BREAKING: North Korea Tests New Nuclear Weapon

Latest Update: Kim Jong Un has put out a statement that he won’t hesitate to use his nuclear weapons preemptively if he feels that the safety of his country is at risk.

Latest Update: North Korea will rapidly accelerate the development of its nuclear arsenal, leader Kim Jong Un said while overseeing a vast military parade showcasing his most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported on Tuesday.

BREAKING: North Korea - We're learning that North Korea has nuclear weapon test "meaningful in enhancing the effectiveness of tactical nuclear operations." according to state media.

Per KCNA, the weapon strengthens "the effectiveness of tactical nuclear operation of the DPRK and diversification of the firepower task." So, you could say that this is North Korea's first tactical nuclear weapon delivery system.

The President of North Korea was reported of being on scene for the test.

BREAKING: Explosions Heard In Odesa

Update at 7:15pm: Russia may declare full mobilization if it fails to achieve its goals in eastern Ukraine in the near future, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanik said.

Update at 7:11pm: The head of the Luhansk Regional Мilitary Administration, Sergei Gaidai, said in a televised marathon that Russian troops were preparing to launch a powerful strike against the region on May 9.

Update at 7:05pm: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Russian troops are launching missile and bomb strikes and shelling civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv Regions.

Ukrainian military resumed control over the settlements of Verkhnyaya Roganka, Rus'ka Lozova, Slobodskoye and Prilesnoye in the Kharkiv region, - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Update at 6:44pm: The missile attack damaged the runway of Odessa airport. It is impossible to use it further, Nataliya Gumenyuk, spokeswoman for the security and defence forces in the south, said.

BREAKING: Odesa, Ukraine - We're learning that explosions have been heard this evening in Odesa, Ukraine.

Unknown if anything was hit or shot down by air defense.

Stay tuned for more information.

BREAKING: Massive Fire Occurs at Russia's Sakhalin Thermal Power Plant

Update at 5:28pm: Local officials said that 14 firefighters and a helicopter battled the blaze, which spread to the roof of the Sakhalinskaya GRES-2 plant. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

BREAKING: Illinsky, Russia - Earlier today a massive fire occurs at Sakhalin Thermal Power Plant in Illinsky, Russia.

Unknown injuries.

The cause was an explosion in the turbine department of GRES-2, the fire spread to the roof.

BREAKING: Poweful Explosions In Kharkiv Leads To Massive Fire

BREAKING: Kharkiv, Ukraine- Massive Fire in the industrial zone of Kharkiv tonight after explosions occurred.

Unknown  at this time of what's on fire.

BREAKING Explosion, Fire Occurs at Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran

BREAKING: Mashhad, Iran - Explosion and fire reported inside Imam Reza Shrine tonight in Iran’s Mashhad, where 2 IRGC scholars were neutralized earlier this month.

Unknown injuries, cause.

BREAKING: Explosions Reported In Tiraspol (Transnistria)

Update at 8:30pm: The UK, Canada, France, Germany and the U.S. demanded that all their citizens leave Moldova and Transnistria as soon as possible.

Update at 12:39am Friday Morning: The Israeli Foreign Ministry has called on its citizens to leave Transnistria immediately due to the security situation.

Update at 6:29pm Thursday: The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry calls on its citizens to leave Moldova immediately due to the deteriorating security situation.

Update at 6:20pm: The Russian Federation is preparing a missile attack on unrecognized Transnistria with casualties among the civilian population according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports.

Update at 5:12pm: "According to available information, the forces of the Transnistrian region are involved in attempts to escalate the situation in the region. These are forces advocating war, they are interested in destabilizing the situation," said Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Update at 4:14pm: Russian media report a night attack on a military airfield in Moldova's Transnistria.

Update at 10:25am: TV channel TSV reports of an explosion near the radio and television center in Mayak (Transnistria), Moldova. 

There were no casualties.

All indications are that Russia is stepping up provocations in the area of occupied Transnistria.

