USA

April 22, 2025 4:31pm

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Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 4:14pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 2:56pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 11 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 2:31pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 2:06pm

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 1:33pm

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 11:38am

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Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 10:45am

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Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 10:10am

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Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 9:44am

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Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 9:25am

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

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

April 22, 2025 8:09am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

The Russian demand for domestically-made cars has dropped by about half, AvtoVaz CEO Maxim Sokolov told journalists on April 21, underscoring the challenges of the Russian automotive industry.

Sokolov, the chief executive of Russia’s largest state-owned car manufacturing company, said that AvtoVaz itself is expecting a 33% year-on-year drop in Lada car sales in April.

“Last year in April, car sales were around 45,000 units, and last year in March, somewhere around 42,000,” Sokolov said, according to Interfax news agency.

“This year… we will reach 30,000 cars in April.” Lada car sales have also gone down by about a third in March 2025 when compared to March 2024.

Sokolov’s warnings are even more pessimistic than last year, when he predicted a 21-30% drop in sales in 2025 if high interest rates persist. Russia’s central bank raised its key interest rate to 21% in October 2024, its highest level since 2003, aiming to curb inflation caused by massive wartime spending to meet its 2026 target.

Some observers have also connected the drop in demand to psychological factors, a phenomenon that has emerged several times over the past decades in periods of economic uncertainty.

“We see how dynamically demand is falling: for our cars, by about a third, on the market as a whole, by almost 50%, including AvtoVaz,” Sokolov noted.

The CEO urged the state to expand its support programs for the automotive industry, specifically by reinstating subsidies for families buying cars on credit.

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has created major challenges for its economy, driven by sweeping international sanctions and soaring inflation fueled by record-high defense spending.

The recent thaw in relations with the U.S. under President Donald Trump has provided a modest boost to the Russian economy, helping the ruble strengthen and improving investor sentiment.

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

April 22, 2025 7:19am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Ben Borges

Russia has lost 943,060 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 22.

The number includes 1,130 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,683 tanks, 22,296 armored fighting vehicles, 45,458 vehicles and fuel tanks, 26,689 artillery systems, 1,368 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,140 air defense systems, 370 airplanes, 335 helicopters, 33,388 drones, 3,148 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

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

April 22, 2025 5:07am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

Russian officials discussed the possibility of reviving plans for a Trump Tower in Moscow to entice U.S. President Donald Trump to reset relations, the Moscow Times reported  on April 21.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Kremlin officials considered proposing the idea of a “big deal,” which reportedly includes a 150-story skyscraper and would involve Trump himself attending the groundbreaking ceremony in Moscow.

After Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, Russian officials and large companies were tasked with preparing proposals for resuming cooperation with the United States, with an emphasis on ideas that would interest Trump specifically.  

Rosneft, Rosatom, and Polyus Gold – all of which are currently under sanctions from the U.S. government – were involved in the plans to persuade Trump to resume cooperation with Russia. The Russian aluminium giant Rusal was also involved.

The skyscraper project stood out for its potential to be launched quickly: “Speed, effect, and spectacle are important here - everything that Trump intuitively values,” a source close to the Kremlin told the Moscow Times.

It is not clear as to where the proposal currently stands, although a Russian official said that Moscow’s City Hall would be pleased to take on such a project.

Trump first floated the idea of building a 58-story skyscraper in Moscow in 2013, before his first presidency. Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov was expected to be a key partner in the project, but the plans never materialized.

Later, in 2015, Felix Sater, a Russian-born American developer, revived the plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. The project was again put on hold after Trump launched his presidential campaign.

The proposed Trump Tower in Moscow would have included 250 luxury apartments, a 15-story hotel with 150 rooms, a spa, office space, a fitness center, and a high-end parking facility.

Trump declared on April 21 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 of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune,” Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend, referring to a potential deal.

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

April 22, 2025 3:33am

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov said on April 21 that there are currently “no talks” of U.S. President Donald Trump visiting Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 9 Victory Parade.

Russian state media reported that Putin has invited the leaders of China, Israel, and Brazil to attend the May 9 celebrations in Moscow, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

“There are no talks about Trump coming to the Victory Day parade on May 9,” Peskov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

Unlike the more subdued commemorations held across much of Europe on May 8, Russia observes Victory Day with large-scale military parades, patriotic concerts, and public displays of national pride, highlighting military triumph.

Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, is also confirmed to attend the parade in Moscow, despite EU warnings. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also said he would be in attendance, despite warning from the EU that Serbia could be blocked from joining the bloc if its president takes part in the ceremonies.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump’s advisers have been insistent a conversation with Putin should take place only after Russia agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has invited senior EU leaders and officials to Kyiv on May 9 to counter Russia’s celebration.

Russia open to direct talks with Ukraine, Putin claims

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to “negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side” regarding a ceasefire. Russia and Ukraine have not held direct talks since early 2022.

The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

April 21, 2025 11:52pm

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Ben Borges

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to holding bilateral talks with Ukraine to advance a ceasefire deal, the Kremlin said on April 21.

There have been no direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia is open to discussing any proposed peace initiatives, Putin told a Russian state television journalist shortly after announcing that Moscow had resumed hostilities following the short-lived “Easter truce."

“We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way,” Putin said.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified that Putin was signaling his willingness to hold direct talks with representatives from Ukraine.

“When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side,” Peskov told the Interfax news agency.

The Kremlin’s comments come a day after President Volodymyr 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 proposed ceasefire.

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.

“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)."

Trump’s “very good chance” may come at the expense of painful concessions for Ukraine. According to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the U.S. plan to end the war includes recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a guarantee that Ukraine would not join NATO.

These are key Kremlin demands that conflict with both Ukraine’s stated red lines and international law.

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 .

Zelensky has previously said that he is willing to meet directly with Putin if it helps bring an end to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

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

April 21, 2025 10:24pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 8 minutes

Ben Borges

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 the new administration’s tougher stance on Ukraine. She publicly backed the White House after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous Oval Office meeting.

The shift in rhetoric caught the eye of Ukrainian officials. Zelensky called the U.S. embassy out on their “weak” message following an especially deadly Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih in early April.

Finally, Brink resigned — on April 10, just 1.5 months short of the three-year mark on the post.

A source in the Western diplomat community in Kyiv said Brink left the city on April 21. The embassy wouldn’t publicly confirm it or comment on the reasons for her resignation.

According to Western diplomats stationed in Kyiv, Brink resigned over “policy disagreements” with Washington.

Brink is the highest-ranking but not the first U.S. Kyiv embassy member to leave over disagreements with Trump’s strategy on Ukraine.

Foreign Service Officer Kraig Cook, part of the embassy’s press service, resigned in February, shortly before the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office meeting.

In his resignation letter, seen by the Kyiv Independent, Cook criticized Trump’s administration’s “parroting Kremlin talking points” and called the U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal “predatory."

He also criticized the embassy’s leadership’s “deafening silence."

Cook told the Kyiv Independent that many U.S. embassy employees in Kyiv are concerned about the Trump administration’s policy shift and its alignment with Russia.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv declined to comment.

Critical week for Ukraine begins as Trump hopes to ‘end war’

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

Oval Office meeting ‘wasn’t a red line’

Prior to the 2024 presidential election, Brink’s actions and rhetoric had closely reflected then-President Joe Biden’s policies.

“Brink did incredible work to build support for Ukraine, deftly navigating the sometimes hapless Biden administration and a divided Congress to deliver aid that helped Ukraine fight back against Russia’s invasion,” Cook told the Kyiv Independent.

He said that there were delays in U.S. assistance, but “Ambassador Brink was behind the scenes, working hard to minimize those delays as much as possible."

“There were some voices in the Biden administration that were not as supportive of assistance to Ukraine,” he added. “I think Ambassador Brink was very strong in convincing those people why this was important for U.S. security and U.S. foreign policy to support Ukraine."

After Trump took office, Brink changed her rhetoric.

Publicly, a watershed moment came on Feb. 28, when Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance lashed out at Zelensky during a meeting at the White House.

Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of not being grateful for the U.S. assistance, among other things. In an unprecedented move, Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation were ordered to leave the White House ahead of schedule.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv didn’t comment on the disastrous meeting, but Brink’s official account retweeted Trump’s harsh X post that followed it. In the post, Trump claimed that Zelensky was “not ready for peace” and that he “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office."

Brink also retweeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s post in which he thanked Trump “for standing up for America in a way that no president has ever had the courage to do before."

