“A surprise for the enemy”: Budanov says Ukraine’s AI weapons are ready as drone numbers hit their ceiling Head of Presidential Office says both sides have maxed out current drone control tech; AI is next.

Both sides have maxed out current drone control technology, and "increasing the number of drones no longer changes the battlefield in a fundamental way," Kyrylo Budanov said.

The next phase of the war, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office said, will be defined by AI-driven systems.

EU’s 20th sanctions package hits 20 Russian banks, 46 shadow fleet tankers, and crypto platforms Shadow fleet total hits 632 ships; new measures cover oil transport, Russian banks, crypto platforms, and re-exports via Kyrgyzstan.

The EU's 20th major sanctions package hits Russian banks, shadow fleet tankers, and Russian crypto platforms, alongside 120 new individual listings and much more – just approved.

"We must keep up this pressure until Putin understands his war leads nowhere," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Ukrainian pilots now down Shaheds thousands of kilometers away – including from other countries Operators can work from Kyiv, Lviv, or abroad – reducing exposure to strikes and electronic warfare.

Ukrainian interceptor drone pilots no longer need to be near the battlefield, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

Operators are now downing Shaheds from hundreds to thousands of kilometers away, working from Kyiv, Lviv, or abroad – out of reach of Russian strikes and electronic warfare.

12 Russian FSB officers killed as Ukrainian drones hit “dirty war” command post in occupied Donetsk Facility coordinated recruitment, sabotage, and operations against civilians in occupied areas, commander says.

Ukrainian drones struck a Russian FSB command post in occupied Donetsk on 22 April, killing 12 and wounding 15, SBS commander Robert Brovdi said.

According to Brovdi, the unit ran sabotage in Ukraine, detained people deemed disloyal, and carried out the "physical elimination of opponents."

A few months ago critics said Ukraine was ceding the mid-range drone zone.

Now its drones are hunting Russian convoys behind the front — in airspace 492 destroyed air defenses can't cover anymore. euromaidanpress.com/2026/04/23/s...

Ukraine’s new “Khmarinka” drone copies Russia’s Molniya – cheap, catapult-launched, 50 km strike range General Chereshnya hands first 150 Khmarinka units to brigades; marketplace listing on Brave1 next.

Ukraine's new Khmarinka drone is a near-copy of Russia's Molniya – the cheap, mass-produced loitering munition Russian forces use for short-range frontline strikes.

The purpose: hit armor, logistics, and command posts at volume, and force Russian air defenses to burn resources stopping them.

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Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, who walked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent through the math on Russia’s oil windfall at the 22 April Senate hearing. Photo: Chris Coons / X.

Russia helps Iran target US troops. The Iran war spikes oil. Washington eases Russia sanctions to cool $4 gas.

Result: Moscow's March oil revenues hit a two-year high—€713 million a day. The sanctions discount collapsed from $28 to $4.80 a barrel.

A Senate hearing put the number on record.

Fire at Novokuybyshevsk: Ukraine targets the chemical inputs behind Russia’s explosives production Second reported hit on the Novokuybyshevsk complex since October 2025, when drones shut down primary processing.

Ukraine's long-range campaign reportedly hit the Novokuybyshevsk petrochemical complex again overnight.

The Rosneft-run plant is one of Russia's major petrochemical producers. Ukrainian analysts flag it as a supplier of chemical inputs used to make explosives.

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Fico won't attend Moscow's 9 May parade this year.

He'll still fly to Moscow on 9 May. Still lay the wreath at the Kremlin wall. Still be the only EU leader doing it.

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A pair of Russian field armies is stockpiling tanks for a Zaporizhzhia offensive. The tanks are T-55s from 1958.

Ukraine's 225th Assault Regiment is finding them in sheds and garages — and killing them before they leave. euromaidanpress.com/2026/04/23/b...

“No nation benefits from these deaths”: Prince Harry at Kyiv Security Forum Prince Harry addressed Vladimir Putin from the Kyiv Security Forum on 23 April, saying "there is still a moment to stop this war" during an unannounced visit.

Prince Harry addressed Putin from the Kyiv Security Forum stage on 23 April: "there is still a moment to stop this war."

The Duke arrived in Kyiv unannounced, met wounded Ukrainian defenders.
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EU approves €90 billion Ukraine loan and 20th Russia sanctions package as Hungary’s veto falls First tranche expected in May or June, with funds directed to weapons, budget, and energy defense.

Months of deadlock broke open. The EU approved €90 billion for Ukraine and a 20th sanctions package on Russia on 23 April, after Hungary and Slovakia dropped their vetoes.

The loan covers two-thirds of Ukraine's 2026–27 budget gap. First tranche lands May or June – weapons, budget, energy defense.

Moscow claims G20 invitation at highest level as US prepares December summit in Miami Russia's deputy FM says Moscow got a G20 invitation at the highest level for the December 2026 Miami summit, weeks after the Kremlin denied any Putin visit was being discussed.

Russia's deputy FM Pankin says Moscow got a G20 invitation "at the highest level" for the Miami summit in December. Three weeks ago Peskov said Putin's visit to the US "is not being discussed."
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From Belgian storage to Elbit subsidiary to Ukrainian air sefense: journey of 15 Gepard systems Belgium once operated 54 Gepard systems before phasing them all out in the 2000s as part of defense modernization efforts.

Belgium confirmed the purchase of 15 Gepard systems for Ukraine, as part of a €1 billion military aid package approved in April

Belgium once operated 54 Gepard systems before phasing them all out in the 2000s as part of defense modernization efforts
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Tylihulska wind farm in Mykolaiv region. Photo: dtek.com

4 GW of wind projects in Ukraine have permits and grid connections. Most aren't being built.

This week, DTEK—alone—committed €1.2 billion to a 650 MW Poltava plant, financed with Danish state guarantees that independent developers can't match.

Lavrov claims Russia fights for Orthodox “honor and dignity” — while its troops detain priests in occupied Ukraine, ISW notes Lavrov says protecting Orthodoxy is a Russian war goal in Ukraine. ISW notes Russia detains clergy and destroys churches in every territory it occupies.

Lavrov claims Russia's war goal is protecting Orthodox believers in Ukraine

Meanwhile, in occupied territories, Russian forces arbitrarily detain Ukrainian clergy, assassinate religious leaders, and loot and destroy churches, ISW reports.
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Zelenskyy: only “Donetsk oblast, Luhansk oblast” appear in my negotiations, no “Donnyland” label Zelenskyy responds to reports Ukrainian negotiators proposed "Donnyland" in US talks: the main thing is Donbas doesn't become "Putinland."

Zelenskyy on NYT report that Ukrainian negotiators floated "Donnyland" in talks with the US: in my negotiations there are no terms other than Donetsk oblast, Luhansk oblast, our Donbas. The main thing is that it doesn't become "Putinland."
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Dutch intelligence: Russia could strike NATO within a year after Ukraine war ends Dutch MIVD 2025 report: Russia could be ready for a regional conflict with NATO within a year of the Ukraine war ending, aiming to split the Alliance politically, not defeat it militarily.

Dutch intelligence: Russia could generate enough combat power to start a regional conflict against NATO within a year of the Ukraine war's end

The goal wouldn't be to defeat NATO — it would be to fracture it politically. Nuclear threat not ruled out.
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Dnipro apartment block in flames: Russian overnight strike kills 2, injures 10 including two children Russia launched 155 drones at Ukraine overnight on 23 April. A Dnipro apartment block was hit — 2 killed, 10 injured, including two children.

Russia launched 155 drones at Ukraine overnight

A Dnipro apartment block is in flames — 2 killed, 10 injured. A 77-year-old woman killed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. A woman killed in a strike on Zhytomyr Oblast railway infrastructure. Seven oblasts without power.
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Prince Harry arrived in Kyiv unannounced this morning — his third visit to Ukraine.

"It's good to be back," he told ITV News, saying he came to remind the world what Ukraine faces every hour of every day.

📹 X/Chris Ship

Russia stages fourth ‘trial’ of 67-year-old Crimean political prisoner to ensure he dies in captivity This time ‘treason’ charges have been laid against a Ukrainian patriot targeted for his unconcealed opposition to Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Russia stages fourth ‘trial’ of 67-year-old Crimean political prisoner to ensure he dies in captivity
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Kremlin claims Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy — but only in Moscow, and only to sign Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy, but only in Moscow and only to finalize agreements already reached in negotiations.

Kremlin claimed Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy — but only in Moscow, and only to "finalize agreements."

Zelenskyy has offered the US, Europe, or any neutral country. Moscow says no.
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One US team, two wars. Zelenskyy says Ukraine can’t wait for Iran to close Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells CNN it would be a "big risk" to pause Ukraine peace talks until the US war with Iran ends, and calls the EU's €90 bn loan "life and surviving."

Zelenskyy to CNN: Ukraine can't wait for the US-Iran war to end

"Ukraine is already in such a big tragedy, we have to find a way to manage this in a parallel way." The same US team - Witkoff and Kushner - is running both files. He calls it a "challenge"
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Air defense wants to intercept 95% of Russian weapons but is running out of radars to spot them All systems to be produced in 2026 are already bought out, sergeant says.

Ukraine's air defense is short on radar. The entire 2026 run may already be sold out. Without radar, interceptor drones, mobile teams, and other defenders cannot aim.

Three bottlenecks: rising demand, shortages of funds and components, and tight regulations.

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US spent up to 60% of its Patriot arsenal in 39 days Diminished inventories will affect Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a domestic anti-ballistic program, easier said than done.

Before Iran, the US had 2,330 Patriot missiles. After 39 days, up to 61% were gone. This is bad news for Ukraine. Zelenskyy is calling for a domestic alternative: easier said than done.

Spain is sending Ukraine 100 VAMTAC vehicles, same platform hosting Britain’s Rapid Ranger counter-drone system The VAMTAC platforms provide personnel protection and improved operational mobility in field conditions.

Spain will transfer 100 VAMTAC armored tactical vehicles and a batch of 155 mm artillery shells to Ukraine

Deliveries begin in May, with the armored vehicles specifically intended to strengthen Ukraine's State Border Guard Service euromaidanpress.com/2026/04/22/s...

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The Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Інженер 76

Ukraine's reactors still work. The substations carrying their power onto the grid increasingly don't.

Kyiv warned the OSCE in January that Russia is preparing a coordinated strike campaign on exactly that infrastructure.