[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Ukraine has claimed it wiped out 12 Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in a precision drone strike on a secret command base deep inside occupied territory.
Kyiv says a dozen officers were killed when a swarm of high-precision drones smashed into a building by Russia's feared FSB in the Donetsk region.
The attack, described as highly targeted, reportedly left a further 15 wounded.
Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's top drone commander, said eight unmanned aircraft were used to strike the site on Wednesday.
Dramatic footage released by his unit appeared to show first-person-view drones hurtling towards a high-rise before a series of massive explosions ripped through one of its floors, sending debris flying across the area.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 22.49 Ukraine has launched a system scaling of the technology for remotely controlling interceptor drones, which allows it to shoot down targets thousands of kilometers from the operator. This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov.
"The pilot is no longer tied to a position. The drone is in the sky - controlled from a protected environment in Kyiv, Lviv, or even abroad," the minister said.
22.18 French President Emmanuel Macron announced Europe's continued support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia. He wrote about this on the X platform after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the informal European Council in Cyprus.
Macron welcomed the unblocking of European credit for Ukraine, calling it a "very strong signal" of continued support for Kyiv.
He also noted the adoption of the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia, which he said is a "clear signal" to Moscow.
21.34 The EU Council adopted the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting the energy sector, the military-industrial complex, financial services and schemes to circumvent restrictions, including through cryptocurrencies. This is stated in a statement by the EU Council.
The new package includes 120 individual sanctions decisions - the largest list in the past two years, as well as a set of economic restrictions against key sectors that provide funding for the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine.
20.36 Russian troops are trying to infiltrate Kostyantynivka using a large number of infantry. Most of the infiltrations and attempts to accumulate are recorded in the private sector on the southeastern outskirts of the city. This is reported by the OSINT project DeepState.
Analysts note that the dense development of the private sector makes it possible to hide in ruins and buildings, which complicates search and rescue operations for Ukrainian pilots.
"At the same time, there is active infiltration on the eastern outskirts in the area of the settlement of Novodmytrivka, where the Katsaps are being fixed, who are trying to occupy the village, which will also allow them to accumulate, with subsequent entry into the city," the analysts noted.
An additional area of Russian pressure is the southwestern outskirts in the area of the settlements of Berestok and Illinivka.
20.34 The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) continue to destroy Russian air defense systems: three TOR-M2 air defense systems, an OSA air defense system, and other targets were hit. The USF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on its Facebook page.
18.48 Russia's information about the seizure of significant territories in Ukraine is not true. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during a conversation with journalists, Ukrinform reported.
Despite the difficult situation on the front line and intense hostilities, the overall balance of territories since the beginning of the year has been in favor of Ukraine, the head of state assured.
18.29 Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian unmanned naval craft (UMC) near Odessa. The Ukrainian Navy reported this.
18.11 As a result of a Russian strike on the railway infrastructure of Kryvyi Rih, damage was recorded to the station building. This was reported by Ukrzaliznytsia.
Before the attack, a heightened state of emergency was declared, so passengers and employees were in shelters.
"Fortunately, no one was injured. An increased danger was declared before the attack - people took shelter," the report said.
However, several windows and doors in the station building were damaged by the blast wave.
17.21 Since the beginning of the current day and as of 16:00, the Russian army has launched 32 attacks on eight directions of the front. This is noticeably less than Wednesday's figures, according to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the operational summary.
16.59 The judges of the Russian military court, which passed a verdict against a Ukrainian serviceman, announced the suspicion in absentia, violating the norms of international law and guarantees of a fair trial. This was reported by the press service of the National Police.
While performing combat missions in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, servicemen of the Armed Forces and other components of the security and defense sector of Ukraine were taken prisoner. A Russian judge subsequently charged one of them with allegedly committing terrorist acts, illegally crossing the state border, illegally trafficking weapons, and creating illegal armed formations.
The Russian judge, aware of the fact of the existence of an international armed conflict and the status of the Ukrainian serviceman as a combatant protected by international humanitarian law, acting contrary to the requirements of Articles 4, 5, and 99 of the Geneva Convention, passed a knowingly unjust sentence.
A Russian court sentenced a Ukrainian prisoner of war to 14 years in prison.
16.39 Fighters of the Unmanned Systems Forces unit and the 1st Corps of the Azov National Guard destroyed the command post and base of the Mobile Operations Directorate (MOD) of the Russian FSB in temporarily occupied Donetsk. This was reported by the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) Robert "Magyar" Brovdi.
16.16 On Thursday night, units of the Defense Forces struck a missile and artillery weapons depot and a warehouse of material and technical equipment of Russian troops in the area of the temporarily occupied village of Sartana in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
16.06 Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) completed a pre-trial investigation into the deputy head of the Podilskyi district CCC and SP and a soldier of the Shevchenkivskyi district CCC and SP of Kyiv. They are charged with involvement in the death of a man during the transportation of mobilized people. The indictment has been sent to the court. The SBI reports this on its website.
15.10 The EU finally approved a loan for Ukraine worth 90 billion euros and a 20-pack of sanctions against Russia. This was announced by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, on the social network X.
14.59 A military CCC threw a wanted man from the roof of a building and fell himself in the village of Strumivka near Lutsk. This is evidenced by videos published online.
Near Lutsk, a military CCC threw a man off a roof pic.twitter.com/ZJRXU3sFHX
— Lee (@lipcansmaks1) April 23,
Near Lutsk, a military CCC threw a man off a roof pic.twitter.com/0J212CfhHK
— Lee (@lipcansmaks1) April 23,
14.39 Russian losses from Ukrainian attacks on the energy sector are already measured in tens of billions of dollars. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during a conversation with journalists, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
14.04 The aggressor country Russia attempted to carry out bloody terrorist attacks in two Ukrainian schools. The SBU reported this. Two schoolchildren were detained who, on the orders of racists, were supposed to blow up their lyceums and shoot their classmates with firearms.
13.18 A man with a knife and a wrench in a car attacked CCC employees in Chernivtsi region: a 29-year-old local resident was reported on suspicion of attempted murder of military personnel and hooliganism. The Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office reported this on Facebook.
12.51 Counterintelligence officers have exposed and detained an agent of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) in the Donetsk region. He was preparing coordinates for Russian air strikes on Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka, the SBU reported.
12.40 The investigation into the platoon commander of one of the military units in the Donetsk region, who allowed the loss of 84 FPV drones, has been completed. The indictment has been sent to the court. The State Bureau of Investigation reported this on April 23.
According to the investigation, in July-August 2025, the unit received drones to perform combat missions. However, due to a negligent attitude to the service, the serviceman did not ensure proper accounting and storage of the equipment. As a result, the state suffered losses of almost 1.5 million hryvnias.
While documenting illegal arms trafficking in another criminal case, SBI officers discovered and seized the "lost" drones. After establishing their ownership, all 84 FPV drones were returned to the military unit. This allowed the unit's resources to be restored and further losses to be prevented.
The platoon commander is accused of neglecting military service, which led to serious consequences under martial law.
11.28 Russian troops again launched a suicide assault on foreign mercenaries - this time a group of Kenyan citizens. The mercenaries were eliminated. This was reported by the GUR on April 23. It is noted that one of them was identified by the “I Want to Live” project. Among those eliminated is a Kenyan citizen, Nyambura Eric Mwangi, born in 2003. Together with three other Kenyans - Wanjir Joseph Kamau, Karithi Joel Ngure and Kibet Ronald Kipkurui - he arrived in Yaroslavl on October 23-24, 2025.
11.14 The new ground robotic complex (NRC) Bizon-L has been codified and approved for operation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense. "It is invisible in thermal imagers. It can be armed with a combat module with a 12.7 mm machine gun. It moves despite the work of enemy electronic warfare, because it has six types of communication: LTE, Wi-Fi, Starlink and more. Speed - up to 12 km/h, load capacity - up to 300 kg, range - up to 50 km," the report says. It is noted that Bizon can: carry cargo, ammunition and wounded; install engineering barriers; lay mines; be a mobile platform for antennas, repeaters, and electronic warfare equipment.
10.56 As a result of the Russian attack on the Dnieper, the death toll has increased to three people. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Oleksandr Ganzha on April 23. Rescuers have just discovered the body of another person in a multi-storey building damaged by an enemy strike. Thus, the night attack by the Russians on the Dnieper claimed the lives of three people, he noted.
10.49 On Thursday morning, six regions of Ukraine experienced power outages due to new attacks by Russian invaders. Ukrenergo reported this. Power engineers are doing everything possible to restore damaged lines and restore power to all subscribers as soon as possible.
10.32 A serviceman was found dead in Uzhhorod. He was killed on the orders of the Russian special services, the Transcarpathian Regional Prosecutor's Office reported.
A 26-year-old resident of Zaporizhzhia, who was temporarily living in Uzhhorod, was involved in the murder. She was detained on suspicion of treason.
9.59 Russians attacked the transport infrastructure of Zhytomyr region, one person died. This was reported by the head of the Zhytomyr OVA Vitaliy Bunechko on April 23. "The enemy has carried out another insidious strike with drones on the civilian transport infrastructure of Zhytomyr region. Unfortunately, at the moment it is known about one woman who died as a result of the attack," he noted. According to the official, rescuers, repair teams and law enforcement agencies are working at the site of the attack.
9.20 The number of wounded from the Russian strike on the Dnieper has increased to ten, two people have died. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Oleksandr Ganzha on April 23. According to him, four people are hospitalized in moderate condition. Among them are two children - girls aged 9 and 14.
8.53 Air defense forces neutralized 139 of the 155 drones used by Russian invaders to attack Ukraine. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on April 23. 11 strike UAVs were hit at 9 locations, as well as the fall of downed ones (fragments) at 4 locations.
8.18 On the night of April 23, the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked an oil refinery in Samara, Russia, and attacked the Gorky oil pumping station in the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation. This was reported by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko. According to Kovalenko, oil from Western Siberia and Tatarstan passes through the NPS.
7.52 Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 1,100 Russian occupiers, 58 artillery systems, and 202 units of automotive equipment and tanker trucks. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on April 23. The total combat losses of the enemy from 02/24/22 to 04/23/26 were approximately 1,322,550 people.
7.23 On the night of April 23, Russian troops attacked Kherson with drones, two people were injured. This was reported by the Kherson OVA. Two people who were injured during the night due to Russian drone strikes on Kherson were taken to the hospital. Yesterday at about 9:00 PM in the Central District, a 63-year-old man was hit, and today at 1:40 AM - a 71-year-old woman in the Korabelny District. They were diagnosed with explosive injuries, contusions and acute stress reaction. The Kherson resident also suffered shrapnel wounds to the torso. The woman was taken to the hospital in moderate condition, the man was provided with medical assistance and prescribed outpatient treatment.
03.10 The number of people injured in the Russian attack on the Dnieper has risen to seven. Two of them are children.
02.30 In Dnipro, a UAV attacked a high-rise building. Several apartments were set on fire as a result of the attack. Residential buildings were also damaged in various areas of the city, and at least three people were injured.
01.58 A fire broke out at an oil depot in temporarily occupied Feodosia. A series of explosions were also heard in Sevastopol and at the Belbek and Kacha airfields.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] The Russian command is actively regrouping its troops and strengthening forward reserves, intelligence confirms.
Ukrainian intelligence warns that Russia is preparing a new offensive. To this end, the enemy is actively regrouping and sending reinforcements to the front line.
