Editor’s note: The story is being updated. The article includes graphic content.

A Russian drone attack against the town of Marhanets in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the morning of April 23 killed at least nine people and injured at least 30, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

The drone hit a bus carrying employees of a company, Lysak said.

The full extent of damage and casualties is being determined.

Marhanets, a town with a pre-war population of 45,000, lies in the southern part of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, close to the destroyed Kakhovka Reservoir and Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns even as Kyiv proposed a 30-day truce on strikes against civilian infrastructure.

Chief diplomats of the U.K., France, Ukraine, and Germany have suspended their plans to attend the talks in London on how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, Sky News reported on April 23.

The news comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also backed out of the meeting after Kyiv rejected an alleged U.S. plan to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea as part of a peace deal.

This effectively downgrades the level of the April 23 meeting, which will instead be led by other senior nationals. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is nevertheless expected to visit London and separately meet his U.K. counterpart, David Lammy, Sky News reported.

The U.S. was reported to present Ukraine with a ceasefire proposal during talks in Paris on April 17, which included the legal recognition of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, under Russian occupation since 2014.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out such a move, stressing the territory remains Ukraine’s sovereign soil and the recognition of Russian occupation would violate the Constitution.

Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “game."

The rejection comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned he would abandon peace efforts unless there is tangible progress.

According to Axios, the U.S. delegation in London will be led by Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Kyiv reportedly hopes to discuss a 30-day ceasefire proposal during the meeting, rather than Trump’s broader peace plan.

The Financial Times also reported that Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, a claim disputed by the Kremlin’s press office.

Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

Key developments on April 22: * Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast * Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports * Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ * Russia used Easter truce to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Russia has lost 944,270 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on April 23.

The number includes 1,210 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,691 tanks, 22,307 armored fighting vehicles, 45,621 vehicles and fuel tanks, 26,774 artillery systems, 1,368 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,141 air defense systems, 370 airplanes, 335 helicopters, 33,526 drones, 3,148 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

Key developments on April 22: * Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast * Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports * Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ * Russia used Easter truce to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

A Russian court in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast sentenced two residents to 14 years in a general regime penal colony, for alleged “treason” over fund transfers to the Ukrainian military, Russian state media TASS reported on April 22.

The press release identified the convicted women from Energodar by name and initials: L.A. Kachkareva and S.N. Dolgopolova.

The women were detained in December 2023 and, according to Russian authorities, confessed in court and expressed remorse for their actions.

Prosecutors claimed that one of the women transferred around 5,000 hryvnias ($120) to a foreign bank account allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence services since January 2024.

The second woman reportedly sent 2,400 hryvnias ($57) from her mother-in-law’s account to Ukraine’s Armed Forces in May 2023.

In a video published by Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, one of the women explained she had transferred only small amounts, 100–200 hryvnias ($2-5), after seeing a donation appeal on an entertainment channel.

“I was just watching an entertainment channel, and there was a bill. They asked for repairs, for help,” she said.

The case reflects Russia’s broader efforts to prosecute Ukrainians in occupied territories, as part of an expanding crackdown since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Since 2022, authorities have escalated arrests, prosecutions, and harsh prison sentences, frequently targeting individuals accused of “discrediting” the Russian military, committing “treason,” or allegedly acting as “foreign agents” for other states.

Russia frees woman jailed over charity gift to Ukraine in prisoner swap with US, WSJ reports

Moscow released Ksenia Karelina, a U.S.-Russian dual national accused of treason for allegedly raising money for the Ukrainian military, the WSJ wrote.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted on April 22 in a national poll opposing Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, publicly sharing photos of himself marking “against” on the ballot.

The poll, announced by Orban in early March, officially launched on April 19 with ballot papers sent to Hungarian citizens, many of which explicitly encouraged them to reject Ukraine’s EU bid.

Orban criticized both Brussels and Hungary’s opposition Tisza party for supporting Ukraine’s membership, claiming it would harm Hungary’s economy and sovereignty.

“This will destroy the Hungarian economy. We won’t allow them to decide our future over our heads. I have already voted," Orban wrote on Facebook.

Orban has been broadly seen as the most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages for Kyiv.

Despite the government’s resistance, recent polling shows public support for Ukraine’s accession. According to the party of Magyar Tisza’s “Voice of the Nation” initiative, which received over 1.1 million responses, 58.18% of participants backed Ukraine’s EU bid.

A separate April 7 poll by the Republikon Institute also found a narrow majority of Hungarians in favor of Ukraine joining the bloc.

‘Not all Hungarians are Orban,’ say Ukrainians living in EU’s most pro-Russian country

Every time Daryna Koryagina enters her Budapest flat rented to her by a Hungarian friend, she sees the same sticker on a wardrobe inside the entrance. “Sorry about our prime minister,” it reads. The 33-year-old refugee and PhD student is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Switzerland will join the European Union in sanctioning eight Russian state media outlets, the Swiss Economic Ministry announced on April 22.

The 16th EU sanctions package, passed on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, targeted a number of Kremlin propaganda outlets in addition to imposing sweeping restrictions on Moscow’s banks, aluminum imports, and  “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.

Switzerland’s Economic Ministry issued a statement on April 22 announcing that it had taken steps to align with the latest EU sanctions.

“Eight organisations have been added to Annex 25 and the existing entries concerning 158 individuals and organisations in Annex 8 have been updated,” the statement reads.

The February EU sanctions targeted eight Russian outlets accused of spreading propaganda: Eurasia Daily, Fondsk, Lenta, NewsFront, RuBaltic, SouthFront, Strategic Culture Foundation, and Krasnaya Zvezda.

The Swiss sanctions against these outlets will come into force on April 23, 2025.

Switzerland has previously imposed sanctions against Russian media outlets in line with EU penalties, breaking with its historically neutral position.

While the longstanding policy of neutrality still prevents Switzerland from supplying Kyiv with military aid, the country has provided Ukraine with billions in economic and humanitarian support.

Switzerland has also said it would consider committing troops to a prospective peacekeeping mission in Ukraine after a ceasefire.

