Russian troops attacked the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones on April 25, killing three people, including a child, and injuring at least 10 others, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

A five-story building in Pavlohrad came under attack and several fires were reported in the city.

A 17-year-old boy is among the injured, Lysak said. Eight people were hospitalized.

The number of casualties could increase as the search and rescue operation is ongoing.

Pavlohrad, a city with a population of over 100,000, lies roughly 70 kilometers (over 40 miles) east of the regional center, Dnipro, and over 110 kilometers (70 miles) west of the front line.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in central-eastern Ukraine is a regular target of Russian missiles, drones, and artillery strikes. A Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih in early April killed 20 people, including nine children, and injured over 70.

Recent weeks saw Russia intensify its strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and residential areas as Moscow continues to reject a full ceasefire backed by Washington and Kyiv.

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Ukraine may be forced to temporarily give up some territories to Russia, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in an interview with BBC published on April 25, as U.S. pressure mounts for a peace deal with Moscow.

“Right now (there are) a lot of conversations about a possible solution. One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution. Temporary,” Klitschko said in a released excerpt of the interview.

He added that Ukrainians would “never accept occupation” by Russia.

Klitschko’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic activity following a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed 12 people and injured almost 90 on April 24. The strike took place just a day after the Kremlin reiterated its demands that Ukraine cede occupied territory and that the West end its military aid to Kyiv.

The Trump administration’s latest proposal for ending Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine reportedly includes U.S. de jure recognition of Moscow’s control over Crimea, along with de facto recognition of its partial occupation of other Ukrainian regions — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Klitschko appears to be the first senior Ukrainian politician to suggest that Ukraine may need to consider temporary territorial compromises.

Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has not received any official proposals for territorial concessions as part of potential peace talks with Russia from the U.S. or other partners. He has also repeatedly said that Kyiv won’t recognize occupied territories as Russian.

Despite his popularity abroad, Klitschko faces criticism in Ukraine for his handling of the capital. The Kyiv mayor has had a long-standing conflict with Zelensky. He claims ongoing pressure from government authorities.

Asked whether Zelensky had talked to him about any possible war settlement details, the Kyiv mayor said, “No."

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Russia has lost 946,500 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 25.

The number includes 1,170 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,703 tanks, 22,315 armored fighting vehicles, 45,906 vehicles and fuel tanks, 26,895 artillery systems, 1,372 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,144 air defense systems, 370 airplanes, 335 helicopters, 33,779 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance agrees that Russia is a “long-term threat” to Euro-Atlantic security following his visit to the White House on April 24.

Rutte met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on April 24 amid intensified efforts by the U.S. to reach a peace deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Rutte was reportedly expected to use his visit to urge the U.S. not to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace agreement that favors Moscow.

Rutte emphasized that all NATO members agree that Russia threatens regional security.

On April 24, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu threatened that Russia could use “asymmetrical measures,” including nuclear weapons, against Europe in response to “unfriendly actions."

“We all agree, in NATO, that Russia is the long-term threat to NATO territory, to the whole of the Euro-Atlantic territory,” Rutte said.

Rutte recognized Ukraine’s efforts to reach a peace deal and called for Moscow to make an effort to come to an agreement.

“Ukrainians are really playing ball, and I think the ball is clearly in the Russian court now."

After speaking to Trump, Rutte said “something is on the table for Russia” in a potential peace deal.

The U.S. could reportedly de jure recognize Russian control over Crimea and de facto recognize Moscow’s illegal occupation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as part of a peace deal.

Ukraine would be prohibited from joining NATO, but would remain permitted to pursue EU membership. Sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 would be lifted, and the U.S. and Russia would pursue deeper energy and economic cooperation.

Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

On April 23, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

“That was the proposal put forward by the United States on March 11 of this year — and it was absolutely reasonable,” Zelensky said.

On April 23, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Ukraine and Russia on a peace deal.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Ukraine would like to have a “common understanding that Russia is the aggressor,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a wide-ranging interview with American commentator Ben Shapiro released on April 24.

“We would like… to have this common understanding that Russia is the aggressor,” Zelensky said.

"(Y)ou shouldn’t be saying that Ukraine and Russia started this war, I believe that it’s painful for our people to hear," Zelensky added.

U.S. President Donald Trump and the White House have made inflammatory comments, claiming Ukraine shares the blame for Russia’s war. On Feb. 18, Trump said Ukraine “should have never started” Russia’s war.

Zelensky said that Ukraine is defending against Russia’s war and did not start it, comparing Ukraine’s relations with Russia and the U.S. as opposite of one another.

“You have to understand Ukraine, that we are defending against Russia’s offense and we believe Russia is an enemy, we believe (the) United States is a true and real friend,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky thanked the U.S. for its role as a mediator to stop Russia’s war, but emphasized that Ukraine views the U.S. as an ally.

“We know that (the) United States has a position to serve as the mediator in this conflict, that is the choice made by the United States, but we consider (the) United States as a strong, strategic partner,” Zelensky said.

“We would really like to have peace through strength that would be used towards Russia… because they are the one who is the aggressor,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky said he expects to hold more meaningful conversations with Trump and noted Ukraine counts on its “strategic partnership” with the U.S.

“I think that we will have more fruitful meetings with President Trump,” he said.

Zelensky noted the U.S. plays a key role in Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war through materiel support, but has not paid for pensions or salaries in Ukraine.

"(T)he United States (has) to know that they were not feeding our pensioners and our soldiers with regards to the salary or the compensation, surely you’ve provided the most important aspect, that is the weapons," he said.

Far-right American commentator Tucker Carlson claimed the U.S. funds Ukraine’s “retirement accounts” in an interview with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, released on April 4.

On April 23, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

“That was the proposal put forward by the United States on March 11 of this year — and it was absolutely reasonable,” Zelensky said.

So far, Russia has not agreed to an unconditional ceasefire and continues its war against Ukraine.

Twelve people were killed and 90 civilians, including six children, were injured in a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on April 24.

