The Visits This Week Were Specifically about Ensuring That in the Spring and Summer We Can Maintain Ukraine’s Resilience and Strength – Address by the President

17 April 2026 – 16:10

Dear Ukrainians!

Today – Lviv, a visit to Ukraine by the King of Sweden, which is an important demonstration of respect for our people and our state. His Majesty is already in Ukraine for the second time since the restoration of our independence. He is accompanied by a government delegation, and we have many areas of cooperation with Sweden, first and foremost in defense. We are preparing to expand our combat aviation fleet with Gripen aircraft – we are working on this in detail.

As soon as the European package for Ukraine is unblocked, it will unlock funding for such strong defense capabilities – both for immediate protection and for the future. It is essential that there is not even a hint of any weakening of Ukraine – only then will diplomacy work over time.

Together with Sweden, we are also seeking solutions to strengthen our air defense. The top priority is protection against missiles, against ballistic threats. We discussed these issues today. Because of the war in Iran, there are risks to the supply of weapons to Ukraine. I thank all our partners who are ready to help and to find ways to address this: Germany, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, and now Sweden – also visiting Ukraine. The visits this week were specifically about this: ensuring that in the spring and summer we can maintain Ukraine’s resilience and strength, and that Russia has no temptation to think that rising oil prices and global instability can somehow benefit it in this war.

Virtually every day, at both the political and military levels, we are in communication with our partners to strengthen air defense. We are seeking anti-ballistic capabilities. Most importantly, we are moving toward conditions in which we will be able to produce air defense in Ukraine and together with our partners – all the necessary formats, systems, missiles, and so on. This is a serious strategic task for Ukraine – a real task that will guarantee protection for decades.

Among the security guarantees we are considering for Ukraine are weapons packages, the ability to produce the necessary weapons, and therefore licenses and an industrial base for this. These are key priorities.

Today, I will also take part in a meeting on the Strait of Hormuz – many leaders are gathering for coordination to ensure security in the Strait. The world now clearly knows where this strait is and why it is so important. And what is being said about it today is very similar to what we were saying about the Black Sea in 2022 and 2023, when the Russians tried to block our access to the Black Sea.

Ukraine solved that challenge. Now the entire world sees that maritime security is a global value, not just someone’s local issue. Security must be protected together – and we hope that our partners’ conclusions from all current challenges will be strong.

I thank everyone who truly protects our lives from terror.

I thank everyone who supports Ukraine. I thank all Ukrainians.

Glory to Ukraine!

President Zelenskyy also both attended and addressed the virtual meeting on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. No video has been posted yet, but here’s the English transcript.

Address by the President to Participants of the Virtual Meeting on Freedom of Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

17 April 2026 – 19:18

Hi, Emmanuel, Keir, Giorgia, Friedrich, all the friends!

Glad to see you, and it’s good we have this format for coordination. This is the right task – to find a joint security response for the Strait of Hormuz, because it’s about much more than just this strait.

We all understand the problems caused by the war in Iran. The economy is global now, and the cost of living is affected everywhere. We all need to work together to remove the dangers in Hormuz. But it must be done in a way that helps protect freedom of navigation everywhere in the world – not just in Hormuz. And the decisions made now on Hormuz will shape what other troublemakers might think about causing problems – in other straits and on other fronts.

So let’s be as concrete and clear as possible – and make sure this is not just words we are all saying here today. And let’s not end up six months from now like in Gaza, where lots yet to be done – security there is still largely fragile, reconstruction hasn’t really started, and many humanitarian problems remain unresolved. In Hormuz, there are security tasks that can’t be solved just by political decisions – they need to be handled in a way that is solid and long-lasting.

First, we need to define what actually depends on all of us in Hormuz, and what depends on the United States. It’s also important to involve the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf in a way that reflects their shared interests. The key principle is this: after this war, security must be stronger – not weaker.

Second, let’s have our military teams meet as soon as possible and go through all the critical aspects of how a security mission in Hormuz could work, and what experience each side can bring.

Ukraine has gone through a very similar mission – not the same but very similar mission – in the Black Sea. Russia also tried to block our sea. We have experience with escorting commercial vessels, demining, protection from air attacks, and overall coordination of such operations. Ukrainians are already working in the Gulf region on air security – so we can also contribute to security at sea.

At the same time, this war in Iran is already affecting the situation here in Europe in a negative way – through Russia’s war against us, against Ukraine. Russia remains a terrorist state and has no intention of reducing the number or the brutality of its strikes. The United States, for various reasons, may be easing pressure on Russia, and this could lead to shortages of the weapons we need here to defend against those attacks, especially air defense – you know it.

So this means, we in Europe need to take even stronger joint steps to protect lives – above all, to defend against ballistic threats and to maintain pressure on Russia over the war. I’m grateful to all the countries already helping us with this – those taking new steps on air defense, supporting the PURL program, and speeding up domestic production projects, especially in Europe, for the weapons we need.

All key parts of the world need to rely more on their own strength. This applies to Europe, to the Middle East and the Gulf – where we will clearly see more regional security cooperation, new partnerships – as well as to key regions in Asia, and also Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

With formats and meetings like this one, and like the Coalition of the Willing, and like JEF and others – we are shaping the security system future generations will live with. Please, let’s keep this practical and real – not empty words – for Hormuz, for Europe, and for everyone who needs coordination and support.

Thank you, guys! Thank you.

First Lady Zelenska met with psychologists of the 112 Service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

First Lady Olena Zelenska Visited the 112 Service and Met with Psychologists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

17 April 2026 – 20:30

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, accompanied by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, learned about the work of the 112 Service within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Olena Zelenska had the opportunity to see how the communication center operates. The hotline service is provided in Ukrainian and English, with additional support in German, French, Polish, Czech, and Korean. Video call assistance is available for people with hearing and speech impairments. Emergency assistance can also be requested via the mobile application 112 Ukraine, which works even without mobile coverage.

“I am grateful to everyone who receives the most urgent calls and responds immediately by directing assistance. This is difficult and highly responsible work carried out by hundreds of operators across Ukraine. Their duties include not only receiving requests but also maintaining contact with the caller – to calm, guide, and support them,” the First Lady emphasized.

The President’s wife noted that veterans are also involved in the work of the emergency service: 20 such specialists are already taking calls in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa.

The First Lady also visited the MIA Situation Centre, which continuously monitors the security environment, collects data, forecasts developments, and identifies the most effective decisions for protecting Ukrainians.

Olena Zelenska inspected the work of the MIA psychological service. Around 1,300 psychologists provide counselling support to staff, their families, and civilians. They also help cope with stress in combat zones and support rehabilitation for those released from captivity.

“I value the fact that MIA psychologists also cooperate with the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program ‘How Are You?’, which I patronize. In 23 regional centers and in more than 100 communities, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, has joined the Days of Joint Action – special public events where we support and promote psychological assistance,” the First Lady noted.

The President’s wife was also briefed on the Mental Tutor psychological support project, which provides individual psychological assistance. With funding from international partners, specialists receive additional training using evidence-based psychotherapeutic methods.

“Through no fault or choice of its own, our entire society is experiencing the trauma of war. However, with timely psychological support, we will endure and overcome it,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.

Georgia:

Day 506 of uninterrupted, nationwide protests in Georgia. 🇬🇪

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 2:48 PM

Despite GD’s metrics of economic growth, most 🇬🇪 families feel stagflation kick in, and prices become unbearable.

