Wednesday, May 8

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian duo Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil, representing Ukraine with the song "Teresa & Maria," perform on stage during the first semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Malmo Arena, in Malmo, Sweden, on May 7, 2024. (JESSICA GOW/TT/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin inaugurated for 5th term in office in ceremony largely boycotted by West. The inauguration was attended by representatives from six EU countries: France, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus.

SBU says it foiled Russia's plot to assassinate Zelensky, 2 Ukrainian colonels detained. The Security Service of Ukraine claimed on May 7 that it had uncovered a network of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who were preparing the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-ranking officials in Ukraine.

Media: Russian Su-30 producer buys back over $400 million of own equipment in past 2 years. A Russian Su-30 fighter jet producer bought back its own equipment previously sold to foreign partners worth over $400 million in 2022 and 2023, the Russian independent outlet Moscow Times reported on May 7, citing customs data.

Source: Military intelligence carries out cyberattack on Russia's 1C Company. Based in Moscow, 1C Company is a software developer, distributor and publisher best known for its widely used business software.

Ukraine qualifies for Eurovision 2024 song contest finals. With their song "Teresa & Maria," Ukraine's Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil qualified for the Eurovision finals in Sweden's Malmo, successfully passing the semi-finals on May 7.

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Military intelligence: Ukraine constantly inventing new ways to sink Russian ships. Andriy Yusov said Russia has been taking steps to counter the attacks including trying to hide ships and build protective barriers, but said HUR was "finding new ways to show that HUR and Magura work extremely efficiently."

Watchdog: Russian, Ukrainian accusations of chemical weapons use ‘insufficiently substantiated.’ Hundreds of cases of Russia using suffocating and tear gas grenades usually dropped from drones have been recorded since the start of the full-scale invasion, with the number of incidents increasing significantly in 2024.

Reuters: Half of North Korean missiles fired by Russia blow up in mid-air, Ukraine's top prosecutor says. While the number of missiles Pyongyang has given to Moscow remains a tiny percentage of Russia's overall stockpiles, Ukraine and its allies are concerned about the growing ties between the two countries.

Government backs decree on unmanned systems Armed Forces branch. The government supported on May 7 a draft decree by President Volodymyr Zelensky on the creation of a separate Armed Forces branch dedicated to unmanned systems, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

Bloomberg: Russia uses TikTok content to undermine Ukrainian leadership, Kyiv says. "Russia is dominating us on TikTok due to the scale" of its operation, said Andrii Kovalenko, the head of a department countering disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: 2 Ukrainian colonels detained in Russia's plot to assassinate Zelensky, SBU says

The Security Service of Ukraine claimed on May 7 that it had uncovered a network of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who were preparing the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-ranking officials in Ukraine.

Photo: Presidential Office

Opinions and Insights

Opinion: The REPO Act hasn’t won the war for Russian assets

"While the decision to confiscate Russian assets under the REPO Act cannot be subject to appeal by Russia as a state in U.S. courts, individuals and legal entities still have the right to do so," writes Andrii Borovyk, Executive Director of Transparency International Ukraine, in this guest op-ed.

Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Opinion: Will the renewed US support for Ukraine be enough?

"The U.S. aid package provides a lifeline that can keep the Ukrainians in the fight through the end of 2024," writes Ian Bremmer, Founder and President of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, in this guest op-ed.

Photo: Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Human cost of war

2 Georgian volunteers fighting for Ukraine killed in combat. Two Georgian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, David Gogadze and Beso Lomidze, have been killed during hostilities in the Avdiivka sector, the Black Eagle unit said on May 7.

Man dies at military enlistment office in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast due to 'rapid health deterioration.' A man of draft age died on the territory of the Saksahanskyi military enlistment office in the city of Kryvyi Rih on May 5 due to the "rapid deterioration of his health," the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast military recruitment center reported.

One of youngest Azovstal defenders killed on front lines. Twenty-one-year-old Ukrainian soldier Nazarii Hryntsevych, also known under the call sign "Hrinka," was killed on the front lines, the Contact 12 special forces group of the Azov Brigade said on May 7.

Russian strikes on Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injure at least 6. At least six people, including a six-year-old girl and a 91-year-old woman, have been injured during an intense day of Russian strikes in Nikopol, in the south-east of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, authorities reported on May 7.

International response

UK and allies sanction leader of Russian ransomware group. The U.K., U.S., and Australia announced sanctions on the Russian leader of the cyber-crime gang, LockBit, the U.K.'s National Crime Agency (NCA) announced on May 7.

President Iohannis: Romania open to discussing sending Patriot to Ukraine. Speaking in Washington after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, Klaus Iohannis said he would discuss the matter with his Supreme Defence Council.

Spanish, Belgian, Latvian, Finnish leaders confirm participation in peace summit. The event will be centered around Ukraine's 10-point peace formula, a plan first outlined by President Volodymyr Zelensky in fall 2022 that calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian lands.

Denmark donates $33 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Danish Foreign Ministry announced on May 7 a new 250 million kroner ($33.2 million) humanitarian aid package for Ukraine.

Italian FM: Rome sends Ukraine weapons only for use within its borders. Italy supplies Ukraine with weapons only for use within the country's borders, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on May 7, according to the ANSA news agency.

Bloomberg: EU planning restrictions on 11 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet. The shadow fleet refers to aging and largely uninsured oil tankers that Russia uses to transport oil above the $60 per barrel price cap that the EU, the U.S., and the Group of Seven (G7) countries imposed in December 2022 as part of the effort to cut Moscow's fossil fuels revenue.

Zelensky: Ukraine, Spain conclude talks on security agreement text. Ukraine and Spain finalized negotiations on the text of a bilateral security agreement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 7 after a call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Tusk: Europe must spend 'big money' so 'no world power will dare raise a hand against it.' Speaking at the European Economic Congress in the Polish city of Katowice, Donald Tusk called on countries to increase defense spending and once again raised the idea of building a common European air defense system.

Hungarian official says 'positive signs' in talks with Ukraine on national minorities. There have been "positive signs" regarding Ukraine's fulfillment of Budapest's demands on national minorities issues in recent weeks, Hungarian State Secretary Tristan Azbej said on May 7.

Bugging devices found in room where Polish government was scheduled to meet. Jacek Dobrzynski, a spokesperson for the Polish security service, said that the devices had been found and dismantled in a meeting room in Katowice.

Estonian parliament declares Russian Orthodox Church 'sponsor of Russian military aggression.' Patriarch Kirill, the head of the church, is a staunch backer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of using his subordinates in Ukraine and other countries to spread Russian propaganda.

