Newsletter 07/04/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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OSCE convenes special session over Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih
“At the request of Ukraine, in response to the bloody Russian missile attack against children and adults in Kryvyi Rih, as well as the escalation of the roster against civilians throughout Ukraine, tomorrow (08.04) an emergency special session of the OSCE Permanent Council is convened,” Yurii Vitrenko, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, wrote about it on his Facebook page.
According to Vitrenko, tomorrow the Moscow delegation to the OSCE “will have the ground burning under their feet.”
Death toll from Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih rises to 20
On the evening of April 4, Russian forces launched a ballistic missile at a residential area in Kryvyi Rih, killing 19 people, including nine children, and injuring 74 others. Later that night, drones targeted the city, resulting in one fatality and seven injuries.
Strike on Kryvyi Rih damages over 20 high-rise buildings, educational institution, and 30 cars
France 24 shows footage of Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih
"The footage of the Russian missile strike on our city was published by France 24. As claimed by Russia's lying official media, the April 4 strike supposedly targeted 'a meeting of nearly a hundred Ukrainian Armed Forces commanders along with foreign instructors and officers.' As we can see -- 'full halls of elite commandos' and 'tanks on the streets'… Liars and cowards, waging war against children and women -- burn in hell!" informed Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council.
Ukrainian forces strike three Russian Buk systems in Kursk region
Operators of the 413th "Raid" Unmanned Systems Battalion of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, in coordination with the "Dzhmil" UAV unit of the 78th Air Assault Regiment, detected and struck three Russian Buk surface-to-air missile systems in Russia's Kursk region over the course of 12 hours.
Russia plans to resettle five million people in occupied Ukrainian territories by 2030
"In Rostov-on-Don, the 'Integration-2025' forum is taking place, where Russian officials and occupation authorities are lying about how 'good life is in the Soviet country.' However, there are some interesting figures and plans being discussed there,"Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation and former advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, stated this on Telegram.
According to him, the Russians are aiming to increase the population of the occupied territories (excluding Crimea) to ten million by 2030.
Ukraine intel exposing captains from Russia’s shadow fleet
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine has been dissecting the schemes of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, exposing captains involved in its operations.
As the shadow fleet operation “directly meets the kremlin’s financial needs to wage war against Ukraine”, anyone deliberately taking part in its operation is an accomplice in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the report stressed.
To help Russia circumvent sanctions, captains turn off automatic identification systems (AIS) on their vessels, engage in oil transshipment to other vessels (STS) jeopardizing environmental safety, and operate tankers with improper insurance, the report stresses.
One of the exposed captains is Dmitriy Bondyuk, a Russian national in charge of the BODHI tanker (IMO 9144782), which is under the UK and EU sanctions.
On January 11, 2025, the vessel under his command departed from the port of Tuapse (the Black Sea) carrying 65,100 tonnes of Russian petroleum products en route to Singapore. At the moment, the tanker is heading through the South China Sea towards its destination – the port of Yantai (China).
War
One killed, three injured in Kyiv following missile strike – military administration
A Russian missile attack on Kyiv has left one person dead and three others injured, two of them hospitalized.
After Russian missile and drone attack, damage reported in three districts of Kyiv region
Russian missile strike on Kyiv damages Ukrainian state foreign broadcasting channels
On the night of April 5–6, a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv caused significant damage to the buildings housing the editorial offices of Ukraine's State Foreign Broadcasting Enterprise – the International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine (IMBPU). These facilities had been relocated there after a previous strike on February 12.
In particular, the affected channels include FREEDOM, Dom, UATV English, The Gaze, UATV Espanol, UATV Arabic, UATV Portugues, as well as digital editorial offices and service departments.
Fortunately, no IMBPU employees were injured in the attack.
OSCE media freedom envoy condemns Russian attacks on Ukrainian media offices in Kyiv
Emergency crews clearing aftermath of missile strike in Kyiv's Obolonskyi district
Russian aviation destroys the city of Chasiv Yar
Nayev: 120 Russian infantry and three tanks destroyed after being lured into trap near Andriivka
Last week, in one of the frontline areas, the Defense Forces lured the Russians into a trap and inflicted a devastating fire attack, destroying 120 infantrymen, three tanks, 11 armored combat vehicles and one car.
According to Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, “the success of our actions in countering the enemy's offensive operations is primarily determined by the availability of sufficient forces and means. They are the main prerequisite for the effective use of already organized intelligence, leadership, command and control and interaction.”
According to him, more than 600 artillery shells and more than 200 attack drones were used and 120 Russian infantrymen, three tanks, 11 armored combat vehicles and one car were destroyed.
According to Nayev, the area was cleared after the battle. Thus, the enemy's intention failed.
War update: 77 clashes on front lines, fighting ongoing along six axes
CinC Syrskyi: Defense Forces neutralized over 77,000 targets with drones in March
Enemy is looking for new tactics to counter Ukrainian drones – military spox
Ukrainian drone operators locate, destroy Russian UAV control point, fuel depot
Enemy preparing for small-scale assaults in south, airborne operation unlikely – Defense Forces
Occupiers have not captured any positions on southern front over past week – Voloshyn
Russia actively deploys forces to southern front via new railway through Mariupol – military
Shelling of Kherson region damages medical and educational institutions, with dead and wounded reported
Invaders attack Nikopol district with drones, leaving three wounded
Over 50 houses damaged in Kirovohrad region following yesterday’s missile strike
Russian shelling of Kherson injures pregnant woman, her child
Politics
'I don't like the bombing': Trump says US in talks with Russia on ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington continues to engage in dialogue with Moscow regarding a ceasefire, adding that he does not like the bombing.
"We are talking to Russia. We'd like them to stop. I don't like the bombing -- the bombing goes on and on. Every week thousands of young people are being killed," Trump said when asked about ongoing talks with Russia and potential steps toward peace.
Outcome of Russian war in Ukraine to shape continent’s future – PACE President