Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 04-09-2025

In March, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 1.7%, with eggs spiking by 18.8%.

Inflation in Ukraine hit 14.6% year-over-year, up from 13.4% in February, according to data published by the country’s State Statistics Service on April 9.

Core inflation also rose to 1.4% in March from 0.7% a month prior.

The Ministry of Finance refused to raise interest rates on two-year bonds and continued to lower yields on reserve bonds. Bond Market Insight for April 9.

The Ministry of Finance refused to raise interest rates on two-year bonds and continued to lower yields on reserve bonds.

The MoF again sold a 15-month military bill without changing the cut-off rate. The amount in demand increased slightly with an increase in the number of bids. As a result, the cut-off rate remained at 16.35% for the fifth week, while the weighted average rate slid by 4bp to 16.31%.

The parties said Germany would continue to support Ukraine as the United States looks to encourage a deal to end the war started by Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.

Germany’s next leader, the conservative Friedrich Merz, vowed Wednesday to “move the country forward again” by boosting the economy and defense as he presented a deal to launch his coalition government by early next month.

Merz is set to take over as leader of Europe’s top economy just as US President Donald Trump has sparked global trade turmoil and raised deep fears about future transatlantic security ties.

Comment from around Europe on what the drop in oil prices means

After Donald Trump’s latest tariffs announcement, oil prices dropped by around 20% within a week reaching their lowest level since the pandemic, when they turned negative.

Europe’s consumers are also feeling the effects: fuel prices at German petrol stations dropped by around 10 cents for two days in a row. A look at Europe’s press shows who will be most worried by this downwards trend.

These agreements encompass investments in the exploration and extraction of minerals,” including the construction of grinding machinery.

Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country teeming with natural resources, said Wednesday it had signed deals for US companies to invest in its minerals sector as demand for the commodity soars.

Critical minerals such as copper, lithium and cobalt are essential for manufacturing high-tech products like electric cars and solar panels.

The newly developed drones can reportedly reach up to 5 km (16,400 feet) in altitude and accelerate to 200 kph (124 mph).

Ukraine has unveiled its interceptor drones, which reportedly downed Russia’s Shahed kamikaze drones in midair on Tuesday.

President Volodymyr Zelensky showed a sample of the drone in a promotional video depicting a meeting between Ukrainian and Belgian arms manufacturers released on Tuesday.

The Kyiv-developed electronic-warfare device, called Lima, attacks satellite navigation data links used by Russian precision-guided glide bombs by both jamming and spoofing.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is fielding in quantity a new piece of electronics kit able to turn Russia’s deadly precision-guided glide bombs into dumb munitions that miss by dozens of meters, Ukrainian military information platforms reported on Wednesday. 

An article in the defense and security journal Militarniy confirmed earlier reports by other media and frontline troops that Russian glide bomb attacks against AFU positions had become less accurate and that it was likely because the AFU had developed and was fielding an effective counter to the Russian weapon.

How many nations or companies will invest billions in the United States with such an erratic president who so often gets things wrong?

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has more cash in the bank than any other American company, a staggering $334 billion, as a result of selling half its stock market portfolio in the past few months because Buffett felt prices were too high.

Then, along came President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” on April 4, which introduced draconian tariffs and urged leaders to negotiate and lower their tariffs on the United States. Buffett had warned in March against tariffs “because they are an act of war” and they increase inflation. But Trump proceeded, pulling the pin on the global trading system and stock markets. He also claimed Buffett endorsed tariffs, which was untrue and flatly denied.

Lithuania issued its largest ever fine to British fintech company Revolut – for alleged failures to properly identify suspicious monetary operations or transactions

The prominent European fintech company Revolut was fined €3.5 million ($3.8 million) by Lithuania’s central bank for failing to properly adhere to anti-money laundering regulations. 

Lithuania’s central bank reported it had completed a routine check of Revolut Bank UAB, which holds the company’s European banking license and announced the fine on April 8, the official website wrote. 

He underwent basic military training in a unit formed from Chinese citizens – without an interpreter – using only gestures and a mobile phone translator.

A Chinese citizen captured by Ukrainian soldiers during fighting near Bilohorivka (Donetsk region) says he joined the Russian army through an intermediary in China, paying 300,000 rubles (around $2,200) for the opportunity.

As reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing the communications department of Ukraine’s operational-tactical group “Luhansk,” soldiers from the 81st Separate Mechanized Brigade captured three servicemembers fighting for Moscow near Bilohorivka – one of whom was a Chinese citizen.

The Ukrainian-born US congresswoman claimed an article citing her saying Ukraine would have to cede land to Russia had twisted her words – but didn’t directly clarify whether she thought it would.

Ukrainian-born US congresswoman Victoria Spartz has likened Kyiv and its parliament to “morons and crooks” and claimed she has supported her native land despite her contradicting statements that suggest otherwise.

Spartz made the comment in an official statement on Tuesday in response to an article by The Telegraph titled “Ukraine’s first US congresswoman: Zelensky must cede land to Russia.”

The new measure will primarily affect some 80,000 Russians living in the former Soviet republic, which gained independence in 1991.

Estonia’s president on Wednesday signed into law a constitutional amendment banning non-EU citizens from taking part in local elections, a move targeting the large Russian minority in the Baltic state.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the change on March 26 as fears grow about security in the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The AFU Chief gave no details about which type of drone was used or where the strike took place.

The Ukrainian military blew up a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber (NATO: Backfire) – a Kh-22 cruise missile carrier – using a drone, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Oleksandr Syrsky said.

“A few days ago, our successful actions destroyed the long-range Tu-22M3 bomber,”

Merz set to take over as Chancellor in coming weeks.

Germany’s conservative chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was to unveil on Wednesday afternoon his party’s coalition deal with the Social Democrats, paving the way to soon forge a new government.

Merz, whose CDU/CSU alliance won February’s elections, hopes to quickly take charge of Europe’s top economy as the EU faces sweeping changes in transatlantic security ties and the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump.

Despite ongoing talks to end the full-scale war, Russia has doubled attacks and Ukraine sees the growing intensity in Russia’s offensive actions, says Gen. Syrsky.

Russia has effectively already launched its offensive in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky said.

In an interview with LB.ua media outlet, he reiterated that Russia’s strategy of sacrificing large numbers of infantry for tactical gains remains unchanged.

Market selloff continued for a fifth day in a row, while OPEC+ decided to increase supply.

Global oil prices hit their lowest level in over three years on Wednesday, as escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing sparked fears of a looming recession. 

Brent crude fell to $61.43 per barrel in early trading, down 2.21%. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped to $58.08, a 2.52% decline. Both benchmarks briefly lost as much as 4%, marking the fifth consecutive day of losses, Reuters reported. 

The Czech government said that all of its 86 Soviet-era T72M1 tanks have now been provided to Ukraine as it works to replace them with Leopard 2A4s bought from Germany and Switzerland.

Czech military sources, cited by the Czech daily Hospodářské noviny (HN), said that Prague transferred the last of its T-72M1/M4 tanks to Ukraine in March and early April. This was part of Czechia’s multi-year drive to replace much of its Soviet-era hardware with more modern Western equipment.

In doing so it was able to support Ukraine’s armed forces in the war that was instigated by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.

Despite being the only Ukrainian-born member of the US Congress, Victoria Spartz continues to remain hostile to the country of her birth when it comes to Putin’s continuing aggression.

Continuing its proud tradition of publishing articles with titles that seem designed to put a smile on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face, The Telegraph recently published an interview with the only Ukrainian-born member of the US Congress, the ever-contradictory Victoria Spartz.

In her comments to the British “broadsheet”, she said:

The EU is preparing countermeasures against US tariffs, with a 25% tariff on US imports if talks fail, while facing a 20% tariff on its exports to the US.

The European Union stated it does not support US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum and is ready for discussions. However, the EU is also considering countermeasures if dialogue brings no result, The European Council reported. 

EU Ministers discussed how to move forward with trade relations with the US in the wake of the 20% tariffs announced against it by Trump on April 2. 

In response to a growing shortage of supplementary explosive armor a Russian research institute has been working on alternative materials to protect its armored vehicles.

At the start of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine just about every vehicle deployed on the battlefield was covered in explosive reactive armor (ERA) – a sheet or slab of high explosive sandwiched between two metal plates designed to disrupt the ability of shaped charge and kinetic warhead to penetrate the vehicle.

After more than three years of President Vladimir Putin’s misguided war Russia is currently experiencing a shortage of the materials necessary to manufacture sufficient ERA to protect both new-build tanks and armored vehicles and retrofit those on the front line.

The Chinese side is verifying relevant information with the Ukrainian side, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

China on Wednesday rejected as “absolutely groundless” claims by Ukraine that “many” Chinese citizens are fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.

“The Chinese side’s position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is clear and unequivocal, and has won widespread approval from the international community,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

The Trump administration on Friday said it accidentally told some Ukrainian refugees they needed to leave the US immediately because their legal status was being revoked.

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The deadline for U.S. President Donald Trump’s worldwide “reciprocal” tariffs against dozens of countries passed on Wednesday, including a 104% rate on Chinese imports that towers above the rest, as officials in Beijing stood their ground against what they described as “blackmail.” Scott Galloway, host of “The Prof G Pod,” said of the tariffs: “This could not be more stupid.” Former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton was even more unsparing in his criticism - telling CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “These tariffs are a form of economic illiteracy. Trump has no idea really what he’s talking about….It’s just sad and depressing that more Republicans haven’t stood up and said this - that this is illiteracy.”

President Zelensky called on the US and international partners to respond to what he called a dangerous new escalation, as Chinese citizens fighting for Russia were captured.

Ukrainian forces have captured Chinese citizens during fighting in the Donetsk region, obtaining their documents and confirming their identities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

He provided more details on the capture during a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Kyiv on April 8, saying the incident took place near the settlements of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka.

On April 7, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian command post in the occupied Kherson region and struck a military depot in Kursk, killing over 50 troops and crippling enemy operations.

On Monday, April 7, the Ukrainian Air Force successfully struck and destroyed the command center of the 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of Russia’s forces located in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region, according to the Center for Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Thanks to the professional skill of Ukrainian pilots, a reinforced concrete facility was completely destroyed. The number of enemy casualties is still being clarified, but it is estimated that 20 to 30 Russian troops were eliminated.

Russia claims it downed 158 Ukrainian drones overnight, with Russia claiming 158 UAVs targeted key airbases and arms depots across 13 regions, including Mozdok and Orenburg.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack in the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, claiming that 158 drones were allegedly shot down over Russian territory and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

One of the likely targets was the military airfield in Mozdok, North Ossetia. While the head of the region stated that there were no casualties or damage as a result of the strike, the Telegram channel Astra published a photo reportedly taken near the local House of Culture, located about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the airfield.

Zaluzhnyi reveals a secret US-Ukrainian HQ in Wiesbaden - a hub for war games, planning strikes, and coordinating military aid against Russia.

A Ukrainian army commander-in-chief has revealed the existence of a secret Ukrainian-American military headquarters in Germany.

According to General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the facility in the city of Wiesbaden has become a “secret weapon” in coordinating operations against Russia, including war games, weapon requests and strategic planning in collaboration with the U.S.

Tensions escalated after one of the appointees made public statements contradicting Romania’s official Ukraine and EU stance.

BUCHAREST - Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s controversial decision to appoint two special envoys for relations with the United States - widely viewed as unsatisfactory - has sparked unrest in Bucharest. Tensions escalated after one of the appointees made public statements that contradicted Romania’s official stance on Ukraine and its relationship with the European Union.

Displeased with the performance of Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu - a Liberal Party appointee - and following the cancellation of Romania’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Programme, Social Democratic Prime Minister Ciolacu announced on 3 April that he had designated two special envoys, a position not recognized within Romanian diplomatic structures. The goal was to establish closer ties with  President Donald Trump.

Russia launched massive drone strikes on Dnipro and Kharkiv, injuring civilians and damaging homes, and infrastructure in two of Ukraine’s largest cities.

Russian drone attacks on Dnipro late on Tuesday, April 8, damaged five apartment buildings, including the local gas infrastructure, according to Mayor Borys Filatov.

The regional military administration reported that air defense forces shot down 11 Russian drones over the area.

Trump escalates his tariff war with the outside world, with China being the hardest hit.

US President Donald Trump’s punishing tariffs on dozens of economies came in force Wednesday, including over 100 percent in levies against Chinese goods, dramatically ramping up a devastating global trade war.

Following the imposition of sweeping 10 percent tariffs have rocked the global economy since coming into force over the weekend, rates on imports to the United States from exporters like the European Union or Japan rose further at 12.01 am (0401 GMT) Wednesday.

Russian soldiers are starving on the front lines, with some forced to eat Theraflu medications – and even dogs, as intercepted calls reveal total supply collapse and neglect by commanders.

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) intercepted a conversation that reveals the critical state of supplies among Russian troops on the front lines. In the recording, a Russian woman describes the inhumane conditions faced by her acquaintances serving in the occupying forces.

“They’ve been sitting in a dugout for two weeks, the food ran out. They ate whatever they had. They even ate Theraflu, Mom,” she is heard saying.

The two sides will “try to make progress on further stabilizing the operations of our bilateral missions,” State Department spokeswoman told reporters.

The United States and Russia will hold talks on Thursday in Istanbul on restoring some of their embassy operations that have been drastically scaled back following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the US State Department said.

The talks, the second of their kind, come after President Donald Trump reached out to Russia following the start of his second term and offered better ties if it winds down fighting in Ukraine.

Permanent Representative of France to the UN said that the conditions that Russia is putting forward before agreeing to a temporary ceasefire are “unacceptable for any sovereign state.”

Russia still intends to achieve Ukraine’s complete surrender rather than to agree on a ceasefire and lasting peace.

This opinion was expressed by the Permanent Representative of France to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont, who spoke at the UN Security Council in New York, Ukrinform reports.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Ukrainian forces recently captured Chinese nationals fighting in the Russian military in several areas of Donetsk Oblast.
• Russian and US authorities announced a second round of US-Russia bilateral discussions focused on normalizing diplomatic missions but not on discussing the ceasefire agreements offered jointly by the US and Ukraine will be held in Istanbul on April 10.
• Russian forces are currently pursuing three distinct tactical objectives in the Pokrovsk direction, but Ukrainian drone operations and localized counterattacks are continuing to complicate Russian advances in the area.
• Russian advances northeast of Pokrovsk support both the ongoing Russian effort to envelop Pokrovsk from the east and west and the effort to pressure Kostyantynivka from the south by advancing along the T-0504 highway and eliminating the Ukrainian salient southwest of Toretsk.
• The situation immediately south and southwest of Pokrovsk remains extremely dynamic amid intensified Russian offensive operations and localized Ukrainian counterattacks and drone operations in the area.
• Russian forces continue to deplete manpower and materiel in unsuccessful mechanized assaults and ongoing infantry assaults with armored vehicle support further southwest of Pokrovsk.
• Russian forces have only made marginal advances throughout the Pokrovsk direction due to localized Ukrainian counterattacks and improved integration of Ukrainian ground and drone forces.
• Russian forces have spent the last 13 months and lost over five divisions’ worth of tanks and thousands of troops attacking toward Pokrovsk and trying to seize the town. Ongoing Russian offensive operations to seize Pokrovsk and attack Kostyantynivka highlight Russian President Vladimir Putin’s determination to seize all of Ukraine through military means at whatever cost if he cannot do so through negotiations.
• Russian forces renewed long-range missile and drone strikes against Ukraine overnight on April 7 to 8 following a brief pause on April 6 to 7.
• Russian forces continue to innovate with long-range Shahed strike drone tactics to maximize the impact of strikes against Ukraine.
• European states continue to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced an initiative ostensibly aimed at securing medical treatment and rehabilitation for wounded Russian troops, but the MoD may weaponize this initiative against wounded servicemembers in practice.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts and near Lyman, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka.
• The Kremlin is considering passing a bill that may incentivize volunteer recruitment for conscription-age men ages 18 to 30 years old.

Russians made up about a fifth of Central Asia’s population before the Soviet collapse. The figure is now five percent, with thousands leaving each year. Ukraine is no longer an option for them.

Unable to find work and feeling increasingly isolated from her relatives, Tatiana Lopatina finally has decided it is time to pack-up and move from Kazakhstan to her ancestral homeland: Russia.

The 52-year-old former sports teacher will join the millions of ethnic Russians who have left Central Asia since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, dismayed by shrinking job opportunities and political marginalization, and no longer feeling at home as the region drifts from Moscow’s cultural and linguistic orbit.