Russia has launched more than 400 drones at Ukraine in a daytime attack, injuring 10 people in the western city of Ternopil, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.
Ukraine's air force said the onslaught took place between 8 am and 3.30 pm local time as air force units downed or neutralised 388 of them in the north, south, centre and west of the country.
It follows a Ukrainian attack on a major oil refinery in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse for the fourth time in two weeks. The overnight strike caused a fire but there were no injuries.
Meanwhile, Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, injuring at least 20 people and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten.
Russia said it would implement a temporary ceasefire around Victory Day on 9 May regardless of Ukraine’s response. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the truce “will be implemented” and that “a response is not, in fact, required”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as insufficient, saying Ukraine supported a longer-term ceasefire rather than “a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow”.
Key Points
- Ukrainian drone strikes Tuapse port again and sparks fire
- Drone attack on Odesa leaves 20 injured, Kyiv says
- Kyiv says it struck oil refinery in Orenburg region
- Ukraine hits Russian drone hub in Zaporizhzhia
Vessel carrying grain Ukraine says stolen by Russia will not unload in Israel, Kyiv says
16:00 , James ReynoldsThe vessel carrying grain that Ukraine says was stolen from areas occupied by Russia will not unload in Israel, Ukraine said on Thursday, after Kyiv requested Israel to seize the cargo.
Ukraine's prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on the Telegram app that the vessel, Panormitis, left Israel's territorial waters and departed into neutral waters following "a range of procedural measures taken by Ukraine".
"On the basis of the materials provided by the Ukrainian side within the framework of international legal cooperation, the competent Israeli authorities have begun to process the request," he said.
Israel's foreign ministry said, however, that Ukraine's request for legal assistance, submitted late on Tuesday, "contained significant factual gaps and did not include any supporting evidence".
In the meantime, the ministry said, it was informed that the vessel that was supposed to enter the port next week had decided to depart from Israel's territorial waters.
Ukraine launches army reform
15:30 , James ReynoldsWriting on social media, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is launching a string of reforms in the armed forces.
Details were agreed in April and will be finalised this month. The changes will come into effect in June. He lists three key points:
1. Increased pay ‘on the principle of fairness’
Combat experience and efficacy “must guarantee increased pay”, from at least 30,000 hryvnias (£500) for non-combat positions. Combat positions can expect figures “several times higher”.
2. Special contracts for infantry
Infantrymen on the frontline will benefit from special contracts, with payments in the range of 250,000-400,000 hryvnias (£4,200-£6,700).
3. New approach to staffing units
Contracts will be rethought, ensuring clearly defined service duration terms and phased discharges for those who have already been mobilised.
Zelensky: Allies asked us not to attack Russian oil refinery due to Middle East war
15:00 , James ReynoldsRussia unleashes massive drone swarm on Ukraine, air force says
14:33 , James ReynoldsUkraine's air force says that Russia launched 409 drones from between 8am and 3.30pm local time on Friday.
Ukraine will seek clarification from Donald Trump's team on details of Russia's short-term ceasefire proposal, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
"We will clarify what exactly this is about – a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more," he said in a post on X.
Zelensky added that Ukraine's proposal is for a long-term ceasefire, "reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace."
Residents warned over air quality and drinking water in Russia's Tuapse
14:00 , Joe MiddletonResidents in Tuapse have been advised to stay indoors and avoid drinking tap water following recent drone strikes on the port. Russia’s consumer safety watchdog cited raised benzene levels in the air and urged people to limit time outside and keep windows closed.
Local health authorities said residents should use bottled water as a precaution. Schools have been closed and May holiday events cancelled.
Some residents have questioned official assurances. “How about she comes to visit us and tries our fresh air?” one person wrote online, responding to claims from Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova that the situation posed no health risks.
Drone attack on Odesa leaves 20 injured, Kyiv says
13:30 , Joe MiddletonRussian attack drones struck Odesa overnight, injuring at least 20 people and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
“The enemy has attacked our city again,” Odesa city military administration head Serhiy Lysak wrote on Facebook. “A fire was recorded in a 16-story building. We also have a strike on another high-rise, there was a fire on the 11th and 12th levels.”
A kindergarten, shopping centre, hotel, and other buildings were also hit, he said.
Earlier, Lysak had reported 16 injured, including a 17-year-old, before regional governor Oleh Kiper said the number had risen to 20, the Kyiv Post reported.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 172 of 206 drones launched overnight.
Russia says ceasefire does not need Ukraine’s approval
12:30 , Joe MiddletonThe Kremlin has said Russia will implement a proposed ceasefire during Victory Day commemorations on 9 May regardless of Ukraine’s response.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the temporary halt in hostilities “will be implemented” and that “a response is not, in fact, required”.
“The decision has been made by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” he added, referring to Vladimir Putin.
The comments come after president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as “manipulative” and a “theatrical performance” aimed at securing military parades.
