Ukraine says its forces have retaken territory in an operation using only unmanned robots and drones, the first time this has happened in the course of the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian soldiers surrendered when confronted by army robots after an advance "carried out without infantry and without losses on our side".
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
Zelensky said Ukraine has carried out 22,000 missions using unmanned systems in the past three months, saving potentially thousands of lives.
“This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life," he added.
Earlier, Hungary’s incoming prime minister Péter Magyar indicated that he would end Budapest's refusal to allow the EU to loan €90bn to Ukraine, and that he would urge Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war.
Key Points
- Four killed and dozens injured in attack on Dnipro
- Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
- What are the robots being used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield?
- Zelensky: We survived the winter - but next winter we must be ready for anything
- Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
- Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
14:15 , Alex CroftUkraine-Germany drone deal could become largest in Europe, says Zelensky
13:54 , Alex CroftWe can bring you more lines from Zelensky and Merz’s press conference earlier.
Ukraine and Germany discussed a European anti-ballistic missile program and also a comprehensive bilateral drone deal, Zelensky announced.
He said that the drone deal could become the largest in Europe - and the teams had already started working on concrete details.
Ukraine joining EU is not achievable in immediate term, says Merz
13:34 , Alex CroftAs we earlier reported, Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz held press conference on after a meeting in Berlin on Tuesday morning.
We can now bring you more lines from Merz, who announced plans to cooperate with Ukraine on drone and battlefield data technology.
He also urged Kyiv to push forward with reforms with an eye to joining the European Union in the future.
Merz said joining the EU would be a strategically important step, but added that it was not achievable in the immediate term.
Comment | The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
13:15 , Alex CroftAs the long, dark night of Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end this weekend, it wasn’t just the jubilant crowds crammed onto the bridges across the Danube that had a song in their heart. There are few political events about which you can reach for a quote from 1970s soul band Hot Chocolate – but today, “Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie”.
For “the dictator”, as he was known in Brussels, has gone. Hungary has certainly won, Europe has won, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have lost their fifth-columnist ally on this continent, and Nigel Farage has lost a source of ideological inspiration.
But the biggest sigh of relief – at the sheer size of Peter Magyar’s election landslide – must have been in Kyiv. Cliche or not, we shouldn’t hesitate to call the end of Orban as a game-changer for Ukraine.
In recent years, Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have conducted their astonishingly successful resistance to the Russian invasion with bravery, solidarity and ingenuity – and in spite of a shortage of funds. The EU has long had a massive €90bn ready to lend to them – to pay for armaments, soldiers’ wages, and just to keep going – but the arrangement has been vetoed by the most stubborn and intractable of EU member states.
The Independent’s associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:
In pictures: Firefighters battle Odesa blaze
12:55 , Alex Croft
Four killed and dozens injured in attack on Dnipro
12:37 , Alex CroftA Russian strike on Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed four people and injured 25, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
Some 21 people have been hospitalised and 10 are in a serious condition, regional governor said on the Telegram messaging app.
We’ll bring you more on the attack as it comes in.
Zelensky discusses crucial PURL initiative with Rutte
12:18 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte about the PURL initiative, a programme which allows the procurement of US-made military equipment, including missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
Kyiv is “preparing updates” on the initiative which are set to be shared in due course, he said.
“It is important that we all coordinate and strengthen one another. Strength for air defense is our key priority, and people’s lives must be protected,” the Ukrainian president added in a post on X.
We spoke with @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte about protection of our skies, the PURL initiative that enables us to receive missiles for Patriot systems, as well as the key security challenges currently facing everyone in the world. It is important that we all coordinate and strengthen…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 14, 2026
Zelensky: We survived the winter - but next winter we must be ready for anything
11:57 , Alex CroftZelensky says Kyiv is interested in the assistance of German companies in helping restore and recover Ukrainian energy infrastructure that has been targeted by Russian drones and missiles.
“Ukraine has survived the winter, despite constant Russian attacks, and the brutakl tactic of combining Shahed-drones, missiles and cruise missiles.
“Before next winter, we should be ready for anything,” he adds.
He thanks Germany for supporting efforts to peace, adding that Russia “needs to hear this signal and feel that they need to make a choice in favour of peace”.
Zelensky continues: “Therefore sanctions against Russia must continue, pressure against Russia must be maintained, and all the support for Ukraine that is necessary must continue.”
Zelensky: Europe needs to be able to sustain its own security
11:50 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing now from the Ukrainian president, who starts off by warning that Russia is not planning to scale down its destabilisation goals in Europe and Ukraine.