Opposition Alliance held a briefing today about comparing economic struggles. It includes: cutting the excise tax on fuel in half (to the 2016 markers), cutting income tax and VAT by 1%.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 8:19 AM

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:52 AM

In fact, Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia was a desperate attempt to put an end to Georgia’s rapid development after all other subversive efforts failed. Because Russia can never allow success for a neighbour, which they inherently see as a former and future colony.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:54 AM

Norway:

STOLTENBERG: My country, Norway, borders Russia. Just on other side of our land border, we see highest concentration of nuclear weapons in the world: missiles, submarines, bombers. These weapons are not directed at Norway — they’re directed at United States.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:15 AM

Yet Norway helps United States monitor and track those submarines, share intelligence, provide early warning, and report precisely what Russians are doing.

This is part of America’s homeland defense, delivered by a NATO ally. And there are many other similar examples.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:15 AM

So United States is safer with a strong NATO. That is why I expect and believe the United States will remain committed to the Alliance.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:15 AM

Finland:

STUBB: I think, at the end of the day, United States will find themselves in quite a lonely place.

I’m most pro-American president in Europe. I’m avid transatlanticist. I want relationship to work.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM

But I also fully realize that, with certain patterns of behavior, there’s going to be a feeling of, “Okay, if you treat me like that, I don’t feel very good about it.”

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM

We can see that with European states, Gulf states and many others. I hope that it’s in interest of United States to have close friends and allies, if it wants to continue to be one of the world’s hegemons.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM

The Baltic states/the EU:

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin has claimed there is a supposedly “tense situation” on the borders of Russia and Belarus, accusing the Baltic states and Poland of “militarising their economies” and implying they are “preparing an attack on Russia.”

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:09 AM

‼️ These statements are part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at intimidating European societies.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:09 AM

The Kremlin is trying to portray the defensive measures of sovereign states as “preparations for aggression” in order to weaken support for Ukraine and justify its own military presence and hybrid provocations.

(🔍Material by the Center for Countering Disinformation)

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:09 AM

Belarus:

‼️ Infrastructure is being expanded near the Belarus–Ukraine border, with roads being built toward Ukrainian territory and artillery positions being set up, – Zelensky.

Ukraine believes Russia is once again trying to drag Belarus into its war.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:52 PM

Belarus’s most ardent democrat and its dictator Lukashenko says the US should learn from Belarus. He claims it has 100 times more democracy and real human rights.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Hungary:

“Hungary will not be a safe haven for international criminals.” — @magyarPeterMP

Foreign politicians granted asylum by Orban after fleeing investigations at home are likely to face extradition now.

Looks like a wholesale purge of Orban’s corruption is underway in Hungary.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 3:18 AM

Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary through Ukraine may restart next week, Peter Magyar says. He expects Orban to lift his veto once flows resume, and Zelensky said this week supplies could be back by the end of April.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 10:23 AM

The US:

Water is wet.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:06 PM

April 15th, US at Ramstein meeting: Keep buying lots of US weapons for Ukraine via PURL; also rebuilding EU munitions stock is paramount.

April 16th: US will delay weapons deliveries to EU countries due to Iran war, particularly in Eastern Europe.

Not exactly a reliable setup.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 2:05 PM

Europe’s far-right begins to turn away from Trump – Politico

Orban’s defeat in Hungary, after being actively backed by Trump and JD Vance, became the tipping point for Europe’s far-right.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:17 PM

They had already started distancing themselves due to Trump’s aggressive stance toward Europe and his role in escalating tensions in the Middle East. Now it’s clear that being close to him can damage their electoral prospects.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:17 PM

▪️ Trump has become politically toxic even for his closest ideological allies in Europe.

“We need to keep our distance,” Marine Le Pen told members of her National Rally party.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:17 PM

Another factor was Trump’s attack on Pope Leo XIV. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni – long seen as one of Trump’s last allies in Europe – reportedly decided to step back too.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:17 PM

US Army Secretary Driscoll: Ukrainians have fundamentally altered how humans engage in conflict. They’ve done an absolutely amazing job of innovating, and I am publicly on record saying we’re learning a lot from them and we’re changing to a lot of lessons that they’ve developed.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 9:22 AM

Back to Ukraine:

🇺🇦 FM SYBIHA: How could Ukraine accept a demand or ultimatum from Russia for the withdrawal of our troops from Donbas? It is simply not possible. Ukraine will never accept any formula or any initiative that comes at the cost of our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 8:43 AM

🇺🇦FM SYBIHA: Russians are now losing an average of 30,000 soldiers per month, based on visually confirmed casualties. But they don’t care. However, this is becoming increasingly harmful for them. Once again, Putin must realise that he will never achieve his goals on battlefield.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:17 AM

Russia is preparing mass attacks on Ukraine seven times a month, Foreign Minister Sybiha says, citing intelligence. He adds a mass attack means at least 400 drones and 20 missiles.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 6:46 AM

Since 2022, Russia has deployed three nearly identical mysterious facilities:
🔹at a former nuclear weapons storage site in occupied Crimea
🔹at the Nenoksa test range in Arkhangelsk region, where the Burevestnik missile is tested
🔹 and at an abandoned tank firing range near Lake Ladoga.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM

Watch how Ukrainian Yak-52 crew battles Russian Shahed drones:

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 12:19 PM

Interception of the Russian Shahed with R-60 air-to-air missile decoy.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:51 AM

Sky Sentinel turrets equipped with M2 Browning machine guns intercept Russian Shahed kamikaze drones.

Also, for the first time, operators of the Sky Sentinel turret downed jet-powered Shahed. At the time of interception, the target was moving at a speed of 400+ km/h.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:30 AM

🎥Exclusive footage: E-300 aircraft taking off on a logistics mission, delivering over a hundred kilograms of supplies from deep rear directly to the frontline positions.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 6:02 AM

Ukrainian troops filmed a guided Gerbera botching a strike on a mobile air defense team. It fell a meter from a Ukrainian vehicle and didn’t detonate, reason unclear.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 12:16 PM

Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed 114 Russian artillery systems in the past day.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 3:59 AM

A Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter with an astonishing 185 kill marks.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 5:17 AM

Russian occupied Sevastopol:

The port of Sevastopol is receiving drone sanctions at this hour.

This video shows something large and flammable lighting up the night sky, reportedly the oil depot on Kazachya Bay.

I look forward to hearing how drone debris caused a small fire with no damage done.🔥

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:11 PM

Something is on fire in the port area of occupied Sevastopol🔥👀

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:56 PM

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast:

Russian bastards killed a man with an FPV drone in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Two other people were injured.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 9:07 AM

Dnipro:

This is a russian drone falling on the city of Dnipro in broad daylight today, Friday. There is no military purpose to bombing a city, especially during rush hour, yet russia does so anyway, like the terrorists they are!

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 12:01 PM

Kyiv:

A Russian drone with an active warhead was pulled out of the Dnipro River in Kyiv after yesterday’s massive attack.

It didn’t explode. It ended up in the water, still armed.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 11:37 AM

Kharkiv:

Explosions in Kharkiv ‼️ russian drones again.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 3:58 PM

Kharkiv Oblast:

Ukraine’s defense minister Fedorov says a private air defense unit shot down a jet-powered Shahed at over 400 km/h in Kharkiv region for the first time. He adds 19 enterprises are forming integrated private air defense groups and the project will scale.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:49 AM

Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts:

While russian propaganda claims that Donbas has always been russian, the archival images tell a different story — beautiful Ukrainian vyshyvankas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the 1920s–30s.

