Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 04-04-2024

Artem Shylo, who had also worked for the SBU, is being held for two months on Hr.30 million ($770,000) bail.

The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday evening arrested former advisor to the President’s Office, Artem Shylo, for suspected involvement in a group that allegedly embezzled Hr. 94.7 million ($2.4 million).

The group allegedly charged Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) nearly twice the going rate for transformers.

He said that Russia would not be a target as it is “a unique example of interfaith harmony and unity, of inter-religious and inter-ethnic unity.”

In a speech shown on RIA Novosti TV at the 12th Congress of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia in Moscow on Thursday President Vladimir Putin once again dismissed the concept of Russia being targeted by “Islamic fundamentalists,” because of the “warm relations” that exist between Russia, its domestic Muslim community, and Islamic nations.

NATO allies have been increasingly unnerved by the prospect of a Trump return to the White House in November's US presidential election.

President Joe Biden said Thursday the United States must uphold its “sacred commitment” to NATO as the alliance marked its 75th anniversary, after election rival Donald Trump undermined its collective defense guarantee.

“We must remember that the sacred commitment we make to our Allies – to defend every inch of NATO territory – makes us safer too,” Biden said in a statement.

The news site’s report found that every sixth official had bought an apartment or house, and every third one a car. Meanwhile, officials’ savings also increased.

An investigation by the Ukrainian news site Economic Pravda suggests that government officials' wealth has increased over the past year.

By law, Ukrainian officials such as lawmakers, prosecutors, and judges must declare their assets to the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP).

Volodymyr Ohryzko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009), gave his personal opinion on the main reasons why Ukraine did not receive a NATO Membership Action Plan in 2008.

In 2008, Ukraine asked NATO for a Membership Action Plan (MAP), but even then, the Kremlin turned on its Russian machine to prevent this, Volodymyr Ohryzko, Ukraine's Foreign Minister (2007-2009), said in an interview with European Pravda.

He said that there were other reasons why Ukraine did not receive the Membership Action Plan at the time.

Russia warned France during the one-hour talks that it hoped it had not been involved in a recent attack on a concert hall in Moscow, an attack already claimed by Islamic State group extremists.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denounced as “bizarre and threatening” Russia's tone following rare phone talks between the defense ministers of France and Russia, their first contact since 2022.

On Wednesday, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu reached out to his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, saying France was ready to step up exchanges to battle “terrorism,” according to the French defense ministry. 

German journalists identified the logos of Knauf and WKB Systems on various construction equipment, house windows, and building materials scattered across war-torn Mariupol.

An investigation by the German TV magazine Monitor from public broadcaster ARD has uncovered the involvement of German companies Knauf and WKB Systems in the reconstruction efforts of the city of Mariupol, devastated by the Russian full-scale invasion back in the spring of 2022.

Through analysis of annual reports, photographs, and videos, reporters discovered the presence of these companies in the war-ravaged Ukrainian city, which is currently under Russian occupation.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

Governments and people around the world have been expressing sorrow and anger over the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers by Israeli airstrikes as they were trying to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza. In a message Tuesday, the Israeli military offered condolences to World Central Kitchen and praised the group for bringing humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, as well as Israel after the Oct. 7 attack, saying it would make public the findings of its investigation into the case. On Wednesday, the bodies of the six foreigners were sent out of Gaza into Egypt on their way to their home countries, The Associated Press reported. The Palestinian's remains were handed over to his family to be buried in Gaza. They were some of the 196 humanitarian workers killed in Palestinian territories since October, according to the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the region - NPR

Meanwhile, an Israeli cabinet minister has denied claims Israeli forces deliberately targeted WCK aid workers in Gaza. WCK founder José Andrés has accused Israel of targeting his workers "systematically, car by car". Nir Barkat, Israel's minister of economy, told BBC News that Mr Andrés' comments were "nonsense". Speaking to BBC, Mr Barkat said Israel was "terribly sorry" about killing the seven aid workers, but that "unfortunately, in wars friendly fire happens". He said the deaths of aid workers and civilians were "part of war". WCK is calling for an independent, third-party investigation of the Israeli strikes. A United Nations aid agency is also suspending its movements at night for at least 48 hours, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said after the attack that, according to a CNN analysis, appeared to have consisted of multiple precision strikes. Meanwhile US President Joe Biden, who expressed outrage over the strike, will speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, according to a US official, CNN reported

Russia launched a total of 20 Iranian-designed Shahed drones at the northeastern region overnight, of which 11 were shot down, Ukraine's air force said.

