Standing beside a sleepy village in Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad Oblast, the Zavalivskiy mine lies beneath layers of brown and pink earth, holding some 7.5 million metric tons of graphite ore — the second largest flake graphite mine in Europe.

Like many mining companies in Ukraine, Zavalivskiy Graphite has lost nearly a third of its workforce over the last three years of Russia’s invasion. Its production plummeted from around 15,000 metric tons pre-war to 860 metric tons last year.

Back in 2018, it was the eighth-largest graphite producer globally. The start of Russia’s invasion in 2022 forced the company to pause operations for a year. Since then, it’s lost its spot in the market and half of its customers in the EU, with only Italy, Czechia, and Austria left, as well as Japan.

The prosperity of the company may not only be decided in this small mining village, but in Washington, where a deal will be signed this week for Ukraine’s natural resources. The agreement has not yet been finalized as lawyers iron out the legal and technical details, but it is expected to include a fund that extracts profits from Ukraine’s natural resources, like critical minerals.  

As the lifeline of the village of Zavallia where the mine is located, Zavalivskiy Graphite’s decline and potential closing would have serious implications for the local economy. The fate of the mine’s graphite specialists would also be uncertain as there is no other active graphite producer in Ukraine.

The CEO, Ostap Kostyuk, had hoped Washington’s natural resource deal could be its saving grace.

“I think that it will be really positive if the U.S. comes to the Ukrainian mining market. They should spend money and time to build something, to mine something,” Kostyuk told the Kyiv Independent in February, emphasizing the critical need for investments in the underfunded sector.

Graphite is used in military tech, metallurgy, and the nuclear industry, and is one of the critical minerals covered by Washington’s resources deal. While Zavalivskiy is the only active producer in the country, Ukraine has around 19 million tons of proven graphite ore reserves across six fields, making it one of the most graphite-rich countries in the world.

It’s taken Kyiv and Washington nearly three months to come to a deal. The tense negotiations have tested not only Ukraine and the U.S.’s relationship but also Kostyuk’s initial optimism for a win-win agreement.

He anxiously watched the heated Oval Office clash between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump on Feb. 28 that derailed the last attempt to sign an agreement. Now, he is wary that the American president will push Ukraine into an unfavourable agreement, particularly after his diatribes against Zelensky and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“When Trump’s administration talks about direct negotiations with Russia without including Ukrainians, it means that maybe this national resources deal will not be a win-win. Maybe this deal will be a win-lose,” he told the Kyiv Independent on April 15.

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

Investment aspirations

The mine’s director, Ihor Semko, had initially hoped the deal with the U.S. would breathe new life into the village and its mine. Across Ukraine, he sees the potential of American money in creating new job opportunities and much-needed tax boosts to bolster Ukraine’s state budget.

On a drive along the mine’s winding, bumpy road, Semko points out the 42-meter deep lake in the middle. With more investments, the company can pump out the water and access the valuable minerals submerged beneath, he said.

“We have the experience, we have the equipment. We only need money for modernization, for further development. We only need investments,” he stressed.

Zavalivskiy Graphite is 70% owned by Australian company Volt Resources Limited and 30% by a Ukrainian investor — Kostyuk’s father. Graphite is excavated from the mine and then processed into powder in the adjacent factory. Despite its potential, the company hasn’t seen investments in recent years, largely because war risks have spooked shareholders.

This is a big problem for the company’s productivity. Much of the bulky machinery in the 90-year-old mine is from the Soviet era, and the musty factory’s rusty pipes and missing windows haven’t been modernized since 1964.

The old, energy-inefficient machinery is burdening the company as electricity costs skyrocket due to Russian attacks on the energy grid. Electricity fees now make up 40% of the company’s costs, an issue that is widespread across the mining sector, according to the National Association of Extractive Industry of Ukraine (NAEIU).

Despite the mineral-rich land, Ukraine’s mining sector is underdeveloped. After the fall of the Soviet Union, state companies and oligarchs took over licenses for the deposits but didn’t invest in innovation, instead opting to keep the sites as cash cows, said Nataliia Shapoval, chairwoman of the Kyiv School of Economics Institute (KSE).

“There is a lack of research and innovation in general. You can make really sophisticated products out of the materials, like lithium-ion batteries, and it’s a better way of monetizing it if you are investing rather than just selling it as a raw material,” she told the Kyiv Independent.

In Zavalivskiy Graphite’s case, innovation could involve high-tech equipment to purify graphite to a level suitable for use in batteries, called spherical graphite (SPG), which sells for $3,500- $10,000 per metric ton.

Machinery for SPG purification costs $30-40 million, which the currently unprofitable company can’t afford. Kostyuk is hopeful the Americans could bring in this technology and cooperate with Zavalivskiy to produce the highly purified graphite and break into a market dominated by China.

Americans are inclined to invest more in mining projects than Europeans because of their vast military-industrial complex that is dependent on natural minerals, Kseniia Orynchak, executive director of NAEIU, told the Kyiv Independent.

There are 18 companies mining critical minerals in Ukraine, with the top player, BGV Group Management, inking cooperation agreements with three U.S. partners in February. American investors could similarly invest directly in other Ukrainian enterprises, Orynchak said. Or they could build assets in Ukraine, which will take around eight years to get going, and work with companies like Zavalivskiy Graphite to establish supply chains in the meantime.

“We want our economy to grow, and we understand that our geological sphere is our chance to survive,” Orynchak said.

Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots

It has been nearly 100 days since Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency and Russian missiles continue to rain down on Ukrainian civilians. Despite Trump’s pledge to end the war on “day one,” peace is nowhere in sight. When will the administration acknowledge that it is failing?

The Kyiv IndependentCarl Bildt

Ukraine’s uncertain future

Trump’s team remains unyielding that the resources deal is a step towards peace, but has so far failed to bring about much progress in peace talks despite attempts to broker a 30-day ceasefire on March 24. Bellicose rhetoric from the White House and Washington’s sudden backtracking on Feb. 28 after the Oval Office argument didn’t sit well with Kostyuk.

“Trump’s politics means that he could cancel everything in one day, and sign something with Russia the next day,” he said.

Since entering the White House, Trump has spoken openly about resuming business in Russia and even floated the idea of a critical minerals partnership with Moscow.

The last draft that was leaked on March 28 also rubbed Kostyuk the wrong way. He couldn’t believe Washington would include a stipulation that could ban Ukraine from selling its natural minerals to countries deemed competitors of the U.S., such as the EU.

The clause would jeopardize Ukraine’s EU membership and undermine a resources agreement signed with Brussels in 2021. It also raises legal questions for companies partially owned by foreign investors, like Zavalivskiy Graphite, about whether Washington could dictate trade rules to other countries.

“Will the Americans say to Australians that they can’t sell Ukrainian graphite to Europe? It sounds crazy,” said Kostyuk.  