Crimean Tatar freed from Russian captivity: ‘Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea would legitimize crime’

For nearly two years in Russian captivity, Leniye Umerova clung to a single hope: that one day, she would return home — to Crimea. “I thought about Crimea all the time,” Umerova told the Kyiv Independent. “I dreamed of going there without the permission of the occupying forces, without going through

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed peace talks are “moving in the right direction,” but noted “specific points… need to be defined” in an interview with CBS News released on April 24.

“Well, the president of the United States believes — and I believe rightly so — that we are moving in the right direction,” Lavrov said.

“The statement by the (U.S.) president mentions a deal, and we are ready to reach a deal, but there are some specific points, elements of this deal, which need to be defined,” Lavrov added.

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing de jure recognizing Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from joining NATO as part of a potential peace deal. “I think we have a deal with both (Russia and Ukraine), I hope they do it,” Trump said on April 23.

Lavrov noted that a peace deal is still being negotiated, but that it is “moving in the right direction."

“(W)e are busy with this exact process and the United States did not spell out the elements of the deal,” he claimed.

“Well, you don’t trust the word of the president of the United States?” Lavrov said when pressed by journalists to confirm if Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on April 25.

Lavrov expressed that peace talks are going in the right direction.

“We continue our contacts with the American side with the deal with Ukraine. There are several signs that we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

The U.S. could reportedly de jure recognize Russian control over Crimea and de facto recognize Moscow’s illegal occupation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Ukraine would be prohibited from joining NATO, but would remain permitted to pursue EU membership. Sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 would be lifted, and the U.S. and Russia would pursue deeper energy and economic cooperation.

“President Trump is probably the only leader on Earth who recognizes the need to address the root causes of this situation. This was a mistake by the Biden administration, and he wants to rectify this, Lavrov said.

On April 23, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Ukraine and Russia on a peace deal.

Vance repeated warnings that the U.S. might drop its peace efforts if both sides refuse to settle a peace deal. White House officials have warned that Washington would abandon the peace efforts if a deal is not reached soon.

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

U.S. allies are voicing growing alarm over the Trump administration’s proposed framework to end the war in Ukraine, which would allow Russia to retain large areas of seized Ukrainian territory.

Multiple diplomatic sources told CNN that officials in Europe and Asia are bracing for the outcome of renewed U.S.-Russia talks and fear the plan sends a dangerous message. The proposal, presented in Paris last week, includes potential U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and Ukrainian territorial concessions. Vice President JD Vance reinforced this stance, saying on April 23, there’s a need “to freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today."

Trump, when asked what Russia would give up in exchange, responded: “Stopping the war, stopping [from] taking the whole country, pretty big concession.”

The remark has unsettled many diplomats, with one Eastern European official warning that the framework threatens the integrity of international law: “This is very much about our own existence and the weakening of any safeguards that my or other countries have for our own independence.”

‘Vladimir, stop!’ — Trump ‘not happy’ with Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!” U.S. President Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

“If one country in Europe is forced to give up parts of its legal territory… no country in Europe or elsewhere can feel safe, NATO or no NATO,” the diplomat told CNN.

In high-level meetings held in London on April 23, U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials reportedly made progress in narrowing differences. U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg called the talks “candid, positive and productive.” At the same time, a European official said negotiators had “managed to convince the Ukrainians to convince themselves to get in a more U.S. administration-friendly position.” Still, the core issue—territorial concessions—remains fraught. A German official acknowledged that “the Ukrainians are coming around,” but emphasized they “have red lines they cannot cross."

One Ukrainian lawmaker described any deal requiring major territorial losses as “political suicide,” warning it would not be approved by parliament. European diplomats admitted that any agreement acceptable to Moscow would appear “unfavorable to the Ukrainians,” but noted that “within reason, the Ukrainians will have to come to terms with something that may be second best to a deal they would have wanted two years ago.”

Questions remain about how the U.S. intends to implement the plan, with one American official describing the administration’s approach as “somewhat directionless, rudderless, confused.”  

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

The U.K. is expected to scale back earlier proposals to deploy thousands of ground troops to Ukraine, as officials warn the risks are now considered “too high” for such a mission.

The original plan, which included protecting Ukrainian cities, ports, and nuclear power plants, is being reconsidered in favor of a more limited and strategic presence. A source involved in the discussions told the Times, “The risks are too high and the forces inadequate for such a task. This was always the U.K.’s thought. It was France who wanted a more muscular approach."

On March 15, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented plans to send 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Ukraine at a high-level virtual summit in London. The peacekeeping mission would be “a significant force with a significant number of countries providing troops and a much larger group contributing in other ways,”  a senior government source told the Sunday Times.

Instead of placing troops near the front lines, the U.K. and France now aim to send military trainers to western Ukraine, fulfilling a commitment to deploy personnel without engaging in direct defense roles.

“The trainers ‘reassure’ by being there but aren’t a deterrence or protection force,” the source added, expressing concern that any breakdown in a ceasefire could escalate into a broader conflict. The revised approach would shift focus toward rebuilding and equipping Ukraine’s military, with continued weapons deliveries and air and sea protection measures forming the backbone of future support.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Operation Interflex, the U.K.’s domestic training mission for Ukrainian troops, is expected to wind down by the end of the year, with operations relocating to a base near Lviv. However, Ukrainian officials remain cautious, recalling how Western trainers withdrew just before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

“Our problem now is to try and find a landing zone where Ukraine doesn’t have to break all its red lines,” said a diplomatic source.

European and British officials are also working behind the scenes to advance peace talks, hoping to arrange a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome following the Pope’s funeral. “We will move our position but we want Moscow to break their red lines,” one diplomatic source explained.

The push comes amid growing fears that U.S. support could waver if Ukraine refuses to make concessions, particularly as Trump maintains a tougher stance on Zelensky than on Putin, according to British officials.

Ukraine remains under pressure to respond to a broader U.S. peace plan first presented in Paris on April 17. According to the Wall Street Journal, that plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO — two long-standing Kremlin demands.

Despite the revised strategy, the U.K. insists it remains committed to Ukraine’s defense, according to the Times. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense responded to reports of the plan change by saying, “This is speculation. Advanced operational planning within the coalition of the willing remains ongoing for options across land, sea and air, and to regenerate the Ukrainian armed forces. In the meantime, we’re continuing to support efforts for peace, while stepping up the military support for Ukraine as Putin’s illegal invasion continues."

