Russia’s shelling of Bakhmut kills 5, injures 9

2:23 PM  (Updated:  April 28, 2025 5:40 pm)

Putin announces 3-day truce on Victory Day's 80th anniversary.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a so-called "humanitarian" truce from May 8 until midnight on May 11.

5:25 PM

'If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately' — Ukraine reacts to Putin's Victory Day truce.

"If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately. Why wait until May 8th? If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote in a post on X.

4:03 PM

Russian state media releases alleged footage of North Korean troops in Russia for the first time.

The Russian state news agency TASS published a video on April 28 that purports to show North Korean troops who fought alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast training in Russia.

3:07 PM

'It's their own business' — China refuses to comment on North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have confirmed the involvement of North Korean troops fighting against Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast.

2:47 PM

Death toll of Russia's April 24 strike on Kyiv rises to 13.

The man was survived by an underage daughter and a six-year-old adopted grandson. Their home was completely destroyed in the attack, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko reported.

2:18 PM

Russia demands recognition of Crimea, other Ukrainian regions' annexation in any peace talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Lavrov listed other conditions for Russia to enter into peace talks, namely a ban on Ukraine's entry into NATO, the country's demilitarization, and changes to Ukraine's legislation that would restore the position of the Russian language, culture, and religious organization.

1:16 PM

Russia's military building up at Finland's border over potential NATO clash, WSJ reports.

These efforts include expanding military bases near the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, around 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Finland, the planned site for a new headquarters that could potentially command tens of thousands of troops, the Wall Street Journal wrote.

1:03 PM

Ukraine loses Su-27 fighter jet repelling Russian drone attack, Air Force says.

The pilot ejected and is receiving medical attention, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

12:42 PM

Kremlin demands 'signal' from Ukraine to resume talks, even as Russia rejects ceasefire proposals.

Moscow is waiting for a signal from Kyiv to resume bilateral peace negotiations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 28, even as Russia continues its regular attacks on Ukraine.

11:45 AM

Trump’s demands for Ukrainian territorial concessions go too far, Germany’s defense minister says.

Germany will continue to support Ukraine with military aid even if the U.S. cuts back its assistance, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

11:29 AM

US, South Korea denounce North Korea's admission of Russia-Ukraine war involvement.

The statements come as both Moscow and Pyongyang admitted for the first time that North Korean soldiers were dispatched to fight alongside Russia in Kursk Oblast, with Russian President Vladimir Putin lauding them as "heroes."

10:58 AM

6 killed, 13 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions over the past day killed at least six civilians and injured at least 13, regional authorities reported on April 28.

10:41 AM

Ukraine's ex-President Yanukovych sentenced to additional 15 years in prison in absentia.

Ukraine's former pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych has been sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for inciting desertion and organizing illegal border crossings, the Prosecutor General's Office announced on April 28.

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.