“Bridget Brink knew what she needed to do to stay in Trump’s good graces,” Cook said. “The Oval Office meeting was not a red line for her."

Critical point

Tensions spiked in early April, when Brink commented on a deadly Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih that killed 20 people, including nine children. Unlike other ambassadors, she did not mention or blame Russia.

“Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih,” she posted on X on April 4. “This is why the war must end."

Zelensky took issue with Brink’s comment.

“Unfortunately, the response from the U.S. embassy is surprisingly disappointing — such a strong country, such strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word ‘Russian’ when speaking about the missile that murdered children,” Zelensky said in a video address the following day. “We must pressure Russia — the one choosing to kill children instead of choosing a ceasefire."

Analyzing Brink’s public messages, the Financial Times concluded that as of early April, in the 75 days following Trump’s inauguration, Brink mentioned Russia only five times, never attributing blame to Russia for its attacks on Ukraine.

Zelensky’s reaction didn’t go unnoticed at the U.S. embassy. In all the public messages about the attacks on Ukrainian civilians that followed, Brink named Russia.

On April 13, Brink reacted to a Russian attack on Sumy that killed 35 people and injured 117.

“Today, Palm Sunday, Russia launched ballistic missiles on Sumy — killing 32 Ukrainian civilians and injuring 99,” she wrote. The final toll came in later. “Reports indicate, as in Kryvyi Rih, cluster munitions were used, increasing the devastation and harm to civilians. Our prayers are with the people of Sumy."

She also retweeted U.S. Envoy Keith Kellogg’s post that the Sumy attack “crosses any line of decency” and Rubio’s statement calling the Russian attack “horrifying."

‘Policy disagreements’ and resignation

Despite Brink’s efforts to align her rhetoric with the Trump administration, she eventually resigned.

According to one of Western diplomats who spoke with the Kyiv Independent on conditions of anonymity, Brink’s resignation wasn’t connected to Zelensky’s comments calling her out for a weak reaction.

The diplomat said that the ambassador’s relationship with the President’s Office “wasn’t great” long before Trump took office due to Brink’s support for reforms in Ukraine. Still, according to the diplomat, it was the “disagreements” with Washington that led to Brink resigning.

A source in one of the G7 embassies in Kyiv, familiar with the situation, confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that “policy disagreements with Washington” is what was communicated to G7 embassies as the reason for Brink’s resignation.

“Given that it appears that the Trump administration does not share that same goal for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian-American relationship, I certainly can see why she would have issues remaining in her position,” Cook said.

Embassy officer resigns to protest policy shift

Cook himself couldn’t accept the sudden U.S. foreign policy reversal under Trump.

Cook wrote in his resignation letter that after Trump was elected, he was at first “hopeful President Trump’s promotion of ‘peace through strength’ and Secretary Rubio’s call for a foreign policy grounded in making America ‘safer, stronger, and more prosperous’ could lead to a just resolution to Russia’s war against Ukraine.” But this hope soon vaned.

Cook told the Kyiv Independent that he “started to see a negative trajectory in early February, when President Trump called President (Vladimir) Putin and effectively established Ukraine and Russia as having, in his view, equal responsibilities."

He also referred to “the choice for the United States to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian officials present."

Cook said he had ended his service and left Kyiv on Feb. 28 — “the same day as President Trump and Vice President Vance’s shameful display of arrogance against President Zelensky in the Oval Office."

His resignation letter goes on to say that “sending an unmistakable message to (China) that ‘might makes right’ rather than standing up against Russia’s war crimes will not make us stronger” and that “forcing Ukraine into a predatory deal on critical minerals will not make America more prosperous."

The version of the mineral resource deal proposed by the U.S. in March would grant Washington unprecedented control over Ukraine’s natural resources through a joint investment fund and hamper Kyiv’s ability to join the EU. The U.S. has softened its position since then.

“There were a lot of conversations that I had with colleagues — particularly once they knew that I was resigning, where many of them expressed disagreement with the (U.S.) policy on a personal level,” Cook said.

As far as he knows, however, no one else has stepped down.

April 21, 2025 9:59pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Ben Borges

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 of nowhere, a sudden blast knocked them off their feet, plunging everything into darkness.