‘Not all Hungarians are Orban,’ say Ukrainians living in EU’s most pro-Russian country

Every time Daryna Koryagina enters her Budapest flat rented to her by a Hungarian friend, she sees the same sticker on a wardrobe inside the entrance. “Sorry about our prime minister,” it reads. The 33-year-old refugee and PhD student is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Kyiv has presented Beijing with evidence that Chinese citizens and companies have participated in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry reported on April 22.

The report comes less than a week after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that China is supplying weapons to the Russian military.

“I think we will be able to say in detail next week that we believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia,” Zelensky said on April 17.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgen Perebyinis shared evidence that Chinese citizens and companies are involved in the war in Ukraine.

The ministry cited the participation of Chinese nationals in combat in Ukraine alongside Russian troops and Chinese businesses' role in producing military equipment for Russia.

These matters “are of serious concern and contradict the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China,” the ministry said.

Ukrainian special services shared evidence of  allegations with the Chinese, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Perebyinis also called for China to “take measures to stop supporting Russia” in its aggression against Ukraine, and assured that Ukraine “values ​​its strategic partnership with China and expects that China will refrain from taking steps that could hinder bilateral relations."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on April 18 rejected Zelensky’s claims of weapons deliveries as “groundless," insisting that Beijing remains committed to a ceasefire. The same day, Zelensky announced sanctions against multiple entities based in China.

Although China has officially claimed neutrality with regard to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has deepened economic ties with Moscow, supported Russia against Western sanctions, and emerged as a top supplier of dual-use goods that feed the Russian defense sector.

Earlier this month, Ukraine captured two Chinese citizens fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that “several hundred” Chinese nationals are fighting on Russia’s side in the war.

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

A U.S. federal judge on April 22 ordered the Trump administration to restore all employees and contractors at Voice of America (VoA), saying the administration’s efforts to dismantle the outlet likely violated U.S. law.

As part of his administration’s wide-reaching funding cuts, U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to gut the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VoA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and ordered the administration to restore all employees and contractors to their news programs. The decision comes less than a month after a court on March 28 issued a restraining order to prevent the mass firing of some 1,300 VoA employees.

"(The administration) took immediate and drastic action to slash USAGM … without regard to the harm inflicted on employees, contractors, journalists, and media consumers around the world," Lamberth said.

“It is hard to fathom a more straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions than the Defendants' actions here."

Lamberth ordered the reinstatement of all employees and the restoration of VoA programming so that it can “serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news."

VoA is a government-funded media founded in 1942, broadcasting in almost 50 languages around the world.

Trump has denounced the outlet as “radical propaganda” and issued an executive order on March 14 slashing funding for USAGM. A week earlier, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) carried out an inspection of VoA that resulted in the dismissal of Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh.

DOGE is headed by billionaire CEO Elon Musk, who has called to “shut down” public media.

“It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of U.S. taxpayer money,” Musk said on Feb. 9.

DOGE’s efforts to reshape the government through dramatic funding cuts have faced ongoing legal challenges in U.S. courts.

Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

Key developments on April 22: * Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast * Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports * Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ * Russia used Easter truce to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will not attend upcoming peace talks with Ukrainian and European officials in London, the Financial Times reported on April 22.

Representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and France are scheduled to meet on April 23 to continue discussions on a potential ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The talks are an extension of last week’s peace talks in Paris.

Witkoff and Rubio were originally expected to attend, but have since pulled out, the FT reported, citing U.S. and European officials. U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg is still expected to attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, Witkoff is planning to  Moscow later this week, according to Russian state media.

Although Rubio and Witkoff have not disclosed the reasons for declining to attend the peace talks, Rubio’s absence was confirmed by U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on April 22.

Despite his position as Middle East Envoy, Witkoff has emerged as a key player in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, meeting three times with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff has stirred controversy by insisting Ukraine make territorial concessions to Russia — and often regurgitating Kremlin talking points justifying the occupation.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 14 that Witkoff’s position was at odds with that of Kellogg and Rubio, causing a rift in the Trump administration’s Ukraine strategy.

In Paris on April 17, the U.S. presented a draft peace proposal to Ukrainian and European officials. The proposal reportedly involved potentially recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership in exchange for a lasting ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected such conditions on April 22, reiterating that Ukraine will not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea under any scenario. Russia’s 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea is illegal under international law.

European officials have also expressed concerns regarding the U.S. peace proposal and questioned the motives behind U.S. efforts to end the war.

“There is a lot of pressure on Kyiv right now to give up on things so Trump can claim victory,” one official said.

The Trump administration has been accused of parroting Russian propaganda narratives and capitulating to Russian demands with regard to the war in Ukraine. Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has pursued a policy of resetting relations with Russia, at the expense of global credibility, international norms, and long-standing alliances.

Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports

This could be the first formal indication from Russian President Vladimir Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

The European Union will never recognize the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula as legally Russian, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on April 22.

Kallas' comments come in response to reports that the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory is being considered as part of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

“Crimea is Ukraine,” Kallas told the AFP.

“It means a lot for the ones who are occupied that others don’t recognize this as Russian."

Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, occupying the peninsula with troops and staging sham referendums to justify the seizure of territory. The move was widely condemned as a violation of international law. Kallas said it would be a mistake to reward Moscow’s land grab by including recognition of Crimea as part of a ceasefire deal.

“Then Russia clearly gets what they want,” she said.

Kallas said Washington should instead look to mount pressure on Moscow, rather than ceding to Kremlin demands.

“They have tools in their hands to use, actually, to pressure Russia. They haven’t used those tools,” she said.

“If they are now walking away without using the tools that they have actually in their hands, then my big question mark is, why? Why aren’t they using the tools to really end this war?"

While Europe has largely been shut out of the U.S.-brokered peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia, talks in Paris on April 17 brought Europe back to the table. U.S. delegates reportedly unveiled their ceasefire proposal during the Paris talks — and are expecting a response from Ukraine during follow-up talks in London on April 23.

Representatives from Ukraine, the U.K., France, and the U.S. will convene in London to continue discussions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has already ruled out recognizing Crimea as Russian.

“There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said on April 22.