Donetsk is Ukraine.
Luhansk is Ukraine.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:57 PM

For more photos
v-variant.com.ua/article/den-…
www.radiosvoboda.org/a/donbass–r…

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 1:57 PM

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

❗️Lasar Group struck a concentration of Russian BM-30 Smerch MLRS systems deep behind the frontline in Luhansk region.

• BM-30 Smerch launcher;
• “Slepok-1” fire control system eliminated;
• BM-30 Transport-loader vehicle;
• Another BM-30 Smerch damaged.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 4:25 AM

Russian occupied Mariupol:

Tonight, the USF struck Russian Pantsir-S1 air defence system in Mariupol.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 4:14 AM

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces struck a logistics base of Russia’s “Rubikon” drone unit in occupied Mangush near Mariupol overnight on April 17.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 4:33 AM

CyberBoroshno says seven drones hit Rubikon’s logistics hub in Mangush near Mariupol overnight, striking three warehouses. Exilenova+ recon shows the 2300 sq m main building ablaze with roughly 70 percent of the perimeter on fire, analysts write.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 7:58 AM

Leningrad Oblast, Russia:

Russia is now calling up reservists to fight drones in the Leningrad region of Russian swamps.

Three-year contracts, but don’t worry, you can still keep your job at the factory.

Oh no… what happened?

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 12:29 PM

Krasnodar Krai, Russia:

Russian oil refinery in Tuapse continues to burn 🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 6:09 AM

Belgorod and Rostov Oblasts, Russia:

Ukrainian Defense Forces report strikes on the Russian radar systems and military infrastructure on April 16–17.

• Nebo-M radar in Belgorod region
• Podlyot radar in Rostov region

Additional strikes targeted command posts, UAV control centers, repair bases, logistics hubs, boat storage, etc.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 17, 2026 at 4:12 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today.

Here is some adjacent material.

🐈😂 Ukrainian combat cat checks today’s news.

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— 24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social) April 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM

Open thread!

Georgia:

Day 499 of #GeorgiaProtests!

Unchanged demands: free and fair parliamentary elections and unconditional release of political prisoners.

📷 MOSE

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:33 PM

The Information Center on NATO and EU was liquidated, and now the EU and NATO flags are also gone, together with the Georgian flag.

Deeply symbolic of Georgia’s captured state.

📷 Eliso Jariashvili

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:13 PM

Poland:

16 years now… RIP, Lech Kaczynski and all 96 people on board.

And no force will ever convince me that it was an accident.

It was a revenge.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Hungary:

A sea of humanity at Heroes’ Square in Budapest.

Hungarians of all walks of life gather en masse to demand regime change, in a nation kneecapped by unspeakable levels of corruption and nepotism for nearly two decades.

The winds, and sounds, of change are palpable. 🔥

@telexhu.bsky.social

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— Tibor M. Kalman (@kalmantibs.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:47 PM

The loudest, most inspiring, sustained chants in between acts by the massive crowd:

Ruszkik haza! Ruszkik haza!
Russians go home! Russians go home!

🔥🔥🔥

@telexhu.bsky.social

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— Tibor M. Kalman (@kalmantibs.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:57 PM

🚨The Kremlin now assumes Orban will lose, and is planning for his defeat.

They will say this is a colour revolution, and blame Orban for the loss.

Imagine that asshole’s face when he learns decades of loyalty to Putin means nothing, and he’s been cut loose. Karma’s a b*tch.💅

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:13 AM

1/ Hungary’s intelligence services have been using Israeli-made surveillance tools to track hundreds of millions of people, OsintFlow reports citing a VSquare and Citizen Lab investigation.

t.me/osintflow/16…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:31 AM

2/ The most powerful tool is Webloc, which pulls GPS, Wi-Fi, and ad data from over 500 million phones worldwide. It builds detailed profiles including home addresses, daily routines, political views, and health conditions.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:31 AM

3/ The purchases were run through SCI-Network Ltd., headed by a former counterintelligence officer with ties to Orban’s cabinet chief Antal Rogan, who controls both civilian intelligence and the PM’s propaganda machine.

Licenses were renewed in March 2026 – just weeks before Hungary’s elections.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:31 AM

🇭🇺👀

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM

Germany:

🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦The National Guard of Ukraine will receive 1,000 METIS interceptor drones from Munich startup TYTAN Technologies, funded by the German government, – Militarnyi

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:52 PM

The Baltic States:

🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement rejecting Moscow’s accusations that they provided their airspace for Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory.

“Despite the official reaction, Russia continues to lie,” the Baltic foreign ministers said.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:14 PM

The EU:

🇪🇺 Kaja Kallas: We haven’t seen Gulf countries helping us with Russia. It can’t be a one-way street.

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— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:35 AM

Trump Effect

Even by this time last year, the positive view of the United States had collapsed in the European Union. Today, three times more EU citizens see the US as a threat than see it as an ally.

The collapse of the image of the US abroad happened after Trump took office in January 2025.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:56 AM

The US:

APPLEBAUM: Since Trump’s election, United States provided almost no weaponry and no financial assistance to Ukraine over past year.

The war is now 100% supported by Europe, allies in Asia, Canada, and Ukrainians themselves, who now produce huge percentage of their own weaponry.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Ukraine makes its own drones and has the world’s best drone industry. In fact, they’re already selling drones and signing drone deals across the Middle East.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Kamala Harris: Donald Trump is the first President of the United States since World War II who does not believe in the alliances that we have with friendly nations.

Look what he did as it relates and what he has been doing as it relates to Ukraine.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:03 PM

Trump is likely to extend the Russian oil sanctions waiver as soon as Friday, Reuters reports. Fuel prices spiking from the Iran war have the administration worried ahead of midterms.

www.reuters.com/business/ene…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:53 AM

Back to Ukraine.

🔥Ukrainian Special Operations Forces conducted a series of middle-range drone strikes over 10 days, targeting Russian arsenals, logistics hubs, and repair bases across occupied territories.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:39 AM

🔥 AFU hit ammunition depot near Okhrymivka, Zaporizhzhia region, a logistics hub in Donetsk region, as well as a fuel and lubricants depot near Rovenky.

💥 Drone control points in the areas of Hulyaipole and Novohryhorivka, Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Novopetrivka, Donetsk region.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:43 AM

⚡️Enemy’s manpower concentration near Novohryhorivka in Zaporizhzhia region, Chasiv Yar and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region, Perevalsk in Luhansk region; as well as directly on the territory of the aggressor – in the Krasnooktyabrsky district of Kursk region.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:43 AM

🔥The results of strike on Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery were separately confirmed – the AVT-2 primary oil refining technological unit and the LCH-24-7 diesel fuel hydrotreating unit were disabled.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:43 AM

🔥SSO hit enemy arsenals in occupied territories

In Dovzhansk, Luhansk region and Uspenivka in Zaporizhzhia, SSO drones hit missile and artillery weapons depots.

Three enemy ammunition depots were hit at once in Glyboki and Mangush near Mariupol in the Donetsk region, and in Svitle.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM

In the same Svitly, drones struck a logistics warehouse. In total, during this period, the enemy lost five MTZ warehouses.

In Rybynske, a fuel and lubricants warehouse of an enemy support unit was also hit. And in Staromlynivka in the Donetsk region, an enemy logistics point was hit.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM

In Khrustalne, near the administrative border of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, an enemy repair base was hit.

Another repair base was hit in occupied Stroganivka near Melitopol, approximately 100 kilometers from the line of combat contact. And in Troitsky, an SSO drone hit an enemy mobile fire group.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM

😯🇺🇦 Presidential commissioner for sanctions Vladyslav Vlasyuk:

“I think that we will see both Russian and American components there (in the Iranian drones that attacked the Middle Eastern countries) – and this will be especially interesting.”

