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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It has been a while since I have noticed a Strelkov/Girkin post, but he had this to say yesterday. Edited down to first and last two paragraphs with declunkification of the translation for clarity.
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ТГ «Стрелков Игорь Иванович» 25 апреля 2026 —

Reports from the front lines, especially in the interpretation given by Gerasimov on TV, but also in "Rybar and Co”, are not able to cause me anything but a deep, but calm (because everything was clear in advance) despondency. The endless boasting of the tactical positions taken (which can be taken in dozens, or hundreds - the difference for the general strategic situation is "about zero” only testifies to the COMPLETE STRATEGIC IMPASSE, in which both our military and military-political leadership are in.
…
So, we will continue to endure. We will continue to try to carry out the Special Military Operation, which, quite clearly, has reached an impasse. And which is now taking a huge number of lives without any result. And this is also a great merit of our brilliant leaders and commanders, who in four years have missed absolutely all opportunities to win and even now, when the situation is becoming more and more desperate, they are not trying to do anything to win this victory.

Unfortunately, we are heading for military defeat. This is a fact. Let's… at least be aware of this unpleasant fact and proceed on the basis that the threat is real. And that Ukraine will continue to be supplied with everything it needs, and we will continue to do nothing really serious to prevent this threat.

im surprised Girkin has been allowed to keep going tbh!

I think so yeah

Wasn't he in prison?

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ US Treasury says no plans to renew waiver (kyivindependent.com/us-treasury-says-no-plans-to-renew-waiver-for-russian-oil-at-sea-ap-reports/) for Russian oil at sea, AP reports.
Scott Bessent's comments come after the U.S. Treasury Department issued a temporary license on April 17 renewing a sanctions waiver that allows countries to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea.
The earlier renewal came just days after Bessent had said the U.S. would not extend the waiver.

⚡️Breaking: Trump unharmed after being rushed off stage as gunshots (kyivindependent.com/breaking-trump-unharmed-after-being-rushed-off-stage-as-gunshots-reportedly-rang-out-at-event/) rang out at event.
U.S. President Donald Trump is unharmed after being rushed off stage as gunshots rang out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25.

⚡️Trump cancels (kyivindependent.com/trump-cancels-us-iran-talks-in-pakistan-says-washington-has-all-the-cards/) US-Iran talks in Pakistan, says Washington has 'all the cards.'
U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 25 that he had canceled a planned trip by American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran, arguing the visit would amount to “talking about nothing.” [the talks that the Iranians said they weren't going to? those talks?]

⚡️Orban to step down (kyivindependent.com/orban-to-step-down-from-parliament-seeks-to-stay-on-as-fidesz-leader/) from parliament, seeks to stay on as Fidesz leader.

⚡️ Germany believes Russia responsible (kyivindependent.com/germany-believes-russia-responsible-for-global-cyber-campaign-on-signal-whatsapp-media-reports/) for global cyber campaign on Signal, WhatsApp, media reports.
Berlin believes that "this attack presumably originated in Russia," the German newspaper Der Spiegel reported on April 25.

⚡️Fire reported at Yaroslavl oil refinery as Ukrainian drones strike (kyivindependent.com/fire-reported-at-yaroslavl-oil-refinery-as-ukrainian-drones-strike-several-russian-regions-target-occupied-crimea/) several Russian regions, target occupied Crimea.
A fire is burning at an oil refinery in the Russian city of Yaroslavl as Ukrainian drones attacked several Russian regions and occupied Crimea overnight on April 26, authorities and social media channels reported.

Ukraine's nuclear lifeline in the shadow of Chornobyl ()
Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have caused a severe power deficit, plunging entire cities into blackouts. As thermal and hydroelectric plants have sustained heavy damage, nuclear power plants have become Ukraine's most critical and reliable source of electricity. Today, they generate the majority of the country's electricity.