Chechen scholar: Russia’s cowardly violence in Ukraine is driven by desperation

For most people today, the word Chechnya immediately brings to mind Ramzan Kadyrov, the authoritarian leader who governs the region as a loyal vassal of Vladimir Putin. It evokes images of a turbulent, fear-stricken state at the mercy of the Kremlin’s whims. Yet, Chechnya’s story is far more

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

For most people today, the word Chechnya immediately brings to mind Ramzan Kadyrov, the authoritarian leader who governs the region as a loyal vassal of Vladimir Putin. It evokes images of a turbulent, fear-stricken state at the mercy of the Kremlin’s whims.

Yet, Chechnya’s story is far more intricate. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya — like many former Soviet republics — sought independence from Moscow. This pursuit led to two brutal wars in 1994-1996 and 1999-2000 that devastated its population and left lasting scars.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaders like President Volodymyr Zelensky have drawn parallels between Russia’s tactics in Chechnya and Ukraine. Many see the war in Ukraine as part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression that has affected multiple nations and shattered countless lives.

This is why some pro-democracy Chechens – including those who have been fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russia — recognize that the outcome of the war in Ukraine could shape the prospects for Russia’s decolonization and the future of their own national liberation.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with Chechen political scientist Marat Iliyasov about the lead-up to the Chechen wars, their consequences for Chechnya’s cultural identity, and what lessons the world can take from this dark period as Ukraine’s future remains far from certain amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: How did the Chechen wars start?

Marat Iliyasov: The first Russo-Chechen war, which began in 1994, was the first armed conflict that Russia was directly conducting in the post-Soviet space. It was likely a harbinger of the resurgence of Russian imperialism.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was largely seen as a democratizing state. However, this war showed that wasn’t the case. Despite this evidence, many refused to believe in Russian imperialism. People wanted to hold on to the idea that Russia had shed its imperialist mindset, inherited from the Soviet Union.

The attack on Chechnya was likely meant to serve as an example to others seeking full decolonization, wanting to break free from imperial control.

Of course, Chechnya wanted to seek this peacefully. And even when war started looming, Chechen leadership at that time tried to prevent it. They made several attempts at negotiations, they tried to keep in touch with the Russian administration. However, the pro-war faction within the Kremlin was stronger at that moment, and they chose to begin rebuilding the empire.

This rebuilding started with Chechnya, which helped to formulate a frame that Russia used later in other wars. Putin used a very similar rhetoric before attacking Ukraine. Same as in Chechnya or Georgia, his “goal” was “to protect Russians.”

After the Second Russo-Chechen War, Russia was inspired by its success and continued with the attacks. Next came Georgia and then Ukraine. Indeed, if it worked for Chechnya, why should it not work for others? But what encouraged Putin even more was international silence. Chechens were left alone in their fight. Georgians were also sacrificed. Ukraine is receiving international help, but it is a question of how long.

What is important to realize is that the imperial mindset that had been ingrained in Russians during the Soviet times is still present. It was present even earlier, when Russia was mistakenly viewed by the West as a democratizing country, but everyone wanted to believe that it had passed.

Russia’s attacks on Chechnya serve as a powerful example for others. As we later learned, no former Soviet republic — aside from the Baltic states — has been treated as an entity deserving of its independence. Nearly all the countries that are recognized as independent today, including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and others, have faced the same denial of sovereignty that Chechnya did. Chechnya, in many ways, was the harbinger of what was to come.

The Kyiv Independent: Dhokhar Dudayev was president of Chechnya when the country declared its independence — in 1996, Russia assassinated him. What was he like as a leader? There’s this clip of him that went viral on Ukrainian social media, where he was saying decades ago that a war between Russia and Ukraine was inevitable. But I think most people don’t realize how important he was for Chechnya’s independence movement.

Marat Iliyasov: When Chechens were deported to Central Asia in 1944, the entire ethnic group was labeled as enemies of the people. Because of this stigma, they were later often denied promotions to high positions or any significant advancement.

Therefore, when Dzhokhar Dudayev was promoted to the rank of a general, it was a big deal for all the Chechens. He was the first Chechen to become a general (in the USSR). He achieved this rank within the Soviet Union, which was a remarkable accomplishment. While some other Chechens also rose to high positions, they remained loyal to the Soviet state. Dudayev, however, likely always harbored a nationalist mindset, seeing the Soviet Union as nothing more than an empire — something he understood all too well.

When the opportunity arose and nationalism began resurging across the Soviet Union, Dudayev chose to serve his people. He was a strong and respected leader, admired for his achievements, character, strategic mindset, foresight, and analytical abilities.

He understood the imperial mindset of Russia and its leaders very well. When he took over the leadership of the Chechen National Front and the independence movement, he made it clear what would happen next. He knew how the Soviet leadership thought and (how the Russian leadership) still thinks today. Nothing has changed since then. Dudayev saw the areas where Russia could exploit people’s vulnerabilities, and he pointed them out. He highlighted places like Crimea, Ukraine, and others, saying that these places will be exploited by Russia — and this happened.

It was not prophetic, and he was not a fortune teller, either. But he clearly saw Russia’s strategic goals and realized its capacity. He saw that Russia’s leadership did not change much. The same people who, just a year earlier, were part of the Communist Party and the Soviet elite — the so-called last empire — were still in power. They had simply changed their clothes and hats, presenting themselves as those willing to democratize Russia. But in reality, they weren’t seeking democracy. As Gorbachev famously called his policy, “restructuring,” they were pushing for changes that would help them rebuild their empire and regain power.

Dudayev was a symbol of Chechen independence and the fight for that freedom. Unlike many other leaders around the world, he didn’t run away or hide, when the war started. He had the opportunity to do so, but he didn’t shy away from war and this is something that makes every Chechen proud of him.

Similarly, Zelensky, who was also offered a chance to leave the country, stayed and fought. This deserves great respect. Both Dudayev and Zelensky chose to fight for their people, and that makes Chechens and Ukrainians proud.

The Kyiv Independent: Historically, under the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, anything that wasn’t Russian was often marginalized by the authorities and, during darker periods, even outright banned. In the context of the Russian Federation today and its control over Chechnya, how much is Chechen culture allowed to thrive, or is it still subordinated to Russian culture?

Marat Iliyasov: The situation in Chechnya is somewhat complicated. On the one hand, there’s a rigid framework imposed by the state — the Russian Empire’s influence — that can’t be openly challenged. Yet, to some extent, Chechen culture operates outside this framework. In some ways, Chechen culture has room to thrive.

