CHERNIHIV, UKRAINE – APRIL 19: Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the … More
Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,154.
Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine
Kharkiv region. A Russian missile strike on densely populated areas in Ukraine’s second-largest city on April 18 killed one man and wounded nearly 120 local residents, including five children. A Russian airstrike on the village of Petropavlivka in eastern Ukraine killed two people on April 21.
Kherson region. On April 21, a Russian drone dropped explosives on the southern village of Bilozerka, killing a woman and wounding two other people.
Donetsk region. A Russian airstrike on April 19 struck a residence in the eastern city of Kostyantynivka, killing two civilians. Rescue teams faced repeated shelling during the recovery operation.
Sumy region. In the early hours of April 18, Russian forces launched three drone strikes on a bakery in northeastern Ukraine, killing one civilian and wounding another.
Citing Ukrainian military sources, Britain’s Times newspaper has reported a sharp increase in the use of banned chemical weapons by Russian forces seeking to overrun Ukrainian defenses along eastern front lines. Russia, a signatory to the 1997 convention on prohibited chemical weapons, denies the allegations. Ukraine, however, has recorded more than 7,000 instances in which Russian forces have used such weapons since the invasion three years ago, of which approximately one-third have occurred just this year. The weapons cause respiratory seizures, vomiting, burning sensations and other debilitating symptoms.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an “Easter ceasefire,” vowing to suspend military operations in Ukraine from the evening of April 19 to April 21. The Kremlin announcement was framed as a humanitarian gesture, with Putin urging Kyiv to do the same. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, pointed out the hypocrisy of Putin’s claims as Russian drones attacked Ukraine within hours of the ceasefire. Ukrainian officials reported more than 2,000 violations of the ceasefire by Russia, claiming that artillery strikes and assaults on eastern and southern front lines never stopped but only decreased in intensity. As the ceasefire ended, Russian forces resumed their assault on Ukraine with an overnight drone and missile strike.
Ukraine is under pressure to respond to a set of proposals from the Trump administration on settling the war with Russia. The U.S. plan, which Ukrainian officials received in Paris on April 17, includes recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and denial of Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO. Kyiv is expected to weigh the proposals at a high-level meeting in London on April 23.
New suggestions made by Washington represent a significant departure from long-standing American policy, which has rejected Russia’s territorial claims and supported Ukraine’s European integration. The proposed concessions have sparked resistance in Ukraine, which has defended its territorial integrity. Notably, the Trump administration has refrained from demanding a full Russian withdrawal from occupied Ukrainian regions, instead suggesting a freeze on the conflict along current battle lines. In January, such a scenario, a sign of eroding support from its most important ally, was considered one of the most worrisome outcomes for Ukraine.
Russian authorities are systematically seizing thousands of homes from Ukrainian residents in the occupied southeastern city of Mariupol, with at least 5,700 properties identified for confiscation, according to an investigation by BBC Verify. The seized homes belong primarily to residents who fled the city or were killed during Russia’s siege in 2022, which left more than 8,000 dead, according to Human Rights Watch. The Ukrainian government believes that civilian casualties actually might number tens of thousands. Russia’s action is part of a broader effort to consolidate control of the occupied city, including the construction of new military installations and renaming of streets with Moscow-approved names.
New legislation adopted by the pro-Russian administration has accelerated the seizure process, making it almost impossible for Ukrainians to assert their property rights. In addition to the legal issues, restoration of property involves a trip down a road through Russia-held territories and past strict security checkpoints. Ukrainian property owners, many of whom are unwilling to take Russian citizenship, face a choice between making this risky trip or losing their property.
On April 19, President Zelenskyy announced the return of 277 Ukrainian captured soldiers through a prisoner exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates. The latest exchange brings the total number of freed POWs to 4,552 since the onset of the war. The previous day, on April 18, Ukraine secured the return of 909 bodies of soldiers killed in southeastern Ukraine.
Culture Front.
British art publisher FUEL will bring out Ukrainian Modernism, a photo album by Dmytro Soloviov, showcasing more than 120 architectural landmarks across Ukraine. From Kyiv’s iconic Hotel Salute to the Uzhhorod airport, the book will delve into the intersection of functionality and design in Soviet-era structures. Despite their historical significance, these buildings remain largely overlooked amid ongoing threats of destruction. Proceeds from the book will support the British Red Cross’ aid efforts in Ukraine.
In 2024, Russia reportedly delivered more than 90,000 copies of propaganda books to libraries in the eastern Luhansk region. The recent book dissemination was part of the Kremlin’s national “Culture” project, which began in Russia in 2019 and expanded to occupied Ukrainian territories in 2023. Ukrainian literary critics claim that Russia aims to replace Ukrainian culture with Russian narratives and indoctrinate future generations of Ukrainian children against the country.
By Danylo Nosov, Alan Sacks
