Ukraine Invasion: Part 60

[MagicFox]

We have got to thread 60. So many thanks as always to regular contributors and to those providing updates. For the 60th time, Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

**
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https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-2-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The Kremlin is setting conditions to imminently tighten restrictions on virtual private networks (VPNs) that allow Russians to bypass the Kremlin’s censorship measures.
2. A law that took effect on April 1 allows the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to legally access any Russian organization’s databases without additional authorization.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to signal Ukraine’s willingness to offer concessions and to negotiate with Russia.
4. A Russian Northern Fleet Lieutenant General died in a recent plane crash in occupied Crimea.
5. Ukraine’s European allies continue to support Ukraine’s drone innovation efforts.
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Slovyansk and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area. Russian forces recently advanced near Slovyansk and Borova.
7. Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure. Russian forces launched 172 drones against Ukraine.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-3-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukraine continues to generate leverage against Russia by accomplishing tactical, operational, and strategic battlespace effects.
2. Swedish authorities boarded a Russian shadow fleet tanker on April 3 that was suspected of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea.
3. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
4. Russian forces launched 10 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 25 Kh-101 cruise missiles, two Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 542 drones toward Ukraine on the night of April 2 to 3.
5. Russian forces will likely shift their long-range strike campaign toward Ukrainian water supply and logistics targets in Spring and Summer 2026.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Russia suffers record losses (kyivindependent.com/russia-suffers-record-losses-in-march-with-over-35-000-killed-and-injured-in-ukraine-zelensky-says/) in March, with over 35,000 killed and injured in Ukraine, Zelensky says.
Zelensky also said that, according to British intelligence, the battlefield situation is currently the most favorable for Ukraine in the past 10 months.

⚡️Ukraine, Russia waging shadow war (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-russia-waging-shadow-war-in-libya-rfi-reports/) in Libya, RFI reports.
Around 200 Ukrainian troops are based in Libya in cooperation with the government in Tripoli, sources told Radio France Internationale. These forces are allegedly responsible for the March 3 strike on a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.

⚡️Russia drops record number (kyivindependent.com/russia-drops-record-number-of-deadly-glide-bombs-on-ukraine-steps-up-aerial-attacks/)of deadly glide bombs on Ukraine, steps up aerial attacks.
Russian forces launched 7,987 glide bombs last month — over 1,500 more than the previous record in February, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on April 3.

⚡️Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashes (kyivindependent.com/russian-su-30-fighter-jet-crashes-in-occupied-crimea-during-alleged-training-flight-russias-defense-ministry-claims/) in occupied Crimea during training flight, Kremlin Defense Ministry claims.
The crew ejected and was recovered by a search-and-rescue team, the ministry claimed.

⚡️Russia's banks face major service outages (kyivindependent.com/russias-banks-face-major-service-outages-amid-internet-crackdown/) amid internet crackdown.
Long lines formed at shops, restaurants, and gas stations in multiple Russian cities on April 3, as establishments could only accept cash payments. The outage may be connected to the Kremlin's restriction of VPNs.

⚡️While Ukraine aid runs dry, Trump asks for record-breaking $1.5 trillion (kyivindependent.com/while-ukraine-aid-runs-dry-trump-asks-for-record-breaking-1-5-trillion-in-military-spending/) in military spending.
The proposed budget calls for a $445 billion (44%) increase in defense funds in 2027 — as U.S. military aid to Ukraine has dropped by 99% under Trump's watch.

⚡️ Zelensky speaks with Pope as Russia steps up attacks (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-speaks-with-pope-as-russia-intensifies-attacks/) instead of Easter ceasefire.

⚡️Ukrainian firefighting robot (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-firefighting-robot-helps-soldiers-for-first-time/)helps soldiers for first time.
After discovering gas canisters at the scene of the fire in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, members of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov" deployed a Zmiy unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to avoid putting soldiers at increased risk.

⚡️Explosions, fires reported (kyivindependent.com/explosions-fires-reported-in-russias-tolyatti-taganrog-after-drone-attacks/) in Russia’s Tolyatti, Taganrog after drone attacks.
Ukrainian forces reportedly struck defense and chemical industry facilities in the Russian cities of Taganrog and Tolyatti overnight on April 4, according to Russian Telegram channels.

Zelensky slams (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-slams-political-infighting-calls-for-unity-amid-parliamentary-crisis/) political infighting, calls for unity amid parliamentary crisis
President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 2 lashed out at parliamentary infighting, saying that some lawmakers are trying to disrupt the "unity" necessary for Ukraine's survival.
Zelensky's comments come amid what some call a parliamentary crisis, with his own Servant of the People party failing to collect enough votes for government initiatives. In recent weeks the Ukrainian parliament failed to pass several bills necessary for securing funding from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, as well as for Ukraine's EU accession.

⚡️'Far from innocent' — US senators seek answers after sanctioned Russian lawmakers (kyivindependent.com/far-from-innocent-us-senators-seek-answers-after-sanctioned-russian-lawmakers-visit-washington/) visit Washington.
"The delegation came onto U.S. soil for one purpose: to advance the Kremlin's strategic aims—including gathering additional useful intelligence," members of the Foreign Relations Committee wrote.

‘Sense of constant danger’ — Ukraine scrambles to adapt to Russia’s new aerial attack tactics (kyivindependent.com/theyre-testing-us-as-russian-mass-attack-tactics-evolve-ukraine-scrambles-to-protect-civilians/)
After a punishing winter, Ukraine has had no time to recover. Russia launched almost 6,500 drones in March, surpassing the total of each of the previous two months, with no sign of slowing down.
“Russia’s tactics are evolving toward more sustained, flexible, and psychologically exhausting pressure,” Viktor Kevliuk, a reserve colonel and analyst at the Center for Defense Strategies, told the Kyiv Independent.

The Executed Renaissance: Ukraine’s cultural rebirth and its violent death
(kyivindependent.com/the-executed-renaissance-ukraines-cultural-rebirth-and-its-violent-death/)
The Executed Renaissance refers to the systematic elimination of a generation of Ukrainian intellectuals who emerged in the 1920s and were later executed, imprisoned, or forced into silence during Stalin’s purges of the 1930s, with repression peaking during the Great Terror — a campaign of mass arrests and executions carried out across the Soviet Union.

