Russian media published a video showing Russian drone operators controlling combat drones from a rented apartment in a high-rise building in Moscow. When it was pointed out that this makes that building a legitimate military target, the media outlet deleted the video. The video has been geolocated, though.


Coordinates of the building: 55.747255, 37.538481

Ukraine launched another drone strike on the base of Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade. Several photos and pieces of footage demonstrate pretty widespread damage.

From Russian blogger dosye_sphiona:
“Attack on the 112th Missile Brigade.

Today, 17.04.2025, a repeat strike was carried out on the permanent deployment site of the 112th Missile Brigade (military unit 03333, Shuya) , in the village of Shuya, Ivanovo Region.

The attack was carried out using strike UAVs.

Under attack:

• weapons storage warehouse;

• locations of personnel;

• modular shelters for equipment and personnel (pictured);

• transformer substation;

• water tower;

The consequences of the attack are being clarified.”

Spanish manufacturer Tecnove will produce Ukrainian-designed Dzhura and Kozak armored vehicles at their facility in Spain. Ukraine currently has export limits on arms and equipment produced domestically. Equipment manufactured in 3rd countries would be allowed to be sold without such limits. Spain is unlikely to adopt the vehicles themselves, because of their own domestic armored vehicle designs, but the Kozak and Dzhura are reliable, proven in combat, and cheaper than many alternatives.


Russia has violated the "energy truce" more than 30 times, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russia also violated a "maritime truce" in March by launching Kalibr cruise missiles, despite agreements made in talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine held in Riyadh back in March. After agreements were reached, Russia came out and announced new stipulations, namely the lifting of some sanctions. The lifting of these sanctions was reportedly not discussed during the Riyadh talks.



India is trying to replace Russia as a major arms exporter as the global demand for arms and equipment increases. India is focusing on former Russian clients in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. India’s defense production hit $14.8 billion in 2023–24, which is a 62% rise since 2020. India is filling a void left by Russia after its arms industry shifted to focus on Ukraine. India offers lower-cost alternatives compared to American and European arms companies and can provide equipment like artillery shells and howitzers. India can produce 155mm artillery shells for $300-$400 apiece, whereas European manufacturers charge about $3,000 apiece. Last fiscal year, India made about $2 billion in arms sales, compared to $230 million 10 years ago. India hopes to export $6 billion worth of arms and equipment by 2029.



Ukraine has a new drone-missile called Bars, capable of striking targets up to 700-800 km inside Russia, according to the BBC. The Bars has a warhead that weighs 50-100 kg and has a turbojet engine. The Bars was “produced by private manufacturers.” The missile was publicly named by Ukraine’s Minister for Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, in 2024 alongside other missiles such as Peklo, Palyanytsia, and Ruta. This is the first time information about Bars has been published. Little else is known about this drone-missile.


Serbia issued passports to 204 Russians between early 2022 and April 2025, including many linked to the Kremlin, defense industry, and intelligence services. Among the recipients were 11 current and former executives of sanctioned Russian defense firms and their family members, as well as nine executives from sanctioned banks, including VTB, Gazprombank, and Dom RF. Viktor Shendrik, who was a member of the FSB's Vympel unit and worked as a bodyguard for Putin and the Rotenberg billionaires, was granted Serbian citizenship. None of these people have been subjected to Western sanctions and can travel visa-free through the countries in the Schengen Zone.


Ukraine asked to purchase 10 Patriot air defense systems from the United States using its own funds to protect major cities from Russian missile strikes, according to President Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy stated he presented several proposals to Donald Trump, including an offer to buy the systems directly at a cost of $1.5 billion each, totaling $15 billion. He added that some European partners were willing to help finance the purchase. Zelenskyy also discussed the possibility of producing Patriots and their missiles under license on Ukrainian territory, as well as leasing existing systems from regions in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.


Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the 30 moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure has ended. The Ukrainian government has reported that Russia launched more than 30 strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during this 30 day moratorium.