In other news

Russia declares US-based NGO Freedom House 'undesirable' organization. Russia's "undesirable organization" law was adopted in 2015, effectively banning cooperation with about 160 organizations included on the list since then.

Belarus announces snap inspection of tactical nuclear delivery capabilities. "A unit of Iskander operational-tactical system and a squadron of Su-25 aircraft are being prepared to carry out their intended tasks," Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.

European Parliament lawmakers call for suspension of Georgia's EU candidate status. The letter said the "continued undemocratic behavior of the Georgian authorities, in particular their aggressiveness in pushing through a 'Russian-style' law on foreign agents, silencing and using force against peaceful demonstrators, has crossed the line."

Media: UK Defense Ministry hit by cyberattack from China-linked hackers. The latest cyberattack was reportedly directly attributed to the Chinese state, according to Sky News. It targeted the payroll system of defense ministry employees and resulted in the breach of an unspecified amount of personal data.

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Tuesday, April 30

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The house of Serhiy Kivalov, known in Odesa as Kivalov's Castle, on fire following a Russian attack on Odesa on April 29, 2024. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram)

NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg arrives in Kyiv in surprise visit. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Kyiv on April 29 in a previously unannounced visit.

Parliamentary delegation of Polish lawmakers arrives in Ukraine. A group of lawmakers from the two chambers of the Polish parliament – Sejm and Senate – arrived in Ukraine on April 29, said Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine's parliament.

Duchess of Edinburgh comes to Ukraine in surprise visit. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, traveled to Ukraine on April 29 for a one-day visit on behalf of the Foreign Office to "demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war." She has become the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

Media: Deputy minister suspected of illegal acquisition of state-owned land returns to Ukraine. Law enforcement services did not hand Dmytrasevych a suspicion notice as he was abroad on a business trip. Dmytrasevych crossed the border on April 12.

Military intelligence: Over 18,000 Russian troops of Southern Military District have deserted. Over 18,000 soldiers of the district have allegedly deserted, with around 12,000 of them belonging to the 8th Combined Arms Army – a unit often deployed in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

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Media: Russian politician's wife planned to adopt kidnapped Ukrainian boy, abandoned him due to sickness. The wife of Russian politician Sergey Mironov forcibly took a Ukrainian girl and boy from occupied Kherson to adopt them, but abandoned the boy after it became clear he had ill health, Ukrainian news outlet TSN reported on April 28.

State Border Service: Over 30 draft evaders died trying to illegally cross border. More than 30 men have died while attempting to cross Ukraine's mountainous western border to evade mobilization, State Border Guard Service Head Andriy Demchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on April 29.

Ukraine appeals to CoE regarding derogation from parts of Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms due to martial law. Justice Minister Denys Maliuska said that this is part of Ukraine's regular updates on what restrictions it might impose and is part of Kyiv's international obligations.

Military: Ukraine regaining control over Nestryha Island in Kherson Oblast complicates Russian advances. Ukraine's control over Nestryha Island in Kherson Oblast is tactically important and will make it more difficult for Russian forces to approach Ukrainian positions, Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, told Hromadske Radio on April 29.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Attack on Odesa kills 4, injures 29

At least four people were killed and 29 were injured in a Russian missile strike on Odesa that damaged civilian infrastructure, the State Emergency Service reported on April 29.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Telegram

Russian strikes overwhelm Ukraine’s overstretched air defense amid Western aid delays

The new wave of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine, exploiting the growing shortage of key air defense systems and ammunition, is forcing Ukraine to once again call for help.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian strike on Odesa kills 4, injures 32. According to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper, a missile struck residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

Russian attack on Kherson Oblast kills man. Russian forces attacked the village of Kizomys in Kherson Oblast on April 29, killing a 60-year-old man, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

Russian attacks against Ukraine injure 7 over past day. Russia targeted a total of nine Ukrainian oblasts — Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter three regions.

General Staff: Russia has lost 467,470 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,320 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

International response

German ex-army officer admits spying for Russia, blames fear of nuclear war. Identified only as Thomas H., the 54-year-old went on trial in Dusseldorf on April 29 charged with conducting espionage on behalf of Moscow and leaking state secrets.

The Insider: 2 Russians running GRU safe house in Greece outed as spies. Two Russian-born Czech citizens ran a hotel in northern Greece that doubled as a safe house for an infamous unit of Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU) as it carried out bombings and poisonings across Europe, an investigation by The Insider has found.

Ukraine finalizes trade agreement with UAE. Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates have finalized a bilateral trade agreement that lays the foundation for deepening investment and trade between the two countries, Ukraine's Economy Ministry announced on April 29.

Lithuania’s FM: Russian GPS jamming of commercial flights 'too dangerous to ignore.' Baltic foreign ministers have warned that the suspected Russian jamming of GPS systems aboard commercial flights is "too dangerous to ignore." This comes after it was revealed that two Finnish aircraft were forced to turn around mid-journey in recent days.

Former UK Armed Forces minister**: 'Ukraine defeat will cost trillions to West in new Cold War.'** James Heappey said that Kyiv will need more aid packages to win the battle for "security across the whole European-Atlantic region."

Air Force: Poland capable of protecting skies over western Ukraine but political will needed. Poland is technically capable of protecting the skies over Ukraine's western regions with its air defenses, but this requires "political will," Air Force spokesperson Illia Yevlash said on April 29.

FT: Western banks paid 4 times more taxes to Russia in 2023 than before all-out war. The largest Western banks that continue to operate in Russia have paid 800 million euros ($857 million) in taxes to its budget in 2023, which is four times more than before Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing its analysis.

Germany tries extremists suspected of plotting coup, seeking talks with Russia. German courts will try the first nine members of an extremist group suspected of plotting a coup to overthrow the democratic government, Reuters reported on April 29.

Minister: Italy has no reason to oppose new EU sanctions against Russian gas. Italy has overcome its dependence on Russian gas and will not oppose the proposed package of EU sanctions on liquified natural gas (LNG), Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on April 28.

Latvia donates energy equipment to Ukraine after Russian attacks on infrastructure. The Latvian state-owned company Latvenergo provided Ukraine with equipment to restore the energy system after Russian attacks, the Delfi media outlet reported on April 28.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Trump is Putin's only hope now

The news this past week was undoubtedly met with relief in Kyiv and with grief in the Kremlin. The U.S. Congress finally broke its six-month logjam and approved a new package of military aid for Ukraine (as well as for Israel and Taiwan).

