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The Russian army has launched an overnight barrage of drones on Ukraine's Dnipro and Kharkiv
resulting in at least one death and around 50 injuries
The enemy has launched a massive attack on the city," the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region
The attack mostly struck residential infrastructure
Russian troops also launched at least 15 Shahed drones towards Kharkiv
the head of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office Spartak Borisenko said
At least 13 emergency medical teams were deployed to help the injured
mostly residential buildings were damaged in the attack
"Russian drones continue flying in the skies over Ukraine all morning," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on social media platform X
The Ukrainian leader urged global leaders to maintain pressure on Russia
and called for "strong additional sanctions that will actually work."
that forces Russia to cease fire and end the war
from everyone in the world who believes there is no place for war on this planet," he added
Russia's air defence said they destroyed 91 drones launched by Ukraine overnight
Acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram that three people were injured
Several residential houses and a kindergarten were damaged
Ukraine also targeted a Russian weapons factory in Murom
US President Donald Trump told ABC that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "wants peace" in Ukraine
It came mere days after he expressed doubts about Putin's "conciliatory" intentions
Asked by an ABC reporter if he believes the Russian president wants to end the war in Ukraine
"His dream was to take over the whole country," Trump said
When asked if he trusts the head of the Kremlin
"We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war
Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said
(Updated: May 6, 2025 2:23 am)Drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims. Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway
The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce."
MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7
MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne
The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8
Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations
the regional military administration reported
"I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous
war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S
Putin's Victory Day truce "doesn't sound like much
if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5
Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion
head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote
and the candidate from the ruling coalition
"It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington
which have been launched and are now ongoing," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said
set to operate within the Council of Europe
will focus on Russia's political and military leaders
up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed
The move represents an apparent violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions passed in the wake of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests
(Updated: April 17, 2025 7:45 am) • 2 min readby The aftermath of a Russian drone attack on Dnipro
(Borys Filatov/Telegram)Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated
Three people have been killed and 30 have been injured in Dnipro amid a Russian drone attack late on April 16
Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks in its war against Ukraine. Russia targeted Sumy in a deadly attack on April 13, killing at least 34 and leaving 117 people injured. European leaders condemned the Palm Sunday attack
describing it as appalling and "heartbreaking."
"The Russians killed a young girl in the Dnipro," Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said
adding that an elderly woman was killed in the Russian attack as well
"Wounded are being treated in hospitals across the city," Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov reported
and an 11-year-old child have been injured in the attack
One child was also killed as a result of the attack
16 patients are currently under medical supervision in hospital
Several fires engulfed the city, homes, educational institutions, cultural facilities, and cars have been damaged in the Russian attack
A Shahed drone nearly hit the Dnipro city hall, Filatov said in a Telegram post
The U.S. has led separate talks with Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia to reach a ceasefire. On April 6, Zelensky said Russia is rejecting an unconditional ceasefire because it wants to continue launching missile strikes from the Black Sea
Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S
Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms
Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent
He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto
majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography
Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto
He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent
Overnight Russian Shahed drone attacks killed one person in Dnipro on April 29-30 and injured at least 45 in Kharkiv and other cities in Ukraine
More than 100 air strikes lasting hours sparked multiple fires
Russian drone strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv overnight killed at least one person and wounded dozens of others
"The enemy launched a large-scale Shahed drone attack on the city," Dnipropetrovsk region Governor Serhiy Lysak said
my condolences to his family and loved ones."
"The worst destruction was in residential neighborhoods
Fires broke out in parts of the regional center
but firefighters have since brought them under control," Lysak said
along with a funeral service office and a passenger car," Lysask added
In Kharkiv, 45 people were injured, including two children, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said
Kharkiv city Mayor Ihor Terekhov earlier reported 16 strikes on the city and said 39 people had been injured
Ukraine's Air Force said it downed 50 Russian drones across the country overnight
Russia launched 108 drones at Ukraine overnight
Meanwhile, in Russia, three people were wounded in a drone strike outside the town of Rylsk in the Kursk region, Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said