⚡️Russian airstrike in Kramatorsk (kyivindependent.com/russian-airstrike-in-kramatorsk-kills-4-including-16-year-old-boy/) kills 4, including 16-year-old boy.
Russian forces dropped FAB-250 aerial bombs with cluster munitions on a residential area of Kramatorsk, killing four people and injuring four others.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 33m
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — APR 4, 2026
■ Fewer engagements; casualties slightly below average; no confirmed territorial change
■ 5th-highest drone losses; highest artillery losses so far this year
■ 🇷🇺 air attacks below average; interception rate decent
■ 3 🇺🇦 strikes reported; record 🇷🇺 drone launches, with MLRS and air strikes also above average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Intelligence has provided documents indicating that Russia plans to attack logistics, railways, and water supply infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“We are talking about bridges, dams, hydroelectric power plants, pumping stations, drinking water supply, etc. We need to prepare for this in the same way as we are currently preparing to protect the energy sector. The Air Force is already strengthening air defense,” he said.

Europe must prepare for a “long-term” energy shock, Financial Times reports.
The EU is considering all possible options, including fuel rationing and additional oil releases from strategic reserves, in preparation for a prolonged energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said.
“This will be a long-term crisis… energy prices will remain high for a very long time. For some critical products, we expect the situation to worsen further in the coming weeks,” Jørgensen told the Financial Times.
He added that the EU is “preparing for the worst-case scenario,” although the bloc “has not yet reached the point” of rationing essential goods such as jet fuel or diesel.

Russia is cutting oil production due to Ukrainian strikes, Reuters reports.
The publication says that strikes on ports, pipelines, and refineries have reduced Russia’s export potential by about 20%, or 1 million barrels per day.

General David Petraeus spoke about Ukrainian drone production and compared it with the United States.
Retired U.S. Army General and former CIA Director David Petraeus described his visit to one of the largest factories, which has produced three million drones this year out of a total capacity of seven million in Ukraine.
“This is more than anywhere else in the world. The U.S. is struggling to produce 400,000 drones,” he said.
Petraeus stressed that despite the shift in global priorities due to the war in the Middle East, Ukraine’s achievements are extraordinary and deserve the support and respect of countries that share the values for which the Ukrainian people are fighting.

Global food prices are rising due to the war in the Middle East, Bloomberg reports.
According to the publication, the FAO Food Price Index rose to 128.5 points in March, marking the second consecutive increase.
The rise is attributed to the impact of the war in Iran, which is disrupting supply chains and increasing transportation costs.
Vegetable oils and sugar have seen the largest increases, while prices for meat, dairy products, and grains are also rising.

Egypt will no longer accept grain exported by Russia from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories and is also interested in increasing grain imports from Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill in Obukhiv has stopped production after a Russian attack.
The forced shutdown threatens the stable supply of goods used daily in thousands of Ukrainian households, including sanitary products and corrugated packaging.

A hostile drone struck a veterinary clinic in the village of Chabany, Kyiv region. About 20 animals are known to have been killed.
Rescuers carried out an emergency evacuation of animals from the damaged building, administered oxygen, and tried to stabilize the injured. Despite their efforts, not all could be saved.

In the Zhytomyr region, nine residential buildings were destroyed and more than 100 were damaged as a result of an enemy attack, the head of the Regional Military Administration, Vitaliy Bunechko, said.

Ukraine ranked among the lowest countries in terms of population happiness.
It placed 111th out of 147 countries, with an index of 4.7 — the lowest among all European countries.
The happiest country is Finland (7.8), while the unhappiest is Afghanistan (1.4).

5 killed in a Russian attack in Nikopol. 19 injured.
Russians attacked the city with FPV drones. A fire broke out, shops and a shopping center were damaged.
Three women and two men were killed. Among the injured is a 14-year-old girl. She is in serious condition in hospital.

Russians killed six residents of the Donetsk region, including a teenager, the National Police reported.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Zelensky has just arrived in Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Erdoğan.

“Ukraine must withdraw its troops from Donbas to stop the active phase of the ‘special military operation,’”Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary, said.
He added that Russia will continue the war until all its objectives are achieved.

Hungary’s April 12 election may NOT shift its stance on Ukraine, (www.kyivpost.com/post/73134) as opposition leader Péter Magyar has taken positions that closely mirror those of Viktor Orbán, despite presenting himself as an anti-establishment challenger.

Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing to request THAAD systems (www.kyivpost.com/post/73160) from the US and Middle Eastern partners to counter Russian guided bombs.
He said THAAD could push Russian aircraft at least 200 km away, reducing the threat of air strikes.

Zelensky warns that uncoordinated weapons sales risk undermining Ukraine’s defence (www.kyivpost.com/post/73169) as some companies try to bypass state oversight.
“This is not just business,” he said, stressing that frontline-tested weapons must serve the war effort first.

📹 PREMIERE - DEFENDERS KITCHEN
Chef Hector Jimenez-Bravo leaves his professional kitchen to cook on the front line near Kharkiv with Ukrainian soldiers from the Achilles Brigade.
A field kitchen. Stories from the front. A taste of home.
Special thanks to METRO.
Watch here:

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇸🇪 Sweden has detained a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker suspected of causing an oil spill in the Baltic Sea.
A coast guard aircraft detected the spill east of Gotland — at the time, the slick stretched about 12 km. The tanker Flora 1, with 24 crew members on board, was escorted to anchorage near the city of Ystad.
The spill could not be contained and has spread into the open sea.
The tanker Flora 1 has been transporting Russian oil in обход of international restrictions. In 2025–2026, both the vessel and its captain were sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the EU, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Ukraine.

Russia’s oil revenues have nearly halved but could surge due to the war in Iran, Bloomberg reports.
According to Russia’s Finance Ministry, oil companies paid about $6.18 billion in taxes in March — a 48% drop compared to a year earlier. Overall budget revenues from oil and gas also declined by 43%.
However, oil prices rose sharply in March amid the conflict in the Middle East. In particular, Russian oil supplied to India was selling for over $120 per barrel by the end of the month.
This means that Russia’s oil revenues could increase significantly as early as April. If spending cuts are no longer necessary, defense spending on the war against Ukraine may also rise.

The United States has removed former Russian Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov from its sanctions list without providing a reason.
Zadornov headed Russia’s Otkritie Bank, which financed the war in Ukraine. He was placed under sanctions following the full-scale invasion.

RFI: Ukrainian forces may have struck two Russian tankers from Libya — a GRU general was reportedly killed on board one of them.
According to the outlet, more than 200 Ukrainian officers and military experts are currently in Libya. Ukrainian personnel are based at three locations:
▪️In Misrata, where Turkish, Italian, U.S. forces and a British intelligence center are also present;
▪️In the city of Zawiya, about 50 km north of Libya’s capital, Tripoli;
▪️A third site located at the headquarters of the Libyan army’s 111th Brigade, used for coordination meetings between Ukrainian forces and Libyan command.
RFI reports that, thanks to this infrastructure in Libya, Ukrainian forces carried out strikes on two Russian shadow fleet vessels — the tanker QENDIL and the gas carrier Arctic Metagaz.
According to the report, members of the Wagner PMC and Russia’s GRU were on board the QENDIL. As a result of the strike, two people were killed and seven injured. Among the dead was reportedly General Andrey Averyanov, a senior Russian intelligence official.
In exchange for hosting Ukrainian personnel, Libya receives military training, including in the use of UAVs. The agreement also предусматривает arms sales and Ukrainian investments in Libya’s oil sector.