Photo: Curtis Means/Daily Mail/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Opinion: Russia's nuclear giant is falling through the sanctions cracks

"Even as the 38th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster has come and gone, the nuclear threat posed by Moscow continues to grow," writes Olena Lapenko, General Manager for Security and Resilience at the DiXi Group, in this op-ed.

Photo: Sezgin Pancar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In other news

Czech police conclude Russian agents behind deadly 2014 ammunition depot blasts. Russian military intelligence operatives were responsible for deadly ammunition depot explosions in Czechia in 2014, the Czech police said on April 29 following a three-year investigation.

Reuters: Chinese companies go 'underground' on Russia payments. Some Chinese banks Major Chinese are limiting payments for transactions with Russia due to concerns about U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported on April 29, citing unnamed trading and banking sources familiar with the matter.

Border Guard: Polish protesters lift blockade at Ukrainian border. The farmers began blocking trucks at several border crossings in February in protest of Ukrainian agricultural imports and the EU's Green Deal.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Katya Denisova,

Kateryna Hodunova, Oleksiy Sorokin, Chris York, Elsa Court, Toma Istomina, Olena Goncharova, and Rachel Amran.

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Saturday, April 27

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A leg-amputee Ukrainian serviceman, patient of the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Centre, attends a session at a shooting range in Lviv on April 26, 2024. The action was organized by the charity foundation ROXY as a part of the rehabilitation of military personnel who are being treated or undergoing rehabilitation. (Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images)

Military: Russian forces trying to encircle Chasiv Yar. Russian troops are trying to encircle the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, Nazar Voloshyn, the Khortytsia Group of Forces' spokesperson, said on national television on April 26.

Zelensky reminds world of Russian nuclear threat on Chornobyl anniversary.

The Zaporizhzhia plant – the largest nuclear plant in Europe – has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. The Chornobyl plant was also occupied by Moscow's forces for 35 days at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Ukraine retrieves bodies of 140 fallen soldiers. The Geneva Conventions dictate that people who lost their lives during war are entitled to a dignified burial.

Source: Ukraine destroys Russian Ka-32 helicopter at Moscow airfield. A Russian multirole helicopter Ka-32 was destroyed at the Ostafyevo airfield in Moscow overnight on April 26, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported. An intelligence source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the helicopter was destroyed as a result of a HUR operation.

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Shmyhal: Ukraine has received $12 billion in international aid this year to help cover budget deficit. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced during a government meeting that Ukraine has received approximately $12 billion in external financing since the beginning of the year to help address the budget deficit.

Latvia’s new foreign minister visits Ukraine, meets FM Kuleba. The newly appointed Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze arrived in Kyiv on the morning of April 26 and met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, the ministry reported.

Ukraine's military intelligence launches cyberattack against United Russia party. United Russia claimed earlier in the day that its electronic services were under large-scale DDoS attacks.

Russia's Sberbank reports $4.32 billion profit**, dividends to boost Kremlin war chest.** Being majority-owned by the Russian state, dividends can be used to fund the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read our exclusives

Russia throws thousands of troops to capture Chasiv Yar. Why is it so important?

As the U.S. took months to approve the next package of much-needed military aid to Kyiv, Russia used the moment to step up its offensive operations. After capturing Avdiivka and multiple villages in the east, Moscow now has its eyes on the next primary target, the town of Chasiv Yar.

Photo: Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Explainer: 38 years after Chornobyl, Ukraine relies on nuclear for more than half its energy production

Thirty-eight years after the Chornobyl disaster, Ukraine’s nuclear industry continues to produce around half of Ukraine’s power output and remains vital to keeping the country functioning. The share of energy output in Ukraine that comes from nuclear power is the third highest in the world.

Photo: Dimitar Diloff/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: US announces additional $6 billion in weapons for Ukraine

The U.S. will allocate $6 billion for military assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on April 26 after the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, also known as the Ramstein format.

Photo: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

Human cost of war

US envoy to OSCE: Russian 'double-tap' attacks have killed at least 90 first responders since April 2022. "In March and April (of 2024) alone, Russia’s iterative attacks hitting first responders killed nearly 30 rescue workers in Odesa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia and wounded more than 20," said Timothy Hanway, the acting U.S. envoy to the OSCE.

Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injures 3, including 9-year-old boy. Russian troops carried out nearly 20 attacks on the Nikopol District in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on April 26, injuring at least three people, regional governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Russian attacks in Kharkiv Oblast injure 4. A missile attack on the village of Shestakove injured a 42-year-old man. In the Bohodukhiv district, a Russian drone struck a civilian car and wounded three people.

Russian attack on Sumy Oblast kills 2 elderly women**, injures 3.** Russian forces shelled civilian infrastructure of Bilopillia in Sumy Oblast on April 26, killing two women and injuring three others, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported.

Prosecutor's Office: Number of injured in April 25 Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast rises to 13. The injured were hospitalized with blast injuries of varying severity.

International response

US to allocate additional $6 billion in aid to provide Ukraine with weapons. The U.S. will allocate $6 billion in military assistance for Kyiv under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on April 26.

Minister: Belgium to allocate $213 million for German-led air defense initiative. Belgium will pledge 200 million euros ($213 million) for the German-led air defense initiative and supply Ukraine with rockets, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on April 26.

Kuleba: Latvia, Ukraine to bolster drone production. Ukraine and Latvia are working to increase joint drone production, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on April 26 during a press conference with Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze in Kyiv.

Belgium may deliver first F-16 jets to Ukraine in 2024. "In coordination with our partners in the F-16 coalition, our country will make every effort to speed up deliveries, if possible, by the end of this year," Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said.

Spain confirms plans to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Madrid will provide Ukraine with Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on April 26 at the Ramstein-format summit, without specifying the exact number.

Canada to donate nearly $12 million to Ukraine's drone production**, Czech ammunition initiative.** This is the first time Canada has directly contributed to the production of military drones in Ukraine.

Opinions and insights

Illia Ponomarenko: The story of wartime Kyiv

“I'm not going to lie; many people right now, both in Ukraine and beyond, sometimes feel pretty close to desperation. A little hope is just what we need right now. When it comes to hope, my thoughts often go back to the Battle of Kyiv,” writes Illia Ponomarenko, former defense reporter at the Kyiv Independent.

You can pre-order Illia Ponomarenko's book, "I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv," on Bloomsbury or Amazon.

Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images

In other news

Kyiv evacuates children hospital due to attack threat. Kyiv authorities urgently evacuated two hospitals on April 26 after a Belarusian official appeared to threaten them with attack in a speech.

