Newsletter 22/04/2026
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Economy Ministry: Druzhba pipeline filling resumes, Russian oil to reach Slovakia on Thursday
The Druzhba oil pipeline is being refilled following repairs on the Ukrainian section; Slovakia is expected to receive oil on Thursday morning.
Aktuality reported this on Wednesday, citing the Slovak Ministry of Economy, according to Ukrinform.
Pumping and supplies to Slovakia are expected to resume on Thursday (April 23) morning, confirmed Economy Minister Denisa Saková.
The Slovak Ministry of Economy reported that the state-owned joint-stock company Transpetrol received information from its Ukrainian partner regarding the resumption of oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. The Ukrainian side provided a schedule for oil pumping in April.
EU ambassadors approve €90 billion loan for Ukraine and 20th package of sanctions against Russia
At a meeting of EU member state ambassadors in the COREPER II format in Brussels, amendments to the EU’s multiannual financial framework—the final legislative document required to finalize the loan—were approved, along with the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
Baltic states ask Ukraine to help reduce tensions over Russian threats, says Sybiha
“Right now, the Russians are particularly active in their information campaigns in the Baltic states. The Russians are sending the message that you have provided airspace for the use of Ukrainian drones. And there are some other issues as well,” the foreign minister emphasized.
War
Zelensky on renewed talks: Ukraine ready for meetings in any format, at any time
“As for the format, where, and when—that is not up to us. We are ready for any format at any time. We all know the priority countries. Meetings have already taken place there. Turkey is open. The Middle East—there is a ceasefire there for now, so I think it’s safe for everyone. Although we are not afraid to meet at any time in any country, except for Russia and Belarus,” he said.
Zelensky Comments on NYT Article About “Donnieland”: Only Official Names
President Volodymyr Zelensky denied a report by The New York Times claiming that the Ukrainian side had allegedly proposed renaming Donbas to “Donnieland” in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump.
He said this while responding to journalists’ questions, Ukrinform’s correspondent reports. According to the head of state, only official terminology regarding Ukrainian territories is used during negotiations.
“During my negotiations, there are no terms other than Donetsk region, Luhansk region, Donbas, and the territory of Ukraine. Accordingly, there are documents where all of this is recorded. As for other names… I cannot comment on any dialogues of various kinds between the parties. In my view, the main thing is that Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain Ukrainian land. And that is the case. That there is no ‘Putinland.’ That, it seems to me, is the most important thing,” Zelensky said.
As reported earlier, The New York Times wrote that during negotiations Ukraine had proposed calling Donbas “Donnieland” in order to persuade the Donald Trump administration to take a stronger stance against Russia’s territorial demands.
Explosions heard in Sevastopol; strikes reported
Explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol during the night and morning of April 22. Two strikes were reported in the area of Cape Fiolent, where an anti-aircraft missile regiment is stationed, and on Monastyrske Highway, where a Russian Black Sea Fleet electronic intelligence unit is deployed.
3rd Army Corps refutes Russia’s claim of capturing Luhansk region
“The latest statement by the Russian Federation about capturing Luhansk region is fake: the Third Assault Corps controls the settlements in the region!” the corps emphasized.
Syrskyi visits Pokrovsk sector and decides to reinforce units
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, during a working trip to the Pokrovsk sector, discussed the operational situation with commanders, noting that 688 attacks by Russian troops have been recorded since early April, and decided to reinforce Ukrainian units.
Reuters: Third Russian oil refinery shuts down this week after drone attacks
According to the sources, the refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, owned by Rosneft, halted primary oil processing on April 18 following an attack by Ukrainian drones.
In 2024, the plant processed 5.74 million tons of crude oil, producing 1.10 million tons of motor gasoline, 1.64 million tons of diesel fuel, and 1.27 million tons of fuel oil, the sources said.
Shellings
Consequences of massive strike on Yampil community in Sumy region revealed
Russian drones strike agricultural enterprise in Chernihiv region, damaging warehouses and equipment
In Semenivka, Chernihiv region, enemy Molniya drone strikes private houses, injuring woman
Russians strike agricultural enterprise in Velykyi Burluk, Kharkiv region
Russians attack railway facility in Zaporizhzhia; train engineer’s assistant killed
Russian drone attack leaves port facilities damaged in Odesa region
Air defense forces neutralize 189 out of 215 Russian drones since yesterday evening
❗️Russia unable to sharply increase number of drones used in its strikes on Ukraine – expert
The main limiting factor in attacks using Shahed drones, besides the availability of munitions, remains the number of launch sites available to the aggressor state.