Ukraine has instead called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, with Zelensky saying: “We value human lives, not parades.”
In pictures: Tuapse hit by Ukrainian drone strikes
11:30 , Shahana Yasmin
UK expels Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official
11:00 , Shahana YasminThe UK on Wednesday expelled a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official and the smear campaign that followed.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it summoned the Russian ambassador to its offices in London to inform him of the “reciprocal action.” The tit-for tat moves reflect spiraling tensions between Moscow and the West.
The move came after Russia last month expelled a British diplomat over spying allegations that the UK rejected as “complete nonsense.”
UK expels Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official
One killed and several injured in Russian strikes across Ukraine
10:30 , Shahana YasminRussian forces have carried out a wave of attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
In Odesa, a drone strike damaged port infrastructure and hit residential buildings, injuring two people, regional governor Oleh Kiper said. “This night, Russia again massively attacked the civilian infrastructure of the Odesa region,” he said.
Elsewhere, attacks were reported across the Dnipropetrovsk region, including in Kryvyi Rih, where infrastructure was damaged and one person injured, Interfax Ukraine reported.
In Kherson, one person was killed and eight injured after drone strikes on multiple settlements, local officials said, according to Interfax Ukraine.
Trump gives rambling answer on whether Ukraine or Iran war will end first and mixes up countries
10:10 , Shahana YasminRussian officer killed in blast targeting ‘Butcher of Bucha’
09:50 , Shahana YasminAn explosion has killed a Russian army officer in a closed military town in the country’s far east, in what appeared to be a failed attempt to target a more senior commander known as the “Butcher of Bucha.”
The blast took place in a residential building in Knyaze-Volkonskoye-1, home to Maj Gen Azatbek Omurbekov, who commanded Russian troops during the occupation of Bucha.
Sources said a bomb placed in a mailbox detonated, killing a subordinate officer after the attacker targeted the wrong entrance, The Guardian reported.
Omurbekov was not injured. The EU has sanctioned him over alleged war crimes linked to the killing of civilians in Bucha.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has commented on the incident.
UK ‘must take more risks to stay ahead of our enemies’ as Russian ships in British waters soar
09:30 , Shahana YasminThe UK must take more risks to “stay ahead of our enemies” as Russian incursions into British waters soar, the head of the Royal Navy has warned.
In a speech in central London, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said that Russian ship sightings have “jumped” by a third in two years and the UK was forced to respond dozens of times last year alone.
In response, he warned the UK had to invest not only in “the technologies of the future” but also have an “entire mindset” shift.
Venice Biennale jury resigns amid Russia row
09:10 , Shahana YasminThe international jury of the Venice Biennale has resigned just days before the exhibition opens, amid a dispute over Russia’s participation.
The Biennale said the jury, comprising president Solange Farkas and members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, had stepped down, but did not provide a reason.
The resignation follows tensions after the jury said it would not award prizes to artists from countries whose leaders face war crimes allegations at the International Criminal Court, a position widely understood to mean Russia and Israel.
The jury said it was committed to “the defence of human rights”, while Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro said it had informed authorities it could not award artists from such countries.
Russia has been allowed to take part in this year’s Biennale despite political opposition, placing the jury’s position in direct conflict with the event’s participation rules.
Russian drone attacks gas station in Ukraine’s Kramatorsk
08:50 , Shahana YasminZelenskyy says he's seeking details of Putin’s May 9 ceasefire proposal
08:30 , Shahana YasminUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking details of a short-term ceasefire Russia proposed to U.S. President Donald Trump, he said in a post on Telegram on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a May 9 ceasefire to coincide with Victory Day in Russia in a phone call with Trump the previous day, according to the Kremlin.
“We have instructed our representatives to contact the United States president’s team and clarify the details of the Russian proposal for a short-term ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy says he's seeking details of Putin’s May 9 ceasefire proposal
‘Oil falling from the sky’: Tuapse hit by toxic fallout
08:10 , Shahana YasminThe Russian Black Sea town of Tuapse has been left engulfed in thick smoke and toxic fallout after repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on its oil refinery, with residents describing apocalyptic conditions.
“The city is choking on smoke,” one resident wrote on social media, as fires burned for days and fumes spread across the resort town.
“Oil is literally falling from the sky. We can’t breathe,” Elmira Ayrapetyan, who travelled to help with the clean-up, told CNN.
Environmental experts have warned of a “real environmental catastrophe,” with oil contaminating air, soil and water, and spreading into the Black Sea.
Japanese firm backs Ukrainian drone developer
07:50 , Shahana YasminJapanese drone firm Terra Drone has announced a second investment in a Ukrainian defence technology company.
Chief executive Toru Tokushige said the company would partner with Ukrainian firm WinnyLab to scale production of the Terra A2, a long-range interceptor drone, according to The Kyiv Independent. This follows a recent investment in Kharkiv-based Amazing Drones.