Drones struck the Tolyattikauchuk chemical plant in Russia’s Samara region.
According to the CyberBoroshno project, around 10 UAVs hit the facility, targeting workshops and production units.
The city of Taganrog in the Rostov region was also targeted. Authorities reported damage to commercial infrastructure.

Train derailment in Russia
A passenger train carrying 415 people went off the tracks today, per reports from Kremlin-linked outlets. https://t.me/liveukraine_media/38983

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people has officially been granted the status of a representative body.
Previously, it effectively performed this role but did not have a legally закреплённый status. From now on, state authorities must consult with the Mejlis before making decisions affecting the Crimean Tatar people.
This includes issues related to language, culture, education, and integration.
▪️The Mejlis was established on June 30, 1991, in Simferopol during the first session of the Second Kurultai — the national congress of the Crimean Tatar people.
After the occupation of Crimea, the Mejlis has faced repression. Its activities were suspended, and its head, Refat Chubarov, was banned from entering Crimea.

The Russians killed 20 animals today [in the vetinary clinic]

Russia launched 286 drones at Ukraine overnight, with air defense neutralizing 260. Here are the key consequences:
🔴Kyiv. A drone strike set an office and warehouse building on fire in the Darnytskyi district. No casualties were reported.
🔴Sumy. UAVs hit a 16-story residential building and the private housing sector. The high-rise caught fire, and seven people were injured, including a child.
🔴Poltava region. Overnight and in the morning, drones attacked industrial facilities in the Poltava district, causing fires.
🔴Kharkiv. A drone struck the Nemyshlianskyi district of the city, injuring one person.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-4-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. The Kremlin continues to face harsher backlash from Russia’s domestic populace about its intensified censorship efforts in recent weeks than Moscow likely expected or was prepared for.
2. Ukrainian forces continued their mid-range strike campaign against military assets in Russia and occupied Ukraine on April 3 to 4.
3. Ukrainian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and in the Kupyansk and Oleksandrivka directions.
4. Ukrainian forces struck at least one Russian chemical plant in Samara Oblast. Russian forces launched 286 drones against Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Drone warfare is tragically transforming humanitarian aid (kyivindependent.com/drone-warfare-is-tragically-transforming-humanitarian-aid/)
Drone! Drone! Drone!” — trainees shout as miniature helicopter blades buzz overhead. At a Safer Access security course near Kyiv in late February, aid workers are learning how to react when their mission comes under fire.
Seconds later, they shout: “Attack! Attack! Attack!” The trainees throw themselves into the snow. There’s a flash of mottled green and iridescent purple: a grenade with propellers, dives toward them. It hits, explodes. They count to five, then scramble for cover.
The course, offered since April 2025, is a milestone in humanitarian aid’s tragic transformation. Once-manageable risks have turned into targeted threats as the high-visibility markings and legal protections that have long defined aid work are being tested.

⚡️Ukraine asked to ease attacks on Russian oil refineries (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-asked-to-ease-attacks-on-russian-oil-refineries-amid-iran-war-price-surge-budanov-says/) amid Iran war price surge, Budanov says.
Ukraine's foreign allies have asked Kyiv to pause its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran drives up fuel prices worldwide, Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov told Bloomberg in an interview published April 4.
"We are receiving certain signals about this," Budanov said.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian Lukoil refinery (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strike-lukoil-oil-refinery-in-russias-novgorod-oblast/), defying calls to ease attacks amid soaring fuel prices.

⚡️Ukraine restores nearly half of power generation wiped out (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-has-restored-nearly-half-of-the-power-generation-russia-wiped-out/) by Russia.
Russian forces destroyed 9 gigawatts (GW) of Ukraine's power generation, but the war-torn country has managed to rebuild 4 GW, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 4.

⚡️Erdogan meets (kyivindependent.com/erdogan-meets-zelensky-a-day-after-phoning-putin/) Zelensky a day after phoning Putin.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Istanbul to meet with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Ukrainian president announced "substantive talks."

⚡️Update: Zelensky, Erdogan discuss security cooperation (kyivindependent.com/erdogan-meets-zelensky-a-day-after-phoning-putin/) during meeting in Istanbul.

⚡️Ukraine expects Trump's envoys to visit Kyiv (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-expects-trumps-envoys-to-visit-kyiv-after-easter-zelenskys-office-says/) after Easter, Zelensky's office says.

Can Ukraine help reopen the Strait of Hormuz? Here’s what Zelensky can offer (kyivindependent.com/how-can-ukraine-help-partners-reopen-strait-of-hormuz/)

⚡️Ukraine hits key Russian plant (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hits-key-russian-plant-in-occupied-luhansk-second-time-in-month-grinding-production-to-halt/) in occupied Luhansk second time in month, grinding production to halt.
Ukrainian forces struck the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast for the second time in one month, halting production at the site, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported on April 4.

⚡️How Western-made materials for cigarettes wind up in Russian missiles (kyivindependent.com/how-western-made-materials-for-cigarettes-wind-up-in-russian-missiles-that-strike-ukraine/) that strike Ukraine.

⚡️Ukraine strikes Russian fuel train, confirms damage to multimillion-dollar Orion drones (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-fuel-train-confirms-damage-to-multimillion-dollar-orion-drones-in-occupied-regions/) in occupied regions.

US hearing exposes links between Russia’s energy sector and abduction of Ukrainian children (kyivindependent.com/us-hearing-exposes-links-between-russias-energy-sector-and-abduction-of-ukrainian-children/)
During a recent hearing before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, U.S. lawmakers blasted the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil giants Gazprom and Rosneft — companies now accused of aiding the mass abduction of Ukrainian children.
“One thing that we should not do is abet Russia’s crimes. But shockingly, it appears that we are,” said Representative James P. McGovern, citing evidence from the newly published Yale Humanitarian Research Lab report. “Camps owned or sponsored by these companies are where these children are subject to reeducation and pro-Russia indoctrination. This means anyone — even Americans — who consumes Russian oil is subsidizing a war crime.”

Russian attacks kill 9, injure 95 in Ukraine over past day (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-kill-9-injure-95-in-ukraine-over-past-day/)
Russia launched 93 long-range kamikaze Shahed-type drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said, adding that Ukraine downed 76 of them. Seventeen drones struck 10 locations; affected areas included the Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Chernihiv oblasts and the city of Odesa.