He thanks the German government for the three agreements “of various kinds” he says were signed today.
These included an agreement on on air defence and missiles, Zelensky adds.,
“We are hoping to get to the point where everything critical for our security is manufactured in Europe, and our technology, military and political capabilities should be sufficient to secure Europe, secure every country in Europe,” he says.
Zelensky adds that the cooperation between Berlin and Kyiv has reached a “meaningful level”.
Zelensky and Merz speaking to media in Berlin
11:46 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing now from Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz, who are speaking to reporters in Berlin.
In his introductory remarks, the German chancellor says Europe is ramping up sanctions and trying to “increase the pressure” on Russia.
This includes targeting Russian military development and Russian shadow fleets of ships, he says.
Zelensky says he is pleased after a “special and meaningful” meeting with the German government.
Stay with us as we bring you the Ukrainian president’s comments as they come in.
Kremlin admits internet restrictions are disruptive for Russians - but says they are necessary for security
11:27 , Alex CroftThe Kremlin has spoken out about internet restrictions, admitting they had caused disruption for many Russias but declaring that they are necessary for security reasons.
The restrictions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted, did not represent a return to the past.
Moscow has tightened its control over the internet since the start of its war in Ukraine in February 2022, blocking messenger apps and virtual private networks (VPN) used to bypass online censorship, and shutting down the mobile internet.
Peskov suggested that some of the measures were temporary in nature and would be lifted once it was safe to do so.
Others were related to tech companies not complying with Russian law, he said.
Italian PM says economic pressure is 'most effective weapon' to push Moscow towards peace
11:11 , Alex CroftItalian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been speaking about sanctions on Russia while in Verona, on the sidelines of wine fair Vinitaly.
She said that sanctions, exerting economic pressure on Russia, are the most "effective weapon" for pushing Moscow towards peace in Ukraine.
We’ll bring you more lines from Meloni as they come in.
Kremlin says Hungary's new leader wants pragmatic dialogue with Russia
11:02 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who says Moscow satisfied that the new leader of Hungary, pro-EU Peter Magyar, wants to engage in pragmatic dialogue with Russia.
It comes after Peskov said on Monday that Moscow is looking forward to “continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership”.
"We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest," he said, adding that Russia was not sure what the stance of the new leadership would be.
Russian drone attacks hospital in Kherson, injuring five
10:33 , Alex CroftA Russian drone has attacked a hospital and civilian vehicle in the Tsentralnyi district of Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson , Ukrainian authorities said.
Four of the hospital’s employees and a 62-year-old man were injured in the attack at 9am local time (7am BST), according to military administration officials in the region.
The 62-year-old, a local resident, was diagnosed with a shrapnel wound to the head, concussion, a blast injury and a closed traumatic brain injury, and was rushed to hospital where his condition was assessed as moderate.
Officials believed a Molniya-type drone was used to carry out the attack - a low-cost kamikaze drone designed for tactical strikes behind front lines.
Zelensky lands in Berlin for Merz meeting
10:11 , Alex Croft
Zelensky to meet Norwegian PM after Berlin trip in diplomatic whip-round
09:58 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Norway on Tuesday and meet prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, the presidential office said.
Mr Zelensky is currently on a visit to Berlin, where he is meeting German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
09:54 , Alex CroftRussia launches large attack on Odesa ports and civilian targets
09:23 , Alex CroftRussia has launched a heavy attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, attacking infrastucture and civilia targets.
Odesa’s Izmail port was attacked and a civilian Panama-flagged vessel damaged, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.
Kyiv’s deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russian forces are “once again deliberately striking critical infrastructure and logistics in the Odesa region”.
In the surrounding region, a car repair shop was destroyed and a blaze due to caused by the strikes consumed two passenger buses and seven cars, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.
Six private houses also came under attack, with their roofs damaged. An ambulance was also damaged, Kiper said, adding that no one was hurt in the attack. Regional prosecutors said 51-year-old man was hospitalised.
Merz to host Zelensky in Berlin on Tuesday
09:08 , Alex CroftGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Berlin on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the German government said.
Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has already been welcomed by German counterpart Boris Pistorius.
What are the robots being used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield?
08:49 , Alex CroftOver the past several months, Ukrainian forces have been increasingly deploying agile, remote-controlled armoured vehicles to carry out critical tasks and to protect personnel in hazardous operations.
The army uses these "robots on wheels," which resemble miniature tanks, as it grapples with a soldier shortage in a conflict now spanning over three and a half years.