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Trump’s outburst has, to some extent, reinvigorated European support for the war-torn country. But Zelensky’s recent statement that “Ukraine is ready to negotiate about an end to the conflict” suggests that he recognises how precarious the situation has become
In Trump’s address to the US Congress on February 4
and claimed that Russia was also ready for a truce
will have a stronger position at the negotiating table
the advantage is overwhelmingly with Russia
which is striving to press home its battlefield advantage and occupy as much territory as it can before a potential ceasefire
This is likely to mean a freezing of the conflict on its current lines of contact
But even this has not gone according to plan, as Russia has been steadily reclaiming the area, aided by North Korean troops
Recent battlefield developments reaffirm the ongoing stalemate. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) (as of March 4)
Russian forces continued offensives along various key strategic points in the east and south
While Russian advances continue to be slow
it’s a situation that could change quickly
particularly with the dramatic shutdown of US assistance
One of the key areas where Russia is now putting intense pressure on Ukrainian troops is in the Kherson oblast in the south of the country. Russian forces are reportedly attempting to cross the Dnipro river
aiming to establish footholds on the west (right) bank at four locations to allow them a clear run at the strategically important port city of Kherson
Russia has successfully negotiated river crossings during the three-year war, but this time, the situation seems more challenging. Recent reporting from the frontlines has described Russian assaults on Dnipro crossings as “suicide missions”
A high Russian body count is nothing new in this conflict
But why is Russia willing to sacrifice so many of its soldiers
particularly when the political prospects favour Putin and the Russians
Crossing the Dnipro will not be easy. Ukraine has tried and failed in the opposite direction on several occasions for example, in April and August 2023
The Dnipro is not only a natural barrier dividing the country into two parts. It’s also vital as a transport artery through the country and its dams provide energy
Now, as Prokudin observed, Russia is once again throwing its troops at the river. A series of assaults in December 2024 were successfully repelled
but things have changed even in the few months since
Ukraine is in an increasingly difficult position
Ukraine’s military is facing increasingly critical troop shortages and has a far smaller population to draw on than Russia – something which is beginning to tell
And each day seems to bring further bad news. The US decision to pause intelligence sharing will mean its forces in the field will be virtually deaf and blind and at the mercy of Russian attacks on their positions (although there is reason to believe the pause may be reasonably shortlived)
it’s an indication of the Trump administration’s determination to force Kyiv into a peace deal – whether or not it’s acceptable to Ukraine
At this stage it looks almost inevitable that Ukraine will be unable to reclaim all the territory it has lost to Russia since 2014
Its best chance may be to secure what it still does control and go all-out to prevent further Russian advances
One of the ways it needs to do that right now is to ensure Russia does not establish a foothold across the Dnipro river
This was reported in Telegram by the head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration Serhiy Lysak
“A massive UAV attack on Dnipro. There are several fires in the city. Private houses were damaged. So far, one person has been reported dead,” the statement reads
As reported by Ukrinform, during the day the Russian army attacked Nikopol and Synelnyk districts of Dnipropetrovsk region with FPV drones. Four people were injured, and there was destruction
While citing and using any materials on the Internet
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citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet
Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No
1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No
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Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421
Drone raid sparks blaze in Dnipro hotel and restaurant complex and injures 19; Ukrainian president says too early to judge Washington’s expanded proposal
A mass Russian drone attack killed four people
injured 19 and sparked a large fire in a hotel and restaurant complex and other buildings in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late on Friday
A high-rise apartment block and nearly 10 homes caught fire
Firefighting crews had brought the blaze in the hotel complex under control
with three of the injured in serious condition
“It is also now known that the enemy directed more than 20 drones toward the city
Ukrainian forces have staged a little-publicised incursion into Russia’s Belgorod region
just as Kyiv’s troops are losing their grip on the pocket of Russia’s adjacent Kursk region they captured last year
Several Russian military correspondents said on Friday that Ukrainian troops were inside Belgorod and fighting battles with Russian forces there
Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has confirmed the reports
though Russia’s defence ministry said 10 days ago its forces had thwarted five Ukrainian attempts to push across the border in Belgorod
Ukraine’s military said on Friday its air force had struck a border post in Russia’s Bryansk region
destroying military infrastructure in an area it had identified as the site of drone launches
The UN rights chief called for an end to the “horrific suffering” caused by attacks on civilians in Ukraine
“Recent weeks have seen intense activity around a possible ceasefire in Ukraine
which would be very welcome,” Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council on Friday
“Limited ceasefires that protect shipping lanes and infrastructure are a welcome step forward
What is most needed now is an end to the horrific suffering being inflicted daily in Ukraine.” Donald Trump has pushed for a ceasefire since returning to office in January
and is killing and injuring even more civilians”
“Casualty figures in the first three months of this year were 30% higher than the same period last year.”
