Zelensky scorns Putin’s peace efforts as Russia bombards Ukraine with 172 drones (2025)

1 month ago22:04 Jon King

1 month ago20:52 Jon King

Pictures have been posted on social media which reportedly show damage to a hospital in Kharkiv from a Russian attack.

The two images, which the Express has not been able to independently verify, were shared on X from an account set up under the name Kate Boguslavskaya, tweeting under the title Kate from Kharkiv.

A comment posted with the pictures reads: "One of Kharkiv (sic) hospitals following tonight's russian (sic) drone attack on the city".

The post comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is getting ready for new offensives in the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizizhia regions of Ukraine.

1 month ago20:17 Jon King

Volodymyr Zelensky has seemingly confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russia’s Belgorod region, a move likely to anger Vladimir Putin as it comes as Russian soldiers try to push out Kyiv's fighters from another area.

The Ukrainian President said: “We are preparing appropriate steps to reduce the accumulation of their troops… and the fact that it geographically falls into the Bryansk region, we don’t care what regions they have there.”

Analysts believe he misspoke, as Bryansk does not border Belgorod - Kyiv’s incursion took place in Belgorod, south of Kursk.

The operation appears to be a limited effort to tie down Russian forces rather than a large-scale offensive.

Mr Zelensky also addressed the situation in Kursk, stating: “In the Kursk direction, the guys are doing everything possible and impossible. We have our presence there, our physical presence without any encirclement.”

1 month ago18:35 Jon King

The Kremlin has said thousands of Russians have been left without power after Ukraine attacked Russia’s energy grid.

Russia's Defence Ministry claimed Ukraine attacked energy infrastructure despite the US-brokered moratorium on striking each other's energy facilities.

The ministry said Ukraine attacked power grids in the Belgorod region a number of times and left about 9,000 people without power.

1 month ago16:27 Jon King

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 170 drones overnight, including over 100 Shahed drones.

He posted on X: "This massive attack targeted the Dnipro, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Khmelnytskyi regions.

"All night in Dnipro, the aftermath of this attack was being dealt with. As of now, four people are confirmed dead. My condolences to their families and loved ones."

The Ukrainian President said 21 people were injured, including a pregnant woman. Residential buildings, a hotel-restaurant complex, garages and a car repair shop were destroyed or damaged in Dnipro as well, according to Mr Zelensky.

He added: "Unfortunately, there was destruction in every region that came under attack... Russia mocks the world’s peace efforts – dragging out the war and committing these acts of terror because it still doesn’t feel real pressure."

Mr Zelensky said diplomacy can work, but only when backed with actions which strengthen Ukraine's "warriors" and deprive the occupiers of the means to wage war.

He added: "Our partners know what can help, what kind of pressure, and it depends on America, on Europe, on everyone in the world who wants effective diplomacy."

Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is mocking the world’s peace efforts (Image: Getty)

1 month ago15:55 Jon King

One of Russia's negotiators has cast doubt on the Trump administration's efforts to broker a quick ceasefire.

Grigory Karasin said talks between Moscow and Washington may not bring about decisive results this year.

Karasin led the Russian delegation which met with US counterparts in Riyadh on March 24 for talks which led to a deal on a partial ceasefire over strikes against energy infrastructure and operations in the Black Sea.

In an interview with the state-owned TV channel Rossiya-24, he said: "It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting."

1 month ago14:15 Ciaran McGrath

The Sudzha gas measuring station has been "effectively destroyed" as a power facility following a strike by Kyiv using the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, the Russian Defence Ministry has claimed.

The attack, which took place on March 28 at around 10:20 Moscow time, triggered a major fire, the ministry said.

"The Sudzha gas measuring station as an energy facility was effectively destroyed," Russian state news agency Tass quoted the ministry as saying.

The site, near Russia's border with Ukraine, was previously targeted in attacks linked to the conflict.

1 month ago13:53 Ciaran McGrath

Vladimir Putin has horrifyingly vowed to "finish off" Ukraine while taking aim at the British Army and the state of the country's economy.

This follows the announcement by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron that they would send an Anglo-French "reassurance force" to Ukraine after a ceasefire agreement.

Putin made these audacious comments while aboard a new Russian nuclear submarine, Arkhangelsk, during a visit to an Arctic naval base.

He also officially commissioned a new nuclear submarine - dubbed "Perm" after a city in the Ural mountains - from the port of Murmansk. He said: "Not long ago I said we'd grind [Ukraine] down - now it looks like we'll finish them off."

1 month ago12:50 Ciaran McGrath

Russia's second largest oil producer has seen its profits crash by a staggering £10 billion, as the economic crisis intensifies in the country. A lethal combination of spiralling inflation and high interest rates has hit Russian businesses and consumers hard.

The Central Bank has been forced to hold its key interest rate at 21% - a record high in recent years - as it attempts to bring inflation down from 10.10%.

Many firms with high exposure to bank loans are struggling to pay back their debt as they fight to stay afloat.

Retail and construction firms are just two sectors to feel the full force of the growing crisis, with shopping malls on the brink of mass closures.

1 month ago11:52 Ciaran McGrath

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned it was too soon to expect high-level talks with Russia, stressing that more groundwork was needed.

He said progress had to be made at a technical level, particularly with Moscow, which Washington had not engaged directly for years.

Asked by reporters how long this would take, he declined to give a timeframe, saying it did not depend solely on the United States.

While President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Vladimir Putin soon, Rubio urged Russia to accept a Ukrainian-backed 30-day ceasefire without conditions.

1 month ago10:34 Ciaran McGrath

A Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on March 29 left at least five people injured, Governor Serhii Lysak confirmed.

The attack damaged high-rise buildings, homes, a school, and a car wash, with all victims reported to be in a medium-severity condition.

Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city military administration, stated that a ballistic missile was used in the strike, which occurred at 11.33 am local time.

The full extent of the damage and casualties is still being assessed, with Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, remaining a frequent target despite ongoing international peace efforts.

1 month ago10:15 Ciaran McGrath

Roughly 5,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Ukraine while supporting Russian forces, according to the UK MoD's DefenceHQ.

Many of these casualties appear to have come from frontline positions, where North Korean troops have struggled with battlefield conditions and a lack of adequate counter-drone measures.

The losses highlight the difficulty of the North Korean military's involvement, despite their continued support for Russian operations.

North Korea is reportedly sending more personnel and military equipment to reinforce its efforts in Ukraine, despite these heavy casualties.

1 month ago09:42 Ciaran McGrath

An Aurus limousine believed to be part of Vladimir Putin’s official car fleet exploded and caught fire in Moscow.

Footage appears to show the £275,000 Aurus Senat ablaze on a street just north of Moscow’s FSB secret service Lubyanka headquarters.

1 month ago09:00 Ciaran McGrath

A £77m car bridge is being constructed next to the site of an existing railway bridge connecting North Korea and the far east of Russia.

The 2.92-mile bridge, which is set to be completed by the end of 2026, will connect northern North Korea with eastern Russia, near the city of Vladivostok.

The crossing will be constructed of the Tumen River, which divides Russia, North Korea, and China.

In February, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree granting the project to a tiny, inexperienced firm based in Sochi, called TonnelYuzhStroi, NK News reports.

1 month ago08:37 Ciaran McGrath

Russian drone strikes on Dnipro on Friday night left four people dead and 19 others injured, according to former Ukainian interior ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko.

Residential buildings and private homes were damaged, with numerous sites catching fire.

The attack is part what the Ukrainian Government characterises as Russia's ongoing campaign of war crimes against civilians.

As the violence escalates, authorities continue to assess the full extent of the destruction.

1 month ago08:27 Ciaran McGrath

Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Hetman has agreed with Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia is intensifying its reconnaissance efforts and battlefield operations, indicating preparations for a major offensive which could last up to nine months.

He noted that Moscow's forces have ramped up attacks along the front line despite ongoing ceasefire talks, adding: “The number of clashes on the front line is not decreasing.

"If they wanted to stop the war, their actions certainly don’t show it.”

Russian troops have been probing Ukrainian defences, targeting firing positions and drone systems to weaken resistance ahead of a broader push.

Hetman emphasised that Russia’s aggressive manoeuvres suggest it is positioning itself for long-term territorial gains rather than genuine negotiations.

1 month ago08:01 Ciaran McGrath

Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine should be temporarily placed under United Nations control in another attempt to question the legitimacy of the government in Kyiv.

Russia's president has questioned the validity of Ukraine’s government before and since he launched his illegal invasion just over three years ago, seemingly in a bid to undermine Volodymyr Zelensky’s authority.

Ukraine has dismissed the suggestion as "crazy", labelling it an attempt to prolong ceasefire negotiations being overseen by the United States.

The White House has insisted that decisions over Ukraine’s future leadership are for the Ukrainian people to decide. But last month, President Donald Trump was widely criticised after labelling Zelensky a "dictator" as a result of Ukraine’s postponed elections.

1 month ago07:39 Ciaran McGrath

Russian forces are gearing up for a fresh offensive in the coming weeks, aiming to maximise pressure on Ukraine and bolster the Kremlin’s hand in ceasefire negotiations, Mr Zelensky also suggested.

He explained: “They’re dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless and pointless discussions about fake ‘conditions’ just to buy time and then try to grab more land.”

Intelligence reports indicate Russia is planning attacks across the 1,000-kilometre front line, focusing on Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

Ukrainian officials argue this proves Moscow has no intention of meaningful peace talks, instead seeking territorial gains before negotiating.

1 month ago07:27 Ciaran McGrath

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russia’s Belgorod region, a move likely to anger President Putin.

The Ukarinian President said: “We are preparing appropriate steps to reduce the accumulation of their troops...and the fact that it geographically falls into the Bryansk region, we don’t care what regions they have there.”

Analysts believe he misspoke, as Bryansk does not border Belgorod - Kyiv’s incursion took place in Belgorod, south of Kursk.

The operation appears to be a limited effort to tie down Russian forces rather than a large-scale offensive.

Mr Zelensky also addressed the situation in Kursk, stating: “In the Kursk direction, the guys are doing everything possible and impossible. We have our presence there, our physical presence without any encirclement.”

1 month ago07:15 Ciaran McGrath