These versatile machines are capable of ferrying essential supplies, clearing dangerous mines, and evacuating both the wounded and the deceased.
Announcing the operation on Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Ratel, TerMIT, Ardal, Rys, Zmiy, Protector, Volia, and our other ground robotic systems have already carried out more than 22,000 missions on the front in just three months.
In other words, he said, lives were saved “more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous area instead of a warrior”.
Russian forces are also known to use robots on the battlefield.
“It cannot fully replace people,” said the commander of a platoon of the 20th Lyubart Brigade, who goes by the call sign Miami. “I would put it this way: A person can go in there, but for a human it’s (sometimes) far too dangerous.”
The robotic vehicles are mostly made by Ukrainian companies and range in cost from about $1,000 (£739) to as much as $64,000 (£42,279), depending on their size and capabilities.
Power restored at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after 13th outage
08:34 , Alex CroftPower at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been restored after it was lost for the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The power was restored through the Ferosplavna-1 330 KV Power Line, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
As we earlier reported, the IAEA said it was the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the plant had lost all off-site power supply. Even though it has been shut down since the start of the war, the plant needs power to maintain cooling systems.
The Russia-appointed management of the occupied plant later said power had been restored via one line.
Watch: Vance says support for Orbán was ‘right thing to do’ despite loss
08:30 , Arpan RaiHungary's Magyar to undo Orban's damage and allow EU loan to Ukraine soon
08:15 , Arpan RaiThe incoming Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar has said his country will end its long-standing opposition to the European Union’s €90bn loan for Ukraine.
Magyar said the decision on the loan “was already made in December” and the incoming Tisza administration “would like to be coherent” with previous commitments made.
He said EU leaders would be saved the trouble of having to regroup again in person to unblock the loan.
Magyar added that the decision on the loan’s clearance could be made even before his government takes office, but added that the country would not be able to contribute financially, blaming Orban’s outgoing administration.
“I will discuss with European leaders but I personally agree that Hungary should opt out, Hungary is in a very difficult situation," Magyar said. "We cannot take out even more loans, the Hungarian budget deficit has tripled since 2010,” he said.
Orban had initially agreed to allow the loan to go ahead but then changed his mind, saying Ukraine must first repair a pipeline carrying Russian oil through the country to Hungary.
Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
08:05 , Arpan RaiUkrainian troops have withdrawn to new defensive lines near the settlement of Myropilske in Sumy Oblast, military officials said, citing Russia’s superiority in manpower and equipment.
“The situation in the area of the settlement of Myropilske in the Krasnopillia hromada in Sumy Oblast remains tense. As a result of intense fighting and the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment, units of the defence forces of Ukraine moved to new prepared defensive lines to preserve the lives of personnel, where they continue to hold the defence," said the 14th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, reported the Ukrainska Pravda.
However, the situation remains under control and the Ukrainian forces are ready for further action, the statement added.
Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
07:50 , Arpan RaiHungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar has said he will tell Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine.
Magyar said everyone knows Ukraine is the victim in this war, breaking away Budapest’s continued silence on the war due to outgoing leader Viktor Orbán’s closeness to the Kremlin.
He added that he would not be calling either US president Donald Trump or Putin in the immediate aftermath of his election victory over Orbán, but would speak to his predecessor’s allies if they wanted.
“If [Putin] does [call], I will ask him to please stop the killing and stop the war. I think that would be a very brief discussion. I hope he will be forced to stop the war soon,” Magyar said in Budapest yesterday.
He celebrated the start of a “new era” in the country after the removal of Orbán, saying: “Our history is not written in Moscow, Brussels or Washington but on Hungarian streets.”
Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
07:35 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country’s forces successfully retook land under Russia’s control using only ground robots and drones.
“The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” he said, without detailing the operation’s location and time.
He added that more than 22,000 missions using ground robotic systems have been carried out in the past three months.
“In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” he said.
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
07:22 , Arpan RaiAs the long, dark night of Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary came to an end this weekend, it wasn’t just the jubilant crowds crammed onto the bridges across the Danube that had a song in their heart. There are few political events about which you can reach for a quote from 1970s soul band Hot Chocolate – but today, “Everyone’s a winner, baby, that’s no lie”.
For “the dictator”, as he was known in Brussels, has gone. Hungary has certainly won, Europe has won, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have lost their fifth-columnist ally on this continent, and Nigel Farage has lost a source of ideological inspiration.
But the biggest sigh of relief – at the sheer size of Peter Magyar’s election landslide – must have been in Kyiv. Cliche or not, we shouldn’t hesitate to call the end of Orban as a game-changer for Ukraine.