Ukraine said Friday it had received back the bodies of 909 of its soldiers killed during battles with Russia
in the largest such repatriation in more than three years of war
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
said it was “grateful for the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross” and that the remains had been returned from the Donetsk
The EU’s commissioner for agriculture said the bloc expects to reduce farm imports from Ukraine when it renegotiates a trade deal with Kyiv set to expire in June
“Import quotas won’t remain the same as in this temporary liberalisation
there will be fewer imports,” Christophe Hansen told Agence France-Presse on Friday
referring to a deal struck after Russia’s 2022 invasion granting duty-free access to the bloc for Ukrainian agricultural goods
The International Monetary Fund said on Friday its board completed a review that would enable disbursing $400m to Ukraine to be channelled for budget support
Ukraine’s economy remained resilient despite challenging conditions
while adding that Ukraine’s economic growth – which slowed in the second half of last year – would see a continued slowdown in 2025 due to a tight labour market and attacks on energy infrastructure
(Updated: April 9, 2025 8:08 am) • 2 min readby The aftermath of a Russian drone attack against Dnipro
(Governor Serhii Lysak/Telegram)Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated
Russia launched a drone attack against the city of Dnipro on April 8
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported
Eight people remain hospitalized as of April 9, with one victim suffering light injuries and the rest being in moderate condition, Lysak said
A series of explosions occurred in Dnipro between 10 and 11 p.m
Drone strikes caused multiple fires throughout the city and damaged homes and vehicles
Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city, has served as a key logistics and humanitarian hub throughout the full-scale war. Russia frequently targets the city with missile and drone attacks. A large-scale drone strike in Dnipro on March 28 left four people dead and another 24 injured
Russia also launched a mass drone attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on April 8, causing casualties and damage. The attacks come as Moscow continues to refuse a U.S. proposal for a total 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
Kyiv has already said it is ready to accept a full ceasefire once Russia also complies with the terms
Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent
and playwright with an MFA from Boston University
Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a post on Telegram
commenting on the latest Russian drone attacks on Kharkiv
"Russian drones continue flying in the skies over Ukraine all morning
That is why pressure on Russia is needed – strong additional sanctions that will actually work
from everyone in the world who believes there is no place for war on this planet
we need additional air defense systems that will make Russia’s aerial terror impossible," Zelensky said
He also thanked everyone supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians
"I thank everyone who supports Ukraine and Ukrainians at this time
everyone who is preparing new sanctions against Russia for prolonging the war and defense packages for Ukraine to protect lives," Zelensky said
He recalled that late on April 29 and early on April 30
"Over 100 Russian attack drones overnight
375 attack drones since the beginning of the week
All those affected are receiving medical assistance
Rescue operations are ongoing at the scene
and a school – a total of 13 civilian sites in the city," Zelensky said
The strike also targeted civilian infrastructure
the strike targeted a mine building and damaged ordinary buses and cars
One person was injured," Zelensky said
the Russian military attacked Kharkiv with drones
Law enforcement authorities have opened criminal proceedings under Part 1
Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for war crimes
The Russian military used at least 15 Geran-2 drones
which attacked the city between 22:00 and 22:30
Moscow trying to improve its claim to entire Kherson region in time for peace negotiations
Russian forces are repeatedly trying to seize a foothold across Ukraine’s Dnipro River
dispatching troops on high-casualty missions to gain territory for future peace negotiations
according to the Ukrainian governor of Kherson region
Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces were trying to cross in four locations to justify their claim to the whole oblast
one of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow says it wants to incorporate
“Every single day they are trying to cross,” Prokudin said
that the Russian deputy commander told troops in the area that they had to force the river at any cost
though not all the soldiers are willing to do that.”
directly appointed by the Ukrainian president
said his understanding was that Russian soldiers had been told “they have to make the right [western] bank part of the negotiation” by capturing a village across the river
and the attackers were killed or injured almost immediately
“The Russians completely understand it is a suicidal mission,” he said
Documents recovered from soldiers showed that some were recent recruits while others had fought for more than two years in Ukraine
Russia had largely captured the Kherson region
which includes territory on both sides of the Dnipro River
but was forced to retreat from the west bank
in November 2022 because it was proving impossible to supply it
unilaterally announced the annexation of the entire region as well as three others
declaring in the Kremlin that people who lived in those regions were “our citizens for ever”
Kherson is particularly important because it straddles the mouth of the country’s main river
Before the war it had a population of about 1 million
but only about 155,000 remain on the Ukrainian-controlled side
with constant drone and artillery attacks continuing in the frontline regions
Those territorial claims have not been forgotten by Russia
which is trying to gain as much land in Ukraine as it can ahead of any peace negotiations
Though Ukraine has said repeatedly it will not formally surrender territory
the country’s leadership knows it is unable to win back much land on the battlefield
Prokudin said he thought Russia was trying to “tick a box” to show that “we are present on the right bank”
He added that the struggle had become particularly urgent as various peace negotiations began
the US began direct discussions with Russia
Russian offensives are taking place in four locations: across the marshy islands at the mouth of the Dnipro
a treacherous grey zone; the Antonivka road and rail bridges east of Kherson city; and beyond that
the latter of which is upstream of the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam
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The Kherson governor said he thought there were three possible future scenarios for the end of the war
including one where Zelenskyy was replaced by a pro-Russian president and the country ended up ceding territories to Moscow
meaning that “the borders of Russia would shift closer to Europe”
was one in which Ukraine received firm security guarantees from Europe and elsewhere as part of a negotiated peace settlement
but he questioned if Europe was ready to do so without the US
That left what he said was the “most probable” scenario – “a freezing of the conflict at the existing frontline”
though he feared that the danger for Ukraine there would be that it would allow Russia “time to regroup and restock ammunition”
Prokudin was in the UK to sign an economic partnership agreement with Lincolnshire council
Both Kherson and Lincolnshire are predominantly agricultural regions and the English county has a small Ukrainian population
having taken in 1,000 refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep
The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S
official — a shift in "the world order."Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all
a half dozen Ukrainian soldiers clambered down a ramp into a trench hidden under a forested hill near the Dnipro River
They pulled back curtains of camouflage netting
after the Greek goddess of victory," said the unit's leader
a burly guy who goes by the military call sign Grizzly
"It's a Soviet-made BMP-1TS that's been modernized."
