Newsletter 03/04/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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Ballistic missile strike on Kryvyi Rih: Injury toll rises to 17
A Russian ballistic missile strike on an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih on the evening of April 2 has left 17 people injured and four dead.
The update indicates that 11 of the wounded remain hospitalized, while four people have lost their lives.
The attack also affected nine apartment buildings, vehicles, garages, a gas station, administrative buildings, and a post office.
Zelensky: While Ukraine remains beyond NATO, appropriate security guarantees important
President Volodymyr Zelensky says that the issue of Ukraine's membership of NATO remains on the negotiating table, despite some allies disagreeing with the idea. He emphasized that while Ukraine is not a member of the Alliance, it must secure significant security guarantees, including through a military contingent.
He noted that for the period until Ukraine joins security alliances, it is important to secure commensurate security guarantees.
โIt is important that we have appropriate guarantees similar to NATO while we are not part of the Alliance. This is about contingents, about the efforts by our partners, on which we can really count,โ the President said.
US, Russia continue private talks on full ceasefire โ Zelensky
"In Saudi Arabia, as you know, we agreed to an unconditional ceasefire. The Russians have not accepted it yet. We see that. However, we are aware that discussions between the Americans and Russians on this issue are taking place. These private talks are happening. Regardless of differing perspectives on some matters, we are all united in the goal of achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible," Zelensky said.
He noted that applying pressure on Russia remains key to securing a full ceasefire.
"I believe this can be achieved in the coming weeks, maybe months. Or it could happen suddenly -- sometimes, in war, things change in an instant. For us, the 'hot phase' means full cessation of hostilities," he added.
Denmark announces nearly $1B military aid package for Ukraine
The Danish government has approved its 25th military aid package for Ukraine, valued at 6.7 billion Danish kroner ($970 million), to provide sustained support from 2025 to 2027.
Champions of terror: Ukraine updates list of Russian athletes praising war
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraineโs Defense Ministry (HUR) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports posted on the War&Sanctions website the names of another 11 Russian athletes and cybersports professionals who publicly support Russiaโs war of aggression against Ukraine.
Fedor Chudinov, a Russian boxer, a member of the Council of Champions of the Russian Boxing Federation, the United Russia party, and the Night Wolves bike club. He organizes propaganda events in the temporarily occupied territories, including those aimed at indoctrinating Ukrainian children.
Imam Ganishov, a wrestler who personally visited Russian soldiers in the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia region, posted photos and videos in support of Russiaโs war effort.
Pavel Cherpita, captain 2nd rank with the Russian Navy, professor at the Academy of Military Sciences, who also coaches the team of the Nakhimov Black Sea Higher Naval School in occupied Sevastopol and the Russian Navy team at international regattas.
Vitaly Roshchin, a Russian cyber sports professional, StarCraft II player, member of the 3D!Clan team, who publicly supported the so-called "special military operation", "demilitarization" and "de-Nazification" of Ukraine.
War
Zelensky visits Yahidne in Chernihiv region
President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the village of Yahidne in the Chernihiv region, where Russian forces held all residents in the basement of a school for nearly a month in 2022.
"I came to support the people in Yahidne... I visited the school where the Russians held all the residents for almost a month. It was one of the most cynical Russian crimes of this warโa crime against people and everything human and humane,โ Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
Ukrainian border guards destroy two Russian surveillance systems
Strike drone pilots from the 105th Border Detachment named after Prince Volodymyr the Great have struck two Russian surveillance systems -- Murom-P and Murom-M.
Ukraine downs 28 Russian drones, seven decoy UAVs cause no damage
Russians trying to expand combat zone toward Novenke, Zhuravka โ border guards
Ukraineโs military denies Russian allegations of breaching energy ceasefire
Ukrainian forces defeat Russian armored column near Andriivka in Donetsk region/Video
Russians attempting to cross road and break through to Pokrovsk from east โ military spox
Defense
Two Ukrainian warships pass Level 1 NATO interoperability assessment
The Ukrainian Navyโs Cherkasy and Chernihiv minesweepers became the first vessels since Russiaโs full-scale invasion to receive an interoperability assessment in line with NATO standards.
Ukraine receives 5,000 more Starlink terminals from Poland
Poland has provided Ukraine with an additional 5,000 Starlink terminals to ensure uninterrupted communications in critical areas, including hospitals, schools, and key infrastructure facilities.
Czech initiative guarantees ammunition supply to Ukraine until September
Zakarpattia engineers develop new drone capable of carrying five kilograms of explosives
Politics
UK intelligence analyzes Putin's recent conscription decree
According to the ministry, on March 31, 2025, Putin signed a decree for the annual spring conscription cycle, calling up 160,000 Russian men aged 18-30. All eligible Russian men are required to serve one year of military service.
UK intelligence noted that conscripts have generally not been sent to fight in Ukraine. However, conscripts were highly likely involved in fighting in Russia's Kursk region following Ukraine's incursion into the region in August 2024. This drew condemnation from Russian parents who complained their sons were being sent to a combat zone with only four months of training. Up to 1,000 Russian conscripts were reportedly sent to Kursk with 250 captured as prisoners of war.
Zelensky: While Ukraine remains beyond NATO, appropriate security guarantees important
President Volodymyr Zelensky says that the issue of Ukraine's membership of NATO remains on the negotiating table, despite some allies disagreeing with the idea. He emphasized that while Ukraine is not a member of the Alliance, it must secure significant security guarantees, including through a military contingent.
French, UK army chiefs to arrive in Ukraine this weekend โ Barrot
ะกore of countries to emerge in Europe to coordinate security, defense policy โ GLOBSEC president
Estonian defense minister to visit Ukraine next week
Umerov discusses with EU colleagues plan to force Russia to negotiate
EU collects over half of funds required to buy 2 mln artillery rounds for Ukraine - Kallas
U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal does not include security guarantees โ Presidential Office