiations."
Russia claims its forces took 1,700 square km of Ukraine so far this year
Tuesday 21 April 2026 09:00 , Arpan RaiRussian forces took 1,700 square km (656 square miles) of territory in Ukraine so far this year and are advancing in all directions, Russia's top general, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov said on state television today.
The claims from Russia come after intelligence assessments in March showed that Russian advances have slowed as Ukrainian forces continue to contest the initiative along the war frontline.
Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on 30 March that Ukrainian forces are prioritising conducting counterattacks in areas where Russian forces are the weakest in order to retake and maintain the operational and strategic initiative.
Hungary PM-elect Magyar asks outgoing Orbán appointees to step down or be removed
Tuesday 21 April 2026 08:53 , Arpan RaiHungary prime minister-elect Peter Magyar has suggested that officials linked to the previous administration are refusing to step aside and could be booted out if they fail to do so by the end of next month.
Viktor Orbán, who enjoyed good relations with Russia, conceded defeat to Magyar's Tisza party following the election on 12 April.
The shift in power is expected to herald a new era of relations between Hungary and the EU and unlock a €90bn loan to support war-hit Ukraine that was vetoed by Orbán.
“Until 31 May, the Orbán puppets may voluntarily step down from their positions. This applies to the President of Hungary, the President of the Curia, the President of the National Office for the Judiciary, the President of the Constitutional Court, and the Prosecutor General,” Magyar said on X this morning.
“On 12 April, the Hungarian people voted for a complete political transformation. If these officials do not step down voluntarily by 31 May, then — on the basis of the mandate received from millions of Hungarians — we will remove them from office,” he said.
Germany and France propose limited 'associate' membership of EU for Ukraine
Tuesday 21 April 2026 08:45 , Arpan RaiWar-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.
Hungary's Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
Tuesday 21 April 2026 08:35 , Arpan RaiHungarian 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.
EU set to unlock €90bn loan for Ukraine with Orban’s exit
Tuesday 21 April 2026 08:15 , Arpan RaiThe European Union and Hungary are aligned on the need to clear a €90bn loan for Ukraine, Hungarian outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán said.
The Kremlin-friendly leader was the only impediment to the critical funding being pushed through by the EU, and his successor Peter Magyar has said he seeks smoother ties with Brussels and while looking out for Budapest’s financial interests.
Almost 10 days after losing the elections, Orbán yesterday said Hungary will lift its objections to the loan as it has “received an indication from Ukraine” via Brussels that Kyiv was ready to restore oil deliveries via the damaged Druzhba pipeline that runs from Russia via Ukraine.
Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
“Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” said Orbán, who earlier claimed the repair of the pipeline as a condition to clear the loan but has repeatedly caused obstruction in the coalition’s relief work for Ukraine.
The pipeline is set to be opened today, clearing the way for the loan, reported Bloomberg.
Two Russian shadow fleet tankers spotted crossing British waters
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:51 , Arpan RaiTwo 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
Russia attacks Ukraine with 145 drones and missiles overnight
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:48 , Arpan RaiA major overnight Russian attack on Ukraine is continuing, the Ukrainian military said in an update this morning, with at least 143 drones and two missiles fired so far.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 143 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones, the Ukraine Air Force said, adding that around 80 of the UAVs were Shahed loitering munitions.
The attack is still underway and several Russian drones are still in Ukrainian airspace, the air force said in an 8am update.
At least 22 drones have struck 17 locations and falling drone debris has been recorded at seven locations, officials said.
Six injured as Russia attacks medical facility in Ukraine
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:35 , Arpan RaiAt least six people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the city of Sumy overnight, officials said.
One of the drones struck a residential area, while another hit the grounds of a medical facility, said regional governor Oleh Hryhoriv.
The injured include a 17-year-old girl who was hospitalised along with two men, and another person who received treatment at the scene, said Serhii Kryvosheyenko, head of the Sumy city military administraion.
Locals also reported numerous explosions across the city. One of the strikes caused a fire, damaged residential buildings, cars and a medical facility.
Watch: Zelensky says Trump’s envoys visiting Putin and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:20 , Arpan RaiRussian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:15 , Arpan RaiRussian 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.
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
Tuesday 21 April 2026 07:03 , Arpan RaiAcross 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
Russia claims its forces took 1,700 square km of Ukraine so far this year
Tuesday 21 April 2026 06:35 , Arpan RaiRussian forces took 1,700 square km (656 square miles) of territory in Ukraine so far this year and are advancing in all directions, Russia's top general, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov said on state television today.
The claims from Russia come after intelligence assessments in March showed that Russian advances have slowed as Ukrainian forces continue to contest the initiative along the war frontline.
Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on 30 March that Ukrainian forces are prioritising conducting counterattacks in areas where Russian forces are the weakest in order to retake and maintain the operational and strategic initiative.
Zelensky says Trump’s envoy visiting Moscow and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
Tuesday 21 April 2026 06:14 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the regular visits from US president Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow and not Kyiv were “disrespectful” at a time when peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stagnated.