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

France will increase its missile and drone stockpiles by 400% by 2030, according to Politico.
Next week, the French government will present an updated bill allocating €8.5 billion for drones and missiles, as part of preparations for a “war economy.”
The planned increase includes:
▪️ kamikaze drones — by 400%;
▪️ AASM Hammer aerial bombs — by 240%;
▪️ Aster and MICA missiles — by 30%.
The defense budget is also set to rise from €63.3 billion in 2027 to €76.3 billion by 2030.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wants to hold peace talks in Istanbul, and Ukraine is ready to participate, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Germany could become Russia’s primary target, rather than the Baltic states, according to experts.
Erkki Koort, Director of the Estonian Institute of Internal Security, считает, что сценарии атаки на страны Балтии — это «примитивное мышление»:
“What is the point of attacking the border regions between Russia and NATO without neutralizing the strategic rear? And that rear is in Germany.”
According to him, a strike on Germany would have a stronger military and propaganda effect and could destabilize the situation without triggering an immediate NATO response.
Markus Faber, Chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, expressed a similar view:
“In the event of a conflict, Germany would become a key logistical hub — and therefore a target.”

19 children were injured in the Sumy region as a result of Russian attacks.
In the Sumy community, 19 children aged 2 to 15 were injured in a night drone attack, along with 10 adults.
Additionally, two more people were injured during the day in drone strikes — a 52-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman.

❗️Russian military deliberately disable equipment in the Donetsk region to avoid going to the front, the ATESH resistance movement reports.
In the Kostiantynivka direction of the Donetsk region, Russian troops are reportedly disabling their own equipment on a large scale to avoid being sent into combat.
According to the partisan movement “ATESH,” soldiers deliberately damage engines, drain fluids, and sabotage electrical wiring, especially before rotations or combat deployments.

Fico called the European Commission “a ship sailing towards death.”

Absolute world record — a pilot shot down a “Shahed” with a STING interceptor at a distance of 500 km.

The key topic of discussion was the fate of Ukrainian children and what they are forced to endure due to Russian aggression, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

In another Russian war crime, Putin’s forces killed at least five people in an FPV drone strike on a crowded market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region.
This was another deliberate strike on civilians — FPV drones are NEVER blind. Operators see the target on a screen before striking.
“They see the stalls. See the people. And press the button,” said the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Russian ports in Ust-Luga and Primorsk are still unable to fully handle oil cargo after drone attacks
▪️Since March 22, refineries have been unable to ship diesel fuel to Primorsk for export. As a result, plants in the European part of Russia and Siberia have lost their main export route.
▪️Traders say refineries are being forced to consider alternative export routes, such as more expensive rail shipments to other terminals.
In particular, refineries that usually send fuel oil to Ust-Luga have recently been considering rerouting shipments to Vysotsk or Taman. However, Vysotsk has lower capacity, while deliveries to Taman would require a larger number of railcars.
Finniwh maritime authorities report that shipments from Primorsk and Ust-Luga have dropped sharply — from 40–50 vessels per week to just a handful.

During an inspection of the Uzhhorod district enlistment office, cases of unsanitary conditions, unlawful detention, and neglect of illnesses were uncovered, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported.
People were held without legal grounds for 21 to 50 days. Some had their documents and phones confiscated, limiting access to assistance.
For 40–60 people held there, there were only a few cups and plates, forcing them to eat in turns from shared dishes. Inspectors also documented one shower and one toilet for dozens of people, as well as a lack of bedding.
In addition, a man with high blood pressure was found who had been requesting medical help for several days — an ambulance was called only after the ombudsman’s representative intervened. A complaint regarding the violations has already been filed.

Russia launched 93 drones at Ukraine overnight, with air defenses shooting down 76 of them.
Another 17 UAVs hit targets across 10 locations, while debris fell in three areas.

Reports of Orban's Russia-backed false flag operation could be underway which could lead to the cancellation of the Hungarian elections

Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić has informed Orban of “explosives of devastating power” found at the gas pipeline connecting the two countries.

JD Vance is going to Hungary on Tuesday to support Orban

groan

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/tracking-russias-military-reforms/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukrainian forces have intensified their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure within roughly the last two weeks (since the night of March 22 to 23), focusing on the Russian Baltic Sea port and oil infrastructure in Leningrad Oblast critical to Russian oil exports.
2. The limitations of available Russian air defenses and the challenges inherent in protecting large infrastructure facilities across thousands of kilometers of distance are hindering the Kremlin’s efforts to defend against Ukrainian long-range strikes.
3. Ukrainian counterattacks in the Hulyaipole and Oleksandrivka directions continue to disrupt Russian efforts in the Pokrovsk direction and the Russian spring-summer offensive throughout the theater.
4. Ukrainian counterattacks in the Hulyaipole and Oleksandrivka directions continue to present the Russian military command with dilemmas that overstretched Russian forces appear challenged to meet.
5. Russia continues to use gas grenades in frontline chemical weapons strikes — in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), of which Russia is a signatory.
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction.
7. Russian forces launched 93 drones against Ukraine.

Live:Ukraine

⚡️Ukraine is no longer a top priority for the United States, and a prolonged war in the Middle East will reduce support for Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with AP.

Zelensky stressed that his main concern is the supply of U.S. missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which Ukraine critically lacks. He emphasized that there is still no effective alternative capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

“These American systems have never been supplied in sufficient quantities, and if the war with Iran does not end soon, the package — which is already not very large for us — will keep shrinking day by day. That is why, of course, we are concerned,” Zelensky said.

🇷🇸🇭🇺 Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said the Serbian army discovered explosives near gas infrastructure connecting the country with Hungary.

Vučić said he had already informed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán by phone. Orbán convened a meeting of Hungary’s Defense Council later the same day.

The incident occurred in the municipality of Kanjiža, Serbian media report. At the scene, authorities found two large backpacks and two packages of high-powered explosives equipped with detonators.

Vučić declined to disclose details about potential perpetrators, although he said he has “certain information.” He emphasized: “Anyone who attempts to endanger Serbia’s energy infrastructure will be punished in the strictest possible way.” [Probably a False flag as mentioned by DuncinToffee up thread]

⚡️ A Volgo-Balt type dry cargo ship sank in the Sea of Azov near the coast of Kherson region, according to the occupation governor Volodymyr Saldo.

Nine crew members managed to reach the shore of occupied Kherson region. The chief officer was killed, and the fate of two others remains unknown.