Russian air attacks killed six people in northeast Ukraine on Thursday, authorities said, as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of cynically targeting civilians.

Russian forces have stepped up their aerial bombardment of Ukraine in recent weeks, resulting in power cuts for thousands of people as the country's electricity grid is targeted.

Ukrainian sea drones will easily bypass such vessels because developers have cut corners to save money (or increase profits), the underground in occupied Crimea reports.

The Ukrainian partisan group Atesh identified the presence of a Russian Project 21980 special purpose boat “Grachonok” in the southern bay of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea. This boat is intended to prevent sabotage, special forces and weapons getting access to base areas.

Atesh indicated that Ukrainian naval drones should easily bypass such vessels.

The nations signed a political declaration on restoring justice for Ukraine which called for an investigation into Moscow’s crimes of aggression and the use of frozen Russian assets.

Forty-four nations attending the “Restoring Justice for Ukraine” conference signed a declaration creating a tribunal to investigate Russian war crimes.

The nations condemned Russia’s full-scale Ukraine invasion as a violation of the international legal order and as a violation of a UN court decision on March 16, 2022, calling on the Kremlin to cease hostilities.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky initiated the wartime Torah scroll for Ukrainian Jews by writing the opening letters and Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote the final ones.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has added the final letters to the wartime Torah for Ukrainian Jews, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched in early 2022, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reports. The finished Torah scroll will be brought to Ukraine in the coming months and placed in one of the capital's synagogues.

A Torah scroll contains the entire text of the Five Books of Moses, hand-written in the original Hebrew. It is rolled up around two ornate wooden shafts, attached to either end of the scroll. Kept in an Ark or Chest in each synagogue, the Torah scroll is routinely read aloud during temple services, and in its presence, Jews offer prayers and blessings for all those in need.

Investors concentrate on short-term bonds.

The MoF borrowed almost UAH6.8bn (US$173m) yesterday with a decline in interest rates.

The greatest demand was for 12-month bills, which was almost twice oversubscribed. The range of interest rates in bids narrowed to 19bp: the lowest rate was 16.15% (up 3bp), and the highest rate declined by 11bp to 16.34%.

The Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 re-invigorated NATO as it was confronted by one of the most serious challenges since it emerged from the ashes of World War II.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the United States to stick together with Europe as the Western military alliance turned 75 on Thursday menaced by an aggressive Russia and the spectre of Donald Trump's return to power.

The Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 re-invigorated NATO as it was confronted by one of the most serious challenges since it emerged from the ashes of World War II to counter the Soviet Union.

Stoltenberg outlined the distinction between NATO and the EU, noting that NATO’s invitation results in swift membership, while the EU's invitation-to-membership timeline can span years.

An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO would be tantamount to its membership, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday, speaking in a press conference in Brussels following the foreign ministerial meeting's first day, as reported by Ukrinform correspondent.

Stoltenberg, in a show of unity among NATO Allies, underscored unanimous agreement regarding Ukraine’s future membership, emphasizing the intention to continue advancing Ukraine’s journey towards NATO without introducing intermediary steps.

In the 10-year agreement, the Nordic country said it would "continue to provide long-term military, political and financial support to Ukraine ... for as long as it takes".

Finland and Kyiv signed a long-term agreement on security co-operation on Wednesday, during a visit by Finnish President Alexander Stubb to Kyiv.

Stubb also said Finland was delivering a 188 million-euro ($202 million) package of military aid, including air defence and heavy ammunition to Ukraine's army to help it "win this war".