Former real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have flown to Moscow several times and met Russian president Vladimir Putin as recently in January. In December, they spoke for four hours before the American diplomats toured the Russian capital.
A smiling Putin told Witkoff he was glad to see him and asked him about his and Kushner's walk around Moscow, which included a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.
They are yet to travel to Kyiv even once, however, having only hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.
“I consider their arrival is needed by them, not us... It's disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it's just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics... If they don't want to, we can meet in other countries," Zelensky said.
“We should not make the arrival of Jared and Wikoff some sort of special sensation because, first of all, we are in contact with them," Zelensky said in his interview to Ukrainian outlet ICTV.
“They are in contact (with us) over the phone, and it is over the phone that they express their desire to continue communication and negotiations."
Hungary's Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
Tuesday 21 April 2026 05:45 , Arpan RaiHungarian 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.
Germany and France propose limited 'associate' membership of EU for Ukraine
Tuesday 21 April 2026 05:32 , Arpan RaiWar-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.
Watch: Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze
Tuesday 21 April 2026 05:26 , Arpan RaiUkraine claims attacks on Russian warships in occupied Crimea
Tuesday 21 April 2026 04:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine's GUR military intelligence has struck two "large" Russian landing ships in Russian-occupied Crimea, it said yesterday.
At the time of the strike, which occurred overnight on Sunday, the ships that are part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were in Sevastopol Bay, GUR said.
EU set to unlock €90bn loan for Ukraine with Orban’s exit
Tuesday 21 April 2026 04:35 , Arpan RaiThe European Union and Hungary are aligned on the need to clear a €90bn loan for Ukraine, Hungarian outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán said.
The Kremlin-friendly leader was the only impediment to the critical funding being pushed through by the EU, and his successor Peter Magyar has said he seeks smoother ties with Brussels and while looking out for Budapest’s financial interests.
Almost 10 days after losing the elections, Orbán yesterday said Hungary will lift its objections to the loan as it has “received an indication from Ukraine” via Brussels that Kyiv was ready to restore oil deliveries via the damaged Druzhba pipeline that runs from Russia via Ukraine.
Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
“Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” said Orbán, who earlier claimed the repair of the pipeline as a condition to clear the loan but has repeatedly caused obstruction in the coalition’s relief work for Ukraine.
The pipeline is set to be opened today, clearing the way for the loan, reported Bloomberg.
Russia flies bombers over Baltic Sea
Tuesday 21 April 2026 04:05 , Arpan RaiRussia's defence ministry said it flew Tu-22M3 long-range bombers in a planned flight over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, the Interfax news agency reported.
Russia carried out a similar exercise earlier this year in January, saying such flights are in compliance with international law.
Moscow claims that all flights of aircraft of Russia’s Air Forces are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
Its forces conducts regular flights over neutral waters, including the Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Baltic and the Black Seas.
Russia says it detains a German woman with a bomb in her rucksack
Tuesday 21 April 2026 04:00 , James ReynoldsRussia's security service said on Monday it had detained a 57-year-old German woman with a bomb in her rucksack as part of what it framed as a false-flag operation directed by Ukraine.
Unverified footage showed a woman lying on the tarmac in a car park next to a rucksack, while armed men pointed their weapons at her. Sappers were shown blowing up the rucksack.
The FSB said the woman, who had a bomb with the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT, was targeting a law enforcement facility in the Stavropol region as part of a false flag operation directed by Ukraine.
The FSB said it had also detained a citizen from a country in Central Asia who thought he was acting on behalf of a "terrorist organisation" and had been due to detonate the bomb.
Russian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks
Tuesday 21 April 2026 03:59 , Arpan RaiRussian 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: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian strike kills 16-year-old in Chernihiv
Tuesday 21 April 2026 03:00 , James ReynoldsRussia's defence ministry said on Monday that Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carried out a planned flight over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, Interfax news agency reported.
Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
Tuesday 21 April 2026 01:00 , James ReynoldsHungarian election winner Peter Magyar called on Ukraine 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. 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.”
Recap: Ukraine police chief resigns following supermarket shooting
Monday 20 April 2026 23:59 , James ReynoldsThe national head of Ukraine’s police patrol division, Yevhen Zhukov, has resigned after a video showed officers running away during a shooting in Kyiv.
Six people were killed in the mass shooting while another eight, including a child, were injured, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," Zhukov said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's defence ministry said it was working to procure 25,000 ground robotic systems to be deployed to the frontline in the first half of this year, its defence ministry said.
“Our goal — 100 per cent of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
Last week, president Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s army robots were able to recapture land from surrendering Russian forces in a battlefield first.
Ukraine clears the way for 90bn euro loan with pipeline repair
Monday 20 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine expects oil to start flowing through the Druzhba pipeline again by Tuesday, paving the way for the country to unlock a massive 90 billion euro loan from the EU, according to a report.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that tests of the pipeline are set to go ahead this week, following urgent repairs.