On April 13, as Ukraine marked Palm Sunday, Russia launched its deadliest attack on the northeastern city, hitting Sumy downtown with two ballistic missiles. The attack killed 35 people and injured nearly 120, including Kyrylo and his mother, who were trapped in the epicenter.

“I immediately fell to the ground and felt shards of glass and metal raining down on me,” Kyrylo told the Kyiv Independent. “I waited until it stopped, then got up and tried to open the bus doors."

The blast was so powerful that it shattered the bus’s windows and cracked its doors, making it impossible to open them from the inside. In shock and with her face covered in blood, Maryna shouted to the driver, urging him to open the door as the smell of burning spread through the crowded bus. No response followed. She soon realized that the driver was probably dead.

“I was terrified the bus was on fire. As soon as I smelled it, I knew we had to get out quickly,” she told the Kyiv Independent.

Although he was injured himself, Kyrylo decided to take action.

“I threw my sports bag out the window and jumped onto it to avoid landing in debris on the ground,” he recalls. “I began trying to open the doors from the other side, and after several attempts, I managed to do it.”

Thanks to him, those trapped in the damaged bus managed to escape safely.  

“Outside, I saw bodies lying on the ground. There were many people. But I did not have time to think at that moment. I just acted,” he said.

For his bravery, Kyrylo was awarded the Honorary Distinction of the Sumy City Council “For Merits to the City,” as well as a two-week trip to a children’s camp in Bulgaria, Acting Sumy Mayor Artem Kobzar reported on April 17.

“Thank you, that was the act of a real man,” Kobzar told Kyrylo in a video that he published on his Telegram.

The brutal strike came amid the U.S.’s ongoing effort to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, although it has applied no apparent pressure on Moscow to cease its aggression.

Russia’s attack on Sumy followed another deadly strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on April 4, where 21 people were killed, including nine children.

Critical week for Ukraine begins as Trump hopes to ‘end war’

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

Injuries and sports

The April 13 attack on their hometown was not the only shocking and traumatizing event that the Russian full-scale invasion caused the Illiashenko family.

Early in the invasion, when parts of Sumy Oblast were under Russian occupation, a Russian air strike hit near the family’s house, recalls Maryna, deeply frightening Kyrylo and his younger brother Matvii, now nine.

The family decided to flee Sumy for nearly two months to Ukraine’s safer region in the west, as the children could not get over the attack.

“When they went to bed, the children stayed fully dressed so they could run and hide at any moment,” Maryna recalls.

But during their time away from home, the family dreamed of returning to their “lovely little hometown,” she says, adding that they were relieved to come back in the spring of 2022, after Russian forces were pushed out of the region.

Though Russian forces fired artillery at Sumy Oblast’s border areas on a near-daily basis for the next two years, it was mostly quiet in the city of Sumy.

Attacks on the northeastern region and Sumy city have intensified since August of 2024, following Ukraine’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s adjacent Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian troops held a nearby town of Sudzha for seven months before they were forced to withdraw in March. Fighting continues in the border areas.

Still, Maryna says they couldn’t have imagined coming under such a deadly strike.

That morning, while her husband and younger son stayed home, Maryna and Kyrylo were waiting at the bus stop when the first explosion hit.

“My husband called immediately, asking us to come back home. But we still decided to visit grandmother,” Maryna recalls, adding that they entered the bus shortly after the first explosion.

The second missile, fired minutes after the first one in what is known as a “double-tap” strike – a tactic frequently employed by Russia – was armed with cluster munitions. Such munitions are used to inflict greater devastation on civilians in the affected area.

“When shards of glass flew into my face, I realized that the missile had exploded very close,” Maryna says. “I had glass in my eyes and couldn’t see anything as I had been standing right by the window.”

“I was screaming my son’s name, trying to understand if he was okay.”

As soon as she managed to wipe some blood and glass from her face, Maryna saw her son jumping out of the bus window.

According to her, there were up to 40 people on the bus at the time of the attack. She believes that those sitting in the front rows, including the driver, were killed instantly. The rest of those surviving the strike managed to quickly escape the bus thanks to her son.

“I only saw my mom when I opened the door,” says Kyrylo. “I saw people leaving the bus, and then I saw my mom’s face — it was completely covered in blood,” he says, adding that it was the moment when he got really scared.

