Newsletter 16/04/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
EU to monitor how Ukraine-US minerals deal affects European integration
During the EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting, the Ukrainian side reportedly assured the EU that a forthcoming minerals agreement with the United States would not contradict Ukraine's efforts toward EU membership. At the same time, the European Commission will closely monitor how such an agreement might influence Ukraine's EU integration process.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood Marta Kos explained that candidate countries are free to enter into agreements with any partners, including the United States. While the European Commission welcomed all agreements that align with Ukraine's best interests, she emphasized that the EU would nonetheless observe the potential implications of the deal on Ukraine's accession path.
Ukraine and U.S. will soon sign economic partnership memorandum – Svyrydenko
Ukraine and the United States have made significant progress in drafting an economic partnership agreement and establishing an investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The memorandum is expected to be signed soon.
U.S. softens demands for Ukraine to pay back aid – Bloomberg
After a new round of negotiations between the two sides in Washington last week, the Trump administration reduced its estimate of aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion — from $300 billion to approximately $100 billion.
This figure is close to Ukraine’s own estimate of over $90 billion in aid received from the United States.
Drones attack another Russian brigade responsible for deadly strike on Sumy – media
In Russia's Ivanovo region in the morning of April 16, drones attacked the 112th Guards Missile Brigade, which, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR), was responsible for the missile strike on Sumy that killed 36 people.
Local residents reported that the 112th Guards Missile Brigade (military unit No. 03333), located in the town of Shuya, Ivanovo region, came under drone attack.
According to open sources, the brigade is deployed in the southern district of Shuya and is equipped with Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems.
Russians execute Ukrainian POW in Donetsk region
Russian invaders executed an unarmed prisoner of war, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, near the village of Rozdolne in Volnovakha district, Donetsk Region. Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation.
According to operational data, on April 11, 2025, three Ukrainian servicemen were on combat mission at a position near the village of Rozdolne in Volnovakha district.
During an assault operation, Russian invaders captured them. One of the unarmed Ukrainian soldiers was shot with automatic gunfire by the armed forces of the aggressor state.
Under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a pretrial investigation has been launched under criminal proceedings for the commission of a war crime resulting in the death of a person.
Urgent investigative and search measures are underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime and identify those involved from among the Russian military personnel.
Russia concentrating most forces in border areas of Kursk region, in direction of Vovchansk, Lyptsi – Demchenko
“There are two key areas where the Russian Federation has a certain amount of forces and means. First of all, in the Kursk region, in particular in the area where the Defense Forces conducted their operation within the Kursk region, and they (Russia - ed.) continue to pull up there. In fact, these small assault groups attempting to cross into Ukraine originate from the forces Russia has maintained and continues to reinforce. The enemy has concentrated sufficient forces and resources in the directions of Vovchansk and Lyptsi, enabling them to conduct combat operations on Ukrainian territory,” said Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service.
War
Russia plans to use North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine – CCD
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council pointed to Russia's plans to use DPRK military personnel for the war in Ukraine. However, the Russians will manipulate the narrative and claim that North Korean troops are fighting supposedly on "Russian territory according to the Russian Constitution," since they have incorporated Ukrainian lands into their constitution.
He also added that North Korean troops would wear Russian uniforms, just as they do in Russia's Kursk region.
Kovalenko stressed that Russia is actively bringing in North Korean labor -- both women and men, mainly young people aged 18 to 25 -- for use in production sectors. For this, the DPRK leadership receives payment from Russia -- about $1,000 per person, he said.
Russia violated energy truce more than 30 times - Ukraine's MFA
"Russia has violated the energy ceasefire - which specifically concerns energy infrastructure - more than 30 times since the truce began. We report detailed facts about all these violations and send them regularly to the capitals of partner countries and headquarters of international organizations,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Over the past 24 hours, three additional violations were recorded. Russia’s shelling damaged transformers in the Mykolaiv region and the outskirts of Kherson, while a power line in the Poltava region was also hit.
Ukraine continues to inform its allies, including the United States, about these breaches.