Keeping full names secret is common protocol for Ukrainian soldiers
NPR agreed to use only their first names or call signs for security reasons
Grizzly said during the day his team uses improvised bunkers to keep their weapons hidden from Russian drones and artillery that operate from the far side of the river
using an updated cannon mounted on Nike's battered chassis — along with new navigation and targeting systems that allow them to work in darkness — they make raids along the riverbank
"It's performing really well," Grizzly said proudly of the mobile cannon
Nike and the men who crew it are with the 1st Battalion of the 40th Coastal Defense Brigade
They form part of a dangerously thin line of Ukrainian soldiers that stretches along the roughly 600-mile front in the country's almost three-year war with Russia
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has acknowledged the situation for Ukraine's military — trying to hold back Russia's advance — has grown "extremely
The mission along this section of the Dnipro River is to disrupt Russian operations that target the port city of Kherson and prevent amphibious assaults aimed at retaking the strategic city
Russian forces occupied Kherson in the early months of their full-scale invasion that began in February 2022. Ukraine liberated the city in November of that year
Still home to at least 60,000 civilians — down from 300,000 before the war — the city remains one of the most dangerous places in Ukraine
Russian troops shell neighborhoods daily and send drones laden with bombs buzzing over the streets
"Since the first day of this year alone, the enemy has attacked the region [with drones] about 650 times," Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Kherson's regional military government, said in a recent post on the Telegram social media app
While Russia and Ukraine often clash over control of islands in the Dnipro River
Moscow hasn't yet committed the number of troops
artillery and other support that military analysts say would be needed to retake the city
a former military commander and current member of Ukraine's parliament from the Kherson region with close ties to Ukraine's army and intelligence services
"We got information [in December] that Russia prepares their troops to attack us across the river," Kostenko said
"Some people from the [Russian occupied] side of the river called me and told me they saw boats and people training in a lake."
it's clear the Kremlin hopes to retake Kherson to help establish control of the Black Sea and to support military operations in southern Ukraine toward Odesa
While it appears Russia doesn't yet have enough artillery
boats or troops capable of mounting a full-scale crossing of the Dnipro
Kostenko said Moscow's decision-making is unpredictable
"[Attacking across] the river in winter is illogical
"But if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin makes a decision about capturing Kherson
The Ukrainian soldiers who patrol the riverbank on board Nike said they're ready if that happens
a middle-aged man who identifies himself as Yurii
showed NPR the shells — each as long as a human hand — chained together so they can be fed quickly into the cannon
These hit-and-run tactics are designed to harass the Russians while keeping Ukraine's dwindling reserve of experienced soldiers alive whenever possible
"Our job is to destroy the Russians and keep them from advancing and taking more of our territory — and we are getting that done," said the 1st Battalion's commander
"We look forward to the Russians trying to attack us," Karyi said
"It would give us a chance to destroy more of them."
Karyi symbolizes how hard-pressed Ukraine's military has become after nearly three years of bitter fighting against Russia's much larger force
Karyi is in charge of defending this section of the Dnipro front after being wounded twice while fighting elsewhere
Asked about his age and his ability to defend a city as crucial as Kherson
his men were making final preparations before setting out on the night's mission
their breath showing in the light of their headlamps
They carefully battened steel hatches and double-checked electronic gear designed to confuse Russian drones
which also have optics that make them capable of striking at night
its powerful engines echoing over farm fields
Asked if they believe they can hold the line here
saying he no longer gets the jitters driving into the darkness each night to face the Russians
"This is just what we do now," Grizzly said
NPR field producers Polina Lytvynova and Hanna Palamarenko contributed reporting for this story
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(Updated: March 29, 2025 3:13 pm) • 2 min readby Several fires broke out in the city of Dnipro late on March 28 following Russia's drone attack
(Ukraine State Emergency Service/Telegram)Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated
A Russian drone attack on March 28 killed four people and injured at least 24 in the city of Dnipro
sparking a large fire at a hotel and restaurant complex as well as 11 private residences
Regional Governor Serhii Lysak said three of the wounded are in critical condition
Several high-rises were damaged in the strike
Over 150 emergency workers and 40 units were dispatched to the site of the attack
A Russian drone attack on March 28 killed four people and injured at least 19 in the city of Dnipro
(Serhii Lysak / Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration)Dnipro
has served as a key logistics and humanitarian hub during the full-scale war
The city has been a frequent target of intensified Russian attacks
Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready to take such a step if Russia also agrees to the terms
Olena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent
where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent
Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper
as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018
Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv
Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months
The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia
ShareSaveCommentBusinessAerospace & DefenseRussian And Ukrainian Forces Battle Over Islands In The Dnipro RiverByVikram Mittal
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Vikram Mittal is a contributor who covers aerospace and defense.Follow AuthorDec 18
UKRAINE - APRIL 16: Ukrainian infantrymen from the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade ..
