Media in Progress Ep. 6: Popular protest, inter-elite feuds or Russian intervention - What’s going on in Kazakhstan?

9:52 AM

Sanctioned Russians hold 'golden' Maltese passports, FT reports.

Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan is one of at least seven individuals who bought Maltese passports before later being sanctioned by the United States, the EU, or Ukraine for links to Russia’s invasion.

9:17 AM

Czech initiative delivers another 400,000 shells to Ukraine, Prague says.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova reiterated that the initiative already supplied 1.5 million rounds of various calibers in 2024 and has enough funds to continue until this fall.

8:54 AM

Drones reportedly strike Russian plant producing parts for missiles, radars.

"Unidentified" drones targeted the Kremniy-El plant, a major facility specializing in microelectronics for Russia’s military-industrial complex, said Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

8:30 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 949,800 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,160 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

8:22 AM

Kyiv's Special Forces report raid on Russian positions in Kursk Oblast, dispute Moscow's claim of recapture.

"While the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, (Valery) Gerasimov, reports the 'liberation' of the Kursk region from Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces, operators of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center continue to carry out missions in the area successfully," the military said.

8:00 AM

Trump says he believes Zelensky is ready to give up Crimea to Russia.

When asked whether he thought Zelensky was willing to cede the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, Donald Trump responded: "I think so."

7:20 AM

Ukraine recorded the world's highest military burden in 2024, think tank reports.

Ukraine’s military spending grew by 2.9% in 2024 to reach $64.7 billion, roughly 43% of Russia’s total expenditure, according to a report released on April 28 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

4:59 AM

Trump urges Putin to 'stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal' to end Ukraine war.

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 27 voiced frustration with Russia and urged President Vladimir Putin to stop attacks. "I was very disappointed that missiles were flying, [fired] by Russia."

3:46 AM

Schumer criticizes Trump’s handling of Russia-Ukraine war, warns of risk to US alliances.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war, warning that it risks damaging America’s European alliances.

2:11 AM

North Korea confirms for first time it has deployed troops to fight alongside Russia in Kursk Oblast.

In a statement reported by the state-run KCNA news agency, the ruling Workers’ Party described the deployment as demonstrating the "highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship" between North Korea and Russia.

2:19 PM  (Updated:  April 28, 2025 2:10 am)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: Events to look out for this week

11:40 PM

Russia wants to 'deceive America,' 'drag out war,' Zelensky says.

"Since March 11, when America proposed a complete and unconditional ceasefire at talks in Saudi Arabia, the Russians have used almost 8,500 aerial bombs, almost 200 missiles of various types, and almost 3,000 Shaheds," Zelensky said on April 27.

10:55 PM

Prior US aid to Ukraine not included in minerals deal, PM Shmyhal says.

"It has been agreed that the document does not count the assistance provided before its signing," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 27, following talks on the minerals deal in Washington.

9:56 PM

Russia will not hand over control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to US, Lavrov says.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea of any changes to the management of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in an interview with CBS News on April 26.

9:18 PM

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, Europe's ceasefire proposal includes US security guarantees, no recognition of Crimea, Reuters reports

7:13 PM

Next week could be critical in deciding future US involvement in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, Rubio says.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the upcoming week will be crucial for determining whether the U.S. will continue its involvement in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, NBC News reported on April 27.

5:47 PM

Russian commander contradicts Kremlin, admits Ukrainian forces still fighting in Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine also earlier denied the Kremlin's claim, saying that the statements "do not correspond to reality."

2:25 PM  (Updated:  April 27, 2025 4:32 pm)

Ukraine, Europe's ceasefire proposal includes US security guarantees, no recognition of Crimea, Reuters reports.

The document, reprinted in full by the news outlet, contains numerous points that show the diverging viewpoints of the U.S. on one side, and Ukraine and its European allies on the other as they seek to end Russia's full-scale invasion.

4:05 PM

Russian airstrikes on Kostiantynivka kill 3 civilians, injure 4.

Russian forces dropped FAB-250 bombs on a residential area, damaging 21 homes.

3:29 PM

Video

Recognition of Crimea’s annexation and Kursk situation | Ukraine This Week.

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the late Pope Francis’ complex legacy in Ukraine, marked by a refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion outright amid statements of support for Ukraine’s struggle. Meanwhile, the deadliest attack on Kyiv in months leaves a dozen civilians dead and many more injured, as U.S. leadership reportedly considers recognizing Russia’s illegal occupation of Ukraine’s Crimea.

3:26 PM

'Probably broke all records' — NASAMS downs 11 Russian cruise missiles in less than 2 minutes, Ukraine's Air Force claims.

NASAMS have been in service with Ukrainian forces since November 2022.

2:00 PM

Russian assault groups continue attempts to enter Sumy Oblast, Ukraine's border guard says.

The situation in the Sumy Oblast remains "challenging," State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said.

1:46 PM

Trump has chance to become 'greatest president in US history,’ Ukrainian lawmaker says

12:40 PM

Trump & Ukraine

Ukraine, Europe's hopes rise for 'just peace' after Trump meets Zelensky at Vatican

10:09 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 6, injure at least 29 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 57 out of 149 Shahed-type drones and other drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.