The pipeline was damaged in a Russian attack in January, leading Hungary to veto the much-needed loan offered by the European Union. Landlocked Hungary depends on the pipeline for a steady flow of Russian oil.
Outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Putin and a longtime thorn in Kyiv’s side, signalled on Sunday that he would be willing to lift the veto if Ukraine can get the pipeline up and running again.
EU diplomats told POLITICO that the loan could be approved as soon as Wednesday if the oil transit resumes in time.
Kyiv shooting death toll rises to seven
Monday 20 April 2026 22:20 , James ReynoldsA man hit in a Kyiv shooting on Saturday has died in hospital, bringing to the seven the toll of those killed in the incident, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said on Monday.
A Russian-born man opened fire on passersby with an automatic rifle on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.
"Sadly, a man died in hospital today from injuries he sustained and became the seventh victim of the terrorist act," Kravchenko said.
Kravchenko said an armed police patrol team had been called to the scene, but failed to act to stop the shooter or help the wounded.
"Instead, the patrol team, equipped with firearms and all the legal grounds to use them, in fact left the scene," he wrote.
"Because of the police officers' failure to take action, the man continued to move unhindered down the street and shoot at defenceless pedestrians."
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
Monday 20 April 2026 21:00 , Harriette BoucherChernobyl is too radioactive for humans – wild animals are thriving like never before
Russia detains German woman after bomb discovered in her rucksack
Monday 20 April 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia's Federal Security Service stated on Monday that it had detained a 57-year-old German woman with a bomb in her rucksack as part of what it cast as a false-flag operation directed by Ukrainian intelligence.
Unverified footage showed a woman lying down on the tarmac in a car park while armed men pointed their weapons at her - and a rucksack that was beside her. Sappers were then shown blowing up the rucksack.
The FSB claimed the German woman, who had a bomb with the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT, was targeting a law enforcement facility in the Stavropol region as part of a false flag operation directed by Ukraine.
The FSB said it had also detained a citizen from a country in Central Asia who thought he was acting on behalf of a "terrorist organisation" and had been due to detonate the bomb.
"The actions of the man were coordinated by employees of the Ukrainian special services under the guise of members of one of the international terrorist organisations banned in Russia," the FSB said.
German woman with bomb in her rucksack detained in Russia over alleged Ukraine plot
Pope Leo calls for 'weapons to fall silent' in Ukraine and commends ceasefire in Lebanon
Monday 20 April 2026 19:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia lost billions of dollars in oil revenue due to strikes last month
Monday 20 April 2026 18:00 , Harriette BoucherUkrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure led to oil revenues losses of at least $2.3 billion (around £38 million) last month, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“In March alone, Russia’s oil revenue losses from our long-range capabilities are estimated at no less than $2.3 billion in just one month,” he stated in his nightly video address.
The Ukrainian leader said he was “grateful to all our warriors for their precision” and said Ukraine would continue its attacks in April.
Firefighters battle blaze after Russian strike kills 16-year-old in Chernihiv
Monday 20 April 2026 17:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia has suffered more than 1.3 million casualties since 2022
Monday 20 April 2026 16:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia has suffered more than 1.3m military losses since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In an update by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence there had been 1,319,270 casualties as of Monday.
It also claimed to have taken out 11,884 tanks, 24,422 fighting vehicles, 40,396 artillery systems and 435 aircraft.
German woman arrested in suspected suicide bomb attack in Russia
Monday 20 April 2026 15:01 , Harriette BoucherRussia’s FSB security service has arrested a German woman that was found with a homemade bomb in her backpack.
The woman was allegedly plotting to blow up a law enforcement building in Southern Russia.
In a statement published by local media, the FSB said the woman, who was born in 1969, had been recruited by a citizen of a central Asian country who was working for Ukrainian security services.
The agency said the bomb was supposed to detonate remotely, which would have killed the woman.
She was reprotedly arrested in the city of Pyatigorsk, while her recruiter, who was born in 1997, was also arrested.
Bulgaria's Russian-friendly ex-president to win parliamentary election
Monday 20 April 2026 14:00 , Harriette BoucherThe centre-left coalition of ex-president Rumen Radev has emerged as the clear winner of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election, the country’s central electoral commission said Monday, ending half a decade of political fragmentation.
During his presidency, Radev gained a reputation as being sympathetic to Russia. He repeatedly opposed EU efforts to send military aid to Ukraine for its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. He has often argued that supporting Ukraine risks drawing Bulgaria into the war and has favored reopening talks with Russia as a way out of the conflict.
Radev resigned from the mostly ceremonial presidency in January, a few months before the end of his second term, to launch a bid to lead the government in the more powerful role as prime minister.
His supporters are divided between those hoping he will put an end to the country’s oligarchic corruption and those lining up behind his Euroskeptic and Russia-friendly views.
Tired of political turmoil, Bulgarians give ex-president a convincing mandate for change