More train on amphibious operations on April 16
(Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)
Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting for control of the Kozatskyi and Kruhlyk islands
which are located at the river's mouth
since securing these islands would allow Russia to control access to the Dnipro River
and the retreating Russian forces destroyed several bridges across the river
Although Ukrainian forces later attempted to establish a bridgehead
they suffered heavy losses and ultimately abandoned the effort
UKRAINE - NOVEMBER 05: A man sails on a boat near an island in the middle of the ..
(Photo by Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Russian 61st Marine Brigade has been launching amphibious operations to seize the Kozatskyi and Kruhlyk islands
Gaining control of these islands would enable Russia to position artillery to control access to the river
The artillery could also provide support for bridging operations
allowing Russian forces to cross the river and attempt to retake Kherson
the islands lie within Ukraine's artillery range
and the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade are countering the Russian assaults
Neither side has yet to fully secure these islands
primarily rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs)
to ferry troops to the islands to launch rapid assaults
These boats allow for quick movement in shallow waters and are difficult to detect
The Russian boats have mounted weapon systems
including machine guns and grenade launchers
transforming these vessels into agile combat platforms
More train on boats to carry out combat missions on water
crossing the river and landing on the banks of the Dnipro on April 16
and Denmark have also provided watercraft that can be used to support this operation
Many of these boats are equipped with modern weapon systems similar to the Russians
UKRAINE - MARCH 29: Ukrainian military members of the air reconnaissance unit of the ..
More 406th Separate Artillery Brigade work with the Furia UAV to monitor the Dnipro coast on March 29
(Photo by Ivan Antypenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Ukraine has been developing a fleet of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to complement systems provided through foreign aid packages
they have developed the SeaBaby and Magura 5 USVs
which are equipped with a variety of weapon systems
Initially used for kamikaze-style missions
credited with destroying several Russian vessels
these drones now carry their own weapons and can engage both watercraft and aircraft
they also have the potential to be deployed in these operations
patrolling waterways and disrupting Russian assault elements
Ukraine's future will be profoundly shaped by who has control over the Dnipro River
If Russia secures the islands at the mouth river and maintains dominance over the river’s east bank
it would control access to the waterway and gain a critical staging point for future assaults on the west shore
Russia's efforts to capture these islands are being met with a determined Ukrainian defense
bolstered by technologies that could prove decisive in this conflict
Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration said the strikes damaged a hotel and restaurant complex
dozens of apartment and residential buildings
Russian forces continue to advance in the western part of Donetsk Oblast
They have seized more towns south and south-west of Pokrovsk and south-west of Kurakhove
where the Ukrainians have retreated to the north bank of the Sukhi Yali River
The seizure of Uspenivka junction de facto prevents Ukrainian soldiers remaining in areas cut off by the enemy from coming to their aid
Russian troops have also approached Velyka Novosilka from the south and south-west
they are a few hundred metres away from physically cutting the last supply route for the Ukrainian grouping in the area of this town from Zaporizhzhia region
Russia has established a bridgehead on the right (western) bank of the Oskil River north of Kupiansk
Fighting for the local road junction of Dvorichna is ongoing – the systematic expansion of this bridgehead (it is about 5km long) and the progress at Dvorichna indicate that the Russian landing attempts on the right bank of the Oskil in previous weeks were of a reconnaissance nature
aimed at testing the possibility of a landing
Removal of the bridgehead would require the Ukrainian command to draw on additional forces
which currently appears to be beyond the local capabilities of the defenders
Russia used almost a thousand shells over 40 minutes
The electricity supply to tens of thousands of the region’s residents was cut off and restored over the next 24 hours
more than a dozen guided aerial bombs are thought to have fallen on the city area
The shelling and bombing were most likely a cover operation
which allowed the Russians to retake their positions on the banks of the Dnipro in the area of the destroyed Antonivka (road) bridge
Russian forces also became active on the islands in the mouth of the Dnipro south of Kherson
These activities probably precede a diversion to the right bank of the river to recognise the potential of the defenders once some units have moved from there to the Kursk region
Russian troops have regained control of further villages in Kursk region
making it difficult to supply enemy units in the northern part of the areas they occupy
They have also seized further parts of Chasiv Yar and Toretsk
street fighting is expected to be particularly intense
Russia also made progress in other directions
with the exception of areas north of Kharkiv and Siversk in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast
are thought to have regained previously held positions south of the village of Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Russia carried out one of its most serious rocket attacks on Kyiv this year
It caused destruction in three areas of the city; one person was killed and 13 injured
Among the buildings damaged were six embassies (Albania
Some of the buildings were cut off from central heating
Targets included arms industry enterprises and the disused Zhuliany airport
elements of the Patriot system are deployed
The Ukrainian side gave contradictory information about the strike – the Air Force Command announced that Russia had used five Iskander-M missiles
and the damage was caused by falling debris
Kyiv’s Municipal Military Administration reported five Iskander-M ballistic missiles and three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with
the General Staff reported that on 20 December Ukraine destroyed only four cruise missiles
and that the enemy had used a total of 19 missiles that day
with more than just the capital as their target
The primary target of Russian drones and missiles remains the immediate rear of the Ukrainian military
Attacks included Kryvyi Rih (18 and 19 December)
which saw damage to central sewage collectors and the power grid
Damage to storage and energy infrastructure occurred in Kyiv Oblast (20 and 23 December)
drones also attacked airports in the western part of the country
mainly Starokonstantyniv in Khmelnytskyi Oblast
