Ukraine-Russia war live: Kyiv says frontline position ‘strongest in a year’ as Zelensky calls for new talks
Russian drone attack kills 3 and injures 10 in DniproUkrainian officials in the southeastern city of Dnipro are reporting a Russian drone attack that has killed three people and injured another 10, including two children.The strike partially destroyed an apartment building, emergency services said, and triggered fires that damaged an administrative building, cars and a shop."The Russians directed drones at a residential area. When people and their families were sleeping in their beds," Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region council, said on Telegram.The regional governor, Oleksandr Hanzha, writing on Telegram, said the body of another person was found in the ruined apartment building, bringing to three the toll of those killed.Four people were being treated in hospital, including the two wounded children - girls aged 9 and 14, he said.Officials posted photos of the aftermath of the attack, showing the apartment building with a gaping hole in its middle, wrecked balconies, broken windows, and shoes scattered on a lawn.Earlier photos showed apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.Alex Croft23 April 2026 10:15No gains for Russia as Ukraine holds ‘strongest’ frontline position in a year, says SybihaUkraine’s frontline position is now “the strongest” it has been in a year, the country’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, crediting its superiority in drone warfare and air defence.“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Sybiha said.He added: “For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities… [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”A new analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War said that Russia made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March, the first time Moscow has made such little progress in two and a half years.(Reuters)Arpan Rai23 April 2026 09:45Longer Iran conflict could make it harder for Ukraine to secure missile defences, says ZelenskyUkraine could face increased risks in securing US anti-missile defences if the war in Iran goes on for an extended period of time, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned.Speaking to CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine received limited numbers of such weaponry because US production was limited, but so far it had experienced no disruption in supplies or in provision of intelligence.Zelensky said Ukraine was able to secure US weaponry through the PURL programme under which Nato countries can finance the purchase of weapons for Kyiv.“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don't have this...with our European neighbours," Zelensky told CNN in English.“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk."The United States, he said, had supplied "only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.”“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed...(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”Arpan Rai23 April 2026 09:15Ukraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump – reportUkrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region “Donnyland” to appeal to President Donald Trump’s ego and to get him “more on their side,” according to a report.The moniker was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia’s territorial demands,” and was first mentioned “partly in jest” by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.Donnyland, which is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, would appear to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.Arpan Rai23 April 2026 08:45Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there's a preconditionRussian president Vladimir Putin can only meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday."The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment," TASS news agency quoted Peskov as telling Russian state television."The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements,” he said.Arpan Rai23 April 2026 08:30How will the EU's 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?A €90bn EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.How will Europe lend the money?The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around €210bn that could be used for the repayment.The €90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get €45bn in 2026 and another €45bn in 2027. Each year, €28bn will be for spending on military needs and €17bn on general budget needs.Arpan Rai23 April 2026 08:15One killed in Russian attack on civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine's ZhytomyrRussian drones attacked civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, killing one, the regional governor said this morning.Governor Vitaliy Bunechko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that rescue workers, repair crews and law enforcement agencies were working at the site of the attack.Arpan Rai23 April 2026 07:48Zelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is 'right signal'Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was "the right signal under the current circumstances".Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine "can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient."“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”Arpan Rai23 April 2026 07:45Druzhba oil flow to Slovakia resumes after pipeline repairedSlovakia has started receiving crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline in the early hours today, the country's economy ministry said, confirming the end of a months-long outage after what Ukraine said was a Russian strike on the pipeline."The Economy Ministry informs that today at 2am (0000 GMT) the reception of oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline was resumed," a ministry statement said.The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the most politically charged pieces of infrastructure in Europe since the halt in Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia in January.Oil through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline started flowing on Wednesday, prompting Hungary to lift its veto on €90bn (£78bn) EU loan urgently needed by Ukraine.Ukraine had said the halt was forced by the necessity to repair the pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia, meanwhile, accused Kyiv of dragging its feet.Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian oil and gas and are trying to maintain supplies despite EU efforts to end Russian energy imports after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Arpan Rai23 April 2026 07:41Seven injured in Russian attack on apartment building in Ukraine's DniproA Russian air attack has triggered a series of fires in an apartment block in Ukraine's southeastern city of Dnipro, injuring seven people, including two children, in the early hours today, officials said.Regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said five people were being treated in hospital, including girls aged nine and 14.Pictures posted on line by the governor showed several apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.Ganzha said fire also broke out in a store and a number of cars.Seven people injured from Russian attack in Ukraine's DniproArpan Rai23 April 2026 07:30
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