As Russian Forces Declare Full Recapture of Kursk Oblast, Trump and Zelensky Meet at Pope’s Funeral While Putin Declares Readiness for Talks “Without Preconditions”
Summary of the Day – April 26, 2025
Russia claimed complete control of Kursk Oblast today as General Valery Gerasimov made the first official Russian acknowledgment of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces. In Vatican City, Zelensky and Trump held a “productive” meeting during Pope Francis’s funeral, though an expected second meeting never materialized. Trump later questioned Putin’s commitment to peace, suggesting Russia might face “banking or secondary sanctions” if it continues civilian strikes. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched 114 drones and missiles overnight, killing three civilians and wounding dozens across Ukraine, while Putin declared readiness for talks “without preconditions.” The battlefield saw Ukrainian advances near Pokrovsk as Russian forces gained ground using motorcycle units—a tactic Moscow is systematically developing for summer offensives to counter Ukraine’s drone advantage.
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets U.S. President Donald Trump shortly before the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican. (Andriy Yermak/Telegram)
Victory or Mirage? Russia Claims Full Control of Kursk as Ukraine Disputes the Fall
Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin on April 26 that Russian forces had fully recaptured all Ukrainian-held territory in Kursk Oblast, seizing Gornal, the last Ukrainian-held settlement in the region. The announcement marks what Moscow portrays as the definitive end to Ukraine’s eight-month incursion into Russian territory that began in August 2024.
“Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin on the completion of the operation to liberate Kursk Oblast,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Interfax.
Gerasimov credited elements of the Russian 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment, 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, 40th Naval Infantry Brigade, 177th Naval Infantry Regiment, and 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment with capturing Gornal. Geolocated footage published on April 26 appears to show Russian forces advancing along Gora Street in central Gornal.
Ukraine’s General Staff quickly disputed Russia’s claim of complete victory. “Ukrainian defensive operations in certain areas of Kursk Oblast continue,” the statement read, adding that Ukrainian forces repelled five Russian ground assaults in the area on April 26, with additional clashes ongoing. “The situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold certain positions and carry out tasks as assigned.”
Ukraine’s General Staff also released casualty figures for the Kursk campaign, claiming Russian forces had lost 62,400 soldiers in the region since the start of Ukraine’s operation. Of this number, 25,200 were “irreversible” losses and 36,200 were injuries, according to the statement. “Another 983 soldiers of the (Russian) army were taken prisoner. As a result, exchanges took place, which allowed hundreds of our soldiers to return home from Russian captivity,” the General Staff said.
Moscow’s Open Secret: Russia Acknowledges North Korean Troops in Kursk For First Time
In a significant diplomatic development, Gerasimov made the first official Russian acknowledgment of North Korean troop participation in operations against Ukraine, thanking North Korean servicemembers for their “significant assistance” in pushing Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast.
The acknowledgment confirms longstanding reports from Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence that Pyongyang had deployed approximately 11,000 troops to support Russian operations. Gerasimov specifically praised North Korean officers and soldiers for demonstrating “professionalism” and “fortitude, courage, and heroism” during military operations in Kursk Oblast.
“The total losses of the North Korean army on the Kursk direction amount to more than 4,500 killed and wounded,” Ukraine’s General Staff reported, highlighting the steep price paid by North Korea’s expeditionary force.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized the deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, stating that Russia would “never forget its friends from North Korea.”
Neither Gerasimov nor Zakharova indicated what role, if any, North Korean forces would now play in supporting Russian military operations against Ukraine going forward, leaving open questions about whether the troops will redeploy to other fronts or return to North Korea.
The Vatican Summit: Trump and Zelensky Hold “Productive” Meeting at Pope’s Funeral
President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on April 26, with both sides praising the meeting as productive and constructive. It marked their first face-to-face encounter since a tense February meeting in the Oval Office that deteriorated into a public argument.