In recent years, Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have conducted their astonishingly successful resistance to the Russian invasion with bravery, solidarity and ingenuity – and in spite of a shortage of funds. The EU has long had a massive €90bn ready to lend to them – to pay for armaments, soldiers’ wages, and just to keep going – but the arrangement has been vetoed by the most stubborn and intractable of EU member states.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses off-site power for 13th time, IAEA says
07:10 , Arpan RaiUkraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant briefly lost its connection to the grid after its last remaining external power line went down, the UN's nuclear watchdog said this morning.
The IAEA said it was the 13th time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that the plant had lost all off-site power supply. Even though it has been shut down since the start of the war, the plant needs power to maintain cooling systems.
The Russia-appointed management of the occupied plant later said power had been restored via one line.
Kremlin welcomes Hungary's new leader, says dialogue beneficial for Moscow and Budapest
06:52 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has expressed its eagerness to foster ties with Hungary’s incoming leader Peter Magyar, saying it respected the choice of the Hungarian people and was ready to do business with the prime minister-elect.
"We look forward to continuing our highly pragmatic engagement with Hungary’s new leadership," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters yesterday.
“We noted Magyar’s statement regarding his willingness to engage in dialogue. Naturally, this will be beneficial for both Moscow and Budapest," Peskov said.
Peskov later told state TV it wasn't yet clear what the stance of the new Hungarian leadership would be, and that the Kremlin would not be congratulating Magyar on his win due to Hungary's formal designation as an "unfriendly country".
Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, ensured that his country continued to buy Russian oil and gas despite Moscow's war in Ukraine, allowed Russia to start work on building a new nuclear power plant south of Budapest, and often spoke out against sanctions on Russia while flatly opposing Kyiv's bid to join the 27-nation bloc.
Hungary's Magyar to undo Orban's damage and allow EU loan to Ukraine soon
06:08 , Arpan RaiThe incoming Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar has said his country will end its long-standing opposition to the European Union’s €90bn loan for Ukraine.
Magyar said the decision on the loan “was already made in December” and the incoming Tisza administration “would like to be coherent” with previous commitments made.
He said EU leaders would be saved the trouble of having to regroup again in person to unblock the loan.
Magyar added that the decision on the loan’s clearance could be made even before his government takes office, but added that the country would not be able to contribute financially, blaming Orban’s outgoing administration.
“I will discuss with European leaders but I personally agree that Hungary should opt out, Hungary is in a very difficult situation," Magyar said. "We cannot take out even more loans, the Hungarian budget deficit has tripled since 2010,” he said.
Orban had initially agreed to allow the loan to go ahead but then changed his mind, saying Ukraine must first repair a pipeline carrying Russian oil through the country to Hungary.
Russian hardliners mourn Orban's electoral loss
05:48 , Arpan RaiRussian hardliners cast Viktor Orban's defeat in Hungary as a serious blow that would unlock EU funds for Ukraine to fight on against Russia for another year, but the Kremlin played down the outcome, saying it was ready for talks with Orban's successor.
Orban, Hungary's veteran nationalist leader who lost power on Sunday to upstart centre-right rival Peter Magyar after 16 years in office, was a welcome guest in Moscow, where he held talks with president Vladimir Putin as recently as November.
Magyar is more of an unknown quantity for Moscow. He has combined pro-EU and pro-Nato rhetoric with a public recognition that he will need to hold talks with Putin and continue to buy Russian oil and gas for now despite talk of diversifying and reviewing contracts.
Hardliners and war bloggers inside Russia were almost unanimous, however, that Orban's defeat was bad news for Moscow.
"Orban's defeat in the elections will have one consequence for us here in Russia. But it is a very significant one," said Andrei Medvedev, a blogger and journalist with a large following.
"Now... Ukraine will receive EU funds, and with them, the resources to wage war for at least a year. It goes without saying that the Ukrainian armed forces and numerous contractors will focus on further developing their drone systems and missile capabilities," he said.
Ramzai, another influential blogger, was equally gloomy.
"It is clear that Hungary will soon cease to block the adoption of anti-Russian sanctions and the EU’s multi-billion-euro support for Ukraine. Russia’s contracts for the completion of the Paks (II) nuclear power plant and for the supply of gas and oil will also be called into question," he said.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian drone strike in Sumy region
05:38 , Arpan RaiRussia and Belarus flags to return to World Aquatics events
05:00 , Arpan RaiRussian and Belarusian athletes will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems, the sport's governing body said on Monday.