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM

❗️A new analysis of “shaheds” that arrived on the day of the SBU in western Ukraine recorded the absence of components from the Dutch company NXP.

“[…] Russia has stopped receiving components from the Netherlands – which would be a very good result of our joint efforts,” – said Vladyslav Vlasyuk.

— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:12 PM

🇺🇦🇩🇪 Fedorov: Air defense, drones and data exchange: agreed on priorities for cooperation with Germany on the eve of Ramstein.

Had a working conversation with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Together with Germany, we are preparing a number of joint projects:

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— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 1:43 PM

🔹 significant strengthening of air defense;
🔹 additional funding for drones, in particular deep-strike and middle-strike directions;
🔹 development of technological solutions;
🔹 new formats for exchanging combat data.

We are also developing cooperation in projects related to laser technologies.

— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 1:43 PM

Sumy:

🤬 The Russians hit an apartment building in Sumy…

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:42 AM

🤬 Russia has once again struck a residential building with a drone. A targeted strike on civilian infrastructure. Preliminary, there are casualties, — the head of the Sumy OVA.

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— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:55 PM

Pure nightmare in Sumy. Residential building is on fire following a russian drone attack.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:36 PM

the site of the russian strike on an apartment building in Sumy.

There are injured people, including children.

This is the second russian attack on an apartment building in Sumy today.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:34 PM

🙏 14 Sumy residents were injured as a result of today’s attacks by enemy UAVs on residential buildings.

Among the wounded is a 14-year-old boy. An 87-year-old woman was hospitalized. Most of the injured are elderly people.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:38 PM

Kyiv:

Air raid in Kyiv. So much for Putin’s Easter ceasefire.

— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 8:54 PM

Kharkiv:

You guys are not going to believe, but its snowing in Kharkiv 🤯

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 2:36 AM

Kharkiv Oblast:

🔥 Border guards of the “Fury” unit of the “Hart” brigade in the South-Slobozhansk direction are expanding the “kill zone”.

Vehicles, field ammunition depot and the occupiers’ cannon are the result of the work of reconnaissance and strike groups.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 9:28 AM

🔥💀 A strike drone drops ammunition on a Ural truck filled with Russian infantry. Four occupiers were killed on the spot, 14 more were wounded.

Kharkiv region, footage from the 40th separate artillery brigade.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 9:55 AM

The Caspian Sea:

🔥🛢️Ukrainian Special Operations Forces carried out deep-strike drone attacks on two Lukoil offshore platforms in the Caspian Sea overnight on April 10.

The strikes hit platforms at the Grayfer and Korchagin fields, nearly 1,000 km from the frontline.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 12:16 PM

Zaporizhzhia:

Lasar Group struck a Russian S-300V air defense system launcher and radar on the Zaporizhzhia direction.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:52 AM

Ukraine’s National Guard, Air Force, and 15th Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade ran a large-scale operation in the Zaporizhzhia sector, taking out a Russian S-300 system and a drone control point.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 4:22 AM

Donetsk Oblast:

🔥 One-way road: SBS group operators destroyed enemy armored vehicles

Donetsk region. The enemy likes to travel along the same routes. However, this time the route turned out to be one-way. The fighters of the Phoenix border unit were already waiting and preparing to strike.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:32 AM

🕸️ Fedorov: We are currently building more than 25 km of anti-drone protection in two strategically important areas of the Donetsk region. We are working at a pace of about 1 km per day.

371 km of anti-drone structures have already been equipped in seven regions in 2026.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 1:52 PM

Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast:

🔥 In the Kostyantynivka direction, Cursed Empire operators are punishing the Russians!

Drones hit 2 quad bikers, 4 occupiers, 8 cars, 3 antennas and a shelter where the enemy was hiding.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:47 AM

Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

💥 Explosions are reported in the area of ​​occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 2:28 PM

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

Ukrainian drones hit several targets across occupied Luhansk region overnight, including Rovenky, Perevalsk, and Dovzhansk.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:35 AM

Odesa:

In Odesa, a hitman tried to kill a senior Navy officer outside his home, posing as a cyclist. He threw his bike under the car and went for his gun but was grabbed on the spot. A 37-year-old Balkan national working for a Russian handler, the SBU said.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM

Russia:

This morning in russia, the blocking of the Telegram messenger reached 100%, according to local channels.

They say there are virtually no ways left to bypass the block, since Telegram no longer works with VPNs or proxies.

Who is “digital gulag” now? 😏

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 8:10 AM

Volgograd Oblast, Russia:

Tinguta oil pumping station in russia 🔥🔥🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 7:55 AM

The Autonomous Republic of North Ossetia, Russia:

A large explosion has just been reported in Vladikavkaz, Russia. Around 800 km from the frontline.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:27 AM

/2. A pyrotechnics warehouse exploded in Vladikavkaz.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 5:49 AM

Krasnodar Krai, Russia:

💥 Satellite images confirm the destruction of a storage tank at the Krymskaya line operation dispatch station, – Supernova

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 9:44 AM

Volgograd Oblast, Russia:

Ukrainian drones hit the Tynguta station on the Volgograd-Tikhoretsk pipeline overnight. The pipeline is a key artery pumping diesel toward Novorossiysk and the Sheskharis export terminal. The fire is visible from 25 kilometers away.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:18 AM

🔥 Volgograd, Tinguta hub continues to burn.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 11:16 AM

💥 Four of the four large RVS-20000 tanks at Tinguta gas station were hit tonight, – Exilenova

1 – significantly damaged, burning.
2 – probably completely destroyed.
3, 4 – damaged.

This gas station functions as a buffer + flow stabilizer.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:05 PM

Rostov Oblast, Russia:

Gukovo in the Rostov region was hit overnight. Locals say the explosion was massive, and a large fire broke out after the drone attack.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 3:20 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new Patron video!

@patron__dsns

Цей комікс — продовження захопливих пригод з улюбленими персонажами мультсеріалу «Пес Патрон». Але є чудовий сюрприз — головним героєм стає ваша дитина! Щоб поринути в пригоди разом з улюбленим песиком, достатньо перегорнути першу сторінку коміксу — і ось ти вже суперагент на таємному завданні, що наздоганяє поганців Бубухів! Замовити можна на okibook.com.ua (лінк у шапці профілю)✨👅

♬ оригінальний звук – Patron_official

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

This comic is a continuation of exciting adventures with favorite characters of the animated series “Patron Dog.” But there is a wonderful surprise – your child becomes the main character! To immerse yourself in adventures together with your favorite dog, it is enough to turn the first page of the comic – and here you are already a super agent on a secret task that catches up with the Bubukh pagans! You can order on the okibook.com.ua (link in the profile cap)✨👅

Open thread!

This Is Truly Our Shared National Success that Russia’s Plans for the Winter Were Thwarted – Address by the President

9 April 2026 – 16:28

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, we are with our communities. The meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities took place with the participation of our government officials and members of parliament. Here in Zakarpattia, there was also a meeting with our Ukrainian Hungarian community. It is important that there is attention and respect for all communities in Ukraine. First of all, I thanked every community that was active and effective this winter. We got through this winter thanks to all our people who work for our state, for their communities, thanks to the professionals in energy companies and municipal services. I want to thank you all. Business also performed well – supplies, logistics. This is truly our shared national success that Russia’s plans for the winter were thwarted. We have already begun preparing for the next winter. We must not lose time. Although it is difficult to meet all the needs due to the blocking of European funds for Ukraine – funds that were supposed to go toward recovery, new protection measures for the winter, and developing alternative grid infrastructure and generation. Right now, we are relying on internal resources, but we are working with partners to unblock this key support package. It is important that our communities are also active and speak to partners at their level – to their partner communities – about why blocking support for us, for Ukraine, is effectively playing into Russia’s hands.

Today, I recognized our Hungarian community – for supporting our defense, and for the fact that all our communities, and the Hungarian community in particular, are helping IDPs and relocated businesses. Because of the war, there is effectively a redistribution of economic activity across the country – the western regions of our state are growing economically. Zakarpattia is seeing very tangible growth. And this is not only about businesses as such – it is also about communities, about the social environment within them, about the relationships between our people. It’s important to have this kind of support everywhere in Ukraine – support from people for people – and we see it here, so I want to thank you for that. And of course, I want to recognize all the leaders of our communities, all our people who support frontline communities and areas along the border with Russia. Communities are now standing shoulder to shoulder in many aspects. Thank you for this systematic support.

And one more thing.

We all see how difficult it is to stabilize the situation in the Middle East. Yes, that’s true. There will be a lot of political and diplomatic activity around Iran. As for military action – we hope there will be less of it. This matters to everyone in the world, given the destabilization of markets. Oil prices are now declining, and it is important not to disrupt this. The world wants stability, and people want security. There was a report from the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council – he continues to work with countries neighboring Iran, and there will be more of our Ukrainian security arrangements: new draft agreements have already been prepared. I have scheduled a meeting for Monday to discuss the second wave of these arrangements. Ukraine is making its contribution to security, and in return our partners will contribute to strengthening Ukraine. Thank you.

Glory to Ukraine!

President Zelenskyy also participated in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Here’s the video of his address at that meeting.

Georgia:

April 9th is the memorialization day for the 1989 massacre of 21 Georgian demonstrators on Rustavelli Avenue by Soviet troops.

1/ 37 years ago today, on April 9, 1989, the Soviet army brutally cracked down on peaceful protesters in Tbilisi.

Troops dispersed demonstrators on Rustaveli Avenue who were demanding independence from the Soviet Union, using firearms, tear gas, and toxic substances.

📷 AFP

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 2:21 AM

2/ 21 people, mostly women were killed. Hundreds were injured. The operation was led by Russian Colonel General Igor Rodionov.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 2:21 AM

As I’m sure you can imagine, Georgian Dream officials went above and beyond to ensure that protests today would not be peaceful.

4:00 AM. Pouring rain. A memorial service is being held at Parliament for those killed on April 9.

Day 498 of daily, uninterrupted protests has begun. Georgians will be on Rustaveli Avenue all day—where Soviet troops killed 21 demonstrators on this date in 1989.

🎥 Protest 24

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:31 AM

Georgian Dream MPs and high-ranking officials appeared at the April 9 Memorial, where they were met with protest chants.

#GeorgiaProtests

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:25 AM

In order to ensure that Georgian Dream officials could “pay respects” to the April 9 memorial on Rustaveli, two thugs (Titushky) attacked overnight protesters, the police entered the area and protester Shako Baghdoshvili was detained.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

📷 MOSE

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:44 AM

Since overnight protesters were modest in numbers, the regime first sent Titushky in, caused clashes, & arrested a beaten protester. Police took the ground & ensured that the GD accessed the April 9 memorial. They did so amid booing.

Here you see a short episode from the Titushky attack.

📷 Formula

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 5:50 AM

Protesters who spent the night at the memorial greeted arriving Georgian Dream officials with chants of “slaves,” “traitors,” “Russians.” The officials laid wreaths through a corridor of police and an honor guard.

Updates in the replies.

📷 Mo Se

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 5:56 AM

At least two protesters have been detained. Charges are unknown. One of them, wearing a T-shirt mocking Irakli Kobakhidze, was detained for verbally insulting Bidzina Ivanishvili.

📷 Netgazeti

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:00 AM

The other detained was protester Shako Baghdoshvili. According to witnesses, Baghdoshvili and other protesters were physically confronted by unknown individuals—but it was Baghdoshvili who was detained.

📷 MOSE

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:06 AM

Georgian Dream’s Deputy Culture Minister Beka Davituliani violently shoved female protester Mariam Mekantsishvili after she called him a slave and a Russian.

🎥 RFE/RL

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:52 AM

The transgenerational side of repression in 🇬🇪 hits differently.

Zaira Kikvidze is among those who perished during the April 9 massacre.

Her son is part of the daily #GeorgiaProtests and has a fine worth GEL 5,000 (EUR 1,700), or 4 times the national median monthly income.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 11:48 AM

13 hours since the regime police took one of the protesters for interrogation over the Titushky (thug) staged incident in the morning.

It’s a national day, and the Good Thursday, which is also quite a big deal in 🇬🇪.

But oppressors have no conscience.

#GeorgiaProtests Day 498

📷 Simon Janashia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Representatives from the embassies of Denmark, Norway, and the Baltic countries came to the April 9 Memorial to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 2:25 AM

German Ambassador Peter Fischer paid tribute to fallen heroes at the April 9 Memorial.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:48 AM

NATO:

❗️Ukraine’s lessons learned in combat are saving lives in the Persian Gulf, – Rutte

“Allies on NATO’s eastern flank and our friends in the Persian Gulf are defending themselves against drones thanks to Ukrainian technologies that did not exist even a year ago.”

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— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM

RUTTE: Ukraine’s hard-earned battlefield lessons are saving lives far beyond its own borders.

At this moment, our friends in the Gulf are defending themselves against Russian and Iranian drones, thanks in part to Ukrainian technology that didn’t even exist just one year ago.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 7:40 PM

So we’re back to Trump threatening NATO and Greenland again.

It also makes clear that the chances of Ukraine ever getting truly reliable security guarantees from the US are so small, they need to be measured with an electron microscope.

This week’s Economist cover still spot on

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM

Lithuania:

Lithuania’s Minister of Health will send her deputy to work in Ukraine after he failed to answer the question of whose territory Crimea is – LRT

🫤

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 8:47 AM

Harshest reason for TDY ever!

Japan:

Bloomberg reports that Moscow summoned the Japanese ambassador and accused Tokyo of hostile actions over its investment in Ukrainian drone technology.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article…

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:42 AM

Britain:

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has revealed that RF conducted a secret underwater operation in British waters. Over the course of a month, the UK and its allies tracked a Kremlin attack submarine and two spy submersibles in the North Sea before they retreated.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 12:55 PM

“To President Putin, I say: we see you, we see your activity over our cables and pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.” – Healey said.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 12:55 PM

The US:

VOLKER: Rubio called Saudi Arabia to complain that they signed bilateral defense agreement with Ukraine. This is outrageous. Why would you complain?

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM

The issue is asymmetry in force. Iranians and Russians are producing large numbers of low-cost drones that cause serious damage, while our defenses are extremely expensive. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have seen this.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM

You can’t keep shooting down cheap drones with million-dollar missiles, it won’t work long-term. Ukraine has faced this challenge, developed cheap and effective counters, and is now sharing that knowledge. This is a good thing. We should be learning from them.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM

Based on the reporting, the US lost another MQ-9 Reaper over the past couple of days.

HODGES: America’s biggest trading partner is Europe as block. It’s in our economic interest that Europe is prosperous, stable, and secure, so we should do what’s necessary to help protect it.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM

What we get from our European allies is the ability to conduct operations from their bases and ports all over Europe. That’s for us. They’re not there guarding Germans or Italians.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM

We would be screwing ourselves if we pull out of NATO. It would be a disaster, a gift for the Kremlin, which has tried this since 1949.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM

Back to Ukraine.

