Finland officially announces that it will apply for NATO membership.

6:01 AM

Russian forces attack 5 communities in Sumy Oblast, injuring 4.

Russian forces attacked five communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast, injuring four people, the regional administration reported on April 19. At least 33 explosions were recorded.

4:13 AM

UN rep condemns Russian attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, issued a statement condemning the Russian military's April 19 attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

2:43 AM

Russia claims 2 killed in attack on Belgorod.

A Ukrainian attack on Russia's Belgorod Oblast overnight on April 20 killed two people, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Telegram.

2:25 AM

Drone strikes allegedly target energy facilities in Smolensk, Bryansk, Kaluga Oblasts.

Air defenses in Russia's Bryansk, Kaluga, and Smolensk Oblasts intercepted several drones overnight on April 20, which fell and started a fire at three separate energy facilities, according to regional officials.

1:50 AM

Guardian: Half of British military defense fund for Ukraine remains unused.

More than half of the U.K.'s 900 million pound (over $1 billion) military fund for Ukraine remains unused due to bureaucratic delays in handing out contracts, the Guardian reports.

11:54 PM

Zelensky visits Dnipro after Russian strike, calls for air defenses from partners.

"When Ukraine appeals to partners for air defense systems that they have - in warehouses, in storage bases, but that are needed here, right here, to protect lives - we are talking about a true alliance," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

11:36 PM

Republican lawmaker hits out at colleagues: 'They would like to see Russia win'.

In an interview with C-SPAN, Don Bacon laid out the dire situation Ukraine finds itself in on the battlefield, saying if the bills don’t pass “the Russians will be in Kyiv.”

11:12 PM

Ukraine's ambassador 'cautiously optimistic' about upcoming US aid vote.

"From our intense work with both parties and committee approval of voting procedures today, I am cautiously optimistic this time," Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, told the Kyiv Independent on April 19.

10:26 PM

Senate Democrats back Johnson's foreign aid bills.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on April 19 that Senate Democrats will support House Speaker Mike Johnson's series of bills that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other priorities if they pass the House.

10:15 PM

Russian finance minister says GDP expected to grow 3.6% in 2024, matching 2023's rate.

The announcement followed comments earlier in the week from finance ministry official Lev Denisov, who said that the initial 2.3% estimate would be revised upwards due to the "strong growth of the economy" at the beginning of 2024.

10:01 PM

Russian attack on Kherson kills 80-year-old woman.

In a post on Telegram, the head of the city's military administration, Roman Mrochko, said the victim was walking the streets when she was hit in an attack launched from the occupied east bank of Kherson.

9:20 PM

War analysis

Ukraine’s Bohdana howitzer is rolling off production lines – here’s what it can do

9:18 PM

Media: Pentagon ready to quickly send Ukraine arms if Congress approves aid bill.

According to one of the unnamed U.S. defense officials, some of the proposed military equipment is located in Europe and could reach Ukraine within days after a successful vote, while other material would likely take a few weeks.

9:14 PM

Top Russian colonel reportedly killed in Ukrainian strike on occupied Luhansk.

Kropotov, the commander of the 59th Guards Communications Brigade, was killed in a Ukrainian strike on his headquarters on April 13, according to a Telegram post from a Ukrainian colonel, Anatolii Shtefan "Shtirlitz."

8:39 PM

Governor: Russia’s war destroys over 100,000 residential buildings in Donetsk Oblast.

Along with housing, Russia's war destroyed the region's heavy industry.

8:35 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: First Russian Tu-22M3 bomber downed, strikes in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kill 7.

8:33 PM

Russian media: American pro-Kremlin fighter, propagandist killed in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan confirmed his death but did not provide any further details.

7:46 PM

Russia attacks first responders in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, no casualties reported.

"Fortunately, there were no casualties among the personnel," the State Emergency Service reported on social media.

7:40 PM

Interview

‘A bumpy ride:’ CEO of MacPaw, developer of apps for Apple devices, on business during war

7:20 PM

Netherlands allocates over $210 million for ammunition for Ukraine.

Specifically, the country is devoting 150 million euros ($160 million) to Germany's Immediate Action on Air Defence initiative. The Netherlands has also allocated 60 million euros ($64 million) for the purchase of short-range air defense hardware, for example, to combat Russian drones.

7:11 PM

At NATO-Ukraine Council, Stoltenberg says allies pledge more air defense systems.

"In addition to Patriots, there are other weapons that allies can provide, including (the French system) SAMP/T, and many others, who do not have available systems, have pledged to provide financial support to purchase them for Ukraine," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

7:10 PM

Interview

'No region in Ukraine endures hell like Donetsk Oblast,' governor says of Russia's war

6:25 PM

Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell shortlisted for European Press Prize 2024.

A story by the Kyiv Independent's reporter Francis Farrell, "One Night in Bakhmut: Civilians Wait for the End as Russia Draws Closer," has been shortlisted for the European Press Prize 2024 in the "Distinguished Reporting" category.

6:02 PM

Reuters: Italy's UniCredit expecting push from ECB to reduce business in Russia.

The news follows a similar warning received by Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) on April 18 that the ECB was requesting an accelerated wind-down of its business in Russia.

5:53 PM

Poland detains Belarusian, two Poles over attack on Navalny's aide.

"A Belarusian working for Russia who ordered two Poles to assassinate Navalny's associate – detained," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. The two attackers are also in custody, he added.