From the evening of 17 December until the morning of 23 December
Russia is thought to have used a total of 519 strike drones and 33 missiles
The defenders declared 292 drones and five to seven missiles down
and 215 drones were described as locally lost
Ukrainian drones and missiles struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov Oblast
they attacked Kazan in Tatarstan – hitting two high-rise buildings and the premises of one of the companies
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that a depot of components for the construction of Shahed-136 drones had been destroyed in the strike on Tatarstan
Also among the targets of Ukrainian drones
and according to some sources also ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles
were a chemical plant located in Kamensk-Shakhtinsk in Rostov Oblast (18 December)
and – without serious consequences – a fuel base in the Oryol Oblast (22 December)
ATACMS missiles fell on Rylsk in the Kursk region
they were targeting the headquarters of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade
the Ukrainians used between six and ten missiles
The Russians have publicised casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure
most likely the result of falling shrapnel from the downed missiles
Kyiv has received two Mi-8 transport helicopters and one Bell-412HP utility helicopter from Poland
Ukraine’s ambassador to Warsaw Vasyl Bodnar announced on 21 December
which come from the resources of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs (they were withdrawn from service in mid-2023 with the intention of being handed over to Kyiv)
will be sent to Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs for training
will not receive the F-16 fighter jets previously promised by Belgium until the end of the year (Le Soir reported on 18 December)
Among the reasons cited were delays in deliveries to the Belgian Air Force of the first F-35 multi-role combat aircraft
a shortage of spare parts for the F-16s and a lack of sufficient numbers of trained Ukrainian pilots
The UK will provide £225 million ($283.5 million) worth of military support to Ukraine
£92 million is to be used mainly for the purchase of drones of various categories for the Navy
£68 million for air defence (including radars and anti-drone systems)
£26 million for technical support and spare parts for previously delivered weapons
and £39 million for other purposes (including the maintenance of more than 1,000 electronic warfare systems designed to combat drones)
Denmark’s Ministry of Defence announced a 23rd military support package worth DKK 2.1 billion ($294 million)
The funds will go towards strengthening Ukraine’s aviation and air defence – including maintaining the country’s F-16 fighter jets
the Norwegian government announced a $232.5 million transfer to the UK-coordinated International Fund for Ukraine
These will be allocated in line with the money pledged by London: £115 million for Navy equipment
and £32.5 million for technical support and spare parts for previously delivered weapons
Germany has sent a previously promised sixth IRIS-T air defence system and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with ammunition to Ukraine
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on 20 December
the German defence ministry had announced the relocation of a heavy weapons repair centre from Slovakia to Germany
The decision was explained by the “complexity of operational processes” and differences in the interpretation of European customs regulations
had been in operation since 2022 and dealt with
MARS multiple rocket launchers and Gepard guns
the government in Bratislava announced an expansion of the repair base
Berlin is coordinating the repair of German-supplied armaments also in Lithuania (e.g
Leopard 2A4 tanks donated to Kyiv by several countries are being overhauled in Poland
Rheinmetall announced the conclusion of a contract with the German government for the overhaul of a further 20 Marder 1A3s for Ukraine
and – with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence – a contract for tens of thousands of modular artillery charges for 155 mm calibre cannons
deliveries are planned for the first half of next year
At the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Tallinn on 17 December
the leaders of its constituent countries agreed to provide Kyiv with €12 billion in military support in 2025
It was also reported that the nine JEF countries (led by the UK and Denmark
Norway and Sweden) have provided training for more than 50,000 Ukrainian servicemen since 2022
Russian hackers linked to military intelligence carried out a massive cyber-attack on the IT infrastructure of Ukraine’s justice ministry
The functioning of databases was paralysed and the hackers stated that they had destroyed all the data they accessed
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishina confirmed that the work of the Unified State Register (containing
legal persons and individual entrepreneurs or mortgage documents) had been suspended
the Ministry of Defence reported that all military electronic registers were operating without interruption
The exception is the inability to process requests (e.g
for deferment from military service) in the ‘Reserve+’ application
human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets indicated that Russian intelligence services are seeking to involve the families of prisoners of war in moves to destabilise the situation in Ukraine
they are delaying the exchange of prisoners
there have been cases where families of POWs have approached the Russian authorities directly
with the latter making further contact with the prisoner conditional on the implementation of intelligence activities
the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that communications from Russian forces confirming casualties among North Korean soldiers had been intercepted
it was discovered that more than 200 wounded servicemen from the country had been brought to a hospital in Moscow Oblast over the course of several days
South Korean intelligence reported that around 100 North Korean soldiers had been killed in the Kursk region and 1,000 were injured in various ways
The high losses are due to inexperience in fighting drones and unfamiliarity with the terrain where the military is involved in combat operations
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi referred to media reports indicating irregularities in the construction of fortifications
He acknowledged that in seven oblasts (including Zaporizhzhia) work on erecting military engineering facilities should be intensified
Lubinets negatively assessed the idea of lowering the mobilisation age to 18
He stressed that conscription of young men who do not yet have families or children would jeopardise the future of Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky once again noted that it was now more urgent to supply the army with Western weapons and ensure the training of soldiers
He added that Western demands to lower the mobilisation age are ”not very fair”
citing anonymous sources in the Ukrainian military