Trump extended the ban on Russian ships entering American ports for another year. The extension was signed on April 15, 2025. The decree states that the Russian government continues to pose a threat to the national security of the United States. This ban was declared on April 21, 2022, under President Biden. Trump also extended sanctions against Russia imposed by Biden in 2021.

A massive fire broke out at the APZ-20 bearing factory in Kursk, Russia. The fire started around 4:50 p.m. and spread over a large area. Firefighters with 40 personnel and 13 units of equipment worked to extinguish the fire. APZ-20 produces bearings and components for agricultural, machine-building, and automotive industries, as well as parts for defense contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense. In late March, Governor Alexander Khinshtein announced the factory was undergoing modernization with new equipment scheduled for installation in April.

Germany provided a new military aid package. Here is a list of what was provided

Heavy Equipment:

- 3 155-mm Zuzana self-propelled guns ;

- 6 BREM Bergerpanzer 2;

- 4 WiSENT 1 demining vehicles;

- 66 FFG MRAP armored vehicles;

- 4 Kinetic Defence Vehicles;

- 3 vehicles for border guards;

Drones:

- 10 Sonobot 5 surface drones;

- 70 Vector reconnaissance UAVs;

- 150 HF-1 strike drones.

Ammunition and weapons:

- missiles for IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defense systems;

- 917 RGW 90 ATGMs;

- 3,769 G3 rifles;

- 800 MK 556 assault rifles;

- 27,000 155-mm artillery shells;

- 38,000 rounds for the Gepard;

- Ammo for Leopard 2 tanks;

- 1,000 122-mm shells.

Other:

- 41 ground radars;

- 2 mine plows;

- 92 infrared binoculars;

- 187 laser rangefinders;

- 150,000 tourniquets;

- 1,300 sleeping bags;

- 55 underwater scooters;

- Parts for Bergerpanzer 2 BREM.


Czech PBS GROUP will open a second production facility in Velká Bíteš dedicated solely to jet engine production. Pavel Čechal, CEO of PBS GROUP, stated they increased jet engine production by 220% this year. In 2024, Ukraine and PBS developed the AI-PBS-350 jet engine, optimized for use in drones and other military projects. The engine has maximum thrust of 3,400 N, weighs 51 kg, has an outer diameter of 298 mm, length of 706 mm, and electrical power output of 5.0 kW. Mass production is expected to begin in the first half of 2025, initially producing dozens of units per year, with production gradually expanding to hundreds of engines per year.


Ukrainian drones destroyed two Russian Borisoglebsk-2 electronic warfare jamming stations in the Tavria operational zone in the south of Ukraine. These stations were discovered by Ukrainian recon drones. Drone dropped munitions set one on fire and the heavily damaged the other. The Borisoglebsk-2 is a Russian electronic warfare system designed to jam communications, including satellite communications. It includes several components: the R-330KMV control center, and the R-378BMV, R-934BMV, and R-325UMV jamming stations. These components are mounted on an MT-LBu chassis.


Russia's Supreme Court has ended the ban on the Taliban, removing it from the official list of organizations that Russia considers to be terrorist and extremist groups. Russia has recently changed its counterterrorism laws, allowing organizations to be removed from the list if they no longer participate in terrorism against Russia or if they no longer support terrorism against Russia’s interests. Russia has been strengthening its ties with the Taliban and legitimizing the organization. High-ranking Russian officials such as Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu have met with Taliban representatives recently.

The US and Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding in regards to a mineral deal. A finalized agreement is expected soon. Then the deal would need to be signed and ratified by both countries’ parliaments. Trump suggested it could be signed as early as April 24. Ukraine’s deputy Prime Minister and Economic Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko said that the mineral deal will provide significant opportunities for foreign investments, the modernization of infrastructure, and a deeper partnership with the United States. Zelenskyy was asked about the system of pipelines running through Ukraine, and whether or not their use is involved in the mineral. He said the pipeline was not discussed and that the US is not pressuring Ukraine to pump Russian or gas or gas from any other country.