Trump says Russia has shown willingness for peace by not taking over all of Ukraine, calls it ‘pretty big concession’

“Stopping the war, stopping from taking the whole country, pretty big concession,” Donald Trump said on April 24 when asked what Russia has offered as part of a potential peace deal.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine has urged the U.S. Treasury to find a mechanism to use $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for reconstruction and defense, Andriy Pyshnyy, head of the National Bank of Ukraine, said on April 24, Reuters reported.

The Ukrainian delegation raised the issue with U.S. Treasury officials during negotiations on April 23, according to Reuters. Ukraine intends to continue lobbying for the initiative at an upcoming meeting with the International Monetary Fund, Pyshnyy said.

“Is there a mechanism to get access to these assets, to turn them into the source to cover the losses and damages of Ukraine and to fuel its resilience? The answer is very simple,  yes,” Pyshnyy said at the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group.

In October 2024, the Group of Seven (G7) approved nearly $50 billion in loans for Ukraine that will be repaid by interest generated from frozen Russian assets.

On April 10, the European Union announced it would allocate €2.1 billion ($2.4 billion) in revenue generated from frozen Russian Central Bank assets to support Ukraine’s defense industry.  EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said the funds would help provide air defenses and ammunition.

US senators push Trump administration to seize Russian assets for Ukraine, Reuters reports

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seen by Reuters on March 24, senators questioned the administration’s willingness to use all available financial tools to pressure Russia into ending its war against Ukraine.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine will have to make some compromises to reach a peace deal with Russia, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with Euronews on April 24.

“It has to be a compromise,” he said. “De facto this peace should come down to the fact that neither side will be able to say it won this war. Ukraine will also have to step down in some sense, because that’s what will probably happen.”

Duda’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic activity following a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people and injured 90 on April 24. The strike took place just a day after the Kremlin reiterated its demands that Ukraine cede occupied territory and that the West end its military aid to Kyiv.

Duda believes that only the U.S. has the power to bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end.

“Today my conclusion is absolutely unequivocal: there is no one outside the United States who can stop (Russian President) Vladimir Putin," he said. “That’s why I believe that President Donald Trump, with his determination, can bring this war to an end.”

Duda defended Trump’s negotiating style, describing it as shaped by a hard-edged business approach.

“He used to own casinos, so this is a man who is taught a specific business game and has his own hard business methods that have been developed for decades. He transfers them to politics and plays very hard,” Duda said. “You have to negotiate hard with him.”

The Polish leader also said pressure on Russia is “the only thing” that could forge a lasting peace, though he warned it “will not be comfortable for either side.”

Ukraine is under pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. peace proposal, first presented in Paris on April 17. According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a permanent ban on NATO membership for Ukraine — both key Kremlin demands.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any deal involving de jure recognition of occupied territories as Russian. “This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” he said on April 22.

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 United States will demand that Russia recognize Ukraine’s sovereign right to maintain adequately equipped armed forces and a defense industry as part of any peace agreement, Bloomberg reported on April 24, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The issue is expected to be raised by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25.

The demand would directly challenge one of the Kremlin’s war aims — Ukraine’s demilitarization — and is part of a broader push to secure guarantees for Kyiv.

The U.S. also reportedly wants Russia to return the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukrainian control. The plant, occupied by Russian forces since 2022, would then be placed under U.S. oversight to supply power to cities on both sides of the front line.

Other points include providing Ukraine with a secure passage across the Dnipro River and restoring Russian-occupied territory in Kharkiv Oblast to Ukrainian control. Russia currently holds around 200 square kilometers (about 77 square miles) of the region.

The negotiations come as Ukraine remains under pressure to respond to a broader U.S. peace plan first presented in Paris on April 17. According to the Wall Street Journal, that plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO — two long-standing Kremlin demands.

Boris Johnson blasts Trump peace plan after deadly Russian attack on Kyiv

“As for Ukraine - what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion?” Johnson said. “What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made - for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world?”

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any deal involving territorial concessions. “This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” he said on April 22.

U.S. President Donald Trump has denied Ukraine is being forced to accept the Crimea clause, though he criticized Zelensky’s refusal to negotiate on the matter as “harmful to the peace negotiations."

Russia launched deadly missile strikes on Kyiv on April 24, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 90. Trump responded by calling the attacks “not necessary” and “poorly timed,” but did not condemn Russia or threaten consequences.

Ukraine has already accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire introduced in March, contingent on Russia’s agreement. Moscow has refused so far.

Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, has met Putin multiple times this year and has faced criticism from both U.S. and Ukrainian officials for supporting proposals seen as favorable to the Kremlin, including trading territory for peace.

NATO chief to urge US not to force Russia-friendly deal on Ukraine, FT reports

According to the publication, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

President Donald Trump on April 24 described Russia’s failure to seize all of Ukraine as a “pretty big concession,” a comment that has sparked renewed criticism of his approach to the war.

During a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that Moscow’s inability to fully occupy Ukraine reflects pressure he claims to be applying behind the scenes. “Stopping the war, stopping [from] taking the whole country,” he said, framing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unfulfilled invasion goals as a meaningful compromise.

Trump’s remarks followed Russia’s mass missile attack on Ukraine overnight on April 24, which sent a combined 215 missiles and drones at the country. Many of the missiles and drones targeted Kyiv, where the attack killed 12 people, including two children from the same family. At least ninety more people were wounded as the strike damaged dozens of apartment buildings, a school, and a kindergarten.

‘Russian peace in all its glory’ — Mass Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 12, injures 90

A series of explosions rocked the capital around 1:00 a.m. local time on April 24, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported. Additional explosions were later heard around 4 a.m. local time.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Trump insisted he is working to end the war through private diplomacy.

When asked what he was asking of Putin to match the extensive concessions Ukraine has been pressured to make, Trump said: “I’m putting a lot of pressure. You don’t know what pressure I’m putting. They’re dealing. You have no idea what pressure I’m putting on Russia. We’re putting a lot of pressure … and Russia knows that and some people who are close to it know or he wouldn’t be talking right now."