One reason is that very few Russians remain in Chechnya, making it a largely homogeneous society today. To be clear, I’m not advocating for homogeneity in general, but this creates an environment where Chechens can freely use their language and express their cultural identity. This stands in stark contrast to the Soviet era when speaking Chechen was prohibited.

So in that sense, yes, Chechen culture does have room to grow. However, there’s another layer to consider: the restrictions imposed by local authorities that come alongside the overarching Russian influence.

It is important to understand that Russia and Russian interlocutors in Chechnya demand Chechen loyalty, but Chechen identity is largely built on resisting Russian imperialism. For over 200 years, generation after generation of Chechens have lost lives in the struggle for independence from the Russian Empire.

Almost every Chechen family, including the Kadyrovs, has suffered losses due to clashes with Russia. Everyone experienced losses during the deportations and the conquest of the Caucasus. This shared history shapes Chechen identity.

Every Chechen lost someone during the last two wars as well, and this collective trauma weighs heavily on the population. Meanwhile, Russia enforces a strict expectation of loyalty. But when Chechen identity is rooted in resistance to Russian rule, this creates an inherent conflict. So, what’s happening in Chechnya now?

To maintain power and secure their positions, Kadyrov and the local administration are actively reshaping this identity. The legacy of resistance built over hundreds of years is being redefined through Kadyrov’s rhetoric and oppressive measures. Those who don’t comply face punishment.

They’re putting significant effort into reshaping Chechen identity. A whole new generation is being raised with a different understanding of their roots. However, they’re not entirely succeeding. Many Chechens live outside the republic and offer an alternative perspective to those growing up inside. Those with a critical mind can easily spot the lies, and recognize what aligns with true Chechen identity and what doesn’t.

Religious authorities also promote this new narrative. Religion holds significant importance in Chechen culture, making this approach especially influential in reshaping identity.

Today, the Mufti of Chechnya and the entire apparatus of the Muftiate — mullahs, imams, and other religious authorities — promote a narrative along the lines of, “Look, you can practice Islam now. Isn’t this what you wanted? Kadyrov and Russia have provided this for you.”

Additionally, they’re using propaganda to undermine the idea of Chechen independence, highlighting how difficult it was during the times of leaders like Dzhokhar Dudayev and Aslan Maskhadov. Yes, it was a challenging period, and ordinary people certainly suffered — poverty was widespread, and the situation was tough. But in the post-Soviet era, it wasn’t much better anywhere.

Will these efforts succeed? It is questionable. Ultimately, it depends on the political situation. If Russia continues to dominate, if it wins the war in Ukraine, and if it maintains its empire, it’s possible that two or three more generations of Chechens could become loyal to Russia. After all, no one expected the collapse of the Soviet Union, and many didn’t think about disobeying it after four generations raised under Soviet rule.

But despite all of that, the seed of resistance, the understanding of true identity, remained. It was there in the Baltic States, in the South Caucasus, in Central Asia, in Ukraine, and in Chechnya. People knew who they were. And while the Soviet Union didn’t succeed, Russia is a much weaker state than the USSR ever was.

The Kyiv Independent: We know that there are Chechens currently fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russia, which is a very interesting example of how some Chechens are taking steps toward the decolonization of Russia. To what extent can resistance exist within Chechnya itself, beyond these passive efforts to preserve language and culture?

Marat Iliyasov: I believe a large portion of the population is unhappy and would support any form of resistance. However, Kadyrov is strong. He has built a powerful police force capable of suppressing any dissent. Everyone knows that those who oppose the Kadyrov regime will face severe punishment. As a result, those who want to resist often isolate themselves from their families, because Kadyrov’s system punishes the families of those who defy him.

For those who cannot live under the regime, who refuse to accept it, or who cannot bring themselves to comply, the psychological toll is immense. It’s incredibly difficult to endure the humiliation imposed by the regime. As a result, these individuals often try to separate themselves from their families, presenting themselves as lone rebels. This situation mirrors what happened during the final years of the Russian Empire, when people didn’t want to involve anyone who wasn’t brave enough or willing to sacrifice their relatives — or even their own lives. They chose to fight alone, as individual rebels against the Tsarist Empire.

Today, the situation is very similar, and the potential for resistance is significant. However, it can’t truly take shape due to the suppressive mechanisms in place. Dissent exists, but an actual fight is nearly impossible. One of the major factors at play is the knowledge that if Chechnya were to rebel against Kadyrov, even if such a rebellion were successful, Russia would intervene with more troops to support Kadyrov. This would effectively spark a third war in just three decades, which feels all too close.

People haven’t forgotten the suffering and loss they’ve endured. No one is willing to face that again — at least for now. However, once a new generation grows up without the same fear of Russia, there may be room for new leaders to emerge. Perhaps there will even be rebellion within Kadyrov’s inner circle. It’s hard to say what will happen, but one thing is certain: there is definitely an underground movement, and the waters are boiling.

The Kyiv Independent: President Zelensky, among others, has drawn comparisons between the Chechen wars and Russia’s actions in Ukraine today. To what extent do you agree with this comparison, and what lessons should we learn from the similarities?

Marat Iliyasov: Definitely. I don’t see a significant difference in tactics. Both situations involve attempts to first eliminate the leadership of so-called separatists. In Chechnya, for example, there were people presented as opposition to Dudayev, but they were essentially backed by Russia. Similarly, in Ukraine, (made-up) regions like “Novorossiya” were promoted as an alternative to (Kyiv), but this also failed to materialize.

Then, there was the attempt at a lightning war — a Blitzkrieg strategy — which didn’t succeed in either case. Both in Chechnya and in Ukraine, there’s a similar sense of desperation. It’s the desire to retaliate after failing to achieve success in a “decent” or “just” war. When you engage in a battle that’s not a secret, when you openly face off with each other, it mirrors the kind of duels that might have happened in the Middle Ages, where each side claims to be the strongest.

However, there was no fair fight. And when they lost, what followed was a desperate violence of psychologically unstable and inferior people, who cannot fight fairly. This violence manifested itself in the massacres in Bucha, Samashki, Aldi, and Mariupol.