The origin of the grain on board has not been specified. However, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence, five Volgo-Balt vessels have been used to transport stolen Ukrainian grain. In addition to Russian ports, they have called at occupied Crimea and Turkey. There is no information indicating they entered ports in occupied Kherson region.

🇸🇾🇺🇦 President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Damascus on an official visit.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also arrived in the Syrian capital alongside him. They were welcomed at the airport by Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani.

The Ukrainian delegation also includes Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.

According to Reuters, citing two sources, Zelensky is expected to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa today. The talks will reportedly focus on defense and the war in the Middle East.

▪️This is Zelensky’s first official visit to Syria. He previously met the new Syrian president in September at the UN General Assembly in New York, where Ukraine and Syria restored diplomatic relations.

⚡️ Reports indicate a complete blackout in temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk region.

Local residents are also reporting disruptions to water supply.

⚡️ According to media reports, former head of a department in the Security Service of Ukraine, Major General Volodymyr Liapkin, was killed in the war in Ukraine on March 17.

After the Maidan, Liapkin fled to Russia and later served in the “Bars-33” unit.

It is also reported that he was killed alongside Eduard Malov, a former officer of Russia’s Emergency Ministry from the Moscow region.

⚡️ Hungary will deploy troops to guard its section of the TurkStream gas pipeline following the explosives incident in Serbia.

This was announced by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. After a security meeting, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ordered protection of the pipeline along its entire Hungarian stretch — from the Serbian-Hungarian border to the Hungarian-Slovak border.

Szijjártó also said he held talks with the energy ministers of Serbia, Turkey, and Russia. According to him, they agreed that the pipeline should be protected “more thoroughly than ever before.”

⚡️ Russia’s main Black Sea port of Novorossiysk is under drone attack

⚡️ Overnight, Russian forces launched 141 strike drones at Ukraine. Air defense systems shot down 114 of them.

In 17 locations, 26 drones hit their targets, and debris from 13 more fell to the ground.

Odesa: Three people were killed — a 30-year-old mother with her two-year-old daughter, and a 53-year-old woman. The number of injured rose to 15, 13 of whom were hospitalized, including a pregnant woman, a 7-month-old boy, and a two-year-old girl.

Chernihiv region: In the morning, the occupiers struck energy infrastructure four times. Most districts of the region are without power, with over 280,000 residents in the Chernihiv and Koriukivka districts left in the dark after the latest attack.

United 24 Media:

🔷 Partisans have disabled a railway section important to Russian forces in the Sumy direction.

Agents of the “ATESH” movement reported damage to a relay cabinet on the railway line from Bryansk to the Sumy region.

According to them, Russia used this route to transport ammunition and personnel for several units, including paratroopers and marines.

The partisans say the disruption has already affected combat capability: delays in supplies forced Russian units to enter battle with insufficient resources, resulting in losses.

🔶 Russia ranked second to last in terms of internet freedom, according to Cloudwards.

Russia scored 4 out of 100, ahead of only North Korea, which received 0. The ranking considered factors such as access to torrents, online freedom of speech, and the ability to download VPNs.

Russia was highlighted among countries where VPN services are blocked or heavily restricted. North Korea ranked last because internet access there is limited to those close to power.

Russia is also grouped alongside China, Iran, and Pakistan. At the same time, only 11 countries were classified as having a free internet, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, and Slovakia.

🔷 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the security and food sectors and expressed interest in exchanging military experience.

🔶 The Foreign Ministry stated that Ukraine has no connection to the explosives found near a gas pipeline in Serbia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi suggested this was most likely a Russian false-flag operation, carried out as part of Moscow’s interference in elections in Hungary.

On April 5, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that explosive devices had been discovered near a gas infrastructure facility connecting Serbia with Hungary.

🔷 Ukraine and Syria have agreed to open embassies in Kyiv and Damascus in the near future, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said after a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Sheibani.

“Food security remains an important area. Ukraine is ready to contribute, including through initiatives such as ‘Grain from Ukraine,’ to support stability in the region.

Bilateral trade has already increased ninefold since the signing of the Joint Communiqué on the restoration of diplomatic relations, and we see clear opportunities for further expansion.

We also discussed humanitarian and educational cooperation. Many Syrian students have studied and continue to study in Ukraine, which is a strong foundation we intend to build on.”

🔶 In an attempt to replace blocked Starlink systems, Russian forces at the front have begun receiving Spirit-030 terminals.

According to Defense Minister adviser Serhii Beskrestnov (“Flash”), the Russians claim the new terminals are stealthy. They say an antenna up to 30 cm wide allows them to be hidden from drones.

However, pilots from the 414th UAV Brigade “The Magyar Birds” have already begun detecting the new terminals and successfully destroying them. Flash urged other drone operators to watch for this target as well.

🔷 Moscow is preparing countermeasures in case the UK begins detaining “shadow fleet” tankers, Russian Ambassador to London Andrei Kelin told RIA Novosti.

Kelin warned that such actions “will not go unanswered,” but did not specify what countermeasures he meant, saying only that it would come as a “surprise” to the UK.

On March 25, the UK government authorized the Royal Navy to stop tankers carrying sanctioned Russian oil in its territorial waters.

One of the goals of this policy is to force shipowners to abandon the shorter route through the English Channel and British waters in favor of a longer route, increasing transportation costs.

Kelin also said that the owners of detained vessels and cargo would be able to appeal in court, and suggested that potential legal action could create additional costs for the British government.

🔶 Serbian services have not found a “Ukrainian trace” in the alleged sabotage attempt on the gas pipeline to Hungary, said Đuro Jovanić, Director of the Serbian Military Security Agency.

He stressed that the origin of the explosives does not mean the same country is responsible for carrying out or ordering the attack.

Jovanić also noted that the markings on the explosives indicate they were manufactured in the United States.

🔷 As a result of the night attack on Odesa, a 30-year-old woman and her young daughter, aged 2.6 years, as well as another woman, 53, were killed, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleh Kiper reported.

Sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

At least 15 people are known to have been injured, 13 of whom are hospitalized. Among the wounded are a pregnant woman and two children: a seven-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl.

“The victims have shrapnel wounds, burns, injuries, and poisoning from combustion products. Some are in serious condition. Doctors assess the children’s condition as moderate. All victims are receiving the necessary medical care.

Kyiv Independent:

⚡️ Russia gave Iran intelligence on Israel's energy infrastructure, Zelensky says

Russia provided Iran with satellite intelligence on over 50 Israeli energy sites, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 5, the latest of a series of Ukrainian claims that Russia is supporting Tehran militarily.

"(Russia) helps Iran launch attacks. These are civilian infrastructures without any military purpose," Zelensky posted on his Telegram channel.