His claim that Russia’s failure to end Ukraine’s existence should be seen as generosity disregards the reality that it was Ukrainian military resistance—not restraint by Moscow—that blocked the Kremlin’s original aims.

The full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, was intended to dismantle Ukraine as a sovereign nation and expand Russia’s influence. On April 24, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was “not happy” about Russia’s latest deadly strike.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in South Africa at the time, called for the world to recognize Russia’s continued aggression. “It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening,” he said.

Trump, for his part, condemned the timing of the attack. “I didn’t like last night. I wasn’t happy with it, and we’re in the midst of talking peace and missiles were fired, that I was not happy with it,” he said.

When asked whether he would impose more sanctions on Russia, he said: “I’d rather answer that question in a week. I want to see if we can have a deal.” He added that there is a deadline for peace talks: “We want it to be fast… we have a deadline, and after that we’re going to have a very much different attitude. But I think there’s a very good chance of getting done.”

‘No point in negotiating:’ Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv sows distrust in Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Russia’s devastating missile and drone attack on Kyiv on April 24 killed at least 12 and injured 90 people. The Kyiv Independent visited the residential district where a missile struck an apartment building to speak with witnesses and see the aftermath.

The mass attack came just hours after the Kremlin demanded Ukraine’s full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support. Earlier on April 23, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that President Volodymyr Zelensky was the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine.

Later in the night, Russia launched missiles targeting various regions of the country, including Kyiv.

The U.S. issued a warning that any country or individual involved in Russia’s plans to establish a naval base in Sudan could face “serious consequences,” including sanctions, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News on April 24.

The statement marks a sharp departure from the typically measured tone of recent U.S.-Russia exchanges and signals Washington’s concern over Moscow’s expanding military footprint in Africa.

“We encourage all countries, including Sudan, to avoid any transactions with Russia’s defense sector,” the spokesperson said. “Moving forward with such a facility or any other form of security cooperation with Russia would further isolate Sudan, deepen the current conflict, and risk further regional destabilization."

Russia has long sought a strategic Red Sea outpost.

A draft agreement to build a naval base in Port Sudan first surfaced in 2020, outlining a 25-year deal allowing up to four Russian warships and 300 personnel. In exchange, Russia would supply Sudan with weapons and military support.

Though the original agreement was never ratified, talks resumed this year.

In February 2025, Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Al-Sharif and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that both sides had “reached an understanding” regarding the base’s construction.

The former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration had previously accused Russia of supporting both sides in Sudan’s internal conflict — the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Until now, President Donald Trump’s administration had avoided taking a firm stance.

Sudan, located in Northeast Africa and bordered by seven countries, has become a focal point in the geopolitical contest between Western and Russian influence. In March 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that small Ukrainian military teams helped Sudanese forces repel Wagner Group-backed RSF fighters.

‘Vladimir, stop!’ — Trump ‘not happy’ with Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!” U.S. President Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

For nearly two years in Russian captivity, Leniye Umerova clung to a single hope: that one day, she would return home — to Crimea.

“I thought about Crimea all the time,” Umerova told the Kyiv Independent. “I dreamed of going there without the permission of the occupying forces, without going through filtration, without hiding, simply — going home.”

A Ukrainian of Crimean Tatar descent, Umerova, 26, was captured by Russian forces in 2022 while trying to reach occupied Crimea to visit her then-sick father, who had cancer.

She spent almost two years in Russian prisons on trumped-up charges of espionage before being released in September as part of a prisoner exchange with Ukraine.

Though finally being back in Kyiv was a big relief, grim news about the future of Umerova’s home soon followed.

On April 23, Axios reported, citing its sources, that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included U.S. de jure recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea. The move would make it increasingly difficult for Ukraine to ever reclaim the Crimean Peninsula and likely only through military means.

Russia invaded and unlawfully annexed Crimea in 2014, cracking down violently on any opposition to its regime. Over 11 years of occupation, Crimean Tatars, the peninsula’s indigenous population, have faced the brunt of Russia’s harsh repressions.

For 26-year-old Umerova, who was imprisoned for simply being Ukrainian and spent most of her captivity in solitary confinement, the news stirred a sense of “outrage and pain.”

“Some see Crimea as just a piece of land. I see people — people who risk their lives every day by simply remaining Ukrainian. Thousands of political prisoners held for their dissent,” she says. “Dozens of activists tortured to death who will never come back. They believed in justice. We have no moral right to betray them.”

“(Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea) would be a devaluation of international law, of human rights, of the very idea of justice. It would legitimize a crime. It would mean that justice doesn’t depend on what’s right, but on who has more power.”

Fear and rage

Born in Crimea, Umerova left the peninsula a year after Russia occupied it to finish high school in Kyiv, where she and her older brother Aziz found a new home. Their parents, however, stayed in their hometown, living under occupation.

After learning that her father had cancer, Umerova decided to travel to Crimea, despite realizing the danger the trip would involve.

As the only passenger with a Ukrainian passport, she was pulled off the bus at the Russian-Georgian border in December 2022.

She was then held in detention facilities in the remote cities of Vladikavkaz and Beslan before being transferred to Moscow, where Russia brought trumped-up espionage charges against her, facing up to 20 years behind bars.

Over 14,000 Ukrainian civilians were held in Russian captivity as of 2024, according to Ukraine’s Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets. The return of civilians is very difficult because Ukraine has no Russian civilians to exchange them for, says Lubinets. Captive soldiers can only be exchanged for soldiers.

Umerova says that the tactics Russia used to detain and illegally keep her under custody showed the “absurdity” of the Russian judicial system.

Court hearings at 3 a.m., kidnappings, threats, and interrogations are just part of the horrors Umerova endured in Vladikavkaz and Beslan, as Russia exploited any possible excuse to extend her detention while fabricating a criminal case against her.

“I personally witnessed how just a few hours before the trial, a person comes in, speaks with them (the judge), then leaves, and the verdict is already decided. That’s all you need to know about the current judicial system in Russia,” Umerova says.