“President Trump and President Zelensky met privately today and had a very productive discussion,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said, promising more details later. Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak described the discussions as “constructive” but did not provide specifics.
“Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered,” Zelensky said after the meeting. “Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”
According to an undisclosed source who spoke to RBC-Ukraine, an expected second meeting between the leaders after the funeral service did not take place, adding that the “main issue” had already been discussed. Sky News reported at 1:10 p.m. local time that Trump was heading back to the U.S. after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky also held separate talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss ongoing peace efforts.
“Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire and wishes to work alongside the Americans and the Europeans to make it happen. It is now up to Russia to prove that it truly wants to end this war,” Macron wrote in a statement after meeting with Zelensky.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a one-on-one meeting in Rome. (Andrii Sybiha/X)
Trump Abandons Peace Deadline: “I Just Want to Do It as Fast as Possible”
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on April 26 that the United States is no longer pursuing a concrete deadline for achieving a resolution to the war in Ukraine — a departure from the administration’s previously stated goal of ending the war within its first 100 days.
“No deadline… I just want to do it as fast as possible,” Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he departed for Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. He reiterated his optimism over Ukraine peace, saying that his envoy Steve Witkoff was meeting with Putin “right now as we speak.”
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) greets US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (L) prior to their talks in Moscow. (Kristina Kormilitsyna / AFP via Getty Images)
“We are going to try and get out of war so that we can save 5,000 people a week. And that’s what my aim is,” he said. “I want to save 5,000 young men. They happen to be mostly Ukrainian, Russian — 5,000 young Ukrainian and Russian men. And that’s a big honor if I can do it.”
Trump also stated on April 26 that there was “no reason” for Russia’s strikes on civilian areas and reiterated a previously stated concern that “Putin is just tapping me along” by disingenuously engaging in ceasefire and peace negotiations. Trump stated that Putin’s actions make him think that “maybe Putin doesn’t want to stop the war” and “has to be dealt with differently.”
Estonian President Alar Karis, who sat next to Trump during Pope Francis’s funeral, told ERR that he asked Trump directly about the peace process. According to Karis, Trump promised that the U.S. would continue to work towards a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia and said “we were quite close to a solution.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, and Estonian president Alar Karis arrive at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. (Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)
Putin Claims Readiness for Talks “Without Preconditions” as Russia Shifts Position
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the U.S. about his readiness to enter negotiations with Ukraine “without preconditions,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 26, according to state news agency TASS. Putin reportedly conveyed this message to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during their meeting in Moscow on April 25.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov previously described the three-hour meeting with Witkoff as “constructive,” saying they discussed “the possibility of renewing direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.” According to Ushakov, the meeting had brought the U.S. and Russian positions on Ukraine “closer together.”
Despite Putin’s claimed openness to negotiations, the White House has reportedly refused to support a Russian demand for Ukraine to retreat from the entirety of four Ukrainian oblasts that Putin claims to have annexed. Trump administration officials told Ukrainian negotiators that the United States would not support Russian demands for restrictions on Ukraine’s military size or capabilities and would resist Russian control over all occupied territories.
According to reports, Trump’s peace plan would allow Russia to retain control over seized Ukrainian territory, though there remains flexibility about formally recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea. A source close to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told The Times that Trump believes the Ukrainian leader “really has no choice” but to agree to the terms and is threatening to withdraw from peace talks next week unless a deal is reached.
“Trump’s view is that this land has been seized and it is not going back,” the source told The Times. “The deal on the table is that the Russian-occupied territory is going to remain occupied. That part is set in stone.”
Trump Questions Putin’s Commitment: “Maybe He Doesn’t Want to Stop the War”
Shortly after meeting with Zelensky, Trump expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin in unusually critical public comments. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that “there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days.”
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through banking or secondary sanctions?” Trump said, signaling a potential shift in his approach to Moscow.