“The easing of export restrictions is expected to accelerate Terra Drone’s projects in Ukraine,” Tokushige said.
Japan recently lifted longstanding restrictions on weapons exports, enabling closer defence collaboration. Terra Drone said combining its interceptor systems could help build a “more resilient and sustainable shield” against aerial attacks.
In pictures: 20 injured in Odesa drone attack
07:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Russia says ceasefire does not need Ukraine’s approval
07:10 , Shahana YasminThe Kremlin has said Russia will implement a proposed ceasefire during Victory Day commemorations on 9 May regardless of Ukraine’s response.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the temporary halt in hostilities “will be implemented” and that “a response is not, in fact, required”.
“The decision has been made by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” he added, referring to Vladimir Putin.
The comments come after president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as “manipulative” and a “theatrical performance” aimed at securing military parades.
Ukraine has instead called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, with Zelensky saying: “We value human lives, not parades.”
Drone attack on Odesa leaves 20 injured, Kyiv says
06:50 , Shahana YasminRussian attack drones struck Odesa overnight, injuring at least 20 people and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
“The enemy has attacked our city again,” Odesa city military administration head Serhiy Lysak wrote on Facebook. “A fire was recorded in a 16-story building. We also have a strike on another high-rise, there was a fire on the 11th and 12th levels.”
A kindergarten, shopping centre, hotel, and other buildings were also hit, he said.
Earlier, Lysak had reported 16 injured, including a 17-year-old, before regional governor Oleh Kiper said the number had risen to 20, the Kyiv Post reported.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 172 of 206 drones launched overnight.
Kyiv says it struck oil refinery in Orenburg region
06:30 , Shahana YasminUkraine’s military has struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Orsk in the southern Orenburg region, triggering a fire, the General Staff said.
“The Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery (Orsk in Orenburg region) was hit,” the General Staff said in a statement on Facebook. “A strike was recorded, followed by a fire on the territory of the enterprise. The facility is involved in supplying the Russian occupation army.”
The extent of the damage and whether the fire has been contained were not immediately clear.
Ukraine hits Russian drone hub in Zaporizhzhia
06:10 , Shahana YasminUkrainian drones have struck a Russian drone development complex in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and damaged multiple facilities, Ukraine’s 413th “raid” regiment said.
The unit said the attack targeted the BARS-Sarmat Special Purpose Center, a key site for developing drones, robotic systems, and electronic warfare capabilities near the Sea of Azov, , according to The Kyiv Independent.
Several workshops involved in manufacturing and equipping drones and unmanned ground vehicles were damaged, the regiment said. The timing of the strike and the full extent of the damage were not specified.
Residents warned over air quality and drinking water in Russia's Tuapse
05:50 , Shahana YasminResidents in Tuapse have been advised to stay indoors and avoid drinking tap water following recent drone strikes on the port. Russia’s consumer safety watchdog cited raised benzene levels in the air and urged people to limit time outside and keep windows closed.
Local health authorities said residents should use bottled water as a precaution. Schools have been closed and May holiday events cancelled.
Some residents have questioned official assurances. “How about she comes to visit us and tries our fresh air?” one person wrote online, responding to claims from Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova that the situation posed no health risks.
Ukrainian drone strikes Tuapse port again and sparks fire
05:29 , Shahana YasminA Ukrainian drone struck Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse for the fourth time in a week, sparking a fire at the sea terminal, local authorities said early on Friday.
“In Tuapse, as a result of a drone attack by the Kyiv regime, a fire broke out on the territory of the seaport terminal,” the Krasnodar region’s general headquarters said on Telegram.
Officials said emergency crews were deployed to contain the blaze, with 128 firefighters and 41 vehicles at the scene. No injuries were reported.
Tuapse, particularly its oil terminal, has been repeatedly targeted in recent days as Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Kremlin open to temporary ceasefire with Ukraine to mark Victory Day
03:00 , Alex CroftDuring a phone call with Donald Trump last night it was Vladimir Putin who proposed a temporary ceasefire to mark 9 May and the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the telephone call lasted more than an hour and a half and was "conducted in a friendly manner, candid and business-like".
"Trump actively supported this initiative, noting that the holiday marks our common victory over Nazism in World War Two," he said.
He added: "Donald Trump believes that a deal to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine is already close."
He said Putin told the US president that Russian forces in Ukraine "hold the strategic initiative and are pressing on enemy positions".
Putin, Ushakov said, "clearly said that Kyiv was resorting to openly terrorist methods by attacking civilian sites on Russian territory," a reference to frequent Ukrainian strikes on key infrastructure, particularly in Russia's oil sector.
In pictures: Devastation after Russian strike on Odesa
01:30 , Alex CroftAt least 18 injured in Russian drones strikes on Ukraine's Odesa overnight
Friday 1 May 2026 00:01 , Alex CroftRussian drones attacked Ukraine's southern city of Odesa overnight, for the second time this week, wounding at least 18 people and damaging residential buildings, officials said this morning.
