Michael Bociurkiw: Checkmate. Putin has the West cornered

7:05 PM

Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov killed during combat mission.

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian pilot of an F-16 fighter jet, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

6:17 PM

Human toll

These parents and children were killed by Russia after Kyiv agreed to 30-day ceasefire

6:04 PM

Zelensky imposes sanctions on 4 pro-Russian politicians, businessmen.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on four politicians and prominent business figures on April 12.

5:52 PM

Reuters: Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval.

More than 100 Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine are acting as mercenaries and do not appear to have direct ties to Beijing, according to two U.S. officials cited by Reuters. However, a former intelligence official told Reuters that Chinese military officers were present behind Russian lines, with Beijing’s approval, to observe and draw tactical lessons from the war.

5:46 PM

Russian drone attack kills 1, injures 2 in Kherson Oblast.

On April 12, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle in the Dniprovskiy district, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The drone dropped explosives on the car, fatally wounding a 27-year-old man.

4:30 PM

Ukrainian FM: Kyiv's membership in NATO should not be off the table.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s desire for peace but warned against the misuse of the term. “We want to end this war this year. But it is important not to manipulate,” he said.

4:12 PM

Sports

Forget Ovechkin and Washington. Kyiv's Capitals are playing for the survival of Ukrainian hockey

2:44 PM

Norway pledges around $940 million to train and equip Ukrainian brigade.

The initiative is part of a broader Nordic-Baltic effort to support Ukraine’s land forces. Norway will take the lead role in the training component, working in close coordination with Ukrainian authorities and allied nations.

12:23 PM

Russians preparing for assault in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military warns.

In an official statement from April 12, "Khortytsia" reported that although no offensive actions were carried out by Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction over the last day, Russians are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.

10:55 AM

Domestic missile production increases eightfold in 2024, Ukrainian minister says.

Ukraine has also more than doubled its production of long-range drones in 2024 compared to the previous year, which is a 22-fold increase compared to 2022. In total, 324 new types of weapons were developed in Ukraine by the end of 2024.

10:25 AM

Ukraine downs 56 Russian drones in overnight attack, Air Force says.

According to the Air Force, Russia launched a total of 88 drones, including Shahed-type loitering munitions and various decoy drones, from the directions of Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia.

9:29 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 931,450 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 931,450 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on April 12.

7:40 AM

RFE/RL Ukraine editorial office cutting broadcasts, places employees on leave amid 'financial challenges.'

The editorial office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Ukraine announced on April 11 that it was reducing its broadcasts and placing a number of it employees on leave as the U.S. government-funded media organization continues to endure "financial challenges" amid the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate grant funding.

5:21 AM  (Updated:  April 12, 2025 7:09 am)

Fires, injuries reported after Russian drone attack on Kyiv.

Russian forces launched drone attacks on Kyiv overnight on April 12, causing multiple fires and injuring at least two people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

6:55 AM

Trump 'frustrated with both sides' amid ongoing peace talks, White House says.

"I think the president has been quite clear that he's been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "(Trump) wants to see this fighting end, he wants the war to end, and we believe we have leverage in negotiating a deal."

12:48 AM  (Updated:  April 12, 2025 4:56 am)

Kellogg clarifies comments after seemingly suggesting Ukraine can be split like postwar Germany after peace deal.

President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has clarified his comments in an interview with the Times on April 11, where he seemingly suggested that Ukraine could be partitioned into separate zones as part of a peace deal with Russia.

4:00 AM

US, Ukraine minerals deal negotiations 'antagonistic,' Reuters reports.

Describing the Trump administration's expansive proposal as "maximalist," the source told Reuters that it was unlikely a new round of technical talks will lead to a breakthrough in negotiations.

2:01 AM

Kyiv hires US law firm Hogan Lovells to advise on minerals deal.

Ukraine's Justice Ministry has hired the U.S. firm Hogan Lovells for assistance in negotiating a critical minerals deal, according to public records. Sources also told Reuters that talks on the deal had become "antagonistic."

11:42 PM

Putin, Witkoff discuss 'aspects of Ukrainian settlement,' Kremlin says.

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who was reportedly present at the meeting between Putin and Witkoff, called the talks "productive."

11:03 PM

Ukraine ready to buy more air defense systems, Zelensky says.

Zelensky said he addressed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump and with Ukraine's allies at the Ramstein summit in Brussels, which he joined virtually from Kryvyi Rih.

10:30 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: US envoy Witkoff proposes giving Russia 'ownership' of Ukrainian regions, Reuters reports

10:26 PM

US envoy Witkoff proposes giving Russia 'ownership' of Ukrainian regions, Reuters reports.

The news came as Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss a possible path toward a settlement in Ukraine.

10:21 PM

Zelensky slaps sanctions on war propagandists, Russian shadow fleet.

The sanctions lists include 71 people and 18 propaganda outlets spreading Russian propaganda. Fifty-nine more people are on the list targeting the so-called shadow fleet, including two Chinese captains.

9:56 PM

Estonia detains Russian shadow fleet tanker for the first time.

The vessel's captain is a Chinese citizen, and the rest of the crew are nationals of Myanmar.

8:46 PM

'Several hundred' Chinese nationals fighting for Russia, Zelensky says.

"Putin was not satisfied with soldiers from North Korea. Now he is trying to cover his shortages by pulling in yet another nation — the Chinese," the president said.