I think this is driven by desperation, and in a way, it’s quite cowardly. When people can’t succeed in a direct confrontation, they resort to these tactics. This pattern repeats itself in both situations. Russian troops have used civilians as human shields to protect themselves, fearing open combat with Chechens. A good example of this is the 1995 hostage crisis in Budyonnovsk, orchestrated by Shamil Basayev. It was that very crisis that ultimately brought people to the negotiation table.

Chechens weren’t killing their hostages. Russians did it. But everyone remembers this attack as a terrorist attack. Yet, few remember how Russian forces used to take hostages from hospitals in Chechnya during the war. That’s rarely talked about, and no one is held accountable for it.

The final parallel is the war of attrition happening now in Ukraine, just as it did in Chechnya. Fortunately, Ukraine is a larger, recognized state with Western support, so there’s hope. So, as Dudayev predicted, maybe this will eventually bring an end to Russia’s imperial mindset, and perhaps even lead to a more democratic Russia.

That’s my hope, at least, though it’s hard to fully believe in it. But still, it’s something to hope for.

Note from the author:

Hey there, it’s Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading my latest interview. I remember seeing news about the wars in Chechnya when I was growing up in the U.S., but I was just a kid, too young to realize the gravity of what was truly happening. Talking with Professor Iliyasov and reading more about what happened, it’s so clear how Russia’s tactics to achieve their colonial ambitions never changed – breaking ceasefires that they themselves proposed, deliberty targeting civilians. It’s a tragedy what happened to the Chechen people, and we can’t let that happen to Ukraine to. Don’t let Russia’s long history of crimes be forgotten. It you appreciate reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent.

Decolonizing Russia — what it means and why it matters

Speaking to France’s National Assembly on April 11, Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza did not petition Europe for the Kremlin’s total military defeat. Yet, while answering one of the many questions posed to him, he talked about how a colleague supposedly learned that ethnic Russians find it “psychologically difficult” to

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Key developments on April 22:

• Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast
• Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports
• Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’
• Russia used Easter truce to regroup in Lyman sector, launched offensive after, military says
• Japan to provide Ukraine with geospatial intelligence, media reports

Explosions have erupted at a Russian weapons arsenal in Vladimir Oblast on April 22, causing a fire, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram.

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals, located about 530 kilometers (330 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the fire erupted at the site due to a violation of safety protocols when working with explosive materials. No casualties have been reported.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the creation of a special commission to investigate the incident.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry reported that a military unit, seven settlements, and 12 holiday villages had been evacuated due to the incident.

Independent Russian media outlet ASTRA reported, citing local residents, a powerful blast at the base, followed by continued secondary detonations.

Following the incident, roads leading to the nearby town of Kirzhach from Moscow were closed. According to Russian state-controlled media outlet Kommersant, Russian authorities ordered evacuations from the settlements of Barsovo and Mirny.

Vladimir Oblast Governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed the explosions but warned journalists and residents against spreading information about the incident before "verified official data" is released, threatening fines for violations.

Analysis of imagery from the facility suggests that the arsenal stored a wide range of weapons, including medium-caliber artillery shells and missiles for anti-aircraft systems, Militarnyi reported.

According to Militarnyi, the facility also housed a laboratory for monitoring the condition of artillery propellants and explosives, as well as workshops equipped to test high-tech weapons systems.

In addition to specialized equipment, the 51st Arsenal and similar bases under the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate are believed to store large stockpiles of heavy artillery shells, munitions for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and small arms ammunition.

The facility has a history of similar incidents. On June 22, 2022, a detonation of ammunition occurred during unloading operations, killing three servicemen and a civilian specialist and seriously injuring another.

Russian bombs kill 1, injure 23 in Zaporizhzhia amid Kyiv’s calls for civilian infrastructure truce

Russian forces attacked the city at around 11:40 a.m. with two KAB bombs, with one hitting an infrastructure facility and another a multi-story residential building in Zaporizhzhia’s residential neighborhood, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 22, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks.

Putin reportedly conveyed the offer during a recent meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. This could be the first formal indication from Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responding to the report, cast doubt on its accuracy. "A lot of fakes are being published now, including those published by respected publications, so one should only listen to primary sources," he told the Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti.

Russia illegally declared ownership over Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and over Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, in violation of international law. Russia only partially occupies the four oblasts.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded international recognition of the regions as Russian and that Ukrainian troops completely withdraw from them as part of any peace negotiations.

Putin's message reportedly prompted Washington to propose a "peace settlement," elements of which have since been revealed in media reports, according to the FT.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. proposal — presented in a confidential April 17 meeting in Paris — involves potentially recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership.

Ukraine has been asked to respond this week, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in London on April 23 involving delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., and France. If the parties reach a consensus, the proposal may be formally introduced to Moscow.

European officials cited by the FT expressed concern that Putin's offer is designed to push U.S. President Donald Trump toward accepting broader Kremlin demands.

Witkoff, who conveyed Putin's position and is expected to visit Moscow this week, has drawn criticism for backing proposals perceived as aligning with Russian interests.

Washington has signaled that if no progress is made in the coming days, it may abandon its ceasefire mediation efforts.

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

Zaporizhzhia — During what would usually be evening rush hour in Zaporizhzhia, cars move easily through main streets that were once choked with traffic. As the shadows grow longer, soldiers calmly remove camouflage netting from the air defense weapons they’ll man against Russia’s deadly attacks until the sun rises

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin's 'game'

Ukraine will not legally recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea under any circumstances, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a briefing in Kyiv on April 22.

"There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine," the president told reporters.

Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin's "game."

"As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war – because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly," he added.

While acknowledging that signals about Crimea have surfaced in different channels, Zelensky said Ukraine would reject immediately any official proposal.

"We know where these signals are sounding and will continue to sound," he said, adding that he was unsure whether they originated from Russia or certain U.S. representatives engaged in dialogue with Putin.

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On April 14, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that a potential peace deal could center on the status of five territories.

While he did not name them explicitly, he is believed to be referring to Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, along with the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation going to London will have a mandate to discuss terms for a full or partial ceasefire with Russia. Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format but only after an unconditional halt to hostilities, he added.