The strikes caused the worst damage in the central Prymorskyi district, where high-rise and five-storey residential buildings were damaged, said Serhiy Lysak, the head of the local military administration. The attacks triggered large fires in upper floors and on a roof, which have since been contained, Lysak said on Telegram.
Emergency services said the number of injured could still change.
Odesa, a major Black Sea port and a focal point for Ukrainian exports, has been a repeated target of Russian attacks during more than four years of Russia's war.
Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched one ballistic missile and 206 drones at the country since 6pm (1500 GMT) yesterday, of which 172 drones were downed or neutralised. One missile and 32 drones hit at 22 locations, it added.
Lysak said a 17-year-old boy was among the injured and two of the wounded were in intensive care in a serious condition.
He added that a kindergarten building was substantially damaged, and reported damage to a shopping centre, a hotel and administrative premises.
He posted photos of a fire raging in a building with its upper floor damaged, and flames and heavy smoke billowing from a high-rise building.
Dozens of buses and cars have been destroyed or damaged at several parking areas, he added.
In another district, strikes were recorded at infrastructure facilities, warehouse buildings and a garage cooperative, he said.
EU considers what perks it can offer Ukraine ahead of full membership
Thursday 30 April 2026 23:02 , Alex CroftEU members are looking to compile a package of short-term benefits for Ukraine as the prospect of giving Kyiv fast-track full membership looks increasingly unlikely.
Interim perks could include greater market access and deeper participation in EU programmes and institutions, four diplomats told Politico.
This comes after Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea of being given “symbolic” membership of the bloc, something suggested by German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron.
One of the diplomats said the EU is looking at “accelerated gradual integration”, under the EU would bring Ukraine into shared markets, funding schemes and political institutions in a phased way.
Another method being pushed suggests Kyiv be given some kind of “acceding state” status to show that it is firmly on track to join the EU, Politico reported citing the Lithuanian proposal.
EU leaders in March rejected the European Commission’s “reverse enlargement” proposals that would allow Ukraine to join the bloc without completing major reforms.
“From the moment of the dinner … member states have been clear it would be very difficult to see membership in the short term,” one of the diplomats said. “But we need to have a positive offer for how we can better move forward together before then.”
Trump says he asked Putin to end Ukraine war - ICYMI
Thursday 30 April 2026 22:00 , Alex CroftDonald Trump said Vladimir Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran's enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but "I said I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine."
"I said, before you help me, I want to end your war," said Trump.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not say what proposals Putin had made on Iran. Moscow has previously offered to take enriched uranium out of the country.
Ushakov added that Trump, in a friendly and businesslike conversation lasting over one to one-and-a-half hours, had said he believed a deal to end the Ukraine war was close.
Ukraine bets on battlefield AI as the race for weapons autonomy intensifies
Thursday 30 April 2026 21:02 , Alex CroftRapid military adoption of artificial intelligence is becoming essential to Ukraine's survival, even as full integration across the battlefield may still be several years away, according to a senior AI official.
Danylo Tsvok said AI is already helping Ukraine hold territory, while reducing risks to its soldiers as it faces a larger, better-resourced adversary.
“We need to be faster than the enemy in decision-making,” he told The Associated Press, adding that AI is “not only a competitive advantage. It’s about our survival.”
Tsvok, 35, leads the Defense Artificial Intelligence Center, which was established last month by the Defense Ministry. He previously served in the government’s top civilian AI role.
The AP Interview: Ukraine bets on battlefield AI as the race for weapons autonomy intensifies
Trump tells Merz to focus on Ukraine and stop interfering on Iran
Thursday 30 April 2026 20:00 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has once again taken aim at German chancellor Friedrich Merz, continuing a war of words between the two.
Mr Merz said he should focus on trying to end the Russia-Ukraine war and spend "less time on interfering" with the effort to tackle the "Iran's nuclear threat."
Trump made his comments in a Truth Social post.
Watch: Robot rescues elderly woman fleeing attacks in Ukraine
Thursday 30 April 2026 19:01 , Alex CroftKremlin says Russian forces will stay in Mali to fight separatist group
Thursday 30 April 2026 18:00 , Alex CroftRussian forces will stay in Mali to help the country's military-led government battle insurgents following a surprise offensive by West Africa's al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group, the Kremlin has said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement after being asked by a reporter how Russia responded to a purported statement from the insurgents saying they wanted Russia to leave Mali because they believed the ruling military junta would not survive for long without Russian support.
"Russia's presence there is, in fact, due to the need identified by the current government. Russia will continue, including in Mali, to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena and will continue to provide assistance to the current government," he said.
Mali's Russia-trained defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide bombing at the weekend, Russia's Africa Corps was forced to withdraw from Kidal - an important town that Russian mercenaries helped take in 2023 - and Moscow had to use helicopter gunships and strategic bombers to hold insurgents back.
