The Kyiv Independent’s contributor Ignatius Ivlev-Yorke spent a day with a mobile team from the State Emergency Service in Nikopol in the south of Ukraine as they responded to relentless drone, artillery, and mortar strikes from Russian forces just across the Dnipro River. Nikopol is located across from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the city of Enerhodar.
Peter Szijjarto's announcement came after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) allegedly dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast.
Moscow and Washington discuss the potential resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other issues related to the peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed to the Russian state-run Interfax news agency.
"This is a historic decision, as weapons for Ukraine will be purchased at the expense of the proceeds from frozen Russian assets through the European Peace Fund," Denys Shmyhal said.
Kurt Volker said that now "there is more alignment" between Ukraine and the U.S. under the Trump Administration than at the beginning of 2025.
The approval marks a key step in international efforts to hold Moscow accountable for what is considered the gravest violation of international law committed against Ukraine.
Although Moscow declared on April 28 that it would halt all military actions from May 8 to midnight on May 11 to mark Victory Day, strikes on civilian areas have continued.
Under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's rule, millions of Ukrainians died during the Holodomor, a man-made famine in 1932–1933. The dictator also oversaw mass deportations, purges of Ukrainian intellectuals and leaders, and the suppression of the Ukrainian language and culture.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), this marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network conducting activities harmful to Ukraine.
Delegations from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered in Lviv as EU officials prepare to approve both new defense aid and steps toward establishing a tribunal for Russian leadership.
Russian authorities claim Ukrainian attack on Belgorod
Explosions and fires were recorded in Russia's Belgorod on Dec. 30, according to Russian Telegram channels. Russian officials accused Ukraine of attacking the city. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility.
The report comes only a day after Russia launched a massive wave of strikes against Ukraine that killed at least 39 people and injured over 160 others.
Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed at around 3 p.m. local time that Ukrainian forces launched an attack against the center of Belgorod, a city about 40 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
Nearly an hour later, Gladkov wrote on his Telegram channel that a missile attack alert had been activated and urged citizens to head to shelters.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry claimed that 14 people were killed during the attack, including two children. Some 108 people, including 15 children, were allegedly injured.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.
Ukrainian authorities did not claim responsibility, as they generally do not comment on reports of attacks and explosions on Russian territory.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that according to its source in intelligence agencies, Ukrainian forces were targeting military facilities in Belgorod Oblast.
The damage in the city was caused by Russian air defenses mishandling the situation, which resulted in debris falling on the city center, the source claimed.
Similar information was provided to RBC Ukraine by the news agency's undisclosed intelligence source.
Ukrainian forces allegedly targeted military sites in the city, but inefficient response by Russian defenses resulted in damage to civilian areas, according to RBC Ukraine's source.
"These joint measures are a result of the barbaric attacks against Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and the killing of civilians. These measures are ongoing," the source said.
The Kyiv Independent cannot verify this information.
Footage published on Russian Telegram channels shows multiple fires in the city, damaged buildings, and burning cars.
Russian officials in Belgorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine's Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, regularly report on cross-border strikes by Ukrainian forces.
Daria Shulzhenko
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