UK man with alleged Wagner ties charged with spying for Russia. Twenty-year-old Dylan Earl has been charged with planning an attack against London businesses connected to Ukraine after being recruited to spy for Russia.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Dinara Khalilova, Nate Ostiller, Chris York,

Abbey Fenbert, Olena Goncharova, Olga Rudenko, Kateryna Hodunova, Kateryna Denisova, and Sonya Bandouil.

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Tuesday, April 2

Russia’s war against Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a meeting on drone production and electronic warfare systems on April 1, 2024. (Zelensky / Telegram)

Authorities: Russia uses 5 Zircon hypersonic missiles against Kyiv in 2024. Russia has launched against Kyiv five 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile within the last three months, Kyiv City Military Administration reported on April 1.

Ukraine considering following suit if US bans TikTok. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill in March 2024 requiring Chinese TikTok's parent company ByteDance to sell its stakes in the company within six months or lose access to U.S. markets.

Mayor: Russia destroys 'almost all' energy infrastructure in Kharkiv. Russian attacks destroyed "almost all" of critical energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in an interview with Liga.net media outlet published April 1.

SBU detains kindergarten employee over allegedly aiding Russian attacks on Kharkiv. The detainee was remotely recruited by Russian intelligence in the autumn of 2023, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

FSB says it arrested 4 suspected accomplices of Moscow shooting in Dagestan, allegedly planning another attack. The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that the four suspects, who were arrested in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, were plotting another attack in the Dagestani city of Kaspiysk.

Poll: Most Ukrainians say they understand motivation of draft evaders. Most Ukrainians say they understand the motivation of those who try to avoid mobilization, according to a poll by Ukraine's Institute of Social and Political Psychology published on April 1. At the same time, almost 43% of respondents said they were ashamed of men who evade mobilization.

SBU detains man alleged of supplying Russians with materials for anti-tank defenses. A Ukrainian man who allegedly supplied Russia with building materials used for anti-tank “dragon’s teeth” defenses has been detained in Kyiv, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on April 1.

NABU says it closed corruption case against brother of Zelensky's chief of staff.

A corruption case against the brother of presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak has been closed, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) told the Kyiv Independent. The case, which was investigated under the abuse of power article, was closed on Dec. 14, 2021 but the closure wasn't publicly announced.

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Mayor: Kharkiv reconstructions requires over $10 billion. More than $10 billion is needed to rebuild everything that Russian forces have damaged in Kharkiv, city mayor Ihor Terekhov said in an interview with Liga.net media outlet published on April 1.

Ukraine has attack drones with range of over 1,000 kilometers, says Fedorov. "Most of the drones that attacked Russian oil refineries have a range of 700 to 1,000 kilometers, but now there are models that can fly over 1000 km," Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

WSJ: Russia using cryptocurrency to avoid sanctions. Russian smugglers are using the cryptocurrency tether to circumvent Western sanctions and purchase weapons and drone parts, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 1.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau makes progress yet doesn't take on top presidential allies. As Ukraine's civil society and the country's Western partners call on the authorities to fight corruption amid Russia's full-scale invasion, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is showing mixed results. A year has passed since Semen Kryvonos became the head of the NABU in March 2023, replacing the bureau’

Car bomb kills Moscow-appointed official in occupied Starobilsk, Luhansk Oblast. Valeriy Chaika died after a homemade explosive device was planted on his car, the head of the Starobilsk occupational administration, Vladimir Chernev, said in a post on Telegram.

CNN: Anti-Kremlin hackers stole Russian prisoner database after Navalny’s death. A group of anti-Kremlin hackers stole a Russian prisoner database containing hundreds of thousands of names after the death of Alexei Navalny and are hoping it can be used to glean more information about how he died, CNN reported April 1.

Zelensky holds meeting on drone production, electronic warfare. President Volodymyr Zelensky held a three-hour meeting on April 1 to discuss drone production and electronic warfare systems with senior members of the military and government.

NYT: Murder of Russian pilot in Spain bears similarities to earlier Moscow-linked killings. The murder of Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine, is similar to previous attacks in Europe linked to Moscow, but no evidence of direct Kremlin involvement has emerged so far, the New York Times (NYT) reported on March 31, citing unnamed senior police officials.

Russian propagandist Simonyan charged in absentia for promoting genocide. Margarita Simonyan is the head of RT, formerly known as Russia Today, a Russian state-owned media outlet seen as one of the key outlets of Russian propaganda worldwide.

Reuters: Iran warned Russia about 'major terrorist operation' ahead of Moscow shooting. Iran warned Russia of the possibility of a major "terrorist operation" on Russian territory ahead of the shooting outside Moscow last month, Reuters reported on April 1, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Fire breaks out at industrial facility in Russia's Yekaterinburg. Uralmashzavod, based in the major Russian city east of the Ural Mountains, produces equipment for the metallurgy, mining, and energy industries.

Ukrainian forces intercept Russian sabotage group near border in Sumy Oblast. Border guards repelled an attack by Russian saboteurs in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported on April 1.

FT: Over 50% of Russians blame Ukraine for Moscow terrorist attack, survey shows. Around 27% of respondents blamed the Islamic State (ISIS), while another 6% pointed to the U.S., U.K., and NATO, according to a survey by OpenMinds, an Anglo-Ukrainian online pollster.

ISW: Russia may focus its potential offensive only in one operational direction. Russia may focus its potential late spring or summer offensive against Ukraine on the western part of Donetsk Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in their April 1 report.

Bloomberg: Russia plans reduction in diesel exports due to drone attacks. Russia is planning to reduce diesel exports from its Black and Baltic Sea ports in April to the lowest level in five months due to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and the upcoming maintenance season, Bloomberg reported on April 1.

Read our exclusives

How Czechia busted Russian propaganda network targeting European elections

The Czech government announced on March 27 that it had uncovered a Moscow-financed propaganda network that sought to influence European politics and turn public opinion against aiding Ukraine.

Photo:Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

Experts warn UN court’s approach in Ukraine versus Russia genocide cases ‘may lead to more instability’

The UN’s International Court of Justice, or ICJ, is currently hearing cases related to genocide in Ukraine as the country looks to seek justice for Russia’s ongoing crimes against it. Experts interviewed by the Kyiv Independent are worried that the Hague-based court, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, might not be up to the job.

Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Interview: Swedish defense minister on stepping up Ukraine aid and a new era in European security

Swedish defense minister on stepping up Ukraine aid and a new era in European security. In March 2024, Sweden became NATO’s 32nd member state after a lengthy application process triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Photo: Olena Zashko / The Kyiv Independent

Ukraine war latest: Russia destroys 'almost all energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, mayor says

Russian attacks destroyed "almost all" of energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in an interview with Liga media outlet published on April 1. The current situation for the energy industry in the city is "very difficult," according to the mayor.

