Newsletter 05/02/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Ukraine brings 150 defenders home from Russian captivity
"Today is a good day for all of us. We are bringing home 150 of our defenders from Russian captivity. These are soldiers, sergeants, and officers – warriors of the Navy who were taken prisoner in Mariupol and the Zaporizhzhia region, warriors of the Air Force, Air Assault Forces, Ground Forces, National Guard, border guards, warriors of the Territorial Defense Forces, and a police officer. They served in different parts of the frontline, but they share one thing in common: they fought for Ukraine," Zelensky said.
He noted that "some of these men have been in captivity for over two years." "And today, for them and their families, this day carries more weight than all the years of waiting. Seeing them home -- alive and free -- is true happiness," Zelensky said.
Zelensky: 45,100 Ukrainian soldiers killed in action
"Regarding our people, the exact numbers are very important to us. Some 45,100 people have been killed, and we have 390,000 wounded. Let me clarify: the number of wounded is significantly higher than the number of killed because many soldiers come back to the battlefield after being wounded and get injured again," said Zelensky in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.
Putin seeks to install his "puppet" at Ukraine’s helm as he did in Belarus, Georgia - Zelensky
"It is clear I don’t suit them because here they need a puppet man. They need their man who would lead Ukraine, and frankly, that was how it was before the war, and that was how it was previously, when they had the second-largest party in our parliament. They totally controlled that party, influenced the Ukrainian parliament, and did everything so that Ukraine never chose the European path, so that it would always remain under Russia’s hood. Their desire is to install their man. To be honest, they want, in principle, to do what they did in Chechnya, thet completely destroyed it, and today it is part of their influence zone, their territories. They did it in Georgia, too. First, the conflict was frozen, and then they put their people in charge of the country. They always do it that way. They also did it, by and large, in Belarus,” said Zelensky in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.
He emphasized that the Russians are not ready to end the war and neither are they willing to do it.
“They do not want this war to end. Tomorrow they will say they are ready to meet directly with Trump, that they don’t need Ukraine, because this is not a war between Russia and Ukraine, there is just some kind of operation, but this is a global war between Russia and NATO, and NATO is the United States. We are ready to talk only with the United States, but this is all nonsense, they will look for reasons not to end this war. Because Putin’s only desire is for us to cease to exist,” the president said.
Kursk raid may become important part of negotiation process - Zelensky
"We hit several really important military control points. And these are very serious steps. They are important. And I think they won’t be able to push us out of that territory anytime soon, and this, like a magnet, keeps 60,000 of their soldiers in this area today," President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The president also stressed that the operation in Kursk region allowed for stabilizing the situation in Kharkiv region.
Explosion near TRC in Kamianets-Podilskyi: one dead, four injured
An explosion occurred near the building of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi region, resulting in one death and four injuries.
Oil depot ablaze in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory after drone attack
The attack was confirmed by the region’s governor Veniamin Kondratyev. According to the official, the military repelled the raid of "Ukrainian drones" with no casualties reported. He added that the downed drone debris plunged onto a petroleum tank, causing a fire.
The ASTRA Telegram channel, citing local residents, clarified that the Albashneft LLC oil depot came under attack.
According to the regional operational headquarters, as of 8:11 Moscow time, the fire at the site has been put out.
UK to provide Ukraine with additional GBP 55M in aid
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Kyiv on Wednesday will focus on direct UK support for Ukraine and long-term bilateral cooperation. During his visit, Lammy “will see first-hand how UK support is putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position as it enters its fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
“As part of the Foreign Secretary’s visit, he will meet with President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Sybiha, Prime Minister Shmyhal, and Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna, to reiterate the UK’s ongoing support and discuss first-hand how the UK and international partners can put Ukraine into the strongest position possible,” the statements stresses.
As part of this new assistance package, the UK will provide £3 million to deliver Ukrainian grain and other food supplies to Syria.
Russian propagandists and shadow fleet targeted in new sanctions – NSDC Secretary
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has approved sanctions against 83 individuals involved in exporting Russian oil products, as well as Russian propagandists.
Zelensky following NSDC meeting: shadow schemes worth billions halted
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has approved new sanctions and reported the first results of financial monitoring efforts.
“Important reports were presented on financial transparency in the country. Recently, leadership changes were made in the Tax Service and Financial Monitoring Service, and there are already first results — shadow financial schemes that have finally been stopped. These schemes involved oligarchs, officials, members of parliament, and those who have used or continue to use various funds to conceal money. Billions of hryvnias. The relevant materials have already been handed over to law enforcement agencies. Investigations must be objective, regardless of who is breaking the law,” the President stressed.
War
Barriers wash ashore again in occupied Kerch
The shoreline of the Cherepashka recreational area is littered with barrels connected by a metal frame. They remain on the shore, untouched. Previously, locals would collect such barrels from the city beach and take the metal for themselves.
Guerillas help Ukraine’s Army destroy 10 Russian military boats in Kherson region
Thanks to a tip from an underground network of partisans operating on the Left Bank of the Dnipro in Kherson region, Ukraine’s Defense Forces delivered a blow on enemy targets near the settlement of Hola Prystan, destroying 10 military boats and inflicting fatalities on the Russian invasion force.
Zelensky signs law extending martial law in Ukraine until May 9
Ukrainian cameraman injured as TV journalists come under Russian fire near Vovchansk
IAEA postpones mission rotation at Zaporizhzhia NPP over lack of security guarantees from Russia
Ukrainian forces capture 21 Russian soldiers in Kursk region/Video
Servicemen of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, in cooperation with allied units, have captured 21 Russian soldiers in Kursk region.
The command emphasized that the captured soldiers made the right decision by surrendering to the Ukrainian Armed Forces instead of participating in senseless "meat assaults" without proper preparation or support.
Politics
CoE chief welcomes progress in preparing statute of the Special Tribunal for Russian crimes
Progress in preparing for the launch of the Special Tribunal within the framework of the Council of Europe, the completion of the creation of a compensation mechanism for the Register of Damage, and the consideration of claims against Russia by the European Court of Human Rights are parts of the unified system that the Council of Europe has created to ensure that Russia is held to full account for its crimes against Ukraine.
The Core Group has achieved important progress at the legal level in preparing the statute of the Special Tribunal, which will have an impact on Ukrainians for generations to come, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset noted, adding that the hard work is only just beginning but the interested parties will not stop until Russia bears full responsibility.
He added that justice and compensation are two sides of the same coin. So the next step for the CoE will be to create a special claims commission to launch a compensation mechanism, which is a necessary element for the functioning of the Register of Damage.
Congress to work with Trump's team on continuing aid to Ukraine – Republican Congressman
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, Co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus said expressed confidence that key appointees in the new team understood the necessity of supporting freedom and democracy. He noted that Marco Rubio, whose family fled from totalitarian Cuba -- a Soviet Union colony -- would not need any explanation about the potential consequences of failing to support Ukraine.
Wilson also noted that another senior official in Trump's team, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, was a strong advocate for freedom and democracy. Additionally, he mentioned that former Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who had been appointed U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, shared similar views.
Putin trying to drag Belarus into war - Zelensky
“With Putin’s ambitions and what we see today as he is doing everything not to stop this war, the fact is that he will go further. He will eye other countries. I’m positive. I warn of this absolutely overtly, frankly. You will see, he will provoke other countries. Perhaps the next one will be Poland, or the Baltic States. And this isn’t just another part of rhetoric. You will see, in spring, summer or autumn, he will deploy forces on the territory of Belarus. And many Europeans, perhaps the United States, will say this is intimidation of Poland, Lithuania, our other Baltic partners. But you will see that he will do everything to engage them, think about how to provoke them. I don’t know whether there’ll be an invasion, but in any case, he will drag Belarus into war in this way,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Significant progress made in Brussels on setting up Russia tribunal - deputy justice minister
First draft statute of special tribunal for Russia presented in Brussels
Azerbaijan to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine - Aliyev
Economy
IAEA backs completion of nuclear units’ construction at Khmelnytskyi NPP - Zelensky
"I am grateful that the IAEA Director supported the Ukrainian strategy for completion of nuclear units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP. The completion project is key to Ukraine's energy independence and energy stability in the region, and it’s important that Ukrainian MPs support the project. We discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant in detail: it is necessary to restore legal Ukrainian control, real operation of the plant in Ukraine, and for Ukraine," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.