It later turned out that Maryna’s injuries were less severe than her son’s — Kyrylo had several pieces of metal shrapnel lodged in his skull and is now undergoing treatment at a hospital in Sumy.

Kyrylo says he is very upset about missing the freestyle wrestling competition he had been preparing for over months due to his injuries. Yet, according to Kyrylo, the sport helped him stay focused and composed during the attack.

“It was thanks to sports because every competition puts you under stress. And with each one, you get more and more used to handling yourself.”

He now receives numerous calls from locals thanking him for his courageous actions.

“My classmates have been messaging me. One of them had a grandmother on that bus, and another had an aunt,” Kyrylo says.

“They thanked me a lot because their relatives were able to get out through the exit I opened."

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.

April 21, 2025 9:36pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Ben Borges

A partial ceasefire on energy strikes, brokered separately by the U.S. with Moscow and Kyiv last month, failed to deliver on its promise, diminishing hopes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s government says it has recorded over thirty Russian attacks on energy infrastructure since March 25. Another eight attacks were recorded over the week of March 18-25, which is still partially within the timeframe of the truce agreed to by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

While no damage to key energy infrastructure in Ukraine was recorded, the strikes mostly affected facilities that Russia agreed to stop attacking, including local power generating facilities, electricity substations and transformers, and gas distribution networks, according to a list of violations recorded by Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry seen by the Kyiv Independent.

“There was no ceasefire at all,” Oleksandr Kharchenko, managing director of the Kyiv-based Energy Industry Research Center, told the Kyiv Independent, adding that “electricity substations and gas infrastructure have been attacked constantly.”

“Moscow is convinced that the Western world is unable to effectively counter them,” he said.

Among the reasons why the energy ceasefire failed was the lack of proper monitoring by an intermediary, such as satellite monitoring the U.S. could have employed, and clearly written terms, experts said.

Disorganized negotiations with U.S. representatives and the lack of a single written agreement meant that even the dates of the energy truce differed in Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine counts the beginning of the energy ceasefire as March 25, when it reached an agreement following talks in Saudi Arabia with a U.S. delegation.

Russia announced the start of the truce on March 18, following a 1.5-hour phone call between Trump and Putin that day. Russian authorities said that the partial ceasefire had expired on April 18.

“(The U.S. team) had to formulate the proposals in a single document agreed upon by the parties and signed — there was nothing like that,” said Mykhailo Honchar, energy expert and president of the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, a Kyiv-based research organization.

“The American mediator (Special Envoy Steve Witkoff) did not fulfill his mission,” he added.

Kyiv has said that it continues to inform the U.S. and other foreign partners about Russia’s violations.

“We need monitoring mechanisms, because of course, there will be constant violations,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi in a briefing on April 16.

Tykhyi added that “there will be more clarity” closer to April 25 on whether Ukraine will continue abiding by the ceasefire terms after it ends this week.

What attacks stopped and which continued under the ceasefire?

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, and other energy facilities were halted, although Ukraine may have continued hitting other targets deep within Russia that were not on the energy truce list.

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of “viciously” breaching the deal with daily attacks on Russian energy facilities, without much evidence.

“There were no massive combined missile and drone strikes on large energy infrastructure facilities (by Russia). But they did strike at regional distribution network facilities,” Honchar told the Kyiv Independent.

“It’s not a ceasefire, it’s a change of Russian tactics,” he said.

According to Honchar, most of the targets hit during the ceasefire period belong to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company. DTEK lost 90% of its generation capacity by mid-2024 due to Russia’s attacks, although it has managed to restore some of it since.

DTEK owns most of Ukraine’s coal-fired power plants, which Russia has consistently targeted as they provide crucial peaking power — the extra electricity needed to stabilize Ukraine’s grid during strike-induced power outages, Honchar said.

Why did the energy ceasefire fail?

The energy truce failed to pave the way for further truces, experts said, in a sign that U.S. efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine won’t be easy.

The truce also hasn’t been properly monitored, Honchar said. The U.S. has the necessary satellite monitoring capabilities to quickly confirm the coordinates of damaged energy infrastructure, all of which are in well-known locations, according to Honchar.

“If an energy facility is damaged, an infrared signature appears accordingly. It is clearly visible from space if a substation or a transformer is on fire, or a fuel or oil tank has been hit somewhere,” he said.