The best deal would encourage American companies to invest in Ukrainian enterprises, Kostyuk said. Foreign investors could also go through the usual procedure of purchasing mining licenses, which would help inject money into the state budget. Kyiv could even audit all the deposits and pool together those that are not being used efficiently as an offer to the Americans, he added.

Back in February, Kostyuk feared that the U.S. wouldn’t actively invest in the sector but rather extract the resources and sell them to other countries. The last leaked draft validated his concerns — Washington would not have to make a single investment, but Ukraine would have to allocate 50% of its profits from natural resource and infrastructure projects into a fund as a payback to the U.S. for its $128 billion in total aid provided to Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Trump first wanted Kyiv to pay back $300 billion before Ukraine earned any profits, confusing Ukrainians who were unsure how he calculated such a high figure. Kyiv managed to negotiate him down to $100 billion on April 16.

Russia should be the one paying, Kostyuk said, but he’s losing hope that Washington will put pressure on Moscow to compensate Ukraine. The minerals deal saga has left him feeling that Ukraine is on the verge of being “scammed” and will end up on its own, indebted to its allies.

“We should recover ourselves. If this help is a debt, my kids and grandkids will pay this debt. So what can we do? We can’t do anything,” he added.

Note from the author:

This is Dominic, the reporter who brought you this story. Thank you for reading. The saga over the resources deal has been convoluted and unpredictable, so I wanted to tell it from the perspective of people who will be impacted by it. We will keep you updated with the deal and developments in the future. To help us bring you more reports like this, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent community. Thank you.

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

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U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow this week, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state-controlled media outlet Interfax on April 22.

“We are expecting (him),” Ushakov said when asked if Witkoff would arrive in the coming days.

The visit would come as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. proposal that reportedly includes provisions for recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and barring Kyiv from joining NATO, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Senior Trump administration officials presented the plan to Ukrainian and European officials during the Paris talks on April 17. If Kyiv, Washington, and its European allies align, the plan could be officially presented to Moscow.

Ukraine is expected to deliver its formal response during a follow-up meeting in London on April 23, where representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States will reconvene.

Witkoff, the Trump administration’s envoy to the Middle East, has visited Russia several times this year and met Russian President Vladimir Putin on three occasions.

The envoy has drawn criticism from both U.S. and Ukrainian officials for promoting Kremlin-aligned positions, including the idea of trading Ukrainian territory for peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 21 that there is a “very good” chance of reaching a deal, though Washington has warned it may end its mediation efforts in the coming days if talks stall.

“I will be giving you full details over the next three days, but we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia,” Trump said. “There is a very good chance (to reach a ceasefire)."

Despite the push for a ceasefire, Russia has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day truce and continues offensive operations. Putin declared a symbolic one-day Easter ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated roughly 3,000 times.

Kyiv has proposed a separate 30-day truce focused on halting long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. Putin said the Kremlin needs to “look into” the proposal.

Crimean Tatar Mejlis rejects any international recognition of Crimea as Russian, chairman says

“Crimea is the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of Ukraine. Accordingly, no one can decide the fate of Crimea under any circumstances, except for the Ukrainian state and the Crimean Tatar people,” said Refat Chubarov.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed as “propaganda” an op-ed by Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, amid concerns of Moscow increasing its military presence in the region.

In the op-ed published in The Jakarta Post on April 19, Tolchenov claimed that Australia lacks the geopolitical weight to counter Russian military manoeuvres in the Indo-Pacific.

Tolchenov’s remarks appeared to reference unconfirmed reports of a potential Russian military base on Indonesia’s Biak Island, an area located strategically close to northern Australia around 1,360 kilometers away.

Despite Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles asserting there is “no prospect” of Russian aircraft being based in Indonesia, both Marles and Albanese have avoided confirming or denying whether Russia ever made such a request.

Indonesian officials have also not publicly denied that a request may have been submitted.

“It is hard to imagine that any ordinary Australians should be concerned about what is happening 1,300 kilometers from their territory, about matters that concern relations between other sovereign states and have nothing to do with Australia,” Tolchenov said.

“Perhaps it would be better for them to pay attention to the United States’ Typhon medium-range missile system in the Philippines, which will definitely reach the territory of the continent?” he added.

Tolchenov said that Australia is trying to play the “Russian card” and show who is more “Russophobic,” against the backdrop of upcoming Australian elections.

“I would like to remind them of the words of U.S. President Donald Trump, which he pronounced in the White House on Feb. 28, 2025, to the Ukrainian citizen ‘Z’ — ‘You have no cards.'"

When again asked about reports of Russia’s alleged request for a base in Indonesia at a press conference on April 21, Albanese criticized the opposition for amplifying Russian disinformation and said there is no credible prospect of such a base, thus there was no need for official briefings on the matter.

“I’m anti-Russia,” he said, adding: “I’m not sure that everyone is on that page, but I think that Russia has very different values under an authoritarian leader."

“I have no wish to help promote Russia’s propaganda messages, and I would suggest that that is not in Australia’s national interest either,” he added.

Australia has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Australia is considering joining the European-led coalition of the willing to support a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, a statement issued by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Stamer’s office read on March 8.

Starmer announced on March 2 that a number of European nations, including the U.K. and France, are developing a ‘coalition of the willing’ that will include “planes in the air and boots on the ground” in an effort to secure a successful ceasefire in Ukraine.

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

The Mejlis, the representative body of the Crimean Tatar people, will reject any international recognition of Russian-occupied Crimea as Russian territory, Refat Chubarov, the body’s chairman, said in a statement published on Facebook on April 22.

Crimean Tatars are the indigenous people of Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula that has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

Chubarov’s 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.

Any move by the U.S. to recognize the peninsula as Russian would mark a break with a decade of bipartisan consensus in Washington and would violate international law.

Chubarov said the Mejlis' stance is grounded in international law and aligns fully with Ukrainian legislation.

“Crimea is the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of Ukraine. Accordingly, no one can decide the fate of Crimea under any circumstances, except for the Ukrainian state and the Crimean Tatar people,” he wrote.

Russia illegally annexed Crimea following a sham referendum held under military occupation and without international observers. For resisting Russian occupation, Crimean Tatars have come under harsh repression by the Russian occupation authorities.

Crimean Tatars are represented by the Mejlis, a high representative and executive body with 33 members, and the Kurultai, a national congress with 350 delegates.

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Crimean Tatars, historically the majority on the peninsula before Russia's conquest in 1783, have faced widespread persecution under Russian rule.

Since 2014, Moscow has used intimidation, religious profiling, and politically motivated terrorism charges to suppress dissent among Crimean Tatars.

Many Crimean Tatars have joined Ukraine's Armed Forces since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with some serving in the volunteer "Crimea" Battalion formed after the 2014 occupation.

Ukraine's response to the U.S. proposal is expected at a follow-up meeting in London on April 23. Washington has indicated it may withdraw from ceasefire efforts in the coming days if no progress is made.

