Ukraine War Update: Child Killed as Putin’s Drone Assault Wreaks Havoc on Dnipro, Leaving 30 Injured

Key Points

• Mass drone attack kills three and injures at least 30 in Dnipro
• Kiev reports that Ukraine and the US have made ‘significant headway’ on the mineral agreement.
• Trump dispatches senior diplomats for discussions on Ukraine with European Union representatives in Paris.
• The report points out nearly 102,000 Russian troops reported dead in the conflict in Ukraine.
• The Kremlin states there is no set timeframe for peace, yet there is political determination present.

A child was among three people killed and 30 injured in a Russian drone strike on Dnipro.

08:20
,
Andy Gregory

One child is among three individuals confirmed dead after a Russian drone strike in Dnipro, Ukraine. Additionally, 30 more people sustained injuries as reported by Ukrainian authorities.

Serhiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, stated that 30 individuals had sustained injuries, with five of them being children. Currently, 16 people are receiving medical treatment at the hospital.

Mayor Borys Filatov said one strike came within 100 metres of the municipal offices. He also said at least 15 homes had been damaged, as well as a student residence, an educational institution and a food processing plant.

Pictures posted online showed a large blaze and firefighters working at the scene well into the night, as well as gutted vehicles and buildings with smashed windows and damaged facades.

Ukrainian ministers arrive in Paris to meet US and European allies

08:00
,
Arpan Rai

Ukraine’s foreign minister and defence minister have arrived in Paris to meet US and European allies, the head of Ukrainian president’s office, who is also a part of the delegation, said this morning.

“Andriy Yermak stated that they are focusing on crucial matters related to the security of Ukraine as well as the entire European continent,” he mentioned regarding the scheduled discussions with officials from the US, France, Germany, and Britain.

Ukraine targets a Russian town far from the front line for the second consecutive day.

07:59
,
Arpan Rai

Moscow officials reported that Ukraine launched another nighttime assault on Shuya, a Russian town, marking the second consecutive night of attacks.

A message shared on Telegram by officials from Russia’s Ivanovo region, located to the east of Moscow, stated that Ukrainian drones had targeted the town of Shuya; however, they reported that neither injuries nor destruction were caused by this attack.

Shuya, located approximately 1,150 kilometers (715 miles) away from the Ukrainian border, houses the headquarters of a Russian missile brigade. This unit has been accused by Ukraine for an attack on the city of Sumy on Sunday, resulting in at least 35 fatalities.

Russian Telegram channels were circulating videos that appeared to show the base being struck, and at least one fire burning on its premises.

In total, Russian air defence systems destroyed or intercepted 71 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions overnight, Russia’s defence ministry said.

Poland rejects Russia’s threat to Nato and Baltic nations as Russian misinformation

07:42
,
Arpan Rai

Polish president Andrzej Duda has responded to Russia’s latest threats towards Warsaw and the Baltic nations, calling it “bloodythirsty imperialism”.

“Russia, which is behaving aggressively towards Nato and implementing its brutal and bloodthirsty imperialism, has been attacking Ukraine for three years,” Mr Duda said yesterday.

His comments were in response to Russia’s intelligence chief, who threatened Poland and the Baltic states saying they will be the “first to suffer” in a direct fight between Nato and Russia.

Sergey Naryshkin, who leads Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, stated that any aggressive actions by NATO towards Russia or Belarus could result in severe repercussions for Poland as well as the Baltic nations—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

Mr. Duda characterized Mr. Naryshkin’s warnings as “typical Russian deceptive propaganda.”

Mr. Duda stated, “Every action taken by NATO serves as a reaction to Russian aggression… NATO has never initiated an assault nor does it do so; instead, it functions solely as an organization dedicated to enhancing security.”

How Ukraine’s 2.5-billion-year-old geological formation has become crucial in efforts to halt Russia

07:20
,
Arpan Rai

Ukraine
’s
minerals
have emerged as key factors in worldwide geopolitical strategies, with the U.S. 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 frequently acknowledged for its extensive farmlands and industrial past; however, hidden underneath lies one of the planet’s most extraordinary geological structures known as the “Ukrainian Shield.”

This large, uncovered crystalline rock formation, which dates back more than 2.5 billion years, spans a significant part of Ukraine. It stands as one of the planet’s eldest and most stable continental sections.

How a 2.5bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia’s invasion

Lammy to join Trump’s envoys for talks on Ukraine peace plan

07:13
,
Arpan Rai

Foreign secretary David Lammy is expected to join Donald Trump’s peace envoys for talks in Paris today on ending the war in Ukraine.

Mr Lammy will travel to Paris for meetings with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US secretary of state Marco Rubio, reported
The Telegraph
citing sources.

The two American officials are anticipated to listen to European worries regarding Russia, as the U.S. tries to establish a hard-to-reach truce in Ukraine, which has been experiencing conflict for three years since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.

Buildings in Odesa were reduced to ruins during a nighttime drone assault by Russians on the Ukrainian coastal city.