The comments mark a departure from Trump’s previously amicable rhetoric toward Putin and follow Russia’s deadly missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, including an attack on Kyiv that killed 12 civilians and injured around 90 on April 24.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham quickly seized on Trump’s comments, highlighting his bipartisan legislation that would impose secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy products. “The Senate stands ready to move in this direction and will do so overwhelmingly if Russia does not embrace an honorable, just, and enduring peace,” Graham wrote on social media.
Zelensky on Crimea: “The Constitution Says It Belongs to Ukraine”
President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 26 rejected suggestions that Ukraine should give up Crimea to Russia, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff concluded his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The statement came amid rising tensions following a Russian strike on Kyiv that left 12 dead and the assassination of a Russian general in a car bomb attack that Russia blamed on Ukraine.
With Ukraine fearful that Trump could force it to cede Crimea — a strategic Black Sea peninsula seized by Russia in 2014 — Zelensky insisted the territory is “the property of the Ukrainian people.”
“Our position is unchanged,” he told reporters in Kyiv. “The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories… belong to Ukraine.”
Zelensky has expressed frustration at a lack of Western “pressure” on Putin. The Russian leader last month rejected a U.S. proposal of a full and unconditional ceasefire that Zelensky has accepted and repeatedly called for since.
While Zelensky has recently acknowledged that he might have to try to secure the return of some land captured by Russia through diplomacy once a ceasefire is in place, he has remained adamant about Crimea’s status under Ukrainian law.
“I agree with President Trump that Ukraine does not have enough weapons to regain control of the Crimean peninsula with weapons,” he said, adding, “The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories… belong to Ukraine.”
Kyiv Mayor Klitschko: Territorial Concessions Might Be “Temporary Peace” Solution
In a statement that raised eyebrows across Ukraine’s political landscape, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko suggested on April 26 that Ukraine might need to give up some territory to secure a “temporary” peace with Russia.
“One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It’s not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary,” Klitschko said in an interview with the BBC published on April 26. His remarks came in the wake of a deadly Russian missile-and-drone strike on Kyiv, which left at least 12 people dead and over 80 injured.
Klitschko said that his responsibility is to the capital city but acknowledged that President Volodymyr Zelensky may eventually face the need for a difficult compromise. “I’m responsible for the capital of Ukraine,” he said, adding that Zelensky might have to consider a “painful solution” to bring an end to the war.
After his comments sparked controversy, Klitschko took to Telegram to clarify his remarks, saying that he had spoken about a scenario that “could be forced” upon Ukraine, not one he advocated. “Unfortunately, as we see, such a scenario is quite possible. And many world politicians and media are talking about it today,” Klitschko wrote.
He stressed that he had clearly stated in the interview that “the Ukrainian people will never accept the occupation of their country by Russia” and that any scenario involving territorial concessions “contradicts Ukrainian national interests.”
Klitschko’s statement makes him one of the highest-ranking Ukrainian politicians to openly admit the possibility of ceding land, even if only as a temporary measure. The mayor of Kyiv has long been a political rival of Zelensky, frequently accusing the president and his administration of attempting to sideline him and diminish his authority.
Deadly Skies: Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Continues
Russian forces launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine overnight on April 25-26, continuing their pattern of strikes against civilian areas even as peace talks proceed. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 114 attack and decoy drones, one Onyx anti-ship missile, and two Kh-31P anti-radar missiles.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 66 drones, while 31 decoys disappeared from radars without causing damage. Despite these defensive efforts, the attacks killed at least three people and injured at least 25, including a child, across multiple regions.
In Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a drone attack killed a man and injured six people, including an 11-year-old girl. Three apartment buildings and six cars were damaged. Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast killed two people and injured five, including two people killed and one injured in Yarova. In Kherson Oblast, five people were injured, with damage to a high-rise building, 12 houses, outbuildings, and garages. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 67-year-old man was injured in an attack against Orikhiv.
A residential building damaged in a Russian drone attack against Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. (Governor Serhii Lysak)
The strikes come just one day after a devastating attack on Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast that killed three people, including a child, and injured at least 15 others on April 25.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on the city of Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. (Serhii Lysak/Telegram)
Motorcycles and Warfare: Russia’s Summer Offensive Plans Revealed
Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate motorcycle usage into offensive operations in Ukraine for Summer and Fall 2025, likely to offset Ukraine’s effective drone capabilities. The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage on April 26 showing airborne troops practicing offensive and defensive tactics on motorcycles in groups of two to three people at a Russian training ground.
Ukrainian Kharkiv Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Pavlo Shamshyn confirmed that Ukrainian intelligence has noted Russian forces training in motorcycle combat tactics. “Our intelligence records the fact that in training centers on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the units themselves, active training of motorcycle drivers is taking place, and all this indicates that the assault operations of spring-summer 2025 will be carried out on motorcycles,” Shamshyn told Suspilne.
Motorcycles provide Russian soldiers with enhanced speed and maneuverability, crucial for evading Ukrainian drone strikes, though their loud noise can prevent riders from hearing approaching drones. ISW has observed an increased trend of Russian units conducting mechanized and combined motorized assaults with motorcycles and civilian vehicles throughout the frontline.
One recent example occurred near Bahatyr, where Russian forces advanced during a motorized assault comprised entirely of motorcycles and civilian vehicles. According to the Ukrainian Vuhledar Tactical Group, Ukrainian forces destroyed 15 motorcycles and damaged nine vehicles during the assault.
Territorial Chess: Ukrainian and Russian Forces Trade Advances
As diplomatic efforts continued in Rome, fighting persisted across multiple fronts, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces making limited advances.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Mykolaivka (southeast of Pokrovsk), according to geolocated footage published on April 26. A Ukrainian servicemember operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that Russian forces rarely deploy armored vehicles there, periodically use motorcycles and electric scooters, but mainly conduct dismounted infantry assaults in groups of one to 15 personnel.
Meanwhile, Russian forces secured gains in several directions. Geolocated footage published on April 25 and 26 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced northeast and northwest of Nadiivka (east of Novopavlivka). Russian forces also advanced south of Bahatyr (southwest of Kurakhove) during a motorized assault using 18 motorcycles and 10 civilian vehicles. The Ukrainian Vuhledar Tactical Group reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed 15 motorcycles and damaged nine vehicles during the assault, highlighting the growing significance of these motorized tactics.
Russian forces also marginally advanced southeast of Vilne Pole (northwest of Velyka Novosilka). In northwestern Belgorod Oblast, Russian forces likely recently seized Popovka, according to geolocated footage and claims by Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov. NASA Fire Information for Resource Management data shows satellite-detected heat anomalies near Popovka since April 20, suggesting ongoing fighting in the area.
While fighting continued on the front lines, Russian forces also maintained pressure on Sumy Oblast, conducting 50 to 100 guided glide bomb strikes per day and using fiber-optic drones in the area, according to a Ukrainian border guards spokesperson. The spokesperson noted that Russian forces currently lack sufficient personnel and materiel to conduct a large offensive operation against Sumy Oblast.
U.S. Support for European Peacekeeping: Trump Opens Door to Intelligence Sharing
The Trump administration has privately indicated its willingness to provide support to a proposed European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine, according to reports. While Trump has refused to commit American troops, U.S. officials have reportedly opened the door to providing intelligence-sharing and logistical aid to the so-called “coalition of the willing.”
The coalition, led by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to establish a multinational force to help monitor a potential ceasefire deal in Ukraine and boost Kyiv’s defense capabilities. Over 30 countries have expressed interest in participating, with at least six reportedly ready to contribute troops.
For weeks, Starmer has pressed Trump for a formal commitment, warning that U.S. backing is essential to the coalition’s viability. In an interview on April 24, Starmer hinted at progress, saying, “There are ongoing discussions and (Trump) has said a number of times that he’d have our back, as you know. And I’ve been clear that that’s an important component of what we need to do.”
Plans for the coalition’s operations are divided into four areas — air, sea, land, and regeneration. These include air policing above Ukraine, naval patrols in the Black Sea, limited ground deployments, and long-term efforts to rebuild and sustain Ukraine’s armed forces.
The U.K. is reportedly reconsidering the scale of its potential deployment due to rising security concerns and the high risk of confrontation with Russian forces. Instead of dispatching thousands of soldiers to secure cities and infrastructure, the U.K. is considering sending military trainers and providing logistical support from safer areas in western Ukraine.
Broken Shield: Chornobyl Nuclear Plant Still Vulnerable Three Months After Drone Strike
The confinement structure over the fourth nuclear reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant has not been functioning properly as a protective shield for almost three months following a Russian drone strike. On February 14, a Russian drone hit the structure over the nuclear facility, creating a 15-meter hole and jeopardizing atomic safety in Europe.
“We are at war. Any facility can be attacked, but it was the pinnacle of cynicism and irresponsibility on the part of the Russians,” Svitlana Hrynchuk, Ukraine’s environmental protection and natural resources minister, told the Kyiv Independent.
The drone’s hit damaged the confinement’s outer shell and inner lining, which protected the structure from moisture and rust. Although the initial fire was extinguished quickly, the smoldering of the waterproof membrane inside the structure lasted another three weeks. Emergency workers had to make about 200 holes in the outer layer of the structure to spray water inside, compromising the waterproof design that was supposed to ensure the shield would last 100 years.
“Our goal is to renew it 100%,” Hrynchuk said. “We must restore the facility’s hermeticity, all its functions.” Ukraine, together with foreign experts, should complete an assessment of the damage after the attack in May, and in June, a short-term plan for the restoration of the facility should be ready. The reconstruction plan will also be presented in June at a conference organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Security Service Success: Ukraine Seizes Vessel Carrying Stolen Grain
Ukraine seized a foreign vessel allegedly involved in transporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied territories, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on April 26. According to the SBU statement, the ship, allegedly part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” was detained in Ukraine’s internal Black Sea waters.
An SBU officer examines documents of a seized vessel suspected of smuggling stolen Ukrainian grain (Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU/Telegram)
Investigators said the vessel had loaded around 5,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian wheat from the Russian-occupied port city of Sevastopol in late 2024 and attempted to disguise its operations by sailing under the flag of an Asian country. During the search, authorities discovered documents, navigation equipment, and other evidence allegedly confirming the ship’s role in smuggling Ukrainian agricultural products.
The ship and its crew have been detained, and an investigation is underway to identify all parties involved, according to the statement. The operation was carried out by the SBU in cooperation with Ukraine’s Navy and maritime border units, under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office for Crimea and Sevastopol.
In a related development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on April 26 that it is lending Ukraine’s state-owned gas giant Naftogaz €270 million ($307 million) to finance emergency gas purchases for the next two heating seasons. This loan will help ensure Ukraine has sufficient gas reserves to meet energy needs during peak demand, particularly important after Russian strikes on Ukrainian gas infrastructure in recent months have allegedly deprived Ukraine of 50% of its domestic production.
Air Incursion: Russian Military Helicopter Violates Polish Airspace
A Russian military helicopter of the Baltic Fleet violated Polish airspace on the evening of April 25, the Polish military command reported. Polish military radar systems and civilian systems of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency tracked the aircraft over Poland’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.
“The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is testing the readiness of our air defense systems,” the statement of the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said. “On-duty air defense forces and means remained on constant alert to ensure the security of Polish airspace.”
Poland has regularly scrambled jets since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion due to Russian missile and drone attacks on western Ukraine. Warsaw has also repeatedly accused Russian aircraft of airspace violations, including a February incident when a Russian SU-24MR military jet flew within Polish airspace for over a minute.
Last year, Polish Brigadier General Tomasz Drewniak told Radio RMF24 that Russia is likely testing Poland’s air defenses after a suspected Russian drone flew into Polish airspace amid a mass attack on Ukraine in August.
Assassinations and Reprisals: FSB Claims Arrest in Moscow Car Bombing Case
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on April 26 that it had detained an “agent of the Ukrainian special services” in connection with the car bombing that killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the main operations directorate of Russia’s army.
The FSB said it had detained Ignat Kuzin, born in 1983, who they claim holds a residence permit in Ukraine. Kuzin is accused of planting a car bomb that killed Moskalik in the Russian city of Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, on April 25. He is charged with terrorist acts and the illegal storage of explosives under the Russian criminal code.
According to the FSB, Kuzin allegedly retrieved a homemade explosive from a hiding place facilitated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), bought a Volkswagen Golf, planted the explosive under the car, and parked it near Moskalik’s home. The FSB claimed that the bomb was detonated from the territory of Ukraine, killing Moskalik as he left his home.
The incident occurred as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow to meet with Putin, adding a layer of tension to the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In a separate development, reports emerged on April 25 that Yevgeny Rytikov, a Russian engineer involved in modernizing electronic warfare systems used against Ukraine, was killed in a car bombing in the Russian city of Bryansk on April 18. Rytikov headed the design bureau at the Bryansk Electromechanical Plant and was responsible for upgrading the Krasukha EW system, which Russian forces use to counter drones and airborne weapons.
FSB Agent Arrested: Ukrainian Security Service Prevents Drone Strike Coordination
Security officers have detained an FSB agent near Kyiv who was coordinating Russian missile and drone strikes targeting locations of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) units in the Kyiv region. According to the SBU, the suspect had been tasked with adjusting Russian aerial attacks by installing hidden Wi-Fi cameras across from military facilities to stream live footage to Russian intelligence services.
After purchasing her first mini camera with money provided by the FSB, the agent traveled to one of the military sites to set up a surveillance point. However, she was apprehended by the SBU before she could complete the mission. Law enforcement recovered a video device and a phone containing evidence of her cooperation with Russian intelligence.
Investigators identified the suspect as a 30-year-old unemployed resident of Boryspil, who had been remotely recruited by the FSB via a Telegram channel advertising quick earnings. Further investigation revealed she had an additional task: monitoring the aftermath of Russian strikes in the Kyiv region by periodically traveling to locations sent by her handler.
She has been formally charged under Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code – high treason committed under martial law. The suspect is currently in custody and faces a potential life sentence with confiscation of property.
Earlier, the SBU detained an unemployed man who was adjusting Russian strikes on Ukrainian defense forces in the Donetsk region, highlighting Ukraine’s ongoing counterintelligence efforts against Russian infiltration.
Zelensky on Ukraine’s Church: “Moscow Cannot Control Our Church”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed questions about Ukraine’s approach to religious freedom in an interview with Ben Shapiro published on April 26, firmly denying accusations that Ukraine has restricted the Russian Orthodox Church’s activities.
“There are no ‘shadow’ practices. Anyone can confirm that there is no pressure. We celebrate all holidays together. We have people of different faiths, and we always invite everyone,” he said.
Zelensky clarified that the issue isn’t with the church as a religious institution, but with the role of Russian state influence. “The problem is not with the Moscow Church, but with the fact that — in the case of Russia — the church is just another KGB unit,” he said.
“Everyone knows that Russian special services control churches. That’s how they are arranged… The fact remains: their special services controlled the churches that operated in Ukraine. This is wrong.”
Zelensky stressed that the church must be free from foreign interference: “The church must be independent, and Moscow cannot control our church. Their KGB, their intelligence, cannot manage or influence the Ukrainian church. They should not be here.”
According to him, recent legislative changes reflect this position — that there can be no legal or institutional connection between Ukrainian churches and Moscow. “No one closed anything or banned anyone. But it cannot be that the Russian KGB controls the church in Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“Our church must be free from any external influence. It must be free for people,” he concluded.
Corporate Maneuvers: McDonald’s Files to Protect Trademark in Russia
The U.S. fast food giant McDonald’s has submitted an application to the government agency Rospatent to register its trademark in Russia, the Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti reported on April 26. McDonald’s closed its restaurants and left the Russian market entirely in 2022, following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to Russian media, McDonald’s submitted the application in December 2024, and Rospatent has now accepted it for consideration. The registration is not a sign that the company intends to re-enter Russia, McDonald’s said in a statement to Ukrainian media.
“We are doing this to protect our brand and prevent third-party businesses or individuals, particularly in Russia, from using our trademarks to their advantage,” the company explained.
Other major U.S. corporations have made similar moves. In summer 2024, Coca-Cola and Starbucks applied to re-register their trademarks in Russia, saying it was a necessary step to preserve intellectual property rights. In the wake of the 2022 invasion, McDonald’s shut down its 847 restaurants in Russia, taking a financial hit of $55 million per month before exiting the Russian market. Western businesses have left Russia in droves amid the full-scale war, though some major firms still maintain their operations in the country.
Strange Bedfellows: CIA Deputy Director’s Son Killed Fighting for Russia
A CIA spokesperson confirmed on April 25 that Michael Gloss, the 21-year-old son of CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Julianne Gallina Gloss, was killed “while fighting in the conflict in Ukraine” in 2024. The statement came after the independent Russian publication Important Stories reported that Gloss had been killed while fighting on Russia’s side.
“CIA considers Michael’s passing to be a private family matter for the Gloss family — not a national security issue,” the spokesperson said, adding that Gloss had “struggled with mental health issues.” The statement did not specify which side Gloss was fighting for at the time of his death.
According to an obituary written by his parents, Gloss died “while traveling in Eastern Europe,” without mentioning the war in Ukraine. Important Stories’ investigation found that despite initially supporting Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale war, Gloss was recruited at a military recruitment center in Moscow by September 2023.
The investigation cited border records showing Gloss entered Russia via Georgia sometime before August 2023. While in Russia, Gloss reportedly encountered financial difficulties due to Western sanctions that limited his access to foreign accounts. A soldier from Gloss’s unit told the publication that he had “his own vision of how he could be useful at the front,” where they sent letters together to a local institute with “his inventions and innovations.”
Moscow has been enlisting migrants and foreign nationals since the start of its full-scale invasion to replenish its battlefield losses without a full-scale mobilization, with citizens from various countries including China, Nepal, Somalia, India, and Cuba being recruited.
Human Trafficking Concerns: Interpol Investigates Russia’s Alabuga Start Program
Interpol in Botswana has begun investigating Alabuga Start, billed in Africa as a work-study program in Russia for “ambitious young women” but linked to the production of military drones, for possible involvement with human trafficking, Bloomberg reported on April 25.
Since launching in 2022, Alabuga Start has recruited around 350 women from over 40 countries to work in Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan and aims to bring 8,500 more this year. The head of Interpol’s bureau in Gaborone, Detective Senior Superintendent Selebatso Mokgosi, said the investigation began after the company’s social media posts were brought to the organization’s attention.
Alabuga Special Economic Zone is an industrial complex dedicated to mechanical engineering and the production of Shahed kamikaze drones, as well as their Russian Geran copies, which Russia routinely uses in its attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
Facing a labor shortage, Russia is trying to staff its factories with outreach efforts in some of Africa’s poorest nations, denying that the workers are going to work in military production. Alabuga Start is looking for women between the ages of 18 and 22 in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Lesotho, but also in Botswana, one of Africa’s richest countries per capita that struggles with unemployment.
A 2024 report by the non-profit Institute for Science and International Security estimated that “more than 90% of the Start program personnel” were assigned to drone assembly, aiming to produce 6,000 drones every year. Last October, the Associated Press reported that African women were being forced to build drones in Alabuga under grueling and hazardous conditions, and were paid much less than promised.