Thursday, April 17

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A weather-beaten flag of Ukraine flutters in the wind on the ruins of a house damaged by an overnight Russian drone attack on Odesa on April 16, 2025. (Nina Liashonok/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Russia has violated ‘energy ceasefire’ more than 30 times, Ukraine says. Russia has violated a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure more than 30 times since it was agreed in March, targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine, a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on April 16.

Italy transfers $28 million to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The funds are part of a broader 200 million euros (around $227 million) initiative co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Denmark to send unarmed soldiers to Ukraine for drone warfare training. The courses, expected to begin as early as this summer, will take place at training centers in western Ukraine and will not involve direct combat.

Russia arms ‘kamikaze’ drones with chemical weapons, Ukraine says. Russian forces have deployed Shahed-type “kamikaze” drones carrying toxic substances to attack Ukraine, the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said on April 16.

US shuts down office combating Russian disinformation, Rubio says. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on April 16 the closure of the State Department’s office responsible for countering foreign disinformation, citing concerns about free speech and the rights of American citizens.

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‘Significant progress’ — Ukraine, US to conclude minerals deal in ‘near future,’ Deputy PM says. “We have now agreed with the U.S. side to affirm this positive development by a relevant memorandum of intent — we are preparing a formal conclusion of the deal in the near future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said.

US softens demands on Ukraine minerals deal after Washington talks, Bloomberg reports. The Trump administration has reportedly lowered the payback it seeks under a minerals agreement with Ukraine from $300 billion to $100 billion.

Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal going ‘in a positive mood,’ Zelensky says. “When the teams are ready, they will present what they have worked out. So far, both sides have ended the meetings in a positive mood,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukrainian drones reportedly strike another Russian missile brigade linked to Sumy attack. Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade, along with the 448th Missile Brigade, was involved in a deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on April 13, which killed at least 35 civilians, Ukraine’s intelligence said.

Over 40% of Ukrainian forces’ weapons domestically produced, Zelensky says. “The trend is unchanged: Ukraine will do more and more (weapons) to guarantee its security — on its own and together with partners,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones reportedly strike another Russian missile brigade linked to Sumy attack

Ukrainian drones struck the Russian city of Shuya in Ivanovo Oblast on April 16, reportedly targeting military infrastructure linked to Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade, according to independent Russian media outlet Astra.

Photo: Oleksandr Magula/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

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Kyiv’s fate is shaping how Tehran plays the nuclear game

As Iran and the U.S. return to the negotiating table, the cautionary tale of Ukraine shapes Tehran’s strategy and deepens its resolve.

Image: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Trump’s Ukraine peace push is really about business — and Putin knows it

Trump is threatening to impose more sanctions to pressure Putin to accept a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. But if Putin leverages the right mix of demands and economic offers, he may be able to position himself as the one calling the shots.

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Human cost of Russia’s war

2 killed, 28 injured in Russian drone attack on Dnipro. Two have been killed and 28 have been injured in Dnipro amid a Russian drone attack late on April 16. Several buildings have been damaged throughout the city.

Russian forces executed unarmed Ukrainian POW in Donetsk Oblast, prosecutors say. Ukrainian prosecutors have launched a war crimes investigation after a captured and unarmed Ukrainian soldier was allegedly executed by Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on April 16.

3 Azov POWs sentenced to up to 24 years in occupied territories. Vladislav Ruchka, Andriy Yaroshinsky, and Dmytro Ihnatenko have been sentenced to up to 24 years in prison by Russian proxies in Donetsk.

Deadliest Russian attack on Sumy leaves residents in shock

International response

Trump officials ‘fed up’ with Europe’s efforts to strengthen Ukraine, Economist reports. The Trump administration officials are dissatisfied with European countries’ ongoing support for Ukraine, underscoring the growing rift between Washington and Europe, the Economist reported on April 15, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.

North Korea earns over $20 billion aiding Russia’s war effort, report says. A South Korean think tank suggests North Korea prefers “in-kind and technical assistance” that enhances its own defense industry and supports its long-term strategic goals.

Kyiv doesn’t rule out North Korean participation in Russia’s assault on Sumy, Kharkiv oblasts. Roughly 5,000 North Korean soldiers have already been killed or injured, but 6,000 remain in Russia’s Kursk Oblast and are likely to be used in new assaults, Ukrainian intelligence said.

Hungary should decide on Ukraine’s EU bid via referendum, Orban’s rival says. Hungary’s opposition leader, Peter Magyar, has positioned himself in contrast to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s policies, promising to reset Hungary’s foreign relations and end what he calls the government’s isolation from the West.

Rubio, Witkoff to travel to France this week for Ukraine talks. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Paris later this week for high-level meetings on ending the war in Ukraine, the U.S. State Department said on April 16.

EU confirms discussions on possible deployment of ‘military advisors’ to Ukraine. The European Union is considering sending “military advisors” to Ukraine to organize training for the Ukrainian military, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said on April 16 at a press briefing in Brussels.

India targets traditional Russian arms customers with cheap loans, Reuters reports. India is developing a new strategy to boost its defense exports, offering long-term, low-cost loans through its state-owned Export-Import Bank to foreign buyers, including those traditionally reliant on Russian arms, Reuters reported on April 16, citing officials familiar with the plan.

Trump extends US sanctions on Russian ships for another year. “I am continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the Russian Federation and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of Russian-affiliated vessels to United States ports,” a U.S. Federal Register document says.

Duda dismisses threats against Poland, Baltics as Russian disinformation. “Russia, which is behaving aggressively towards NATO and implementing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, has been attacking Ukraine for three years,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said.

In other news

Bulgaria backpedals on nuclear reactor sale to Ukraine. Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and chairman of the co-ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Atanas Zafirov, announced the news, arguing that Sofia needs to develop its nuclear energy capacities.

Russia jails 4 journalists over alleged work with Navalny’s foundation. The case concerned Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Krieger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov, who were said to be producing video content for Navalny-affiliated YouTube channels, including the Navalny Live platform.

Russia sees record number of military criminal convictions in years. The surge in convictions in 2024 marks a 76% year-over-year increase, reflecting growing internal discipline issues within Russia’s armed forces during the country’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Number of fires at Russian railroads increases in March, military intelligence says. “The fight against the supply of ammunition and military equipment to the Russian occupation army by rail continues,” Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) said on April 16.

Ex-deputy head of Presidential Office charged with new offenses, including money laundering, bribery. A former deputy head of the Presidential Office was charged with money laundering and taking a particularly large bribe, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (NABU) said in a statement published on April 16.

Former Kursk Oblast governor arrested for embezzlement in Ukraine border fortifications. Former Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov and his deputy Alexei Dedov are accused of embezzling over a billion rubles ($12 million) from the budget allocated to the Kursk Oblast Development Corporation for the construction of fortifications on the border with Ukraine.

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