⚡️ Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, defying calls to ease attacks amid soaring fuel prices

Ukrainian drones struck a Lukoil oil refinery in the Russian city of Kstovo and an oil terminal in Leningrad Oblast overnight on April 5. The attack comes as Ukrainian officials have acknowledged that foreign allies have asked Kyiv to pause drone attacks on Russian oil refineries as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran drives up fuel prices worldwide.

Ukrainian forces also reportedly struck defense and chemical industry facilities in the Russian cities of Taganrog and Tolyatti overnight on April 4.

At the same time, Russia’s terror campaign against Ukrainian civilians killed at least 16 people and injured 94 over the last day, despite Kyiv’s pleas for an Easter ceasefire.

⚡️Update: Zelensky holds talks with Syrian leader in Damascus.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a “significant” day of talks, adding that discussions focused on regional developments, economic cooperation, and post-war recovery.

A trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Syria, and Turkey was also held.

⚡️Ukrainian drones reportedly strike major oil terminal in Russian city of Novorossiysk.

Explosions were reported overnight on April 6 in the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk, with local residents reporting a drone attack at an oil terminal and damage to a residential building.

⚡️Update: Over 340,000 left without power in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast following Russian strikes.

An energy facility in the Nizhyn district was struck, leaving 340,000 without power, including subscribers in the cities of Chernihiv and Pryluky.

⚡️ Update: Serbia denies plans to frame Ukraine for gas pipeline sabotage plot.

Earlier, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hinted the plot “fits into the pattern” of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Kyiv has denied any involvement, suggesting the incident may be a Russian false-flag operation.

⚡️ Ukraine exposes suspected $6.8 million fraud in gas sector.

Former managers at the state-owned Ukrgazvydobuvannya gas company and affiliated businesspeople organized a scheme to inflate the costs of materials used for gas production, SBU said.

⚡️ Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks on pause as US focus shifts.

It is currently difficult to organize talks in a trilateral format as "the Americans have a lot of other things to deal with, if you know what I mean," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

⚡️ These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of April 6, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Kyiv Post:

⚡️ Zelensky’s office chief Budanov says Kyiv received “signals” to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

“I will answer this diplomatically: we are receiving some signals regarding this.”

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-6-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure is exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses and significantly damaging Russian oil export capabilities.
2. Russian milbloggers continued to criticize the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems and highlight the impact of Ukrainian strikes.
3. The Russian military is experiencing manpower challenges and is unable to recruit enough contract soldiers to replace its frontline losses.
4. The Russian MoD is attempting to generate additional manpower through other sources, regardless of the financial and societal costs.
5. Russia is facing increasing recruitment challenges as the pool of Russians willing to sign contracts declines, despite Kremlin efforts to increase signing bonuses and tap additional sources of manpower.
6. Ukraine’s Western partners continue to provide air defense aid to Ukraine.
7. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the Velykyi Burluk direction.
8. Russian forces launched 141 drones against Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Ukraine's parliament attempts (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-parliament-set-to-vote-on-tax-bills-as-imf-financing-stalls/) to unblock stalled IMF financing, votes on contentious tax bills.
After missing the official IMF deadline of March 31, Ukraine's parliament will consider on April 7 bills to extend the military tax for three years after the war, introduce taxes on income from digital platforms, and impose levies on parcels — three out of four measures required to unlock the next tranche of the IMF's program, scheduled for June this year.

⚡️Ukraine reportedly launches fresh strikes (https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-reportedly-launches-fresh-strikes-on-russias-ust-luga-port-amid-soaring-russian-oil-profits/) on Russia’s Ust-Luga port, intensifying attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

⚡️ Vance visits Hungary (https://kyivindependent.com/vance-arrives-in-budapest-to-boost-orban-ahead-of-pivotal-election/) to boost Orban in high-stakes election.
The visit demonstrates a "new golden age" in U.S.-Hungarian relations, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

⚡️'There will be no popular solutions,' military ombudsman says (kyivindependent.com/there-will-be-no-popular-decisions-military-ombudsman-says-on-needed-mobilization-reforms/) of mobilization reform (kyivindependent.com/there-will-be-no-popular-decisions-military-ombudsman-says-on-needed-mobilization-reforms/)
Ukraine is studying the feasibility of introducing fixed terms of service for its soldiers, but such changes won't be possible without strengthening mobilization, military ombudsman Olha Reshetylova has said. Reshetylova's comments come as the Defense Ministry under new minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sought to address problems with Ukraine's increasingly unpopular forced mobilization process while also creating mechanisms to clarify when soldiers can be discharged.

⚡️Ukraine proposes energy ceasefire (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-proposes-energy-ceasefire-to-russia-zelensky-says/) to Russia, Zelensky says.
Ukraine has proposed an energy ceasefire to Russia through U.S. officials acting as intermediaries, President Volodymyr Zelensky said April 6.

⚡️European lawmakers push to remove Putin interpreter (kyivindependent.com/european-lawmakers-push-to-remove-putin-interpreter-from-hungary-election-observation-mission/)from Hungary election observation mission.
A cross-party group of members of the European Parliament called for the removal of a former Kremlin interpreter from an OSCE mission set to monitor Hungary's April 12 election, a move that has been rebuked by the President of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly.

⚡️Syrskyi visits (kyivindependent.com/syrsky-visits-hotspot-of-clashes-with-russians-in-contested-corner-of-dnipropetrovsk-oblast/) front-line hotspot in contested corner of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Ukraine seeks THAAD, but analysts question its value and prospects (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-seeks-thaad-as-guarantee-but-analysts-see-limited-value/)

⚡️Ukrainian drones reportedly strike (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strike-russian-military-linked-chemical-plant/) Russian military-linked chemical plant.
A chemical plant in Rossosh, Voronezh Oblast, was struck by Ukrainian drones on April 6, independent Telegram outlet Exilenova Plus reported.

⚡️ Russia jails ex-Kursk Oblast governor (kyivindependent.com/russia-jails-ex-kursk-oblast-governor/) for 14 years over bribery.
Alexei Smirnov was arrested last April on charges of embezzling funds earmarked for the construction of fortifications at the Russia-Ukraine border.

Pro-Russian lawmaker charged (kyivindependent.com/pro-russian-lawmaker-charged-in-300-000-corruption-case/) in $300,000 corruption case
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on April 6 that it had charged a member of parliament in a Hr 13 million ($300,000) illicit enrichment case.
The suspect is Oleksandr Kachnyi, who previously represented the pro-Russian Opposition Platform-For Life faction, a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent. He did not respond to a request for comment.

