A Ukrainian team will visit Washington this week for crunch talks on a minerals deal, the first visit since the deal collapsed in dramatic fashion five weeks ago.
Volodymyr Zelensky was set to sign a framework agreement in late February before he was booted out of the White House, when a furious Donald Trump berated the Ukrainian president for not being thankful enough for US war assistance.
Since then, teams from Kyiv and Washington have been working to hash out a revised agreement - and to rebuild a broken relationship.
Washington has proposed a more expansive minerals deal which could give it access to valuable mineral resources, including titanium, lithium, and uranium, according to economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
But the deal has not yet been agreed by Ukraine and it is unclear exactly how close the two sides are to reaching an agreement.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has urged Russia to stop bombing Ukraine, after a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20, including nine children.,
“We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop,” Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. “I don’t like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed.”
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Key Points
- Ukrainian team to visit US for crunch minerals talks this week
- Trump asks Russia to stop the war: ‘I don’t like the bombing’
- Russia showing 'complete disrespect' towards peace talks, says EU
- Russian envoy says next Russia-US contact could be this week
- Macron urges ‘strong action’ against Russia if it continues to ‘refuse peace’
Trump says Russia 'bombing like crazy' despite US demands
Monday 7 April 2025 23:00
,
Angus Thompson
US president Donald Trump has repeated his displeasure at Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine despite his demands.
Speaking during an Oval Office press conference alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier, Trump was asked by a member of the press why he wasn’t placing tariffs on Russia as part of his global trade war.
“We're not doing business, essentially, with Russia because they're in a war,” he said.
“And I'm not happy about what's going on with with the bombing, because they're bombing like crazy right now.
“They're bombing... I don't know what's happening there. That's not a good situation.
He said US delegates were meeting with both Russian and Ukrainian officials and “getting sort-of close” to a ceasefire agreement.
“But I'm not happy with all the bombing that's going in the last week or so, horrible.”
Life in Kyiv goes on despite repeated Russian airstrikes
Monday 7 April 2025 22:00
,
Alex Croft
Why does the US want Ukraine's minerals?
Monday 7 April 2025 21:29
,
Alex Croft
Geologist and researcher Munira Raji writes:
Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”.
This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks.
The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time.
These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements.
All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition.
Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the world’s most resource-rich nations.
Russia losing nearly 150 soldiers per square mile claimed - Ukrainian military
Monday 7 April 2025 21:00
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces are losing an average of 146 soldiers, one tank and two armoured combat vehicles pieces per square kilometre claimed of Ukrainian territory in 2025, the Ukrainian military has said.
The calculations, carried out by the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, are based on the losses suffered by Moscow’s forces on the eastern front alone, during the first quarter of the year, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Russia will try to resolve US-Iran nuclear tensions, says Kremlin
Monday 7 April 2025 20:31
,
Alex Croft
Russia will do all it can to resolve tensions between the US and Iran around Tehran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin has said.
Donald Trump recently warned Iran that it must reach a nuclear deal with the US if it wants to avoid being bombed.
Moscow has reiterated its previous offer to mediate between the two sides. Kremlin spokeman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday: "We are in constant consultations with our Iranian partners, including on the topic of the nuclear deal.
"This process will continue, including in the near future. And, of course, Russia is ready to make every effort, to do everything possible to contribute to this problem's resolution by political and diplomatic means."
In his first term, Mr Trump withdraw the US from a 2015 deal with Iran which placed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Russia says Ukraine of attacked energy facilities six times over past day
Monday 7 April 2025 19:59
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine attacked Russian energy infrastructure six times over the previous day, its defence ministry has claimed, despite a US-brokered halt to such strikes.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of breaching a US-brokered halt to such strikes in recent weeks.
Russia said Ukraine struck power facilities and electrical substations in Russia's Rostov, Voronezh and Bryansk regions, as well as in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Donetsk, parts of which Moscow controls.
The Independent was not able to verify reports of the strikes.