Update at 12:45am: Local officials claim those explosions heard are just exercises, so nothing too serious.

Update at 12:19am: Two new explosions reported in Parcani, (Transnistria) Moldova.

Update at 10:23pm: Explosions in the capital of unrecognized Transnistria were a planned provocation by Russian special services to spread panic and anti-Ukrainian sentiment — Ukrainian intelligence

Update at 7:20pm: The "Ministry of Internal Affairs" of Transnistria reported that no one was injured by the shelling of the "Ministry of State Security" building with a hand grenade launcher.

The "Ministry of State Security" of unrecognized Transnistria was fired from a hand grenade launcher - confirms the deputy of the "Supreme Council" Andrey Safonov.

BREAKING: Tiraspol (Transnistria), Moldova - We're learning at this hour that explosions have been reported near building of the Ministry of State Security in Tiraspol (Transnistria), Moldova.

Stay tuned for more information on this breaking news.

BREAKING: Massive Explosion Occurred Today At Istanbul Factory

Update at 4:52pm: Fire and explosions in an industrial area in Istanbul.

The explosion occurred at a paint and varnish factory in Tuzla. The fire spread to 5 neighboring factories. Sometimes explosions are heard. Smoke from the fires is visible in many districts.

According to local publications, three rescuers died, 9 people were injured.

BREAKING: Istanbul, Turkey - We're learning at this hour that a massive explosion has occurred at an Istanbul paint factory today in Istanbul, Turkey.

Fire from the explosion has since been put under control. 

BREAKING: Massive Explosion In Kabul Mosque

Update at 4:31pm: Taliban confirm the attack in Khalifa Mosque in Kabul saying their initial reports show at least 20 people were killed or wounded. According to the eyewitness, the death toll is much higher.

BREAKING: Kabul, Afghanistan - We're learning at this hour of a massive bomb exploded at Shia Mosque in Kabul today in Kabul, Afghanistan.  

Explosion killing and injuring more than 300 people.

Prime Minister at a meeting with the UN Secretary-General called for more active involvement in the issue of safe evacuation of people

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal discussed the organization of humanitarian corridors, support for displaced persons and reconstruction of infrastructure with the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres.

The meeting, which took place in Kyiv on April 28, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk and Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebna.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine does not abandon attempts to end the

Iryna Vereshchuk: There is hope for the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal - we are starting to plan a humanitarian operation

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk said that such hopes arose as a result of a meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Kyiv today.

"There is hope that we will manage to evacuate civilians from Azovstal. The President and the team are making great efforts. This is one of the top priorities. We are starting to plan a humanitarian operation!" Iryna Vereshchuk reported.

Ministry of Digital Transformation has signed a declaration on the future of the Internet

Today, together with the United States, the European Commission, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, Ukraine reaffirmed its intention to develop a secure online space for everyone.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation has signed a Declaration on the Future of the Internet.

What it means?

Cooperation with leading countries will help us counter:

• dissemination of misinformation and inaccurate information,
• harmful cyberactivity,
• restricting access to the Internet,
• illegal surveillance, etc.

Thanks to this, together with developed countries, the country will be able to resist russian propaganda on the Internet and defeat the enemy in the information war.

Moving towards an open, free, global, shared, reliable and secure digital future together.

Ukraine will receive USD 100 million loan and USD 2.3 million grant from Japan

Today, April 28, 2022, the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Japan signed an Agreement on a loan provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for development policy in the field of emergency economic recovery and a grant to strengthen the health system and medicine in Ukraine.

The Japanese government will provide Ukraine with a USD 100 million loan on

Operational update regarding the #russian_invasion as of 18.00 on April 28, 2022

The sixty-fourth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues. The russian federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.

russian enemy continues to carry out offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone in order to defeat the Joint Forces, establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and maintain the land route with the occupied Crimea.

The greatest activity of russian enemy is observed in Slobozhansky and

Denys Shmyhal: Ukraine is grateful to Bulgaria for providing support to our country together with the international community

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov discussed the support for Ukrainian refugees, Ukraine’s European perspective and energy security during a meeting in Kyiv.

Denys Shmyhal noted that Bulgaria had warmly welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainian women and children who have fled the war, and Ukraine appreciates this. He

Ministry of Economy: Safe regions are actively accepting enterprises relocating from the areas of active hostilities

As part of the relocation program, the Ministry of Economy has processed more than a thousand applications for the placement of business facilities. Zakarpattia, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions provide shelter most often, and business is also actively moving to Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.

Local authorities provide vigorous activities in finding sites for businesses,

Ukraine and EU intensify preparations for signing "industrial visa-free regime"

Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleksandr Hryban, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Remi Duflot, and Trade Manager of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Anne Bersio met to discuss further steps to conclude the ACAA agreement.

The results of legislative adaptation, including regulations in the field of energy efficiency and energy labeling, are monitored by filling in the "Tracking tables" developed jointly with the European side.

To date, Ukraine has generally fulfilled its obligations to adapt horizontal and

Total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 28.04

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 28.04 were approximately:

• personnel - about 22800 (+400) persons were liquidated, 
• tanks ‒ 970 (+31), 
• APV  ‒ 2389 (+47), 
• artillery systems – 431 (+10), 
• MLRS - 151 (+2), 
• Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 72 (+1),
• aircraft – 187 (+2), 
• helicopters – 155 (+0), 
• vehicles - 1688 (+22),
• boats - 8 (+0),
• fuel tanks - 76 (+0), 
• UAV operational-tactical level - 215 (+8).
• special equipment - 31 (+0).
• mobile SRBM system - 4 (+0).

Russian enemy suffered the greatest losses (of the past day) in the  Zaporizhzhya and Izyum directions.

Data are being updated.

Six Ukrainian institutions were included in the world ranking of universities and research institutions

The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) has published a list of the best educational and research institutions in 2022-2023. Five Ukrainian research institutions and one institution of higher education were included in the publication from Ukraine. Minister of Education and Science Serhii Shkarlet announced in his Telegram channel.

19,788 institutions were ranked, and those that placed at the top made the Global 2000 list.

"Five powerful Ukrainian research institutions and one university are among the best in the world. Among them is the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, which was under fire from the russian occupiers in March and bravely survived, protecting Ukraine and the world from environmental catastrophe," said Serhii Shkarlet.

Ukrainian institutions included in the Global 2000 list:

• National Science Center Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) - 1120 position in the world ranking;
• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv - 1472 position in the

Operational update regarding the #russian_invasion as of 06:00 on April 28, 2022

The sixty-fourth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to a russian military invasion continues. The russian federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.

russian enemy continues to carry out offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone in order to defeat the Joint Forces, establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and maintain the land route with the occupied Crimea.

russian enemy increases the pace of the offensive operation. In almost all directions, the

Maryna Lazebna discusses with Vice President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography the protection of the rights of children displaced from Ukraine

The Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Maryna Lazebna held a meeting with the European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica. The main topic of the meeting was the protection of the rights and interests of Ukrainian children who were forced to flee to EU member states in search of salvation and shelter in connection with russia's military actions against Ukraine.

Maryna Lazebna informed about the measures taken by the Government of

Ihor Zhovkva discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation with the Federal Minister for the EU and the Austrian Constitution

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a video conference with Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal Chancellery of Austria Karoline Edtstadler.

Ihor Zhovkva thanked Austria for the warm welcome of about 50,000 Ukrainians who were forced to flee their homes, and praised the initiative of the Federal Chancellery to double the funds raised through the charity event "Neighbor in Need."

During the conversation, the parties discussed the need for the European Union to

Together with allies we can definitely stop the Russian aggression and reliably defend freedom in Europe - address by the President of Ukraine

Ukrainians!

All our defenders!

Today we have significant news for our state, for our defense.

First, the United States has prepared a new support package for Ukraine worth $ 33 billion. In particular, more than 20 billion can be allocated for defense. More than $ 8 billion is planned for economic support. Another $ 3 billion will be allocated for humanitarian aid.

This is a very important step by the United States. And I am grateful to the American

Possible pseudo-referendum in the occupied territories will complicate possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia - President

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizes that in the event of any pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories they will not be recognized by Ukraine and the world and will complicate possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The President made this statement during a meeting with media representatives following talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Kyiv.

"I believe that it is impossible and will not be possible to annex one or another

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the UN Secretary-General in Kyiv

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres who arrived in Kyiv.

The President noted the importance of the UN Secretary-General's visit to Ukraine, as today it is our country that defends the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Before the meeting with the President of Ukraine, António Guterres visited the

Ukraine is ready for urgent talks to evacuate people from Mariupol and counts on UN support - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

During the negotiations in Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UN Secretary-General António Guterres discussed the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from the Russian-besieged city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region, including the Azovstal plant.

The Ukrainian Head of State noted that António Guterres discussed this issue during his recent visit to Russia.

"We see that despite the words of the Russian President about the alleged cessation of hostilities in Mariupol, the territory of the Azovstal plant is under barbaric bombing by the Russian army. And this continued even during the talks of the Secretary-General in Moscow," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with media representatives following the negotiations with António Guterres.

He stressed that Ukraine is ready for urgent talks to evacuate people from

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: We seek to elaborate an agreement that will provide real guarantees for Ukraine's security

Ukraine seeks to elaborate a document on guarantees of our security, which would provide maximum and real protection for our country, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We want to get the maximum for our country and our people. Maximum. And there will be such guarantees," the Head of State said, answering questions from the media

President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria discussed the defensive, energy and logistical assistance and support for Ukraine on the way to the EU

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held negotiations with Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov who is on a visit to our country.

"Today we held meaningful talks, discussed all the key issues that deserve attention right now in such difficult conditions," the Ukrainian Head of State said during a meeting with media representatives following the talks.

The President stressed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been going on

Head of state holds first meeting of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities during Russian invasion

With the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities was held to discuss the functioning of the state during the war. The event was held as a video conference.

The President said that the first meeting of the Congress during Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine took place today.

The audience observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of all citizens who

BREAKING: Huge Fire In Ukraine's Kherson

Update at 11:41pm: Explosions in Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv.

Update at 11:36pm: Explosions reported in Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Donetsk.

Update at 11:23pm: 10 people injured as a result of missile attack on Kyiv. 

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that a Russian missile strike injured 10 people and partly destroyed the first two floors of a 25-story building.

Update at 10:59pm: Explosions heard in Kherson.

Update at 10:47pm: 3 Russian missiles intercepted over Odesa Oblast. 

Governor Maksym Marchenko said that the air defense systems intercepted the missiles and “have the sky under their control.” Two series of explosions were reportedly heard in Odesa on the evening of April 28.

Update at 10:42pm: Aleksey Arestovich about the attack on Kyiv:

“An escalation has begun according to the worst option, we have the UN Secretary General in Kyiv, and they launch 3 missiles into the center of Kyiv, two flew in, one was shot down,” 

—Arestovich said.

Update at 10:03pm: Clarification of the Shevchenkivskyi district.

▪️Hitting the lower floors of a residential building.

▪️Rescuers and medics are working on the spot.

▪️They inspect houses nearby, take people out.

▪️So far, three victims have been hospitalized.

—Vitaliy Klitschko.

Update at 9:41pm: In the Kyiv region, there was a hit on infrastructure facilities, now rescuers are working there, - Victoria Ruban, spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service of the region, said in a comment to “Hromadske”.

Update at 9:35pm: Today, in Kharkiv; 5 dead and 11 wounded from Russian shelling, reports HOGA.

Update at 9:10pm: Explosions are reported in Mykolaiv.

Update at 9:06pm: The Russians shelled the Chernihiv region for the second time today - said the press secretary of the Chernihiv border detachment Halyna Shekhovtsova in a comment to Suspilne.

Explosions of about a dozen mortar mines were recorded near one of the settlements of the Semenovska UTC. The mines were fired from the direction of the Russian village of Lomakovka.

Vodolaha clarified that as a result of the missile attack on Kyiv, there are victims, but it is not yet known how many.

"The day before yesterday, UN Secretary General António Guterres was sitting at

BREAKING: Massive Fire In Azerbaijan At Azersun Industrial Park Continues

Latest Update: 

🔹Azerbaijan initiates criminal case over the fire in Sumgayit

🔹Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations takes measures to extinguish the fire in Sumgayit

🔹Workers and civilians being evacuated to safe areas due to the fire in Sumgayit

BREAKING: Azerbaijan - The fire started in the Azersun industrial park and soon spread to a factory in Azerbaijan, “Azersun Holding” reported.

All employees working in the area were evacuated. The Ministry of Emergency Situations takes the necessary measures to prevent a fire. The fire has not been extinguished for four hours.

 The fire is in Azerbaijani city of Sumgayit oil mill.

BREAKING: Several Car Fires, Under Construction Medical Center Fire In Moscow

Update at 7:12pm: Explosions reported in Belgorod, Russia.

Unknown if anything was strike or shot down by defense.

Update at 4:31pm: The Central Military District of the Russian Federation explained the causes of the accident with military helicopters:

"During the landing, two helicopters approached each other, as a result of which one received damage and made a hard landing."

Update at 3:52pm: Two military helicopters collided in the Saratov region of Russia. 

Two died, another injured.

Update at 3:25pm: Another huge fire, this time, the roof of the shopping mall in Ishim is on fire around the entire perimeter.

BREAKING: Moscow, Russia - We're learning at this hour that several cars, under construction medical center are on fire today in Moscow, Russia.

Some report explosions heard.

More information when it becomes available.

BREAKING: Sumy Region Under Mortar Strikes

Update at 1:27am: Donetsk Oblast is under new alerts.

Update at 12:57am: Kyiv is under a new air alert.

Update at 12:56am: In Khartsyzsk, two students of grade 9, as well as three adults, were injured in a grenade explosion.

Students are in serious condition; doctors are fighting for their lives.

Update at 1:25am: Russian TV channels stopped working after the explosions in Kherson.

Update at 1:22am Thursday: There are also explosions reported in Russian city of Belgorod.

Update at 11:47pm: Huge explosions reported in Odesa.

Update at 11:31pm: Heavy explosions in Kherson, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.

Update at 11:26pm: Governor: Russian forces shell Sumy Oblast over 50 times in half an hour.

The Esman territorial community was heavily hit by mortar shelling, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the governor of Sumy Oblast, wrote on April 27. The number of casualties is yet to be determined.

Update at 11:19pm: Powerful artillery and air strikes are inflicted on the Sumy region, at least 50 in half an hour. Apparently, the destruction of potential threats from the ground and air for Russian border facilities is underway.

BREAKING: Sumy Region, Ukraine - More than 50 mortar strikes have been recorded in the last half hour in the Esman community of Sumy region, according to the Head of the Regional State Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyi.

Unknown causalities, injuries, damage.

Stay tuned for more information. 

Abolition of all import duties on Ukrainian goods by the EU is an important support for the Ukrainian economy, says Yulia Svyrydenko

The European Union has taken a decision to suspend all import duties on Ukrainian goods for one year. These include all industrial tariffs, agricultural duties and quotas, the system of entry prices, anti-dumping duties and protective duties.

"Given that the EU is currently the main trade route for all Ukrainian exports, such

Russia is trying to provoke a global price crisis but Ukrainian exports will help stabilize markets - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Unbreakable people of the bravest country!

The 63rd day of our defense is coming to an end. A day during which a lot has been done.

First, an important decision of the European Union is being prepared. The European Commission has agreed to remove all duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports for a year, as well as to suspend anti-dumping tariffs.

I discussed the details of this proposal with President Ursula von der Leyen