Zelensky also stressed that sustained international pressure — especially from the United States — is necessary to reach a meaningful settlement.

"We've been at war for over 11 years," Zelensky said. "Is it possible to reach an agreement with Russia quickly? No, it is not. It is impossible without pressure."

Despite expressing frustration over Russia's refusal to de-escalate the war, U.S. President Donald Trump has so far avoided imposing any major sanctions or taking punitive action against Moscow.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russia used Easter truce to regroup in Lyman sector, launched offensive after, military says

Russian forces in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast violated the one-day Easter ceasefire, used it to regroup, and launched a large-scale infantry assault shortly after its end, Anastasiia Blyshchyk, spokesperson for Ukraine's 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, told Suspilne media on April 22.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a symbolic one-day ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated around 3,000 times.

"This so-called truce did more damage to us," Blyshchyk said. "A few hours after Putin announced the ceasefire, our positions came under massive artillery fire."

According to the spokesperson, Russian forces exploited the lull to reposition units and prepare for renewed assaults.

"We saw them pulling up their infantry to the front line along with weapons, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns," she said.

"Our aerial reconnaissance recorded more than 120 Russian occupiers dispersing in plantations, forest belts, destroyed buildings, and dugouts during the so-called Easter truce."

Blyshchyk added that once the truce ended, Russian forces launched a large-scale infantry offensive.

The Lyman sector in northern Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most fiercely contested areas along the front line. Its strategic importance lies in its proximity to key transport routes and logistics corridors.

The assault follows statements from Ukrainian military leadership that Russia's anticipated spring offensive is already underway.

On April 9, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Moscow had begun its spring campaign, with intensified attacks across multiple sectors of the front line.

Our readers’ questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8

Editor’s note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here’s what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: Is Ukraine formulating a plan to receive and house refugees from

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Japan to provide Ukraine with geospatial intelligence, media reports

Japan's Kyushu University Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) has agreed to provide Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, Intelligence Online magazine reported on April 21.

Japanese and Ukrainian authorities reportedly began discussing possible support in February, with the talks gaining urgency after the U.S. temporarily paused intelligence assistance for Kyiv in early March.

iQPS, which plans to launch its seventh SAR observation satellite by late 2026, agreed with Kyiv on a timeline of two to three months to install relevant software onto Ukrainian intelligence's platforms, the magazine wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.

SAR technology, which can recreate two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of landscapes or objects, has broad military applications. It can help track enemy movement and installations regardless of weather conditions.

Ukraine receives intelligence support from other partners, including France and the U.K. Nevertheless, the U.S.-imposed pause underscored its critical role in military planning, namely in launching long-range strikes and intercepting Russian aerial attacks.

Washington claimed its halt on intelligence support, which coincided with the freezing of arms supplies, extended only to offensive operations. While the U.S. resumed the assistance after progress in ceasefire talks, the move ramped up concerns about further cuts in the future.

Ukraine's military heavily relies on Starlink, a communications system owned by Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump's close ally and critic of military aid to Kyiv. French satellite operator Eutelsat pledged to scale up its operations in Ukraine but said it could not currently replace the 50,000 Starlink terminals operating in the country.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 22, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks.

Putin reportedly conveyed the offer during a recent meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. This could be the first formal indication from Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responding to the report, cast doubt on its accuracy. “A lot of fakes are being published now, including those published by respected publications, so one should only listen to primary sources,” he told the Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti.

Russia illegally declared ownership over Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014 and over Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, in violation of international law. Russia only partially occupies the four oblasts.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded international recognition of the regions as Russian and that Ukrainian troops completely withdraw from them as part of any peace negotiations.

Putin’s message reportedly prompted Washington to propose a “peace settlement,” elements of which have since been revealed in media reports, according to the FT.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. proposal — presented in a confidential April 17 meeting in Paris — involves potentially recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership.

Ukraine has been asked to respond this week, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in London on April 23 involving delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., and France. If the parties reach a consensus, the proposal may be formally introduced to Moscow.

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European officials cited by the FT expressed concern that Putin's offer is designed to push U.S. President Donald Trump toward accepting broader Kremlin demands.

President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected such conditions on April 22, reiterating that Ukraine will not recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea under any scenario.

"This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine," Zelensky said. "As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war."

Witkoff, who conveyed Putin's position and is expected to visit Moscow this week, has drawn criticism for backing proposals perceived as aligning with Russian interests.

Washington has signaled that if no progress is made in the coming days, it may abandon its ceasefire mediation efforts.

Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Ukraine will not legally recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea under any circumstances, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a briefing in Kyiv on April 22.

“There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky told reporters.

The statement comes amid reports that the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory is being considered as part of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “game."

“As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war – because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly,” he added.

While acknowledging that signals about Crimea have surfaced in different channels, Zelensky said Ukraine would reject immediately any official proposal.

“We know where these signals are sounding and will continue to sound,” he said, adding that he was unsure whether they originated from Russia or certain U.S. representatives engaged in dialogue with Putin.

Join our community

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Support Us

On April 14, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that a potential peace deal could center on the status of five territories.

While he did not name them explicitly, he is believed to be referring to Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, along with the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

Ukraine is expected to present its position at a follow-up meeting in London on April 23, where delegations from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France will continue discussions.

Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation going to London will have a mandate to discuss terms for a full or partial ceasefire with Russia. Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format but only after an unconditional halt to hostilities, he added.

Zelensky also stressed that sustained international pressure — especially from the United States — is necessary to reach a meaningful settlement.

"We've been at war for over 11 years," Zelensky said. "Is it possible to reach an agreement with Russia quickly? No, it is not. It is impossible without pressure."

Despite expressing frustration over Russia's refusal to de-escalate the war, U.S. President Donald Trump has so far avoided imposing any major sanctions or taking punitive action against Moscow.

Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has formally charged 14 high-ranking metropolitans and archbishops of the Russian Orthodox Church for their involvement in the illegal seizure of Ukrainian churches in Russian-occupied territories, the agency announced on April 22.

According to the SBU, the accused clerics were part of the Kremlin-controlled “holy synod” of the Russian Orthodox Church from 2022 to 2024.

Acting under the direction of Russian Patriarch Kirill — an outspoken supporter of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine — they helped orchestrate the forced takeover of religious communities across occupied regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson oblasts, and Crimea, the SBU said.