⚡️Ukrainian Flamingo maker eyes anti-ballistic air defense (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-maker-of-flamingo-cruise-missile-takes-aim-at-anti-ballistic-air-defense/) by 2027.
(kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-maker-of-flamingo-cruise-missile-takes-aim-at-anti-ballistic-air-defense/)Ukraine's newest missile maker aims to launch a low-cost anti-ballistic air defense system by the end of 2027, Reuters reported on April 6.

Investigation: Unmasking the anonymous hosts of 'Russians With Attitude,' a pro-war podcast popular with US far right (kyivindependent.com/exclusive-investigation-reveals-hosts-of-us-popular-far-right-podcast/)
Launched in 2020, "Russians with Attitude" ("RWA"), a podcast and social media project, has built a following among English-speaking right-wing audiences, predominantly in the United States.

⚡️ Russian FPV drone hits bus in rush hour attack as strikes kill 8, injure 52 across Ukraine. (kyivindependent.com/russian-fpv-drone-hits-bus-during-rush-hour-as-ongoing-mass-attack-kills-8-injures-47-across-ukraine/)
“This is deliberate Russian terror against peaceful cities and civilians,” Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬

⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — APR 7, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties below average; no confirmed territorial change
■ Drone losses below average, but land-based equipment losses above average; highest 7-day artillery losses this year so far
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks below average; interception rate could be better
■ 6 🇺🇦 strikes reported; 🇷🇺 air strikes above average, drone launches and shelling below average

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The Ukrainian Defense Forces will receive modern Tridon Mk2 air defense systems from Sweden, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported.
As noted by the ministry, these systems will help counter “Shaheds” and other aerial threats.
Sweden will allocate €400 million (approximately $430 million) for their purchase — almost a third of the new €1.2 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) military aid package announced in February.

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the Unmanned Systems Forces, struck enemy positions on the drilling rig “Sivash.”

More than 65% of Spaniards surveyed support maintaining international aid to Ukraine until the end of the war, according to a 40dB poll for the April El País and Cadena SER barometer.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents completely agree with this, 37% tend to agree, 17% tend to disagree, and 7% are categorically against it. Another 10% are undecided.

Ukrainian company Fire Point is in talks with European partners to launch production of a new air defense system that could become an alternative to the Patriot system, the company’s co-founder and chief designer, Denys Shtilerman, told Reuters in an interview.
According to him, the goal is to reduce the cost of intercepting a ballistic missile to below $1 million. The system could be ready by next year.

Ukraine outshoots Russia in cross-border drone war for 1st time, March data suggests, ABC News report
Russia said it downed 7,347 Ukrainian drones during March.
Ukraine launched more cross-border attack drones than Russia in a one-month period for the first time since the start of the ongoing war in 2022, according to daily data published by the Ukrainian Air Force and Russian Ministry of Defense, which was analyzed by ABC News.
Russia's defense ministry reported downing 7,347 Ukrainian drones during March, the highest monthly total ever reported by Moscow and an average of 237 craft each day. The defense ministry only publishes figures of Ukrainian drones it claims were shot down.
Ukraine's air force, meanwhile, said its forces faced 6,462 Russian drones and 138 missiles of various types across the course of the month, of which 5,833 drones and 102 missiles — around 90% of drones and just under 74% of missiles — were intercepted or suppressed.
Ukraine, therefore, faced a daily average of just over 208 drones and four missiles during March, according to the data published by Kyiv.

❗️A large-scale internet outage has been reported in the Russian segment. [yesterday]
At the same time, users in Russia reported disruptions to multiple services, including Discord, Rostelecom, Steam, World of Tanks, Lesta, Character AI, FACEIT, Gosuslugi, Valorant, Telegram, League of Legends, Alfa-Bank, Battle.net, Okko, DeepSeek, Janitor AI, Reshu EGE, Sberbank, T2, Gazprombank, Wildberries, Beeline, T-Bank, FGIS Rosstandart, and VTB Bank.
Users are reporting widespread issues with logging into their accounts and accessing these platforms.

Death toll from the Russian strike on a city bus in Nikopol has risen to four, President Zelenskyy said.
Seven people are currently in hospital. Nine others received medical assistance at the scene.

For the first time in 50 years, humans have seen the far side of the Moon with their own eyes. The new image was released by the astronauts of the Artemis II mission.
In the photo, the near side of the Moon—the side visible from Earth—appears on the right (recognizable by its dark spots), while the far side is on the left.
Before this, the far side of the Moon had only been seen by humans in 1972 during the Apollo 17 mission.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

Ukrainian drone forces struck Russia’s main Black Sea oil terminal in Novorossiysk, (www.kyivpost.com/post/73343) accounting for about 20% of Russia’s crude exports in wartime. Operations are now shut down. [yesterday]

Ukraine destroyed $28 million worth of Russian equipment overnight near Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region, (www.kyivpost.com/post/73344) including MLRS systems and a rare Zoopark-1 counter-battery radar.

Ukraine has admitted the first companies to the Chornomorsk port concession, (www.kyivpost.com/post/73347) advancing a major infrastructure project with a 40-year agreement to the winning bidder.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief Majid Khademi was killed in airstrikes on Tehran (www.kyivpost.com/post/73332) as the US and Israel intensified attacks.

The US Navy is seeking $1.7 billion for 405 Patriot PAC-3 missiles as (www.kyivpost.com/post/73361) part of the proposed 2027 defense budget totaling $1.5 trillion, a 44% increase in spending.

Mother killed in front of her son in a Russian strike targeting civilians in Kherson.
The woman was standing in the courtyard of her own home when the attack hit. Three other women were wounded. https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/35782

Three civilians killed and seven wounded as Russia shells Kherson, leaving streets soaked in blood.
The victims include two elderly women and a 60-year-old man.
Rescue efforts are ongoing. https://t.me/Kyivpost_official/35808

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has “warned of consequences” for the Baltic states over what it claims is the “provision of airspace” for Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports in the Baltic Sea.

Bloomberg has reviewed a transcript of a phone call between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin, in which Orbán assured the Kremlin leader of “friendship” and offered help in “settling” the war in Ukraine.
Most of the conversation reportedly consisted of exchanging compliments toward each other, as well as toward U.S. President Donald Trump.
During the call, Orbán said that his friendship with Putin had strengthened since it began in St. Petersburg in 2009. He also expressed regret that they had not been able to meet regularly in person as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Putin, in turn, praised Hungary’s “independent and flexible” position regarding the war against Ukraine.
According to the transcript, the main purpose of the October call was to discuss the possibility of holding a meeting between the United States and Russia in Hungary. However, such a summit in Budapest did not take place.
Notably, details of the Orbán–Putin conversation surfaced amid reports of a leaked call between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Ukraine and Bulgaria will launch a trial rail route “Kyiv — Varna” this summer.
The route will run through Kyiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Suceava, and Bucharest to Varna. The Ministry of Development says this connection will help avoid delays and, consequently, prevent ticket prices from rising. The estimated travel time is under 30 hours.
Preliminarily, Romania has agreed to include the route in the Public Service Obligation mechanism, which will also help reduce ticket costs.