⚡️US intercepts (kyivindependent.com/us-intercepted-russian-shadow-fleet-vessel-in-arabian-sea-us-central-command-says/) Iranian 'shadow fleet' vessel Sevan in Arabian Sea, US Central Command says
The U.S. has intercepted an Iranian merchant vessel, M/V Sevan, in the Arabian Sea, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on the evening of April 25. According to the report, a U.S. Navy helicopter intercepted Sevan with the help of guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91).

⚡️At least 8 killed (kyivindependent.com/at-least-8-killed-21-injured-in-russian-attacks-on-ukraine-over-past-day/), 21 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
Russia launched 144 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said, reporting that Ukrainian air defense intercepted 124. 19 strikes were recorded in 11 locations.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ RUSSIA'S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — APR 26, 2026
■ Engagements and casualties below average; no confirmed territorial changes
■ Considerable drone losses (12th-highest); high artillery losses
■ 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: all drones; interception rate could be better
■ Most 🇺🇦 strikes this month so far; 🇷🇺 drone launches and shelling above average

expect a rise in Trump's ratings ...

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Ukraine–Russia talks may take place in Azerbaijan, President Zelenskyy said.
The president made the statement during a visit to Baku, where he met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is ready for trilateral talks with the participation of the United States.

After a Russian drone crashed near the Romanian city of Galați, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu summoned Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, Valeriy Kuzmin, to the Foreign Ministry.

🇪🇪 Estonia has called on the EU to impose tariffs on Russian goods to help finance Ukraine’s reconstruction.
“There has long been discussion that tariffs on Russian goods could be used to fund Ukraine’s recovery,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.
He noted that even €210 billion in frozen Russian assets held in a depository in Brussels would not be enough to cover the масштаб of the costs.
A UN study last year estimated that around €500 billion will be needed to rebuild Ukraine over the next decade.

“Forty years after Chornobyl, I am in Kyiv for talks with President Zelenskyy and will travel to Chornobyl to honor those who sacrificed their health and lives for Europe.
Disasters know no borders — and neither does solidarity. Moldova supports those who build, not destroy,” Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.

[yesterday] Six people were killed and 47 injured, including two in serious condition. The attack involved missiles and drones and deliberately targeted residential areas, said the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Hanzha, commenting on the recent strike on the regional center.

[Cole Allen, 31 year old California teacher, ID'd as White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter]
A shooting occurred at a Washington correspondents’ dinner attended by President Trump.
A gunman opened fire at a security checkpoint just outside the ballroom entrance at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where about 2,600 guests were present.
After the first shots, panic broke out. People hid under tables, and Secret Service agents forced cabinet members to the floor, including Marco Rubio and Robert Kennedy Jr.
President Trump and First Lady Melania were quickly escorted off the stage and evacuated from the building.
The suspect was taken into custody alive. Trump later called the shooter a “sick man” and a “thug” during a press conference.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

‘Ukraine Will Win the War. No Wishful Thinking’ – Notes from the Kyiv Security Forum
Experts and military men gathered in Kyiv in order to support Ukraine and share their visions. Kyiv Post visited the place.
www.kyivpost.com/videos/74688

Chornobyl – The Explosion That Blew the Lid of the Soviet System (www.kyivpost.com/opinion/74651)
What occurred was bad enough – the consequences are still with us – but it could have been far worse, not only in Eastern Europe, but for the entire planet.

The gunman at a Trump event has been identified as 31-year-old teacher Cole Allen, the New York Post reports.
He reportedly assembled weapons in a lightly secured area before opening fire and rushing toward the main hall.
Allen was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

The New York Times: Europe is bracing for a prolonged war in Ukraine and lacks a clear strategy to end it.
▪️No one expects a peace deal without active U.S. involvement and pressure on Russia — something Donald Trump has been reluctant to apply. There is also no obvious mediator with sufficient leverage over both Moscow and Kyiv.
▪️“We are essentially where we were at the start of negotiations,” analyst James Sherr said.
He added that Europeans increasingly recognize a fundamental incompatibility between Ukraine and Russia’s interests and goals, leaving continued support for Ukraine and preventing a Russian victory — militarily or politically — as the only viable course.
▪️Volodymyr Zelenskyy has “lost 80% of his illusions” about the United States, the report notes.
▪️On negotiations, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that “the truth is, Russia has never taken them seriously,” stressing that this makes continued support for Ukraine even more important.
▪️The European Union’s decision to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan and adopt new sanctions packages is seen as a strong signal of support amid waning U.S. engagement and intensified Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.
▪️European leaders hope Vladimir Putin may eventually acknowledge the current situation and agree to talks, but they also understand he prefers negotiating with Washington rather than Brussels. They would therefore welcome a renewed active U.S. role — particularly if it involves pressure not only on Kyiv but also on Moscow.
▪️Backed by European funding, Ukraine has sufficient resources for now and “does not need a deal at any cost this year.”
▪️Ukrainian forces have had some success in damaging Russia’s oil infrastructure. However, as security expert Claudia Major noted, “we do not have a theory of victory for Ukraine.” The idea had been to build enough pressure on Russia, but “we never gave Ukraine enough to achieve that.”
“For now, we are simply trying to keep Ukraine in the game until something changes in Moscow — someone dies, is removed, or the economy collapses. But that is not a strategy,” she said.

One of Russia’s largest oil refineries, Slavneft-YANOS in Yaroslavl, is on fire following a drone attack.
The facility processes up to 15 million tons of oil and gas condensate annually and has been targeted multiple times before.
In Russia’s Vologda region, drones also struck the Ammonia-3 nitrogen complex operated by Apatit.

A Russian helicopter has been shot down in Africa, with no survivors among the crew.
The incident occurred on Saturday during large-scale attacks by Tuareg fighters and jihadist groups in Mali. https://t.me/liveukrainemedia/39562
Reuters reports that the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for attacks across the country. It is described as one of the boldest operations in their campaign against the junta led by Assimi Goita, who came to power after coups in 2020–2021 and relies on support from Russian mercenaries.

Russia launched 144 drones against Ukraine overnight, with air defenses neutralizing 124 UAVs.
Nineteen drones struck targets across 11 locations, while debris fell in six areas. Key consequences of the attack:
Odesa region. Russian forces hit port infrastructure, damaging warehouses, technical equipment, storage tanks, administrative buildings, cargo vehicles, and a civilian vessel flying the Palau flag. One person was injured.
Dnipro. An infrastructure facility caught fire following a late-evening attack on April 25.
Chernihiv. Fires broke out in private homes, and vehicles were destroyed. One drone exploded near a high-rise residential building.

Yes but still talking! I thought he might have accidentally fallen out of a window by now

From X

Anton Gerashchenko:

Wow. Several years ago, it would be hard to imagine a story like this. Now, it's not routine, but not anything out of the ordinary. A ground robot evacuated a 77 year old Ukrainian lady from Lyman. Her home of 53 years was destroyed by Russians.

x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/2048040399940338114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2048040399940338114%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

@notimagain thanks for sharing. Brought tears to my eyes. The elderly lady was slowly walking on the road on her own with sticks and hunched over when the robot came up to her. She climbed in and it carried her to safety from the threat of drones.

Yes Girkin / Strelkov seems to be in 'Kirovo-Chepetsk’s penal colony No. 5' but posts still come out under his name that align with his style. I am sure there is a risk of something unfortunate happening to him. He is probably the last 'name' of that Donbas / Novirossiya crew still alive.

These attempted assassinations are getting predictable.

So far as I can tell:

Miroslava Reginskaya, his wife, seems to be keeping his feeds going. What is posted under his name is still copious and the sort of thing that is analytically so 'him'. He always put most of his cards on the table while spouting his stream of consciousness drivel (which makes sense within the domain of discourse of his general movement). Some of the grosser crimes he was more reticent about, or deleted posts about when he had second thoughts.

The Telegram channel strelkovii (two i's not more as those look more dubious - if you want to find it put an 'at' in front, which I can't as it thinks I am referring to a non-existent Mumsnet account) is one of the main platforms and has over a third of a million subscribers, but there are other feeds on other platforms. Still.

I think it’s very unlikely to change his poll numbers. There are simply too many factors pushing them down.