The bishops oversaw the incorporation of the Dzhankoy, Berdyansk, Rovenky, and Kherson dioceses into the Russian Orthodox Church, replacing local leadership with Moscow-appointed figures who openly endorsed the war and promoted Kremlin propaganda.

All 14 suspects were charged in absentia with complicity in efforts to alter Ukraine’s state borders in violation of the country’s Constitution, carried out in coordination with others and resulting in grave consequences.

The SBU said it continues efforts to bring the suspects to justice for their role in crimes against Ukraine.

Patriarch Kirill was added to Ukraine’s wanted list in December 2023 on charges of infringing on Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a crime that carries a potential life sentence.

In August 2024, Ukraine’s parliament passed legislation banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has long maintained ties to the Russian church. Many of its clergy have been accused of aiding Russian forces or supporting the invasion.

Most Ukrainian Orthodox Christians now belong to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, an independent body formed in 2019 and recognized as autonomous from Moscow.

‘Not all Hungarians are Orban,’ say Ukrainians living in EU’s most pro-Russian country

Every time Daryna Koryagina enters her Budapest flat rented to her by a Hungarian friend, she sees the same sticker on a wardrobe inside the entrance. “Sorry about our prime minister,” it reads. The 33-year-old refugee and PhD student is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Explosions have erupted at a Russian weapons arsenal in Vladimir Oblast on April 22, causing a fire, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram.

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals, located about 530 kilometers (330 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the fire erupted due to a violation of safety protocols when working with explosive materials. No casualties have been reported.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the creation of a special commission to investigate the incident.

Independent Russian media outlet ASTRA reported, citing local residents, a powerful blast at the base, followed by continued secondary detonations.

Following the incident, roads leading to the nearby town of Kirzhach from Moscow were closed. According to Russian state-controlled media outlet Kommersant, Russian authorities ordered evacuations from the settlements of Barsovo and Mirny.

Vladimir Oblast Governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed the explosions but warned journalists and residents against spreading information about the incident before "verified official data" is released, threatening fines for violations.

The facility has a history of similar incidents. On June 22, 2022, a detonation of ammunition occurred during unloading operations, killing three servicemen and a civilian specialist and seriously injuring another.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Ukraine has imported a staggering 127,800 civilian drones, valued at $371.3 million, in the first quarter of 2025. An overwhelming 98% of these UAVs originate from China, benefiting from customs duty exemptions, reported Ukraine's Customs Service's.

According to the agency's report, "In the first three months of 2025, Ukraine imported 127,800 civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, with a total cost of $371.3 million, which marks a $103 million (or 39%) increase over the same period in 2024."

Notably, a significant 98% of these imported drones enjoyed customs duty exemptions, underscoring their financial impact.

China remains Ukraine’s dominant supplier of civilian drones. During the first quarter of 2025, the volume of imports from China reached 125,700 units, accounting for the lion's share of UAV imports.

In 2025, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense aims to procure 4.5 million FPV drones for the Armed Forces.

Earlier reports revealed that the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Digital Transformation have already contracted 1.8 million drones for the Armed Forces for 2024-2025, amounting to 147 billion hryvnias ($3.54 billion )

Every time Daryna Koryagina enters her Budapest flat rented to her by a Hungarian friend, she sees the same sticker on a wardrobe inside the entrance.

“Sorry about our prime minister,” it reads.

The 33-year-old refugee and PhD student is one of tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion and chose to live in what many might consider a strange choice — Hungary, the EU’s most pro-Russian, anti-Ukraine country.

“It was a bad idea to go on Tinder dates with Hungarians,” Koryagina told the Kyiv Independent. “They were throwing around cliches, like ‘not everything is so obvious with Russia’ and ‘we need to make peace.'

“Thank God, no one has ever told me that Ukraine needs to give up the (Russian-occupied) territories."

But just like the friend who rents her the apartment, Koryagina has found a significant number of Hungarians eschew the pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian rhetoric of their country’s leader.

“There are Hungarians who are incredibly supportive of Ukrainians,” Koryagina said, adding: “Some have a sort of internal guilt about the way their country is acting during these times."

Hungary’s stance on Russia and Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely seen as the EU’s most pro-Russian leader, has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war.

He has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, holding official meetings despite the full-scale invasion and amplified Kremlin narratives in Europe.

Hungary has used its veto power to stall key EU decisions on Ukraine, including military aid, and is against Kyiv joining the bloc.

Hungarian state-run media spreads anti-Ukrainian narratives using headlines such as “Even cholera has not completely disappeared in Ukraine” and “Ukraine’s EU accession could bring a pension disaster to Hungary."

In one of the latest governmental advertisements with the caption “Voks 2025 — vote on Ukraine’s EU membership,” President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European People’s Party President Manfred Weber were depicted in front of a red cross.

“We will not let them decide over our heads!” the headline read.

Balazs Trencsenyi, a Hungarian historian and Central European University (CEU) professor, described how Orban leveraged the war in Ukraine during Hungary's 2022 election campaign.

"The leader of the Hungarian opposition made a statement that was actually very innocent and normal — he said that Hungary would fulfill its NATO duties if needed," he told the Kyiv Independent.

"Then the government press turned it into a fake news campaign that he would send Hungarian troops to Ukraine.

"As a result, there was a huge panic in the Hungarian countryside, and people who had never voted before went to vote for Orban, saying they didn't want their children to be drafted into the army. So actually, Orban won the election in April 2022 with an anti-Ukraine campaign."

Ukrainian refugees in Hungary

The anti-Ukraine rhetoric of the election campaign coincided with the arrival of more than 60,000 Ukrainian refugees, a significant number but far lower than the millions who went to other European countries such as Germany and Poland.

Aside from the message being propagated by the government, other factors for the low number include relatively low social benefits for refugees, amounting to only 60 euros per month — in Germany, it was 451 euros in 2023 — bureaucratic issues and the language barrier.

"If you want to live in Budapest, you must work hard," Nata Holenko, a 40-year-old Ukrainian refugee from Sumy, told the Kyiv Independent. "Ukrainians from big cities or those with high-paying online jobs often come here."

