The Kyiv Independent

2023-04-19 06:02:37 Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visits Kuwait, discusses reconstruction.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited the Gulf Arab state of Kuwait on April 18 to discuss reconstruction projects and post-war development in Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry website.

Kuleba met with Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah and the head of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Waleed Al-Bahar during his trip.

In addition to reconstruction projects, the foreign ministers discussed increasing trade, ensuring food security, including through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and increasing diplomatic ties.

Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Open / Comment

2023-04-19 05:16:31 US announces new charges against 4 Americans, 3 Russians for ‘malign influence campaign.’

The U.S. Justice Department announced additional charges on April 18 against four Americans and three Russians for partaking in a “multi-year campaign of harmful foreign influence in the United States” allegedly to further Russian interests. Open / Comment

2023-04-19 03:24:40 Ombudsman: Russia must be prosecuted for destruction of Ukrainian culture, heritage.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 17 that Russia's destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage and its violation of cultural rights breaches the norms of international humanitarian law. Open / Comment

2023-04-19 03:02:34 Media: Explosions heard in Odesa.

Explosions were heard at around 2 a.m. on April 19 in Odesa, according to local media.

Authorities in Odesa have reported that the city's air raid alerts have been activated.

The Kyiv Independent can not independently verify this information. Open / Comment

2023-04-19 02:45:21 Biden extends ban on Russian-affiliated vessels in US ports.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on April 18 that he is extending the ban on Russian-affiliated ships from U.S. ports.

The decree, which was implemented in April 2022, was due to expire this week, according to a White House press statement. Open / Comment

2023-04-19 01:54:08 Former member of parliament killed on front line.

Former People's Deputy of Ukraine Oleh Barna was killed in combat on the front line on April 18, Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavriisk defense forces, reported. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 16:57:57 Ex-Wagner fighter who confessed to killing POWs: 'I only said 10% of what could be said.’

Alexey Savichev, a former mercenary of the Russian state-backed Wagner Group, said that his confession about murdering dozens of Ukrainian civilians, including children, was "only 10%" of what he could share, Russian independent outlet Vertska reported on April 18.

The report came after Russian opposition media outlet Gulagu.net published a video on April 17 where Savichev and Azamat Uldarov, both ex-prisoners, confessed to war crimes they'd committed in Bakhmut as part of the Wagner mercenary group. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 15:59:05 Zelensky visits military positions near front-line city of Avdiivka.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian servicemembers in Avdiivka, the President's Office reported on April 18.

During Zelensky's visit to Donetsk Oblast, the commander of the Donetsk operational-tactical group informed him of the situation on the frontline.

Zelensky also spoke with servicemembers from the Marines, Air Assault Forces, as well as Mechanized Infantry and Artillery forces, thanking them for their service and presenting them with state honors.

Photo: President's Office Open / Comment

2023-04-18 15:56:45 Update: 1 killed, 9 injured in Russian shelling of Kherson.

Nine people were injured and one person was killed during the Russian shelling of the area around Kherson's central market, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote in an update on April 18. Open / Comment

2023-04-18 15:20:18 Lukashenko meets in Minsk with leader Russian proxy regime in Donetsk.

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko met in Minsk with Denis Pushilin, leader of Russia's proxy administration in occupied Donetsk Oblast, according to a Belarusian state media report on April 18.

Lukashenko allegedly asked Pushilin how Belarus could provide "assistance in the restoration and normalization of people's lives." Open / Comment