Ukrainian lawmakers have also opposed the proposal. Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, warned that recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea would have global consequences "much worse than Munich in 1938."

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

Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully thwarted a large-scale assault involving six columns of Russian equipment in Zaporizhzhia. Russia deployed hundreds of fighters and 40 units of armored vehicles in this massive attack, but their initial infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed kilometers away from the frontline. The defensive preparations of Ukrainian forces proved effective, derailing the Russian strategy.

On April 22, the press service of "Artan", a special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, shared details and footage from the battlefield. Russia concentrated its efforts on breaking through in the Zaporizhzhia sector but faced severe setbacks. This elaborate offensive was launched shortly before the Easter holidays, involving over 300 soldiers, 40 units of armored fighting vehicles, three tanks, and about a dozen buggies, advancing in six columns.

As the columns moved, they were targeted by operators of FPV drones and artillery units. Initial strikes destroyed three BMPs approximately 8 kilometers from the frontline. The remaining columns were "picked apart" as they approached Ukrainian positions, emphasized the commander of the "Titan" special unit. Ukrainian forces effectively disrupted the Russian plan, inflicting losses: 15 units of military equipment were destroyed or disabled, and Russia lost about 100 personnel.

"Titan" revealed that they were aware of Russia's plan early on, observing the buildup of Russian equipment and manpower. Russian forces had also cleared their own minefields to facilitate the passage of military vehicles. "We were waiting for them and met them appropriately," he noted. Some Russian vehicles were hit by FPV drones or artillery, while others fell victim to landmines set by Ukrainian engineers.

"We are always prepared for any development. We know what the enemy is capable of, including the use of prohibited chemical weapons against our fighters. Despite the so-called Easter truce, the invaders continued accumulating forces, fortifying positions, and preparing for new offensives. This scenario is nothing new and the end for the occupiers will be predictable: annihilation, capture, or retreat," added the commander of "Artan."

On April 22, a Russian attack in the Zaporizhzhia region resulted in deadly consequences. A strike hit a residential building, claiming the life of a 69-year-old woman who suffered severe injuries.

New video evidence has surfaced, confirming that North Korea has provided Russia with 240-mm M1991 multiple rocket launchers. This striking development comes amid reports that North Korea has supplied Russia with approximately 120 such systems. Russian Armed Forces are reportedly utilizing these North Korean M1991 systems in Ukraine. Footage showing Russian military personnel installing anti-drone protection on these North Korean-made launchers emerged online, shared by military journalist Yuri Butusov, editor-in-chief of "Censor.net".

Initial reports last December indicated the delivery of these systems from North Korea to Russia. However, this recent video serves as the first recorded visual confirmation of their operational use. According to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Russia has already received around 120 of these systems from North Korea, with additional shipments in the pipeline.

The M1991 is akin to the Soviet "Uragan," employing unguided rockets. This type of armament is part of North Korea’s military arsenal, shown during trials in May 2023. South Korean sources estimate that the North Korean army possesses around 430 of these launchers, some of which are deployed alongside the 170-mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers and 300-mm KN-09 rocket systems near the border.

Analysts from Army Recognition note that despite its limited accuracy, the M1991 is effective for widespread suppression tasks, aligning with the current artillery goals of the Russian Armed Forces. These launchers are typically positioned in fortified or semi-fortified zones, capable of executing coordinated strikes, with around 19 minutes of operational time.

The M1991 is designed to fire unguided 240-mm rockets, each weighing roughly 497 kg with a 90-kg warhead, delivering a full salvo of 22 rockets in approximately 45 seconds. Experts indicate that Russia's use of the M1991 underscores ongoing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and highlights Russia's growing dependence on external arms supplies. Earlier this year, Russian forces were poised to receive hundreds of thousands of artillery shells of 152-mm and 122-mm calibers from North Korea.

Russia is stepping up its hybrid attacks aimed at the Netherlands and its European allies, the Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD said on April 22.

The news follows multiple reports of damaged undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, arson and sabotage attacks across Europe, and other incidents seen as possible Russian hybrid operations.

“We see that the Russian threat against Europe is increasing, including after a possible end of the war against Ukraine,” MIVD director Peter Reesink said in the agency’s annual report.

Russian hackers have also targeted an unspecified Dutch public service for the first time, according to Reesink.

“In the Netherlands, we saw the first (Russian) cyberattack against a public service, which was designed to take over the system. The attack was thwarted, but it was the first such case,” he added.

The Dutch Interior Ministry said it first detected a Russian cyberattack on the public service’s digital operating system last year. The ministry also reported that it had recorded a Russian cyber operation against critical infrastructure in the Netherlands, possibly in preparation for sabotage.

Dutch authorities described Russian interference as a combination of traditional acts of espionage, cyberattacks, and other attempts to influence society.

The Dutch government also reiterated warnings about espionage by Russian entities mapping infrastructure in the North Sea and acts of sabotage aimed at Internet cables, water, and energy supplies.

Russia’s Baltic Sea sabotage is no accident, it’s strategy

Intelligence officials in the U.S. and Europe have suggested that recent incidents damaging critical cables in the Baltic Sea were accidental, according to a Washington Post report. Western geostrategic self-deception has overly emphasized fears of escalation and cornering Russia. It would be naïve to assume that the repeated cutting

The Kyiv IndependentMika Aaltola

SEOUL, South Korea – “Unless these two are smiling and happy to go back to North Korea or Russia, we Koreans would not be happy [for them to be exchanged],” the retired military officer told me. “You better tell them. You can quote me.”

Chun In-bum is a retired South Korean Army Lieutenant General who has fiercely advocated for his country to help Ukraine’s efforts against Russia’s invasion. Since the invasion, Chun, 66, has been pushing for items such as anti-aircraft missiles and mine-clearing devices to be sent to the frontlines.

Yet his support for Ukraine may be dramatically affected if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decides to exchange with Russia the two North Korean prisoners captured by Ukrainian forces in January. Zelenskyy has suggested he’s ready to make the exchange.

“That I would think is a war crime,” Chun, who previously served as the lieutenant general of South Korea’s Special Warfare Command, told The Counteroffensive. “They go back to the Russians, they [are] dead men. If Zelenskyy does that, he's gonna lose half of my support. And a lot of the South Koreans will do that as well.”

Ukraine is between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, it is trying to defend itself from Russia’s army, which includes about 14,000 North Korean soldiers that the Kim Jong-un government has sent since 2024.

On the other hand, if Kyiv uses the North Korean POWs as a bargaining chip, it risks alienating South Korea — a key partner that, despite the long-standing division, still views the people of North Korea as brothers. In December 2023, The Washington Post reported that Seoul indirectly provided more artillery shells for Ukraine than all of Europe combined.

This difficult geopolitical juggling act comes from an unexpected reality: many South Koreans express a surprising degree of empathy toward their northern neighbors. And adding to the complexity is the constitutional crisis that South Korea has been roiled by in recent months.