Competitors from both countries were banned from international events following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow describes as a "special military operation". Belarus has served as a key staging point for the invasion.
However, some of their athletes competed as neutrals in the Paris 2024 Olympics as the restrictions were eased.
In December, restrictions were lifted for Russian and Belarusian youth athletes.
World Aquatics said Russia and Belarus will also resume full membership rights.
Ukrainian troops pull back to new defensive line near Sumy
04:52 , Arpan RaiUkrainian troops have withdrawn to new defensive lines near the settlement of Myropilske in Sumy Oblast, military officials said, citing Russia’s superiority in manpower and equipment.
“The situation in the area of the settlement of Myropilske in the Krasnopillia hromada in Sumy Oblast remains tense. As a result of intense fighting and the enemy's superiority in manpower and equipment, units of the defence forces of Ukraine moved to new prepared defensive lines to preserve the lives of personnel, where they continue to hold the defence," said the 14th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, reported the Ukrainska Pravda.
However, the situation remains under control and the Ukrainian forces are ready for further action, the statement added.
Hungary's new PM says he will tell Putin to end his war in Ukraine
04:15 , Arpan RaiHungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar has said he will tell Russian president Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine.
Magyar said everyone knows Ukraine is the victim in this war, breaking away Budapest’s continued silence on the war due to outgoing leader Viktor Orbán’s closeness to the Kremlin.
He added that he would not be calling either US president Donald Trump or Putin in the immediate aftermath of his election victory over Orbán, but would speak to his predecessor’s allies if they wanted.
“If [Putin] does [call], I will ask him to please stop the killing and stop the war. I think that would be a very brief discussion. I hope he will be forced to stop the war soon,” Magyar said in Budapest yesterday.
He celebrated the start of a “new era” in the country after the removal of Orbán, saying: “Our history is not written in Moscow, Brussels or Washington but on Hungarian streets.”
Zelensky says ground robots retake land in a historic battlefield first
03:57 , Arpan RaiUkraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country’s forces successfully retook land under Russia’s control using only ground robots and drones.
“The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he said on X.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” he said, without detailing the operation’s location and time.
He added that more than 22,000 missions using ground robotic systems have been carried out in the past three months.
“In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” he said.
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
Ukraine's inflation could spike due to war in Middle East, says central bank
03:49 , Arpan RaiHigher oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East could raise inflation rates in Ukraine by 1.5 to 2.8 percentage points, Ukraine's top central banker has warned.
National Bank of Ukraine gGovernor Andriy Pyshnyi said the central bank would stick to its target of lowering inflation to 5 per cent in three years, using all available tools to ensure that goal was met.
"We're trying to walk on a razorblade," Pyshnyi said through a translator, noting prices have already started to rise.
When asked if the war would lead the bank to amend its economic forecasts, Pyshnyi said the bank has planned meetings for next week that will assess the full effect on Ukraine's economy.
The secondary effects of the war, including on fertilizer prices, would also be "quite significant”.
Pyshnyi is part of a large Ukrainian delegation attending the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in hopes of ensuring that Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year, remains on the agenda, despite the outbreak of a new war in the Middle East.
He welcomed the election results in Hungary, which saw president Viktor Orban swept from office, and said he hoped it would resolve delays in the European Union's €90bn (£78.3bn) loan to Ukraine.
Your Views | ‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis divides opinion among Independent readers
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIndependent readers have shared sharply divided views on Ukraine’s conscription crisis, reacting to a report from world affairs editor Sam Kiley on widespread draft dodging and rising strain on the armed forces.
Reporting from Izyum, in eastern Ukraine, Kiley’s report detailed the scandal of millions avoiding military call-ups – with hundreds of thousands of soldiers also absent without leave.
Many sympathised with those avoiding service, particularly men with families, describing it as understandable to fear a “one-way ticket” to the front. Some readers reflected on the psychological toll of the conflict, highlighting exhaustion among soldiers and the fear of being sent to the most dangerous areas with little chance of return – points also noted by Kiley on the ground.
Read your views here:
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‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis splits readers
Recap: Russia and Ukraine each accuse the other of violating Easter ceasefire
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneBoth Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire, which ran from Saturday afternoon until midnight (2100 GMT) on Sunday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military said it had recorded 10,721 Russian ceasefire violations during the truce, including 1,567 incidents of artillery shelling, 119 assault operations and 9,035 drone strikes. It said no airstrikes were recorded.
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that Ukraine violated the Easter ceasefire 6,558 times, Interfax news agency reported.