Photo: Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian attack on Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast injures woman. Russia launched an attack against the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast on April 1, injuring a 27-year-old woman, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Russian attacks over past day kill 1, injure at least 6. Russian forces also attacked Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Mykolaiv oblasts, causing damage but no casualties.

General Staff: Russia has lost 442,880 troops in Ukraine. This number includes 710 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

International response

USAID provides emergency equipment, over 100 generators to Ukraine. The U.S. has donated emergency equipment, vehicles, and over 100 generators to multiple regions of Ukraine, through USAID.

Zara, other fashion brands to re-open in Ukraine starting April 3. Inditex, the Spanish parent company of popular clothing brands including Zara, Bershka, and Pull&Bear, will gradually resume operations in Ukraine.

Russia looking to remove Taliban’s designation as terrorist organization. The announcement came on the same day that Russian state news agency TASS said the Taliban had been invited to participate in the “Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum,” scheduled for May.

Japan provides Ukraine with $118 million grant for healthcare, reconstruction. Japan provided Ukraine with $118 million in aid as part of two World Bank projects, Ukraine's Finance Ministry reported on April 1.

Moldovan military holds JCET drills with US, Romania. Moldovan, Romanian, and American troops are holding joint exercises JCET-2024 (Joint Combined Exchange Training) in Moldova between April 1 and 19, the Moldovan military said.

French FM wants 'China to send very clear messages to Russia' over Ukraine war. Following an inconsistent start, France, under the leadership of the increasingly outspoken President Emmanuel Macron, has become one of Ukraine's strongest supporters.

Estonia's ruling Reform Party introduces legislation to ban non-citizens from voting. The proposal would only impact local elections.

Johnson says vote on Ukraine aid will be held 'right after' Easter recess. President Volodymyr Zelensky held a one-on-one phone call with House Speaker Mike Johnson on March 28, in another indication that the aid was moving forward.

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Sunday, March 17

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A woman in Odesa lights lamps near an impromptu memorial to the victims of a Russian missile attack. The region observed a day of mourning on March 16, 2024. According to the latest information, 21 people were killed and more than 70 were injured as a result of a double Russian strike on Odesa the morning of March 15, 2024. (Viacheslav Onyshchenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Russian media: Oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai hit by drones. A fire broke out at an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, amid reports of explosions and a possible drone attack overnight on March 17.

Zelensky: Ukrainian strikes reveal Russia's military vulnerabilities. "These weeks have demonstrated to many that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities that we can reach with our weapons," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on March 16.

National Resistance Center: Resistance disrupts 'voting' in occupied Skadovsk, injures 5 Russian troops. The explosion reportedly occurred at 3 p.m. local time on the central square near the polling station while Russian forces were patrolling nearby.

Media: At least 15 criminal cases opened on first day of Russian presidential election. At least 15 criminal cases on alleged "obstruction of the electoral comissions' work" had been opened during the first day of the Russian presidential election, Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on March 15, citing regional investigation committees.

Anti-Kremlin militia claims to have captured 25 Russian troops. In a video published on Telegram early on March 16, the Russian Volunteer Corps's commander Denys Nikitin, also known by his nom de guerre "White Rex," talks to a man introduced as captured Russian senior lieutenant Alexei Volkov.

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Budanov: Ukraine to continue to support anti-Kremlin militias. Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on March 26 on national television that anti-Kremlin militias were becoming "a force" and Ukraine would help them "to the extent possible."

Russia claims another rocket attack on Belgorod Oblast. Earlier the same day, Russian anti-Kremlin militias warned Belgorod residents that a "massive strike will be carried out against military facilities and Russian military positions" in the city at 5 p.m. local time.

Kuleba calls Blinken to discuss unblocking Ukraine aid stalled in Congress. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X on March 16 that he held a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the potential unblocking of aid for Ukraine that has been stuck in Congress since autumn 2023.

Update: 1 person remains missing as rescue operations concluded after March 13 strike on Sumy. Three people were killed, 12 were hospitalized, and one person is still missing as the emergency services have finished clearing the debris after the Russian March 13 attack on Sumy, the local military administration reported.

Court releases ex-Defense Ministry official charged with weapons procurement fraud without bail. Oleksandr Liyev was arrested in February 2024 in charges related to a corruption scheme revealed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in January that involved the procurement of almost 100,000 mortar shells, amounting to almost Hr 1.5 billion ($40 million).

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Opinion: How many planes does Russia have?

“The Ukrainian military shot down five Russian military aircraft in the span of three days in early March, begging the question: How many planes does Russia have?” Military historian Andrii Kharuk analyzes the data on Russia’s aircraft.

Photo: Russian Defense Ministry/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Update: Death toll in Russian missile strike on Odesa rises to 21, at least 73 injured. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on March 16 that the death toll had risen to 21 after another wounded person died in the hospital.

Russian shelling of Donetsk Oblast village kills civilian, injures another. Russia launched an artillery strike against the village of Novoselivka Persha in Donetsk Oblast's Ocheretyne community on March 16, killing a 51-year-old man and injuring another resident, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Russian governor claims 2 killed in missile attack on Belgorod. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that a man and a woman had been killed in the strikes, and that three others had been injured and sent to the hospital.

General Staff: Russia has lost 429,580 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,160 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

This Week in Ukraine S2 E10 – Will Trump abandon Ukraine if he beats Biden in November?

International response

Politico: Finnish FM does not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine. At the same time, Finland is not currently willing to send troops or even ready to discuss it, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

Western countries denounce Russia holding election in occupied Ukrainian territories. "Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea. These areas are a part of Ukraine," the U.K. Foreign Office said on X.

EU pressures European importers to cut down Russian LNG purchases in 2024. "My message was that this year must bring further disengagement from Russian exports," Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told Bloomberg following an EU-U.S. Energy Council meeting in Washington.

Tusk urges House speaker Johnson to 'take decision' on stalled Ukraine aid after Russian attack on Odesa. "Look at Odesa! How many more arguments do you need to take a decision?" Tusk wrote on X on March 16, tagging Johnson.

Media: Latvia investigates MEP accused of spying for Russia. Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) began investigating Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament accused of spying for Russia, the Latvian news outlet Delfi reported on March 16.

Media: UK defense secretary canceled planned Odesa visit due to Russian threat. U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps' scheduled visit to Odesa was canceled after U.K. intelligence officials informed him that Moscow was aware of his travel plans.

