Intelligence: Command of Russia’s Western Military District dismissed after series of mass defeats

12:42 AM

Russia attacks 13 communities in Sumy Oblast, injuring 1.

Russian forces struck 13 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 35 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on April 16. One civilian was injured in the Yampil community following Russia's airstrike.

11:58 PM

Military: Fall of Chasiv Yar would open Russia's way to 'last strongholds' in Donetsk Oblast.

"If the Russian occupiers manage to capture this city, they will have the opportunity to launch an offensive on Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk," military spokesperson Nazar Voloshyn told Politico.

11:51 PM

Thousands protest in Georgia over controversial foreign agents bill.

The Georgian parliament postponed the vote on the first reading of the controversial foreign agent bill to April 17 amid mass protests, local media reported.

11:25 PM

Media association calls for replacement of southern military command's press department head.

Ukrainian media association Mediarukh called on April 16 for the replacement of Nataliia Humeniuk, the head of the military's Southern Operational Command's press department, for supposedly hindering proper war coverage in Kherson Oblast.

11:03 PM

War analysis

‘Double-tap’ attack. Understanding one of Russia’s cruelest tactics in Ukraine

10:58 PM

Zelensky: Ukraine to convene NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss air defense.

Ukraine will send a request to convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council to discuss the defense of Ukrainian skies and supplies of air defense systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his evening address on April 16.

10:50 PM

Ukraine state-owned enterprises weekly — Issue 126

10:19 PM

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak: Developments in Ukraine’s parliament on economic reforms, international obligations — Issue 50

10:16 PM

Latvia to send first batch of drones to Ukraine as part of drone coalition.

The Latvian government will deliver its first batch of drones as part of the Latvian-led drone coalition, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina told reporters on April 16.

10:08 PM

US aid

Speaker Johnson advances aid bills, but time running out as Ukraine’s supplies dry up

9:42 PM

Deputy PM: Ukraine hopes to begin EU accession talks in June.

The EU should be able to offer a negotiating framework to begin the process of Ukraine’s ascension to the European Union in June, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said during a press briefing on April 16, as reported by the Hromadske news outlet.

9:39 PM

Media: Corruption prevention agency begins monitoring SBU cybersecurity chief following media investigation.

The National Agency on Corruption Prevention began monitoring Illia Vitiuk, the suspended cybersecurity chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), following an investigation by the investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info, the outlet reported on April 16, citing a statement from the agency.

9:06 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia destroyed Kyiv Oblast power plant after Ukraine ran out of air defense missiles, Zelensky says

9:05 PM

White House: Johnson's Ukraine, Israel proposal appears to cover desired aid, more details needed.

The White House believes that House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposal on a series of foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appears "at first blush" to cover the necessary assistance, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on April 16.

8:24 PM

IMF expects Ukrainian economy to grow by 3.2% in 2024, by 6.5% in 2025.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 3.2% in 2024 and by up to 6.5% in 2025 even as the country continues to grapple with the full-scale invasion.

7:58 PM

Ex-first deputy secretary of Ukraine's security council declared wanted.

Oleh Hladkovsky, a former first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and a suspect in a years-old defense procurement criminal case, has been declared wanted, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on April 16.

7:43 PM

Scholz says he asked Xi to 'put pressure on Russia' to end invasion.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on April 16 that he has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to "put pressure" on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine, as "China's word carries weight in Russia."

7:26 PM

Court lifts seizure of Lifecell shares, paving way for French acquisition.

A Kyiv Court ruled on April 16 to cancel the seizure of Lifecell shares owned by sanctioned oligarch Mikhail Fridman, paving the way for French billionaire Xavier Niel to acquire the mobile operator as part of a merger with telecoms company Datagroup-Volia.

6:57 PM

Bloomberg: Russian aluminum company could lose 36% of sales due to sanctions.

Nearly 40% of sales at Russia's largest aluminum producer, Rusal, are at risk due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. and U.K., Bloomberg reported on April 16.

6:35 PM

PACE adopts resolution calling for using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted unanimously on April 16 in support of a resolution calling for frozen Russian assets to be transferred to a new fund for Ukraine's reconstruction.

6:09 PM

Lifecell acquisition contract prohibits payment to sanctioned oligarch Fridman.

The contract on the sale and merger of the telecom businesses Lifecell and Datagroup-Volia prohibits any payment to sanctioned oligarch Mikhail Fridman, Datagroup-Volia CEO Mykhailo Shelemba told Interfax Ukraine on April 16.

6:01 PM

Judiciary council opens disciplinary proceedings against ex-Supreme Court chief.

Ukraine's High Council of Justice opened a disciplinary case regarding the conduct of Vsevolod Kniaziev, the former head of the Supreme Court suspected of corruption, the council's press service said on April 16.

5:03 PM

Polish farmers unblock Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing with Ukraine.

Polish farmers protesting at the Polish-Ukrainian border have lifted their blockade at the Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing point, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service announced on April 16.

4:47 PM

General Shapovalov appointed as new head of Southern Operational Command.

Brigadier General Hennadii Shapovalov has been appointed as a new commander of the Southern Operational Command's forces, the command said on April 16.

4:36 PM

Ombudsman: Almost 37,000 Ukrainians considered missing.

Ukraine registers almost 37,000 people who are considered missing, including children, other civilians, and military personnel, Ukraine's Chief Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 16.