Kim Ki-euk, a 56-year-old housewife on the right end of the South Korean political spectrum, said she saw the North Korean POWs being tragically forced to fight by dictator Kim Jong-un. "They're victims, essentially," she said, referring to them as "frogs in an urn [who] don't know the outside world."

Zelenskyy said earlier this year there would “undoubtedly be more” North Korean soldiers captured. The Ukrainian president added he would be willing to exchange two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia.

It’s an option that lacks understanding of the affinity that South Koreans have for ordinary North Koreans.

“Bad move,” Chun said of Zelenskyy’s suggestion. “Let's say these two kids were exchanged to Russia, and they didn't want to go. Who's going to take responsibility for this hideous situation?”

Why do many S. Koreans feel sympathy for N. Korean POWs?

South Korea’s constitution says that “the territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean peninsula and its adjacent islands,” meaning it legally considers people in North Korea citizens.

Seoul sees North Korea as a territory that is under an illegitimate government instead of recognizing it as a sovereign state. Under this position, many believe that South Korea has the legal obligation to protect people in North Korea, including defectors.

Seoul is facing a dilemma, explained Junghoon Lee, the dean and professor of International Relations at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies.

“Are they North Korean enemy soldiers or prisoners of war, or can there be a different angle to approach them as South Korean citizens?” he said.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul asked Ukraine earlier this year for cooperation in the handling of the North Korean prisoners, saying Seoul would accept all North Korean soldiers if they requested to move to South Korea.

“Technically, our constitution recognizes them as our citizens,” Chun said. “But are we going to fight for their repatriation to South Korea?”

Meanwhile, South Koreans are also facing turmoil at home. They will be heading to the polls on June 3 to vote for their country’s next president, who will replace the impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was removed in December after trying to impose martial law. The events plunged South Koreans into political uncertainty and left a deeply divided society.

Amid the South Korean constitutional crisis —and the high-stakes U.S.-Ukraine negotiations — no decision has been made on exchanges.

In January, President Zelenskyy published a video showing the two captured North Korean soldiers, Ri, 26, and Baek, 21. One of the two men said he wanted to return to North Korea, while the other one said he would like to go to Ukraine, later adding he would return home “if required.”

The Security Service of Ukraine said in a statement that one of the soldiers thought he was going to Russia for a training exercise instead of to fight. He had a Russian military ID card issued under another name. The second soldier had no documents.

Many South Koreans have expressed concern about the POWs' safety if they return to Pyongyang. According to a 2024 survey, 58 percent of South Koreans say only selected defectors from North Korea should be accepted. About 30 percent believe all should be welcomed.

During an interview conducted in February 2025, one of the North Korean soldiers said being captured is seen as a betrayal in their army, and he added that things would be difficult for him if he returned home. “I’m planning to apply for asylum and go to South Korea. Do you think they’ll accept me?” he said.

Hong Saewoong, 81, a journalist living in Seoul, told The Counteroffensive he does not agree with Zelenskyy’s approach to exchange the pair, as the decision should be left to the soldiers.

“Explain to them the options about where they could go,” Hong said, “and let them decide.”

In 2024, North Korea deployed about 11,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region after Kim Jong-un and President Vladimir Putin agreed on a mutual defense pact to defy the so-called U.S.-led “Western hegemony.” North Korea has not yet publicly acknowledged sending troops to Ukraine.

North Korean troops have been helping their ally regain the Russian Kursk territory seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise attack last August. Their involvement has come at a high cost. South Korean officials claim that about 300 North Koreans have been killed in battle and 2,700 wounded.

What S. Korea has done for Ukraine so far

South Korea, which has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to countries at war, has limited its support to Ukraine.

Yet in 2023, South Korea indirectly supplied about 500,000 rounds of artillery shells to Ukraine via the United States, positioning Seoul as a greater provider of artillery ammunition to Kyiv than all European countries combined. Seoul has also given Kyiv demining vehicles, body armor, and other non-lethal aid since February 2022.

Sending direct aid to Ukraine is seen among South Koreans as “unnecessarily provocative,” said Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute focused on North Korea.

In November last year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Russia’s TASS news agency that the relationship between Russia and South Korea would be “completely destroyed” if Seoul were to directly supply arms to Ukraine.

“One can provide aid indirectly anyway, so why does one need to provide it directly? And when one does provide it directly, how will Russia respond?” Wang said.

Chun said that even though Seoul has been providing Kyiv with non-lethal military assistance throughout the war, the government still worries and aims to protect its relationship with Russia, as it has “huge investments” in the country.

Before the full-scale invasion, some of South Korea's largest companies, including Hyundai, LG Electronics, and Samsung, had operations in Russia. They are now reportedly monitoring the situation closely and assessing the possibility of resuming business in Russia.

Chun added another reason for the lack of a harsher policy in Seoul: North Korea’s involvement in the conflict does not directly affect South Korea’s security interests.

“Unless the North Koreans were to attack us, sink one of our ships, or fire some artillery into us, a missile test no longer garners that much interest for the Korean people,” Chun said.

A survey conducted in November by Gallup Korea revealed that 82 percent of South Koreans oppose sending weapons and military equipment to Ukraine despite North Korea’s involvement in the conflict.

Last year, as then-President Yoon Suk Yeol received a Ukrainian delegation, protesters gathered in front of his office, asking their government not to send arms to Ukraine.

But there are other ways to collaborate. The South Korean government has begun discussing cooperation opportunities between Kyiv and Seoul over the next decade, said Roman Hryhoryshyn, the chairman of the Ukrainian-Korean Business Council.

At the moment, the cooperation between the two nations is low, but it has the potential to be “very high,” Hryhoryshyn said. “Korean companies are coming, events are taking place, and information is being exchanged regularly.”

What’s next for South Korea in this conflict

South Korea’s main antagonist is also developing deep friendships. Chun, the retired general, believes North Korea's and Russia’s cooperation will persist even after the war ends.

“No matter how deep you try to push your head into the sand, this problem is not going to go [away]... even if there is a ceasefire or end of the conflict in Ukraine,” Chun said. “I see this relationship developing and increasing.”

The two North Korean prisoners who are currently awaiting their fate have been key to opening the eyes of young South Korean men who can relate to the two 20-year-old defectors.

“[South Korean youth are] realizing that their problem[s] now, which is my [cell phone] battery is at 5 percent, ain't that big of a problem compared to those two kids [the North Korean POWs],” Chun said.

Kwon Jang-Ho contributed to this reporting in Seoul.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

PUTIN OPEN TO DIRECT ZELENSKYY TALKS: As pressure mounts from the possible American abandonment of peace talks, Putin has stated that Russia is ready for bilateral talks with Ukraine, CNN reported. It is the first time in recent years in which Putin has signaled his desire for direct participation in negotiations.