Political analysts say Russia's image as a self-styled security guarantor in Africa has been dented by the events and that its strategic and economic interests on the continent are now threatened by the turmoil.
Fibre-optic drones reshaped the war in Ukraine. Hezbollah are now adopting the deadly weapon
Thursday 30 April 2026 17:01 , Alex CroftHezbollah has introduced a new, difficult-to-detect weapon against northern Israel: small drones controlled by fibre-optic cables. These devices, with cables the width of dental floss, are designed to evade electronic detection, posing a fresh challenge to air defences.
Unlike many drones vulnerable to electronic jamming, which can cause them to crash, these fibre-optic variants are directly connected to an operator.
This direct link makes them impossible to jam electronically, a characteristic widely seen in the war in Ukraine. Though not infallible – wind or other drones can tangle their cables – their lethality is high.
Read more here:
Fibre-optic drones reshaped the war in Ukraine. Hezbollah are now adopting the weapon
Trump-Putin calls leave questions unanswered, says EU's Kallas
Thursday 30 April 2026 16:01 , Alex CroftTelephone calls between Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin leave many questions unanswered, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday.
Trump said on Wednesday he discussed with Putin a possible ceasefire in the four-year war in Ukraine.
"Of course when we see these calls between president Trump and president Putin, then always, you know, there are a lot of questions unanswered, considering that Russia is openly praising the heroic battle that Iran is having against America," Kallas told reporters in Estonia.
Watch: Trump gives rambling answer on whether Ukraine or Iran war will end first and mixes up countries
Thursday 30 April 2026 14:59 , Joe MiddletonZelensky seeking details of ceasefire deal with Trump
Thursday 30 April 2026 14:30 , Joe MiddletonUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking details of a short-term ceasefire Russia proposed to US president Donald Trump, he said in a post on Telegram on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a May 9 ceasefire to coincide with Victory Day in Russia in a phone call with Trump the previous day, according to the Kremlin.
“We have instructed our representatives to contact the United States president’s team and clarify the details of the Russian proposal for a short-term ceasefire,” Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks overnight killed one person in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro and wounded dozens more in the southern port city of Odesa, as Ukraine continued to strike industrial facilities inside Russian territory for a second day in a row.
RECAP: Ukraine asks Israel to seize vessel it says is carrying grain stolen by Russia
Thursday 30 April 2026 14:11 , Joe MiddletonUkraine has asked Israel to seize a vessel carrying grain it says was stolen from areas occupied by Russia, its top prosecutor said amid a diplomatic tussle between the two countries over the shipment.
Ukraine and Israel traded accusations on Tuesday, with Ukraine saying it had repeatedly urged Israel via diplomatic channels to take measures regarding the vessel. Israel accused Kyiv of "Twitter diplomacy."
Ukraine's prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on the Telegram app that the vessel, Panormitis, was headed to the Israeli port of Haifa with grain "some of which was shipped" from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The grain had earlier been loaded from another vessel, he said.
"The Ukrainian side is asking its Israeli partners to seize the vessel and its cargo, conduct a search, seize the vessel's and cargo documentation, take grain samples, and question the crew members," Kravchenko said.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on X, vowed that Kyiv would "go after Russia’s shadow grain fleet and its enablers across all geographies."
Sybiha quoted data showing that between January and April, 25 vessels made some 50 voyages from ports in Russian-occupied Ukraine to ports in third countries. He said that during that period more than 850,000 metric tons of grain were exported from occupied areas.
An official at Royal Maritime Inc, the vessel's Greece-based management company, denied the Panormitis was carrying any grain from occupied Ukraine.
"All of the legal documents we have, including the cargo's certificate of origin, show that the cargo is Russian," the official told Reuters.
Watch: Trump makes baseless claim Kyiv is ‘militarily defeated’ after phone call with Putin
Thursday 30 April 2026 12:01 , Arpan RaiUkraine's army chief announces time limit for frontline soldiers
Thursday 30 April 2026 11:45 , Arpan RaiUkrainian frontline soldiers should serve at forward positions for up to two months and then need to be rotated out within a month, Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said this morning.
“Commanders must ensure that conditions are in place for service personnel to remain at their posts for up to two months, followed by a mandatory rotation, which must take place within one month," he said on Telegram.
At least 18 injured in Russian drones strikes on Ukraine's Odesa overnight
Thursday 30 April 2026 11:25 , Arpan RaiRussian drones attacked Ukraine's southern city of Odesa overnight, for the second time this week, wounding at least 18 people and damaging residential buildings, officials said this morning.
The strikes caused the worst damage in the central Prymorskyi district, where high-rise and five-storey residential buildings were damaged, said Serhiy Lysak, the head of the local military administration. The attacks triggered large fires in upper floors and on a roof, which have since been contained, Lysak said on Telegram.
Emergency services said the number of injured could still change.
Odesa, a major Black Sea port and a focal point for Ukrainian exports, has been a repeated target of Russian attacks during more than four years of Russia's war.
Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched one ballistic missile and 206 drones at the country since 6pm (1500 GMT) yesterday, of which 172 drones were downed or neutralised. One missile and 32 drones hit at 22 locations, it added.
Lysak said a 17-year-old boy was among the injured and two of the wounded were in intensive care in a serious condition.
He added that a kindergarten building was substantially damaged, and reported damage to a shopping centre, a hotel and administrative premises.
He posted photos of a fire raging in a building with its upper floor damaged, and flames and heavy smoke billowing from a high-rise building.
Dozens of buses and cars have been destroyed or damaged at several parking areas, he added.
In another district, strikes were recorded at infrastructure facilities, warehouse buildings and a garage cooperative, he said.
Ukraine asks Israel to seize vessel it says is carrying grain stolen by Russia
Thursday 30 April 2026 10:55 , Arpan RaiUkraine has asked Israel to seize a vessel carrying grain it says was stolen from areas occupied by Russia, its top prosecutor said amid a diplomatic tussle between the two countries over the shipment.
Ukraine and Israel traded accusations on Tuesday, with Ukraine saying it had repeatedly urged Israel via diplomatic channels to take measures regarding the vessel. Israel accused Kyiv of "Twitter diplomacy."
Ukraine's prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on the Telegram app that the vessel, Panormitis, was headed to the Israeli port of Haifa with grain "some of which was shipped" from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The grain had earlier been loaded from another vessel, he said.
"The Ukrainian side is asking its Israeli partners to seize the vessel and its cargo, conduct a search, seize the vessel's and cargo documentation, take grain samples, and question the crew members," Kravchenko said.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on X, vowed that Kyiv would "go after Russia’s shadow grain fleet and its enablers across all geographies."
Sybiha quoted data showing that between January and April, 25 vessels made some 50 voyages from ports in Russian-occupied Ukraine to ports in third countries. He said that during that period more than 850,000 metric tons of grain were exported from occupied areas.
An official at Royal Maritime Inc, the vessel's Greece-based management company, denied the Panormitis was carrying any grain from occupied Ukraine.
"All of the legal documents we have, including the cargo's certificate of origin, show that the cargo is Russian," the official told Reuters.
Kremlin open to temporary ceasefire with Ukraine to mark Victory Day
Thursday 30 April 2026 10:25 , Arpan RaiDuring a phone call with Donald Trump last night it was Vladimir Putin who proposed a temporary ceasefire to mark 9 May and the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the telephone call lasted more than an hour and a half and was "conducted in a friendly manner, candid and business-like".
"Trump actively supported this initiative, noting that the holiday marks our common victory over Nazism in World War Two," he said.
He added: "Donald Trump believes that a deal to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine is already close."
He said Putin told the US president that Russian forces in Ukraine "hold the strategic initiative and are pressing on enemy positions".
Putin, Ushakov said, "clearly said that Kyiv was resorting to openly terrorist methods by attacking civilian sites on Russian territory," a reference to frequent Ukrainian strikes on key infrastructure, particularly in Russia's oil sector.
EU considers what perks it can offer Ukraine ahead of full membership
Thursday 30 April 2026 09:55 , Arpan RaiEU members are looking to compile a package of short-term benefits for Ukraine as the prospect of giving Kyiv fast-track full membership looks increasingly unlikely.
Interim perks could include greater market access and deeper participation in EU programmes and institutions, four diplomats told Politico.
This comes after Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea of being given “symbolic” membership of the bloc, something suggested by German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron.
One of the diplomats said the EU is looking at “accelerated gradual integration”, under the EU would bring Ukraine into shared markets, funding schemes and political institutions in a phased way.
Another method being pushed suggests Kyiv be given some kind of “acceding state” status to show that it is firmly on track to join the EU, Politico reported citing the Lithuanian proposal.
EU leaders in March rejected the European Commission’s “reverse enlargement” proposals that would allow Ukraine to join the bloc without completing major reforms.
“From the moment of the dinner … member states have been clear it would be very difficult to see membership in the short term,” one of the diplomats said. “But we need to have a positive offer for how we can better move forward together before then.”
Zelensky calls on Trump to explain details of ceasefire proposal
Thursday 30 April 2026 09:38 , Adam WithnallUkraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky says he has asked his team to contact the White House and “clarify the details of Russia’s proposal for a short-term ceasefire”.
Earlier, Donald Trump said he and Putin had discussed “a little bit of a ceasefire” to mark the anniversary of the end of World War Two. The Kremlin said it proposed the truce and that it was supported by the American leader.
Zelensky wrote on Twitter: “Ukraine seeks peace and is doing the necessary diplomatic work to bring this war to a real end. We will clarify what exactly this is about – a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow, or something more.
“Our proposal is a long-term ceasefire, reliable and guaranteed security for people, and a lasting peace. Ukraine is ready to work toward this in any dignified and effective format.“
Watch: Zelensky says allies asked us not to attack Russian oil refinery due to Middle East war
Thursday 30 April 2026 09:25 , Arpan RaiZelensky says Ukraine has enough of some homegrown weapons to share
Thursday 30 April 2026 08:55 , Arpan RaiUkraine is manufacturing a surplus of up to 50 per cent of some types of weapons, president Volodymyr Zelensky has said, as part of the country’s defence cooperation with the Middle East, the Gulf, Europe and the Caucasus.
These deals include the production and supply of drones and missiles along with the technology and software, he said.
Kyiv has handed a proposal to the US for cooperation on drones, defence systems and other types of weapons for use in the air, on land and at sea, Zelensky said yesterday.
Trump mixes up Ukraine and Iran wars when asked which will end first
Thursday 30 April 2026 08:25 , Arpan RaiPresident Donald Trump couldn’t say whether the war he launched against Iran in February would end before the four-year-old Russian war against Ukraine – and even confused the two countries.
The president immediately began a question-and-answer session that veered from UFOs to a recent conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin that had focused on the Ukraine and Iran wars.
“I talked about Ukraine, and I talked a little bit about Iran. I talked about few different subjects, mostly about Ukraine, and we had a very good conversation. I think we're going to come up with a solution relatively quickly,” he said yesterday.
Trump said Putin would “like to be involved” with resolving Iran’s possession of enriched uranium – something the United States opposes – and remarked that he’d told Putin in turn that he’d prefer he be “involved with ending the war with Ukraine”.
Trump rambles over if Ukraine or Iran war will end first — and mixes up the countries
Ukraine says it shot down record 33,000 Russian drones last month
Thursday 30 April 2026 08:00 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s defence minister says the country’s forces shot down a record 33,000 Russian drones of various types in March, marking the highest monthly figure since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began over four years ago.
It comes as Ukraine’s domestically developed long-range attack drones struck a Russian oil refinery and terminal on the Black Sea for the third time in less than two weeks, prompting local evacuations as a precautionary measure.
Kyiv has developed advanced, battle-tested drone technology, which has proven crucial in resisting Russia’s larger military and has attracted international military interest. Ukrainian officials report that interceptor drones, as part of a comprehensive air defence system, are now being sought by Middle Eastern and Gulf countries for protection amid the war in Iran.
Ukraine says it shot down record 33,000 Russian drones last month
Ukraine's army chief announces time limit for frontline soldiers
Thursday 30 April 2026 07:49 , Arpan RaiUkrainian frontline soldiers should serve at forward positions for up to two months and then need to be rotated out within a month, Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said this morning.
"Commanders must ensure that conditions are in place for service personnel to remain at their posts for up to two months, followed by a mandatory rotation, which must take place within one month," he said on Telegram.
Trump says he discussed a Ukraine ceasefire with Putin
Thursday 30 April 2026 07:40 , Arpan RaiUS president Donald Trump said he discussed a possible ceasefire in the four-year war in Ukraine in a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
He spoke after the Kremlin reported the two leaders discussed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the end of the Second World War next month.
"We had a good talk, I've known him a long time," said Trump. The two leaders had their last publicly reported phone call on 9 March, although Trump has indicated they speak regularly.
Trump, speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, said he suggested "a little bit of a ceasefire" in the war in Ukraine in his phone call with the Russian leader.
"And I think he might do that," Trump said, then asked reporters whether Putin had already announced a ceasefire.
Putin announced a similar truce last year that lasted three days but was not agreed with Kyiv.
Trump has a history of making positive comments about Putin and sharply criticising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for not agreeing to make a deal with Russia to end the war.
At least 18 injured in Russian drones strikes on Ukraine's Odesa overnight
Thursday 30 April 2026 07:10 , Arpan RaiRussian drones attacked Ukraine's southern city of Odesa overnight, for the second time this week, wounding at least 18 people and damaging residential buildings, officials said this morning.
The strikes caused the worst damage in the central Prymorskyi district, where high-rise and five-storey residential buildings were damaged, said Serhiy Lysak, the head of the local military administration. The attacks triggered large fires in upper floors and on a roof, which have since been contained, Lysak said on Telegram.
Emergency services said the number of injured could still change.
Odesa, a major Black Sea port and a focal point for Ukrainian exports, has been a repeated target of Russian attacks during more than four years of Russia's war.
Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched one ballistic missile and 206 drones at the country since 6pm (1500 GMT) yesterday, of which 172 drones were downed or neutralised. One missile and 32 drones hit at 22 locations, it added.
Lysak said a 17-year-old boy was among the injured and two of the wounded were in intensive care in a serious condition.
He added that a kindergarten building was substantially damaged, and reported damage to a shopping centre, a hotel and administrative premises.