07:06
,
Arpan Rai

Russia
The sudden drone assault took place last night.
infrastructure in Odesa
,
Ukraine
The video posted yesterday demonstrates.

The smoke billowed from wreckage as rescuers doused a building hit in the attack.

The strike on the
Black Sea
A port city was also hit, damaging residential buildings and warehouses, according to regional Ukrainian officials.

Three people were injured and several fires broke out in the city as a result of the attack, Ukraine’s emergency service.

Russia did not immediately comment on the attack.

Odesa buildings reduced to rubble in Russian overnight drone attack

Trump’s top envoys head to Paris to discuss Ukraine with Macron

07:01
,
Arpan Rai

Donald Trump’s top national security aides and peace envoy plan to hold talks in Paris with French president Emmanuel Macron today as the US and Europe search for common ground on ending the Ukraine war.

The two advisors, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are anticipated to listen to European worries regarding Russia as the U.S. endeavors to establish a hard-to-reach truce in Ukraine.

In addition to meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, the French Foreign Ministry stated that Senator Marco Rubio will also have discussions with France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Leurent, covering topics such as Ukraine, potential developments regarding a new Iran nuclear agreement, and matters concerning the Middle East.

Mr. Witkoff intends to continue his journey to Rome for further talks on Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Their previous meeting lasted 45 minutes last Saturday in Oman.

Each side viewed the discussions from last weekend optimistically, although they admitted that reaching an agreement is still far off.

Russia claims to have shot down 71 Ukrainian drones in one night.

06:56
,
Arpan Rai

The Russian defense ministry reported today that their air defense systems successfully took down or intercepted 71 Ukrainian drones across six of their regions during the night.

Of these, around 49 drones were downed in Kursk region, while others were downed in Oryol, Ryazan, Bryansk, Vladimir and Tula regions.

Putin compares Elon Musk to Soviet space hero

06:13
,
Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putin
has drawn a parallel between
Elon Musk
and a key figure in the Soviet space race, Sergei Korolev, praising the
SpaceX
founder as a visionary.

Speaking on Russia’s space policy at a student meeting, Mr Putin reportedly described Musk, a
key adviser
of president
Donald Trump
, as ”
absolutely crazy about Mars
as reported by the state news agency TASS.

Mr. Putin allegedly referenced the heritage of Korolev, the engineer responsible for Yuri Gagarin’s groundbreaking 1961 journey into space, to emphasize how uncommon individuals such as Musk are.

TASS reported Mr. Putin as stating: “These individuals seldom emerge within humanity, driven by a particular ideology.”

Putin draws parallels between Elon Musk and a Soviet space pioneer.

Kiev reports that Ukraine and the US have made ‘significant headway’ on the mineral agreement.

05:52
,
Arpan Rai

Ukraine and the US have made “substantial progress” in their talks on a minerals deal and will sign a memorandum in the near future, a senior Ukrainian official said.

“Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress. Our legal staff has adjusted several items within the draft agreement,” first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a social media post on X.

Donald Trump is seeking a bilateral minerals deal as part of his push to end Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion. Mr Trump also sees it as a way to recover billions of dollars the US has spent on military assistance to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine would not recognise past US military aid as loans.

Ms Svyrydenko said the work on the deal would continue and that both sides agreed to sign a memorandum in the near term as the first stage to record the progress.

The talks are advancing and it was likely a provisional document, or memorandum, could be signed very soon, deputy Ukrainian economy minister Taras Kachka told national television.

“The final document will not be signed this week as there remains considerable work ahead. The concepts presented by the U.S. team require additional development,” stated Mr. Kachka.

How the people of Ukraine’s Sumy region are reconstructing following this year’s most devastating Russian assault.

05:47
,
Arpan Rai

The hustle and bustle of everyday life in
Ukraine’s
It’s difficult to imagine that Sumy’s residents have lived under an ongoing threat of death ever since.
Three years ago, Russia attacked their nation.

Only a few days prior, Putin’s troops launched consecutive missile assaults on the city center, resulting in the deaths of 35 individuals and leaving more than 100 injured. This incident stands as the most lethal strike carried out so far.
Ukrainian
civilians this year.

Residents of the apartment buildings exchanged greetings as they observed children playing games in the courtyards below. They would occasionally glance upward at the sight of attacking drones and hear the recognizable sound of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses, then resume their unusual yet increasingly commonplace activities.

How Ukraine’s Sumy is rebuilding after the deadliest Russian attack this year

Zelensky holds ‘honest’ conversation with Finnish president

05:42
,
Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed “next steps” in response to possible “Russian provocations” with president of Finland Alexander Stubb.

“We discussed many issues, including preparations for our next joint steps and our response to possible Russian provocations in the near future,” Mr Zelensky said.

In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said the two leaders spoke about the battlefield situation and need for air defence systems.

I reported on the conditions of the battlefield and our requirement for advanced air defense systems,” he stated. “A fair and lasting peace can be achieved once Ukraine gets robust support packages, with stringent sanctions imposed on Russia should they prolong this conflict further.

The Kremlin states there is no set timetable for peace, yet there is political determination present.