After the supposed ‘Easter truce’ by Putin, which was violated nearly 3,000 times by Russia, Zelenskyy called out Russia for continuing attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The U.S., European and Ukrainian officials are also planning to meet this week in London to discuss the Washington peace framework, which involves Ukraine being kept out of NATO and the potential US recognition of annexed Crimea as Russian territory.

UKRAINE TO LAUNCH DEFENSE SATELLITES: Starting in 2026, Ukraine plans to co-develop defense-oriented satellites with international partners as part of a 10-year roadmap by its Ministry of Defense. The goal is to establish a real-time satellite constellation by 2035.

Developing its own satellites is crucial for Ukraine’s national security, as it ensures independent access to real-time intelligence, especially vital after the pauses in the US intel sharing exposed the risks of reliance solely on foreign support.

KREMLIN’S PLAN TO BUY TRUMP’S SUPPORT: As Moscow prepares for possible negotiations with Washington, Russia is seeking more than just a ceasefire – it aims to reshape the global order.

“We need to milk Trump as much as possible, dangling the possibility of a ceasefire like a carrot before him,” one Russian source said.

To do so, it’s devising a strategy to draw Donald Trump into a sweeping geopolitical deal that would recognize its dominance over Ukraine and parts of Eastern Europe, according to The Moscow Times.

Moscow is reportedly crafting a package of proposals that align with Trump’s personal brand and political ambitions. It ranges from rare earth deals that align with Trump’s “America First” economic agenda and diplomatic leverage in Iran and North Korea to potential real estate projects like Trump Tower in Moscow.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Today’s cat of conflict is Puha, who belongs to Veronika’s friend. Puha was moving around the globe fleeing the war with its family.

Stay safe out there,

Best,
Veronika

India’s imports of Russian crude are likely to hit 2.15 million barrels per day in April, the highest volumes since May 2023, Bloomberg reported on April 22, citing Kpler data.

Russian oil shipments appear to be picking up pace again after months of disruptions caused by U.S. sanctions on Russia’s fossil fuel exports.

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has become the leading buyer of Russian oil products, which it purchases at a discount amid sanctions that largely cut Moscow off from the Western market.

Russia has remained the South Asian country’s leading supplier for the third year in a row, Reuters reported on April 22.

The Indian market was rattled earlier this year after the sweeping U.S. sanctions in January that targeted Russia’s “shadow fleet,” major oil companies, and associated entities, significantly complicating Moscow’s crude exports.

Despite a temporary drop, Indian imports of Russian crude began climbing again in March.

New Delhi has maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, calling for a peaceful solution while fostering economic relationships with Moscow.

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

U.S. actor and film director Sean Penn met with the soldiers of the 3rd Regiment of the Special Operations Forces stationed in Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovohrad Oblast, according to a video posted on the unit’s Facebook on April 22.

The actor visited Ukraine for the fourth time during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Despite a lot of what the politicians are doing, I believe in all of you, and I’m grateful to all of you for being the very best of what we all aspire to be,” Penn said.

“You’re not only defending your country, you’re truly defending the world, and that will be known, you see, and I know you’ll prevail, and God bless all of you and your families. Thank you,” he added.

On Feb. 24, 2023, Penn presented his documentary “Superpower,” filmed in Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation at the Berlin Film Festival.

Penn’s charitable organization, Core Response, financially assisted Ukrainian refugees.

The Ukrainian government awarded Penn the Order of Merit, third degree, for his contribution to supporting Ukraine in 2022.

Penn won the 2004 Academy Award for his role in “Mystic River” and the 2009 Academy Award for his role in “Milk."

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

On the Kursk direction, Russian forces advanced east of Oleshnia.

Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked near Vodolaha.

On the Belgorod direction, fighting continues near Popovka and Demidovka.

On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces continue shelling Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv Oblast, use the Easter ceasefire to build up forces, and continue carrying out UAV strikes.

On the Kupyansk direction, fighting continues near Mala Shapkivka, Kindrashivka, Stepova Novoselivka. Russian forces attacked near Petropavlivka, Nadiia, Nova Kruhlyakivka, Zahryzove, Olkhivka, and Hrekivka.

Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian troops near Zakhidne.

On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Myrne, used the ceasefire to regroup, concentrate assault groups in assembly areas near the front line, and clear passages through the Zherebets river. Fighting continued near Katerynivka. The enemy attacked near Novomykhailivka, Nove, Yampolivka, Hlushchenkove, Zelena Dolyna, and Torske.

Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian troops near Kreminna and Yampolivka.

On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked near Bilohorivka.

Russian forces attacked Verkhnyokamianske.

On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked near Chasiv Yar, in the direction of Bila Hora and Stupochky, near Kurdyumivka.

On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced east of Shcherbynivka, attacked near Druzhba, Sukha Balka, Toretsk, Dachne, and Dyliivka.

On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attacked near Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, near Malynivka, Tarasivka, Vodyane Druhe, Promin, Novotoretske, Svyrydonivka, in the direction of Stara Mykolaivka, near Shevchenkove, and Zvirove.

Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out several mortar strikes on enemy positions in Novotroitske and are holding their positions in Shevchenkove.

On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Kotlyarivka, Sribne, Bohdanivka, Troitske, Andriivka, Konstyantynopil, and Rozlyv.

Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the enemy near Uspenivka, attacked near Bahatyr.

On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces attacked near Skudne, in the direction of Odradne, near Pryvilne, and near Novosilka.

On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, and Novoandriivka.

Ukrainian Defense Forces shelled Russian positions in the area of Pyatykhatky.

General conclusion:

• The enemy unilaterally declared a ceasefire, which it itself does not adhere to, having shelled the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 1,519 times in one day.
• Russian forces advanced in the border areas of Kursk Oblast.
• Chasiv Yar and the area to the northeast of the city remain the main strike direction of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping. The greatest enemy activity is observed in the “Pivnichnyi” and “Novopivnichnyi” neighborhoods (towards the city cemetery), in the city center (towards the Dnipro pond), attempting to break through into the southern part of the city (towards Workshop No. 2 and the “Shevchenko” neighborhood), and to bypass the city to the south toward the village of Stupochky, operating on both sides of the Bakhmut–Pokrovsk highway. Forward enemy units also attempt to break through between Hryhorivka and Orikhovo-Vasylivka in a northwestern direction, attacking along the Hryhorivka–Mayske and Hryhorivka–Markove directions.
• The command of the 3rd Army and the 98th Airborne Division clearly intends to break through to the forward approaches of Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka and, as of today, has come closer to these cities compared to the groupings operating on the Toretsk and Pokrovsk directions.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 86 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled one enemy attack in the area of Holubivka.
• On the Lyman direction, 11 Russian assault actions were stopped by Ukrainian Defense Forces near Nadiia, Myrne, Hrekivka, Katerynivka, Nove, and Yampolivka.
• On the Siversk direction, the enemy conducted 2 offensive actions in the area of Bilohorivka and Ivano-Dariivka.
• On the Kramatorsk direction, 4 Russian attempts to advance in the area of Chasiv Yar and toward Stupochky and Bila Hora were repelled.
• On the Toretsk direction, the occupiers assaulted the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 8 times near Druzhba, Toretsk, and Leonidivka.
• On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy actively attacks Ukrainian Defense Forces, having carried out 36 offensive actions. Russian occupier activity was recorded in the areas of Sukha Balka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriivka, and Rozlyv.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian units repelled 5 attacks in the area of Konstyantynopil, Skudne, and toward Odradne.
• On the Orikhiv direction, Russian invaders advanced 4 times in the areas of Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove.
• On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy attacks.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 6 cruise missiles.
  • Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 12 cruise missiles.

