Here are the major updates on day 1,157 of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
As of Saturday, April 26, here’s the latest:
Combat Updates
- A high-ranking Russian general died from a car bomb explosion in Balashikha, a suburb east of Moscow. Russian officials labeled this incident as a “terrorist attack.”
- Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, 59, who was part of the Russian General Staff, lost his life when an improvised explosive device detonated in a Volkswagen Golf.
- The Kremlin quickly accused Ukraine of orchestrating the car bomb, marking yet another assassination of Russian military personnel and pro-war advocates since the beginning of the conflict. Ukraine has not responded to Moscow’s accusations.
- Russian war commentators described Moskalik as an emerging leader, noting his participation in critical Russian delegations aiming to negotiate an end to the war with Western representatives.
- On Friday, Russia continued its offensive, with one drone hitting an apartment block in the southeastern city of Pavlohrad, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuring 10.
- A child and a 76-year-old woman were among those killed in the nighttime drone strike on Pavlohrad, located in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, as reported by regional head Serhii Lysak on Telegram.
- Ukraine’s air force stated that 103 Shahed drones and decoy units were used to attack five of its regions, with reports of damage to civilian infrastructures in northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv, though no casualties were reported there.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site of a deadly Russian attack in Kyiv that left at least 12 dead on Thursday.
- Zelenskyy noted that Russian forces utilized the assault on Kyiv as a diversion while conducting nearly 150 attacks on Ukrainian positions along the extensive 1,000-km (620-mile) front line.
Today, together with diplomatic representatives from various countries and organizations in Ukraine, we visited the site of the missile strike in Kyiv. This is where the missile explosion claimed the lives of 12 of our citizens. My… pic.twitter.com/ncz8eXhioo
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 25, 2025
- President Zelenskyy also pointed out that missile components from US manufacturers were discovered in the missile used in the Kyiv attack.
Ceasefire Discussions
- During a press conference, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine’s stance on Crimea, which is annexed by Russia, remains unchanged, despite reports of US pressure for concessions in ceasefire negotiations.
- “Ukraine will not legally recognize any temporarily occupied territories. This is a fair stand and is lawful from both Ukraine’s Constitution and international law perspectives,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
- “I concur with President Trump that Ukraine currently lacks the weaponry to reclaim control over Crimea. However, we and the international community possess sanction options,” he added.
- Zelenskyy’s remarks followed an interview with US President Donald Trump, where he indicated that “Crimea will stay with Russia,” reflecting his pressure on Ukraine for concessions to conclude the war.
- Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for three hours in Moscow to discuss the US strategy for ending the conflict in Ukraine.
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the conversation between Witkoff and Putin as “constructive,” mentioning discussions on potentially reviving direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow, which brought their positions “closer together.”
- After the meeting, Trump noted on social media that it had been a productive day of discussions and called for a high-level meeting between Ukraine and Russia to finalize an agreement.
- “Most of the key points have been agreed upon,” Trump stated in a social media post after arriving in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral.
Diplomatic Developments
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy indicated he might not attend Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome on Saturday due to an escalation in Russian attacks and a prior commitment to a “military meeting.” He mentioned, “It was important for me to be present here.”
- “If I can’t make it, Ukraine will be well-represented by the Foreign Minister [Andrii Sybiha] and the First Lady [Olena Zelenska],” Zelenskyy informed reporters in Kyiv.
- On social media, President Trump urged Zelenskyy to “IMMEDIATELY” finalize a delayed agreement providing the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
- “Ukraine, led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has yet to sign the crucial Rare Earths Deal with the United States, which is at least three weeks overdue,” Trump stated.