The MFA spokesperson recalled that the energy ceasefire has been in place since March 25.
Since start of full-scale war, 159,000 war crimes registered in Ukraine
Shelling of Kherson's: Number of wounded rises to nine, including teenager
Another man injured in Russian shelling of Kherson
Overnight drone attack on Odesa damages school, church, homes
Death toll from missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4 rises to 20
Martial law, mobilization extended for three more months
Russians attack Dnipropetrovsk region with drones, artillery throughout day
Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Giatsint-S self-propelled gun/Video
SBU detains Russian agents who planned two explosions in Vinnytsia
Ukraine’s MoD sends 420,000 UAVs to the frontline
Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Akatsiya SPG in Donetsk region/Video
Zelensky: Over 40% of weapons used on battlefield produced in Ukraine
During a ceremony recognizing Ukrainian defense industry workers, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that over 40% of the weapons used on the battlefield are domestically produced.
Ukrainian forces destroy North Korean Koksan artillery system in Pokrovsk sector/Video
In the Pokrovsk sector, fighters from the Muramasa unit of the 109th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine successfully struck a North Korean M-1978 Koksan self-propelled artillery system using drones.
In addition to the artillery system, Russian military vehicles and a motorcycle were also damaged or destroyed.
The M-1978 Koksan, produced by North Korea, is equipped with a 170 mm cannon. Its firing range extends to 43 km with high-explosive fragmentation projectiles and 54-60 km with active-reactive projectiles, making it one of the longest-range artillery systems in use by Russian forces. The system fires at a rate of two shots every five minutes and is operated by a crew of eight, including a driver, commander, gunner, and five loaders
“White Angels” evacuated up to ten more civilians from shelled Pokrovsk
Police officers of the White Angel special forces unit have rescued up to ten more civilians from the shelled Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, where the enemy is constantly dropping bombs and hunting with drones.
Ukrainian border guards destroy two Russian Murom-M surveillance systems on southern front
“Court” in Crimea rejects political prisoner Zekiriayev’s complaint about inhumane detention conditions
The Bakhchisarai district “court” in the temporarily occupied Crimea rejected the administrative claim of Server Zekiriayev, sentenced to 13 years in prison, regarding the unbearable conditions of detention in the colony.
“On April 10, the Bakhchisarai District Court of Crimea considered an administrative lawsuit of Server Zekiriayev, sentenced to 13 years in prison, against the Penitentiary Colony No. 1 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in the Tula region. The lawsuit concerned “unbearable conditions of detention” in the single cell type facility”, - reported by the Crimean Solidarity.
Defense
Ukrainian and Czech defense officials discuss ammunition initiative
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Valerii Churkin, and Aleš Vytečka, Director of the Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation Agency at the Czech Ministry of Defense, discussed future cooperation. The Czech delegation provided details regarding the schedule and volume of ammunition supplies under the initiative.
Discussions covered the supply dynamics of various caliber shells through 2025 and collaboration with donor countries supporting the initiative.
The delegations also examined joint projects with other nations and ways to address the urgent needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Made for Victory grant programme to cover 150 arms component manufacturers
A total of UAH 1 billion has been allocated for the ‘Made for Victory’ programme supporting the manufacturers of military equipment components this year. These grants are expected to cover about 150 enterprises.
Politics
Partners to support war-affected communities in Ukraine with GBP 150M
The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development has launched the second phase of the donor program “Partnership for a Reselient Ukraine,” aimed at supporting communities affected by Russian aggression. The program is being implemented in cooperation with the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Ukraine's ombudsman, Qatar's minister of state discuss return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia
Economy
Italy transfers first EUR 25M tranche to restore Ukraine's energy system
The Italian government has transferred the first tranche of EUR 25 million for the restoration of Ukraine's energy system. This is part of a joint initiative with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with a total value of EUR 200 million.
Minister Koval announces changes in support of Ukraine’s livestock farming
Ukraine is working to transition from short-term to medium-term planning in the development of the cattle sector in the livestock farming industry, which had reduced by more than 14 times in the past 30 years and more.