The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of a Russian artillery strike against Nikopol, Ukraine, on April 17, 2025. (Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke for the Kyiv Independent)

Top Ukrainian officials arrive in Paris for talks with European, US officials. Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrived in Paris on April 17 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and meet visiting U.S. officials.

Ukraine seeks US support in regaining control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, joint energy projects. Ukraine seeks U.S. support in regaining control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and launching joint energy projects, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on April 16, Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform reported.

Ukrainian drones attack Russian brigade linked to Sumy strike for second day in row, sources say. Shuya’s residents reported explosions in the early morning hours of April 17, with local authorities issuing a drone alert. Footage shared online shows explosions and a fire in the area.

Ukraine repels Russian offensive near Pokrovsk, killing 200 Russian soldiers, Zelensky says. According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces killed around 200 Russian soldiers and injured 30 others, as well as destroyed 115 units of Russian military equipment.

Ukraine, US may sign minerals deal on April 24, Trump says. “We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday, next Thursday,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 17.

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Russia may attack Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of Easter, Zelensky says. “We know what Russia is preparing for. Now, ahead of Easter, and after it, new Russian attacks are possible,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “We will continue to defend our country, our energy sector.”

‘This is a murder’ – Zelensky rebukes Trump for calling deadly Sumy strike a mistake. President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted on April 17 to U.S. President Donald Trump’s characterization of a deadly Russian missile strike on Sumy as a “mistake,” pointing to the deliberate nature of the strike that killed at least 35 civilians.

Ukrainian forces liberate 16 square kilometers near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi says. Ukrainian forces have liberated approximately 16 square kilometers of territory near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in recent weeks, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 17.

Ukraine’s central bank leaves key policy rate unchanged at 15.5%. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has kept the interest rate on hold at 15.5% after raising the key policy rate three times since the beginning of 2025, it announced on April 17.

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Ukraine war latest: China provides weapons to Russia, Zelensky says.

China is supplying weapons to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 17, days after Ukrainian soldiers captured Chinese nationals fighting for Russia’s army.

“Today, we have general information from the Security Service (of Ukraine), from intelligence about gunpowder, artillery,” Zelensky said during a briefing in Kyiv.

Photo: Contributor/Getty Images

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‘Territories are first and foremost people:’ Zaporizhzhia, Kherson residents anxiously watch Witkoff debate the land they live on.

“I want every person in power, when talking about territories, to realize that territories are, first and foremost, people,” said Olena Hubanova, co-chair of the charity “Helping to Leave,” which works to evacuate and reintegrate Ukrainians displaced by the war.

Photo: Yevhenii Vasyliev / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

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Human cost of Russia’s war

Russian ballistic missile attack on Kharkiv kills 1, injures 54. A Russian missile strike on Kharkiv killed one person and injured at least 40 others, including a child, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on Telegram.

Russian shelling of Nikopol kills 2, injures 5. The attack caused a fire to break out in the city. According to Governor Serhii Lysak, a shop, a cafe, several houses, outbuildings, cars, and a bus stop were damaged.

5 killed, 68 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day. Russia launched 75 drones, including Shahed-type drones, two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and three S-300/400 anti-aircraft guided missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

International response

UK to support Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Telegraph reports. The United Kingdom would support a potential German decision to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, the Telegraph reported on April 16, citing an undisclosed British foreign policy official.

EU fails to agree on sanctions on Russian LNG, Reuters reports. The EU has shelved the idea of banning Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) imports due to opposition from some members and uncertainty about alternative supplies, Reuters reported on April 16.

Paris talks on Ukraine signal European role in ceasefire negotiations, French FM says. Ceasefire talks among European, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials for the first time signal Europe’s role at the negotiating table, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Paris on April 17.

French court enforces $5 billion Crimea damages award against Russia in Naftogaz case. The decision allows Naftogaz to begin legal recovery efforts in France, including seizing Russian state assets to satisfy the award.

Germany bars Russian, Belarusian envoys from WWII anniversary session. The decision reflects growing dissatisfaction in Berlin with the way Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to manipulate the legacy of the war to justify Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In other news

Czechia independent of Russian oil for first time in history. Prague cast off its dependence on Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline for the first time in over 60 years, securing alternative supplies thanks to the expansion of the western Transalpine Pipeline (TAL).

Putin praises Musk as visionary, likens him to Soviet-era space icon Korolov. “You know, there is such a person, he lives in the States, (Elon) Musk, who, you could say, raves about Mars,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Klitschko’s deputy charged over illegal border crossings scheme. Multiple Ukrainian outlets have reported that the official in question is Volodymyr Prokopiv.

Trump’s DC attorney pick made over 150 appearances on Kremlin propaganda outlets. U.S. President Donald Trump’s candidate for the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, appeared more than 150 times on Russian state-run propaganda outlets RT and Sputnik between 2016 and 2024, the Washington Postreported on April 16.

Kremlin to reportedly use seized US food company to supply Russian military. The Kremlin plans to use the American-owned food company Glavproduct, which it seized in October 2024, to supply canned goods to Russia’s military, Reuters reported on April 17, citing internal documents.

Meloni, Trump meet in Washington, discuss Ukraine ceasefire, US tariffs. “We have been defending the freedom of Ukraine together,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

Finland investigating attempt to smuggle sensitive nuclear documents to Russia. Finnish Customs is investigating a suspected attempt to violate EU sanctions after discovering nearly 30 boxes of sensitive documents related to nuclear power plant construction that were allegedly bound for Russia, Finnish authorities said on April 17.

Russian Supreme Court removes Taliban from list of banned terrorist organizations. Russia’s Supreme Court removed its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization, Russian state-controlled news agency TASS reported on April 17.

Well-known journalist, media producer hospitalized after stabbing in Kyiv. “Yurii Makarov is currently hospitalized in a serious condition. But danger is no threat to his life,” Suspilne said in a statement, adding that the police have launched a criminal investigation.

Russian ruble becomes top-performing currency amid Trump trade war, peace hopes. According to Bloomberg’s calculations, the ruble has appreciated by 38% against the dollar in the over-the-counter market since the start of the year, outpacing gold’s 23% rise.

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