Watch: Who is Hungary’s new leader, and what does this mean for Europe and US?
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian forces take over Russian-controlled position using unmanned platforms in war 'first', Zelensky claims
Tuesday 14 April 2026 00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUkrainian forces ousted Russia from a position using exclusively unmanned platforms including ground systems and drones, Zelensky has claimed.
The Ukrainian leader said the takeover was a war first as he took to X to compliment Kyiv’s attacking technology.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones,” he wrote.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side.”
The future is already on the front line – and Ukraine is building it. These are our ground robotic systems. For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the… pic.twitter.com/qLQKfxPdiB
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 13, 2026
Comment: The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
Monday 13 April 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneHungarian election result 'relieves' concerns about EU support, top banker says
Monday 13 April 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe defeat of anti-Europe candidate Viktor Orban in Hungary’s election “relieves” Ukrainian concern over the future of EU support, Kyiv’s top banker has said.
Andrii Pyshnyi, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, also said on Monday that surging oil prices due to the war in Iran will likely have a significant impact on Ukraine’s inflation.
UK response to war in Iran will mean 'closer relationship' with European allies
Monday 13 April 2026 21:01 , Harry CockburnThe UK's response to fighting in Iran will involve "a closer economic relationship" with European governments, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed.
The Prime Minister told the Commons: "Britain has been buffeted by crises for decades now, from the 2008 financial crash through austerity, Brexit, Covid, the war that still rages in Ukraine, and the disastrous premiership of (former prime minister) Liz Truss.
"The response each time has been to try to return to the status quo - a status quo that manifestly failed working people who saw their living standards flatline and their public services decimated.
"So this time, Britain's response must and will be different to reflect the changing world that we live in."
Sir Keir added the UK's response would mean "a closer economic relationship with our European allies because Brexit did deep damage to the economy", PA reports.
He continued: "And the opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore."
Guided drones targeting Ukraine’s interception teams in new Russian tactic
Monday 13 April 2026 20:02 , Harry CockburnRussia is reportedly using guided Shahed drones to track and strike Ukrainian mobile fire groups while they are attempting to intercept incoming aerial threats, a senior Ukrainian defence adviser said on Sunday. Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, reported the shift in Russian tactics in a message posted on Telegram on 13 April, according to United 24 Media.
Beskrestnov said the new approach has already resulted in casualties, describing a recent incident in which one mobile fire group was hit by a guided Shahed while it was attempting to shoot down another. He warned that the tactic allows Russian drones to “hunt” Ukrainian crews, exploiting the moments when they are most exposed during interception attempts.
Mobile fire groups – small, fast‑moving units drawn from several branches of Ukraine’s Defence Forces – play a central role in countering drone attacks. Beskrestnov urged these units to adapt quickly to the evolving threat landscape and take additional precautions as Russia refines its drone interception tactics and expands the use of guided systems against frontline defenders.
Young Northern Irish engineer brings warmth and light to Ukraine – replacing bomb-shattered windows with effective quick fix
Monday 13 April 2026 19:04 , Harry CockburnA 29‑year‑old from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland has taken on an unusual mission in Ukraine’s war‑damaged frontline communities: replacing shattered windows at scale and at speed. Working in towns repeatedly hit by Russian shelling, Harry Blakiston Houston has developed a low‑cost system using triple‑glazed polyethylene that bends under blast pressure and provides insulation he claims is warmer than standard double glazing – a critical advantage in a country where temperatures plunged to -26C last winter and power outages remain common.
The makeshift windows, which cost about £20 each, are stapled to a simple wooden frame and secured with duct tape, allowing installation in roughly 15 minutes. “It’s really basic but it’s effective,” Blakiston Houston told The Times, adding that the goal is to keep residents warm as cheaply and quickly as possible. He has already replaced more than 74,000 windows within 12.5 miles of the front line and expects to surpass 100,000 by year’s end.
While major charities also repair homes in Ukraine, they do not operate in areas under active artillery fire. Blakiston Houston says that gap has pushed him into some of the country’s most dangerous regions – including Kherson, Nikopol, Izyum, Zaporizhzhia and Sloviansk – where traditional glazing is impossible and his lightweight, triple‑glazed insulation offers one of the few viable options for residents trying to survive the winter.
Berlin hopes Hungary vote will pave way for 'quick' release of Ukraine aid
Monday 13 April 2026 18:01 , Harry CockburnBerlin has said it hopes the election outcome in Hungary means a 90-billion-euro (£78bn) EU loan to help Ukraine can be released "very quickly," a spokesperson said on Monday.