In early May 2023, Umerova was transferred to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow, often described as Russia’s most “severe” prison. Handcuffed and guarded by armed Russian officers, she was transported there on a regular civilian charter flight.

“It felt so weird,” Umerova says. “When you’re in handcuffs and two men are holding you on either side and the flight attendant just smiles at you."

She was the first one taken to the plane and the last to leave, ensuring no passengers could see her. While being escorted from the plane, one of the Russian officers tried to intimidate her psychologically and make her feel ashamed.

“He talked loudly to attract attention, telling me I should be ashamed of what I had done. It wasn’t just directed at me. The whole spectacle was staged for the audience to watch, to somehow justify their actions in the eyes of their society.”

“I looked at him and thought: ‘What do you want from me? What should I be ashamed of? For you attacking my country?'”

The same month, Umerova learned that the Lefortovo district court was pressing espionage charges against her, meaning she could end up spending up to 20 years in Russian imprisonment.

“As I was reading my charges, I couldn’t string the words together into sentences. They just scattered in my mind because it was all so absurd — that I’m a spy."

Russia filed espionage charges against Umerova after she had already been in captivity for five months, which was a clear indication that the case was fabricated, Olha Skrypnyk, the head of the Crimean Human Rights Group, told the Kyiv Independent last October.

“It was not just a feeling of fear and rage, but an understanding of the insanity of the situation. A complete sense of helplessness in the moment because you have no connection (to the outside world), and you can’t do anything about it,” Umerova said.

‘A non-negotiable’

Locked in an eight-meter prison cell, she was threatened and interrogated, and rarely had a chance to speak to other prisoners. Once, the prison guards accidentally brought her to a neighboring cell, where she saw a male prisoner.

“It was the first time I saw someone not in uniform,” Umerova recalls, adding that from the wall of her cell, she decided to tap out the rhythm from the Ukrainian folk song “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow” to see if he was Ukrainian.

“So I started tapping out a verse, and there was silence for a minute or two. But then, after a couple of minutes, he starts tapping back,” she says. “I had tears in my eyes when I heard it.”

The man later turned out to be a Ukrainian POW. Umerova believes he was severely beaten during interrogations — a common practice in Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian POWs.

Umerova says the occasional letters from her loved ones and strangers who had heard her story helped to keep her sane.

“There were difficult times, but I never truly lost hope, even when I realized I might not get out until I was over 40.”

However, letters of support – many of which came from the U.S., Georgia, and Armenia – gave her energy to be strong.

“Knowing that people know your story and understand that it’s unfair helps you realize that you haven’t lost your mind because of the surrealism happening around,” she said.

A couple of months after arriving at Lefortovo, Umerova received a letter from a stranger abroad who shared that he had endured a similar experience. He wrote: “Don’t let them break you and make you like them, keep that fire of life inside you.”

“Those were the right words at that time, helping me to distract myself from all of that.”

Although she held onto the hope of being exchanged one day, Umerova tried not to get her hopes up too much. In captivity, prisoners are often moved from one prison to another with little explanation from the Russian guards.

So when, on Sept. 11, she was asked to pack her belongings and prepare to leave, Umerova expected nothing more than being transferred to another prison cell. Instead, two days later, she crossed into Ukraine after spending a total of 21 months in captivity.

During her long-awaited journey to freedom, Umerova lost all the letters she had received during captivity.

Although devastated by the recent news about Crimea’s potential recognition as Russian territory, Umerova stays positive.

“If a person can be brought back from that side (Russia), then anything is possible,” she says.

She has no intention of giving up on her dream to one day return home to free Crimea.

“Political positions may shift, but for me and many Ukrainians, Crimea remains a part of Ukraine. That is non-negotiable,” Umerova says.

Note from the author:

Hi! Daria Shulzhenko here. I wrote this piece for you. Since the first day of Russia’s all-out war, I have been working almost non-stop to tell the stories of those affected by Russia’s brutal aggression. By telling all those painful stories, we are helping to keep the world informed about the reality of Russia’s war against Ukraine. By becoming the Kyiv Independent’s member, you can help us continue telling the world the truth about this war.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Key developments on April 24:

• ‘Russian peace in all its glory’ — Mass Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 12, injures 90
• Europe rejects US push to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea, FT reports
• NATO chief to reportedly urge US not to force Russia-friendly deal on Ukraine
• US to demand Ukraine’s right to maintain sufficient army in talks with Russia
• Ukraine brings back body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna tortured in Russian captivity, official says

Twelve people were killed and 90 civilians, including six children, were injured in a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight on April 24, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.

A series of explosions rocked the capital around 1:00 a.m. local time on April 24, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported. Additional explosions were later heard around 4 a.m. local time.

Russia launched attack drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.

“We were at home and there were explosions,” Maria Rumiantseva, a 40-year-old resident of one of the buildings damaged in the attack, told the Kyiv Independent.

“Then I heard the Shahed. We just went out into the corridor, went to open the door, and that was it — an explosion."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that six children, as well as a pregnant woman, were among the injured. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said that at least two children are not accounted for.

Fires were reported in residential buildings, Kyiv City Military Administration chief Tymur Tkachenko said, adding that cars and commercial buildings have been impacted as well.

Fallen debris was found around the city, Tkachenko added, describing the  attack as “Russian peace in all its glory."

The mass attack came just hours after the Kremlin demanded Ukraine’s full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support.

Earlier on April 23, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that President Volodymyr Zelensky was the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine.

Later in the night, Russia launched missiles targeting various regions of the country.

Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were also targeted in the “massive combined strike,” though Kyiv was hit the hardest, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.

In response to the attack, Poland’s Air Force scrambled allied fighter jets to protect the country’s own airspace from missiles that may stray into Polish territory.

Trump later criticized Russia’s strike on Kyiv, calling it “not necessary."

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!” Trump said on the Truth Social platform, addressing the Russian leader by his first name.

The U.S. president urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “get the peace deal done,” stopping short of further criticism.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance did not condemn the attack, but reshared a post denouncing Zelensky and accusing him of being the main impediment to peace in Ukraine.