Czech President: Russia 'has no right' to set conditions for peace in Ukraine. "The Kremlin has presented its list of conditions that it as an aggressor has no right to put forward," Czech President Petr Pavel said on March 16.

In other news

Police open investigation over attempted suicide in Zakarpattia Oblast enlistment office. The police launched an investigation into the circumstances of a supposed attempted suicide by a man in the Khust military enlistment office in Zakarpattia Oblast, Hromadske reported on March 16, citing a statement from the police.

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Tuesday, March 12

Russia’s war against Ukraine

in Lviv, cadets and residents of the city hold the flag of Ukraine during the celebration of the National Anthem Day of Ukraine. On March 11, Ukraine celebrates the 159th anniversary of the first public performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine. (Olena Znak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Zelensky: As long as Ukraine holds**, French army can stay in France.** Zelensky was addressing French President Emmanuel Macron's recent comments that sending Western troops into Ukraine cannot be "ruled out."

CNN: Russia producing 3 times more shells than US, Europe can provide to Ukraine. Russia is set to produce nearly three times as many artillery munitions as the U.S. and Europe this year, CNN reported on March 11, citing NATO intelligence estimates and unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Foreign Ministry summons Vatican envoy following Pope's call for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Visvaldas Kulbokas on March 11 concerning Pope Francis' recent call for Kyiv to "not be ashamed to negotiate" with Moscow.

Kherson Governor: 5 children returned from Russian captivity. The NGO Save Ukraine has returned five children and an 18-year-old orphan from Russian-occupied territories, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on March 11.

Zelensky: Ukraine building 2,000 kilometers of fortifications. The construction of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) of fortifications across three lines of defense is "a massive task, but the pace is good," Zelensky said.

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Minister: Ukraine starts talks with US, EU regulators to restore air service.

Kyiv is waiting for the first round of official feedback from regulators and is currently in talks with three Ukrainian companies that have confirmed they "want to fly," Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov told RBC-Ukraine in an interview.

SBU detains spouse of former regional official, suspected of spying for Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a woman, the wife of a former local council head in Vinnytsia Oblast, for allegedly detailing sensitive data on Ukrainian positions to Russia, the SBU announced in a press release on March 11.

Russian lawmakers propose draft bill declaring 'illegal' return of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954. Lawmakers of the ruling United Russia political party submitted a draft law to the Russian State Duma on March 11 declaring Russia's 1954 return of Crimea to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic "illegal."

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Russia producing 3 times more shells than US, Europe can provide to Ukraine, CNN says

Russia is set to produce nearly three times as many artillery munitions as the U.S. and Europe can send to Ukraine, CNN reported, citing NATO intelligence estimates and unnamed sources.

Photo: Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent

5 children killed in single attack: ‘We should never forget what Russia did’

In the early hours of March 2, Russia attacked Odesa with drones, hitting a multi-storied apartment building in one of the city's residential neighborhoods, killing a total of 12 people, including the five children.

Photo: Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast injure 4 civilians. Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast during the afternoon injured four people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram on March 11.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 3, injure 13 over past day. Russia launched 25 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, 15 of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, the General Staff reported in a post on Facebook.

International response

Judge who issued warrant for Putin becomes head of International Criminal Court. International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Tomoko Akane, who was placed on a Russian wanted list after issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023, was elected president of the ICC on March 11.

Pope's call for Ukraine's surrender receives criticism from Scholz, Stoltenberg. Pope Francis' call for Ukraine to "not be ashamed to negotiate" with Russia received critical responses from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO General Jens Stoltenberg on March 11.

Baerbock says Taurus-Storm Shadow missiles swap 'an option.' Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she was open to a deal in which London supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles in exchange for Germany backfilling British long-range missile stocks.

Orban: Trump will stop funding Ukraine if elected. Echoing previous comments by the former president about his plans to negotiate peace in Ukraine within 24 hours, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that former U.S. President Donald Trump would end the supply of weapons from the U.S., a move that he said would mark the end of the war.

Media: International electronics companies that suspended operations in Russia resume advertising. Leading international electronics companies, including Samsung and Xiaomi, have resumed advertising in Russia after suspending product promotion after the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian state media outlet Kommersant reported, citing TelecomDaily data.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Europe has a Russian fossil fuel addiction

“In spite of 13 sanctions packages against Russia and endless words of solidarity for Ukraine, recent data has revealed that many European Union countries continue to import massive amounts of liquified natural gas, propping up Russian President Vladimir Putin’s genocidal regime,” writes Svitlana Romanko, a founder and director of Razom We Stand.

Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

In other news

Deputy PM: Ukraine meets requirements to approve framework for EU accession negotiations. Ukraine has implemented all four recommendations needed for the European Commission to approve Ukraine’s framework for accession negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna told reporters at an anti-corruption event in Kyiv on March 11.

Ex-Foreign Ministry spokesperson appointed as Toronto consul general. Oleh Nikolenko, who had been a spokesperson for over three years, announced his resignation on March 8, saying he was about to start "a new diplomatic chapter."

Ukrainian consul visits Polish border**, sees no signs of blockade.** Ukrainian consul in Poland Serhii Tsaruk visited the Dorohusk crossing on March 11 and reported that he did not see any blocked buses, following conflicting reports that Polish protesters were preventing buses from crossing the border.

Russian media: South Korean arrested in Russia on suspicion of spying for first time. A South Korean citizen has been arrested in Russia for the first time on alleged espionage charges, Russian state-owned news agency TASS said on March 11.

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Thursday, March 7

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Ukrainian divers from the Special Purpose Unit conduct training exercises off the coast of Odesa, on March 6, 2024. Combat divers are trained to lay mines, overcome artificial obstacles, and study underwater navigation. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

Russia attacks Odesa during Zelensky, Greek PM visit, killing 5. Russia launched a missile at Odesa during a visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on March 6.

Military intelligence: Attack on Russian Sergey Kotov vessel injures at least 27. A day earlier, the agency reported that seven Russian sailors were killed, six injured and 52 crew members who were on board the ship could have been evacuated.

Official: Ukraine open to restrictions on EU trade to defuse tensions. Kyiv is open to trade restrictions with the EU to defuse tensions with Warsaw but urges bloc-wide import bans on Russian grain, Ukraine's Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka told the Financial Times (FT) in a comment published on March 6.

WSJ: Ukrainian commandos fight Russian influence in Sudan. Small Ukrainian army teams took part in hostilities in Sudan, helping the country's leader fend off Wagner Group-backed rebel forces, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 6, citing Ukrainian and Sudanese military officials.