Supporting operation:

• There were no strikes.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The 204th Special Purpose Police Regiment “Akhmat” operates in the northwestern part of Belgorod Oblast.
• The 78th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Army operates near Chasiv Yar. In addition, the 4th, 85th, and 88th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, several mobilization reserve regiments of the 3rd Army, the 6th Motorized Rifle Division and the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps, the 217th, 299th, and 331st Airborne Regiments of the 98th Airborne Division, and up to 18 armed formations from the so-called “Volunteer Assault Corps” conduct combat operations on the Kramatorsk direction. A motorized rifle regiment from the mobilization reserve of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Army, units of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps, a combined tactical group of the 7th Military Base, and individual units of the 204th Special Purpose Police Regiment are also present on this direction.
• The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Army operates near Tarasivka. The 1435th Motorized Rifle Regiment operates near Pishchane.
• The 14th Separate SOF Brigade and the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Army operate near Bahatyr.
• The 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 36th Army advances toward Shakhtarsk.

Possible operation situation developments:

• The plan for the enemy’s spring-summer offensive campaign in the Southwestern Theater of Operations may be as follows: a simultaneous breakthrough towards Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka from the south and southeast (from the direction of Toretsk and Vozdvyzhenka), as well as from the northeast (from the direction of Chasiv Yar), followed by an advance towards Kramatorsk from the south while simultaneously advancing towards Slovyansk with the forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping through Lyman. Russian forces may attempt to advance near Kupyansk, Lyman, Novopavlivka, or toward the city of Zaporizhzhia. The Pokrovsk direction is viewed by Ukraine’s military-political leadership as the absolute priority for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Additionally, Russian forces intend to create a buffer zone in the north of Sumy Oblast and pose a threat to the city of Sumy in the coming months.
• In Sumy Oblast, key enemy objectives that could provide stability to a buffer zone may include the heights between Yunakivka and Khrapivshchyna, the wooded area to the northeast of Sumy from Radkivka to Mohrytsya, and the Psel River. Based on this, the enemy’s operational tasks in this direction may include taking control of the area of Bilovody – Loknia – Yunakivka – Yablunivka, seizing at least the eastern part of the wooded area west of Mohrytsya, and reaching the line of Velyka Rybytsya – Myropillya along the Psel River. The enemy may also attempt to break through from the border toward Vorozhba and Bilopillya and cut off the operational lateral route between Sumy and Novhorod-Siverskyi. The implementation of such a plan would require the enemy command to covertly deploy a strike force in the area of Tiotkino.
• A replacement of the airborne forces and naval infantry units with troops of the 14th and 44th Army Corps is expected soon. The highly mobile component of the Russian Armed Forces will be redeployed to Donbas or to Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
• On the Kupyansk direction, the command of the enemy’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will abandon active operations on its flanks and resume the offensive along the Svatove–Kupyansk road in the offensive zone of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army. To this end, it is concentrating forces in the area of Kyslivka – Zatyshne – Nova Tarasivka – Tabaiivka and has already redeployed one motorized rifle regiment each from the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division and the 4th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army to the Lyman direction. The enemy will demonstrate readiness to launch a frontal push against the “Khortytsia” OSG, thereby attempting to mislead the command of “Khortytsia” OSG regarding the true intent of its actions, aiming to complicate the maneuvering of OSG reserves simultaneously across two operational zones — in front of both the 6th Combined Arms Army and the 1st Tank Army of the enemy.
• On the Lyman direction, the command of the enemy’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will exert efforts to collapse the defense of “Khortytsia” OSG in front of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army. To achieve this, the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt at any cost to break through in a northwesterly direction from its bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River to link up with the 4th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army. The enemy will attempt to advance toward Karlivka from Nove and toward Drobysheve from Kolodyazi, seeking to reach and entrench along the Karlivka – Shandryholove – Drobysheve line, while simultaneously intensifying its offensive near Torske and advancing on Lyman from the east. The forward elements of the 25th Combined Arms Army will, in the near future, attempt to simultaneously force the Chornyi Zherebets River as close as possible to Zarichne and break through to its eastern part on the opposite bank of the river. The enemy command’s operational intent includes using the Oskil River as a flank cover for a further advance on Lyman and Sloviansk, as evidenced by intensive attacks from the bridgehead on the Chornyi Zherebets River in a northwesterly direction toward Borova and the shift of the main strike axis of the 20th Combined Arms Army from Lyman to Borova.
• The command of the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army on the Siversk direction will create favorable conditions for the further seizure of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration during the summer campaign. For this, its forces will attempt to break through to the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River between Yampil and Hryhorivka, and from the southeast direction—toward Siversk.
• On the Kramatorsk direction, the command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping and the 3rd Army, in particular, may soon change the direction of their main strike and shift it to the north of Chasiv Yar, launching an offensive on both sides of the Bakhmut–Sloviansk road along the Orikhovo-Vasylivka–Minkivka and Blahodatne–Pryvillya directions, which would allow them to break through to the forward approaches of Sloviansk directly from the southeast and create a real threat to the “Siversk” Operational Tactical Grouping (OTG) of Ukrainian Defense Forces by executing a deep flanking maneuver on its right flank. If the enemy manages to achieve operational surprise in these directions and advance to tactical depth, the situation in the Kolodyazi–Hryhorivka sector on the Lyman direction could radically deteriorate for the “Khortytsia” OSG.
• The operational plan of the 8th Combined Arms Army on the Kostyantynivka direction is to envelop the tactical group of the “Khortytsia” OSG, which is defending south of Kostyantynivka between Oleksandropil and Tarasivka from the flanks. The enemy aims to encircle and destroy this group or, if unable to do so, force it to withdraw from the area south of Kostyantynivka in a northwestern direction under the threat of encirclement. The ultimate goal of these actions is a two-pronged breakthrough from the southwest and southeast toward the area of Stepanivka – Berestok – Pleshchiivka – Yablunivka, followed by a simultaneous assault on Kostyantynivka from this area and from the direction of Chasiv Yar. After the reaching the Poltavka–Pleshchiivka line, the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army, reinforced by an airborne forces group, will attempt a rapid breakthrough from the bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal in the Chasiv Yar area, advancing from the northeast toward Kostyantynivka.

Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 21.04.25

Personnel – almost 941,770 (+670);

Tanks – 10,679 (+2);

Armored combat vehicles – 22,273 (+2);

Artillery systems – 26,659 (+10);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,368 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,139 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 45,324 (+50);

Aircraft – 370 (0);

Helicopters – 335 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 33,270 (+30);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,148 (0)

Boats/ships – 29 (0).

Humanitarian + general:

• During the night of April 21, Russian forces struck Ukraine using an Oniks anti-ship cruise missile, two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, as well as 96 Shahed-type strike drones and various types of decoy drones. As of 09:00, the downing of 42 strike UAVs has been confirmed. 47 enemy decoy drones were location-lost (with no negative consequences). As a result of the enemy attack, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy Oblasts were affected.
• Around 04:57 on Monday, April 21, Russian forces attacked Mykolaiv with two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, with no damage or casualties. Russians also attacked Kherson Oblast with an Oniks anti-ship cruise missile. No casualties have been reported.
• In Cherkasy Oblast, an infrastructure facility was damaged as a result of an attack by Russian strike drones.
• As a result of the overnight drone attack in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a food enterprise caught fire and infrastructure was damaged; in Kharkiv Oblast, enemy drones hit a multi-storey residential building. Thirty-six apartments burned over an area of 1,600 square meters. There were no casualties — the building was uninhabited.
• In the morning on Monday, Russian troops attacked a private household in a village of the Esman community in Sumy Oblast; a man was killed. The shelling began around 09:00. As a result of a shell impact, a neighboring house caught fire. The man went outside to extinguish the fire, and Russian troops struck again.
• Over the past week, the enemy has significantly intensified shelling of settlements in Kherson Oblast. Moreover, the Russians have changed tactics: first, they drop aerial bombs and then shell the same area with artillery. This means that after the first strike, the situation remains dangerous, and therefore it is important not to leave shelter immediately.
• In the morning of April 21, 2025, in Kherson Oblast, the Russian army attacked residents of the village of Bilozerka with a drone as they were walking down the street — an elderly woman was killed, two men were wounded.
• The aggressor attacked the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast throughout the day. UAVs and artillery were used. Nikopol, Myrivska, Pokrovska, Marhanetska, and Chervonohryhorivska communities came under fire. A 66-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were injured.
• Russian occupiers struck Kupyansk and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv Oblast over the past day, causing fires in houses and damaging a cargo truck and a crane truck.
• In Kharkiv on Monday, April 21, an underground school for nearly 400 students was opened in a residential area of the Osnovianskyi district, far from the city center.
• The driver of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhii Yeremieiev, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on April 21 by the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow (Russian Federation) on charges related to the incursion into Kursk Oblast.
• “Ukrgazvydobuvannia” gas extraction company lost 50% of its gas production due to Russian attacks in February. More than half of the losses have been restored, according to the Naftogaz group. Naftogaz, in order to sustain the heating season and compensate for the losses, urgently imported 800 million cubic meters of gas, balanced the system, and began restoring damaged infrastructure.

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Запис Russia’s war on Ukraine. 21.04.25 спершу з'явиться на Центр оборонних стратегій.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called Easter truce was a “charm offensive” aimed at appeasing U.S. President Donald Trump, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told FranceInfo on April 22.

The Trump administration has grown increasingly impatient with its stalled efforts to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

The U.S. president has even said he would abandon the effort unless there is tangible progress, though he later voiced optimism that the deal could be reached.

“The Easter truce that Putin announced, somewhat unexpectedly, was more of a PR move — a charm offensive intended to prevent President Trump from becoming impatient or upset,” Barrot told the broadcaster.

Putin’s ceasefire was to last from 6 p.m. on April 19 until midnight on April 21, but failed to hold. Ukraine has said Russian forces violated the truce in almost 3,000 cases.

Moscow also accused Kyiv of violations, while Ukraine has said it would carry out military actions only in a “symmetrical” response to Russian attacks.

Ukraine also responded to the Russian proposal by suggesting a 30-day ceasefire on all long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure. The Kremlin signaled it would review the proposal, but its forces launched heavy attacks against Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and other cities on April 22.

“The U.S. encouraged Kyiv to go further by suggesting a full 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine accepted, and now it’s up to Putin to accept the same principle,” Barrot said.

Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington on March 11 in Jeddah.

‘There was no ceasefire’ — US-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

A Russian drone attack on a funeral procession in the Kherson city center around noon on April 22 injured four people and damaged a hospital, local authorities said.

The victims included four funeral service employees born in 1960, 1981, 1984, and 2006. Two of them have been hospitalized, according to the statement. The hospital building and service vehicles were damaged.

The attack on the southern city took place shortly before massive drone attacks against Kharkiv, which have so far injured four people. Russian forces also launched an airstrike against Zaporizhzhia, reportedly killing one person and injuring 13, including two children.

Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities come as Kyiv offered a 30-day pause on strikes against civilian areas. Moscow signalled it would take the proposal under consideration, but continued in its strikes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also declared a temporary truce over the Easter holidays, even as Kyiv accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations during that period.

Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington on March 11 in Jeddah.

‘I didn’t have time to think. I just acted’ – how brave teen rescued people in Sumy attack

On a quiet morning on April 13, Maryna Illiashenko and her 13-year-old son Kyrylo were taking a bus through the city of Sumy to see his grandmother, as they often do on Sundays. It was a route they knew by heart — one they’d taken countless times. But that morning, out

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Russia attacked the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on April 22, killing at least one person and injuring at least 13, including two children, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

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, Fedorov said.

The strike killed a 69-year-old woman. Two children, aged 4 and 14, are among the injured, and two of the wounded victims are in serious condition, according to the governor.

The air raid alarm sounded in Zaporizhzhia Oblast at 10:28 a.m. local time. About an hour later, Fedorov reported a fire in one of Zaporizhzhia’s city districts as a result of the attack.

Zaporizhzhia, home to approximately 710,000 residents before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, is frequently targeted by Russian forces.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast is also home to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and has featured prominently in recent peace talks between Ukraine and the U.S.

‘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

Russia attacked 34 facilities of Ukrgasvydobuvannya, Ukraine’s largest gas producer and part of the state Naftogaz Group, last winter, leading to a loss of almost 50% of gas production, the company reported on April 21.

Russian forces regularly attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to power and heat shortages across the country.

The energy situation was most critical in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. Constant Russian attacks and the current state of the gas network could have left more than 1 million people without heating and electricity, the company’s statement read.

Emergency crews were said to work around the clock, and the company raised more than Hr 5 billion ($121 million) in humanitarian donor aid to avoid collapse.