On April 16, the US voted against a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine. The resolution was supported by 105 countries. Only nine countries voted against it, including Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and the United States. The US ambassador to the UN said that the resolution Makes statements about the war that the United States considers “unhelpful in advancing the cause of peace.”

The Czech Republic has become completely independent of Russian oil supplies according to Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The Czech Republic was one of the last three EU countries that imported Russian oil. The other two are Hungary and Slovakia, which still import oil through the Druzhba pipeline. This pipeline is exempt from European sanctions. The Czech Republic achieved this independence by upgrading and modernizing the TAL pipeline. Petr Fiala said that Russia is now no longer capable of blackmailing the country by threatening to cut off oil supply.

According to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine has recently managed to liberate 16 km² of land near the villages of Udachne, Kotlyne, and Schevchenko.

Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and where are the chairs are can give correctional Ukraine Caucus, has made an unannounced visit to Ukraine. Zelenskyy reported that he and Fitzpatrick discussed “efforts to establish a dignified and lasting peace, the US proposal for a full and unconditional cease-fire, and security guarantees for Ukraine.” Zelenskyy also added that “Brian Fitzpatrick has planned a trip to the front line to meet with our warriors. This is deeply appreciated. Thank you for your support.” Fitzpatrick made this journey to Kyiv as part of a trip to Turkey and Poland.

The Sumy city Council has presented 13-year-old Kyrlyo Illiashenko with the Sumy City Council’s third-class award For Services to the City and voucher for a two week trip to a children’s camp in Bulgaria. He was honored due to his heroism in the wake of the April 13 missile strike on Sumy. Kyrylo and his mother were on a bus that got caught in one of the missile strikes. The doors jammed, and despite having three pieces of shrapnel strike him in the head, he climbed through a window and helped others escape the burning bus.

Donald Trump responded to the April 13 missile strike on Sumy that wounded more than 119 and killed more than 35 civilians saying he was told that it was a “mistake.” President Zelenskyy responded by saying that the US’s response to the attack was “soft” and that that is representative of their current policies towards Russia. He added that he thinks the Trump administration believes a gentle approach towards Russia will bring the war to an end sooner. Furthermore, he said that when you strike a city center with multiple missiles, it can’t be a mistake.

Trump has walked back his statements that blamed Zelenskyy for starting the war. He blamed Biden for the war and said he is unhappy with Zelenskyy and “anybody involved.”


On April 16, Russia launched a drone attack on the city of Dnipro. The number of people known to have been injured in this attack has reached 33, 6 of whom are children. The number of people killed in this attack is 3, counting one child.

Since August 2023, North Korea has provided Russia with almost $20 billion worth of arms and equipment. They have provided approximately 21,000 containers worth of weapons and ammunition that includes artillery shells, rockets, anti, missiles, and ballistic missiles. North Korea is believed to have provided Russia with 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 artillery shells. These containers were mostly transported by ship. As payment, North Korea was given about $630 million for the technology and information support and about $280 million in exchange for providing 11,000 soldiers to fight on Russia’s behalf. Soldiers are paid a monthly salary of $2,000, with the North Korean government retaining some of the payment. North Korea reportedly prefers to barter goods amd services instead of accepting cash. For instance, Russia has provided technology related to nuclear-powered submarines and fourth-generation fighter jets.

Troops from Ukraine’s 92nd Assault Brigade published a video showing attacks on three different Russian radar systems. The Ukrainian troops used a Ukrainian-made Shark recon drone to locate the radars and record the attacks. A Nebo-SV radar was hit and was likely damaged enough to put it out of operation for at least a little while. The second radar target was a DMRL–10 meteorological radar. Accurate weather information is crucial for the deployment of aircraft, including drones. The third radar that was hit was a Kasta-2E2. Both the Kasta and the Nebo radars are more typical air defense radars that monitor the airspace for threats.