Holenko left Ukraine in mid-March 2022 with her two children, aged four and 11 at the time, and headed for Budapest, where her husband was working.

Many refugees who crossed the border at that time were greeted by several organizations, such as Bona Fide and the Bright Sunlight Association, that rushed to help in the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"When there was a large influx of Ukrainians in 2022, it was not only Ukrainians who came to the platforms, bus, and train stations but also many Hungarians," Csilla Szlobogyan Kurtyak, co-founder of Bona Fide, told the Kyiv Independent.

"They remain in volunteer teams to this day, helping with employment, children's enrollment in educational institutions, and housing," she added.

Olga Petrova, a 37-year-old Ukrainian historian from Yenakiieve, Donetsk Oblast, who moved to Budapest when Russia occupied her home in 2014, witnessed how many Hungarians "rushed to help Ukrainians when the full-scale war began."

"Many people have clear associations with the events in Hungary in 1956, when Soviet tanks violently crushed the Hungarian Revolution," she told the Kyiv Independent.

Hungarian public support for Ukraine

Despite the anti-Ukraine rhetoric of the Orban government, pro-Kyiv sentiment among the public is evident.

According to an April 13 poll conducted by the party of opposition leader Peter Magyar, which received over 1.1 million responses, 58.18% of participants backed Ukraine's EU accession bid.

A separate April 7 poll by the Republikon Institute also found a narrow majority of Hungarians in favor of Ukraine joining the bloc.

And Hungary's capital remains remarkably pro-Ukrainian. The city's mayor, Gergely Karacsony, said in November 2022 that he felt "shame" at his country "siding with Russia," a sentiment that remains more than three years into the war.

"The Municipality of Budapest stands firmly by the side of the victims and those fighting bravely for the freedom of Ukraine," the city's press officer, Naszados Zsofia, told the Kyiv Independent.

Budapest has actively supported Ukrainian refugees by providing financial assistance, power generators, and free public transportation to Ukrainians.

The city also established the 'Budapest Helps' Information and Community Center to assist Ukrainian refugees and organized summer camps for children from war-affected areas.

"If you look at Orban's propaganda posters, it paints one picture. But if you look a bit deeper, even some government representatives are in solidarity with us," Szlobogyan Kurtyak said, highlighting the 2024 "brother cities" agreement between the Ukrainian city of Lebedyn and Hungary's city of Papa.

"Not all Hungarians are Orban," she added.

Hungarians and the Ukrainian army

Hungarian citizens are prohibited by law from serving in another country's armed forces, a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

But that has not stopped them from providing support in other ways, helping to make trench candles for example, and raising money for the Ukrainian army.

In 2022, three Hungarians — Gaspar Kerekes-Nagy, Mihaly Olah, and Balazs Trautmann — founded the Carpathian Dragons (Karpataljai Sarkanyellato), which has raised 188 million forints ($528,371) to buy drones, winter gear, and electric generators for Ukraine's Armed Forces.

"Until 2022, Hungarian society had a superficial understanding of Ukraine," Viktoria Petrovska, a Ukrainian who moved to Hungary as a child and is now head of Yednist, a group that helps refugees and raises funds for the Armed Forces, told the Kyiv Independent.

"However, after the outbreak of the war, everything changed, and Hungarians began to actively help," she said, adding that 50% of the donations to Yednist come from Hungarians. Yednist has raised 44 million forints ($123,539) since the full-scale war began.

"Even though support has decreased, and politicians are filling Hungarians with the idea that Ukraine is at fault for the war, many people have not forgotten about Ukraine," she added.

A handful of Hungarians are even known to have defied the law and crossed into Ukraine to fight Russia.

Ukraine also has the 68th "Zakarpatski Sharkani" volunteer battalion, which draws upon the large Hungarian minority living in Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast, where approximately 150,000 ethnic Hungarians resided before the full-scale war, according to the 2001 population census.

As of 2024, the number of ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia was 70,000-80,000, according to the Department of Nationalities and Religions of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration.

'I just miss the proper food'

Koryagina and her parents arrived in Hungary on March 10, 2022, settling in Budapest. She told the Kyiv Independent that she still sees many Russians on the streets of the capital, saying they are "beloved here."

"Hungarians generally don't like foreigners," she adds, saying that although her experience of living in the country has been positive on the whole, she is sometimes disappointed by how she is occasionally treated.

"When showing a Ukrainian passport (to take the bus for free), you see drivers or controllers making faces. I really hate showing it. The best reaction would be no reaction," she said.

Koryagina and her family have settled well in Budapest — she is enrolled in a CEU PhD program, and her mother works in the first Ukrainian-language school in Budapest, which opened in August 2022. But ultimately they all want to return home to Ukraine.

"I can’t wait for my studies to end. I just really want to come back," she said.

"I keep going to a super overpriced but really good Ukrainian restaurant with my friends here because I just miss the proper food."

This Ukrainian mining company is losing hope in Trump’s minerals deal

Tense negotiations over a minerals deal have tested U.S.-Ukraine relations, and one mining company’s initial optimism about the agreement.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Russian forces in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast violated the one-day Easter ceasefire, used it to regroup, and launched a large-scale infantry assault shortly after its end, Anastasiia Blyshchyk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, told Suspilne media on April 22.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a symbolic one-day ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated around 3,000 times.

“This so-called truce did more damage to us,” Blyshchyk said. “A few hours after Putin announced the ceasefire, our positions came under massive artillery fire."

According to the spokesperson, Russian forces exploited the lull to reposition units and prepare for renewed assaults.

“We saw them pulling up their infantry to the front line along with weapons, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns,” she said.

“Our aerial reconnaissance recorded more than 120 Russian occupiers dispersing in plantations, forest belts, destroyed buildings, and dugouts during the so-called Easter truce."

Blyshchyk added that once the truce ended, Russian forces launched a large-scale infantry offensive.

The Lyman sector in northern Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most fiercely contested areas along the front line. Its strategic importance lies in its proximity to key transport routes and logistics corridors.

The assault follows statements from Ukrainian military leadership that Russia’s anticipated spring offensive is already underway.

On April 9, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Moscow had begun its spring campaign, with intensified attacks across multiple sectors of the front line.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima