Moscow has threatened to attack countries in the Baltic that are allowing Ukraine to use their airspace to fly drones to attack Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued the warning after Kyiv used drones to attack the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which are key to Moscow’s oil exports.
“If third countries have provided or are providing their territory for enemy drones to fly over, they must fully understand – and we are confident they do, because it has been explained to them – the risks they are exposing themselves to,” she said on Thursday.
Russian drones and aircraft have repeatedly violated European airspace, including fighter jet incursions into Estonia and unidentified drones flying over Copenhagen and Oslo airports.
The Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — are Nato members after gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Britain's defence minister John Healey said for a month the UK had tracked Russian submarines in the north Atlantic that were a threat to British cables and pipelines.
Russian drones damaged a power substation in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region. No injuries were reported.
Read MoreUkraine claims Russia is giving Iran cyber intelligence to hone military base attacks
NATO chief faces scrutiny from European countries for endless support of ‘Daddy’ Trump
Russia to compensate athletes unable to compete at Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics
Ukrainian troops fly cat and dog more than seven miles by drone to evacuate them from front line
Key Points
- Vance says Putin and Zelensky 'haggling over a few square kilometres'
- Zelensky welcomes Iran de-escalation and says Ukraine ready for ceasefire
- Nato chief says Trump 'clearly disappointed' with US allies' refusal to join Iran war
- Zelensky calls for halt to fighting in Ukraine amid Middle East ceasefire
- Russia says Baltic states 'exposed to risk' if they let Ukrainian drones use their airspace
Watch: Russian drone kills one and injures three in Ukraine's Sumy region
13:30 , Daniel KeaneVance says Putin and Zelensky 'haggling over a few square kilometres'
12:30 , Arpan RaiUS vice president JD Vance has accused Russia and Ukraine of holding out on a ceasefire for the sake of a small portion of territory.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are engaged in combat along a frontline spanning over 1,200km (750 miles), four years after Vladimir Putin's invasion of his European neighbour.
"What I would say to both the Russians and the Ukrainians is, you know, we're talking about haggling at this point over a few square kilometres of territory in one direction or another. Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men? Is that worth additional months or even years of higher energy prices and economic devastation? We think the answer is clearly no," Vance said.
He added that "it takes two to tango" and the Russians and Ukrainians must reach an agreement themselves.
It's unclear how Vance reached the figures in his remarks. Russia has demanded Ukraine give up the entirety of the Donbas region despite failing to take it by force, but Ukraine still controls around 20 per cent of Donetsk – roughly 5,300 square km or 2,000 square miles.
In March, Ukrainian forces recaptured nearly all the territory lost in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region, driving Russian troops out of more than 400 square kilometres (150 square miles).
Zelensky says reopening of Strait of Hormuz should not boost Russia's oil profits
12:00 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said the reopening of the critical waterway the Strait of Hormuz was needed to stabilise oil prices but this should not add to Russia’s oil revenues.
“The announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East allowed markets to respond positively – oil prices have tumbled. At the same time, this sends the right signal regarding Russia – there are effectively no grounds left to ease sanctions pressure,” he said last night on his X.
“Previously, easing sanctions was framed as a necessity to stabilise the global oil market. If the Strait of Hormuz can be unblocked – and this is a global necessity – Russia’s oil revenues should continue to decline,” Zelensky said, adding that oil fuels Russia’s war and emboldens it.
“This is precisely why Russia invested so heavily in supporting the Iranian regime and sought to prolong that war,” the Ukrainian president said.
The announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East allowed markets to respond positively – oil prices have tumbled. At the same time, this sends the right signal regarding Russia – there are effectively no grounds left to ease sanctions pressure. Previously, easing sanctions was… pic.twitter.com/SXZ5RKS6G6
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2026
Gulf crisis not distracting Britain from Russia, says Healey
11:19 , James Reynolds“I’m pretty clear that Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East,” Healey says.
He says the recent actions show “we recognise Russia as the primary threat to the UK and to Nato” and “we will not take our eyes off Putin”, even while acting with allies in the Middle East
UK tracking Russian subs in north Atlantic as threats to undersea cables grow
11:16 , James ReynoldsBritain's defence minister John Healey says at a press conference that the UK had tracked Russian submarines in the north Atlantic for a month, which he said was a threat to British cables and pipelines.
He said the UK was confident that there was no evidence Russia had damaged any cables or pipelines. He added that threats to undersea networks were increasing.
He said that he deployed the armed forces to track and deter any malign activity by these vessels.
Watch: Nato chief says Trump 'clearly disappointed' with US allies' refusal to join Iran war
11:00 , Arpan RaiVance says Putin and Zelensky 'haggling over a few square kilometres'
10:30 , Arpan RaiUS vice president JD Vance has accused Russia and Ukraine of holding out on a ceasefire for the sake of a small portion of territory.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are engaged in combat along a frontline spanning over 1,200km (750 miles), four years after Vladimir Putin's invasion of his European neighbour.
"What I would say to both the Russians and the Ukrainians is, you know, we're talking about haggling at this point over a few square kilometres of territory in one direction or another. Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men? Is that worth additional months or even years of higher energy prices and economic devastation? We think the answer is clearly no," Vance said.
He added that "it takes two to tango" and the Russians and Ukrainians must reach an agreement themselves.
It's unclear how Vance reached the figures in his remarks. Russia has demanded Ukraine give up the entirety of the Donbas region despite failing to take it by force, but Ukraine still controls around 20 per cent of Donetsk – roughly 5,300 square km or 2,000 square miles.
In March, Ukrainian forces recaptured nearly all the territory lost in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region, driving Russian troops out of more than 400 square kilometres (150 square miles).
Ukrainian drones attack Russia's oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai
10:15 , Arpan RaiA Russian oil pumping station in Krymsk of Krasnodar Krai was hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, local reports said.
Krymsk is located in the east of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
According to the Telegram channel Astra, an electrical substation at the Krymskaya oil pumping station caught fire as a result of the strike.
Several explosions were heard during the drone attack, locals in the city said.
Local authorities are yet to confirm the drone attack.
Krasnodar Krai governor Veniamin Kondratyev instead reported that debris from a drone fell on a field in the suburbs of Krymsk and on the territory of an “enterprise”.
He also said one person was killed in the nearby village of Sauk-Dere.
Zelensky welcomes Iran de-escalation and says Ukraine ready for ceasefire
09:55 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he is welcoming the ceasefire between the US and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes.
"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," he wrote on X.
"It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right preconditions for agreements," he added.
Ukraine had previously praised US "decisiveness" in attacking Iran, which is a close ally of Russia and has supplied thousands of drones that have been used to hit Ukraine.
Kyiv has repeatedly called for Moscow to agree to a full ceasefire in its four-year war so that the two sides can negotiate a peace deal. Russia says it wants comprehensive terms for peace to be agreed before it stops fighting.
Vance accuses Zelensky of making 'scandalous' comments about Hungary's Orban
09:35 , Arpan RaiUS vice president JD Vance has said Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky made "scandalous" comments about Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as he echoed Budapest's accusations that Kyiv was using energy supplies to try to influence elections there.
In an effort to sway the ballot, Budapest has accused Kyiv of deliberately stopping flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged by a Russian drone attack in late January and it is fixing it as fast as it can.
Hungary responded by blocking a €90bn (£78.3bn) EU loan for Ukraine, prompting Zelensky to say he could give the address of whoever was responsible to the Ukrainian army, who could "speak with him in their own language".
Vance said Orban had told him about Zelensky's remarks.
"It's completely scandalous," Vance said. "You should never have a foreign head of government... threatening the head of government of an allied nation," without addressing the reports of Russian attack on the pipeline.
Vance's remarks came during a visit to Budapest aimed at boosting the chances of the nationalist Orban, who faces the toughest challenge of his 16-year rule in an 12 April election seen as crucial for the influence of supporters of Donald Trump's MAGA movement in Europe.
Watch: Vance accuses Kyiv and Moscow of ‘haggling over a few square kilometres’
09:15 , Arpan RaiRussia detains former Radio Free Europe journalist for 'treason'
09:00 , Arpan RaiRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said they detained a former freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe in the city of Chita for treason, the state TASS news agency reported.
The FSB said the man, whose name was not disclosed, was accused of treason for cooperating with Ukraine's SBU intelligence service. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
The FSB said that the man had supplied information via the Telegram messaging service to the SBU, TASS reported.
Hungary's leaked audio with Russia shows 'betrayal' of EU solidarity, says French minister
08:45 , Arpan RaiConversations between Hungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart were a "betrayal" of European Union solidarity, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said this morning.
A series of leaked conversations seemed to show how Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban's government and his foreign minister Peter Szijjarto have worked to serve Russian interests and undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine.
"This is a betrayal of the essential solidarity required between the countries of the European Union if we want to be strong," Barrot said in an interview with French radio station France Inter.
Russia says Baltic states 'exposed to risk' if they let Ukrainian drones use their airspace
08:30 , Arpan RaiRussia warned Baltic countries not to let Ukrainian drones use their airspace to carry out attacks on targets in Russia.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was speaking after a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which have disrupted its oil exports.
“Without a doubt, we view the recent drone incidents as terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation, carried out against industrial and civilian facilities," Zakharova said at her weekly press conference.
“And if third countries have provided or are providing their territory for enemy drones to fly over, they must fully understand – and we are confident they do, because it has been explained to them – the risks they are exposing themselves to.”
Trump complains Nato 'wasn't there when we needed them' after talks with alliance leader Rutte
07:50 , Arpan RaiPresident Donald Trump repeated his complaint about Nato after a closed-door meeting with the alliance's secretary-general Mark Rutte on Wednesday for discussions that had been expected to be aimed at soothing Trump's anger with the military alliance over the Iran war.
Ahead of the private meeting, Trump had suggested the US may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after Nato member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, and sent gas prices soaring.
Afterward, he issued an all-caps comment on social media suggesting he remained aggrieved. "NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN," Trump said in his post. The White House did not immediately offer any further updates.
The Republican president has had a warm relationship with Rutte in the past, and the meeting came after the US and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait.
The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that "a whole civilization will die tonight."
Hungarian minister offered to leak EU document to Russia, audio reveals
07:35 , Arpan RaiHungary's foreign minister offered to send his Russian counterpart a document about Ukraine's European Union accession, leaked recordings purported to show, in the latest indication of Budapest's warm relations with Moscow.
The audio clips released by a consortium of investigative news outlets including VSquare.org were the latest in a series of leaked conversations that purport to show how Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban's government has worked to serve Russian interests and undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine.
While the audio has not been independently verified, Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto has previously said wiretapping of his phone calls was a "huge scandal" and Orban has ordered an investigation into it.
"I will send it to you. It's not a problem," Szijjarto says in one conversation, after Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow is trying to get a document about the role of minority languages in Ukraine's EU accession talks.
It was not clear what the document in question was and whether it was available in the public domain.
Russian drones damage substation in Odesa region, says Ukraine
07:20 , Arpan RaiRussian drones damaged a power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa region yesterday, while Moscow's forces repeatedly attacked areas in regions farther east, killing one person, Ukrainian officials said.
Emergency services were at the site of the substation attack and no injuries had been recorded, Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.
DTEK, a large private energy company, said one of its substations had been damaged and crews were awaiting word that it was safe to begin repairs. DTEK said the region had been under Russian attack "almost round the clock".
Energy infrastructure has been under attack in Ukraine for many months. The Black Sea port of Odesa, vital to many Ukrainian exports, and areas in the surrounding region, have been frequent targets of the Russian military in four years of conflict.
Another strike by Russian glide bombs killed a man in a village outside the southeastern town of Zaporizhzhia, the governor of Zaporizhzhia region, Ivan Fedorov, said yesterday.
In adjacent Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drones and artillery attacked a string of towns nearly 40 times throughout the day, governor Oleksandr Ganzha said.
Officials also reported drone attacks in Sloviansk, near the front line in eastern Donetsk region, and in Kherson region in the south and Sumy region on the border with Russia.
In southern Russia's Krasnodar region, falling drone debris killed a resident on the balcony of an apartment building northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, governor Venyamin Kondratiev said.
Watch: Russian drone kills one and injures three in Ukraine's Sumy region
07:08 , Arpan RaiVance says Putin and Zelensky 'haggling over a few square kilometres'
06:31 , Arpan RaiUS vice president JD Vance has accused Russia and Ukraine of holding out on a ceasefire for the sake of a small portion of territory.
Russian and Ukrainian forces are engaged in combat along a frontline spanning over 1,200km (750 miles), four years after Vladimir Putin's invasion of his European neighbour.
"What I would say to both the Russians and the Ukrainians is, you know, we're talking about haggling at this point over a few square kilometres of territory in one direction or another. Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men? Is that worth additional months or even years of higher energy prices and economic devastation? We think the answer is clearly no," Vance said.
He added that "it takes two to tango" and the Russians and Ukrainians must reach an agreement themselves.
It's unclear how Vance reached the figures in his remarks. Russia has demanded Ukraine give up the entirety of the Donbas region despite failing to take it by force, but Ukraine still controls around 20 per cent of Donetsk – roughly 5,300 square km or 2,000 square miles.
In March, Ukrainian forces recaptured nearly all the territory lost in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk industrial region, driving Russian troops out of more than 400 square kilometres (150 square miles).
Zelensky calls for halt to fighting in Ukraine amid Middle East ceasefire
06:14 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said the ceasefire in the Middle East is an opportunity for a halt to fighting in Ukraine.
“A ceasefire is the right decision that leads to ending the war," Zelensky said in a post on X, adding that an agreement which "paves the way for diplomatic efforts" would save lives and stop the destruction of cities.
"Security must be guaranteed, and the interests of every nation must be taken into account when defining post-war arrangements," Zelensky said, calling for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ukraine has "always called for a ceasefire" in the war with Russia and Kyiv would respond in kind if Moscow stops its strikes, he said.
Ceasefire efforts in Ukraine have yielded no results, with both sides continuing long-range strikes.
Watch: Nato chief says Trump 'clearly disappointed' with US allies' refusal to join Iran war
05:45 , Arpan RaiVance accuses Zelensky of making 'scandalous' comments about Hungary's Orban
05:35 , Arpan RaiUS vice president JD Vance has said Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky made "scandalous" comments about Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as he echoed Budapest's accusations that Kyiv was using energy supplies to try to influence elections there.
In an effort to sway the ballot, Budapest has accused Kyiv of deliberately stopping flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged by a Russian drone attack in late January and it is fixing it as fast as it can.
Hungary responded by blocking a €90bn (£78.3bn) EU loan for Ukraine, prompting Zelensky to say he could give the address of whoever was responsible to the Ukrainian army, who could "speak with him in their own language".
Vance said Orban had told him about Zelensky's remarks.
"It's completely scandalous," Vance said. "You should never have a foreign head of government... threatening the head of government of an allied nation," without addressing the reports of Russian attack on the pipeline.
Vance's remarks came during a visit to Budapest aimed at boosting the chances of the nationalist Orban, who faces the toughest challenge of his 16-year rule in an 12 April election seen as crucial for the influence of supporters of Donald Trump's MAGA movement in Europe.
Russia says Baltic states 'exposed to risk' if they let Ukrainian drones use their airspace
05:24 , Arpan RaiRussia warned Baltic countries not to let Ukrainian drones use their airspace to carry out attacks on targets in Russia.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was speaking after a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which have disrupted its oil exports.
“Without a doubt, we view the recent drone incidents as terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation, carried out against industrial and civilian facilities," Zakharova said at her weekly press conference.
“And if third countries have provided or are providing their territory for enemy drones to fly over, they must fully understand – and we are confident they do, because it has been explained to them – the risks they are exposing themselves to.”
Zelensky welcomes Iran de-escalation and says Ukraine ready for ceasefire
04:55 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he is welcoming the ceasefire between the US and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes.
"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," he wrote on X.
"It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right preconditions for agreements," he added.
Ukraine had previously praised US "decisiveness" in attacking Iran, which is a close ally of Russia and has supplied thousands of drones that have been used to hit Ukraine.
Kyiv has repeatedly called for Moscow to agree to a full ceasefire in its four-year war so that the two sides can negotiate a peace deal. Russia says it wants comprehensive terms for peace to be agreed before it stops fighting.
Ukrainian drones attack Russia's oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai
04:49 , Arpan RaiA Russian oil pumping station in Krymsk of Krasnodar Krai was hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, local reports said.
Krymsk is located in the east of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
According to the Telegram channel Astra, an electrical substation at the Krymskaya oil pumping station caught fire as a result of the strike.
Several explosions were heard during the drone attack, locals in the city said.
Local authorities are yet to confirm the drone attack.
Krasnodar Krai governor Veniamin Kondratyev instead reported that debris from a drone fell on a field in the suburbs of Krymsk and on the territory of an “enterprise”.
He also said one person was killed in the nearby village of Sauk-Dere.
Zelensky says reopening of Strait of Hormuz should not boost Russia's oil profits
04:21 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said the reopening of the critical waterway the Strait of Hormuz was needed to stabilise oil prices but this should not add to Russia’s oil revenues.
“The announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East allowed markets to respond positively – oil prices have tumbled. At the same time, this sends the right signal regarding Russia – there are effectively no grounds left to ease sanctions pressure,” he said last night on his X.
“Previously, easing sanctions was framed as a necessity to stabilise the global oil market. If the Strait of Hormuz can be unblocked – and this is a global necessity – Russia’s oil revenues should continue to decline,” Zelensky said, adding that oil fuels Russia’s war and emboldens it.
“This is precisely why Russia invested so heavily in supporting the Iranian regime and sought to prolong that war,” the Ukrainian president said.
The announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East allowed markets to respond positively – oil prices have tumbled. At the same time, this sends the right signal regarding Russia – there are effectively no grounds left to ease sanctions pressure. Previously, easing sanctions was… pic.twitter.com/SXZ5RKS6G6
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2026
Trump complains Nato 'wasn't there when we needed them' after talks with alliance leader Rutte
04:07 , Arpan RaiPresident Donald Trump repeated his complaint about Nato after a closed-door meeting with the alliance's secretary-general Mark Rutte on Wednesday for discussions that had been expected to be aimed at soothing Trump's anger with the military alliance over the Iran war.
Ahead of the private meeting, Trump had suggested the US may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after Nato member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, and sent gas prices soaring.
Afterward, he issued an all-caps comment on social media suggesting he remained aggrieved. "NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN," Trump said in his post. The White House did not immediately offer any further updates.
The Republican president has had a warm relationship with Rutte in the past, and the meeting came after the US and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait.
The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that "a whole civilization will die tonight."
Why Vance is helping Orbán’s failing election campaign in Hungary
03:00 , Bryony Gooch Why JD Vance is helping Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s failing election campaign
Two agents detained after terror attack thwarted in Kharkiv
02:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian security services (SBU) detained two Russian agents after a terrorist attack was prevented in Kharkiv.
The suspects made a homemade bomb, which was to be planted in the central part of Kharkiv and remotely detonated during the largest gathering of people, the SBU reported.
A ready-made IED, remnants of explosive components, mobile phones for remote activation of the explosion, and a smartphone with evidence of contacts with a Russian intelligence officer were seized from the detainees.
The SBU reported that the preparation was carried out by a local married couple who were looking for money for drugs on Telegram channels.
The suspects are detained on suspicion of preparation to commit a terrorist act by prior conspiracy by a group of persons and face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Recap: Putin’s top military commander killed in Russian plane crash
01:00 , Bryony Gooch Putin’s top military commander killed in Russian plane crash
Watch: Ukrainian troops fly cat and dog 7.5 miles by drone to evacuate them from front line
Thursday 9 April 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochOrban says Ukraine shut off the Friendship pipeline and denied other countries access to inspect
Wednesday 8 April 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochHungarian prime minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of shutting off the Friendship pipeline and denying other countries access to inspect the energy source.
In his latest criticism of Ukraine, Mr Orban posted on social media: “The Ukrainians shut off the Friendship pipeline, a vital energy source, and claim it is ‘not functional.’
“They denied inspection access to Hungary, Slovakia, and even the Commission itself. Yet Brussels points fingers at us, its own member state. Who is the Commission meant to serve? This is pure theatre.”
The Ukrainians shut off the Friendship pipeline, a vital energy source, and claim it is “not functional.” They denied inspection access to Hungary, Slovakia, and even the Commission itself. Yet Brussels points fingers at us, its own member state. Who is the Commission meant to… pic.twitter.com/DSo6si8pIP
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) April 8, 2026
Watch: Russian strike destroys 19th century historical site in Kharkiv
Wednesday 8 April 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochInside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
Wednesday 8 April 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
Zelensky calls for halt to fighting in Ukraine amid Middle East ceasefire
Wednesday 8 April 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the ceasefire in the Middle East is an opportunity for a halt to fighting in Ukraine.
“A ceasefire is the right decision that leads to ending the war," Zelenskyy said in a post on X, adding that an agreement which "paves the way for diplomatic efforts" would save lives and stop the destruction of cities.
"Security must be guaranteed, and the interests of every nation must be taken into account when defining post-war arrangements," Zelensky said, calling for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ukraine has "always called for a ceasefire" in the war with Russia and Kyiv would respond in kind if Moscow stops its strikes, he said.
Ceasefire efforts in Ukraine have yielded no results, with both sides continuing long-range strikes.
Ukrainian PM commemorates Kramatorsk attack which killed 61
Wednesday 8 April 2026 19:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has remembered a Russian attack on the city of Kramatorsk which killed 61 people, as she said justice “will prevail.”
The Ukrainian leader said: “On this day in 2022, Russia targeted the train station in Ukraine's eastern city of Kramatorsk, where families had been gathering amid evacuation.
“A missile marked ‘for children’ tore through the crowd, killing 61 people, among them seven children. The target was intentional, a train station filled with civilians. The meaning of this strike needed no interpretation.
“Today, we remember every life taken and carry their names forward with solemn resolve. And justice, however long it takes, will prevail.”
On this day in 2022, Russia targeted the train station in Ukraine's eastern city of Kramatorsk, where families had been gathering amid evacuation.
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) April 8, 2026
A missile marked “for children” tore through the crowd, killing 61 people, among them seven children.
The target was intentional, a… pic.twitter.com/l7BFaa4SHR
Russia denies Ukrainian intelligence assessment that its hackers have teamed up with Iran's for cyberattacks
Wednesday 8 April 2026 18:00 , Bryony GoochRussian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Ukrainian intelligence assessments that Russian and Iranian hackers have joined forces, reported on Tuesday by Reuters, are false.
"Allegations of some kind of joint effort between Russian and Iranian hackers, as you put it, are yet another lie, in this case, perpetrated by the Kyiv regime and Kyiv terrorist groups," Zakharova said when asked by Reuters to comment on the report.
Zakharova, speaking at a press conference, said Ukraine was conducting its own large-scale cyberattacks against Russia.
Russia says Baltic states run risk if they let Ukrainian drones cross their airspace to attack Russia
Wednesday 8 April 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochRussian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that the Baltic states must understand the risks involved if they allow Ukrainian drones to cross their airspace to attack targets in Russia.
Alleged FSB agent detained as Ukrainian security services thwart attempted assassination
Wednesday 8 April 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian security services (SBU) have detained an alleged FSB agent after thwarting an attempted assassination on one of the leaders of Ukraine’s Federation of Employers in Kyiv.
The SBU determined that the attacker planned to blow up a man near his house using a homemade remote-controlled bomb.
According to the investigation, the explosion would have occurred in the morning when the official was leaving for work from the entrance of a high-rise building.
The explosion was prepared by a resident of a temporarily occupied area in Donetsk who was recruited by an FSB officer from a specialised unit in sabotage and terrorism, according to the SBU.
The perpetrator is in custody after being charged on suspicion of treason committed under martial law and completed attempt at a terrorist act. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Vance says Zelensky's comments about Orban 'scandalous'
Wednesday 8 April 2026 15:35 , Tom BarnesUS vice president JD Vance has said Volodymyr Zelensky had made "scandalous" comments about Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as he echoed Budapest's accusations that Kyiv was using energy supplies to try to influence elections there.
Vance's remarks came during a visit to Budapest aimed at boosting the chances of the nationalist Orban, who faces the toughest challenge of his 16-year rule in an April 12 election seen as crucial for the influence of supporters of Donald Trump's Maga movement in Europe.
Hungary's strained relations with Ukraine have taken centre stage in the election campaign, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of deliberately stopping flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline in an effort to sway the ballot.
Hungary responded by blocking a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) EU loan for Ukraine, prompting the Ukrainian president to say he could give the address of whoever was responsible to the Ukrainian army, who could "speak with him in their own language".
Italy's deputy PM rules out Europe buying energy from Russia if Iran War continues
Wednesday 8 April 2026 14:58 , Tom BarnesItaly’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has ruled out Europe buying energy from Russia amid instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US-Israeli war with Iran has triggered an energy crisis for the global economy by trapping large volumes of oil and gas in the Gulf after Tehran closed the strait to most vessels, hitting Europe and Italy particularly hard.
The disruption has led some, including Salvini's far-right League party, to call on Europe to consider resuming energy purchases from Russia, which were cut off in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, Salvini backtracked on that position, saying it would not be feasible as long as the war in Ukraine continued.
"I hope that a time will soon come when it will be possible to speak about reconstruction and cooperation, including partnerships and energy, once the conflict with Russia has ended," he told the Foreign Press Association in Italy.
Like other Nato allies reluctant to back US president Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran, Italy last week denied permission for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily en route to the Middle East.
Salvini dismissed suggestions that mounting disagreements between Washington and European capitals could lead the US to disengage from Europe.
"I don’t believe there is any imminent issue regarding Nato troop withdrawals from Europe," he said.
Germany rejects Vance claim over EU interference in Hungary election
Wednesday 8 April 2026 14:23 , Tom BarnesGermany gas rejected US vice president JD Vance's accusation that the European Union is interfering in Hungary's upcoming election, a government spokesperson said in Berlin on Wednesday.
The fact that Vance is in Hungary "already shows, or speaks for itself, who is interfering in what", added the spokesperson.
Norwegian Nobel Committee condemns Russia's treatment of rights group Memorial
Wednesday 8 April 2026 13:51 , Tom BarnesThe Norwegian Nobel Committee said on Wednesday it was condemning "Russia's attempt to criminalise Memorial" and to designate the human rights group, aco-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, as an extremist organisation.
"The committee has learned that Russia's Ministry of Justice has filed a claim to the Supreme Court requesting such a designation... If the claim is upheld, all activities of Memorial will be criminalised," the Nobel body said in a statement.
The Russian embassy in Oslo did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters via email.
Memorial shared the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, in an award widely regarded as a condemnation of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine earlier that year.
Russia summons Japanese ambassador over Ukrainian drone investment
Wednesday 8 April 2026 13:16 , Tom BarnesRussia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Moscow had summoned the Japanese ambassador in protest over an investment made by a Japanese startup in Ukrainian interceptor drone technology.
The Japanese company, Terra Drone, said in March it had invested an undisclosed sum in Ukrainian interceptor-drone producer Amazing Drones, which produces technology designed for rapid deployment on the battlefield.
The Kremlin has described Russia's relations with Japan as having been "reduced to zero" over what it casts as Tokyo's "unfriendly stance" towards Moscow.
Relations between Moscow and Tokyo, who have not signed a formal World War Two peace treaty, have been strained for decades over an unresolved territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories.
Russia claims some in EU are helping election rivals of Hungary's Orban
Wednesday 8 April 2026 12:40 , Tom BarnesRussia said on Wednesday that some political forces in the European Union were opposed to the re-election bid of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, and were trying to help his opponents.
The Kremlin's intervention came a day after US vice president JD Vance, in Budapest, accused the EU of "disgraceful" interference in the April 12 election, which many opinion polls suggest could bring an end to Orban's 16-year grip on power.
"Many forces in Europe, many forces in Brussels, would not like Orban to win the elections again," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about a leaked transcript, published by Bloomberg, of a conversation last year between Orban and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
"This is well-known, it's obvious to the naked eye, and, of course, they're playing into the hands of those forces that politically oppose Orban and believe that publishing such materials could harm him," Peskov told reporters.
He did not provide any evidence that any EU officials were in any way involved with the leak. A European Commission spokesperson said: "Elections are the sole choice of the citizens."
Russian drone damages infrastructure at Ukraine's largest Danube port
Wednesday 8 April 2026 12:06 , Tom BarnesA Russian overnight drone attack on Ukraine's largest Danube river port, Izmail, damaged a port facility, Ukraine's regional development ministry said on Telegram on Wednesday.
"The enemy continues to target logistics and port infrastructure," the ministry said.
According to its Telegram post, fires broke out in warehouses but were extinguished by emergency services. There were no casualties.
Izmail lies on the Danube at the southwestern tip of Ukraine and faces Romanian territory on the other riverbank. It has become an important and frequently hit logistical node for wartime Ukraine.
After Russia blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports in the Odesa region in 2022, the river ports on the Danube - in particular, Izmail - became virtually the only waterway for Ukrainian imports and exports.
Following the lifting of the port blockade in 2023, the role of the Danube ports diminished. However, Ukraine still receives shipborne cargoes of explosives and fuel exclusively via the Danube terminals.
Kremlin says it hopes US will resume Ukraine peace talks after Iran ceasefire
Wednesday 8 April 2026 11:34 , Tom BarnesThe Kremlin on Wednesday welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire, and said Russia hopes that the US will now have the time and scope to resume three-way peace talks on Ukraine.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia hopes that the US and Iran will have direct contacts in the coming days to continue peace discussions.
Ukraine 'ready to respond' if Russia agrees to ceasefire, Zelensky says
Wednesday 8 April 2026 11:02 , Tom BarnesUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes.
"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," he wrote on X.
A ceasefire is the right decision that leads to ending the war. It means saving lives, abandoning the destruction of cities and villages, and allowing power plants and other infrastructure to operate normally – and thus provides the time and conditions necessary for diplomacy to…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2026