Ukraine strips Iranian ambassador of title amid provision of drones to Russia

Ukrainian drones struck a seaport in southern Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on April 19, social media channels reported.

Iran fired on two ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on April 18 after announcing it had closed the critical shipping route earlier in the day, according to state media and shipping sources.

A gunman who opened fire in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district on April 18 was killed by police after leaving at least six people dead and 14 others injured.

"Resuming negotiations is not our top priority," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Ukraine's General Staff said the targeted sites support Russia's Armed Forces.

"The Americans, with their repeated record of breach of promise, continue to engage in banditry and piracy under the guise of a so-called blockade," Iran's armed forces command said.

"This decision is shameful," the statement reads.

Ukraine's Air Force said it shot down 190 of 219 Russian drones overnight.

The number includes 1,080 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The effective extension of the waiver comes just two days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that the Trump administration "will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil," as well as another waiver on Iranian oil.

Russia is moving to develop a major manganese deposit in occupied parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian media reported on April 17.

Iran signaled on April 17 that access through the Strait of Hormuz remains conditional, despite earlier claims that the key shipping route was open.