Ukraine reported a massive assault in the Pokrovsk region. The Russians reportedly used two companies of personnel and significant quantities of vehicles in this attack. It has been reported that the Russians lost at least 240 men, including dead and wounded, 96 motorcycles, 21 armored personnel carriers, 2 artillery systems, and 2 other vehicles.

According to President Zelenskyy, China has begun supplying Russia with gunpowder, artillery shells, and possibly artillery systems. Russia may also be manufacturing Chinese copies of Soviet artillery pieces, like the D-20 or the BM-21 Grad, and other systems. The systems may be either being produced inside Russia, or may have been provided directly by China from their military stocks. The systems are virtually indistinguishable from the Soviet versions, without deep knowledge and high-resolution images. If Russia is providing these systems, it would be virtually impossible to tell, and they may already be in use on the front lines. It is also possible that China has been supplying barrels and spare parts for the systems. In early March, photographs were published that seem to show Chinese 122 mm artillery shells in service with the Russian military. Previously, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, promised that he would not supply or sell weapons to Russia. Zelenskyy made it clear that this was not Chinese equipment, ending up in Russian hands via third parties, but was direct cooperation.

The Russians dropped a 1500 kg fuel-air bomb on an apartment building in Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast. A year 72-year-old woman was injured. Footage of the attack and its aftermath has been widely published.

Ukraine has published photos showing off their SURV high-speed, multipurpose boats that are part of the river flotilla. Boats like this are used by the US Marine Corps and the US Navy. They are capable of carrying up to 16 soldiers and have three weapon mounts on them. Ukraine mounted 2 M134 mini guns on the front of some of them. Some have 2 .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns mounted on the front and a Mk 19 fully automatic grenade launcher on the back. The boats were provided by the US as a form of military aid back in 2022. These boats are capable of performing air defense or direct fire on enemy troops.

Poland has begun to manufacture, transportation and launch containers for PAC-3 Patriot missiles. The production line can manufacture 150 of the containers per year, is capable of doing repairs on them, and it’s also able to reload used ones.

The UK has announced that it supports the decision, made by the upcoming German Chancellor Merz’s announcement that Germany will supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, but only if support is guaranteed from France and the UK before they send Taurus to Ukraine.

A BBC Verify investigation has found that in Mariupol Russian authorities have seized 5700 homes from Ukrainians since July 2024, many of which belonged to people who had to flee from the war. The BBC says, to save their homes, Ukrainians would have to face a dangerous return to Mariupol via Russia, gruelling security checks, a complex bureaucratic process and overwhelming pressure to accept a Russian passport. Russian officials have started to list homes in Mariupol as “ownerless” to describe homes that they say are not in use with the legal owner, which Russian authorities say makes it Russian property. However, they do have legal owners, many being Ukrainians left when the fighting started in 2022. After marking a home as ownerless, the authorities wait three months and then get a court order to seize the property. In effect, it leaves Ukrainians with an impossible choice: their safety and their identities, or their homes.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in Moscow to meet with Putin. They will likely talk about a peace agreement for Ukraine as well as the two Russian bases in Syria.

The Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz was awarded $5 billion by a court in Paris after a long legal battle that started in 2016 in response to Russia seizing all of Naftogaz’s assets in Crimea. The ruling allows Naftogaz to acquire Russia’s state assets in France to recoup its losses. So far Naftogaz has identified €120 million worth of Russian assets in France, which is the first step towards the enforcement of the arbitration award.

Denmark plans to send unarmed soldiers to Ukraine in order to study Ukraine’s drone warfare tactics, according to the Danish commander-in-chief, Major General Peter Boysen. The courses are expected to begin this summer and will take place at training centers in Western Ukraine, and the Danish troops will not be involved in direct combat.


Quote of the Day:

"The hedgehog is an extraordinary animal. It is capable of taking down prey as large as a buffalo, and it has been around for millions of years, virtually unchanged. The sheer power and aggression of the hedgehog are legendary."

-David Attentborough