Associated Press: Pro-Russian blogger Anatoly Shariy released by Spanish court.

5:12 AM

8 Ukrainian officials, entrepreneurs charged with embezzling $2.1 million in firewood purchases for Armed Forces.

Among the suspects are the head of the housing and utilities departments in Luhansk and Kharkiv, a procurement official, and three entrepreneurs, the National Police said.

2:54 AM

'Three-day ceasefire is absurd' — Kellogg slams Russia’s short truce proposal.

The comments come amid Trump’s increasing frustration with what he sees as Moscow’s refusal to end its war against Ukraine, as Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians persist.

11:48 PM  (Updated:  April 30, 2025 2:15 am)

Russian drone attack injures at least 38 in Kharkiv.

"There have been 16 strikes on Kharkiv," Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. "A high-rise apartment block was hit as well as private residences, a medical facility, and civil infrastructure."

12:53 AM

US says 2 Ukrainian nationals detained for alleged illegal voting in 2024 presidential election.

"Under Donald Trump’s presidency, if you come to our country and break our laws, you will be held accountable," U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote.

10:50 PM

Putin demands full control of 4 Ukrainian regions, stalling US ceasefire push, Bloomberg reports.

One source told Bloomberg that negotiations have reportedly reached an impasse and require "direct contact between Putin and Trump" to make further progress.

10:32 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia announces beginning of 'direct talks' with Ukraine; Kyiv hasn't commented yet

9:58 PM

Almost 90% of Ukrainians do not trust Trump, poll shows.

The figure has almost doubled since November, according to the New Europe Center.

9:24 PM

Russia intensifies offensive operations in 3 regions, pushes toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's military says.

Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations in three Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on April 29 during Ukraine's state-run telethon.

7:43 PM

Putin's Victory Day truce proposal 'is start of direct negotiations' with Ukraine, Lavrov says.

"Our proposal, which President Putin voiced, is the start of direct negotiations, without preconditions," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

7:29 PM

Trump & Ukraine

Trump promised peace in 100 days, but Russia's violence against Ukraine has only escalated

7:00 PM

France accuses Russia of escalating cyberattacks since 2021, charges GRU's 'Fancy Bear' unit.

France has brought charges against the GRU's APT28 unit, based in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia.

6:44 PM

Advertising

Top 5 Ukrainian sectors with potential for EU Single Market integration — Civitta and EasyBusiness study

4:52 PM  (Updated:  April 29, 2025 6:44 pm)

Investigations

Investigation: The hidden journey of Ukrainian coal stolen by Russia — and who profits from it

6:35 PM

Trump & Ukraine

Trump said Ukraine 'will be crushed very shortly' — this is why he's wrong

6:05 PM

Video

Who's countering Russian propaganda now? Expert on US' declining disinformation defense.

The Kyiv Independent's Natalia Yermak speaks to James Rubin, a former diplomat who led the Global Engagement Center in 2022-2024, about how deeply the Russian propaganda influences U.S. politics and why the center's closure "disarms" the country in the information war.

5:36 PM

'No need to wait until May 8' — EU reacts to Putin's Victory Day truce.

"Russia could stop the killing and the bombing at any time, so there's absolutely no need to wait until the 8th of May," European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said.

5:24 PM

War analysis

What's next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say

4:08 PM

Journalist Roshchyna's body missing organs after Russian captivity, investigation says.

During the examination in Ukraine, it turned out that journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna's brain, eyes, and part of the trachea had been removed, the investigation said.

3:47 PM

Putin's Victory Day truce 'not enough,' Italy's Meloni says.

Giorgia Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced support for U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to broker a peace between Ukraine and Russia and lauded President Volodymyr Zelensky's readiness for an unconditional truce.

2:56 PM

EU doesn't rule out decoupling Ukraine, Moldova's accession process over Hungary's stance.

The EU does not rule out "decoupling" Moldova's accession process from that of Ukraine due to Hungary's opposition to Kyiv's entry, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on April 28.

2:27 PM

Russia may offer asylum over 'Russophobia,' threats to 'family values,' media reports.

Russia's Interior Ministry drafted a bill on granting asylum to foreigners unable to uphold so-called "traditional family values" in their home countries, the Russian state-controlled RBC news agency reported on April 29, citing the document and an undisclosed source.

2:09 PM

Ukraine appoints deputy defense ministers to boost efficiency, partnerships.

The government approved the appointments of three deputy defense ministers to ensure "greater efficiency and agility" in the ministry's work and boost ties with foreign partners, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on April 29.

1:44 PM

France calls UN Security Council meeting over Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

"At today's Security Council meeting, we urge members to express their strong support for Ukraine's steps toward peace, clearly condemn Russia's escalated terror against civilians, and take a principled stance on the need to put more pressure on Moscow," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

1:33 PM

New details emerge of Russian general killed in car bombing near Moscow.

Yaroslav Moskalik prepared reports for President Putin on the situation in Ukraine, according to an obituary from the Russian Defense Ministry.

12:53 PM

Kremlin softens tone on Zelensky's alleged 'legitimacy issues,' says talks take priority.

"Indeed, there are legal issues related to legitimacy, but in this case, starting the peaceful settlement process takes precedence, and the primary thing is to begin this negotiation process," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.