reported that staff shortages at the front have become so acute that the General Staff had ordered air defence units to transfer some personnel to infantry units
The staff dismissed the reports as unreliable
but acknowledged that such transfers – though small – are taking place
Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat stressed that ”Western air defence operators are not being diverted to the infantry” and that the occasional transfer of air defence personnel does not impact on its effectiveness
Ambassador Bodnar said that the Ukrainian Legion currently being formed had received more than 1,000 applications for service and that in November the first contracts had been signed and the formation of the first ‘squad’ had begun
He stipulated that he could not provide a specific number for the admissions as this was classified information
it was reported that the total number of applications for admission to the Ukrainian Legion in Poland had risen to 600
Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej
by The scene of the explosion which killed Yuriy Fedko in Dnipro on April 4
2025 (National Police)A Dnipro official has been killed
after their car exploded on the morning of April 4
adding the incident was being investigated as a possible terrorist attack
Yuriy Fedko, Head of the Left Bank Administration of the Dnipro City Council, was initially hospitalized but died several hours after the incident, national police said in a statement
The explosion occurred at around 7:40 a.m. local time in Dnipro
The cause of the explosion is currently unknown
Residents living near where the explosion occurred mistook it for the sound of Russian drones. Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city, is frequently bombed by Russia
"It was very loud, I was outside and thought the air defence system was working. I heard that some official was blown up," local resident Volodymyr told Suspline Dnipro
Another local resident claimed Fedko may have been warned of a possible attack "more than once."
the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor's Office are investigating the circumstances of the explosion
several possible scenarios are being investigated including an attack ordered by Russia to destabilize the situation in Ukraine
or a grievance stemming from Fedko's political activities
Borys Filatov Mayor of Dnipro said the attack "is being investigated by the best professionals."
"It is a matter of honor for all of us," he said
paying tribute to "my friend from back in student days."
Criminal proceedings have been opened under part 3 of Art. 258 of the Criminal Code (terrorist act)
A previous suspected terrorist attack in Dnipro killed 1 and injured on Dec
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The battle for control over the islands in the Dnipro River continues to escalate, with daily clashes reported, according to Andrii Chernyak, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Krym.Realii project
Andrii Chernyak emphasized the islands' critical role in shaping the broader frontline dynamics
"The situation on the islands remains extremely tense," Andrii Chernyak stated
"Controlling this area requires specially trained
Whoever maintains control over the Dnipro islands gains a significant tactical advantage over either riverbank."
sit in a precarious position between the right and left banks of the Kherson region
This area has effectively been considered a gray zone
where neither side has achieved full control
russian forces have made repeated attempts to seize these islands
aiming to use them as a staging ground to strengthen their positions on the right (western) bank of the river
Ukrainian forces have demonstrated resilience
Andrii Chernyak noted that Ukrainian troops are "firmly holding their ground" and are effective in shutting down russian attempts to reclaim any significant territory
The fighting for the islands reflects a broader pattern of operations along the Dnipro
Control over river crossings and adjacent territories has been a key element in both defensive and offensive strategies since the full-scale russian invasion began
With the Dnipro serving as a natural barrier
any side able to dominate these islands can threaten supply routes
As Defense Express previously reported, the Nemesis 412th Regiment's bomber drones have significantly altered the russian approach to overcoming natural water barriers
The deliberate destruction of key bridges and crossings has forced the adversary to abandon traditional methods and explore other tactics
russian forces resorted to using boats and small craft to navigate the rivers that stand as formidable barriers to their advance
a residential area in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro came under attack
“MSF condemns this Russian attack on a residential area
including the hospital where MSF ambulances refer patients
Our teams remain committed to providing aid in the region as long as needed,” says Thomas Marchese
MSF’s chief emergency coordinator in Ukraine
“This latest attack damaged over 20 apartment buildings
Among the impacted structures was Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro
one of Ukraine’s largest medical facilities
which MSF has been closely working with since 2022,” Marchese continues
This hospital serves as a lifeline for the sick and injured from frontline settlements
where access to specialised medical care is severely limited due to the ongoing hostilities
Critically wounded patients are brought here by ambulance
and displaced families from war hotspots such as Pokrovsk
complex treatment are transported to Dnipro
with MSF ambulance teams actively supporting transfers between hospitals
MSF teams report an alarming escalation in hostilities in Ukraine
with civilian areas increasingly coming under fire
MSF team has witnessed the attacks on Selydove
Kherson and the Okhmatdyt Children’s hospital
often woken by sirens warning of imminent attacks
The number of Ukrainians experiencing severe traumatic stress from living amid constant destruction grows by the hour
as there is rarely a safe space where patients can receive stable care
we operate mobile clinics providing essential medical and psychological support to people affected by the war
We also support hospitals overwhelmed by high numbers of casualties
MSF operates 18 ambulances near the frontline
dedicated to the medical evacuation of war-wounded patients
Statistics on patient referrals by MSF ambulances in 2024 so far:
With at least 164 people killed and 910 injured
the number of civilian casualties in March was 50 per cent higher than in February
and more than 70 per cent higher than the same period last year
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration (RMA), Oleksandr Prokudin, in an interview with The Guardian
Russian forces are repeatedly trying to seize a foothold across the Dnipro River
launching operations that result in heavy losses in an effort to gain territory ahead of future peace negotiation
Prokudin stated that Russian forces are trying to cross the river in four locations to justify their claims over the entire region — one of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow has declared its intention to "annex."