Blinken is on a two-day diplomatic tour that began in Paris and will take him to Brussels on Wednesday for the 75th anniversary of NATO.

The EU must strengthen its defence industrial base and look beyond Ukraine’s immediate military needs to more sustainable and long-term production, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday during a visit to Paris ahead of NATO’s 75th anniversary, as Western nations step up efforts to provide long-term financial and military support to Ukraine.

It is a “critical moment” for Ukraine, Blinken said on Tuesday, urging the EU and other Western allies to look beyond Ukraine’s immediate military needs towards a strengthened defence industrial base for more sustained and long-term production.

Attack drones, attributed to Ukraine’s HUR, targeted an oil refinery in the city of Nizhnekamsk and a military drone production site in Yelabuga Special Economic Zone on April 2.

The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, has urged local enterprises in the region not to rely solely on air defense systems and instead take measures to “defend themselves against potential drone attacks.”

This announcement follows the first-ever drone attack since the outset of the war conducted in a remote Russian region on April 2.

Latest deadly Russian strike on Kharkiv highlights Ukraine's desperate need for more Western air defense systems.

Four people were killed following Russian strikes on Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv on Wednesday night, officials said.

Four people, including three rescue workers, were killed and five were injured in strikes on residential buildings that had previously been bombed in a "densely populated district of Kharkiv", mayor Igor Terekhov wrote on Telegram.

French, Russian defense ministers hold rare talks after terrorist attack in Moscow.

Russia said that its defense minister Sergei Shoigu and French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu discussed the potential for talks on the Ukraine conflict during a rare telephone call on Wednesday, a claim that Paris immediately denied.

The unexpected call, which Moscow said was initiated by France, marks a rare instance of high-level contact between the two countries, whose ties have been severely strained by the two-year Ukraine war.

Kvitka Cisyk was the singing flower of Ukraine who grew, blossomed and died in the United States, singing memorable songs while longing for her ancestral home.

Her name, Kvitka, is Ukrainian for “flower.” And her brief life was like a flower that blossomed full of fragrance and faded too early for the world to appreciate her beautiful, touching voice.

Dmytro Pavlychko, one of Ukraine’s best-known poets, whose short poem “Two Colors” later became a very popular song, said that no one had sung it better than she had. “I put so much feeling into those words and she brought it out so sincerely that it was, probably, the only time I cried while listening to a song with my own lyrics,” the poet reminisced.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russian forces appear to have increased the number and size of mechanized ground assaults on select sectors of the frontline within the past two weeks, marking a notable overall increase in Russian mechanized assaults across the theater.
• Russian forces may be intensifying the overall tempo of their offensive operations in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian sources continue to stress that the piecemeal and delayed arrival of new Western systems to Ukraine will allow Russian forces to adapt to and offset the likely operational benefits these systems would otherwise provide to Ukrainian forces.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that the March 22 Crocus City Hall attack has caused a significant increase in Russian contract service applicants amid reported Russian efforts to increase force generation this spring.
• Republic of Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov warned that Russian companies and local authorities must defend themselves against Ukrainian drone strikes and not rely on Russian air defenses following the April 2 Ukrainian strikes on Russian military production and oil refinery infrastructure in Tatarstan.
• Russian-backed former Ukrainian separatist politician Oleg Tsaryov complained on April 3 that no current Russian political party adequately represents the political interests of Russian ultranationalists, highlighting a possible source of discontent between the pro-Russian ultranationalist community and the Kremlin.
• Ukraine and Finland signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on April 3.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Bakhmut and Donetsk City and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.
• Russian authorities continue to expand social benefits for Russian military personnel.

The Kyiv-born author of “The Master and Margarita” was dismissive of Ukrainian language and culture and is now a target of a “decolonization” campaign

A Kyiv-based institute that implements state policy on restoring and preserving the national memory of the Ukrainian people has added Soviet and Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov to its list of people who embody “symbols of Russian imperialist policy.”

A nine-member expert committee of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINP) published its findings on April 3 after approving the conclusion on March 27.