Russian forces struck a bus in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, with a drone — three people were killed and 15 others injured.
At the moment of the strike, the bus was approaching a stop in the city center. Emergency responders and medics are working at the scene. Seven people were rescued and freed from the wreckage.

⚡️Overnight, Russian forces launched 110 strike drones at Ukraine. Air defenses shot down 77 of them.
A total of 31 drones hit targets in 14 locations, while debris fell in nine more areas.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, an 11-year-old boy was killed in the Synelnykove district. Two women and a man were injured and hospitalized. In the Pavlohrad district, two more men were hospitalized with injuries.

For the second time today, Russian forces attacked a bus in the Nikopol district, injuring five people.
A minibus serving an intercity route came under attack in the Chervonohryhorivka community.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-7-2026/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian forces continue to conduct drone strikes intentionally targeting civilians in southern Ukraine, weaponizing civilian harm as an intentional tool of war.
2. The Kremlin continues to set conditions for possible future aggression against the Baltic states.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to conduct a ceasefire over the Easter holiday and/or a ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes.
4. The Kremlin is reportedly considering replacing three Russian governors ahead of the September 2026 elections.
5. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk direction.
6. Ukrainian forces struck oil infrastructure in Leningrad Oblast and a defense industrial plant in Voronezh Oblast.
7. Russian forces launched 110 drones against Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Ukraine disables last ferry (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-disables-last-ferry-in-kerch-strait-supporting-russian-forces-in-occupied-crimea-military-intelligence-says/) in Kerch Strait supplying Russian forces in occupied Crimea, military intelligence says.
The Ukrainian drone strike overnight on April 6 put a ferry out of service that had previously been attacked in March but had remained afloat until then. [The Kerch Bridge has certain restrictions on what can cross it, including some military transports. The ferries being out of action gives Russia some trouble]

⚡️Update: Ukraine's parliament attempts (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-parliament-set-to-vote-on-tax-bills-as-imf-financing-stalls/) to unblock stalled IMF financing, votes on contentious tax bills
Ukraine's parliament approved on April 7 one of several key tax bills tied to International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding, in a packed legislative push that also includes measures to align the country with the EU.

⚡️Trump announces (kyivindependent.com/trump-announces-two-week-conditional-ceasefire-with-iran-after-initially-threatening-massive-attack/) two-week conditional ceasefire with Iran after initially threatening massive attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 7 that he has agreed to pause planned military strikes on Iran for two weeks, conditional upon the full and immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

⚡️ Update: Vance alleges Ukraine's intelligence meddled (kyivindependent.com/vance-arrives-in-budapest-to-boost-orban-ahead-of-pivotal-election/) in US, Hungarian elections.
"We're certainly aware that there are elements within the Ukrainian intelligence services that try to put their thumb on the scale of American elections, on Hungarian elections," U.S. Vice President JD Vance said.

⚡️Trump joins (kyivindependent.com/trump-joins-orban-rally-by-phone-says-he-is-with-him-all-the-way/) Orban rally by phone, says he is 'with him all the way.’
“I’m a big fan of Viktor, I’m with him all the way, the United States is with him all the way,” U.S. President Donald Trump said over the phone to Vice President JD Vance, who was speaking in Budapest.

⚡️Russia seeks to establish buffer zone (kyivindependent.com/russia-seeks-to-establish-buffer-zone-between-ukraines-vinnytsia-oblast-transnistria-military-says/) between Ukraine's Vinnytsia Oblast, Transnistria, military says.
"This is the first time such plans have been documented on (the Russian) part," Deputy Presidential Office head Pavlo Palisa said.

⚡️Ukraine strikes key oil transfer hub (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-key-oil-transfer-hub-in-russian-occupied-crimea-military-says/) in Russian-occupied Crimea, military says.
Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi said the attack targeted fuel tanks but did not provide details on the strike's impact.

⚡️ Russia hits Kharkiv Oblast oil refinery (kyivindependent.com/russia-hits-kharkiv-oblast-oil-refinery-causing-significant-damage/), causing 'significant' damage.
Russia has targeted the facility for the fifth time since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, the refinery's legal director, Anastasiia Cherednykova, told Suspilne.

⚡️ SBU seizes shadow fleet (kyivindependent.com/sbu-seizes-shadow-fleet-vessel-in-odesa-port-tied-to-illegal-exports-from-occupied-crimea/) vessel in Odesa port tied to illegal exports from occupied Crimea.
The ship was detained in Odesa's commercial port after arriving under the flag of an African country, reportedly to load a shipment of steel pipes.

⚡️As election approaches, Hungary claims new 'evidence' (kyivindependent.com/hungary-claims-new-evidence-in-ukrainian-bank-case/)against seized Ukrainian bank convoy.
The new "evidence" reportedly includes a video of a Ukrainian official "falsifying documents in a gas station restroom" and his associates discussing "corruption-related payments."

The Ukraine Model: Lessons in Defense, Industry, & Innovation — presentation by KI Insights (kyivindependent.com/the-ukraine-model-lessons-in-defense-industry-innovation-presentation-by-ki-insights/)
Why are Ukrainian drones proving so effective on the battlefield? Can this experience be replicated elsewhere — particularly in the Gulf? And where are the real opportunities for investors in this rapidly evolving ecosystem?
This special KI Insights presentation offers a structured, high-level overview of this evolving landscape — unpacking what has made Ukrainian innovation effective under wartime conditions, which approaches are transferable to other contexts, and what developments to watch as the sector continues to evolve.

⚡️16 Cameroonians killed (kyivindependent.com/16-cameroonians-killed-fighting-for-russia-in-ukraine-officials-say/) fighting for Russia in Ukraine, officials say.

⚡️Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu, (kyivindependent.com/romanian-coach-mircea-lucescu-who-helped-shape-ukrainian-soccer-for-over-a-decade-dies-at-80/) who helped shape Ukrainian football, dies at 80.

⚡️ At least 13 killed, (kyivindependent.com/at-least-13-killed-77-injured-in-russian-attacks-on-ukraine-over-past-day/) 77 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.
Russia launched 176 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said, reporting that Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 146.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 5h
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — APR 8, 2026
■ Casualties remain below average despite increased engagements; no confirmed territorial changes
■ Land-based equipment losses remain above average; highest 7-day artillery losses this year so far
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks below average; interception rate decent
■ 6 🇺🇦 strikes reported; all 🇷🇺 strike indicators below average