NATO formally invites Sweden and Finland to join alliance

2:32 PM

PM Shmyhal meets with US Treasury Secretary Yellen.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held talks on the long-awaited U.S. aid bill for Ukraine, strengthening sanctions against Russia, and the ongoing debate on confiscating frozen Russian assets.

1:49 PM

Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast kill 2, injure 3.

A 63-year-old woman's body was found under the rubble in Selydove, located around 30 kilometers west of Russian-occupied Avdiivka, and a 56-year-old man was killed in the village of Ocheretyne.

1:46 PM

Russian attack in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast injures 2.

Two men, aged 30 and 35, were hospitalized in moderate condition, said Governor Serhii Lysak.

12:28 PM

Prosecutor's Office: At least 543 children have been killed in Ukraine since start of full-scale invasion.

At least 1,839 children have been killed or injured since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported on April 18.

12:15 PM

Air Force: Ukraine downs 13 Russian drones overnight on April 18.

The drones were intercepted by Ukrainian anti-aircraft units and mobile fire groups in Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts, according to the Air Force.

11:03 AM

EU to introduce new sanctions against Iran after its attack on Israel, reiterates 'full' support for Ukraine.

The European Council in a statement released after the first day of a summit in Brussels condemned Iran's attack and expressed full solidarity with the people of Israel, reiterating its commitment to "Israel's security and regional stability."

10:56 AM

German authorities arrest 2 for allegedly planning military sabotage plot on Russia's behalf.

"The actions were intended in particular to undermine the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression," the prosecutors said.

10:05 AM

Microsoft says Russian disinformation campaign targeting US election has begun.

The focus of the new campaign is to spread "divisive content," including criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine, the Microsoft report said.

9:18 AM

UPDATE: Russian missile attack on Chernihiv kills 18, injures 78, including children.

In total, 78 people, including four children, were confirmed injured as of the morning of April 18. The search and rescue operation was completed at around 9:15 a.m. local time.

9:04 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 456,960 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

This number includes 910 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

8:56 AM

Reuters: Ukraine says Russia's use of illegal tear gas on battlefield is increasing.

Ukrainian military officials have previously said that Russia is deploying chemical weapons on the battlefield in violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The usage of riot control gas in war is also banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia is a signatory of.

6:19 AM

Zelensky addresses European Council summit participants, emphasizes Ukraine's need for more air defense systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed European Council summit participants on April 17, calling for urgent assistance with air defense systems in order to counter daily Russian attacks.

5:13 AM

Ukrainian writer Dmytro Kapranov dies at 56.

Ukrainian writer and public figure Dmytro Kapranov died on April 16, according to the Kapranov brothers’ official Facebook page. He was 56 years old.

3:56 AM

Culture Ministry removes historical status of Kyiv's Peoples' Friendship Arch, allows for dismantling.

Ukraine's Ministry of Culture removed the formerly-named Peoples' Friendship Arch from the state register of monuments of national importance due to its association with Russia's ambitions for Soviet reunification, indicating that the monument "may be dismantled."

1:51 AM

Russia attacks 7 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 39 times in 11 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on April 17.

1:20 AM

RFE/RL Schemes investigation reveals over 2,000 foreign-made parts used in Russian Sukhoi fighter jets.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigation project Schemes revealed on April 17 that over 2,000 foreign-made electronic components are allegedly contained in Russian Sukhoi (Su-type) fighter jets, primarily originating from Japan and the United States.

12:00 AM

Zelensky: Russia must pay a 'painful price' as 'sole culprit of this war'.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia must pay a “painful price” for its war in Ukraine and frozen Russian assets should be utilized to help Ukraine’s fight against “terror.”

11:42 PM

Dutch PM offers to buy Patriot systems from allies for Ukraine.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte offered on April 17 to buy Patriot air defense systems from more hesitant allies in order to send them to Ukraine, The Guardian reported.

11:05 PM

Zelensky confirms Ukraine struck Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian forces carried out an attack early on April 17 against a Russian military airfield in Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

10:57 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Why is Ukraine rejecting the Belarusian opposition?

10:57 PM

WP: Secret Kremlin document outlines plan to 'weaken' Ukraine's allies.

The document, dated April 11, 2023, says the outcome of the war in Ukraine will “to a great degree determine the outlines of the future world order.”

10:48 PM

Transparency International: Court leaves ex-Defense Ministry official suspected of embezzlement without pre-trial detention.

The court did not send former Defense Ministry official Oleksandr Liyev, who is suspected of embezzling funds for ammunition purchases, into pre-trial detention, Transparency International Ukraine said on April 17.

10:35 PM

Field report

Inside the Swedish ammunition plant at the forefront of Europe’s push to ramp up shell production

10:26 PM

Ukraine to receive $1.6 billion from EU next week in second tranche of financial aid.

The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) was given to Ukraine on March 20.

10:13 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian attack on Chernihiv kills 17, Johnson sets date on Ukraine aid vote