All articles tagged with #ukraine
Russia continues attacks on Ukraine as Kyiv braces for a possible major barrage; Ukraine tightens defenses and Ukrainian forces train with ground drones in the Kharkiv region, signaling a heightened security situation.
Russia has escalated threats and launched major strikes on Kyiv, portraying them as retaliation for a claimed Ukrainian attack on civilians. Many analysts say the Kremlin is intensifying rhetoric to pressure Ukraine and its allies amid limited battlefield gains, while Ukraine relies on scarce air defenses to repel missiles and drones. The war remains costly for Moscow and is not yet turning in its favor, even as it tries to shape the narrative.
European equities edged lower as investors weighed renewed Middle East tensions, Ukraine developments and volatile oil, with the Stoxx 600 slipping while the FTSE 100 rose on mining gains; Brent rose to about $99 a barrel while U.S. WTI traded near $93 after a prior drop. Ferrari slumped following the debut of its first fully electric car, BP fell on governance concerns after removing its chairman, and Kingfisher rose after reaffirming first-quarter guidance. No major economic data were due today as traders monitor geopolitical risks and energy markets.
The EU summoned Moscow’s chargé d’affaires in Brussels after Russia advised foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv, calling the step an unacceptable escalation and demanding a ceasefire. EU officials said they will not abandon Kyiv, while Russia warned of missile strikes. Germany later summoned Russia’s ambassador to explain the threat as Kyiv remained the scene of ongoing attacks that have injured dozens.
Russia pressed the US to evacuate Kyiv staff and threatened systematic strikes on the capital, while the EU pledged to remain in Kyiv; civilians continued to go about daily life amid attacks as Belarus’ opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya visited, Ukraine tightened security on its Belarus border and targeted Russian infrastructure, and Zelenskyy said progress on expanding anti-missile defenses with the US is limited and he expects new diplomatic steps.
Russia warned of a fresh wave of systematic strikes on Kyiv, targeting decision-making centres and drone facilities, while ordering foreign nationals to evacuate; a weekend attack killed four and injured about 100, Kyiv said it hit a Russian elite drone unit and did not target civilians, and air defenses intercepted many missiles and drones though some civilian sites were damaged.
AP News reports that Russia attacked Kyiv with drones and a hypersonic missile, with a photo gallery capturing scenes from the strike and its aftermath; photographers EFREM LUKATSKY and EVGENIY MALOLETKA document the event within ongoing coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia launched a large-scale Kyiv assault using the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile, killing at least 2 and wounding 83 as drones and missiles struck government offices, residential buildings, a market and schools. The weapon, used for the third time in four years, is touted as immune to defenses, though Ukraine’s air defenses reportedly destroyed hundreds of drones and missiles with some strikes getting through. Western leaders condemned the attack as Kyiv reported widespread damage. Separately, a drone strike in Starobilsk raised the toll there to 21 as rescue operations continued.
Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike overnight against the Vtorovo oil pumping and dispatching station in Vladimir Oblast, a Transneft facility that ships crude to Moscow and fuels its airports; the SBU said the Alpha unit carried out the attack under President Zelensky’s orders, causing a large fire, and the strike occurred as Russia mounted a major attack on Kyiv, underscoring Ukraine’s ongoing effort to disrupt Russian fuel production and exports.
Ukraine is waging a three-layer drone campaign against Russian logistics in occupied southern Ukraine, with long-range FPV drones and AI-assisted models reaching up to 200 km to strike depots and fuel sites, mid-range drones patrolling the M-14 and H-20 highways to disrupt convoys, and short-range drones near the gray zone hitting trucks and rear-area targets. Strikes on munitions and fuel more than doubled from February to March, correlating with reduced Russian artillery use and slower reinforcements along a 1,200-km front, while the operation relies on mass-produced drones and Starlink-linked comms with mesh backups and inertial navigation when links fail. Russia could respond by bolstering air defenses near highways, a shift that would still count as a Ukrainian success in constraining logistics.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) says it struck the Vtorovo fuel-pumping station in Russia’s Vladimir Oblast as part of a broader “long-range sanctions” campaign aimed at disrupting Russia’s fuel logistics to central regions and Moscow; the drone strike caused a large fire at the Transneft facility, and officials say such attacks are part of a wider effort to degrade Russia’s energy distribution with plans to intensify operations.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven by 11th-round technical knockout to retain the heavyweight titles, extending his undefeated pro record to 25-0 in Cairo near the Pyramids, and he dedicated the win to Ukraine as the country faced Russian attacks.
Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva to reach the French Open second round, tearing up as she spoke about a missile attack back home in Ukraine.
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-2 6-3 at Roland Garros and dedicated the victory to Ukraine after Russian missiles narrowly missed her Kyiv home the night before, saying her family were safe but still scared as she chose to play on.
Russia launched a large-scale assault on Kyiv, including its third use of the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, backed by hundreds of drones and missiles. The strike hit civilian infrastructure such as a water facility, a market, schools and government buildings, killing at least four and injuring dozens (Ukraine citing around 83 injured at one point). Kyiv was hardest hit with damage across the city, while international leaders condemned the attack and warned of consequences for Russia.