Naftogaz also imported 800 million cubic meters of gas and began restoring the damaged infrastructure to withstand the autumn and winter of 2024-2025 and compensate for losses.

In March, Ukrgasvydobuvannya restored more than half of the production volumes lost because of the attacks, the company said.

Naftogaz’s interim CEO, Roman Chumak, said the company is already preparing for the next winter period.

Since the beginning of 2025, Naftogaz has contracted 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas, of which 400 million cubic meters will be supplied in preparation for the 2025-2026 autumn-winter period.

‘There was no ceasefire’ — US-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

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.

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

Russia’s declared Easter truce failed to hold as both sides continued fighting, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general, said on April 22 during a press briefing.

Russia was the first to declare an Easter ceasefire starting at 6 p.m. local time on April 19 and ending at midnight on April 21. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nearly 3,000 ceasefire breaches during that period.

“Both sides continued to fight. Once again, we call to end this war in line with relevant U.N. resolutions, international law, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Dujarric said.

Moscow also accused Kyiv of violating the truce. Ukraine has said it would carry out military actions only in a “symmetrical” response to Russian attacks during the ceasefire.

Following the declaration of the Easter truce, Zelensky proposed a joint 30-day ceasefire on long-range missile and drone strikes against civilian infrastructure. While claiming openness to “peace initiatives,” Russia has not yet agreed to impose the ban.

Zelensky said on April 21 that he was still waiting for an answer regarding the broader ceasefire.

Kyiv has voiced skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Easter truce proposal, citing Russia’s repeated violations of various ceasefire agreements in the past. Most recently, Ukraine said that Russian forces continued attacking Ukrainian energy facilities despite claiming to order a pause between March 18 and April 17.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also ramped up pressure on Ukraine and Russia to secure a ceasefire in the coming days. After threatening on April 18 to pull U.S. support from the peace process altogether, Trump told reporters on April 21 that there is a “very good chance” of a ceasefire agreement soon.

Ukrainian representatives will meet with officials from the U.S., U.K., and France for another round of peace talks in London on April 23.

The London negotiations are a follow-up to the recent April 17 talks in Paris, where senior members of the Trump administration first presented the U.S. ceasefire proposal to Ukrainian and European officials.

Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington on March 11 in Jeddah.

‘There was no ceasefire’ — US-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

President Volodymyr Zelensky intends to attend Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican, as the preparations for the ceremony are underway, European Pravda reported on April 22, citing its undisclosed source.

Pope Francis died in his residence in Vatican City on Easter Monday on April 21 after a stroke and a cardiac arrest. The first Latin American pope was aged 88 at the time of his death and had led the Catholic Church since 2013.

The Presidential Office is awaiting the official date of the funeral while preparing Zelensky’s visit to “bid farewell to the pontiff,” European Pravda’s source said.

Attendance at the ceremony was previously confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, marking the first international trip of Trump’s second term.

The Vatican is yet to announce the official funeral date, though the ceremony is traditionally held four to six days after the pope’s death. It is to be held at St. Peter’s Square, with Pope Francis to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Zelensky previously met Pope Francis on Oct. 11, 2024, in the Vatican as part of his official tour in Europe, presenting the pontiff with an oil painting named “The Bucha Massacre – the Story of Marichka.” Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, was occupied by Russian troops shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and saw some of Russia’s worst atrocities against civilians during the war.

Pope Francis has often weighed in on the Russia-Ukraine war, condemning violence and urging a peaceful settlement. Some of his comments were a matter of controversy in Ukraine, as they were perceived as relativizing Russia’s responsibility in the war.

During Sunday prayer on Dec. 15, 2024, Pope Francis referred to Russia and Ukraine as “brothers,” while reiterating calls for peace.

Zelensky extended his condolences following the pope’s death, saying: “He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support."

Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in wartime Ukraine, overshadowed by historic Vatican-Moscow ties

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at 88, leaves behind a legacy as vast and varied as his global influence. Yet in Ukraine, his track record is far from positive. For many Ukrainians, the Pope’s legacy is shaped by his repeated downplaying of the gravity of Ukraine’

The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Some 59% of Americans think that U.S. President Donald Trump is costing their country its credibility on the global stage, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on April 21.

Concerns about the U.S. global credibility under Trump are shared by roughly one-third of Republicans.

The survey revealed growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies on multiple issues. His overall approval rating stands at 42%, the lowest since he returned to the White House in January.

Unlike his more restrained first term, the second Trump presidency sent shockwaves through international politics as the president lashed out against the U.S.’s friends and partners and moved to restore ties with Russia.

This was perhaps most visible in Ukraine, a country that relied on crucial U.S. military and economic support under Trump’s predecessor, former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Trump departed from the West’s unequivocally pro-Ukraine policy, presenting the U.S. as a mediator seeking to broker a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. These efforts have included pressuring Ukraine by temporarily halting military support, while applying far less tangible pressure on Moscow, except for verbal threats of sanctions and tariffs.

Russia was even one of the few countries—unlike Ukraine, EU states, and others—that were excluded from Trump’s sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, which sent stock markets tumbling around the world. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has met Russian President Vladimir Putin three times, often echoing Moscow’s narratives on the war and pushing for economic cooperation.

Trump has further shocked the international community by repeatedly voting against motions in support of Ukraine in the U.N., joining the ranks of countries like Russia and Belarus. He has also publicly discussed annexing territory from U.S. partners like Denmark and Canada and directly challenged NATO’s principle of collective defense.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted between April 16 and 21 and involved 4,306 U.S. adults.

Ukraine has enjoyed a strong, bipartisan support at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, but later years saw the Republican Party grow increasingly skeptical about aiding Kyiv.

A March poll showed that most Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war and his embrace of Moscow. A more recent survey from April however confirmed a widening gap between Republicans and Democrats, with the former seeing Russia increasingly less as an adversary and being less concerned about the outcome of the war.

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

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least five civilians and injured at least 16 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on April 22.

Russian forces launched 54 drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsk-Akhtarsk, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 38 drones, while another 16 disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are often decoys that Russia launches alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia attacked the village of Petropavlivka with guided aerial bombs, killing a 54-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

A 24-year-old man was killed by a Russian FPV (first-person-view) drone while he was driving on a scooter in the village of Ivashky.

In the town of Kupiansk, a 58-year-old woman suffered a concussion as a result of a drone attack. Another 48-year-old woman was injured in a strike with glide bombs against the village of Horokhovatka.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 36 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed and seven others were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Sumy Oblast, Russia targeted the Esman community, killing one person on April 21. On the following day, Russian forces also used aerial bombs against the Bilopillia community, injuring one person, the local military administration reported.

Overnight on April 22, Russia attacked the city of Odesa with drones, injuring three people, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 66-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were injured in the Nikopol district, the local military administration reported. Russian forces attacked several settlements with artillery and drones.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was injured in an attack against the town of Myrnohrad, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

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 caught in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with th…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov