As Moscow Declares Victory Day Ceasefire, Kremlin Officials Reveal Unchanged Maximalist Demands While Russia Intensifies Attacks in Three Directions and Strikes Kharkiv
Summary of the Day – April 29, 2025
Russia’s true intentions came sharply into focus today as Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev demanded “victory” and “destruction” of Ukraine’s government, while Lavrov declared Putin’s three-day May ceasefire the “beginning of direct negotiations.” Russian forces intensified operations in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, pushing toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as drone strikes injured 47 civilians in Kharkiv. Families evacuated from eastern villages as Russian troops closed in. The UN Security Council convened on Russian aggression while Ukraine’s Defense Ministry appointed three deputy ministers. U.S. Special Envoy Kellogg dismissed Russia’s truce as “absurd” and revealed a 22-point peace plan, as European officials feared Trump’s administration might abandon negotiations despite Putin’s insistence on controlling four Ukrainian regions.
First responders work at the site of Russian drone attack in Kharkiv late. (State Emergency Service)
“Victory and Destruction”: Medvedev Reveals Kremlin’s True War Aims
Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev stated bluntly on April 29 that Russia’s war in Ukraine must end in Russian “victory” and the “destruction” of the current Ukrainian government. This declaration, alongside other statements from senior Kremlin figures, signaled that Russia’s territorial ambitions extend beyond currently occupied territories, particularly regarding regions bordering the Black Sea.
In a coordinated messaging effort, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev claimed in a TASS interview that Ukrainian civilians, especially those in the Black Sea region, must “determine their own future.” He specifically mentioned Odesa City, which he described as having “nothing in common” with the current Ukrainian government, echoing Putin’s 2023 claim that Odesa is a “Russian city.”
These statements align with the Kremlin’s longstanding demand for regime change in Ukraine and the installation of a pro-Russian puppet government—a move that would facilitate Russia’s seizure of additional Ukrainian territory.
“The Beginning of Direct Negotiations”: Lavrov Frames Putin’s Limited Truce Proposal
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed on April 29 that Putin’s announcement of a three-day Victory Day ceasefire (May 8-11) represents “the start of direct negotiations, without preconditions.” He explicitly rejected the U.S. and Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, framing it as a “precondition” that Russia cannot accept.
“Our proposal, which President Putin voiced, is the start of direct negotiations, without preconditions. In this situation, a ceasefire (for 30 days) is seen as a precondition,” Lavrov stated, though he did not clarify if negotiations would begin during the ceasefire or if Putin’s announcement itself marked their commencement.
Lavrov claimed that Russia could not accept longer-term ceasefires because they require monitoring measures that Russia does not believe can be “honest.” Meanwhile, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov preemptively accused Ukraine of future ceasefire violations, claiming Ukrainian authorities lack control over all military units.
“A Three-Day Ceasefire is Absurd”: U.S. Envoy Rejects Putin’s Limited Offering
U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg dismissed Russia’s three-day ceasefire plan as “absurd” during a Fox News interview, reiterating Trump’s demand for a comprehensive, lasting peace agreement.
“What the president wants is a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire — sea, air, land, infrastructure — for a minimum of 30 days, and then we can extend that,” Kellogg stated. “The president has this one right on the money, and that’s where we want to go to.”
Despite growing frustration within the Trump administration over Russian intransigence, Kellogg remained optimistic about Ukraine’s position. “Nobody is going to win this war militarily,” he said. “So when Russia says they’re winning—no, they’re not. If they were winning, they would have already won this war… I think Ukraine’s in a good position.”
Fighting Intensifies in Three Directions as Russian Forces Push Toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations across three Ukrainian oblasts — Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn reported on April 29.
Russian troops have made a concerning push toward Novopavlivka, a village in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast near the Donetsk Oblast border, conducting 23 combat engagements in the area over the past day. “Fierce fighting continues there, and the enemy is rushing to the border of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts,” Voloshyn said.
While Russian forces have not yet entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the full-scale invasion, the current offensive places them just 12 kilometers from crossing this significant boundary. The situation has also deteriorated in the Kherson sector, where Russian forces have increased attempts to seize islands on the Dnipro River.
Russian Drone Attack on Kharkiv Injures 47 Civilians
Russian drone attacks struck multiple locations across Kharkiv late on April 29, injuring at least 47 people, including a 5-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, and a 24-year-old pregnant woman, local authorities reported. Following the strikes, five civilians were hospitalized with varying degrees of injury.
“There have been 16 strikes on Kharkiv,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. “A high-rise apartment block was hit as well as private residences, a medical facility, and civil infrastructure.” Emergency teams were dispatched to multiple sites across the city, particularly in the Slobidskyi district, where an apartment building was struck, and the Saltivskyi district.