Mapped: Ukraine left with a sliver of land in Kursk after Russian advance
Monday 7 April 2025 19:27
,
Alex Croft
In pictures: Kryvyi Rih residents mourn after Russian attack kills nine children
Monday 7 April 2025 18:56
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Alex Croft
One thing that could rupture Russia’s friendship with China
Monday 7 April 2025 18:25
,
Alex Croft
As he looks to solidify his territorial gains in Ukraine in a potential ceasefire deal, Russian president Vladimir Putin has one eye trained on Russia’s southern border – and boosting Russian influence in Central Asia.
Following his 2024 re-election, Putin made Uzbekistan his third foreign visit after China and Belarus. The visit signalled the region’s continued importance to Moscow.
In response to Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war, trade and investment between Russia and Central Asian countries have grown significantly.
Russia’s Lukoil and Gazprom are now the dominant foreign players in Uzbekistan’s energy fields. In Kazakhstan, Moscow controls a quarter of the country’s uranium production.
Read more:
EU finance ministers discuss new fund for defence gear
Monday 7 April 2025 17:53
,
Alex Croft
EU finance ministers will discuss setting up a defence fund to buy and own defence equipment, and charge members a fee for its use, a paper prepared for the ministers' discussions showed.
The paper, drafted by the Bruegel think tank, was commissioned by the Polish presidency of the EU and could generate large defence funding without boosting national public debt levels - a worry of many high-debt countries.
The paper is part of an EU discussion on how to finance preparations against a potential attack from Russia as European governments realise they can no longer fully rely on the United States for their security.
EU rejects request to find 'drone wall' for Estonia and Lithuania
Monday 7 April 2025 17:22
,
Alex Croft
The EU has denied funding to Estonia and Lithuania for a cross-border “drone wall” which would enhance surveillance and security against the threats to their eastern borders, LRT reported on Monday.
Proposed in May 2023 by the Lithuanian Interior Minister, the initiative sought to create a system which could detect and destroy drones along the borders with Russia and Belarus.
The initiative later gained support from regional partners including Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Norway and Finland. But the EU has denied rejected the application for 12 million euros in funding, Lithuanian officials said.
Sam Kiley: Ukraine’s pioneering work with ketamine therapy taking soldiers to Valhalla on earth
Monday 7 April 2025 16:50
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Alex Croft
Mapped: Russia's advances in Donetsk slowed amid Ukrainian counterattacks
Monday 7 April 2025 16:22
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Alex Croft
Kremlin says Russia needs answers before a ceasefire. What are Moscow's questions?
Monday 7 April 2025 15:57
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Alex Croft
The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that there can be no ceasefire until Russia’s questions have been answered.
Kyiv and its allies have accused Moscow of deliberately delaying a ceasefire without any genuinely reason, as it looks to seize more territory before sitting around the negotiation table.
"President Putin does support the idea of the need for a ceasefire, but before that a number of questions must be answered," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier today.
"These questions are still hanging in the air; so far no one has given an answer to them."
Exactly what the questions consist of is not entirely clear, but Vladimir Putin has previously said that any peace agreement must address what Moscow sees as the root causes of the conflict: essentially a tug of war between Russia and the West over Ukraine's future and the post-Soviet enlargement of NATO towards Russia's borders.
He also said the ceasefire would have to ensure that Ukraine did not simply use it to regroup, and that key questions about verification of a truce would need to be clarified.
The Kremlin on Monday laid the blame for the lack of answers on Kyiv which it said was unable to control a number of its "extremist and nationalist units".
Watch: Ukrainian troops destroy Russian air defences
Monday 7 April 2025 15:29
,
Alex Croft
One day, one crew, minus 3 russian "Buk" air defense systems.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 7, 2025
Ukrainian warriors are effectively demilitarizing the invaders.
: 413th Unmanned Systems Battalion "RAID" pic.twitter.com/26lEKnbV5e
On the ground | The illegal party drug helping Ukraine’s traumatised soldiers live again
Monday 7 April 2025 15:15
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Alex Croft
Katya’s brain was swollen. She had been blown up so many times she had hernias on her spine. Her whole skeleton was twisted and distorted after being thrown about like a doll.
She often stuttered. She had an explosive temper after years as a special forces medic. But things got better when she went to “Valhalla”.
She didn’t take the usual route to the Viking Hall of Heroes, where she undoubtedly belongs, by being killed on a Ukrainian battlefield. Instead she hitched a hallucinogenic ride.
On ketamine.
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
At least seven injured in Russian attacks over past day
Monday 7 April 2025 15:01
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Alex Croft
At least seven people were injured by Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past day, according to regional authorities.
Russia’s missile and drone attacks have continued across Ukraine, drawing criticism from the Kyiv and its allies - including US president Donald Trump who has demanded Moscow end the violence.
A pregnant womtn and child were wounded by Russian shelling in Kherson and two pensioners were injured by a Russian attack in Kharkiv, the governors of both regions reported.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian attack wounded three civilians including a man, 62, and two women aged 23 and 57, governor Serhii Lysak said.
Russia must 'dance the tango' with Ukraine to reach peace - Rutte
Monday 7 April 2025 14:46
,
Alex Croft
Moscow must “dance the tango” with Ukraine if peace is to be achieved in the war-torn country, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has said.
In an interview with CBS News, Mr Rutte acknowledged that the US is "trying, step-by-step, to get to a situation where this war can end".
He added: "But of course, the Russians also have to dance the tango, and at this moment they don't seem to do so, and then it will be difficult.
The ball is “clearly” in the Russians’ court he said, adding: “They are not moving fast enough, is my impression, including the impression I'm getting from my American interlocutors, that Russia really has to do more to bring this war to an end.”
Russia showing 'complete disrespect' towards peace talks, says EU
Monday 7 April 2025 14:29
,
Alex Croft
Russia is showing “complete disrespect” for the peace talks regarding Ukraine, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
After Moscow’s forces continue to launch attacks on Ukraine - killing dozens of civilians in the past few days - spokesperson Anitta Hipper condemned Russia’s apparent lack of interest in peace.
"Now, when it comes to the actions that Russia is showing every day, including with the recent attacks that have killed at least 20 civilians, and as you said, 9 children included, Russia is showing a total disrespect for the talks. And it shows every day that it has zero interest to pursue this," Mr Hipper said according to European Pravda.
She said it is important "to ensure that we have a ceasefire, that we have just a long-lasting and comprehensive peace".
"But we cannot be naïve when we deal with Putin and when we see his murderous attacks on a daily basis," she added.
Why did Russia escape Trump’s tariffs?
Monday 7 April 2025 14:13
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Alex Croft
Almost no countries were spared from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs; even small, uninhabited islands in the Indian Ocean were included in the exhaustive list. But one country was notably missing: Russia.
One of the United States’ largest adversaries was omitted from the list of countries slapped with even the 10 percent baseline tariff – a move that raised some eyebrows given Trump’s previously friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But other countries, including the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which have a population of 59 and Svalbard and Jan Mayen, islands in the Arctic Circle with approximately 2,000 people, were hit with tariffs.
Ariana Baio writes:
Ukraine will send a team to the US next week for talks on a new draft mineral deal
Monday 7 April 2025 13:55
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine will send a team to Washington next week to begin negotiations on a new draft of a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources, Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko told The Associated Press.
“The new draft agreement from the U.S. shows that the intention to create a fund or jointly invest remains,” Svyrydenko said Saturday, during a trip to northern Ukraine.
The delegation from Kyiv will include representatives from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Finance.
Full report here:
Ukraine labels Russian claims of capturing village in Sumy 'disinformation’
Monday 7 April 2025 13:40
,
Alex Croft
Russia claimed it had captured the village of Basivka in Ukraine’s Sumy oblast in March this year, but Ukrainian officials have now denied the report, calling it part of a “disinformation campaign”.
While Moscow said the move could disrupt Ukrainian supply lines, Kyiv confirmed ongoing border clashes but insisted its forces were repelling Russian assault groups.
“Russia continues its disinformation campaign regarding the seizure of settlements in Sumy Oblast or the breakthrough of the border,” border guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko told Ukrainian Pravda.
Russian railway tracks damaged in Ukrainian strike
Monday 7 April 2025 13:26
,
Alex Croft
A Ukrainian drone damaged Russian railway tracks in the southwest Krasnodar region, local authorities said on Monday.
"There were no casualties, and no fire occurred," the administration of the region said on Telegram.
Russia's defence ministry earlier reported that its air defences shot down19 Ukrainian drones overnight, four of which were over the Krasnodar region.
Life goes on in Kyiv amid Russian airstrikes
Monday 7 April 2025 13:05
,
Alex Croft
Why does the US want Ukraine's minerals?
Monday 7 April 2025 12:54
,
Alex Croft
Munira Raji writes:
Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”.
This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks.
The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time.
These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements.
All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition.
Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the world’s most resource-rich nations.
Restarting Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant would be ‘unsafe’, Ukraine’s nuclear energy chief warns
Monday 7 April 2025 12:42
,
Alex Croft
Restarting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant — currently occupied by Russia — would be unsafe and extremely difficult under wartime conditions, according to Ukraine’s nuclear energy chief, Petro Kotin.
He warned that restarting even one reactor during the war is “impossible” due to a lack of cooling water, personnel, and power.
If Ukraine regains control, it could take two months to two years to safely bring the plant back online after full demilitarisation and safety checks, the chief executive of Energoatom said, according to The Guardian.
Russia has said it intends to restart the plant when conditions allow, but experts have raised serious safety concerns, especially given the degraded infrastructure, risk of mines, and untrained staff.
In February this year, Alexey Likhachev, head of Russian nuclear operator Rosatom, said it would be restarted when “military and political conditions allow”.
Watch former MI6 chief and Rusi boss discuss Russia, Trump and the future of the West
Monday 7 April 2025 12:31
,
Alex Croft
How Ukraine’s 2.5-bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia
Monday 7 April 2025 12:21
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them.
But what are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after?
Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”.
This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks.
Munira Raji reports:
Russia losing nearly 150 soldiers per square mile claimed - Ukrainian military
Monday 7 April 2025 11:55
,
Alex Croft
Russian forces are losing an average of 146 soldiers, one tank and two armoured combat vehicles pieces per square kilometre claimed of Ukrainian territory in 2025, the Ukrainian military has said.
The calculations, carried out by the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, are based on the losses suffered by Moscow’s forces on the eastern front alone, during the first quarter of the year, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Russia will try to resolve US-Iran nuclear tensions, says Kremlin
Monday 7 April 2025 11:38
,
Alex Croft
Russia will do all it can to resolve tensions between the US and Iran around Tehran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin has said.
Donald Trump recently warned Iran that it must reach a nuclear deal with the US if it wants to avoid being bombed.
Moscow has reiterated its previous offer to mediate between the two sides. Kremlin spokeman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday: "We are in constant consultations with our Iranian partners, including on the topic of the nuclear deal.
"This process will continue, including in the near future. And, of course, Russia is ready to make every effort, to do everything possible to contribute to this problem's resolution by political and diplomatic means."
In his first term, Mr Trump withdraw the US from a 2015 deal with Iran which placed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Moscow claims control of village in Donetsk region
Monday 7 April 2025 11:24
,
Alex Croft
Russian troops have taken control of the settlement of Katerynivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the defence ministry said according to Russian state news.
The Independent could not independently verify the report.
Russia is awaiting answers on a Ukraine ceasefire, says Kremlin
Monday 7 April 2025 11:09
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin is ready to support a ceasefire but Moscow has not been give answers to Russia’s key issues, the Kremlin said on Monday.
There is a common understanding between Washington and Moscow that contacts should continue, Kremlin spokesmen Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
Ukraine and its allies have accused Moscow of deliberately delaying the ceasefire as it seeks further territorial gains.
Ukraine's deputy PM confirms delegation to visit Washington
Monday 7 April 2025 10:59
,
Alex Croft
A Ukrainian delegation will visit Washington for vital talks on a minerals deal, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has confirmed, after reports of the trip emerged earlier on Monday.
Kyiv is seeking to align with US legal frameworks and investment mechanisms during the talks, Oleksiy Chernyshov told reporters.
Russia says Ukraine of attacked energy facilities six times over past day
Monday 7 April 2025 10:55
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine attacked Russian energy infrastructure six times over the previous day, its defence ministry has claimed, despite a US-brokered halt to such strikes.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of breaching a US-brokered halt to such strikes in recent weeks.
Russia said Ukraine struck power facilities and electrical substations in Russia's Rostov, Voronezh and Bryansk regions, as well as in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Donetsk, parts of which Moscow controls.
The Independent was not able to verify reports of the strikes.
Zelensky: Our army must be strong enough
Monday 7 April 2025 10:38
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to the importance of the Ukrainian army in an X post, declared that the Kyiv’s forces must be “strong enough” to build the “entire security architecture”.
“The primary and most effective guarantee of our security for Ukraine is our state’s Defense Forces and Security Forces, along with the appropriate motivation, supplies, and all necessary defense capabilities,” Mr Zelensky said, in call for Ukraine to be sufficiently armed against Russia.
“We must always remember how much depends on our army—on all Ukrainians who are defending the life of Ukraine with their own lives,” he added.
The primary and most effective guarantee of our security for Ukraine is our state’s Defense Forces and Security Forces, along with the appropriate motivation, supplies, and all necessary defense capabilities.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 7, 2025
The Ukrainian army must be strong enough, and upon this foundation,… pic.twitter.com/N7tCTaQWmW
US soldier in Russian prison has prison sentence reduced
Monday 7 April 2025 10:22
,
Alex Croft
A court in far east Russia has reduced the prison sentence of a US soldier convicted of stealing and making murder threats, state media has reported.
Staff Sgt Gordon Black, 34, was arrested in May 2024 after flying to Vladivostok to see his girlfriend - after she accused him of stealing from her.
Black's girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters last year that “it was a simple domestic dispute”, during which Black "became aggressive and attacked" her, stealing money from her wallet. She described Black as “violent and unable to control himself”.
He was convicted one month later and sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars.
After losing one appeal, Black successfully had his sentence reduced to three years and two months. The judge partially sustained a request by his lawyers to acquit him of the murder threats and reduce the punishment for theft.
The US army said Black hadn’t obtained travel clearance before his trip, and given the hostilities in Ukraine, it is unlikely he would have been granted approval.
Russian advances are slowing, says UK defence ministry
Monday 7 April 2025 10:05
,
Alex Croft
Russian advances in eastern Ukraine have slowed down in the first part of 2025, the UK defence ministry has said.
Moscow’s forces likely only seized 143 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory throughout March, an average of less than five square kilometres per day, the ministry said in an intelligence update over the weekend.
The rate of advance has dropped each month since November, it said, adding that Ukraine has “carried out tactical counter-attacks, reversing some of Russia’s gains around Pokrovsk”.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 05 April 2025.
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 5, 2025
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/M4zHzkP1GS #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/1vdj0VpqYg
Putin congratulates Russian ice hockey player in US for breaking NHL scoring record
Monday 7 April 2025 09:52
,
Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin has congratulated Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin on breaking the all-time National Hockey League record, the Kremlin said on Monday.
He scored his 895th goal on Sunday to break the all-time record set by Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky - that few believed would ever be beaten.
Mr Ovechkin, considered one of ice hockey’s greatest players, has previously been vocal in his support for the Russian president.
In 2017, he launched Putin Team, a social movement which aimed to unite people who are “proud of their country and want to make Russia stronger”.
But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has said only that he hoped “it was going to be over and we are going to be living in a good world”.
Asked if he still supported Putin, Ovechkin said according to the Guardian: “Well, he’s my president, but [like] I said, I’m not in politics, I’m an athlete.”
Russia attacks Kharkiv six times on Monday morning - regional authorities
Monday 7 April 2025 09:35
,
Alex Croft
Russia has attacked Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region six times on Monday morning, the chief of the region’s military administration has said.
The attack caused two injuries, fires and damage to a high-rise building, houses, and power transmission lines, Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.
“As a result of a strike on the eighth floor, the balconies and apartments of a nine-storey apartment building caught fire, covering an area of 100 square metres,” Mr Syniehubov wrote.
“The building was partially damaged. A 67-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman were injured in the attack."
In pictures: Kryvyi Rih residents mourn in playground after Russian attack kills nine children
Monday 7 April 2025 09:26
,
Alex Croft