The vote "means there is hope that aid for Ukraine can be released very quickly," the spokesperson said, Reuters reports.
"The German government is working towards this – it is therefore looking forward with anticipation to the swift formation of a government in Hungary."
Hungary's veteran nationalist leader Viktor Orban, who lost power to the upstart centre-right Tisza party in Sunday's national election, had blocked the implementation of the loan, citing a dispute over a war-damaged pipeline.
Spanish prime minister calls on China to demand end to conflicts including in Ukraine
Monday 13 April 2026 17:00 , Harry CockburnSpain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez has said China can use its political weight to demand an end to global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.
Sánchez made his fourth trip in as many years to the world's number two economy as Spain seeks to strengthen its political and commercial ties with Beijing.
His visit comes as Spain's relationship with the US has been strained by Sánchez's vocal disapproval of the conflict.
On Monday, Sánchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, speaking at Beijing's Tsinghua University a day before he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, PA reports.
"China can do more. For example, by demanding ... that international law be respected and that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank and Ukraine cease," Sánchez said.
Ukraine says it has struck a military-linked chemicals plant in Russia
Monday 13 April 2026 16:42 , Harry CockburnThe Ukrainian military struck a Russian chemicals plant in Cherepovets in the Vologda region, Kyiv's drone forces commander has said.
The plant produces chemicals that serve as raw materials for TNT, hexogen and components for munitions, Robert Brovdi said on the Telegram app.
Boris Johnson condemns 'timidity' in helping Ukraine after visiting the country for TV show
Monday 13 April 2026 16:01 , Harry CockburnBoris Johnson has hit out at the "delay" and "timidity" in helping Ukraine after travelling through the country unprotected during a 72-hour trip for a documentary.
The former prime minister travelled beyond the capital Kyiv to the so-called "kill zone" near the city of Zaporizhzhia where he witnessed first-hand the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The 61-year-old said Ukraine can and will win the war, but that "we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges" to the country, PA reports.
Mr Johnson said: "The Ukrainians are fighting the same war against the same drones that are being sent against civilians by the same alliance of tyrannies.
"We have spent four years psalming platitudes and telling them that their fight is our fight.
"On the basis of what I have seen, we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges, and to give them the help they need.
"The Ukrainians can win and will win.
"But our delay and our timidity continue to cause unimaginable human suffering.
"We are right to say that the Ukrainians are fighting for all of us - so why the hell are we still short-changing them?"
Mr Johnson's three-day trip is the subject of a feature-length documentary film for Channel 5, produced by Soho Studios and Two Rivers Media.
Boris Johnson: Into The Kill Zone will show him alongside Ukrainian soldiers visiting locations including a secret drone base and makeshift bomb factory that is hidden inside abandoned cottages.
Ukraine secretly launched rockets into space twice during the war, official reveals
Monday 13 April 2026 15:01 , Harry CockburnUkraine has carried out two previously undisclosed space‑intelligence missions during the war with Russia, a senior lawmaker revealed in an interview with RBC‑Ukraine. According to MP Fedir Venislavskyi, operatives from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency launched carrier rockets from Ukrainian territory on two separate occasions, reaching altitudes of more than 100 kilometres in the first mission and 204 kilometres in the second. Both launches were recorded by technical monitoring systems.
Venislavskyi said the operations were not experimental tests but real wartime missions overseen by former military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. He described the launches as unprecedented for a country engaged in active conflict, saying they demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to counter hostile systems operating in space.
The lawmaker also said Ukraine possesses missiles capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometres away at hypersonic speeds, noting that such systems are being used in combat but are primarily intended for “extraordinary operations”.
The biggest winner from Viktor Orban’s ousting is Ukraine
Monday 13 April 2026 14:00 , Daniel KeaneElderly woman and daughter hospitalised in attack on Kharkiv region
Monday 13 April 2026 13:00 , Daniel KeaneAn elderly woman and her daughter were hospitalised after Russia launched a fresh attack on Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region on Monday, local authorities said.
The Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office press service said Russian missiles struck at least four private residential properties and injured two people on Monday morning in the village of Ryasne.
“An elderly woman suffered shrapnel wounds and was hospitalised in serious condition. Her daughter was also wounded - she was diagnosed with multiple injuries and taken to hospital,” they said.
Russian drones also damaged houses and an ambulance in the Bohodukhiv district. No casualties were reported following the attack.