Russia has regularly targeted civilian infrastructure since the onset of its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

The U.S. has been in talks with Ukraine and Russia to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms.

So far, Moscow has refused.

‘No way to deal with Putin except for weapons:’ survivors of deadly Russian attack on Kyiv doubt Trump peace plan

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack. Though they were tired of

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Europe rejects US push to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea, FT reports

Europe will not support any U.S. move to recognize Russian control over occupied Crimea and will not pressure Kyiv to accept it, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 24, citing undisclosed Western officials.

The Trump administration’s final proposal for ending Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine reportedly included U.S. de jure recognition of Moscow’s control over Crimea, along with de facto recognition of its partial occupation of other Ukrainian regions — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 23 that Washington is not forcing Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian. He then blamed Ukraine for not fighting back when Russia illegally seized the peninsula in 2014.

An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European countries would not recognize Crimea as Russian. Major European NATO powers should “discourage” the U.S. from doing so unilaterally, according to the official.

Earlier this week, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said that the European Union will never recognize the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula as legally Russian.

Recognition of the annexation would contradict a decade of bipartisan U.S. policy and a 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolution, in which 100 member states declared the seizure illegal.

Trump’s claim that Crimea was taken without force is false. During Russia’s 2014 annexation, armed Russian troops in unmarked uniforms seized Ukrainian government buildings, military installations, and blockaded bases.

Following the U.S. president’s remarks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 23 that Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution, sharing a 2018 U.S. declaration denouncing Russian occupation of Crimea and reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

NATO chief to urge US not to force Russia-friendly deal on Ukraine, FT reports

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to use his visit to Washington on April 24 to urge the U.S. not to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace agreement that favors Moscow, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing three officials briefed on the trip.

According to the publication, Rutte is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

His message will focus on the risks of brokering a deal that disregards Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the broader threat such a move would pose to European security.

Rutte will reportedly emphasize that any settlement imposed on Kyiv — especially one aligning with Kremlin demands — would only embolden Russian aggression and further destabilize the region, the sources said.

The visit comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. peace proposal reportedly presented in Paris on April 17.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO — two core Russian demands.

The proposal has sparked backlash even from Trump’s supporters. Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the plan on April 24, calling it a reward for Russian aggression and warning that it risks allowing Russia to regroup for another assault.

Rutte is also expected to discuss NATO’s long-term defense posture in Europe, including transferring more of the alliance’s military burden from the U.S. to European forces, according to FT sources.

‘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

US to demand Ukraine’s right to maintain sufficient army in talks with Russia, Bloomberg reports

The United States will demand that Russia recognize Ukraine’s sovereign right to maintain its own adequately equipped armed forces and defense industry as part of any peace agreement, Bloomberg reported on April 24, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The issue is expected to be raised by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25.

The demand would directly challenge one of the Kremlin’s war aims — Ukraine’s demilitarization — and is part of a broader push to secure guarantees for Kyiv.

The U.S. also reportedly wants Russia to return the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukrainian control. The plant, occupied by Russian forces since 2022, would then be placed under U.S. oversight to supply power to cities on both sides of the front line.

Other points include providing Ukraine with a secure passage across the Dnipro River and restoring Russian-occupied territory in Kharkiv Oblast to Ukrainian control. Russia currently holds around 200 square kilometers (about 77 square miles) of the region.

The negotiations come as Ukraine remains under pressure to respond to a broader U.S. peace plan first presented in Paris on April 17. According to the Wall Street Journal, that plan includes recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO — two long-standing Kremlin demands.

Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, has met Putin multiple times this year and has faced criticism from both U.S. and Ukrainian officials for supporting proposals seen as favorable to the Kremlin, including trading territory for peace.

Ukraine brings back body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna tortured in Russian captivity, official says

The body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died after torture in Russian captivity, was brought back to Ukraine in late February, Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Tymchenko said in an interview with Censor.net published on April 24.

“She was identified through DNA testing,” Tymchenko said.

Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories, with Moscow admitting her detention the following year.

Ukrainian officials confirmed Roshchyna’s death on Oct. 10, 2024, but said that the circumstances were still under investigation. Russia did not hand over her body for about five months.

According to Russia, Roshchyna died on Sept. 19, 2024.

Yurii Belousov, head of the war crimes department at the Prosecutor General’s Office, said the condition of the journalist’s body made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death.

“At the same time, numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment were found on the victim’s body,” Belousov said during a briefing in Kyiv on April 24.

The Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian NGO, reported that Roshchyna had been held in at least two notorious Russian prisons: the penal colony n. 77 in Berdiansk in occupied Ukraine and the detention center n. 2 in Russia’s Taganrog.

Both facilities are known for the use of torture against prisoners.

Roshchyna was tortured with electric shocks while in Russian captivity, Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info reported in early March, citing an unnamed witness in the Taganrog detention center.

There were also cuts on Roshchyna’s arms after interrogations, the witness said. The journalist lost weight and weighed up to 30 kilograms, according to the source.

Previously, in March 2022, Roshchyna was detained for 10 days by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers while leaving Berdiansk in the direction of Mariupol. As a condition of her release, she was forced to record a video saying Russian forces had saved her life.

Although Roshchyna’s body is said to have been returned in late February, Ukrainian journalists said in March that her body had not yet been retrieved at the time.

Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker and chair of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech, said on April 24 that the body’s return was not announced for so long due to uncertainty about the identity.

“Given the torture and the condition of her body, Roshchyna’s family requested not one, but several DNA examinations,” Yurchyshyn wrote on Facebook. “As far as I know, the examinations were carried out not only in Ukraine but also abroad to ensure that it was Viktoriia."

Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna receives posthumous human rights award

Roshchyna, who died last fall in Russian captivity, received the Homo Homini award for her “work dedicated to portraying issues threatening the democratic order of Ukraine, which she did not compromise on, even at the risk of her personal safety.”

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 24 that both Russia and Ukraine “want peace,” adding that he had set a deadline to finalize a deal aimed at ending the war.

“So we are thinking very strongly that they both want peace,” Trump said during a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. “But they have to get to the table. We’ve been waiting a long time. They have to get to the table. And I think we’re going to get peace.”

Trump also said that he has a deadline for reaching a peace deal but did not elaborate.

“I have my own deadline,” he said. “… And after that, we’re going to have a very much different attitude. But I think we have a very good chance of getting (a peace deal) done."

The remarks come as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump warned earlier this week that the U.S. may withdraw from the mediation process if no progress is made in the coming days.

Ukraine is under pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. peace proposal, first presented in Paris on April 17. According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a permanent ban on Ukrainian NATO membership — both key Kremlin demands.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any deal involving territorial concessions. “This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” he said on April 22.

On April 23, Trump denied Ukraine is being forced to recognize Crimea as Russian, writing on Truth Social that “nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory."

The U.S. president claimed the U.S. had already reached a deal with Russia and now needed one with Ukraine. He added that Zelensky has been “harder” to deal with than expected.

On April 24, Russia launched missile strikes on Kyiv that killed at least 12 civilians and injured 90. Trump responded by saying he was “not happy” with the attack, calling it “not necessary” and “very bad timing,” but did not condemn Russia or propose consequences.

Ukraine has already agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. on March 11, contingent on Russia’s acceptance. Moscow has refused, continuing offensive operations across the front.

While expressing frustration with Russia’s refusal to de-escalate, the U.S. president has yet to impose new sanctions or take punitive measures in response to Moscow’s aggression.

Boris Johnson blasts Trump peace plan after deadly Russian attack on Kyiv

“As for Ukraine - what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion?” Johnson said. “What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made - for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world?”

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Liudmyla Kapatsii, 75, and her daughter lingered in their apartment for a couple of extra minutes, doubting whether to go to the shelter after the air raid alarm woke them up around 1 a.m. on April 24, warning of a potential Russian missile attack.

Though they were tired of near-everyday shelter runs, Kapatsii’s daughter insisted they should go. As they opened the door, everything around them exploded.

“You couldn’t see anything. The window frames and glass from the corridor flew right into our door,” Kapatsii told the Kyiv Independent later in the morning after the attack, sitting on a swing in a playground in front of her half-destroyed apartment building.

The debris from the explosion blocked their exit, trapping the family inside. Kapatsii had no way of knowing if her son-in-law was safe, as he was in another room at the time.

“We just hugged each other with my daughter and screamed: ‘Lord, save us. We don’t need anything else, just save us',” Kapatsii said.

Overnight on April 24, Russia launched a mass missile attack on Ukraine, sending a combined 215 missiles and drones at the country. Many of the missiles and drones targeted Kyiv, where the attack killed 12 people, including two children from the same family. At least ninety more people were wounded as the strike damaged dozens of apartment buildings, a school, and a kindergarten.

During the attack, a Russian missile hit Kapatsii’s two-story residential building in Kyiv’s quiet Solomianskyi District — an area filled with blooming lilacs signaling the arrival of springtime in Ukraine.

The day before the missile strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine amid negotiations to end Russia’s more than three-year full-scale invasion.

Karpatsii says big glass shards and pieces of concrete littered her building’s corridor, which narrowly missed them because of their delay in deciding to seek shelter. First responders managed to get through their apartment door about 20 minutes after the explosions.

“We went outside, and I looked around, and there was no home there,” Karpatsii said, referring to the building hit by the missile.

“There were people screaming all over the yard; it was terrible. An old lady I knew came running from the second floor. (People) were running around the building, screaming."

Similar to Karpatsii, Maria Rumiantseva, 40, was stuck in her wrecked apartment with her son, wheelchair-bound mother, and two dogs after debris blocked them from getting out.

“It’s a nightmare, really. Our neighbor died in the building. I don’t have an apartment anymore,” Rumiantseva told the Kyiv Independent.

“I understand that there was an agreement (with Russia and the U.S.) not to touch us during Easter. Well, why are you touching us now, after Easter?” she said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 24-hour Easter ceasefire that the Ukrainian government says was violated by Russian troops over 3,000 times.

“A father and a child are left alone, a mother has died. These negotiations, I don’t know, there is no point in negotiating here. With whom?” Rumiantseva added. “(Putin) won’t leave us alone."

Facing Rumiantseva’s balcony, Oleksandr Yefymchuk, 44, was checking the sky for any signs of an incoming attack from his second-floor balcony when the missile hit the building behind him.

It was his family’s second near-death experience in the war, Yefymchuk said.

“The first one was in Peremoha, when (the Russians) were killing people. It must mean something (that we escaped death twice),” Yefymchuk said, referring to Russia’s occupation of the Peremoha village in Kyiv Oblast in 2022.

After Peremoha was liberated, a torture chamber with human remains was found in the village. Dozens of people were killed or went missing in Peremoha during Russia’s month-long invasion.

When the missile hit, Yefymchuk’s wife was getting ready to go to the shelter with their 17-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. They didn’t manage to make it on time before the explosions began. Instead, all three of them, together with their two dogs, managed to huddle together in a small, one-square-meter space in the corridor behind a sturdy mirrored wardrobe.

“The mirror is made in Germany. It’s the only thing left intact,” Yefymchuk told the Kyiv Independent, sliding the door of the closet open and pulling back the coats on their hangers.

The wardrobe, its backboard and the wall behind it missing, had turned into a portal to the neighboring apartment, whose outside wall had completely collapsed, leaving the destroyed building and rescue efforts in full view.

“My friend lived in the building behind mine, and friends of my children. What were they hit for?” Yefymchuk asked, his face crumpling in sorrow.

“We, as citizens, need a safe place for our children all over Ukraine. Donetsk, Luhansk, Sumy, Odesa oblasts. It is very important for us,” Yefymchuk said, referring to regions of Ukraine where the fighting has been the most intense or that have witnessed mass attacks on civilian centers.

“I’m just asking our president, I’m asking our guys (in the army) – we only need victory. Nothing else will save us. We are already beginning to realize this in Kyiv,” he added.

At the playground where volunteers erected several tents to provide urgent aid, Polina Levytska, 30, stood in line to collect thick plastic film to cover her windows. A resident of one of the damaged buildings, the attack left her with several bloodied cuts on her face and legs.