The coordinated attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city represents another in a series of strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, even as diplomatic discussions about a potential ceasefire continue.
Families with Children Evacuated as Russian Forces Approach Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Border
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast authorities ordered mandatory evacuations of families with children from four eastern villages on April 28 as Russian forces continued their advance toward the region’s administrative border. The evacuation order affects the villages of Kolona Mezhova, Novopidhorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka in the Mezhova community.
Russian forces reportedly stand only 5-15 kilometers from these settlements, which lie near the administrative border between Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk oblasts. Residents were evacuated by vehicles and instructed to pack essential documents, money, medicine, water, and food for several days.
The evacuations highlight the growing threat to previously unaffected regions of Ukraine as Russian forces continue their advance despite ongoing ceasefire discussions.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Into Russian Territory
Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted drone strikes against facilities in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan oblasts overnight on April 29, according to Russian officials. Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Governor Gleb Nikitin claimed air defenses repelled drone attacks above two districts.
Russian Telegram channel Shot reported explosions in Ryazan, suggesting drones may have targeted an oil refinery in the region. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 91 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including eight over Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and 11 over Ryazan Oblast.
Nizhny Novgorod lies approximately 800 kilometers north of the Russia-Ukraine border, while Ryazan is around 500 kilometers away, demonstrating Ukraine’s capacity to strike strategic targets deep within Russian territory.
Kremlin’s “Illegitimacy” Claims Revealed as Negotiation Tactic
Senior Russian officials reiterated their false narrative that the Ukrainian government is illegitimate, likely to create conditions for manipulating ceasefire negotiations and later reneging on agreements. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on April 29 that President Zelensky’s purported “illegitimacy” would create legal difficulties in direct peace negotiations.
However, in a revealing statement, Peskov added that Russia is more interested in starting negotiations and “everything else is secondary,” indicating the Kremlin is using legitimacy claims as a negotiating tactic rather than a genuine obstacle.
“Indeed, there are legal issues related to legitimacy, but in this case, starting the peaceful settlement process takes precedence, and the primary thing is to begin this negotiation process,” Peskov told journalists on April 29, according to Interfax news agency. All other concerns are “secondary,” he insisted.
This follows Putin’s repeated assertions that all Ukrainian governments since 2014 are “illegitimate” and that Russia would not view agreements with the current Ukrainian government as binding—setting conditions for Moscow to violate future peace agreements by claiming they were signed with an “illegitimate” government.
Killed Russian General Prepared Reports for Putin, Defense Ministry Reveals
The senior Russian general killed in a car bombing in Moscow on April 25 prepared reports for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation in Ukraine, according to an obituary from the Russian Defense Ministry published on April 29.
Yaroslav Moskalik was a deputy chief of the main operations directorate of Russia’s army and reportedly led the combat duty shift overseeing battlefield developments from the Russian General Staff, the obituary in the Russian state newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda revealed.
A screen grab from a video shows the car in which senior Russian military officer Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in the Moscow region, Russia (Russian Investigative Committee / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
According to the obituary, from 2015 to 2021 Moskalik was also part of the Russian delegation to the Minsk Contact Group and participated in the Minsk talks and Normandy Four meetings in Berlin and Paris. He also worked on planning Russia’s military intervention in Syria in 2015.
Russia’s FSB claimed on April 26 to have detained a suspect, Ignat Kuzin, accused of killing Moskalik in the car bombing. According to Russian authorities, Kuzin allegedly put the explosive device in the parked vehicle, and the FSB claimed the device was remotely controlled from the territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have not commented on Moskalik’s death.
Kremlin Demands Full Control of Four Ukrainian Regions in Blow to Peace Prospects
Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting that any deal to end the war must include full Russian control of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions, Bloomberg reported on April 29, citing three Moscow-based sources familiar with negotiations.
During talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on April 25, Putin rejected American proposals for a ceasefire freezing the current front lines and reiterated his demand for complete control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—territories Russia annexed on paper in 2022 but has never fully occupied.
“Direct contact between Putin and Trump” is now required to make further progress, one source indicated, as negotiations reach an impasse. The Kremlin’s maximalist demands have frustrated Trump’s goal of achieving a permanent ceasefire within his first 100 days in office.
United Nations Security Council Convenes on Russian Aggression
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on April 29 regarding Russian aggression against Ukraine and its continued attacks on civilians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced. The session was convened by France, which currently chairs the Security Council.
“Ukraine is committed to peace efforts. We agreed to the U.S. proposal for a full ceasefire 49 days ago, but Russia did not,” Sybiha stated, referencing a U.S.-Ukrainian agreement reached in Jeddah on March 11.
“At today’s Security Council meeting, we urge members to express their strong support for Ukraine’s steps toward peace, clearly condemn Russia’s escalated terror against civilians, and take a principled stance on the need to put more pressure on Moscow,” the foreign minister added.
The Security Council meeting comes amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities, including the April 24 strike on Kyiv that killed 13 people and injured nearly 90 others—one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in months.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Appoints Three Deputy Ministers
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced the appointment of three deputy ministers on April 29 to strengthen the ministry’s operational capabilities. According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the appointments will ensure “greater efficiency and agility” in the ministry’s work and boost ties with foreign partners.
Serhii Boyev, previously a deputy minister for international partnerships, was appointed first deputy defense minister, replacing Ivan Havryliuk who resigned on April 11 following procurement transparency concerns. Boyev is tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy for the Ukrainian army and building the “Defense Forces of the future.”
“Serhii Boyev’s priorities will be the development of international partnerships, securing funding and investment for Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex, and establishing joint ventures with international partners,” Umerov stated.
Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov was appointed deputy defense minister for logistics and procurement, while Oleksandr Kozenko, a former adviser to Umerov and Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak, was named deputy defense minister for aviation development. Separately, Umerov announced the resignation of his deputy, Serhii Melnyk.
Russia Drafts Bill on Asylum for Foreigners Upholding “Traditional Values”
Russia’s Interior Ministry drafted legislation on April 29 to grant asylum to foreigners who claim they cannot uphold “traditional family values” in their home countries, according to Russian state-controlled RBC news agency, citing the draft document and an undisclosed source.
The bill proposes expanding grounds for temporary asylum to include the inability to maintain “traditional family values and the primacy of family-based child-rearing” recognized by Russia, as well as “fears related to Russophobia.”
Current law grants temporary asylum to those eligible for refugee status or, “on humanitarian grounds,” to individuals who cannot be deported from Russia. The new legislation would introduce four protection categories: refugee status, temporary asylum, political asylum, and temporary protection.
By emphasizing “traditional values,” Moscow appears to position itself as an ideological alternative to Western nations, presenting Russia as a protector of family and religious traditions. The bill stipulates that asylum applications must be submitted in person within Russia rather than electronically or from abroad.
U.S. Envoy Reveals 22-Point Peace Proposal
U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg disclosed on April 29 that negotiators had produced a 22-point term sheet focused on ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking during a Fox News interview, Kellogg acknowledged that Ukrainian officials “didn’t like them all,” but described such reactions as normal during negotiations.
“When you look at everything the Ukrainians are willing to work with — now, it’s over to the Russians, over to Putin,” he said. Kellogg likened the diplomatic process to a long-distance race: “The first mile isn’t the hardest, it’s the last one that’s the hardest, and we’re in the last mile.”
Kellogg firmly rejected the notion that either side is winning militarily: “Nobody is going to win this war militarily. So when Russia says they’re winning—no, they’re not. If they were winning, they would have already won this war… I think Ukraine’s in a good position.”
The envoy’s comments provide the first public confirmation of a detailed American peace proposal, though the specific terms of the 22-point plan remain undisclosed.
Forensic Investigation Reveals Missing Organs in Journalist Roshchyna’s Body
The body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, was missing several internal organs, according to an investigation by the Forbidden Stories journalism network published on April 29. The international report found that Roshchyna’s brain, eyes, and part of the trachea had been removed before her body was returned to Ukraine.
An international forensic pathologist participating in the investigation noted that the missing organs may have been deliberately removed to conceal signs of suffocation or strangulation. A bruise on Roshchyna’s neck, along with a suspected fracture of the hyoid bone—a common indicator of strangulation—supports this theory.
More than 40 journalists from 13 international media outlets contributed to the investigation, conducting over 50 interviews with former prisoners, ex-prison guards, and human rights activists. The body was handed over to Ukraine in late February with the number 757 and falsely identified in Russian documents as an “unidentified male.” DNA testing later confirmed the body as Roshchyna’s with 99% certainty.
According to investigators, the journalist’s body was marked with the Russian abbreviation “SPAS” during the exchange, suggesting “total failure of the arteries of the heart”—possibly a fabricated cause of death. The condition of the body has made it impossible for Ukrainian authorities to determine the exact cause of death.
France Accuses Russia’s GRU of Escalating Cyberattacks
The French Foreign Ministry accused Russia’s military intelligence (GRU) on April 29 of escalating cyberattacks against French ministries, defense firms, and think tanks since 2021, with the goal of destabilizing the country. France has brought formal charges against the GRU’s APT28 unit, also known as ‘Fancy Bear,’ based in Rostov-on-Don.
According to a report by the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), the last APT28 attack occurred in December, with about 4,000 cyberattacks attributed to Russian actors in 2024—a 15% increase from 2023. The agency noted a sharp rise in attacks on French ministries, local administrations, defense companies, aerospace firms, think tanks, and financial and economic organizations.
“These destabilising activities are unacceptable and unworthy of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council,” the foreign ministry stated. “Alongside its partners, France is determined to use all means at its disposal to anticipate, deter, and respond to Russia’s malicious behavior in cyberspace.”
The ministry also attributed the 2017 cyberattack during the French presidential election to APT28, when emails related to Emmanuel Macron’s campaign were mixed with disinformation.
“No Need to Wait Until May A”: EU Calls Russia’s Bluff on Ceasefire Timing
European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper directly challenged Putin’s delayed truce announcement, stating on April 29 that “Russia could stop the killing and the bombing at any time, so there’s absolutely no need to wait until the 8th of May. They could do it right now, just today.”
Hipper emphasized that Russia should be judged by its actions rather than its words, given its record as an aggressor. She also reaffirmed the EU’s position that Ukraine is free to choose which talks to participate in and under what terms.
“We are always stronger together, with our allies, and our priority should always be to support Ukraine because this sends the right message in the face of all potential aggressors out there, not only Russia,” Hipper stated. “The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the stronger it will be at the negotiation table.”
Ukraine Offers Help to Spain Following Massive Blackout
President Volodymyr Zelensky offered Ukraine’s assistance to Spain in restoring its power grid following a massive blackout that affected Spain and Portugal on April 28. Zelensky conveyed this offer to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on April 29, highlighting Ukraine’s experience in dealing with energy infrastructure challenges.
A view shows a dark metro station in Madrid, Spain, during a widespread power outage that struck Spain and Portugal. (Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Over the years of war and Russian attacks on our energy system, Ukraine has gained significant experience in overcoming any energy challenges, including blackouts,” Zelensky stated. “I instructed Ukraine’s Energy Minister to act as swiftly as possible. Our technical experts are ready to help.”
Spanish and Portuguese grid operators reported on April 29 that power had been partially restored, with recovery efforts ongoing. The causes of the power outages remain under investigation. Ukraine’s own energy grid has sustained severe damage from Russian attacks, with Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko reporting that Russia launched 13 mass aerial strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in 2024 alone.
Italian Prime Minister: Putin’s Three-Day Truce “Definitely Not Enough”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Putin’s three-day Victory Day ceasefire proposal insufficient in an interview with Corriere della Sera published on April 29, emphasizing the need for a “just and lasting peace.”
In the interview, Meloni voiced support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia while praising President Volodymyr Zelensky’s readiness for an unconditional truce.
“Now, it is Russia that must demonstrate the same. Because the three-day truce announced by Putin for the anniversary of the victory in World War II is something different, and definitely not enough,” Meloni stated.
The Italian leader stressed that any peace must be lasting and backed by strong security guarantees, reiterating her proposal to provide Ukraine with guarantees based on NATO’s Article 5, even without consensus on Kyiv’s formal NATO membership.
“A Very Dangerous Moment”: Growing Fears of U.S. Withdrawal from Peace Process
European and Ukrainian officials are increasingly concerned that the Trump administration may be preparing to abandon peace negotiations, the Financial Times reported on April 29. Sources indicate Trump might use minor progress as justification to exit the process, even without achieving a stable, lasting deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the coming week “decisive” for Washington’s involvement, sparking fears about what Zelensky has termed a “very dangerous moment” for Ukraine if American engagement ends.
“This is a very dangerous moment. I don’t think it sends a very good signal if the U.S. pulls out. We really hope that President Trump will support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said last week, reflecting growing anxiety about Ukraine potentially losing its most powerful advocate.
European officials worry that Trump’s departure from peace efforts could also signal an end to military aid and intelligence support that has been crucial to Ukraine’s defense.
Looking Ahead: The Critical Week
As Trump’s 100-day deadline for peace arrives without a resolution, the coming week will likely determine the trajectory of both diplomatic efforts and battlefield dynamics. U.S. officials have indicated this period will decide whether Washington remains engaged in peace negotiations or shifts focus elsewhere.
For Ukraine, the stakes could not be higher: maintaining Western support remains essential to its defense, while the advancing Russian forces threaten to cross new territorial boundaries. With Russia’s maximalist demands unchanged and ceasefire proposals falling far short of what Ukraine and its allies consider acceptable, the path to genuine peace appears increasingly complex and distant.