Military: Ukraine aims to stabilize front line, conduct counteroffensive in 2024. The main goal of the Ukrainian forces is to stabilize the situation on the front line and create an offensive grouping to conduct counteroffensive actions in 2024, Ukraine’s Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk said on national television March 6.

Energy minister rules out deals on transiting Russian gas through Ukraine. Kyiv and the EU have previously said they would not seek the prolongation of the transit deal for Russian gas, signed in 2019 and currently set to expire in December 2024.

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Moscow dismisses ICC arrest warrants for Russian military commanders. Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Sokolov "are each allegedly responsible" for a number of war crimes, including "directing attacks at civilian objects," the ICC said.

Kursk Oblast mining plant damaged in drone strike, Russia claims. The fire broke out in a lubricant warehouse in Kursk Oblast's Zheleznogorsky district, said Roman Starovoyt, the regional governor.

Exiled official: Russian election organizer killed in explosion in occupied Berdiansk. A woman who was helping the Russian government organize elections in occupied Berdiansk was killed in an apparent car bombing, Viktoriia Halitsina, the exiled head of the Berdiansk City Military Administration, reported on Telegram on March 6.

Russian court says it confiscated assets allegedly linked to oligarch Kolomoisky. The court claimed Kolomoisky is a member of the British mining company JKX Oil & Gas Limited, which it labeled as a part of an "extremist group whose actions were clearly anti-Russian in nature.

SBU detains man suspected of joining military to spy for Russia. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a man who was attempting to escape to Transnistria after allegedly joining the Ukrainian military to spy on the front line for Russia, the SBU's press service reported on March 5.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Russia launches missile strike at Odesa during Zelensky, Greek PM visit, killing 5

Greek cabinet member Stavros Papastavrou confirmed to Greek media earlier in the day that there were no injuries among the Greek delegation, but the blast occurred approximately 150 meters away, according to the newspaper Kathimerini.

Photo: Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Ukrainians whose lives were turned upside down by Russia's war, twice

Everyone in the 40-million nation of Ukraine has had their lives disrupted by Russia’s 2022 invasion, with millions fleeing the country or moving to safer areas. But some have now endured a decade of hostilities and trauma inflicted by the Kremlin’s war.

Photo: Francesco Pistilli / IRC

Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk prepare for potential Russian offensive

"I think that (Russian troops) are preparing for a breakthrough (in the Kupiansk direction). The ground will dry up, and they will gather all forces, all equipment," said 47-year-old infantryman Ruslan with Ukraine's 43rd Separate Mechanized Brigade deployed on the Kupiansk axis. "I think something not great (for us) will happen."

Photo: Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Navy spokesperson: Russian attack on Odesa port kills 5. A Russian attack on the port of Odesa killed five people, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk told Ukrainian media outlets on March 6.

Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast kills man, injures 7, including children. As a result of the strike, a fire broke out on the territory of the household, destroying cars, a garage, and outbuildings, the governor reported.

Death toll of Russian Feb. 7 attack on Kyiv rises to 6. The death toll of a Russian missile attack against Kyiv on Feb. 7 has risen to six as a man died in the hospital, the Suspilne news outlet reported, citing his relatives.

General Staff: Russia has lost 420,270 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,250 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Opinions and insights

Ignatieff: The threat to American hegemony is real

“The United States is divided against itself and stretched to the limits of its capabilities. Europe is waking up to the possibility that, come November, America may no longer fulfill its collective defense obligations under Article 5 of the NATO treaty,” writes Michael Ignatieff, a history professor and former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

International response

Cameron: London ready to loan Ukraine all frozen Russian assets in UK. The assets will be used as a surety for the payment of the reparations, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.

Media: Argentina's president plans visit to Kyiv in June. Argentina's President Javier Milei may visit Kyiv this June as part of a broader European tour in a sign of his support for Ukraine.

Hungarian FM: Orban to discuss 'achieving peace in Ukraine' with Trump during upcoming visit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to discuss how to "achieve peace" in Ukraine during an upcoming visit with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti on March 6.

Bloomberg: Biden considers tapping into US Army funds for temporary Ukraine aid. Drawing on the Pentagon reserves would free up about $200 million in immediate military aid to Ukraine.

US State Department, German Marshall Fund want to rebuild sustainable Ukrainian cities. The U.S. State Department and German Marshall Fund established a public-private initiative to assist in rebuilding up to three Ukrainian cities, with a focus on sustainability.

Bloomberg: Ukraine’s allies have almost finished collecting funds to purchase shells through Czech-led allied initiative. Ukraine’s allies have nearly raised the required funding to buy 800,000 artillery shells through a Czech-led allied initiative, Bloomberg reported on March 6, citing a government official familiar with the matter.

Moldova warns of Russian interference in elections, EU accession. Alexandru Musteata, the head of the Moldovan intelligence agency (SIS), said that the SIS possesses "certain information" about Russia's destabilization campaign in the next two years designed to compromise Chisinau's European integration and draw the country back into the Kremlin's orbit.

Latvian government approves list of banned agricultural goods from Russia, Belarus. The Latvian government on March 5 approved a list of Russian and Belarusian agricultural and food products that will be banned from importing into the country since March 8.

In other news

Polish farmers stage general strike in Warsaw. Polish farmers, agrarian workers, foresters, and hunters staged a general strike in Warsaw on March 6 in protest against Ukrainian agricultural imports and EU environmental policies.

Police launch investigation into suspected arson at Kyiv wetland park. The Osokorky Ecopark has been the center of a decades-long struggle between property developers and civil society activists, who campaign against illegal construction on the reserve.

Media: Sweden to officially become NATO member on March 11. Sweden's flag will be raised at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 11 around noon, marking the official start of the country's membership in the alliance, the Swedish TV4 channel reported on March 6.

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Tuesday, March 5

Russia’s war against Ukraine

(L-R) Ukrainian infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, Governor of Chernihiv Oblast Viacheslav Chaus, CEO of Expertise France Jeremie Pellet on March 4, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine/Facebook)

Military: Ukraine stalls Russian advances in some areas near Avdiivka. Ukrainian forces have stalled the Russian military's advances in some areas west of the recently captured city of Avdiivka, Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria Group, reported on March 4.

Air Force: Ukraine downs 18 Russian drones overnight. Ukraine shot down 18 of the 22 Shahed-type attack drones launched by Russia overnight on March 5, the Air Force said in its morning update.

Zelensky replaces Support Forces commander. President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Dmytro Hereha as the commander of Ukraine's Support Forces, replacing him with Oleksandr Yakovets, according to his decrees published on March 4.

Shmyhal: Ukraine aims to reduce number of ministries by one-third. According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 20,000 government vacancies have already been cut in 2024.

Shmyhal: 8 taxpayers per soldier needed to fund military. The Ukrainian government needs eight taxpayers per soldier to ensure the state budget has enough funding for the military, Denys Shmyhal said during a press conference on March 4.

Shmyhal: Ukraine listing sites that could be rebuilt with funds from frozen Russian assets. Ukraine is compiling a list of sites that Russia has destroyed to specifically allocate funds from frozen Russian assets, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a press conference on March 4.

SBU suspects 2 Russian generals of bombing residential buildings in Kyiv Oblast town. "As a result of the air attack, Russia destroyed six apartment buildings, killing more than 30 local residents, including a young girl," the report said.

SBU detains man suspected of spying on air defense in Dnipro. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a Dnipro resident who was allegedly recruited by Russia to pass on information on the city's air defense, the SBU's press service reported on March 4.

Ukrenergo: Ukraine plans record electricity exports to 5 countries. Ukraine plans to export a record 13 gigawatt hours of electricity to other countries on March 4, namely to Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Moldova, Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator, announced.

Russian court arrests ex-Ukrainian ambassador to Kazakhstan in absentia. Talking to a Kazakh blogger about Russia's war in an August 2022 interview, Vrublevskyi said: "We are trying to kill as many of them as possible. The more Russians we kill now, the less of them our children will have to kill."

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DTEK: Power supply restored for over 400,000 Ukrainian homes in February. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, restored electricity supply to 426,000 homes after blackouts caused by Russian attacks in February, DTEK's press service reported on March 4.

NATO begins large-scale military drills in northern Europe. The Nordic Response 24 NATO exercises begin in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway on March 4, for the first time with the participation of Finland as a NATO member, the Finnish public broadcaster YLE reported.

Military intelligence: Railway bridge blown up in Russia's Samara Oblast. The bridge and the adjacent railway connection were used by Russia to transport military cargo, namely engineering explosives produced by the JSC Polimer in the city of Chapayevsk, HUR said.

Ukraine's military intelligence claims cyberattack on Russian Defense Ministry. The operation by HUR's cyber specialists reportedly helped to obtain orders, reports, instructions, and reports “that circulated among about 2,000 structural units of the Russian security service.”

Health Ministry starts inspection of Kyiv military medical commissions. Ukraine's Health Ministry is starting an inspection of military medical commissions in Kyiv due to increased complaints, Minister Viktor Liashko announced on March 4.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine slows Russian advances west of Avdiivka, military says

Ukrainian forces have stalled Russia's advances in some areas west of the recently captured Avdiivka, Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria Group, reported on March 4.

Photo: Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Interior Minister: Russian secondary attack kills 2 rescuers, injures 3 more. A Russian strike on the Kramatorsk district of Donetsk Oblast killed two rescuers and wounded another three while they were putting out a fire caused by an earlier attack, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on March 4.

Governor: Russian cluster munitions attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast kills civilian. Russian forces struck the village of Rizdvianka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with cluster munitions, killing a civilian, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on March 4.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 1, injure 21 over past day. Russia targeted a total of nine Ukrainian oblasts — Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Kharkiv.

Authorities: 20 injured in Russia's deadly March 2 attack against Odesa. Rescue operations in the wake of the deadly attack that killed 12 people, including five children, concluded late on March 3.

Russian drone attack against Beryslav in Kherson Oblast injures man. The drone reportedly dropped an explosive device on Beryslav's streets in the morning, injuring the resident. He was hospitalized with a blast injury and shrapnel wounds, officials said.

General Staff: Russia has lost 417,950 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,150 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Call of Duty's Modern Warfare III whitewashes the Kremlin's crimes

“As someone who was in Kyiv when the full-scale war began, playing through Modern Warfare III is like experiencing an extreme form of surrealist humor, the kind that doesn’t elicit any laughs. I know people who are serving on the front and who have family members still living under Russian occupation,” writes Jason Wojnar in his latest op-ed.

Photo: Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images

International response

France invests 5 million euros in reconstruction of Chernihiv Oblast. Ukrainian officials signed an agreement with France to invest over 5 million euros towards the reconstruction of Chernihiv Oblast, Ukrainian infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov announced on March 4.

Ukraine, Spain start talks on security guarantees. Ukraine and Spain began negotiations on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees under the Group of Seven (G7) Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, the Presidential Office reported on March 4.

Euractiv: European Commission wants Ukraine to join EU’s defense industry support scheme. The European Commission wants Ukraine to become a full member of the EU’s defense industry support scheme, which would help use the country’s military experience and bring Kyiv closer to EU accession, Euractiv reported on March 4, citing a draft proposal.

Tusk: Poland to ask EU to sanction Russian, Belarusian agricultural products. Poland plans to ask the EU to impose sanctions on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and foodstuffs, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on March 4.

Hungarian FM: Conditions not yet ripe for Zelensky-Orban meeting. In late January, Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said Ukraine was working to organize an official Orban’s visit, the first in 14 years.

Shmyhal: Poland's border disputes with Ukraine influenced by pre-election struggle, no blocking of critical cargo recorded. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal pointed out that economically, the ongoing trade disputes and border blockade cost Poland more than Ukraine. Only 5% of Ukrainian agricultural exports are transported by road, with 90% being shipped out via maritime routes, he noted.

Russian media: Moscow summons German ambassador following alleged leaks. The ambassador's summons is related to an alleged leaked recording of talks between high-ranking German military officials about the possible delivery of Taurus long-range missiles, the agency claims.

Deputy PM: Ukraine expects EU accession negotiation framework 'no later than March 12.' Ukraine expects the European Commission to present a negotiation framework for Kyiv's accession to the EU "no later than March 12," Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said, as reported by the media on March 4.

WSJ: US chips flow to Russia from China via Central Asian routes. Russia is increasing imports of sanctioned dual-use goods like drones or U.S.-made computer chips from China via Central Asian trade routes, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on March 4.

France releases list of aid donated to Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. The newly published list of 50 items includes 30 Caesar self-propelled artillery systems, 38 AMX10 armored fighting vehicles, 250 VAB armored vehicles in various modifications, 160 drones, and 10 drone-detecting systems.

In other news

Albania reopens communist-era air base after $54 million NATO refurbishment. Kucova air base in Albania reopened on March 4 after undergoing a 50 million euro ($54 million) NATO refurbishment, making it the region's largest NATO tactical air base.

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