The RMA chief believes that Russian soldiers have been given orders to “to make the right bank part of the negotiation" by capturing at least one village across the river
Prokudin suggested that Russia aims to "tick a box" to show its presence on the right bank
thus strengthening its claim over the entire region
It is noted that Russian offensives are taking place in four locations: across the marshy islands at the mouth of the Dnipro
a treacherous grey zone; the Antonivka road and rail bridges east of Kherson city; and the villages of Lvove and Zmiivka
Russian forces attempted seven assaults on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions on the left bank of the Dnipro
Ukrainian forces liberated the right-bank part of the Kherson region
the left-bank part of the region remains temporarily occupied by Russian forces
This was reported on Telegram by the Mayor of Dnipro
"Hospitals in the city are providing aid to the wounded
the number of injured has already increased to 28 — four of them are children," the message states
The Mayor reported that recovery efforts are already underway in various parts of the city
A large amount of heavy municipal equipment has been deployed
the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration
reported that two people died and 16 were injured in the city as a result of the Russian attack
At least three people were killed in a Russian drone attack in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late on Wednesday evening
regional governor Serhiy Lysak said in a post on Telegram
of whom 16 were being treated in a local hospital
Several fires broke out as a result of the strike
damaging at least 15 buildings across the city
The attack came after Russia struck the city of Kherson earlier in the day with glide bombs and artillery
Russian forces opened artillery fire as rescue services arrived on the scene following the initial bombing attack
One person died and about nine others were wounded in the attack
residential buildings and civilian vehicles
Deadly Russian aerial assaults have escalated in recent weeks despite calls by US President Donald Trump for a ceasefire
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in the French capital Paris for talks with his European counterparts
Together with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff
they will discuss efforts to end Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine
Ukraine’s foreign and defence ministers and the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy are also due to take part in the discussions
This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) on Facebook
“The Russians took the lives of three people
including four children,” the statement says
Several fires broke out in the city due to the drone strike
A total of 173 rescue workers and 37 units of SES equipment were involved to deal with the aftermath of the attack
Later, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhii Lysak reported that the number of injured has increased to 30
“The massive drone attack has led to tragic consequences
Sixteen patients remain under medical supervision in hospitals — one is in serious condition,” he stated
around ten apartment buildings and the same number of private homes were damaged in the city
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Facebook
and firefighters continue to extinguish it
Partial damage occurred to a private two-story house and a garage
as a result of the attack by Russian drones
approximately 10 private houses were damaged in Dnipro
ITU Member MODUS X and the National Technical University “Dnipro University of Technology” have signed a memorandum of cooperation
The partnership aims to advance high-quality modern education
prepare young professionals for real industry challenges
this collaboration presents an opportunity to identify promising talent equipped to meet the demands of today’s IT and energy sectors
It also contributes to the growth of the company’s R&D and product development directions through fresh ideas
and student involvement in real-world technological solutions
This is not the first such initiative by MODUS X — the company has consistently cooperated with Ukraine’s leading technical universities
Previous memorandums have been signed with Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
and Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University
We see universities as full-fledged partners who
are shaping a new culture of education and innovation
This collaboration enables students to develop practical skills through real projects
while we get the chance to engage motivated young people and build strong teams for the future
The memorandum includes joint implementation of educational programs
and the adaptation of educational content to meet the current needs of the IT and energy markets
We strive to ensure that our students not only gain fundamental knowledge but also learn to solve real-world problems
Partnerships like the one with MODUS X help make education more relevant and our graduates more competitive in the job market
The signing of the memorandum with Dnipro University of Technology is another step toward building a resilient ecosystem where education
and youth work together to drive innovation and technological advancement in the country
MODUS X L&D team continues to develop joint educational initiatives
is introducing a special award category for..
This recognition highlights the expertise of ITU Member GlobalLogic in digital engineering — a blend of client interaction
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has launched the first online master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning..
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Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, shared the update on Telegram
while the others remain hospitalized,” he wrote
Earlier reports indicated that the attack caused a fire and claimed one life
enemy UAVs have been spotted in the region's skies