Putin to meet President of Indonesia today
Monday 13 April 2026 12:00 , Daniel KeaneVladimir Putin will meet with the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, on Monday.
The Kremlin said the pair would meet, but did not specify a time or location for the meeting.
It is the third time that Indonesia’s leader has met with Putin as the country seeks to deepen ties with Moscow.
Kremlin says it hopes for pragmatic ties with new Hungarian leadership
Monday 13 April 2026 11:06 , Daniel KeaneThe Kremlin said on Monday that it hoped it could continue what it called its "pragmatic ties" with Hungary's new political leadership after Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close Russian partner, lost an election to centre-right rival Peter Magyar.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow respected the choice the Hungarian people had made at the ballot box and wanted good relations with Hungary, as well as with the rest of Europe.
Ukraine confirms nearly 209,000 Russians killed in war – report
Monday 13 April 2026 10:05 , Arpan RaiThe identities of at least 208,755 Russian soldiers have now been confirmed, a new investigation by Russia’s Mediazona and BBC Russian service showed.
A fresh list of 2,553 Russian soldiers has been added to a running list of casualties in a new update in late March.
The confirmed death toll now includes over 76,300 volunteers, 23,400 recruited prisoners, and 18,400 mobilised soldiers, the report said.
A total of 7,003 officers have also been confirmed to have been killed.
The actual figures of casualties suffered by Moscow is likely significantly higher, the media outlet noted.
'Europe's heart beating stronger' as Orban loses critical election
Monday 13 April 2026 09:35 , Arpan RaiHungary's opposition centre-right Tisza party appeared on track to win Sunday's national election, partial results showed, ending 16 years of rule by prime minister Viktor Orban, a nationalist backed by US president Donald Trump and Russia.
Here’s how Hungary and other European nations have reacted to the election result:
Peter Magyar, Leader of Hungary’s opposition Tisza party
"As we promised, as we hoped, today, on 12 April, 2026, Hungary and several million people made history again, exactly 23 years to the day after there was a referendum on joining the European Union in Hungary."
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban
"The election results are not final yet but the situation is understandable and clear. The election result is painful for us, but clear. The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the winner."
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
"Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary. Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability. We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe."
Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the EU commission
"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger... Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight."
EU breathes a sigh of relief as Orban loses critical election
Monday 13 April 2026 09:05 , Arpan RaiHungary's Viktor Orbán had such an outsize global influence that his crushing electoral defeat is resounding far and wide.
During his 16 years in power, admirers emulated Orbán's playbook for reshaping political institutions to his advantage and squeezing minority rights and media freedoms, and viewed him as a defender of national sovereignty in the face of globalisation and migration.
To his detractors, he was a threat to European democracy and the continent's hard-fought values of human rights and rule of law.
Orbán was especially and constantly critical of the EU, even though his country enjoys billions in funding from the bloc.
Within minutes of his concession speech, European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen, a frequent target of Orbán's pronouncements, posted on X: "Europe's heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight.
Europe's biggest powers also jumped in.
British prime minister Keir Starmer called it "an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy. I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries."
German chancellor Friedrich Merz messaged Magyar: ''Let's join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe. Gratulálok, kedves Magyar Péter! (Congratulations, dear Magyar Peter!)"
French president Emmanuel Macron said that "France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people's commitment to the values of the European Union, and Hungary's commitment to Europe."
Easter truce expires as Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of ceasefire violations
Monday 13 April 2026 08:35 , Arpan RaiRussia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war, reporting more than a thousand drone and shelling attacks just hours after the truce began on Saturday to mark Orthodox Easter.
The Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military, in a late evening report issued as the end of the truce was approaching, said it had compiled a total of 7,696 Russian violations over the course of the truce.
Both sides continued to report what they described as violations of the ceasefire throughout the day on Sunday. The truce was due to end at midnight (2100 GMT).
The latest report by the Ukrainian General Staff said the 7,696 Russian violations noted over the course of the truce included 1,355 artillery shelling incidents, 115 assault operations and 6,226 strikes by attack drones. It said no air strikes had been recorded.
According to the calendar of the Orthodox faith dominant in both countries, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday.
Zelensky congratulates Hungary's Magyar on election victory
Monday 13 April 2026 08:05 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition pro-EU Tisza party, on his victory in the Hungarian election and pledged to work with him to strengthen Europe and uphold peace and security.
"It is important when a constructive approach is victorious," Zelensky said on Telegram.
"We are ready to meet and for joint constructive work for the benefit of both our peoples and also for the sake of peace, security and stability in Europe," he said.