According to the Ukrainian military, Moscow's main goal is to establish full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by September 2026. What are the key strike zones and what is the possible time of the offensive - further in the story.
PREPARATORY MEASURES
Russia is preparing a new ground offensive, particularly in southeastern Ukraine, Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported in an interview with the Financial Times .
According to him, the enemy is currently actively carrying out preparatory measures:
Manpower buildup : Russia has mobilized strategic reserves, planning to increase its contingent in Ukraine (which already numbers about 680,000) by another 20,000 troops.
Air campaign : Intensification of missile attacks (particularly with Iskander ballistic missiles, of which about 60 are being produced per month) and drone strikes aimed at destroying critical energy infrastructure to weaken the rear before the active phase of the offensive.
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) adds another point – combat reconnaissance. Experts record numerous mechanized attacks along the entire front line, which are considered attempts to test weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense.
Ukrainian military personnel, in their conversations with journalists, also draw attention to the tactics of "small groups" : now the Russians are actively replacing large-scale mechanized breakthroughs with small assault groups on motorcycles and buggies.
Defenders believe that this also indicates preparation for an offensive, since the main goal of such tactics is the gradual exhaustion of the defense.
KEY ATTACK AREAS
On the eve, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, also reported that the Russians are regrouping and bringing up reserves to the front. He specifically drew attention to the Pokrovsky direction, where hundreds of enemy attacks have been recorded since the beginning of April.
It should be noted that the Russians' priority in the Donetsk region is to attempt to capture the agglomeration of Slavyansk-Kramatorsk-Druzhkivka-Kostyantynovka.
In addition, the enemy is also interested in the southern direction. Here, a buildup of forces is observed in the Zaporizhia region, in particular in the Hulyaipil and Orikhiv directions.
TIME PERIOD
According to military intelligence and analysts, Russian forces have already begun their planned spring-summer 2026 offensive, the activity of which has been increasing since mid-March.
Even greater enemy efforts should be expected from May, when the "green light" will increase, and there will be foggy or rainy weather, which will hinder Ukrainian drones, but will facilitate Russian infantry and mechanized assaults.
Experts point to a symbolic date for the Russian Federation – May 9, plus or minus a few days, as the likely peak of offensive activity.
WILL THE RUSSIANS HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH?
Ruslan Mikula, co-founder of the analytical project DeepState, confirms that the Russians are waiting for weather conditions to launch a major offensive. As he told the BBC, the enemy will try to act according to the following scheme: first press Kostyantynivka (currently fighting is taking place in the southern and eastern quarters of the city), then try to take or surround neighboring Druzhkivka.
The next task is to take control of Liman (General Gerasimov's claims of control over 70% of this city are denied by the Ukrainian side, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says that there are no Russian troops in the settlement) and advance along the Seversky Donets River.
This will give them the opportunity to shell Sloviansk from the northern shore and, in the future, create "pincers" for capture.
The DeepState co-founder is confident that the Russian army is currently not in the right condition to accomplish this task.
"They set such tasks, but it does not correlate with reality," he said.
Moreover, DeepState analysts do not record large-scale troop transfers to the Donetsk region. According to Mykula, there are signs that the Russian Federation is, on the contrary, moving reserves, in particular airborne assault troops, to the Hulyaipol area (Zaporizhzhya region).
In addition, Russia is trying to force Ukraine to deploy additional forces to Sumy and Kharkiv regions, where its troops have been active in recent weeks on the border territory. It was in this area that the Russian Federation recorded its greatest advance in April.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 21:39 Guards precision: artillerymen of the Center group destroy Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk direction.
Aerial reconnaissance discovered a Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold and transmitted its coordinates to the crew of the 152mm 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled gun of the 400th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment.
18:19 Battle for Konstantinovka: Russian Armyis moving forwardin the private sector
Russian troops are actively penetrating the city using large numbers of infantry
The greatest progress in the private sector is on the south-eastern outskirts of Konstantinovka.
At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing on the eastern outskirts in the Novodmitrovka area and are already entering the village.
Russian troops also continue to press on the southwestern outskirts of Konstantinovka in the area of the villages of Berestok and Ilyinovka.
15:27 The crew of the Su-34 fighter-bomber destroyed a stronghold with personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of responsibility of the West group of forces.
13:50 Operational-tactical aviation, attack UAVs, missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groups inflicted the destruction of energy and transport infrastructure facilities of Ukraine used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 138 districts.
12:25 Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the Special Military Operation (as of April 23, 2026)
Units of the "North" force group improved their tactical position. They defeated formations of a mechanized brigade, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and two territorial defense brigades near the settlements of Novodmitrovka, Stetskovka, Pisarevka, and Malaya Slobodka in Sumy Oblast.
In the Khar'kov region, the manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and two border detachments of the Ukrainian Border Service were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Makarikha, Rubizhne, Veseloye and Sosnovy Bor in the Khar'kov region.
The enemy lost more than 220 soldiers, an armored personnel carrier, 18 vehicles, an Israeli-made RADA counter-battery station, two electronic warfare stations, an ammunition depot, and seven supply depots.
Units of the "West" force grouping improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of two mechanized brigades and an assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Osadkovka and Borovaya in the Khar'kov region, and Tatyanovka and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 205 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, 18 vehicles, and three artillery pieces. Four ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces occupied more advantageous positions and lines. They defeated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade near the settlements of Rai-Aleksandrivka, Tikhonovka, Novoselivka, and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 185 service members, three armored combat vehicles, 14 vehicles, three field artillery pieces, and two electronic warfare stations. Three ammunition depots and five supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the Center Forces Group improved their tactical position. They defeated formations of three mechanized brigades, an airborne assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, and two National Guard brigades near the settlements of Novohryhorivka and Novopavlivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Kucherov Yar, Svitloe, Toretskoye, Dobropolye, and Kalinino in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted to over 360 servicemen, four vehicles and three field artillery pieces.
Units of the "East" force group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. They defeated formations of a mechanized brigade, an airborne assault brigade, two assault brigades, and three assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Pokrovskoe, Gavrilovka, Lesnoye, Velikomykhailivka, and Oleksandrivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Yasnaya Polyana and Vozdvizhevka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The enemy lost up to 295 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and five cars.
Units of the Dnepr group of forces inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of the mechanized, mountain assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Kamyshevakha, Yurkovka and Orekhov in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Up to 60 military personnel, two combat armored vehicles, 20 cars and three electronic warfare stations were destroyed.
12:19 UAV operators of the Sever groups mashed to pieces strongholds with enemy manpower, as well as communication stations and antennas in the Khar'kov region.
Drone operators from the Zapad group destroyed an ammunition depot and shot down enemy UAVs in the Krasnolimansk direction.
Drone crews from the Center group disrupted enemy supply lines and destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces communications repeater antennas in the Dobropillya direction.
Operators of attack UAVs from the Vostok group struck Ukrainian Armed Forces strongholds in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Drone operators from the Dnipro group eliminated an enemy UAV control center on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region.
11:49 Published frames: destruction of enemy infrastructure by the Geranium UAV
Substation 35 kV "Kovtunovo" near the settlement of Kovtunovo, Sumy region.
Electrical substation PS 110/10 kV near the village of Vasilkovskoye, Dnipropetrovsk region.
10:08 Acting covertly and decisively, the fighter alternately got close to each building and threw explosive devices into the windows.
08:20 During the past night, in the period from 20:00 Moscow time on April 22 to 7:00 Moscow time on April 23, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 154 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the fixed-wing type flew over the territories of the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Samara regions, the Republic of Crimea and over the waters of the Azov and Black Seas.
07:33 Changes on map over the past 24 hours:
Expansion of the control zone in the Grishino area
06:00 Tankers of the 68th Army Corps of the "East" group destroyed strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.
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