The U.S., as an intermediary monitoring the attacks, could then verify what was really hit versus what each side claims has been targeted — a crucial part in monitoring evaluations.

“The Americans thought for some reason that it would be enough to just assemble those two parallel negotiation tracks (with Ukraine and Russia),” Honchar said. “But it doesn’t work this way.”

The energy truce — as well as a Black Sea ceasefire negotiated around the same time that was never implemented — were lobbied by Russia through Witkoff, who has visited Russia several times this year and serves as Trump’s top negotiator, as these issues are the most problematic for the Kremlin, Honchar said.

If Russia was really serious about a wider ceasefire, the discussion would have included stopping the hits on civilian infrastructure and exchanging captured soldiers in an all-for-all prisoner exchange, he added.

But with no hits on major power plants, Russia has instead tried to destroy Ukrainians’ morale by escalating deadly attacks on civilians. In April, a Russian strike on a playground in Kryvyi Rih killed 20 people, including nine children, and a double-tap attack on Sumy downtown killed 35 people on Palm Sunday.

Meanwhile, Moscow claimed on March 24 to have intercepted a Ukrainian drone attacking the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which lists U.S. oil majors Chevron and Exxon among its largest shareholders. There was no public evidence of the attack.

“(The energy ceasefire) served perfectly for Russian propaganda that made an effort to claim that Russia was abiding by the agreement, and Ukraine ignored it,” Honchar said.

A day after the Kremlin confirmed the end of the energy ceasefire, Putin announced an Easter truce that was designed to halt all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

While it somewhat reduced the fighting in some parts of the front on Sunday and brought the number of Ukraine-reported Russian casualties to less then a thousand per day for the first time in months over the weekend, Ukrainian soldiers said they saw no signs of truce. Russia killed at least three civilians in attacks and violated the Easter truce nearly 3,000 times, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky called to extend the Easter ceasefire for 30 days on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure on April 19 after Russia initiated the failed Easter truce — a step the U.S. also wants to see taken.

“Thirty hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance," Zelensky said.

Note from the author:

Hello, this is Natalia Yermak,  I wrote this story for you. Growing up in central Ukraine, I am familiar with Russia’s multiple ceasefire violations since 2014. There’s no one who wants peace more than Ukrainians, which makes it important for us to report what, and who, stands in the way of lasting peace. If you wish to help us, please consider supporting the Kyiv Independent by becoming a member. Thank you!

Critical week for Ukraine begins as Trump hopes to ‘end war’

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

April 21, 2025 9:34pm

Ukraine Russia Photos USA

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ben Borges

Ukraine is waiting for a “clear answer” from Russia regarding its proposal for a 30-day ceasefire on attacks against civilian infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 21.

Zelensky proposed a ban on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian targets in Russia and Ukraine on April 20, amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dubious “Easter truce."

“Ukraine maintains its offer not to strike at least at civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky said in his evening address April 21.

“And we expect a clear answer from Moscow. We are ready for any conversation on how to ensure this."

While Kyiv has repeatedly expressed its support for a full, unconditional ceasefire on all hostilities, Zelensky put forth the proposal for a ban on civilian infrastructure attacks after Easter Sunday passed without any air raid alarms going off in Ukraine.  

Even though the Ukrainian military recorded over 3,000 Russian violations of the temporary Easter truce, the quiet alarms signaled Moscow’s potential ability to abide by a partial ceasefire.

“There is an obvious, simplest, and most reliable way, namely: to stop the strikes of missiles and long-range drones, and this will automatically guarantee the preservation of all civilian infrastructure,” Zelensky said.

“It is a ceasefire — a real, lasting one — that should be the first step towards a reliable and lasting peace."

The Kremlin has said it needs to “look into” the proposal and has not yet responded to Zelensky definitively.

The proposed ban comes as U.S. President Donald Trump voices increasing confidence about his ability to announce a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the coming days — provided Kyiv is willing to accept major concessions.  

The Trump administration’s controversial plan includes provisions for legally recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from joining NATO, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 20.

Kyiv has consistently said it would not recognize Russia’s occupation of any Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.

The next round of major peace talks will take place in London on April 23. Officials from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the U.S. will discuss plans for a potential ceasefire.

Critical week for Ukraine begins as Trump hopes to ‘end war’

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