He posted photos of a fire raging in a building with its upper floor damaged, and flames and heavy smoke billowing from a high-rise building.
Dozens of buses and cars have been destroyed or damaged at several parking areas, he added.
In another district, strikes were recorded at infrastructure facilities, warehouse buildings and a garage cooperative, he said.
Trump says he asked Putin to end Ukraine war
Thursday 30 April 2026 07:07 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump said Vladimir Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran's enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but "I said I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine."
"I said, before you help me, I want to end your war," said Trump.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov did not say what proposals Putin had made on Iran. Moscow has previously offered to take enriched uranium out of the country.
Ushakov added that Trump, in a friendly and businesslike conversation lasting over one to one-and-a-half hours, had said he believed a deal to end the Ukraine war was close.
Watch: Robot rescues elderly woman fleeing attacks in Ukraine
Thursday 30 April 2026 07:05 , Arpan RaiUkraine asks Israel to seize vessel it says is carrying grain stolen by Russia
Thursday 30 April 2026 06:30 , Arpan RaiUkraine has asked Israel to seize a vessel carrying grain it says was stolen from areas occupied by Russia, its top prosecutor said amid a diplomatic tussle between the two countries over the shipment.
Ukraine and Israel traded accusations on Tuesday, with Ukraine saying it had repeatedly urged Israel via diplomatic channels to take measures regarding the vessel. Israel accused Kyiv of "Twitter diplomacy."
Ukraine's prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on the Telegram app that the vessel, Panormitis, was headed to the Israeli port of Haifa with grain "some of which was shipped" from Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The grain had earlier been loaded from another vessel, he said.
"The Ukrainian side is asking its Israeli partners to seize the vessel and its cargo, conduct a search, seize the vessel's and cargo documentation, take grain samples, and question the crew members," Kravchenko said.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, writing on X, vowed that Kyiv would "go after Russia’s shadow grain fleet and its enablers across all geographies."
Sybiha quoted data showing that between January and April, 25 vessels made some 50 voyages from ports in Russian-occupied Ukraine to ports in third countries. He said that during that period more than 850,000 metric tons of grain were exported from occupied areas.
An official at Royal Maritime Inc, the vessel's Greece-based management company, denied the Panormitis was carrying any grain from occupied Ukraine.
"All of the legal documents we have, including the cargo's certificate of origin, show that the cargo is Russian," the official told Reuters.
Trump makes baseless claim Ukraine is 'military defeated'
Thursday 30 April 2026 05:58 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump made the baseless claim that Ukraine is “militarily defeated” on Wednesday after a phone call with Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, the US president said he discussed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the end of World War Two next month.
He went on to claim that Kyiv had been “militarily defeated”, with no evidence. Ukraine is continuing to resist the Russian aggression across the frontline, with no significant gains made by Moscow in recent months.
"We had a good talk, I've known him a long time," said Trump. The two leaders had their last publicly reported phone call on March 9, although Trump has indicated they speak regularly.
Kremlin open to temporary ceasefire with Ukraine to mark Victory Day
Thursday 30 April 2026 05:31 , Arpan RaiDuring a phone call with Donald Trump last night it was Vladimir Putin who proposed a temporary ceasefire to mark 9 May and the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the telephone call lasted more than an hour and a half and was "conducted in a friendly manner, candid and business-like".
"Trump actively supported this initiative, noting that the holiday marks our common victory over Nazism in World War Two," he said.
He added: "Donald Trump believes that a deal to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine is already close."
He said Putin told the US president that Russian forces in Ukraine "hold the strategic initiative and are pressing on enemy positions".
Putin, Ushakov said, "clearly said that Kyiv was resorting to openly terrorist methods by attacking civilian sites on Russian territory," a reference to frequent Ukrainian strikes on key infrastructure, particularly in Russia's oil sector.
EU considers what perks it can offer Ukraine ahead of full membership
Thursday 30 April 2026 05:30 , Arpan RaiEU members are looking to compile a package of short-term benefits for Ukraine as the prospect of giving Kyiv fast-track full membership looks increasingly unlikely.
Interim perks could include greater market access and deeper participation in EU programmes and institutions, four diplomats told Politico.
This comes after Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea of being given “symbolic” membership of the bloc, something suggested by German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron.
One of the diplomats said the EU is looking at “accelerated gradual integration”, under the EU would bring Ukraine into shared markets, funding schemes and political institutions in a phased way.
Another method being pushed suggests Kyiv be given some kind of “acceding state” status to show that it is firmly on track to join the EU, Politico reported citing the Lithuanian proposal.
EU leaders in March rejected the European Commission’s “reverse enlargement” proposals that would allow Ukraine to join the bloc without completing major reforms.
“From the moment of the dinner … member states have been clear it would be very difficult to see membership in the short term,” one of the diplomats said. “But we need to have a positive offer for how we can better move forward together before then.”
