Newsletter 10/04/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Zelensky: Ukraine is aware of 155 Chinese citizens fighting on side of Russia
“The “Chinese” issue is serious. There are 155 people with names, passport data - 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine. We are collecting information, we believe that there are more, much more. These 155 have passport data, where they are from, their Chinese documents, age, etc. We also have their places of service: The 70th, 71st, 255th motorized rifle regiments, etc.” Zelensky said.
He noted that the Ukrainian relevant services understand the scheme of how they recruit them.
“One of the schemes is through social networks, in particular TikTok and other Chinese social networks, where Russians distribute commercials. Official Beijing is aware of this. Russians are distributing recruitment videos through Chinese social networks. Not secret recruitment is important. Maybe there is also a secret one,” the President said.
He also spoke about the scheme by which Chinese citizens get to the front.
“These people arrive in the Russian Federation, in Moscow. Medical examinations last 3-4 days. 1-2 months - training centers. They fight on the territory of Ukraine. They receive migration cards, as well as a card of the Mir payment system, which they use to receive money, respectively,” the head of state said.
Missile attack on Dnipro: number of victims rises to six, one killed
In Dnipro, the number of victims of a Russian missile strike on April 10 increased to six.
“Today the enemy launched a missile attack on the regional center. A fire broke out at an infrastructure facility. 1 person was killed, 6 people were injured with varying degrees of severity,” reported the State Emergency Service.
'Transport visa-free regime' between Ukraine and EU extended until end of 2025
The liberalization of freight traffic between Ukraine and the European Union has been officially extended until December 31, 2025.
During the period of the "transport visa-free regime," exports by road to the EU increased by 42%, while imports by road grew by 37%. The liberalization of freight transportation has ensured the stable movement of goods, even amidst war conditions.
“Road transportation has become crucial for Ukraine's economy. We export value-added goods, import essential items, and do so quickly and efficiently,” noted Vice Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba. He also expressed gratitude to Ukraine's European partners for their collaboration and to Ukrainian carriers for their dedication.
Ukraine’s intel puts in spotlight European companies involved in Russian maritime schemes
Intelligence operatives found that a Greece-based Latsco Marine Management Inc. is the beneficial owner and operator of the HELLAS FIGHTER (IMO 9722625) and HELLAS AVATAR (IMO 9722613) tankers that appear to be engaged in Moscow’s schemes. The former, having been loaded on March 7 this year in Russia’s Primorsk, is now en route to the Brazilian port of Suapi. The latter was also loaded in Primorsk on March 22, and is now moving along the coast of Portugal. Both vessels fly the flag of Malta – an EU member state, and are insured by The Swedish Club, a member of the P&I Club.
Zelensky criticizes Bessent's approach: Fossil fuel deal must benefit all parties
“If we are talking about partnership and parity, we say that we are partners, and we will have such a fund, and this is great. And we want 50/50. So let's invest 50/50. You want 50/50? Yes. And what is the priority of the United States? The fact that we are doing this on our land. And this is absolutely normal. You bring the technology, we provide the production, we invest money together. Jobs, production. Our people earn money, your companies earn money with technologies that are not available in Ukraine. All of them. And this can be a success. And the agreement will be serious, and it will be ratified in the parliament. I am just defending what belongs to Ukraine. It should be beneficial to both the United States and Ukraine. This is the right thing to do,” Zelensky said.
In this context, he criticized U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's approach to the deal.
“I think Bessent's problems are in his approach. And what he came with, he said: “You have to sign this now”. I'm not going to hide it - I have different traits, just like every person. My colleagues know that it's wrong to point a finger at a contract and say, “You have to sign it now” - and I could only tell him, “Stop pointing and let's talk about the substance.” He was probably expecting a different dialog, but I don't consider Ukraine a third-rate country. I believe that we should communicate on equal terms, despite the fact that I am the President and he is not. I believe that he is an American citizen, I am a citizen of Ukraine. And we have to behave with respect for each other,” the head of state said.
Russia spinning hoax report of “protests” in Ukraine with demands for “peace on any terms”
Russian propaganda is spreading on TikTok fake reports on alleged rallies going on in Ukraine where activists demand to “stop the war” and agree to “peace on any terms”.
“The Center is seeing another Russian disinformation campaign in the media space, aimed at destabilizing Ukraine from within. First of all, fake stories about alleged protests in Ukraine with demands to ‘stop the war’ and agree to ‘peace on any terms’, as well as calls to join these protests, are spreading primarily on the TikTok social network. At the same time, videos are used from Kyiv rallies, which were actually held in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war – they were doctored with third-party audio tracks with chants such as ‘no to war’, etc.,” the report says.
War
Ukrainian border guards destroy Russian boat in southern direction
Soldiers from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine successfully destroyed a Russian boat in the southern region using an FPV drone.
Ukraine downs almost 100 ballistic missiles, 40 Kinzhals since invasion – Air Force
"Over the three years of the full-scale invasion, if we speak of cruise missiles, 2,400 Kh-101 and Kalibr missiles and about 100 Iskander-K missiles have been shot down. As for ballistic missiles, we have 97 Iskander missiles downed to date, including KN-23 missiles among them, and we have 40 Kinzhal missiles downed," said Yuriy Ihnat, head of the communications department at the Air Force Command.
Ukrainian forces repel five attacks near Vovchansk, Hlyboke, Kamianka, and Fyholivka
AFU shot down 85 enemy drones, another 49 vanish from radar
Russians strike Sloviansk with drones in evening, damaging garage association
Ukrainian forces repel five attacks near Vovchansk, Hlyboke, Kamianka, and Fyholivka
Russians killed one civilian and wounded two others in Kherson region yesterday
Number of victims in drone attack on Kyiv rises to four
Russians attack Nikopol with drone: 12 Injured, including teen in serious condition
Defense
U.S. sends 150 armored vehicles to Ukraine for border guards, police this year
Since the beginning of 2025, the United States has transferred 150 armored MRAP vehicles to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies to protect civilians, and another 40 are in the process of being delivered.
Ukraine and Estonia hold defense forum in Kyiv
The Estonian-Ukrainian defense forum brought together around 30 Estonian companies in Kyiv to enhance collaboration and strengthen the defense capabilities of both nations.
Kallas reaffirms plan to give Ukraine 2M artillery rounds before year-end
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas confirmed the intention to continue engaging closely with member states to ensure the supply of at least 2 million artillery shells to Ukraine before the end of this year.
Politics
Zelensky assures that Ukraine is ready to pay for US aid packages
“Regarding the additional package, we want and we are ready, and we have handed over to the American side a large package that we want to buy. We want to buy it in one form or another. This is our format, how we will pay for it. And we did not ask for the future package for free,” Zelensky said.
Just peace, accountability important elements of ending war - author of "Ukrainian" resolution in PACE
Romanian PACE delegate Iulian Bulai, whose report became the base for the resolution on the need to ensure accountability and prevent Russia’s impunity, believes that ending the war and a just peace are impossible without justice and holding the aggressor accountable according ton international law.
Germany's new coalition supports Ukraine's NATO membership prospects
Russia must be held to account for aggression against Ukraine, war crimes – PACE
Japan, NATO condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine breaching int’l law, UN charter
Ukraine has moved 162 art collections abroad since beginning of full-scale war - MoC Tochytskyi