05:35
,
Arpan Rai

The Kremlin has stated that they do not have a distinct framework for a possible US-Russia accord regarding Ukraine just yet; however, they possess the political determination to work toward reaching an understanding.

“So far, there aren’t any definite contours of an agreement, but there is a political commitment to work toward one. Let me emphasize once more, we greatly value the productive and significant discussions we’ve had with the US,” stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a conference call with journalists on Tuesday.

He stated that the discussions with the US were constructive and beneficial, but Moscow wouldn’t provide an estimated timeframe for a potential peace agreement.

“Of course, we naturally aim to expect the best and hope that the project yields positive outcomes. However, we wouldn’t specify the exact timeline at this point,” stated Mr. Peskov.

Germany intends to ship missiles to Ukraine.

05:17
,
Arpan Rai

Germany is counting on British support to deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine, according to a warning from a member of Berlin’s upcoming administration.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a senior Christian Democrats (CDU) MP, said in-fighting between his party and its coalition partner, the centre-Left Social Democrats (SPD), was preventing a final decision by Friedrich Merz, the chancellor-in-waiting.

However, he proposed that “UK leadership” might provide Mr. Merz with the necessary backing to deploy the potent missile system, according to The Telegraph.

“The Taurus delivery remains a point of contention for the time being … I do not yet see any consensus here, especially as the parties have not agreed on the key security policy issues in the coalition agreement,” Mr Kiesewetter said.

“I don’t yet see the Taurus being delivered. Any influence by UK leadership to finally convince Germany to deliver Taurus might help and is highly welcomed,” he added.

The report pinpoints nearly 102,000 Russian troops reported dead in the conflict in Ukraine.

05:00
,
Arpan Rai

A separate Russian news organization asserts they have pinpointed 101,833 members of the Russian armed forces who were killed as part of Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.

The inquiry carried out by Mediazona, together with the BBC Russian service, revealed that 4,897 Russian servicemen have died during the invasion.

Over 24,800 volunteers were included in this group, representing 24.3 percent of all Russian casualties.

Mediazona has been running an ongoing investigation tracking the identities of Russians killed in the war, as well as broader estimates of casualties – including those wounded or missing.

Since its last update, it said 1,882 additional Russian military personnel have been killed.

Trump sends top envoys for Ukraine talks with European officials in Paris

04:42
,
Arpan Rai

Donald Trump has dispatched his peace envoy Steve Witkoff and secretary of state Marco Rubio to Paris for talks on Ukraine’s future with European partners.

This is the first time the US president has made an effort to reach out to European leaders after excluding them from the initial rounds of peace talks on Ukraine.

“Secretary of state Marco Rubio and ambassador Steve Witkoff will travel to Paris, France, 16-18 April for talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” the state department said.

The visit is also aimed at improving Mr Trump’s ties with the US’s EU allies.

“During his time in Paris, he will also talk about methods to promote common goals in the area,” the statement further noted.

A mass drone attack in Dnipro leaves two dead and at least 16 injured.

04:14
,
Arpan Rai

A massive drone assault carried out by Russia resulted in two fatalities and left at least 16 individuals wounded in the southeast Ukrainian city of Dnipro, according to the region’s governor.

According to Serhiy Lysack, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, two women—one younger and one older—had lost their lives.

Mr. Lysak stated that 16 individuals had sustained injuries, which included three children with ages of 11, six, and nine months respectively. As for medical care, five persons were receiving treatment at the hospital.

The Dnipro mayor, Borys Filatov, stated that the count of those wounded was 28.

Several fires were sparked by the attack.

Mr Filatov said one strike came within 100 metres (110 yards) of the municipal offices. He also said at least 15 dwellings had been damaged, as well as a student residence, an educational institution and a food processing plant.

Kamikaze drones spark fires in Dnipropetrovsk

04:12
,
Arpan Rai

Russian forces used heavy artillery and kamikaze drones to strike Dnipropetrovsk all through Wednesday.

Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, said on
Telegram
During the course of the day, the attacker carried out nine suicide drone attacks on the Nikopol region.

The area was bombarded with intense artillery fire. Communities of Nikopol, Marhanets, and Pokrovsk were affected.

In a single nine-story residential building, a fire erupted in one of the apartments. According to Lysak, the neighboring residences had their windows shattered as well.

He additionally mentioned that the city’s facilities and transportation resources suffered damage.

One person dead and nine wounded in Russian attacks on Kherson.

04:11
,
Arpan Rai

Russian glider bombs and artillery hit a city in southern Ukraine yesterday, resulting in one death and injuries to nine people as Vladimir Putin’s troops persisted with their ongoing assaults throughout the nation.

The city of Kherson was hit by glide bombs during the predawn hours yesterday. When rescue teams reached the area, Russian forces initiated an artillery attack, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, who leads the region.

“This is a deliberate tactic by Russia to hinder the rescue of the injured and harm doctors, rescuers, and police,” he said.

The attack damaged a sports facility, a supermarket, residential buildings and civilian vehicles, Mr Prokudin added.