Ukraine will not stop strikes on Russian territory despite requests from partners, Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov says. He stressed that Kyiv is acting in its own national interest amid ongoing war, despite differing views from allies. #Ukraine

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) April 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM

🚂🔥 Destruction of two locomotives that provided transportation of stolen goods to Russia, which provided military cargo transportation for the Russian Army.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM

Gen. Patton’s grandson, BEN PATTON: I visited one of Ukraine’s command-and-control centers with my team. It was safe, 30 or 40 miles from the front. You go inside, and it looks like Newark Airport on steroids.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:32 AM

100 feet of LED displays with real-time statistics: tank or motorcycle, wounded or killed, North Korean or Russian, Kalashnikov or else. And real-time videos of every strike or kill.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:32 AM

The entire country is totally synchronized. This apparatus is extraordinary, everybody knows what’s happening anywhere in the country in real-time.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:32 AM

This is exactly what LTG (ret) Hodges was talking about above.

🛩🇺🇦 A Ukrainian FPV drone costing $500 blew up a russian T-90 tank worth $3 million! 🔥
Great math and super efficiency!
Glory to Ukraine!

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:03 PM

A fight between a Russian Tor and Ukrainian FP-2 unfolded over occupied territory.

The first drone spotted missile launches and was shot down, the second FP-2 was also intercepted.

Using live feed from the first two, a third FP-2 located the Tor and returned for a second pass, striking the target.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 4:51 AM

Russian media published footage of an exchange of fallen soldiers: Russia returned 1,000 bodies to Ukraine, while Russia received 41 bodies.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 8:16 AM

Volunteer Denys Khrystov evacuated a woman who was trapped under the rubble of her own home after it was struck by a Russian guided aerial bomb.
t.me/c/1564038678…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 9:08 AM

Monitoring channels report that Ukrainian “Neptunes” are heading for the swamps.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM

Russian occupied Crimea:

Oil depot in occupied Feodosia continues to burn, with the third tank now on fire 🔥 👀

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 8:16 AM

Booommm 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥 Fiiiiiiiirrreeee 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Feodosia, Temporary occupied Crimea, oil terminal.

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— 24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 5:16 AM

Zaporizhzhia:

In Zaporizhzhia, as a result of heavy russian shelling on one of the villages in the outskirts of the city, a man was killed and four others were injured‼️

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 5:34 AM

Zolochiv, Kharkiv Oblast:

In Kharkiv Region five people, including three children, were injured as a result of a Russian multiple rocket launch system strike on the residential area of the town of Zolochiv.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Odesa Oblast:

In the Odesa region, downed drones were seen deploying parachutes as they fell. Similar incidents had previously been recorded in Kharkiv.

I wonder what is the point of this?

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 11:37 AM

Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast:

This is what Kostiantynivka looks like now. Another town in Donbas that russia decided to kill and erase from existence.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:54 PM

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

Occupied Dovzhansk, Luhansk region, after a drone strike on an ammunition depot 👀🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM

Kherson Oblast:

On the Kherson front, the past month and a half has seen a growing trend of long-range strikes on Russian targets beyond 50 km.

Footage shows an accumulation of two UAZ Bukhanka vehicles and trailer with a BREM-1 recovery vehicle destroyed at a distance of 55 km from the frontline.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:53 AM

Oleshky, Kherson Oblast:

Occupied Oleshky, Kherson region. A Ukrainian serviceman uses a drone to film yet another city being destroyed by the Russians.
www.instagram.com/reel/DW5X11D…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

There were also strikes overnight in Alchevsk, in the occupied Luhansk region. According to reports, the hit occurred on the grounds of the metallurgical plant, which the Russians use for military purposes.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:15 AM

Russian occupied Mariupol:

Mariupol. “Future first-graders getting to know their school.” And where exactly is the school here? This is how the Russians “educate” children under occupation.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:47 AM

This is what I’ve been referring to when I’ve talked about pobiedobesie, victory fever, as well as the cult of the Immortals/Immortal Regiment and how it is worked into the Russian education system.

Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, reported that Russian occupiers are transferring military equipment through Mariupol toward the Huliaipole axis.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:47 AM

According to him, more than 40 trucks with ammunition, 10 platforms with armored vehicles, and over 35 personnel carriers with troops were moved yesterday from the Rostov region through Mariupol toward Nikolske.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 10:47 AM

Pokrovsk:

Pokrovsk axis. The rapid response of “Omega-West” fighters in a “Novator” under the constant threat of drones.
t.me/c/1859820180…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 12:07 PM

Russia:

It’s over 1500 days into Russia’s 3 day Special Military Operation.

This year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow may be cancelled because they are afraid of Ukrainian strikes ruining the celebrations.

All according to plan, right @darthputinkgb.bsky.social ? You remain a master strategist. 😉

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 3:21 AM

💥 BBC: Due to the shortage of air defence missiles and the vast territory, Russian air defense has effectively lost the initiative.

Since the end of March, Ukraine has been attacking Russia’s oil infrastructure on a large scale, including terminals in Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM

Russia’s budget deficit continues to grow and has further exceeded the annual plan. According to the Russian Ministry of Finance, the federal budget deficit for January-March 2026 reached 4.58 trillion rubles.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM

This is more than the amount planned for the entire year (3.79 trillion) and exceeds the figure for the same period last year by 2.62 trillion.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM

At the same time, there are reasons to believe that these figures are understated, as the Russian Treasury previously reported a deficit of 5.57 trillion rubles already for the first two months.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM

The Republic of Tatarstan, Russia:

In Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan RF, sirens are wailing – locals are in shock that their “Special Military Operation” has reached so far.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today.

Here is some adjacent material.

🐈😂❤️ A combat cat giving a relaxing massage to our defender.

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— 24Hours Ukraine (@24hoursukraine.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 6:14 PM

Open thread!

A Ceasefire Always Creates More Space for Diplomacy and Should Precede a Genuine End to the War – Address by the President

8 April 2026 – 21:02

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

I have just received reports from the Security Service of Ukraine – from Major General Khmara and Major General Poklad. I am grateful that our operations are always strong. I also want to praise the units of the Service that, together with other branches of the Defense and Security Forces, are defending Ukraine on the front line. The SSU Special Operations Center “A” ranked first in March in terms of drone use, being the most effective. SSU military experts have also distinguished themselves in setting up protection systems for some of our partners in the Middle East, within the framework of the expert missions that were deployed by Ukraine to the region. Thank you, warriors! Our expert missions will continue their work in the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf. Building a new protection system remains an ongoing task, and based on our long-term agreements, we will engage the necessary units.

Today, the United States has turned to diplomacy in the situation around Iran, and the world supports this. A ceasefire always creates more space for diplomacy and should precede a genuine end to the war. Ukraine has always approached this war – Russia’s war against Ukraine – from the same position. Of course, this is not easy to implement, and further efforts are still needed in the Middle East to stabilize the ceasefire so that it holds. But ultimately, the goal for everyone must be the same – greater security. Even the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East allowed markets to respond positively – oil prices have tumbled. At the same time, this sends the right signal regarding Russia – that, alongside our long-range sanctions, other instruments will also work. There are effectively no grounds left to ease sanctions pressure. Previously, easing sanctions was framed as a necessity to stabilize the global oil market. And if the Strait of Hormuz can be unblocked – and this is a global necessity – Russia’s oil revenues should continue to decline. Oil fuels Russia’s war and emboldens it. This is precisely why Russia invested so heavily in supporting the Iranian regime and sought to prolong that war. No one wants war. And it is important that now not only the countries of the Middle East, not only the Gulf, but also Europe and other key parts of the world draw the right conclusions – security conclusions – from what has happened. There must be more bilateral security cooperation between countries – with those who truly know how to protect lives. There must be more coordination with neighbors and greater engagement at the regional level – by helping your neighbor, you’re helping yourself. We must be truly resolute in defending the basic values of normal life – the tools for this are in place – and, among other things, protect freedom of navigation. The whole world has now seen how every country depends on what happens in a single region. The cost of living depends on it – all prices for basic energy resources. We should not test what will happen if another critical region loses its security. We must act – and cooperate – to strengthen security. Ukraine is ready to continue working with all partners so that security is ensured – and strengthened. We are preparing relevant meetings and agreements in Europe. I thank everyone who is helping! I thank our warriors – and all our people who make Ukraine’s defense possible.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

Day 497 of nonstop protests. Georgians are holding a 24-hour protest tonight—tomorrow is April 9, the day Soviet troops killed 21 demonstrators on this same Rustaveli Avenue in 1989.

Flowers, candles, polyphonic singing, and photos of the victims at the memorial.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Day 497 of #GeorgiaProtests

People stay overnight to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the April 9 massacre of Georgians by Soviet Russia.

A screen features a film about the massacre.

📷 Tabula

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:55 PM

Polyphonic singing of “Chemo Kargo Qveyanav” (“My Dear Country”) on Rustaveli Avenue.

Day 497 of daily, uninterrupted protests. Georgians are spending the night in cold and rain ahead of April 9—the day Soviet troops killed 21 demonstrators on this street in 1989.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:35 PM

Georgian Dream freezes accounts of a mother of a political prisoner over trumped-up “protesting fine” charges.

Elene Akhobadze’s son, Saba Skhvitaridze, is the only political prisoner whom a relevant state agency (Special Investigation Service) recognized as victim of torture after detention. 1/

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM

Her other son, Tornike, has also been detained for days for protesting.

The complete and utter disrespect to family ties and motherhood is a staple of the Georgian Dream. And then they lash out when we call them Russians.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM

🇨🇦🇦🇲🇪🇺

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:43 PM

Many of you probably don’t know that after the Maidan, lots of former Georgian officials were actively recruited by Ukraine to implement the same law enforcement and anti-corruption reforms that had become Georgia’s success story.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM

Hungary:

From the morning on, a key Georgian Dream ideologue Zaza Shatirishvili laments the defeat of Orban & blames JD Vance for it.

Ivanishvili is apparently preparing for Orban’s defeat, & blaming Vance might shed light on how the recent behind-the-scenes communication between the US and the GD is going.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:58 AM

The EU:

The EU is dead if they don’t find a way to change decision-making from unanimity to a qualified majority. Even if Orban loses, russia will soon buy a new little helper among the European leaders. The problem is far deeper than Orban.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 8:26 AM

For years, some major European states were occasionally hiding behind Orban’s veto, blocking the decisions they didn’t want to pass yet not wishing to take any responsibility for.

Slowly, this monster of veto went out of control.

— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 8:34 AM

‼️Report: Orban’s first election campaign in 1998 was funded by Russian organized crime via National Police Chief Pintér, now an Orban Minister.

The money courier involved, László Kovács, has promised to testify in court once Orban is gone.

4 days left. Tick tock, MF.⌛️

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 6:43 AM

Orban has always been a bagman for the Russian mob.

🇭🇺🇺🇦Russian special forces have been caught trying to launch a covert ‘false flag’ attack to try and disrupt Hungary’s elections with a bombing campaign.

If they had succeeded Hungary’s government could impose emergency laws to stop forthcoming elections which they could lose to pro-European party.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:37 PM

Reading through Szijjarto’s leaked conversations with Lavrov is vomit-inducing on its own, but when Lavrov reveals how the American side wants to get ‘Ukraine out of the way’ to resume business with Russia… I can’t. I feel despair. They are killing us, and you say this?

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:42 PM

vsquare.org/kremlin-hotl…

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:02 PM

“Sometimes good-willed direct blackmailing is the best option,” Lavrov taught Szijjártó, as new evidence of calls emerges.

This is sickening.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 1:15 PM

“Hungary and russia struck 12-point plan to expand the two countries’ economic, trade, energy and cultural ties, according to documents drawn up by the russian government and obtained by Politico. They starkly underscore how close Budapest and Moscow hope to become.”

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM

As a Ukrainian, whose nation has been paying in blood for dignity and independence over again, I will always remain shocked how easily folks that have gotten everything for granted are ready to sell that for moscow’s bloody cash.

— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM

APPLEBAUM: Victor Orbán has been in charge of Hungary for 16 years. He has used his power as a democratically elected leader to take over the institutions of the state, judiciary, media, bureaucracy, universities.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM

Thanks to that and unbelievably high level of corruption, Hungary is now one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in EU, with major problems in healthcare and education.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM

Yet in the campaign he’s not talking about any of that. Instead, he’s pushing mythical fantasy that Ukrainians are going to invade Hungary to create fear.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM

He’s trailing in the polls by about 20%. The only question is whether he will halt the election, change the result, or create some kind of outrage.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM

Vance is in Hungary right now, actively campaigning for this government’s reelection 🤦‍♀️

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 8:20 AM

Awkward.

Germany:

Germany noted the hypocrisy of JD Vance claiming EU interference in Hungary while he was in Hungary to interfere on behalf of Orban.

Reminder: the US NSS openly said the US intends to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory”, i.e. interfere in elections.🤦‍♀️

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 12:01 PM

NATO:

Reporter: Did Trump say he’s withdrawing from NATO?
Rutte: *tapdances around the question with lots of words*

Reporter: Did Trump say he’s going to withdraw from NATO, or not support it as much as previous presidents?
Rutte: *more tapdancing*

Classic non-answer answers.🤔

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM

The US:

The White House has announced that Trump will discuss the issue of a U.S. withdrawal from NATO with Mark Rutte.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM

🇺🇸❌ WSJ: US may close at least one military base, possibly in 🇪🇸Spain or 🇩🇪Germany.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM

During his visit to Hungary, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated that he does not consider “bargaining” between Ukraine and Muscovy over “a few square kilometers of territory” to be expedient.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 1:16 PM

He effectively signaled once again that Washington expects Kyiv to be ready to make concessions to end the war.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 1:16 PM

Including Russia, right? RIGHT?

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 7:51 AM

NEW: A stunning new report claims that the Pentagon summoned Pope Leo XIV’s top American diplomat and threatened him after the U.S.-born pontiff gave his January state-of-the-world address.

Leo used the address to denounce a world ruled by “a diplomacy based on force” and “zeal for war.”

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— Christopher Hale (@christopherjhale.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 1:32 PM

In January, the Under Secretary of War summoned Pope Leo XIV’s then-cardinal ambassador to the United States — and delivered a lecture.

America, Colby and his colleagues told the cardinal, has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.

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— Christopher Hale (@christopherjhale.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 1:34 PM

UPDATE: Letters from Leo can now independently confirm that the meeting took place — and that the Vatican was so alarmed by the Pentagon’s tactics that Leo shelved plans to visit America.

Some officials saw their reference to an Avignon papacy as a threat to use military force against the Holy See.

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— Christopher Hale (@christopherjhale.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:27 PM

Apparently this was Elbridge Colby special. And before you ask, he seems to be another one of these degenerate adult male converts to the TradCath heresy.

From Letters from Leo:

[UPDATE at 4:33 PM EDT: Letters from Leo can now independently confirm The Free Press report that the meeting took place — and that some Vatican officials were so alarmed by the Pentagon’s tactics that they shelved plans for Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States later this year.

Other officials in the Vatican saw the Pentagon’s reference to an Avignon papacy as a threat to use military force against the Holy See.]

In January, behind closed doors at the Pentagon, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre — Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States — and delivered a lecture.

America, Colby and his colleagues told the cardinal, has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.

As tempers rose, one U.S. official reached for a fourteenth-century weapon and invoked the Avignon Papacy, the period when the French Crown used military force to bend the bishop of Rome to its will.

That scene, broken this week by Mattia Ferraresi in an extraordinary piece of journalism for The Free Press, may be the most remarkable moment in the long and knotted history of the American republic’s relationship with the Catholic Church.

There is no public record of any Vatican official ever taking a meeting at the Pentagon, and certainly none of a senior U.S. official threatening the Vicar of Christ on Earth with the prospect of an American Babylonian Captivity.

The reporting also confirms — with fresh sources and new color — what I first reported in February: that the Vatican declined the Trump-Vance White House’s invitation to host Pope Leo XIV for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Ferraresi obtained accounts from Vatican and U.S. officials briefed on the Pentagon meeting. According to his sources, Colby’s team picked apart the pope’s January state-of-the-world address line by line and read it as a hostile message aimed directly at the administration.

What enraged them most was Leo’s declaration that “a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force.”

The Pentagon read that sentence as a frontal challenge to the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” — Trump’s update of Monroe, asserting unchallenged American dominion over the Western Hemisphere.

The cardinal sat through the lecture in silence. The Holy See has not, since that day, given an inch.

Ferraresi’s reporting also adds vital color to the collapse of the 250th anniversary visit. JD Vance personally extended the invitation in May 2025, just two weeks after Leo’s election in the conclave.

According to a senior Vatican official quoted in the piece, the Holy See initially considered the request, then postponed it indefinitely because of foreign policy disagreements, the rising opposition of American bishops to the Trump-Vance mass deportation regime, and a refusal to become a partisan trophy in the 2026 midterms.

“The administration tried every possible way to have the Pope in the U.S. in 2026,” one Vatican official told The Free Press.

Instead, on July 4, 2026, the first American pope will travel to Lampedusa, the Italian island where North African migrants wash ashore by the thousands. Robert Francis Prevost is too deliberate a man to have chosen that date by accident.

The Pentagon meeting also clarifies the moral intensity of Leo’s public posture over the last six weeks.

After Colby’s lecture, the pope did not retreat into Vatican diplomacy. He pressed harder.

More at the link.

Also, that’s not really how the Avignon papacies worked.

Back to Ukraine.

ZELENSKYY: I want American people to understand: we are your allies in Europe. World has no distance anymore — when drones already strike thousands of kilometers.

One, two, three years — drones will strike ten, twenty thousand kilometers. With reactive engines, they will be very cheap.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 10:08 AM

There will be swarms of these drones.

You can’t defend that by yourself. The world has to help countries defend themselves and push the aggressor back. That’s why, i think, Americans need us, and we need the United States.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 10:08 AM

FPV drone strike on a large Russian infantry group during a deployment to the front.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 12:10 PM

Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone shot down using a twin-Maxim machine gun setup.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 12:02 PM

A Ukrainian guided drone flies directly over the position of the Russian Tor air defense system with its crew and turns around for a more accurate approach to the target.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:26 AM

FP-2 interfaces now come in different colors, not just the standard green.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:14 AM

“Russia’s plans now include a point regarding the creation of a buffer zone in the Vinnytsia region from the side of unrecognized Transnistria.” – Ihor Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:21 AM

Russian occupied Crimea:

Ukrainian birds hitting an oil depot in occupied Feodosiya last night 🔥🤩

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 7:27 AM

Occupied Feodosiya today. Local oil depot is on fire 🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 7:11 AM

🔥An oil depot in Feodosia has been burning for almost 22 hours, – Krymskyi Veter

Last night, the fire was visible as far as Stary Krym, 22 kilometers away.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:57 PM

Kharkiv Oblast:

The Donets-Zakharzhevsky estate in Velykyi Burluk, Kharkiv region, has been destroyed down to its foundations.

An irreplaceable architectural monument that survived the ravages of two World Wars is no more.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:23 AM

Russia hits Kharkiv Oblast oil refinery, causing ‘significant’ damage #Ukraine

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— AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 (@amplifyukraine.eu) April 8, 2026 at 8:17 AM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Russian forces struck an oil refinery in the city of Merefa, Kharkiv Oblast, overnight on April 8, causing “significant” damage, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing the refinery’s legal director, Anastasiia Cherednykova.

Russian forces attacked 17 settlements in the oblast, which borders Russia to the north and northeast, using more than 60 drones of various types, and five guided aerial bombs over the past day, according to local authorities.

One of the strikes hit the city of Merefa, where the refinery is located. Four houses and three vehicles were also damaged, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Cherednykova said no casualties were reported in the attack on the facility in Merefa, but the oil refinery, which has now been struck for the fifth time since the start of the full-scale invasion, incurred “significant” damage.

“The facility will continue to operate because we have a very large workforce. We will resume operations, but we cannot say how long that will take,” Cherednykova told Suspilne.

More at the link.

Sumy Oblast:

In Sumy region one person was killed and three others injured in a Russian drone attack last night.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 10:49 AM

The Kerch Strait:

🔥🚢Ukrainian special forces disabled the last operational Russian railway ferry “Slavyanin” in the Kerch Strait overnight on April 5–6.

Following earlier strikes on the ferry fleet, this effectively removes Russia’s remaining rail ferry capability in the area.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 6:24 AM

Russian occupied Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast:

A “gentle reminder” of what occupied Avdiivka looks like today, now in its third year under Russian occupation. A city that once housed over 30,000 people now has only about a thousand left. The Russians have turned yet another city into ruins.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 8:23 AM

Occupied Avdiivka. A Russian “liberator” wanders through the ruins of homes, gloating that the owners were driven out and the city itself was destroyed. This is the true face of “ordinary Russians”.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:51 AM

May Magyar introduce him to one of his birds.

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

💥 Perevalsk, Luhansk region, strike on ammunition depot

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:36 PM

🔥👀 In the Alchevsk/Perevalsk area of ​​Luhansk Oblast, UAVs struck bases for the repair and maintenance of equipment of the Russian occupation army.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 6:25 PM

Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast:

😢 Kostiantynivka disappears under continuous fire from the Russian army

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:53 PM

Russia:

Russian Z-war correspondents are expressing doubts that their beloved May 9th parade will take place. They fear that Ukrainians now possess long-range weapons that surpass drones and can reach Moscow much faster.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:11 PM

Russians have begun manufacturing new types of mines. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the UVTS discovered a new model being used by Russian occupiers for remote mining of residential areas in Kherson.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:30 AM

The munition appears as an object wrapped in cloth. It is electronically controlled and designed to target both personnel and vehicles.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 4:30 AM

Krasnodar Krai, Russia:

🔥 Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai, the airbase of military unit 75386, 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was attacked.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 6:32 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today.

Here is some adjacent material.

I can’t let go of this story – and these photos.

A dog and a cat were evacuated from the front line by Ukrainian Defenders using a drone. The animals flew more than 12 km and are now safe.

If they made it, then we can do so much more – and we will.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 5:17 PM

Open thread!