According to Ukrinform, this was stated on Ukrainian Radio by aviation expert and member of the Public Council under the State Aviation Service, Bohdan Dolintse.
“If we talk about the scale of Russian attacks, there is actually nothing new here. Since 2022, Russia has had the capacity to produce up to 120 ballistic and cruise missiles per month. We see that, overall, seven attacks with 20 missiles each correspond to this figure. Of these, usually around 50 are ballistic weapons, 60–70 are cruise missiles, and a small number are North Korean missiles,” the expert said.
Defense
Zelensky meets Spain’s DM to discuss air defense missiles, SAFE expansion, and joint production
Ukraine plans to expand cooperation with Spain under the SAFE program and anticipates the introduction of new models of joint defense production.
“I discussed defense cooperation with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles. We look forward to expanding the SAFE program and the emergence of new products from our joint production,” he wrote.
Spain is providing Ukraine with 100 VAMTAC armored tactical vehicles, as well as a batch of 155mm artillery ammunition. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Cadena SER.
Politics
US lifts or eases sanctions against Russia and Belarus about 16 times last year – Vlasiuk
Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, stated that over the past year approximately 16 cases were recorded in which the United States lifted or eased sanctions against Russian and Belarusian companies and individuals.
The Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, stated this during a TV broadcast, according to Ukrinform.
“We calculated that over the past year there were approximately 16 cases when the United States lifted or eased sanctions against Russian companies, Russians, or Belarusian companies and Belarusians,” he said.
Frozen Russian assets could fund Special Tribunal, Ukrainian lawmaker says
“There is a problem in that there are currently no funds to run the tribunal. But there are several potential sources. First, direct assistance from the European Union – this could be financed through individual European countries with a clear EU position. Second, frozen Russian assets. If they were released specifically for this purpose, it would resolve the issue entirely,” Sobolev said.
‘World Parliament’ platform used by Russia to spread propaganda – Ukrainian Vice Speaker
This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko.
“Russia uses the IPU platform for its own purposes, including to sustain its legitimacy and promote its version of events, including through propaganda tools. This is one of the few platforms where Russia is still represented,” Kornienko said.
Economy
Robotics and satellite communications: Joint venture agreements signed at Ukraine–EU Business Summit/photos
Several joint venture agreements between Ukrainian and European companies were signed during the Ukraine–EU Business Summit in Brussels.
According to an Ukrinform correspondent, Danish company GomSpace and Ukrainian company STETMAN announced the launch of a joint venture in Ukraine to develop sovereign satellite communication capabilities. The partners signed the agreement in the presence of representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Government of Ukraine.
Ukrainian company TENCORE and French company SHARK ROBOTICS also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, combining the expertise of a global leader in firefighting robots with one of Ukraine’s leading players in combat robotics.
The partnership will establish two joint ventures. One, located in France, will focus on developing and producing defense robots based on battlefield experience in Ukraine, including logistics and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). These robots will serve the French armed forces and, with donor support, be supplied to Ukrainian forces.
Society
Over 2,100 abducted children returned to Ukraine since launch of Bring Kids Back UA, says Zelensky
In total, since the launch of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, more than 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have been returned, 150 of them since the beginning of this year.
“In total, since the start of the initiative, more than 2,100 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have been brought back. Of them, 150 have been returned since the beginning of this year. I thank all partners who are helping us in this effort,” he wrote.
Crime
Kharkiv TRC soldiers suspected of torturing civilians
The State Bureau of Investigations has uncovered evidence of the torture of civilians involving military personnel from one of Kharkiv’s district territorial recruitment and social support centers.
Drugs and fraudulent call centers: Police foil Khimprom criminal group, operating in Ukraine and EU
Police have exposed the Khimprom criminal group, which was involved in several areas of criminal activity, including fraudulent call centers, the U420 project, and the illegal trafficking of narcotics.
According to a Ukrinform correspondent, this was announced during a briefing by the head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhovskyi.
“The Khimprom criminal group is not just a separate group of individuals, but a ramified criminal scheme and system that has long exerted criminal influence on the territory of Ukraine and in EU countries. This structure is involved in several areas of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, violent crimes, fraud through call centers, and the organization of the large-scale U420 project,” Vyhivskyi noted.
Russian agent linked to Medvedchuk’s project detained in Odesa over SOF officer murder plot
The Security Service of Ukraine has detained a Russian FSB agent in Odesa who was plotting the assassination of a commander of a Special Operations Forces unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