Asked by Kyiv Independent reporters about Trump’s peace proposal, she couldn’t resist irony.

“It’s a great proposal, very reasonable. And it will work 100%. We are all convinced,” Levytska said, nodding to the scene of destruction and people around.

“Trump has his own agenda, which is absolutely bulletproof. He likes Putin. He doesn’t like Ukraine,” she added.

“I’ve been following the news myself, but when you go through this on your own, you understand everyone,” Levytska said as she recounted her and her mother’s escape.

“I understand all the border towns. We have always thought about them, and about the occupied areas, but when you experience it yourself, it’s just…” Levytska said, trailing off. “These are our people (in occupied territories). How can we give our people to these monsters?"

"I would like to tell Trump that... I'm sorry, but there is no way to deal with Russians, except with weapons," Levytska said.

Into the late afternoon, dozens of first responders continued to go through the debris by hand and with heavy machinery. Red-and-white tape enclosed the site from both onlookers and residents who were waiting to return to their destroyed apartments.

A first responder was hugging a big tabby cat as a woman in a pink nightgown asked him whether he had seen two white cats. “Only the grey one,” the man replied.

A middle-aged man in dusty black clothes shouted a request to one of the first responders clearing the upper floors not to throw out a stroller through a hole in the wall left by a missing window.

About twenty teenagers stood in groups close to the tape throughout the day, looking out for anyone first responders might pull out from the wreckage. Several girls were hugging each other or quietly crying alone.

Next to them, a purple stuffed toy and a bouquet of yellow flowers on the ground signified the first makeshift memorial for those killed in the attack.

By early evening, the State Emergency Service confirmed it had found another body – that of a 17-year-old boy who was killed in the attack.

"He was my best friend. Yesterday he took my dog for a walk. And now he's just gone. It's hard to believe," one of the boy's friends, 17-year-old Viktoria, told UNICEF after his body was found.

"There is nothing to run from anymore. We just need to believe in our victory. And we do believe," Yefymchuk said outside his wrecked home.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Natalia Yermak,  I reported this story for you. It's always heartbreaking to meet and talk to people that have just survived the worst experience of their lives, but it feels worse to see attacks like this one happen amid the "peace talks."

Please consider supporting the Kyiv Independent so that we can continue covering such on-the-ground stories. Thank you.

‘Vladimir, stop!’ — Trump ‘not happy’ with Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!” U.S. President Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to use his visit to Washington on April 24 to urge the U.S. not to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace agreement that favors Moscow, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing three officials briefed on the trip.

According to the publication, Rutte is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

His message will focus on the risks of brokering a deal that disregards Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the broader threat such a move would pose to European security.

Rutte will reportedly emphasize that any settlement imposed on Kyiv — especially one aligning with Kremlin demands — would only embolden Russian aggression and further destabilize the region, the sources said.

The visit comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. peace proposal reportedly presented in Paris on April 17.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the plan includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO — two core Russian demands.

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Ukraine has categorically rejected any settlement involving territorial concessions. "This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 22.

U.S. President Donald Trump has denied that Ukraine is being forced to accept the Crimea clause. However, he has criticized Zelensky's refusal to consider the issue as "harmful to the peace negotiations."

The proposal has sparked backlash even from Trump's supporters. Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the plan on April 24, calling it a reward for Russian aggression and warning that it risks allowing Russia to regroup for another assault.

On April 24, Russia launched deadly missile strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 12 civilians and injuring 90. Trump responded by saying he was "not happy" with the attack, calling it "not necessary" and poorly timed, but stopped short of issuing a condemnation or threatening consequences.

Ukraine has already accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire first introduced on March 11. Russia has so far refused to agree, continuing offensive operations across Ukraine's front lines.

Rutte is also expected to discuss NATO's long-term defense posture in Europe, including transferring more of the alliance's military burden from the U.S. to European forces, according to FT sources.

‘Impossible to believe’ — in Kyiv, Trump’s stance on Russia stuns after yet another deadly attack

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again failed to condemn his Russian counterpart in the aftermath of yet another devastating missile attack on Ukraine, casting further doubt on Washington’s ability to fairly broker a peace in the country. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the U.S. government’s reported peace proposal for Ukraine on April 24, calling it a reward for aggression after a Russian missile attack killed at least 12 civilians and injured 90 in Kyiv.

Johnson, once a vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war, criticized the reported terms of the plan as deeply flawed.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin indiscriminately butchers more Ukrainian civilians, killing and injuring 100 in Kyiv, including children. And what is his reward under the latest peace proposals?" Johnson wrote on X.

He pointed to provisions that would allow Russia to retain sovereign Ukrainian territory seized by force, block Ukraine from joining NATO, and lift sanctions against Moscow.

“As for Ukraine - what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion?” Johnson said. “What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made - for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world?”

Commenting on a proposed  U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, he said that “apart from the right to share their natural resources with the United States, (the Ukrainians) get nothing."

The U.S. peace proposal — first reported by the Wall Street Journal on April 20 — was presented during a closed-door meeting in Paris on April 17 and confirmed by Western officials.

The plan reportedly includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea and a permanent ban on Ukraine joining NATO, two of the Kremlin’s core demands.

Johnson warned that accepting such terms would allow Russian troops to regroup and launch another assault.

“If we are to prevent more atrocities by Putin, then we must have a long-term, credible, and above all properly funded security guarantee for Ukraine — a guarantee issued by the UK, the US, and all Western allies."

Ukraine has firmly rejected negotiating its territorial integrity under pressure. “This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 22.

Trump has denied that his administration is pressuring Ukraine to accept Crimea as Russian territory. “Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory,” he wrote on Truth Social on April 23.

Trump responded to Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv by writing that he was “not happy with the Russian strikes,” calling them “not necessary” and “very bad timing."

He urged Putin to “stop” and “get the peace deal done,” but stopped short of any condemnation or threat of consequences.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire, first proposed on March 11 in Jeddah. Moscow has refused to join, continuing its offensive operations across the front line.

After Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv, Vance reposts denunciation of Zelensky

At the time of writing, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has not condemned or commented directly on the strike.

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk